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Template:POTD/2007-01-18
The
Western Gull (
Larus occidentalis) is a large white-headed
gull that lives on the western coast of
North America. It is a large gull, around 60 cm long with a white head and body, and gray wings. It has a yellow bill with a red subterminal spot (this is the small spot near the end of the bill that chicks peck in order to stimulate feeding).
Template:POTD/2007-01-21
The
House Sparrow (
Passer domesticus, female shown here) is a member of the
Old World sparrow family Passeridae. It occurs naturally in most of
Europe and much of
Asia, but has been introduced to most other parts of the world. Despite being so common, it is often confused with the smaller and slimmer
Tree Sparrow.
Template:POTD/2007-01-24
The
Blue Jay (
Cyanocitta cristata) is a
North American jay which can be found over a very large area of the eastern side of the continent. It is mainly a bird of mixed woodland, but also of parks and gardens in some towns and cities. Its food is sought both on the ground and in trees and includes virtually all known types of plant and animal sources.
Template:POTD/2007-01-29
The
Barred Owl (
Strix varia), commonly known as the
hoot owl, is a large
typical owl. Its breeding habitat is dense woods across
Canada, the eastern
United States and south to
Central America. They hunt at dawn, dusk, or night, by waiting on a high perch or flying through the woods and swooping down on prey. They mainly eat small
mammals, such as mice and rabbits, and also small birds.
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A
House Sparrow, a "true
sparrow" of the family
Passeridae, as opposed to
American sparrows. There are other birds, such as the
Dunnock, also known as a Hedge Sparrow — a relic of the old practice of calling
any small bird a "sparrow". There are 35 species of Old World sparrows, in four
genera.
Template:POTD/2007-03-03
A female
Spruce Grouse (
Falcipennis canadensis), a medium-sized
grouse native to the boreal forests or
taiga across
Alaska,
Canada and the northern
United States. Grouses nest on the ground in dense growth. They are not
migratory, but some move short distances by foot to a different location for winter.
Template:POTD/2007-03-18
The
Black-headed Gull (
Larus ridibundus) is a small
gull which breeds in much of
Europe and
Asia, and also in coastal eastern
Canada. Despite the name, the gull's head is only black during the summer. In winter the head becomes white as seen here, leaving just dark vertical streaks.
Template:POTD/2007-03-28
The
Australian Pelican (
Pelecanus conspicillatus), also known as the
Goolayyalibee, is a species of
pelican widespread on the inland and coastal waters of
Australia and
New Guinea. Compared to other pelican species, they are medium-sized: 1.6 to 1.8 m (5.25 to 6 ft) long with a wingspan of 2.3 to 2.5 m (7.6 to 8.25 ft) and weighing between 4 and almost 7 kg (9 to 15 lbs). They are predominantly white, with black and white wings and a pale, pinkish bill which, like that of all pelicans, is enormous—particularly in the male.
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Photo credit: Alan D. Wilson
Template:POTD/2007-04-25
Photo credit: Alan D. Wilson
Template:POTD/2007-05-01
The
Willet (
Tringa semipalmata) is a large
shorebird in the
sandpiper family. Adults have gray legs and a long, straight, dark and stout bill. The body is dark gray above and light underneath. The tail is white with a dark band at the end. The distinctive black and white pattern of the wings is a common sight along many
North American coastal beaches.
Template:POTD/2007-05-09
An
Eastern Striated Pardalote (
Pardalotus striatus ornatus) with nesting material in its mouth. This
subspecies of the Striated Pardalote, the least colourful and most common of the four pardalote species, is found in
subtropical areas of
Eastern Australia. They are more often heard than seen, foraging noisily for
lerps and other small creatures in the treetops.
Template:POTD/2007-06-30
The
Red-necked Grebe (
Podiceps grisegena) is a member of the
grebe family of water
birds. In
summertime, adults are unmistakable, due to their red neck and white throat. In
winter, the Red-necked Grebe is duskier than most grebes, with no white above the eye, and a thick, yellowish bill. It is a somewhat large grebe, about the same size as an average
duck.
Template:POTD/2007-07-03
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The
Tawny Owl (
Strix aluco) is a species of
owl resident in much of
Europe and southern
Russia. It is a medium-sized earless owl, 37-43 cm in length with an 81-96 cm wingspan. The Tawny Owl is stocky with a large rounded head and rounded wings. This species probably injures more people than any other European
bird. It is fearless in defence of its nest and young, and strikes for the intruder's face with its sharp talons. Since its flight is silent, at night in particular it may not be detected until too late.
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A young fluffed up female
Blackbird (
Turdus merula). Unlike males, who are all black except for a yellow eye-ring and
bill, females have brown
plumage and a brown beak. Blackbirds are common in woods and gardens over all of Europe and much of Asia south of the
Arctic Circle. Females are aggressive in the spring when competing with others for good nesting territory.
Template:POTD/2007-10-29
Template:POTD/2007-11-03
An illustrated comparison of different types of
bird beaks, displaying the different shapes that are a result of different feeding adaptations. Bird heads are not shown to scale.
Template:POTD/2008-01-09
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The
Eastern Screech Owl (
Megascops asio) is a small
owl native to eastern
North America. Usually solitary, they nest in a tree cavity, either natural or excavated by a woodpecker; they will also use nesting boxes. They are strictly nocturnal, roosting during the day in cavities or next to tree trunks. They mainly eat large
insects and small
rodents, as well as small birds. They are active at night or near dusk, using their excellent hearing and night vision to locate prey.
Template:POTD/2008-01-30
Template:POTD/2008-02-29
Image credit: Zina Deretsky, NSF The life-cycle of the
Emperor Penguin, the tallest and heaviest of all living
penguin species. Adults spend nine months of the year
breeding and caring for the
egg and chick, during which they must trek across 90 km (56 mi) of ice and go without eating for up to four months. This cycle was depicted in the popular film
March of the Penguins.
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The
Great Blue Heron is a wading bird in the heron family, common over most of North and Central America as well as the
West Indies and the
Galápagos Islands. Great blue herons can be found in a range of habitats, in fresh and saltwater, but always near bodies of water. They feed by using their long legs to wade into the water and then catch fish or frogs with their long bill.
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An adult
Dunlin (
Calidris alpina) in breeding plumage. This bird is one of the most common and best-known
waders throughout its breeding and wintering ranges, and it is the species with which other waders tend to be compared.
Template:POTD/2008-06-18
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A
Restless Flycatcher (
Myiagra inquieta) in flight. This
passerine bird is found in
Australia and
Papua New Guinea. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long, with a glossy dark blue crown, a grey back and white underparts. It is similar to the
Willie Wagtail, though the lack of a black throat & white eyebrow are distinguishing features. Its main food is insects.
Template:POTD/2008-07-05
The
American Robin (
Turdus migratorius) is a
migratory songbird of the
thrush family. The similarity between the orange-red coloring of its breast to that of the smaller and unrelated
European Robin (
Erithacus rubecula) led to its common name. It is widely distributed throughout North America, wintering south of Canada from
Florida to central
Mexico and along the
Pacific Coast.
Template:POTD/2008-07-25
Template:POTD/2008-08-03
The
Bufflehead (
Bucephala albeola) is a small
American sea duck of the genus
Bucephala. The name Bufflehead is a combination of
buffalo and
head, referring to the oddly bulbous head shape of the species. This is most noticeable when the male puffs out the feathers on the head, thus greatly increasing its apparent size.
Template:POTD/2008-08-15
A
Brolga (
Grus rubicunda), sometimes known as the 'Native Companion' or 'Australian Crane', in
Victoria, Australia. This individual is approximately 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height. A common gregarious
wetland bird species in tropical and eastern
Australia, the Brolga is well known for its intricate
mating dance.
Template:POTD/2008-08-23
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Template:POTD/2008-09-19
The
Kentish Plover or
Snowy Plover (
Charadrius alexandrinus) is a small
wader in the
plover bird family. Despite its name, this species no longer breeds in
Kent, or even
Great Britain. Instead, it breeds in most subtropical and tropical parts of the world.
Template:POTD/2008-10-03
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Photo credit: Alan Wilson The
Greater Yellowlegs (
Tringa melanoleuca, juvenile shown here) is a mid-sized
shorebird similar in appearance to the smaller
Lesser Yellowlegs. The Greater Yellowlegs can be distinguished from the Lesser Yellowlegs by its larger size and relatively longer bill. The bill of the Greater Yellowlegs is longer than the head, while the bill of the Lesser is about the same length.
Template:POTD/2008-12-26
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The
Australian Wood Duck (
Chenonetta jubata) is a
dabbling duck found throughout much of
Australia. Its habitat is lightly wooded swamps and marshes. This abundant
duck nests in a tree hole laying 8–12 eggs. They are usually 45 to 51 centimetres (17.7 to 20.1 in) in length and look like a small
goose. It rarely swims, feeding mostly by grazing. The male is grey with a dark brown head and mottled breast. The female has white stripes above and below the eye and mottled underparts. Both sexes have grey wings with black primaries and a white
speculum.
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A
Silvereye (
Zosterops lateralis) perched on a blooming
Cestrum species. The Silvereye is a very small
passerine bird (~12 cm (4.7 in) in length) native to the
Australasia region. Silvereyes are
omnivorous but have a particular fondness for fruit. Some orchardists, grape growers, and home gardeners regard them as a pest particularly as, being so small, Silvereyes simply ignore bird nets, popping in and out through the netting at will.
Template:POTD/2009-05-05
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A
Eurasian Coot (
Fulica atra) foraging for food. This member of the rail and crake
family Rallidae occurs and breeds in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, and has recently expanded its range into New Zealand.
Template:POTD/2009-06-24
The
Embden Goose is a
breed of
domestic goose, named for the town of
Emden in
Lower Saxony,
Germany, from where it was once thought they originated. Embdens are pure white with a light orange, short,
bill, and orange feet and legs. They are fast-growing birds and females will reach about 9 kg (20 lb), with males growing up to 14 kg (31 lb).
Template:POTD/2009-07-12
Template:POTD/2009-08-05
The
Yellow-faced Honeyeater (
Lichenostomus chrysops) is a mid-sized bird in the
honeyeater family Meliphagidae found on the east coast of Australia from northern
Queensland to the coast of
South Australia. As its name suggests, it has a distinctive yellow stripe on each side of its face, between two black stripes and a blue eye. It feeds on nectar, particularly of
Eucalyptus and
Banksia, seeds, fruits and insects and mainly forages in the foliage of trees.
Template:POTD/2009-11-03
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The
White-faced Heron (
Egretta novaehollandiae) is a common
heron found throughout most of
Australasia. It can be found almost anywhere near shallow water,
fresh or
salt. Adults are relatively small, averaging about 550 g (19 oz) in weight and 60–70 cm (24–28 in) in height. They are pale blue-grey in colour, with white on the forehead, crown, chin and upper throat. The crown pattern is variable, with the white occasionally spreading down the neck; the variability makes identification of individuals possible. The beak is black and often pale grey at the base.
Template:POTD/2009-12-03
The
Laughing Kookaburra (
Dacelo novaeguineae) is a
carnivorous kookaburra in the
Kingfisher family well known for its laughing call. It is about 45 cm (18 in) in length and is found throughout eastern
Australia and neighboring islands, and has been introduced to southwestern Australia as well as
Kawau Island near New Zealand. Its trademark "laugh" is to establish territory amongst family groups. When one bird starts, often others will join in, including nearby birds from rival tribes, which can fill
the bush with their calls.
Template:POTD/2009-12-13
The
Red Wattlebird (
Anthochaera carunculata) is a large species of
honeyeater found across southern
Australia. Growing up to 35 cm (14 in) in length, it has distinctive red
wattles, white streaks on the chest and belly, and a bright yellow patch towards the tail. Its diet consists mostly of
nectar, but it will take
insects as well as
fruit.
Template:POTD/2009-12-23
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The
Pacific Gull (
Larus pacificus) is a very large (58–66 cm (23–26 in) in length)
gull native to the coasts of
Australia. It is less common than the
Silver Gull, and its numbers have been declining in some parts due to competition from the
Kelp Gull. Pacific Gulls are usually seen alone or in pairs.
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A juvenile
House Sparrow (
Passer domesticus) has a pink bill and nestling
gape flanges on both sides of its face where the upper part of the
beak is connected to the lower part. In juvenile
altricial birds, brightly colored gapes help the parents determine how to distribute food among their chicks.
Template:POTD/2010-07-22
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The
Pied Oystercatcher (
Haematopus longirostris) is a
wader native to
Australia, where they can be found on sandy coastlines feeding on various
bivalve molluscs, but not actually
oysters, which are found mostly on rocky shorelines. This
oystercatcher species is easily recognized by the characteristic 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long orange-red
beak, slender pink legs and black and white plumage.
Template:POTD/2010-08-11
The
Nankeen Kestrel (
Falco cenchroides), native to
Australia,
New Guinea, and nearby islands, is one of the smallest species of
falcon (about 31 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in length). Unlike other
raptors, it does not rely on speed to catch its prey. Instead, it simply perches in an exposed position, but it also has a distinctive technique of hovering over crop and grasslands.
Template:POTD/2010-08-20
The
House Sparrow (
Passer domesticus, male shown here) is the most widely distributed wild bird. It originated in the
Middle East and has spread throughout much of the world, mostly due to deliberate
introductions but also through natural dispersal and shipborne travel. It is quite successful, due to its adaptability and ability to easily co-exist with humans.
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The
Rainbow Lorikeet (
Trichoglossus haematodus ssp. moluccanus shown here) is a species of
Australasian parrot. It is a medium sized bird, with the length ranging from 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 11.8 in) in size, and has a wingspan of about 17 cm (6.7 in). The weight varies from 75 to 157 g (2.6 to 5.5 oz). Its habitat is
rainforest, coastal bush and
woodland areas, and it feeds mainly on
fruit,
pollen and
nectar.
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A female
Hardhead (
Aythya australis), the only true
diving duck found in
Australia, swimming amongst
duckweed. Hardheads are relatively small
ducks, usually not much more than 45 cm (18 in) long. Both male and female are a fairly uniform dark brown above, with
rufous flanks and white undersides.
Template:POTD/2010-10-11
A
Skylark (
Alauda arvensis), with two
beetles in its beak. Skylarks are found throughout much of the world. It is a mostly dull-looking bird, being mainly brown above and paler below. They are known for the
song of the male, which is delivered in hovering flight from heights of 50 to 100 m (160–330 ft).
Template:POTD/2010-10-23
The
Superb Lyrebird (
Menura novaehollandiae) is a
pheasant-sized
songbird endemic to Australia. At approximately 100 cm (39 in) long, it is the longest of all songbirds. The male (shown here) has a showy tail, with the two outermost
feathers forming the shape of a
lyre.
Template:POTD/2010-11-01
The
Tasmanian Native-hen (
Gallinula mortierii) is a
flightless rail, one of twelve species of birds
endemic to the Australian island of
Tasmania, except the southwestern portion. Although flightless, it is capable of running quickly and has been recorded running at speeds up to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h). Fossil records indicate that the Tasmanian Native-hen was found on the Australian mainland until around 4700 years ago. Suggested reasons for its extinction there have included the introduction of the
dingo, or an extremely dry period.
Template:POTD/2010-11-18
The
Chestnut Teal (
Anas castanea, male shown here) is an
omnivorous dabbling duck found in southern Australia. The male has a distinctive green coloured head and mottled brown body. The female has a brown head and mottled brown body, which is almost identical to a female
Grey Teal.
Template:POTD/2010-11-28
The
Musk Lorikeet (
Glossopsitta concinna) is a species of
lorikeet found in south-central/eastern
Australia. It grows to about 22 cm (9 in) long, and can be identified by its red forehead, blue crown and a distinctive yellow band on its wing.
Template:POTD/2010-12-09
The
Pacific Black Duck (
Anas superciliosa) is a
dabbling duck found throughout much of the southwestern Pacific. It has a dark body, and a paler head with a dark crown and facial stripes, with a green
speculum and pale underwing. The size range is 54–61 cm (21–24 in), with males being slightly larger than females.
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A male
Magpie-lark (
Grallina cyanoleuca), a common
Australian bird of small to medium size. Like many
Australian birds, it was named for its physical similarity to the northern hemisphere birds familiar to European settlers. In fact, it is neither a
magpie nor a
lark and is not particularly closely related to either.
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A nesting
Jacky Winter (
Microeca fascinans), a
passerine bird native to
Australia and
Papua New Guinea. It was previously known as the Brown Flycatcher, but is more closely related to
crows than to true
flycatchers. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry forests, and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.
Template:POTD/2011-02-15
A female
Willie Wagtail (
Rhipidura leucophrys), a
passerine bird native to
Australasia. The Willie Wagtail is a common and familiar bird throughout much of its range. Males and females are coloured with almost entirely black upperparts and white underparts. The
common name is derived from its habit of wagging its tail horizontally when foraging on the ground.
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The
Whistling Kite (
Haliastur sphenurus) is a medium-sized
diurnal raptor found throughout
Australia,
New Caledonia and
New Guinea. It ranges in size from 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in), with a
wingspan between 123 and 146 cm (48 and 57 in). Males and females appear similar, with pale buff on the head, breast and tail, with browner wings and black
flight feathers, but females are generally larger. It is named for its loud whistling call, which it gives in
flight, while perched, and even while in the
nest.
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The
Australasian Darter (
Anhinga novaehollandiae) is a species of bird in the
darter family, which also includes the
American,
African, and
Oriental darters. Darters are also known as snakebirds, which refers to the snake-like appearance of the
neck when they swim with their bodies submerged. Australasian Darters are typically found in freshwater or brackish
wetlands in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
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The
Masked Lapwing (
Vanellus miles,
ssp. novaehollandiae shown), also known as the
Spur-winged Plover, is a common and conspicuous bird native to northern and eastern
Australia, as well as
New Zealand. They are most common around the edges of
wetlands and in other moist, open environments, but are adaptable and can often be found in surprisingly arid areas.
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A female
Common Blackbird (
Turdus merula) in her
nest. Cup nests like the one shown here, usually made of pliable materials like
grasses, are commonly built by
passerines. Other types of nests include the knot-hole left by a broken branch, a burrow dug into the ground, a chamber drilled into a tree, an enormous rotting pile of vegetation and earth, or a mud dome with an entrance tunnel.
Template:POTD/2011-06-15
Photo: Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes
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The
Cape Barren Goose (
Cereopsis novaehollandiae) is a large goose native to southern Australia. It is 75–100 cm (30–40 in) long, weighs 3.1–6.8 kg (7–15 lb) and has a 150–190 cm (59–75 in) wingspan, with males slightly larger than females. Its plumage is almost uniformly grey, bearing rounded black spots.
Template:POTD/2011-07-11
The
Common Nighthawk (
Chordeiles minor) is a species of
nightjar that is native to the
Americas. It breeds in open country across North America and
migrates in flocks to wintering grounds in South America. As seen here, the Common Nighthawk does not build a nest, but instead lays eggs on bare ground.
Template:POTD/2011-08-14
A male
Splendid Fairywren (
Malurus splendens), a
passerine bird found throughout much of Australia. This individual is engaged in the 'face fan'
courtship display, in which he flares his blue ear tufts by erecting the feathers. The species exhibits a high degree of
sexual dimorphism: males in breeding
plumage are brightly coloured, whereas non-breeding males, females and juveniles are predominantly grey-brown; this gave the early impression that males were
polygamous as all dull-coloured birds were taken for females.
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The
Tawny Frogmouth (
Podargus strigoides) is a
nocturnal species of Australian
frogmouth commonly mistaken for an
owl. Males and females look similar, growing to 35–53 cm (14–21 in) long and up to 680 g (1.5 lb) in weight. The Tawny Frogmouth is almost exclusively
insectivorous, feeding rarely on frogs and other small prey. It generally sits very still on a low perch and catches food with its beak.
Template:POTD/2011-09-08
The
Kea (
Nestor notabilis) is the world's only species of alpine
parrot, found on New Zealand's
South Island. Measuring around 48 cm (19 in) in length, it is mostly olive-green with brilliant orange plumage under its wings and has a large narrow curved grey-brown upper beak. Its omnivorous diet includes carrion but consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects.
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The
Golden Parakeet (
Guaruba guarouba) is an
endangered species of
Neotropical parrot that lives in the drier, upland rainforests in the
Amazon Basin. Males and females appear alike, being mainly yellow with green in the outer wings and with an all-yellow tail. It has a breeding system that is almost unique amongst parrots, as pairs are aided by a number of helpers which aid in the raising of the young.
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The
Australian Wood Duck (
Chenonetta jubata, female shown here) is a
dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia. This 45–51 cm (18–20 in) duck looks like a small
goose, and feeds on
grassland mostly by grazing in flocks. Unusually for a duck, it rarely swims.
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The
Pied Heron (
Ardea picata), also known as the Pied Egret, is a
heron found in coastal and subcoastal areas of
monsoonal northern Australia as well as some parts of
Wallacea and
New Guinea. It grows to 43–55 cm (17–22 in) long, with dark slate grey wings, body, and crested head, with a white throat and neck. The weight ranges from 225 to 280 g (8 to 10 oz), with males being heavier than females.
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The
Crimson Rosella (
Platycercus elegans) is a
parrot native to eastern and south-eastern Australia which has been introduced to New Zealand and
Norfolk Island. It grows to about 36 cm (14 in) long, much of which is tail, with males larger than females. Of the five
subspecies, two are not actually coloured crimson.
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The
White-faced Heron (
Egretta novaehollandiae) is a common species of
heron found throughout most of
Australasia. It is a relatively small bird, typically weighing 550 g (1.21 lb) and ranging 60–70 cm (24–28 in) in height. It can be found almost anywhere near shallow water, fresh or salt, including residential fish ponds. Adults are pale, slightly bluish-grey, with yellow legs and white facial markings.
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The
Australian Raven (
Corvus coronoides) is the largest of the three Australian species commonly known as ravens. Measuring 46–53 cm (18–21 in) in length with a 100 cm (39 in) wingspan and weighing around 650 grams (23 oz), the adult is an all-black bird with black feet and beak and a white iris. It is common throughout south-eastern Australia and southern
Western Australia, but it is not found in the far north. It has adapted very well to human habitation in some cities and is a common bird in
Melbourne,
Sydney, and
Rottnest Island.
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The
Crested Pigeon (
Ocyphaps lophotes) is found widely throughout mainland Australia except for the
tropical northern areas. It is larger than the
Spinifex Pigeon, the other Australian pigeon with an erect crest. The Crested Pigeon grows 30–34 cm (12–13 in) long and is coloured grey with tinges of brown, with striped wings that are bronzed.
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The
Pine Grosbeak (
Pinicola enucleator) is a large member of the true
finch family. It is found in
coniferous woods across
Alaska, the western mountains of the United States, Canada, and in
subarctic Fennoscandia and
Siberia. Adult males (example shown here) have a rose-red head, back and rump, while females are olive-yellow on the head and rump and grey on the back and underparts.
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The
Rainbow Lorikeet (
Trichoglossus haematodus,
nominate race T. h. haematodus shown) is a
true parrot found throughout
Australasia. It ranges from 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 11.8 in) in size, and has a wingspan of about 17 cm (6.7 in). The
plumage of all 12 subspecies is very bright, with the exact distribution of colours varying by subspecies.
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The
Black Kite (
Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized
bird of prey easily identifiable by its angled wing and distinctive forked tail. It is widely distributed through the temperate and tropical parts of
Eurasia and parts of
Australasia and
Oceania, with the temperate region populations tending to be
migratory.
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A female
Calliope Hummingbird (
Stellula calliope), the smallest bird found in Canada and the United States, feeding insects to chicks. Found mostly in western North America (although
vagrants have been found in New York and Connecticut), it is
migratory and winters in southwestern Mexico.
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The
Pine Siskin (
Carduelis pinus) is a
finch native to northern North America. The plumage is drab, being brown on the upperparts and pale on the underparts, with heavy streaking throughout. They have yellow patches in their wings and tail, which are not always visible. They grow to 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in) in length and typically weigh 12–18 g (0.4–0.6 oz).
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The
Eastern Great Egret (
Ardea alba modesta) is a subspecies of the
Great Egret found throughout Asia and Oceania. Measuring 83–103 cm (33–41 in) in length and weighing 0.7–1.2 kg (1.5–2.6 lb), the Eastern Great Egret is a large
heron with all-white plumage. Its bill is yellow in the breeding season and black at other times, and its long legs are red or black. It can be distinguished from other white
egrets and herons in its range by its very long neck, one and a half times as long as its own body.
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The
Upland Sandpiper (
Bartramia longicauda) is a large
sandpiper species, closely related to the
curlews, found across central North America and Alaska. Unlike other members of its
family, it is not associated with water, but instead lives in fields and open
grassland. It is a long-distance
migrant and winters in South America.
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The
Eastern Spinebill (
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris, female shown here) is a species of
honeyeater found in south-eastern Australia. It feeds on
nectar from many plants, as well as small insects and other invertebrates. It is around 15 cm (5.9 in) long, and has a distinctive black, white and chestnut plumage, a red eye, and a long downcurved
bill.
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The
Crescent Honeyeater (
Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus) is a
passerine bird native to south-eastern Australia. It is a fairly nondescript bird of dark grey plumage and paler underparts, highlighted by yellow wing patches and a broad, black crescent, outlined in white, down the sides of its breast. Females are slightly duller than males. It is found in areas of dense vegetation and its diet is made up of
nectar and
invertebrates.
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The
Black-headed Bunting (
Emberiza melanocephala) is a
passerine bird in the
bunting family. It breeds in southeast Europe east to Iran. It is
migratory, wintering in India. It is a rare but regular wanderer to western Europe. The breeding male (shown here) has bright yellow underparts, chestnut upperparts and a black hood.
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The
Red-and-yellow Barbet (
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus) is a species of
African barbet found in eastern Africa. The males of the species have distinctive black (spotted white), red and yellow plumage, while youngsters and females are similar, but a little more dull. The species lives in broken terrain and both nests and roosts in burrows.
Omnivores, the species is generally very tame, feeding on seeds, fruit and invertebrates.
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The
Superb Fairywren (
Malurus cyaneus) is a
passerine bird common and familiar across south-eastern Australia. The species is sedentary and
territorial, also exhibiting a high degree of
sexual dimorphism: the male in breeding plumage (shown here) has a striking bright blue forehead, ear
coverts, mantle, and tail, with a black mask and black or dark blue throat, while non-breeding males, females and juveniles are predominantly grey-brown in colour.
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The
Pink Robin (
Petroica rodinogaster) is a small
passerine bird native to
temperate forests and
subtropical or
tropical moist lowland forests of southeastern Australia. Measuring 13.5 cm (5.5 in) in length, the robin has a small thin black
bill, and dark brown eyes and legs. The male (seen here) has a distinctive white crown and pink breast, grey-black upperparts, wings and tail.
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A pair of
Mallards, an easily recognized species of
dabbling duck that is found throughout the
temperate and
subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The male birds have a bright green head (during breeding season) and are grey on wings and belly, while the females are brown all over. Both sexes have blue
speculum feathers. Mallards live in
wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are gregarious. This species is the ancestor of almost all of the breeds of
domestic ducks.
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A
Dusky Woodswallow (
Artamus cyanopterus) feeding a
wasp to its chicks. The Dusky Woodswallow is found in eastern and southern Australia. It is medium sized and
swallow-like, although it is not related to true swallows. It is an
omnivore, with its diet consisting of insects, various forms of foliage, and
nectar from flowers.
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A family of
Little Penguins (
Eudyptula minor) exiting their burrow. At an average of 33 cm (13 in) in height, 43 cm (17 in) in length, and 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) in weight, this is the smallest species of
penguin. It is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with
some colonies popular as tourist attractions.
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The
Welcome Swallow (
Hirundo neoxena) is a small
passerine bird in the
swallow family found in Australia and
nearby islands, including New Zealand. It is about 15 cm (6 in) long, metallic blue-black in colour above, light grey below on the breast and belly, and rusty on the forehead, throat and upper breast.
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The
Hooded Plover (
Thinornis rubricollis) is a species of bird
endemic to southern Australia and Tasmania. It is medium in size for a
plover, stocky, and pale in color. Its length is 190 to 230 mm (7.5–9.1 in) and its wing-span 230 to 440 mm (9.1–17.3 in). Males and females are similar in appearance. With a population of about 7,000 individuals, it is classified as
vulnerable.
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The
Sooty Oystercatcher (
Haematopus fuliginosus) is a
wading bird endemic to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. It prefers rocky coastlines, but will occasionally live in
estuaries. All of its feathers are black and it has a red eye, eye ring and bill, and pink legs. The heaviest of all
oystercatchers, it weighs up to 980 g (2.16 lb), averaging around 819 g (1.806 lb), with females being slightly heavier than males.
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The
Red-headed Finch (
Amadina erythrocephala) is a common species of
estrildid finch found in Africa. Males have vibrant red heads and chests while the females are duller. Often seen in small flocks on dry
savannas, it is a ground feeder which feeds companionably with other species and often visits waterholes.
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The
Hoary-headed Grebe (
Poliocephalus poliocephalus) is a member of the
grebe family found in Australia and New Zealand. It is a fairly small dark grey and white grebe. During the breeding season the adult's plumage has white streaks over its entire head (seen here), which is the source of the
common name.
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The
Blue-winged Parrot (
Neophema chrysostoma) is a small parrot found in Tasmania and southeast Australia. Males (example shown here) are mainly olive green with a blue frontal band reaching from forehead to eye, blue wing
coverts, black
primaries, and a yellow belly. Females are slightly duller with more green on the wings.
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Nazca Booby (
Sula granti) is a
booby found primarily on the
Galápagos Islands. It is known for practicing obligate
siblicide. The female lays two
eggs, several days apart. If both eggs hatch, the elder chick will push its sibling out of the
nest area. The parent booby will not intervene and the younger chick will inevitably die.
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The
Red-capped Plover (
Charadrius ruficapillus) is a small
plover native to Australia. Adult males have a
rufous crown and hindneck. Adult females (shown here in breeding plumage) have a paler rufous and grey brown crown and hindneck, with pale
loreal stripe. Non-breeding plumage is duller in both sexes.
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The
Tawny Frogmouth (
Podargus strigoides) is a large species of
frogmouth found throughout the Australian mainland, Tasmania, and southern New Guinea. Unlike the
owl for which it is often mistaken, the Tawny Frogmouth is not a
bird of prey. Instead, it is almost exclusively
insectivorous. For defense, it relies on
cryptic camouflage, standing still to appear part of a branch.
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An
Australian Brushturkey (
Alectura lathami) in
Cairns,
Queensland, Australia. The species, which measures up to 60–75 centimetres (24–30 in) in length, is the largest extant species of
megapode. Although physically similar, the species is not closely related to the
Turkey.
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The
Bald Eagle (
Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a
bird of prey found in North America. As visible here, adults are not
bald, but have a head of white
feathers. Its name comes from an older meaning of
the word, meaning "white headed".
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A
Red-wattled Lapwing (
Vanellus indicus), a large
wader, photographed in Thailand. Red-wattled Lapwings are found in much of Asia, where they prefer well-watered open country, ploughed fields, grazing land, and margins and dry beds of tanks and puddles.
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The
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (
Merops leschenaulti) is a bird found in South and Southeast Asia. Averaging 18–20 centimetres (7.1–7.9 in) in length, the bird prefers eating insects such as bees.
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The
Australian Golden Whistler (
Pachycephala pectoralis) is a species of bird found in Australia and parts of Indonesia. Males, like the one pictured here, have a bright yellow underside and nape, olive-green back and wings, a black head and chest-band, and a white throat; females are generally a dull brownish-grey.
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A flock of
Sanderlings (
Calidris alba) at
Ocean Beach, San Francisco, US. The species is highly gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks on coastal mudflats or sandy beaches.
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The
Shy Albatross (
Thalassarche cauta) is a medium-sized
albatross that ranges extensively across the
Southern Ocean. It measures 90–100 cm (35–39 in) in length and 210–260 cm (83–100 in) in wingspan, making it the largest of the
mollymawks.
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Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (
Cyornis tickelliae) is a small
passerine bird found in dense scrub to forest habitats through tropical Asia. Males, as pictured here, have vibrant colours; females are a duller blue. The birds feed on insects, either those caught flying or found on the ground.
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The
White-rumped Shama (
Copsychus malabaricus) is a small
passerine bird native to South and South-East Asia. Females, like the one pictured here, are shorter than males and of a gray-brown colouring. Mating couples will raise their brood together.
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The
Asian Openbill (
Anastomus oscitans) is a large
stork found mostly in South and South-East Asia. They hunt in wetlands and prey on snails, water snakes, frogs, and insects.
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The
Purple Swamphen (
Porphyrio porphyrio) is a
rail native to Eurasia and Africa. The species, thought to consist of numerous subspecies, prefers wet climates. They generally nest on a mass of floating debris or amongst matted reeds slightly above water level in swamps.
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Male (top) and female
Freckled Ducks (
Stictonetta naevosa). Native to southern Australia, the ducks are protected by law. They are easily identified by their large heads with a peaked crown.
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The
Black-browed Albatross (
Thalassarche melanophrys) is a large seabird and most common member of its
family. The birds, named for the black plumage above their eyes, feed on fish, squid, crustaceans, carrion, and fishery discards. This specimen was photographed east of the
Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, Australia.
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A female (left) and male
Spotted Pardalote (
Pardalotus punctatus), a small Australian songbird, as photographed at Risdon Brook Park,
Risdon Vale, Tasmania. The species nests in tunnels; the pair shown here have nesting material in their beaks.
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The
Cape Petrel (
Daption capense) is a
seabird common to the
Southern Ocean. The species are aggressive eaters which feeds mostly on crustaceans, although they are also known to eat fish, squid, and edible waste. When feeding they may spit their stomach oil at competitors.
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Two adult
Long-tailed Fiscals in
Mikumi National Park, Tanzania. The Long-tailed Fiscal (
Lanius cabanisi) is a species of bird in the shrike family
Laniidae which is native to Africa. The birds prey on insects and small vertebrates, perching on a tree branch then diving at its target.
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A
Double-banded Plover (
Charadrius bicinctus) in breeding plumage. This
wader averages 18 centimetres (7.1 in) in length and lives in beaches, mud flats, grasslands and on bare ground.
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The
Black-headed Heron (
Ardea melanocephala), a species of
wading bird common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. The heron is a large bird, standing up to 85 centimetres (33 in) tall with a 150-centimetre (59 in) wingspan.
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The
Rainbow Bee-eater (
Merops ornatus) is the only species of
bee-eater found in Australia. The brilliantly coloured species averages 19–24 centimetres (7.5–9.4 in) in length.
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The
Wood Duck (
Aix sponsa) is a species of duck, with adults averaging 47 to 54 cm (19 to 21 in) in length with a wingspan of 66 to 73 cm (26 to 29 in). Owing to their attractive colouration, the ducks have often been brought to Britain from their native North America; this specimen was photographed at
St. James's Park in London.
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The
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (
Thalassarche carteri), at 2.55 kg (5.6 lb) in weight, 76 cm (30 in) in length, and 2 m (6.6 ft) across the wings, is the smallest of the
mollymawks. These birds are found on several islands in the Indian Ocean.
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The
Hooded Plover (Thinornis rubricollis) is a species of bird endemic to southern Australia and Tasmania. It was described in 1789. There are two subspecies, neither of which (as of 2011) is known from a population of more than 5,000 individuals.
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The
Fairy Tern (
Sternula nereis) is a small tern which occurs in the southwestern Pacific. Three subspecies are known. This specimen was photographed in Little Swanport, Tasmania.
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The
Striated Heron (
Butorides striata) is a small
heron. When hunting, the species stands still at the water's edge and waits to ambush its prey. It sometimes uses bait, dropping a feather or leaf carefully on the water surface and picking fish that come to investigate.
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The
Great Crested Grebe (
Podiceps cristatus) is the largest Old World member of the
grebe family. The species is skilled at swimming, chasing fish underwater.
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The
Blue-and-yellow Macaw (
Ara ararauna) is a large South American
parrot with blue top parts and yellow underparts. These birds are quite intelligent and are popular in aviculture. This specimen was photographed in
Jurong Bird Park.
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The
Australasian Grebe (
Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) is one of the smallest members of the
grebe family. Native to greater Australia, New Zealand and nearby Pacific islands, this grebe was first described in 1826.
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A
Beautiful Firetail (
Stagonopleura bella) male (top) and female. In this common Australian species of
estrildid finch, nest-building and raising children is done collaboratively.
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The
Azure Kingfisher (
Alcedo azurea) is a small
kingfisher found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. First described in 1802, seven subspecies are known.
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A juvenile male
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (
Archilochus colubris) hovering. The species, the smallest bird that breeds in the Eastern United States and Eastern Canada, is named after a distinctive red
throat patch exhibited by adult males. Females and juveniles, however, do not have such a patch.
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The
Pale-yellow Robin (
Tregellasia capito) is a species of
passerine bird endemic to eastern Australia. This insectivorous species prefers rainforest or dense eucalypt forest.
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The
Straw-necked Ibis (
Threskiornis spinicollis) is a nomadic bird of the ibis and spoonbill family
Threskiornithidae which can be found in Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. They eat a variety of food, including molluscs, frogs, grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts.
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The
Bush Stone-curlew (
Burhinus grallarius) is a large bird endemic to Australia. This nocturnal bird is a terrestrial predator which specialises in hunting small grassland animals. Though it lives mostly on the ground, it is also capable of flight.
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The
Olive Whistler (
Pachycephala olivacea) is a species of bird of the whistler family
Pachycephalidae that is native to southeastern Australia. Adults measure around 18–20 cm (7–8 in) long. The species' call has been likened to "I'll wet you" or "You're cranky".
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The
European Robin (
Erithacus rubecula) is a small
insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the
thrush family (Turdidae), but is now considered to be a
chat. Around 12.5–14.0 cm (5.0–5.5 in) in length, the male and female are similar in colouration, with an orange breast and face lined with grey, brown upperparts and a whitish belly.
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The
Bar-backed Partridge (
Arborophila brunneopectus; top: male, bottom: female) is a species of
partridge in the family
Phasianidae, found in Southeast Asia and China. It is typically 28 centimetres (11 in) long and mostly
buff in color. It feeds on seeds and small insects on the forest floor.
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The
Plumbeous Water Redstart (
Rhyacornis fuliginosa, male pictured) is a species of bird in the family
Muscicapidae which is found in South Asia, Southeast Asia and China. The bird's common name refers to its colour, resembling lead. The bird tends to be found near running water, often at higher altitudes, though it will go to lower altitudes during the winter.
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The
Australian Shelduck (
Tadorna tadornoides) is a
shelduck native to Australia and Tasmania. Females can be differentiated from males by white feathers around the eye.
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The
Dusky Myzomela (
Myzomela obscura) is a species of bird in the
honeyeater family which lives in various habitats in Oceania and the Malay archipelago. Feeding on insects and nectar, these birds may be sedentary or migrant, depending on the habitat in which they live.
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The
Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus) is a bird of the
lapwing subfamily found in Africa, coast of the
Red Sea to the southern and southwestern parts of the continent. Their diet consists mainly of insects, particularly termites.
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The
Long-toed Stint (
Calidris subminuta) is a small and highly migratory wader bird. It breeds in northern Asia (little is known about its breeding habits) and winters in south and south east Asia and Australasia. This specimen was photographed in Pak Thale,
Phetchaburi, Thailand.
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A
Yellow-throated Honeyeater (
Lichenostomus flavicollis) stealing hair from a
Tasmanian Pademelon for nesting material, Melaleuca, Southwest Conservation Area, Tasmania, Australia. The nest is constructed by the female from grass, bark-shreds, leaves and spiders' web and lined with treefern fibres, wool and fur. It is often within 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) of the ground in a low bush or tussock, but may occasionally be found at up to 10 metres (33 ft) in foliage.
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The
Rufous-tailed Robin is a small
passerine bird. It breeds in forests in the
taiga of northeastern Asia and south to Mongolia, and winters in Southeast Asia and southern China; this specimen was photographed in Thailand.
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The
Mangrove Robin (
Peneoenanthe pulverulenta) is a species of bird in the family
Petroicidae which lives in the
mangrove forests of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. These birds feed on insects, hunting those found in the mud after the tide ebbs; they may also feed on crabs.
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The
Great Shearwater (
Puffinus gravis) is a large shearwater in the seabird family
Procellariidae which feeds on fish and squid, which it catches from the surface or by plunge-diving. It is one of the few birds which migrate from breeding grounds in the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere. It flies by dipping from side to side on stiff wings, the wingtips almost touching the water, with few wingbeats.
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The
Brown Thornbill (
Acanthiza pusilla) is a
passerine bird usually found in eastern and south-eastern Australia. It can grow up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long. These thornbills are predominantly
insectivores, though they may also eat seeds, fruit, or nectar.
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The
Green Heron (
Butorides virescens) is a
heron species of North and Central America; this specimen was photographed at
Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Adults have a body length of about 44 cm (17 in) and have been known to use tools to attract fish which they then eat.
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The
sanderling (
Calidris alba) is a small wading bird, a circumpolar
Arctic breeder which migrates south during the winter. Sanderlings feed mostly on small invertebrates, particularly crustaceans and insects, although they may eat plant material. This individual was found in Laem Phak Bia,
Phetchaburi, Thailand.
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A pair of
ruddy shelducks (
Tadorna ferruginea) in
Springe,
Hanover. This
shelduck species lives in the open country and is usually found in pairs, though large groups may form moulting and wintering gatherings.
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Salvin's albatross (
Thalassarche salvini) is a large seabird that can be found across the
Southern Ocean. Long considered to be a subspecies of the
shy albatross, from the mid-1990s experts began classifying it as a separate species. The species' population is thought to be declining, and the
IUCN has classified it as
vulnerable.
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The
buffy hummingbird (
Leucippus fallax) is a South American species of
hummingbird. It can be found in subtropical or tropical dry forests,
mangrove forests, and dry shrubland; it prefers living near the
canopy.
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The
great-winged petrel (
Pterodroma macroptera) is a species of
petrel endemic to southern Australia and New Zealand; this specimen was photographed east of
Tasmania. Two subspecies of the great-winged petrel are recognized.
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A male
myrtle warbler (
Setophaga coronata coronata) in breeding plumage, photographed in the
Léon-Provancher Ecological Reserve, Québec, Canada. This form, found in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, is considered
conspecific with the
Audubon's warbler, which is found further west. The myrtle warbler can be distinguished from the Audubon's by its white eyestripe, white (not yellow) throat, and contrasting cheek patch.
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The
European bee-eater (
Merops apiaster) is a
near passerine bird in the bee-eater family
Meropidae which breeds in southern Europe and in parts of north Africa and western Asia and winters in tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka. The species predominantly feeds on insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch.
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The
European goldfinch (
Carduelis carduelis) is a small
passerine bird in the
finch family. Found throughout Europe and in parts of northern Africa and western Asia, goldfinches feed on small seeds such as those from
thistles but may take insects when feeding their young. Goldfinches are commonly kept by humans for both their plumage and their song.
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The
bar-tailed godwit (
Limosa lapponica) is a large wader in the family
Scolopacidae. Its migration is the longest known non-stop flight of any bird; in 2007, godwits tagged in New Zealand were tracked to the
Yellow Sea in China, with one specimen continuing on to Alaska, then returning to New Zealand in a non-stop trip.
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The
white-necked petrel (
Pterodroma cervicalis) is a
seabird in the family
Procellariidae; adults measure some 43 centimetres (17 in) in length, with a wingspan of 95–105 centimetres (37–41 in). Although the species is found in much of the South Pacific, it breeds on only three islands and is thus considered
vulnerable by the
IUCN.
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The
grey-headed albatross (
Thalassarche chrysostoma) is an
albatross, averaging 81 cm (32 in) in length and 2.2 m (7.2 ft) in wingspan, which breeds further south than any other
mollymawk. Though its common name derives from the species' ashy-grey head, throat and upper neck, the scientific name is a reference to the bright golden streaks on its
bill.
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The
marsh sandpiper (
Tringa stagnatilis) is a small
wader which breeds in open grassy
steppe and
taiga wetlands from easternmost Europe to central Asia. This migratory species generally winters in Africa and India, but some individuals – such as this one, photographed in Thailand – go to South East Asia or Australia.
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The
noisy miner (
Manorina melanocephala) is a bird in the
honeyeater family
endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia and feeds mostly
nectar, fruit and insects. This highly vocal species has a large range of songs, calls, scoldings and alarms, lives in large groups, and is territorial. Populations have grown in numerous places along this miner's range, and as such there is now an overabundance.
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The
musk duck (
Biziura lobata) is a duck native to southern
Australia and the only extant member of
its genus. Named for the peculiar musky odour that it gives off during breeding season, this duck is highly aquatic, preferring deep, still lakes and wetlands with areas of both open water and reed beds. The musk duck feeds primarily on
water beetles,
yabbies,
water snails, and freshwater
shellfish, supplemented with a variety of aquatic plants and a few fish.
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The
shy albatross (
Thalassarche cauta) is a medium-sized
albatross, averaging 90 to 99 centimetres (35–39 in) in length with a 220–256 cm (87–101 in) wingspan. It breeds on rocky islands off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, but non-breeding birds can be found throughout the southern oceans. The shy albatross feeds on fish,
cephalopods,
crustacea, and
tunicates; it has been known to dive to depths of 5 m (16 ft) in search of prey.
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The
Chinese pond heron (
Ardeola bacchus) is an East Asian freshwater bird of the
heron family. Generally measuring 47 cm (19 in) in length, this heron feeds on
insects,
fish, and
crustaceans. The specimen shown here, photographed in Laem Phak Bia, Thailand, is in its winter plumage.
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Photograph: Andreas Trepte
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A male (top) and female
purple finch (
Haemorhous purpureus), photographed in the
Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area in
Quebec. This species, part of the
finch family, mainly eats seeds, berries and insects. They breed in the
coniferous and mixed forests of Canada and the northeastern United States; birds from the northern part of this species' range will migrate in the winter.
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A male
red-capped plover (
Charadrius ruficapillus) in breeding plumage, photographed at
Ralph's Bay in
Tasmania, Australia. These birds are seasonal breeders along the coast, but inland they will breed in response to unpredictable rains. The nests are found on the ground, in vicinity of wetlands, and may hold a
clutch of two eggs.
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The
common starling (
Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized
passerine bird in the starling family,
Sturnidae, which is found through much of the world. Measuring about 20 cm (8 in) in length, these starlings are a noisy bird in communal
roosts and other gregarious situations. This species is omnivorous, taking a wide range of
invertebrates, as well as seeds and fruit.
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A female
chestnut teal (
Anas castanea), a species of
dabbling duck commonly found in southern mainland
Australia and
Tasmania. These omnivores, which can be differentiated from
grey teals by their darker colour and larger size, prefer coastal estuaries and wetlands.
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A juvenile
European shag (
Phalacrocorax aristotelis), photographed in the south of
Cres, Croatia. This species of
cormorant, first described by
Carl Linnaeus in 1761, lives along the rocky coasts of western and southern
Europe, southwest
Asia, and north
Africa. These birds eat a wide variety of fish, diving to depths of 45 m (148 ft) to find their prey.
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The
little wattlebird (
Anthochaera chrysoptera) is a
passerine bird in the
honeyeater family. First described in 1802, this bird is found in coastal and sub-coastal south-eastern
Australia. It uses its long, brush-tipped tongue to feed on nectar; this wattlebird may also eat insects, berries and some seeds.
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The
great knot (
Calidris tenuirostris) is a small, strongly migratory
wader which breeds in the
tundra of north eastern
Siberia and winters on coasts from southern Asia through Australia. The species feeds on molluscs and insects.
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The
red-bearded bee-eater (
Nyctyornis amictus) is a large species of
bee-eater found in the Indo-Malayan subregion of South-East Asia. This colorful species feeds predominantly on insects.
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Atlantic puffin (
Fratercula arctica) is a
species of
seabird in the
auk family. The only
puffin native to the
Atlantic Ocean, it breeds in Iceland, Norway, Greenland,
Newfoundland and many North Atlantic islands. The species spends the autumn and winter in the open ocean, returning to coastal areas in late spring and nesting in clifftop
colonies. The Atlantic puffin has a large population and a wide range, and is thus not considered endangered.
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A captive
Egyptian vulture (
Neophron percnopterus) showing white plumage. Wild specimens usually appear soiled, with a rusty or brown shade to the white plumage, derived from mud or iron-rich soil.
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Photograph: Jason Thompson The
ruddy kingfisher (
Halcyon coromanda) is a medium-sized
tree kingfisher which is widely distributed in the forests of east and southeast
Asia. Like other kingfishers, ruddy kingfishers generally feed on fish, crustaceans, and large insects, though in areas with less running water they are known to take frogs and other amphibians.
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The
common kingfisher (
Alcedo atthis) is a small
kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across
Eurasia and
North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but
migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter. This
sparrow-sized bird feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptions to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.
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The
willow tit (
Poecile montanus) is a
passerine bird in the
tit family commonly found throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and northern Asia. These birds feed on
insects,
caterpillars, and seeds, and nest in holes in (mostly
conifer) trees.
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The
grey heron (
Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged
predatory wading bird of the
heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts
migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.
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The
pin-tailed snipe (
Gallinago stenura) is a small stocky
wader. It breeds in northern
Russia and
migrates to spend the non-breeding season in southern
Asia from
Pakistan to
Indonesia. These birds forage in mud or soft soil, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, but also some plant material.
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The
mute swan (
Cygnus olor) is a
species of
swan in the
waterfowl family
Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia and is an
introduced species in North America,
Australasia and southern Africa. The name "mute" derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. Measuring 125 to 170 cm (49 to 67 in) in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange
bill bordered with black. It is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the bill, which is larger in males.
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A juvenile
pied avocet (
Recurvirostra avosetta) near Oosterend, Texel Island, the Netherlands. While adults are black and white, juveniles of this species have more greyish and sepia tones.
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The
mandarin duck (
Aix galericulata) is a
perching duck species
endemic to East Asia but since introduced to Europe and the United States. It is medium-sized, at 41–49 cm (16–19 in) long with a 65–75 cm (26–30 in) wingspan. The species mainly eats plants and
seeds, especially
beech mast. It will also add snails, insects and small fish to its diet.
This specimen was photographed in
Richmond Park, London.
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The
white-rumped shama (
Copsychus malabaricus) is a small
passerine bird of the family
Muscicapidae. Native to densely vegetated habitats in the
Indian subcontinent and
Southeast Asia, its popularity as a cage-bird and songster has led to it being introduced elsewhere. The species feeds on insects in the wild, but in captivity may be fed a diet of boiled, dried legumes with egg yolk and raw meat.
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Wakatobi flowerpecker
Photograph: Seán B. A. Kelly, David J. Kelly, Natalie Cooper, Andi Bahrun, Kangkuso Analuddin, Nicola M. MarplesA comparison of plumage characteristics between
grey-sided flowerpeckers (
Dicaeum celebicum) from mainland
Sulawesi (top) and
Wakatobi flowerpeckers (
Dicaeum kuehni) from the
Wakatobi archipelago (bottom); male flowerpeckers are on the left and females on the right. The Wakatobi flowerpecker was long considered a subspecies of the grey-sided flowerpecker, but it was reclassified in 2014.
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The
buff-banded rail (
Gallirallus philippensis) is a distinctively coloured, highly dispersive, medium-sized rail of the family
Rallidae. This species comprises several subspecies found throughout much of
Australasia and the south-west
Pacific region. A largely terrestrial bird the size of a small domestic chicken, it feeds on a range of terrestrial invertebrates and small vertebrates, seeds, fallen fruit and other vegetable matter, as well as carrion and refuse.
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The
Malaysian plover (
Charadrius peronii) is a small
wader that nests on beaches and
salt flats in
Southeast Asia. It is classified as near-threatened, a situation attributed to increased human use of important beach habitats.
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The
whimbrel (
Numenius phaeopus) is a
wader in the large family
Scolopacidae. One of the most widespread of the
curlews, this
migratory species winters on coasts in Africa, South America, south Asia into Australasia and southern North America. It is also a coastal bird during migration. It is fairly gregarious outside the breeding season.
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The
spotted redshank (
Tringa erythropus) is a
wader in the large bird family
Scolopacidae. First described by German zoologist
Peter Simon Pallas in 1764, the spotted redshank measures 29–31 cm (11–12 in) long, with a wingspan of 61–67 cm (24–26 in) and a weight ranging from 121 to 205 g (4.3 to 7.2 oz). It breeds across northern Scandinavia and northern Asia and
migrates south to the Mediterranean, the southern British Isles, France, tropical Africa, and tropical Asia for the winter.
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The
painted stork (
Mycteria leucocephala) is a large
wading bird in the
stork family. It is found in the
wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia. Its distinctive pink
tertial feathers give it its name. This stork forages in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes, immersing its half open
beak in water and sweeping it from side to side to snap up its prey. The painted stork nests colonially in trees, often along with other waterbirds. The only sounds it produces are weak moans or bill clattering at the nest. This bird is not
migratory and only makes short distance movements in some parts of its range.
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The
red-kneed dotterel (
Erythrogonys cinctus) is a long-legged, medium-sized plover in the subfamily
Vanellinae. It is often gregarious and will associate with other waders of its own and different species, even when nesting. It is nomadic and sometimes
irruptive.
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The
sharp-tailed sandpiper (
Calidris acuminata) is a small
wader. It breeds in the boggy tundra of northeast Asia and is strongly
migratory, wintering in south east Asia and Australasia.
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The
black-fronted dotterel (
Elseyornis melanops) is a small, slender
plover found in Australia and New Zealand. It is common in freshwater wetlands, where it can be found feeding on insects and other small creatures.
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The
great cormorant (
Phalacrocorax carbo) is a widespread member of the
cormorant family of
seabirds. It breeds in much of the
Old World and the Atlantic coast of North America. It can dive to considerable depths, but often feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings its prey, mostly fish, to the surface.
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The
lesser whistling duck (
Dendrocygna javanica) is a species of
whistling duck that breeds in the
Indian Subcontinent and
Southeast Asia. They are nocturnal feeders and during the day may be found in flocks around lakes and wet paddy fields. They can perch on trees and sometimes build their nest in the hollow of a tree. This brown and long-necked duck has broad wings that are visible in flight and produces a loud two-note wheezy call.
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A portrait of a
king vulture (
Sarcoramphus papa) at
Walsrode Bird Park, Germany. This species of vulture lives predominantly in tropical lowland forests stretching from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Though its ruff, flight, and tail
feathers are gray to black, the king vulture's head and neck are bald and with varying skin color.
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A
yellow-billed shrike (
Corvinella corvina) with its prey. The yellow-billed shrike is a common resident breeding bird in tropical Africa, from
Senegal east to
Uganda, and locally in westernmost
Kenya. It frequents forest and other habitats with trees. Although it generally feeds on insects, this shrike may hunt larger prey as well.
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The
great tit (
Parus major) is a
passerine bird in the
tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa; this female was photographed in
Lancashire. Most great tits do not
migrate except in extremely harsh winters.
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The
European robin (
Erithacus rubecula) is a small
insectivorous passerine bird in the
Old World flycatcher family. Around 12.5–14.0 cm (5.0–5.5 in) in length, the male and female are similar in colouration, with an orange breast and face lined with grey, brown upperparts and a whitish belly. It is found across Europe, east to Western Siberia and south to North Africa; it is sedentary in most of its range except the far north.
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Feral pigeons (
Columba livia domestica) are birds derived from
domestic pigeons that have returned to the wild. Originally bred from the wild
rock dove, which naturally inhabits sea-
cliffs and mountains, these pigeons use the ledges of buildings as a substitute for sea cliffs. They have become adapted to urban life, preying on insects and scavenging. They are abundant in towns and cities throughout much of the world.
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The
Eurasian eagle-owl (
Bubo bubo) is one of the largest species of
owl and one of the most widely distributed, being found throughout much of Europe and Asia. It is easily identified thanks to its distinctive ear tufts and orange eyes. The Eurasian eagle-owl is found in a number of habitats but is mostly a bird of mountain regions, coniferous forests, steppes and other relatively remote places.
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A portrait of a
red-legged seriema (
Cariama cristata), a mostly predatory terrestrial bird in the seriema
family (
Cariamidae). Found in South America, its range covers
grasslands from Brazil to Uruguay and northern Argentina. This bird is also known as the crested seriema for the soft feathers that emerge from the base of the bill to form a fan-shaped
crest.
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A portrait of a
ring-billed gull (
Larus delawarensis) in
Windsor, Ontario. The popular name of this medium-sized
gull comes from the black ring around its
bill. This species is found near lakes, rivers, or the coast in Canada and the northern United States. It nests in
colonies on the ground, often on islands.
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A
malachite kingfisher (
Corythornis cristatus) at
Lake Baringo, Kenya. Although many male birds have brighter colours than females, this is not the case with the
malachite kingfisher; both sexes are equally colourful. When fishing, these birds often perch less than a metre above the water, diving in once they spot fish, aquatic insects, or
crustaceans to prey upon.
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A female
giant kingfisher (
Megaceryle maxima) feeding on a
tilapia on
Lake Naivasha, Kenya. From left to right, this composite of four images illustrates: 1. the kingfisher returning to its perch with its prey; 2. smashing it against the post to break its spine; 3. holding it; 4. beginning to consume it.
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A
vervain hummingbird (
Mellisuga minima) photographed at Strawberry Hill in
Jamaica. This species, which can also be found in the
Dominican Republic and
Haiti, is the second-smallest bird in the world after the
bee hummingbird. It has an average length of 6 cm (2.4 in), including the bill, and weight of 2–2.4 g (0.071–0.085 oz).
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The
snowy owl (
Bubo scandiacus) is a large, white
owl of the
typical owl family. Snowy owls are native to
Arctic regions in
North America and
Eurasia. Males are almost all white (as seen here), while females have more flecks of black plumage. Juvenile snowy owls have black feathers until they turn white. The snowy owl is a ground nester that primarily hunts rodents and waterfowl and opportunistically eats carrion.
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The
rock ptarmigan (
Lagopus muta) is a medium-sized
gamebird in the
grouse family. Averaging 34–36 cm (13–14 in) long, with a wingspan of 54–60 cm (21–24 in), this species feeds primarily on
birch and
willow buds and
catkins. The rock ptarmigan breeds across arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America and commonly has up to six chicks.
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The
European robin (
Erithacus rubecula) is a small
insectivorous passerine bird. Formerly classified as a member of the
thrush family, it is now considered to be an
Old World flycatcher. About 12.5–14.0 cm (5.0–5.5 inch) in length, males and females are similar in colouration, with an orange breast and face lined with grey, brown upperparts and a whitish belly; the orange breast emerges gradually after birth, as with the juvenile specimen shown here. The species is found across Europe, east to Western Siberia and south to North Africa; it is
sedentary in most of its range except the far north. The unrelated
American robin was named after it.
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The
black-tailed godwit (
Limosa limosa) is a large, long-legged, long-billed
shorebird first described by
Carl Linnaeus in 1758. There are three subspecies, all with orange head, neck and chest in breeding
plumage and dull grey-brown winter coloration, and distinctive black and white wingbar at all times. Its range stretches from Iceland through Europe and central Asia during the
breeding season, wintering in areas as diverse as the Indian subcontinent, Australia, western Europe, and west Africa. The species is more likely to be found inland and on freshwater than the similar
bar-tailed godwit. The world population is estimated to be 634,000 to 805,000, and the species is classified as
Near-Threatened.
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The
nacunda nighthawk (
Chordeiles nacunda) is a species in the
nightjar family. It is endemic to South America, living in dry
savanna,
subtropical or
tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and heavily degraded former forest. It is among the largest nightjars in the world, with a length of 27.5 to 32 cm (10.8 to 12.6 in).
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The
yellow-billed shrike (
Corvinella corvina) is a common resident breeding bird in tropical Africa, from Senegal east to Uganda, and locally in westernmost Kenya. It frequents forest and other habitats with trees. Although it generally feeds on insects, this shrike may hunt larger prey such as small frogs and mice.
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Swallows, together with martins, form a family of
passerine birds known as the Hirundinidae. They are found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. There are around 90 species of Hirundinidae, with the greatest diversity found in Africa, which is thought to be where they evolved as hole-nesters. For the most part swallows are
insectivorous, taking flying insects on the wing and using
foveae in their eyes to help track prey.
This picture shows the
pied-winged swallow, which is found in several countries in western Africa.
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The
blue petrel (
Halobaena caerulea) is a small seabird in the family
Procellariidae, the only member of its genus. It is distributed across the
Southern Ocean but breeds at only six known sites, all close to the
Antarctic Convergence zone. Its
plumage is predominantly blue-grey, with an "M" banding across its top, which is similar to that of the closely-related
prion. It also has a white-tipped tail. The blue petrel is 28 cm (11 in) in length with a wing span of 66 cm (26 in), and feeds predominantly on krill as well as other crustaceans, fish, and squid.
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The
roadside hawk (
Rupornis magnirostris) is a relatively small
bird of prey found in the Americas. A vocal species, it is often the most common raptor in its range. It has many
subspecies, and although previously placed in the genus
Buteo, it is now usually placed in the
monotypic genus
Rupornis. The roadside hawk is 31–41 cm (12–16 in) long and weighs 250–300 g (8.8–10.6 oz). Males are about 20% smaller than females, but otherwise the sexes are similar.
This picture shows an immature roadside hawk in the
Pantanal, Brazil.
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The
curlew sandpiper (
Calidris ferruginea) is a small
wader that breeds on the
tundra of Arctic Siberia. It is a strongly
migratory bird, wintering mainly in Africa, but also in Australia, New Zealand, and south and southeast Asia. The curlew sandpiper is similar to the
dunlin, and has a length of 18–23 cm (7.1–9.1 in) and wingspan of 38–41 cm (15–16 in). In breeding season it has a bright red underside. This picture shows a curlew sandpiper in Thailand, with its winter plumage.
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The
common black hawk (
Buteogallus anthracinus) is a
bird of prey in the family
Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and Old World vultures. The
mangrove black hawk, traditionally thought to be a distinct species, is now generally considered a subspecies,
B. a. subtilis, of the common black hawk.
This picture shows a bird of the
Buteogallus anthracinus gundlachii subspecies, in Cuba.
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The
collared whitestart (
Myioborus torquatus), also known as the collared redstart, is a tropical
New World warbler endemic to the mountains of
Costa Rica and western-central
Panama. It is common at heights between 1,500 metres (5,000 ft) and the timberline in mossy mountain forests, ravines, second growth, and adjacent pastures. The collared whitestart is around 13 centimetres (5 in) in length with a weight of 10.5 grams (0.4 oz). It has a chestnut crown bordered with black, and a black forehead. The rest of the upperparts are slaty black, and the tail is black with white edges. The face and underparts are bright yellow, with a black band across the breast.
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![Bee-eaters](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/African_bee-eaters_composite.jpg/380px-African_bee-eaters_composite.jpg)
The
bee-eaters are a group of
near passerine birds in the family Meropidae, containing three genera and twenty-seven species. Most species are found in Africa and Asia, with a few in southern Europe, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All have long down-turned bills and medium to long wings, which may be pointed or round. Male and female plumages are usually similar. As their name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat flying insects, especially bees and wasps, which are caught in the air by flights from an open perch. The stinger is removed by repeatedly hitting and rubbing the insect on a hard surface. During this process, pressure is applied to the insect, thereby extracting most of the venom.
This composite, taken in 2016, shows six bee-eaters of the genus
Merops found in Africa. Clockwise from top left, the species depicted are the
blue-cheeked bee-eater (
M. persicus chrysocercus), the
cinnamon-chested bee-eater (
M. oreobates), the
little bee-eater (
M. pusillus pusillus), the
white-throated bee-eater (
M. albicollis), the
swallow-tailed bee-eater (
M. hirundineus chrysolaimus) and the
European bee-eater (
M. apiaster).
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The
Cuban green woodpecker (
Xiphidiopicus percussus) is a species of bird in the family
Picidae. It is the
only species within the genus
Xiphidiopicus and is
endemic to Cuba. A distinctive, relatively small woodpecker of the general size and shape of a
sapsucker, the Cuban green woodpecker occasionally appears
crested, with bright olive-green overparts and yellow underparts. The nape and upper breast are bright red, with some black bases to feathers usually visible, with a black chin and throat; the
crown is red in males and black with white stripes in females. Females are significantly smaller than the male and generally shorter-billed. Juveniles are generally duller in plumage, showing more barring and streaking below. It typically measures 21 to 25 cm (8.3 to 9.8 in) in length and weighs 48 to 97 g (1.7 to 3.4 oz). This picture shows a female
X. p. percussus individual.
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The
black-bellied whistling duck (
Dendrocygna autumnalis) is a species of
whistling duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central America to south-central South America. In the U.S., it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida and parts of southeast Texas, as well as seasonally in southeast Arizona and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "whistling duck" or "Mexican squealer" in the southern United States.
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The
pied kingfisher (
Ceryle rudis) is a species of
water kingfisher that is widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Originally described by
Linnaeus in 1758, it has five recognised subspecies. Its black and white plumage and crest, as well as its habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish, make it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast, while females have a single
gorget that is often broken in the middle. They are usually found in pairs or small family groups. When perched, they often bob their head and flick up their tail. This picture shows a female
C. r. leucomelanurus individual.
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The
gentoo penguin (
Pygoscelis papua) is a penguin species in the genus
Pygoscelis, most closely related to the
Adélie penguin and the
chinstrap penguin. The earliest scientific description was made in 1781 by
Johann Reinhold Forster with a reference point of the
Falkland Islands. They call in a variety of ways, but the most frequently heard is a loud trumpeting which the bird emits with its head thrown back. The gentoo penguin is easily recognized by the wide white stripe extending like a
bonnet across the top of its head and its bright orange-red bill. It has pale whitish-pink webbed feet and a fairly long tail – the most prominent tail of all penguin species. Chicks have grey backs with white fronts. As the gentoo penguin waddles along on land, its tail sticks out behind, sweeping from side to side, hence the scientific name
Pygoscelis, which means 'rump-tailed'.
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![Red-banded fruiteater](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/PipreolaWhitelyiKeulemans.jpg/300px-PipreolaWhitelyiKeulemans.jpg)
The
red-banded fruiteater (
Pipreola whitelyi) is a species of bird in the family
Cotingidae. Its known range is restricted to the humid highland forests of the
tepuis in the southeast of Venezuela and western Guyana. While likely present, it remains unconfirmed in adjacent parts of northern Brazil. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "
least concern". Uniquely among the
fruiteaters, the underparts of the male are primarily grey. As suggested by its
common name, the male also has a conspicuous red pectoral collar. The species grows to a length of about 16.6 cm (6.5 in).
This picture is a
lithograph of a female
(top) and a male
(bottom) red-banded fruiteater, produced by Dutch bird illustrator
John Gerrard Keulemans in 1886 for an edition of the journal
Ibis. The adult male has greyish-green upper parts with a distinctive long golden stripe that runs above the eye and round the ear
coverts. The chin and belly are grey and there is a broad, orange-red chest collar, and yellowish-ochre under-tail coverts. The female has similar head markings, a yellowish patch at the side of the neck, and moss-green upper parts. There is no chest collar and the underparts are greyish-white, boldly streaked with black. The beak and legs are pinkish-grey; the male has an orange iris and the female's is ochre.
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The
crested myna (
Acridotheres cristatellus), also known as the Chinese starling, is a species of
starling in the genus
Acridotheres native to southeastern China and
Indochina. It is named after the tuft of feathers on its forehead that resembles a crest. The crested myna is typically found in open spaces near urban and agricultural areas. It is a popular cage-bird and, as a result, has been accidentally released in a few places outside of its usual range. For example, this species was introduced around 1890 into the
Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Like many starlings, the crested myna is
omnivorous. It will eat a variety of food including worms, grub, grains, fruit, and even garbage. It is a highly beneficial bird to farmers as it predates on insects and does not attack crops.
This picture shows a crested myna photographed in
Osaka, Japan.
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The
Indian roller (
Coracias benghalensis) is a member of the bird family Coraciidae, the
rollers. It occurs widely from the Arabian Peninsula to the Indian subcontinent and is designated as
Least Concern on the
IUCN Red List. The bird is best known for the aerobatic displays of males during the breeding season. It is commonly found in open grassland and scrub forest habitats, and is often seen perched on roadside bare trees and wires, which give it a good view of the ground below where it finds its prey. Its diet consists mainly of insects such as beetles and grasshoppers, but also includes spiders, scorpions, amphibians and small reptiles. The largest population occurs in India, and several states in India have chosen it as their state bird.
This picture shows an Indian roller of the
benghalensis subspecies, photographed in
Kanha Tiger Reserve in the Indian state of
Madhya Pradesh.
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The
black-chested snake eagle (
Circaetus pectoralis) is a large African
bird of prey in the family
Accipitridae. It resembles other snake eagles and was formerly considered
conspecific with the
short-toed and
Beaudouin's snake eagles, to which it is closely related. As well as feeding on snakes, which may be swallowed while still alive, it feeds on lizards, small mammals, frogs and insects. It typically perches in an elevated position ready to swoop silently to capture its prey, before returning to its perch to eat.
This picture shows a black-chested snake eagle swallowing a snake, photographed in
Awash National Park, Ethiopia.
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The
snowy egret (
Egretta thula) is a small member of the
heron family, Ardeidae, native to the Americas, where it has a widespread distribution. The bird forages for fish, frogs, crustaceans, insects and worms in marshes and shallow water habitats, applying various techniques to persuade the prey to reveal itself. A sociable species, it often forages in mixed species groups, and nests in the company of other herons and egrets. The bill is specially adapted for probing and stabbing.
This picture shows a snowy egret photographed at Las Gallinas Wildlife Ponds, near
San Rafael, California.
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The
chinstrap penguin (
Pygoscelis antarcticus) is a species of penguin that inhabits land masses in the Southern Pacific and Antarctic Oceans. The bird's black back and white underparts provide
camouflage in the form of
countershading when viewed from above or below, helping it to avoid detection by its predators, which include the
leopard seal, the
southern giant petrel, the
brown skua and the
south polar skua. The chinstrap penguin grows to a length of 68–76 cm (27–30 in) and a weight of 3.2–5.3 kg (7.1–11.7 lb), with the weight varying with the time of year. Males are greater in weight and height than females.
This picture shows a chinstrap penguin photographed on
Deception Island, in the Antarctic archipelago of the
South Shetland Islands.
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The
Malayan banded pitta (
Hydrornis irena) is a small woodland bird in the family
Pittidae from tropical southeastern Asia, seen here in
Si Phang Nga National Park, Thailand. Although common in parts of its range, its forest habitat is threatened by logging and conversion to agricultural land, and populations are also declining because of illegal collection for the cage-bird trade. Pittas are a popular group of birds among birdwatchers, due to their bright-coloured plumage and the relative difficulty of seeing these retiring birds in dark forest habitats.
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The
white-faced plover (
Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus) is a small shorebird, usually considered to be a subspecies of the
Kentish plover. With a length of about 17 cm (6.7 in), it differs from the latter in having a thicker, blunter beak, white
lores, paler crown and overparts, less black on the lateral breast patches and a larger white wingbar. The bird is found in south-eastern China, Vietnam, Thailand,
peninsular Malaysia and
Sumatra, and is partially
migratory.
Seen here on the mudflats of
Laem Phak Bia in Thailand, the white-faced plover feeds on the foreshore, searching visually for prey then dashing forward to catch the animal or probe in the substrate with its beak. Its diet consists of small invertebrates such as insects and their larvae, spiders, molluscs, crustaceans and marine worms. Its breeding habits are not known.
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The
tropical kingbird (
Tyrannus melancholicus) is a large
tyrant flycatcher, growing to a length of about 22 cm (8.7 in). It feeds on insects, either catching them in flight, or gleaning them from the surface of foliage, and also eats some fruit. The birds remain in pairs all year round, and drive intruders from their territories, including birds much larger than them. It nests high in trees, usually in the fork of a branch, building a bulky, untidy structure. The female incubates the typical clutch of two to four eggs and the young fledge in about 18 days. Its breeding range extends from the southern United States to central Argentina, with birds near the northern and southern limits of the range being migratory. This picture shows a
T. m. melancholicus individual in the
Pantanal, Brazil.
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The
black-necked stilt (
Himantopus mexicanus) is a species of
shorebird in the family
Recurvirostridae, inhabiting wetlands and coastlines in North, Central and South America. Adults average about 36 cm (14 in) in length, with black-and-white plumage and a thin, straight, black bill. The legs are long and pink, and there is a white spot above the eye that distinguishes the species from the
white-backed stilt.
Seen here near
Corte Madera, California, the black-necked stilt forages by probing and
gleaning on mudflats, grassy marshes and lakesides, as well as in shallow waters near the shore; the diet consists mainly of insects and their larvae, crustaceans, other arthropods, mollusks, tadpoles and small fish. The species nests in colonies that may have several dozen pairs spread out loosely, with the birds defending an extensive perimeter around groups of nests, patrolling in cooperation with their neighbors.
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Photograph credit: Claudney Neves The
cliff flycatcher (
Hirundinea ferruginea) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the
tyrant flycatchers. Native to South America, it is found among mountain crags, cliffs and gorges. It is also found, particularly in the south of its range, around buildings in cities, where window sills and facades provide a form of artificial cliff. About 18.5 cm (7.3 in) in length, its
rufous colouring and behaviour are distinctive. It has a wide beak and long pointed wings, resembling those of a swallow. The overparts are dusky brown, with a distinctive rufous rump and tail base. The tips of the wing feathers are dark, but the remaining parts are cinnamon-rufous, and are exposed in flight. The underparts are pale cinnamon-rufous, with some grey speckling on the throat.
This picture shows a cliff flycatcher photographed in the municipality of
Pindamonhangaba, in the Brazilian state of
São Paulo.
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The
blue pitta (
Hydrornis cyaneus) is a species of
passerine bird native to tropical south-eastern Asia. It has long legs and a short tail, and is about 23 cm (9 in) long, the female being more sombrely clad than the male. Secretive and shy, it is found in moist lowland and
montane forests, particularly in ravines and near watercourses. It forages on the forest floor for insects and other small invertebrates, flicking away leaves and probing the ground with its beak. The nest is a large, bulky dome-shaped structure with a side entrance, hidden amongst tangled plant growth.
This picture shows a male blue pitta photographed in
Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.
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The
marsh wren (
Cistothorus palustris) is a small North American songbird of the
wren family. The adult has a dark cap, brown upper-parts, a white throat and breast, and light brown underparts. It breeds in southern Canada and the United States; some birds are resident while others
migrate to overwinter in the southern United States and Mexico. Its habitat is marshland where it nests in tall vegetation, the male building several oval structures with side entrances, only one of which is eventually used by the female. The male is fiercely
territorial, attacking the eggs and young of other birds nesting in the vicinity. This photograph was taken in the
Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area in the province of
Quebec, Canada.
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The
Daurian redstart (
Phoenicurus auroreus) is a small passerine bird from temperate Asia. The adult male has a grey crown and nape, a black face and chin, brownish mantle and wings and a large white wing patch; the chest, lower back and rump are orange, and the tail is black with orange sides. The female is brown above and paler brown below, with an orange rump and tail sides, and a large white wing patch similar to the male's. The species grows to a length of about 15 cm (6 in), and breeds in
Manchuria, southeastern Russia, northeastern Mongolia, central China and Korea. A common
migratory species, it is not considered to be a
threatened species by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature.
This picture shows a male Daurian redstart photographed at Daisen Park in
Osaka, Japan, in midwinter.
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The
Japanese pygmy woodpecker (
Yungipicus kizuki) is a species of
woodpecker native to coniferous and deciduous forests in Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea and Japan. With a length of about 140 mm (5.5 in), its plumage is a dark greyish-brown, barred and blotched with white, with pale brown, streaked underparts. The male has a small red mark on the side of its nape, which the female lacks. It usually occurs in pairs or
mixed-species foraging flocks, searching on trees for invertebrates, such as spiders, caterpillars, ants and aphids, and berries. Breeding takes place in the spring, with the nest being in a hole excavated in a dead branch.
This picture shows a Japanese pygmy woodpecker photographed in
Sakai, in
Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
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The
brown pelican (
Pelecanus occidentalis) is a bird of the pelican family,
Pelecanidae, one of three species found in the Americas and one of two that feed by diving into water. This photograph shows a juvenile brown pelican gliding over the Pacific Ocean at
Bodega Head, California.
After hatching, the pelican chicks are fed on
regurgitated predigested fish and take about two months to fledge. When they leave the nest, they are at first unable to fly and take wing several weeks later. When the parents cease to feed them, some six months later, each will have consumed around 70 kg (150 lb) of fish. The juvenile brown pelican does not acquire adult plumage until three years of age, when the feathers on the neck become paler, the upperparts striped, the wing feathers grayer, and the belly acquires dark spots.
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The
brown-eared bulbul (
Hypsipetes amaurotis) is a medium-sized
bulbul native to eastern Asia. Reaching a length of about 28 cm (11 in), it is grayish-brown, with brown cheeks (the "brown ears" of the common name), a small spiky crest and a long tail. A bird of the forest canopy, it is also found in plantations, parks and gardens. During the summer, the bird feeds primarily on insects, but in the winter the diet consists mainly of fruits and seeds. In addition, it feeds on nectar from
Camellia flowers, becoming dusted with pollen in the process. This brown-eared bulbul was photographed in
Tennōji Park in
Osaka, Japan.
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The
wire-tailed swallow (
Hirundo smithii) is a small
passerine bird in the
swallow family, found in Africa and southern Asia, and often seen flying low over water. It has bright blue upperparts, white underparts and a chestnut cap; adults have long filamentous outermost tail feathers, which trail behind during flight, but juveniles lack these.
This pair of images shows an adult wire-tailed swallow feeding a perched juvenile with insects it has caught in flight. The juvenile opens its bill ready to be fed, and the adult thrusts a beakload of insects into the juvenile's mouth.
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The
goldcrest (
Regulus regulus) is a
passerine bird in the kinglet family,
Regulidae. It occurs in mature lowland and mountain
coniferous woodlands and has a wide range which extends from Iceland, the Canary Islands and Western Europe through southern Siberia to Sakhalin, Japan and Central China. It has olive-green upperparts, buff-white underparts, two white wing bars, and a plain face with conspicuous black irises. The black crown has a distinctive yellow crest with an orange centre in the male while the female's crest is pure yellow; in other respects the sexes are similar. It is the smallest European bird, with a weight of 4.5–7.0 g (0.16–0.25 oz). This picture shows a female goldcrest photographed in
Lancashire, England.
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The
white-necked laughingthrush (
Garrulax strepitans) is a species of passerine bird in the family
Leiothrichidae, native to Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Chinese province of
Yunnan. It is about 32 cm (13 in) long and has a chestnut-coloured crown, a brownish-black face and throat, and a rather diffuse white collar separating these from the body. Typically birds of forest and woodland, laughingthrushes are difficult to observe in the dense vegetation they prefer. They are noisy birds, and their characteristic laughing calls are often the best indication that these birds are present. This white-necked laughingthrush was photographed in
Mae Wong National Park, in Thailand's
Nakhon Sawan Province.
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The
paddyfield pipit (
Anthus rufulus) is a
passerine bird in the family
Motacillidae, comprising
pipits,
longclaws and
wagtails. About 15 cm (6 in) in length and native to southern Asia, its plumage in both sexes is greyish-brown above and paler yellowish-brown below, with dark streaking on the breast. A bird of open country, pasture and cultivated fields, it sometimes makes short flights, but mostly runs on the ground, foraging for insects and other small invertebrates. The paddyfield pipit builds its cup-shaped nest in a concealed location on the ground, and may have two or more broods in a year. This
A. r. rufulus individual was photographed in
Kanha Tiger Reserve, in the Indian state of
Madhya Pradesh.
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The
golden-headed cisticola (
Cisticola exilis) is a species of
warbler in the family
Cisticolidae, found in Asia and Australia. An unobtrusive bird, it forages for invertebrates, such as insects and small slugs, near the ground, but supplements its diet with grass seeds. Both sexes construct the rounded nest with a side entrance in a grass tussock or among tangled herbage. Built of green leaves and fine grasses and lined with soft plant down, it is stitched together with cobweb silk and camouflaged on the outside with further herbage. The female incubates the eggs and the male drives off intruders, but despite this concealment and care, only 32 per cent of the eggs successfully hatch. This golden-headed cisticola was photographed near
Cornwallis, New South Wales, in Australia.
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The
violet-backed starling (
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) is a relatively small species of
starling, common in most of sub-Saharan Africa. It is strongly
sexually dimorphic, with the male's iridescent violet plumage contrasting with the heavily streaked brown female. A bird of open woodland, clearings and
gallery forests, it feeds in the treetops, with its diet including fruits, seeds and insects. It nests in tree cavities, with green leaves and dung having been recorded as nesting materials. The female incubates the clutch of two to four eggs, and the male helps rear the young until they fledge about three weeks after hatching. This male violet-backed starling, of the subspecies
C. l. verreauxi, was photographed in
Damaraland, Namibia.
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The
yellow-faced honeyeater (
Caligavis chrysops) is a small-to-medium-sized bird in the
honeyeater family, Meliphagidae, native to southeastern Australia. Its typical habitat is open
sclerophyll forests, as well as woodland,
riparian corridors, parks, orchards and gardens. Although some populations are resident, others
migrate, using
geomagnetic fields to navigate. Comparatively short-billed for a honeyeater, it has adapted to a mixed diet including nectar, pollen, fruit, seeds, honeydew, and insects. It is considered a
pest in some areas because of the damage it does to fruit in orchards and urban gardens. This yellow-faced honeyeater was photographed near
Lake Parramatta in
New South Wales.
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The
sooty oystercatcher (
Haematopus fuliginosus) is a species of wading bird
endemic to Australia. It frequents the intertidal zone on sand, shingle or pebble beaches, mudflats, and saltflats. With a length of 42 to 52 cm (16.5 to 20.5 in), females are slightly larger than males, and have relatively longer beaks. The two sexes differ in their diets; females tend to select soft prey such as small fishes and crabs,
bluebottle jellyfishes and
sea squirts, which they can swallow whole, while males choose hard prey such as
mussels,
turban shells and
periwinkles.
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The
pink-necked green pigeon (
Treron vernans) is a species of bird in the dove family,
Columbidae, common in Southeast Asia. It is primarily a
frugivore, feeding in groups in the mid-
canopy on figs and other fruits. It is an important disperser of fruit seeds in forests, and is thought to be one of the species responsible for helping to return many
Ficus species to the islands of
Krakatoa in Indonesia after the archipelago was largely destroyed in
the 1883 eruption. This male pink-necked green pigeon was photographed in
Kent Ridge Park, Singapore.
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Bird eggs are laid by females and
incubated for a variable duration depending on the species. This diagram shows a cross-section of a
chicken egg on its ninth day of incubation. The
embryo is surrounded by the
amnion, a membrane that fills with amniotic fluid and cushions it against shock; the
allantois helps the embryo obtain oxygen and handles metabolic waste; the
vitellus, or yolk, is the nutrient-bearing portion of the egg, containing most of its fat, minerals, and many of its proteins and blood vessels; the
chorion forms the
amniotic sac and encloses the other structures; the
albumen protects the yolk and embryo and provides additional nutrients; the porous shell allows oxygen to enter while keeping unwanted fluids and contaminants out.
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The
hardhead (
Aythya australis) is a species of diving duck found in Australia. Also known as the white-eyed duck, its plumage is chocolate brown in both sexes, but only males have the distinctive white eye. The common name "hardhead" has nothing to do with the density of the bird's skull, instead referring to the difficulty encountered by early
taxidermists in processing the head. These female
(top) and male
(bottom) hardheads were photographed at Hurstville Golf Course in
Mortdale, New South Wales.
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The
noisy pitta (
Pitta versicolor) is a species of bird in the
pitta family, Pittidae, found in eastern Australia and southern New Guinea, where it mainly occurs in rainforest, but sometimes in drier woodland and scrub. It is a shy bird, and its distinctive call is heard more often than the bird is seen. It forages on the forest floor, bobbing its head up and down and flicking its tail, searching for insects, woodlice, snails and other invertebrates. Its diet includes some fruit, and it cracks open the shells of
molluscs on an
anvil. This noisy pitta was photographed in
Kembla Heights, New South Wales.
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The
zebra dove (
Geopelia striata) is a species of bird in the family
Columbidae, native to southeastern Asia. Unlike other doves, zebra doves tend to forage alone or in pairs. Their diet consists mostly of grass and weed seeds, and they will also eat insects and other small invertebrates. They prefer to forage on bare ground, short grass or on roadsides, scurrying about with rodent-like movement. Their grey-and-brown barred plumage
camouflages them well when they are on the ground. This zebra dove was photographed in the
Chinese Garden in Singapore.
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The
red-billed streamertail (
Trochilus polytmus) is the most common hummingbird in Jamaica, where it is the national bird. The female, shown here in hovering flight, lacks the red bill and long tail streamers of the male. The species's diet consists of nectar and small insects caught on the wing.
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The
mangrove pitta (
Pitta megarhyncha) is a species of
passerine bird in the family
Pittidae native to the eastern
Indian subcontinent and the westernmost parts of
Southeast Asia. In general, pittas are reclusive birds and difficult to observe, but this species is easier than most, calling from high in mangrove trees, and responding readily to recordings of its voice. This mangrove pitta was photographed at
Pulau Ubin in Singapore.
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The
spotted wood owl (
Strix seloputo) is a species of
earless owl native to tropical southeastern Asia, growing to a length of about 44 to 48 cm (17 to 19 in) with a wing length of 30 to 36 cm (12 to 14 in). Its typical habitats include lowland forest, mangrove swamps, cleared woodland, plantations, and parks in urban areas, with a diet consisting mainly of mice and rats, supplemented by insects and small birds. This spotted wood owl was photographed in
Pasir Ris Park, Singapore.
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The
pied bush chat (
Saxicola caprata) is a small
passerine bird widely distributed in Asia. The males are black with white shoulder and vent patches, while the females are predominantly brownish. This species is
insectivorous, and like other chats hunts from a prominent low perch. This female pied bush chat was photographed in
Pench National Park, India.
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The
double-banded plover (
Charadrius bicinctus) is a species of bird in the
plover family native to New Zealand. During the winter and the spring, it has a dark, greyish-brown back with a distinctive white chest, a thin band of black below the neck running across the chest, and a thicker brown band below. Outside the breeding season, the double-banding is lost; this photograph, taken in March, shows a double-banded plover in non-breeding plumage at
Boat Harbour in
New South Wales, Australia.
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The
common blackbird (
Turdus merula) is a species of
true thrush, in the family
Turdidae. It breeds in Europe, Asiatic Russia, and North Africa, and has a number of
subspecies across its wide range; a few of the Asian subspecies are sometimes considered to be full species. Depending on latitude, the common blackbird may be resident, partially
migratory, or fully migratory. This female northwestern African blackbird (
T. m. mauritanicus) was photographed in the
Souss-Massa National Park, Morocco. This small, dark subspecies breeds in central and northern Morocco, coastal Algeria and northern Tunisia.
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The
Pacific reef heron (
Egretta sacra) is a species of heron found throughout southern Asia and Oceania. About 60 cm (24 in) in length, this species has two distinct colour
morphs, charcoal-grey (as seen here) and pure white. The bird's diet consists mainly of fish,
crustaceans and
molluscs. This Pacific reef heron was photographed at
Boat Harbour, in New South Wales, Australia.
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The
plumed whistling duck (
Dendrocygna eytoni) is a species of whistling duck native to Australia and New Guinea. Weighing around one kilogram (2.2 lb), it is a long-necked duck with brown upperparts, paler underparts and a white rump. The breast is chestnut-coloured with thin black bars, while long black-margined plumes arise from its flanks. The sexes are similar in appearance and its
call is a characteristic whistle. This plumed whistling duck was photographed at
Macquarie University, in New South Wales, Australia.
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The
sapphire-throated hummingbird (Chrysuronia coeruleogularis) is a shiny, metallic-green hummingbird found in Panama, Colombia, and Costa Rica. During flight, hummingbirds have one of the highest
metabolic rates among small birds and therefore need to eat more than their own weight of
nectar each day to avoid starvation; insects and spiders are also consumed for added protein. Males are
polygamous, and after mating play no part in nest-building or rearing the young. This male sapphire-throated hummingbird was photographed in the gardens of
Biomuseo, a natural-history museum in
Panama City designed by
Frank Gehry.
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The
village weaver (
Ploceus cucullatus) is a species of bird in the family
Ploceidae, found in much of sub-Saharan Africa. This often abundant species occurs in a wide range of open or semi-open habitats, and frequently forms large, noisy colonies in towns, villages and hotel grounds. This male, of the subspecies
P. c. bohndorffi, was photographed building a nest in
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Male birds make elaborate nests, each incorporating about 300 strips of palm or grass leaves that they have torn off the plant and transported individually. These are woven together to form roofed, dangling structures with the entrance at the bottom. The only involvement of the female is in the creation of the lining of the egg-laying cup.
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The
crested shriketit (
Falcunculus frontatus) is a species of bird
endemic to Australia, where it inhabits open
eucalypt forest and woodland. It has a parrot-like beak that is used for stripping bark off trees in order to access insects and other invertebrates underneath. Males are larger than females in wing length, weight and bill-size, and have black throats, while females have olive-green throats; both sexes have bold black and white markings on the face. This male crested shriketit was photographed in
Dharug National Park, New South Wales.
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The
bar-tailed godwit (
Limosa lapponica) is a large
wading bird in the family
Scolopacidae. Breeding takes place each summer in the Arctic, and the bird then makes a long-distance
migration southwards to overwinter in more temperate areas, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. This photograph, taken in March, shows a bird in non-breeding plumage at
Taren Point in
New South Wales, Australia.
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The
orange-headed thrush (
Geokichla citrina) is a species of bird in the
thrush family, Turdidae. About 225 mm (9 in) in length, it is common in well-wooded areas of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, but is a shy, secretive bird, usually occurring alone or in pairs. It mainly feeds on the ground in dense undergrowth, and is most active at dawn and dusk, probing the leaf litter for insects and their larvae, spiders, other invertebrates and fruit. This male orange-headed thrush, of the subspecies
G. c. innotata, was photographed in
Khao Yai National Park in
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
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Photograph credit: Antonios Tsaknakis The
red-backed shrike (
Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and a member of the shrike family,
Laniidae. It breeds in a range stretching from western Europe eastwards to central Russia, and it overwinters in the eastern areas of tropical and southern Africa. About 17 centimetres (7 inches) in length, it feeds on large
insects, small
birds,
frogs,
rodents and
lizards. Like other shrikes, it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a "
larder". This male red-backed shrike was photographed at
Lake Kerkini in northern Greece.
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The
red-rumped parrot (
Psephotus haematonotus) is a common bird native to south-eastern Australia. About 28 centimetres (11 in) long, the male's plumage is a bright emerald-green with yellow underparts, a brick-red rump and blue highlights on the upper back and wings; the female is altogether more dowdy, having dull-green wings and back, bluish-black wingtips and pale-olive underparts. These parrots are typically found in pairs or small groups in open country with access to water, including in suburban parks and gardens. These male and female red-rumped parrots were photographed in
Cornwallis, New South Wales.
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War pigeons are
homing pigeons used in military service. They have long played an important role in war, often being used as military messengers. Before the advent of radio, carrier pigeons were used on the battlefield as a means for mobile forces to communicate with stationary headquarters. A metal canister containing the message was attached to the bird's leg. This photograph, in the
Swiss Federal Archives, shows
Swiss Armed Forces personnel preparing a pigeon for a mission during World War I. The Swiss army made extensive use of carrier pigeons, finally disbanding its pigeon section in 1996.
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The
Australian owlet-nightjar (
Aegotheles cristatus) is a
nocturnal bird found in open woodland across Australia and in southern
New Guinea. Despite not being an owl, it is colloquially known as the moth owl, and is the most common nocturnal bird in Australia; despite suffering from predation and competition by
introduced species, it is not considered to be threatened. This Australian owlet-nightjar was photographed in a nesting hollow in
Castlereagh Nature Reserve, New South Wales.
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The
black skimmer (
Rynchops niger) is a tern-like bird in the gull family
Laridae, breeding in North and South America.
Skimmers have the lower
mandible (jawbone) and
bill longer than the upper ones, which allows them to fly low over the water surface, skimming the water for small fish, insects, crustaceans and molluscs. This black skimmer was photographed fishing while in flight over the
Rio Negro in the
Pantanal, an area of tropical wetland in southwestern Brazil.
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The
bee hummingbird (
Mellisuga helenae) is endemic to Cuba and is the
smallest bird in the world and smallest known
dinosaur. This immature male has yet to develop the iridescent blue plumage of the adult. The bee hummingbird feeds mainly on
nectar, probing deep into flowers with its bill and moving its tongue rapidly in and out. In the process of feeding, the bird picks up
pollen on its bill and head. As it flies from flower to flower, it transfers the pollen, and in this way plays an important role in plant reproduction. In one day, the bee hummingbird may visit 1,500 flowers.
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The
red-billed gull (
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae scopulinus), also known as the tarāpung, is a member of the gull family,
Laridae.
Endemic to New Zealand, it is found throughout the country and on outlying islands including the
Chatham Islands and the
New Zealand Subantarctic Islands. Formerly considered a separate species, it is now usually treated as a
subspecies of the
silver gull. It regularly feeds on small fish, shell fish and worms, and sometimes berries, lizards and insects; it scavenges among urban waste in coastal towns. This red-billed gull was photographed in
Christchurch.
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The
green-crowned brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula) is a large
hummingbird native to the highlands from Costa Rica to western Ecuador where it lives at altitudes of between 700 and 2,000 m (2,300 and 6,600 ft). It feeds at the large inflorescences of
Marcgravia vines, which the male will sometimes defend, and will also feed at
Heliconia and other large flowers. Unlike many hummingbirds, the green-crowned brilliant almost always perches to feed. This female, subspecies
H. j. henryi, was photographed in the Mount Totumas
cloud forest, Panama.
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The
saddle-billed stork (
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) is a large wading bird in the
stork family, Ciconiidae. The species has a widespread distribution in
sub-Saharan Africa, and feeds on fish, frogs, crabs and other small creatures. This saddle-billed stork was photographed fishing in the shallow waters of the
Okavango Delta in Botswana.
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The
ruddy turnstone (
Arenaria interpres) is a small wading bird in the sandpiper family,
Scolopacidae. It is a highly
migratory bird, breeding in northern parts of Eurasia and North America and flying south to winter on coastlines almost worldwide. This adult ruddy turnstone in non-breeding plumage was photographed at
Boat Harbour in
New South Wales, Australia.
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Cygnus is a northern
constellation on the plane of the
Milky Way, deriving its name from the Latinized Greek word for '
swan'. Cygnus is one of the most recognizable constellations of the northern summer and autumn, and it features a prominent
asterism known as the
Northern Cross. Cygnus was among the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer
Ptolemy, and it remains one of the
88 modern constellations. This illustration of Cygnus, with the surrounding constellations of
Lacerta,
Lyra and
Vulpecula, was produced around 1823 as part of
Urania's Mirror, a set of 32 astronomical star-chart cards published in the United Kingdom.
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The
northern royal albatross (
Diomedea sanfordi) is a large
seabird in the
albatross family, Diomedeidae. It nests only on the
Chatham Islands, on
Enderby Island, and at
Taiaroa Head on the
Otago Peninsula of New Zealand. It spends the rest of the year away from land, in circumpolar flights over the Southern Ocean, feeding on
squid, fish,
crustaceans,
salps and carrion. The species is listed on the
IUCN Red List as endangered, but predators have been eliminated from the islands where it breeds, and conservation efforts have proved successful at the Taiaroa Head colony. This northern royal albatross was photographed off the southeastern coast of
Tasmania, Australia.
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The
Cape starling (
Lamprotornis nitens) is a medium-sized
passerine bird in the
starling family, Sturnidae, found in southern Africa. It is a gregarious bird and forms large flocks outside the breeding season. It usually feeds on the ground, often foraging alongside other species of
starlings. Habituated to humans, its diet includes fruit, insects and nectar. It sometimes feeds on
ectoparasites that it picks off the backs of animals or visits
bird tables for scraps. This Cape starling, of the subspecies
L. n. phoenicopterus, was photographed in
Damaraland, Namibia.
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Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or
plumage, of
birds. They are the outstanding characteristic that distinguishes the class
Aves from all other living groups.
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