Wildlife Fact File - Birds - Pgs. 231-240

' " CARD 231

LONG-EARED OWL V

GROUP 2: BIRDS

,~----------------------------------------~ ORDER FAMILY GENUS &: SPECIES Strigifarmes

Strigidae

Asia atus

I

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 14-15 in. Wingspan: About 3 ft. Weight: 8-11 oz. BREEDING Breeding season: March to April. Eggs: 4-6; white. No. of broods: 1 . Incubation: About 1 month. Fledging: Almost 1 month. LIFESTYLE Habit: Mainly resident; northern birds move south in winter. Diet: Small rodents and birds.

Range of the long-eared owl.

Young are fed insects. RELATED SPECIES

DISTRIBUTION The long-eared owl is found in coniferous forests and mixed

The closest relative is the short-eared owl, Asia flammeus, which is found in the same areas. There are 4 oth-

woodland in North America, Europe, and Asia, except for the northernmost regions. It also lives in North Africa.

er species in the genus: the stygian owl, the Abyssinian long-eared owl, the African marsh owl, and the Mad-

CONSERVATION The long-eared owl is common throughout most of its range. Humans are its only real enemy.

agascar long-eared owl.

FEATURES OF THE LONG-EARED OWL Ear tufts: The distinctive characteristic of this owl. They play no part in hearing. The real ears are hidden on each side of the head.

Head: Round, rusty facial disk. Large yellow eyes. Small , sharp black bill.

Body: Medium-size and slender with large, powerful wings. Male and female have similar plumage. Owlet: Covered with downy white feathers at hatching . Plumage turns gray and then brown af-

Plumage: Buff or grayish; speckled toward top, mottled with darker streaks lower down. Breast is paler than back. Coloring blends perfectly with tree bark.

The long-eared owl is an elusive bird that lives in Europe, Asia, and North America. This skillful predator emerges at night to hunt for prey in its woodland habitat. ©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

US P 6001 12 073 PACKET 73

~ FOOD &: HUNTING The long-eared owl feeds primarily on field mice, but it also eats voles, shrews, and rats. In addition, it preys on small birds such as sparrows and finches, or even larger ones such as jays. When he is seeking food for his young, the male catches large quantities of insects, especially beetles such as katydids. The long-eared owl forages at night, gliding silently over

to detect prey. Whenever the owl finds a potential victim, it swoops down on it with deadIyaccuracy. Right: The long-eared owl holds itself very erect on a branch, especially when alarmed.

open country. It uses its keen night vision and acute hearing Left: The long-eared owl waits for total darkness before flying out to hunt its prey.

Right: In North America, this owl has yellower eyes and a redder facial disk than it does elsewhere.

The long-eared owl has prominent ear tufts that are among its distinguishing characteristics. These feathery tufts stand erect when the owl is alert, but they have nothing to do with the birds keen hearing. The real ears, on the sides of the head, can detect the faint squeak of a far-off rodent.

The long-eared owl lives mainly in pine woods, but it also inhabits mixed woodlands, heaths, and marshland. This bird is common in North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It avoids extremely cold areas and mi-

whistle, and a bark. The young have a call that is a cross between the sound of a creaking gate and a cat's meow. The long-eared owl usually roosts during the day, sitting erect on a branch to look like a

grates south from the northern part of its range in winter. Soft feathers give the longeared owl its silent flight. But with its wide range of calls this

woody stump. Sometimes it flattens itself against a tree trunk, where its mottled feathers blend in to provide excellent camou-

is repeated every few seconds. It also has a catlike whine, a shrill

together and mob the owl in an attempt to drive it away. • During the cold weather of

• When a long-eared owl moves into an area of woodland, small birds may band

fall and winter, small groups of long-eared owls may join together to roost.

The long-eared owl is hard to

I

spot since its plumage camouflages it in the trees. If you are lucky, you may see owlets on a branch near the nest.

~ BREEDING

~ HABITS

bird is often noisy, especially in the breeding season. Its main call is a long cooing note, which

DID YOU KNOW? • The long-eared owl has such a flexible neck that it can rotate its head 270 degrees.

flage. If disturbed, the bird spreads its wings and makes hissing and snapping noises. Right: When in danger, the owlet makes itself look larger by spreading out its wings.

Sometimes confused with the short-eared owl, the longeared owl is slimmer and has much longer ear tufts . It also has more bars on its tail.

The breeding season of the long-eared owl begins early in spring. During his courtship display, the male claps his wings together in a slow, lazy flight. This owl rarely builds its own nest. Instead, it takes over and expands the abandoned nests of other birds such as crows and hawks. Sometimes it uses a squir-

feathers, which turn gray and

rel's nest. In open country it may build its own nest on the ground. The female lays four to six pure white eggs. Incubation starts when the first egg is laid, so the young do not hatch all at once. The owlets have downy white

wing is broken. After about three weeks the young begin leaving the nest, climbing on branches as they learn to balance and grip. They can fly at almost a month old and hunt at two months old.

then brown in a few days. The male hunts for his family, giving his mate food, which she then passes on to the hatchlings. If food is scarce, only the larger, older owlets survive. In order to protect her young, the female may lure a predator away from the nest by pretending that her

' " CARD 232

STREAMERTAIL , ,___________________________________G~R_O~U~P~ 2 :~B~I~ RD ~S~~ ~

ORDER

~ Apodiformes

FAMILY Trochilidae

~

GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Trochilus polytmus

I

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Body, lOin. Tail, up to 7 in. (male). Weight: Less than 1.; oz. BREEDING Mating: Outside the rainy season, which is from October to May. No. of broods: 1-2. Eggs: 2; white, elongated. Incubation: 2-3 weeks. Fledging period: 3-4 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Day-active. Vital bodily processes slow down at night to conserve energy. Diet: Mostly nectar; also some flying insects. Call: Distinctive "tee-tee-tee."

Range of the streamertail.

DISTRIBUTION The streamertail is found only on the island of jamaica in the West Indies. CONSERVATION

RELATED SPECIES The hummingbird family to which the streamertail belongs contains more than 320 species grouped

The streamertail is a common bird in jamaica, and its numbers appear to be stable. It seems to thrive in open spaces, so it is not threatened by the clearance of much of jamaica's forest.

into 112. genera.

FEATURES OF THE STREAMERTAIL Flight: By adjusting the angle and speed of its wings, the streamertail can fly in any direction , even backward , and can easily hover.

Male: Easily identified by his long tail feathers and striking iridescent plumage.

Bill: Long and slender for

probing the heads of flowers . Red , ending in darkened tip . Male's bill is brighter than female 's.

Female: Slightly smaller than the male, with much shorter tail feathers that have white tips. White chest plumage.

The streamertail gets its name from the male ~ elongated tail feathers, which can measure up to seven inches in length. This hummingbird is found only on the Caribbean island of Jamaica. © MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

0160200841 PACKET 84

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The streamertail occasionally feeds on insects, but it prefers nectar-the sweet liquid that is found at the base of a blossom . Nectar is rich in sugar and carbohydrates that can be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Insects, by contrast, are very hard to catch and take longer to digest. Many flowers are so delicate that they would break if the

streamertail tried to land on them . So the bird hovers near each flower instead. It dips its very long and slender bill into the bloom, lapping up the nectar with its long, thin tongue. Right: In Jamaica, the streamertail

is also called the doctor bird because of its long, dark "coattails. "

Left: At night the streamertail

"hibernates, slowing its body functions to conserve energy. /I

Right: The male streamertail is the most striking and elegant of all Jamaica5 hummingbirds.

The streamertail is very clumsy on the ground. Howeve" it is extremely agile in the air and is even able to fly backward. Like all hummingbirds, the streamertail spends much of the day in flight. It flits from flower to flo we" lapping up all the nectar it needs with its long, thin tongue.

DID YOU KNOW? • The black-billed streamertail of eastern Jamaica was recognized as a subspecies of the streamertail in 1902. • In flight, the male streamertail produces a loud, whirring

sound. The sound comes from air rushing over the scalloped inner feathers of the long tail, causing them to vibrate. • The streamertail's wings beat 22 to 78 times per second. ~

~ HABITS The streamertail is one of the most abundant hummingbirds in Jamaica. It can be found in a variety of habitats, from mangrove swamps to dry woodland, but it is most common in forests at sea level. Highly territorial, it uses its long, sharp beak to peck at birds that attempt to feed from flowers in its territory. The streamertail is most active at dusk, when it has to feed on enough nectar to survive the night. It conserves energy by falling into a deep sleep, lowering its body temperature to that of the air, and slowing its bodily functions to a minimum .

When the breeding season begins, male streamertails gather in groups and attempt to attract mates. Breeding usually occurs before or after the rainy season to coincide with an abundance of flowering plants. Dry weather also ensures that the bird's delicate nest will remain intact. The nest is built by the female from cotton threads, fern hairs, or milkweed down, bound together with the sticky thread of spiderwebs. She then lays two eggs and incubates them Left: The streamertail hovers with

perfect control before inserting its bill into a blossom.

for two to three weeks. The nest appears too small for its occupants, but its flexible structure lets it expand to accommodate the growing chicks. The mother works hard to feed her young. She makes short, frequent trips from the nest, returning to regurgitate food into the chicks' throats . She also keeps the nest clean, removing the chicks' waste matter. As they grow older, the young learn to shoot their waste straight out of the nest. The offspring grow quickly and are fully fledged and ready to leave the nest in three to four weeks.

KEY FACTS

YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILL ,,---------------------------------~~~~~~~ . . GENUS & SPECIES FAMILY ORDER ~

~ Coraciiformes

Bucerotidae

~ Tockus flavirostris, T. leucomelas

SIZES Length: 22 in. Weight: 4-6 lb . BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. No. of broods: 1 per year. Breeding season: In the rainy season, when food is plentiful. Eggs: 2-6 per clutch; white. Fledging period: About 1 Z; months. LIFESTYLE Call: Various sounds, including wh istles and cackles. Habit: Live in pairs or small groups; often mate for life. Diet: Insects, fruit, and berries. Occasionally small reptiles and mammals. RELATED SPECIES The 2 species-the southern yellowbilled hornbill, Tockus leucomelas, and the eastern yellow-billed hornbill, T. flavirostris-are very similar.

Range of yellow-billed horn bills.

DISTRIBUTION The southern yellow-billed horn bill is found in Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and parts of South Africa. The eastern yellow-billed horn bill is found in Sudan, Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. CONSERVATION Some populations have been affected by land clearance, but conservation measures do not seem necessary.

FEATURES OF YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILLS

Bill: Bright yel-

low and curving downward. The narrow ridge along the top may be a strengthening device.

Plumage:

Coarse blackand-white feathchest and flecked wings.

NEST AND EGGS

Wings: Mus-

The two species of yellow-billed hornbill are large African birds with flecked black-and-white plumage. As their common name suggests, these birds have bright yellow bills.

cular, giving the bird a strong flight. © MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Using a mixture of mud, dirt, and droppings, the male and female seal up a nest hole in a tree, leaving a narrow slit through which food can be passed . Inside the female lays 2 to 6 white eggs.

0160200641 PACKET 64

~ FOOD & FEEDING

• ,African villagers often keep horn bills as pets because the birds become tame and playful in captivity. • Some large horn bill species make a whooshing sound when they fly because the arrangement of their wing feathers leaves gaps between the flight quills. • To keep their nest clean, the female and the chicks excrete through the slit at the front. They also push indigestible parts of their food out through the slit.

Yellow-billed horn bills adapt their diet to their location and the availability of food. They eat mainly insects, supplemented by fruit and berries. They may at times eat small snakes, other reptiles, and small mammals. The birds feed on the ground and in the trees. They usually swallow their food whole and regurgitate anything they cannot digest, such as the hard parts of insects. To kill a snake, a yellow-billed horn bill holds it down and beats it with its bill.

• The hornbill's nesting habits have gained it a place in folklore. In several African tribes the bird is a symbol of marital fidelity.

Left: Yellow-billed hornbills are noisy birds that are more likely to be heard than seen. Many pairs are thought to mate for life.

~ BREEDING Yellow-billed horn bills, along with other members

of the genus Tockus, are the smallest hornbills. The breeding habits of hornbills as a group are unusual. The male helps seal the female inside a hole in a tree, where she lays her eggs. Even after the eggs hatch, the female remains in the hole until the chicks are half-grown.

~ HABITS Yellow-billed horn bills live together in pairs or small groups of up to a dozen birds in scrub and forests. They are most active in the cool early mornings, late afternoons, and evenings. At night groups of birds roost high up in the trees. Yellow-billed hornbills have distinctive bright yellow bills, but their bills are smaller than

those of the great horn bill and other species. They make a variety of sounds, including cackles, squeals, whistles, and roars, and their loud voices carry for long distances. Yellow-billed hornbills have a strong flight, alternating short sailing glides with slow, heavy wing beats. On the ground, they hop around awkwardly.

A pair of yellow-billed hornbills choose an old nesting hole of another bird or a natural tree hole. When the female is ready to lay her eggs, she enters the hole. With the female working from inside and the male from outside, the pair seal the hole with a mud mixture, leaving only a narrow slit open. As it dries, the mud mixture hardens into a bricklike consistency, protecting the nest from any predators. The female lays her eggs and incubates them. After they hatch, she stays inside the hole another three weeks. Throughout this period, the male feeds the female, using the tip of his bill to pass morsels through the slit in the mud. The male also feeds the chicks regurgitated food. When the chicks are halfgrown, the female chips away

Left: The curved bill of a yellowbilled hornbill helps it catch insects and grubs.

the dried mud and emerges. Although well fed, she is so weak she can hardly fly. The chicks then seal themselves inside the nest for another three weeks or so, until

they are fully grown. After they finally emerge, these young birds spend several days in the tree, strengthening their wings until they are ready to fly.

Below: A male yellow-billed hornbill arrives at the nest hole with food. To pass it inside, he clutches the tree trunk just below the hole and uses his tail as a prop.

KEY FACTS

COMMON MURRE , ,___________________________________G~R~OUP2 : ORDER Charadriiformes

FAMILY Alcidae

BIRDS

GENUS & SPECIES Uria aalge

SIZES Length: 15-17 in. Wingspan: About 2 ft. Weight: About 1 ~ lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 5 years. Breeding season: April to July. No. of broods: 1 . Eggs: 1; pointed. Incubation: 4-5 weeks. Fledging period: 7-10 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, but territorial in the breeding season. Winters at sea. Diet: Fish, crabs, and squid. Call: Usually silent. "Growls" during the mating season. lifespan: Unknown. RELATED SPECIES The 22 species of auk in the family Alcidae include the thick-billed murre, Uria 10m via; the black guille-

•

Range of the common murre.

DISTRIBUTION The common murre is found along the Atlantic coasts of Canada, Greenland, and northern Europe, and along the Pacific coasts of northern Asia and North America. CONSERVATION Shooting of the common murre is now controlled, but marine pollution from oil and chemicals still poses a threat.

mot, Cepphus gryl/e; and the razorbill, Alco torda.

I FEATURES OF THE COMMON MURRE Summer plumage: Brown upperparts in summer. Coloring darkens in birds farther north, and some are almost black.

Winter plumage: Breast, chin, th roat, and sides of the neck are white except for a black line that runs back from the eye. Egg: 1; often whitish but color may vary. Its painted end prevents it from rolling off ledges.

The common murre is a sociable bird that breeds on coastal cliffs and hunts in the ocean. With its dark head, white underparts, and upright stance, it resembles a small penguin. ©MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

US P 6001 12069 PACKET 69

~ BREEDING Like most auks, the common murre is a quiet bird most of the time. But during pair formation, nesting, and territorial disputes, this bird utters loud and raucous calls. The male and female pair for life and use the same nesting site each year. The open nest is usually located on a cliff or seafacing ledge. The pair's single egg is pointed at the end, so that it rolls in a circle instead of rolling off the narrow rock Left: Its daggerlike bill and longer neck distinguish the common murre from the razorbill.

open sea. Right: Breeding areas are packed so tightly that each murre may touch several others.

DID YOU KNOW? • Ayoung murre utters a special "pain call" when it has difficulty digesting food.

on narrow cliff ledges on the temperate and northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific. But it spends most of the

• It is thought that the common murre can dive as deep as 200 feet and stay underwater as long as two minutes.

year on the open water, returning to land only in the breeding season. An expert swimmer, this bird seems L

n different places, the com-

is very vulnerable to predators in its exposed nest on a rocky ledge. The male takes the chick to the sea a few weeks after its birth, before it can even fly.

mon murre may be called the thin-billed murre, California murre, Atlantic murre, guillemot, or foolish guillemot. • The common murre is closely related to the extinct : reat J auk, which was slaughtered by sailors for its meat.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING

~ HABITS The common murre is found in throngs along coasts and on small islands in the Northern

be seen together, flying low over the water or bobbing on ocean swells.

Hemisphere, up to the Arctic Circle. A hardy seabird, it tolerates wind, cold, and rain but tends to avoid ice. The bird spends just three or four months of the year on land, nesting on the ledges of rocky cliff faces. Breeding colonies are crowded and noisy, with hundreds of birds engaged in courtship rituals and territorial fights. But at sea, murres travel in small, silent flocks.

To search for food or to escape predators, a murre may go un-

In winter the birds leave their rocky breeding sites and head in all directions. A few birds may

fly, half-jump down to the water. The male bird follows the chick and leads it out to the

Left: The chick

The common murre can be spotted nesting in large colonies

to "fly" underwater with the aid of its wings.

shelf. It faces other dangers, however, such as rock falls and high winds. Both parents take part in the month-long incubation and guard the egg against predators. Both bring food to the chick. After two or three weeks, before the chick can really fly, its parents encourage it to half-

derwater by kicking both its feet and partly opening its wings. Once it is underwater, the bird uses its webbed feet as a rudder and flaps its stubby, muscular wings in order to propel itself through the water. In flight, the rapid beat of the common murre's short wings makes a whirring sound that is characteristic of the auk family. Right: The common murre may travel 30 miles in search of small fish to feed its young.

The common murre has a long, narrow bill well suited to fishing. It captures its prey in the water or snatches it from the seabed . Swimming underwater, the common murre swallows a variety of fish, including Arctic cod, herring, and sprats. Occasionally it hunts for crabs, worms, and squid. When it forages for its

~

chick, it catches small fish such as sprats or sand eels and carries them to the nest in its bill. To find its prey, a murre may repeatedly dip its head in the water and then dive to make the catch . Or it may crash-land above a school of fish and dive at once. A typical dive is 60 feet deep and lasts 45 seconds.

BIRDWATCH

In spring noisy flocks of com-

mon murres gather in nesting colonies on rocky ledges. In the United States, there is a

large colony on the Farallon Islands in California and another huge colony at Three Arch Rocks in Oregon .

CARD 235 J

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD

,,-----------------------~

ORDER Apodiformes

FAMILY Trochilidae

GENUS & SPECIES Cynanthus latirostris

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 3-4 in . Weight: !4 oz. BREEDING Mating season: April to May. Eggs: Usually 2. Incubation: 2 weeks. Fledging period: 3 - 3 ~ weeks.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Day-active; solitary. Diet: Pollen, nectar, insects, and spiders. Call: Chattering notes. Male utters a "zing" display call. Lifespan: Unknown.

Range of the broad-billed hummingbird.

DISTRIBUTION Found from southern Arizona and Texas to southern Mexico. Northern breeding birds may migrate south in fall.

RELATED SPECIES There are approximately 320 species of hummingbird, all in the Western Hemisphere. The closest relative is the dusky hummingbird, Cynanthus sordidus, of Mexico.

CONSERVATION During the 19th century, hummingbirds were exported to Europe, where their feathers were used as fashion accessories. Today the broad-billed hummingbird is relatively unaffected by human activity.

FEATURES OF THE BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD Eyes: Large. Give sharp vision . Male: Vivid green above and below with white undertail coverts. Glittering blue throat and cheeks.

Female: Dull green upperparts, pale gray below.

Bill: Long and slightly curved . Bright red tipped with black.

Nest: Small cup made of plant matter, twigs, and bark woven with spiderwebs.

Despite its delicate appearance, the broad-billed hummingbird is a bold, quarrelsome bird that will readily attack any intruder that strays into its territory.

Tail: Black and somewhat forked.

© MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'M

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

0160200811 PACKET 81

~ BREEDING

The broad-billed hummingbird breeds in spring, when its favorite food plants are flowering. These solitary birds gather in groups only during the breeding season when trying to attract mates. The male displays to the female with an arcing, pendulumlike flight. He leaves after mating, taking no part in rearing the young. The female builds her nest on a branch that is several feet above the ground. The nest is a small, lichen-covered cup of plant matter, bark, and twigs bound together with spiderwebs. The female usually lays two white eggs and incubates them for about two weeks.

The young hatch featherless, thin, and hungry. Their mother feeds them continuously for about three weeks. She thrusts her bill down her offspring's gullet and regurgitates nectar and insects into its stomach. The young birds grow fast. They cannot move about on their legs, but they can fly and often engage in playful flights together. After the young leave the nest, the female may mate again and raise another brood. Right: Perching on the nest to feed her hungry young, the female briefly rests her wings.

Left: This species' wings beat up to 75 times per second, quite slow for a hummingbird.

Right: The female broad-billed hummingbird may decorate her nest with strips of bark.

The broad-billed hummingbird is in flight virtually all day long. Activities such as feeding on nectar, bathing in the dew collected on flowers, and defending its territory are all accompanied by the frenzied beating of its wings. In order to sustain this aerial activity, the bird must conserve energy whenever it can. For this reason, it spends the night in a dormant state, similar to that of an animal in hibernation.

• The broad-billed hummingbird can fly at speeds of over 28 miles per hour. • The humming noise made by the bird's beating wings is pitched on the note of C. • The broad-billed hummingbird's heart can beat up to 1,200 times per minute, or 20 times per second.

• People burn about 3,500 calories daily; hummingbirds burn 155,000. To sustain the same level of activity as this bird, a human would need to eat over 220 pounds of hamburger each day. • On a typical day, the hummingbird may visit 2,000 flowers to feed.

~ FOOD fit FEEDING

~ HABITAT Most hummingbirds are found in the dense forests of Central and South America. However, the broad-billed hummingbird lives farther north, breeding up to the southern United States. Unlike its relatives, this bird prefers dry or desert regions. It lives among mesquite and sycamore

DID YOU KNOW?

scrub between rocky outcrops in canyons and gullies. This hummingbird rarely strays far from places where its favorite plants grow, but it may migrate locally to find food. Right: With its long, curved bill, a hummingbird can penetrate deep into tube-shaped blossoms.

Because the broad-billed hummingbird spends so much time in flight, it needs large quantities of energy-rich food. With its wings beating very rapidly, it hovers beside a flower and inserts its long and slightly curved bill into the blossom. It draws out the sugary nectar with

darting movements of its extended tongue. The bird also obtains essential proteins from insects and spiders. It captures insects by hovering behind and below them, then darting up to catch them in its bill. It may also steal insects from a spider's web.

KEY FACTS

--------~~----

AFRICAN JACANA GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER Charadriiformes

FAMILY Jacanidae

GENUS &: SPEC IES Actophilornis africanus

SIZES Length: 9-12 in . Wing length: Male, 5 in . Female,

6 in. Weight : Male, 4-8 oz. Female, 6-10 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1-2 years. Mating: Varies in different regions.

L

Usually most or all months. No. of eggs: Up to 4. Incubat ion: 3-4 weeks.

Range of the African jacana.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable. Diet: Insects and their larvae, crus-

DISTRIBUTION

taceans, and aquatic plants.

Found on open waters throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa,

Call: Wh ining and clucking sounds.

w ith the exception of Somalia and some pockets along the

lifespan: Up to 13 years in captivity.

coastal regions of western and southwestern Africa.

Unknown in the wild.

CONSERVATION

RELATED SPECIES

The African jacana is common across most of its range and is

Jacanas are related to plovers. The

not a threatened species.

lesser jacana, Microparra capensis, is closely related.

FEATURES OF THE AFRI CAN JACANA Plumage: Rich chestnut brown

body and wing feathers. Golden chest. Black tai l feathers.

Head: White face with black stripe through eye and bright blue forehead. Bill: Straight with slightly down-curved ~I!II... tip.

.......

The African jacana has such long toes that it is capable of walking across flo ating water plants without sinking. In Africa one of the bird's common names is "lily trotter."

Toes: Long ; 3 face forward and 1 faces back. Thin, sharp claws. Elongated hind claw braces the bird. Toes enable the bird to spread its weight over a ~II!I:"".",,-- Iarge area when walking on floating vegetation . © MCM XCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'M

----------------------------------------------~ PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200821 PACKET 82

~ FOOD & FEEDING The African jacana eats insects, small invertebrates, and crustaceans, as well as the seeds and leaves of water lilies and other aquatic plants. It usually feeds near the shore, foraging in pairs,

male and may venture 300 feet out onto the water. Walking steadily over the water plants, the African jacana pecks and pulls at leaves. It flips them Left: The African jacana has long,

Right: The African jacana searches

thin toes that enable it to walk on water lilies with ease.

for its prey along the muddy shores of lakes.

family groups, or larger parties that spread out over an area of 150 feet or more. The female is frequently more daring than the

The African jacana is at home in stagnant water, where it walks with ease across floating lily pads. This bird is also a strong swimmer and often dives underwater to avoid

enemies. The male incubates the eggs and rears the chicks, defending them from predators. He distracts any intruders by flying away from the nest, then spreading his wings and collapsing into vegetation, pretending to be injured.

over and then looks for small creatures that may be clinging to the undersides. This bird also utilizes its bill to fish for larvae. Occasionally it snatches insects from the air, then dips them into the water to make them easier to swallow. The African jacana may perch alone or in groups on the backs of hippopotamuses that are halfsubmerged in the water. When these animals move, they stir up many insects on which the jacana can prey.

DID YOU KNOW? • The male often broods his young while walking, carrying them around in "pockets" that are formed by his folded wings. The chicks are hidden except for their long toes, which dangle below. The male also uses his w ings to scoop the chicks into the pockets if danger threatens.

Left: When the male carries his young under his wings, only their feet are visible.

Right: The chick ventures out from the nest a few hours after hatching.

~ HABITAT The African jacana flourishes in most of the fertile coastal and inland regions south of the Sahara Desert. It prefers stagnant water that

gions, especially in southwestern Africa, around the Sahara, and the Horn of Africa. Because of its need for water, the bird favors low-lying country, and

When ready to attract the larger female, the male constructs a nest of rotting weeds. He may also use a leaf or a lump of floating peat. He clucks softly while

have become too hot in the sun while he has been away, he stands up to shade them with his body. The chicks hatch in three to

is covered with water lilies and other pondweeds. The African jacana thrives near marshes, lagoons, slow-flowing rivers, and on flooded grassland. It may also be found on the banks of Africa's biggest lakes, including Lake Chad and Lake Victoria. The African jacana is common

it rarely strays any higher than 6,500 feet.

pulling pieces of nesting material out with his bill. The female

The African jacana generally stays within a localized home range. But a flock may have to move if its main source of water dries out. This can involve a journey of hundreds of miles.

sometimes takes a single mate, but she may have up to four in one year. The male incubates the eggs, sitting on them for about half an hour at a time. After short breaks for hunting, he returns to the nest and lowers himself slowly onto the eggs. If they

four weeks. They are strong enough to leave the nest within a few hours. The male rears the chicks, but the female visits from time to time. She frequently returns to look after her offspring when they can swim. After two or three weeks, the female chicks are noticeably larger than the males. They also fly at an earlier age.

throughout much of its range . But flocks are scarcer in arid re-

Right: In a reversal of usual roles, the male rather than the female incubates the eggs.

KEY FACTS

PUFFBIRD

SIZES Length: 5-12 in.

ORDER Piciformes

FAMILY Buccanidae

Weight: 1-3 oz.

GENERA Bucca, Notharchus, Nystalus, etc.

BREEDING Breeding season: Usually in the first half of the year. Eggs: 2 or 3; white, round . Incubation period: Variable. Fledging period: 20-30 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Mainly pairs, some groups. Diet: Insects, small lizards and frogs, some fruit. Call: Weak whistles.

Range of puffbirds.

RELATED SPECIES

DISTRIBUTION

The family Buccanidae has 34 species. These include the puffbirds of

Amazon basin. Also found in smaller numbers as far north as

the genera Notharchus, Bucca, Nys-

southern Mexico and as far south as Paraguay.

talus, Hypnelus, and Malacopti/a; the nunbirds, Haploptila and Monasa; the monklets and nun lets, Micromonacha and Nonnula, and the swallow-wing, Chelidoptera tenebrosa.

Most abundant in lowland woods and forested areas in the

CONSERVATION Like many other birds in their range, puffbirds are suffering from loss of habitat.

TYPICAL PUFFBIRD SPECIES

White-necked puffbird Notharchus macrorhyncus

Spot-backed puffbird Nystalus maculatus

Mustached puffbird Malacoptila mystacalis Russet-throated puffbird Hypne/us ruficollis Appearance : Puffbirds are characterized by their large heads and small , stocky bodies. They also have wide bills that are more hooked in some species. The exception to these general characteristics is the swallowwing, which has a smaller head and a more streamlined body.

Puffbirds are named for their stout, "puffy" appearance. These birds belong to a family that includes nunbirds, monklets, and nunlets-names that reflect their sober coloring. 'c)

MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

PRINTED IN U.S.A

0160200581 PACKET 58

~ BREEDING

The tropical forests and woodlands of Central and South America are home to puffbirds. With their stocky bodies and their large heads, most species are similar in shape to kingfishers. The German name for puffbird means "Iazy bird. 1/ The name may have been chosen because puffbirds have a habit of perching without moving for long periods, waiting for prey to appear.

nest chamber, which they line with dry leaves. Both male and female puffbirds incubate their clutch of two or three eggs. When the eggs hatch, the blind, naked young are kept warm by the male, while the female brings them food. Within a few days, the nestlings can crawl up to the entrance hole to take food . The male can then leave them and help the female look for food. After three weeks the young birds have a full set of feathers and are able to leave the nest.

Left: The two claws at the front and back of a puffbird's feet provide a good grip.

Right: The white-eared puffbird is widely distributed across central South America.

Left: The black-

DID YOU KNOW? • The white-fronted nunbird conceals the entrance of its nest with sticks. The blackfronted nunbird constructs a tunnel of leaves and twigs along the ground so it can enter the nest unseen . • When they return to the nest at night, young puffbirds of some species seal

fronted nunbird has the thick, slightly hooked bill that is common among puffbirds. This bill is adapted to catching the insects that are the mainstay of its diet.

the entrance tunnel by rearranging the lining of leaves from the nest chamber. • Little soil is found outside a tunnel that has been dug by puffbirds. It is believed that the birds carry the soil away so that predators will not find out where the nest is located.

~

~ HABITS Puffbirds remain in one small region for years. Most species perch on exposed branches on the edges of woodland or in forest clearings. However the black-breasted puffbird prefers to stay hidden in the forest canopy. Most puffbirds perch close to the ground and seldom descend to the forest floor except when nesting. They rarely flit about in the foliage, but the small nunlet is an ex-

Most puffbirds dig out a nest in the forest floor. Both male and female use their stout bills to make a tunnel that leads to a nest chamber. Puffbirds of the genus Notharchus, including the black-breasted, whitenecked, brown-banded, and pied species, dig deep into the nests of termites. The entrance tunnel slopes downward. In the case of the swallow-wing, it may be up to seven feet long. It takes a pair about two weeks to dig out a tunnel. They then enlarge the tunnel's inner end to form a

ception. It can be seen hopping from branch to branch, searching for food . Puffbirds are usually seen in pairs. Nunbirds are among the most sociable species. Up tol 0 nunbirds can be seen perching together on a branch. Puffbirds are generally very silent. But some species, such as the black-breasted, whitenecked, and pied puffbirds, give loud whistles that break long periods of silence.

FOOD & FEEDING

Puffbirds feed mainly on insects, especially beetles. The birds sit still for long periods, then swoop down and snap up passing prey. Certain species also eat small lizards and frogs, which they find in the foliage or on the floor of the forest. Occasionally puffbirds also feed on fruit. The swallow-wing is unusual Left: Unlike some other species, the spot-backed puffbird has bold coloring.

because it eats only flying insects. It makes frequent short flights from its perch to find the flying ants that make up the bulk of its diet. Like a flycatcher, it darts out to catch an insect in flight and then returns to its perch. Young puffbirds are fed almost exclusively on large insects. White-fronted puffbird adults that have no young of their own may help feed the young of others.

KEY FACTS

CHOUGH

,,~----------------~

ORDER Passeriformes

FAMILY Corvidae

GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS & SPECIES Pyrrhocorox pyrrhocorox

SIZES Length: 16-18 in. Bill length: Male, 2-2~ in. Female, 1 ~-2 in. Weight: 12-13 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: April to June. Eggs: 3-5; rarely, 2 or 6. Incubation: 2~-3 weeks. Fledging period: About 6 weeks.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives in pairs, family groups, or loose flocks. Diet: Mainly insects and larvae; also other invertebrates and seeds. Lifespan: Oldest known, 1 7 years.

RELATED SPECIES The closest relative is the Alpine chough, Pyrrhocorox grocu/us.

Range of the chough. DISTRIBUTION Found in northwestern and southern Europe, the Canary Islands, northwestern Africa, Ethiopia, and Turkey east through Iran and Central Asia to southern Siberia and northern China. CONSERVATION The chough population has declined severely over the last two centuries in many parts of western Europe as well as other parts of its range.

FEATURES OF THE CHOUGH Bill: Bright red , tapering, and downward-

Plumage: Adult is a uniform glossy black. Juvenile is less glossy and has an orange-yellow bill.

Flight: Reveals broad wings that have slotted tips . The chough is known for its aerobatics. It wheels around cliffs, climbing high, diving, and even turning somersaults.

The chough is generally found around mountains and sea cliffs. It is the only member of the crow family that has a bright red bill, which provides a striking contrast to its glossy black plumage.

Eggs: Usually 3 to 5. They are speckled but may show marked variations in color. ©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

us

P 6001 12 076 PACKET 76

~ FOOD fit FEEDING

The chough was once common in western and southern Europe, where it could be seen performing spectacular flying feats above its rocky nesting sites. Over the last two centuries, however, the chough s numbers have dropped in many parts of its range. Naturalists have been unable to determine

the reasons for this decline in the birds population.

~ HABITS The chough has an extensive but scattered range across Europe and Asia. It usually lives on rugged mountain slopes, but it can also be found around quarries, rocky valleys, and sea cliffs. Populations that live at higher altitudes move down in winter to escape the cold. The agile chough uses updrafts and wind currents to swoop and dive past rock faces. It soars and glides with its wingtips spread and then moves with a slow, leisurely flapping . The bird often performs aerobatic displays, div-

ing with its wings drawn in or turning on its back in midair. The chough often appears in loose flocks of up to 100 individuals, especially at winter roosts. But the bird's closest ties are between pairs or family members, which vigorously defend their feeding sites. Interlopers are forced away by a threat display, in which the feathers are ruffled and the bill is opened. Rivals may also stand upright with their bills pointing down and their feathers smoothed-a posture that often leads to fighting.

Unlike other crows, the chough only rarely scavenges for scraps of garbage. Occasionally it consumes grain, but the bulk of its diet consists of invertebrates, mainly small insects. It regularly preys on beetles, ants, flies and their larvae, caterpillars, crickets, spiders, and worms. The chough finds some of its food on the rocky ledges of its roosting and nesting sites, but it prefers to forage close to home in patches of closely cropped grass or bare earth. In winter, populations in coastal areas may

forage on the shoreline. In a few areas, such as the Canary Islands, the birds find food in trees. The chough often flips over stones and droppings in search of prey. It also probes the soil with its curved bill, to a depth of two inches. The bird finds much of its food in ants' nests. Using its bill it probes the nest at all angles, pulling out adults, larvae, and pupae. It sometimes stabs downward with its bill, in a rapid, pecking motion that is frequently described as a "sewing machine" action.

Left: Grassy slopes on top of the chough 5 cliffside nest sites offer a plentiful supply of insects.

Right: The chough often nests on the narrow ledges of abandoned quarries and mines.

DID YOU KNOW? • When food is plentiful the chough may store it, concealing supplies in rock crevices. • In the Himalayas, choughs regularly nest at altitudes of 11,000 feet and forage even higher than that. • One chough's nest was dis-

covered in the Alps lined with fiber from a discarded coconut shell as well as felt from an old carpet. • The primary enemy of the chough is the peregri~e, a powerful fdlcon that also frequents cliffs and rocky ledges.

~I BIRDWATCH The chough can be differentiated from other crows by its bright red bill and legs, as well as its loud "keeaar" call. Like all crows, the adult chough has glossy black plumage. The young are not as glossy, and

~ BREEDING

Courtship between choughs entails ritual displays on the ground as well as spectacular flights. Two competing males may strut toward a female with tails turned upward, feathers ruffled, wings drooped, and heads down. After pairing, the choughs may preen one another. The male often feeds the female, a practice he continues when she incubates. Choughs do not usually nest in groups, but in a suitable place Left: The chough 's nest is made of twigs and plant stems and lined with wool, hair, and grass.

they have orange-yellow bills. The chough's broad wings, with their slotted tips, are clearly visible in flight. In the breeding season, both male and female can be seen engaging in their aerial courtship display.

their nests may be fairly close together. The nesting site may be a cliff ledge, crevice, cave, or hole in an abandoned building. In the easternmost parts of its range, the bird may even nest in occupied houses. Both parents give the hatchlings regurgitated food, but the female alone cleans the chicks and keeps them warm. The young leave the nest in five to six weeks but stay in the shelter of crevices and overhangs for several days longer, until they are ready to fly.

' " CARD 239 I

BEARDED REEDLING , ,__________________________________G ~ RO ~U ~P ~ 2:~B~I~ RD ~S~~ ~

ORDER ~ Passeriformes

.... FAMILY ~ Paradoxornithidae

GENUS & SPECIES Panurus biarmicus

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 4-5 in. Weight: ~-% oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: April to July. Eggs: 5-7; white with brown streaks. No. of broods: 2-3. Incubation: 12-13 days. Fledging period: 9-13 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable. Pairs for life. Often nests in loose colonies. Diet: Mainly insects and seeds. Call: A nasal, ringing "ping ping."

Range of the bearded reed ling.

lifespan: Oldest known, 6 years.

DISTRIBUTION The bearded reedling is becoming a familiar breeder in western

RELATED SPECIES

Europe. It also lives and breeds in eastern Europe and southern, central, and western Asia.

There are 19 species of parrotbill, mostly in Southeast Asia. They include the three-toed parrotbill, Paradoxornis paradoxus, of China.

CONSERVATION Harsh winters and the drainage of marshland are the primary threats to the bearded reedling. It is a protected species in several European countries.

FEATURES OF THE BEARDED REEDLING

Male: Tawny body, bluegray head, and black mustache. Predominantly black and brown wings. Black undertail.

Flight: With its wings whirring rapidly and its tail fanning rhythmically, the bearded reedling skims over the tops of reeds.

Female: Brown head, white chest, and brownand-black wings.

Eggs: 5 to 7; white with brown streaks.

Although the bearded reedling looks like a member of the titmouse family, it is barely related. Instead, it belongs to a family of predominantly Asian birds that are called parrotbills.

© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

PRINTED IN U.S:A.

0160200801 PACKET 80

~ BREEDING

The bearded reedling, also called the bearded tit, gets its name from the male's distinctive facial markings. Its status as a protected species in several European countries has increased this bird's numbers. Today its bell-like call is a familiar sound among the reed beds across its range.

~ HABITS

The bearded reedling is a bold, sociable bird. In winter the birds live in flocks of up to 50 individuals. For the rest of the year they live in extended family groups. An acrobatic bird, the bearded reedling hops up and down the reeds with quick and jerky movements. It perches by grasping stems with both feet and sus-

The pair builds a cup-shaped nest just above the water in a thick reed bed. The nest is made of reeds and sedges and lined with flowers and feathers. The female lays five to seven eggs, which both sexes incubate for 12 to 13 days. The chicks are able to fly within two weeks and may leave the nest to form small juvenile flocks. Meanwhile the parents raise a second or even a third brood.

Left: The bearded reedling grips a stem with both feet when perching.

Right: The parents share the duties of feeding their hatchlings.

DID YOU KNOW? • Although it is placed with the parrotbills, no one actually knows what the bearded reedling's closest relatives are. • Bearded reedlings form pairs before they are sexually ma-

ture and remain mated for the rest of their lives. • During the last century, the bearded reedling was persecuted by trappers who sold the captives as caged birds.

J

~I BIRDWATCH The bearded reedling has always been common in Hungary and eastern Austria. But today the bird is also found in almost any large, dense

reed bed in western Europe. The bearded reedling's call is relatively easy to recognize. It sounds like two stones being hit together.

~

~ HABITAT The bearded reedling is found in southern, central, and western Asia as well as in parts of eastern and western Europe. This bird makes its home in the thick reed beds that flourish beside brackish and freshwater lakes, rivers, and marshes. In many parts of its range,

The bearded reedling is susceptible to cold, and numbers may drop significantly in winter. But these losses are offset by its prolific breeding in spring. During the courtship ritual, the male puffs out the feathers of his black mustache and raises his tail to reveal his black undertail feathers. The female spreads her tail and briefly dances. Sometimes the two rise together in a slow flight.

the bearded reedling is primarily sedentary. But in highly populated areas, flocks may fly far from their breeding grounds, to either established wintering locations or new breeding sites. As a result, the bearded reedling's range constantly changes and extends into new areas.

pending its weight. In flight the bird skims over the reeds with its wings whirring rapidly and its tail fanning rhythmically. The bearded reedling has a vibrant "ping ping" call and a softer twittering voice. It also utters a less distinctive "tic" noise. Right: The bearded reedling favors reed seeds above all other seeds.

FOOD &: FEEDING The bearded reed ling finds all the food it needs within its reed bed habitat and rarely ventures beyond the safety of its home. During summer the bird feeds primarily on soft insects such as mayflies. It may hop up and down plant stems, picking off adult and larval insects. Or it may drop to the ground and scratch around for them in the damp earth. Occasionally it eats freshwater mollusks and other small animals. When insects are scarce, the bearded reedling feeds on seeds such as reed seeds. When the plants are flowering, it nips off the buds and petals. In order to digest this food easily, the bird has a muscular gizzard like that of other seed-eating birds.

"( CARD 240

WOOD DUCK GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER Anseriformes

FAMILY Anatidae

GENUS & SPECIES Aix sponsa

I

~

bt l ~

KEYFAC_T_S____________________________~

SIZES Length: 17-20 in. Weight: Male, about 1)1 lb. Female, about 1 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Usually 1 year. Mating season: March to May. No. of broods: 1-2. Eggs: 6-15; creamy white. Incubation: About 1 month. LIFESTYLE Habit: Social; lives in flocks for most of the year. Diet: Water plants, aquatic insects, snails, small fish, crustaceans, and fallen acorns. Call: Mainly silent, but gives whistling alarm calls. Lifespan: Unknown. RELATED SPECIES There are 13 species of perching duck, which include the mandarin duck, Aix ga/ericu/ata, the wood duck's closest relative.

Range of the wood duck.

DISTRIBUTION The wood duck is widespread across North Amerka, with two separate breeding populations-one toward the East, the other in the West. CONSERVATION The number of wood ducks had seriously declined by the early 20th century because of overhunting. Protective measures and captive breeding programs have helped the species recover.

FEATURES OF THE WOOD DUCK Flight: Reveals white underparts and long tail. Bill is angled downward.

Male: Large crest on back of head, short neck, and long tail. Green, blue, and purple upperparts, with red, yellow, brown, and white on sides. White lines on neck and along crest.

Female: Plumage is drab brown above and yellowish brown below, often with flashes of white and blue. Crest is smaller than the male's.

Bill: Mainly scarlet with yellow band at base. Black patch on tip and between nostrils.

The wood duck is one of the most attractive duck species. At one time its numbers declined dramatically because of intensive hunting, but the duck has now recovered in much of its range.

©MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

US P 6001 12 069 PACKET 69

~ FOOD &: FEEDING

The male wood duck is a beautifully patterned bird

Throughout the year, the wood duck's diet consists mainly of water plants and insects, such as damselflies and dragonflies, which hover near the water. In deep water, the duck feeds on floating weeds and plants that grow above the surface. In shallower water, however, it dips

below the surface to feed on the bottom, uprooting underwater bulbs and tubers. In summer the wood duck's diet includes small fish and crustaceans. It also forages on land, searching in the leaf debris on the forest floor for snails and fallen acorns.

left: The wood duck and its Asian relative, the mandarin duck, are both perching ducks.

Right: The male wood duck displays his beautiful colors only during the breeding season.

r

DID YOU KNOW?

with a long tail, short neck, and large, crested head. In contrast, the female has a drab appearance with her gray and yellowish brown plumage. Classified as a perching duck, the wood duck moves rapidly and with ease on land, water, and in the air.

~ HABITS

The wood duck is a social bird and spends much of the year in flocks of up to 300 birds. The flock breaks up into pairs in the spring for the breeding season, but regathers later in the year. There are two distinct populations of wood duck: one in the West, the other in the East and Midwest. The bird winters in the southern parts of these ranges and returns north to breed. The wood duck lives beside freshwater ponds, lakes, and rivers. It prefers a wooded habitat, but it may use a more open site in summer. Unlike many ducks, the wood duck is fast and agile in the air and on the ground, where it sometimes darts through the forest. Right: The female keeps a close eye on her ducklings to protect them from predators.

I

- Both the wood duck and the related mandarin duck can be bred in captivity. But attempts at cross-breeding have resulted in infertile eggs. The wood duck began to decline during the late 19th century, when the male's col-

-

- - ---

orful feathers were popular as fishing flies or hat ornaments. - Although the future of the wood duck appears secure, numbers have declined in the southern parts of the bird's range, mainly because of the draining of swamps.

----------------~

~ BREEDING

In early spring wood ducks form pairs and return to their breeding grounds. The birds mate soon after arriving. Since the duck is not very territorial, several pairs may nest close together if there are suitable sites near the water. The wood duck nests in a natural tree hole or a nest hole abandoned by a woodpecker or a squirrel. It chooses a spot that is high enough to reduce the danger of predators taking its eggs. If the wood duck can-

not find a suitable tree hole, it may use a rock crevice. Many locations in the wood duck's range have been cleared for development, resulting in a loss of suitable nesting holes. Recently, there has been an extensive effort to provide nest boxes. Wood ducks have taken readily to these boxes, often appearing to prefer them to tree holes. After mating, the male stays with the female until she lays her eggs in April or May, but he does not help incubate or rear the chicks. The female incubates 6 to 15 eggs for about a month. The ducklings can walk and swim the day they hatch and soon learn to fly. left: The ducklings leave the nest by dropping down to the ground or water below.