Category Archives: Birds
Kestrel
Kestrel: Falco sparverius
The slender American Kestrel is roughly the size and shape of a Mourning Dove, although it has a larger head; longer, narrow wings; and long, square-tipped tail. To hear what a kestrel sounds like click here: Kestrel Call.
American Kestrels occupy habitats ranging from deserts and grasslands to alpine meadows. You’re most likely to see them perching on telephone wires along roadsides, in open country with short vegetation and few trees.
Credit to: Mick Lobb
Fun Fact: Unlike humans, birds can see ultraviolet light. This enables kestrels to make out the trails of urine that voles, a common prey mammal, leave as they run along the ground. Like neon diner signs, these bright paths may highlight the way to a meal—as has been observed in the Eurasian Kestrel, a close relative.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: All About Birds
Kiwi
Kiwi: Apteryx
About the size of a chicken, the kiwi is a small, flightless, and nearly wingless bird found only in New Zealand. Like its larger cousins the emu, ostrich, and rhea, the kiwi is classified as a ratite. Most birds have a special ridge on their sternum, called a keel, where flight muscles attach, but ratites don’t need keels because they don’t fly.
Kiwis can live up to 50 years in the wild and 30 years in zoos.
Fun Fact: The kiwi is thought to be the world’s most ancient bird, evolving over 30 million years ago.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: San Diego Zoo
Saker Falcon
Saker Falcon: Falco cherrug
A great favorite with falconers, the saker falcon is a large, powerful bird of prey with an exceptionally broad wingspan for its size. Like other falcons, this bird is equipped with sharp, curved talons for grasping prey, while the strong, hooked beak is used to tear its victim’s flesh
The saker falcon is a wide-ranging species with a breeding distribution across the Palaearctic region from Eastern Europe to western China. After the breeding season, many populations migrate further south and spend winter in China, India, the Mediterranean, Middle East, and parts of Africa.
Fun Fact: Saker falcons are highly agile and extremely fast; capable of diving up to 200 miles per hour.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: ARKive
Golden Pheasant
Golden Pheasant: Chrysolophus pictus
The golden pheasant is native to forests in mountainous areas of western China but feral populations have been established in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. While they can fly, they prefer to run: but if startled they can suddenly burst upwards at great speed, with a distinctive wing sound.
The average lifespan of golden pheasants is 5-6 years; however, captive birds that are well taken care of could live 15 or even 20 years.
Credit to: Bhaskar Pyakurel
Fun Fact: It is claimed that the golden pheasant were the first species of pheasant brought to North America and that George Washington owned some.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: Avian Web
Pesquet’s Parrot
Pesquet’s Parrot: Psittrichas fulgidus
Found in the mountains of New Guinea, these birds feed mainly on the soft pulp of figs, mangoes, and large flowers. They have a harsh and rasping call, also described as growling. Pesquet’s parrots stand about 18 inches tall and weigh 600-800 grams.
The world population of this bird is estimate at 42,000. The main threat to the Pesquet’s parrot is hunting for their feathers (which are used for ceremonial dress) as well as the cage bird pet trade.
Credit to: Doug Janson
Fun Fact: Pesquet’s Parrot is also known as the Vulturine Parrot. However, unlike vultures who have bald faces to keep rotting meat from sticking to their feathers, the Pesquet’s Parrot has a bald face to keep fruit from sticking to its feathers.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: World Parrot Trust
Northern Hawk Owl
Northern Hawk Owl:
Found in the upper reaches of North America, the northern hawk owl preys on small mammals, especially voles. They nest in cavities of trees and have clutches of 3-13 eggs. These owls have a wing span of 28 inches and a height of 14 to 17 inches.
The call of male northern hawk owl is a rolling whistled “ulululululul,” lasting up to 14 seconds. Female has a similar but shorter and hoarser call. Their alarm call is rapid, high, “kip-kip-kip-kip.” To hear what these birds sound like, click here: Northern Hawk Owl Calls
Credit to: Stephen Jones
Fun Fact: Though it is thought to detect prey primarily by sight, the Northern Hawk Owl can find and seize prey under 30 cm (1 foot) of snow due to their keen hearing.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: All About Birds
Macaroni Penguin
Macaroni Penguin: Eudyptes chrysolophus
The macaroni penguin’s diet consists mainly of crustaceans such as krill. Macaroni Penguin are among the largest and densest of all penguin species.
In contrast to the other crested penguins (consisting of 6 different species of penguin), this species has orange, not yellow, feather plumes. The distribution of Macaroni Penguin extends from the sub-Antarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula, but overall they are found further south than the rest of the crested penguins.
Credit to: Jerzy Strzelecki
Fun Fact: The macaroni name was given to them by British explores during the 18th century because their colorful head feathers resembled those worn in the hats young men at time who were called macaronis. The line in the song Yankee Doodle, “Stuck a feather in his cap and called it Macaroni,” stems from the same fashion movement.
The featured image or thumbnail of this article is a royal penguin, which is a subspecies of macaroni penguins.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: Penguin World and Pitsburgh Zoo
Swallow Tail Hummingbird
Swallow Tail Hummingbird: Campylopterus macrourus
Found in east-central South America, swallow tail hummingbirds are one of the largest hummingbirds of its range, measuring about 6.5 inches including its beak and tail. Females lay an average clutch of one egg, which is incubated for 15 to 16 days. The female swallow tail will feed the young with regurgitated food about 1 to 2 times an hour; mostly insects since nectar is an insufficient source of protein for the growing chicks. A nesting female can capture up to 2,000 insects a day.
Adults primarily feed on flower nectar taken from a variety of brightly colored, scented small flowers of trees, herbs, shrubs and epiphytes.
Credit to: Dario Sanches
Fun Fact: Hummingbirds have the largest brain (4.2% of the total body weight) and the largest heart, breast, and flight muscles (30% of its total body mass) in proportion to body size than any other bird.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: Avian Web
Rough Legged Hawk
Rough Legged Hawk: Buteo lagopus
The name “rough-legged hawk” refers to their feathered legs all the way down to the toes. The rough-legged hawk, ferruginous hawk, and golden eagle are the only American raptors to have this feature.
These hawks are listed as least concern on the IUCN red list and eat small mammals or birds. The rough-legged hawk breeds in the Arctic tundra and taiga regions around the northern hemisphere. To hear what these birds sound like, click here: Rough Legged Hawk Call
Credit to: Ron Hanson
Fun Fact: The nest of the Rough-legged Hawk sometimes contains the bones of caribou along with sticks.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: All About Birds
Hyacinth Macaw
Hyacinth Macaw: Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
These Macaws are found in Brazil and have been labeled as endangered since 2000. The major threats to these birds include: illegal traffic for food and feathers, as well as the pet trade industry. Hyacinth macaws can live an average on 60 years in captivity. They eat fruit and clay but their main source of food in the wild is palm nuts which have been passed through the digestive systems of cows.
Credit to: Sunira
Fun Fact: Their beak is extremely powerful and has the power to crack coconuts.
For more information about the content discussed in this article visit: IUNC Red List and The Animal Spot
Everything Animals 