Wildlife Fact File - Birds - 71-80

KEY FACTS

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COMMON BUZZARD

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ORDER Falconiformes

FAMILY Accipitridae

SIZES Length: Almost 2 ft. GENUS fit SPECIES Buteo buteo

Wingspan: 3 ~-4 ft. Weight: 1-3 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Usually 2 years. Breeding season: Late March to

early July. No. of broods: 1 . Eggs: 2-4, white or white with brown blotches. Incubation: 4 ~ to 5~ weeks. Fledging period: 7-8 weeks.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary or paired . Typically

hunts alone. Diet: Small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, large insects, and earthworms. Lifespan: Usually 6-8 years. RELATED SPECIES

There are 24 species of buzzard in the genus Buteo.

Summer only. DISTRIBUTION

Much of Europe and northern Asia, from Portugal east to Russia, Asia Minor, and a narrow belt of land from Siberia to Japan. Also Atlantic islands off West Africa. CONSERVATION

The buzzard suffered when rabbits, its main prey, were killed by a viral disease called myxomatosis. Although the buzzard has recovered, its numbers are declining in some areas.

A COMPARISON WITH THE HONEY BUZZARD Common buzzard: Plumage ranges from mostly pale to very dark or any tone between these two extremes.

Common buzzard: Heavy and rounded head with brown plumage. Strong black-and-yellow bill.

The common buzzard is one of the most abundant birds of prey in Europe and northern Asia. It can adapt readily to changing habitats and different food sources.

Honey buzzard: Plumage varies. Tail bar patterning is usually uneven. © MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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Honey buzzard: Lean, protruding head with gray plumage. Weaklooking gray-and-yellow bill.

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The common buzzard likes to hunt over open country, although it breeds in woodlands.

It uses diverse methods to catch a variety of prey, from rabbits to insects. In flight it resembles the much larger golden eagle.

~ BREEDING The buzzard's territory varies from about a quarter to a half a square mile. The male defends this area in early spring before the eggs are laid, in early fall when chicks are in the nest, and in late fall after the young have become independent. Buzzards generally mate for life. Courtship involves a dramatic display. The pair soar around each other in tight circles giving a loud, ringing call. The male may carry a branch or prey in his talons. left: The common buzzard's eyesight is about eight times keener than a human's.

~ HABITS

~ FOOD & FEEDING

The common buzzard glides and soars with ease. It spends hours circling above in search of prey. Its flight also serves to announce its ownership of a particular territory. When soaring, the bird's wings bow upward in a shallow V shape. The primary (wingtip) feathers are held wide apart like large fingers, and the tail is broadly fanned, which helps provide maximum lift in rising air currents. The best time for the buzzard to soar is at midday during spring and summer, when the updraft is strongest. When it glides, the common buzzard holds its wings flat or slightly upturned and directs their tips backward. Between glides and on takeoff, it usually beats its wings shallowly and stiffly.

Although it looks like a small eagle, the common buzzard rarely kills large prey. Instead, it feeds mainly on small mammals such as rabbits, rats, voles, and mice. But the buzzard adapts readily to whatever prey is available. It also preys on young or weak birds, lizards, snakes, frogs, big insects, and earthworms, and it feeds on carrion or the flesh of dead animals. The common buzzard uses a range of hunting styles. It soars or glides over large areas searching for the slightest movement that betrays the presence of prey below. By flying into an updraft, the buzzard can hover, gently fanning its wings to remain almost motionless. It also searches the ground methodically by flying repeatedly

After mating, the pair builds a nest, usually high in a tree but sometimes on a cliff. Up to three feet across, the nest is made of large sticks, twigs, and other available materials and lined with green foliage . The pair may build a new nest each year or reuse the same one. The female carries out most of the incubation and then cares for her downy white chicks almost continuously until they are two weeks old. During this time the male brings food. The female eats some and tears up the rest for her noisy young.

Soon both parents must hunt to satisfy the large appetites of the chicks. Until they are about four weeks old, the young cannot tear up food for themselves. A chick makes its first flight at age seven to eight weeks

but remains with its parents for another six to eight weeks learning to hunt. The young buzzard is nomadic until it establishes its own territory. Below: Young chicks are fed regularly by both parents and stay with them for four months.

DID YOU KNOW?

over the same patch of land. A common tactic is for the buzzard to perch on a rock or post for a while until it sights prey. It then drops down with half-closed wings to seize its

Above: A dark rabbit against a snowy field is an easy target.

victim. The buzzard may also walk on the ground looking for earthworms or insects.

• Many people on vacation in Scotland think they have seen a golden eagle when they spot a common buzzard. Amused locals have coined the name "tourist's eagle" for the common buzzard. • When contesting prey with a rival, the buzzard may use a variety of displays to avoid a potentially fatal fight. It may assume the "angel" posture f a bird defending a carcass, with its wings spread behind its back. Or it may adopt a

U

submissive pose-lying motionless on one side with a wing raised in defeat. • A buzzard's territory extends vertically as high as 800 feet above ground. Below this height, intruders are attacked or chased away, but above it birds may soar unharmed. • The American bird of prey Cathartes aura is sometimes called the turkey buzzard. But it is not related to the common buzzard. Its correct name is the turkey vulture.

_____ J

KEY FACTS

BLACK-CAPPED LORY ORDER

FAMILY

GENUS & SPECIES

Psittaciformes

Loridae

Lorius lory

SIZES Length: 1 ft. Wingspan: 2 ft. Weight: 5-7 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2-3 years. Breeding season: April to September in captivity. No. of broods: 1-2. Eggs: 2. Incubation: About 24 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives singly or in pairs. Often feeds in groups. Diet: Flowers, fruits, insects, nectar, pollen, and seeds. Lifespan: 8-10 years in captivity.

Range of the black-capped lory. DISTRIBUTION Found in the undisturbed parts of rainforests in New

RELATED SPECIES There are 8 species of lory including the chattering lory, Lorius garrulus garrulus, and the purple-capped lory, L. domicellus.

Guinea . Also found on some islands in Sarera Bay and in the Gulf of Papua . CONSERVATION The main threat to the black-capped lory is the destruction of its natural habitat. The species does not easily adapt to replanted forests.

FEATURES OF THE BLACK-CAPPED LORY Short and rounded tail is characteris. tic of the small lory species .

The black -capped lory inhabits the tropical rainforests of the western Pacific Ocean. This colorful parrot rarely approaches the ground, preferring the tops of tall trees instead.

Well adapted to livinq in trees, like most parrots. Uses its feet and bill for climbing and feeding.

Two forwardpointing and two backwardpointing toes provide secure grip on a branch. Uses its feet to bring food up to its beak.

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Tongue: Probes flowers for food . Tiny papillae (bumps) become raised during feeding and brush off pollen and nectar.

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~ FOOD & FEEDING The lory's tongue is especially adapted for eating flowers and pollen, its main food. The tongue's tip is covered with tiny

papillae (bumps) which are raised when the bird is feeding or exploring a flower for food. The papillae are flat at other times. The black-capped lory also eats fruit, nectar, insects, and caterpillars. When feeding, the lory uses its feet to bring food up to its long, hooked bill. Left: Black-copped lories are usually seen alone or in pairs.

Right: The arrangement of the lory's toes enables it to hang in any position fram a branch.

The black-capped lory is elusive and hard to ~ BREEDING -----st-u-d-y-i-n-t-h-e-w-i-,d-.-B-u-t-in-c-a-p-ti-v-ity-th-e- b-ir-d---- Little is known about the black-

DID YOU KNOW? his wings, and turns his head

occur twice during each season, and two eggs are usually laid in each brood. They have

capped lory's breeding habits

to one side. He bobs his body

in the wild . It is known to nest in the hollows of trees or in termite hills.

up and down while hissing through his open bill. The mated pair forms a strong at-

lory needs extra care that is best given by

The lory's main breeding season is from April to Septem-

tachment, and the male is aggressive toward other birds

specialist birdkeepers.

ber. To attract a female, the male perches upright, spreads

during the nesting period.

displays intelligence, playfulness, friendliness, and an ability to mimic sounds. The captive

~ BEHAVIOR

Mating and breeding may

an incubation period of about 24 days. The young blackcapped lories remain in the nest for 8 to 10 weeks.

• The captive lory is well known for its mimicry, but it does not use this skill in the wild . • Lories are also sometimes called "brush-tongue" parrots because of the papillae on their tongues .

Below: A male lory displays his plumage during courtship.

~ THE LORY & MAN

Because it is solitary and lives

tive at dawn and dusk, flying be-

feet. In uncultivated areas, it is

Black-capped lories are less

high in the treetops of its range, naturalists know very little about

tween roosting and feeding areas.

sometimes found at 4,500 feet.

The black-capped lory is usually found at an altitude of 3,000

Below: A black-capped lory preens (smooths) its feathers.

popular as pets than macaws or cockatoos. They are expensive to

the black-capped lory's behavior in the wild. Most information is obtained by observing the bird in captivity. Even this may not be reliable because of variations in behavior that may result from

feed, since they need fresh fruit throughout the year. Their droppings are messier than the seedeating parrots', and their cages need cleaning more often. To thrive in captivity, lories

the bird's adaptation to artificial

must be housed in aviaries

living conditions. The black-capped lory's natural habitat is in the undisturbed rainforests of Papua New Guinea.

(large, naturalistic enclosures for

The bird is solitary except during mating season. It is especially ac-

birds). They are usually kept only by specialists, so the main threat to their survival is destruction of the rainforests of New Guinea, not the parrot pet trade.

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CARD 73

EGYPTIAN VULTURE ,,---------------------------------~~~~~~ GENUS & SPECIES FAMILY ORDER ~

Accipitriformes

Accipitridae

Neophron percnopterus

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 2-21/2 ft. Wingspan: 4-6 ft. Weight: 4-5 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 4-5 years. Breeding season: Mid-March to late August in Mediterranean . Eggs: Usually 2. No. of broods: 1, frequently with only 1 chick surviving. Incubation period: 42 days. Fledging period: 70-90 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Mostly in pairs or solitary, except when migrating or roosting . Diet: Mainly carrion and human excrement. Also catches insects. RELATED SPECIES A slightly smaller subspecies, Neophron percnopterus ginginianus, lives in India. It too has a yellow bill.

Winter range of Egyptian vultu re.

Breed in g range .

DISTRIBUTION Found in countries near the Mediterranean extending east to the Middle East and the Soviet Union . Winters in Africa and India. A mostly migratory bird, it lives year-round only in Cape Verde and the Cana ry Islands. CONSERVATION Lack of carrion has ca used numbers to decline in most areas, but t he bird is not yet endangered .

IDENTIFYI NG THE EGYPTIAN VULTURE Head and neck: Adult has a white ruff on the back of the head with naked, yellow skin on face and beak. Young has grayish neck feathers and beak.

Plumage: Underparts, back, and front edges of wings are beigewhite. Trailing edges of wings and primary (wingtip) feathers are black. Tail is wedge-shaped in flight, and wings are pointed with spreading primaries. Eggs: Two, off-white with rusty red blotches, laid in a large nest on a rocky ledge or cave.

Slightly larger than a raven, the Egyptian vulture is known for using rocks as tools. It can throw a two-pound rock at an ostrich egg to break its shell. ©MCMXCIIMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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0160200281 PACKET 28

left: The black and white plumage can best be seen when the bird is in flight.

Right: An

~ BREEDING The Egyptian vulture breeds mid-March to late August and pairs for life. Each year, the parents use the same nest. Nests are built on sheltered rock or cave ledges, in tall trees, or on buildings. The female lays two eggs over a two- to four-day period.

After a 42-day incubation, which both parents share in, the eggs hatch in two to four days. The parents collect food for the chicks, but only the male brings it the first few days. The young are mature at four to five years old.

been known to travel 44 miles to find food. Certain vulture populations have learned how to smash the shells of large eggs by gripping heavy stones in their beaks as tools. They also grip prey, such as a wriggling

lizard, and knock it against a rock before feeding. The Egyptian vulture also eats human excrement found outside of settlements.

adult guards its young. The brown juvenile Will soon develop bright yellow facial skin.

The Egyptian vulture stands out

DID YOU KNOW?

from the rest of its vulture relatives with its almost white coat and contrasting black flight feathers. Although smaller than most vulture species, it is extremely strong.

~ HABITAT The Egyptian vulture lives at heights of over 12,000 feet around the Mediterranean sea and eastern Soviet Union. In summer it stays in Turkey and Egypt; it spends the winter in central Africa and India, where many Egyptian

• In 'a n experiment testing birds' use of tools, vultures threw stones at a huge fiberglass egg for an hour and a half before giving up. • The Egyptian vulture has a

variety of calls but is seldom heard using them. • Nearly 6,000 Egyptian vultures migrated across the Straits of Gibraltar in the fall of 1972.

~ FOOD &: HUNTiNG vultures live year-round. The Egyptian vulture inhabits open grasslands, steppes, or other low vegetation areas where it circles in search of food. Today it also lives around trash dumps outside towns and cities. left: The featherless yellow face does not get matted with blood from carcasses like plumage would. Many vulture species also have bare necks.

The Egyptian vulture has a varied diet. It eats garbage and carrion, usually waiting until larger scavengers have finished with a carcass. Unlike its heavier relatives, the lightweight Egyptian vulture does not need to soar

on air thermals. It flies lower, perching on telephone poles and buildings to spot smaller carcasses of foxes, dogs, rodents, and lizards. It also catches insects by following a farmer's plow. The Egyptian vulture has

Below left &: right: A vulture throws a stone at the shell of an ostrich egg to crack it open.

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CARD 74

CHAFFINCH "

GROUP 2: BIRDS ,~----------------------------~~~~~~~

~ ORDER ~ Passeriformes

FAMilY Fringillidae

~ GENUS & SPECIES ~ Fringil/a coelebs

I ,__--.._ K_EY_ FA_C_T_S_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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SIZES length: 5-6 in. Weight: 1/2- 1 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: April to June. No. of broods: 1 or 2. Eggs: 4-5. Incubation: 11-1 3 days. Fledging: 1 3-14 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable outside breeding season. Diet: Varied, mainly seeds. Call: Song during breeding season. Warning call. RELATED SPECIES Of the 150 species of finch, only 3 belong to the genus Fringilla: the chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs, the brambling, F. montifringilla, and the blue chaffinch, F. teydea, which is found only on the Canary Islands.

Range of the chaffinch.

DISTRIBUTION Found across Europe, North Africa, the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. Species from northern and eastern regions spend the winter in Europe and the Middle East. CONSERVATION A stable population of seven million chaffinch pairs lives in Europe. Some species of finch such as the Hawaiian finch are endangered, and a few are now extinct.

THE CHAFFINCH AND ITS NEST Female: SpenDs up to 18 days building the cup-shaped nest.

Male: Territorial during breeding season , chasing away intruding males.

THE CHAFFINCH'S NEST AND EGGS

,

Eggs: Female lays four or five. Off-white with reddish markings. Incubated 11 to 13 days.

The chaffinch, one of the most common finches in Europe, lives in gardens, parks, and woodlands everywhere during summer, flocking in open country during the winter.

Flight and tail feathers: White bars distinguish the chaffinch from the sparrow and brambling.

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Young: Fed by female with insects, mainly caterpillars. Nest: Made from grass, moss, and lichen. Lined with feathers. PRINTED IN U.S.A.

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~ FOOD &: FEEDING The chaffinch feeds mainly on seeds, which it gleans from many sources. Its beak crushes the tough seed husks, its mouth has hard ridges and powerful jaw muscles that crack the seeds, and its tongue discards the empty husks. The chaffinch also eats a

variety of other plant matter, including apples, blossoms, berries, and buds. It also probably eats more insects than any other finch species. Owls and hawks prey on the chaffinch . Magpies, jays, cats, and stoats take its nestlings.

left: A pink breast and blue-gray crown easily identify the male chaffinch.

Right: The male chaffinch lives under dense cover in woodlands, parks, and gardens.

~

~ BI RDWATCH The male's pale gray-blue ne ck and crown, pin k-flushed underparts, chestn ut back, and green rum p d isti nguish it from other birds .

The chaffinch is found throughout Europe and is easily identified by its pink-colored breast. During winter, flocks of more than 200 birds gather at roosting sites.

~ HABITS During breeding season, the colorful male chaffinch marks his territory by singing and chasing away intruding males. The densely covered territory may be up to 1,300 square feet. In winter the chaffinch

moves to open terrain in flocks of 200 or more birds, including sparrows, other finches, and the brambling, its closest relative. At night it roosts with other species in trees and hedges.

~ BREEDING In February the male chaffinch establishes his territory under dense cover. He finds a mate by approaching her in a lopsided crouch, followed by singing and other displays. Once the female has entered his territory, she finds a nest site in a bush, hedge, or small tree. It takes her up to 18 days to build the cupshaped nest from grass, roots, moss, and lichen held in place with cobwebs. She left: The female chaffinch builds the nest alone with grass and moss.

lines the nest with feathers. The pair breed from April to June . The female lays four to five eggs and incubates them for 11 to 1 3 days . The helpless newly hatched chicks are nurtured mainly by the female, who feeds them insects beakto-beak. The rapidly developing chicks fledge in 12 to 15 days. They follow the female to nearby dense cover, where she continues to feed them and helps them to fly. When food is plentiful, the chaffinch will raise a second brood within the same year.

~ SONG

DID YOU KNOW? • A female chaffinch may make 1, 300 trips to gather nest-building materials . • Only three finches feed their young entirely on

The lig ht b rown fe ma le has c ream-colored unde rpa rts. Both sexes have d isti nctive w hite bars o n t he flight feat hers and o ute r ta il feathers.

insects: the chaffinch, the blue chaffinch, and the brambling. All other finches feed their young predigested seeds or seeds and insects.

Each chaffinch learns its song by listening to and imitating other chaffinches in the area. It gains a local "dialect" from nearby males, especially the father. By learning to sing,

young males also learn how to establish territories for the next breeding season. Chaffinches that are raised in captivity sing instinctively but less elaborately.

~RD75~

,,EMU

ORDER Casuariiformes

FAMILY Dromaiidae

GENUS & SPECIES Dromaius novaehollandiae

KEY FACTS SIZES Height: Up to 6 ft. Weight: 65-100 lb. Female heavier than male. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2 years. Breeding season: April to July. No. of broods: 1 or 2. Eggs: 9-11, large, olive green. Incubation period: 8 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable outside the breeding season . Nomadic for much of the year. Call: Male hisses and grunts. Female makes loud and resonant booming noises. Diet: Seeds, fruit, insects, small rodents, and lizards. lifespan: 5-10 years in the wild . Longer in captivity. RElATED SPECIES Related to other flightless birds, including the ostrich and the kiwi.

Range of the emu.

DISTRIBUTION Found throughout Australia, except in rainforests and on cleared land . It is rare in northern areas and deserts. CONSERVATION The emu is widespread throughout its range. It appears to be in no danger of extinction, although its habitat is shrinking as land is cleared for farming. The emu's population is controlled by the government.

FEATURES OF THE EMU Chicks: Top of the head is spotted. Body is downy with dark stripes along the back and flanks.

Male: Long , drooping feathers. General coloring is dark brown to gray-brown. Wings: Hidden under feathers. No longer used for flight. They can be held away from the body to keep the emu cool in hot weather.

Nest and eggs: Shallow nest about 3 teet across is built by the male. The female lays 9-11 large olive green eggs.

Legs: Long and strong so the emu can walk quickly for long distances. Feet have three large toes.

The emu is a very large, flightless bird that is second in size only to the ostrich. It is a native of Australia and appears, along with the kangaroo, on Australia ~ coat of arms.

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~ BREEDING The emu mates in December and January. The male builds a shallow, bowl-shaped nest under a bush or small tree. In April or May the female lays 9 to 1 1 large, dark green eggs. The male incubates the eggs, while the female leaves and may mate again and lay a second clutch of eggs. DurLeft: The emu is a nervous bird that is constantly on the alert for potential trouble.

The emu has coarse, shaggy plumage that is dark when new but gradually fades to a light brown as the molting season approaches. This strange-looking bird is closely related to the other four flightless, ground-dwelling birdsthe kiwi, ostrich, cassowary, and rhea. Collectively these birds are known as ratites.

~ HABITS The emu lives in small groups except during the breeding season. Occasionally several groups join to form a herd of several thousand. The emu stays in one place while the male incubates the eggs. But usually it wanders, Right: Emus need large amounts of water. They may drink from watering holes that ranch owners have made for their livestock.

traveling long distances in search of food. When food is plentiful, the emu builds up reserves of fat, which it uses when food is scarce. An emu normally weighs about 100 pounds, but it can still function at 45 pounds.

ing this period the male does not eat or drink but lives off his fat reserves. The chicks hatch after eight weeks and can soon leave the nest. The male is very aggressive, driving away the female or humans who come too close. He guards the chicks for five to seven months. Right: Chicks are tended by the male until they are at least seven months old.

~ EMU&:MAN

DID YOU KNOW? • There is an old saying in Australia that someone is "as stupid as an emu." • Early settlers made omelets from emu eggs. One egg fed several people. It was first broken into a basin and left overnight so all the oil could be skimmed

Right: The emu's fondness for seeds causes trouble with farmers, who may shoot birds that feed on their land.

off before it was cooked. • The stomach of one emu was found to contain nearly 3,000 caterpillars. • Emus investigate any object they come across. One emu reportedly drank the contents of a can of paint and then swallowed the tin.

Until the late eighteenth century several kinds of emu lived in Australasia, each on a separate island . Many were killed by early settlers for meat and for oil that could be extracted from the carcasses and used as medicine and in lamps. The emu population on the Australian mainland survived

in spite of several government campaigns to reduce their numbers because of the damage they do to cereal crops. Now, man-made watering holes for cattle and sheep provide the emu with a permanent supply of fresh water in places where the re was no fresh water before.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The emu eats only foods that are rich in nutrients, such as seeds, fruit, and young shoots, as well as insects, lizards, and small rodents. It avoids grass _ and leaves even if they are all that is available. To help its stomach grind the food; the emu takes in pebbles with its food . These pebbles can weigh as much as two ounces each. The emu must also have access to fresh water. Because its diet is so nutritious, the emu grows quickly and reproduces in large numbers. It covers hundreds of miles searching for food after the supplies in one area have been exhausted.

KEY FACTS

:.....----~I---

OLD WORLD WHITE PELICAN ",. ORDER ~ Pelecaniformes

FAMILY Pelecanidae

GENUS & SPECIES Pelecanus onocrotalus

SIZES Length: 4'12 -6 ft. Bill: 1-1 '12 ft. Weight: 15-30 Ibs. Wingspan: 8-9 ft . BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3-4 years. Mating: April to July in Europe. Eggs: 1-3, chalky white. Incubation: 29-36 days. Fledging: 65-70 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Live in colonies. Diet: Fish. RELATED SPECIES There are 6 other species in the genus Pelecanus: American white, brown, and gray; Dalmatian; pink· backed; Australian; and Chilean pelicans.

Range of the Old World white pelican.

DISTRIBUTION Concentrated in the Danube delta and other sites in Eastern Europe. Also found in scattered locations across Africa and Asia. CONSERVATION The Old World white pelican's breeding range is shrinking, but there are still at least 3,000-5,000 breeding pairs in the Danube area.

FISHING METHODS OF THE OLD WORLD WH ITE PELICAN Bill: Very long . Pouch stretches to hold almost 31/2 gallons of liquid . Pelican strains water, then swallows fish.

Fishing: The white pelican often fishes alone, but it also hunts in a team . 1. Birds gather in a semicircle. 2. They move together toward the bank, beating their wings to herd schools of fish into the shallows. 3. Pelicans scoop up the herded fish in their big bills.

The Old World white pelican has a pouch beneath its bill that can hold nearly three and a half gallons-two to three times the capacity of its stomach. © MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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0160200341 PACKET 34

~ BREEDING The Old World white pelican builds a nest from twigs and reeds on the ground, in bushes, or in mangrove trees, but always near water. There are usually two white eggs, which the parents take turns sitting on. Incubation takes about four to five weeks. The newborn is featherless, blind, and weak. During the first week each parent dribbles half-digested fish into the chick's open beak. After that the chick is strong

enough to pull food from the parent's pouch. To catch fish for itself and its family, the adult flies 5 to 30 miles each

day in the breeding season. Due to cold and wet weather, only one chick usually survives in each nest.

Above: Young white pelicans practice fishing techniques in groups.

Below: Still covered with dark, woolly down, young pelicans wait for their next meal.

Left: A pelican at rest, displaying its deeply pouched bill.

The Old World white pelican is clumsy on land, but it has adapted extremely well to life

DID YOU KNOW?

in the air and on water. It is aided in this

• Stories describe the pelican helping poor fishermen in India with their catch. It is also claimed that the pelican helped to build a Muslim shrine in Mecca. • The tale that the pelican feeds its young with blood from its breast may be due

by its light, air-filled skeleton and a network of air sacs under its skin.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING

~ HABITS

The Old World white pelican needs to eat more than four pounds of live fish per day, but a hungry bird will eat garbage or young birds. White pelicans may fish alone or with others. When fishing together, they form a semicircle on the water and then swim together toward the shore. Beating their wings as they close in, they drive the fish into the shallows. When the water is full of fish, the pelicans scoop them up with their beaks, using their pouches like nets. Then they drain off the water and swallow the fish.

Old World white pelicans nest in colonies. They fly together in formation, most often in a long "wing," with one bird beside, and just ahead of, the next. Using air currents to soar upward, the birds cruise at an altitude of between 500 and 1,000 feet, beating their wings in unison. White pelicans are so quick to copy one another that a group may seem to be acting on unseen signals. A group at rest will face the same way, with their heads held high and their beaks folded down along their pouches.

Above: A pelican chick takes 165 pounds of food from its parent's bill before it is able to feed itself.

Below: Muscular wings and broad, black primary (wingtip) feathers aid the pelican in flying.

to the Dalmatian pelican's color during breeding, when it has a reddish patch over its crop and pouch that looks like a wound . • The pelican and its relatives are the only birds to have all four toes connected by webs.

KEY FACTS

TRUMPETER SWAN ORDER Anseriformes

FAMILY Anatidae

GENUS & SPECIES a/or buccinator

SIZES Length: Up to 6 ft. Weight: Male, 26 lb. Female, 20 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 4 years; but usually not until 5 or 6. Breeding season: April to May. Eggs: 4-6, white. Incubation period: 33-37 days. Fledging period: 3-4 months. LIFESTYLE Habit: Surface feeding, partly migratory, and territorial. Diet: Aquatic vegetation. Lifespan: Up to 10 years. RELATED SPECIES Of the 6 related species of swan, 2 are classified in the genus a/or: the whooper swan, O. cygnus, and the Tundra swan, O. columbianus.

Breeding range.

Winter range .

Permanent range.

DISTRIBUTION Found throughout southern Alaska and at various sites in southern Canada, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Also winters along the coast of British Columbia. CONSERVATION The trumpeter swan is now a protected species, and sanctuaries have been established throughout its range.

FEATURES OF THE TRUMPETER SWAN The red line along the swan 's bill is popularly called the lipstick line.

_

After hatchin~ , - e cygnets (young swans) will not stray far from thei r protective parents. Often the family remains together until the next breeding season .

The trumpeter swan's long neck is made up of 25 neck bones.

t ans

Trumpeter use thei r long necks to feed off aquatic vegetation underwater.

The trumpeter swan is the largest and, some say, the most majestic of all wildfowl. Found only in North America, it is also the rarest of the seven species of swan. ©MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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The trumpeter swan is a close relative and North American counterpart of the Eurasian whooper swan. These two swans are so similar in their appearance and habits that some experts consider them all to be one species.

~ FOOD & FEEDING ~ BREEDING The trumpeter swan feeds on a wide variety of aquatic plants. The swan pecks at bankside and water vegetation as it swims by. To reach submerged plants the swan upends, or immerses its head and neck while paddling along. Its long neck allows it to nibble at leaves and stems of plants rooted over three feet below the surface. The swan can exploit food sources beyond the reach of other water birds. Swans are wasteful feeders, often uprooting whole plants for the sake of a few leaves. Often one or two other smaller birds follow in its wake eating whatever it leaves behind. On land the swan grazes on grass .and low-growing plants. It also feeds on agricultural crops such as wheat. Chiefly a plant eater, this large swan occasionally eats invertebrates along with its more usual diet of leaves and stems.

The trumpeter swan mates for life. During breeding season each pair establishes and defends a large territory around its nest site. Territories are staked out as early as February, although migrant birds seldom reach their breeding grounds

until March or April. Many pairs use the same nest site each year, often close to or on the water. If a beaver or muskrat lodge is in their area, they often build a nest on top of it. Both birds build the twiggy nest, which may be

over 10 feet wide at the base, and line it with soft grass and down. The female lays her eggs in April or May and incubates them for about five weeks while the male guards their territory.

Right: The swan clears the surrounding area during nest construction. Far right: A

swan raises its wings in a threat display to protect its nest.

Left: The swan is a regal-looking

bird.

~

Right: Cygnets (baby swans) often stay close to their parents until the next breeding season.

HABITAT

Once widespread throughout much of North America, the trumpeter swan was hunted to the brink of extinction during the 1800s. Of today's two main breeding populations, the largest is in southern Alaska. The other is spread thinly throughout the northern Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains. Many populations have been reintroduced to habitats within the swan's former range.

For most of the year the trumpeter swan inhabits lowland rivers, lakes, ponds, and freshwater marshes. It also lives in damp woodland and even on open prairies. The trumpeter swans of central North America stay in much the same area all year. The Alaskan population, however, is migratory. In autumn these swans leave the icy Alaskan tundra and fly east and south to warmer marine habitats.

~ TRUMPETER SWAN & MAN

DID YOU KNOW? • The trumpeter swan has a large syrinx (voice box) and a windpipe so long that it coils around within the bird's breastbone. These features create the bird's deep and resonant trumpeting call . • Hybrids between trumpeter swans and whistling swans born in captivity are called "trumplings."

• The legend that swans sing before they die was invented by the Greeks. But some ornithologists note that the gasps of a dying swan may produce a mournful song . • During breeding season, the trumpeter swan is very protective of its nest area and the airspace above .

Once common throughout much of North America, the swan was almost wiped out by early colonists. Its aggressive, territorial manner-choosing to fight rather than fleemade it an easy target for hunters. Trumpeter swans were killed both for food and for their feathers. The larger flight feathers were made into

quill pens and decorations for ladies' hats, while the softer down feathers were used for powder puffs and feather boas. By 1933 only 66 trumpeter swans were known to exist. The trumpeter swan is now protected by law and sanctuaries have been set up. In Alaska, oil exploration and mining threaten their largest habitat.

KEY FACTS

VULTURINE GUINEAFOWL

'=

. . ORDER "IIIIIIII

Galliformes

GROUP 2: BIRDS FAMILY Numididae

. . GENUS &: SPECIES "IIIIIIII Acryl/ium vulturinum

SIZES Length: 2-2 ~ ft. Wing length: 1 ft . Weight: 2 ~ -3 ~ lb. BREEDING Breeding season: Follows pattern of rains. Peaks from December to January and in June. Eggs: 8-15, cream or pale brown . Incubation: 23-28 days. Fledging period : About 14 days, but chick can fly before grown. Range of the vulturine guineafowl.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable; lives on ground. Diet: Seeds and other plant parts, berries, insects, spiders, mollusks. Call: Usually quiet. Metallic calls, especially when going to roost. RELATED SPECIES The 7 species of guineafowl all live in Africa.

DISTRIBUTION Semiarid scrub regions of Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, northeastern Uganda, and northeastern Tanzania. CONSERVATION The vulturine guineafowl is common over most of its range and is not currently endangered . Some local populations have decreased because of hunting.

FEATURES OF THE VULTURINE GU INEAFOWL Feeding: Scratches in the earth for seeds and other plant parts. Also uses its heavy, vulturelike beak to peck at insects and

Habitat: Adapted to survive in semidesert scrub but also lives in mountainous forests. Its specialized gut enables the bird to digest tough food plants.

Eggs: Laid in a grassy dip in the ground.

The vulturine guineafowl is perfectly adapted to dry, scrubby terrain. It does not need to drink water because it can obtain enough moisture from its food.

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The vulturine guineafowl is the tallest and most colorful of all the guineafowl. Its plumage of black-and-white stripes and dots is enlivened

by areas of cobalt blue and lilac. The bird is named for its naked vulturelike head and neck. The band of velvety chestnut feathers on the back of its neck resembles a monk's haircut.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The guineafowl begins feeding at dawn. The flock forages busily, generally keeping within easy reach of cover, until midday. During the heat of the day, the birds rest in the shade of bushes, but in late afternoon they resume their foraging. The bird takes most of its

DID YOU food from low plants or from the ground, scratching the earth with its feet. It eats grass seeds and other plant parts, insects, spiders, and snails. It may also clamber into shrubs and low trees to pluck berries and fruit. The guineafowl is apparently able to survive without

drinking water. Succulent plants and insects provide moisture, along with the morning dew on foliage. Part of the guineafowl's caecum (gut) is much longer than in other birds. This feature ensures that as much water as possible is reabsorbed from the bird's waste.

Left: The vulturine guineafowl's striking plumage has made it a popular bird in aviaries.

Right: These handsome blue, black, and white feathers are ineffective in flight but are integral to the vulturine guineafowl's courtship display. The velvety head feathers can also be seen in this photo.

~ HABITS The vulturine guineafowllives in the semiarid parts of East Africa, where the vegetation is mainly acacia scrub. It is also sometimes seen in woodlands with other species of guineafowl. The vulturine guineafowl prefers to walk or run swiftly on its long legs when it is disturbed, but it will burst into a short escape flight of 150 to 350 feet as a last resort. It retreats from the ground at nightfall, flying up to roost in trees. Each flock tends to se-

KNOW7~

• The vulturine guineafowl has unusually bright plumage for a ground bird in a dry habitat. Most ground birds have dull brown plumage for camouflage in the open terrain. • The vulturine guineafowl is found in aviaries in North America and Europe. It copes well with the differences in climate. • The guineafowl takes its name from Guinea, an old designation for the part of West Africa that extends from Gambia to Angola. • The most widespread and sociable guineafowl is the helmeted guineafowl. Flocks of more than 2,000 birds have been recorded. • Most guineafowl live in less arid habitats than vulturine guineafowl, such as light woodland. The black guineafowl and the whitebreasted guineafowllive in dense rainforest.

~ BREEDING lect a tall acacia with dense surrounding shrubbery. For most of the year the vulturine guineafowl lives in groups of 20 to 30, but flocks of as many as 70 birds may occur. During breeding season, the group breaks up into nesting pairs and small bands of unmated birds. The guineafowl is quiet, except when giving occasional contact calls. But a flock of birds can be noisy when flying to roost and may fill the air with metallic cries.

Seasonal rains trigger breeding activity by ensuring sufficient food for the young. The peak breeding season is June, but mating may occur at any time of year. The male rears up in front of a female with his head bent down and his wings partly spread. If she fails to respond, he may follow her and try again. After successful Left: The vulturine guineafowl spends most of the day walking about, foraging for food with the rest of the flock.

mating, the female lays up to 15 eggs in a depression in long grass or scrub. The female incubates the eggs, but when the young hatch, they leave the nest and are cared for and fed by the male for the first few days. The downy chicks are a yellowishbrown color. They grow rapidly, gaining flight feathers after about two weeks and bright blue feathers on the breast after another six weeks. They normally acquire the full adult plumage within a year.

KEY FACTS

GREAT WHITE EGRET . . . ORDER ..., Ciconiiformes

. . . FAMILY ..., Ardeinae

. . . GENUS & SPECIES ..., Egretta alba

SIZES Length: About 3 ft. Wingspan: 4-5 ft. Weight: 2-3 lb . BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2 years. Breeding season: April to July in southeast Europe. Incubation period: 25 days. No. of eggs: 2-5 . Fledging period: 40 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Partially migratory heron . Diet: Fish, aquatic invertebrates, small mammals, and insects. Lifespan : Oldest recorded, 22 years, 10 months . RELATED SPECIES There are 1 3 species in the family including the intermediate egret, Egretta intermedia, the snowy egret, E. thula, and the reddish egret, E. rufescens .

Range of the great white egret. DISTRIBUTION Found throughout North and South America, Africa south of the Sahara, Asia, and Australasia . Occurs in patches across southern and eastern Europe. CONSERVATION Although still numerous in the United States with over 100,000 pairs recorded, numbers are decreasing worldwide due to habitat loss and pollution .

r-;;ATURES OF THE GREAT WHITE EGRET Bill: Yellow with dark ti p outside breed ing season. Black with a yellow base during breeding season.

Neck: Long and curving. Coiled when egret is at rest or is in flight.

Eggs: Two to five pale blue. Usually only two to three survive to ulthood .

Plumage: EntireIy white. The longer display plumes grow from the lower back.

SOME RELATIVES OF THE GREAT WHITE EGRET

Great blue heron Ardea herodias

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/, Snowy egret ~Egretta thula

l

Cattle egret Ardeola ibis The snowy egret and great blue heron live in the United States. The cattle egret is an African species that has recently colonized in the United States.

The great white egret is a slender heron that haunts marshland margins. During the breeding season it displays a feathery cloak of delicate white plumes. (0MCMXCI IMP BVI IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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~ FOOD & FEEDING The great white egret stalks through shallow waters near the shore, searching for prey. As it walks it extends its neck, ready to stab with its spearshaped bill. It may also freeze and wait for prey, then move in slow motion, inching up on its unsuspecting victim. The great white egret eats a varied diet that changes through the year. In the wet season, fish such as carp and sunfish and small aquatic invertebrates are its chief food . During the drier months

The great white egret is the most widespread of all the herons, with a breeding range that spans five of the world's continents. But the nineteenth-century demand for fashionable egret-plumed hats caused mass slaughter of this handsome bird, and few of its populations have fully recovered from the losses.

~ HABITAT The great white egret is a member of the heron family. It ranges from low-lying coastal and inland wetlands to areas over a mile high in the mountains of the Soviet Union . It also inhabits arid regions of the world . The great white egret is a strong flyer and is partially migratory. Northern populations head south to winter with their southern relatives. During migration some birds fly astray and end up in the northern or southern extremes of their range.

~

GREAT WHITE EGRET & MAN

In the nineteenth century, demand for egret plumes for women's hats led to the widespread hunting of the bird. Public outcry resulted in laws that protected egrets. Their numbers rose briefly before falling again because of pollution and habitat loss.

DID YOU KNOW? the bird hunts a variety of small mammals, larger insects, snails, small reptiles, and nestling birds.

The great white egret most often hunts alone, but where food is plentiful it feeds in flocks of several hundred.

Far left: The great white egret curves its neck into its body when flying. Left: With its

long, stabbing beak, the egret grabs this small snake.

Male and female great white egrets pair in spring or after arriving from their wintering grounds. During courtship the male displays his 30 to 50 extended plumes. He greets his potential mate with plumes raised and wings wide open. Their nest is a large pile of dried reeds and twigs lined

inside with soft leaves and grass. The nest, measuring over three feet wide, is built close to the water among wet reed beds or high up in a tree. The pair finds a secluded site or nests in colonies of up to 50 pairs, sometimes with other species of heron. The female lays a clutch of

• The British-based Royal Society of the Protection of Birds was founded over 100 years ago in response to the large-scale killing of birds such as the great white egret. The RSPB is Europe's largest voluntary wildlife charity . • The egret's yellow beak turns black when the bird is ready to breed. • The great white egret is also called the great egret, the large egret, and the large white egret. _ _---I

I

pale blue eggs at two-day intervals . Both adults incubate the eggs. The young hatch at staggered intervals. The parents feed their down-covered chicks predigested food for six weeks . Even after they are fully fledged, the young stay with their parents until autumn.

Left: An adult

male preens himself in Florida 's Everglades National Park, where the species has established a breeding colony. Right: After

pairing in spring, the male and female build a nest together and take turns sitting on the eggs.

Above: Two or three egret chicks born each season are ready to leave their parents by autumn.

" CARD 80

EUROPEAN KESTREL ~___________________________________G ~R ~O ~U~P~2~:~B~ IR~D~S__~ ORDER Falconiformes

FAMILY Falconidae

GENUS & SPECIES Falco tinnunculus

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Head and body 12-14 in. Tail 4-6 in . Weight: Male, 5-9 oz. Female,

5 1/2-10 oz. Wingspan: 2-21/2 ft. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: April to July. Incubation period: 27-29 days. Clutch size: 3-6 eggs. Fledging period: 27-32 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Territorial, partly migratory; hunts by hovering. Diet: Chiefly voles, mice, and other small rodents. Lifespan: Usually 3-4 years. Oldest bird recorded 16 years. RELATED SPECIES The 38 species in the genus Falco include the lesser kestrel, F. naumanni, and the American kestrel, F. sparverius.

Range of the European kestrel.

DISTRIBUTION Europe south of Siberia, Africa, and east Asia. Northeastern populations w inter in central Europe, the Mediterranean, and north Africa. Asian birds winter in India and southern China. CONSERVATION Despite its loss of habitat, the kestrel is w idespread and common . Nearly 250,000 breeding pairs live in Europe.

FEATURES OF THE EUROPEAN KESTREL Both sexes: Heavily barred brown plumage with reddish back and paler underparts. Black cheek-flashes and bar on tail feathers . Male: Blue-gray head , rump , and tail.

The kestrel is one of Europe IS most common birds of prey. A familiar sight hovering above country roads, it also readily nests in the middle of towns and cities.

Nest: Does not build its own , but occupies another bird's unused nest, or uses a ledge or crevice in a cliff. Even nests on buildings.

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The kestrel is able to hover, apparently motionless, in even the strongest winds. With subtle adjustments in the trim of its wings and tail, the kestrel can keep its head perfectly still while watching for the movements of its prey below.

The kestrel hovers over grassland, looking for prey with its acute eyesight. It hunts at heights between 30 and 130 feet and may hover as high as 300 feet above short grass. Field voles provide more than 80 percent of the bird's diet. It also eats mice, shrews, moles, rats, frogs, and lizards. On the ground, it feeds on worms, insects, nestling birds, or small birds such as the meadow pipit. The kestrel is not well adapted for attacking while in the air. When it has spotted prey on the ground, the kestrel folds its wings and dives down. It may slow down to adjust its aim before completing the Left: The kestrel hovers by moving forward at the same speed as the wind it flies against.

The kestrel prefers to live in the open countryside for hunting. During breeding season, however, it prefers uncultivated grasslands, farmland, heaths (low-growing shrubs), and marshes. The European kestrel hunts in a wide range over cliffs and coastal dunes, rivers, and wooded valleys. The kestrel

One of the few hovering birds of prey in Europe, the kestrel is widespread and common . It may be seen hunting yea r-round over open land. It often hunts nea r roads, picking off ro-

has also learned to hunt successfully in human habitats such as town parks and busy roadsides. In its southern range, pairs stay in the same loose territories year-round. In the north, the kestrel migrates south in fall and north in spring. In some northern areas, mature kestrels do not migrate. dents as they run across. In fl ight, it can be identified by its long tail and long, pointed wings. The female's barred tail which is tipped with a black band serves to distingu ish her from other small birds of prey.

~ KESTREL & MAN

~FOOD & FEEDING

swoop, its sharp talons extended to seize the prey. Where prey is plentiful, the kestrel also hunts from a perch, making shallow dives whenever it spots a sign of food.

Above: A male kestrel returns from a hunt gripping a lizard in his hooked bill.

It usually eats its kill at a roost or nest, or sometimes, at the sight of the kill.

Although it was once hunted by gamekeepers, the kestrel is welcome by farmers because it controls rodents and insects from destroying farm crops. But the kestrel was affected by pesticide poisoning when its prey swallowed DDT and other chemicals. The kestrel eats such a wide variety of food that it was not as badly affected by the toxins as other falcons were. With greater control of farming pesticides, the kestrel's numbers have increased steadily. The kestrel has adapted very well to humans in its habitat, unlike many other birds of prey. Grassy spaces along roads provide homes for voles and mice for the kestrel to hunt. The kestrel will also search for food and nesting sites in towns.

~ BREEDING

DID YOU KNOW?

The male's display flights include mock dives at a sitting female, who then takes to the air to fly with the male. The kestrel does not build a nest. Instead it lays its eggs on rocky ledges, crevices, or in tree holes. It also uses old nests of other large birds such as crows and pigeons. In areas where trees and cliff ledges are not available, the kestrel nests in heather. The European kestrel mates in April, laying eggs at two- or three-day intervals. The female incubates the eggs while the male brings food. At first only the female feeds the young, but later as the chicks' appetites grow, both parents

• The kestrel is also called "windhover" and "standgale" for its ability to hover. • The kestrel nests on city tower blocks and church spires throughout Europe. One pair even nested in a tower of the House of Lords, in London, England . • In west, central, and southern Africa, the female kestrel sports the same slate-gray head and tail plumage as the male kestrel does. • Vole populations rise and fall in four-year cycles, producing similar fluctuations in the kestrel's numbers. • Kestrels living in the city produce fewer young .

feed them . The young leave the territory by late summer, but a few may stay well into fall.

Above: The parents tear prey into tiny scraps that can be dropped into the mouths of the hungry, clamoring chicks.