" CARD 31 GRAY HERON ~~----------------------------~~~~----~ ~ ORDER

"11IIIIIIII Ciconiiformes GENUS &: SPECIES Ardea cinerea

Whether motionless at the water's edge or wading through the shallows, the gray heron is quite distinctive. Even in flight,

silhouetted against the sky, the bird is unmistakable.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Up to 38 in. Head and

neck longer than body.

Wingspan: Up to 6 ft. Weight: About 3 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Some birds

mature at 1 year, most at 2 years.

No. of broods: 1 .

Breeding season: March to July.

Eggs: Pale blue, 4-5.

Incubation period: 26 days.

Fledging period: About 50 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable, nesting in

colonies. Male defends own

territory during mating.

Diet: Fish, aquatic insects, frogs,

birds, small mammals.

Lifespan: Oldest bird recorded,

25 years 4 months.

RELATED SPECIES

Ardea herodias, the North Ameri­

can great blue heron.

• Range of the gray heron.

DISTRIBUTION

Across Europe and Asia to Japan, including the Mediterra­

nean, India, and northern China; as well as in southeastern

Africa and Indonesia. Northern birds migrate.

CONSERVATION

Harassed and killed by fishermen and fish farmers, the gray

heron's population has decreased in many countries. It is now

fully protected by law and increasing in some areas.

THE GRAY HERON'S PLUMAGE When the heron hunts wet and slippery prey, its plumage sometimes becomes soiled. A patch of crumbly feathers called powder down is located on the breast and rump. The claw on the third toe is shaped for combing this powder through the plumage to clean away dirt and slime.

Adult

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Adult male and female herons look alike (below) with striking gray, black, and white plumage. They are dull-colored in winter.

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Juvenile Immature bird (above) under 2 years has a small­er crest and fewer black markings. In their first winter, young herons are brown.

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The gray heron may appear slow

and awkward, but this impression is quickly

dispelled when a fish, frog, or small bird comes

within its reach. The heron's reactions are

lightning-fast as it spears its prey with a swift

thrust of its pointed bill.

~ HABITAT Gray herons feed around the edges of slow-moving streams and rivers, and near shallow lakes and sheltered seashores. They hunt for frogs, mice, and insects in wet fields and marshes. Many that live near urban areas steal goldfish out

of ponds. Gray herons can also be found along canals.

Their breeding colonies, called heronries, are often situated among clumps of tall trees near the water. In some areas, the herons favor reed beds, bushes, and cliffs.

~ BREEDING To attract a mate, the male calls repeatedly during the day and sometimes at night. When a female approaches, he gets her attention by pointing his beak at the sky, lowering his head, and clapping his bill repeatedly.

DID YOU KNOW? • The largest heron in the world is the aptly named Goliath heron, in Africa. It stands nearly 5 feet tall. • Herons occasionally swim to capture prey. They can easily take off in flight from the water. • The heron swallows fish

BIRDWATCH When resting, a heron sits with its head hunched between its shoulders. The bird can be dif­ficult to see because it is so still and silent. When it detects an intruder, it stretches its neck in alarm and flies away.

The female nests in the treetops, and if another male approaches, her mate will defend the territory by ruffling his feathers and snapping his beak at the intruder, who almost always retreats.

Nesting starts early in the

Left: Herons use the same saucer-shaped nest year after year, with the female adding fresh grass and ferns for the clutch of four to five pale blue eggs.

Right: Gray heron chicks are blackish­brown in color and are often very noisy.

headfirst so that the spines and fins do not stick in its throat. • In some parts of Europe, herons often die during harsh winters. Herons elsewhere, especially in northern Europe, migrate south to the Sahara Desert.

In flig ht, the heron's neck is folded down against its chest, but its long legs, big feet, and huge, flapping wings are easily visible .

Disturbing herons can interfere with thei r breed ing .

year to allow enough time for the young herons to mature and become self-sufficient before winter arrives. Most eggs are laid at the end of March. Both parents incubate the eggs.

The parents share the task

of feeding the newly hatched chicks with regurgitated food. When food is scarce, the older, larger chicks are fed first, and the smaller chicks are often left to starve. Some­times as many as half the young gray herons die.

~ FOOD & HUNTING The gray heron hunts with both speed and stealth. Whether slowly stalking its prey at the water's edge or wading belly deep in the water, the heron waits pa­tiently for unsuspecting fish to approach. It then strikes quickly, catching prey with its long, pOinted bill.

Besides fish, the gray heron also eats aquatic insects, small mammals and birds, frogs, grass snakes, and crabs.

Herons will travel up to 20 miles from their heronry in search for good hunting.

Below: Often the prey is still alive and wriggling when the heron gulps it down.

GREAT BUSTARD

ORDER Gruiformes

FAMILY Otididae

GROUP 2: BIRDS

GENUS &: SPECIES Otis tarda

The great bustard is a shy bird that feeds mainly on seeds and insecu. Although it -is a powerful flyer, -its strong-Iegs -and-broad­

feet have become well adopted for running on the ground.

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 30-40 in. Wingspan: Male, up to 8 ft. Female smaller. Weight: Male, up to 35 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, 3-4 years. Male, 5-6 years. No. of broods: 1 . Breeding season: April to August. Eggs: 2-3, pale gray or green with gray and brown blotches. Incubation period: 25-28 days. Fledging period: 28-35 days.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Shy; not sociable during the

breeding season. Call: Low barking noise. Diet: Mainly seeds and insects. lifespan: Not known.

RELATED SPECIES The little bustard, Tetrax tetrax,

and the Kori, Ardeotis kori.

Range of the great bustard.

DISTRIBUTION

Some regions of Europe and central Asia, including Spain and parts of France and eastern Europe, through central Asia to southeastern Siberia and Manchuria.

CONSERVATION J Numbers are declining, especially in Spain and areas of central Europe, but as yet no conseryation measures have been taken. Aboveground power lines are a major threat.

FEATURES OF THE GREAT BUSTARD

Camouflage: This female is showing the white chest and mottled brown feathers that normally conceal the great bustard in its dry grassland habitat.

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Mating display: The male sinks his head into his shoulders and puffs out his throat, thrusting out his stiff cheek feathers.

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The great bustard is similar in size

to a turkey. Although it is plain colored

compared to other birds, its dull brown and gray

feathers serve to camouflage it among the

tall grasses of its habitat. Even the chicks and eggs

have protective coloration.

~ HABITS The great bustard is wary by nature and lives in open, tree­less country where it can see for long distances with its keen eyesight. In spite of its large size, the great bustard can fly well, although it rarely flies higher than 300 feet above the ground. When the bird is on the ground, it is well camou­flaged in the grass by its mot­tled feathers.

In flight the great bustard looks, from a distance, similar to a goose. It stretches its head and neck in front of its body and beats its wings strongly. Unlike the goose, however, the bustard's rump sags in the air as it flies.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The great bustard eats both plants and animals. It feeds primarily on seeds and small insects, although it eats crops such as peas, cabbages, and grains. Most food is found on grassy plains and in cultivated grain fields.

Above left: If danger threatens, the great bustard hides in the grass.

left: Mating begins with a display by the male to attract the female. The male fluffs up his white tail and lowers his head to his throat, making his cheek feathers stand out.

DID YOU KNOW? • The great bustard is one of the largest flying birds in the world . • The bustard blends in well with its surroundings and can hide in the grass, un­seen by predators. • Most of the 24 species of bustard live in Africa, where the farmers regard them as beneficial in controlling the pests that destroy their crops. • The Australian bustard eats small snakes. It picks one up with its beak and stuns it by banging it against its feet before swal­lowing it whole.

The bustard feeds during the day. Several birds often gather in a small group and forage together, keeping alert for predators. The great bustards run very quickly to escape and take cover in tall grass if they are disturbed.

~ BREEDING The female makes a simple nest either by trampling a patch of grass or by scraping a shallow depression in the ground. She lays two or three eggs that are pale gray or green in color and have brown and gray blotches. The female incubates the eggs until they hatch 25 to 28 days later.

The chicks are nidifugous-that is, they leave the nest shortly after birth, although they are still fed and protected by a parent. The female feeds

~ GREAT BUSTARD & MAN The principal threat to the great bustard's survival is man, although it has many predators in common with most other ground-nesting birds. Foxes kill both adults and chicks; crows take eggs.

The great bustard's popu­larity as a game bird endan­gers its survival; one bird makes a substantial meal for

insects to each chick when it is first born and then slowly begins feeding it plant matter. Chicks can fly and search for food at five weeks.

Inset: The drab color of the egg makes it less noticeable to predators.

Right: Young chicks, like their parents, also have camouflag-ing coloration.

a number of people. The great bustard popula­

tion has declined as a result of habitat loss-most notably in Spain and ,parts of central Europe.

Below: The great bustard's white underparts are clearly visible in flight but are less noticeable on the ground.

"'" CARD 33 OXPECKER ~~----------------------------------------~

Because it feeds on blood-sucking ticks which burrow into animals' skins, the oxpecker is a welcome companion for many

large mammals in Africa.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Wingspan: About 11 in. Length: 8 in .

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: Start of rainy season, depending on location . No. of broods: Up to 3 per season. Eggs: 1-5 per clutch (usually 2-3). Incubation: 12 days. Fledging period: 30 days.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Gregarious; may be 12 birds on one host. Diet: Ticks and bloodsucking flies taken from the hides of wild and domesticated animals. Lifespan: 4-7 years.

RELATED SPECIES

Yellow billed oxpecker Buphagu5

africanu5, larger than red billed B. erythrorhynchu5, and range more to west.

FEATURES OF THE OXPECKER

Although a group of birds helps build the nest, only one pair will actually mate.

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• Range of the ox peeker.

DISTRIBUTION Found on the eastern side of the Rift Valley, from Ethiopia, through Sudan, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa to Natal, and across to Namibia.

CONSERVATION

Common where game herds are numerous; becoming rare in agricultural areas where farmers remove ticks from livestock with chemicals .

The nest is usually built in a hole in a tree , but rock cavities are also used .

Three eggs is the average size of a clutch, but there can be up to five. With thei r commu nal breeding system, oxpeckers can raise up to three broods per year.

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Armed with a pointed beak and sharp,

curved claws, the oxpecker is well-equipped

for its life scavenging parasites from the backs

of large, thick-skinned animals. It rids its host

of unwelcome pests and provides

early warning of danger by calling

loudly when alarmed.

The oxpecker's breeding season varies from country to country, but always begins with seasonal rains.

Once a hole is chosen, a group of up to five birds fills it with a mass of grass and plant fibers, and then lines it with hair and fur. Only two birds from the group mate and incubate the eggs. The clutch varies from one to five eggs, which are pinkish white and spotted with brown and purple.

Incubation lasts for 12 days. Parent birds relieve each other every hour during the day­time, with the female incu­bating the nest by night.

When the chicks hatch, all members of the group share the work of feeding them. Chicks continue to be fed after they have left the nest (approximately 30 days after hatching) and for as long as 3 months after that. Oxpeckers can rear as many as three broods per season.

Oxpeckers are common throughout the African sa­vanna, living wherever large mammals gather. They prefer wide grassy plains.

Feeding during the morning and late afternoon, the oxpecker rests during the heat of the day, riding passively on its host. At night, large groups gather to roost with other species of starling on trees, cliffs, or buildings. When the wet season approaches, these communal roosts break up as the birds depart to nest.

Left: Perched on a buffalo 's muzzle, an oxpecker pauses during feeding.

Left and right: Oxpeckers hunt ticks on a variety of animals with different skin types by adapting their feeding technique.

~ SPECIAL ADAPTATION The oxpecker is sometimes described as a "sentinel" for the large animals on which it feeds. It makes a fierce hiss ing sound when it is alarmed.

Oxpeckers also have a variety of calls simi la r to other birds of the sta rling family, in­cluding shrill whist les and barking sou nds.

Above: When alarmed, oxpeckers climb up their host's back and give alarm calls.

Left: Guarding the nest site.

Right: A tick, the oxpecker's insect prey.

DID YOU KNOW? • Although rh inos, gi raffes, zebras, and warthogs are all happy to carry oxpeckers, waterbuck, hartebeest, steen buck, and elephants will not tolerate them. • The oxpecker is also known as the tickbird .

~ FOOD & FEEDING

The oxpecker feeds mainly on ticks caught on the backs of host animals. Its bill is flat­tened on the sides, and is very sharp at the tip. The bird pushes it through the fur of its host, moving the tip in a nib­bling action, until it catches a tick. It even searches the host animal's ears and nostrils.

The oxpecker will some­times catch flies by "hawking" (jumping and catching them in mid-air). It will also feed on dead skin and raw flesh in wounds and sores. Rhinos are particularly prone to open sores, especially just behind their front legs where they cannot groom the skin by rolling. The oxpecker helps keep these wounds clean. But sometimes the oxpecker will hurt the rhino with its ex­tremely sharp bill.

Oxpeckers drink from the same waterholes as their hosts .

"""CARD 34 GOLDEN PHEASANT

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

Galliformes FAMILY Phasianidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Chrys%phus pictus

The golden pheasant is one of the most brilliantly feathered of all the ruffed pheasants. A native of China, it has also been introduced

as a game bird in other parts of the world.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: Male, 3-4 ft., Female,

slightly smaller. Wing length: About 2 ft. Weight: 1-2 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, 1 year.

Male, 2 years. Breeding season: April to May.

Clutch: 5-12 buff-colored eggs.

Incubation period: 22 days.

Fledging period: 12-14 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Shy, territorial. Ground dweller.

Diet: Berries, seeds, flowers,

shoots, and insects.

Call: Roar, growl, or purr.

Lifespan: Up to 8 years.

RELATED SPECIES

Closest relative is Lady Amherst's

pheasant, Chrys%phus amherstiae.

Range of the golden pheasant.

DISTRIBUTION

Native to central China, f rom the edge of the Tibetan plateau in the northwest, east to Hubei, and south to Hunan and Gui­

zhou. Introduced as a game bird in other parts of the world.

CONSERVATION

Native Chinese population believed to be stable. Wild popu­

lations have developed from introduced breeds in other

countries.

IDENTIFYING THE GOLDEN PHEASANT

Hen (female): Speckled brown plumage; smaller than the male.

I.

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The male golden pheasant sports

such beautiful plumage that it has

become a popular exhibit in

zoos and aviaries throughout

the world. But the bird is shy and retiring

by nature, so much of its life in the

wild remains a mystery even today.

~ HABITAT The golden pheasant is native to the mountains of central China. It lives at high altitudes in the rocky foothills among bamboo scrub. The pheasant avoids thick woodland, wet­lands, or open country. As agriculture spreads into its habitat, the bird also inhabits tea plantations or the edges of terraced fields.

Many of the birds that were imported to England escaped

BIRDWATCH In areas where the golden pheasant has been intro­duced as a game bird, many wild populations have de­veloped.

The male pheasant can be

from captivity and bred so successfully that the gold­en pheasant is now recog­nized as a naturalized British bird. Where it has been introduced, the golden

'pheasant favors a different habitat from its native one. It usually chooses dense forest plantations and may be found in mixed wood­land. It moves into more open areas to feed .

spotted by his brilliant red or golden plumage. The reddish brown, speckled female is harder to identify. She looks like the common pheasant but has a more reddish back.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING

In China, the golden pheasant feeds on the leaves and shoots of various shrubs-especially those of low-growing bam­boos-and on the flowers of the rhododendron. It also feeds on beetles and spiders. The bird forages by day, roosting at night high in the bough of a tree, where it is safe from predators. The golden pheas­ant tends to feed in the same home range all year. But those birds that inhabit the higher mountain ridges often make daily migrations to lower feeding grounds.

Little is known about the feeding habits of populations outside China. They probably have much the same kind of diet as their Chinese counter­parts and feed on new shoots, berries, and seeds.

left: Two males display their colorful plumage.

~BREEDING The golden pheasant lives alone for most of the year. But during spring the male begins crowing loudly in an attempt to attract a mate to his terri­tory. His call is harsh and grat­ing. If a female responds, the courtship dance begins. The male stands still with his head close to the female 's so he can display his ruff (neck feathers). At the same time, he drops one wing and tilts his body to show off his golden rump and lush tail. If the male's display works, the pair mate.

Little is known about the bird's nesting habits. It is possi­ble that the wild golden pheas­ant builds its nest in the weeds of a bamboo grove. In captiv­ity, the female usually lays her eggs in a secluded hollow among thick vegetation.

Below: There can be as many as a dozen chicks in the nest.

~ GOLDEN PHEASANT &: MAN

In China, the golden' pheasant is hunted with snares, for both its meat and its colorful plu­mage. In the past, many birds were captured by collectors for export to zoos and aviaries. Despite these pressures, the

golden pheasant remains plentiful, although the actual number of wild native birds is not known for certain.

Thousands of golden pheas­ants are kept throughout the world as ornamental birds.

The female incubates and cares for the young . During incubation the camouflage of her speckled brown plu­mage is especially important to hide her from predators.

Below: The female (left) and young golden pheasant are plainer than the male.

DID YOU KNOW? • When displaying his plu­mage, the male golden pheasant utters a loud hiss. • The golden pheasant will mate with related species. The young that result from the golden pheasant's mat-

The young pheasants fly within two weeks of hatching but remain close to their mother until they are fully grown at about four months of age.

Above: Two cocks fight for a female during the breeding season.

ing with Lady Amherst 's pheasant, its closest rel­ative, are fertile (capable of producing offspri ng) . Mat­ing with the silver pheasant produces fertile males but sterile females .

CARD 35 J BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

GROUP 2: BIRDS .. ORDER

"IIIIIIII Ciconiiformes FAMILY Ardeidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Nycticorax nycticorax

The black-crowned night heron feeds mainly at dawn and dusk on fish and insects, but it also fishes during the day when it has young to feed.

KEY FACTS SIZES Height: 23-26 in. Weight: About 21-25 oz .

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2-3 years. No. of broods: 1-2. Breeding season: April to September. Eggs: 3-5, pale blue-green. Incubation period: 21-26 days. Nesting period: 6-7 weeks.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable. Nests, roosts, and breeds in colonies. Diet: Fish, aquatic insects, frogs. Lifespan: 1 6 years.

RELATED SPECIES Yellow-crowned night heron Nycticorax violaceus (North and South America), the Nankeen night heron N. caledonicus (Australia), and the white-backed night heron N. leuconotus (Central and South Africa).

Range of the black-crowned night heron.

DISTRIBUTION Widespread throughout North and South America, Eurasia, and Africa .

CONSERVATION The black-crowned night heron is common throughout its range and is in no direct danger of extinction.

FEATURES OF THE BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

Legs: Long, typical of a wading bird. The green legs and feet turn

, yellow Of re.d in the breeding

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Nest: Loosely bUI~lt~~;~i~IIII~1 in a bush or high in a tree.

Eggs: Three to ~~~i~~~~I~I~1 five, blue-green in color.

Social behavior: A breeding pair of blaCK-crowned night herons clisplays ~ffection by rubbing bills

, te.gefhe~ and by niol!iling each / otber'~.feathers . .r

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The black-crowned night heron

has a thick bill, short legs, and a black

and green back. It has a narrow

white band across its forehead and above

its large, red eyes. Several slender, white

plumes grow from the black crest on

the adult heron's head.

~ HABITAT The black-crowned night her­on is found in wetland habi­tats throughout the world. It prefers areas of dense vegeta­tion such as the overgrown banks of rivers, ponds, and streams, as well as swamps

and marshes. The heron can also be found near coastal marshes, tidal creeks, and coastal lagoons .

The night heron spends the day roosting in bushes or trees . Several hundred birds

~ FOOD & FEEDING When the night heron must feed its young, it searches for food throughout the night. At other times the night heron is most active at dawn and dusk. The night heron feeds mainly on fish, frogs, and aquatic insects and their larvae. It hunts for prey by wa.lking slowly through the water, or

often roost together, pre­ferring trees with dense cover, such as the tropical man­grove. The night heron also shares roosting and feeding grounds with the Squacco heron, since the Squacco roosts at night and feeds during the day.

Black-crowned night herons found in northern regions such as North America and Asia mi­grate south in the winter.

~ BREEDING The male establishes his own territory within the breeding colony. If another bird enters his territory, he defends it by thrusting his neck forward, arching his head, fluffing his head, neck, and breast feath­ers, and making a hissing sound to frighten off the intruder.

The male greets his mate very differently, however, with affectionate bill rub­bing and feather nibbling .

The male gathers twigs and sticks for the female to weave

Left: This young night heron does not yet have any head plumes.

by diving or swimming. The night heron is sociable and often feeds in a group with other herons.

The night heron also feeds on land, where it preys on small mammals, birds, and spiders . It sometimes eats the eggs and young of other herons in the same colony.

Right and below: The night heron is very easily distinguished by its full, squat figure, even during flight.

into the nest. The rather flimsy and messy platform nest is usually built in a bush or reed bed close to the water. Or it may be built in a tree as high as 150 feet above the ground.

The female lays three to five blue-green eggs at 48-hour intervals. Both parents incubate the eggs which hatch three to four weeks later. Because the eggs are laid at different times, some chicks hatch earlier than others. Those chicks that are first to hatch have a greater chance of survival if food is scarce.

DID YOU KNOW? • The night heron's green legs and feet turn a bright yellow or red in the breeding season . • When it feeds, the night heron holds its head under its outstretched wing. This provides shade for its eyes so that the bird can spot fish

The chicks are dark brown with paler spots and under­parts. They feed mainly on fish, which is fed to them by both parents. The chicks leave the nest three weeks after hatching to climb among the branches of

more clearly. • The largest colony of night herons ever recorded was in Virginia . It contained more than 1,200 pairs.

• The heron sometimes lures fish by dropping food scraps, or even feathers, on the surface of the water.

nearby trees, but they return to the nest to feed. They cannot fly well until they are six weeks old.

Below: Chicks hatch at two-day intervals, simplifying feeding for the parents.

"" CARD 36 ] OVENBIRD ~~--------------------------~~~~~~

ORDER Passeriformes

GENUS &: SPECIES Furnarius rufus

The ovenbird gets its name from the unusual nest it builds. This odd-looking structure, made from mud and strengthened with

fibers and grass, is shaped like an old-fashioned baking oven.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: 7-8 in. Weight: Up to 2 oz.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Not known. No. of broods: 1 per year. Breeding season: Late winter; nest building during wettest months of

the year. Eggs: White, 3-5 per clutch. Incubation period: Up to 20 days. Fledging period: Up to 18 days.

LIFESTYLE Call: Musical notes and trills. Habit: Rather shy. Lives in pairs year-round; pairs often mate for

life. Diet: Ground-dwelling insects,

worms, and grubs.

RELATED SPECIES Over 200 species in the same family, including spinetails, shaketails, and leafscrapers.

THE OVENBIRD'S NEST

Range of the ovenbird.

DISTRIBUTION

Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina, in open country and flood plains. Common near human settlements.

CONSERVATION

Although populations have been affected by land clearances in some areas of the ovenbird's natural habitat, conservation measures do not appear to be necessary as this species has adapted well to man's intrusion on its habitat.

The ovenbird 's nest is built out of moist clay strengthened with grass

even under the eave of a roof. When the finished nest has been baked hard by

finally being washed away by the rain . The ovenbird builds a new nest every year-often on top of an old nest-and its old nest is used as a home by insects or other birds.

and fibers. It may be built in a tree, on top of a fence post, or

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the sun, it will be strong enough to survive for

2-3 years before

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The nest provides warmth and security for the brood of 3-5 chicks, which fledge in 18 days.

0160200111 PACKET 11

In South America, the ovenbird is

called el hornero, "the house builder,"

and belongs to one of the largest families of birds.

The ovenbird can be recognized by

its distinctive song and is seen

in settlements and on the

edges of towns.

Ovenbirds live in pairs throughout the year, and many stay with the same mate for life. Although rather wary by nature, the ovenbird has adapted to living near hu­man populations, and pairs of ovenbirds have become a familiar sight. Theywill build their nests on fence posts and under the eaves of houses when a suitable tree cannot be found.

The ovenbird has drab, dull-

colored feathers, or plumage, chestnut-brown back, head, and wings, and a pale cream­colored chest. The ovenbird is active by day. At night, it roosts in a tree.

The ovenbird's feet are well adapted for grasping the slen­der twigs and grass it uses to build its nest. Each foot has four toes in the front and one in back. The bird walks slowly, often holding one foot up in the air between steps.

~ BREEDING

Very little is known about the breeding and nesting habits of the ovenbird, since it is difficult to examine its nest without de­stroying it in the process.

Still, it is known that during the wet winter months, the male and female work togeth­er to build the nest. After se­lecting a suitable nest site,

Below: A species related to the ovenbird is the North American Seiurus aurocapillus, a member of the wood warbler family.

usually in a tree or on a fence post, they begin building their hollowed-out nest with clay, strengthening it with grass and plant fibers.

When the clay has been baked hard by the sun, the birds continue to add clay and plant fibers to the edges of the nest and build up the walls until it has a dome­shaped roof. The birds finish the nest by constructing a narrow, curving entrance chamber. The female lines the inner nesting chamber with grass and feathers.

After mating, the female lays three to five white eggs. Because of the warmth trapped inside the clay nest, the eggs hatch very quickly, after approximately 20 days. The chicks grow their feath­ers, or fledge, in 18 days and remain with their parents for up to three months.

left: A suitable nesting tree isn't always available to homeless ovenbirds. This Brazilian pair is making use of a sturdy fence.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING

The ovenbird pecks at the ground in search for food in the same manner as many bird species. It tends to stay within the same small area when it forages.

The ovenbird spends much of its day searching for the ground-dwelling insects, in­vertebrates, larvae, and spi­ders that make up the largest proportion of its diet. During feeding, the bird hides among the scrub and grass.

Top: Remarkably adaptable, the ovenbird will often build its mud and straw nest close to human populations.

Inset: Although it sings a tuneful song, the ovenbird has rather dull-colored plumage.

DID YOU KNOW? • The ovenbird's nest is made from between 1,500 and 2,000 separate lumps of clay. It weig~s 7-12 pounds. • The warm conditions in­side a nest are inviting to a number of insects, including a species of bedbug.

• Other members of the ovenbird family are known by the colorful names of plainsrunner, castlebuilder, leafgleaner, and thistletail.

'" CARD 37 SUPERB L VREBIRD

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

FAMILY Menuridae

GENUS &: SPECIES Menura novaehollandiae

The superb Iyrebird's name comes from the resemblance of its tail feathers to the shape of the lyre,

an ancient Greek musical instrument.

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Male, 31 -39 in., including

tail. Female, 29-34 in .

Weight: Up to 2 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Male, 3-9 years.

Female earlier.

Breeding season: May to

October.

No. of broods: 1; 1 egg.

Incubation: 50 days. Fledging period: 6-7 weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Call: Loud, high-pitched shriek.

Diet: Insects, worms, and other invertebrates that live in the soil

and under the bark of rotting logs.

Lifespan: Up to 15 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There is only one other species of

Iyrebird, Albert's Iyrebird, Menura

alberti.

FEATURES OF THE MALE SUPERB L YREBIRD

Mating display: Using his strong feet, the male builds a mound of earth 3 to 5 feet in diameter. He may build as many as 20 mounds. His tail feathers lie forward , ,

Range of the superb Iyrebird .

DISTRIBUTION

Native only to Australia, from southeastern Queensland south

to southern Victoria. Introduced in 1934 to temperate rainforest in Tasmania, where it still survives.

CONSERVATION

The superb Iyrebird is now a protected species. The main threat to its survival is the destruction of its forest habitat.

across his back, as he builds the mounds. __ :::::' ~:.:...-=-=-~r.=mii .-/'",.,...--,,~ ot

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200171 PACKET 17

The superb Iyrebird isa large,

chicken-sized bird. The male's spectacular tail,

which he uses in his dramatic courtship display,

consists of 16 feathers that when

spread, resemble a lyre.

~ HABIT The superb Iyrebird lives sing­ly, in pairs, or in small family

groups during the summer. In the fall and winter each male becomes territorial and de­

fends his territory by singing, displaying his feathers, and chasing away intruders. At this time of the year the female lives in a nesting territory, which usually overlaps the territories of several males.

DID YOU KNOW? • The voice box of the superb Iyrebird is controlled by three muscles, instead of the four found in most birds. Th is gives the Iyrebird a wide vo­cal range.

• The first known Iyrebirds were collected in 1797 in Australia.

• A park ranger reported hearing a power saw in an Australian national pa(k. When he moved closer to investigate, the ranger found only a superb Iyrebird mim­icking the sound of the saw.

• During the mating season a male superb Iyrebird may spend half the day trying to attract females by displaying his feathers .

• The male molts (sheds) his tail feathers every year.

The superb Iyrebird is difficult to see in the wild. It

stays hidden during the day and roosts high in the trees at night. In some parks the bird has become used to visitors and is quite easy to spot. The superb Iyrebird usually runs or walks on the

ground. Sometimes it es­capes from danger by glid­ing down from a branch.

~BREEDING The male superb Iyrebird mates with several females after he has attracted them with an elaborate mating display. He plays no part in nest-building, incubation of

the egg, or rearing of the young.

The female builds a large, dome-shaped nest of twigs, bark, moss, and ferns, and she lines it with feathers and

small roots. Throughout the incubation

period, the female leaves the single egg for three to six hours each morning. As a result, incubation is much longer than it would nor­mally be for a perching bird:

the egg does not hatch for almost two months.

The newly hatched chick is

thinly covered with black

Above right: The female superb Iyrebird is smaller and less striking than the male.

Left: The nest is built several months before the breeding season begins.

down. The mother broods (protects) it for 10 days, after which it can maintain its own

body temperature. During the chick's time in the nest (about 47 days), its weight increases approximately 12 times. It leaves the nest during spring, but it still depends on its mother for some food for another eight months before becoming self -sufficient.

~ CHARACTERISTICS The superb Iyrebird is un­matched among birds, both in its ability to mimic sounds and in its variety of sOl1gs.

The typical Iyrebird sOng

lasts approximately five to six seconds. Most of the song consists of accurately mim­icked calls of other bird species, including those of the kookaburra and the whipbird. A male superb

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The superb Iyrebird spends much of the day feeding. It uses~s~rongfeetand long claws to rake the ground for soil-dwelling insects, such as earthworms, spiders, fly and beetle larvae, millipedes, and other invertebrates.

The Iyrebird has exception­ally powerful claws. It scratches

up the earth with them to re­move even fairly large objects. It also uses its claws to rip away the bark of rotting logs to ex­pose any insects underneath.

Left: The male superb Iyrebird throws its feathers over its head and makes a series of calls. Some calls mimic other birds and even other sounds, such as the barking of a dog.

Iyrebird can mimic the calls of as many as 16 different bird species.

When the male is trying to attract a mate, his song is quieter. Females can also sing and mimic sounds, but they rarely do.

Below: The male's call may be audible up to half Q mile away on a clear day.

" CARD 38 1 RAZORBILL ~~----------------------------~--------~

ORDER Charadriiformes

FAMILY A/cidae

GENUS & SPECIES A/co torda

The razor bill is a short-winged diving bird that is awkward on land and in the air. It is more at home bobbing on the sea

or diving beneath the surface to catch fish with its hooked bill.

KEYFACTS~ __________________________ ~

SIZES Length: 1 ft. Wingspan: About 2 ft. Weight: 1-2 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3-5 years. Breeding season: Return to the breeding colony in February; eggs laid in May. No. of eggs: 1 . Incubation period: 35 days. Fledging period: 10-18 days, followed by several weeks on the water under parental care.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Feeds alone or in small

groups during autumn and winter. Gathers in breeding

colonies in spring and summer.

RELATED SPECIES

Razorbills belong to the auk family, which includes the Atlantic puffin, common guillemot, and little auk.

Range of the razorbill.

DISTRIBUTION North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, feeding at sea and breeding on rocky coasts.

CONSERVATION

Razorbills are vulnerable to oil pollution; overfishing of its food has also contributed to its decline. Because of its low reproductive rate, a razorbill population takes many years to recover from a setback.

FEATURES OF THE RAZORBlll

Diving: The razorbill is well adapted to life on and under the water. It dives to depths of 20 feet or more and can stay submerged for nearly a minute.

Winter plumage: Throat and upper chest turn white.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILET'" PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Diet: Razorbills eat sand eels

(shown), worms, and mollusks.

0160200231 PACKET 23

The razorbill is one of the largest auks,

a stocky relative of the puffin and the

guillemot. Although barely able to fly

and clumsy on land, it is an excellent

swimmer and diver, and it uses its short

wings to glide gracefully underwater.

~ HABITS Totally dependent upon the sea for its food, the razorbill spends much of the year far from land, bobbing on the ocean swells and diving for fish. It returns to the shore in spring only to lay its eggs and rear its chicks. Once the young are independent they and their parents return to the sea.

Like other auks, the razorbill is adapted to life in the water. Auks are considered the North­ern Hemisphere's equivalent of

penguins (which are found only in the Southern Hemi­sphere).

The razorbill is most like the penguin of all the auks. While it is an expert diver and swim­mer, it is clumsy on land and has an awkward, waddling, upright gait. This is because its feet are not well adapted for walking, but rather are set back on its body to act as rudders while it flies and when it swims underwater.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING In autumn and winter the razorbill feeds on small fish from the surface waters of the Atlantic. In spring and summer it feeds in shallow water near its coastal nesting sites and often eats worms and mollusks as well as sand eels.

The razorbill floats on the

surface of the water like a duck, upending to feed. It dives to depths of 20 feet or more and sometimes stays submerged for nearly a minute. It catches fish in its sharp, hooked bill and swallows them underwater. If it is feeding its young it

Left: Sand eels are part of the bird's diet.

Right: Razor­bills nest on cliff ledges.

Below left: The birds must have all their plum­age to support them in flight.

Below right: A razorbill protects its chick.

~ BREEDING Razorbills breed in large colonies, each pair occupying a crevice on a cliff or rocky shore. They form stable pairs that nest on the same sites each spring and part when the colony scatters in autumn.

In late winter each pair broods a single egg, laid directly on the bare rock.

surfaces, holding several fish in its bill, and flies back to the nesting ledge.

At these times the razor­bill is vulnerable to attack, particularly by seagulls that steal its catch. In turn, the razorbill also steals food from other auks.

Both parents feed the chick. After about 18 days the chick is only one-fourth grown and still unable to fly. It leaves the ledge at night and goes down to the sea, followed closely by the adult male, who continues to feed and care for it for sev­eral weeks until the young can hunt for itself.

DID YOU KNOW? • Razorbills have difficulty diving for fish in rough, choppy seas. During stormy weather many birds, weak­ened by hunger, are beaten to death by ocean waves. • Razorbill eggs vary widely in color. They may be brown, cream, white, or turquoise, with brown or black blotches. This vari­ation may help parents recognize their own eggs. • The razorbill is the closest living relative of the extinct great auk, a large, flightless bird once common on North Atlantic islands. • Razorbill breeding colo­nies can be huge: a colony off the coast of England was estimated at about 45,000 pairs of birds.

I '~ , SPECIAL ~ADAPTATIONS The razorbill's short wings are a compromise for both flying and swim­ming. The large wings of many soaring birds are too bulky for use underwater. Conversely, the flipperlike wings of penguins are too small for flight.

Although the short wings of the razorbill work well underwater, they are just big enough to support it in the air. The loss of even a single wing feather makes flying difficult. A razorbill does not molt and replace its flight feathers one by one, like most birds. Instead, it molts them all at once after breeding season, and is flightless for some 45 days.

EUROPEAN COOT

ORDER Gruiformes

"' FAMILY ~ Rallidae

... GENUS & SPECIES "11IIIIIIII Fulica atra

European coots gather in huge flocks on large freshwater lakes and along the coasts of Europe during winter. The species IS high-pitched

cry sounds like the word 1/ coot. "

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

SIZES Length: 14-16 in.

Wingspan: 28-32 in .

Weight: 20-30 oz.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.

Breeding season: Eggs laid March

to May. No. of broods: 1 .

Eggs: 6-10. Incubation: 21 -24 days.

Fledging period: B weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Feeds in groups, but

territorial and aggressive.

Diet: Aquatic plants, small fish, amphibians, and water insects.

Call: Sharp, loud, brief call.

Lifespan: Oldest known, 18 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 9 closely related

species-B in North and South

America, the other in Africa.

Range of the European coot.

DISTRIBUTION

Primary range is western and eastern Europe. Also found in

North Afri ca and Asia. Some found in Java, New Guinea, and

Australia . Birds in far northern areas migrate south in October and return north to breed in April.

CONSERVATION

Th is species's numbers appear to be increasing in many count ries.

FEATURES OF if HE EUROPEAN COOT

Nest: Built from debris ana lant material. Usually floating , but always anchored to reeds or branches on shore. The female hatches the eggs, but because broods often hatch over

several days, the male may care for the first hatchlings on a specially built, floating platform. In time of flood, the parents build high walls around the nest.

" MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Feet: Each toe joint is individually lobed , allowing the coot to spread its feet only on the downstroke while it is

Upstroke: As the coot pulls its feet up, the lobes collapse, reducing water resi stance.

Downstroke: Lobes spread out on the downstroke, giving maxi­mum thrust.

0160200171 PACKET 17

The European coot is an aquatic bird

that swims and dives well, using its specially adapted

toes. Although it feeds in a group with other coots,

the coot is territorial and aggressive, and splashing

fights between coots are frequent during

the summer breeding season.

The European coot is found in

ponds, slow-moving rivers, flooded gravel pits, reservoirs, and marshes, as well as in

lakes in urban parks. Still, the coot usually breeds only in areas that provide dense cover

for its nest. Because it does not breed in winter, the need for

cover is less important. Flocks of coots gather on

large inland lakes when

smaller lakes freeze. During

especially cold weather the coot can even be found in coastal areas.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The European coot eats a wide variety of food during the summer, including freshwater

plants, algae, aquatic insects, tadpoles, newts, and some

small fish. It may also eat grain, seeds, and other birds'

eggs and chicks . The coot eats vegetation

growing just below the surface

of lakes and ponds by upend­ing itself like a duck. Still, it dives completely underwater

for much of its food. In winter, when the birds

flock in large numbers, a coot

~ BEHAVIOR The European coot aggres­sively defends its breeding territory during mating season . When a coot is challenged, it raises its wings and lowers its head, showing off its bill and shield (the white marking on its head) so that it appears large

may occasionally steal its food from others . But usually the coot eats mostly aquatic

plant material, always return­ing to the surface before eat­

ing it. Still, it may not get the chance to eat it, since a

stronger coot is often wait­ing to snatch the food.

A coot can become very

tame when it lives among people and may even take

food from their hands .

Right: The coot dives down to the lake bed to feed on fresh­water plants.

and threatening to its rival. When a group of coots is

threatened by a bird of prey,

they frantically fly across the water's surface, flinging up spray with their feet and wings to ward off the at­

tacker.

~ BREEDING Both the male and female

build the nest among vege­tation along the water's edge. It is often in danger of becoming flooded dur­ing periods of heavy rain­

fall. During a drought the receding waterline leaves the nest in reach of land

predators such as foxes and hedgehogs, which steal the

eggs. The female lays six to nine

eggs between March and May. If eggs are stolen or

lost, she may lay replace-

Left: The coot is a common sight on ponds and lakes throughout its range.

~ BIRDWATCH The American coot is ve ry southern Canada to Cen-sim ilar in appea rance to the tral America . Coots are al-Eu ropean coot, except that so fou nd in t he Andes in

I it is sl ightly smaller and does Columbia and Ecuador. not have a wh ite shie ld o n The American coot w inters its forehead . in the sout hern part of its

The American coot nests in range, including Everglades I a vast a rea that extends from National Pa rk in Florida .

ments. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the nest­lings, which leave the nest

Right: Chicks are fed by both parents.

Below: The coot's nest is anchored securely to the shore.

within three to four days. The

chicks do not become fully independent for eight weeks .

DID YOU KNOW? I • During breeding season a male coot drives away much

I larger birds, including geese I and swans.

• The coot attempts to at­tract a mate by puffing out its head feathers and point­ing its bill downward. Often

this occurs on water, and the bird's head becomes entirely

submerged.

• The aggressive coot may slash at its rival's breast with its sharp claws .

I • A chick's red head feathers ! Iater turn white. ____ ----'

MUTE SWAN

""" ORDER FAMILY Anseriformes Anatidae

"" CARD 4 0

GROUP 2: BIRDS ~,~ GENUS &: SPECIES ,-\( Cygnus olor

The mute swan was introduced into many countries in Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is considered a bird

of royalty in Britain but is commonly found in the wild.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 60 in.

Wingspan: 75 in . Weight: Male 22 lb., female 26 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2-3 years . Breeding season: March to June.

No. of broods: 1 .

Eggs: 5-8. Pale greenish white.

Incubation: 36 days. Fledging period: 3-4 months.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Pair for life, but if one dies,

survivor will find another partner.

Diet: Mainly submerged aquatic vegetation, grass, and grain.

Lifespan: Can live to 50, but very

few live beyond 7 years .

RELATED SPECIES The trumpeter swan is the heaviest

flying bird in North America .

HOW SWANS FEED

Mute swans feed in water by reaching down with their long necks to get to vegetation which is often inaccessible to other aquatic wildfowl.

In deeper water swans will upend themselves to reach down to depths of nearly a yard.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WI LDLIFE FACT FILETM

v • Range of the mute swan.

DISTRIBUTION

Widespread throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Scattered

across northern Europe, eastward to Mongolia. Introduced, feral, or domesticated in the western part of its range.

CONSERVATION

Approximately 5,000-6,000 pairs in Great Britain. Most

swans are the property of the British monarch, and are

protected as such.

PRINTED IN U.SA

Swans can keep their heads submerged for a full 10 seconds and will swallow c(mtinuously throughout this time.

us P 6001 12010 PACKET 10

The unmistakable figure of the graceful

mute swan is a common sight in many lakes/

rivers/ and other freshwater areas within its range.

It was once mistakenly believed that the swan

never made a sound-hence its name.

~ HABITS Swans are extremely territo­rial. By raising his wings and back feathers and lowering his head, the male alerts intruders that he is prepared to defend his territory.

Like all wildfowl, swans shed, or molt, all their wing feathers at once. Since swan's cannot fly at this stage, a female with young will molt before her mate does, so that he can protect the young swans from danger.

In England, Ireland, and France, most mute swans rarely move far from anyone

area. Some may move from their breeding territories to form small winter flocks on nearby waters.

In Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland, swans are largely migratory, breeding on inland lakes and then wintering along the Baltic coast when their breeding lakes are fro­zen . The severity of winter weather conditions dictates how far they travel.

Below: A pair of mute swans with their large brood of cygnets in a typical habitat.

There has been a significant decline in the swan population where fishing is popular; the birds swallow discarded lead fishing weights and die from lead poisoning .

Many swans die when they fly into power lines. Noticeably

~BREEDING Mute swans mate in March and April. They nest on the ground near water. The male brings sticks and reeds to the female who uses them to build the nest.

Five to eight eggs are laid at 48-hour intervals. Incubation, which is done mainly by the female, begins after the last egg has been laid, and the young hatch 34-38 days later.

2:- The young, called cygnets, ~ leave the nest early but stay ~ with their parents into winter.

They get their adult plumage at one year.

visible markers attached to t he wires are helpful in pre­venting the deaths of many swans.

Swans have few natural enemies, but many nests, eggs, and young have been destroyed by people.

o

o

Above: Males defending their territories.

Right: Swan in flight.

CD

~ LLl

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Mute swans are mainly her­bivorous and feed on aquatic plants and roots. They will also eat grass, herbs, and grains, as well as some small fish, frogs, and insects.

Cygnets (young swans) feed on pieces of vegetation picked by their parents.

Swans stretch their long necks into the water to feed . They have powerful gizzards, which allow them to grind up plant material, and they also

i ingest grains of soil, which ~ help to further break down ~ the food before it is absorbed i into the bloodstream. u:i

Below: Female on her large nest. o __ ~ ______ ~"~~aw~ ______________ ~

~ BIRDWATCH Swans can be seen o n any good-sized area of shallow, open water withi n the ir range. Lakes, reservoirs, marshes, and larger rivers are all places where they live. A larg e body of water is essential, both to

• Mute swans are not mute­they can make a varie ty of hissing, g runting, and snort­ing sounds. • The male swan is called a cob and the female a pen.

provide adequate feeding grounds and to allow enough space for the swan to take off into flig ht.

During the breeding

season, swans seek undis- J turbed p laces to bui ld nests.

• A male mute swan can be distinguished fro m a female by a black knob of skin at the base of his bil l.

• A swan may eat up to 10 pounds of vegetation daily.