BIRDS OF THE WORLD
1 ACANTHIS FLAMMEA
Common Redpoll
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Fringillidae.
Characteristics About 12.5 cm long (5"). The upper parts have a grayish-brown coloring streaked with black; the throat and upper part of the breast are pink in the male; the sides are yellowish pink with black streaks; the belly is whitish; the forehead and top of the head are red or crimson, and on the head itself there is a brighter red marking. There are black markings above and beneath the beak.
Habitat Northern forests, especially birch, conifers (or with alder, willows and junipers); mountainous regions, tundra
Distribution Northern Europe, northern Asia and North America. Sometimes moves farther southward.
Life and habits Generally nests in conifers, birch, alder or willows. The nest is cup-shaped, made of brushwood, twigs, roots, lichens and down. Female lays 3-7 eggs (usually 4 or 5), and hatches them herself for 10-13 days. The nidicolous nestlings are fed by both parents and leave the nest after 11-14 days. The Redpoll lays 1 or 2 clutches each year. It feeds principally on seeds (especially birch and alder), but is also insectivorous.
2 ACCIPITER GENTILIS
Northern Goshawk
Classification Order Falconiformes, Family Accipitridae.
Characteristics About 48-58 cm. long (19-23"), resembling a large Sparrow Hawk. The male is smaller than the female. The adults have a dark ash-brown coloring in the upper parts, while the lower parts are whitish and closely barred with dark markings. The upper parts of the young are paler, tending to reddish, and the lower parts are tawny, with large dark brown markings.
Habitat Lowland and mountain forests and woods, interspersed with open spaces.
Distribution Europe, palaearctic Asia, North America.
Life and habits Nests in trees. Lays 1-5 eggs (more commonly 2 or 3) at intervals of 3 days. Incubation falls largely to the female, who is fed by the male during this period, and lasts 36-41 days. The nestlings develop their feathers within 18-38 days after being born. At about 40 days they leave the nest and at about 45 days will make their first flight, becoming fairly independent at about 70 days. The Goshawk is a fearsome woodland hunter, pursuing its prey through trees, and often flying very low and swiftly, showing great agility. It hunts birds, particularly crows, pigeons, thrushes, pheasants and partridges, and members of the Tetraonidae, as well as mammals (hares and mice), lizards and insects. It eats its prey on the ground.
3 ACCIPITER NISUS
Eurasian Sparrow Hawk
Classification Order Falconiformes, Family Accipitridae.
Characteristics About 27-37 cm long (11-15"). The female, which is larger than the male, has dark-colored upper parts and whitish lower parts finely barred with dark brown markings. The male is dark (blackboard- or slate-gray) in the upper parts and barred reddish lower parts. In the young the upper parts are brown with reddish-edged feathers, and the lower parts have broader bars.
Habitat Lowland and mountain woods and forests interspersed with open spaces.
Distribution Europe, palaearctic Asia, northwest Africa.
Life and habits Lays just one clutch of 4 or 5 eggs (sometimes 2, 6 or 7), in a nest made of brushwood, branches, vegetable matter, et cetera, and built in trees, preferably coniferous woods. The eggs are laid at intervals of 2-4 days. The incubation, which is the task of the female alone, starts when the second or third egg is laid and lasts 35-42 days. The male feeds the female during the incubation period. The young develop their feathers within 13-28 days and are ready for their first flight after 32 days, but continue to depend on their parents for a further 27 days, approximately. The Sparrow Hawk hunts by flying low along the edge of woodland above the undergrowth, catching mainly birds and their nestlings, as well as small mammals and insects.
4 ACROCEPHALUS ARUNDINACEUS
Great Reed Warbler
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Sylviidae.
Characteristics About 19.5 cm. long (7") the largest of the European marsh or reed warblers. The beak is longer and broader than in other species of European warbler, and there is a conspicuous eyebrow. The plumage is dark chestnut brown in the upper parts and paler in the lower.
Habitat Marshlands, canebrakes, by rivers and lakes.
Distribution Europe, Africa and Asia.
Life and habits Nests among reeds, building a nest made of interwoven vegetable matter and supported by the reeds themselves. There is a single clutch, usually of 4-6 eggs (rarely 3), which are incubated for a period of 14-15 days by both parents. The nestlings are reared by both parents and remain for about 12 days in the nest. The Great Reed Warbler emits a song that ornithologist G. Mountfort defines as "harsh and prolonged" -- a wide range of notes that sound like karra-karra, krik-krik, gurk-gurk-gurk. It feeds mainly on various insects and invertebrates. A pair has been observed in Hungary feeding its young with small fish.
5 ACROCEPHALUS SCHOENOBAENUS
Sedge Warbler
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Sylviidae.
Characteristics About 12.5 cm. long (5"), with striking cream-colored eyebrows. The coloring is dark brownish, with several bars in the upper parts; the rump is tawny, and the lower parts are paler. Young individuals have a more yellowish coloring with a few markings at the top of the breast and on the throat.
Habitat Wetlands, canebrakes, low vegetation with scrub.
Distribution Europe, Asia and Africa.
Life and habits Nests among reeds or in low vegetation. Lays a single clutch consisting of 3-8 eggs (usually 5 or 6). Incubation is the responsibility largely of the female, for 13 or 14 days. The nidicolous nestlings are reared by both parents and remain in the nest for 10-12 days. The Sedge Warbler feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.
6 AEGITHALOS CAUDATUS
Long-tailed Tit
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Paridae.
Characteristics About 14 cm. long (6"). The adults have a white head, neck and lower parts (of the numerous subspecies A. c. caudatus has a completely white head, whereas A. c. rosaceus has a broad black eyebrow). The back is usually grayish black, the rump reddish, and the tail long and tapering. In young individuals the sides of the head and nape of the neck are brownish, and the back is brown. Flight is undulating and irregular.
Habitat Woodlands, parks and gardens.
Distribution Europe and Asia.
Life and habits It builds a nest typically in the fork of a tree or in bushes. Both the male and female help to build it. The resulting nest is oval shaped, made of mosses, lichens and vegetable matter, with an opening in the upper part. The pair may take up to three weeks to build it. In it 5-16 eggs (usually 8-12) are laid and incubated mainly by the female, who is fed by the male, for 12-14 days. The nidicolous nestlings leave the nest after 14-18 days; the Long-tailed Tit makes erratic movements, sometimes in groups of fifty-or-so individuals. It feeds on insects, larvae, spiders and other invertebrates.
7 AEGYPIUS MONACHUS
Cinereous Vulture
Classification Order Falconiformes, Family Accipitridae.
Characteristics About 105 cm. long (40"), it has a uniform dark coloring tending to dark brown. The head and neck have bluish-gray naked skin with blackish down on the head and a collar of feathers round the neck. Immature birds have the head covered with thick black down. In flight it looks impressively large, with a slightly wedge-shaped tail.
Habitat Lowlands and wooded mountainous areas.
Distribution This vulture is becoming increasingly rare. It is found in central Asia from Turkey to Afghanistan, Mongolia and the Urals. The Cinereous Vulture reproduces in considerable numbers in southwestern Spain and on Majorca; there are smaller populations in Yugoslavia, Greece and the Crimea, while odd pairs or individuals have been observed in Cyprus, Crete and Sardinia.
Life and habits Generally nests in trees, building a large and rather crude nest which is used year after year. In it it lays a single egg. Incubation, for which both parents are responsible, lasts 52-55 days. The nestling is fed by its parents with regurgitated food, and develops its plumage-in 30-60 days. The first flight takes place after about a hundred days. The young bird remains in the nest for a further six weeks. The Cinereous Vulture feeds almost exclusively on carrion, very rarely on small injured animals or very slow-moving animals like tortoises.
8 AGAPORNIS FISCHERI
Fischer's Lovebird
Classification Order Psittaciformes, Family Psittacidae.
Characteristics Lovebirds reach a length of 13-17 cm. (5-7"), with a short round tail and mainly green plumage. According to various ornithologists there are 6 to 9 species of lovebirds. The name "lovebird" (Agapornis means "bird of love") suggests the very close bond that unites each pair of this species. Fischer's Lovebird has dark greenish plumage uppermost, with greenish-brown breast and head except for the front part, which is slightly reddish; there is a white ring round the eye.
Habitat Wooded steppes and forests.
Distribution Eastern Africa.
Life and habits Often found in tight groups where food, consisting mainly of seeds, is readily available. The nest is made in hollows in trees, and while some species of lovebirds carry the building materials to the nest site with their beak, others transport it by wedging it in the plumage on their back or rump. Five or six eggs are usually laid, and they are incubated by the female for about 21 days. The nidicolous nestlings leave the nest after about 40 days, but remain with their parents for a further fortnight or so.
9 AGELAIUS PHOENICEUS
Red-winged Blackbird
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Icteridae.
Characteristics One of the commonest species in the family, this bird is 20-25 cm. long (8-10"). The plumage of the male is completely black except for a broad scarlet marking on each wing. The female is chestnut colored on the upper parts, off-white on the lower, with dark bars. The beak is long and slender, and the legs are black. A similar species is A. tricolor with a darker red marking with white edges.
Habitat Marshlands and cultivated land.
Distribution North America.
Life and habits This species, which has considerably enlarged its distribution area in recent years, often has gregarious habits. It almost always builds its nest in canebrakes, bushes or small trees near water; but in recent years it has also started nesting in cultivated areas. The nest is cup-shaped and woven with vegetable fibers; it contains 3-5 eggs (usually 4), which are incubated for 11 or 12 days solely by the female. The nestlings take to the air at 10 or 11 days. There are usually two broods a year. It feeds particularly on insects and other invertebrates in the warm months, and on seeds and crushed grit in autumn and winter.
10 AIX GALERICULATA
Mandarin Duck
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics About 42 cm. long (16"). The male has unmistakable coloring -- wing feathers that are orange and look like vertical "sails," wide chestnut-colored "sideburns," a dark breast, a red beak, a blackish top of the head, and a large white marking behind and above the eye. The female has dull brownish-gray coloring, green wings and a blackish beak. Immature males and males in the postnuptial state resemble females, but the beak remains black, and not blackish.
Habitat Ponds, inland water, lakes.
Distribution Asia (especially China and Japan), artificially introduced to Europe.
Life and habits Generally nests in hollows in trees. Lays, almost invariably, just one clutch of 9-12 eggs, which are incubated by the female for 28-30 days. The nidifugous nestlings are active and independent and follow the female, who takes care of them in the earliest stages.
11 ALAEMON ALAUDIPES
Hoopoe Lark
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Alaudidae.
Characteristics About 20 cm. long (8"). It has a distinctive curved beak and a fairly long tail. It has dull coloring, gray-brownish in the upper parts, with a pale, streaked breast and white belly. The wings have a marked black-and-white pattern. The outer rectrices have white markings.
Habitat Desert and sandy regions with little or no vegetation, stony ground.
Distribution North Africa to southwestern Asia.
Life and habits It builds a crude nest usually on the ground, in the lee of a clump of grass or a bush. It lays 2-4 eggs, which are pale with large brown, green or pink spots. There is just one brood; there is little information about the incubation period and the rearing of the young. The Hoopoe Lark feeds on seeds and insects, particularly larvae that it pulls from the ground with its beak. A kindred species is Dupont's Lark (Chersophilus duponti), about 7" long with a more barred coloring and an only slightly curved beak (less than Alaemon alaudipes), native of northern Africa.
12 ALAUDA ARVENSIS
Skylark
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Alaudidae.
Characteristics About 18 cm. long (7"). The upper parts are brownish with close black stripes, and the lower parts are tawny white with broad dark stripes on the breast. In the tail the outer rectrices are white, as are the rear edges of the wings in flight. There is a small crest on the head. The young are dark brown in the upper parts with whitish spots on the feathers.
Habitat Open, grassy places, open country, steppe an heathland.
Distribution Europe, Asia and northwest Africa.
Life and habits It nests on the ground, in a hollow sheltered by clumps of grass; the nest is made of dry grasses and roots, and is well disguised as a result. It lays two or three clutches of 3 or 4 eggs (sometimes 5, rarely 7). The incubation period, for which only the female is responsible, lasts 11 days. The nidicolous nestlings are fed by both parents, leave the nest after 9 or 10 days and fly well at 20 days. The skylark feeds mainly on vegetable matter -- grains of corn, seeds, buds, et cetera; in spring and summer it is insectivorous. During the nesting period it often takes to the air, climbing several hundred feet into the sky and singing into the wind; it then swoops back down to earth with its wings held tightly together, opening them just a few yards from the ground.
13 ALCA TORDA
Razorbill
Classification Order Charadriiformes, Family Alcidae.
Characteristics About 42 cm. long (16.5"). Its upper plumage is black, and its lower white. The secondary remiges have white tips that, in flight, form a white border on the rear edge of the base of the wings. A distinctive feature is the strong beak with the white line running along it. In the mating period there is also a white line that runs from the base of the bill to the eye. In winter the throat and sides of the neck turn from summer black to white. The upper parts of young birds are dark chestnut in color.
Habitat Open sea, rocky crags, shingle beaches.
Distribution Nests along the coasts of northern Europe and the northeastern coast of North America and Greenland, and is found wintering farther south.
Life and habits It has gregarious habits, nesting in large colonies, often mixed with other, similar species like the Common Murre (Uria aalge), in rocks and crags and also in shingle on beaches. It lays a single egg (sometimes two) in cracks, holes and rocky ledges without building a nest. Incubation is the responsibility of both sexes and lasts for 25-35 days. The nestling is reared by both parents, and it leaves the nest at 12-15 days to reach the sea accompanied by an adult. It feeds on fish, crustaceans and mollusks.
14 ALCEDO ATTHIS
Eurasian Kingfisher
Classification Order Coraciformes, Family Alcedinidae.
Characteristics About 16 cm. long (6"). It is an unmistakable bird because of its bright coloring and compact body with its long, tough, flattened beak. The upper parts have a coloring that, depending on the refraction of light, is either brilliant blue or emerald green; the lower parts are pale chestnut brown, the throat is white and the legs red. It can often be seen resting on branches or posts near water; from these perches it dives to catch its prey. It usually flies low over the water; its song is rapid, accompanied by bobbing movements of the wings.
Habitat All watercourses (rivers, streams, canals, lakes), and marshland.
Distribution Europe, Asia and North Africa.
Life and habits For its nest it digs out a long tunnel on the banks of rivers, in piles of sand, et cetera; this is on a slight slope and 45-130 cm. in length (18-50"). The tunnel ends in a "chamber" that is the actual nest. In it the kingfisher lays 6 or 7 eggs (sometimes 4-8, rarely 10), which are incubated by both sexes for 19-21 days. The young are reared by both parents and leave the nest at 23-27 days. It feeds on fish, insects, worms and mollusks.
15 ALECTORIS GRAECA
Rock Partridge
Classification Order Galliformes, Family Phasianidae.
Characteristics About 35 cm. long (14"). Its upper plumage is gray-brown and the lower plumage is paler, tending to yellow on the belly, gray-brown on the breast and whitish on the sides with dark stripes. At a distance it is not easy to tell it apart from the Red-legged Partridge (A. rufa) and the Chukar Partridge (A. chukar). It has a well-defined black collar.
Habitat Areas with a reasonable altitude, stony or rocky; also slightly wooded mountains. In winter it moves to lower altitudes.
Distribution Southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia.
Life and habits It nests on the ground among rocks and stony ground with sparse vegetation. On the average it lays a single clutch of 6-21 eggs (usually 8-14). The eggs are laid at intervals of 24-36 hours. Incubation is the task of the female and lasts 24-26 days. The nidifugous nestlings are reared by both parents and reach adult size in about 2 months. They remain together and form groups in autumn. It emits a call that sounds like whit-whit-whit-pitchi-i, and a staccato song in spring and autumn.
16 ALECTORIS RUFA
Red-legged Partridge
Classification Order Galliformes, Family Phasianidae.
Characteristics About 32 cm. long (13"), not easy to tell apart from the Rock Partridge (A. graeca) at a distance, but at close range has a wide reddish-brown collar that runs from the black line and ends up in the form of small pale markings. The upper parts are rust-brown, the breast is bluish gray, and the lower parts tend to pale yellowish; the sides are less closely striped than the Rock Partridge's.
Habitat Cultivated areas, untilled land, hills, clayey, sandy or stony ground,
Distribution Southwestern France, the Iberian peninsula, northwestern Italy, Corsica, and other offshore islands; reintroduced to England.
Life and habits It nests on the ground in sparse vegetation and amid stones. It usually has a single brood, even though the female can lay two successive clutches in two different nests, one being incubated by the male and the other by the female. The clutch usually consists of 10-16 eggs -- sometimes 7-20, and more rarely up to 28 -- which are incubated for a period of 23-25 days. The nidifugous nestlings stay together until the next reproductive season.
17 AMANDAVA AMANDAVA
Avadavat
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Estrildidae.
Characteristics The Family Estrildidae is fairly closely related to the Ploceidae (weaverbirds). It includes species in which the design of the inside of the mouth is a distinctive feature, consisting of dark lines or dots on the palate, tongue and base of the beak, which are particularly obvious in young birds. The Avadavat is about 10 cm. long (4"). The male is quite brightly colored -- reddish with chestnut-colored wings, a dark tail, small white spots on the body, and a reddish beak. The female has duller coloring: brownish gray with a dark tail and reddish beak. Both have a blackish marking around the eye.
Habitat Forests, marshlands, canebrakes, watercourses.
Distribution Southeast Asia.
Life and habits This bird is widely used for commercial purposes, as are many of the Estrildidae. It has been imported by man to many tropical islands, and to southern Egypt, from where it has now disappeared, and so on. Some individuals that have escaped from captivity have bred in the wild, in various European countries, including France, Germany and Italy. it feeds on vegetable matter.
18 AMAZONA AESTIVA
Turquoise-fronted Parrot
Classification Order Psittaciformes, Family Psittacidae.
Characteristics These are typically arboreal and climbing parrots that are from 26 to 47 cm. in length (10-18"), depending on the exact species. Their plumage is predominantly green. The ornithologist Kurt Kolar lists 26 species under the genus Amazona. The Turquoise-fronted Parrot is about 35-41 cm. long (14-16"), with a mainly green plumage with red and bluish markings on the wings; the head is pale yellow, except for the green nape and blue forehead.
Habitat Forests.
Distribution South America.
Life and habits It nests in hollows in trees, where it usually lays 2 eggs; these are incubated mainly by the female. Incubation lasts about 30 days. The diet consists principally of vegetable matter (seeds, nuts and fruit). Two species of Amazona are becoming increasingly rare -- the St. Vincent Parrot (A. guildingii) which is about 41 cm. long (16") and is found on the island of St. Vincent; and the Imperial Parrot (A. imperialis), which is the largest species, reaching 47 cm. in length (18").
19 ANARHYNCHUS FRONTALIS
Wrybill Plover
Classification Order Charadriiformes, Family Charadriidae. Characteristics It has grayish-brown plumage in the upper parts and pale lower parts, with a thin black bar just beneath the neck. The beak is distinctive and typical of the plovers, but the tip is twisted toward the right.
Habitat Beaches, coastal regions and wetlands.
Distribution New Zealand.
Life and habits The Wrybill Plover is a truly distinctive bird because of the strange shape of the beak, which enables it to extract prey (various invertebrates) from beneath stones, and always from the same direction. The modifications occurring in the beaks and bills of various species of Charadriiformes are typical for their alimentary specialization; we should mention the Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpros) and the Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), which are discussed elsewhere, and the Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus), of northeastern Siberia, which has its bill flattened rather like a fish sluice and feeds in the same way as the Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata).
20 ANAS ACUTA
Common Pintail
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics The male is about 66-70 cm. long (26-28"), and the female about 55-58 cm. (22-23"). With his nuptial plumage the male's head and neck are dark colored with a white band that runs down the sides of the neck as far as the breast; the sides and back are grayish, the wings green, the scapular feathers black; the subcaudal feathers are black, the abdomen white and the central tail feathers black and long. The female has a dull brownish coloring; she is slender, with a thin neck and pointed tail. The young and the males in their postnesting plumage resemble the females, but have darker upper parts.
Habitat Tundra, lakes, marshlands, estuaries and coastal areas.
Distribution Eurasia, America; also winters in Africa.
Life and habits It nests in holes in the ground in low vegetation. It lays a Single clutch of 6-12 eggs (more commonly, 7, 8 or 9), which are incubated by the female for 21-23 days. The nidifugous nestlings fly when they are about seven weeks old. The Common Pintail feeds on vegetable matter (seeds, algae, aquatic plants) as well as on invertebrates.
Note: In the photo the male is on the left.
21 ANAS CRECCA
Green-winged Teal
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics About 35 cm. long (14"), this is the smallest European duck, The European male has a horizontal white stripe on its scapular feathers, but the American male has a vertical white stripe in front of the wing. The head is chestnut-colored, with a green band that runs from the eye rearward and pale yellowish markings on both sides of the rump, which is black. The female is brownish; both sexes have green wings with a white edge.
Habitat Marshlands, ponds, estuaries, coasts, lakes, woodland clearings.
Distribution Europe, Asia, Africa, North America.
Life and habits It nests on the ground in vegetation, especially in marshland. It lays a single clutch of 8-12 eggs (sometimes as many as 16), which are incubated by the female, while the male loiters near at hand, for a period of 21-28 days. The nestlings are nidifugous and have blackish-gray beaks, legs and toes. The female, with the male close by, takes care of the young, which fly at about 44 days.
Note: The photo shows a male.
22 ANAS PENELOPE
Eurasian Wigeon
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics The male is about 49 cm. long (19") with a chestnut-colored head, yellowish forehead, whitish-gray back and sides, pinkish-brown breast, and the subcaudal area black with white edging. The female is about 44 cm. long (17") with uniform coloring, and is more tawny than other female ducks. Both male and female have a brown-gray beak with a black tip and when in flight show white-edged green wings and a pale-colored abdomen. The young resemble the female.
Habitat Lakes, rivers, heathland, marshland, lagoons, estuaries, coasts, and wooded areas.
Distribution Europe, Asia and Africa; rare in North America.
Life and habits It nests on the ground in vegetation and lays a single clutch usually of 7-8 eggs (more rarely 6-10). Incubation is the task of the female and lasts 22-25 days. The nidifugous nestlings are looked after by the female, with help from the male, and are independent by about 6 weeks. The Eurasian Wigeon feeds on an almost entirely vegetarian diet.
Note: The photo shows a male in the foreground.
23 ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS
Mallard
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics The male reaches a length of 57 cm. (22") and the female 49 cm. (20"). The male has a green head with a white collar, a brownish breast and pale grayish upper parts. The female is brownish and in flight shows a purplish-violet wing coloring between two white bars. The male usually has this eclipse plumage between September and June; in the July-August period he takes on the postnuptial plumage that makes him closely resemble the female.
Habitat Marshlands, lakes, rivers, estuaries, lagoons, ponds.
Distribution Europe, Asia, northwest Africa and North America.
Life and habits It nests near water, in vegetation. It lays on average 10-12 eggs (more rarely 7-16), which are incubated by the female, when laying is over, for 28 or 29 days. The nidifugous young are looked after mainly by the female and fly after 7-8 weeks. The Mallard feeds mainly on vegetable matter (seeds, shoots, leaves, berries and grains), but also on insects, mollusks, crustaceans and worms.
Note: In the photo the male is the lower bird.
24 ANAS QUERQUEDULA
Garganey Teal
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics The male, which is about 40 cm. long (16"), has a broad white band that runs from the eye to the nape of the neck. The plumage is mottled brown on the breast and sides; the abdomen is white. There are long scapular feathers edged with grayish markings. The female is about 36 cm. long (14") and has a uniform brownish coloring. In flight they show white-edged green wings and in the male the front part of the wings is bluish-gray. The young resemble the female.
Habitat Marshland, lakes, ponds, boggy areas with plenty of vegetation.
Distribution Europe, Asia, Africa (it makes a partial round-trip migration -- i.e., one that takes different routes outward and back).
Life and habits It nests on the ground in vegetation. It lays one clutch, usually of 8-11 eggs (sometimes 6-14), which are incubated by the female for 21-23 days. The nidifugous young are reared by the female and fly after 5-6 weeks. The Garganey's diet consists of animal and vegetable matter (small fishes, small amphibians, crustaceans, mollusks, insects, worms, shoots, leaves, roots and seeds).
Note: The photo shows a male.
25 ANASTOMUS LAMELLIGERUS
African Openbilled Stork
Classification Order Ciconiiformes, Family Ciconiidae.
Characteristics This bird is about 80 cm. long (31"); the coloring of the plumage is blackish with metallic highlights. The beak is distinctive; the two "halves" of the beak touch only at the base and the tip; in the central part, where the two halves do not touch, the upper part of the beak has horny formations like bristles. A similar species is the Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans), with white plumage, black wings and tail, and reddish-white feet.
Habitat Wooded regions, canebrakes, lakes and marshlands.
Distribution Africa.
Life and habits The specific structure of the beak prevents this species from catching amphibians or similar creatures, but this beak is very useful for prying open the shells of bivalve mollusks or for extracting the flesh from snails' shells. Openbills nest in trees, bushes and canebrakes. The Asian Openbill, which is locally distributed on the continent, nests in colonies of up to 60 pairs and, like the African species, claps its beak. In flight its neck is slightly bent.
26 ANHINGA ANHINGA
Anhinga or American Darter
Classification Order Pelecaniformes, Family Anhingidae.
Characteristics Very slender in appearance, with a very long neck, and long, pointed beak. It measures about 85-90 cm. in length (34-36"); its plumage is completely black, with white stripes on the wings. The plumage is similar in the two sexes, but the female is browner. The beak is yellow, and the feet are webbed.
Habitat Marshland, slow-flowing rivers, ponds.
Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions of America.
Life and habits In searching for food, it swims completely underwater except for its long neck and head. The nest is made with branches on frees jutting over water; in it the Anhinga lays 2-5 eggs (usually 3-4). Both parents are responsible for the incubation, which lasts 25-28 days. The nestlings are fed by both parents and remain in the nest for several weeks. This species nests in colonies, often together with other waterfowl. Food is taken exclusively in water and consists mainly of fish, but also of aquatic insects, amphibians and snakes. Its long neck (with more vertebrae than in other birds) can be jerked quickly forward, enabling this species to catch a wide variety of prey, using the beak like a harpoon.
27 ANHINGA RUFA
African Darter
Classification Order Pelecaniformes, Family Anhingidae.
Characteristics About 85-91 cm. long (34-37"). Its neck is long and slender, the beak is straight and pointed, and the tail is long. The plumage on most of the body and on the wings and tail is black; the coverts and scapular feathers have a white middle section. In the adult male the top of the head and the back of the neck are black and chestnut, the rest of the neck chestnut with a white stripe; while in the female the top of the head and the back of the neck are brown, with the lower part of the neck tawny. Young birds have a white throat and a white front of the neck.
Habitat Marshland with canebrakes, lakes, inland waters.
Distribution Africa and Asia Minor.
Life and habits Fairly solitary and shy birds, they nest in colonies in canebrakes and in bush-covered areas near water or in trees. In the nest, which is made of twigs and is quite large, the female lays 3-5 eggs, which are incubated for about one month. It feeds mainly on fish and aquatic animals caught underwater; it is a nimble swimmer and spears its prey with its beak. On the surface it throws the prey into the air and swallows it head first. Darters are often seen on the water, half submerged, with their long necks exposed.
28 ANSERANAS SEMIPALMATA
Pied Goose
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics The Latin name of this genus means, in translation, "goose-duck." This species is a member of the subfamily Anseranatinae and resembles a goose and a duck. The species name semipalmata refers to the fact that the toes of the Pied or Magpie Goose are webbed only at the base. The plumage is black and white, the legs orange-yellow, and the beak orange with black in the lower area. A distinctive feature is the bony swelling in the top of the head. The molting remiges -- a unique case in the Anatidae -- are shed in gradual stages, thus enabling this species to take to the air at all times. The trachea, or windpipe, is very long (in males it may reach a length of 150 cm.).
Habitat Marshland with trees.
Distribution Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania.
Life and habits The Magpie Goose usually lives in groups, and often spends time in trees. It feeds on vegetable matter (plants, fruit and tubers). It lays one clutch, usually made up of 5-14 eggs, in a nest made in marshland of mud, grass and leaves. Incubation is the responsibility of both sexes and lasts for about 35 days.
29 ANSER ANSER
Graylag Goose
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics About 70-89 cm. long (28-35") the male is larger than the female), it has a uniform brownish-gray coloring with pale-edged feathers in the upper parts; the tail is gray with a white tip and the tail coverts are white; the breast and abdomen are brownish gray, with a few small black spots; the beak is orange or red, and the legs and feet are pinkish. In immature birds the legs are more grayish, and there are no black spots on the breast.
Habitat Marshlands, wetlands, estuaries, lakes, dry cultivated fields.
Distribution Europe and Asia.
Life and habits The Graylag Goose is the forebear of the domestic forms of goose that are farmed in large numbers nowadays. It has gregarious habits and flies in flocks often in the classic V formation. It generally nests in depressions in the ground in vegetation. It lays a single clutch of 3-8 eggs (usually 4, 5 or 6), which are incubated by the female for 27 or 28 days. The nidifugous nestlings become independent after about 8 weeks. The Graylag Goose feeds on vegetable matter (plants, tubers, grain, aquatic plants). It makes a striking loud, deep call that sounds something like a nasal pink-pink.
30 ANSER CAERULESCENS
Snow Goose
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics The male is about 78 cm. long (31"), and the female is about 70 cm. (28"). The subspecies properly defined as the Greater Snow Goose (A. c. atlanticus) has white coloring with black primary remiges, a red beak, pink legs and sometimes orange markings on the head. The coverts and base of the primary feathers are gray. Immature birds are brownish gray in the upper parts and grayish white in the lower parts; the beak and legs are gray. The subspecies known as the Lesser Snow Goose (A. c. caerulescens) has a bluish-gray coloration with white head and neck, with some individuals similar in coloration to the larger subspecies.
Habitat Tundra, marshland, coasts, lakes, grassland, grassy fields.
Distribution Siberia, North America, Greenland (it winters as far south as Mexico, China and Japan). Occasional visitor to northern Europe.
Life and habits Usually gregarious, it nests on the ground in colonies. It usually lays 5-6 eggs, which are incubated by the female. The nidifugous nestlings are reared by both parents. The Snow Goose feeds mainly on vegetable matter (plants, berries, grain, wild rice, aquatic plants) but also on invertebrates. It is often to be seen in large flocks during the migratory season.
31 ANTHROPOIDES VIRGO
Demoiselle Crane
Classification Order Gruiformes, Family Gruidae.
Characteristics About 95 cm. long (37"), it is smaller than the Eurasian Crane (Grus grus); it has a tuft of crestlike white feathers behind each eye. The coloring of the plumage is bluish ash gray, while most of the neck and long breast feathers, together with the wing feathers, are black. The inner secondary coverts are long, extending to the tail. Like other cranes, it flies with its neck outstretched.
Habitat Open terrain, lowlands, fresh-water areas, marshland, steppe, cultivated areas.
Distribution Africa and Asia, accidental in Europe.
Life and habits It nests on the ground in vegetation and near water. It lays a single clutch of 1-3 eggs (most often 2). Both sexes, but mainly the female, incubate the eggs, which hatch after 28-30 days. The nidifugous nestlings are reared by both parents, who stay with them until they are thoroughly independent. The Demoiselle Crane feeds on vegetable matter, insects and other invertebrates.
32 ANTHUS CAMPESTRIS
Tawny Pipit
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Motacillidae.
Characteristics About 16 cm. long (6") it is more streamlined in appearance than other species in the genus Anthus. In the upper parts it is light brown, with pale lower parts, usually without any markings. It has a fairly conspicuous eyebrow. The legs, tending to yellowish, and the tail are both long. Immature birds have a striped breast.
Habitat Cultivated and waste areas, lowlands.
Distribution Europe, Asia and Africa.
Life and habits It nests on the ground in depressions screened by vegetation. It usually lays just one clutch but may lay two. There are usually 4 or 5 eggs (more rarely 6), which are incubated by both sexes, mainly by the female, for 13 or 14 days. The nidicolous nestlings are reared by both parents and leave the nest at about 12-14 days. It feeds on insects and other invertebrates.
33 ANTHUS PRATENSIS
Meadow Pipit
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Motacillidae.
Characteristics About 14.5 cm. long (5.5"), it has brown coloring with darker stripes uppermost; in the lower parts it is paler, with numerous small stripes. The outer rectrices are white. The legs are brownish with a long hind claw. A similar species is the Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), which has a yellowish breast, pinkish legs and a short hind claw. Unlike the Meadow Pipit, the Tree Pipit will perch readily in trees, and its song is different from that of the Meadow Pipit.
Habitat Grassland, heathland, marshland, tilled and irrigated meadows.
Distribution Europe, Africa and Asia.
Life and habits Nests on the ground in vegetation. Usually lays two clutches, with 3-7 eggs (ordinarily 3, 4 or 5). Incubation lasts about 11-15 days and is the responsibility of the female. The nidocolous young are reared by both parents and leave the nest after 10-14 days. The Meadow Pipit feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates, and certain vegetable matter (such as seeds).
34 ANTHUS SPINOLETTA
Rock Pipit or Water Pipit
Classification Order Passeriformes, Family Motacillidae.
Characteristics About 16 cm. long (6"), it is slightly larger and slenderer than the Meadow Pipit (A. pratensis) and the Tree Pipit (A. trivialis), with a fairly long beak and darker legs than the other species in the genus Anthus. The mountain-dwelling subspecies (A. s. spinoletta) has white outer rectrices, whitish lower parts that are tinged with pink during the mating period, striped in autumn and winter, with a white eyebrow. The coastal subspecies (A. s. littoralis, A. s. petrosus, etc.) have darker coloring, with the lower parts closely striped and the outer rectrices grayish.
Habitat Mountainous areas, coasts, muddy areas, seashores, inland waters, marshland.
Distribution Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
Life and habits It nests on the ground, in depressions and hollows, sometimes in vegetation. It lays one or two clutches, usually of 4-6 eggs, which are incubated by the female for about 14 days. The nidicolous nestlings are reared by both parents and leave the nest at about 16 days. It feeds in particular on insects and other invertebrates.
35 APTENODYTES FORSTERI
Emperor Penguin
Classification Order Sphenisciformes, Family Spheniscidae.
Characteristics Up to 115 cm. long (45"), with the length of the feathers reaching 4.2 cm. (1.6"), the average weight is about 30 kg (66 lbs.). The plumage extends to the back. In the upper parts the coloring is black; lower down it is whitish with yellowish shadings. A distinctive feature is the coloring of the neck with the broad yellowish marking that makes it easy to tell apart from the King Penguin (A. patagonica).
Habitat Coasts and open sea.
Distribution Coasts of the Antarctic, especially those on the Ross Sea.
Life and habits The Emperor Penguin rarely moves outside Antarctica. As described by ornithologist B. Stonehouse, the eggs are laid in autumn, when the offshore sea becomes iced over. The females then return to the sea, while the males look after the eggs, warming one another by standing close together. For about ninety days, 62-64 of which represent the effective incubation period, they remain without any food. When the young hatch from the eggs the females return and rear their own offspring. The males head for the sea to feed, and regain their normal weight within 14-22 days. The young develop very slowly.
36 APTENODYTES PATAGONICA
King Penguin
Classification Order Sphenisciformes, Family Spheniscidae.
Characteristics About 95 cm. long (37"), the King Penguin weighs on average about 15 kg. (33 lbs.) The plumage is bluish black uppermost and whitish lower down, the feathers being about 2.9 cm. long (1.1"). There is a distinctive yellow marking on the sides of the head, becoming very narrow at the base.
Habitat Coasts and open sea.
Distribution Subantarctic regions and cold temperate zones.
Life and habits The King Penguin lays its eggs in the summer. The incubation is the responsibility of both parents and lasts 51-57 days. The newborn young, covered with fluffy down, are reared in colonies throughout the winter months. They are sometimes fed at intervals of 14 days. As described by ornithologist B. Stonehouse, who has made lengthy studies of their biology, King Penguins rear two young every three years. By the time they are a year old the young closely resemble adults. The King Penguin has been hunted for a long time for its plumage and oil.
37 APTERYX AUSTRALIS
Streaked Kiwi
Classification Order Apterygiformes, Family Apterygidae.
Characteristics About 54-55 cm. long (21") -- the beak is 10-20 cm. long (4-8") -- this is an extremely distinctive bird. The female is slightly larger than the male, weighing about 3 kg. (6.5 lbs) as compared with the male's 2 kg. (4.5 lbs), although some kiwis weigh as much as 4 kg. (9 lbs.). The beak is curved, with long bristles at the base. There are 13 remiges, and the front limb has no second toe. The legs are sturdy and short, with sharp claws. The young have a coloring similar to that of adults, with softer plumage. Another species is the Lesser Spotted Kiwi (A. owenii).
Habitat Grasslands and mountains, open scrub.
Distribution New Zealand.
Life and habits These birds have mainly nocturnal habits; during the day they stay hidden in holes or hollows. Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates (insects, slugs) as well as fallen berries. They usually build their nest beneath the roots of trees, on the ground, or in bushes or rocks. They lay 1 or 2 eggs weighing about 450 g. (1 lb.) each. The male incubates them for about 75-80 days. The down-covered young stay in the nest for about 5 days and then start to venture forth, led by the male. Kiwis reach sexual maturity at 5-6 years of age.
38 APUS APUS
Old World Swift
Classification Order Apodiformes, Family Apodidae.
Characteristics About 16.5 cm. long (6.5"), this swift is easy to identify. In flight it shows a distinctive pattern, like a sickle with long wings and a short, forked tail. The plumage is black with brownish highlights and whitish on the chin. It flies swiftly and nimbly.
Habitat The Old World Swift's home is in the air; it is found in urban and rural areas.
Distribution Europe, Asia and Africa.
Life and habits It has been described as the most "aerial" bird there is, because it spends most of its life flying; sociable by nature, chirruping groups of swifts fill many a sky with their presence and song, which is a shrill, prolonged screech (srii -- srii -- srii). It nests in holes among roof tiles, in buildings old and new, and in rocks. It lays one clutch of 2-4 eggs (usually 3) at intervals of 2 or 3 days; these are usually incubated by the adult for 14-20 days, and sometimes as long as 27. The nidicolous nestlings are reared by both parents and fly at the age of 5-8 weeks. The Old World Swift, like all swifts, feeds on insects which it catches in mid-air.
39 APUS MELBA
Alpine Swift
Classification Order Apodiformes, Family Apodidae.
Characteristics About 21 cm. long (8"), it is larger than the Old World Swift (A. apus), with brown coloring and white lower parts, and a dark pectoral band. In flight it shows off its white throat and belly, and the dark pectoral band. It also has a forked tail.
Habitat Rocky regions, mountainous or coastal.
Distribution Southern Europe, Asia and Africa.
Life and habits Sociable by nature, it is found in large groups wheeling around its nesting places. In cracks in rocks and in the eaves of houses it builds a cup-shaped nest; it usually nests in colonies. It lays a single clutch of 1-4 eggs (usually 3 and sometimes 2), which are incubated by both sexes for 18-33 days. The nidicolous nestlings are reared by both parents and fly at 6-10 weeks. It feeds on insects, which it catches in flight.
40 AQUILA CHRYSAETOS
Golden Eagle
Classification Order Falconiformes, Family Accipitridae.
Characteristics About 82 cm. long (32"), with uniform dark brown coloring. The wingspread is more than 2 meters (6 ft.). Immature birds have white markings at the carpal articulation of the wing and at the base of the tail.
Habitat Mountains at various altitudes.
Distribution Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.
Life and habits It nests in rocks and sometimes in trees, building a crude nest that is used for several years and is made with a large pile of branches, twigs and vegetable matter. As a rule the Golden Eagle builds several nests (2 or 3 and more, sometimes as many as 10) in a breeding area, and these are used in turn over the years. At intervals of 3 or 4 days it lays usually 2 eggs (more rarely 1 or 3). Incubation lasts 43-45 days and is usually the task of the female. The nidicolous young develop their plumage within 30-50 days and fly when they are about 63-70 days old. The Golden Eagle reaches sexual maturity at the age of 4 in most cases. It hunts mammals and small and medium-sized birds, and also eats carrion. The breeding area of the Golden Eagle can cover 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres).
41 AQUILA HELIACA
Imperial Eagle
Classification Order Falconiformes, Family Accipitridae.
Characteristics About 75 cm. long (30"), it has dark coloring, with a lighter marking on the nape of the neck, and a patch of white on the back (this is larger in the subspecies Aquila heliaca adalberti -- the Spanish form). The young have a paler plumage, which is rather tawny, with markings on the lower parts. The tarsal bones are feathered.
Habitat Lowlands, scrub and woods.
Distribution The typical subspecies A. h. heliaca occurs in eastern Europe and central and western Asia; the subspecies A. h. adalberti, which is very rare, numbers some 60 pairs in southern Spain (according to Jesus Garzon Heydt) and a few individuals in northwestern Africa (S. P. Hills).
Life and habits The Imperial Eagle nests in trees, usually laying 2 eggs (sometimes 3 and very rarely 4), which are incubated by both sexes for about 43 days. The young fly when they are 60 days old, and stay a further 2 or 3 weeks near the nest. It feeds on mammals (rabbits and rodents), reptiles and birds. The rare adalberti subspecies is the object of a conservation program being organized by the World Wildlife Fund and the Sociedad Espanola de Ornitologia.
42 AQUILA VERREAUXII
Verreaux's Eagle
Classification Order Falconiformes, Family Accipitridae.
Characteristics About 75-90 cm. long (30-35"), this is an impressive bird with very strong talons and beak. The plumage is entirely black, with a V-shaped white marking on the back, the base of the tail and the secondary wing coverts. The iris is brown. Young birds are reddish brown with light streaks and two white patches on the lower part of the wings. The female, whose wingspread reaches 2.10 meters (nearly 7 ft.) and weight 5.7 kg. (12.5 lbs.), is larger than the male, whose weight does not exceed 3.6 kg. (8 lbs.).
Habitat Savanna, deserts and mountains.
Distributions Central and southern Africa.
Life and habits It frequents any type of open environment with few trees, as long as there are crags or cliffs for nesting. It ventures as high as 3,500 meters (11,500 ft.). Its nest is built on rocks with dry branches. Each pair has 1-3 nests. There are 1-3 eggs (as a rule, 2), which are hatched by both sexes for 43-46 days. The nestlings, which are born at intervals of 2 or 3 days, are fed by both adults, and they fly at 95-100 days. The diet of Verreaux's Eagle is made up of 80 percent mammals (coneys, mongooses and did-dik antelopes) and ground-dwelling birds up to the size of guineafowl.
43 ARDEA CINEREA
Gray Heron
Classification Order Ciconiiformes, Family Ardeidae.
Characteristics About 90 cm. long (35"), with ash-gray upper parts, black wing feathers, grayish-white lower parts, a dark stripe along the front of the neck, and the distinctive black crest "hanging" from the head. Immature birds are more uniform and grayer, without the black marking on the head and with a short crest.
Habitat Marshland, lagoons, estuaries, wooded areas where there is water.
Distribution Europe, Asia, parts of Africa.
Life and habits It nests in colonies, generally high up in trees, and more rarely on the ground in bushes and canes, often with other species. It lays 2-7 eggs (more commonly 3-6) at intervals of about 2 days. Both parents incubate the eggs, for 23-28 days. The newborn young are looked after by both parents and stay in the nest for 50-55 days. The Gray Heron feeds on fish, amphibians, small aquatic mammals, small birds, mollusks, crustaceans, insects and vegetable matter.
44 ARDEA PURPUREA
Purple Heron
Classification Order Ciconiiformes, Family Ardeidae.
Characteristics About 79 cm. long (31"), resembles the Gray Heron, but is slenderer and smaller. The back and wings are dark slate-gray; the neck is reddish, streaked with black. The top of the head is black; the breast is chestnut, with black stripes at the sides. It has a black tuft at the nape of the neck, long dorsal feathers and similar feathers at the base of the neck. The young have a more sand-colored plumage, with a chestnut patch on the top of the head and tawny lower parts.
Habitat Canebrakes, marshland, lagoons, ponds, wetlands.
Distribution Europe, Asia and Africa.
Life and habits It nests alone or in colonies on the ground, among reeds. At intervals of 3 days it lays 3-6 eggs (usually 4 or 5), which are incubated by both adults for 24-28 days. The nestlings are reared by both parents and can fly after approximately 42 days. They are independent at 60 days. The Purple Heron feeds on small birds, fish, amphibians, invertebrates and small mammals. It is less sociable than the Gray Heron.
45 ARDEOLA IBIS
Cattle Egret
Classification Order Ciconiiformes, Family Ardeidae.
Characteristics About 51 cm. long (20"), this small white heron has a tuft of longer tawny feathers on the top of the head and in summer on the back and throat. In winter its coloring is paler. The legs are yellow, orange or reddish in the mating season. The beak is yellow with a reddish base in the mating season. The young have blackish legs and a lighter beak.
Habitat Marshland, bogs and swamps, as well as wooded areas, grassland, plowed fields where there are herds of cattle and other mammals.
Distribution Southern Iberian peninsula, southern France, Asia and Africa, and from 1930 on, it has spread from British Guiana (where it arrived from Africa) up to North America.
Life and habits A gregarious bird, it nests in colonies with other species of heron. It lays 4-5 eggs (rarely 6), which are incubated by both sexes for 21-25 days. The nestlings remain in the nest for about a month. The Cattle Egret, in its search for insects, struts among grazing domestic animals; sometimes it will fly onto the backs of these animals, and even onto the backs of such wild beasts as elephants, hippopotamuses and rhinoceroses, to feed on the parasites it finds there.
46 ARDEOLA RALLOIDES
Squacco Heron
Classification Order Ciconiiformes, Family Ardeidae.
Characteristics About 45 cm. long (18"), it is a squat-looking bird, with light brown plumage; the wings are white, and there is a tuft of feathers on the head. The legs are greenish (they become red at the height of the mating season). The beak is greenish, is speckled black in winter, and becomes black and blue during the mating season. Young birds have a brown-streaked breast. When it is perched or at rest, a watcher can easily see the reddish-sandy color of the plumage; in flight the white of the wings, tail and rump is conspicuous.
Habitat Marshland, lagoons, ponds, wooded regions.
Distribution Southern Europe, southwestern Asia, Africa.
Life and habits Nests in marshland vegetation, in trees, undergrowth or on the ground. It lays a single clutch, of 4-6 eggs (rarely 7), which are incubated by both sexes for 22-24 days. The nidicolous nestlings are reared by both parents and stay in the nest for about 32 days. The Squacco Heron feeds on fishes, insects, larvae, worms and plants.
Note: The photo shows a male in the mating season.
47 ARDEOTIS KORI
Kori Bustard
Classification Order Gruiformes, Family Otididae.
Characteristics Larger than the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), this species reaches an over-all length of 100-130 cm. (40-50") and has a streamlined body and fairly long legs. The plumage is brown with black in the upper parts, white in the lower, and a whitish to grayish neck. On the head there is a black marking and a tuft of dark feathers. The beak and legs are yellowish. Three of the other species of bustard are the Arabian Bustard of North Africa to Asia Minor (A. arabs); Denham's Bustard (Neotis denhami) found in East Africa; and the rare Great Indian Bustard of India (Choriotis nigriceps), whose weight can reach 20 kg. (45 lbs.) and wing span 2.50 m. (100").
Habitat Steppe and savanna.
Distribution Africa.
Life and habits During the mating season the males raise their tails to show off the white lower feathers, and remain motionless with the body vertical and the wings dangling. In addition they puff out their throat, which can swell to four times its normal size. It nests in hollows in the ground. Kori Bustards are called "rubber turkeys" by Boers, because they have a fondness for the rubbery resin of acacia trees; they also feed on plant matter and invertebrates.
48 ARENARIA INTERPRES
Ruddy Turnstone
Classification Order Charadriiformes, Family Charadriidae.
Characteristics About 22 cm. long (9"). Its coloring, particularly in summer, is very bright with dark red-brown upper parts and black markings that make the facial pattern a distinctive one. In winter the coloring is deep brown, with a white throat. The legs are orange, and the beak is tough and black.
Habitat Marshland, rocky and shingly coasts, inland waters, tundra.
Distribution Europe, North, Central, and South America, North Africa and northern Asia, wintering on all tropical coasts.
Life and habits Its common name comes from its habitual upturning of stones, pebbles and shells in its search for the invertebrates on which it feeds. It nests on the ground amid vegetation. It lays a single clutch usually of 3-5 eggs (ordinarily 4), which are incubated by both sexes, but mainly by the female, for 22 or 23 days. The nidifugous nestlings are reared by both parents. It feeds on insects, crustaceans and mollusks.
49 ARGUSIANUS ARGUS
Great Argus Pheasant
Classification Order Galliformes, Family Phasianidae.
Characteristics About 2 meters long (80"), it weighs about 10-11.5 kg. (23-26 lbs.) and is an unmistakable bird. In the male the secondary remiges are longer than the primaries (a unique condition in birds). There are 12 rectrices, with two very long central ones (about three times as long as the others). The skin on the head and neck, in the male, is usually bare and blue colored. On the occiput the female has a tuft of very fine feathers. The general coloring of the plumage is brownish. The Great Argus is the only galliform without the uropygial gland.
Habitat Wooded areas.
Distribution Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra.
Life and habits In an area with a diameter of 4-5 meters (12-15 ft.) the male shows himself off during courtship. He unfurls his handsome plumage to attract the female. She usually lays 2 eggs, which are incubated for 24 or 25 days. The nidifugous nestlings stay for some time with their mother, following her every movement quite closely. The adult dimensions are reached within about a year. Ornithologist H. Sigurd Raethel mentions a Great Argus that lived in captivity for thirty years.
50 ASIO FLAMMEUS
Short-eared Owl
Classification Order Strigiformes, Family Strigidae.
Characteristics About 37 cm. long (14.5"), it has light tawny-colored plumage; the lower parts have wide stripes. In flight the wings are long with barred coloring and a large dark marking at the carpal bones. It often comes to rest on the ground and usually flies low.
Habitat Open areas, lowlands, heathland, marshland.
Distribution Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, Central and South America.
Life and habits It usually hunts at nightfall, but has also been seen in full daylight. It makes sounds that are like a boo-boo-boo or a kee-aw. It nests on the ground amid vegetation. It lays one or two clutches, usually of 4-8 eggs (more rarely 3, and up to 14 when there is plenty of food available). Incubation lasts about 24-28 days and is the task of the female. The nidicolous nestlings are fed by the female, while the male actually hunts the food; they leave the nest at 12-17 days and fly after about 10 more days. It feeds on small mammals, birds and insects.
51 ASIO OTUS
Long-eared Owl
Classification Order Strigiformes, Family Strigidae.
Characteristics About 35 cm. long (13.5"), its upper parts are speckled gray-tawny in color and the lower parts are tawny with broad stripes and thin bars. There are two small but distinctive tufts of feathers on the head; the eyes are yellow. In flight it differs from the Short-eared Owl (A. flammeus) in that the underwing is generally darker.
Habitat Coniferous forests, mixed woodland.
Distribution Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.
Life and habits Nests in hollows in trees, in old nests that have been abandoned by crows and rooks (Corvidae), and in squirrels' nests, rarely on the ground. It lays one clutch of 3-8 eggs (ordinarily 4 or 5), which are as a rule incubated by the female for 25-30 days. The nidicolous nestlings are fed by the female, while the male actually hunts the food; the young leave the nest at 23 or 24 days. The Long-eared Owl feeds on small mammals, birds and invertebrates.
Note: The photo shows a nestling being brooded by the adult.
52 ATHENE NOCTUA
Little Owl
Classification Order Strigiformes, Family Strigidae.
Characteristics About 21 cm. long (8.5"), this small bird has a large head, barred brownish upper parts that are speckled with white, and dark-striped, whitish lower parts.
Habitat Open areas, lowlands, rural regions.
Distribution Europe, North Africa and Asia.
Life and habits It nests in hollows in trees, in rocks and in old buildings. It lays one and sometimes two clutches of 2-8 eggs (usually 3, 4 or 5), which are incubated by the female for 28-29 days. The nidicolous nestlings are reared by both parents and can leave the nest at about 4 weeks, even though they cannot fly until about 5 weeks. The Little Owl feeds on small rodents, small birds and various invertebrates (insects and slugs). It makes a distinctive plaintive cry like kiu-kiu and a sharper werro.
53 AYTHYA FERINA
Common Pochard
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics The male, which is about 46 cm. long (18"), has a reddish-chestnut head, pale gray back, and sides with lighter markings; the breast and both surfaces of the tail are black. The female, which is about 42 cm. long (16"), has an over-all dark brown coloring with lighter cheeks, throat, and base of the beak. The legs are grayish, and the beak is black with a pale blue stripe. In its postnuptial plumage the male resembles the female.
Habitat Lakes, marshland, estuaries.
Distribution Europe and Asia.
Life and habits It nests amid vegetation near water. It lays a single clutch of 6-11 eggs, and occasionally as many as 18. Incubation is the task of the female and lasts 24-26 days. The nidifugous nestlings are reared by the female, who looks after them until they are independent -- at 7-8 weeks. The Common Pochard feeds mainly on plant matter (roots, leaves, shoots, seeds, etc.) as well as on invertebrates (insects, worms and crustaceans), amphibians and small fish.
54 AYTHYA FULIGULA
Tufted Duck
Classification Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae.
Characteristics The male, which is about 42 cm. long (16"), has black plumage with white sides, and a black tuft on the head. The female, about 38 cm. long (14"), and young birds are dark brown. In flight the Tufted Duck looks black with white underside, and black head, neck, breast, wing edges and tail. The legs a