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BATELEUR EAGLE

,,'-_____________ GROUP 2: BIRDS


ORDER
Falconiformes
FAMILY
Accipitridae
... GENUS &: SPECIES
~ Terathopius ecaudatus
The bateleur eagle spends up to nine hours a day soaring high in the
sky above Africa. At the sight of a meal, it folds its wings and plunges
to earth, striking its prey a deadly blow with its sharp talons.
KEY FACTS
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SIZES
Length: Head and body, 2 ~ - 3 ft.
Tail, 3-4 in .
Wingspan: 5 ~ - 6 ft.
Weight: 4-7 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3 years.
Breeding season: Varies with
location.
No. of eggs: 1.
Fledging period: 3 - 3 ~ months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Aerial predator and scav-
enger.
Diet: Mainly mammals; also birds,
reptiles, and carrion.
Lifespan: 12-15 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The bateleur's African relatives in-
clude the brown snake eagle, the
black-breasted snake eagle, and
the southern banded snake eagle.
FEATURES OF THE BATELEUR
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the bateleur eagle.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Somalia
and south to the eastern Cape Province.
CONSERVATION
The bateleur eagle is common within its range. But habitat loss
and persecution have led to a population decline that is espe-
cially serious in parts of southern Africa.
Flight: Very short
tail feathers and
teetering flight
make the eagle
easy to identify.
Egg: Single large egg; white
with red speckles.
The courtship ritual reveals the eagl es' aerial
skills as male and female chase. each other
through the air. The male often performs
breathtaking 360-degree rolls, while the fe-
male flies on her back so they can lock claws.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200561 PACKET 56
The bateleur eagle is one of the most acrobatic
of all birds of prey. It is capable of performing
dramatic tumbling rolls, breathtaking sideslips,
and plunging dives. This master of the air can even
capture birds while it is flying and may sometimes
badger another eagle into giving up its catch.
BREEDING
After a dramatic courtship flight,
male and female bateleur eagles
form a pair bond that generally
lasts for life. The pair constructs
its nest together in a baobab or
acacia tree. Built from strong
sticks, the nest spans two feet
and contains a leaf-lined cup
that is ten inches wide.
Breeding takes place some-
time between December and
June, depending on location.
In southern Africa, for example,
most eggs are laid in February
and March.
The female lays a single egg,
which both birds incubate. The
male bateleur plays a greater
role in incubation than most
eagles, and the incubation pe-
riod is the longest of any Afri-
can eagle.
The newly hatched eaglet is
cream and chocolate brown in
color. At first the female takes
charge of feeding the chick, but
the male shares this chore with
his mate as the youngster's ap-
petite grows.
After three months, the eaglet
begins making short trial flights,
always returning to the safety of
the nest. At about six months
of age, the young bateleur is fi-
nally independent and leaves
the nest permanently.
FOOD &: HUNTING
The bateleur eagle was long
considered more of a scav-
enger than a predator. Al-
though the juvenile birds
regularly feed on carrion,
recent studies have shown
that the adult birds also prey
on a wide range of animals.
Mammal prey includes. rats,
mice, hares, galagos, and
small antelope. Adult bate-
leurs also hunt birds such as
hornbills and guinea fowl,
reptiles like puff adders and
Left: The bate leur eagle often
looks for dead fish in dried-up
pools and streams.

The bateleur eagle spends most
of the day soaring through the
skies. It can easily cover more
than 300 miles between dawn
and dusk. The bateleur eagle
ranges over open savannas to
dense woodland, from coastal
plains to rocky uplands that
monitor lizards, and even fish.
In most instances, the eagle
falls on its prey from the sky,
killing it with a blow of its tal-
ons. When it hunts small or
slow-moving prey, however,
the bateleur eagle may raise
its wings like a parachute and
descend more slowly with its
claws outstretched. Occasion-
ally, it captures birds while in
flight, and it may also harass
another eagle until the latter
gives up its catch.
Right: With its deadly aerial
strike, preying on small rodents is
easy for the bateleur eagle.
may be over 13,000 feet high.
The eagle usually rests and
nests in a mature tree near a
source of water. It also favors
trees beside roadsides, since the
animals killed on the roads pro-
vide a steady supply of carrion
for the young eagles.
Left: A wide-
eyed chick
waits in the
nest to be fed.
The adult male
remains near-
by, watching
for predators.
He may "dive-
bomb" an in-
truder. Or he
may crouch
down and flap
his wings, fak-
ing injury in an
attempt to di-
vert attention
away from the
nest.
DID YOU KNOW?
Bateleur is a French word
that can be translated as
"acrobat," "tightrope walk-
er," or "tumbler." The bate-
leur's teetering flight is best
captured by the image of a
tightrope walker's pole tip-
from side to side.
The bateleur eagle is a so-
ciable bird of prey that may
gather with other eagles in
groups of 50 or more.
The bateleur eagle can fly
at speeds of 30 to 50 miles
an hour and rarely needs to
flap its wings.
BATELEUR EAGLE &: MAN
The bateleur eagle has tradition-
ally been revered by the peoples
of Africa. Known to the Nguni-
speaking tribes as ingqungqulu-
the warrior bird-it was a sym-
bol of good fortune. The tribes
believed that they would be
victorious in battle if a bateleur
eagle. flew over the enemy.
European settlers, however,
killed many bateleur eagles,
believing that they preyed on
livestock. In addition, western
farming methods were destruc-
tive to the eagle's habitat and
reduced its natural food supply.
Left: For the
people living in
its ronge, the
fierce, noble-
looking bate-
leur eagle came
to represent a
powerful mysti-
cal force.
YELLOW HONEYEATER
\( ___________________________________ G_R_O_U_P __ 2:_B_I_RD __ S ~
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Me/iphagidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Meliphaga flava
The yellow honeyeater and its relatives are among Australia's
best-known and most sociable birds. They feed on nectar and
insects in woodlands and gardens throughout the country.
~
~
KEY FACTS
SIZE
Length: 6-7 in.
BREEDING
Season: October to March.
Broods: 1, sometimes 2.
Eggs: 2, white to pale red.
Incubation: 12-16 days.
Fledging: 10-1 6 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Feeds in pairs or
flocks in eucalyptus woodland,
creeks, rivers, mangroves, wooded
suburbs, and orchards.
Diet: Nectar, insects, spiders, fruit,
and berries.
RELATED SPECIES.
There are 36 species in the genus
Meliphaga, including the yellow-
spotted, yellow-throated, yellow-
tufted, yellow-faced, and singing
honeyeaters. There are approxi -
mately 1 70 species of honeyeater
altogether.
FEATURES OF THE YELLOW
HONEYEATER
Plumage: Varied tones of olive
green, yellow, or pale brown.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the yellow honeyeater and other Meliphaga species.
DISTRIBUTION
Honeyeaters of the genus Meliphaga are found throughout
Australia, with some species also in New Guinea. Most popula-
tions are resident.
CONSERVATION
The yellow honeyeater has adjusted well to humans and their
effects on its habitat. The population is currently in no danger.
Bill: Long
and pointed.
Ideally shaped
for taking nectar
from flowers.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
OTHER HONEYEATERS
White-lined honeyeater,
Meliphaga albilineata: Inhabits
wooded Gorges in northern
Australia.
Yellow-throated honeyeater,
Meliphaga flavicollis: Thrives in
varied habitats on Tasmania and
nearby islands.
Graceful honeyeater, Meliphaga
gracilis: A small species that lives
in humid forests on Australia's
Cape York Peninsula.
0160200551 PACKET 55
Most of the honeyeaters in the genus Meliphaga are
characterized by long, pointed beaks and handsome
plumage in shades of yellow or olive green. Some species
have crests and more elaborate markings than others. Like
all honeyeaters, the yellow honeyeater is a small, solidly
built bird with a specially adapted brushlike tongue
that enables it to mop up nectar with ease.
~ HABITS
The yellow honeyeater is well ad-
justed to the presence of people
and is seen in domestic gardens
as often as in eucalyptus wood-
lands, creeks, and rivers.
Although some honeyeaters
are solitary, most are sociable,
living and feeding in pairs or
flocks. They are playful birds
and often fly in zigzag group
formations, communicating
loudly with a variety of calls.
Honeyeaters can also be quite
aggressive, however, especially
the yellow-plumed species.
Since they live in a temperate
climate, most honeyeaters stay
in the same place year-round.
One of the few migratory spe-
cies is the yellow-faced honey-
eater-it flies north in spring
and returns to the southern
part of its range in fall. Other
species fly in flocks from place
to place in search of food.
Right: Like most honeyeaters, the
yellow-winged species lives and
feeds in flocks.
~ BREEDING
The yellow honeyeater builds a
cup-shaped nest in a tree, either
between the branches or hang-
ing from a twig. Some nests are
a few feet above the ground, but
others are high in the tree cano-
py. Nesting takes place between
September and October or be-
tween December and January.
In all honeyeater species, the
female builds the nest alone,
often from palm fibers covered
with bark and cobwebs. She
lines the nest with hair, which
she may pluck from live ani-
mals such as cattle. The yellow-
Left: The yellow honeyeater's
bright plumage and sociable
nature make it easy to find.
DID YOU KNOW?
As many as 10,000 yellow-
faced honeyeaters have been
recorded flying north past a
single point during their annu-
al migration.
Like all honeyeaters, the yel-
low honeyeater helps to polli-
nate bushes and trees like the
eucalyptus. While the honey-
throated honeyeater may even
pluck hair from human heads.
The female lays two oval eggs,
ranging in color from white to
pale red with reddish purple or
chestnut blotches. The chicks
hatch after about two weeks. A
chick's bill is paler than an adult's,
and its plumage is a duller yel-
low color.
Several adults help feed the
young, which fledge at 10 to 16
days, depending on the species.
The fledglings join the flock in
search of food and breed within
their first year.
Right: The female yellow-faced
honeyeater builds her compact
nest in a tree.
eater drinks nectar, pollen col-
lects on its body and is then
carried to the next plant that
the bird visits.
Nectar may ferment when
heavy rains increase its water
content. After drinking this
nectar, honeyeaters look drunk
and can barely fly.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Like all honeyeaters, the yellow
honeyeater feeds in trees, main-
lyon nectar. Honeyeaters usu-
ally search for nectar in flocks,
although a large bird may try
to keep a smaller bird away
from a rich source.
A honeyeater lifts nectar from
blossom buds with its specially
adapted long tongue. The front
part of the tongue resembles a
frayed brush, which the bird
dips into nectar up to 10 times
a second. After taking the nec-
Left: The
yellow-faced
honeyeater is
oneofa few
honeyeaters
that migrate.
It flies north
each spring,
returning in
fall to breed
and nest in the
southern part
of its range.
tar, it pulls out its tongue and
closes its beak. The roof of the
beak then compresses the liq-
uid so that it flows down two
channels at the back of the
tongue to the throat. The nec-
tar passes from the digestive
system to the intestines and is
rapidly converted to energy.
Honeyeaters also feed on in-
sects and spiders, taking them
only from branches, never the
ground. In addition, they eat
soft fruits and berries.
'" CARD 153 I
GREEN WOOD-HOOPOE
_________________________________

ORDER
Coraciiformes
FAMILY
Phoeniculidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Phoeniculus purpureus
The green wood-hoopoe noisy chattering is a common sound in
wooded areas of Africa, where it lives and breeds. It feeds mainly
on insects, which it pries from tree bark with its sharp, curved bill.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 12-14 in.
Tail length: 7-10 in.
Weight: 2-3 oz.
BREEDING
Breeding season: Varies according
to region and food supply.
No. of broods: 2, sometimes 3.
Eggs: 3 or 4, pale blue.
Incubation: 1 7-1 8 days.
Fledging period: About 1 month.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Lives mainly in
small groups.
Diet: Mainly insects, plus small
lizards and small fruit.
Call: Loud single or repeated
"kuk." Wild chattering in flocks.
RELATED SPECIES
There are six wood-hoopoes in
the genus Phoeniculus, all found
in wooded or forest areas south of
the Sahara Desert.
Range of the green wood-hoopoe.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in Senegal, northern Guinea, northern Ivory Coast,
northern Ghana, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Angola, southern
Ethiopia, western Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Tanzania,
Zimbabwe, Botswana, and eastern South Africa.
CONSERVATION
The green wood-hoopoe is a common bird within its range. It is
not currently in danger of becoming scarce.
EATURES OF THE GREEN WOOD-HOOPOE
Tail:
Long and
pointed. The
white bands are
conspicuous
when the bird flies.
When the bird is searching
for insects on a tree, the tail is
often used for support and be-
comes worn and tattered as a result.
Eggs and nest: Three to four
pale blue eggs are laid. The
nest becomes filthy and smelly
because food debris and drop-
pings are not removed.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Bill: Long, curved downward,
and sharp. Used to peck at
tree bark to uncover insects.
Also effective for catching
and killing larger prey such
as lizards.
Feet and claws: .
Strong and sharp.
Used for clinging to
trees. The wood-
hoopoe will even
hold onto a tree
trunk upside down
when searching
for food.
0160200531 PACKET 53
Right: Like
woodpeckers,
the green
wood-hoopoe
clings to tree
trunks with its
strong claws.
Sometimes it
also hangs
upside down.
It hammers at
the bark and
removes the
loosened flakes
with a sideways
motion of its
sharp, curved
bill. This expos-
es the insects,
larvae, eggs,
and pupae that
form the bulk
of its diet.
The green wood-hoopoe depends on trees for almost
everything it needs. A tree provides a nesting site, a
nighttime roost, and prey. This bird has many enemies,
including the driver ant and the genet, a predatory
mammal whose sharp claws enable it to climb trees.
To protect itself from these enemies, the green
wood-hoopoe exudes a foul-smelling oil.

The green wood-hoopoe lives
in grassy plains, open woods,
and palm groves. It generally
stays in one place all year, but
it may move to drier, wooded
savanna in the rainy season. An
agile bird, the wood-hoopoe
will hang upside down from a
tree while searching for food.
Like the woodpecker, it uses
its tail for support.
Green wood-hoopoes live in
flocks of up to 16 individuals.
The birds chatter constantly,
preen one another, and defend
their large territory throughout
the year. Their defensive behav-
ior includes perching close to-
gether and bowing or rocking
back and forth with their tails
fanned out. These birds also
pass bits of bark to each other
to reinforce group bonds.
Not only do members of a
flock protect and preen each
other, but as many as 10 birds
will help an adult pair feed its
young. These providers are usu-
ally, but not always, relatd to
the parent birds.

Wood-hoopoes form close pairs.
For some time before their eggs
are laid, a pair perches apart
from the rest of the flock, often
in the tree that will be used for
the nest. The two birds groom
each other and mate often.
The nest site is a cavity in a
tree. It may be a woodpecker's
old nest, which the green wood-
hoopoe clears of any nesting
material. The nest cavity may
be used for years.
The female lays three or four
eggs on consecutive days and
places them on old, decayed
Left: For its nest site, the wood-
hoopoe chooses a tree close to a
good food supply.
DID YOU KNOW?
Male and female wood-
hoopoes roost in separate
trees. If a predator takes
birds from one tree, the
flock may be short of one
sex, so birds from another
territory join the flock to
replace them.
If taken from the nest,
chicks squirt foul-smelling
FOOD &: FEEDING
Wood-hoopoes forage for food
as a group. They fly from tree
to tree and keep in touch with
constant calls. A wood-hoopoe
feeds mainly on insects, includ-
ing insect eggs, pupae, larvae,
termites, ants, and moths. The
wood. While she incubates the
eggs, her mate and other mem-
bers of the flock feed her. The
eggs hatch after 1 7 to 1 8 days,
and the other birds feed both
the female and the young. The
mother receives the food and
passes it to her chicks. Later the
helpers feed the nestlings direct-
ly and also preen them.
When the young first fly, after
a month, the flock flies along
to protect them from predators.
The young are fed by the flock
for a few weeks after they are
fledged. Later they act as help-
ers for the next brood, and they
may continue to act as helpers
for up to five years.
excrement as a defense.
A male may peck at another
bird if he thinks it is after his
mate. But such conflicts are
brief, and the male makes
peace by preening the visitor.
The greater honeyguide,
known for leading people to
bees' nests, often uses the
nests of wood-hoopoes.
bird uses its long curved bill to
pry insects from bark. It swallows
them whole, or it beats them
against a branch until they are
soft enough to eat. It crushes
tough beetles by wedging them
in bark and pecking at them.
The wood-hoopoe also eats
fruit and even small lizards if
the opportunity arises. The nest-
lings are usually fed caterpillars
and spider eggs.
Left: The metallic blues and greens
of the wood-hoopoe's head plum-
age have an iridescent sheen.
ROCKHOPPER PENGUIN
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~
ORDER
Sphenisciformes
FAMILY
Spheniscidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Eudyptes chrysocome
With its bright yellow crests and red bill the rockhopper penguin is
one of the most striking members of the penguin family. It is an
excellent swimmer and spends almost half of its life at sea.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 22-26 in.
Weight: 6-10 lb.
Flipper length: 6-7 in.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: At least 6 years.
Breeding season: From July to
November.
Eggs: 2, bluish white. Only 1 chick
survives.
Incubation: 5 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social and territorial. Breeds,
swims, and feeds in large colonies
or groups.
Diet: Squid, shrimp, and fish.
lifespan: 15-20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 5 species in the genus
Eudyptes, including the macaroni
penguin, E. chrysolophus, and the
erect-crested penguin, E. atratus.
Range of the rockhopper penguin.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout a large area of the sub-Antarctic, particularly
in the southern Atlantic and Indian oceans.
CONSERVATION
The rockhopper is common throughout its range. But scientific
exploration may affect some habitats, and large-scale harvest-
ing of krill is reducing a major food source for the rockhopper.
FEATURES OF THE ROCKHOPPER PENGUIN
Body: Heavy, compact, and
streamlined. Well protected
from the cold by a thick layer
of fat just beneath the skin.
The male is larger than
the female.
Flippers: Rigid and very thin,
ideal for propelling the pen-
guin through water. Like
the rest of the body, they
are covered in short, dense,
waterproof feathers.
Feet: Webbed; serve as rudders
when swimming. Each foot has 4
toes with long, sharp claws to pro-
vide a good grip on tRe rocks when
hopping over land.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Pl umage: Short, dense, water-
feathers. Black except
for chest and undersides
of flippers, which are
whi te. Both sexes have
yellow crests of long,
threadlike feathers.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eggs: 2 bluish white
eggs laid in a shall ow
nest in the rocks. The
eggs often become
stained with mud dur-
0160200501 PACKET 50
It is easy to understand how the rockhopper penguin
got its name when it is seen hopping over rocks
and climbing up cliffs to get to its nesting site high
above the shoreline. It spends most of its life in the
ocean, however, where it travels long distances
by "porpoising"-swimming close to the surface
and repeatedly jumping out of the water.
~ HABITAT
The rockhopper penguin lives
around the islands of the sub-
Antarctic, including the Falkland
Islands, Tristan da Cunha, Heard
Island, and New Amsterdam.
The rockhopper penguin is as
comfortable among the tussock
grass and volcanic lava of the
northerly islands as it is on the
rocks and ice found farther to the
south. For much of the year it
remains at sea, coming ashore
only to rest, molt, or breed.
Like most penguins, the rock-
hopper does not nest on main-
land Antarctica but prefers the
slightly warmer regions away
from the ice cap. It is extremely
important for the rockhopper
penguin to maintain a constant
body temperature. For this rea-
son it lives in areas where there
is only a slight annual fluctua-
tion in sea temperature. In win-
ter the rockhopper penguin
moves farther north.
Right: The rockhopper penguin
submerges only for a couple of
minutes at a time because it must
surface to breathe.
~ BREEEDING
Between July and November
the male looks for a nest site.
He fights to establish a territory
within the colony, which can
have thousands of members.
A pair of rockhoppers may
stay together for years, using
the same nesting site each sea-
son. But if a new female arrives
first, the male mates with her.
A shallow nest is built among
rocks and lined with stones and
sticks. In the north, the nest is
shaded from the sun. In the
colder south, it faces the sun.
Left: The male and female rock-
hopper preen each other during
their courtship display.
DID YOU KNOW?
The scientific name for the
rockhopper's genus is a Greek
word meaning "good diver."
The rockhopper is consid-
ered the most aggressive
penguin species. It will jump
up and snap at a human that
strays onto its territory.
Large breeding colonies of
The female lays two eggs. At
first she incubates the eggs
alone, while the male searches
for food. But then they take
turns, changing places every 1 0
to 1 5 days. After five weeks the
chicks hatch, but one soon dies.
The female feeds the surviving
young partially digested food,
while the male guards against
predatory petrels and skuas.
Young penguins huddle in
large groups called creches.
This allows the adults to leave
them while searching for food.
Right: The female lays two eggs.
The first is usually smaller, and the
chick from that egg does not survive.
rockhoppers give off a strong
smell that has been used as a
navigational aid by sailors.
The rockhopper penguin
has long been hunted by
humans for its thick layer of
fat. One bird yields about half
a quart of the oil that was
once used to fuel lamps.
The rockhopper is well adapted
for marine life. Its wings have
evolved into flippers that pro-
pel it through water. Its legs
and tail act as rudders. Swim-
ming at speeds of up to 25
miles an hour, it often escapes
predators like leopard seals.
In order to get onto the shore,
a rockhopper picks up speed
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Like other penguins, the rock-
hopper feeds only at sea. Birds
kept in captivity have to be
taught how to feed on land.
On shore during the molting
and breeding seasons, the rock-
hopper may go without food
for weeks at a time. The thick
layer of fat beneath its skin sus-
tains it during these periods.
Therockhopperspendsthe
rest of the year at sea. It swims
in large groups so the young
can learn how to hunt from the
adults. The rockhopper must
underwater and shoots out of
the waves, landing on its feet.
It moves on land by hopping,
keeping its feet together and
using its claws to cling to rocks.
At the end of each breeding
season, the adult molts its feath-
ers. Within about five weeks,
it loses and replaces all of its
dense, waterproof plumage.
dive often to find food, since it
cannot hover over the water
like other birds. It eats squid
and krill, which it catches at
depths of up to 65 feet. Be-
cause krill is very salty, the rock-
hopper makes use of special
nasal glands that filter and ex-
pel excess salt.
To feed their young, the par-
ents swallow food and cover it
with a layer of mucus that pre-
vents it from being completely
digested. The food is then regur-
gitated and fed to the chicks.
CHIFFCHAFF
'C
.... ORDER ....
~ Passeriformes ~
FAMILY
Sylviidae
~ R D 155 ]
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS &; SPECIES
Phylloscopus collybita
The chiffchaff is a small, unobtrusive bird that is found in parts
of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is a welcome visitor to gardens
because it devours insect pests and their larvae.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 4 in.
Weight: ~ oz .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: April to July.
No. of broods: 1 or 2.
Eggs: Usually 7 or 8. White with
purplish brown speckles.
Incubation: 1 3-14 days.
Fledging period: 1 8-20 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Pairs in the breeding sea-
son; forms small groups at other
times. Migrates south in winter.
Diet: Various insects and their eggs
and larvae.
Call: Irregular sequence of two-
tone "chip" and "cheep" notes.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 41 species in the genus
Phylloscopus. The chiffchaff is very
closely related to the willow war-
bler, P. trochilus.
Range of the chiffchaff.
DISTRIBUTION
The chiffchaff's range extends from Ireland, Great Britain, Spain,
and Portugal in the west, through Europe and North Africa, and
deep into Asia.
CONSERVATION
The chiffchaff population is stable throughout most parts of its
range. There are approximately half a million breeding pairs in
Great Britain alone.
FEATURES OF THE CHIFFCHAFF
Juvenile: Has
brighter yellow
coloring than
the adult. Easily
mistaken for the
willow warbler.
'"
Adult: Gray-
green upper
plumage, pale
yellow breast
and underparts,
dark brown
legs. Sexes
~ O O k similar.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
THE CHlfFCHAFF'S NEST
Dome-shaped. Made from stalks,
moss, leaves, and feathers. Set in
vegetation about 3 feet above the
ground or at ground level. Looks
like a willow warbler's nest.
Eggs: 7 or 8;
incubated by the
female alone.
0160200611 PACKET 61
The small, greenish gray chiffchaff is closely related to
the willow warbler. The two species look so much alike
that it is very difficult to tell them apart. The best way
to distinguish between these two birds is by their voices.
The chiffchaff has a repetitive two-note call for which it is
named. By contrast, the willow warbler's song is a more
complex tune, made up of whistles and trills.

During the breeding season, the
chiffchaff can be found in a vari-
ety of wooded areas with plenty
of cover. It prefers rural environ-
ments but will venture into gar-
dens that have a good supply
of tall trees with dense under-
growth. In Great Britain the bird
is seldom seen in coniferous for-
ests, but in central Europe these
forests are popular breeding
grounds. In Siberia the chiffchaff
occupies both coniferous and
mixed woodland.
In August, after molting, most
chiffchaffs migrate south, sing-
ing as they go. The majority
spend the winter by the Medi-
terranean and in North Africa.
Birds from farther east winter in
Iran, Iraq, India, Afghanistan,
and parts of southern Asia.

Male chiffchaffs return to their
breeding grounds from the mid-
dle of March onward, about two
weeks ahead of the females. A
male claims a breeding site by
singing. If necessary, he defends
the site more aggressively. When
the females arrive, all the males
search for mates. Courtship fea-
tures a slow-motion flight dis-
play. After mating, the male
plays little part in nest building
or rearing the young.
The nest is often built close
to the ground, in dense under-
growth where it will be well
protected. The female builds
the nest, making a loose con-
struction of leaves, moss, and
stalks and lining it with a thick
Left: When feeding, the chiffchaff
makes short jerky flights from tree
to tree.
DID YOU KNOW?
In India the chiffchaff is also
called "the tail wagger" be-
cause it flicks its tail from side
to side.
The female chiffchaff attracts
a mate by calling and slowly
flicking her wings. The male
fans his wings in a wide arc;: to
display every feather. Then he
flies toward the female very
layer of feathers. The spherical
nest has a narrow side entrance.
The female chiffchaff lays one
egg every day until there are
seven or eight in the clutch. She
incubates them for two weeks,
leaving only to feed. After the
eggs hatch, the female gathers
food for the chicks. To avoid re-
vealing the location of the nest,
she does not enter it directly
when returning with food. In-
stead, she lands some distance
above the nest and slips down
into it through the foliage.
The young birds can fly when
they are nearly three weeks old.
At that stage, they can be seen
at play, chasing each other and
feeding together.
Right: The female makes a shallow
entrance on the side of her feather-
lined nest.
slowly, giving a buzzing call.
Chiffchaffs that winter in
Majorca become tame in
very cold weather and even
enter houses.
Instead of migrating from
Great Britain, an increasing
number of chiffchaffs spend
the winter there, joined by
birds from Scandinavia.
BIRDWATCH
The chiffchaff looks like the to mistake for a willow warbler.
willow warbler. The adult chiff- Song is the best way to tell
chaff is grayer above and has the species apart. The chiffchaff
darker legs than the willow sings two notes, combining a
warbler, which has brighter high-pitched "chip-chip" with
yellow underparts. The young a lower "cheep." The willow
chiffchaff is a brighter yellow warbler's song is more com-J
than the adult and so is easier full of whistles
FOOD & FEEDING
The chiffchaff finds most of the
small insects that it eats in trees,
undergrowth, and bushes. It
hops from branch to branch,
flicking its wings and tail as it
inspects leaves and twigs for
caterpillars, gnats, and midges.
Chiffchaffs feed on aphids,
Left: The chiffchaff sings from high
in the trees but feeds and nests at a
lower level.
insect eggs, and larvae at all
stages of development. Birds
that spend the winter in south-
ern England are thought to
survive almost entirely on a
diet of aphids. As food supplies
become scarce during the win-
ter months, the chiffchaff may
grow bolder, feeding more of-
ten on the ground and among
low bushes.
ARCTIC TERN
ORDER
Charadriiformes
FAMILY
Laridae
GENUS &; SPECIES
Sterna paradisaea
'" CARD 156 1
GROUP 2: BIRDS
The Arctic tern probably travels greater distances than any other
bird in the world. When migrating to and from its breeding
grounds, this bird may fly a round-trip of up to 22,000 miles.
__________________________
SIZES
Length: l3-14 in.
Wingspan: ft.
Weight: oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years.
Breeding season: Spring.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 1-3; buff with dark spots.
Incubation: 20-24 days.
Fledging period: 21-24 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social; nests in colonies.
Call: Rasping, nasal cries.
Diet: Sand eels and other small fish,
plankton, small crustaceans.
Lifespan: Oldest on record, 24
years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 43 species of tern, in-
cluding 34 in the genus Sterna,
which includes the common tern,
S. hirundo.
Breeding range of the Arctic tern. Winter range.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of North America, Green-
land, and northern Eurasia. In late summer, the Arctic tern mi-
grates south to winter in the Antarctic and the southernmost
parts of Africa, South America, and Australasia. It returns to its
breeding grounds in spring.
CONSERVATION
Populations of the Arctic tern appear to be in no danger.
FEATURES OF THE ARCTIC TERN
Bill: Long, pointed, and
deep red . Turns black in
winter.
THE COMMON TERN'S BILL
A brighter shade of red than
that of the Arctic
tern. Tip is black.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM
Plumage: Gray wings have
dark leading edges. White
tail and head with dis-
tinctive black crown.
Flight: Swift and
graceful. Bird
hovers over wa-
ter when looking
for food.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eggs: 1 to 3 laid
in a nest on the
ground. Well
camouflaged by
buff color with
dark markings.
Tail: Long, forked
tail extends beyond
the wingtips. Tail is
longer than that of
the common tern.
Tail feathers fan
out when the
bird hovers.
0160200661 PACKET 66
Every spring the Arctic tern returns to its breeding
grounds close to the Arctic Circle, where it nests in
huge colonies. Although they are built on open ground,
the nests are not as vulnerable as they may seem. They are
protected by the great numbers of birds in the colony and
by the aggressive parents, which attack any intruder-
even a chick that has strayed from another nest.
~ MIGRATION
The Arctic tern spends the sum-
mer months in the Northern
Hemisphere close to the Arctic.
It then flies over vast stretches
of ocean to its winter grounds
in the Antarctic and the south-
ernmost parts of South Ameri-
ca, Africa, and Australasia. The
tern complets the journeyin
about four months, and the
round-trip may cover up to
22,000 miles.
The tern enjoys more day-
light hours than any other bird
because it flies from one polar
summer to another. The long
hours of daylight give it ample
ti me to feed.
Right: During courtship, the male
tern offers the female gifts of fish.
~ BREEDING
The Arctic tern breeds in large
colonies on beaches or among
rocks near the sea. Although
they spend much of the year
apart, male and female terns
usually pair for life, returning to
mate and breed at the same
site each spring.
The male Arctic tern has an
elaborate courtship ritual. After
finding a partner, he flies high
in the air, pursued by the fe-
male. The two birds glide to-
gether and then zigzag to the
ground to continue their court-
ship. The male offers the female
a gift of fish, which he holds in
his bill while parading around
her with his tail raised and his
wings lowered.
Left: The Arctic tern flies over the
Atlantic Ocean or the eastern edge
of the Pacific when migrating.
DID YOU KNOW?
An Arctic tern banded in
Wales in 1966 was found in
Australia six months later. It
had covered a distance of
11,200 miles-the longest
migration on record.
There are records of Arctic
terns found nesting only a
few hundred miles from the
North Pole.
The couple builds a nest on
the ground, scraping out a hol-
low and lining it with vegeta-
tion. The female lays one to
three pale eggs blotched with
dark spots, which both parents
incubate for about three weeks.
The hatchlings are soon active
but stay near the nest. The par-
ents defend them fiercely, peck-
ing at intruders, including stray
chicks from other nests.
The chicks fledge after about
three weeks but are fed by their
parents for several weeks long-
er, until they are able to catch
their own food. Young Arctic
terns migrate in their first year
but do not breed until three to
four years of age.
Right: The tern is also called the
sea swallow because of its long,
narrow wings and forked tail.
A lookout protects a colo-
ny of nesting terns. At a sig-
nal from this bird, the colony
takes to the air and attacks
an intruder.
Gulls often nest beside the
Arctic tern. Although smaller
than a gull, the tern is more
aggressive and provides pro-
tection from predators.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The Arctic tern feeds on sand
eels and other small fish plus
small crustaceans and plankton.
Its marine diet lets the tern keep
feeding during its long migra-
tion over the sea.
The Arctic tern hovers above
the water, then dives in to seize
a fish in its bill, grasping it just
behind the gills. This technique
tern's huge nest-
ing colonies, a
parent identifies
its offspring from
the sound of the
is called "plunge diving" and is
typical of many species of tern.
Out of every three dives a tern
makes, one is successful. If its
first attempt fails, the bird bobs
up to the surface instead of pur-
suing the fish underwater.
Like a gull, the tern finds fish
by watching for other birds div-
ing into the water.
~ CARD 157 1
EURASIAN BITTERN
" ~ _________________________________ G_R_O_U_P_2_:_B_I_RD_S __ ~
~
ORDER
Ciconiiformes
FAMILY
Ardeidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Botaurus stellaris
The Eurasian bittern is an extremely difficult bird to spot. It
tends to stand completely still so that its streaked plumage
blends in with the reeds of its marshland habitat.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 2 ~ ft.
Wingspan: 4 - 4 ~ ft.
BREEDING
Breeding season: March to June.
Eggs: 4-6; brown or olive, some-
times with speckles around the
broad end.
Incubation: Almost 4 weeks.
Fledging: 7-8 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Call: Male produces loud, boom-
ing call in the mating season.
Habit: Normally solitary. Active
during the day.
Diet: Insects, frogs, fish, nestlings,
and small mammals.
RELATED SPECIES
The 4 species of large bittern in
the genus Botaurus are found in
Eurasia, Australia, North America,
and South America. There are 8
species of small bittern in the ge-
nus Ixobrychus.
Range of the Eurasian bittern.
DISTRIBUTION
The Eurasian bittern is found throughout Europe and central
Asia as far east as Manchuria. There is also a population in
southern Africa.
CONSERVATION
In all parts of its range, the Eurasian bittern is threatened by the
destruction of its wetland habitat. It is especially vulnerable in
northwestern Europe.
FEATURES OF THE EURASIAN BITTERN
Flight: Broad,
rounded wings
and short tail.
Flies low over
reed beds.
Eyes: Set low on the head, at
the base of the bill. When
lifting its head and looking
past its bill , the bird has
binocular vision, ideal
Eggs: 4 to
6; brown
or olive.
A simple
nest is built for locating
prey.
MCMXCVI IMP BV/ IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
among the
reeds.
Plumage: Buff, heavily streaked with
dark brown and black to provide cam-
ouflage. To hide from danger, the bit-
tern stretches its neck and body in an
upright position so that its stripes look
like the surrounding reed stems.
Feet: Long, thin toes spread the
bird's weight over the soft marsh-
land. The toes also enable the bird
to hold onto and climb up reeds.
US P 6001 12073 PACKET 73
A member of the same family as the herons, the Eurasian
bittern is well-known for the booming call of the male,
which he utters during the breeding season. Once a common
sound throughout the marshes of Europe, it is becoming
increasingly rare as the Eurasian bittern continues to lose its
habitat. More and more of the fertile reed beds that this bird
frequents are being drained to provide land for agriculture.

The Eurasian bittern lives in the
reed beds of marshland areas
throughout Europe and central
Asia. Because of its shy nature,
stealthy hunting style, and well-
camouflaged plumage, the bit-
tern is perfectly suited for life in
this habitat.
Reed beds develop in the shal-
low water of lowland lakes and
rivers. Rooted in the rich silt, tall
reeds may overrun large areas
of water. They create perfect ha-
vens for creatures like the bit-
tern, which feed in or near water
but must remain out of sight of
their enemies.
When the reeds die each win-
ter, the dead foliage collects at
the base of the stems. More silt
builds up, making the area a
waterlogged marsh, or fen. Be-
cause the rich, dark "fen peat"
is very fertile, huge areas of fen-
land in Europe and Asia have
been drained for agriculture. As
a result, the reed beds are de-
stroyed, eliminating a vital habi-
tat for a variety of wildlife, such
as the bittern. Although threat-
ened by habitat destruction in
all parts of its range, the bittern
is especially vulnerable in north-
western Europe.

In March, at the beginning of
the breeding season, the mat-
ing call of the male Eurasian
bittern can be heard across the
marshes. The male uses the call
to attract a female and to pro-
claim his territory, which he
defends vigorously. Some ter-
ritorial disputes are fought to
the death.
A male bittern mates with as
many as five females. The fe-
male usually incubates the eggs
and rears the young alone. But
Left: The Eurasian bittern lowers its
neck and fans its wings to threaten
an intruder.
KNOW?
In the early 1800s, Eurasian
bitterns were hunted for food.
Fledglings make a bubbling
noise, like the sound of water
being blown through a straw.
The Eurasian bittern is a vig-
orous fighter. A female defend-
ing her young will even take
on a marsh harrier-a large,
powerful hawk.
a male that has only one mate
may help to feed the chicks.
The eggs are laid at two- or
three-day intervals in a simple
nest of dead reeds and other
plants. The chicks hatch in ap-
proximately four weeks and
leave the nest a few days later.
They hide among the tall reeds
while their mother searches for
food. In seven or eight weeks
the young are fully fledged,
and the family group breaks
up for the winter.
Right: The Eurasian bittern hides
its nest among the reeds, away
from other birds.
Eurasian bitterns are very
closely related to herons. As a
result, some scientists think
they should not be classified
as a separate subfamily.
Although usually solitary,
male bitterns may travel for
miles to join others in a court-
ship display flight, with up to
six birds taking part.
The Eurasian bittern is found
in the marshes of Europe and
central Asia. However, its well-
camouflaged plumage makes
it difficult to spot among the
tall reeds of its habitat. It can
sometimes be seen flying low
over the reed beds. This owl-
FOOD & HUNTING
The Eurasian bittern feeds on a
variety of animals, ranging from
newly hatched mayflies to small
mammals such as water voles.
Like all herons, it is skilled at
catching fish, which it stalks in
the shallows and stabs with its
pointed bill. It also eats frogs
and is very fond of eels.
The bittern hunts during the
day, frequently just after dawn.
It creeps through the shallow
water among the reeds, watch-
ing for any movement. Its eyes
Left: The bittern blends in with the
reeds while incubating its eggs in
the nest.
like bird has a long, pointed
bill and a slow flight.
During the breeding sea-
son, from March to June, the
male can be identified by his
mating call. This loud, boom-
ing sound can be heard from
a distance of up to two miles.
are set low on its head, at the
base of its bill. When the bittern
raises its head, it can look past
its bill with both eyes, giving it
binocular (three-dimensional)
vision, which helps it find prey.
The Eurasian bittern may suf-
fer badly during winter in the
colder parts of its range. If the
water freezes over, the bird can-
not feed. In Europe many bit-
terns die during severe winters.
But in central Asia, where icy
winters occur regularly, Eur-
asian bitterns avoid the prob-
lem by migrating south and
spending winters in the tropics.
CRESTED GUINEAFOWL
ORDER
Galliformes
FAMILY
Phasianidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Guttera pucherani
The crested guineafowl is named for the tuft of feathers that
crowns its head. This bird also has a fan of tail feathers that
. it displays when it is alarmed or excited.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 20 in.
Wingspan: 2 ~ - 3 ft.
Tail length: 5-6 in.
Weight: 2 - 2 ~ lb.
BREEDING
Breeding season: November to
February, depending on location.
Eggs: 4-5; buff to pink.
Incubation: 25-28 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active. Sociable outside
the breeding season. Pairs for life.
Diet: Fruit and nuts; also leaves,
bulbs, roots, grasshoppers, beetles,
and other small insects.
Call: Shrill, musical trill when
alarmed.
RELATED SPECIES
The crested guineafowl is divided
into several subspecies, which
some authorities consider as sepa-
rate species. There are 5 other
species of African guineafowl.
Range of the crested guineafowl.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in Africa, from Guinea-Bissau east through forested ar-
eas to southern Somalia and south to Natal in South Africa.
Also occurs in dense woodlands of Angola and Zambia.
CONSERVATION
Because it is difficult to see, the crested guineafowl is often
thought to be rarer than it is. It is not severely threatened, but
its range is decreasing due to habitat destruction.
FEATURES OF THE CRESTED GUINEAFOWl
Coloring: Dark blue plumage with
closely set white dots. White patch on
wing feathers can be seen in flight.
Bare face is blue-gray with pale patch
on ears and back of neck.
Legs: Long and powerful. The
guineafowl can run very fast.
This is its only means of de-
fense except for flight.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Crest: Short, downy
black feathers.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eggs: 4 or 5;
buff to pink with
unusually thick
shells. Hatch
after 25 to
28 days.
Tail: Fan of
feathers. It is
erected if bird
is alarmed or
agitated, and
possibly for
courtship .
0160200601 PACKET 60
The colors of the crested guineafowl's plumage
are very different from the predominant colors of its
habitat. Yet from a distance, the speckled feathers
break up the bird's large outline. As a result, it is almost
invisible when perched in a tree. The camouflage is
so effective that people have mistakenly believed that
the crested guineafowl is much rarer than it actually is.
~ HABITS
The crested guineafowllives on
the edges of forest clearings and
in dense thickets in parts of sub-
Saharan Africa. It is very sociable
outside the breeding season and
is often seen in flocks of 10 to
30 birds. Large flocks may con-
tain as many as 50 birds. Fami-
ly groups often stay together
within flocks, but sometimes
the family may live alone.
At night the crested guinea-
fowl roosts in trees. It descends
early in the morning to forage
for food on the forest floor or
among thickets. As the sun be-
comes hotter, the guineafowl
seeks shade in dense cover. It
may emerge to find water or
have a dust bath, spreading its
feathers and rolling in the dirt.
This messy practice dislodges
fleas and other parasites from
the bird's feathers.
While the crested guineafowl
searches for food, it contacts
other members of the flock by
giving a deep melodious call.
If a bird is alarmed, it stands
bolt upright with its neck out-
stretched and utters a shrill,
musical trill as a warning call.
On hearing the alarm, the en-
tire flock takes to the trees, and
there the birds are hard to see.
Right: The crested guineafowl
spends the day on the ground
and the night in the trees.
~ FOOD Est FEEDING
The crested guineafowl feeds
mainly on seeds and fruit. It
supplements this diet with
other plant matter as well as
with beetles, grasshoppers,
termites, and small snails. It
drinks from water holes or
puddles. When these disap-
pear in the dry season, the
bird uses its beak to dig up
roots and bulbs, which pro-
vide it with moisture. Fruit is
left: When foraging, members of
a flock keep in touch with a soft,
melodious call.
also a source of moisture.
Feeding by day, the crested
guineafowl walks quickly on
the ground, pecking at suit-
able morsels. It may take fruit
straight from the trees, but a
flock often follows fruit-eating
monkeys, which drop or knock
down fruit and nuts as they
move through the trees. The
birds wait below for fruit to
fall to the ground.
Right: The crested guineafowl pre-
fers fruit, but it also feeds on plants
and invertebrates.
left: The Kenya
crested guinea-
fowl is classified
as a separate
species by some
experts. Its fa-
cial coloring is
more vivid than
that of crested
guineafowls
found in oth-
erareas.
DID YOU KNOW?
The crested guineafowl
keeps grit and bits of snail
shell in its crop (part of the
gullet) to help grind hard
food such as seeds and nuts.
The white spots on the
guineafowl's plumage are
explained in a Greek legend.
The sisters of Meleager had
been turned into peafowl.
~ BREEDING
Crested guineafowls pair for life.
At the beginning of the breed-
ing season, the male crested
guineafowl performs an elabo-
rate courtship display. Bowing
and lifting his head, he struts
up and down along a patch of
ground. When he finds a mate,
the two birds leave the flock to
When they heard of their
brother's death, they shed
tears onto their feathers. The
teardrops were transformed
into the white markings.
Clutches of up to 14 eggs
have been recorded. But they
were probably the result of
two females laying in the
same nest.
establish their nest. They do
not return to the flock until
their young are mature.
After the pair mate, they
scrape a nest on the ground
in dense cover and line it with
leaves and grass. The female
lays four or five pinkish eggs
with unusually thick shells. She
incubates them for 25 to 28
days. After the chicks hatch,
the male and female both rear
the young. After only 15 to 20
days, the chicks are able to fly
to roosts that are more than six
feet above the ground.
left: In the breeding season the
crested guineafowlleaves the flock
with its mate.
GUAN
ORDER
Galliformes
FAMILY
Cracidae
"' CARD 1 5 ~
GROUP 2: BIRDS
- - ~
GENERA
Penelope, Aburria, etc.
Cuans are the tropical American equivalent of forest-dwelling
Eurasian pheasants. Adapted to life in the trees, these birds
can walk lightly along even the thinnest branches.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - - - -
SIZES
Length: 22-30 in.
Weight: 2-4 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: Usually 2, but occasionally 3
or 4. Large, white, and rough.
Incubation: 3-5 weeks.
Fledging period: 3-4 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active by day. Mostly socia-
ble, living in small flocks.
Diet: Leaves, shoots, buds, flowers,
seeds, fruits, berries, worms, frogs,
and insects.
Call: Loud, raucous cackling, espe-
cially during the breeding season.
Piping guans whistle.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 22 guan species, 9 cha-
chalaca species, and 1 3 currassow
species in the family Cracidae.
FOUR SPECIES OF GUAN
All guans have small
heads with heavy,
curved bills, and bare
skin around their eyes.
Their bare throats have
brightly colored wattles,
or fleshy projections.
Rusty-margined
guan
The plumage of most
guans is mainly dull
greenish black, often with white
edges to the feathers. The tail
feathers are long and broad.
MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of guans.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in parts of Mexico, Central America, Trinidad, Vene-
zuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern Argentina,
Brazil, Paraguay, and Guiana.
CONSERVATION
Due to forest clearance and centuries of hunting for food and
sport, many guan species are in danger of extinction. Many
guans live in areas threatened by further development.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Most guans
have some sort
of crest. The
horned guan
sports a bony
red projection
on its crown,
which can be
up to 2 inches
in length.
Spix's guan
Guans have long,
featherless legs.
They also have
strong feet and
well-developed
hind toes to help
grip branches.
us P 6001 12068 PACKET 68
The 22 guan species live in and around the forests
of Central and South America. Some species are in
danger of extinction because for centuries they have
been hunted for sport as well as food. In addition, the
forest habitat of these birds is steadily being destroyed.
~ H A B I T S
Guans live in trees, and many
species rarely descend to the
ground. The larger guan species
dwell in tropical forests, while
the smaller guan species inhab-
it woods and plantations. Most
guans prefer warm, lowland
areas. But the horned and wat-
tled guans are found in cool
mountain forests at elevations
of over 1 0,000 feet.
Guans usually feed and roost
in tree branches. They are poor
fliers, and they rarely fly for long
stretches. However, many of
these birds can run with great
agility in the trees. Their strong
toes give them a good grip on
the branches. To cross a clear-
ing, a guan may climb to the
top of a tree and jump off. As
it falls, it spreads its wings and
glides 300 feet or more before
landing. If this does not take
it far enough, it may beat its
wings to regain some height.
Active mainly at dawn and
dusk, guans are shy birds. Some
species live in flocks or family
groups, while others are solitary.
Most have loud, harsh calls and
can be heard shrieking to one
another from high in the trees
to warn of approaching preda-
tors. But this habit often proves
fatal because it identifies their
position to their enemies.
Right: The white-headed piping
guan nests on the ground, hiding
in dense vegetation.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Guans feed during the day,
especially in the morning and
evening. They are mainly plant
eaters and find most of their
food in the trees and bushes.
Some guan species also ven-
ture down to ground level to
feed on the forest floor.
Guans favor berries and other
fruit. They swallow small ber-
ries whole and peck at the flesh
of larger fruits such as mangoes
and guavas. They also nibble at
soft leaves, buds, and flowers.
They are particularly fond of
Left: The white-crested guan has
the curved beak and colorful wattle
typical of guans.
[
DID YOU KNOW?
The white-winged guan
was thought to be extinct in
1870 but was rediscovered in
1977. A hundred or so now
survive in an area of Peru, but
the region is threatened by
agricultural development.
sprouting bean plants on farms
and sometimes cause consider-
able damage to crops. Guans
supplement their vegetarian
diet with worms, frogs, and
insects. The young are fed
mainly on insects.
Guans are very agile feeders,
sometimes hanging upside
down from a branch while eat-
ing. Some birds have a crop,
while others have a large gullet
in which to store food before
digesting it. They regurgitate
stones, seeds, and pips.
Right: Like most guans, the crested
guan is most active in the forest
during twilight.
Like pheasants, guans are
game birds. They have been
hunted for food as well as
sport for centuries.
Four guan species are offi-
cially recognized as in danger
of extinction.
Guans breed once a year, pro-
ducing two or sometimes three
or four eggs. This slow rate of
reproduction may be one rea-
son for the gradual disappear-
ance of guans in some areas.
During the breeding season,
the males perform a simple but
noisy display. Flying from tree to
tree, they beat their wings rap-
idly to make a drumming sound
and cackle raucously.
Most guans build their nests
in trees or bushes three to six
feet above the ground, but some
nest at ground level. The rough,
untidy nest is loosely woven of
dry twigs, leaves, and grass. It is
quite small in relation to the size
of the bird.
Left: The com-
mon piping
guan may peck
at fallen fruit
on the ground.
As its name
suggests, it has
a fairly soft
whistling call.
The female incubates the big
white eggs for about three to
five weeks, depending on the
species. The chicks are well de-
veloped when they hatch and
already have wing feathers. In
some cases the chicks leave the
nest within hours of hatching,
as soon as their down is dry.
Most, however, leave after two
or three days, when they are
able to fly. They are led by their
mother to a hiding place in the
dense branches.
A family group often stays to-
gether, combining with others
to form a flock of 10 to 20 birds
for the next breeding season. In
some species, pairs may remain
together for several years.
WATER RAIL
ORDER
Gruiformes
FAMILY
Rallidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Rallus aquaticus
The water rail lives in marshland and along the swampy edges of
freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds. Its long, spread-apart toes
let this bird move easily in wetland vegetation.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 9-11 in.
Weight: 3 ~ - 5 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: April to July.
No. of broods: 1-2.
Eggs: 6-10.
Incubation: About 3 weeks.
Fledging period: 7-8 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives alone or in pairs.
Diet: Roots, seeds, berries, insects,
shrimp, crayfish, earthworms,
leeches, and small fish.
Range of the water rail.
DISTRIBUTION Call: Curious whistle and grunt
ending in a piglike squeal.
The water rail is found in most of Europe, parts of North Africa,
and parts ot Asia, wherever the habitat is suitable.
RELATED SPECIES
CONSERVATION
There are 124 species in the family
Rallidae, including the moorhen,
Gallinula chloropus, and the Bogota
rail, Rallus semiplumbeus, of South
America.
The water rail is not an endangered species, but populations in
much of its range are threatened because their wetland habitat
is being drained.
FEATURES OF THE WATER RAil
Plumage: Dark gray below. Barred flanks and brown
upper parts help to conceal the bird while it sits on the
nest. The female is similar but has duller upper markings.
Flight: When it flies, the rail
keeps close to the water's
surface, with its long,
pinkish legs hanging
from its body.
Feeding: The adult eats
worms, insects, and fresh-
water shrimp and crayfish. At
first the young are fed
insects like crane flies, but
they soon feed themselves.
Eggs: Cream-colored with
pale purple or reddish
brown spots. Usually 6 to
10 are laid. They hatch in
about 3 weeks.
Habitat: The water rail lives in dense
vegetation by water. An adult pair
builds a nest in the reeds. They share
the task of hatching the eggs and
feeding the young.
Feet: Large with long toes that
help the bird walk easily over the
swampy surface of marshland.
c' MCMXCl1 IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.SA 0160200571 PACKET 57
The water rail is an elusive bird that is more likely
to be heard than seen. Its extraordinary call sounds like
a grunt that ends in a squeal. Although the water rail can
flYt it prefers to run. With its narrow bodYt it can move
swiftly through dense reeds and vegetation. At times
this bird may enter the water and swim.
~ H A B I T S
With its short wings, stout legs,
and slim, supple body, the wa-
ter rail can run quickly through
dense vegetation. But usually it
creeps along with its stubby tail
jerking up and down while it
searches for food. To avoid de-
tection it may "freeze" on the
spot. If it becomes alarmed, it
will rush for cover.
The water rail prefers walking
or running on the ground to
flying in the air. It flies only brief-
ly, keeping low over the marsh,
with its legs dangling beneath
its body. It may also swim for
short distances but stays close
to cover if possible.
In spite of its large toes, the
water rail can perch on the tips
of stems and reeds. It has even
been seen on tree branches.
The water rail is easy to recog-
nize because of its long red bill.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The water rail pushes its long,
thin bill into the mud to find
worms and leeches. It also uses
its bill to break the hard outer
covering of freshwater shrimp,
crayfish, or insects. Additional
sources of food include small
fish and plant matter such as
roots, seeds, berries, and grain.
Left: The water rail's plumage
blends into the vegetation. Only
its red bill is clearly visible.
DID YOU KNOW?
In Iceland the water rail
survives the cold winter by
moving to marshes that are
warmed by hot springs.
One parent whose young
could not swallow a spider
took it back and removed
its legs.
Parents appear to have fa-
In cold weather the water rail
may prey on small birds. It may
kill a bird by holding it under
the water until it drowns.
Young water rails are at first
given grubs, dragonfly larvae,
spiders, and freshwater shrimp
by their parents, but they can
soon feed themselves.
Right: Its thin, downward-curving
bill helps the water rail dig in mud
for leeches and worms.
vorites among their offspring.
The ones that are not favored
may be picked up by their
heads, shaken, and dropped
back into the water.
The young rail leaves the
nest soon after hatching, so
its legs and feet must grow
very quickly.
~
~ BIRDWATCH
In summer the water rail keeps
mainly to the dense vegetation
of the marshes where it breeds.
Its subtly patterned plumage
makes it hard to spot, but it
may reveal its presence with
a loud, piglike squeal.
~ BREEDING
In the northernmost areas of its
range, the water rail may move
south for winter, but it returns
to breed in spring.
When mating, the female at
first makes soft crooning sounds
and runs back and forth to her
mate, walking around him and
rubbing her bill against his. He
responds by preening the feath-
ers on the back of her neck-
drawing his bill through them.
After they mate, the male and
the female incubate the eggs
and feed the young.
The female chooses the nest
site. She usually finds a spot with
plenty of cover-among reeds,
in thick grass, or under a shrub.
The male helps her construct a
Left: The water rail builds its nest
among reeds, where it is completely
hidden from sight.
Water rails are more visible in
winter, when they spread out
to use ditches and small ponds
and venture closer to towns.
Some birds migrate. They have
a strong fl ight, with their long
legs trailing out behi nd them.
roughly cup-shaped nest that is
between five and six inches in
diameter, which is large for a
bird this size. The nest is con-
structed of reeds and sedges
and lined with dead leaves. The
pair builds the nest at or near
water level and covers it with a
canopy of reeds to conceal the
eggs and the sitting bird.
The female lays six to ten eggs
over a period of a few days. The
male and female take two-hour
shifts incubating the eggs. In
about three weeks the eggs start
to hatch. The young are fed reg-
ularly at first, about every ten
minutes, but they soon learn to
feed themselves. The birds are
born already covered in black
down, and they have all their
feathers by the time they are
seven to eight weeks old.

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