Wonderful World of Exotic

BirdsWritten by Aysha Nasir

1

Wonderful World of Exotic

BirdsWritten by Aysha Nasir

Whoever coined the term “bird brain” didn’t have the African grey in mind. Originating from the rainforests of Africa, this clever parrot is said to be one of the most intelligent birds in the world.

THE  AFRICAN  GREY

photo by Gary Burke

Parrots are legendary mimic masters but African greys, with the intellect of a five-year-old child, don’t just mimic sounds but can learn the meanings of words. Take Alex for example, an African grey famous for his intelligence. It was documented that Alex related words with meanings and also knew colours, numbers and shapes!

These avian masterminds also enjoy vocalizing household sounds, like appliances. An African grey might try to lure their owner by imitating the sound of a doorbell if they see their owner going to the door every time the doorbpell rings. The same can be said about a microwave beeping, a phone ringing or even video game sound effects.

3photo by Amber MacPherson

THE AFRICAN GREY

In their natural habitat, African greys make squawking, whistling, clicking and other similar sounds.

African greys are generally vegetarians, and like to eat seeds, fruits, vegetables and nuts. In the wild they also consume snails but in captivity, a hardboiled egg is a good alternative. Their average life span is 50 to 65 years, but some live well into their 70s.

While some parrots mimic “Polly want a cracker” not really knowing the meaning, a cracker should probably be available if an African grey utters that popular phrase, as they mean what they say and might even request cheese to go with it!

4

THE AFRICAN GREY

While most birds are up at the crack of dawn, it seems bee-eaters enjoy their beauty sleep as they’re often seen sleeping long after sunrise, and it’s clearly working for them.

THE  BEE-­‐EATER

photo by Amber MacPherson

The Bee-eater is a beautiful and vibrantly colourful bird with a slender body, extended tail feathers and pointed wings, making them a truly magnificent sight.

Bee-eaters are from the Meropidae family, consisting of 26 different species. Most are found in Asia and Africa, but others are also found in Australia, parts of Europe and New Guinea.

As their name suggests, the bee-eater eats bees (honeybees being their favourite), although they will consume any flying insect and many non-flying as well, such as ants and beetles. As pretty as they look, they’re equally as deadly to their prey.

6

photo by Robert Bannister

THE BEE-EATER

A bee-eater will only hunt flying insects while they are in-flight. Once the insect has landed, the Bee-eater will not go after it. The bee-eater has a long, curved beak with a sharp tip, which it uses to clinch a flying insect to bring back to its perch. The bee-eater will then brutally rub its prey against the hard surface, ensuring to get rid of any stinger and venom, with eyes shut to avoid poison spraying into its eyes.

Bee-eaters eat about 250 insects a day, and while the early bird might catch the worm, these morning sleepyheads certainly get their fair share or more!

Bee-eaters are from the Meropidae family, consisting of 26 different species. Most are found in Asia and Africa, but others are also found in Australia, parts of Europe and New Guinea.

7photo by Henrique Oliveira Pires

THE BEE-EATER

THE  BELLBIRDphoto by Amber MacPherson

Earning its name by carrying a tune similar to the sound of a bell, the Bellbird’s song is sweet music to just about anyone’s ears.

The bellbird, also known as "Korimako" or "Makomako", is a native bird of New Zealand and the country’s most famous songbird. Male bellbirds have mainly olive coloured plumage while females are mostly brown and they measure just a touch smaller than a blackbird at about 20 centimetres.

These charming singers from the honeyeater family enjoy eating nectar, extracting it from flowers using their tongue, which is a bit abrasive. They also consume insects and berries.

Bellbirds play a very important role in pollination and the spreading of

9

photo by Adam Colley

photo by Phil Le Cren photo by Sid Mosdell

THE BELLBIRD

10

small seeds. When a Bellbird reaches for nectar, pollen sticks to the feathers on its head, and when it flies to the next flower, the pollen transfers, creating the formation of a new seed. The Bellbird pollinates many different plants, including the mistletoe!

The bellbird sings its songs all day, but more actively during early morning and late evening hours. Their song consists of three very different bell chiming sounds. Some even say that it’s paying a compliment to tell a singer that they sound like a bellbird!

photo by Phil Le Cren

THE BELLBIRD

If family is one of nature's masterpieces, the bulbul has it covered. Not only are they usually monogamous, but the male often feeds the female while she is incubating their eggs, which lasts about 12 days. Also, it’s quite common for older chicks to stay with the family to help out with their younger brothers and sisters.

THE  BULBULphoto by Dot Com Pals

Bulbuls are a family of medium-sized songbirds from the Pycnonotidae family, and there are about 130 species. They have a lifespan of about 8 to 10 years and can be found throughout most of Africa, the Middle East, Asia to Indonesia and as north as Japan.

This noisy bird ranges in size from 5.5 to 11 inches in length and is extremely vocal. They have a slender body with a short neck and both the female and male

are generally alike in most ways, although the female is often just a touch smaller. The bulbul’s plumage usually has a dull hue, such as brown, green and black, although some species do possess some bright colors such as yellow, orange and red. These bursts of color are seen in places such as the cheeks and throat.

12

photo by Jack CheahTHE BULBUL

13photo b Martin Thomas

Bulbuls have quite a varied diet consisting of nectar, seeds, fruit, berries, small insects as well as other arthropods and small vertebrates. However, because they mainly eat fruits and berries, if you have an orchard tree, watch out, as Bulbuls are known to damage orchards!

Photo By Gary K.

THE BULBUL

THE  COCKATIEL

photo by Annette Teng

If cockatiels could type, they’d probably be on every social network site that exists as they are extremely social birds, and being the most popular pet bird after the Parakeet, their friends list would probably be quite long as well!

Originating from Australia, cockatiels are from the parrot family and have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years. A favorite pet in households all over the world, cockatiels come in different colors and patterns, some of which include grey, lutino, cinnamon, and pearled, among others. Most possess a signature round orange patch on each cheek and all have a head crest, which is often indicative of their mood. 15photo by Jessica McKelden Cave

phot

os b

y Ji

m B

endo

n

THE COCKATIEL

Cockatiels have a very tasty diet. In addition to pet store birdseed or pellets, cockatiels enjoy a variety of food such as many different fruits and vegetables, some meats in small amounts as well as cottage cheese, yogurt and hardboiled eggs!

Some cockatiels can mimic speech, although typically a cockatiel is better at whistling, with the male often being more vocal than a female. A pair of the same gender usually gets along just as well as a male and female pair. Also, because of their strong need for social interaction, if a single cockatiel is

going to be home alone for long periods of time, it’s often a good idea to get a pair to avoid depression.

16

photos by Nick JohnsonTHE COCKATIEL

Lovingly referred to as the clown of parrots, conures are comical creatures that often like to engage in hijinks like hanging upside down on a perch!

Originating in Central and South America, conures in the wild live in groups of about 20 and are peace-loving birds that rarely fight with each other.

THE  CONURE

photo by Colin Pass

photo by Sarah Crews

Having a lifespan of around 15 to 25 years, the conure is a medium-size parrot, ranging in length from about 9 to 21 inches, and is mostly green with bursts of color, such as yellow, red, blue and white.

This pretty bird is known for mimicking speech and, living up to its circus-like personality, it can learn various tricks. Conures are loud parrots and often call and screech in a high-pitched tone. These little noisemakers are also cheerful, affectionate and full of spirit and are often touted as being a big bird n a little bird’s body!

Wild conures eat a variety of fruits, seeds and insects. In captivity, they enjoy a

diet of seeds, parrot pellets along with fruits and vegetables. Most conures also seem to really enjoy eating sprouts.

Conures are playful parrots and are full of fun, although a pair of earplugs might come in handy every now and then!

18

photo by QuakerVille.com

photo by Gilles Ozinoh

THE CONURE

THE  CRANE

photo by Scott Hanko

As the world’s tallest flying bird, the crane measures anywhere from 35 inches to six feet tall, depending on which of the 15 species it belongs to. These long-legged and long-necked birds live on every continent except for Antarctica and South America. Crane fossils have never been found in South America and it’s a bit of a mystery why cranes don’t live on this continent and never have.

20 photo by Michael MenefeeTHE CRANE

Most types of cranes are on the endangered species list or are vulnerable of being put on the list. Cranes are often confused with another large bird called the Heron, which looks a lot like the crane but is an unrelated bird. One sure way to tell the difference between the two is to watch them fly. The Heron will pull its neck back while in flight and the crane will keep its neck stretched out.

A crane’s diet changes with the seasons and its nutritional needs and they eat an assortment of food, such as seeds, leaves, nuts, berries, insects, fish, lizards, rodents and even small birds. A Crane’s life expectancy in the wild is about 20 to 30 years. However, a crane in captivity named

21 photo by Steve HeathTHE CRANE

Originating from Europe, Asia and Africa, the cuckoo bird could be the master of deception as many are known to trick other birds to sit on their eggs and rear their offspring! This practice is called brood parasitism and out of about 150 different cuckoo species, 40 percent are brood parasites. The other 60 percent build nests and care for their offspring just like most birds.

Still, the con artist demeanor of some cuckoos makes them fascinating. Not knowing how to build a nest, the female hunts for nests containing eggs resembling her own, and once she finds a suitable nest, she patiently waits for the birds to leave. Then she will fly in, gulp down an egg and leave her own egg behind. This entire process only takes 10 seconds allowing the cuckoo to quickly restart the process all over again.

The unsuspecting birds return and sit on the cuckoo egg, essentially being its foster parents, never realizing anything is different, even if the cuckoo egg is much larger than their own.

THE  CUCKOO

22 photo by Tatiana Bulyonkova

The cuckoo egg is incubated inside the female for an extra 24 hours to ensure it hatches first and the naughty nature of the cuckoo doesn’t stop with the mother. The newborn cuckoo’s first order of business as soon as it hatches is to get rid of any eggs or other hatchlings in the nest by simply tossing them out. The foster parents are never the wiser, even when the hatchling towers over them at twice their size! 23

phot

o by

Nic

k Fo

rd

photo by Sergey Yeliseev

THE CUCKOO

The darter, often also referred to as a snakebird, comes from the Anhingidae family of birds.  Most darters are tropical water birds that feed primarily on medium-sized fish and are found in all regions with the exception of the Antarctic.

Darters come in four species, and they are:  American Darter, Oriental (or Indian) Darter, African Darter and the Australian Darter.

THE  DARTER

photo by Colin Pass

These somewhat large birds measure about 31 to 39 inches in length and weigh approximately two to three pounds. These short-legged birds have a very sharp and pointy bill with serrated edges, they do not possess external nostrils and live life with totally webbed feet.

Male darters possess dark brown and black plumage, while females display a much lighter-colored plumage and they are generally larger than the males.  Another way to spot the difference between a male and female darter is that the male has a much larger bill and the male also has a crest that’s found on its nape, which is the area around the back of a bird’s neck, starting at the skull and to the bird’s back.

Their eggs are considered a delicious treat by some folks and even though an adult darter might not be the tastiest meal around, because it’s a fairly meaty bird, adult darters are also eaten. Darters live for approximately nine years, with a maximum lifespan of about 16 years.

25

photo by Jason WhiteheadTHE DARTER

THE  FLAMINGO

photo by Christian Kotte

The flamingo could be the mascot for the slogan “you are what you eat”, as it earns its magnificent pink to reddish coloring from eating food rich in carotene, such as certain crustaceans like shrimp. flamingos in captivity, such as a zoo, must be given food rich in carotene in order for the Flamingo to keep its color.

Their diet also includes blue-green and red algae, insects, small fish amongst other food. The flamingo’s beak is designed to be used to upside down in order to filter out mud and other undesirables from its beak when foraging for food.

27photo by Paulo Fassina

THE FLAMINGO

There are six different types of flamingos and they live throughout the world in habitats of low level bodies of water such as lakes and lagoons. Although flamingos are commonly seen wading in the water, they are actually very good swimmers and excellent at flying, though they do need to gain speed by running before taking off for flight.

Flamingos can live up to 40 years, weigh about 9 pounds and can grow up to five feet tall.

They are very social birds and often live in groups as big as 10,000 birds, although flocks in Africa can go up to a million, making them the largest flocks in the world! 28

photo by M. Olszewski THE FLAMINGO

Unable to swim or walk very well, the frigatebird is often in the air for over a week at a time. Talk about jet lag!

This seabird, also referred to as Man of War bird and Pirate Bird, consists of five different species and is found throughout the world near islands and tropical coasts, with the majority in the Pacific Ocean. They usually stay close to land (within 100 miles) where they return to during mating season. Possessing the largest wingspan (in comparison to its body) of any bird ensures they are superb in flight, which is how they spend most of their time, only landing to sleep or to breed.

Frigatebirds are unable to take-off from flat surfaces, including water, and because of this, they have to capture their prey from the water without landing. The diet of a frigatebird mainly consists of fish and other sea creatures such as baby turtles, jellyfish, squid and the like.

THE  FRIGATEBIRD

photo by Colin Pass

photo by Robert

Male frigatebirds are known for the bright red pouch near the throat, which puffs out during mating season in hopes to attract a mate.

Both males and females usually have black plumage that may appear to be more of a black-brown color and weigh an average of about three pounds. The frigatebird also has a long list of long features, such as a long tail and bill as well as long wings that can reach up to seven feet!

30

photo by Karen Morris

photo by Dave Govoni

THE FRIGATEBIRD

THE  GRACKLE

photo by Colin Pass

photo by Rachelle Vance

Stealing a meal from other birds, raiding bird nests and forcefully snatching food out of another bird’s beak is just some of the bad behavior of the grackle that’s earned it the reputation of a bully.

Grackles are medium to large birds, measuring about 11 to 13 inches in length, with a wingspan of 14 to 18 inches and weighing 2.5 to 5 ounces. They are classified as being a part of the blackbird group of birds and live in most parts of North America inhabiting cities, towns and wherever birdfeeders are found.

32photo by Kathleen GulleyTHE GRACKLE

They aren’t afraid of people and can often be found in food courts or picnic areas, eagerly waiting for some food to be dropped.

Large numbers of grackles also often frequent dumpsters and dumpsites looking for scraps of food.

Although considered a songbird, grackles aren’t famous for singing, but rather the opposite as they have unappealing loud voices and cry out in high-pitched tones.

The grackle is omnivorous and has a diet of insects, frogs, berries, seeds and even mice. However, when food is scarce, they will invade another bird’s nest and eat their eggs and offspring.

These scavenging birds are also considered an agricultural nuisance due to eating seedlings and damaging crops. The common blackbird lives about three years, but the grackle has a lifespan of about 13 years!

33photo by Ken Slade THE GRACKLE

THE  HOATZINphoto by Kate Tann

Often known as the Flying Cow or Stinkbird, the hoatzin looks like a chicken, emits a foul odor like a skunk and much like a cow, has two stomachs! This bird could very well be the most unusual creature of the Amazon.

The hoatzin, a species of the tropical bird, weighs just under two pounds and is about 24 to 26 inches in length, resembling the size of a chicken. It also has large wings, red eyes set on a startling blue face and a small head that’s bald except for a fuzzy crest. They are not graceful fliers and are rather clumsy in flight due to oversized wings and a small head. There’s not much difference between genders

except that the female is a touch smaller and has a shorter crest than the male.

Although the hoatzin is considered a game bird, and is hunted for its feathers, meat and eggs, it’s not an endangered species. This might be due to its defense mechanisms. The hoatzin has claws on its wings and has the ability to release a foul smelling odor to scare away enemies.

Hoatzins are strict vegetarians with a diet consisting of fruits, flowers and leaves and they are the only birds (residing in trees) that feed their offspring regurgitated leaf paste.

35

phot

o by

Eug

en L

uca

THE HOATZIN

36

phot

o by

For

rest

Row

land

THE HOATZIN

The guans are a large group of birds consisting of more than 50 different species belonging to the Cracidae bird family. These large game birds are native to Central and South America as well as a few Caribbean islands.

The Crested guan’s plumage is a greenish-brown color with white spots on its lower half, it also has a red throat and purple around the eyes and a small crest on its head. It is about 26 inches in length and weighs about 4 and a half pounds. It is also a vital game bird from Mexico to Ecuador and Venezuela.

However, when it comes to being a game bird, mostly all guans, if not all, are considered to resemble a turkey in many ways and therefore are considered to be a game bird by many. In general, most guans are a monogamous bunch with males and females forming lasting bonds.

THE  GUAN

37

phot

o by

Ala

n D

ahl

To attract a mate, guans emit sounds resembling a flute during early morning hours. They also use their vocal abilities to defend their territory as well. In appearance, the males and females look alike.

Guans are very social birds and can be quite noisy with loud cries that can usually be heard at night. Unfortunately, many different types of the guan are now an endangered species. 38photo by Suzanne O'Rourke

THE GUAN

THE  HONEYGLIDEph

oto

by P

edro

Cìrt

e-Re

al

Named after their extraordinary behaviour of guiding humans to beehives, the honeyguide bird definitely lives up to its name. After being led to the bee colony, the people take their share of honey and the birds then feast on the remainders, which include beeswax, the bee’s eggs, larvae, pupae and wax worms. The honeyguide is one of the few birds with a digestive system that can process wax.

Originating from Africa and southern Asia, the Honeyguide is a small to medium sized bird with subdued plumage, although some can possess yellow markings, and all have light outer tails. In addition to what they consume at a bee colony, honeyguides also eat flying and crawling insects, fruits and spiders. 40photo by Alan Manson

THE HONEYGLIDE

There’s 17 species of the honeyguide and about half of them are brood parasites, which means they lay an egg in a nest of a different species, never returning and leaving the nest-dwellers responsible for the care of the egg and eventually a honeyguide hatchling.

A newly hatched honeyguide is born featherless, without sight and with hooks on its beak. It uses these hooks to blindly puncture any eggs and kill any young birds in the nest, ensuring that it’s the sole recipient of all feedings.

41photo by Alan MansonTHE HONEYGLIDE

The hummingbird earns its name by the sound that’s produced by their wings flapping 60 to 80 times a second on average. There are over 325 species and can be found across the U.S., Canada and South America, where they mainly live.

THE  HUMMINGBIRD

photo by Beth Moore

Often weighing less than a penny, they're also among the smallest and fastest birds, travelling up to 30 miles an hour or more!

Watching a bird in flight can be awe-inspiring and the Hummingbird takes it to a whole new level.

Hummingbirds are the only birds that are able to fly backwards, thanks to wings that move in a circular motion. This unique characteristic also allows them to fly up and down, forward, sideways, hover in the air and they can even fly upside down!

43

photo by Dan RipplingerTHE HUMMINGBIRD

Hummingbirds are incredible in the air, but on land, Hummingbirds are barely able to walk due to tiny, weak legs. They’re able to perch but if they want to move without flying, they’ll use their wings as crutches to help them shuffle along sideways.

Hummingbirds might be small, but their appetites are not. They can consume up to eight times their body weight, feasting on nectar and on various insects and spiders for protein and other nutritional needs.

44

photo by Dan Ripplinger

photo by Dan Ripplinger

THE HUMMINGBIRD

The ibis is a medium-sized wading bird that wallows in bodies of water such as lakes, bays, marshes and lagoons. Consisting of about 30 different species, the Ibis is found in moderately hot climates around the world (except the South Pacific islands) with some migrating to cooler climates in the summertime.

IBIS

photo by Alex E Proimos

From the super small dwarf Ibis that’s about two inches in length to the giant ibis that stands at over three feet tall, Ibises can vary greatly in size, depending on the species. Some Ibises can have plumage in an array of colors while others are white with color appearing only on their heads, tails and legs.

This social bird doesn’t like to eat alone and will gather in large flocks to feed, as well to find a mate during mating season. Also, in spite of being a generally large

bird, the ibis feels safe relaxing in trees instead of resting on the ground.

The ibis has a long neck along with long legs and a down-curved slender bill, which it uses to feed on prey in shallow water and mud. Even though the ibis is omnivorous, eating both plants and animals, where there is an abundance of prey, such as fish, small mammals, crabs and insects, the Ibis has more of a carnivorous diet! 46

Photo By MargaretTHE IBIS

47Photo By Denis Santana

THE IBIS

THE  JACAMARphoto by Joaquim Muchaxo

A relative of the woodpecker, jacamars are from tropical forests in South and Central America as well as Mexico. Consisting of 18 species, they range in size from about 5 to 13 inches in length and weigh between 0.6 to 2.6 ounces. The jacamar has a long bill and a long tail, as well as rounded wings and tiny feet.

Jacamars feed mainly on flying insects such as butterflies, moths and dragonflies to name a few. With a loud snap of its bill, the Jacamar catches the insect mid-air and then carries it to a perch, where the insect is beaten against the hard surface before being devoured.

The plumage of the Jacamar bird is often showcased in lustrous, iridescent colors such as blue green and orange on its chest and back. Although most are beautifully colorful, the range of hues can differ, with others having quite dull colored plumage. There isn’t much difference in the plumage of males and females except for the throat area, which is white on males and brown in females.

Usually nesting in holes in the ground, the jacamar, on average, has a clutch of up to four eggs, with both parents sharing the incubation of the eggs as well as rearing their young. 49photo by Felix UribeTHE JACAMAR

50photo by Richard OrrTHE JACAMAR

THE  KINGFISHERphoto by Kevin B. Agar

The kingfisher is a patient bird that sits on a perch motionless while keeping a watchful eye on movements in the water, waiting for prey to make even the smallest ripple. Once it spots any stirring in the water, using its dagger-like bill, the kingfisher dives into the water at no more than 10 inches below surface and jabs its prey with its bill.

The kingfisher then brings its catch, most often fish, amphibians and crustaceans, back to the perch. There it is stunned by being slammed harshly against the perch’s

hard surface before finally being swallowed whole by the kingfisher.

There are about 90 species of the kingfisher and although they are found worldwide, they are mainly a tropical bird. These brilliantly colorful birds, often with brightly patterned plumage, vary in length from about 4 to 17 inches and weigh up to 16 ounces. The kingfisher has a very big head along with a gigantic and long bill, but small sized feet and a compact body with a tail that’s small to average in size. 52

photo by Colin Pass

THE KINGFISHER

The largest of all kingfisher birds is the kookaburra that is so famous for its laugh, there’s a children’s

song dedicated to it!

photo by John Hardison

photo by Rchard Stead

photo by Rchard Stead

THE KINGFISHER

The kiskadee is a flycatcher bird and belongs to one of two species. They are named after the call of the Great Kiskadee. Kiskadees are usually less than nine inches in length and can be found from Texas to Mexico as well as in many South American countries such as Uruguay, Brazil, Columbia, Argentina and others.

KISKADEE

photo by Brian Ralphs

Kiskadees have vivacious coloring that makes for a delightful visual experience to anyone who catches a glimpse of them. They have a yellow crown with black feathering, resembling a mohawk, along with yellow body plumage and sandy colored tails. They have a white face with a black horizontal stripe joining the black beak, and making it seem larger than it really is

(the beak is actually rather small)!

Their beautiful colors also camouflage them well amongst flowers, often keeping them safe from predators. Although, the kiskadee possesses a loud enough warning call that not only serves as a warning to possible predators, but also warns other animals of the potential danger.

Although the kiskadee feeds on seeds and fruits, it’s an omnivore and often eats insects and fish, along with soft vertebrates (creatures with a soft spine). Because of its preference for live prey, the kiskadee has so far been safe from pet trade hunting. 55photo by David Monniaux

phot

o by

Trip

p D

aven

port

THE KISKADEE

THE  LORYphoto by Danny Buay

These extravagantly colored parrots are native to the South Pacific, commonly found in flocks ranging throughout the islands of New Guinea, Indonesia, Australia and Polynesia. There are about 53 different species of the lory and their size varies from small to medium, depending on the type that it is.

Some folks also use the term lory and Lorikeet interchangeably. Although there isn’t any hard and fast rule about which term to use, generally the bird with the longer and pointed tail is the lorikeet and the bird with the shorter and square tail is the lory.

57

photo by Kim Chong Tat

photo by Kim Chong Tat

THE LORY

In the wild, their diet includes soft fruits, pollen and nectar, which they extract from flowers using their special brush-tipped tongues. In captivity, a lory’s diet should resemble a nectar based diet (special formulas are available) and can also be supplemented with fruits and vegetables, such as apples, carrots, broccoli and sweet potatoes. Some lory owners also feed flowers that are edible and some of these include dandelions, marigolds, hibiscus and pansies.

The expected lifespan of a lory varies, depending on the species, with most living an average of 20 years, although some have been reported to have lived as long as 30 years!

58

THE LORY

LOVEBIRDSphoto by Steve Clancy

The lovebird is a whimsical little parrot with a lot of character! Originating from Madagascar, they have the personality of bigger parrots and are very playful and active little creatures.

There are nine species of lovebirds and a pair is often seen sitting nestled together for long periods of time,

preening and feeding each other, forming a solid and monogamous bond. This is one explanation of how they earned their name. However, it’s often confused that lovebirds must live in pairs, which is not necessarily always true as Lovebirds in captivity can deeply bond with their human caregiver quite well with the proper care and attention. 60

photo by Anna-Maria Wright

photo by C Urban

THE LOVEBIRDS

Often called the “pocket parrot”, lovebirds typically measure about 5 to 6 inches in length and weigh about 1.5 to 2.5 ounces, making them among the smallest parrots in the world! They live in small flocks and enjoy eating seeds, fruits and vegetables and have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

Although lovebirds are not as vocal or loud as their bigger counterparts, they can screech in a high pitched tone at times (usually if they’re seeking attention from their owner). However, their general chirps and sounds, which although can be in abundance, are not too loud. Lovebirds are not famous for mimicking speech or sounds, though it’s not unheard of either, and females might be a more willing participant than males. 61

photo by Kelley Michie

photo by Bill Weaver photo by Joe Parrilla

LOVEBIRDS

When people think of parrots, the macaw is what they probably envision. They are beautiful parrots with vibrantly colored plumage, but looks aren’t everything with this magnificent bird. macaws are also highly intelligent with a knack for mimicking sounds and speech, although there’s no guarantee that all will mimic.

THE  MACAWph

oto

by P

edro

Ivo

Sim

oes

There are 17 different species of macaws, with several on the endangered species list, including the Hyacinth, Blue-Throated and Red-Fronted. The spix’s and glacus macaw are already extinct in the wild. The macaw is an attractive pet and many are illegally captured to sell in the pet trade industry.

Originating from the rainforests of Central and South America, macaws love to take baths, which helps their feathers to stay in beautiful condition. They have an average lifespan of about 30 to 50 years, however living as long as 80 to 100 years is not a surprising possibility.

63photo by Scott Hankoph

oto

by J

acki

Am

ato

THE MACAW

Macaws are big birds and are among the largest parrots with big and powerful beaks. On average a macaw measures 12 to 36 inches in length and weighs 8 to 54 ounces.

However the hyacinth macaw is the largest of all parrots and it can grow to 60 inches with a massive wingspan of more than 4 feet!

Fruits, nuts, leaves, seeds and flowers are just some items in this very social bird’s diet. They enjoy lots of interaction and life with a macaw can get pretty loud, especially since they can scream at over 105 decibels!

64photo by Karen Millward

phot

o by

Pet

er H

ogan

THE MACAW

From the tropical forests in Central and South America emerges a small bird called the manakin. They range in size from 2.8 to 6 inches in length and 0.38 to 1.1 ounces in weight and there’s about 60 species of the manakin, which translated from Middle Dutch (mannekijn) means “little man”!Generally these tiny tweeters are stubby birds with large heads, short tails, rounded wings and a short bill. The fully grown adult male has very brightly colored plumage that pops on a black background, while the young and a female’s plumage is a lot more dull.

THE  MANAKINph

oto

by P

aul B

Jon

es

First and foremost, a manakin enjoys consuming fruit and then, to a lesser degree, insects. They capture the fruit in flight, just like many other bird species prey on flying insects. This leads to the conclusion that the manakin has evolved from being primarily an insect-eating bird to one that mostly enjoys berries.

Among the different manakin species, about half of them use their bodies and wings to create many different sounds such as humming and buzzing, being most often the male during displays of courtship.

66

photo by Ashok KhoslaTHE MANAKIN

One manakin species, the club-winged, rubs its wings together creating sound akin to that of a violin, which it uses as a means of attraction during mating season. Most birds’ wings contain hollow bones but the club-winged manakin possesses solid wing bones, which when rubbed together mimics the sound of a violin!

67

phot

o by

Ash

ok K

hosl

a

photo by Judd Patterson

Phot

o by

Viv

ek T

iwar

i

THE MANAKIN

THE  MOCKINGBIRD

phot

o by

Don

Hac

kett

There are 15 species of the mockingbird and some, like the northern mockingbird, have the ability to sing over 1,000 songs per hour during a nightly singing session! While this might not be ideal for a human if it’s happening in their backyard in the middle of the night, it’s the way the male attracts a mate and he will not stop until he is no longer single! The mockingbird is the only bird that sings at night.

The mockingbird can be found in the U.S., Canada and Mexico with backyards and gardens being a favorite place to call home. They usually have gray plumage with some white and measure up to about nine inches in length, with the males and females having no distinct physical differences.

69

phot

o by

Dan

Coo

per

photo by Ken Slade

phot

o by

Jen

nife

r Rin

k

THE MOCKINGBIRD

These little entertainers are omnivorous, with a diet consisting of things like grasshoppers, ants, spiders and beetles. They also enjoy seeds and berries and at times will consume earth worms and even small lizards.

70

phot

o by

Cur

t Har

t

photo by Curt Hart

phot

o by

Dou

g M

cAbe

e

THE MOCKINGBIRD

71photo by Dan Ripplinger

A master of imitation, the

mockingbird has earned its

name well. Not only can

they mock the calls of other

birds and animals, like a dog

barking, they can also mimic

sounds like a car alarm.

These little bundles of

amusement were once sold

in pet stores under the

name “mimic songbirds”!

THE MOCKINGBIRD

THE  MOTMOT

phot

o by

Dan

a H

.

The motmot is a bird found mostly in Central and South America and consists of about 10 species. In some of these species, the tail is quite long with two middle feathers extending out further than the rest with an inch or more of bare shaft. Because of the length and the exposed shaft area, each elongated feather looks as though someone glued a small feather on the tip of a toothpick!

73

THE MOTMOT

photo by Auke Damstra

phot

o by

Day

na B

atem

an

Motmots are about 6.5 to 20 inches in length and possess a downwardly curved and serrated bill. They have a mainly green or brownish-green plumage, sometimes with a hint of vibrant blue coloring on the wings or head.

Their diet consists of mainly flying insects, which they catch in-flight, as well as lizards, snakes, frogs and young or small sick birds. Also, depending on the season, they will also eat fruit. Motmots in Costa Rica have also been known to eat the Poison Dart Frog.

A motmot’s nest is usually built by digging a hole in tunnels and sandbanks. The female lays an average of four eggs which take about 20 days to hatch. The male and female both rear their young until they fledge about a month later.

74

photo by Hugh S. Stickney

hoto

by

Ivan

Inge

man

sen

THE MOTMOT

Although in appearance the oilbird is pretty ordinary, with a dull brown plumage and about the size of a hawk, that’s where the ordinary stops. The oilbird is quite unique in being the only nocturnal, fruit-eating bird in the world!

The oilbird is found mostly in areas of South America and Trinidad. Adults are 12 to 18 inches in length with a wingspan of about 3 feet and weigh 13 to 16 ounces. The oilbird family, Steatornithidae, has just one species of oilbird, Steatornis caripensis.

The oilbird is one of the few birds, and the only nocturnal one, to guide itself by echolocation. This means that the oilbird makes intense clicking calls out to the environment and then waits for the calls to return echoes bouncing off of surrounding objects. THE  OILBIRD75

phot

o by

Sei

g Ko

pini

tz

It is through this process the oilbird is able to navigate in the dark and avoid any obstacles.

The oilbird’s diet strictly consists of only fruit, which they find by smell. They seem to favor palm nuts and figs but have been observed eating more than 35 different fruits in Trinidad. Oilbirds are cave dwellers and they stay inside during the day, but go out at night to look for food.

Oilbirds can fly up to 150 miles an hour at night when searching for fruit! Now, that sounds like fast food!

76

photo by Dominic Sherony

THE OILBIRD

phot

o by

Edw

ard

Rook

s

phot

o by

Bob

Lew

isTHE OILBIRD

THE  OSPREY

phot

o by

Ser

gey

Yelis

eev

The osprey, known by other names such as sea hawk and fish eagle, is a large bird of prey with superb fishing abilities. On average they seem to catch at least one fish per four dives, with an average time of 12 minutes spent hunting before making a catch!

The osprey is a medium to large sized raptor, weighing between three and four pounds, with females being slightly heavier than males, and can have a wingspan of up to six feet. Adult ospreys are approximately 25 inches in length and have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years.

Almost 100 percent of an Osprey’s diet consists of fish. They are able to spot their prey anywhere from 10 to 40 meters above water, perhaps hovering for a moment or two before diving in. Ospreys dive in feet first and are able to go up to three feet deep into the water. 79

photo by Phil Underwood

phot

o by

Ser

gey

Yelis

eev

phot

o by

Yac

h Ti

ng

THE OSPREY

They are able to handle up to a 10 ounce fish.

These large hawks are found in many parts of the world and are

usually spotted along the shorelines of lakes and rivers and also found

on ocean coasts. The only continent they are not found on is

Antarctica.

80

photo by Dan CooperTHE OSPREY

THE  OYSTERCATCHER

phot

o by

Will

G.

Contrary to its name, the oystercatcher catches a lot more than just oysters. Depending on where they live, mussels, clams, barnacles and other sea creatures are just some other items on the oystercatcher’s menu. They also drink sea water!

Oystercatchers can be found virtually worldwide, almost any place that can provide them with food. They are considered to be large birds, weighing a little over a pound and about 17 inches in length, with a wingspan of approximately 32 inches.

82

phot

o by

Bar

ry B

osw

ell

photo by Barry Boswell

THE OYSTERCATCHER

These hefty birds showcase a distinct look of striking black and white plumage and a bright red bill, which is used to forage through mud for food. In winter months, their coloring seems to fade a little. Both males and females are similar in appearance.

In addition to being strong in flight, the oystercatcher is an excellent sprinter and can run quite quickly across sand and mud. It has a loud, high-pitched call that consists of two notes, which can sometimes sound like chanting when several birds are engaged in a courtship display at once.

For the first year of life oystercatchers rarely move away from the area that they were born in, unless their parents leave, in which case they will go along with them.

83

phot

o by

Roz

Gre

enin

g

photo by Roz Greening

THE OYSTERCATCHER

THE  PARAKEET

phot

o by

Lia

m R

icha

rdso

n

The parakeet, a colorful and slender parrot, is a very popular household pet all found all over the world. There are many unrelated parrot species that are referred to as a parakeet, but generally, they’re usually small to medium in size and are various colors such as green, yellow or blue, amongst others. Parakeets also possess long tail feathers. In fact, the word “parakeet” means “long tail”!

85photo by Andrea

THE PARAKEET

A parakeet weighs between a little over an ounce and is about seven and a half inches in length. They are very social birds that live in flocks and can be found in woodland areas as well as grasslands near water.

Parakeets are tough little creatures that are able to fly hundreds of miles to find water. They are also omnivores and enjoy feasting upon mainly insects as well as fruits, seeds, plants and grass. Parakeets have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, that is, if they are not captured and eaten by predators such as snakes and birds of prey.

Parakeets are friendly, social and active birds that do well in captivity and usually bond quite well to their owners. They are pretty good at mimicking sounds, learning tricks and even talking!

86

phot

o by

Sar

ah K

umar

THE PARAKEET

THE  PEACOCK

Most of the world commonly refers to this beautiful creature as a peacock and a surprising fact might be that the name peacock is only the correct term for the male! Females are called peahens, a bunch of them are properly referred to as peafowl and offspring under a year old are called peachicks!

There are three different kinds of peafowl, Indian, green and Congo, with the Indian peafowl being the most recognized as it’s the one that’s most often showcased in zoos and other wildlife sanctuaries. Indian peafowl are from India and it is their national bird. Indian peafowl can also be found in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

THE PEACOCK

88

Green peafowl are from Southeast Asia and Congo peafowl are found in central Africa.

Peafowl are large birds and are usually blue and green in color and are known for their shimmering tail feathers.

These tail feathers are more than the 60 percent of the bird’s body length and have colorful markings that are often referred to as eyes! The markings are often gold, red and blue amongst other dazzling colors.

As ground-feeders, peafowl feast on insects, plants and various small creatures. They have an approximate lifespan of 20 years in the wild and about 40 years in captivity. 89THE PEACOCK

THE  PELICAN

phot

o by

Dav

id K

.

There are about seven species of the pelican, including the blue-footed booby, tropicbird and the great frigatebird, to name a few. Pelicans are characterized by their big throat pouch, and this throat pouch, along with the bill, plays a vital role in feeding and locating fish.

The pelican has a sensitive bill that assists in finding fish in dingy water and the throat pouch is dipped into the water and is used to catch fish, much like a fishing net would. Although pelicans mainly dine on fish, they aren’t too picky and will also eat tadpoles, crustaceans and even turtles! They have also been known to readily take food offered by humans.

91

phot

o by

Bar

bara

Mie

rsph

oto

by S

heba

Als

o

phot

o by

She

ba A

lso

THE PELICAN

Considering their eating habits, it’s not surprising that pelicans can be found living near lakes, rivers and seacoasts all over the world. Some species can reach the grand size of 70 inches in length, with a wingspan of 10 feet and weighing up to 30 pounds! It’s no wonder that they are amongst the largest birds alive today. 92

phot

o by

Willi

am C

ouls

on

phot

o by

She

ba A

lso

THE PELICAN

93

phot

o by

Gle

nda

Rees

phot

o by

Lar

s W

phot

o by

Yeo

h Th

ean

Khen

g

THE PELICAN

THE  POTOO

photo by Sheba Also

The Potoo is a rainforest dwelling bird and can be found in countries such as Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina and many others. They inhabit evergreen or coniferous forests as trees in these forests don’t go through seasonal changes and thus do not shed leaves. However, potoos have also been known to live in grassland areas with very few trees.

They are about seven species of this nocturnal bird, and although pairs of potoos might look for food in fairly close proximity, the potoo is a solitary creature in nature.

Potoos, named after the sobbing cry sound some species make, like to eat insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, moths and fireflies. With its wide, gaping mouth, a potoo will usually catch its prey in the air while flying, but it will also not hesitate to swoop down on its next meal resting in a tree or on a plant. 95

phot

o by

Ste

phen

J. D

avie

s

THE POOTOO

The potoo’s plumage is a mosaic-like pattern in brown, black and gray that resembles the bark of a tree. This helps them blend in quite well during the day while they sleep on tree branches. One interesting fact about these little creatures is that they don’t build nests. Instead, the potoo looks for a tree stub or branch with an indent or depression big to hold one of its eggs, as they only lay one egg at a time. This then becomes a nest of sorts and the egg is incubated by both parents for 30 to 35 days.

96

phot

o by

Jas

on R

othm

eyer

phot

o by

Dav

id C

ook

THE POOTOO

There are about 30 species of this tropical American bird that gets its name by looking like a puffball when they puff up their feathers! A full grown puffbird ranges in size between five inches to one foot long. They have a short and compact body with a big head, a short tail and short, round wings. A puffbird usually has a wide beak that is flat in nature, although some species have a hooked bill. Their plumage varies in color and is usually brown, reddish brown, gray, black or white and often bearing hints of stripes or spots on the undersides.

Puffbirds can often be found living in trees near lakes and

streams as well as the outer limits of

forests in South

There are about 30 species of this tropical American bird that gets its name by looking like a puffball when they puff up their feathers!

A full grown puffbird ranges in size between five inches to one foot

long. They have a short and compact body with a big

head, a short tail and short, round wings.

THE  PUFFBIRD

photo by Dirk-Jan Hoek

A puffbird usually has a wide beak that is flat in nature, although some species have a hooked bill. Their plumage varies in color and is usually brown, reddish brown, gray, black or white and often bearing hints of stripes or spots on the undersides.

Puffbirds can often be found living in trees near lakes and streams as well as the outer limits of forests in South and Central America and in tropical Mexico. Puffbirds are quick in flight and they hunt their prey by patiently perching on a branch, waiting for their next meal to make its appearance, and once spotted, they quickly grab it!

Although this little puffball usually dines on insects and vertebrates such as small lizards and frogs, some puffbirds will also feast upon fruits as well.

98photo by Eitan Altman

THE PUFFBIRD

The quetzal is often referred to as being the most beautiful bird in the world. It has very colorful and vibrant plumage and was a sacred creature to some ancient groups, such as the Mayans.

These vividly colored birds can be found living in the tropical forests of Central America and enjoy a diet of fruit, insects, small lizards and other creatures. The quetzal’s offspring are not fed fruit until they are develop a little, and they are mainly fed small invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians

Although the quetzal builds its nest approximately 20 to 40 feet safely off of the ground, less than 20 percent of their offspring survive long enough to leave the nest. THE  QUETZAL

photo by Fabio Bretto

However, the nest is still accessible to predators such as toucans, squirrels and weasels, which often target the quetzel’s young.

One interesting fact about these gorgeous creatures is that during mating season, the male grows two tail feathers that creates a train up to three feet long! In general, the male quetzal is more brightly colored than the female, although they both have the vibrant green, blue and red coloring. 100

THE QUETZAL

THE  ROLLER

phot

o by

Zah

oor A

hmed

The roller bird is any of about 12 species that earned its name through acrobats of dives, somersaults and tumbling that the male exhibits during courtship!

The roller can be found warm climates from Europe and Africa to Australia. On average the roller ranges in length from about 10 to 13

inches and although its richly hued plumage that can vary in color with different species.

They feed in open, or somewhat open, areas such as woodlands, pastures and farmland. They like to gather in flocks, and it can get quite noisy during feeding time, with crickets and beetles being high on the menu. 102

photo by Jack Cheah

THE ROLLER

Rollers are sometimes compared to jays in appearance, only the roller being heftier and with shorter legs. These colorful creatures often make their nests in the holes of trees and buildings and don’t be surprised if you see one the next time you go out for a walk, as they can be seen perching on wires in cities and urban areas.

103photo by Zahoor Ahmed

phot

o by

D.C

. Man

ohar

THE ROLLER

THE  SCREAMER

phot

o by

Em

man

uel K

elle

r

The screamer is a small family of waterfowl and it gets its name from the loud, harsh cry it makes which can reach a fair distance.

As birds of hot, humid, swampy wetlands, the screamer possess a prickly

type tongue that greatly assists it to munch through tough aquatic plants, such as flowers, roots and seeds, which makes up most of their diet.

105

photo by Lip Kee

phot

o by

Sid

nei d

e M

elo

Dan

tas

THE SCREAMER

Screamers are approximately 30 inches in height and are birds that can fly very well. They can fly for hours at a time and at great heights as well. They live in trees and have no issue with proclaiming and defending their home with shrill calls from high above on the treetop!

Screamers usually live in pairs, although when they’re not breeding, they can form quite large flocks, with some having thousands of birds.

106

phot

o by

Gei

ser T

rivel

ato

THE SCREAMER

For the most part, they are monogamous birds and usually mate for life and there isn’t any set breeding season, as they might breed at any time of the year.

One interesting tidbit about the Screamer is that its feathers don’t grow in tracts like in most birds. Instead the feathers completely cover its body (except for the legs). This is a condition only found in penguins and other large birds that do not fly!

107photos by Remco Douma THE SCREAMER

The skimmers are a small family of birds found in North and South America, India and Africa. The North and South American bird is the black skimmer, there’s also the African skimmer and the Indian skimmer.

The black skimmer is the biggest of the three species, measuring 16 to 20 inches long with a wingspan of 42 to 50 inches, and ranging in weight from about 8 ounces to about 16 ounces, with males being heavier than their female counterparts.

They are social birds that nest in large groups. However, when it comes time to look for food, the skimmer forages alone or in a very small group. The skimmer’s diet consists of mainly small fish, crustaceans and insects.

THE  SKIMMERph

oto

by M

icha

el G

uild

oo

In flight, skimmers are graceful creatures, with their long wings beating in a well-timed fashion. However, as charming as they appear while flying, their call somewhat resembles a barking sound!

Skimmers can most often be found just hanging-out on sandbars near the bodies of water, such as rivers and lagoons that they often visit.

109

photo Uncredited

THE SKIMMER

There are six species of this tall, white water bird frequently found near bodies of water such as lakes and saltwater bayous.

Spoonbills range in length from about 24 to 32 inches and weigh about 2.5 to 4 pounds, with a wingspan of about 5 feet!

THE  SPOONBILLph

oto

by P

hillip

Jac

obs

Most of their plumage is white, although sometimes the plumage can have a slight pinkish tint. They have long legs and a completely or partially bald head.

Spoonbills feed in the mud or shallow water by sweeping their bills in a side-to-side manner. Their diet consists mainly of crustaceans and small fish. They tend to breed in colonies, with herons and ibises being members of their community, and tend to make their rather big nests in a low lying bush or tree. They lay three to five eggs per clutch. The eggs are a white color often mixed with maroon.

One fun fact about the roseate spoonbill is that it’s believed that it gets its pink color the same way that flamingos do, through eating food that contain carotene, like shrimp! 111

photo by Geoff Dicker

THE SPOONBILL

THE  SWALLOW photo by James Bennett

The term swallow includes a wide

range of birds (about 90 species)

from the Hirundiniidae family of

birds. Weighing less than an ounce,

the swallow is a smaller bird. The

term swallow includes a wide range

of birds (about 90 species) from

the Hirundiniidae family of birds.

Weighing less than an ounce, the

swallow is a smaller bird.

Its length is about seven inches and has a wingspan of about 18 inches. Swallows generally have tapered wings, a small bill as well as small feet and some swallow species are fork-tailed. They can be found living all around the world, except in very cold climate areas.

They are vocal little creatures that produce an array of varied calls and songs for different purposes, such as courting and sending out warnings of nearby predators. They will also call out or sing when they’re excited and simply

just to communicate with other swallows!

The swallow mainly eats insects, although they tend to avoid insects that sting, such as wasps and bees, and they catch their prey in flight. Some swallow species also enjoy fruits and plant matter in their diet.

With the ability to fly up to 40 miles an hour, and averaging about 25 miles an hour when hunting for food, swallows are great flyers. They even incorporate their excellent flying skills into attracting a mate!

113

photo by Liz BrowneTHE SWALLOW

THE  SWIFT

photo by David Moreton

As one of the fastest small birds, the swift likes to fly high in the sky and can fly up to about 70 miles an hour! This highly aerial creature flies practically nonstop, pretty much only landing at night to rest or when nesting.

The quick little bird’s appearance is a lot like the swallow bird and it measures about seven inches in length, with a wingspan of 17 to 19 inches and it weighs a little over one ounce. There are about 75 swift species.

115photo by Tristan Fernephoto by Steve R.J.

photo by Steve R.J.

photo by Steve R.J.

THE SWIFT

Much like the swallow, the swift also has a forked tail, although it’s not as pronounced as it is in the swallow. Apart from its throat, which is creamy white in color, the swift’s plumage is brown and it has long wings that beat somewhat slow when flying (approximately four to eight beats a second). The swift has rather short legs, and in relation to its body, it has the shortest legs of any bird and it isn’t able to walk or take flight from the ground.

One interesting fact about the swift is that it has glue-like saliva which it uses to attach its nest securely into place inside of chimneys, cave walls and hollow trees! 116

phot

o by

Nar

asim

ha M

urth

yph

oto

by D

avid

Bea

dle

photo by David Vadkerti

THE SWIFT

photo by Christina Port 117

THE  TANAGERphoto by Joe Thompson

The tanager is a songbird with about 300 species in its family of birds. Although they are songbirds, their songs are sometimes referred to as being a little on the boring side, although some tanagers do carry a tune very well and sing quite impressively!

Tanagers are considered to be small to medium-sized birds and on average they are approximately four to eight inches in length, although there can be a notable difference in size among the species.

The white-eared conebill tanager has the smallest body at about 3.8 inches in length and weighs less than half an ounce!

119

photo by Mary Delaney

THE TENAGER

The magpie is the longest tanager at 11 inches and weighs over two and a half ounces. The white-capped tanager weighs in the heaviest at about four ounces and is about 9.5 inches in length.

Many tanagers have bright, colorful plumage. The males and females can be alike in their coloring, with the exception that the male is typically brighter in color than the female. Some tanagers have striking black and white plumage.

Most often living in pairs (or small groups consisting of five tanagers at the most) in trees or shrubs, tanagers enjoy a diet of fruit and, depending on the species, insects as well. 120

phot

o by

Joe

Tho

mps

on

photo by Syd Danis

THE TANAGER

THE  TERN

phot

o by

Bar

bara

Mie

rs

The tern is a medium to large seabird consisting of about 40 species. It’s a slender bird that is graceful when it flies with long and narrow wings and a long tail. Although it’s in the same family of birds as gulls, the tern is a svelte and lighter-weight bird in comparison.

Terns can be found worldwide, inhabiting seacoasts, with the biggest population residing in the Pacific Ocean. They range in size from the least tern measuring nine inches in length and weighing 1.5 ounces to the larger Caspian tern that’s 21 inches long and weighs about 1.4 pounds. 122

phot

o by

Mar

tyn

Willi

am C

.photo by Richard Stead

THE TERN

The tern’s coloring also ranges from the typical white or gray plumage to sometimes possessing practically all black plumage. The difference in the tern’s coloring doesn’t stop at its plumage. Depending on the species, a tern can have a bill that’s red, yellow or black and feet, which are webbed, can be black or red. Despite having webbed feet, terns seldom swim, with the exception of bathing.

Fish on the smaller side of the scale and crustaceans are what the tern favors in terms of diet, although a tern will sometimes feast upon insects as well. When hunting for fish, a tern will often flutter above the water before plunging in to catch their next meal.

123photo by Tomi

photo by Donnie Shackleford

photo by Wayne Bierbaum

THE TERN

Related to the mockingbird, the thrasher is a songbird and any one of about 17 species from the Mimidae family of birds. Thrashers can differ in coloring, but they’re often brown and black or reddish-brown and possess

THE  THRASHER

phot

o by

Jer

ry K

irkha

r

lengthy tails as well as long and curved beaks.

Thrashers have earned their name through behaviour they exhibit when feeding on the ground. When a thrasher is searching for food at ground-level, it will use its long to beak to literally thrash its way through dirt and debris. Thrashers enjoy a diet of insects and some thrashers, depending on the species, also eat berries.

With an estimated worldwide population of over seven million, a well-known bird of the thrasher species is the enthusiastic, vivacious songbird, the brown thrasher. Gifted with the largest collection of songs of all birds in North America, the brown thrasher is able to sing 3000 different songs!

Although they may sing a sweet tune, the brown thrasher is fiercely protective of its nest and has been known to not hesitate in attacking people or animals, to the point of drawing blood, in defense

125

photo by Doris Evans

photo by Ken Cave photo by Ken Cave

THE THRASHER

photo by Judson Rhodes

126

Although they may sing a sweet tune, the brown thrasher is fiercely protective of its nest and has been known to not hesitate in attacking

people or animals, to the point of drawing blood, in defense of its nest.

THE THRASHER

THE  TINAMOU

photo by Alan Slimak

Preferring to walk or run instead of flying, the tinamou is a family of birds of about 47 species found in South and Central America in a wide range of habitats. They generally possess plumage ranging in color from shades of brown to gray. The tinamou’s plumage is patterned in a design that generally enables them to blend-in to their environment.

Camouflaging plumage is an important feature for this ground-dwelling bird with poor flying abilities. They can fly quite quickly, but only for short distances.

128

photo by HÇctor GutiÇrrez Guzm†n

photo by Ken Trease

THE TINAMOU

Tinamous tend to become easily fatigued during physical activities, such as running and flying, and they need to be well-camouflaged to avoid being a predator’s next target. Some of the tinamou’s predators are foxes, skunks, armadillos and they are also hunted by humans.

A Tinamou varies in size depending on which species it belongs to. For example, there is the dwarf tinamou that is only about six inches long and weighs five ounces, and at the bigger end of the scale, there’s the great tinamou that’s 20 inches long and weighs four pounds.

Tinamous enjoy a diet filled with fruits, seeds, insects, spiders and termites. Some species also consume small vertebrates such as frogs, mice and lizards.

129

photo by Heather Paul

phot

o by

Ric

hard

Roc

he

photo by Ron Knight

THE TINAMOU

THE  TITYRA

photo by Tony Yeomans

The tityra is a medium-sized bird that consists of three species. They can be found in southern Mexico, Central and South America, along with Trinidad.

They are perching birds with large, slightly hooked, bills and are approximately 7.9 to 9.8 inches in length. The plumage consists mainly of pale grey and white. The wings and tail are most often black, but not necessarily completely black. Males and females have similar coloring, although the female’s plumage is often duller than the male’s.

Tityras can be in found in semi-open habitats such as forests and are most often seen alone or in pairs. These fly-catcher birds have a hearty, protein-filled diet of large insects, medium-sized fruit and sometimes even small lizards.

131

photo by Bryan Hix

THE TITYRA

132

photo by Maris Pukitis

phot

o by

Fel

ix U

ribe

They often lay eggs in vacant, old woodpecker or toucan nests or they may also lay their eggs in the hole of a tree atop dry leaves. It’s only the female tityra that sits on the eggs, although both parents assist in feeding offspring.

Due to a call that’s rather inharmonious and nasally, the tityra’s sounds are often likened to that of a frog!

THE TITYRA

With a large and often very brightly colored bill, that can total one-third of its length, the toucan is a bird that is very easily recognized.

A relative of the woodpecker, the toucan consists of about 40 species and can be found in Central and South America, among other places, and some even call the Andes mountains home!

THE  TOUCAN

photo by Michel Talbot

They seem to prefer inhabiting areas such as plantations, river forests and open woodlands rather than residing in thick, heavy forests.

Toucans vary in size depending on the species. The range is from about 14 inches to just over double at 30 inches. The toco toucan is likely the most well-recognized and largest in the species, possessing a vibrantly yellowish-orange colored bill that measures about seven and a half inches!

Their diet is comprised of mainly fruit, however toucans are considered to be omnivorous birds and will readily consume lizards, insects and chicks of other birds as well as eggs.

Although toucans possess big bills, their bills are quite lightweight and aren’t useful for any activity involving considerable effort, such as jabbing or battling predators. However, due to the sheer size of the large bill, simply the sight of it may very well scare off any unwanted guests! 134photo by Yanick Saindon

THE TOUCAN

THE  TROGONphoto by Yann CoatanÇa

Named after the Greek word for “nibbling”, trogons nibble away at trees in order to create holes to house their nests! The trogon is any one of about 35 species found in warm climates, such as, but not limited to, North, South and Central America, Africa and Asia and the southwestern United States.

With rounded wings, short legs and weak feet, the average trogon typically measures 9.5 to 18 inches in length, however the resplendent trogon is much larger at about 50 inches long! Trogons often have short beaks that are curved with short, prickly hair at the base of the beak.

The plumage on the belly is bright and ranges from vibrant red to yellow, but just as the belly colors appear so vividly illuminated, the coloring on the chest is quite dark. The difference together serves as a nice contrast and is visually appealing.

136photo by Yann CoatanÇa

photo by Joao P. Burini

THE TROGON

Trogons eat mainly insects and fruit and sometimes small vertebrates such as lizards as well. The caterpillar is one of the insects included in the trogon’s diet, and interestingly, the trogon and cuckoo are in a small

minority group of birds that prey on caterpillars.

Many birds capture insects in flight and the trogon captures fruit in this manner. Being unable to pick fruit from a perching position, the trogon picks fruit while

137

photo by Bird Photos

photo by Donald Metzner

THE TROGON

Often flying over the open ocean, the tropicbird is a large-sized seabird that can grow up to over three feet tall. Typically, tropicbirds range in size from about 30 inches in length with a wingspan of approximately 37 to 44 inches.

There are three species of the tropicbird and each one differs in their own unique mixture of black markings on the face, wings and back.

THE  TROPICBIRD

photo by Greg Lasley

Tropicbirds have short and thick necks and large heads, along with big, strong bills. They have webbed feet and due to the placement of their legs, which is very far back on the body, the tropicbird cannot walk. Instead, to move on land, it will nudge forward with only the use of its feet.

Tropicbirds enjoy eating fit, flying fish being a favorite, and they will sometimes consume squid as

well. They catch their pretty usually by hovering over the water and then diving in, although they don’t plunge much deeper than the surface of the water.

All species of the tropicbird have black feathers around the front of the eye. Considering the glare of the open ocean, these feathers are said to make visibility better for them when hunting flying fish.

139

photo by Philip Rosson

THE TROPICBIRD

THE  VIREOphoto by Georges NÇron

The vireo, meaning “greenish” in Latin, is any of about 50 species. Generally, it’s small in size, typically measure about four to seven inches in length. Vireos have plumage that’s mainly in hues of yellow and green, with differing degrees of black, white and grey.

Vireos search for food almost endlessly in bushes, trees and leaves. They chiefly consume insects and arthropods, such as spiders, but will also consume fruit if necessary.

The vireo’s nest hangs from a branch and is shaped like a cup. Their eggs are white with flecks of burgundy. The vireo has a list of nest predators, which include lizards, snakes, racoons, mice, skunks, chipmunks, opossums and even ants!

141photo by David Beadle

photo by Elizabeth Harland

photo by Diane

THE VIREO

They also have to beware of other birds such as jays as well as the cowbird, which will place its own eggs inside the vireo’s nest! If this occurs, the vireo eggs will eventually get neglected, as the cowbird’s eggs hatch first and the poor, unsuspecting vireo parents will feed the cowbird’s offspring, and their own eggs often won’t even hatch.

Many vireo species are great singers, having a great collection of songs ranging from about a dozen to well over 100! Some vireos are tireless little singers and will belt out tunes all day long!

142

photo by Jean-Pierre Delwasse

photo by Jean-Pierre Delwasse

phot

o by

Bar

ry N

oret

THE VIREO

143

photo by Ryan Johnston

THE  WARBLER

photo by Stuart Price

The warbler is a small songbird comprised of various species. They are found throughout the world and include more than 25 different types.

The warbler often has plumage that is brown, grey and yellow in color, along with varied patterns that differ from species to species. They spend much of their time in northern climates, but they are fond of warmer weather and they migrate south for the winter, with some even taking up residence in South America.

They often call wooded areas home, living in pairs or groups, and make their nests in trees.

145photo by Bird Photos

photo by Larry HennessyTHE WARBLER

Some species put their strong feet to good use by hanging upside down, in a bat-like manner, from tree branches in order to pick a meal of insects or larvae off of leaves! Some warblers also capture flying insects in the air by flying and catching them in mid-air. They are known

to rip off the legs and wings of an insect before devouring it.

This interesting little creature has a singing voice and isn’t afraid to use it. The warbler’s song includes many repetitive notes and it sings an array of songs, and quite loudly too!

146

photo by Donnie Shackleford

photo by Annette Jewell

THE WARBLER

The woodcreeper, also known as woodhewer, is a small to medium-sized bird, often said to be like a woodpecker, and is any of about 50 species. They are generally brownish in color and vary in length from about 6 inches to approximately 14 inches, with males tending to be a little larger than females.

Generally, woodcreepers are birds of South and Central America residing in the rainforests, and in some areas of the Amazon, there can be up to 19 different species.

Through working its way up a tree trunk, the woodcreeper mainly eats insects that it gets off of trees. Insects comprise the majority of their diet, but some will also consume spiders, millipedes, centipedes and even lizards! The woodcreeper will also join flocks frequenting swarms of ants, feasting upon insects, as well as other creatures, that are discovered through the help of the ants!

Woodcreepers lay two to three eggs, which are incubated for approximately two to three weeks. Some species build their nests out of plant matter and house them in tree holes, but they do not create the hole, like a woodpecker would.

THE  WOODCREEPER

photo by Lip Kee

148

This project has been long in the works; The Wonderful World Of Exotic Birds would like to thank the wonderful individuals who’ve graciously donated their photos for the project. The overall intent of this book is to raise sufficient funds to establish and maintain a bird sanctuary where some of the birds can be maintained for public viewing.

Jennifer Rink James Bennett Barbara Miers Don Metzner Matt Bango Syd Danis Robert

Luis Louro Chye Guan Fabio Bretto Ivan Ingemansen Helen M Bushe Vivek Tiwari Rachelle Vance

David Beadle Dana H. Christian Kotte Martin Thomas Mark Morgan Stuart Price Kathleen Gulley

Emma Lai David Moreton Dave Bassett Jerry Kirkhar Beth Moore Suzanne O'Rourke Felix Uribe

Alan Manson Maris Pukitis D.C. Manohar Jessica McKelden Cave Michel Talbot Dayna Bateman Richard Orr

Unknown Jack Cheah Don Hackett Joaquim Muchaxo Doug McAbee Ingrid Taylar Tracy DeKalb

Sarah Crews Eitan Altman Doris Evans Joe Parrilla Nick Ford Tripp Davenport Kevin B. Agar

Donnie Shackleford Geoff Dicker dotcompalsPhotoBlog.com Joe McKenna Glenda Rees João P. Burini Colin Pass

Dirk-Jan Hoek Jason Whitehead Denis Santana Judson Rhodes William Coulson Ken Slade Paul B Jones

Forrest Rowland Dominic Sherony André van Velsen Judd Patterson Pedro Côrte-Real Yeoh Thean Kheng Tore Berg

Scott Hanko Eugen Luca Einar Eliassen Pedro Ivo Simoes Peter Hogan Tomi Tapio K Rupert Pye

Annette Jewell Danny Buay Emmett Tullos Caleb Slemmons Phil Le Cren Andrea Bob Lewis

Karen Millward Curt Hart M. Olszewski Ashok Khosla Phil Underwood Liam Richardson Barry Boswell

Alejandro Tabini Amber MacPherson Flávio Cruvinel Brandão Liz Browne Narasimha Murthy Sergey Yeliseev Will G

David T. Moulton Rose-Ange Troalen Flavio Guglielmino Steve Clancy Don Slaght Yanick Saindon Pravin Indrekar

Ed Loesch Seig Kopinitz Raphaël Oertel Sveinn Jónsson John Picken Jacki Amato David Lewis

Zahoor Ahmed Alan Slimak Mary Delaney Kelley Michie QuakerVille.com Gary Burke Abudulla Saheem

©cape Alan Dahl Gavin Farnell Larry Hennessy Tatiana Bulyonkova Kath Stennett Jason Rothmeyer

Dan Cooper Gary K. Bill Weaver Lars W Wayne Bierbaum Sid Mosdell Stephen J. Davies

David Monniaux Yann Coatanéa Graham Ekins Laura Bertola Rchard Stead Adam Colley Geiser Trivelato

Martyn William C. Anna-Maria Wright Carlos Grupilo James L. Baker Ken Cave Nick Johnson Emmanuel Keller

Joe Thompson Brian Ralphs Greg Lasley Hugh S. Stickney Sheba Also Gilles Ozinoh

Auke Damstra www.birdphotos.com Philip Rosson Kim Chong Tat Piotr Halka Steve Heath

David K. C Urban Paul Cheng Lip Kee Phillip Jacobs Michael Menefee

Heather Paul Richard Roche Ron Knight Héctor Gutiérrez Guzmán Diane Karen Morris

Ayesha Nasir Steve R.J. Tristan Ferne Christina Port David Vadkerti Sidnei de Melo Dantas

Our thanks and appreciation goes out to the following: