Wildlife Fact File - Birds - Pgs. 91-100

KEY FACTS

GOSHAWK ~~------------------------------~~~~--~ ORDER Accipitriformes

. . . FAMILY "'1IIIIIIII Accipitridae

.... GENUS & SPECIES "'1IIIIIIII Accipiter gentilis

SIZES Length: Male, 11/2 ft. Female, 2 ft. Wingspan: Male, 3 ft. Female, 4 ft . Weight: Male, 1-21 /z lb. Female, 2-3 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2-3 years. Breeding season: April to June. Eggs: 3-5; bluish white. No. of broods: 1 per year. Incubation: 35-38 days: Fledging: 40-43 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary except in the breeding season. Diet: Mainly birds and small mammals. Lifespan: About 15 years. RELATED SPECIES The goshawk is the largest of 45 species of Accipiter worldwide.

Range of the goshawk.

DISTRIBUTION Across parts of Europe, North Africa, northern and southern Asia, and North America . CONSERVATION Wild goshawks almost became extinct in Great Britain in the 1900s, but because the protected species was reintroduced to their former range, their numbers have increased.

FEATURES OF THE GOSHAWK

The bird's short, broad wings and long tail give it extra maneuverability in flight for avoiding obstacles while chaSing prey through trees.

A master of split-second timing as it darts through the trees of its forest home, the goshawk is an agile hunter. Its piercing, bright orange-red eyes give it a fierce appearance.

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The shy goshawk is rarely seen, even though it is considerably larger than its close relative the sparrow hawk. The predatory bird is most likely spotted in large forests, flying through a glade or soaring over the treetops in spring.

DID YOU KNOW? • The name goshawk is a shortened version of "goosehawk," but this bird cannot kill prey as large as a goose. • Although popularly used in falconry, the fierce-tempered goshawk is one of the most difficult birds to train. • In India people use the goshawk to help catch gazelle. The bird stops the fleeing animal so pursuing dogs can pounce on them . • Goshawks mate for life, but pairs often spend the winter apart, reuniting in spring .

FOOD &: HUNTING

A ruthless and efficient predator, the large goshawk can hunt prey as large as rabbits and hares. It also preys on rats and squirrels. The goshawk swiftly and agilely hunts gamebirds such as grouse, partridge, and pheasant. Other feathered prey include pigeons and crows, and occasionally smaller birds like thrushes. Selecting its prey from a concealed perch or from high in the air, the goshawk accelerates down to the ground at great speed to catch the animal by surprise. The bird grips and kills its victims with its powerful claws. It may eat the prey on the spot or carry it to a perch where it will be dismembered and consumed. The goshawk drags large prey such as an adult rabbit to a safe place to devour some of it before flying off with the remains.

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BREEDING The goshawk's courting display begins in early spring when the female soars and swoops over the treetops to attract the male. Sometimes both birds fly over the breeding grounds with slow, deliberate wing beats in a "sky dance." The male builds a new nest, but if an old nest is nearby, the female may choose to reuse it. High in the fork of a large tree, the nest is built with twigs and lined with pine needles or leaves depending on the woodland type.

The female lays the eggs over a two- to three-day period and incubates them. Five weeks later she broods the newly hatched young while the male brings them all food. Both parents begin hunting when the chicks' appetites increase. One month after fledging the independent chicks are able to hunt for themselves. Right: When the chicks hatch, the male brings the food for the female to pass to the young.

Far left: The goshawk is most often seen soaring through the air, searching for prey.

Left: A female goshawk stands over the young hare she has killed.

The goshawk is found all over the world-wherever it can find a suitable habitat. Over its wide range the ~Joshawk inhabits terrain where woods alternate with shrubby areas, plains, clear-

ings, and lakes or river shores. The shy goshawk prefers large forests where it can nest and hunt away from humans. With enough prey it will live in either deciduous or coniferous woodland.

BIRDWATCH The rare and shy go hawk can sometimes be seen in large, mature coniferous (evergreen) or mixed woodland, especially in upla nd areas. Often only the skin and feathers from large prey left beneath a "plucking post" give away the bird's location. On clear days in March and April the goshawk can be spotted hunting along broad grassy paths, called rides. The goshawk is most ofte n spotted while in pursuit of its prey.

"" CARD 92

EURASIAN JAY

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

Posserifarmes

Carvidoe

Gorru/us g/ondorius

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KEY FACTS SIZES Length: About 13 in. Weight: 5-7 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: Spring to early summer. No. of broods: Usually 1 . Eggs: 4-6. LIFESTYLE Habit: Easily disturbed; territorial during the breeding season. Call: Loud, harsh screech. Mimics other birds. Diet: Small invertebrates, rodents, acorns, seeds, berries, eggs, and young of other birds. Lifespan: Longest, 16 years. RELATED SPECIES There are 2 other Gorru/us species: the purple jay from India and the lanceolated jay from the Ryuku Islands south of Japan.

Range of the Eurasian jay.

DISTRIBUTION Found in wooded areas throughout Europe, except in the far north; also found in northern Africa and western Asia . CONSERVATION The Eurasian jay is an adaptable bird and appears to be thriving throughout its range. The only danger is the continuing use of agricultural pesticides, which can contaminate its food.

FEATURES OF THE EURASIAN JAY Head: The crown is covered with black and white feathers, which the jay raises to form a small crest when it is excited. Flight: The jay's white rump and wing feathers can be seen in flight.

Eggs: 4-6 grayish green, speckled brown.

Bill: Strong and

pointed, well-adapted for dehusking acorns and burying seeds and fruit.

Wings: Black with white and blue patches. The blue feathers are barred with black.

Chicks: After hatching, ch stay in the nest for up to 3 weeks .

The Eurasian jay is found in wooded countryside throughout Europe, yet it is rare to catch more than a blurred glimpse of this bird as it flits between branches. © MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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~ FOOD &: FEEDING The Eurasian jay's diet includes caterpillars, worms, spiders, and small rodents. It also eats seeds, fruit, and the eggs and newly hatched young of other birds. In the fall the jay eats and hoards thousands of acorns, storing large quantities below ground to have when other Left: The Eurasian jay prefers the cover of a wooded area.

The Eurasian jay is a colorful member of the crow family. Its black wings have shimmering, iridescent blue and white patches. When excited, it raises the black and white feathers on its crown to form a crest.

food is scarce. The jay buries each acorn separately. It pecks a small hole in the ground, drops the acorn in it, then covers it with earth, leaves, and twigs. It also stores beechnuts, peas, and berries in this way. The jay eats an acorn by holding it down with its feet and picking off pieces of the husk with its bill to expose the soft part underneath. Above: The jay rouses an anthill with its wings.

DID YOU KNOW? • Male and female Eurasian jays look alike and can be distinguished only by thei r mating behavior. • Jays are excellent mimics and have been heard imitat-

ing dogs, goats, and even a squeaking door. • Jays remember where they have hidden acorns even when the ground is covered with snow or leaves.

Left: The jay often steals eggs of other birds.

~ HABITS The Eurasian jay is more often heard than seen. It can be identified by its white rump, black tail, and blue and white wing patches. When it flies from tree to tree, it may appear only as a flash of color. The jay frequently engages in an activity called anting. It deliberately disturbs an anthill, encouraging the ants to swarm over its feathers . The Right: A young jay demands food from its parent by either pecking at the adult's bill or squawking loudly until the food is handed over.

excited ants then release a substance called formic acid, which the jay rubs into its body. The formic acid acts as an insecticide, keeping the jay free from other insects. Recently the jay's habitat has broadened to include orchards, parks, and gardens. Right: Over distances the jay's flight is heavy and wavelike.

Mating begins in spring after a ritual known as the "spring gathering," which is a way of bringing together unpaired birds. The male and female jays gather in groups and chase each other th rough the air, holding their wings open to display their blue patches . After pairing, both male and female defend a small territory against intruders,

The Eurasian jay is found mainly in woodlands and in open coun try with lots of trees. It is becoming more common in suburbs. Its pinkish body and blue

and a pair may bond for life. Both birds build a small, flat nest hidden high in a tree. In late April or May the female lays four to six grayish green eggs with brown spots, which she incubates herself. The chicks hatch 16 to 19 days later and leave the nest after about 21 days, although the parents feed them for several more weeks.

and white wing patches identify the jay. But it is easily disturbed and more likely to be seen flying away, showing only its white rump and black tail.

KEY FACTS

SECRETARY BIRD ORDER Falconiformes

FAMilY Sagittariidae

GENUS &; SPECIES Sagittarius serpentarius

SIZES length: 4-5 ft. Weight: 7-9 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Unknown. Breeding season: Coincides with rainy season. No. of broods: 1 . Eggs: 1-3, pale bluish green or white, laid at 2-3 day intervals. Incubation: 45 days. Fledging period: 65-105 days, usually 75-85 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives in pairs. Diet: Small amphibians, lizards, insects, small mammals, birds, and snakes. Call: Normally silent but growls and croaks during courtship. Mews when roosting at night. RElATED SPECIES The secretary bird has its own family and no close relatives .

Range of the secretary bird.

DI STRI BUTION Africa, south of the Sahara on savannah and similar areas. CONSERVATION While not an endangered, vulnerable, or rare bird, numbers have always been low and are now decreasing due to habitat loss. The secretary bird does not breed successfully in populated areas where its low nests are vulnerable to egg thieves.

FEATURES OF THE SECRETARY BIRD Nest: Up to seven feet across, built in or on top of a ------.--------~ dense, thorny shrub or tall, flat-topped tree. Constructed loosely from twigs and lined with soft grass. "Secretary" crest: Characteristic set of plumes that spread out during courtship or mating display.

' :(hecJ1ase: The secretary bird runs in ' a zigzag pattern after its prey, often flapping its wings to add to the cQnfusiQn . It is agile and can easily I. : !~;Bste'p to avoid a striking snake.

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The secretary bird gets its unusual name from the crest of black-tipped plumes on its head, which resemble the quill pens that British law secretaries used to stick in their powdered wigs. IDMCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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The kill: When attacking a snake the bird strikes it hard just behind the head to fracture the spine. 0160200301 PACKET 30

Similar in appearance to the long-legged crane, the secretary bird is unlike most other birds of prey: instead of swooping down and grabbing its

food with its long talons, it walks along the ground and picks up small items in its beak. It kills larger animals such as snakes by stamping on them.

~ HABITS The secretary bird lives nomadically, traveling far for food in Africa's dry plains, savannahs, and sparsely covered grasslands. Most of the year adults live in pairs, foraging within sight of each other and roosting at night in

the same tree. After dawn, the secretary bird returns to the ground to forage or take a cleansing dust bath. The secretary bird stays mainly on the ground, but it can fly in a series of steep dives and upward arcs.

~ BREEDING The secretary bird mates for life. The male may court the female with an undulating flight while making a loud, groaning call. But most often he chases her on the ground with wings outspread, both birds performing a running and jumping, dancelike display. The birds build a large nest 20 feet above ground on top of a dense, thorny bush or a sturdy, flat-topped tree. The nest is a crude platform of large sticks lined with grass. If it remains undisturbed, a pair will use the same nest each year, adding to its size. A nest

can span as much as seven feet. The female"lays her pale, bluish green eggs at intervals every few days and incubates them for seven weeks. The white or pale gray down that covers the newly hatched young darkens in a few weeks. The parents feed the chicks predigested food at first, later bringing live prey in their beaks. To test its wings for the first time, the chick jumps from the nest to the ground. If unable to fly back up, it will be fed while hidden in the grass until it is able to fly.

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Above right: This adult is giving water, not food, to its waiting chick.

Left: The adult secretary birds build a nest from sticks and twigs, often on top ofa sturdy bush.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING The secretary bird finds prey by walking on dry ground, stamping its feet to flush out small mammals and reptiles. When pursuing a snake or rodent, the bird runs in a zigzag pattern, flapping its wings to confuse and frighten the prey, thus

making it easier to catch. The secretary bird eats not only snakes, but also insects, small mammals, and birds and their eggs. Among the bird's largest prey are young hares, and snakes such as puff adders and cobras.

Left: Adults roost in pairs in tall, flat-topped trees typically found throughout the savannah.

Right: A secretary bird tosses a small snake in its beak after breaking its spine.

DID YOU KNOW? • In pa rts of southern Africa some farmers domesticate secretary birds: they keep them to clear their farms of snakes and rats. • The secretary bird takes small prey directly to its young, but it may also catch larger prey and hide it under a bush for later. • The breeding male protects his territory by run-

ning after an intruding bird with great speed, jumping over it, and striking it down with his powerful feet. This assault forces the trespassing bird to retreat. • Usually only one chick from each brood survives to maturity because of the lack of nutritious food in the secretary bird's arid grassland habitat.

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GREATER ROAD RUNNER GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER Cuculiformes

FAMILY Cuculidae

. . . GENUS Ex SPECIES "11IIIIIIII Geococcyx californian us

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: Body, 16 in . Tail, 8 in. Speed: Up to 18 mph . BREEDING Sexual maturity: About 1 year. No. of broods: 1 . Breeding season: March to April. Eggs: White. Up to 7; usually 3-5. Incubation period: 20 days. Fledging period: 18 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Generally solitary outside the breeding season. Call: Makes a wide range of sounds, including crowing, cooing, and hooting noises. Diet: Insects, lizards, snakes, small rodents, and small birds. lifespan: Not known. RELATED SPECIES Member of the cuckoo family. Its closest relative is the lesser roadrunner, Geococcyx velox, which ranges from Mexico to Nicaragua.

Range of the greater roadrunner.

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DISTRIBUTION The greater roadrunner's range is confined to desert chaparral (dense shrubs and trees) and the scrubby forests of the southwestern United States and Mexico.

CONSERVATION Like most of the other cuckoo species, the greater roadrunner does not appear to be at risk at present from either hunting or destruction of its habitat.

FEATURES OF THE GREATER ROADRUNNER

Neck: Straightened and extended slightly while running .

Temperature control: Special patch of dark-colored skin on the back, just between the wings. The color absorbs heat from the sun quickly, warming the skin and blood vessels . This helps the bird reach its daytime temperature after its overnight resting state.

Tail: Used for control and changing direction when running at high speeds.

Eggs: 3-7. Twelve eggs have been recorded in instances where one nest is shared by two females.

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The greater roadrunner is the world's fastest-running flying bird. Its exceptional speed and agility help it to capture prey and outmaneuver predators.

Legs: Powerfully built. Running at a speed of 15 mpll , the roadrunner takes about 12 st ps' per s~£oA d .

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~ FOOD & HUNTING

The greater roadrunner is a medium-size bird with a streamlined body, strong legs, and a long tail. Although it can fly, it prefers to stay on the ground, where it runs at high speed in pursuit of prey. This bird is particularly skilled at catching a variety of snakes.

of range of its fangs, and then darts in and seizes it behind the head. It kills the snake by pounding its head against the ground. Newly hatched chicks need more water than their food alone provides. To supplement a chick's water intake, the adult holds out an insect or other small prey at the tip of its bill. When the chick tries to take it, the adult regurgitates water into the chick's mouth and then lets it take the food .

Left: Adapted for speed, the greater roadrunner's long tail acts like a rudder.

Right: A strong bill and speed on the ground make this bird a formidable snake catcher. Left: A special patch of skin behind the roadrunner's wings absorbs heat from the sun quickly and raises the bird's body temperature from its nighttime state.

DID YOU KNOW? • The roadrunner received its name before the automobile was invented, when it used to run on the road alongside horses and carriages. • A greater roadrunner was clocked at 26 miles per hour while being chased by a car.

This time equals the peak speed of the 1988 world record holder for the 1OO-meter. • This bird was once hunted in the mistaken belief that it ate game birds. • The greater roadrunner is also called a chaparral cock.

~ BREEDING

~ HABITS The greater roadrunner lives mainly on the ground. Although it can fly clumsily for short distances, it relies on running to escape danger and to catch prey. It runs very fast (about 15 miles per hour) and can change its direction quickly by using its tail as a rudder. When it runs, the bird straightens and extends its long neck and uses its tail and wings to stay balanced. The greater roadrunner lives in a climate that is hot during the day but can drop to very

The greater roadrunner has a varied diet that includes insects, lizards, snakes, small rodents, and birds. It picks small prey like insects directly from vegetation or flushes them from cover by beating its wings. The roadrunner sprints after larger, fast-moving prey, dashes it against the ground, and then eats it whole. It pounds tough-skinned prey until it is soft enough to eat. The roadrunner is a specialist at catching snakes. It circles the snake, keeping out

low temperatures at night. In these conditions other birds burn energy to keep their body temperature constant. But the roadrunner allows its temperature to drop slightly each night and enters into a state of torpor. This state of reduced energy consumption is similar to hibernation, and the bird becomes sluggish. Although it cannot respond quickly to danger in this state, it has so few predators that any risk is outweighed by the savings in energy.

The male greater roadrunner attracts the female with a series of descending cooing sounds. He then offers her food but does not let her eat it until after mating. As a display, he raises his crest and flicks his tail while cackling and quickly patting his feet. He repeats the display several times, alternating it with bowing and cooing. Unlike many other species of Left: The male roadrunner offers the female food but does not let her eat until after mating.

cuckoo, the roadrunner builds its own nest instead of using that of another bird . The female uses twigs to build a shallow, basket-shaped structure off the ground. The female lays between three and seven white eggs and incubates them for about 20 days. The chicks are born black and naked. Both parents bring them insects and small lizards to eat. The chicks can run about at 18 days and are ready to leave the nest about a week later.

"' CARD 95

COMMON EIDER ,,~--------------------------------------------~ " . ORDER FAMILY GENUS &: SPECIES ~ .Anseriformes

Anatidae

Somateria mollissima

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 11/2-2 1/2 ft. Wingspan: 2 1/2- 3 1/2 ft. Weight: 4 1/2-5 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2-3 years. Breeding season: April to July. No. of broods: 1 . Eggs: 4-6, pale green. Incubation: 28 days. Fledging period: 70 days. LIFESTYLE Diet: Marine mollusks and crustaceans. Habit: Marine, sociable. Call: Crooning (male), harsh croak (female) . RELATED SPECIES There are 4 species of eider. The common eider's closest relatives are the king eider, Somateria spectabilis, and the spectacled eider, S. fischeri.

Range of the common eider.

DISTRIBUTION Throughout the Arctic, on or near coasts, breeding as far south as Nova Scotia, northern England, and the Baltic. Feeds on more southerly shores in winter. CONSERVATION Down-collecting has little effect on eider populations, and the eider's numbers are increasing. Nesting and feeding grounds are vulnerable to coastal oil pollution.

FEATURES OF T HE COMMON EIDER Bill: Large, triangular, and powerful , used for cracking open mussels. ------r.li~I!!::I~

Drake (Male): Black cap and underparts. Upper back and leading wing edges are white. Patches of pale green on nape \". _ _ _ _ _ and pale yellow on breast. Duck (Female): Brownpatterned with white wing flashes.

Nest: On ground, close to water. Built from grass and seaweed.

The common eider is a hardy sea duck that breeds on cold, bleak northern coasts. Its protective plumage provides eiderdow,..-one of the warmest, lightest materials known.

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. ~ FOOD & FEEDING The eider preys mainly on shellfish such as mussels, whelks, cockles, and crabs. It crunches large mussel shells in its p ~werful bill and swallows Left: A hardy duck, the eider forms large and noisy flocks on northern coasts.

The common eider spends its entire adult life out in the cold, diving for food in icy, storm-tossed waters and sleeping at sea amid the rolling waves. No other duck has such a close affinity for the sea, and few can match its diving skill.

~ HABITAT The eider lives along the cold northern sea coasts, from the North Atlantic and Pacific up to the high Arctic. It migrates south when the polar seas freeze over, but it always returns north to mate. The eider has adapted well to its harsh conditions. It can sleep on wet rocks near breaking surf. Offshore, fleets of eiders ride out storms, bobbing through the waves and troughs with their heads

The eider feeds along northern shores in the southern part of its range throughout the year. From a distance the drake looks white with a black cap, flanks, and tail. Closer up, the pale green patches on its nape and pale yellow breast are visible.

tucked into their breasts. The eider feeds among reefs pounded by waves, drifting close to the rocks in the lulls and floating away just when the wave breaks. Although the eider can exist in such harsh conditions, it prefers quiet estuaries and fjords, often congregating in the lee (shelter) of headlands. It breeds on the sheltered shores close to the tide line and out of the wave range.

The bird's heavy, triangular b ill gives it a streamlined look. The female has the same bill, but her plumage is brow n to provide camouflage while she is on the nest. She is often quite tame, even allowing herself to be touched.

~ BREEDING

During eider courtship, the drake will circle the female in the water, cooing and stretching his neck up and back. The female will imitate him, and soon they mate. The pair then finds a nest site onshore. The eider nests mostly near the tide line sheltered by rock or driftwood, or, sometimes, in moorlands and woods. On small islands without predators such as rats or foxes, large eider colonies set up nesting territories several feet apart. The birds are territorial over their nesting sites and will fight for the best area on which to build their nest. The female builds the nest from grass and seaweed while the male leaves to molt (shed) his feathers . She lines the nest with down plucked from her

DID YOU KNOW? small mussels in one piece. The eider can stay underwater for more than one minute, but 30 seconds is usual. Often plunging up to 30 feet to the seabed, it may dive 50 feet to grab mussels off rocks and bring them to the surface. Offshore, eiders pull shellfish

breast to insulate the eggs. If she leaves the nest she covers the eggs with down to hide them from nest-robbers such as the skua. But most of the time she sits motionless on the nest, well camouflaged by her brown plumage. Right: Snug in their nest, the chicks have warm, black down. They are fully fledged at about 10 weeks.

Below: Eider chicks can swim almost from birth, and readily follow their mother.

from submerged reefs . At high tide they dive deep for crabs in seaweed beds below the low tide mark. In estuaries, the eider liquifies mud by paddling with its webbed feet and then plunges its bill down to snap up a cockle or crab.

The black, downy ducklings are active as soon as they hatch, and within hours their mother leads them down to the sea. They swim through the surf out to calmer water where they learn to dive for food.

• More than half of a brood of young eiders may be snatched by predators in the few hours between the time they hatch and when they reach the sea . • The eiders may have inspired the first bird sanctuary. The seventh-century hermit St. Cuthbert protected them on the Farne Islands. They are still called st. Cuthbert's ducks and the Farnes sanctuary exists to this day. • In Iceland "eider farmers" entice the birds to settle in artificial nests with ribbons, mirrors, and wind chimes.

~ EIDER & MAN In the sometimes bitterly cold far Arctic regions of the north, eiderdown is used extensively in quilts for its warmth. Few man-made items can match eiderdown for warmth and lightness. Thus people treat the eider duck with unusual respect. In 1 780 a visitor to Iceland wrote that the eider is useful to the natives and a smart housekeeper would never shoot one. In Scandinavia "eider farmers" encourage the birds to use artificial nesting hollows so they can collect their feathers. An eider provides enough down to line two nests each season, so the farmer removes some of the lining after the eggs are laid. The duck quickly replaces it, and after it leaves, the farmer gathers the remaining down . It takes the down from 100 nests to fill one sleeping bag or quilt.

KEY FACTS

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NORTHERN GANNET

SIZES Length: About 3 ft. Wingspan: 5Yz -6 ft. Weight: 5-8 lb .

GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER Peleconiformes

FAMILY 5ulidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Morus bassanus

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 5-6 years . Breeding season: Early spring to summer. No. of broods: 1 . Eggs: 1, whitish. Incubation: About 6 weeks. Fledging period: Up to 3 months. LIFESTYLE Habit: Breeds in colonies; less sociable at other times. Diet: Mainly fish . Lifespan: 16-20 years. RELATED SPECIES The northern gannet's closest relatives are the Cape gannet, Morus capensis, and the Australian gannet, M. serrator.

Range of the northern gannet. DISTRIBUTION Found in the continental waters of the North Atlantic, with breeding colonies in eastern Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, and Iceland . CONSERVATION The number of northern gannets declined sharply in the 19th century because of hunting. Thanks to protected colonies in Europe, the population is increasing.

FEATURES OF THE NORTHERN GANNET \ ~-

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lunge diVing: The northern gannet locates its prey from up to 130 feet . above the water. , With its wings half-folded and head down, it starts to dive. It gains so much momentum as it dives that it may plunge several yards underwater.

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Plumage: The northern gannet does not gain its gleaming white plumage and distinctive head markings until it is 4 years old. First the bird is colored black and brown , then brown and white .

Eggs: Each gannet pair has a single white egg , which both parents incubate. It hatches after 6 weeks.

hick: When only a few months old , it can dive and feed itself.

The northern gannet's streamlined shape, long wings, and daggerlike bill make it a lethal predator of fish. With its wings drawn back, this seabird dives down to seize its prey. © MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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~ FOOD & HUNTING

The northern gannet is the largest seabird in the North Atlantic. This remarkable diver can plunge 130 feet from the sky to catch fish in the sea. Its huge nesting colonies may contain tens of thousands of birdsall gleaming white and creating a tumult of noise.

Right: The northern gannet

returns each year to the same nest site and the same mate.

surface to swallow it. Each dive lasts 5 to 20 seconds. Other hunting techniques include diving at an angle from a lower height and diving from the surface after dipping its head underwater to spot prey. The gannet catches fish up to a foot long, including cod, herring, haddock, capelin, mackerel, pilchard, and anchovy. It also catches squid.

Left: Male gannets frequently use

Right: The gannet is a strong

their bills to wrestle for ownership of a nest site.

flyer and seeks shelter only in very rough weather.

I

DID YOU KNOW?

• Large air sacs around the northern gannet's throat and neck help absorb the shock when it hits the water. • The gannet's nostrils are closed as an adaptation for

diving. The bird breathes through its mouth . • When rearing its young, the gannet may travel almost 400 miles from the colony to find food.

Th irty percent of all northern gannets nest in the western Atlantic. Well-known colonies are on Bonaventure Island off Quebec's Gaspe

~ BREEDING

~ HABITS The northern gannet is a large North Atlantic seabird. It stays mostly in continental waters and rarely flies out to midocean. Its population today is about 200,000 breeding pairs. In the breeding season, gannets gather in noisy colonies on grassy coastal slopes or flattopped islands. The colonies vary from fewer than 10 pairs to many thousands. Outside the breeding season, the gannet is less sociable. It fishes at sea and comes to the coast only in harsh weather or to pursue large schools of fish. Some birds, especially younger ones, fly south in winter-to

The northern gannet is renowned for its plunge diving. Flying as high as 130 feet above the sea, the bird locates its prey and drops with its wings half-folded. Plunging headlong, it gains so much momentum that it dives several yards underwater. It can then swim to a depth of 50 feet. After snatching its prey in its beak, the gannet swims to the

Florida in the west and GuineaBissau in the east. In the early spring, breeding adults return to the nesting colonies. The gannet's flight consists of deep, powerful beats combined with short glides. It can maintain its course even in strong winds.

The northern gannet mates for life and uses the same nest site each year. The male returns to the site in early spring. He must reestablish ownership before his mate arrives. A male Left: The single chick is tended

by both parents until it can dive for food.

Peninsula and at Cape St. Mary in Newfoundland . Gan nets winter off the U.S. coast and can be seen fro m shore as they dive for fi sh.

breeding for the first time must secure a site. He then attracts a female by shaking and extending his head. The male usually builds the nest, piling up seaweed, grass, and feathers mixed with earth and droppings. A single egg is incubated by both sexes for about a month and a half. After hatching, the chick develops a downy coat. It eats partially digested fish from its parents' mouths. After a couple of months it is left alone and dives down to the sea to feed. Gannets gain full adult plumage after four years. Left: Breeding pairs spar with

their bills to greet each other at the nest.

KEY FACTS

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BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER

FAMILY

GENUS &: SPECIES

Procellariiformes

Diomedeidae

Diomedea melanophris

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SIZES Length: 2lh-3 ft. Male larger. Wingspan: 6-7 ft. Weight: About 6lh-9 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 4-7 years. Breeding: Once every 2 years. Eggs: 1, white with red-brown spots. Incubation: Approximately 2 months. Fledging: Over 9 months. LIFESTYLE Habit: Mainly solitary but nests in large colonies. Diet: Squid, fish, crustaceans. lifespan: 30 years. RELATED SPECIES There are 1 3 albatross species. Nine species inhabit the southern oceans, including the wandering albatross, Diomedia exulans, and the black-footed albatross,

Range of the black-browed albatross.

DISTRIBUTION Found in the southern oceans. Nests on remote islands where there are no predators, such as the Auckland Islands, Tristan da Cunha, and South Georgia. CONSERVATION Once hunted by sailors, the black-browed albatross has few enemies except man. It is the most numerous species of albatross.

D. nigripes.

THE BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS FAMILY Bill: Long and yellow, with a pinkish, hooked tip. Small nostrils through which stomach oil and salt are secreted. Black "brow": A furrow of black feathers over the adult's eye distinguishes this albatross species. Plumage: Both sexes have dark brown upper wings, a dark back, gray tail, dark gray edges on the front of the underwing, and an otherwise white body.

The black-browed albatross is a bird of the open seas that lands only to breed. An immature bird may circle the world several times before it touches down on firm ground.

Chick: Stays in nest for over 9 months.

Nest: A mound of mud or earth built on a high site overlooking the sea. Other pairs nest nearby. © MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM

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Left: Light, airfilled bones help the blackbra wed albatross to sustain its gliding flight for hours.

Right: The albatross usually nests high on a hill with a view over the sea.

The black-browed albatross glides easily on its long, stiff wings. It can remain in the air for hours at a time by riding the strong air currents that rise from the surface of the sea. A native of the southern oceans, this wide-ranging bird only occasionally strays north of the equator.

~ BREEDING Breeding occurs in colonies on remote islands. Once birds pair up, they mate and breed every other season. The male reaches the breeding site first. When his mate arrives, the two birds engage in a noisy courtship display. They dance around each other with outstretched wings and clattering bills. The birds build a cup-shaped nest from mud or earth. A single egg is laid and incubated in turn by each parent for over two months. The parents feed the newly hatched chick predigested food and take turns guarding it. After a month both adults

may leave the chick for up to 10 days while they search for food. The chick remains dependent on the parents for another eight months. Right: A breeding colony. Below: The adult offers its chick predigested food.

I

~ HABITAT The black-browed albatross has weak wing muscles and relies on strong winds to lift it. It circles the oceans at a latitude of 30 to 60 degrees, where there is enough wind to keep it airborne. It favors the windy sub-Antarctic zone. Albatrosses from southern waters rarely cross the windless equatorial belt. The blackbrowed species is an exception and has been seen off the coasts of Florida and Newfoundland.

DID YOU KNOW?

~ FOOD & HUNTING

• When threatened, the black-browed albatross regurgitates a smelly oil, derived from its food, and squirts it at the attacker. The oil is also used in preening to help keep the bird's feathers waterproof.

Most often the black-browed albatross can be found gliding 50 to 65 feet above the water's surface. At this height it gets the maximum benefit from wind speed and can still see prey swimming below. The black-browed albatross

• Mollymawk is a name sailors use for a mediumsized albatross like the black-browed species. • Once fully fledged, the black-browed albatross may not alight on dry land for four to seven years.

I

.--J

rf"~ '!

eats squid, crustaceans, various fish, and lampreys. It is an active scavenger and follows ships for days waiting for leftover food to be thrown away. The albatross drinks seawater and gets rid of the excess salt through its nasal passages.

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS

The black-browed albatross belongs to a group of birds, called tube-noses, that have tubular nostrils at the base of their bills. These nostrils may account for the bird's keen sense of smelL They may also help to keep sea

spray out of the bird's nose. The albatross lives almost entirely at sea, so it must drink salt water. It has large nasal glands that secrete the salt in solution, and the tube nose may keep this mixture away from the bird's eyes. Left: Tubular nostrils give the bird a keen sense of smell. They may also deflect sea spray from its nose and secreted fluids from its eyes.

"" CARD 98

TURTLE DOVE

~-------------------------------------------~ FAMILY GENUS SPECIES ORDER ~

Columbiformes

Columbidae

& Streptopelia turtur

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Up to 11 in. Wingspan: 11/2 ft. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: End of April to September. Eggs: 2 or 3 clutches per season; 2 eggs per clutch. Incubation: 14 days. Fledging: About 20 days. LIFESTYLE Call: Purring . Habit: More shy and territorial than other members of its family. Diet: Mostly seeds of weeds.

RELATED SPECIES There are about 295 species of pigeon and dove worldwide. Six of these breed in Europe.

Range of the turtle dove.

DISTRIBUTION Breeds in Europe, with 'the exception of most of northern Europe. Also found in southwest and central Asia and North Africa . Winters south of the Sahara, north of the equator. CONSERVATION Common throughout its range, the turtle dove's main threats include humans.

IDENTIFYING THE TURTLE DOVE Eyes: Ringed with red.

Tail : Long and black with

Neck flashes : Striped , black-andwhite patterns on each side.

Breast: Pinkish gray. Upper wings: Red-brown and dark brown feathers make "marbled" patterning.

The turtle dove is one of the smaller members of the pigeon family. It spends its winter in the African and Asian sub tropics and flies north in April to find its summer breeding grounds.

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The turtle dove's soft cooing call can be heard during most of the summer and gives the bird its name. As the chatter of other birds fades away at dawn, the turtle dove's call can be heard heralding the beginning of the day.

~ PREDATORS The hawk is the primary natural predator of the turtle dove. But some doves that fly low during storms are shot by sport hunters, which has resulted in heavy population decreases in some areas. Nest-robbers such as the magpie and jay take one-third of the turtle dove's eggs during the early summer when food is scarce . During this time the adult turtle dove has to leave the nest unprotected for long periods of time to search for food. Chicks born in late summer have a greater chance of surviving since there are more seeds in the late summer.

'~ BREEDING The male turtle dove courts the female by bowing. He puffs out his chest and bobs up and down in front of her,

lowering his bill as he bobs. The dove builds a nest of twigs three to six feet above ground in a bush or small

Left: The turtle dove chick has a

thin covering of coarse, pale down. It will leave the nest in three weeks.

Left: Both sexes of turtle dove have patterned wings and necks and pinkish gray breasts.

~

HABITAT The turtle dove lives in open areas with trees, bushes, shrubs, and copses (thickets of small trees or shrubs) from the end of April until it migrates south in September. It often stays in bushes close to cultivated land to collect food.

Below: Clutches usually have two pinkish white eggs.

DID YOU KNOW? The turtle dove prefers small to medium-sized trees and does not inhabit buildings in towns and cities like the wood pigeon does. In September, the European and western Asian turtle dove populations migrate to Africa.

• Like all members of the pigeon family, the turtle dove feeds its young "pigeon's milk" for the first few days. The parent regurgitates the fluid, which is very high in fat and protein, from its crop (a pouchlike

rica in September to take advantage of a new supply of living seeds. The turtle dove also feeds on grain seeds-either those first sown by farmers or the ones that develop on mature plants. Farmers in the Soviet Union consider the turtle dove a pest when it feeds on millet, an important commercial

crop. The dove also feeds on the grain scattered for chickens and other poultry. A tiny proportion of the bird's diet-only about three percent-consists of insects and small snails.

~

FOOD &: FEEDING The turtle dove eats mostly seeds, mainly various species of fumitory, a weed that grows primarily in farmed fields. The bird prefers to pluck the living seeds from the plants instead of pecking the fallen ones from the ground. Fumitory dies at the end of the summer, so the turtle dove migrates to tropical Af-

tree . The insubstantial platform is lined with roots and stems and sometimes even with hair. The parents share in the two-week incubation period . They both feed the newly hatched young for just over two weeks. Late May to early June is peak egg-laying time, but clutches may be laid up to September. Eggs laid and chicks hatched later than that may be abandoned by their parents who lose their breeding instinct and head south for the winter.

Right: A dove takes a long drink

after reaching its African winter habitat.

pa rt of the bird's esophagus) . • Unlike most birds, the turtle dove does not raise its head between sips when it drinks. • The turtle dove's scientific species name, turtur, is an attempt to imitate the bird's soothing, purring call.

• The turtle dove pretends to be injured- weakly flapping or dragging its wings - to divert a predato r's attention away from the dove's young . • Turtle dove chicks are called "squabs:'

BI RDWATCH The turtle dove's call announces its presence throughout Europe f rom the end of April to midSeptember. Loo k for it in low tree branches and bushes. The shy dove m ay be seen feeding on scattered pou ltry grain . In flight, look for its di stinctive m arkings.

____________________________~

KEYFAC ~T _S

TOCO TOUCAN ORDER

FAMILY

GENUS & SPECIES

Piciformes

Romphostidoe

Romphostos taco

SIZES Length: About 2 ft. Wing length: 9-10 in. Bill length: 7-8 in. Weight: About 1 lb. BREEDING Breeding season: Variable, depending on region. Eggs: 2-4, white. Incubation: 16 days. Fledging: 50 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Tree-dwelling. Lives in small groups. Diet: Fruit, seeds, insects, spiders, eggs, nestlings, small lizards, and snakes. RELATED SPECIES Of the 33 species in the toucan family, the closest relatives are the 6 other members of the genus Romphostos, including the keelbilled toucan, R. sulfuratus, and Cuvier's toucan, R. tucanus.

Range of the toco toucan. DISTRIBUTION Found in eastern and southern Brazil, the Guiana region, Paraguay, Bolivia, and northern Argentina . CONSERVATION The toco toucan is widespread . Like many toucans, however, it is threatened in many areas by the destruction of its forest habitat.

FEATURES OF THE TOCOTOUCAN

OTHER TOUCAN BILLS

Bill: Large but lightweight, made from strong, horny material. Used to hollow out nests inside decaying tree trunks and to scrape flesh from fruit. Wings: Short and rounded , making flight weak. Legs: Strong . Each foot has two toes pointing forward and two pointing back, giving a good grip on branches.

Eggs: 2 to 4 white eggs incubated by both parents.

1. Spotted-billed toucanet: Visits citrus plantations to collect insects for its young. 2. Black-necked aracari: Aracari are slightly smaller and lighter than toucans . 3. Keel-billed toucan: Its bill

has all the colors of the rain bow except violet.

With its unusual appearance, the toco toucan is one of the most recognizable of all tropical birds. It is associated with South America ~ tropical forests, but it lives in a variety of habitats. © MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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~ BREEDING

Its large size and bold black-and-white plumage make the toco toucan a striking sight. But the bird's most remarkable feature is its huge orange-and-black bill. The toco toucan has the largest bill of all the toucans, and this vividly colored bill accounts for almost a third of the bird's total length.

to form a bed for the eggs. There are usually two to four eggs in a clutch, and the parents take turns incubating them. The young are blind and naked when they hatch and are fed by both parents. They take several weeks to develop and grow a layer of feathers after a month .

left: The large bill may allow different types of toucan to distinguish their own species.

Right: The toucan feeds on a variety of fruits, using its bill to scrape out the flesh.

DID YOU KNOW? • The toco toucan's bill is hollow inside and very light. A network of rods strengthens the inside of the bill. • A roosting toucan often tucks its bill among its back feathers and folds its tail up over its body, so that it resembles a ball of feathers .

• Toucans are playful, often jumping together in trees and fencing with their bills. • Toucans bathe high in the trees, not at ground level like most birds. They use pools of rainwater found in the hollows of branches and tree trunks.

~ SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS The purpose of the to co toucan's oversized bill is not completely clear. Some naturalists think the large, vivid bill serves to int imidate smaller birds. Toucans are not usually attacked when they raid other birds' nests

for food, but they are sometimes chased as they fly away with their bills hidden from view. It is also t ho ught that the huge bill allows the toucan to reach for seeds and berries that would otherwise be out of reach.

~ FOOD & FEEDING

~ HABITS The toco toucan is the largest, biggest-billed, and most familiar of the toucans. Although it is found most frequently in rainforests, the toco toucan also lives in forest areas along rivers, in woodland savannas, on coconut and sugar plantations, and in palm groves that have large trees. Its range does not actually extend into the Amazonian rainforests. Although it occasionally steals food from houses, the . to co toucan generally remains among the treetops and rarely comes close to the ground. Its strong legs and its two rearpointing toes on each foot allow it to grip branches firmly.

The toco toucan nests in a living tree in a hole formed by decaying wood. If a hole is too small, the bird may remove some of the surrounding soft wood, but it cannot make its own hole in healthy wood. Nests are not lined, but regurgitated seeds are frequently left in the hole

It prefers to hop, rather than flap, from perch to perch. But it occasionally makes short flights across the treetops. Although they are not as sociable as most toucans, small groups of toco toucans may perch together. They may also follow each other in a straggly line during flight. Companions, especially mates, preen each other's plumage with the pointed tips of their bills. They share food with one another and communicate in a toadlike croak. Right: The toco toucan uses the tip of its bill to hold eggs stolen from the nests of other birds.

The toco toucan feeds mainly on berries, fruit, and seeds. It also eats insects and spiders taken from bark and foliage. Occasionally, it eats swarms of termites, small lizards and

snakes, and the eggs and young of small birds. The toco toucan picks up food with the tip of its bill. Its six-inch-Iong tongue helps it manipulate the food. Slanted notches along both edges of the tongue deepen toward the tip, so the end of the tongue is like a brush. When the food is in the right position, the toucan throws back its head and tosses it down its throat. If the food particle is too large, the toucan holds it against its perch and tears off pieces with its bill. left: The brushlike bristles at the end of the toucan's long tongue help it manipulate food.

KEY FACTS

DOVEKIE ORDER Charadriiformes

FAMILY A/cidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Aile aile

SIZES Length: 6-8 in. Wingspan: 15-20 in. Weight: 4-6 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Unknown. Breeding season: Late May to August. Broods: 1. Eggs: 1 . Pale greenish blue. Incubation: 24-30 days. Fledging period: 26-30 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable; nests in large colonies. Couples usually form long-lasting bond. Diet: Plankton, marine worms, mollusks, very small fish. RELATED SPECIES The 23 species in the auk family are all seabirds of the Northern Hemisphere. Other members include the puffin, razorbill, and great auk.

Range of the dovekie .

DISTRIBUTION Breeds in Greenland, Iceland, Jan Mayen Island, Bear Island, Spitsbergen, Franz Josef Land, and Novaya Zemlya. Winters in Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. CONSERVATION The dovekie is one of the most abundant auks, even though it has disappeared from some former breeding grounds during th is century and is hunted tor food on some islands.

IDENTIFYING THE DOVEKIE Flight: Has a whirring flight, moving fast and low over the water.

Egg: Female lays one pale greenish blue egg between late May and early July. It is large compared with her tiny body size.

Swimming: Swims buoyantly on the Arctic waters . Gathers its food by diving from the surface of the water, propelled by its wings and webbed feet. Each dive is fairly shallow and lasts from 25 to 40 seconds, usually with a 10- to 20second rest between dives.

The dovekie thrives in the Arctic, where few other birds can survive. In the cold polar waters, among the ice floes, it finds a plentiful supply of plankton for food.

Breeding plumage: Mainly black, with pure white underside.

Winter plumage: White throat, chin, and lower face . White markings curve up behind the eye.

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~

FOOD &: FEEDIN G

The dovekie feeds mainly on plankton (tiny plants and animals in the water), especially crustaceans. It also eats young fish, marine worms, and mollusks. The abundance of this food supply enables the bird to survive in great numbers in the harsh Arctic environment. The dovekie's nesting sites are always close to stretches of sea that are rich in plankton. Left: The dovekie swims buoyantly. Groups of dovekies in the water are called rafts.

The dovekie has a short, thick body and black and white feathers similar to a puffin's. It gathers in large numbers on islands in the

Arctic, where it breeds in late spring. Some of the nesting colonies consist of more than

a million dovekies. In summer these colonies are alive with the birds' activity and chatter:

~

HABITS

All auks live in the Northern Hemisphere, but none quite as far north as the dovekie. Its total population is unknown, but about 25 million pairs are believed to nest in Greenland and several million more on the larger sub-Arctic islands. At the end of summer the colonies of dovekies disperse. Most of the birds move offshore to feed in the broken ice. Many head toward wintering grounds in the North Atlantic off of Newfoundland and the northeast United States, as well

as in Norway and Scotland. Small flocks of about 15 dovekies gather as part of larger groups. The birds often congregate on ice floes or rest close together in the water in formations known as rafts. Although the dovekie is fairly quiet in the winter, the summer nesting colonies are noisy. The dovekie is agile on land. It walks easily over rocks and ice and can even negotiate narrow cliff ledges. It swims well and flies fast and low over the waves .

To gather its food, the dovekie dives from the surface of the water, propelled by its feet and wings. The bird has been seen eating waste from fishing boats. It probably takes plankton from the gutted stomachs of the fish. During breeding season the adults may fly miles to find food for the hungry chicks. They bring the plankton back in their expandable throats. Right: The dovekie, or "little dove," is known in Europe as the little auk.

BREEDING

DID YOU KNOW? • In gale conditions, rafts of weakened dovekies have occasionally been blown as far south as the Caribbean Sea . • Fights often break out between male dovekies at the breeding colonies. With their bills locked together, two rivals will sometimes roll

several yards downhill. • The mass of red droppings around dovekie colonies helps to fertilize dense vegetation. Ironically, this growth provides cover for Arctic foxes and glaucous gullsthe main predators of the dovekie's eggs and young.

In summer thousands of pairs of dovekies crowd for nesting space on the cliffs and rocky coasts of the Arctic islands. Toward the southern part of its breeding range, however, the dovekie may nest in small colonies. Most colonies face the sea, but some are a bit inland . The birds prefer sites that are sheltered from winds and rain, and where the snow has already melted. The dovekies gather at their breeding areas in April and early May. They assemble in large rafts offshore and then fly in to rejoin the colony. The Left: Dovekies often gather in small flocks that are part of a very large group.

birds usually find their previous mate and take over their old nest site. Unpaired adults engage in courtship rituals, with fast flights through the colony and fluttering displays in the air. The dovekie nest may be located in a crevice in a rock, under a boulder, or among piles of rocky debris. Sometimes the nest is lined with pebbles and dried grasses. A single egg is laid from late May to early July. The egg is large compared with the female's body, so the chick can develop well before it hatches. Both parents incubate the egg and then brood the chick for two to four days until it can keep itself warm. A few weeks later, before it can fly, the chick leaves the colony. It is taken to the sea and cared for by its father until it becomes independent. Left: The dovekie expands its throat pouch when it collects plankton to feed its young.