Birds
Birds
A group of endothermic (warm-blooded) vertebrates who generally lay eggs and have feathers, a beak, and wings, though not all birds can fly!
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
- American avocets are one of four species of avocets, which are closely related to stilts.
- They can usually be found in shallow water swiping their bill back and forth looking for bugs or small shrimp.
- Avocets are known to make their nests in open, unprotected areas by digging a small hole and lining it with leaves and grasses.
- They will wet their belly feathers before sitting on the nest to help keep it cool.
- Some females will lay their eggs in the nest of another bird!
- During the breeding season, avocets' heads will turn a rusty-orange color.
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- You will usually find bald eagles near a body of water because their diet is mainly fish!
- They are only found in North America and are the national bird of the United States.
- Bald eagles don't get white feathers on their head until they're about 5 years old.
- They are a huge bird with a wingspan up to 7 feet!
- Bald eagles that live further from the equator tend to be larger than those found near the equator, sometimes more than 5lbs larger.
- Bald eagles make giant nests that they will add to each year. The largest nest on record was almost 10 feet wide and 20 feet deep!
Bali Myna
Leucopsar rothschildi
- Found only in a small region on the island of Bali, the Bali Myna is one of the most endangered birds in the world.
- They are a member of the starling family.
- Bali mynas have a beautiful call and appearance, which makes them very popular in the caged-bird trade.
- In 1999, armed gang members stole nearly 40 birds being prepared for reintroduction in Bali.
- At the time of the robbery, one bird sold for $2,000 on the black market.
- Bali mynas are protected in their historic range and have been introduced on a neighboring island.
- The current population is estimated to be less than 50 wild birds.
Blue-Footed Booby
Sula nebouxii
- Blue-footed boobies are one of 6 species of boobies, all of which are fish-eating seabirds.
- Blue-footed boobies are found in tropical regions the eastern Pacific Ocean and in the Gulf of California.
- They are named for the bright blue feet that males will use in an impressive mating dance!
- It is thought that healthier birds have bluer feet, so birds with bluer feet are often more successful and have a better chance of finding a mate!
- Like other boobies, the blue-footed booby will dive from great heights into the ocean to catch fish and use their webbed feet to swim after prey.
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
- Yes, that is CANADA goose, not CANADIAN goose!
- Canada geese are known to migrate great distances and migrating flocks often represent the change of seasons.
- A female is called a goose and a male is called a gander.
- They are easily identified by their loud "honk" call.
- They are very comfortable on land (where most of their diet is) but have webbed feet for swimming.
- Canada geese can be very aggressive during the breeding season when they are defending their territory.
- Their population nearly went extinct in the early 1900s but now they are so numerous that some areas have issues with their huge populations.
Cassowary
Casuarius ssp.
- There are three species of cassowaries that are native to Australia and some surrounding islands.
- The largest species, the southern cassowary, can stand more than 5-ft tall and weigh more than 150-lbs!
- They are the heaviest bird in Australia.
- Cassowaries are a ratite, along with ostriches, emus, rheas, and kiwis!
- Like their close relatives, they cannot fly and use their long, powerful legs to move around.
- Cassowaries have a large casque (or helmet) on their heads made of a sponge-like substance covered in keratin.
- Cassowaries can jump nearly 7-ft high or swim across bodies of water to avoid threats!
Common Ostrich
Struthio camelus
- Common ostriches are the tallest bird in the world, standing between 6 and 8 feet tall!
- They have the largest egg of any bird, reaching up to 6 inches in length.
- Their wide, short bill helps them eat grasses, seeds, and insects.
- Many females will lay their eggs in the dominant pair's nest.
- Unlike their close relatives (emus and rheas), the dominant male and female will take turns incubating all of the eggs.
- Males are black, which helps them blend into the nest while they incubate at night time.
- Females are brown, which helps them camouflage while they incubate the nest during the day.
- There can be up to 25 eggs in a single nest!
Crested Caracara
Caracara ssp.
- Crested caracaras look like a hawk, eat dead-animals like a vulture, but are actually a falcon!
- Two species of crested caracara, the northern and the southern, live mostly in Central and South America.
- The northern caracara can sometimes found in the southern-most portion of the US.
- Crested caracaras like to hang out in large, open areas and perch on top of the tallest structures.
- Caracaras live in large territories with their mate; they normally stay together for their whole lives!
- They will hunt for young turtles, eggs, fish, and lizards. They even eat dead animals, just like vultures!
- Caracaras are the only falcon species to build their own nests.
Dalmatian Pelican
Pelecanus crispus
- Dalmatian pelicans are the largest species of pelican and one of the largest flying birds in the world.
- They may be awkward on land but are expert fliers, reaching 10,000 ft in the air.
- Eating primarily fish, these pelicans can eat up to 4 lbs per day and have webbed feet to help them swim around.
- They will work as a team to herd fish towards shallow water and scoop them up in their bills.
- Their massive bills can hold more than two gallons of water.
- They live an average of around 20 years in the wild but can live past 50 in captivity.
- Pelican populations are threatened by pesticides, destruction of wetlands, and overfishing.
Emperor Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri
- Emperor penguins are the largest species of penguin and are only found in Antarctica.
- Like all penguins, emperor penguins are flightless and their primary form of locomotion is swimming and walking.
- Emperor penguins can stay underwater for more than 20 minutes and dive nearly 2,000 ft.
- They are perfectly adapted to move quickly through the water with wings that act more like flippers and waterproof feathers.
- During the harsh breeding season, male and female pairs will take turns incubating the egg/chick while the other ventures out to find and bring back food.
- Breeding colonies can consist of thousands of penguins!
Emu
Dromaius novaehollandiae
- Emus are the second tallest bird in the world, standing more than 5 ft tall!
- They are a member of the ratite family, which also includes ostriches, rheas, and cassowaries.
- Emus are endemic to savanna woodland and forests of Australia.
- Females will lay large, green eggs in a nest that will be incubated solely by the male!
- Chicks are precocial, meaning they are active quickly after hatching and don't have to rely on mom or dad for food!
- In 1932, the Australian military waged war against emus to reduce their population... and lost.
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
- The European starling, also known as the common starling, is native to parts of Africa and Asia, but can now be found across most of the world.
- In the 1890s, 100 European starlings were released in New York City by a group that was trying to ensure the Americas became home to every bird Shakespeare spoke of.
- Today, it is estimated that more than 200 million starlings range across North America.
- Starlings are very common and can often be seen (and heard) in large groups roosting in a tree or flying in a tight formation.
- European starlings can mimic the sounds of nearly 20 different species!
- These starlings have white feather tips in the fall, giving them a speckled appearance, but the tips become worn down by spring, giving them a glossy black appearance.
Great Egret
Ardea alba
- Great egrets are found across much of the world at some point during their migration!
- Egrets are closely related to herons.
- Great egrets are often confused with snowy egrets, which are smaller and have a black bill and yellow legs.
- These majestic birds can be found near any shallow, aquatic ecosystem.
- Egrets will stand perfectly still before slicing through the water with their narrow bill when they see a fish.
- Great egret chicks have been known to push their siblings from the nest to have more access to food in a behavior known as 'siblicide.'
- Great egrets were nearly extinct in the late 1800s due to hunting for their feathers, which inspired the foundation of the National Audubon Society.
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
- Great horned owls are found throughout most of North and South America in many different habitats.
- They are incredible hunters, eating small mammals, reptiles, and birds which they can snatch from the air in mid-flight!
- They can even catch prey that is large than themselves.
- Their colors and feather patterns help them camouflage into trees.
- Great horned owls are named for their ear-tufts, which look like horns!
- Like other owls, great horned owls have great hearing abilities due to their face-feathers which direct sound towards their ears.
- Great horned owls cannot move their eyes, but can turn their head more than 180 degrees!
Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus roseus
- Greater flamingos are one of six species of flamingos that are found in western Asia and parts of Africa and South America.
- Each species of flamingo has a varying intensity of pink; greater flamingos are the lightest in color!
- Greater flamingos are the largest species, standing more than 4-ft tall.
- Chicks are born white/grey and develop the pink color over time from carotenoids in their diet.
- A comb-like structure lines the edges of their bill, allowing them to filter feed on shrimp, algae, and other aquatic invertebrates and plants.
- Flamingos live in large social groups, sometimes numbering in dozens of thousands.
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
- Greater roadrunners are one of two species of roadrunners that exist, the other being the lesser roadrunner that lives in Central America.
- Greater roadrunners live in the southwestern United States into Mexico.
- Roadrunners are very fast, reaching more than 15-mph!
- While they can fly, they will usually walk or run, except when in immediate danger.
- They will drink water when they find it but most of their moisture comes from their diet.
- Roadrunners will happily dine on rattlesnakes and will kill them by smacking them against a rock.
- To help prevent overheating in the hot desert, they will flutter the featherless-skin under their chin to allow heat to escape.
Harris's Hawk
Parabuteo unicinctus
- This agile, athletic bird of prey lives mostly in Central America with a small range into the Southwest US.
- Unlike most raptors, Harris's hawks are social and often hunt as a team giving them the name "wolves of the sky!"
- Some members of the group will flush out prey from bushes and cacti while others will attack from above.
- Harris's hawks have been observed bringing food to and assisting injured group mates.
- These hawks are carnivores, mostly hunting birds, lizards, rabbits, and large insects.
- Harris's hawks are often observed standing on each other's backs in a behavior known as "back-stacking." Scientists aren't sure what the purpose of this behavior is!
Hawk-Headed Parrot
Deroptyus accipitrinus
- Also know as the red-fan parrot, this bird lives in the rainforests of northern South America.
- They are closely related to other Amazonian parrots like macaws and parakeets.
- Hawk-headed parrots have long feathers around their necks which they can raise when scared or excited.
- They like to hang out in small groups but will break off into breeding pairs during the breeding season.
- These parrots nest in tree cavities and will come back to the same nest year after year.
Keel-Billed Toucan
Ramphastos sulfuratus
- The keel-billed toucan is one of about 40 species in the toucan family; some are called toucanets or aracaris.
- This toucan is found in tropical forests from Mexico to Colombia.
- Keel-billed toucans are the national bird of Belize!
- Their long, iconic bill can reach fruit on neighboring trees which might not be strong enough to hold their heavy bodies.
- Fruit is not the only thing on the menu, they also eat small animals!
- It was once thought that the beauty of the bill was to attract a mate, but now they think it allows heat to escape the body in a process called thermoregulation.
- Some scientists think toucans cover their bill at night to hide from predators while others think they cover it to stop heat from escaping on cool nights.
Kori Bustard
Ardeotis kori
- Kori bustards are the heaviest flying bird in the world; they can weigh more than 40-lbs!
- Males can be twice as big as the females and stand 5-ft tall.
- They are native to the savannas and other dry areas of Africa where they eat insects, small reptiles, roots, seeds, and even carrion.
- While they can fly, they usually walk or run unless they are in danger.
- Males will expand their throats, stick their tail feathers up, and make a deep booming sound to attract females!
- Kori bustards are one of a few bird species that drink water by sucking it up instead of scooping it.
- Kori bustards have a mutualistic relationship with carmine bee-eaters. The bustards stir up bugs for the bee-eaters and the bee-eaters let the bustards know when predators are in the area.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Fregata magnificens
- Magnificent frigatebirds are one of five frigatebird species, which are seabirds with long tails and long, hooked bills.
- Magnificent frigatebirds are found in along the coast of North and South America in tropical areas.
- Unlike other seabirds, frigatebirds skim fish from the surface of the water instead of diving.
- They are known for harassing other birds to steal their meal or even make them regurgitate fish they just eat!
- Males look very different than the females; they are smaller and have a large red throat pouch!
- Males will inflate their throat poach and make a deep, drum-like sound to impress females.
Masked Lapwing
Vanellus miles
- Also known as the masked plover, masked lapwings are a very common bird throughout many parts of Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea.
- They are named for the yellow wattles that form a mask across their face!
- These birds have been known to nest in unprotected, open areas such as football fields, airport runways, and rooftops.
- Males often become aggressive during the nesting season and are known for swooping down at anything the approaches the nest.
- They are sometimes called the spur-winged plover for the yellow spines on their wing joints.
- Masked lapwings have been observed protecting their nest by pretending to be injured away from the nest when predators are near.
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
- Northern mockingbirds are one of 17 identified species of mocking birds.
- They are named for their ability to mimic other birds and noises, such as car alarms!
- Their beautiful songs made them popular pets in the 1800s and capture for the pet trade led to a decline in their populations.
- Northern mockingbirds are the only mockingbird species commonly found in North America.
- Males will sing louder and more frequently than females.
- They mostly sing during the day, but will also sing to a full moon.
- Mockingbirds will continue to learn new songs throughout their lives; some can sing 200 different songs!
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
- Ospreys are large raptors that live nearly all across the world.
- They are a fairly large bird of prey, with a wingspan of about 5-ft.
- Their diet is almost entirely fish and they will dive feet-first into the water to catch them.
- They have special feet with rough soles to help them better grip slippery fish.
- They are commonly mistaken for bald eagles in America because of their white head and proximity to water!
- Ospreys build huge nests of sticks on top of trees and manmade structures.
- Eggs hatch every couple of days and if there is not enough food, only the dominant/older chicks will survive.
Rhinoceros Hornbill
Buceros rhinoceros
- One of more than 50 species of hornbills that all live in African or Asia.
- Rhinoceros hornbills live in dense, old-growth forests of Southeast Asia.
- Males have red eyes and females have white/blue eyes.
- They have large, colorful 'casques' on their beaks that are made of keratin, like our fingernails and stingray barbs!
- Scientists think the casques are used to amplify sound so hornbills can communicate in the dense forests.
- Females will lay their eggs in tree cavities and seal themselves inside for nearly 3 months while the male brings her and the chick food.
- Hornbill populations are heavily threatened by deforestation.
Ruppell's Griffon Vulture
Gyps rueppellii
- Ruppell's griffon vultures are the highest flying bird in the world!
- They have been recorded traveling at 36,000-ft, the same altitude used by commercial planes.
- Their large, 8-ft wingspan allows them to soar using little energy.
- Like most vultures, they are primarily scavengers.
- Griffon vultures help clean up the ecosystem and prevent the spread of diseases by eating dead animals.
- Like other old-world vultures, griffon vultures have a poor sense of smell and primarily find food with sight.
- They are critically endangered due to poisoning and habitat loss.
- It is challenging to perform population surveys or observations on griffon vultures as they can spend extended periods of time in flight.
Scarlet Ibis
Eudocimus ruber
- Scarlet ibises are native to coastal northern South America and the Caribbean, occasionally venturing up into the SE United States.
- They are one of more than 25 species of ibises that all have long, curved bills adapted for probing under rocks and shrubs for food.
- Like flamingos, scarlet ibises are not born pink. Instead, they slowly develop the color as they age through the pigments they absorb in their diet of beetles and small crustaceans.
- Scarlet ibises are very social and have been observed in groups with thousands of other birds, including other ibises, storks, spoonbills, and egrets.
- Ibises are in the same family as spoonbills!
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao
- Scarlet macaws are a large species of parrot native to tropical regions of Central and South America.
- They have large, hooked bills that help them crack open nuts and seeds and can be used as a limb to help them climb around.
- Macaws have a diet of mostly fruit, so they will eat clay to help neutralize the acid in their stomach.
- Scarlet macaws are common in some parts of their range but are rare in others due to capture for the pet trade and habitat loss.
- These macaws can live more than 70 years and can mimic human speech!
- Scarlet macaws are very popular pets but are challenging to own as they often outlive their owners.
Shoebill
Balaeniceps rex
- Shoebills are a large bird native to the swampy regions of eastern Africa.
- They are named for their large, thick bill that resembles a clog-like shoe.
- Shoebills are often referred to as storks, though they are the only member of their family and may actually be more closely related to pelicans.
- Shoebills are huge birds, often standing more than 2-ft tall!
- They are skilled fish-hunters and will prey on lungfish, catfish, and even small crocodiles!
- Shoebills often have two chicks to ensure that at least one survives. The smaller chick often gets out-competed by the stronger sibling.
Secretary Bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
- Secretary birds are a bird of prey and are loosely related to hawks, vultures, and other raptors.
- Secretary birds are found on the savannas of Africa where they are estimated to walk up to 18 miles per day!
- Secretary birds are mostly terrestrial but are capable of flying more than 12,000-ft in the air!
- Their legs are so long that they have to bend them to reach food or water.
- They can stand up to 4-ft tall!
- Like all birds of prey, secretary birds are carnivores and will hunt a wide variety of prey, including large bugs, reptiles, other birds, eggs, and even carrion.
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