WHITE STORK

""'-------
GROUP 2: BIRDS
,. GENUS & SPECIES
~
ORDER
Ciconiformes
FAMILY
Ciconiidae "'I11III Ciconia ciconia
With its long bill and legs, the white stork closely resembles
its relative, the heron. But unlike the heron, it
prefers open or marshy meadows.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 3 ft.
Weight: 5-10 lb.
Wingspan: About 5 ft.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years.
Breeding season: April to July.
No. of Broods: 1 .
Eggs: 3-5, rarely 6; white.
Incubation: 32 days.
Fledging period: 8 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Migratory, lives in
colonies.
Diet: Insects, frogs, small
mammals, and birds.
Lifespan: About 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 1 7 species of stork in 6
genera. Among them are the
painted stork, Myeteria /euco-
cepha/a, and the black stork,
Ciconia nigra.
Breeding range of the white stork.
DI STRI BUTION
Breeds in parts of Europe, east of the Mediterranean, the
Soviet Union, and northern Africa. Migrates as far south as
eastern South Africa.
CONSERVATION
Populations diminishing because of large numbers shot on
their migrations south. The loss of wetlands and wetter and
cooler summers also contribute to decline.
IDENTIFYING THE WHITE STORK
Adult: Black and white plumage,
bright orange legs and bill. Male
and female look alike.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Flight: Wingtip feathers and trailing
edge of wings are black. Neck is
usually cUFyed , rward, legs swept
back.
Young: White at birth; black feathers appear
after 10 days. Black bill later turns orange.
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The white stork is the most common
of all storks. It is traditionally believed to be
a symbol of fertility and is often shown
in children's books carrying a newborn baby
to expectant parents. Still, common as it is,
the stork has become rare in the most
northern parts of its range.
HABITAT
The white stork is a migratory
bird, spending its breeding
season in Europe and North
Africa and the winter in the
warmer southern hemisphere.
Some storks travel great dis-
tances to breeding grounds.
Others travel less, but none
remain resident (in the same
range for the entire year).
The bird prefers marshy
ground, but it is also found
near open fields. The stork of-
ten lives in colonies, and the
noisy birds can be heard a
long distance away.
FOOD &: HUNTING
The white stork is a ground
feeder. During the breeding
season adults and young
catch and eat earthworms.
They also eat crickets and
Left: Many think the stork is a
good omen and welcome its
picturesque but precarious rooftop
nest.

The male stork arrives at the
nest site first, in March or
April, and repairs and enlarges
the previous year's nest. The
female arrives a few days later
to help him.
The enormous nest is rarely
completed the first year, and
existing nests are added to
every breeding season. The
nest is built from sturdy twigs,
but all types of material are
used to line it, from rags and
paper to clothing stolen from
clotheslines.
The normally silent bird
coos with its mate during
courtship, and if another bird
flies over the nest they clatter
their beaks together to fright-
grasshoppers in large numbers.
On farmland, the stork
catches young rabbits, rodents,
and sometimes the chicks of
ground-nesting birds.
Above: A pair
greet ritually in
the nest.
Right: Juve-
niles nest for
two months.
en off the intruder. The pairs
mate several times before the
female lays three to six eggs.
Both parents take turns in-
cubating the eggs. The young
hatch 32 days later. Both
parents also share the task of
feeding the young. They drop
regurgitated food into the
middle of the nest, and the
young catch it or gobble it
from the nest floor.
The newborns are downy
white, but after 10 days their
black flight feathers appear.
After about eight weeks the
chicks attempt to fly, and a
week later they are fully
fledged (feathered) and
competent fliers.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
Migration: The season's
young and immature birds
leave the breeding grounds
first in late August. They
gather in large flocks before
starting south. They follow
exactly the same route as
their parents did the previous
year-their navigational skills
appear to be inborn. The
DID YOU KNOW?
Eagles and storks build the
largest nests of all birds. The
stork's nest can measure over
five feet in width and is near-
ly as deep.
The stork once built its
nests mainly on rocks or in
trees, but today it often con-
structs them on buildings.
The white stork throws food
breeding adults follow them
in September.
The stork lives off its re-
serves of body fat during
migration. Fortunately, it is
an economical flier, relying on
thermal air currents to help
it soar. As a result it stays aloft
with a minimum of effort,
expending little energy.
left over by its chicks into
the air, then catches and
swallows it.
The white stork does not
fly in formation to the win-
tering grounds.
Some African natives call
the white stork the "grass-
hopper bird" because it
likes to eat the insect.
GREENFINCH
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~
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Fringillidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
---
GENUS &: SPECIES
Carduelis chloris
The greenfinch is a common and familiar bird throughout Europe,
equally at home in towns or cities as well as in the countryside.
It also is a familiar visitor to the garden bird feeder.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 5'/2 in.
Weight: 3/4 -1 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Breeding season: Spring and
summer when food is plentiful.
No. of broods: 2.
Eggs: 2-4.
Incubation: 12-14 days.
Fledging period: 14-16 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable except during
breeding season.
Call: Musical warbling mixed
with trills and twittering, ending
with drawn-out nasal note.
Diet: Mainly seeds and berries.
lifespan: Maximum recorded, 11
years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 24 species of Carduelis
found throughout the western
hemisphere, Europe, and Asia.
Range of the greenfinch.
DISTRIBUTION
Resides and breeds throughout Europe, except in the
extreme north; also in northern areas of Africa and through-
out Asia, eastward to China and Japan.
CONSERVATION
The greenfinch is a successful bird that has adapted well to
living alongside humans. Greenfinches do, however, suffer
from the use of pesticides, which can contaminate their food.
I FEATURES OF THE GREENFINCH
Flight: Rises up with a few rapid
wing beats, then closes its wings
and dips before rising again.
~
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Bill: Thick and cone-shaped, enabling it
to crack large, hard seeds and remove
the husks easily. Pink-colored.
Wings: Bright yellow-green
patches on the wing and tail
are visible when it is in flight.
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The greenfinch is a stocky, large-headed bird
with olive green and bright yellow plumage.
The female is less brightly colored than the
male, although she also has bright yellow
feathers in her wings and tail.
~ HABITS
The greenfinch lives alongside
man and is widespread in cit-
ies and towns, as well as on
the edges of woods and farm-
land. This sociable bird lives in
large flocks except during the
breeding season.
At night large flocks con-
taining up to several hundred
birds gather in a tall tree. Af-
ter perching for a short time,
the birds suddenly dive down
out of the tree singly and in
pairs to roo)t in shrubs, bush-
es, and hedges. When all the
birds have landed, they jockey
for position, moving from
twig to twig in the roost until
they settle in the darkness.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The greenfinch feeds on seeds
and berries, using its heavy,
conical bill to crack large,
hard seeds. It changes its diet
as different plants produce
seeds or berries.
When feeding their chicks,
both of the adults bring large
amounts of insects, like green-
flies and ants, back to the nest
and regurgitate them for the
young. After a few days their
diet changes to include seeds
and berries, and they eat few-
er insects.
Right: The greenfinch's character-
istic pink beak breaks open the
tough shells of a variety of seeds
and nuts.
Above: During the summer the
green finch visits gardens and parks
to find food to eat and water to
bathe in.
~ BREEDING
A sociable bird most of the
year, the greenfinch is solitary
when breeding and defends
its nest. In spring, when food
is plentiful, the male starts the
mating ritual by performing a
song flight. He flies into the
air and circles around, flap-
ping his wings slowly and re-
peating his call.
The female makes a cup-
shaped nest of twigs, grass,
and moss and lines it with
hair and feathers. In spring
she builds the nest low in an
evergreen tree or shrub, since
many deciduous trees, (trees
that shed leaves annually)
have not yet grown leaves. If
the birds nest a second time,
the female is less likely to
build in an evergreen tree .
The female lays four to six
eggs, which she incubates for
about two weeks. The male
brings her food while she
incubates the eggs. Later the
pair forage and feed the chicks
together. If food is plentiful,
two or three broods may be
produced in a single season.
BIRDWATCH
Greenfi nches are becomi ng
more common in urban ar-
eas such as publi c parks and
gardens. They will visi t bird
feeders if stocked with sun-
DID YOU KNOW?
The greenfinch sings at
every opportunity-when
flying and when perched
in high trees, on roofs, and
on telephone wires.
Most greenfinches are
resident in their range year-
round, although flocks liv-
ing in the northern and
northeastern parts of the
range migrate in autumn.
The greenfinch drinks by
taking water in its bill, then
lifting its head so the water
trickles down its throat.
left: The nest is built near to the
ground, leaving the eggs open to
predators such as rats.
Below: The chicks are fed large
quantities of food at intervals of
up to 20 minutes.
flower seeds and peanuts.
In the European country-
si de look for the greenfinch
near woods, in orchards, and
along hedges.
JACKDAW
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
COlVidae

GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS &: SPECIES
COIVUS monedula
The smallest of the European crows, the jackdaw is notorious for its
stealing. It has a taste for bright things, and has even been
known to steal a lighted cigarette and set fire to its nest.
KEY FACTS

SIZES
Length: 1 ft., both sexes.
Wingspan: 3 ft.
Weight: 8
1
/2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Breeding season: April to June.
No. of broods: 1 .
Incubation: 1 7-18 days.
Fledging period: 28-32 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Pairs for life.
Diet: Fruit, grain, insects, eggs,
nestlings, small mammals.
Call: Warbles, trills, harsh "chak."
Lifespan: Rarely more than 14
years.
RELATED SPECIES
Closest relative is the daurian
jackdaw, Corvus dauuricus, from
China. Others in the family in-
clude the raven and the rook.
IDENTIFYING THE JACKDAW
juvenile and
adult.
Flight feathers:
Like many in the
crow family, the
jackdaw has
deeply slotted
primaries (wing-
tip feathers) .
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Range of the jackdaw.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in most of Europe except in northern Scandinavia.
Also located in west and central Asia, and northwest Africa.
CONSERVATION
An estimated 400,000 pairs exist in Great Britain alone.
Numbers are stable and may even increase.
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The jackdaw, an intelligent bird that lives in
flocks, often roosts with its relative, the rook.
Inquisitive and quick to adapt to human presence,
it takes advantage of any food it can find and
even nests under the eaves of houses. Its numbers
are steadily increasing and it can be seen
throughout the year in most of Europe.
~ HABITAT
The jackdaw lives in a variety
of habitats-in towns, around
sea cliffs, in woods, and on
open land. It originally lived
only among rocky cliffs, but it
has adapted to more popu-
lated areas and often nests
Right: The
jackdaw has
the same
sleek, black
plumage and
intelligence as
its relatives
the carrion
crow, rook,
and raven,
but it is
smaller.
in buildings.
Living close to human
populations ensures the jack-
dawa good supply of food.
The jackdaw carries off
baubles and beads from hu-
mans and hides them.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The jackdaw often steals nest-
lings or eggs from unguarded
nests, but it mainly eats worms
and insects, especially insect
larvae.
Near farms the jackdaw eats
grain and shiny fruit such as
cherries. In rural areas it preys on
small mammals such as field mice
and voles, and near towns it
scavenges for food in dumps.
Left: The jackdaw's gray nape and
silver-blue eyes distinguish it from
the rook.
DID YOU KNOW?
The jackdaw sometimes dips
food into water before eating it.
People once believed slitting
the jackdaw's tongue would
make it mimic the human
voice, but the birds do not use
their tongues to form sounds.
If food is plentiful, the
jackdaw stores it under logs or
leaves it to eat when the
weather worsens. In harsher
climates, birds dig through
snow to reach food stores.
The jackdaw's short, strong
bill gives it a firm grip on its
food. It holds larger items
with its feet while using the
bill to tear off small pieces.
Right: The jackdaw pecks at bark
to find insect larvae, one of its
favorite foods.
The jackdaw gets its name
from the harsh "chak" or
"jack" sound it makes
before roosting at night.
The jackdaw sometimes
plucks wool from a sheep's
back for its nest lining.
Left:
A jackdaw
nests in a tree
hole that
provides
warmth and
security for
the young.
Although it looks similar to a
rook, raven, or crow, the small
gray patch at the nape of the
jackdaw's neck and its light
blue eyes make it look different.
Look for flocks of more than
200 birds. The jackdaw fl ies
~ BREEDING
The male jackdaw courts his
mate by bowing to her,
showing her the gray feathers
at the nape of his neck. The
pair stays together for life,
returning to the same area to
Left: Hungry
chicks wait
for their
parents. Now
covered with
only small
flight feather
stubs, they
wi/l fly at one
month and
reach
maturity at
two years.
erratically, using rapid
wing beats, but it moves on
the ground with a cocky strut.
Listen for many calls ranging
from the melodious to the
harsh "chak" sound it makes
before roosting at night.
rear young each year.
The jackdaw builds its nest in
chimneys, holes in buildings,
cliffs, trees, and even old rabbit
burrows. Both adults build the
twig nest lined with fur and wool.
The female lays four to five
eggs which she incubates for 17
to 18 days while the male brings
her food.
The parents feed the newly
hatched chicks food from a
special sac inside the throat. The
nestlings are ready to leave after
28 to 32 days, but the parents
feed them for several more
weeks before the juveniles leave
the territory many months later.
The young breed in two years.
COMMON CURLEW
ORDER
Charadriiformes
FAMILY
Scolopacidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS & SPECIES
Numenius arquata
The curlew's eerie cry echoes over wild moors and coastal
marshes throughout Europe, but today it is also becoming
a familiar feature on inland pastures and plowed fields.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 2 ft.
Wingspan: Up to 3' /4 ft.
BREEDING
Breeding season: April to June.
No. of broods: 1.
Eggs: 4; buff or greenish yellow.
Incubation: 30 days.
Fledging period: 35-40 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Migratory between inland
breeding sites and coastal
wintering grounds.
Range of the common curlew.
DISTRIBUTION
Call: Ringing whistle throughout
the year. Trilling, bubbling call.
Diet: Insects, worms, seeds, and
berries on land; shellfish, crabs,
and small fish on coast.
Northern Europe and Asia. Breeding grounds from Ireland
west to Siberia and south to the Balkans and Caspian Sea.
CONSERVATION
RELATED SPECIES
8 species in the genus Numenius
including the whimbrel,
N. phaeupus, and the long-
billed curior, N. americanus.
The destruction of moorland and intertidal habitats
throughout Europe threatens many shore birds, but the
curlew's broad diet and adaptability make it less vulnerable
than most, and it is currently in little danger.
THE COMMON CURLEW AND ITS NEST SITE
Flight: The male performs his ritual song
flight to court the female and mark his
territory.
Bfll: Both birds have touch-sensitive
cells on the tip of the bill to locate prey.
The female's bill is longer.
<eMCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Eggs: Both parents incubate
the four speckled buff eggs
for about 30 days.
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Plumage: Speckled
brown; acts as
camouflage within
its nest site among
fields, moorlands,
or mud flat reeds.
0160200241 PACKET 24
The curlew is an efficient predator on tidal
beaches. Its unusually long and curved bill
enables it to probe deep into the silt to locate
and capture its prey. The curlew's broad diet
and adaptable habits have enabled this
wading bird to flourish throughout Eurasia.
HABITAT
Over the past 50 years the
curlew has moved inland and
become increasingly common
on heaths and farmland
throughout Europe, where it
sometimes nests among crops
of wheat or barley. Its ability
to adapt to change has al-
lowed the curlew to move
from estuaries and moors into
areas inhabited by man. This
versatile wader now lives
I BIRDWATCH
The curlew has a distinctive
whistle and bubbling cry. It
is a long-legged bird with a
long, curving bill. A patch of
white feathers over its rump
contrasts with its speckled
throughout Europe and Asia.
The curlew usually spends
the spring and summer in-
land, moving to the coast in
autumn. Here it waits for the
day's two ebbing tides to feed
on the exposed shoreline.
Although food is plentiful
on the coast in winter, many
curlews migrate further south
to Africa, India, and south-
west Asia.
brown plumage.
l
On the coast you may see
curlews roosting near the
high tide line or probing for
food on mud flats and
among weed-covered rocks.
FOOD & FEEDING
Touch-sensitive cells on the
tip of the curlew's curved
beak enable it to locate and
capture shellfish and marine
worms that live in the sand or
mud along the shoreline.
The curlew also hunts
shrimp and young fish in
shallow water and along the
tide line. The curlew uses its
bill like a pair of tweezers to
Left: The curlew seeks out fish and
shrimp in the shallow water.
pluck up a shrimp or crab;
then it jerks its head and
flips it to the back of its bill,
swallowing it whole.
Inland, the curlew feeds
on insects and larvae, as well
as worms, snails, and even
small frogs. On farmland
during the summer it combs
the pastures for dung bee-
tles. After harvest it moves
to the stubble to glean weed
seeds and split grain.
Above right:
The curlew's
broad diet is
a key to its
survival.
Left: Its long
bill is ideally
suited for
probing in
soft sand
and soil.
I DID YOU KNOW?
The curlew often migrates
in huge flocks that fly at
night. The only sign of their
passing is a multitude of
whistling calls.
The tidal cycle dictates the
lives of coastal birds. Night
or day, they feed on the ebb

The curlew nests among low
vegetation on pastures, moors,
or woodland clearings. The
male usually arrives first at the
breeding sight and claims a
Left: Parents are protective of their
young and stay close to them until
they can fly.
Below: The chicks hatch out in a
grassy hollow after a 30-day
incubation period.
(low) tide and roost at high
tide.
The female's bill can be
up to two inches longer
than the male's. Thus, both
birds can feed on the same
stretch of beach without
competing for food.
territory with his ritual song
flight. When a female arrives
he courts her with his aerial
displays, then lands and
crouches toward her, circling
until she allows him to mate.
The female lays four eggs in
a hollow lined with soft grass
or heather. Both parents in-
cubate the eggs for about 30
days. One stands guard while
the other sits on the eggs.
Both may lure away an in-
truder by pretending to be
injured. They will chase off
crows, gulls, and even hawks.
A few hours after hatching
the chicks leave the nest to
feed, attended by their par-
ents who protect them for the
next five or six weeks until
they can fend for themselves.
HOUSE MARTIN
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Hirundinidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Delichon urbica
The house martin makes its home in both city and country and is
one of Europe's most familiar summer visitors. It races and swoops
overhead in its constant search for insects.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 5 in.
Weight: Up to 1 oz.
Wingspan: 10-11 in.
BREEDING
Sexual Maturity: 1 year.
Breedi ng season: May to
September.
No. of broods: 1-3.
Eggs: 4-5, white, occasionally
red-spotted.
Incubation: About 2 weeks.
Fledging: About 4 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Migratory, sociable.
Diet: Insects.
Lifespan: Usually 5- 6 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The house martin is a member of
the swallow family, of which
there are 74 species.
Summer range of the house martin. Winter range.
DISTRIBUTION
During summer the house martin is found throughout
Europe and across Asia to Japan. During winter it is found
further south, in Africa and Indochina.
CONSERVATION
Although common and widespread, the house martin has
declined in recent years. This is probably due to the loss of
wetland habitats that are rich in insect life.
FEATURES OF THE HOUSE MARTI N
Plumage: Adult male and female look similar. Juvenile is
brown, without the adult's glossy blue-and-black back.
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House sparrow may steal a
vacant nest or force out a
resident martin.
Blood-sucking parasites infest
the bird. Large numbers can kill
a juvenile.
0160200211 PACKET 21
Each spring the house martin arrives in huge
flocks at its breeding site. It builds its mud nest
under the eaves of a house and raises two or
more broods during the summer. It migrates
at the beginning of autumn to spend the
winter in Africa's warm climate.
~ HABITAT
During the summer months
the house martin is found
in most open areas through-
out its range: parks, .gardens,
farm fields, and city squares.
About 500,000 pairs breed
every year.
The house martin rarely
lands on the ground. It
spends most of its time in
the air and often perches on
power lines or twigs. When it
does land, it is only to collect
mud for nest building.
At the end of summer,
the house martin leaves its
breeding grounds and flies
south to Africa, where it
spends the winter before
returning the following
spring to breed.
~ FOOD AND FEEDING
The house martin feeds on
insects and especially prefers
aphids and small flies. It
catches prey in midair, often
darting up to grab it from
below.
The house martin migrates
when insects become scarce
at the end of summer. In late
September and early October
the house martin and its
young gather together, often
perching in large numbers
on power lines before they
begin their migration to Af-
rica, where insects are more
plentiful.
Right: Noisy flocks gather on
power lines ready for their long
journey south.
DID YOU KNOW?
The house martin is be-
lieved to sleep while flying.
The hO'use martin has a
wide-opening mouth.
The house martin has
colonized big cities be-
cause today's air pollution
controls allow more insects
to thrive there.
The adult feeds its young
balls of insects that it forms
in special throat pouches.
~ BREEDING
The male and female pair
during their northward spring
migration. When they arrive
at the breeding site, they
use an old nest or build a new
one. Once the pair chooses
a nest site, they collect mud
by scooping it up in their bills;
they then carry it back to
plaster onto the nest.
The nest is round and cup-
shaped and is often located
under the eaves of a house.
Before houses existed, house
BIRDWATCH
The house martin is not tim-
id. During summer it can
be spotted almost anywhere
within its range.
The house martin can be
seen hunting for insects or en-
tering and leaving its nest. It
is rarely seen on the ground,
martins probably nested on
cliffs; some still use cliff sites
today.
The female lays four to
five white eggs that hatch
after two weeks. Both birds
incubate the eggs and feed
the young, which fledge at
about one month. Most pairs
raise a second brood the
same season.
Left: The number of nests in a
colony may range from a few to
several hundred.
Above: Male
and female
build the nest
under the eave
ofa roof.
Left: Chick
awaits the
return of its
parents.
except when scooping up
mud for its nest. When it
waddles around a puddle it
often raises its wi ngs and tai l.
The house martin' s flight is
swift and fluttering. It makes
soft twittering calls during
flight.
~ A R D 6 6
PEACOCK
,,-----------------------------------------------
ORDER
Galliformes
FAMILY
Phasianidae
... GENUS & SPECIES
~ Pavo cristatus
The peacock is, in fact, the male blue peafowl.
Introduced into Mesopotamia 4,000 years ago, this colorful
ornamental bird can now be seen all over the world.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 3-41/2 ft. Female,
21/2-3
1
/2 ft .
Tail length: Male, 4-5 ft.
Weight: Male, 9-13 lb. Female,
6-9 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Breeding season: Mainly April
to September.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 4-6.
Incubation: 28 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Small, sociable groups of 1
male with 3-5 hens.
Diet: Grain, seeds, berries,
insects, snakes, mice.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 2 other species of
peafowl : the closely related green
peafowl of southeast Asia and the
Congo peafowl, confined to the
Ituri forest in Zaire.
Range of the blue peafowl.
DISTRIBUTION
India and Sri Lanka. Introduced worldwide as a captive
bird, it lives wild or semiwild in some places.
CONSERVATION
The blue peafowl is revered and protected by law in its
native habitat. Common as an ornamental bird throughout
the world, it appears to be in little danger of extinction.
FEATURES OF THE BLUE PEAFOWL
~
Eggs: Four to six thick-
shelled, creamy white eggs
laid in a hole in the ground.
Male: Metallic
green back. Black
and dark green
lower breast,
abdomen, and
flanks. Long train.-
Train: The cock's train is made up of
covert feathers. In most birds these
are small , overlapping feathers, but
the peacock's covert feathers have
outgrown the tail feathers.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
adorns the male
and female.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Female: The crest and upper neck
have chestnut brown feathers
outlined with a bronze green.
01 60200261 PACKET 26
The blue peafowl is best known for the cock's
bright train of feathers, which he displays to the
female as part of a courtship ritual. A bird of habit,
the peafowl eats and sleeps in the same area its
whole life. Although known as an ornamental bird,
the peafowl is difficult to domesticate.
~ HABITS
The blue peafowl lives in small
groups in hilly forest areas.
During the day it sits in thickets,
moving into the trees at dusk to
roost for the night. It screeches
loudly as it climbs the trees in the
late afternoon.
A sociable animal, the
peafowl lives around human
settlements. But in the wild its
colorful plumage camouflages
it among the trees.
The peafowl sticks to
routines. It keeps the same
roost and feeds in the same
place every day. The cock
always displays in a specially
chosen place.
Preyed upon by tigers and
leopards in the wild, the
peafowl often acts as a
warning signal for other game
animals. It notices the big cats
before the other creatures do
and hoots a loud alarm call.
Right: Iridescent "eyes," said to
have hypnotic qualities, adorn the
peacock's fan.
~ BREEDING
During breeding season, the
peacock opens up his long,
colorful train and postures and
struts in front of a small group
of females, or peahens.
The females show some
indifference to the male's
display before one of the hens
lies down in front of the cock.
He then folds his fan and treads
on her before mating.
The female lays her eggs in a
hole in the ground. They hatch
after 28 days, and the chicks
peck at the mother's beak,
signaling that they are hungry.
The female picks up pieces of
food and drops them on the
Left: During the heat of the day,
the peafowl finds shade in the
dense forest undergrowth.
DID YOU KNOW?
Peacock chicks, and even
young hens, often try spreading
their tail feathers in imitation of
the male's train.
Indians believe the call of the
peafowl means rain will fall.
The average peacock's train
contains more than 200 feathers.
ground for the chicks to pick
up and eat. Small feather
crowns appear on the chicks
after one month, but it takes
up to three years for the
cocks' trains to reach full size.
Right: At dusk, this peacock climbs
a tree to roost with other peafowl
for the night.
Below: A peahen places food in
front of her chicks to teach them
how to eat.
The export of peacock
train feathers from India is
now illegal.
One reason the peacock
struts back and forth during
his display is to keep his
balance as the wind catches
the enormous fan.
~ PEAFOWL & MAN
The peafowl is considered
sacred in many villages in its
native range. It is a symbol of
the goddess of learning and
the god of war. It nests and
walks freely through these
villages.
Roast peafowl used to be
considered a great delicacy,
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The peafowl emerges from
the dense forest in early
morning to feed at its regular
spot and find water. It eats
almost anything, but mainly
feeds on seeds, fruit, insects,
and the peacock's tail feathers
have long been prized for their
decorative value.
The peafowl has been used
as an ornamental bird world-
wide because of its beauty,
adaptability, and hardiness.
Many stately homes in Great
Britain have their own flocks.
and sometimes snakes and
mice.
At dusk the peafowl
returns to the same watering
hole before climbing up a
tree to roost for the night.
Left: Peafowl
always live
near a
convenient
water source
to drink at
dawn and
dusk.
HOOPOE
ORDER
Coraciiformes
FAMILY
Upupidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
... GENUS &: SPECIES
"'I11III Upupa epops
The hoopoe is an exotic-looking bird with broad black-and-white-
striped wings. It is a regular summer visitor to Europe.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 10-11 in .
Weight: 2-2'/2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
No. of broods: 1,occasionally 2.
Breeding season: May to July.
Incubation period: 15-16 days.
Fledging period: 26-29 days.
LIFESTYLE
Call: Soft, rather hollow-sounding
hooting that carries a consider-
able distance.
Habit: Generally solitary; forms
small groups during migration.
Diet: Small insects and larvae,
worms, small vertebrates.
Lifespan: Not known.
RELATED SPECIES
The hoopoe is the only member
of the Upupidae family, but it
has 10 subspecies.
FEATURES OF THE HOOPOE
Range of the hoopoe.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds in the summer throughout most of Europe except
Scandinavia, and occasionally in southern England. Resident
in much of Africa, India, and southern Asia.
CONSERVATION
Although the number of hoopoes is declining in Europe,
conservation measures are not yet thought necessary. The
hoopoe appears to be stable in the rest of its range.
~ 1 " ~
Head: Small , brownish
pink with long, slender bill
curving downward. The
bird holds its large, black-
edged crest erect only
when excited and, briefly,
when landing.
Eggs: Pale olive gray, yellow, or
green. Usually five to eight per
clutch, up to 12.
~
---'I '
.1:", .I
Wings: Broad
and rounded,
barred with bold
black-and-
white stripes.
Distinctive in
flight.
Body: _____ -..... ...
Medium-
sized with
brownish
pink
feathers.
Legs: Short, ~
for perching
and ground
feeding.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Tail: Square-
shaped, with black-
and-white stripes
like the wings.
0160200321 PACKET 32
The hoopoe is a common sight in
southern Europe, living in tree-filled open
country f!n"d in olive groves, vineyards, and
orchards. It often chooses a breeding site
near human habitation. It winters in
Africa in the open bush.
~ H A B I T S
The hoopoe has a black-
tipped crest on its head that
stands erect like a large fan
when the bird is angry or
excited, or when it lands on
the ground or a branch.
The bird is also noticeable
in the air, not only for its
coloring, but because of its
peculiar undulating and
erratic flight and the slow,
jerking way it flaps its wings.
Despite looking slow and
awkward, the hoopoe can fly
swiftly. It can elude a bird of
prey by flying above it so the
predator cannot dive down
on the hoopoe and attack.
Although solitary by nature
for most of the year, the
hoopoe often migrates in
groups. The hoopoe leaves
its breeding site in late sum-
mer and spends the winter in
Africa or the Mediterranean.
It returns in April.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The hoopoe perches and roosts
high up in trees or on rooftops.
It feeds mainly on the ground,
probing for insects and larvae
with its long, curved bill in
pastures, meadows, and
suburban lawns. It also hunts
spiders, worms, and small
lizards, searching for them in
the dirt and in manure and
garbage heaps. It sometimes
catches insects in midair.
In winter, when food is
scarce, the hoopoe adds to its
diet by eating various species
of ant and termite.
Left: The hoopoe uses its long,
slender bill to probe the ground
for grubs and large insects.
Below: The hoopoe is a skilled
flier and can hover motionless in
front of the nest in order to deliver
food to its hungry chicks.
DID YOU KNOW?
An adult hoopoe on the
ground reacts to a bird of
prey flying overhead by
taking a defensive pose: the
bird flattens itself against
the ground with its wings
and tail feathers spread out
to their fullest and its head
and bill pointing upward.
The ancient Egyptians
held the hoopoe in high
~ BREEDING
The courtship ritual of the
hoopoe is a playful and gentle
display. The male starts the
ritual by leaning the tip of his
bill against a branch and
bowing to the female. Then
he nods his large crest up and
down to attract her.
After mating, the female
lays between six and eight
regard and created a
hieroglyph (picture script)
based on its crested head.
Medieval writers mention
the hoopoe in connection
with magic and the super-
natural and recommended
using parts of its body in
potions to aid memory.
One popular legend tells
how hoopoes were killed for
eggs in an unlined tree
hole, wall cavity, or termite
mound. Some birds line the
holes with a few feathers or
bits of straw, but usually the
nest hole is left bare. The
eggs are yellow, green, or
grayish olive in color. The
female incubates the eggs
for up to 16 days. The male
their crests, which were
originally made of gold.
The birds asked King
Solomon for help, and
were granted crests of
feathers instead of gold.
Hoopoes have been
spotted as far north as
Iceland in summer, but
they do not breed in such
cold climates.
feeds her during this period.
The downy young hatch at
intervals. At first the male
feeds both the female and
the chicks. Later, when the
chicks develop feathers, both
parents feed them until they
are ready to leave the nest at
about 27 days.
The hoopoe's nest has a
strong musky smell, which
comes from a secretion made
by the female and the chicks.
This oily substance secreted
by a gland helps keep their
feathers healthy. Hoopoes
spread it over their feathers
during preening, and both
female and chicks can eject
the oil when disturbed.
Below: Both male and female
take turns feeding the chicks.
COMMON SANDPIPER
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Charadriiformes
FAMILY
Sc%pacidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Actitis hypo/eucos
The common sandpiper is a solitary bird that wades in the
shallows of freshwater lakes and streams. The bird bobs
continually while it is feeding.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 8 in.
Wingspan: 15 in.
Weight: 1-3 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: March to
August.
No. of eggs: 3-5, cream-colored
with brown markings.
Incubation: 21-25 days.
Fledging period: 25 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Migratory wader. Solitary in
winter and when breeding;
migrates in small flocks.
Diet: Beetles, flies, spiders, snails,
and worms.
Lifespan: Oldest known bird, 10
years, 3 months.
RELATED SPECIES
Closest relative is the spotted
sandpiper, Actitis macu/aria, of
North America.
Range of the common sandpiper. Winter range.
DISTRIBUTION
Wide-ranging bird that breeds throughout most of Europe
and northern Asia. Migrates to Africa, India, east Asia, and
Australasia for winter.
CONSERVATION
There has been some decline in numbers because of the
deterioration of freshwater habitats. But the species
remains numerous and is not endangered.
FEATURES OF THE COMMON SANDPIPER
Wings have white bars and are
curved back in flight. The oommon
sandpiper flies low over f ater.
Plumage
(feathers) is
gray-brown above
with brown bars.
Underparts are off-
white. Short legs
are pale gray-green.
IDMCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Bill is straight
and pointed,
used to probe for
worms, shellfish,
insects, or other
invertebrates.
PRINTED IN U.S. A. 0160200261 PACKET 26
The common sandpiper is one of the most
familiar of all small wading birds in Europe
and northern Asia. But after the summer
breeding season, these birds head south
to a warmer climate.
BIRDWATCH
The common sandpiper
returns to its summer range in
the spring. The birds begin to
appear in April and remain
until September. They can
most often be seen by
freshwater marshes and
estuaries (waters where river
and sea meet).
The sandpiper is about the
same size as a starling. Its habit
of bobbing while feeding
makes it easy to spot at a
distance. The bird has a white
marking between its wing and
breast. It glides low over the
water while in flight.
~ HABITAT
The common sandpiper can
usually be found at the edges
of freshwater ponds, lakes,
rivers, and streams. It prefers
stony areas to sandy or
muddy shorelines, but it also
feeds at coastal marshes and
saltwater swamps and lagoons.
The sandpiper flies thousands
of miles each year between its
breeding grounds in northern
Europe and Asia and its winter
quarters in southern Africa, India,
eastern Asia, and the southern
pacific waters around Australia.
Solitary through most of the
year, the sandpiper will con-
gregate in small flocks while
migrating.
DID YOU KNOW?
The common sandpiper
often washes its food before
eating it.
During winter in Africa, the
sandpiper can be seen resting
on the backs of aquatic
Above left: A
sandpiper
stretches its
wings in pre-
paration for
flight.
Right: The
sandpiper's
brown-flecked
wings and
head camou-
flage it from
predators.
Here, an
adult guards
its newly
hatched young
among thick
vegetation.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The common sandpiper darts
about on short legs, searching
at the water's edge for food. It
uses its straight, pointed bill
to probe for and capture such
insects as earwigs and butter-
flies, as well as spiders, snails,
and worms.
The sandpiper feeds most of
the day. It often pauses midday
to rest and preen (clean and
smooth) its feathers.
Around livestock farms, the
common sandpiper searches
the animal droppings to find
beetles or fly larvae.
Right: A sandpiper uses its bill to
pick worms and other prey from
the mud.
animals, such as the hippo-
potamus.
To draw a predator's atten-
tion away from the nest, the
adult sandpiper often acts as if
it has a broken wing.
Pairing and mating may occur
either before or after the spring
migration to the breeding
grounds. Aerial displays, called
"flitter fights," help establish pair
bonds, and the males and
females often sing as they fly
together low over the water.
A pair of sandpipers establishes
and defends a breeding territory
along the edge of a freshwater
lake or stream.
The nest is always on the
ground close to water-usually
concealed among thick vegeta-
tion. It varies from a simple
hollow to a well-built, grass-lined,
cup-shaped construction.
The adults take turns incubat-
ing the eggs. The chicks hatch
from the eggs fully feathered.
The parents then lead the clutch
(group of chicks) away from the
nest to an area were there is food
and cover from predators.
Although able to forage almost
at once, the chicks remain close
to the adults for up to three
weeks.
The male leaves when the
chicks are about 12 days old; the
female leaves about two weeks
later, when the young are ready
for the flight south.
MISTLE THRUSH
' ( - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Turdidae
GENUS & SPECIES
T urdus viscivorus
The mistle thrush gets its name from its liking for mistletoe
berries, and it can be tempted into a garden in winter by a good
supply . .It is larger than the more familiar song thrush.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 11 in.
Weight: 4-5 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: Mid-February
to June.
No. of broods: 2.
Eggs: 3-5 per clutch.
Incubation: 1 3-14 days.
Fledging period: 15-20 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Forms small flocks in winter,
establishes breeding pairs in early
spring. Perches in the open.
Diet: Berries, fruit, worms, insects,
snails.
lifespan: Up to 11 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Its nearest relative is the song
thrush, Turdus phi/ome/os, but it is
also related to the redwing (T.
iliacus), fieldfare (T. pi/oris), and
blackbird (T. meru/a).
Range of the mistle thrush.
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout Europe except in Norway and the northernmost
islands of Scotland. Also found in western North Africa.
Extends east into Turkey and sout h to Israel.
CONSERVATION
This stable population has adapted to loss of woodland by
moving into farmland, parks, and gardens.
MISTlE THRUSH AND SONG THRUSH COMPARISON
Color: The mistle thrush is grayer
than the song thrush, especially
in winter.
Markings: The song thrush has
fewer black spots on its under-
parts than the mistle thrush.
Wings: The wings of the mistle
thrush (left) are larger than
those of its slightly smaller
counterpart, the song thrush.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200331 PACKET 33
The boldly speckled mistle thrush
is widespread in Europe and Great Britain.
The British Isles are a popular migration spot for
northern birds. British-born birds may travel further
south to southern Europe for the winter months,
but they will return to pair and breed
early in the following year.
HABITAT
Originally a forest dweller, the
mistle thrush has adapted to a
wide range of habitats. It lives
in parks, farms, hedges, orna-
mental and coniferous (cone-
bearing) woodlands, gardens,
and in shrublands at the end
of the breeding season.
In fall the mistle thrush may
travel long distances to find
its favorite berries, stripping
trees and bushes such as early
rowan, yew, hawthorn, and its
favorite, mistletoe.
During fall some mistle
thrushes from Scandinavia,
Holland, and other parts of
Europe migrate to Great
Britain. Others fly farther to
find good berries in southern
Europe. In their first fall,
some young mistle thrushes
migrate further south, but
they return to their birthplaces
in spring to find territories
and mates.
FOOD &: FEEDING
The mistle thrush feeds in
open grassland on berries,
earthworms, fruit, and
insects. It is distinguished
from the song thrush by its
more upright stance while
hopping along on the
ground. The mistle thrush
takes large bounding hops
and, like the robin and black-
bird, stands with its head
cocked to one side listening
for worms in the ground.
During harsh winter
weather the mistle thrush
leaves the cold countryside
for a city garden where tem-
peratures are warmer and
snow is less deep so it can
search for food in the earth.
Above: Some birds stay in one
place through the winter; others
migrate to warmer climates in the
south.

The mistle thrush leaves its
winter flock at the end of win-
ter to find a territory and a
mate. The female lays her eggs
in mid-February or early March
when she can find plenty of
earthworms, snails, slugs,
insect larvae, and berries to
feed the young. Mistle thrushes
that feed exclusively on cater-
pillars breed later.
If the weather turns cold
after a warm spell, the female
will have difficulty pulling
worms from the cold, hard
earth. She will also have to stay
on the nest for longer periods
to keep her young warm.
The female builds an open,
bulky, bowl-shaped nest that is

Before winter's end, from a
high treetop, the mistle
thrush often sings a song of
loud, short, flutelike phrases
with long pauses in between.
The song is similar to-but
livelier than-a blackbird's
and less repetitive than a
song thrush's.
In flight the mistle thrush
makes a harsh, churring,
chatterlike call that sounds
like a comb scraping wood.
DID YOU KNOW?
When breeding, the mistle
thrush aggressively protects
its nest, driving away cats
and dogs, and even striking
intruding humans in the
head with its beak.
The mistle thrush is
nicknamed "storm cock"
because it sings from tree-
similar in shape to a song nest is built in a tall tree,
thrush's nest. She constructs it wedged in a tree fork or on a
with grass, twigs, earth, and branch. Because it does not
moss, and lines it with fine have leaf cover, magpies and
grass. Unlike the more se- jays can raid the nest.
cluded and camouflaged nests Below: Hungry young mistle
of the blackbird and song thrushes are fed slugs, berries,
thrush, the mistle thrush's earthworms, and snails.
Above: The mistle thrush likes to
perch on a treetop branch and
break into its distinctive song.
tops even in wet and windy
weather.
Scottish people call the
mistle thrush "skittery feltie"
(untidy mistle thrush)
because of its messy nest-
building methods. This
name is also used to describe
untidy people.
During the fall, the mistle
thrush can be seen feeding
in gardens on berry-covered
bushes or trees.
It is larger and grayer than
the song thrush, especially
in winter, and has larger,
black spots on its under-
parts. The mistle thru h
stands upright, its wings
often droop, and it has
white-tipped tail feathers.
Only those mistle thrushes
in cold northern European
areas migrate south.
Most well-known song-
birds like the nightingale, and
the song, wood, and hermit
thrushes are in the Turdidae
family, which includes many
of the world's birds.
"" CARD 70
HAWAIIAN HONEVCREEPER

... ORDER ... FAMILY
Passeriformes Drepanididae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Various
About 22 honeycreeper species have evolved from
a single species that was blown off course
to the Hawaiian islands.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 4-8 in.
Wingspan: 6-12 in .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
No. of eggs: 2-3.
Incubation: 3-4 weeks. Both
parents may feed the young.
LIFESTYLE
Diet: The Hawaiian honeycreepers
fall into two main dietary groups-
nectar eaters and seed eaters.
Nectar eaters may also eat spiders,
caterpillars, and insects.
RELATED SPECIES
The Hawaiian honeycreepers are
unique and have evolved sepa-
rately. Another group of birds
known as honeycreepers exists in
the Western Hemisphere from
Mexico down through most of
South America and the West
Indies.
FEATURES OF THE HAWAIIAN
HONEYCREEPER
Black and red honeycreeper: Red
plumage with black wings and tail.
Beak: Long and
curved to help
extract nectar.
Kauai akialoa
honeycreeper:
The only remain-
ing species that
has the extra-long
beak, which it
uses to penetrate
tree bark to extract
insects and larvae.
;CMCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM
Range of the Hawaiian honeycreeper species.
DISTRIBUTION
The Hawaiian honeycreepers are confined to the Hawaiian
Islands. Once widespread among the islands, many honey-
creepers are now confined to the most inaccessible areas.
CONSERVATION
The Hawaiian honeycreeper is in grave danger of becoming
extinct. The destruction of its habitats must be stopped.
Nectar: Honey-
creepers extract
nectar from flower
heads wi th their
long bills.
Extra-long beak:
Penetrates tree
bark to extract
L-____
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200201 PACKET 20
into many different species occurred because
it did not need to specialize its feeding habits.
Each species eats a varied diet, depending on the
type of food available.
~ H A B I T A T
Most honeycreepers live in
the inaccessible regions of
Hawaii's forests. Still, as the
human population expands,
even the honeycreeper's most
remote habitat is becoming
threatened. The palila honey-
creeper, for example, is
dependent on the mamane
tree for its survival, but the
felling of these trees has
forced the bird to find new
habitats. Today the palila
honeycreeper is found only
on one slope of Mauna Kea
on the island of Hawaii .
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The Hawaiian honeycreeper is
descended from nectar-eating
birds that were blown off
course in the Pacific Ocean and
landed in Hawaii. Over time,
some of the nectar-eating birds
broadened their diet, depend-
ing on available foods.
Hawaiian honeycreepers are
divided into subgroups. Birds
of one group have red and
black feathers and feed mainly
on nectar, while those belong-
ing to the other group have
All Hawaiian honeycreepers
breed similarly. They mate
between December and July;
the young hatch the following
January.
The birds build a simple,
cup-shaped nest on the
branch of a tree or occasion-
ally in long grass; there they
lay two to three eggs. The
eggs are white or bluish with
distinctive reddish-brown
spots. The eggs hatch after
about a three-week incuba-
tion and both parents feed the
young on regurgitated food.
green and yellow feathers.
Rather than feeding on
nectar, they eat seeds.
The shape of each group's
bill has evolved over time.
The nectar eaters' curved bills
and brush-shaped tongue
tips enable the birds to col-
lect every drop of nectar from
a flower.
The seed eaters have shorter
bills, designed for cracking
the seeds that are the bulk
Far left: The
honeycreepers
live in both
inaccessible
rainforests
and drier
areas.
Left: The black
and red honey-
creeper has a
downward-
curving red
beak to extract
nectar from
flowers.
The Hawaiian honeycreeper
is under serious threat from
both natural predators and
man. Tree rats are its primary
natural predator. But man's
destruction of the honey-
creeper's habitat is a threat
of even greater significance.
The habitat of the large
amakihi honeyeater has been
cleared for sugar cane.
Because many parts of the
Hawaiian islands are inacces-
sible, it is difficult to assess
the decline in honeycreeper
numbers.
Top: A young amakihi has dull
plumage that will later become
yellow.
Above: The amakihi is a seed-
eating honeycreeper and
therefore has a shorter bill.