Bird of Day 59: Tickell's Brown Hornbill

Anorrhinus tickelli (formerly Ptilolaemus tickelli)

Also known as the Rusty-cheeked Hornbill.

This bird is found in forests in southern Burma and adjacent western Thailand. It inhabits the evergreen and deciduous hill forest from foothills to 1500m.

An adult Anorrhinus tickelli is 60-65cm in length. These birds breed co-operatively, in groups.

Tickell's Brown Hornbill conservation status is listed as Near Threatened, due to habitat loss from logging and agriculture.

[All text: Ref (87)]

Bird of Day 58: Black-throated Sunbird

Aethopyga saturata

The stunning Black-throated Sunbird featured in this stamp is a male of the species. The female is plain olive (85): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOmMoOB5ur8&NR=1

These birds are found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. (86)

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests (86). It also appears in urban gardens (85).

The Black-throated Sunbird feeds on the nectar from flowers, using its long thin down-curved bill (85): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U4vQ9cE0CU

Bird of Day 57: Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

This medium-sized woodpecker is native to most of North America, parts of Central America, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and is one of the few woodpecker species that migrate.

There are over 100 common names for the Northern Flicker. Among them are: Yellowhammer, clape, gaffer woodpecker, harry-wicket, heigh-ho, wake-up, walk-up, wick-up, yarrup, and gawker bird. Many of these names are attempts at imitating some of its calls.

The call of the Colaptes auratus is a sustained laugh, ki ki ki ki : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXG6ZeMoY3A. One may also hear a constant knocking as they often drum on trees or even metal objects to declare territory.

Like many woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker's flight is undulating. The repeated cycle of a quick succession of flaps followed by a pause creates an effect comparable to a rollercoaster.

[All text: Ref (84)]

Bird of Day 56: Black-necked Stork

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

In Australia, this species is also called the Jabiru, although that name is not an Aboriginal name. Jabiru means “blown out with the wind” which relates to an inflatable neck bladder of the rare South American stork also called a Jabiru.

The Black-necked Stork is a tall long-necked wading bird in the stork family. It is a resident species across South and Southeast Asia with a disjunct population in Australia. It lives in wetland habitats to forage for a wide range of animal prey, commonly using its long bill to spear fish.

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus is a large bird, 130–150cm tall having a 230cm wingspan. The average weight is around 4100grams. It is a carnivore, eating small birds, aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates such as crabs and molluscs. It is one of the few storks that is strongly territorial when feeding.

The largest population of this species occurs in Australia, where it is found from the Ashburton River, near Onslow, Western Australia across northern Australia to north-east New South Wales. It extends inland in the Kimberley area to south of Halls Creek; in the Northern Territory to Hooker Creek and Daly Waters; and in Queensland inland to the Boulia area and the New South Wales border, with some records as far south as the north-west plains of New South Wales, along the coast of Sydney and formerly bred near the Shoalvahen River.

This large stork has a dance-like mating display. A pair stalk up to each other face to face, extending their wings and fluttering the wing tips rapidly and advancing their heads until the meet. They then clatter their bills and walk away. The display lasts for a minute and may be repeated several times.

These birds nest in large and isolated trees on which they build a platform. The nest is large, as much as 3 to 6 feet across and made up of sticks, branches and lined with rushes, water-plants and sometimes with a mud plaster on the edges. Nests may be reused year after year.

Like other storks, they are very silent except at nest where they make bill-clattering sounds. The sounds produced are of a low-pitch and resonant and ends with a short sigh.

[All text: Ref (83)]

Bird of Day 55: Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

The Northern Pintail, or just Pintail, s a widely occurring duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator.

Its nickname is Sprig.

This is a fairly large duck, with a long pointed tail that gives rise to the species' English and scientific names. The Northern Pintail's many names describe the male's two long black tail feathers, which in flight look like a single pin or twig (thus its nickname).

Fast and graceful fliers, pintails are equipped with long wings, small heads, and long necks that seem built for streamlined aerodynamics.

The Northern Pintail is a bird of open wetlands which nests on the ground, often some distance from water. It feeds by dabbling for plant food and adds small invertebrates to its diet during the nesting season. It is highly gregarious when not breeding, forming large mixed flocks with other species of duck.

Hens make a coarse quack and the drakes a flute-like whistle.

[All text: Ref (82)]

Bird of Day 54: unidentified #2

is it a wren?
suggestions welcome

Bird of Day 53: Little Kingfisher

Alcedo pusilla

The Little Kingfisher is 11–13 cm long with a blue back and head and a white breast.

It is found in open forest, woodland, swamps and mangroves in Australia (northern Queensland and north Northern Territory), Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

The Little Kingfisher will make a small burrow on the bank of a river during the mating season (October - March in Australia) and will lay 5-7 glossy white eggs at the end of the burrow.

[All text: Ref (81)]

Bird of Day 52: Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small white heron. Adults are 55–65cm long with an 88–106cm wingspan, and weigh 350–550grams.

Its breeding distribution is in wetlands in warm temperate to tropical parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. They may wander north in late summer after the breeding season.

The Little Egret nests in colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs or in a reedbed or bamboo grove.

Little Egrets are mostly silent but make various croaking and bubbling calls at their breeding colonies and produce a harsh alarm call when disturbed.

In Australia, the conservation status of Egretta garzetta varies from state to state. On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, the Little Egret is listed as endangered.

[All text: Ref (80)]

Bird of Day 51: Emperor Penguin

Aptenodytes forsteri

Endemic to Antarctica, this flightless bird is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguins. Sexes are similar in plumage and size, reaching 122cm in height with a weight range of 22-45kg.

The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, it treks 50–120km over the ice to breeding colonies which may include thousands of individuals. The female lays a single egg, which is incubated by the male while the female returns to the sea to feed; parents subsequently take turns foraging at sea and caring for their chick in the colony, covering up 82-1454km per individual per trip. The parent will find its chick amongst the huge colony through the use of a complex set of vocal calls unique between parents and offspring. Vocalizing Emperor Penguins use two frequency bands simultaneously. Chicks use a frequency-modulated whistle to beg for food and to contact parents.

A male Emperor penguin must withstand the Antarctic cold for more than two months to protect his eggs from extreme cold. During this entire time he doesn't eat a thing. Most male penguins will lose about 12kg while they wait for their babies to hatch. The Emperor Penguin's feathers provide 80-90% of its insulation and it has a layer of dermal fat which may be up to 3cm thick prior to breeding.

To withstand the prolonged (18mins) deep submersion (530m) in the icy waters whilst hunting, this bird has several adaptations including an unusually structured hemoglobin to allow it to function at low oxygen levels, solid bones to reduce barotrauma, and the ability to reduce its metabolism and shut down non-essential organ functions.

The lifespan is typically 20 years in the wild, although observations suggest that some individuals may live to 50 years of age.

[All text: Ref (79)]

Bird of Day 50: Lesser Spotted Eagle

Aquila pomarina

This is a medium-sized eagle - 60cm in length - with a wingspan of 150 cm. The Lesser Spotted Eagle breeds in Central and Eastern Europe and southeastward to Turkey, and winters in Africa. It hunts small mammals and similar terrestrial prey in open or lightly wooded areas.

Aquila pomarina lays 1–3 white buff-spotted eggs in a tree nest, with more than one young fledge* occurring only in seasons of very abundant prey: the female starts incubating when the first egg has been laid, and thus the first young to hatch usually outgrows its clutchmate(s) and will kill and even eat them sooner or later.

The species Conservation Status is Least Concern.

[All text: Ref (77)]

* Fledge is the stage in a young bird's life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. It also describes the act of a chick's parents raising it to a fully grown state. A young bird that has recently fledged but is still dependent upon parental care and feeding is called a fledgling. (78)

Bird of Day 49: Unidentified

Today's stamp is an illustration by awarded Polish illustrator Elzbieta Gaudasinska. The illustration is called Birds Nest and is from her book Proverbs of Truth (73).

It is possible that the featured bird is a Common Firecrest however it may be a lark, pipit or some other bird found in the Republic of Czech or Republic of Slovakia (74).

The people of both Republics use proverbs in their vernacular. The accompanying proverb from Gaudasinska's book might have been (amongst many other possibilities):

God knows why he has made the wings of some birds shorter.
(Slovenian) (75)

or

Birds of a feather flock together.
(Czech) (76)

Bird of Day 48: Crested Myna

Acridotheres cristatellus

The Crested Myna is a species of starling native to southeastern China and Indochina. Around 1890, the Crested Myna was introduced into the Vancouver region of British Columbia. It was initially successful, reaching a population in the thousands, without spreading far from the Lower Mainland. By the mid-twentieth century, numbers began declining, and the bird is now extirpated in North America. (All:70)

Unlike other similar mynas - such as the Common Myna which are common on the south-east coast of Australia - the Crested Myna has a dull whitish bill rather than orange-yellow (70).

The adult bird is 26cm long and has swift and direct flight on powerful, rapid wing strokes (72). Its voice is starling-like and includes mimicry (71).

Bird of Day 47: Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

The Saddle-billed Stork is a large wading bird resident in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad in west Africa.

This Stork breeds in forested waterlands and other floodlands in tropical lowland. It builds a large, deep stick nest in a tree, laying one or two white eggs weighing about 146g each. It does not form breeding colonies, and is usually found alone or in pairs.

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis averages 150cm in height and has a 270cm wingspan. Females are distinctly smaller than the males however both sexes are spectacularly plumaged, featuring the vibrant red and yellow "saddle" at the top of its bill. These Storks are silent except for bill-clattering at the nest.

In Ancient Egyptian culture, the Saddle-billed Stork is represented in a hieroglyph that had the phonetic value ba.

[All text: Ref (69)]

Bird of Day 46: Common Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

The Common Pheasant is native to Russia and has been widely introduced elsewhere as a game bird. It is one of the world's most hunted birds. The bird featured here is male.
Body weight of the male averages 1.2kg and the female 0.8kg.

Due to captive breeding, hybridisation between subspecies (about 30) and with the Green Pheasant as well as releasing stock to the wild, there are many colour forms of the male Common Pheasant. In contrast to the male, the hen has a dull mottled brown plumage.

The males are polygynous as is typical for many Phasianidae, and are often accompanied by a harem of several females. Phasianus colchicus eat a wide variety of animal and vegetable type-food, like fruit, seeds and leaves as well as a wide range of invertebrates, with small vertebrates like snakes, lizards, small mammals and birds occasionally taken.

While Common Pheasants are able short-distance fliers, they prefer to run. If startled however, they can suddenly burst upwards at great speed, with a distinctive "whirring" wing sound and often giving kok kok kok alert calls.

[All text: Ref (68)]

Bird of Day 45: Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulata

The adult male Mandarin Duck, featured here, is a striking and unmistakable bird. The female is pale brown with a white eye-ring and stripe running back from the eye, a small white flank stripe and a pale tip to its bill.

The species was once widespread in eastern Asia, but large-scale exports and the destruction of its forest habitat have reduced populations in eastern Russia and in China to below 1,000 pairs in each country; Japan, however, is thought to still hold some 5,000 pairs.

Unlike other species of ducks, most Mandarin drakes reunite with the hens they mated with along with their offsprings after the eggs have hatched and even share scout duties in watching the ducklings closely. The pair are monogamous and are said to mourn the loss of their mate.

In Chinese culture a pair of Mandarin Ducks symbolise conjugal affection and fidelity. A Chinese proverb for loving couples uses the Mandarin Duck as a metaphor: "Two mandarin ducks playing in water". Feng Shui practice suggests placing a pair of Mandarin Duck symbols in one's living space to attract or enhance love and relationships.

[All text: Ref (67)]

Bird of Day 44: Oriental Magpie Robin

Copsychus saularis

This Old World Flycatcher is distributed in many parts of tropical South and Southeast Asia, they are common birds in urban gardens as well as forests. They are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cagebirds. Song: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDqRS7STed8)

The Oriental Magpie Robin is 19cm long including the long tail that is usually held cocked upright. It is mostly seen close to the ground, hopping along branches or foraging in leaf-litter on the ground. Food is mainly insects and other invertebrates. They are known to occasionally take geckos, leeches, centipedes and even fish.

The mating display by the male involves puffing up the feathers, raising the bill, fanning the tail and strutting. These birds nest in tree hollows or niches in walls or building. The nests are said to have a characteristic odour.

Copsychus saularis is the National Bird of Bangladesh, appearing on currency notes and in public art.

[All text: Ref (65)]

Bird of Day 43: Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

The Pileated Woodpecker is a very large North American woodpecker, almost crow sized, inhabiting deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific coast.

Dryocopus pileatus eats insects, fruits and nuts. They often chip out large and roughly rectangular holes in trees while searching out insects. The bird ranges 40–49cm long, much bigger than other woodpecker species.

Holes made by the male Pileated Woodpecker are used to raise the young. The male first pecks the hole to attract a female for mating. The cavity is unlined except for wood chips and usually has multiple entrances. Once the brood is raised, the Pileated Woodpeckers abandon the hole and will not use it the next year. The holes become excellent homes for many forest song birds and thus the Pileated Woodpecker is an important ecological species.

Its drumming can be very loud, often sounding like someone striking a tree with a hammer. This bird favors mature forests, but has adapted to use second-growth stands and heavily wooded parks as well. The call is a wild laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGYcEyfVzVk

[All text: Ref (65)]

Bird of Day 42: Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

The Common Goldeneye featured on the right of this stamp is male, with a female on the left. The species is aptly named for its golden-yellow eye. Males are 45-52cm long and 900-1400g in weight; females 40-50cm and 500-1180g. They eat fish, crustaceans and aquatic insects.

These diving sea ducks are found in the lakes and rivers of boreal forests across Canada and the northern United States, Scandinavia and northern Russia. They are migratory and most winter in protected coastal waters or open inland waters at more temperate latitudes.

Brood parasitism* is quite common both with other Common Goldeneyes as well as other duck species and even Tree Swallow and European Starling eggs have been found mixed with Goldeneye eggs!

* A kind of kleptoparasitism found among birds, fish or insects, involving the manipulation and use of host individuals either of the same or different species to raise the young of the brood-parasite. This relieves the parasitic parent from the investment of rearing young or building nests, enabling them to spend more time foraging, producing offspring etc. As this behaviour is damaging to the host, it will often result in an evolutionary arms race between parasite and host.

[All text: Ref (64)]

Bird of Day 41: Black-throated Laughingthrush

Dryonastes chinensis (previously Garrulax chinensis)

This bird is found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.

The Black-throated Laughingthrush is a medium-sized, floppy-tailed landbird with strong legs and short rounded wings which produce weak flight. They are not strong migrators. These birds often occur in groups up to a dozen and sometimes in mixed feeding flocks.

Like all Laughingthrushes, Dryonastes chinensis is a noisy bird, and is said to have a laughing call: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq6Qk5g4GyM&NR=1

[All text: Ref (63)]

Bird of Day 40: Crested Tit

Lophophanes cristatus (formerly Parus cristatus)

The Crested Tit is a widespread and common resident breeder in coniferous forests throughout central and northern Europe and in deciduous woodland in France and the Iberian peninsula. It is a common garden bird in many parts of Britain and Europe mainland.

Lophophanes cristatus is about 11.5cm in length and feeds on insects and seeds. It feeds low down amongst trees and makes a nests usually in a hole in a rotting stump.

The erectile crest and distinctive gorget and collar make this tit easily recognisable. Like other tits, the Crested Tit is a talkative bird, keeping a constant zee, zee, zee.

[All text: Ref (62)]

Bird of Day 39: Brolga

Grus rubicunda

The Brolga is a majestic Australian bird well known for its wonderful mating dance. It is found across the tropical north, southwards through north-east and east central areas, as well as central New South Wales to western Victoria.

These tall birds are up to 130cm in height with a wingspan of up to 240cm. The female is shorter than the male. Brolgas have a featherless red head and a grey crown.

It is thought that Brolgas are monogamous. The bond between breeding pairs is strengthened during elaborate courtship displays, which involve much dancing, leaping, wing-flapping and loud trumpeting. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCJVmINmtZg&NR=1

Outside the breeding season, Brolgas form large family groups and flocks of up to a hundred birds. These groups may be partially nomadic or may stay in the same area. Some birds also migrate northwards.

[All text above: Ref (60)]

In Aboriginal Dreamtime, there lived a young girl called Brolga who was famous for her wonderful and unique dancing style. One day, when Brolga was dancing alone with the light and shadows of a big old-coolibah tree, the evil spirit Waiwera saw her from his home in the Milky Way and wanted her as his woman. He spun himself into a willy-willy (whirlwind) and drew her up to him. Her tribe searched and found her captive. The tribe fought off Waiwera, and when the evil spirit realised he couldn't escape with the dancing girl he turned her into a Brolga so as no-one could have her.
The dance of the Brolga is a traditional dance of Aborigines.
[This text: Ref (61)]

Bird of Day 38: Common Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

This 16cm adult bird from the finch family breeds in the spruce forests of North America, where it is known as Red Crossbill, as well as Europe and Asia (58). The Common Crossbill is resident, however it will travel south if their food - seeds of conifers - runs out (58).

The Crossbills are characterised by the mandibles crossing at their tips, which gives the group its English name (58). This feature enables the birds to extract the seeds from pine cones (59).

Adult males tend to be red or orange in colour, and females green or yellow, but there is much variation (58).

Common Crossbills call frequently whilst moving about in the trees, making a high-pitched, metallic sound like glipp-glipp. The song is a series of trills and twitters (59).

An old Christian belief is that the Crossbill acquired its peculiar beak as a result of trying to remove the nails from the hands and feet of Christ when he was on the cross. This incident also accounted for the male bird’s red breast, a story which is also associated with other red-breasted birds such as the robin and goldfinch (59).

Bird of Day 37: White-throated Fantail

Rhipidura albicollis

The White-throated Fantail breeds across tropical southern Asia from the Himalayas, India and Bangladesh east to Indonesia. This species is found in forest, scrub and cultivation and is an insectivore.

The adult White-throated Fantail is 19cm long, including its tail which it often fans as it moves through the undergrowth. They lay three eggs in a small cup nest in a tree, like this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White-throated_Fantail_(Rhipidura_albicollis)_nest_after_use_at_Narendrapur_I_IMG_7632.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White-throated_Fantail_(Rhipidura_albicollis)_nest_after_use_at_Narendrapur_I_IMG_7632.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White-throated_Fantail_(Rhipidura_albicollis)_nest_after_use_at_Narendrapur_I_IMG_7632.jpg

The peninsular race of the Rhipidura albicollis, R. a. albogularis, has a pleasant call using a fixed and unmistakable pattern of musical notes in its call. The notes are loud and normally divided into two stanzas - the first with 5-6 trilling notes rising and falling, followed by 4-5 notes rising up the scale and ending in the highest note. Birds use the same song year after year, with progressively small changes, with the result that the song sounds very different after 4-5 years.

[All text: Ref (57)]

Bird of Day 36: Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Formerly called Oldsquaw. It is the male of the species that has the long central tail feathers.

This medium-sized duck has several distinctive features and characteristics when compared to other ducks.

The Long-tailed Duck can dive as deep as 60m to forage, and of all diving ducks spends the most time under water relative to time on surface.

Unlike most ducks, which molt twice a year, the Long-tailed Duck has three distinct plumages each year, achieved in a complex series of overlapping partial molts.

Clangula hyemalis breeds in the Artic and winters along the coasts of North America.

Vocalization of the male Long-tailed Duck is a loud, nasal, seemingly incessant call, ow-owooolee:
http://www.oiseaux.net/oiseaux/anseriformes/son/Clangula.hyemalis.mp3
When feeding the call is a soft gut-gut and when alarmed the call is a bark.

[All text: Ref (56)]

Bird of Day 35: Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulus

A sleek bird, the Bohemian Waxwing is 18–21cm long with a pointed crest. It travels in large, nomadic groups with a strong, direct flight and breeds in coniferous forests throughout the most northern parts of Europe, Asia and western North America.

Bohemian Waxwings eat berries and insects. They nest usually high in a pine tree, depending on the location's feeding opportunities. Each bird or pair may have more than one nest in the same general area. On average, 4 to 6 eggs are laid, the egg shells having a pale bluish color with a heavy sprinkling of blackish spots and some dark, irregular lines.

Its English name refers to the bright red bead-like tips of the secondary feathers on its wings, which look like drops of sealing wax, while 'Bohemian' may refer to the Romani (gypsies), with a comparison to this bird's wandering.

The call of Bombycilla garrulus is a pleasant ringing sound.

[All text: Ref (55)]

Bird of Day 34: Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Sometimes also called the Sea Swallow, the Common Tern is 34–37cm long with a 70–80cm wingspan. It breeds in temperate and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and east and central North America. A strong migrator, the Common Tern winters south in coastal tropical and subtropical regions, including the north and east coasts of Australia.

Breeding occurs in colonies on coasts and islands and often inland on suitable freshwater lakes. When breeding the Common Tern is white with a black crown. When not breeding, the forehead is white. Common Tern's can be quite defensive of their nest and young, see the following clip for a demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rbDg6C2YIw

Sterna hirundo are known to reach an age of 23 years. They feed by plunge-diving for fish, from either the sea or freshwater lakes and large rivers. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.

The call of the Common Tern is a clear piping.

[All text: Ref (54)]

Bird of Day 33: Azure Tit

Cyanistes cyanus (formerly Parus cyanus)

The lovely little Azure Tit is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout Russia and central Asia. It is resident, and most birds do not migrate.

Cyanistes cyanus is 12-13cm and has unmistakable colour and markings. It is found in temperate and subarctic deciduous or mixed woodland, scrub and marshes.

The call of the Azure Tit is described as a dee, dee, dee or a scolding churr. The bird's song is a tsi-tsi-tshurr-tsi-tsi-tshurr.

[All text: Ref (53)]

Bird of Day 32: White-naped Crane

Grus vipio

This large bird measures up to 125cm in length, 130cm in height and weighs on average 5.6kg. Its diet consists mainly of insects, seeds, roots, plants and small animals.

The White-naped Crane breeds in northeastern Mongolia, northeastern China, and adjacent areas of southeastern Russia where a program at Khinganski Nature Reserve raises eggs provided from U.S. zoos to bolster the species. The birds migrate to winter near the Yangtze River, the DMZ in Korea and on Kyūshū in Japan. They also reach Kazakhstan and Taiwan.

Grus vipio is monogamous and territorial. A mating pair will perform a "unison call" which strengthens their bond and also serves to claim the area. Click here for a great photo of this act:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grus_vipio_at_the_Bronx_Zoo_006.jpg

The White-naped Crane's Conservation Status is listed as Vulnerable.

[All text: Ref (52)]

Bird of Day 31: Winter Wren

Troglodytes hiemalis

This tiny North American bird breeds in coniferous forests and migrates south, sometimes as far as north-eastern Mexico, for winter. It can remain in moderately cold and even snowy climates.

Its movements as it creeps or climbs are incessant rather than rapid; its short flights swift and direct but not sustained, its tiny round wings whirring as it flies from bush to bush.

At night, usually in winter, it often roosts in dark retreats, snug holes and even old nests. In hard weather it may do so in parties, either consisting of the family or of many individuals gathered together for warmth.

For the most part insects and spiders are its food, but in winter large pupae are taken and some seeds.

At breeding time, the male builds a small number of nests. These are called "cock nests" but are never lined until the female chooses one to use.

Identification of the Winter Wren is often achieved by its long and exuberant song.
Click here to hear a sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo0QVThca3U

[All text: Ref (51)]

Bird of Day 30: Grey Butcherbird

Cracticus torquatus

The Grey Butcherbird is a widely distributed species endemic to Australia. Other birds in the same family include the Australian Magpie and the Currawongs.

Cracticus torquatus occurs in a range of different habitats including arid, semi-arid and temperate zones. It appears to be adapting well to city living, and can be encountered in the suburbs of many Australian cities.

This bird has a reputation as a vicious species as it preys on small vertebrates including other birds.

The Grey Butcherbird has a characteristic piping "rollicking" birdsong, which can be heard at:
http://birdsinbackyards.net/images/audio/cracticus-torquatus.mp3


[All text: Ref (50)]

Bird of Day 29: Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Also known as the Eastern White Pelican or White Pelican, this bird breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and in Africa in swamps and shallow lakes. The Great White Pelican is one of the largest and heaviest flying birds of the world.

To feed, the pelican pushes its bill underwater, the lower bill bows out, creating a large pouch which fills with water and fish. As the bird lifts its head, the pouch contracts, forcing out the water but retaining the fish. A group of 6 to 8 great white pelicans will gather in a horseshoe formation in the water to feed together, dipping their bills in unison. During periods of starvation, pelicans also eat seagulls and ducklings, or as seen in the linked footage below, the chicks of ganarts.

Large numbers of Great White Pelicans breed together in colonies where their young are cared for by both parents.

Pelecanus onocrotalus are exploited for many reasons. Their pouch is used to make tobacco bags, their skin is turned into leather, the guano is used as fertiliser, and the fat of young pelicans is converted into oils for traditional medicine in China and India. Human disturbance, loss of foraging habitat and breeding sites, and pollution are all contributing to the decline of the Great White Pelican.

[All text: Ref (49)]

From the BBC's Life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGqlEA0IRxw

Bird of Day 28: European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

The European Nightjar, or just Nightjar, occurs throughout northern and central Europe as well as temperate Asia and winters in Africa, as far south as the Cape.

It inhabits open heathy wastes, Lowland heath, bracken-covered slopes and open woods. The Nightjar is a crepuscular animal, meaning it is primarily active during twilight, that is at dawn and at dusk.

Caprimulgus europaeus is 26cm in length with a wingspan of 55cm. It makes no nest for breeding but rather, occupies unvegetated gaps.

The European Nightjar has a soft call when on the wing and a sharper and repeated alarm, cuick cuick. During courtship, and occasionally at other times, it uses a mechanical signal, a sharp cracking sound, caused by clapping the wings together over the back.

The Nightjar's song is a strange soft churring trill which rises and falls as it vibrates on the variable evening breeze, or as the bird turns its head from side to side.

These birds have numerous old names such as "Flying toad", "Nighthawk", "Moth-owl" and "Goatsucker". The European Nightjar makes many appearances in old poetic literature. See: http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/sir-henry-newbolt/the-nightjar/

[All text: Ref (48)]

Bird of Day 27: Green Peafowl

Pavo muticus

The male Peafowl is the Peacock (featured left in this stamp); female is Peahen. The male has the distinct feathered train, which moults after breeding. The sexes are otherwise quite similar in appearance.

Green Peafowl are large birds, the male growing up to 3m long (including train) and weighing up to 5kg. It has a large wingspan of approximately 1.2m. The Green Peafowl is capable of sustained flight and is often observed on wing.

Green Peafowls are found in a wide range of Southeast Asian habitats including primary and secondary forest, both tropical and subtropical, as well as evergreen and deciduous. They may also be found amongst bamboo, on grasslands, savannas, scrub and farmland edge.

The Green Peafowl is widely believed to be polygynous, however in captivity, when pairs are left alone without human interaction, they have been observed to be strongly monogamous.

The conservation status of Pavo muticus is Threatened.

[All text: Ref (47)

Bird of Day 26: Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

The Black-crowned Night Heron (or just Night Heron) is approximately 64cm in length and is found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia.

Breeding habitat is fresh and salt-water wetlands. These birds nest in colonies on platforms of sticks in a group of trees, or on the ground in protected locations such as islands or reedbeds.

The Black-crowned Night Heron feeds nocturnally on small fish, crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects, small mammals and small birds. Prey is caught through ambush from a still position at the water's edge. During the day these birds rest in trees or bushes.

Nycticorax nycticorax has a harsh crow-like call.

[All text: Ref (46)]

Bird of Day 25: Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Also known as European (or Eurasian) Golden Oriole.

The Golden Oriole breeds in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and migrates to the tropics in the winter.

The shy Golden Oriole inhabit tall deciduous trees in woodland, orchards or parks and spend much of their time in tree canopies. They feed on insects and fruit. They build neat nests in tree forks and lay 3-6 eggs.

The bird featured on this stamp is the striking male Golden Oriole. The female is a less vibrant shade of green.

Golden Oriole has flight that is strong and direct with some shallow dips over longer distances.

Their call is a screech, but the song is a beautiful fluting weela-wee-ooo or or-iii-ole.

[All text: Ref (45)]

Bird of Day 24: Black Grouse

Lururus tetrix or Lyrurus tetrix or Tetrao tetrix

Also known as Blackgame or European Black Grouse.

The male of this large bird, featured in this stamp, has very distinctive black plumage, red wattles around its eyes, a white wingbar, and a lyre-shaped tail, which appears forked in flight. Its song is loud, bubbling and somewhat dove-like.

The female is greyish-brown and takes all responsibility for nesting and brooding. Her call is a cackle.

A record 200 male Black Grouses have been seen together taking up the ritual mating game at the dawn of spring; strutting and displaying whilst making a highly distinctive mating call. This process is called lekking.

[All text: Ref (43)]

grouse
–adjective Australian Slang.
excellent; great; wonderful.
Origin: 1940–45; orig. uncert.
(44)

Bird of Day 23: American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

The American Flamingo, or Caribbean Flamingo, is closely related to the Greater Flamingo and Chilean Flamingo (41). Phoenicopterus ruber is the most prominently pink of the three species (41).

This large bird prefers to inhabit saline lagoons, mudflats, and shallow brackish coastal or inland lakes (41). It lays just one egg, often with many years between each lay (42). Both parents brood the young for a period of up to 6 years when they reach sexual maturity (41). The American Flamingo has a life expectancy of 40 years - one of the longest in birds (41).

Th colour of the American Flamingo is acquired through diet (42). The small crustaceans and algae that the flamingoes eat contain carotinoid and other natural pigments that are processed in the body and deposited in the growing feathers (42).

The call of Phoenicopterus ruber is a goose-like honking (41).

Bird of Day 22: Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Also known as the Eurasian Kingfisher or River Kingfisher.

Alcedo atthis is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and North Africa, mainly south of 60°N. It is a rare vagrant to Christmas Island.

The Common Kingfisher hunts from a perch 1–2 m above the water, on a branch, post or riverbank, bill pointing down as it searches for prey. It bobs its head when food is detected to gauge the distance, and plunges steeply down to seize its prey usually no deeper than 25 cm below the surface. The wings are opened under water and the open eyes are protected by the transparent third eyelid.

The flight of the Common Kingfisher is fast, direct and usually low over water. The short rounded wings whirr rapidly, and a bird flying away shows an electric-blue "flash" down its back.

High densities of breeding Common Kingfishers are found in habitats with clear water, which permits optimal prey visibility, and trees or shrubs on the banks. Common Kingfishers are important members of ecosystems and good indicators of freshwater community health.

[All text: Ref (40)]

Bird of Day 21: Tawny Owl

Strix aluco

The Tawny Owl is a robust and medium-sized owl commonly found in woodlands across much of Eurasia. This owl is non-migratory and highly territorial.

Tawny Owls pair off from the age of one year, and stay together in a usually monogamous relationship for life. An established pair's territory is defended year-round and maintained with little, if any, boundary change from year to year. Juveniles must eventually leave the nest to find their own territory and can starve if they fail to locate an unclaimed area.

This species is fearless in defence of its nest and young, and, like other Strix owls, strikes for the intruder's head with its sharp talons. Because its flight is silent, it may not be detected until it is too late to avoid the danger. Dogs, cats and humans may be assaulted, sometimes without provocation.

The commonly heard contact call is a shrill, kew-wick but the male has a quavering advertising song hoo...ho, ho, hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo.

[All text: Ref (39)]

Bird of Day 20: Blue Rock Thrush

Monticola solitarius

The Blue Rock Thrush is 21-23 cm in length with a long slim bill. It breeds in open mountainous areas found in southern Europe and northwest Africa, and from central Asia to northern China and Malaysia.

Monticola solitarius nests in rock cavities and walls, and usually lays 3-5 eggs. The Blue Rock Thrush is an ominvore, eating a wide variety of insects and small reptiles in addition to berries and seeds.

The summer male is unmistakable, with all blue-grey plumage apart from its darker wings. Females and immatures are much less striking, with dark brown upperparts, and paler brown scaly underparts.

The male Blue Rock Thrush sings a clear, melodious call that is similar to, but louder than the call of the Rock Thrush.

The Blue Rock Thrush is Malta's national bird.

[All text: Ref (38)]

Bird of Day 19: Hamerkop

Scopus umbretta

Also known as Hammerkop,Hammerkopf, Hammerhead, Hammerhead Stork, Umbrette, Umber Bird, Tufted Umber, or Anvilhead.

The Hamerkop is a medium-sized bird inhabiting wetlands of Africa (south of the Sahara desert), Madagascar and coastal southwest Arabia. It feeds on amphibians, fish, shrimp, insects and rodents.

Scopus umbretta displays several unusual behaviours. Up to ten birds join in "ceremonies" in which they run circles around each other, all calling loudly, raising their crests, fluttering their wings. Another is "false mounting", in which one bird stands on top of another and appears to mount it, but they may not be mates and do not copulate.

Another curious aspect of the Hamerkop is its nest, which is sometimes more than 1.5m across, comprising of over 10000 sticks and strong enough to hold a man's weight. The birds decorate the outside of the nest with any bright-coloured objects they can find and compulsively build up to 3 to 5 nests each year, regardless of whether they are breeding or not.

There are many cultural legends about the Hamerkop. For example, Kalahari Bushmen believe or believed that being hit by lightning resulted from trying to rob a Hamerkop's nest.

Vocalisations include cackles and a shrill call given in flight. Hamerkops are mostly silent except when in groups. Its name comes from the shape of its head with a curved bill and crest at the back.

[All text: Ref (37)]

Bird of Day 18: Comb-crested Jacana

Irediparra gallinacea

Also known as Lotusbird or Lilytrotter.

This easily identified bird is adapted to walking across floating vegetation of tropical freshwater wetlands. Making this possible is the Jacana's long thin legs and extremely long toes. Open the following link for a photo of a very cute Jacana chick yet to grow into its legs and feet! (Photo is on the right, 3rd down from top):
http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Irediparra-gallinacea

The Jacana occurs in southeastern Borneo, the southern Philippines, Sulawesi, Moluccas, Lesser Sunda Islands, New Guinea, New Britain, and northern and eastern Australia.

Irediparra gallinacea eats seeds and aquatic insects gleaned from floating vegetation or the water surface.

The Jacana's call is a squeaky, high-pitched chittering.

[All text: Ref (36)]

Bird of Day 17: Wandering Albatross

Diomedea exulans

Also known as Snowy Albatross or White-winged Albatross (34).

Wandering Albatrosses spend most of their life in flight, landing only to breed and feed (35). They have a circumpolar range in the Southern Ocean (34).

The Wandering Albatross has the a wingspan between 2.51-3.50m, the largest of any living bird (34). It is capable of remaining in the air without beating its wings for several hours at a time (34).

They are a monogamous species, usually for life, breeding every other year. The Wandering Albatross lays one 10cm white egg between 10 December and 5 January, in their nests, which is a large bowl built of grassy vegetation and soil peat (34).

Diomedea exulans is a group bird and has a large range of calls from screams and whistles to grunts and bill clapping. When courting they will spread their wings, wave their heads, and rap their bills together, while braying. (34).

The Wandering Albatross can live for over 50 years (34).

Bird of Day 16: White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

Also known as the Sea Eagle, Erne, or White-tailed Sea-Eagle.

This large bird has a body length range of 69-92cm and can have a wingspan of up to 244cm. The White-tailed Eagle breeds in northern Europe and northern Asia and lives to 21 years on average.

The White-tailed Eagle's diet is varied, including fish, birds, carrion, and, occasionally, small mammals. Many of these birds live almost wholly as scavengers, regularly pirating food from otters and other birds, but this eagle can be a powerful hunter as well.

White-tailed Eagles are territorial and will reuse their huge nests, sometimes for decades by successive generations of birds; one nest in Iceland has been in use for over 150 years.

[All text: Ref 33)]

Bird of Day 15: Eurasian Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Also called Common Bullfinch or just Bullfinch.

This pretty and little bird likes to breed in mixed woodland, including parkland and gardens. It builds a nest in a bush or tree and lays 4-7 eggs. The Eurasian Bullfinch eats seeds and buds of fruit trees.

The pleasant song of this unobtrusive bird contains fluted whistles.

[All text: Ref (32)]

Bird of Day 14: Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

This large wading bird has a length of 91-140cm and a wingspan of 167-201cm. It is common near the shores of open water and in wetlands of North and Central America, the West Indies and the Galapagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe.

Ardea herodias likes to eat small fish, with shrimps, rodents, small birds and reptiles also on the menu. These birds locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole. They have been known to choke on prey that is too large.

The Great Blue Heron's gait is almost a straight line with each stride close to 22cm. It uses its long legs to wade through shallow water, and spears fish or frogs with its long, sharp bill.

This species usually breeds in colonies, in trees close to lakes or other wetlands. Often such colonies include only Great Blue Herons, sometimes they nest alongside other species of herons. These groups are called heronry, having on average 160 nests.

The call of the Great Blue Heron is a harsh croak.

[All text: Ref (31)]

Bird of Day 13: Kentish Plover

Charadrius alexandrinus

The Kentish Plover, just 15-17cm in length, breeds in most subtropical and tropical parts of the world. It no longer breeds in Kent, or even Great Britain.

These birds breed on sandy coasts and brackish inland lakes. Its nest is a ground scrape. They lay 3-5 eggs.

The Kentish Plover eats insects and other invertebrates, obtained by a run-and-pause technique.

The flight call is a sharp bip.

[All text: Ref (30)]

Bird of Day 12: Hoopoe

Upupa epops

Pronounced "hupu" and known for its distinct 'crown' of feathers and long, thin tapering black bill. Hoopoes are found across Afro-Eurasia.

A medium sized bird, the Hoopoe inhabits a wide range of environments including farms, orchards, savannas, heathland, grasslands, vineyards and glades inside forests.

The Hoopoe is monogamous for a single breeding season and can be quite brutal when competing for a mate. They will try to stab rivals with their bills, and individuals are occasionally blinded in fights. The bills are otherwise useful for probing the ground for ants and other tasty insects.

Upupa epops has a rich history of cultural reference. Ancient Egyptians considered Hoopoes to be sacred and in Persia the bird was a symbol of virtue. In contrast, Hoopoes were thought of as thieves throughout most of Europe and harbingers of war in Scandinavia. In Estonia the Hoopoe is traditionally linked to death and the underworld.

The Hoopoe also appears in both the Bible and the Quran. It the national bird of the State of Israel.

The song of the Hoopoe is a trisyllabic "oop-oop-oop".

[All text: Ref (29)]

Bird of Day 11: Northern Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Also known as the Peewit, Green Plover or just Lapwing.

Vanellus vanellus is about 30cm in length with a relatively large wingspan of approximately 70cm. It feeds on small invertebrates.

The Lapwing mostly feeds in mixed flocks, usually with Golden Plovers and Black-Headed Gulls - the latter of which will often steal the two Plovers' food. The pay-off is protection against predators.

There are three theories as to the origins of the name "lapwing". One is from the "lapping" sound its wings make in flight; or from the irregular progress it makes in flight due to its large wings; or possibly from its habit of drawing potential predators away from its nest by trailing a wing as if broken.

The Lapwing's call is shrill, described by the word peewit. In the breeding season the male will be extremely vocal whilst performing an obsessive tumbling display.

[All text: Ref (28)]

Bird of Day 10: Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

These handsome waterfowls breed in temperate Eurasia and migrate to subtropical areas in the winter.

In the breeding season, the male Shelduck's bill appears bright red and bears a prominent knob on its forehead.

One or two adult Shelducks are often seen with a very large flock of young - this group is likely to be a creche into which most breeding parents will leave their partially grown offspring.

To protect the young ducks from predators, an adult Shelduck will fly away as a decoy while the young duck will dive under the water.

[All text: Ref (27)]