'" CARD 231 I LONG-EARED OWL V GROUP 2: BIRDS ,~----------------------------------------~

ORDER Strigifarmes

FAMILY Strigidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Asia atus

The long-eared owl is an elusive bird that lives in Europe, Asia, and North America. This skillful predator emerges at night

to hunt for prey in its woodland habitat.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 14-15 in.

Wingspan: About 3 ft.

Weight: 8-11 oz.

BREEDING

Breeding season: March to April.

Eggs: 4-6; white.

No. of broods: 1 .

Incubation: About 1 month.

Fledging: Almost 1 month.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Mainly resident; northern

birds move south in winter.

Diet: Small rodents and birds.

Young are fed insects.

RELATED SPECIES

The closest relative is the short-eared

owl, Asia flammeus, which is found

in the same areas. There are 4 oth­

er species in the genus: the stygian

owl, the Abyssinian long-eared owl,

the African marsh owl, and the Mad­

agascar long-eared owl.

Range of the long-eared owl.

DISTRIBUTION

The long-eared owl is found in coniferous forests and mixed

woodland in North America, Europe, and Asia, except for the

northernmost regions. It also lives in North Africa.

CONSERVATION

The long-eared owl is common throughout most of its range.

Humans are its only real enemy.

FEATURES OF THE LONG-EARED OWL

Ear tufts: The distinctive characteristic of this owl. They play no part in hearing. The real ears are hidden on each side of the head.

Body: Medium-size and slender with large, powerful wings. Male and female have similar plumage.

Plumage: Buff or grayish; speckled toward top, mottled with darker streaks lower down. Breast is paler than back. Coloring blends perfectly with tree bark.

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Head: Round, rusty facial disk.

Large yellow eyes. Small ,

sharp black bill.

Owlet: Covered with downy white

feathers at hatching . Plumage turns gray and then brown af-

US P 6001 12 073 PACKET 73

The long-eared owl has prominent ear tufts that are among

its distinguishing characteristics. These feathery tufts stand

erect when the owl is alert, but they have nothing to do

with the birds keen hearing. The real ears, on the sides of

the head, can detect the faint squeak of a far-off rodent.

~ HABITS The long-eared owl lives mainly

in pine woods, but it also inhab­

its mixed woodlands, heaths,

and marshland. This bird is com­

mon in North America, Europe,

Asia, and North Africa. It avoids

extremely cold areas and mi­

grates south from the northern

part of its range in winter.

Soft feathers give the long­

eared owl its silent flight. But

with its wide range of calls this

bird is often noisy, especially in

the breeding season. Its main

call is a long cooing note, which

is repeated every few seconds. It

also has a catlike whine, a shrill

whistle, and a bark. The young

have a call that is a cross be­

tween the sound of a creaking

gate and a cat's meow.

The long-eared owl usually

roosts during the day, sitting

erect on a branch to look like a

woody stump. Sometimes it flat­

tens itself against a tree trunk,

where its mottled feathers blend

in to provide excellent camou­

flage. If disturbed, the bird

spreads its wings and makes

hissing and snapping noises.

Right: When in danger, the owlet makes itself look larger by spread­ing out its wings.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING The long-eared owl feeds pri­

marily on field mice, but it also

eats voles, shrews, and rats. In

addition, it preys on small birds

such as sparrows and finches,

or even larger ones such as

jays. When he is seeking food

for his young, the male catches

large quantities of insects, espe­

cially beetles such as katydids.

The long-eared owl forages

at night, gliding silently over

open country. It uses its keen

night vision and acute hearing

Left: The long-eared owl waits for total darkness before flying out to hunt its prey.

Right: In North America, this owl has yellower eyes and a redder fa­cial disk than it does elsewhere.

DID YOU KNOW? • The long-eared owl has such

a flexible neck that it can ro­

tate its head 270 degrees.

• When a long-eared owl

moves into an area of wood­

land, small birds may band

to detect prey. Whenever the

owl finds a potential victim, it

swoops down on it with dead­

Iyaccuracy.

Right: The long-eared owl holds itself very erect on a branch, espe­cially when alarmed.

together and mob the owl in

an attempt to drive it away.

• During the cold weather of

fall and winter, small groups I of long-eared owls may join

together to roost.

The long-eared owl is hard to

spot since its plumage cam­

ouflages it in the trees. If you

are lucky, you may see owlets

on a branch near the nest.

~ BREEDING The breeding season of the

long-eared owl begins early in

spring. During his courtship dis­

play, the male claps his wings

together in a slow, lazy flight.

This owl rarely builds its own

nest. Instead, it takes over and

expands the abandoned nests

of other birds such as crows and

hawks. Sometimes it uses a squir­

rel's nest. In open country it may

build its own nest on the ground.

The female lays four to six pure

white eggs. Incubation starts

when the first egg is laid, so the

young do not hatch all at once.

The owlets have downy white

Sometimes confused with

the short-eared owl, the long­

eared owl is slimmer and has

much longer ear tufts . It also

has more bars on its tail.

feathers, which turn gray and

then brown in a few days. The

male hunts for his family, giving

his mate food, which she then

passes on to the hatchlings. If

food is scarce, only the larger,

older owlets survive. In order to

protect her young, the female

may lure a predator away from

the nest by pretending that her

wing is broken.

After about three weeks the

young begin leaving the nest,

climbing on branches as they

learn to balance and grip. They

can fly at almost a month old

and hunt at two months old.

'" CARD 232 I STREAMERTAIL ,, ___________________________________ G~R_O~U~P~2:~B~I~RD~S~~

~ ORDER FAMILY ~ GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Apodiformes Trochilidae ~ Trochilus polytmus

The streamertail gets its name from the male ~ elongated tail feathers, which can measure up to seven inches in length. This

hummingbird is found only on the Caribbean island of Jamaica.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Body, lOin. Tail, up to 7

in. (male).

Weight: Less than 1.; oz.

BREEDING

Mating: Outside the rainy season,

which is from October to May.

No. of broods: 1-2.

Eggs: 2; white, elongated.

Incubation: 2-3 weeks.

Fledging period: 3-4 weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Day-active. Vital bodily pro­

cesses slow down at night to con­

serve energy.

Diet: Mostly nectar; also some fly­

ing insects.

Call: Distinctive "tee-tee-tee."

RELATED SPECIES

The hummingbird family to which

the streamertail belongs contains

more than 320 species grouped

into 112. genera.

Range of the streamertail.

DISTRIBUTION

The streamertail is found only on the island of jamaica in the

West Indies.

CONSERVATION

The streamertail is a common bird in jamaica, and its numbers

appear to be stable. It seems to thrive in open spaces, so it is

not threatened by the clearance of much of jamaica's forest.

FEATURES OF THE STREAMERTAIL

Male: Easily identified by his long tail feathers and striking iridescent plumage.

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Bill: Long and slender for probing the heads of flowers . Red , ending in darkened tip . Male's bill is brighter than female 's.

Female: Slightly smaller than the male, with much shorter tail feathers that have white tips. White chest plumage.

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Flight: By adjusting the angle and speed of its wings, the

streamertail can fly in any di­rection , even backward,

and can easily hover.

0160200841 PACKET 84

The streamertail is very clumsy on the ground. Howeve" it is

extremely agile in the air and is even able to fly backward.

Like all hummingbirds, the streamertail spends much of

the day in flight. It flits from flower to flo we" lapping

up all the nectar it needs with its long, thin tongue.

~ HABITS The streamertail is one of the

most abundant hummingbirds in Jamaica. It can be found in a variety of habitats, from man­

grove swamps to dry wood­land, but it is most common in

forests at sea level. Highly terri­

torial, it uses its long, sharp beak to peck at birds that attempt to

feed from flowers in its territory. The streamertail is most active

at dusk, when it has to feed on enough nectar to survive the

night. It conserves energy by falling into a deep sleep, lower­

ing its body temperature to that of the air, and slowing its bodily

functions to a minimum.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The streamertail occasionally

feeds on insects, but it prefers nectar-the sweet liquid that is

found at the base of a blossom. Nectar is rich in sugar and car­bohydrates that can be quickly

absorbed into the bloodstream. Insects, by contrast, are very

hard to catch and take longer

to digest. Many flowers are so delicate

that they would break if the

Left: At night the streamertail "hibernates, /I slowing its body functions to conserve energy.

Right: The male streamertail is the most striking and elegant of all Ja­maica5 hummingbirds.

DID YOU KNOW? • The black-billed streamertail of eastern Jamaica was recog­

nized as a subspecies of the streamertail in 1902.

• In flight, the male streamer­tail produces a loud, whirring

streamertail tried to land on

them. So the bird hovers near each flower instead. It dips its very long and slender bill into

the bloom, lapping up the nec­tar with its long, thin tongue.

Right: In Jamaica, the streamertail is also called the doctor bird because of its long, dark "coattails. "

sound. The sound comes from

air rushing over the scalloped inner feathers of the long tail,

causing them to vibrate.

• The streamertail's wings beat

22 to 78 times per second. ~

When the breeding season be­

gins, male streamertails gather in groups and attempt to attract mates. Breeding usually occurs

before or after the rainy season to coincide with an abundance

of flowering plants. Dry weather also ensures that the bird's deli­

cate nest will remain intact. The nest is built by the fe­

male from cotton threads, fern hairs, or milkweed down, bound

together with the sticky thread of spiderwebs. She then lays

two eggs and incubates them

Left: The streamertail hovers with perfect control before inserting its bill into a blossom.

for two to three weeks. The nest appears too small for its occu­

pants, but its flexible structure

lets it expand to accommodate the growing chicks.

The mother works hard to

feed her young. She makes short, frequent trips from the

nest, returning to regurgitate food into the chicks' throats .

She also keeps the nest clean, removing the chicks' waste

matter. As they grow older, the young learn to shoot their waste straight out of the nest. The off­

spring grow quickly and are ful­

ly fledged and ready to leave the nest in three to four weeks.

YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILL

,,---------------------------------~~~~~~~ ~ ORDER ~ Coraciiformes

FAMILY Bucerotidae

.. GENUS & SPECIES ~ Tockus flavirostris, T. leucomelas

The two species of yellow-billed hornbill are large African birds with flecked black-and-white plumage. As their common name

suggests, these birds have bright yellow bills.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 22 in.

Weight: 4-6 lb .

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 year.

No. of broods: 1 per year.

Breeding season: In the rainy

season, when food is plentiful.

Eggs: 2-6 per clutch; white.

Fledging period: About 1 Z; months.

LIFESTYLE

Call: Various sounds, including whis­

tles and cackles.

Habit: Live in pairs or small groups;

often mate for life.

Diet: Insects, fruit, and berries.

Occasionally small reptiles and

mammals.

RELATED SPECIES

The 2 species-the southern yellow­

billed hornbill, Tockus leucomelas, and the eastern yellow-billed horn­

bill, T. flavirostris-are very similar.

Range of yellow-billed horn bills.

DISTRIBUTION

The southern yellow-billed horn bill is found in Angola, Zambia,

Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and parts of South Africa.

The eastern yellow-billed horn bill is found in Sudan, Ethiopia,

and northern Kenya.

CONSERVATION

Some populations have been affected by land clearance, but

conservation measures do not seem necessary.

FEATURES OF YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILLS

Bill: Bright yel­low and curving downward. The narrow ridge along the top may be a strengthen-ing device.

Plumage: Coarse black­and-white feath-

chest and flecked wings.

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Wings: Mus­cular, giving the bird a strong flight.

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NEST AND EGGS Using a mixture of mud, dirt, and drop­pings, the male and female seal up a nest hole in a tree, leaving a narrow slit through which food can be passed . In­side the female lays 2 to 6 white eggs.

0160200641 PACKET 64

Yellow-billed horn bills, along with other members

of the genus T ockus, are the smallest hornbills. The

breeding habits of hornbills as a group are unusual.

The male helps seal the female inside a hole in a tree,

where she lays her eggs. Even after the eggs hatch, the

female remains in the hole until the chicks are half-grown.

~ HABITS Yellow-billed horn bills live to­

gether in pairs or small groups of up to a dozen birds in scrub

and forests. They are most ac­

tive in the cool early mornings,

late afternoons, and evenings.

At night groups of birds roost high up in the trees.

Yellow-billed hornbills have distinctive bright yellow bills,

but their bills are smaller than

those of the great horn bill and

other species. They make a va­

riety of sounds, including cack­les, squeals, whistles, and roars, and their loud voices carry for

long distances. Yellow-billed hornbills have a

strong flight, alternating short sailing glides with slow, heavy

wing beats. On the ground, they hop around awkwardly.

~ FOOD & FEEDING

Yellow-billed horn bills adapt their diet to their location and

the availability of food. They

eat mainly insects, supple­mented by fruit and berries.

They may at times eat small snakes, other reptiles, and

small mammals. The birds feed on the ground

and in the trees. They usually swallow their food whole and

regurgitate anything they can­not digest, such as the hard

parts of insects. To kill a snake, a yellow-billed horn bill holds it down and beats it with its bill.

Left: Yellow-billed hornbills are noisy birds that are more likely to be heard than seen. Many pairs are thought to mate for life.

~ BREEDING

A pair of yellow-billed hornbills

choose an old nesting hole of

another bird or a natural tree hole. When the female is ready

to lay her eggs, she enters the hole. With the female working from inside and the male from

outside, the pair seal the hole

with a mud mixture, leaving only a narrow slit open. As it

dries, the mud mixture hard­ens into a bricklike consisten­

cy, protecting the nest from

any predators. The female lays her eggs

and incubates them. After they hatch, she stays inside

the hole another three weeks. Throughout this period, the

male feeds the female, using

the tip of his bill to pass mor­sels through the slit in the mud. The male also feeds the

chicks regurgitated food. When the chicks are half­

grown, the female chips away

the dried mud and emerges. Although well fed, she is so

weak she can hardly fly. The chicks then seal them­

selves inside the nest for an­other three weeks or so, until

they are fully grown. After

they finally emerge, these

young birds spend several

days in the tree, strengthen­ing their wings until they are

ready to fly.

• ,African villagers often keep horn bills as pets because the birds become tame and play­

ful in captivity.

• Some large horn bill species make a whooshing sound

when they fly because the arrangement of their wing

feathers leaves gaps between

the flight quills.

• To keep their nest clean, the female and the chicks

excrete through the slit at

the front. They also push indigestible parts of their food out through the slit.

• The hornbill's nesting hab­its have gained it a place in folklore. In several African

tribes the bird is a symbol of marital fidelity.

Left: The curved bill of a yellow­billed hornbill helps it catch insects and grubs.

Below: A male yellow-billed horn­bill arrives at the nest hole with food. To pass it inside, he clutches the tree trunk just below the hole and uses his tail as a prop.

COMMON MURRE ,, ___________________________________ G~R~OUP2: BIRDS

ORDER Charadriiformes

FAMILY Alcidae

GENUS & SPECIES Uria aalge

The common murre is a sociable bird that breeds on coastal cliffs and hunts in the ocean. With its dark head, white underparts,

and upright stance, it resembles a small penguin.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 15-17 in.

Wingspan: About 2 ft.

Weight: About 1 ~ lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 5 years.

Breeding season: April to July.

No. of broods: 1 .

Eggs: 1; pointed.

Incubation: 4-5 weeks.

Fledging period: 7-10 weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable, but territorial in the

breeding season. Winters at sea.

Diet: Fish, crabs, and squid.

Call: Usually silent. "Growls" during

the mating season.

lifespan: Unknown.

RELATED SPECIES

The 22 species of auk in the fami­

ly Alcidae include the thick-billed

murre, Uria 10m via; the black guille­

mot, Cepphus gryl/e; and the razor­

bill, Alco torda.

• Range of the common murre.

DISTRIBUTION

The common murre is found along the Atlantic coasts of Can­

ada, Greenland, and northern Europe, and along the Pacific

coasts of northern Asia and North America.

CONSERVATION

Shooting of the common murre is now controlled, but marine

pollution from oil and chemicals still poses a threat.

I FEATURES OF THE COMMON MURRE

Summer plumage: Brown upperparts in summer. Col­oring darkens in birds farther north, and some are almost black.

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Winter plumage: Breast, chin, th roat, and sides of the neck are white except for a black line that runs back from the eye.

Egg: 1; often whitish but color may vary. Its painted end prevents it from rolling off ledges.

US P 6001 12069 PACKET 69

The common murre can be spotted nesting in large colonies

on narrow cliff ledges on the temperate and northern

coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific. But it spends most of the

year on the open water, returning to land only in the

breeding season. An expert swimmer, this bird seems

to "fly" underwater with the aid of its wings.

~HABITS The common murre is found in

throngs along coasts and on

small islands in the Northern

Hemisphere, up to the Arctic

Circle. A hardy seabird, it toler­

ates wind, cold, and rain but

tends to avoid ice.

The bird spends just three or

four months of the year on land,

nesting on the ledges of rocky

cliff faces. Breeding colonies are

crowded and noisy, with hun­

dreds of birds engaged in court­

ship rituals and territorial fights.

But at sea, murres travel in small,

silent flocks.

In winter the birds leave their

rocky breeding sites and head in

all directions. A few birds may

be seen together, flying low

over the water or bobbing on

ocean swells.

To search for food or to escape

predators, a murre may go un­

derwater by kicking both its feet

and partly opening its wings.

Once it is underwater, the bird

uses its webbed feet as a rudder

and flaps its stubby, muscular

wings in order to propel itself

through the water.

In flight, the rapid beat of the

common murre's short wings

makes a whirring sound that is

characteristic of the auk family.

Right: The common murre may travel 30 miles in search of small fish to feed its young.

~ BREEDING Like most auks, the common

murre is a quiet bird most of

the time. But during pair for­

mation, nesting, and territorial

disputes, this bird utters loud

and raucous calls.

The male and female pair for

life and use the same nesting

site each year. The open nest is

usually located on a cliff or sea­

facing ledge. The pair's single

egg is pointed at the end, so

that it rolls in a circle instead

of rolling off the narrow rock

Left: Its daggerlike bill and longer neck distinguish the common murre from the razorbill.

DID YOU KNOW? • Ayoung murre utters a spe­

cial "pain call" when it has dif­

ficulty digesting food.

• It is thought that the com­

mon murre can dive as deep

as 200 feet and stay underwa­

ter as long as two minutes.

L n different places, the com-

shelf. It faces other dangers,

however, such as rock falls and

high winds.

Both parents take part in the

month-long incubation and

guard the egg against preda­

tors. Both bring food to the

chick. After two or three weeks,

before the chick can really fly,

its parents encourage it to half­

fly, half-jump down to the wa­

ter. The male bird follows the

chick and leads it out to the

open sea.

Right: Breeding areas are packed

so tightly that each murre may touch several others.

mon murre may be called the

thin-billed murre, California

murre, Atlantic murre, guille­

mot, or foolish guillemot.

• The common murre is close-

ly related to the extinct :Jreat auk, which was slaughtered

by sailors for its meat.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The common murre has a long,

narrow bill well suited to fishing.

It captures its prey in the water

or snatches it from the seabed.

Swimming underwater, the

common murre swallows a vari­

ety of fish, including Arctic cod,

herring, and sprats. Occasional­

ly it hunts for crabs, worms, and

squid. When it forages for its

~ BIRDWATCH In spring noisy flocks of com­

mon murres gather in nesting

colonies on rocky ledges. In

the United States, there is a

Left: The chick is very vulnera­ble to predators in its exposed nest on a rocky ledge. The male takes the chick to the sea a few weeks after its birth, before it can even fly.

chick, it catches small fish such

as sprats or sand eels and carries

them to the nest in its bill.

To find its prey, a murre may

repeatedly dip its head in the

water and then dive to make

the catch. Or it may crash-land

above a school of fish and dive

at once. A typical dive is 60 feet

deep and lasts 45 seconds.

large colony on the Farallon

Islands in California and an­

other huge colony at Three

Arch Rocks in Oregon .

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD

,,------------------------~

ORDER FAMILY Apodiformes Trochilidae

GENUS & SPECIES Cynanthus latirostris

CARD 235J

Despite its delicate appearance, the broad-billed hummingbird is a bold, quarrelsome bird that will readily attack

any intruder that strays into its territory.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 3-4 in .

Weight: !4 oz.

BREEDING

Mating season: April to May.

Eggs: Usually 2.

Incubation: 2 weeks.

Fledging period: 3- 3~ weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Day-active; solitary.

Diet: Pollen, nectar, insects,

and spiders.

Call: Chattering notes. Male

utters a "zing" display call.

Lifespan: Unknown.

RELATED SPECIES

There are approximately 320 spe­

cies of hummingbird, all in the

Western Hemisphere. The closest

relative is the dusky hummingbird,

Cynanthus sordidus, of Mexico.

Range of the broad-billed hummingbird.

DISTRIBUTION

Found from southern Arizona and Texas to southern Mexico.

Northern breeding birds may migrate south in fall.

CONSERVATION

During the 19th century, hummingbirds were exported to Eu­

rope, where their feathers were used as fashion accessories. To­

day the broad-billed hummingbird is relatively unaffected by

human activity.

FEATURES OF THE BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD

Male: Vivid green above and below with white undertail co­verts. Glittering blue throat and cheeks.

Eyes: Large. Give sharp vision .

Bill: Long and slightly curved . Bright red tipped with black.

Tail: Black and somewhat forked.

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Female: Dull green upperparts, pale gray below.

Nest: Small cup made of plant matter, twigs, and bark woven with spiderwebs.

0160200811 PACKET 81

The broad-billed hummingbird is in flight virtually all day

long. Activities such as feeding on nectar, bathing in the

dew collected on flowers, and defending its territory are all

accompanied by the frenzied beating of its wings. In order to

sustain this aerial activity, the bird must conserve energy

whenever it can. For this reason, it spends the night in a

dormant state, similar to that of an animal in hibernation.

~ HABITAT Most hummingbirds are found

in the dense forests of Central and South America. However,

the broad-billed hummingbird

lives farther north, breeding up to the southern United States.

Unlike its relatives, this bird pre­

fers dry or desert regions. It lives

among mesquite and sycamore

scrub between rocky outcrops in canyons and gullies.

This hummingbird rarely strays

far from places where its favor­

ite plants grow, but it may mi­

grate locally to find food.

Right: With its long, curved bill, a hummingbird can penetrate deep into tube-shaped blossoms.

~ BREEDING The broad-billed hummingbird

breeds in spring, when its favor­

ite food plants are flowering.

These solitary birds gather in

groups only during the breed­

ing season when trying to at­

tract mates. The male displays

to the female with an arcing, pendulumlike flight. He leaves

after mating, taking no part in

rearing the young. The female builds her nest

on a branch that is several feet

above the ground. The nest is

a small, lichen-covered cup of

plant matter, bark, and twigs

bound together with spider­

webs. The female usually lays

two white eggs and incubates

them for about two weeks. Left: This species' wings beat up to 75 times per second, quite slow for a hummingbird.

Right: The female broad-billed hummingbird may decorate her nest with strips of bark.

The young hatch featherless,

thin, and hungry. Their mother

feeds them continuously for

about three weeks. She thrusts

her bill down her offspring's

gullet and regurgitates nectar and insects into its stomach.

The young birds grow fast. They cannot move about on

their legs, but they can fly and

often engage in playful flights together. After the young leave

the nest, the female may mate

again and raise another brood.

Right: Perching on the nest to feed her hungry young, the female brief­ly rests her wings.

DID YOU KNOW? • The broad-billed humming­bird can fly at speeds of over

28 miles per hour.

• The humming noise made by the bird's beating wings is

pitched on the note of C.

• The broad-billed humming­bird's heart can beat up to

1,200 times per minute, or

20 times per second.

~ FOOD fit FEEDING Because the broad-billed hum­

mingbird spends so much time

in flight, it needs large quanti­

ties of energy-rich food. With

its wings beating very rapidly, it hovers beside a flower and in­

serts its long and slightly curved bill into the blossom. It draws

out the sugary nectar with

• People burn about 3,500 calories daily; hummingbirds

burn 155,000. To sustain the

same level of activity as this

bird, a human would need to

eat over 220 pounds of ham­

burger each day.

• On a typical day, the hum­mingbird may visit 2,000

flowers to feed.

darting movements of its ex­

tended tongue. The bird also obtains essen­

tial proteins from insects and

spiders. It captures insects by

hovering behind and below

them, then darting up to catch them in its bill. It may also steal

insects from a spider's web.

AFRICAN JACANA

ORDER Charadriiformes

FAMILY Jacanidae

GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS &: SPECIES Actophilornis africanus

The African jacana has such long toes that it is capable of walking across floating water plants without sinking. In Africa one of the bird's common names is "lily trotter."

KEY FACTS --------~~----

SIZES

Length: 9-12 in.

Wing length: Male, 5 in . Female,

6 in.

Weight : Male, 4-8 oz. Female,

6-10 oz.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.

Mating: Varies in different regions.

Usually most or all months.

No. of eggs: Up to 4. Incubat ion: 3-4 weeks. L LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable.

Range of the African jacana.

DISTRIBUTION Diet: Insects and their larvae, crus­

taceans, and aquatic plants.

Call: Whining and clucking sounds.

lifespan: Up to 13 years in captivity.

Unknown in the wild.

Found on open waters throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa,

w ith the exception of Somalia and some pockets along the

coastal regions of western and southwestern Africa.

CONSERVATION

RELATED SPECIES

Jacanas are related to plovers. The

lesser jacana, Microparra capensis,

is closely related.

The African jacana is common across most of its range and is

not a threatened species.

FEATURES OF THE AFRICAN JACANA

Plumage: Rich chestnut brown body and wing feathers. Golden chest. Black tai l feathers.

Toes: Long; 3 face forward and 1 faces back. Thin, sharp claws. Elongated hind claw braces the bird. Toes enable the bird to spread its weight over a

~II!I:"".",,-- Iarge area when walking on floating vegetation.

Head: White face with black stripe through eye and bright blue forehead.

Bill: Straight with slightly

down-curved ....... ~I!II... tip.

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The African jacana is at home in stagnant water, where it

walks with ease across floating lily pads. This bird is also

a strong swimmer and often dives underwater to avoid

enemies. The male incubates the eggs and rears the chicks,

defending them from predators. He distracts any intruders

by flying away from the nest, then spreading his wings

and collapsing into vegetation, pretending to be injured.

~ HABITAT The African jacana flourishes in

most of the fertile coastal and

inland regions south of the Sa­

hara Desert.

It prefers stagnant water that

is covered with water lilies and

other pondweeds. The African

jacana thrives near marshes, la­

goons, slow-flowing rivers, and

on flooded grassland. It may al­

so be found on the banks of Af­

rica's biggest lakes, including

Lake Chad and Lake Victoria.

The African jacana is common

throughout much of its range.

But flocks are scarcer in arid re-

gions, especially in southwest­

ern Africa, around the Sahara,

and the Horn of Africa. Because

of its need for water, the bird

favors low-lying country, and

it rarely strays any higher than

6,500 feet.

The African jacana generally

stays within a localized home

range. But a flock may have to

move if its main source of wa­

ter dries out. This can involve a

journey of hundreds of miles.

Right: In a reversal of usual roles, the male rather than the female incubates the eggs.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The African jacana eats insects,

small invertebrates, and crus­

taceans, as well as the seeds and

leaves of water lilies and other

aquatic plants. It usually feeds

near the shore, foraging in pairs,

family groups, or larger parties

that spread out over an area of

150 feet or more. The female is

frequently more daring than the

male and may venture 300 feet

out onto the water.

Walking steadily over the water

plants, the African jacana pecks

and pulls at leaves. It flips them

Left: The African jacana has long, thin toes that enable it to walk on water lilies with ease.

DID YOU KNOW? • The male often broods his

young while walking, carry­

ing them around in "pock­

ets" that are formed by his

folded wings. The chicks are

hidden except for their long

toes, which dangle below.

The male also uses his w ings

to scoop the chicks into the

pockets if danger threatens.

over and then looks for small

creatures that may be clinging

to the undersides. This bird also

utilizes its bill to fish for larvae.

Occasionally it snatches insects

from the air, then dips them in­

to the water to make them easi­

er to swallow.

The African jacana may perch

alone or in groups on the backs

of hippopotamuses that are half­

submerged in the water. When

these animals move, they stir up

many insects on which the jaca­

na can prey.

Right: The African jacana searches for its prey along the muddy shores of lakes.

Left: When the male carries his young under his wings, only their feet are visible.

Right: The chick ventures out from the nest a few hours after hatching.

When ready to attract the larg­

er female, the male constructs

a nest of rotting weeds. He may

also use a leaf or a lump of float­

ing peat. He clucks softly while

pulling pieces of nesting mate­

rial out with his bill. The female

sometimes takes a single mate,

but she may have up to four in

one year.

The male incubates the eggs,

sitting on them for about half

an hour at a time. After short

breaks for hunting, he returns

to the nest and lowers himself

slowly onto the eggs. If they

have become too hot in the

sun while he has been away, he

stands up to shade them with

his body.

The chicks hatch in three to

four weeks. They are strong

enough to leave the nest with­

in a few hours. The male rears

the chicks, but the female visits

from time to time. She frequent­

ly returns to look after her off­

spring when they can swim.

After two or three weeks, the

female chicks are noticeably

larger than the males. They al­

so fly at an earlier age.

PUFFBIRD

ORDER Piciformes

FAMILY Buccanidae

GENERA Bucca, Notharchus, Nystalus, etc.

Puffbirds are named for their stout, "puffy" appearance. These birds belong to a family that includes nunbirds, monklets,

and nunlets-names that reflect their sober coloring.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 5-12 in.

Weight: 1-3 oz.

BREEDING

Breeding season: Usually in the

first half of the year.

Eggs: 2 or 3; white, round .

Incubation period: Variable.

Fledging period: 20-30 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Mainly pairs, some groups.

Diet: Insects, small lizards and frogs,

some fruit.

Call: Weak whistles.

RELATED SPECIES

The family Buccanidae has 34 spe­

cies. These include the puffbirds of

the genera Notharchus, Bucca, Nys­

talus, Hypnelus, and Malacopti/a; the

nunbirds, Haploptila and Monasa; the

monklets and nun lets, Micromonacha

and Nonnula, and the swallow-wing,

Chelidoptera tenebrosa.

TYPICAL PUFFBIRD SPECIES

White-necked puffbird Notharchus macrorhyncus

'c) MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Range of puffbirds.

DISTRIBUTION

Most abundant in lowland woods and forested areas in the

Amazon basin. Also found in smaller numbers as far north as

southern Mexico and as far south as Paraguay.

CONSERVATION

Like many other birds in their range, puffbirds are suffering

from loss of habitat.

Spot-backed puffbird Nystalus maculatus

Mustached puffbird Malacoptila mystacalis

Russet-throated puffbird Hypne/us ruficollis

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Appearance: Puffbirds are characterized by their large heads and small , stocky bodies. They also have wide bills that are more hooked in some species. The exception to these general characteristics is the swallow­wing, which has a smaller head and a more streamlined body.

0160200581 PACKET 58

The tropical forests and woodlands of Central and South

America are home to puffbirds. With their stocky bodies and

their large heads, most species are similar in shape to

kingfishers. The German name for puffbird means

"Iazy bird. 1/ The name may have been chosen because

puffbirds have a habit of perching without moving

for long periods, waiting for prey to appear.

~ HABITS Puffbirds remain in one small region for years. Most species perch on exposed branches on the edges of woodland or in forest clearings. However the black-breasted puffbird prefers to stay hidden in the forest canopy.

Most puffbirds perch close to the ground and seldom descend to the forest floor except when nesting. They rarely flit about in the foliage, but the small nunlet is an ex-

ception. It can be seen hop­ping from branch to branch, searching for food . Puffbirds are usually seen in pairs. Nun­birds are among the most so­ciable species. Up tol 0 nun­birds can be seen perching together on a branch.

Puffbirds are generally very silent. But some species, such as the black-breasted, white­necked, and pied puffbirds, give loud whistles that break long periods of silence.

~ BREEDING Most puffbirds dig out a nest in the forest floor. Both male and female use their stout bills to make a tunnel that leads to a nest chamber. Puffbirds of the genus Notharchus, includ­ing the black-breasted, white­necked, brown-banded, and pied species, dig deep into the nests of termites.

The entrance tunnel slopes downward. In the case of the

swallow-wing, it may be up to seven feet long. It takes a pair about two weeks to dig out a tunnel. They then enlarge the tunnel's inner end to form a

Left: The two claws at the front and back of a puffbird's feet pro­vide a good grip.

DID YOU KNOW? • The white-fronted nunbird conceals the entrance of its nest with sticks. The black­fronted nunbird constructs a tunnel of leaves and twigs along the ground so it can enter the nest unseen.

• When they return to the nest at night, young puff­birds of some species seal

nest chamber, which they line with dry leaves.

Both male and female puff­birds incubate their clutch of two or three eggs. When the eggs hatch, the blind, naked young are kept warm by the male, while the female brings them food.

Within a few days, the nest­lings can crawl up to the en­trance hole to take food . The male can then leave them and help the female look for food. After three weeks the young birds have a full set of feathers and are able to leave the nest.

Right: The white-eared puffbird is widely distributed across central South America.

the entrance tunnel by rear­ranging the lining of leaves from the nest chamber.

• Little soil is found outside a tunnel that has been dug by puffbirds. It is believed that the birds carry the soil away so that predators will not find out where the nest is located.

~ FOOD & FEEDING Puffbirds feed mainly on in­sects, especially beetles. The birds sit still for long periods, then swoop down and snap up passing prey. Certain spe­cies also eat small lizards and frogs, which they find in the foliage or on the floor of the forest. Occasionally puffbirds also feed on fruit.

The swallow-wing is unusual

Left: Unlike some other species, the spot-backed puffbird has bold coloring.

Left: The black­fronted nun­bird has the thick, slightly hooked bill that is com­mon among puffbirds. This bill is adapted to catching the insects that are the mainstay of its diet.

because it eats only flying in­sects. It makes frequent short flights from its perch to find the flying ants that make up the bulk of its diet. Like a fly­catcher, it darts out to catch an insect in flight and then returns to its perch.

Young puffbirds are fed al­most exclusively on large in­sects. White-fronted puffbird adults that have no young of their own may help feed the young of others.

CHOUGH

,,~-----------------~ ORDER

Passeriformes FAMILY Corvidae

GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS & SPECIES Pyrrhocorox pyrrhocorox

The chough is generally found around mountains and sea cliffs. It is the only member of the crow family that has a bright red bill, which provides a striking contrast to its glossy black plumage.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 16-18 in.

Bill length: Male, 2-2~ in.

Female, 1 ~-2 in.

Weight: 12-13 oz.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 year.

Breeding season: April to June.

Eggs: 3-5; rarely, 2 or 6.

Incubation: 2~-3 weeks.

Fledging period: About 6 weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Lives in pairs, family groups,

or loose flocks.

Diet: Mainly insects and larvae;

also other invertebrates and seeds.

Lifespan: Oldest known, 1 7 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The closest relative is the Alpine

chough, Pyrrhocorox grocu/us.

FEATURES OF THE CHOUGH

Bill: Bright red , tapering, and downward-

©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Range of the chough.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in northwestern and southern Europe, the Canary Is­

lands, northwestern Africa, Ethiopia, and Turkey east through

Iran and Central Asia to southern Siberia and northern China.

CONSERVATION

The chough population has declined severely over the last two

centuries in many parts of western Europe as well as other parts

of its range.

Plumage: Adult is a uniform glossy black. Juvenile is

less glossy and has an orange-yellow bill.

Flight: Reveals broad wings that have slotted tips. The chough is known for its aerobatics. It wheels around cliffs, climbing high, diving, and even turn­ing somersaults.

Eggs: Usually 3 to 5. They are speckled but may show marked vari­ations in color.

PRINTED IN U.S.A. us P 6001 12 076 PACKET 76

The chough was once common in western and southern

Europe, where it could be seen performing spectacular flying

feats above its rocky nesting sites. Over the last two centuries,

however, the chough s numbers have dropped in many parts

of its range. Naturalists have been unable to determine

the reasons for this decline in the birds population.

~ HABITS The chough has an extensive but scattered range across Eu­rope and Asia. It usually lives on rugged mountain slopes, but it can also be found around quar­ries, rocky valleys, and sea cliffs. Populations that live at higher altitudes move down in winter to escape the cold.

The agile chough uses updrafts and wind currents to swoop and dive past rock faces. It soars and glides with its wingtips spread and then moves with a slow, leisurely flapping . The bird often performs aerobatic displays, div-

ing with its wings drawn in or turning on its back in midair.

The chough often appears in loose flocks of up to 100 individ­uals, especially at winter roosts. But the bird's closest ties are be­tween pairs or family members, which vigorously defend their feeding sites. Interlopers are forced away by a threat display, in which the feathers are ruffled and the bill is opened. Rivals may also stand upright with their bills pointing down and their feath­ers smoothed-a posture that often leads to fighting.

~ FOOD fit FEEDING Unlike other crows, the chough only rarely scavenges for scraps of garbage. Occasionally it con­sumes grain, but the bulk of its diet consists of invertebrates, mainly small insects. It regularly preys on beetles, ants, flies and their larvae, caterpillars, crickets, spiders, and worms.

The chough finds some of its food on the rocky ledges of its roosting and nesting sites, but it prefers to forage close to home in patches of closely cropped grass or bare earth. In winter, populations in coastal areas may

Left: Grassy slopes on top of the chough 5 cliffside nest sites offer a plentiful supply of insects.

DID YOU KNOW? • When food is plentiful the chough may store it, conceal­ing supplies in rock crevices. • In the Himalayas, choughs regularly nest at altitudes of 11,000 feet and forage even higher than that. • One chough's nest was dis-

forage on the shoreline. In a few areas, such as the Canary Islands, the birds find food in trees.

The chough often flips over stones and droppings in search of prey. It also probes the soil with its curved bill, to a depth of two inches. The bird finds much of its food in ants' nests. Using its bill it probes the nest at all angles, pulling out adults, lar­vae, and pupae. It sometimes stabs downward with its bill, in a rapid, pecking motion that is frequently described as a "sew­ing machine" action.

Right: The chough often nests on the narrow ledges of abandoned quarries and mines.

covered in the Alps lined with fiber from a discarded coco­nut shell as well as felt from an old carpet. • The primary enemy of the chough is the peregri~e, a powerful fdlcon that also fre­quents cliffs and rocky ledges.

~I BIRDWATCH The chough can be differenti­ated from other crows by its bright red bill and legs, as well as its loud "keeaar" call. Like all crows, the adult chough has glossy black plumage. The young are not as glossy, and

~ BREEDING Courtship between choughs en­tails ritual displays on the ground as well as spectacular flights. Two competing males may strut to­ward a female with tails turned upward, feathers ruffled, wings drooped, and heads down. After pairing, the choughs may preen one another. The male often feeds the female, a practice he continues when she incubates.

Choughs do not usually nest in groups, but in a suitable place

Left: The chough 's nest is made of twigs and plant stems and lined with wool, hair, and grass.

they have orange-yellow bills. The chough's broad wings,

with their slotted tips, are clear­ly visible in flight. In the breed­ing season, both male and female can be seen engaging in their aerial courtship display.

their nests may be fairly close together. The nesting site may be a cliff ledge, crevice, cave, or hole in an abandoned building. In the easternmost parts of its range, the bird may even nest in occupied houses.

Both parents give the hatch­lings regurgitated food, but the female alone cleans the chicks and keeps them warm. The young leave the nest in five to six weeks but stay in the shelter of crevices and overhangs for several days longer, until they are ready to fly.

'" CARD 239 I BEARDED REEDLING ,, __________________________________ G~RO~U~P~2:~B~I~RD~S~~

~ ORDER .... FAMILY GENUS & SPECIES ~ Passeriformes ~ Paradoxornithidae Panurus biarmicus

Although the bearded reedling looks like a member of the titmouse family, it is barely related. Instead, it belongs to a family of

predominantly Asian birds that are called parrotbills.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 4-5 in.

Weight: ~-% oz.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 year.

Breeding season: April to July.

Eggs: 5-7; white with brown

streaks.

No. of broods: 2-3. Incubation: 12-13 days.

Fledging period: 9-13 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable. Pairs for life. Often

nests in loose colonies.

Diet: Mainly insects and seeds.

Call: A nasal, ringing "ping ping."

lifespan: Oldest known, 6 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 19 species of parrotbill,

mostly in Southeast Asia. They

include the three-toed parrotbill,

Paradoxornis paradoxus, of China.

Range of the bearded reed ling.

DISTRIBUTION

The bearded reedling is becoming a familiar breeder in western

Europe. It also lives and breeds in eastern Europe and southern,

central, and western Asia.

CONSERVATION

Harsh winters and the drainage of marshland are the primary

threats to the bearded reedling. It is a protected species in sev­

eral European countries.

FEATURES OF THE BEARDED REEDLING

Male: Tawny body, blue­gray head, and black mustache. Predominantly black and brown wings. Black undertail.

© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S:A.

Flight: With its wings whirring rapidly and its tail fanning rhyth­

mically, the bearded reedling skims over the tops of reeds.

Female: Brown head, white chest, and brown­and-black wings.

Eggs: 5 to 7; white with brown streaks.

0160200801 PACKET 80

The bearded reedling, also called the bearded tit, gets its

name from the male's distinctive facial markings. Its status

as a protected species in several European countries has

increased this bird's numbers. Today its bell-like call is a

familiar sound among the reed beds across its range.

~ HABITAT The bearded reedling is found in southern, central, and west­ern Asia as well as in parts of eastern and western Europe. This bird makes its home in the thick reed beds that flourish be­side brackish and freshwater lakes, rivers, and marshes.

In many parts of its range,

~ HABITS The bearded reedling is a bold, sociable bird. In winter the birds live in flocks of up to 50 individ­uals. For the rest of the year they live in extended family groups.

An acrobatic bird, the bearded reedling hops up and down the reeds with quick and jerky move­ments. It perches by grasping stems with both feet and sus-

the bearded reedling is primari­ly sedentary. But in highly pop­ulated areas, flocks may fly far from their breeding grounds, to either established wintering locations or new breeding sites. As a result, the bearded reed­ling's range constantly changes and extends into new areas.

pending its weight. In flight the bird skims over the reeds with its wings whirring rapidly and its tail fanning rhythmically.

The bearded reedling has a vi­brant "ping ping" call and a soft­er twittering voice. It also utters a less distinctive "tic" noise.

Right: The bearded reedling favors reed seeds above all other seeds.

~ BREEDING The bearded reedling is suscep­tible to cold, and numbers may drop significantly in winter. But these losses are offset by its pro­lific breeding in spring.

During the courtship ritual, the male puffs out the feathers of his black mustache and raises his tail to reveal his black under­tail feathers. The female spreads her tail and briefly dances. Some­times the two rise together in a slow flight.

Left: The bearded reedling grips a stem with both feet when perching.

DID YOU KNOW? • Although it is placed with the parrotbills, no one actual­ly knows what the bearded reedling's closest relatives are. • Bearded reedlings form pairs before they are sexually ma-

The pair builds a cup-shaped nest just above the water in a thick reed bed. The nest is made of reeds and sedges and lined with flowers and feathers. The female lays five to seven eggs, which both sexes incubate for 12 to 13 days. The chicks are able to fly within two weeks and may leave the nest to form small juvenile flocks. Meanwhile the parents raise a second or even a third brood.

Right: The parents share the duties of feeding their hatchlings.

ture and remain mated for the rest of their lives. • During the last century, the bearded reedling was perse- J cuted by trappers who sold the captives as caged birds.

~I BIRDWATCH The bearded reedling has al­ways been common in Hun­gary and eastern Austria. But today the bird is also found in almost any large, dense

reed bed in western Europe. The bearded reedling's call

is relatively easy to recognize. It sounds like two stones be­ing hit together.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The bearded reed ling finds all the food it needs within its reed bed habitat and rarely ventures beyond the safety of its home.

During summer the bird feeds primarily on soft insects such as mayflies. It may hop up and down plant stems, picking off adult and larval insects. Or it may drop to the ground and scratch around for them in the damp earth. Occasionally it eats freshwater mollusks and other small animals.

When insects are scarce, the bearded reedling feeds on seeds such as reed seeds. When the plants are flowering, it nips off the buds and petals. In order to digest this food easily, the bird has a muscular gizzard like that of other seed-eating birds.

WOOD DUCK

ORDER Anseriformes

FAMILY Anatidae

"(CARD 240 I

GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS & SPECIES Aix sponsa

The wood duck is one of the most attractive duck species. At one time its numbers declined dramatically because of intensive

hunting, but the duck has now recovered in much of its range.

~ KEYFAC_T_S ____________________________ ~ bt l SIZES

~ Length: 17-20 in. Weight: Male, about 1 )1 lb. Female, about 1 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Usually 1 year. Mating season: March to May. No. of broods: 1-2. Eggs: 6-15; creamy white. Incubation: About 1 month.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Social; lives in flocks for most of the year. Diet: Water plants, aquatic insects, snails, small fish, crustaceans, and fallen acorns. Call: Mainly silent, but gives whis­tling alarm calls. Lifespan: Unknown.

RELATED SPECIES There are 13 species of perching duck, which include the mandarin duck, Aix ga/ericu/ata, the wood duck's closest relative.

Range of the wood duck.

DISTRIBUTION The wood duck is widespread across North Amerka, with two separate breeding populations-one toward the East, the other in the West.

CONSERVATION The number of wood ducks had seriously declined by the early 20th century because of overhunting. Protective measures and captive breeding programs have helped the species recover.

FEATURES OF THE WOOD DUCK

Male: Large crest on back of head, short neck, and long tail. Green, blue, and purple upperparts, with red, yel­low, brown, and white on sides. White lines on neck and along crest.

Bill: Mainly scarlet with yellow band at base. Black patch on tip and between nostrils.

©MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Flight: Reveals white underparts and long tail. Bill is angled downward.

Female: Plumage is drab brown above and yellowish brown below, often with flashes of

white and blue. Crest is small­er than the male's.

US P 6001 12 069 PACKET 69

The male wood duck is a beautifully patterned bird

with a long tail, short neck, and large, crested head.

In contrast, the female has a drab appearance with

her gray and yellowish brown plumage. Classified as

a perching duck, the wood duck moves rapidly and

with ease on land, water, and in the air.

~HABITS The wood duck is a social bird and spends much of the year in flocks of up to 300 birds. The flock breaks up into pairs in the spring for the breeding season, but regathers later in the year.

There are two distinct popula­tions of wood duck: one in the West, the other in the East and Midwest. The bird winters in the southern parts of these ranges and returns north to breed.

The wood duck lives beside freshwater ponds, lakes, and rivers. It prefers a wooded habi­tat, but it may use a more open site in summer. Unlike many ducks, the wood duck is fast and agile in the air and on the ground, where it sometimes darts through the forest.

Right: The female keeps a close eye on her ducklings to protect them from predators.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Throughout the year, the wood duck's diet consists mainly of water plants and insects, such as damselflies and dragonflies, which hover near the water. In deep water, the duck feeds on floating weeds and plants that grow above the surface. In shal­lower water, however, it dips

left: The wood duck and its Asian relative, the mandarin duck, are both perching ducks.

r DID YOU KNOW? - Both the wood duck and the related mandarin duck can be bred in captivity. But attempts at cross-breeding have resulted in infertile eggs.

I-The wood duck began to decline during the late 19th century, when the male's col-

below the surface to feed on the bottom, uprooting under­water bulbs and tubers.

In summer the wood duck's diet includes small fish and crustaceans. It also forages on land, searching in the leaf de­bris on the forest floor for snails and fallen acorns.

Right: The male wood duck dis­plays his beautiful colors only dur­ing the breeding season.

orful feathers were popular as fishing flies or hat ornaments. - Although the future of the wood duck appears secure, numbers have declined in the southern parts of the bird's range, mainly because of the draining of swamps.

-- --- ----------------~

~ BREEDING In early spring wood ducks form pairs and return to their breeding grounds. The birds mate soon after arriving. Since the duck is not very territorial, several pairs may nest close together if there are suitable sites near the water.

The wood duck nests in a natural tree hole or a nest hole abandoned by a woodpecker or a squirrel. It chooses a spot that is high enough to reduce the danger of predators taking its eggs. If the wood duck can-

not find a suitable tree hole, it may use a rock crevice.

Many locations in the wood duck's range have been cleared for development, resulting in a loss of suitable nesting holes. Recently, there has been an ex­tensive effort to provide nest boxes. Wood ducks have taken readily to these boxes, often appearing to prefer them to tree holes.

After mating, the male stays with the female until she lays her eggs in April or May, but he does not help incubate or rear the chicks. The female incubates 6 to 15 eggs for about a month. The ducklings can walk and swim the day they hatch and soon learn to fly.

left: The ducklings leave the nest by dropping down to the ground or water below.