KEY FACTS
EUROPEAN REDSTART ORDER Pass eriform es
FAMILY Turdidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Phoenicurus phoenicurus
SIZES Length: 5 ~ in. Wingspan: 8-9 in. Weight: About ~ oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: May to June. No. of broods: Usually 1, sometimes 2. Eggs: 5-7; bluish white. Incubation: 11-14 days. Fledging period: 14-20 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives mainly in pairs. Diet: Insects, spiders, and fruit. Call: Brief, melodious warble that trails off. Lifespan: Oldest recorded, more than 9 years. RELATED SPECIES There are 11 species in the genus Phoenicurus. P. ochruros, the black redstart, breeds in much of Europe.
Breeding range of the European redstart.
Winter range.
DISTRIBUTION The European redstart breeds across Europe, northern Asia, and northwestern Africa. It winters in northern, eastern, and western Africa south of the Sahara. CONSERVATION The population of the European redstart has decreased in much of Europe. This is partly because of droughts in the bird's winter range on the southern edge of the Sahara.
FEATURES OF THE EUROPEAN REDSTART Female: Plumage is less brightly colored than the male's. With the exception of the red tail, the feathers are a brownish color.
Eggs: 5 to 7 per clutch. White with bluish tinge.
Male: Gray plumage on upper parts. Chestnut breast and sides, black cheeks and throat. The striking orange-red rump and tail are displayed in courtship rituals. The male also displays his white forehead to attract a female to his nest.
The European redstart gets its name from "steort," an Old English word meaning "tail. Both sexes have orange-red tail feathers, but only the male displays them to attract a mate. II
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~ BREE D ING European redstarts may pair for a few years, but this behavior is unusual. The male arrives at the breeding site first. When the female arrives, he displays to her by crouching with his neck outstretched, raising h is wings and fanning out his bright red tail. Usually the male looks for a suitable nest site, often a hole in a tree. When he shows the site to the female, he sings briefly and turns in the entrance to display his white forehead and fanned-out tail. If the female accepts the site, she builds a nest from dead grass, moss, and bark and lines it with hair and feathers .
The female incubates the clutch but leaves it for brief periods to feed. The eggs hatch in about two weeks. Both parents feed the young. The male may begin to bring food even before the eggs hatch. For the first few days, the male keeps the nest clean by swallowing the feces . Later he takes the droppings away. The male continues to feed the young for a few weeks after they can fly. Meanwhile, the female repairs the nest in preparation for a new brood. After the second clutch has hatched, the parents chase the young of the first brood away from the nest.
Left: The European redstart is
Right: The male European redstart is tireless in his search for insects to feed to his young.
welcomed in gardens because it eats insects and their larvae.
The European redstart lives in open woods as well as in parks that have plenty of trees. It rears its young in a nest that the female builds,
usually in a hole in a tree. Seldom at rest for more than a moment, this quick-moving bird is constantly flicking its bright orange-red tail.
~ HABITAT In the western part of its range, the European redstart is found mainly in broad-leaved woods that have open areas as well as shrubs. It can also be found on open land if there are scattered trees for nesting. Trees along rivers and the edges of woods are other popular sites. European redstarts frequently nest near human habitations. In Berlin, for example, more of
DID YOU KNOW? • The European cuckoo often lays its egg in the nest of a redstart, which will raise the chick as its own. • Redstarts have been seen trying to fight their reflections in windowpanes. • European redstarts and re-
lated species flick their tails in an up-and-down movement that makes these birds easy to recognize. • The female redstart feeds on the ground more often than the male, who tends to catch prey while hovering in midair.
~I BIRDWAT CH The Europea n redsta rt may compete with nuthatches, tits, and pied flycatchers for nesting sites. Redstart pa irs like birdhouses, and the n u m ber of breeding birds increases when birdhouses are provided
~ these birds live in gardens and parks than in local forests . Toward the end of August, the European redstart migrates to Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. It spends the winter in trees located along the edges of farmland or in thickets in the midst of grassland. Right: The European redstart
arrives in northern Europe in April and breeds from May to June.
along with plenty of fOOdl Insect-eating birds are helpful in g ardens but they can be hurt by insecticides . Instead of using che micals, ga rdeners should rely o n t he birds to re m ove unwanted insects.
J
FOOD &: FE ED ING
The European redstart preys mainly on insects and spiders. It also eats caterpillars, sawflies, aphids, earwigs, wood lice, very small snails, and ants, as well as berries and fruit. The European redstart may feed on the ground or forage in trees . Sometimes it hovers, taking prey in the air, or flies from a perch to catch insects on the ground.
The Eu ropean redstart usually takes food back to a perch to eat. It often breaks up insects such as beetles by beating them against the perch . It tears off the wings of larger insects and removes the legs of crickets. A pa rent sometimes crushes an insect in its bill to feed to nestlings, w hich a re able to eat only very small bits of food.
KEY FACTS
HILL MYNAH
,,-------------------------ORDER Passeriformes
FAMILY Stumidae
. , . GENUS & SPECIES ~ Gracula religiosa
SIZES Length: 11-15 in. Tail length: 3-4 in . Wingspan: 1 ~-2 ft. Weight: About 8 oz. BREEDING Breeding season: April to July. Eggs: 2 or 3. Bright blue, spotted or blotched with a variety of brownish markings. Incubation: 1 3-1 5 days. Fledging period: About 3 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Very sociable: feeds, nests, and roosts in small flocks. Pairs for life. Diet: Fruit, berries, nectar, and occasionally insects and small reptiles. RELATED SPECIES The family Stumidae includes over 100 species of starlings, oxpeckers, and mynahs. There are 10 subspecies of hill mynah.
Range of the hill mynah.
DISTRIBUTION Found throughout Southeast Asia and from India to southern China . Also in Sri Lanka and the Andaman, Nicobar, Hainan, and Palawan islands. CONSERVATION The hill mynah has long been a popular caged bird. At one time its numbers became seriously low, but it is now protected and its numbers are increasing.
FEATURES OF THE Hill MYNAH CRACULA RELIC/GSA RELIC/GSA
Head: Bare-sided, with bright yellow wattles (fleshy folds) that extend around the back of the neck.
Bill: Orange to red and usually tipped with yellow. Straight and fairly long, it is well suited to the bird's varied diet.
The largest of the subspecies, at 12 to 15 inches long. Its range extends from southern Myanmar to Malaysia and Indonesia.
Plumage: Glossy black, sometimes with a metallic blue sheen. Distinctive white patches on the wings are visible in flight. : Long toes and claws, ideal for gripping he branches of the trees in which the hill mynah ,and feeds.
The hill mynah is famous for its remarkable ability to mimic sounds, including the human voice. What is less well known is that the bird displays this talent only in captivity. © MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
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~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The hill mynah feeds mostly on fruits and berries. It also drinks the nectar of flowers and eats insects that it catches in flight. Sometimes it eats lizards and other small reptiles. The hill mynah feeds during the day. Up to 100 birds will gather on a tree that has recently flowered. The silk cot-
ton tree provides the mynah with nectar, and the bird helps pollinate the flowers in return. As it drinks nectar from a large flower, the mynah collects pollen on its forehead or throat. When the bird visits another silk cotton tree, the pollen is brushed off its feathers and transferred to another flower.
Left: Yellow wattles and bill offer a striking contrast to the hill mynah's black plumage.
Right: The hill mynah moves on its perch or roost by hopping sideways along the branches.
~ SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
Mynahs use a variety of calls, ranging from low, melodious whistles to raucous wails and screeches. A hill mynah learns to call while still in the nest, and its calls are very similar to
The hill mynah belongs to a large family of birds that also includes the starlings. Its members have adapted to a wide variety of diets and habitats around the world. All of these birds are renowned for their sociability and the wide range of their calls.
those of its parents or close neighbors. A mating pair rarely shares the same calls, which may ensure that birds belonging to the same family do not mate. Left: Like most
starlings, the hill mynah is not a specialized feeder. Its strong, straight bill is suited to its varied diet.
DID YOU KNOW? • Local people used to catch hill mynahs to sell as pets. They put nesting boxes in trees and took the fledglings that were raised in them. • A colony of hill mynahs was
I
found in Florida. It was probably started by pet birds that escaped or were released. • A mature hill mynah may have a repertoire of up to 1 3 completely different sounds.
~ HABITS The hill mynah lives in damp forests in the foothills of Southeast Asia, usually at elevations no higher than 6,500 feet. It spends most of its life in the trees and rarely descends to the ground. But occasionally the hill mynah feeds on low, fruit-laden bushes. It prefers to live on the edge of a forest clearing or cultivated field. Hill mynahs are very sociable. During the day they gather in the treetops in qroups of five
to ten birds. They chatter and call to one another using their wide repertoire of sounds. As sunset approaches, the birds congregate in large flocks on bare treetops. For as long as an hour their constant calling and answering can be heard through the forest. The birds then fly to their roosts, usually on leafy branches or in tree holes. They settle down and spend the night alone, in pairs, or in small qroups.
The hill mynah pairs for life, and both parents rear the chicks. Mynahs breed in colonies, but each pair has a territory near its nest. The nest site is a hole in a tree, 30 to 50 feet from the ground. A common site is a hole abandoned by a woodpecker. Several pairs of birds may occupy different holes in the same tree. Left: The mynah breeds in colonies,
but each pair has its own territory around its nest.
The nest is loosely woven from twigs, grass, and feathers. Two or three eggs are laid in spring. They are bright blue, with dark or reddish brown blotches. This is rare in holenesting birds, which usually lay white eggs. Incubation lasts only 13 to 15 days. Three weeks after hatching, the young are fully fledged. While still in the nest, they learn calls from their parents or other birds.
~RD 173J
KEY FACTS
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS ~ ORDER . . . FAMILY ~ Procellariiformes '1IIIIIIII Diomedeidae
SIZES Length: 2-2~ ft. Wingspan: 6~-7~ ft.
. . . GENUS & SPECIES '1IIIIIIII Diomedea nigripes
BREEDING Sexual maturity: Thought to be 5-6 years. Breeding season: October to July. No. of broods: 1 . Eggs: 1; white. Incubation: About 9 weeks. Fledging period: 2-3 months. LIFESTYLE Habit: Breeds in colonies. Diet: Mainly squid; also fish, plank-
Range of the black-footed albatross.
ton and food scraps. Call: Groaning mating duet.
DISTRIBUTION
Lifespan: Estimated to be up to
The black-footed albatross can be found throughout the North
50 years. RELATED SPECIES The family Diomedeidae contains
Pacific Ocean, from Taiwan in the west to California in the east and northward as far as the Bering Sea. CONSERVATION
1 3 species of albatross, including
Populations of the black-footed albatross have decreased, how-
the wandering albatross, Diomedea
ever numbers are still plentiful. The species is under no particu-
exulans, one of the largest flying birds in the world.
lar threat.
FEATURES OF THE BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS
Plumage: Grayish brown overall. White ring around bill and white streak beside eyes.
Bill: Large and heavy. Curved tip of upper bill forms a hook. Nostrils extend along upper part of the bill.
scales.
About the size of a goose, the black-footed albatross is one of the smaller albatrosses. Like its relatives, it spends almost all of its life at sea and only settles on land to breed.
Feet: Webbed for swimming in the ocean. © MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
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~ BREEDING
The black-footed albatross is found throughout the Pacific Ocean north of the equator. Its long, streamlined wings are designed for gliding on air currents, so it relies on heavy winds to keep it airborne. The area around the equator lacks the strong winds that the bird needs to fly. This calm area acts as a barrier, preventing the albatross from traveling to the Southern Hemisphere.
~
it with feathers and grass. One white egg is laid and hatches after nine weeks. The downy chick is brooded (covered with the parent's wings) until it gains a second, warmer layer of down. At 10 to 12 weeks old, the chick is able to fly. The parents first feed the chick with oil brought up from their stomachs. Later they hunt for food at sea, leaving their chick alone for a few days at a time. During these periods the chick keeps intruders away by spitting a smelly secretion at them.
Left: The black-footed albatross builds its mud-based nest on an exposed area of rocky ground.
Right: Both parents incubate the egg. One stays at the nest while the other goes off to feed. Left: The black-
DID YOU KNOW? • The black-footed species originated in the Southern Hemisphere and still breeds in the same season as southern albatross species. I • The black-footed species is the only albatross regularly seen on the Pacific Coast of North America. L· The Laysan albatross and
footed albatross's heavy, hooked bill is ideal for grasping slippery squid and fish. The bird feeds at night, catching prey from the surface of the ocean.
the short-tailed albatross are the only two other albatross species in the North Pacific. • The Laysan albatross nests on Midway Island, which is used by the U.S. Navy. Accidents can occur when planes take off or land since a bird may be sucked into the jet intake and cause an explosion.
~
HABITAT
The black-footed albatross is in flight most of the time. Like other albatrosses, this bird flies by gliding on air currents, making use of the wind that is deflected from the waves. With its streamlined body and its long, slender wings the black-footed albatross soars for many miles with very little effort. The albatross follows ships to feed on food scraps tossed overboard. Gliding at heights of up to 50 feet, the bird travels so fast that it often outdistances a ship
The black-footed albatross forms nesting colonies in the Leeward Islands west of Hawaii and on islands in the western Pacific. The bird shares its breeding grounds with the Laysan albatross, so hybrids of the two species occur. At the onset of the breeding season, the birds form pairs and engage in a dancing courtship display. Facing each other with their wings outstretched, they bow their heads, snap their bills, and utter groaning calls. The albatross makes a cupshaped nest from mud and lines
and must fly in circles in order to stay abreast of it. Because its wings are not designed for flapping, the albatross cannot fly without wind and has trouble taking off from the surface of the water. As a result, the bird is always found in the stormiest seas. Among sailors, the sight of an albatross has traditionally been an omen of bad weather.
FOOD & FEEDING
The black-footed albatross flies too fast to catch prey in flight. It descends to the water to feed, taking prey that it finds near the surface. The bird catches squid by upending itself and plunging
beneath the surface. It generally feeds at night, when squid rise to the surface of the water. The albatross also eats plankton (tiny floating plants and animals). In addition, it feeds on fish, making shallow dives to catch them in its sharp, hooked bill. Ships also provide the albatross with a source of food. The bird follows ships to obtain food scraps that are tossed overboard .
Right: The chick is fed small fish
Left: The male and female alba-
that the parents bring back from hunting trips.
tross pair for life and use the same breeding ground each year.
~--.-\l
COLLARED DOVE GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER Columbiformes
FAMILY Columbidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Streptopelia decaocto
KEY FACTS SIZES Length: About 1 ft. Wingspan: 1 ~-2 ft. Weight: 6~-7 ~ oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: Mainly March to October. No. of broods: 3-5. Eggs: 2, white. Incubation: 14-16 days. Fledging period: 15-1 7 days. LIFESTYLE Call: Mellow, flutelike sound at rest. Whirring noise in flight. Habit: Forms large flocks in winter and usually pairs for life. Diet: Mainly grain and seeds; also insects, shoots, berries, flowers, buds. lifespan: 14 years on record. RELATED SPECIES There are 16 species in the genus
Range of the collared dove. DISTRIBUTION Found in Great Britain and across Europe; the Middle East; India; Sri Lanka; Myanmar; northern, central, and western China; Korea; and a small area of Japan. CONSERVATION Well adapted to living in both the countryside and cities, the collared dove is in no danger of extinction. In some parts of Europe, it is even regarded as a pest.
Streptopelia.
IDENTIFYING THE COLLARED DOVE Young: First fed pigeon's milk, a special food made in the adult's crop . Later fed softened seeds and grain. Fledged in 15 to 17 days.
Plumage in flight: Underparts are pale gray. Tail has a white tip. Wingtips and edges are dark. Flight is similar to that of the wood pigeon but weaker.
Eggs: Small and white. Usually 2 per clutch , but there may be as many as 5 clutches in
Nest: Built mainly by the female, using twigs and leaves gathered by the male. Crude but sturdy, it is usually located high in a tree or on a building.
In recent years the collared dove has spread across all of Europe. Once rare and fully protected in some countries, it is now so numerous that it is classified as a pest in certain areas. ©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC . WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
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~ FOOD &: FEEDING The collared dove eats mainly seeds and grains, but it feeds on grass shoots, buds, flowers, berries, and fruit as well. The dove also eats snails, worms, and insects, especially when it is feeding its young. It stores food temporarily in its crop (a pouchlike enlargement of the gullet) and eats left: The collared dove is a fast and successful breeder. Its numbers are increasing across much of Europe and Asia.
Also known as the ring or collared turtledove, the collared dove gets its name from the dark collar around part of its neck. This small, pale bird feeds mainly on seeds and grains. It flourishes on farmland but also succeeds in cities and suburbs. Although it sometimes migrates, the collared dove usually stays in one area year-round.
~ HABITAT In winter the collared dove can be seen wherever grain is found-around farms, grain mills, and docks, for example. It even ventures inside grain storage buildings. In parts of Europe the dove relies almost entirely on human settlements
I DID YOU KNOW? • Pigeon's milk is not just for the young. It is regurgitated by the male and fed to the female during courtship. It may also be a sexual stimulant. • Unlike many other birds, doves enjoy rain and use it to take a shower. • A young collared dove does not have the neck band. It appears only in adulthood.
for food. It also frequents city parks and private gardens as well as farmland. The collared dove usually pairs for life and remains in the same area all year. But it sometimes migrates in spring and early summer.
~ BIRDWATCH
The collared dove can be identified by the distinctive dark collar on its upper neck. It has a gray-brown upper body and a pale gray underside. In flight its white tail tip can be seen, and its body looks like a wood
grit to help break down hard seeds in its gizzard (second stomach). It finishes digesting its meal in a tree. The dove drinks by submerging its beak and sucking up the water through its nostrils. Most birds dip their bills and raise their heads to let water run down their throats. Right: A pair of collared doves settles on a birdbath in a garden for a refreshing splash and a welcome drink of water.
pigeon's, although smaller. At rest, the collared dove gives a flutelike "coo-COOcoo" call. In flight it utters a harsh, whirring "kwrrr" sound, especially when it is about to alight on a perch.
In Europe the collared dove breeds mainly from March to October, although winter nests are sometimes found. The male performs an elaborate display to attract a mate. After an undulating flight, he glides down, often in a spiral. Once he is on the ground, the male bows to the female to show his collar. The two birds then spend hours preening each other's plumage. The male chooses the nest site. It may be on a building ledge, but it is usually in a bush or tall tree. He gathers twigs with which his mate builds a crude but stable nest.
The female usually lays two small white eggs. During the incubation of 14 to 16 days, she sits mainly by night and the male by day. One egg may hatch up to two days before the other. For the first few days the chicks are fed pigeon's milk, a rich food made in the adult's crop. Later they are fed softened seeds and grain. The young grow their feathers and learn to fly in 15 to 17 days. The collared dove can have up to five sets of young in one year. As a result, one parent may still be feeding the young while the other is incubating a new clutch. left: Each year
rei- I ative of the dove, was one of I • The passenger pigeon, a
the most abundant birds in the 1800s. In 1878, a nesting area in Wisconsin covered more than 850 square miles and contained about 1 36 million birds. But indiscriminate killing wiped out the population, and the last passenger pigeon was killed in 1914.
the female collared dove may lay up to five clutches, each with two eggs.
Far left: A hungry chick reaches into a parent's beak fora meal of half-digested softened seeds and grain.
KEY FACTS
BLUETHROAT
,,~----------------------------------------~ FAMILY GENUS & SPECIES ORDER ~
Passeriformes
Turdidae
Luscinia svecica
SIZES Length: 5~ in. Wingspan: 8-9 in. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: May to June. No. of broods: 1 in northern part of its range, 2 in southern. Eggs: 5-7, pale blue-green mottled with rusty red. Incubation: 14-15 days. Fledging period: 14 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary outside the breeding season. Diet: Earthworms, insects and their larvae, fruit, and seeds. Call: Imitates other birds. RELATED SPECIES Among the small thrushes closely related to the bluethroat are the nightingale, the European robin, and 9 other species that are found
Range of the bluethroat. DISTRIBUTION Breeds in northern Eurasia and Alaska. Migrates south to winter in the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, Pakistan, and northwestern India. CONSERVATION In Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria, the breeding populations of the bluethroat have declined markedly, but numbers have increased in Finland.
mainly in Asia.
FEATURES OF THE BLUETHROAT
Female: Brownish yellow plumage. Does not have the vivid throat patch of the male.
The two main forms of bluethroat in Europe are Luscinia svecica svecica of Scandinavia and northern Russia and L. s. cyanecula of central and southern Europe.
Eggs: Pale blue-green mottled with rust. Laid in cup-shaped nest on the ground.
Male (L. s. cyanecula) : Has white bar at center of throat patch. Rest of coloring is same as L. s. svecica.
The bluethroat is a shy bird, similar in size to a house spa"ow. Its characteristic habit of cocking and fanning its tail makes it look like it has unusually long legs. © MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
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~ FOOD & FEEDING
The bluethroat eats mostly worms, insects, and larvae, especially ants, grasshoppers, stone flies, earwigs, and caddis flies. It also eats small snails, spiders, and young frogs. In the fall it feeds on seeds and fallen fruit. The bluethroat catches insects while flying close to the ground and then swoops to
land in a low, flat glide. It also looks for food on the ground, turning over fallen leaves and soil. After catching a caterpillar, the bluethroat shakes it vigorously to remove the contents of its gut before eating it. This bird has a very upright profile while walking. It often runs short distances, pausing to take a few hops.
left: The male bluethroat is easily
Right: The bluethroat feeds on insects and their larvae, grasping them in its thin beak.
identified by his vivid red and blue throat markings.
The bluethroat is renowned for its remarkable ability to mimic an array of sounds-from the call of another bird to the whistle of a passing train. During the breeding
season the male sports vivid markings on his throat. Flying above or sitting on a perch, he attempts to woo his mate by singing a trilling, bell-like courtship song while nodding his head and fanning his tail.
~ HABITAT
The bluethroat breeds in the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere. It prefers regions that have thick vegetation and patches of open ground. The bluethroat migrates alone. It leaves its Scandinavian and Russian breeding grounds in late August or early September and returns by mid-May. In the extreme north it may not return until early June. The bluethroat winters in sub-Saharan Africa and other areas that match the cool conditions of its breeding grounds. In Africa it finds cover in ditches or swamp vegetation rather
than in scrub. In India it hides among reed beds, roosting near other migratory birds such as swallows and wagtails. Breeding populations in Europe, the Soviet Union, and Alaska winter in the Middle East, Pakistan, and India. Bluethroats that breed farther east migrate as far as southern China and Southeast Asia.
Left: The male bluethroat's vividly colored throat markings are present only during the breeding season, when they help him to attract a mate.
DID YOU KNOW? • The bluethroat can accurately mimic other bird species that share its nesting area. It repeats a song constantly for a few days, then replaces it with a new call. Older birds seem to remember songs they have heard the year before. A bluethroat can reproduce a range of
mechanical noises and can copy the croak of a tree frog. • Bluethroats usually pair up to breed, but one male is known to have fathered young in three different nests, protecting and feeding each in turn. Single birds may feed the young of other birds once they have left the nest.
~ BREEDING
The bluethroat often returns to the same area each year to breed. The male uses a trilling, bell-like song to mark his territory and attract a female. He may sing while flying or while sitting on a perch. The female builds a nest on the ground, usually in thick cover. After interweaving grass stems, leaves, roots, and moss, she lines the construction with fine vegetation and hair. The female lays five to seven pale blue-green eggs mottled with rusty red and incubates them for 14 to 15 days. When
Right: The female incubates five to
left: The male bluethroat brings larvae to the nest to feed the
seven eggs for two weeks.
female and the young birds.
they hatch, she remains on the nest to keep the young birds warm for the first few days. During this period the male brings food, passing it to the female rather than feeding his offspring directly. Later both birds collect food and keep the nest clean by removing the feces, at first swallowing it and later depositing it elsewhere. Within five to six days the nestlings open their eyes. They may leave the nest after about two weeks, sometimes before they can fly. If they cannot fly, the young birds hide, hopping and running around in dense vegetation. They are fed by their parents until fully fledged.
"' CARD 176 ]
PURPLE MARTIN GROUP 2: BIRDS
KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 8 in.
ORDER
FAMILY
GENUS & SPECIES
Wingspan: 15 in.
Passeriformes
Hirundinidae
Progne suNs
Weight: 2 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1-2 years. Breeding season: March to June. Eggs: 4-5; white. No. of broods: 1-2 per year. Incubation: 15-18 days. Fledging period: 3-4 weeks. LIFESTYLE Breeding range of the purple martin.
Habit: Sociable and migratory. Feeds by day.
Winter range.
Diet: Insects. Call: Low-pitched rolling twitter.
DISTRIBUTION Breeds in parts of Canada and the United States, especially on
lifespan: Up to 8 years.
the east coast. Winters in parts of South America.
RELATED SPECIES There are about 80 swallow and
CONSERVATION
martin species. The 3 other species of the genus Progne are the Carib-
by other birds. But the purple martin is still one of North Ameri-
bean martin, the gray-breasted
ca's more common birdhouse occupants.
Numbers are declining mainly because nest sites are taken over
martin, and the southern martin.
FEATURES OF THE PURPLE MARTIN Bill: Opens extremely wide to catch
Female: Plumage is mainly dull brown with a splash of purple on the head and top of the wings. Underparts are gray.
insects as the bird flies.
Flight: Short glides alternate with rapid flapp ing. Flight reveals forked tail and dull brown underside of wings.
The purple martin is the largest of the North American swallows. This sociable bird breeds in the United States and Canada, where its arrival is a welcome sign of spring.
Egg: Pure white . 4 to 5 eggs per clutch, usually laid in a tree hollow or birdhouse.
are well adapted for clinging to perches but not for walking.
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Male: Glossy, dark purplish blue plumage with duller wings and tail.
0160200661 PACKET 66
~ BREEDING In March or April, the purple martin returns to its breeding grounds in the United States and Canada. This bird prefers to breed near open valleys with slow-moving streams, lakes, or coastal meadows. The martin makes its nest on cliffs or buildings or in tree hollows or birdhouses. The nest is lined with grass and feathers and often contains fresh leaves to keep it humid. After laying four or five eggs, the female does most of the incubating for 15 to 18 days. The Left: The purple martin often nests in a birdhouse during the spring and summer months.
A hardy member of the swallow family, the purple martin can be easily recognized by its long, pointed wings and the silvery purple sheen of its plumage. This bird spends most of its waking hours soaring through the air, catching insects in flight. Its attractive appearance and its habit of eating insect pests make the purple martin a welcome visitor to gardens and birdhouses.
~ HABITS
er broods.
Right: A hollowed-out gourd makes an ideal nest site for the female purple martin. Left: In the
'olD YOU KNOW? • North American Indians hung hollowed-out gourds near their homes for purple martins to nest in. The birds
taken from Procne, the name of a mythological Greek heroine who was changed into a swallow by the gods.
helped to control insect pests. They also joined together to attack crows and other animals that fed on crops or tried to
• The largest number of purpie martins found in one nest is 13. A man-made "martin house" held 250 to 300 pairs.
I steal meat.
East and Midwest, farmers may encourage large groups of purple martins to nest on their land by providing "martin houses./I
• Up to 20 nests have been
L ·The genusnam __e_P_ro_9_n_e_i_ s _____ fo_u_n_d_i_n_o_n_e_t_re_e-.--------~
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
In late summer, as they prepare to migrate, flocks of thousands of purple martins roost together in trees or on telephone wires. Flocking in large groups gives
the Arizona desert only because it nests in holes that are dug into giant saguaro cacti by the Gila woodpecker. The purple martin also nests
the purple martin some measure of protection. Individuals often join together to attack predatory hawks or other birds such as sparrows that threaten the martins' nests.
i,n holes made by other birds or in the hollows of dead trees. It competes for these prime sites with sparrows and starlings. After the martin secures a nest site, it is joined by many others to form a colony. These colonies
Although some birds pose threats to the purple martin, others benefit it. For example, the martin is able to survive in
male keeps the eggs warm if the female leaves the nest. But he cannot keep them at the right temperature because he does not have a "brood pouch" -the part of the female's underparts that has an abundance of warming blood vessels. Both parents feed the young, which leave the nest after three or four weeks. A second clutch is then laid, usually containing fewer eggs than the first. Young purple martins often remain in the same colony to help rear lat-
are common in suburban gardens and on farmland throughout the purple martin's range.
The purple martin is active all day and needs a constant food supply. While flying, it catches insects such as midges, flies, butterflies, and beetles. The bird's small bill opens extremely wide and is bordered with rows of erect bristles that act as a sort of aerial insect scoop. Young martins are fed regurgitated insects, but they are able to catch their own food just a Left: In southern Arizona, the purple martin nests in holes in giant saguaro cacti.
few days after learning to fly. The martin sometimes forages for insects on the ground. But since it usually flies and eats at the same time, the bird has not developed strong legs or feet for walking. When flying insects become scarce in colder weather, the purple martin migrates south for the winter. A late cold spell in spring can clear the air of insects, making survival difficult for birds that return early from their wintering grounds.
"'" CARD 177 1
KEA
'(-------------------------------------------~~ FAMILY ORDER GENUS &: SPECIES ~
Psittaciformes
Nestoridae
Nestor notabifis
KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 1~ ft. Wingspan: 3 ft. Weight: About 2 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: At least 3 years. Breeding season: July to January. No. of broods: 1-2. Eggs: 2-4; smooth and white. Incubation: 3-4 weeks. Fledging period: 13-14 weeks or longer. LIFESTYLE Habit: Bold and inquisitive. Call: Loud "keaa" in flight. Diet: Berries, seeds, garbage. lifespan: 37 percent live longer than 1 year. Maximum age on record, 15 years.
Range of the kea. DISTRIBUTION The kea lives in the mountains of New Zealand's South Island. CONSERVATION At one time the kea was considered a pest, but today this bird is partly protected .
RElATED SPECIES The other bird in the genus is the kaka, Nestor meridiana/is, found throughout New Zealand.
FEATURES OF TH E KEA Both sexes look alike, but the male is slightly larger than the female. The bronze-colored plumage is lighter on the breast and brighter on the back and wings. The underwings are scarlet and the rump and upper tail are dark red . The tail is bluegreen. The young are a brighter olive yellow, but their feathers become darker over a period of 2 to 3 years.
Nest: The kea usually makes its nest in a crevice in a rock, but sometimes in a tree. Both male and female line the nest with twigs and lichen.
flight: The bronze feathers, scarlet underwings, and dark red rump can be seen in flight. Eggs: 2 to 4 smooth white
The kea gets it name from the distinctive "keaa" cry that it usually gives as a warning call. This member of the parrot family lives in the mountains of New Zealand's South Island. © MCMXCII IMP BV/I MP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
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0160200611 PACKET 6 1
~ FOOD &: FEED ING The kea eats berries and excretes the seeds, thus contributing to the growth of new plants. The bird also eats roots, buds, seeds, flowers, insects, and worms. In january it feeds on nectar from flowering mountain flax. The kea also scavenges food
~ BREEDING The kea reaches sexual maturity after three years. It builds its nest from twigs and lichen in a rocky crevice. The nest may be built over a period of years. Breeding occurs from july to The kea has bronze-colored plumage with subtle shades of red, blue, and green on its wings and tail. This bird feeds mainly on berries, but it is also a scavenger, frequenting garbage dumps to find food scraps. It sometimes eats the flesh of dead animals and may even attack injured sheep.
~ HABITS The kea sometimes flies above the tree line to hunt for food in its remote mountain habitat on New Zealand's South Island. This inquisitive bird is bold enough to enter ski lodges and other human habitations, where it causes great damage in its search for food . Keas fly in flocks, and the birds seem to enjoy strong winds as
they wheel and dive through the mountain passes. In winter the kea can be seen rolling in snow. During warmer weather, it bathes in pUddles. Top: In its hot, dusty mountain habitat, the kea enjoys any opportunity to take a cool bath.
Right: The kea lives in the sunbaked hills and valleys of New Zealand's South Island.
DID YOU KNOW? • Because of the kea's reputation as a sheep killer, a reward was paid for its beakproof that the bird had been killed. From 1943 to 1945, 6,819 birds were killed for the reward.
• The kea does not limit itself to one mate. An adult male kea may mate with as many as four females . • The kea is very fond of marrow, which it picks out of the bones of dead animals.
scraps from dumps and eats carrion (dead animal flesh). It has been known to attack injured sheep, but its reputation as a sheep killer is exaggerated. Right: An opportunistic feeder, the kea will steal eggs from the nests of other birds.
january. The female lays about three eggs and sits on them for three to four weeks. The male feeds her and guards the nest. Both birds feed the chicks until they are fledged after 1 3 weeks.
' " CARD 1 78 I
MARSH HARRIER
SIZES
,,~----------------------------------------~ & ~
ORDER Falconiformes
FAMILY Accipitridae
KEY FACTS
GENUS SPECIES Circus aeruginosus
Length: 18-22 in . Weight: 1-2 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2-3 years. Breeding season: Spring and early summer. Eggs: 4-5; pale blue. Incubation: 415-5 weeks. Fledging period: 5-6 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Mainly solitary, except during the breeding season.
Resident range of the marsh harrier.
Diet: Rodents, water birds, fish,
Winter range.
Breeding range .
----==~-----===~--------
rabbits, frogs, and toads.
DISTRIBUTION
Call: Male utters a two-syllable shrill call in the breeding season. Lifespan: Oldest on record, 1615 years.
The marsh harrier breeds from Great Britain east to Japan. It winters in Africa south of the Sahara and southern Asia. Resident populations exist in Europe, northwestern Africa, the Middle East, Madagascar, and Australasia .
RELATED SPECIES There are 10 species in the genus
CONSERVATION
Circus, including the northern harrier, C. cyaneus, and Montagu's harrier, C. pygargus.
They are now increasing.
Breeding birds in western Europe declined during the 1800s.
FEATURES OF THE MARSH HARRIER Facial feathers: A feature of both sexes, these feathers probably funnel sound into the ears. This is a great advantage for a bird that hunts for prey over dense reeds and grasses.
The marsh harrier is the largest and rarest of Europe's four harriers. A powerful, long-winged bird of prey, it flies low over marshes and reed beds, hunting for mammals and water birds.
Male: Mainly dark brown, but with a lighter streaked breast, pale head, large blue-gray wing patches, and gray tail. Shows a gray stripe on the wings when in flight.
Female: Mainly dark brown , with a pale crown and throat. Larger than the male, she is almost as big as a buzzard but not as heavily built. Legs: Both sexes have yellow legs and long toes with strong, sharp talons.
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US P 6001 12077 PACKET 77
~ BREEDING The marsh harrier breeds during spring and early summer. In his spectacular courtship flight, the male both dives and somersaults from a great height. The female builds the nest in a reed bed above water level. The nest is a large platform made of trampled reeds, twigs, and other plant matter. After laying four
female incubates them alone. The male feeds her on the nest until the eggs hatch after four and a half to five weeks. At first the male hunts alone for his family. But as the chicks grow and require more food, the fe-
or five pale blue eggs over a period of two or three days, the
male hunts as well. The chicks fledge after five to six weeks. But they are fed by their parents for two more weeks before they are independent.
Left: The marsh harrier's facial feathers form a disk, giving both sexes an owl-like appearance.
Right: Young marsh harriers may leave the nest up to two weeks before they start to fly. Left: The adult marsh harrier is one of the most powerful and deadly of all aerial hunters.
The handsome marsh harrier almost disappeared from western Europe a century ago. Since then it has made a partial comeback. Howeve" the marsh harrier still suffers from the drainage of its watery habitat. In addition, it is badly affected by the increased use of agricultural pesticides, which poison the small mammals on which it preys.
~ HABITS
The marsh harrier is the largest European harrier. Strong and agile in the air, it flies with the combination of flapping and gliding that characterizes all members of its family. When soaring or gliding, it holds its long, narrow wings in a shallow V shape and uses its long tail to maneuver and to modify its speed . It often soars low and then picks up speed and ' regains height with a few powerful beats of its wings. The
bird may then begin another extended glide. The marsh harrier is scarce because it lacks suitable habitats. This bird prefers to live in large, undisturbed reed beds surrounding open water. This kind of habitat is now rare and found mainly in bird preserves. Birds in the northern fringes of the range sometimes spend the winter in western Europe. Other birds migrate to Africa or southern Asia .
DID YOU KNOW? • In the 19th century in Great Britain, the marsh harrier was hunted to extinction. A single pair returned and nested before World War I, but the species' status remained critical until the mid-1950s. A steady increase through the 1980s
has resulted in today's annual British population of more than 70 pairs. • The bird's main source of food varies across its range, from field voles in Germany to rabbits in the Netherlands and coot chicks in Denmark.
BIRDWATCH Because the marsh harrier is so
The male is unique amoJ
rare, it is easiest to find in protected reserves like those established in Great Britain. The reserves contain large areas of undisturbed reed beds, which the marsh harrier favors.
harriers in having a dark back, gray tail, and pale head. His tricolored wings are conspicuous when he flies. The female is dark brown but has a pale crown and throa t.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The marsh harrier feeds mainly on small rodents. But it is an opportunistic hunter, and at times it preys on frog s, toads, water birds, and small mammals. It may even catch fish . The marsh harrier searches for its prey on reed beds, marshes, and open ground . It glides low, searching, or "quartering," its territory section by section . If it Left: Like many birds of prey, the marsh harrier steals eggs from other birds ' nests.
spots prey, it swoops down rapidly and seizes the victim in its long, curved talons. Using its hooked beak, it then tears the prey into manageable pieces. When it hunts, the marsh harrier beats it wings as infrequently as possible, relying on silence and lightning-fast moves to capture its victims before they c;an escape. The bird's long legs 'let it snatch frogs and fish without getting its plumage too wet, which would hamper its flight.
~RD 1 79
NORTHERN PINTAIL "
GROUP 2: BIRDS
,,~----------------------------------------~
. . . ORDER ~ Anseriformes
. . . FAMILY ~ Anatidae
. . . GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Anas acuta
KEY FACTS SIZES Length: About 2 ft. Wingspan: About 3 ft . Weight: Male, 1 %1-3 lb. Female,
1-2%1 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: April to July. Eggs: 7-9; creamy white. Incubation: About 4 weeks. Fledging: About 6 weeks.
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C\J
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LIFESTYLE
co
Habit: Sociable, migratory. Diet: Seeds, tubers, insects, and mollusks. Call: Male utters a thin nasal
Breeding range of the northern pintail.
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Winter range.
DISTRIBUTION Breeds in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. Winters
whistle. Female quacks. Lifespan: 26 years recorded.
farther south in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
RELATED SPECIES There are 2 rare subspecies, both found in the South Indian Ocean.
CONSERVATION One of the most widespread duck species, the pintail is not in any danger. Its habitats are sometimes affected by human ac-
The Kerguelen pintail lives on Kerguelen Island, and the Crozet pin-
tivities, but the pintail's ability to relocate allows it to avoid these threats.
tail is found on Crozet Island.
FEATURE S O F THE N ORTHERN PINTAil
Drake (male): Rich brown head and neck. White belly, breast, and neck lines. Finely marked gray sides and back. Bronze-green and white plumage toward tail. Black under tail . Medium gray bill has a dark line down the top.
Flight: Agile. Zigzags down to land .
Fema le: Similar to a female mallard. Medium brown color with pale tips on feathers . Mostly smoky brown on sides and back. Darker bill. Tail is pointed but lacks the long streamers of the male.
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Tail : Long ,
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dark, and fine. Adds about 4 inches to male's overall length. Displayed during courtship or rivalry.
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The northern pintail is named for the tail streamers of the boldly patterned male. The female is far less conspicuous and depends on her brown plumage to hide her while she is nesting.
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~ FOOD &: FEEDING
During spring and summer the northern pintail feeds mainly on
live prey, such as insect larvae, shrimps, tadpoles, mollusks, and snails. In the colder months it eats plants. The pintail upends in shallow water to search the bottom for food, but it rarely dives. The pintail also feeds on land, where it may gather with flocks of mallards. Grazing in pairs or in small parties, the ducks eat seeds and grasses and pick at exposed roots and tubers in plowed fields. The pintail may readily run across the ground in pursuit of insects.
left: When breeding, the northern pintail prefers marshy lakes surrounded by low, dry land. Right: The northern pintail lives up to its name, breeding even on Arctic coasts.
The northern pintail is one of the most common and widely distributed of all ducks. This bird relocates easily and is quick to take advantage of new feeding
• The rapid wing beats of a passing flock of pintails produce a hissing sound that can be heard over a long distance.
grounds within its preferred habitat. Because the pintail can adapt its diet to whatever food supplies are locally available, it can survive in a variety of conditions.
~ HABITAT The northern pintail is a migratory duck found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It breeds across most of North America, Iceland, Scandinavia, and northern Asia, and in some isolated parts of Europe. In winter it flies as far south as Central America and central Africa. The northern pintail quickly relocates when local conditions change. It frequently appears a few days after an area becomes
flooded. This mobility is especially important in the southern parts of its range, where wetland habitats often dry up. During the breeding season the northern pintail frequents lagoons, rivers, shallow lakes, marshes, and ponds with dense
left: The
~ID YOU KNOW?
• Aerial chases, with a lot of amorous males chasing a single female, may end with the female being forced to mate.
northern pintail takes prey from the muddy bed in water up to one foot deep. Dipping for six seconds or so, it surfaces briefly, then upends again.
• To lure predators away from her nest, the female northern pintail frequently fakes injury by pretending to have a broken wing. • Pintails breeding in central Asia have migrated as far as Senegal in western Africa.
Courtship begins in winter. But firm pair bonds are not established until the spring migration. The drake (male) courts the female by circling her with his neck outstretched and flicking water with his bill. If she accepts him, the female leads him
eggs, her mate leaves her and forms a group with other drakes. The clutch of seven to nine eggs hatches after about four weeks. Often the mother must lead her hatchlings a great distance to the water's edge. But she is one of the most protective of all ducks toward her brood .
vegetation. In winter it can be found on estuaries and coasts.
away from the other drakes. The nest is on open ground or
Right: During displays of hostility,
among tall grasses and may be half a mile from water. Once the
As a result, there is a low death rate among the ducklings. They are usually fully fledged within
female begins to incubate her
six weeks.
pintails arch their necks and lower their tails.
KEY FACTS
---------~~ -------
ANDEAN FLAMINGO GROUP 2: BIRDS ~ ORDER "'1IIIIIIII
Phoenicopteriformes
~ "'1IIIIIIII
FAMILY Phoenicopteridae
GENUS & SPECIES Phoenicoparrus andinus
------------------------------------------------------~
SIZES Length: About 4 ft. Weight: 4 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3 years, but many do not breed until later. Breeding season: Late November to early December. Eggs: 1; white. Incubation: About 1 month. Fledging period: Up to 3 months. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable; lives in large colonies. Diet: Mainly algae. Call: Gooselike honk in flight. Special courtship call. Lifespan: Unknown. RELATED SPECIES The Andean flamingo's closest relative, and the only other member of the genus, is James' flamingo, Phoenicoparru5 jamesi.
•
Range of the Andean flamingo.
DISTRIBUTION The Andean flamingo is found in Chile, northwestern Argentina, western Bolivia, and southern Peru. CONSERVATION The Andean flamingo is now rare, and there are probably only about 100,000 birds across its range. But the population appears to be stable. Attempts to rear the flamingo in captivity have not been very successful.
FEATURES OF THE ANDEAN FLAMINGO Plumage: White with brilliant rose pink on neck, breast, and wing coverts. Black primary and secondary feathers. When wings are folded, black feathers are more noticeable than in other flamingos.
Flight: Neck extended, legs stretched out behind. Reveals the pink wing coverts and black flight feathers.
The Andean flamingo lives on salty lakes high in the Andes in South America. It has the distinctive pink plumage of all flamingos, but its legs are yellow instead of pink.
Legs: Yellow. Other species have pink legs.
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Bill: Black with creamy white base. Mandibles are lined with fine, hairlike structures that filter food from the salty water. PRINTED IN U.S.A.
US P 6001 12067 PACKET 67
~ FOOD & FEEDING
In prehistoric times, flamingos were widespread across Europe, North America, and Australia. Today populations
of the rare Andean flamingo are stable, but the birds are found only on a few mountain lakes in South America. Within this habitat, the Andean flamingo lives in large, noisy colonies. Its flight call, which it utters to rally the flock, has been compared to a chorus of geese.
~ HABITS
The Andean flamingo feeds on algae that live near the water's surface. These tiny plants contain red pigments that stain the lakes and color the flamingo. The flamingo's bill is specially adapted for its diet. Short but deep, it has a bulbous lower segment, or mandible. The narrower upper mandible fits neatly in a groove on the lower one. Standing in shallow water, the bird places its head between its legs. It can then hold its hook-
shaped bill upside down underwater. Moving its head, it uses its tongue in a pumping action to suck in mouthfuls of water. The water is filtered through lamellae (fine, hairlike structures inside the mandibles) and then
Left: The flamingo gets its pink hue from carotenoids-red pigments in the algae it eats.
Right: Given a proper diet, the Andean flamingo maintains its color in captivity.
I DID YOU KNOW?
• The name flamingo is taken from the Latin word for "flame" and refers to the bird's vivid pink plumage. • The water in the mountain lakes that the Andean flamingo inhabits is 10 times saltier than seawater. • The Andean flamingo's filter system of feeding guar-
I
expelled. Particles of food are trapped in the lamellae, then scraped off with the tongue. In addition to the lamellae, there are stiffer hairs to prevent coarser particles from entering the flamingo's mouth.
antees that its food is virtually dry when it is swallowed. The alkaline or saline water would be toxic if swallowed in large quantities. • The main colony of Andean flamingos lives approximately 13,000 feet above sea level. It was discovered only in 1957.
~ BREEDING
Like other flamingos, the Ande-
they are constantly interacting
an species lives on salt lakes and brackish marshes without any vegetation on their shores. In the Andes these lakes occur at elevations up to 14,000 feet above sea level. Because the lakes can freeze in cold weather, the bird migrates to lower elevations for the winter. But it is never seen below 6,500 feet. Andean flamingos live in big colonies. When not feeding, resting, swimming, or flying,
with one another. There are ritual displays of head swaying, wing saluting, and marching. Started by the males, these displays are thought to be associated with mating, even though
Right: Large colonies of Andean flamingos perform ritual displays in the mating season.
I
they have been observed at other times of the year.
The Andean flamingo breeds at the beginning of the rainy season in late November or early
forms around the structure. This "moat" separates one nest from another, although they are all
December. The birds gather to nest in colonies with as many as
close together. After making a depression in the mud with her bill, the female lays one white egg and incubates it. The downy chick hatches in about four weeks and stays in the nest for five to eight days. During this time it is fed a rich, dark red secretion regurgitated by both parents. At 10 days of age, the young flamingo is able to swim. It then joins the other young in the colony to form a nursery.
2,000 individuals. Courtship displays are accompanied by mating calls that are quite different from flight calls. The male and female build a cone-shaped nest of mud and stones. As they reach out from the nest site to scoop up mud with their beaks, a ring of water Left: Until it develops the curved bill that filters food, a chick is fed by its parents.
