Scientific Classification of Budgerigar

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Psittaciformes
• Family: Psittacidae
• Genus: Melopsittacus
• Species: M. undulates

Budgerigar Description

The budgerigar is a member of the family Psittacidae. The adult birds of this genus have green or yellow colored chests and back. Their feathers have black markings with varying patterns. The feathers cover their back and head.

The beaks of these birds have blue color while in females the beak is pink or purple colored. Trees are the natural habitats of budgerigar. They build their nests in depressions and knots of large plants.

The birds are highly social organisms that reside in loose colonies. Budgerigar can be seen in both northern and Southern territories. The lifespan of a budgerigar is around 15 years in the wild.

As the birds are highly social, they easily attach to their owners and thus they make a good pet. The birds can be easily tamed and they can also identify their owner easily even after changing their looks.

The way of talking of budgerigar with humans is very loving and a large vocabulary is developed by them to do this. Some members can speak even hundreds of words.

3 Amazing Facts About Budgerigar

• Budgerigars are native to Australia but they are migratory birds and move throughout the country from north to south.

• The native dialect of Australian aborigines translated the word budgerigar as “good to eat”.

• The birds are very colorful. According to an estimation, the birds occur in over 1000 color combinations. However, green, blue, yellow are some common colors.

Distribution of Budgerigar

Budgerigar is native to Australia. The birds are migratory and keep moving from north to south throughout the country. They are very social organisms amongst themselves and also with human beings.

Thus, budgerigars are one of the most popular pets all over the world. Besides Australia, the birds are also found in North America, South America, Europe, and Africa.

They are very common pets thus they are found in most regions of the world. It is reported that the population of budgerigars is up to five million throughout the world at present.

Budgerigar Species

The scientific name of budgerigar is Melopsittacus undulates. The genus comprises only one species, which is commonly known as budgie or budgerigar.

Appearance and Size of Budgerigar

As compared to other parrot varieties, the budgerigars are smaller in size. The weight of the bird is about one-and-a-half ounces. The length of the bird is around seven inches and the length of their wingspan is 12 inches.

The color combinations can be almost a thousand in the budgerigar. For instance, yellow and green colors can be found most frequently in these birds.

Parakeet vs Budgie

When we try to collect information about budgie and parakeets, people may say that both budgerigars and parakeets are the same. Budgerigars are affectionately also known as a budgie. However, the fact is true but the word parakeet is referred to the birds with small bodies and long tails and feathers.

Budgies are also a part of the parrot family but unlike some large members of this family such as cockatoos, lovebirds, they are very small species. It is estimated that around 400 species of parrots and parakeets are living on earth.

Budgerigars are one of the species that are native to Australia. It is called about these birds is they are distinguished based on where they are from and where they are currently living.

The budgerigars are known by their name in the areas of Australia, Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world. While the same species is known as parakeets in the US.

The lifespan of budgies is about five to ten years, however, in some cases, they lived up to 15 years or more. Some species such as monk parakeets have a lifespan of about 20 years or more.

Behavior of Budgerigar

As discussed above, the budgerigars are very social. They form colonies of several hundred birds and prefer to live in colonies when they do not migrate. The birds pair up in wild. Interestingly, the birds mimic their owners and are also very playful. The way of talking of these birds with their human owners is also very loving.

Nests of Budgerigar

Budgerigars prefer to build their nests in holes or other crevices in the trees. Generally, the trees with large and surfaces are preferred by these birds because they can lay eggs easily there.

However, in captivity or when they are domesticated they can easily live in flat boxes or floors. The box or floor should be filled with any soft material. A person can use shavings of clean wood or shredded paper for their pet budgerigar.

Diet of Budgerigar

Most of the part of their diet is made up of grasses and seeds. They get nutrition from various seeds. To consume fruits and vegetables, the birds sometimes travel to the ground. Sometimes Budgies also eat berries and other fruits but they are not good for them and a budgerigar may become sick by consuming a lot of fruits.

Predators and Threats of Budgerigar

According to estimates, the population of budgerigars is still rising. They are very popular all over the world as a pet because they are very cheap and also very social with humans.

Another reason behind their uprising population is the birds are not much affected by habitat destruction and other related problems, unlike other organisms. However, the birds are at risk of predation by several predators such as falcons and hawks.

These large birds feed on budgies. Other rodent species and cats, rats also prey upon the eggs of budgerigar and sometimes kill the birds also.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan of Budgerigar

The female budgerigar reaches sexual maturity at the age of around eight months. The offspring are raised by both the parents after pairing formate. Around four to six eggs are laid by the female budgie in a single clutch.

The incubation period is up to 20 days after which, the eggs hatch and chicks are born. All the eggs are hatched in a week or 10 days. At the time of birth, the chicks are blind and do not have feathers.

After their birth, their mother keeps them warm for 10 days or more until their eyes open. The birds start their growth after this and also develop feathers, however, it took almost four to five-week to fully develop after which the younglings leave their nest.

The fledglings start flying or learn to fly in six to eight weeks. Based on the number of chicks in a brood and the age of each chick, their age varies.

For example, when a chick does not have any other nestmate they often learn to fly sooner as compared to the birds born in large clutches. The birds also get benefit by getting the extra attention of their parents.

The life span of a budgerigar is around 15 years in the wild but they die at the age of 5 or ten years in captivity.

Population of Budgerigar

Budgerigar is listed as the ‘least concerned’ species in the IUCN list of threatened species. They do not have the risk of extinction of endangered because their rate of reproduction is very frequent in both wild and in captivity as a pet.

As a result, the worldwide population of budgerigar is around 5,000,000 birds, which is still growing. However, the birds are native to Australia, but now their population is distributed all over the world due to their popularity as a pet among human beings.

The birds form colonies that can be spotted in North America, South America, Europe, and Africa.

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Scientific Classification of Barn Owl

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Strigiformes
• Family: Tytonidae
• Genus: Tyto
• Species: Tyto alba

Distribution of Barn Owl

• Africa
• Asia
• Central America Eurasia
• Europe
• North America
• Oceania
• South America

Barn Owl Description

Barn owls are widespread birds even they are considered as most widely distributed birds in the world. The species belongs to the family Tytonidae. Barn owls feed on rats and mice primarily and thus they play a significant role in controlling the population of rodents.

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In several cultures, the barn owls are considered indicators of death or also known as the symbol of the afterlife.

Fun Facts About Barn Owl!

The owls reside in the graveyards in England. Thus they are presented as an omen of death. The food or prey is swallowed by barn owls first and then they bring up the undigested portions of the food as a pellet.

As compared to the male owls, the female owls are much heavier. They are 10% heavier than male ones and form monogamous pairs. The lifespan of the barn owl in captivity is around 20 years.

Scientific Name of Barn Owl

The barn owl is named Tyto alba, which means “white owl”. The word Tyto is derived from the Greek word that means owl.

The taxonomist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli named them Strix alba, which is their original name. But later, the wood owls, members of another owl family Strigidae is being represented by the genus name Strix.

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The barn owl comprises a total of 25 subspecies, which may vary in size and color. The species are widely distributed all over the world.

Appearance of the Barn Owl

The heart-shaped, bright white face of the barn owl is well known and also a distinctive feature of these animals. Unlike other owl species, the heads of these owls are smooth and lack ear tufts.

They contain large and dark eyes. Their brown and grey feathers surround their white, heart-shaped face, which also covers the backside of their wings and bodies. The barn owl contains rounded, short, and pale beneath wings.

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Sometimes, spots also occur in their white breasts. The weight of a barn owl is around 400-600g, while the largest barn owl has a weight of around 700g or about 1.5 pounds.

However, the weight of males is relatively lighter than females. The length of barn owls is around 32 to 40 cm and their wingspan is about 100- 125 cm.

Behavior of Barn Owl

Barn owls prefer to hunt at night thus they are called nocturnal birds. Their facial disc helps them to reach the sound to their earholes where they can easily recognize the voice in a better way.

The barn owls swallow their prey whole and then after digesting most of the animals, they bring out the pellets. The regurgitated pellets may vary in size up to 1.5 inches. The pellets are used by scientists to learn various facts about the food of barn owls.

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The barn owl has two eyes that are very sensitive as the human eye. They are well adapted to be nocturnal animals. Their large wingspans and sensitive eyes help them to hunt at night. The barn owls prefer to hunt in open fields.

Barn owls tend to sleep in deserted fields thus they are named “barn fields”. The tree cavities and other hollow places are also preferred by barn owls to live.

Habitat of Barn Owl

The barn owl species are distributed in all areas of the world in various habitats. The species made various adaptations to survive in the most possible environments thus they can easily live in deserts as well as lush farmland.

The owls prepare their nests in deserted lands and other abandoned buildings, thus can easily survive in cities, suburbs, and other places from where they can get closer contact with human beings.

Diet of Barn Owl

The barn owls are predatory birds. They mostly prey upon rats and mice. Scientists have found by the dissecting pellets that they also consume frogs, smaller birds, and fish species.

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Some owl species are also dependent on insect species for their diet. The barn owls are island-dwelling, small bird species. They sometimes live in food-scarce conditions but these species are well adapted for these harsh environments.

Predators and Threats of Barn Owl

The barn owls also have several predators that primarily prey upon the baby barn owls and eggs of barn owls. The predators also include the eagle owl and the great horned owl that consume their barn owl cousins.

The IUCN red list of threatened species listed barn owls as the least concerned species. The population of barn owls remains steady all over the world, however, in some areas the population of barn owls is vanishing, and to revive them rehabilitation projects are going on in these areas.

Lifespan, Reproduction, and Babies of Barn Owl

When the males become ready to mate with a female, they select the option of mid-flight display. The “moth flight” is also included in this operation. It is a maneuver in which the male flies in front of the female.

Every year, the owls may contain more than 2 nests and they can breed all the year. They live in a particular area after mating once. Almost 75% of barn owls form mating pairs for life.

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If they cannot produce enough young owls with their mate, they also get a divorce. They select trees found closer to large, open fields to lay their eggs. The reason behind this is maybe to enjoy hunting.

Around 2 to 12 eggs were laid at a time and the process may take over multiple days. Because of this, the eggs do not hatch at once. The female produces more eggs if the food availability is enough.

The incubation period is of around 30 days. The parental care of chicks is done by both the parents and at the age of 15 days, the chicks leave their nests.

Population of Barn Owl

Getting an accurate account of the population is very hard because the owls are distributed all over the world. According to a recent estimation, the population of the barn owl is anywhere between 4 million and 10 million in the world.

The IUCN’s red list of threatened species is listed barn owls as “least concerned” species. The biggest threat for these owls is habitat destruction. However, the population of barn owls remains stable.

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To help and protect the barn owls, steps should be taken for conserving their habitat. Providing places to raise their young by providing nesting boxes is the biggest way to protect them.

Barn Owl in the Zoo

These owls are also living in many zoos across the United States. In Ohio, the Cincinnati Zoo hosts one of these owls in their wings of the world exhibit. In Indiana, the Cosley Zoo, in Pennsylvania the Pittsburgh zoo, and California, the San Francisco Zoo also include barn owl species.

Probably, these species can be easily found in zoos or nature centers around areas wherever we are living. All over the world, around 970 barn owls are captive and are living in zoos.

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Most of them are carried to these zoos as a result of any rescue operation. The resident barn owls at the Belfast Zoo begin to live in their permanent homes after being rescued, Bubo-no-no, which is another barn owl found its forever home at the Honolulu Zoo.

The species is rescued by the Hawaiian Electric Company as a chick. The zoos are playing a vital role in rehabilitation and raising the barn owls that might not survive in the wild.

Scientific Classification of Blue Grosbeak

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Passeriformes
• Family: Cardinalidae
• Genus: Passerina
• Species: P. caerulea

Distribution of Blue Grosbeak

• Central America
• North America

Blue Grosbeak Description

The blue grosbeaks are the largest species of grosbeaks. Their beaks are relatively larger and heavier that helps them in cracking seeds.

Grosbeaks are not classified as a scientific group because it is not compulsory that they were evolved from a common ancestor and maybe they are not closely related to each other.

Surprisingly, the grosbeaks are not threatened and probably they can expand their reproductive range and population.

Images © Mark A. Chappell

4 Amazing Facts About Blue Grosbeaks

• The grosbeaks are blue colored and like all other bluebirds, their blue color is a function in which the light strikes their feathers and it is not a pigment.

• The songs are sung by males only and generally, the older males sing longer songs.

• Gross is the name given to the group of grosbeaks.

• A shed snakeskin is sometimes used by grosbeaks to build their nests. It is believed that they use it to scare away predators.

Location & Habitat of Blue Grosbeaks

The range of blue grosbeaks starts from North America and expanded to the South of the 40th parallel on the map and the range moves northward. Some other places are Mexico, Central America, and West Indies where grosbeaks can be spotted and their locations also include Ecuador to Idaho in the North.

However the male blue grosbeak consists of beautiful plumage, but still, it cannot find easily in many backyards. The reason behind this is they prefer to hide in briars and vines with their partner.

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The best way to get a glimpse of a blue grosbeak is we can follow it by learning its song. When the birds are excited, they give a “chink” sound or a buzzing sound. The birds also glean seeds from fields where they can be spotted easily.

Nests of Blue Grosbeak

The birds prepare cup-shaped nests that are usually located in shrubs or tangled vines. The nests are located near a road or an open area. The nests are generally located at a height of around 3.3 to 10 feet.

The nests are usually prepared by the use of twigs, bits of newspaper, dead leaves, rags, roots, and sometimes snakeskin. The female bird also uses fine grasses, roots, and hairs to line the nest.

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The nest can be around 2 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches wide. Usually, there are two broods produced by females in a year. When the female starts building a new nest, the male takes care of the chicks from the first brood.

Blue Grosbeak Species

Passerina caerulea is the scientific name of the blue grosbeak. The name is derived from a Latin word, where the word Passerina means “as a sparrow” and caerulea means for shades of blue. The blue grosbeak is classified into seven subspecies. They are-

• P.c. cerulean. c. shiapensis
• P. c. deltarhyncha
• P. c. eurhyncha
• P. c. interfusa
• P. c. lazula
• P. c. salicaria

Appearance of a Blue Grosbeak

A person can easily identify a blue grosbeak. The blue plumage and cone-shaped, heavy bill are the characteristic features of blue grosbeak. Its cone-shaped bill in the smaller indigo bunting.

According to the maps, the range of these birds overlaps in some places. As discussed above that the blue coloration of grosbeak is not a pigment but an optical illusion, which is caused by the way light plays over its feathers.

These amazing colors are not visible to us thus human eyes can’t see them. Some reddish-brown bars are present on the wings of male grosbeaks, which consist of a length of around 5.5 to 7.5 inches.

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Their eyes are brown and the bill is conical shaped. A bit of blue color is also present in the feathers of the female grosbeak but otherwise, its color is all over brown.

The blue feather can be seen at the right angle only. The size of male and female grosbeak is about the same. The tail of the grosbeaks is fan-shaped and they have rounded wings.

Behaviour of Blue Grosbeak

The blue grosbeaks are very shy around human beings thus they cannot be spotted easily. The bird will fly if it thinks that anyone is seeing it. However, during summers they search for remaining seeds from the cleared field where they can be spotted hopping or flying.

They search for seeds with other bird species also sometimes move along the tree branches by flicking their tails, however, it is still unknown that why they do this.

Migration Pattern and Timing of Blue Grosbeak

In the northern part of its range, the breeding time of the blue grosbeak starts from early spring to hate summer. When we observe the migration pattern on a map, we find out that they build their nests in the southern United States and northern Mexico.

The Mexican coast the Caribbean and northern South American are the regions where the bird spends its winters. Some populations residing in central Mexico are non-migratory birds that live year-round in their habitats.

Diet of Blue Grosbeak

The blue grosbeak usually feeds on cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers, and other insects. They also eat mantises, beetles, caterpillars, crabs, spiders, and other invertebrates. Sometimes they also eat seeds remaining in the cleared field and grasslands.

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Some food materials are not good for them, which should be also avoided such as onions, chocolate, garlic, apple seeds, and apricots. These items can be toxic for them which also include table scraps and old bread.

Predators & Threats of Blue Grosbeak

It seems that the birds get benefits from human activities because the seeds left in the agricultural field are eaten by these birds. The nest of the bird is built in these places where tall trees have been removed by logging.

Cats are the major predators of blue grosbeaks. They catch them and eat them. Other predators include raptors and cowbirds.

Interestingly the eggs of the cowbirds are laid the nests of other birds and their babies are also raised by foster parents after the biological chicks die with the much larger cowbird babies.

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Scientists are worried that birds can spread diseases due to the explanation of their range. Because they carry feather mites. However, it is not indicated get that they are of any disease.

What Eats The Blue Grosbeak?

There are several predators of the blue grosbeaks. Usually, they are eaten by the general predators of songbirds. Pet cats, snakes, feral, hawks, and owls are the predators of blue grosbeak.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan of Blue grosbeak

Several birds start making their nests in the beginning or middle of April or as early as possible, while some others start it in May. They build their nests in their nesting range.

The males try to attract their female partners for a mate. They sing and arrive earlier than females in their nesting range. The nests were built by the females when she selects a mate.

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The female blue grosbeak lay around three to five eggs that are pale blue colored and freckled. The incubation period is of around 11 to 12 days and the eggs are incubated by females.

During the incubation period, the male feeds the female. After the eggs hatch, the babies start fledging in 9 to 10 days, and the babies are fed by both parents. The parents search for food items such as small invertebrates, insects, and seeds from open areas for their babies before they start their annual migration.

The lifespan of blue grosbeak is five years in the wild. However, the oldest bird has lived for around seven years.

Population of Blue Grosbeak

It is believed by scientists that the population of blue grosbeak is around 24 million birds. The population of blue grosbeak is still stable and also increasing in some areas. The IUCN list of threatened species has listed blue grosbeak as the “least concerned” species.

Classification of Barred Owl

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: strigiformes
• Family: Strigidae
• Genus: Strix
• Species: Strix varia

Habitats of Barred Owl

North America

Barred Owl Description

The barrel owls are the member of family Strigidae. The owl is well- known for its repository sounds and excellent skills of hunting.

The huge eyes of the owl and asymmetrical eyes are very accurate that helps it to pinpoint the location of very small prey species in wild. However, these animals show curiosity about animals. Even they are found tamed by some persons.

Fun Facts About Barred Owl

The feathers of the barred owl are very soft and each feather consist a comb-like edge thus the barred owl comprises soundless flight. It is because the comb-like edges dampens the sound of the bird while flying.

The barred owls produce main sounds like “hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo-ah”, which is very famous. Screaming, cackling, hissing, rasping, are included in the hooting and calls of the barred owl.

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The sounds are repertoire and sounds like sinister laughter. As compare to females, the voice of males is deeper. The barred owl has great size but still it is smaller than the Great Horned Owl that prey upon adults.

The ears located at different heights allows the owl to pinpoint the location of prey. Over this, the feathers surrounding the facial disk funnel produce sound into the ears

Where You Can Find Barred Owl?

The forests of eastern parts of United States and southeastern part of Canada are the regions, where the barred owl can be seen. Their population is also found in the Pacific Northwest and western coast of Mexico.

However, the barred owl is a large bird but is can be difficult to find it especially during winters when the color of the owl completely blends with branches of the trees in deciduous trees. However, the barred owl can be easily seen in suburbs.

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The reason behind their occurrence in suburbs is may be abundance of various prey species such as rodents, rats, mice, squirrels, and smaller birds such as house sparrows. The suburbs also has enough large trees, where the owls can make their nests.

Thus a person living in the suburban areas can see the barred owl easily right outside their house. It is also considered that the barred owls are very curious about human beings.

However, they produce hair- raising sounds, but they are very obedient. The barred owl can be also seen in large trees in the residential areas because they spend most of their time in tree hollows.

Nests of Barred Owls

As discussed above, the barred owl is a large bird thus it require a lot of space for building their nest. They prefer to build their nest in tree cavities, and elms and beeches. If they do not find any old cavity they use the nests of squirrels and other birds.

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Unlike other bird species, the barred owl do not construct nests but before laying eggs by female they tidy the floor of the area.

Scientific Name of the Barred Owl

The scientific name of barred owl is Strix varia. The name was derived from a Latin word that refers to the name an owl monster vampire. It was believed that the monster drinks the blood of babies. The word varia refers to the striped variegated plumage of the owl.

The barred owl consist three subspecies named as-

• Strix varia georgica
• Strix varia helveola
• Strix varia varia

Appearance of Barred Owl

The head of the barred owl is round shaped and do not consist ear tufts of its nemesis, the large horned owl. The owl consist horizontally striped breasts of brownish-gray color.

Its belly is also vertically striped with the brown and gray color. The tail, back and wings of the owl are brownish-gray colored with white pattern. Similar to most owls, the eyes of barred owl are very large and disproportionate as compare to the size of its head.

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Surprisingly, the owls found in Northern American region have black eyes that make them different from others. Because this color is usually unusual for owls. The barn owl is the only another owl with black eyes found in eastern region.

Behavior of Barred Owl

Usually the owls hunt at night but sometimes they are also seen while hunting during the day. It is a solitary animal and only lives with its partner and offspring until the fledglings become independent.

Even though, they form pairs for life that means they are monogamous animals but still they only meet each other for breeding. Besides breeding season, rest of the year both partners spend in their separate home range.

The barred owls are territorial animals. Their territories can be ranges from 675 to 3049 acres in area but the size of their breeding territory is quite smaller than this.

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If barred owls get enough food and shelter available in their territory, they do not migrate. Sometimes, a family of owl spend several generations in a territory.

To claim its territory, the owl vocalizes and perch its territory. Usually males claim larger territories as compare to females.

Diet of Barred Owl

The barred owl feed upon various organisms. It consumes all the pray species, which can be swallowed and subdued by the owl. It also prey upon several terrestrial species such as voles.

However the barred owl is quite agile and able to catch flying bate also. It grabs the fishes and crayfish by wading into shallow waters and also invades nests. Sometimes it is also seen while feeding on roadkill.

After the digestion completes the barred owl discharges a pellet of undigested substances that includes teeth and fur. The barred owl prefer to consume its prey whole but if the prey is prey is large enough.

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It will eat its head and rest of the body will be saved for later. However it may be helpful to use a nestbox but it is not good to feed the wild owls and humans should not attempt this because it can be dangerous for them when they become used to being feed.

Threats and Predators of Barred Owl

However the barred owls are good predators, but still they face predation from various organisms. It can be predated by the great horned owl, which also complete with it for its territory.

The predators also include northern goshawks, weasels and raccoons that eat eggs of and chicks of barred owls. As they live in suburban areas they also dies due to accidents by ears and traps meant for other animals.

In some cases, they are hunted by prey species when they successfully defends them. The barred owls also die due to diseases some common diseases are west Nile virus, avipoxivirus, cancers and aspergillosis.

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Toxoplasmosis and trichmoniasis are some parasites that cause diseases in barred owls. Despite all these causes, the life span of a barred owl is more than a decade.

It is recorded that oldest barred owl lived up to 34 years in captivity. The IUCN list for threatened species listed the barred owl as “least concerned” species.

Lifespan, Babies and Reproduction in Barred Owl

The breeding season of barred owl occur during winters, before mating, the male owl displays to court the female lays white, ovate and rough. The eggs are incubated by only females and hatches after 28 days.

The babies are helpless at the time of birth. They become white colored after two to three weeks and convert into feathers. The female barred owl take care of the offspring for three week. After then, she hunts for the owlets with her mate.

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The baby owls become independent after the age of six months and started flying in six months and started flying in six month and they reach sexual maturity at the age two years.

Population of Barred Owl

It is believed that the population of barred owl is around 3 million individuals in all over the world. As the owls are expanding their range, the population is also appears to be increasing. According to some scientists, the fire suppression and planting of trees are the major reasons behind their rapid increasing population.

American Robin Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Passeriformes
• Family: Turdidae
• Genus: Turdus linnaeus

Distribution of American Robin

• Central America
• Europe
• North America

American Robin Description

American robin or Turdus linnaeus belongs to the family Passeriformes. It is a songbird in the thrush family. Usually, thrush is also known as “announcer of spring”.

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American robins are well adapted to humans and help them in pest control. The ecosystem also gets benefits from these robins by dispersal of seeds from the fruits eaten by them.

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The American robin is declared as the state bird of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Connecticut. Generally, the life span of the American robin is around two years. However, an individual lives up to 14 years. American robins live in a group of 20 to 200 individuals.

Locations of American Robins

Robins are distributed in the Northern American continent, including the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico. Their habitats are the woodlands and shrubland. They also live in open lands or field areas and also make their nests in residential areas.

They can be easily seen in grassland areas while foraging for food when they are not building their nests in trees. The American robins are also found in lawns and gardens, agricultural fields, parks in cities, and forest areas.

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To find these birds in their natural habitats, the best time depends on the location. They are migratory birds thus according to the season, they are found in different locations. However, they remain active all the year.

Nests of American Robins

The male Robins do not help the females in building a nest. The female builds a nest alone and uses branches, grass, feathers, and paper to make the outer structure of the nest.

The inside of the nest is cushioned by grass and other plant materials. The nest becomes around three to six inches tall and six to eight inches wide after finishing.

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They usually build their nests in the tree branches or the dense bushes of shrubs. Typically, the distance of the nest from the ground is very high, around 4.9 and 14.8 feet high.

Scientific Name of the American Robin

The scientific name of the American robin is Turdus migratorius. The species belongs to the thrush family named, Turdidae and class Aves. The scientific name of the American robin is originated from the Latin word “Turdus” which means “migratorius” referred to as migrating.

The robin consists of seven subspecies, which include eastern robin (Turdus migratorius migratorius), northwestern robin (Turdus migratorius caurinus), Southern robin (Turdus migratorius achrusterus), western robin (Turdus migratorius propinquus), Mexican robin (Turdus migratorius phillipsi), San Lucas robin (Turdus migratorius confinis), Newfoundland robin ( Turdus migratorius nigrideus).

American Robin vs English Robin

Formally, the English robin is named as European robin from where the American robin gets its name. Persons who settled earlier in this region have observed that the robins are similar to European robins to some extent, especially their red-orange breast that appears similar to the European robins.

However, it seems that it is only a comparative similarity between both species. These species are not even closely related. However, they are related to the same order and class but both belong to different families.

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The English robin is native to Europe and it is a member of the family Muscicapidae. The species is also known as old-world flycatchers. On the other hand, the American robin is a thrush that belongs to the family Turdidae.

The anatomy of the American robin is also different from the English robin and they are also their European lookalikes are larger than theirs.

American Robin Behavior, Size, and Appearance

The American robins are around 8 to 11 inches long and weigh up to 75 to 77 grams. The size of their feather is around 12 to 16 inches. The anatomy of the robin is distinctive of a thrush.

Their beak, feathers, and wings are included in their anatomical features. They contain a yellow beak and striped throat of black and white. The back of the robin is gray or black colored and the head is also black with an orange-colored chest.

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Usually, the females are relatively smaller than male robins that also have more colorful features. Robins are social birds. They form small groups and in larger groups or flocks during the night.

The birds are diurnal and during the day, they remain most active. Their voice is very melodious and sings very well. Often, the robin is one of the birds that sing in the early morning.

Migration Pattern and Timing of the American Robin

American robins are migratory birds. They travel in the flocks during the day. In winter, the birds travel towards the south and travel back to the north during the spring season. In the fall, the migration of the robins depends upon the good food availability in an area.

American Robin Diet

American robins are omnivorous birds. They feed on both plants and animals. They are diurnal and forages for food during the day, however, they also forage at night sometimes.

The fruits and berries make around 60% of their total diet and these food materials are especially important during the winter season.

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What Does an American Robin Eat?

An American robin feeds on a variety of invertebrates including earthworms, caterpillars, beetle grubs, spiders, grasshoppers, and snails along with the fruits and berries.

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status of the American Robin

Most of the time, the American robin lives in residential areas or especially in backyards, thus they are threatened by poisons or pesticides used by humans indirectly and also killed by pet cats. In wild, they are also preyed on by several animals.

The IUCN red list for threatened species has listed the American robin as the “least concerned” species. Thus, the species is stable now. In the past, they also faced the threat of poaching but at present, they are conserved by the US migratory bird act.

Predators of the American Robin

The predators of American robin include snakes and birds of prey besides domestic cats. Hawks, eagles, snowy owls, and northern pygmy owls also prey upon American robins. Some snakes, including rat snakes and gopher snakes, regularly eat the American robin.

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Due to their vulnerability, American robin eggs and chicks have additional predators. Raccoons, foxes, crows, common ravens, squirrels, and blue jays commonly feed on eggs and chicks.

Reproduction, Young, and Molting of American Robin

The breeding season of American robins occurs between April and July. They are viviparous organisms. They also perform courtship rituals to attract the female for mating.

The courtship rituals include shaking wings, spreading his tail, and singing to get the attention of a female. Usually, after mating the female lays three and five light blue colored eggs.

The eggs hatch after 12 to 14 days and the chicks are altricial at that time. The parents feed and take care of the chicks because they are not independent at the time of birth. About 13 days after hatching the eggs, the chicks become independent and leave the nest.

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Generally, the chicks become good enough at flying in two weeks. The life span of an American robin is around two years and once a year they mot completely.

Population of the American Robin

The estimated population of the American robin is around 310 million, among which 40 % population resides in Canada and 13 % live in Mexico. There is a huge range of these birds American robin with abundance.

Currently, they do not have any threat of a declining population and their population trend is also increasing, thus the conservation status of these birds is the least concern.

Scientific Classification of Cassowary

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordate
• Class: Aves
• Order: Casuqriformes
• Family: Casuaridae
• Genus: Casuarius

Cassowary Description

There are a few quills are present in cassowary and their wings are almost vestigial. Cassowary contain coarse and thick feathers and contain filaments in some feathers that appears like hairs.

Thus the feathers are on demand and the bird is also hunted for its feathers and also domesticated. The female birds are relatively larger than males and are also brighter with more bright colors in their head and neck.

The inner toe of each foot contain a kuife- like claw which is quite striking. The organisms are mostly fruit eating and their claws are only forbiddable as the claws of most powerful hunting birds.

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1. The chicks were raised by the male bird and as a parent the male is also in very dangerous mode. While they saw any predator they may attack on their prey with his claws.

2. In a mating season, the female mates with more than one male. After mating the female lay eggs in their nest and then move on to mate again.

3. It is believed by biologists that the cassowaries has a hard casques on top of their head, which is used by cassowaries to push through the undergrowth in the rain forest. However the exact function of casque is not yet known.

4. Cassowaries can produce a lot of vocalization, such as booming, hissing, rumbling and roaring.

5. Recently a dinosaur was discovered, which is resembled closely to a cassowary. However there is not any close relation between these two species. The cassowary was first evolved 60 million years ago.

Distribution of Cassowary

Cassowary can be spotted in the regions of guinea, the northeastern part of Australia and the Ane Island, which is located between Australia and New Guinea. However, they have large bodies but they cannot be seen easily in tropical rainforest.

The birds can be easily spotted in some national parks such as Mellwraith Range N.P, Paluma range national park, and Jardine national park in Australia. The birds can be seen in anumber of zoos worldwide, such as

• The San Diego zoo
• The Edinburgh zoo
• The Denver zoo
• The Perth zoo
• The National zoo
• The Los Angeles zoo
• The Natural Bridge zoos

Nets of Cassowary

The nets usually built by male bird. It uses fallen leaves for construction of their nest. Sometimes the birds use grass and leaves to line up their nests. The male chases the female after laying eggs and do not let her to enter in the nest.

Species of Cassowary

Cassowary is further classified into thee species that are as follows-

The southern or double wattled cassowary [casvarius casuaries casuarius]- The name of the bird is derived from a Malay word which means the bird. The species is also used to compare with other species of cassowary.

Casuarius unappendiculatus (the northern or single-wattled cassowary) – When we observe the scientific name of the species, we find out that it has only one epithet while the southern cassovary consists two.

The Bennett’s cassowary or dwarf cassowary (casuarius bennetti)- The epithet ‘bennetti’ is named over the great scientist George Bennett. He played an important role by examining the bird and realized or discovered new species of cassowary.

The pygamy cassowary or Casuarius lydekkeri is the fourth species of cassowary, which is now extinct. The bird is not further classified into subspecies.

Physical Appearance, Behaviour, and Size of Cassowary

Among all the species of cassowary, the southern cassowary is largest. It is also third largest bird in the world after the emu and ostrich that are also his cousins. The length of the bird is around 40 to 72 inches and it is 75 inch tall.

The cassowary can weigh up to 87 pounds. A horn like structure is found on their head, which has length of 5 to 7 inches. The length of the horn grows with the bird. Thus the casque is often used to estimate the age of a grown bird.

The head of the bird is bright blue colored and its neck is red colored, which also contain two red wattles. A three-toed foot is present at the end of each leg. The legs are long and scaly and a lethal claw occurs in the inner toe.

The length of the claw can be around 4.7 inches. The cassowaries found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and in the Aru Islands, Serum. At present, there are 2500 birds in all over the world and their number is still declining.

The nature of southern cassowary is very shy and it loves to live solely. However, it don not chase other cassowaries besides mating season. It feeds on fallen fruits and able to eat such fruits that can be toxic to other animals.

Mushrooms, fungi, and lizards like other small vertebrates are also eaten by cassowary. Unlike raptor, who use their claws to grab their prey, the cassowary do not use their claws for such purposes.

However, it is true that the birds attack on humans but the birds only do this when they are aggressive, frightened and provoked. They can also attack when they defend their eggs or chicks. Sometimes they connect humans with food and attack on them.

A single wattle and orange red neck is characteristic feature of the northern cassowary. The physical appearance is similar to southern cassowary but is lighter and smaller than the southern cassowary.

The females weigh around swamplands of New Guinea and lowland on the islands of Batanta, Waigeo, Yapen & Salaveati. Their population is around 10,000 to 20,000 worldwide, which is also declining. Their food also include fruit and small animals.

Sometimes, their babies consume the faces of sibling and father and sometimes they also feed on their own faces. The dwarf cassowary has the smallest size among all the species thus it is named as dwarf cassowary.

The body of dwarf cassowary in 3 to 5 feet long and height is around 39 to 53 inches. The weight of the species is around 39 to 57 pounds. As compare to other species. The dwarf cassowary consist smaller casque of triangular shape.

The cheeks of the bird are of pink color and its neck is blue and red. The habitats of this species are yapen Island, New Guinea, and New Britain. It is found in higher elevations than other species. However the conservation status of the species is least concern but their exact population is not known.

Diet of Cassowary

Fruits, berries, fungi and other plant materials re common food items of cassowary. They are also able to consume toxic plants. The poision do not affect them because the food cross their digestive system very quickly. Some reptiles, amphibians, rats, mice, snails and insects are also consumed by cassowaries.

Predators and Threat of Cassowary

Human are the biggest threat for cassowaries their meat is eaten by humans and they also use their feathers thus kill them. Sometimes they are also killed on the highways inadvertently. Dogs and pigs eat their chicks and eggs.

Their eggs were also eaten by pigs. And due to logging and development, people destroy their habitat. Beside this, diseases and natural disasters such as typhoons are also some threatened things for cassowaries.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan of Cassowary

Winter and spring is the mating season of cassowaries. They are territorial organisms and territories were also built by males and use vocalization and inflating throat to court a female, they also dances.

If the male get accepted by female she sit on the ground after which they mate. The females lay green colored egg in her nest. She lays four to six eggs at a time.

The male then chase off the female from his nest. Incubation period is around 47 to 56 days and eggs were incubated by the male. At that time, the female mate with another male and again lay eggs.

She lay more than 20 eggs. The first molt of the babies occur at the age of nine months. Until they live with their father. However, their plumage grow at the age of three years.

Some chicks live with their father for 18 months. Baby cassowary is brown colored and contain black streaks. In the condition of threat on chicks from any potential predator the father become very aggressive.

The female cassowary reaches sexual maturity at the age of two years and male reaches at the age of three years. After this, the cassowary can reproduce for several decades, the females are capable to reproduce at the age of 40 years and males can up to 35 years. The oldest cassowary died at the age of 61 years.

Attacks by Cassowary

The birds are also known as “most dangerous birds in the world” and it is also titled as in the Guinness book of world records. They are named as because cassowaries cause more than 200 incidents and 2 human fatalities.

However, cassowary attack rarely.in most incidents, they attack when someone tried to feed them but they can become more dangerous when person falls to the ground. They can attack with their claws and may cause death or severe wounds.

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Scientific Classification of Avocet

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Charadriiformes
• Family: Recurvirostridae
• Genus: Recurvirostra

Locations of Avocet

• Asia
• Eurasia
• Europe
• Oceania
• South America
• North America

Avocet Description

Avocet is a bird species belonging to the family Recurvirostridae. The species occur in saltwater and freshwater bodies all over the world. They have long sinewy eyes that give them the appearance like they are walking on stilts.

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The common name of the bird, avocet is derived from the Italian name avosetta. The other birds living near the water bodies and also feed on there are closely related to the avocet.

Fun Facts About the Avocet!

However, they are found in both types of water bodies but if an option is provided, the avocet prefer the saltwater habitats, but they are well adapted for freshwater bodies also. A charitable organization in England and Wales has a drawing of a pied avocet, which represents the royal society for the protection of birds.

In Britain, the species has extinct in the 20th century but 1940 in the 20th century but in 1940, they come back due to the reclamation of marshland. The stilts are closely related to the avocet and it is also confused by it sometimes.

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The major difference between them is Stilt has red or orange-colored tall legs but the avocet have comparatively short legs with grey or black color.

Locations of Avocet Bird

The avocet is widely distributed among the seashores, flats, lakes, and ponds all over the world. There are four species in the genus, which are distributed in their geographical range.

For instance, the American avocet is found in Mexico and it is endemic to the Western United States, Mexico, and parts of the Atlantic coast. Pacific South America is endemic for the Andean avocet.

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The pied avocet is widely distributed in the range of Europe, Africa, and Central, South Asia, while the red-necked avocet occurs in Australia.

Nests of Avocet Birds

Generally, the avocets build their nests in loosely organized colonies and near the shores of large water bodies. They build their nests in small depressions.

The nests are usually made of the basic soil, pebbles, and other debris. They can make their nests in a foot-tall mound if the water level rises.

The Scientific Name of Avocet

The scientific name of the avocet is Recurvirostra. However, at first glance, the word is quite difficult to pronunciation. The scientific name is made of two Latin words: recurvus+ rostrum, the word ‘recurvus’ means ‘curved backward’, and rostrum means, ‘bill’.

Besides avocet, the long-legged stilts are also members of the family Recurvirostridae and are closely related.

Avocet Appearance

The length of the avocet is around 20 inches including its tail. The length of a wingspan is around 30 inches. The bird has some characteristic features including its long, sinewy body.

They use their long legs for wading into the water that is also well adapted for this. The long- bill of avocet helps them in feeding and acts as a suitable instrument.

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They contain black, white, red, and brown combined feathers. The avocets are also good swimmers and use their webbed feet for swimming.

Curved Beak

The long, slender bill of avocet contains an upturned tip at the end, which is the most distinguishing feature of these birds. The avocet paddle into the shallow water to feed.

They lean forward and their slightly open tip of the bill is placed on the bottom to feed. They perform a long, continuous curve from side to side and stir up small prey that is hidden in the soil.

They are capable to filter out the food bit using their bill. The appearance of females and males is quite similar generally.

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However, in some species, the structure of the bill is relatively shorter and more upturned as compared to the males that have longer and much straighter bills.

Behavior of the Avocet

The avocets show social behavior. They generally live in large, noisy colonies that may comprise hundreds of members outside of their breeding season. Although the animals are not cooperative usually they become aggressive to defend their colony from threats and predators.

It is also recorded that sometimes the stilts are allowed to congregate with them. The avocets are very intelligent birds and to defend against predators, they use several kinds of strategies. To provide a distraction, they also make loud, and irritating sounds sometimes.

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To map out the predator away, the avocets pretend to be hurt and also dive-bomb the predator so that it gets scared. Some loud and repetitive sounds were also made by the avocets for communication with other members.

Over time, the intensity of the sound also increases. The calls are also made to share some information such as about the identity of the individual or whether an invader is present.

The male avocet tries to attract the female formate and it uses various methods such as dancing, crouching, and bowing with their calls for it. The avocet show indistinct behavior means that the species become most active during the dawn and dusk hours.

The avocets are very good swimmers because of their webbed feet. However, they use their bill to feed and also comprise standard feeding behavior, but sometimes like ducks, they “tip-up” in deeper waters.

They usually do this when the lower half of the bird is submerged in the water and to feed, it reaches down. The birds are good travelers and proficient flyers also that travel for large distances.

Migration Pattern and Timing of Avocets

The avocets are migratory birds that show a characteristic migrating pattern throughout the year. For instance, New Mexico and southern Canada are the preferred territories to breed in the large stretch by the American avocet.

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The species migrates towards the south or east during the winter season and travels to Mexico or Florida and the Atlantic Coast. In contrast, the pied avocet prefers to breed in Europe and Central Asia.

Some species travel up to very long distances such as to Africa in winters, though other species prefer to live closer to their breeding areas.

Reproduction, Young, and Molting in the Avocet

According to the studies done on American avocet, it is believed that the species form monogamous pairs. They share a very strong bond with their mating partner and make pair for life.

The courtship rituals are also displayed by these birds in which they show their interest in a mate by bowing or crouching. From all the species, the American avocet is the only species in which the breeding plumage grows of almost pink or red color during their breeding or mating time.

The female lays four eggs at a time. The eggs are incubated by both the parents and the incubation period is of three to four weeks. After emerging from the egg, the young chicks become ready to start an independent life.

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They contain downy feathers at the time of birth develop feathers quickly. They become able to fly at the age of around four to five weeks. The lifespan of an avocet is around 15 years in the wild.

However, on average the bird is expected to live for nine years. It reaches sexual maturity at the age of one year but to successfully raise offspring, it has relatively fewer breeding seasons.

Population of Avocet

According to the IUCN list of threatened species, all the avocet species are listed as least concern species. Habitat destruction is the largest threat for avocet at present time.

According to an estimation, in the first 200-year history of the United States, around 60 acres of wetlands were lost. However, the importance of wetlands in an ecosystem is now recognized and also appreciated by scientists.

To restore the environment to its original condition, numerous reclamation projects are underway. Sometimes, floods, trampling, and pollution destroys the nests of the avocet, which is another threat for these birds.

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Prey and predators of Avocet

The avocet help in keeping the prey species in check and thus play a significant role in the ecosystem. The entire group looks for food in a fascinating display by lining the shore during foraging hours.

What does the avocet eat?

The avocet prey upon various species including insects, crustaceans, and fish larvae. They also eat seeds sometimes, which is considered as a supplement for their diet.

What eats the avocet?

The foxes, skunks, and weasels are some common predators of the avocet. However, the avocet made their nest in such places where most other animals face difficulties to get access.

Classification of Amazon Parrot

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Psittaciformesa
• Family: Psittacidae
• Genus: Amazona

Distribution of Amazon Parrot

• Central America
• South America

Amazon Parrot Description

Amazons or amazon parrots belong to the family Psittacidae. They are distributed in the regions of South America. There are 35 species and sub-species of amazon parrot. To some extent, they are trained to be talking parrots.

They consist of big powerful bills and multicolor plumage. They crack the nuts found in their native place by using their bills. They are highly intelligent, bold, and curious personalities.

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Some species of amazon parrot can live up to centuries. If a person wants an amazon parrot as a pet, the fact can be considered.

A species of amazon named, St. Vincent amazon is declared the national bird of Grenadines and St. Vincent.

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There are more than 12 species of amazon found in Florida, most of them live in Miami.

Some species are not talking but they communicate via the vocal dialects of their native places.

Locations and Habitat of Amazon Parrot

The Amazon parrot is native to South America, the Caribbean Sea, and Mexico. They live as wild in the regions of South America, the USA, and Europe. It is thought that these undomesticated parrots are the result of owners that settle them free.

Nests of Amazon Parrots

Amazon Parrots use the tree cavities and cliffs to build their nests. A Cuban Amazon is an exception, which resides in Abaco in the Bahamas. The Cubas Amazon build their nests on the ground instead of tree cavities.

The Scientific Name of Amazon Parrot

Amazona is the scientific name of Amazon Parrot which means they belong to Amazon. After that, there are several meanings to the epithets.

For example, in A. aestiva, the species name ‘aestiva’ means “summer”, which is the name of a blue-fronted parrot. A. brasiliensis means ‘of Brazil’ and agile is the meaning of agilis in A. agilis.

The epithet of A. ventralis means “of the belly”, which is the scientific name of the Hispaniolan amazon that consists of red patches in its belly.

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Appearance of the Amazon Parrot

Amazon parrots are relatively large birds the size of around 18 inches long such as imperial parrots. Some species such as white-fronted amazon is 9-inch long. The color of most species is green but they also consist of red, blue, maroon, purple, and yellow bright shades in their body.

As compared to other parrots, the amazon parrots contain relatively short tails with round wings. Their bills are hooked at the end and are heavy that helping them in cracking nuts and other hard substances such as seeds.

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They also break the zygodactyl feet with their bills that assist them while clinging tightly to branches. A bit of flesh is present at the top of the bill that is a naked cere. Some species such as blue-fronted parrots are difficult to distinguish by humans.

They cannot be distinguished as male or female parrots. Some male and female parrots can be only differentiated in the ultraviolet range, which cannot be seen by humans. In some species, males are relatively larger than females.

Behavior of Amazon Parrot

Amazon parrots are social birds. They form flocks and prefer to travel in groups. They also build their nests in the same range. They may do this to protect themselves from predators and threats.

They usually communicate by the means of vocal and gestures. They show great diversity in their vocals and their vocal can be very loud.

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They scream, growl, screech, rumble, bugle, and cry out. Amazon parrots are mainly monogamous. They form social pairs and communicate and interact with the larger flock.

Is Amazon Parrot a Good Pet?

Many factors decide whether the amazon parrot is a good pet or not. The most important factor is maybe its species. Some species also require behavior training otherwise, they can be aggressive or even violent toward their owner.

The parrot’s conservation status is also a considerable topic. Some species are listed as endangered. The eggs of these parrots are collected for trade and the chicks are also sold in the market in the pet trade thus they have threatened species.

As discussed above, parrots are monogamous, thus if a person wants to domesticate an amazon parrot, he should buy a pair, which can be expensive. An Amazon parrot ranges from $400 to $1000.

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They also need a lot of space because of their large size. Not only their enclosure but their food, toys, and their nursing, veterinary care is also very expensive.

They also require bathing now or then because they are very messy. A probable owner should remember that they can be outlived by a young parrot and it may also make arrangements for their care.

Diet of Amazon Parrot

The amazon parrots are herbivorous birds. Their food includes wild nuts, berries, seeds, flowers, leaves, and fruits. Some special pellets are also available for them which can be provided to them in captivity.

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These pellets are used as supplements of fresh fruits and vegetables. The seeds and nuts have a rich amount of fats, which is harmful to amazon parrots thus they should not be fed these food items always. Every day, the parrot should essentially get access to freshwater.

Predators and Threats of Amazon Parrot

The amazon parrots face the biggest threat of predation from humans. The parrots live in flocks and avoid predation by being large enough. Humans sold them in the market is a pet trade even also trade their eggs and large parrots are also hunted for their meat.

They are also threatened due to habitat destruction because humans destroy their natural habitats by housing, agriculture, and industry. In wild, the eggs and chicks are in more danger of predation. Monkey, snakes, and hawks prey upon their eggs.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan of Amazon Parrot

Biologists do not know about the reproduction strategies of most species of Amazon parrots. But it is known that they are monogamous birds and breeds in a particular breeding season.

Most species have the breeding season during spring or in late winters however some species including blue-fronted amazon breed in the summer, the species may also get its name due to this fact.

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Most species build their nests in tree cavities and females lay 2 to 5 eggs at a time. The incubation period is about one month. The male also helps her in parental care by feeding her and then also helps the female in feeding the chicks.

The chicks are helpless at the time of birth that is fledged after two months. However, it is not known that when they reach sexual maturity but it is suggested that the blue-fronted amazon reaches sexual maturity at the age of two to four years.

Interestingly, the life span of these parrots is very long, they can live up to 100 years if good care is provided to them.

Population of Amazon Parrot

Depending upon the species, the conservation status of amazon parrots varies. For instance, the vulnerable species include the red-spectacled amazon found in Argentina.

The Cuban amazon is listed as near threatened and the black-billed Amazon is an endangered species, on the other hand, the white-fronted Amazon is one of the least concerned species.

Can Hummingbirds Be Found In The UK?

Hummingbirds have never been found in the wild in the United Kingdom or anyplace else in Europe.

But I’ve Seen One With My Own Eyes?

You’ve most likely seen a hummingbird hawkmoth if you’ve seen something that looks like a hummingbird in the UK or Europe.

You’re not alone; hundreds of people make this mistake every year because this type of moth looks so much like the American bird.

This could be due to their similar size and form, as well as the fact that they both spend time gathering nectar from flowers and only fly during the day.

When you look closer, though, you’ll find antennae, which is a sure clue that you’re looking at an insect rather than a bird.

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About Hummingbird Hawkmoths

Hummingbird Hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) are day-flying moths with wingspans of roughly 2 inches (50-58mm). They have brown bodies with white markings, orange hindwings, and brown forewings.

These moths are experts at hovering, and their wings beat so quickly that they make a buzzing noise and appear fuzzy. They have a tendency to flit from one flower to the next, sucking nectar with their lengthy proboscis, much like hummingbirds.

Hummingbird hawkmoths have a large resident population in Mediterranean countries as well as Japan and Central Asia.

Thousands of these moths move to northern areas of Europe every spring, and there is evidence of a return migration in the autumn.

Classification of Bird Paradise

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Passeriformes
• Family: Paradisaeidae

Bird of Paradise Distribution

• Asia
• Oceania

Bird of Paradise Description

Bird of paradise is also spelled as a bird of paradise. The bird belongs to the family paradiseaeidae. Birds of paradise can be found in tropical forests in Australia and other surrounding islands.

The physical appearance of males differs from females that means they are sexually dimorphic. The color of females is muted and has short feathers while the males consist of long and brightly colored feathers.

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Their feathers stream from their heads toils and beaks. The elaborated feathers were used by the bird of paradise to attract their mating partners by performing spectacular mating dances.

Birds of paradise are classified into various species. A total of 45 species have been identified as the bird of paradise. Amazing facts about bird of paradise

• Males reach sexual maturity relatively later than females. Usually, males reach their maturity at the age of 7 years.

• In their habitats, the birds have great distributors. This is because the birds eat fruits and the seeds were not digested by them.

• During the 1500s, the specimens of birds of paradise were first brought to Europe. At first, it was thought that the birds were also known as “birds of god” in their native language and their name “bird of paradise” was also derived from this name.

Bird of Paradise Distribution

The birds are commonly distributed in Australia and New Guinea. Some species are also found in the nearby islands. The species of bird of paradise commonly found in Australian regions are also named manucodes or riflebirds.

Their common habitats include forests and jungles. Bird of paradise is usually not spotted in wild. These birds are elusive and also discourage several travelers while they visit some parts of their range.

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However, several species of Bird of Paradise can be seen in zoos such as Port mores by a nature park and adventure park PNG in Papua, New Guinea that has a great collection of these species.

The zoos also provide the facility of walking through an aviary from where a person can see the animals by closer and feed those fruits. The birds fly around their rainforest habitats in these zoos.

Bird of Paradise Nests

The bird of paradise generally builds their nests in the fork of a tree. The nest was only built by females by the use of ferns, wins, and leaves. Females were not assisted by males while constructing a nest.

Bird of Paradise Species

Bird of paradise belongs to family paradisacidea and superfamily conioidea. The birds belong to the kingdom Animalia phylum chordate and Aves (birds) class.

The bird of paradise has a total of 15 genera which are further classified into 45 species. The 15 genera are named Lycocorax, Ptiloris, Manucodia, Epimachus, Phonygamus, Paradigalla, Astrapia, Parotia, Pteriophora, Lophorina, Paradisornis, Paradisaea, Seleuchidis, Semioptera, and Drepanornis.

The common and scientific names of bird of paradise are-

• Arfak astrapia, Astrapia nigra
• Black- billed sicklebill, Drepanornia albertisi
• Black sicklebill, Eplmachus fastosus
• Blue bird-of-paradise, Paradisornis rudolphi
• Brown parotia, Parotia berlepschi
• Carola’s parotia, Parotia carolae
• Bronze parotia, Parotia berlepschi
• Crinkle-collared manucode, Manucodia chalybatus
• Curl- crested manucode, Manucodia comrii
• Eastern parotia, Parotia helenae
• Emperor bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea guilielmi
• Glossy-mantled manucode, Manucodia ater
• Greater bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea apoda
• Halmahera paradise-crow, Lycocorax pyrrhopterus
• Growling riflebird, Ptiloris intercedens
• Jobi manucode, Manucodia jobiensis
• King bird-of-paradise, Cicinnurus regius
• King of Saxony bird-of-paradise, Pteridophora alberti
• Lawes’s parotia, Parotia lawesii
• Lesser bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea minor
• Long-tailed paradigalla, Paradigalla carunculata
• Magnificent bird-of-paradise, Cicinurrus magnificus
• Obi paradise-crow, Lycocorax obiensis
• Magnificent riflebird, Ptiloris magnificus
• Pale-billed sicklebill, Drepanornis bruijnii
• Raggiana bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea raggiana
• Red bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea rubra
• Ribbon-tailed astrapia, Astrapia mayeri
• Short-tailed paradigalla, paradigalla brevicauda
• Splendid astrapia, Astrapia splendidissmia
• Standard wing bird-of-paradise, Semioptera wallacii
• Stephanie’s astrapia, Astrapia stephaniae
• Trumpet manucode, Phonygammus keraufrenii
• Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus
• Victoria’s riflebird, ptiloris victoriae
• Vogelkop superb bird-of-paradise, Lophorina niedda
• Wahnes’s parotia, Parotia wahnesi
• Western parotia, Parotia sefilata
• Wilson’s bird-of-paradise, Cicinnurus respublica

Behavior, Size, and Appearance of Bird of Paradise

The bird of paradise is average-sized. The smallest species of this group is king paradise. The weight of this bird is around 1.8 oz and its length is 6 inches. However, the curl-crested manucode is the largest species that weigh up to 15 oz and its length is around 17 inches.

The size of the curl-crested bird is three times larger than the smallest species. A species named the black sicklebill consists of the longest tail.

The length of the tail is around 43 inches from its beak to tail-tip. As compared to females, the males have much brighter and longer feathers. The color of females is usually drab such as green, black, or brown.

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The beaks of some species are long, thin, and curved. Usually, beaks are bigger in females than males. Some of the most entertaining and interesting facts about the birds are also present in birds of paradise. To attract females for mating and to get their attention, males go to great lengths.

Often a “dance floor”- a branch or a patch of ground is often cleared by them. They remove them by using leaves, twigs, and debris.

The real show begins after this. To attract females, the males dance rhythmically by holding their wings and tails at odd angles but it depends on the species.

Bird of Paradise Diet

Fruits are the major diet for all the species of bird of paradise. Their prey also includes insects and spiders and other arthropods. Some species also consume nectar and small vertebrates.

Bird of Paradise Predators and Threats

Loss of habitat is emerging as a major threat to these species. In some areas, they were also hunted by hunters that sell their beautiful feathers and used them to prepare ceremonial garb. However, the interesting fact is that hunting is now banned by birdwatching tourism.

What Eats the Bird?

The bird of paradise consists of several predators including snakes, owls, and hawks. The subdued color is found in young males and females thus it helps them to blend properly with the environment also helps them to avoid predation.

Bird of Paradise Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

It is discussed above that the birds are well known for their mating dances that are much elaborated. The female builds its nest and lays one or two eggs if she chooses its male partner based on his dance.

The male birds do not help the females in raising their chicks. Some species of birds of paradise are monogamous which means they mate for life and live with a single partner while other species are engaged with lekking. It means that the males display and dance together in groups.

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The female watches their dance and then chooses their male partner from the group. In each nesting season, the male dances with a different female.

In some cases, hybridization occurs in some places where the territories of the birds overlap. Due to hybridization, more variations are introduced in their appearance.

Bird of Paradise Population

The bird of paradise is considered an elusive bird and its population is still unknown.