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)]