EUROPEAN REDSTART

ORDER
Pass eriform es
FAMILY
Turdidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
The European redstart gets its name from "steort," an Old English
word meaning "tail. II Both sexes have orange-red tail feathers,
but only the male displays them to attract a mate.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 5 ~ in.
Wingspan: 8-9 in.
Weight: About ~ oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: May to June.
No. of broods: Usually 1, some-
times 2.
Eggs: 5-7; bluish white.
Incubation: 11-14 days.
Fledging period: 14-20 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives mainly in pairs.
Diet: Insects, spiders, and fruit.
Call: Brief, melodious warble that
trails off.
Lifespan: Oldest recorded, more
than 9 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 11 species in the genus
Phoenicurus. P. ochruros, the black
redstart, breeds in much of Europe.
Breeding range of the
European redstart.
DISTRIBUTION
Winter range.
The European redstart breeds across Europe, northern Asia, and
northwestern Africa. It winters in northern, eastern, and west-
ern Africa south of the Sahara.
CONSERVATION
The population of the European redstart has decreased in much
of Europe. This is partly because of droughts in the bird's winter
range on the southern edge of the Sahara.
FEATURES OF THE EUROPEAN REDSTART
Female: Plumage is less brightly col-
ored than the male's. With the excep-
tion of the red tail , the feathers
are a brownish color.
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Eggs: 5 to 7 per
clutch. White
with bluish tinge.
Male: Gray plumage on upper parts.
Chestnut breast and sides, black
cheeks and throat. The striking
orange-red rump and tail are dis-
played in courtship rituals. The male
also displays his white forehead to
attract a female to his nest.
0160200561 PACKET 56
The European redstart lives in open woods
as well as in parks that have plenty of trees.
It rears its young in a nest that the female builds,
usually in a hole in a tree. Seldom at rest for
more than a moment, this quick-moving bird is
constantly flicking its bright orange-red tail.
~ HABITAT
In the western part of its range,
the European redstart is found
mainly in broad-leaved woods
that have open areas as well as
shrubs. It can also be found on
open land if there are scattered
trees for nesting. Trees along
rivers and the edges of woods
are other popular sites.
European redstarts frequently
nest near human habitations.
In Berlin, for example, more of
these birds live in gardens and
parks than in local forests .
Toward the end of August,
the European redstart migrates
to Africa, south of the Sahara
Desert. It spends the winter in
trees located along the edges
of farmland or in thickets in
the midst of grassland.
Right: The European redstart
arrives in northern Europe in April
and breeds from May to June.
~ BREEDING
European redstarts may pair
for a few years, but this be-
havior is unusual. The male
arrives at the breeding site
first. When the female arrives,
he displays to her by crouch-
ing with his neck outstretched,
raising his wings and fanning
out his bright red tail.
Usually the male looks for a
suitable nest site, often a hole
in a tree. When he shows the
site to the female, he sings
briefly and turns in the en-
trance to display his white
forehead and fanned-out tail.
If the female accepts the site,
she builds a nest from dead
grass, moss, and bark and
lines it with hair and feathers .
Left: The European redstart is
welcomed in gardens because it
eats insects and their larvae.
DID YOU KNOW?
The European cuckoo often
lays its egg in the nest of a
redstart, which will raise the
chick as its own.
Redstarts have been seen
trying to fight their reflections
in windowpanes.
European redstarts and re-
The female incubates the
clutch but leaves it for brief pe-
riods to feed. The eggs hatch in
about two weeks. Both parents
feed the young. The male may
begin to bring food even be-
fore the eggs hatch. For the
first few days, the male keeps
the nest clean by swallowing
the feces. Later he takes the
droppings away.
The male continues to feed
the young for a few weeks af-
ter they can fly. Meanwhile,
the female repairs the nest in
preparation for a new brood.
After the second clutch has
hatched, the parents chase
the young of the first brood
away from the nest.
Right: The male European red-
start is tireless in his search for
insects to feed to his young.
lated species flick their tails in
an up-and-down movement
that makes these birds easy
to recognize.
The female redstart feeds on
the ground more often than
the male, who tends to catch
prey while hovering in midair.
~ I BIRDWATCH
The European redstart may
compete with nuthatches, t its,
and pied flycatchers for nest-
ing sites. Redstart pairs like
bi rdhouses, and the number
of breeding birds increases
when birdhouses are provided
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The European redstart preys
mainly on insects and spiders.
It also eats caterpillars, saw-
flies, aphids, earwigs, wood
lice, very small snails, and
ants, as well as berries and
fruit. The European redstart
may feed on the ground or
forage in trees . Sometimes it
hovers, taking prey in the air,
or flies from a perch to catch
insects on the ground.
along with plenty of fOOdl
Insect-eating birds are hel p-
ful in gardens but they can be
hurt by insecticides. Instead
of using chemicals, gardeners
should rely on t he birds to J
remove unwanted insects.
The Eu ropean redstart usu-
ally takes food back to a perch
to eat. It often breaks up in-
sects such as beetles by beat-
ing them against the perch.
It tears off the wings of larger
insects and removes the legs
of crickets. A pa rent some-
times crushes an insect in its
bill to feed to nestlings, which
are able to eat only very small
bits of food.
HILL MYNAH
,,--------------------------
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Stumidae
.,. GENUS & SPECIES
~ Gracula religiosa
The hill mynah is famous for its remarkable ability to mimic
sounds, including the human voice. What is less well known is
that the bird displays this talent only in captivity.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 11-15 in.
Tail length: 3-4 in .
Wingspan: 1 ~ - 2 ft.
Weight: About 8 oz.
BREEDING
Breeding season: April to July.
Eggs: 2 or 3. Bright blue, spotted
or blotched with a variety of
brownish markings.
Incubation: 1 3-1 5 days.
Fledging period: About 3 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Very sociable: feeds, nests,
and roosts in small flocks. Pairs
for life.
Diet: Fruit, berries, nectar, and
occasionally insects and small
reptiles.
RELATED SPECIES
The family Stumidae includes over
100 species of starlings, oxpeckers,
and mynahs. There are 1 0 subspe-
cies of hill mynah.
Range of the hill mynah.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout Southeast Asia and from India to southern
China. Also in Sri Lanka and the Andaman, Nicobar, Hainan,
and Palawan islands.
CONSERVATION
The hill mynah has long been a popular caged bird. At one time
its numbers became seriously low, but it is now protected and
its numbers are increasing.
FEATURES OF THE Hill MYNAH
Head: Bare-sided, with bright yellow
wattles (fleshy folds) that extend
around the back of the neck.
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Bill: Orange to
red and usually
tipped with yel-
low. Straight and
fairly long, it is
well suited to the
bird's varied diet.
CRACULA RELIC/GSA
RELIC/GSA
The largest of the subspecies, at
12 to 15 inches long. Its range
extends from southern Myanmar
to Malaysia and Indonesia.
Plumage: Glossy black, sometimes with a metallic blue
sheen. Distinctive white patches on the wings are visible
in flight.
: Long toes and claws, ideal for gripping
he branches of the trees in which the hill mynah
,and feeds.
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The hill mynah belongs to a large family of birds
that also includes the starlings. Its members have
adapted to a wide variety of diets and habitats around
the world. All of these birds are renowned for their
sociability and the wide range of their calls.
~ H A B I T S
The hill mynah lives in damp
forests in the foothills of South-
east Asia, usually at elevations
no higher than 6,500 feet. It
spends most of its life in the
trees and rarely descends to
the ground. But occasionally
the hill mynah feeds on low,
fruit-laden bushes. It prefers
to live on the edge of a forest
clearing or cultivated field.
Hill mynahs are very sociable.
During the day they gather in
the treetops in qroups of five
to ten birds. They chatter and
call to one another using their
wide repertoire of sounds. As
sunset approaches, the birds
congregate in large flocks on
bare treetops. For as long as
an hour their constant calling
and answering can be heard
through the forest. The birds
then fly to their roosts, usually
on leafy branches or in tree
holes. They settle down and
spend the night alone, in pairs,
or in small qroups.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The hill mynah feeds mostly on
fruits and berries. It also drinks
the nectar of flowers and eats
insects that it catches in flight.
Sometimes it eats lizards and
other small reptiles.
The hill mynah feeds during
the day. Up to 100 birds will
gather on a tree that has re-
cently flowered. The silk cot-
Left: Yellow wattles and bill offer a
striking contrast to the hill mynah's
black plumage.
ton tree provides the mynah
with nectar, and the bird helps
pollinate the flowers in return.
As it drinks nectar from a large
flower, the mynah collects pol-
len on its forehead or throat.
When the bird visits another
silk cotton tree, the pollen is
brushed off its feathers and
transferred to another flower.
Right: The hill mynah moves on its
perch or roost by hopping sideways
along the branches.
~ SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
Mynahs use a variety of calls,
ranging from low, melodious
whistles to raucous wails and
screeches. A hill mynah learns
to call while still in the nest,
and its calls are very similar to
DID YOU KNOW?
Local people used to catch
hill mynahs to sell as pets.
I
They put nesting boxes in
trees and took the fledglings
that were raised in them.
A colony of hill mynahs was
those of its parents or close
neighbors. A mating pair
rarely shares the same calls,
which may ensure that birds
belonging to the same family
do not mate.
found in Florida. It was prob-
ably started by pet birds that
escaped or were released.
A mature hill mynah may
have a repertoire of up to 1 3
completely different sounds.
The hill mynah pairs for life, and
both parents rear the chicks.
Mynahs breed in colonies, but
each pair has a territory near
its nest. The nest site is a hole
in a tree, 30 to 50 feet from
the ground. A common site is
a hole abandoned by a wood-
pecker. Several pairs of birds
may occupy different holes in
the same tree.
Left: The mynah breeds in colonies,
but each pair has its own territory
around its nest.
Left: Like most
starlings, the
hill mynah is
not a special-
ized feeder. Its
strong, straight
bill is suited to
its varied diet.
The nest is loosely woven
from twigs, grass, and feath-
ers. Two or three eggs are laid
in spring. They are bright blue,
with dark or reddish brown
blotches. This is rare in hole-
nesting birds, which usually lay
white eggs.
Incubation lasts only 13 to
15 days. Three weeks after
hatching, the young are fully
fledged. While still in the nest,
they learn calls from their par-
ents or other birds.
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS
~ ORDER ... FAMILY
~ Procellariiformes '1IIIIIIII Diomedeidae
... GENUS & SPECIES
'1IIIIIIII Diomedea nigripes
~ R D 173J
About the size of a goose, the black-footed albatross is one of the
smaller albatrosses. Like its relatives, it spends almost all of
its life at sea and only settles on land to breed.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 2 - 2 ~ ft.
Wingspan: 6 ~ - 7 ~ ft.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Thought to be
5-6 years.
Breeding season: October to July.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 1; white.
Incubation: About 9 weeks.
Fledging period: 2-3 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Breeds in colonies.
Diet: Mainly squid; also fish, plank-
ton and food scraps.
Call: Groaning mating duet.
Lifespan: Estimated to be up to
50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The family Diomedeidae contains
1 3 species of albatross, including
the wandering albatross, Diomedea
exulans, one of the largest flying
birds in the world.
Range of the black-footed albatross.
DISTRIBUTION
The black-footed albatross can be found throughout the North
Pacific Ocean, from Taiwan in the west to California in the east
and northward as far as the Bering Sea.
CONSERVATION
Populations of the black-footed albatross have decreased, how-
ever numbers are still plentiful. The species is under no particu-
lar threat.
FEATURES OF THE BLACK-FOOTED
ALBATROSS
Bill: Large and
heavy. Curved
tip of upper bill
forms a hook.
Nostrils extend
along upper
part of the bill.
scales.
Feet: Webbed
for swimming
in the ocean.
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9 weeks.
....
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Plumage: Grayish brown overall.
White ring around bill and white
streak beside eyes.
0160200581 PACKET 58
The black-footed albatross is found throughout the Pacific
Ocean north of the equator. Its long, streamlined wings
are designed for gliding on air currents, so it relies on
heavy winds to keep it airborne. The area around the
equator lacks the strong winds that the bird needs to fly.
This calm area acts as a barrier, preventing the albatross
from traveling to the Southern Hemisphere.
~ HABITAT
The black-footed albatross is in
flight most of the time. Like oth-
er albatrosses, this bird flies by
gliding on air currents, making
use of the wind that is deflected
from the waves. With its stream-
lined body and its long, slender
wings the black-footed albatross
soars for many miles with very lit-
tle effort.
The albatross follows ships to
feed on food scraps tossed over-
board. Gliding at heights of up
to 50 feet, the bird travels so fast
that it often outdistances a ship
and must fly in circles in order
to stay abreast of it.
Because its wings are not de-
signed for flapping, the alba-
tross cannot fly without wind
and has trouble taking off from
the surface of the water. As a re-
sult, the bird is always found in
the stormiest seas. Among sail-
ors, the sight of an albatross has
traditionally been an omen of
bad weather.
Right: The chick is fed small fish
that the parents bring back from
hunting trips.
~ BREEDING
The black-footed albatross forms
nesting colonies in the Leeward
Islands west of Hawaii and on is-
lands in the western Pacific. The
bird shares its breeding grounds
with the Laysan albatross, so hy-
brids of the two species occur.
At the onset of the breeding
season, the birds form pairs and
engage in a dancing courtship
display. Facing each other with
their wings outstretched, they
bow their heads, snap their bills,
and utter groaning calls.
The albatross makes a cup-
shaped nest from mud and lines
Left: The black-footed albatross
builds its mud-based nest on an
exposed area of rocky ground.
DID YOU KNOW?
The black-footed species
originated in the Southern
Hemisphere and still breeds
in the same season as south-
ern albatross species.
I The black-footed species is
the only albatross regularly
seen on the Pacific Coast of
North America.
L The Laysan albatross and
it with feathers and grass. One
white egg is laid and hatches
after nine weeks. The downy
chick is brooded (covered with
the parent's wings) until it gains
a second, warmer layer of down.
At 1 0 to 12 weeks old, the chick
is able to fly.
The parents first feed the chick
with oil brought up from their
stomachs. Later they hunt for
food at sea, leaving their chick
alone for a few days at a time.
During these periods the chick
keeps intruders away by spitting
a smelly secretion at them.
Right: Both parents incubate the
egg. One stays at the nest while
the other goes off to feed.
the short-tailed albatross are
the only two other albatross
species in the North Pacific.
The Laysan albatross nests
on Midway Island, which is
used by the U.S. Navy. Acci-
dents can occur when planes
take off or land since a bird
may be sucked into the jet in-
take and cause an explosion.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The black-footed albatross flies
too fast to catch prey in flight. It
descends to the water to feed,
taking prey that it finds near the
surface. The bird catches squid
by upending itself and plunging
Left: The black-
footed alba-
tross's heavy,
hooked bill is
ideal for grasp-
ing slippery
squid and fish.
The bird feeds
at night, catch-
ing prey from
the surface of
the ocean.
beneath the surface. It generally
feeds at night, when squid rise
to the surface of the water.
The albatross also eats plank-
ton (tiny floating plants and an-
imals). In addition, it feeds on
fish, making shallow dives to
catch them in its sharp, hooked
bill. Ships also provide the alba-
tross with a source of food. The
bird follows ships to obtain food
scraps that are tossed overboard.
Left: The male and female alba-
tross pair for life and use the same
breeding ground each year.
COLLARED DOVE
ORDER
Columbiformes
FAMILY
Columbidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Streptopelia decaocto
In recent years the collared dove has spread across all of Europe.
Once rare and fully protected in some countries, it is now so
numerous that it is classified as a pest in certain areas.

KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 1 ft.
Wingspan: 1 ft.
Weight: oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: Mainly March
to October.
No. of broods: 3-5.
Eggs: 2, white.
Incubation: 14-16 days.
Fledging period: 15-1 7 days.
LIFESTYLE
Call: Mellow, flutelike sound at rest.
Whirring noise in flight.
Habit: Forms large flocks in winter
and usually pairs for life.
Diet: Mainly grain and seeds; also in-
sects, shoots, berries, flowers, buds.
lifespan: 14 years on record.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 16 species in the genus
Streptopelia.
Range of the collared dove.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in Great Britain and across Europe; the Middle East; In-
dia; Sri Lanka; Myanmar; northern, central, and western China;
Korea; and a small area of Japan.
CONSERVATION
Well adapted to living in both the countryside and cities, the
collared dove is in no danger of extinction. In some parts of
Europe, it is even regarded as a pest.
IDENTIFYING THE COLLARED DOVE
Young: First fed
pigeon's milk,
a special food
made in the
adult's crop. Lat-
er fed softened
seeds and grain.
Fledged in 15 to
17 days.
Plumage in flight: Underparts are pale
gray. Tail has a white tip. Wingtips and
edges are dark. Flight is similar to that
of the wood pigeon but weaker.
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Nest: Built mainly by the female, us-
ing twigs and leaves gathered by the
male. Crude but sturdy, it is usually
located hi gh in a tree or on a building.
Eggs: Small and
white. Usually 2
per clutch, but
there may be as
many as 5
clutches in
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Also known as the ring or collared turtledove, the
collared dove gets its name from the dark collar around
part of its neck. This small, pale bird feeds mainly on seeds
and grains. It flourishes on farmland but also succeeds in
cities and suburbs. Although it sometimes migrates, the
collared dove usually stays in one area year-round.
~ HABITAT
In winter the collared dove
can be seen wherever grain is
found-around farms, grain
mills, and docks, for example.
It even ventures inside grain
storage buildings. In parts of
Europe the dove relies almost
entirely on human settlements
I DID YOU KNOW?
Pigeon's milk is not just for
the young. It is regurgitated
by the male and fed to the fe-
male during courtship. It may
also be a sexual stimulant.
Unlike many other birds,
doves enjoy rain and use it
to take a shower.
A young collared dove does
not have the neck band. It ap-
pears only in adulthood.
for food. It also frequents city
parks and private gardens as
well as farmland.
The collared dove usually
pairs for life and remains in
the same area all year. But it
sometimes migrates in spring
and early summer.
The passenger pigeon, a rei- I
ative of the dove, was one of I
the most abundant birds in
the 1800s. In 1878, a nesting
area in Wisconsin covered
more than 850 square miles
and contained about 1 36 mil-
lion birds. But indiscriminate
killing wiped out the popula-
tion, and the last passenger
pigeon was killed in 1914.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The collared dove eats mainly
seeds and grains, but it feeds
on grass shoots, buds, flowers,
berries, and fruit as well. The
dove also eats snails, worms,
and insects, especially when
it is feeding its young.
It stores food temporarily in
its crop (a pouchlike enlarge-
ment of the gullet) and eats
left: The collared dove is a fast and
successful breeder. Its numbers are
increasing across much of Europe
and Asia.
~ BIRDWATCH
The collared dove can be iden-
tified by the distinctive dark
collar on its upper neck. It has
a gray-brown upper body and
a pale gray underside. In flight
its white tail tip can be seen,
and its body looks like a wood
grit to help break down hard
seeds in its gizzard (second
stomach). It finishes digesting
its meal in a tree.
The dove drinks by submerg-
ing its beak and sucking up
the water through its nostrils.
Most birds dip their bills and
raise their heads to let water
run down their throats.
Right: A pair of collared doves set-
tles on a birdbath in a garden for
a refreshing splash and a welcome
drink of water.
pigeon's, although smaller.
At rest, the collared dove
gives a flutelike "coo-COO-
coo" call. In flight it utters a
harsh, whirring "kwrrr" sound,
especially when it is about to
alight on a perch.
In Europe the collared dove
breeds mainly from March
to October, although winter
nests are sometimes found.
The male performs an elabo-
rate display to attract a mate.
After an undulating flight, he
glides down, often in a spiral.
Once he is on the ground, the
male bows to the female to
show his collar. The two birds
then spend hours preening
each other's plumage.
The male chooses the nest
site. It may be on a building
ledge, but it is usually in a
bush or tall tree. He gathers
twigs with which his mate
builds a crude but stable nest.
The female usually lays two
small white eggs. During the
incubation of 14 to 16 days,
she sits mainly by night and
the male by day. One egg may
hatch up to two days before
the other. For the first few days
the chicks are fed pigeon's milk,
a rich food made in the adult's
crop. Later they are fed soft-
ened seeds and grain.
The young grow their feath-
ers and learn to fly in 15 to 17
days. The collared dove can
have up to five sets of young
in one year. As a result, one
parent may still be feeding
the young while the other is
incubating a new clutch.
left: Each year
the female col-
lared dove may
lay up to five
clutches, each
with two eggs.
Far left: A
hungry chick
reaches into a
parent's beak
fora meal of
half-digested
softened seeds
and grain.
BLUETHROAT
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Turdidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Luscinia svecica
The bluethroat is a shy bird, similar in size to a house spa"ow. Its
characteristic habit of cocking and fanning its tail makes it
look like it has unusually long legs.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 5 ~ in.
Wingspan: 8-9 in.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: May to June.
No. of broods: 1 in northern part
of its range, 2 in southern.
Eggs: 5-7, pale blue-green mottled
with rusty red.
Incubation: 14-15 days.
Fledging period: 14 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary outside the breed-
ing season.
Diet: Earthworms, insects and their
larvae, fruit, and seeds.
Call: Imitates other birds.
RELATED SPECIES
Among the small thrushes closely
related to the bluethroat are the
nightingale, the European robin,
and 9 other species that are found
mainly in Asia.
Range of the bluethroat.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds in northern Eurasia and Alaska. Migrates south to winter
in the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, Pakistan, and north-
western India.
CONSERVATION
In Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria, the breed-
ing populations of the bluethroat have declined markedly, but
numbers have increased in Finland.
FEATURES OF THE BLUETHROAT
Female: Brown-
ish yellow plum-
age. Does not
have the vivid
throat patch of
the male.
The two main forms of bluethroat in
Europe are Luscinia svecica svecica
of Scandinavia and northern Russia
and L. s. cyanecula of central and
southern Europe.
Eggs: Pale blue-green mottled with rust.
Laid in cup-shaped nest on the ground.
Male (L. s. cyanec-
ula) : Has white bar
at center of throat
patch. Rest of col-
oring is same as L.
s. svecica.
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The bluethroat is renowned for its remarkable ability to
mimic an array of sounds-from the call of another bird
to the whistle of a passing train. During the breeding
season the male sports vivid markings on his throat.
Flying above or sitting on a perch, he attempts to woo
his mate by singing a trilling, bell-like courtship song
while nodding his head and fanning his tail.
~ HABITAT
The bluethroat breeds in the
cooler regions of the northern
hemisphere. It prefers regions
that have thick vegetation and
patches of open ground.
The bluethroat migrates alone.
It leaves its Scandinavian and
Russian breeding grounds in
late August or early September
and returns by mid-May. In the
extreme north it may not re-
turn until early June.
The bluethroat winters in
sub-Saharan Africa and other
areas that match the cool con-
ditions of its breeding grounds.
In Africa it finds cover in ditches
or swamp vegetation rather
Right: The female incubates five to
seven eggs for two weeks.
than in scrub. In India it hides
among reed beds, roosting
near other migratory birds
such as swallows and wagtails.
Breeding populations in Eu-
rope, the Soviet Union, and
Alaska winter in the Middle
East, Pakistan, and India. Blue-
throats that breed farther east
migrate as far as southern
China and Southeast Asia.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The bluethroat eats mostly
worms, insects, and larvae,
especially ants, grasshoppers,
stone flies, earwigs, and caddis
flies. It also eats small snails,
spiders, and young frogs. In
the fall it feeds on seeds and
fallen fruit.
The bluethroat catches in-
sects while flying close to the
ground and then swoops to
left: The male bluethroat is easily
identified by his vivid red and blue
throat markings.
DID YOU KNOW?
The bluethroat can accu-
rately mimic other bird spe-
cies that share its nesting
area. It repeats a song con-
stantly for a few days, then
replaces it with a new call.
Older birds seem to remem-
ber songs they have heard
the year before. A bluethroat
can reproduce a range of
land in a low, flat glide. It also
looks for food on the ground,
turning over fallen leaves and
soil. After catching a caterpillar,
the bluethroat shakes it vigor-
ously to remove the contents
of its gut before eating it.
This bird has a very upright
profile while walking. It often
runs short distances, pausing
to take a few hops.
Right: The bluethroat feeds on in-
sects and their larvae, grasping
them in its thin beak.
mechanical noises and can
copy the croak of a tree frog.
Bluethroats usually pair
up to breed, but one male
is known to have fathered
young in three different nests,
protecting and feeding each
in turn. Single birds may feed
the young of other birds once
they have left the nest.
~ BREEDING
The bluethroat often returns
to the same area each year to
breed. The male uses a trilling,
bell-like song to mark his terri-
tory and attract a female. He
may sing while flying or while
sitting on a perch.
The female builds a nest on
the ground, usually in thick
cover. After interweaving grass
stems, leaves, roots, and moss,
she lines the construction with
fine vegetation and hair.
The female lays five to seven
pale blue-green eggs mottled
with rusty red and incubates
them for 14 to 15 days. When
left: The male bluethroat brings
larvae to the nest to feed the
female and the young birds.
Left: The male
bluethroat's
vividly colored
throat mark-
ings are present
only during the
breeding sea-
son, when they
help him to at-
tract a mate.
they hatch, she remains on the
nest to keep the young birds
warm for the first few days.
During this period the male
brings food, passing it to the
female rather than feeding his
offspring directly. Later both
birds collect food and keep the
nest clean by removing the
feces, at first swallowing it and
later depositing it elsewhere.
Within five to six days the
nestlings open their eyes. They
may leave the nest after about
two weeks, sometimes before
they can fly. If they cannot fly,
the young birds hide, hopping
and running around in dense
vegetation. They are fed by their
parents until fully fledged.
PURPLE MARTIN
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Hirundinidae
"'CARD 176 ]
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS & SPECIES
Progne suNs
The purple martin is the largest of the North American swallows.
This sociable bird breeds in the United States and Canada,
where its arrival is a welcome sign of spring.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 8 in.
Wingspan: 15 in.
Weight: 2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Breeding season: March to June.
Eggs: 4-5; white.
No. of broods: 1-2 per year.
Incubation: 15-18 days.
Fledging period: 3-4 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable and migratory.
Feeds by day.
Diet: Insects.
Call: Low-pitched rolling twitter.
lifespan: Up to 8 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are about 80 swallow and
martin species. The 3 other species
of the genus Progne are the Carib-
bean martin, the gray-breasted
martin, and the southern martin.
Breeding range
of the purple martin. Winter range.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds in parts of Canada and the United States, especially on
the east coast. Winters in parts of South America.
CONSERVATION
Numbers are declining mainly because nest sites are taken over
by other birds. But the purple martin is still one of North Ameri-
ca's more common birdhouse occupants.
FEATURES OF THE PURPLE MARTIN
Bill: Opens extremely wide to catch
insects as the bird flies.
are well adapted for
clinging to perches
but not for walking.
Female: Plumage is mainly dul l
brown wi th a splash of purple on the
head and top of the wings. Under-
parts are gray.
Flight: Short glides alternate
with rapid flapping. Flight
reveals forked tail and dull
brown underside of wings.
Egg: Pure
white. 4 to 5
eggs per
clutch, usually
laid in a tree
hollow or
birdhouse.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Male: Glossy,
dark purplish blue
plumage with
duller wings
and tail.
0160200661 PACKET 66
A hardy member of the swallow family, the purple
martin can be easily recognized by its long, pointed
wings and the silvery purple sheen of its plumage. This
bird spends most of its waking hours soaring through the
air, catching insects in flight. Its attractive appearance and
its habit of eating insect pests make the purple martin
a welcome visitor to gardens and birdhouses.

In late summer, as they prepare
to migrate, flocks of thousands
of purple martins roost together
in trees or on telephone wires.
Flocking in large groups gives
the purple martin some mea-
sure of protection. Individuals
often join together to attack
predatory hawks or other birds
such as sparrows that threaten
the martins' nests.
Although some birds pose
threats to the purple martin,
others benefit it. For example,
the martin is able to survive in
the Arizona desert only because
it nests in holes that are dug in-
to giant saguaro cacti by the
Gila woodpecker.
The purple martin also nests
i,n holes made by other birds or
in the hollows of dead trees. It
competes for these prime sites
with sparrows and starlings.
After the martin secures a nest
site, it is joined by many others
to form a colony. These colonies
are common in suburban gar-
dens and on farmland through-
out the purple martin's range.

In March or April, the purple
martin returns to its breeding
grounds in the United States
and Canada. This bird prefers
to breed near open valleys with
slow-moving streams, lakes, or
coastal meadows.
The martin makes its nest on
cliffs or buildings or in tree hol-
lows or birdhouses. The nest is
lined with grass and feathers
and often contains fresh leaves
to keep it humid.
After laying four or five eggs,
the female does most of the in-
cubating for 15 to 18 days. The
Left: The purple martin often nests
in a birdhouse during the spring
and summer months.
'olD YOU KNOW?
male keeps the eggs warm if the
female leaves the nest. But he
cannot keep them at the right
temperature because he does
not have a "brood pouch" -the
part of the female's underparts
that has an abundance of warm-
ing blood vessels.
Both parents feed the young,
which leave the nest after three
or four weeks. A second clutch
is then laid, usually containing
fewer eggs than the first. Young
purple martins often remain in
the same colony to help rear lat-
er broods.
Right: A hollowed-out gourd
makes an ideal nest site for the
female purple martin.
North American Indians taken from Procne, the name
hung hollowed-out gourds of a mythological Greek hero-
near their homes for purple ine who was changed into a
martins to nest in. The birds swallow by the gods.
helped to control insect pests. The largest number of pur-
They also joined together to pie martins found in one nest
I
attack crows and other animals is 13. A man-made "martin
that fed on crops or tried to house" held 250 to 300 pairs.
steal meat. Up to 20 nests have been
L The genusnam __ e_P_ro_9_n_e_i_s _____
FOOD &: FEEDING
The purple martin is active all
day and needs a constant food
supply. While flying, it catches
insects such as midges, flies,
butterflies, and beetles. The
bird's small bill opens extreme-
ly wide and is bordered with
rows of erect bristles that act
as a sort of aerial insect scoop.
Young martins are fed regurgi-
tated insects, but they are able
to catch their own food just a
Left: In southern Arizona, the pur-
ple martin nests in holes in giant
saguaro cacti.
Left: In the
East and Mid-
west, farmers
may encourage
large groups of
purple martins
to nest on their
land by provid-
ing "martin
houses./I
few days after learning to fly.
The martin sometimes for-
ages for insects on the ground.
But since it usually flies and eats
at the same time, the bird has
not developed strong legs or
feet for walking.
When flying insects become
scarce in colder weather, the
purple martin migrates south
for the winter. A late cold spell
in spring can clear the air of in-
sects, making survival difficult
for birds that return early from
their wintering grounds.
"'" CARD 177 1
KEA
' ( - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~
~
ORDER
Psittaciformes
FAMILY
Nestoridae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Nestor notabifis
The kea gets it name from the distinctive "keaa" cry that it usually
gives as a warning call. This member of the parrot family lives
in the mountains of New Zealand's South Island.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 1 ~ ft .
Wingspan: 3 ft.
Weight: About 2 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: At least 3 years.
Breeding season: July to January.
No. of broods: 1-2.
Eggs: 2-4; smooth and white.
Incubation: 3-4 weeks.
Fledging period: 13-14 weeks
or longer.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Bold and inquisitive.
Call: Loud "keaa" in flight.
Diet: Berries, seeds, garbage.
lifespan: 37 percent live longer
than 1 year. Maximum age on
record, 15 years.
RElATED SPECIES
The other bird in the genus is the
kaka, Nestor meridiana/is, found
throughout New Zealand.
FEATURES OF THE KEA
Both sexes look alike, but the male
is slightly larger than the female.
The bronze-colored plumage is
lighter on the breast and brighter
on the back and wings. The
underwings are scarlet and
the rump and upper tail are
dark red. The tail is blue-
green. The young are a
brighter olive yellow,
but their feathers be-
come darker over
a period of 2 to
3 years.
MCMXCII IMP BV/I MP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the kea.
DISTRIBUTION
The kea lives in the mountains of New Zealand' s South Island.
CONSERVATION
At one time the kea was considered a pest, but today this bird
is partly protected.
Nest: The kea usually makes its nest
in a crevice in a rock, but sometimes
in a tree. Both male and female line
the nest with twigs and lichen.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
flight: The
bronze feathers,
scarlet under-
wings, and dark
red rump can be
seen in flight.
Eggs: 2 to 4
smooth white
0160200611 PACKET 61
The kea has bronze-colored plumage with subtle shades of
red, blue, and green on its wings and tail. This bird feeds
mainly on berries, but it is also a scavenger, frequenting
garbage dumps to find food scraps. It sometimes eats the
flesh of dead animals and may even attack injured sheep.
~ H A B I T S
The kea sometimes flies above
the tree line to hunt for food in
its remote mountain habitat on
New Zealand's South Island.
This inquisitive bird is bold
enough to enter ski lodges and
other human habitations, where
it causes great damage in its
search for food.
Keas fly in flocks, and the birds
seem to enjoy strong winds as
DID YOU KNOW?
Because of the kea's repu-
tation as a sheep killer, a re-
ward was paid for its beak-
proof that the bird had been
killed. From 1943 to 1945,
6,819 birds were killed for
the reward.
they wheel and dive through
the mountain passes.
In winter the kea can be seen
rolling in snow. During warmer
weather, it bathes in pUddles.
Top: In its hot, dusty mountain
habitat, the kea enjoys any oppor-
tunity to take a cool bath.
Right: The kea lives in the sun-
baked hills and valleys of New
Zealand's South Island.
The kea does not limit itself
to one mate. An adult male
kea may mate with as many
as four females.
The kea is very fond of mar-
row, which it picks out of the
bones of dead animals.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The kea eats berries and excretes
the seeds, thus contributing to
the growth of new plants. The
bird also eats roots, buds, seeds,
flowers, insects, and worms. In
january it feeds on nectar from
flowering mountain flax.
The kea also scavenges food
~ BREEDING
The kea reaches sexual maturi-
ty after three years. It builds its
nest from twigs and lichen in a
rocky crevice. The nest may be
built over a period of years.
Breeding occurs from july to
scraps from dumps and eats
carrion (dead animal flesh). It
has been known to attack in-
jured sheep, but its reputation
as a sheep killer is exaggerated.
Right: An opportunistic feeder, the
kea will steal eggs from the nests of
other birds.
january. The female lays about
three eggs and sits on them for
three to four weeks. The male
feeds her and guards the nest.
Both birds feed the chicks until
they are fledged after 1 3 weeks.
'" CARD 1 78 I
MARSH HARRIER
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Falconiformes
FAMILY
Accipitridae
GENUS & SPECIES
Circus aeruginosus
The marsh harrier is the largest and rarest of Europe's four
harriers. A powerful, long-winged bird of prey, it flies low over
marshes and reed beds, hunting for mammals and water birds.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 18-22 in.
Weight: 1-2 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Breeding season: Spring and early
summer.
Eggs: 4-5; pale blue.
Incubation: 415-5 weeks.
Fledging period: 5-6 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Mainly solitary, except
during the breeding season.
Diet: Rodents, water birds, fish,
rabbits, frogs, and toads.
Call: Male utters a two-syllable
shrill call in the breeding season.
Lifespan: Oldest on record, 1615
years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 10 species in the genus
Circus, including the northern harri-
er, C. cyaneus, and Montagu's har-
rier, C. pygargus.
Resident range of
the marsh harrier.
Winter
range.
Breeding
range.
- - - - = = ~ - - - - - = = = ~ - - - - - - - -
DISTRIBUTION
The marsh harrier breeds from Great Britain east to Japan. It
winters in Africa south of the Sahara and southern Asia. Resi-
dent populations exist in Europe, northwestern Africa, the
Middle East, Madagascar, and Australasia.
CONSERVATION
Breeding birds in western Europe declined during the 1800s.
They are now increasing.
FEATURES OF THE MARSH HARRIER
Female: Mainly
dark brown, with a
pale crown and throat.
Larger than the male,
she is almost as big
as a buzzard but not
as heavily built. Legs: Both sexes
have yellow legs
and long toes
with strong,
sharp talons.
Facial feathers: A feature of both
sexes, these feathers probably fun-
nel sound into the ears. This is a
great advantage for a bird that
hunts for prey over dense reeds
and grasses.
MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Male: Mainly dark brown, but with a
lighter streaked breast, pale head,
large blue-gray wing patches, and
gray tail. Shows a gray stripe on
the wings when in flight.
US P 6001 12077 PACKET 77
The handsome marsh harrier almost disappeared from
western Europe a century ago. Since then it has made a
partial comeback. Howeve" the marsh harrier still suffers
from the drainage of its watery habitat. In addition, it is
badly affected by the increased use of agricultural pesticides,
which poison the small mammals on which it preys.

The marsh harrier is the largest
European harrier. Strong and
agile in the air, it flies with the
combination of flapping and
gliding that characterizes all
members of its family. When
soaring or gliding, it holds its
long, narrow wings in a shal-
low V shape and uses its long
tail to maneuver and to modi -
fy its speed. It often soars low
and then picks up speed and '
regains height with a few pow-
erful beats of its wings. The
bird may then begin another
extended glide.
The marsh harrier is scarce
because it lacks suitable habi-
tats. This bird prefers to live in
large, undisturbed reed beds
surrounding open water. This
kind of habitat is now rare and
found mainly in bird preserves.
Birds in the northern fringes
of the range sometimes spend
the winter in western Europe.
Other birds migrate to Africa or
southern Asia.

The marsh harrier breeds during
spring and early summer. In his
spectacular courtship flight, the
male both dives and somersaults
from a great height.
The female builds the nest in a
reed bed above water level. The
nest is a large platform made of
trampled reeds, twigs, and oth-
er plant matter. After laying four
or five pale blue eggs over a pe-
riod of two or three days, the
Left: The marsh harrier's facial
feathers form a disk, giving both
sexes an owl-like appearance.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the 19th century in Great
Britain, the marsh harrier was
hunted to extinction. A single
pair returned and nested be-
fore World War I, but the spe-
cies' status remained critical
until the mid-1950s. A steady
increase through the 1980s
female incubates them alone.
The male feeds her on the
nest until the eggs hatch after
four and a half to five weeks. At
first the male hunts alone for his
family. But as the chicks grow
and require more food, the fe-
male hunts as well. The chicks
fledge after five to six weeks.
But they are fed by their par-
ents for two more weeks be-
fore they are independent.
Right: Young marsh harriers may
leave the nest up to two weeks
before they start to fly.
Left: The adult
marsh harrier is
one of the most
powerful and
deadly of all
aerial hunters.
has resulted in today's annu-
al British population of more
than 70 pairs.
The bird's main source of
food varies across its range,
from field voles in Germany
to rabbits in the Netherlands
and coot chicks in Denmark.
BIRDWATCH
Because the marsh harri er is so
rare, it is easiest to find in pro-
tect ed reserves like those es-
tablished in Great Britain. The
reserves contain large areas of
undisturbed reed beds, which
t he marsh harrier favors.
FOOD &: FEEDING
The marsh harrier feeds mainly
on small rodents. But it is an op-
portunistic hunter, and at times
it preys on frogs, toads, water
birds, and small mammals. It
may even catch fish.
The marsh harrier searches for
its prey on reed beds, marshes,
and open ground. It glides low,
searching, or "quartering," its
territory section by section. If it
Left: Like many birds of prey, the
marsh harrier steals eggs from
other birds ' nests.
The male is unique amoJ
harriers in having a dark back,
gray tail, and pale head. His
tricolored wings are conspicu-
ous when he flies. The female
is dark brown but has a pale
crown and throat.
spots prey, it swoops down rap-
idly and seizes the victim in its
long, curved talons. Using its
hooked beak, it then tears the
prey into manageable pieces.
When it hunts, the marsh har-
rier beats it wings as infrequent-
ly as possible, relying on silence
and lightning-fast moves to cap-
ture its victims before they c;an
escape. The bird's long legs 'let
it snatch frogs and fi sh without
getting its plumage too wet,
which would hamper its flight.

NORTHERN PINTAIL
" GROUP 2: BIRDS

... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS &: SPECIES
Anseriformes Anatidae Anas acuta
The northern pintail is named for the tail streamers of the boldly
patterned male. The female is far less conspicuous and depends
on her brown plumage to hide her while she is nesting.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 2 ft.
Wingspan: About 3 ft .
Weight: Male, 1 %1-3 lb. Female,
1-2%1 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: April to July.
Eggs: 7-9; creamy white.
Incubation: About 4 weeks.
Fledging: About 6 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, migratory.
Diet: Seeds, tubers, insects, and
mollusks.
Call: Male utters a thin nasal
whistle. Female quacks.
Lifespan: 26 years recorded.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 2 rare subspecies, both
found in the South Indian Ocean.
The Kerguelen pintail lives on Ker-
guelen Island, and the Crozet pin-
tail is found on Crozet Island.
Breeding range of
the northern pintail.
DISTRIBUTION
Winter range.
Breeds in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. Winters
farther south in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
CONSERVATION
One of the most widespread duck species, the pintail is not in
any danger. Its habitats are sometimes affected by human ac-
tivities, but the pintail's abil ity to relocate allows it to avoid
these threats.
FEATURES OF THE NORTHERN PINTAil
Drake (male): Rich brown head
and neck. White belly, breast , and
neck lines. Finely marked gray
sides and back. Bronze-green and
white plumage toward tail. Black
under tail . Medium gray bill has
a dark line down the top.
Tail : Long,
dark, and fine.
Adds about 4
inches to male's
overall length.
Displayed dur-
ing courtship
or rivalry.
Flight:
Agile.
Zigzags
down to land.
Female: Similar to a female mallard.
Medium brown color with pale tips
on feathers. Mostly smoky brown
on sides and back. Darker bill. Tail
is pointed but lacks the long
streamers of the male.
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L-________ ________ __ __ ______ ______________________
The northern pintail is one of the most common
and widely distributed of all ducks. This bird relocates
easily and is quick to take advantage of new feeding
grounds within its preferred habitat. Because the pintail
can adapt its diet to whatever food supplies are locally
available, it can survive in a variety of conditions.
~ HABITAT
The northern pintail is a migra-
tory duck found throughout the
Northern Hemisphere. It breeds
across most of North America,
Iceland, Scandinavia, and north-
ern Asia, and in some isolated
parts of Europe. In winter it flies
as far south as Central America
and central Africa.
The northern pintail quickly
relocates when local conditions
change. It frequently appears a
few days after an area becomes
flooded. This mobility is espe-
cially important in the southern
parts of its range, where wet-
land habitats often dry up.
During the breeding season
the northern pintail frequents
lagoons, rivers, shallow lakes,
marshes, and ponds with dense
vegetation. In winter it can be
found on estuaries and coasts.
Right: During displays of hostility,
pintails arch their necks and lower
their tails.
~ I D YOU KNOW?
The rapid wing beats of a
passing flock of pintails pro-
duce a hissing sound that can
be heard over a long distance.
Aerial chases, with a lot of
amorous males chasing a sin-
gle female, may end with the
female being forced to mate.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
During spring and summer the
northern pintail feeds mainly on
live prey, such as insect larvae,
shrimps, tadpoles, mollusks, and
snails. In the colder months it
eats plants.
The pintail upends in shallow
water to search the bottom for
food, but it rarely dives. The pin-
tail also feeds on land, where it
may gather with flocks of mal-
lards. Grazing in pairs or in small
parties, the ducks eat seeds and
grasses and pick at exposed roots
and tubers in plowed fields. The
pintail may readily run across the
ground in pursuit of insects.
left: When breeding, the northern
pintail prefers marshy lakes sur-
rounded by low, dry land.
Right: The northern pintail lives
up to its name, breeding even on
Arctic coasts.
To lure predators away from
her nest, the female northern
pintail frequently fakes injury
by pretending to have a bro-
ken wing.
Pintails breeding in central
Asia have migrated as far as
Senegal in western Africa.
Courtship begins in winter. But
firm pair bonds are not estab-
lished until the spring migra-
tion. The drake (male) courts
the female by circling her with
his neck outstretched and flick-
ing water with his bill. If she ac-
cepts him, the female leads him
away from the other drakes.
The nest is on open ground or
among tall grasses and may be
half a mile from water. Once the
female begins to incubate her
left: The
northern pin-
tail takes prey
from the mud-
dy bed in water
up to one foot
deep. Dipping
for six seconds
or so, it surfaces
briefly, then
upends again.
eggs, her mate leaves her and
forms a group with other drakes.
The clutch of seven to nine
eggs hatches after about four
weeks. Often the mother must
lead her hatchlings a great dis-
tance to the water's edge. But
she is one of the most protective
of all ducks toward her brood.
As a result, there is a low death
rate among the ducklings. They
are usually fully fledged within
six weeks.
ANDEAN FLAMINGO
~ ORDER ~
"'1IIIIIIII Phoenicopteriformes "'1IIIIIIII
FAMILY
Phoenicopteridae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS & SPECIES
Phoenicoparrus andinus
The Andean flamingo lives on salty lakes high in the Andes
in South America. It has the distinctive pink plumage of all
flamingos, but its legs are yellow instead of pink.
KEY FACTS
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SIZES
Length: About 4 ft.
Weight: 4 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3 years, but
many do not breed until later.
Breeding season: Late November
to early December.
Eggs: 1; white.
Incubation: About 1 month.
Fl edging period: Up to 3 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable; lives in large
colonies.
Diet: Mainly algae.
Call: Gooselike honk in flight. Spe-
cial courtship call.
Lifespan: Unknown.
RELATED SPECIES
The Andean flamingo's closest rel-
ative, and the only other member
of the genus, is James' flamingo,
Phoenicoparru5 jamesi.
Range of the Andean flamingo.
DISTRIBUTION
The Andean flamingo is found in Chile, northwestern Argenti-
na, western Bolivia, and southern Peru.
CONSERVATION
The Andean flamingo is now rare, and there are probably only
about 100,000 birds across its range. But the population ap-
pears to be stable. Attempts to rear the flamingo in captivity
have not been very successful.
FEATURES OF THE ANDEAN FLAMINGO
Plumage: White with brilliant rose
pink on neck, breast, and wing coverts.
Black primary and secondary feath-
ers. When wings are folded, black
feathers are more noticeable than in
other flamingos.
Legs: Yellow.
Other species
have pink legs.
MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Flight: Neck extended, legs stretched
out behind. Reveals the pink wing
coverts and black flight feathers.
Bill: Black with creamy white base. Man-
dibles are lined with fi ne, hairlike structures
that filter food from the salty water.
US P 6001 12067 PACKET 67
In prehistoric times, flamingos were widespread across
Europe, North America, and Australia. Today populations
of the rare Andean flamingo are stable, but the birds are
found only on a few mountain lakes in South America.
Within this habitat, the Andean flamingo lives in large,
noisy colonies. Its flight call, which it utters to rally the
flock, has been compared to a chorus of geese.
~ HABITS
Like other flamingos, the Ande-
an species lives on salt lakes and
brackish marshes without any
vegetation on their shores. In
the Andes these lakes occur at
elevations up to 14,000 feet
above sea level. Because the
lakes can freeze in cold weath-
er, the bird migrates to lower
elevations for the winter. But it
is never seen below 6,500 feet.
Andean flamingos live in big
colonies. When not feeding,
resting, swimming, or flying,
Right: Large colonies of Andean
flamingos perform ritual displays
in the mating season.
they are constantly interacting
with one another. There are rit-
ual displays of head swaying,
wing saluting, and marching.
Started by the males, these dis-
plays are thought to be associ-
ated with mating, even though
they have been observed at oth-
er times of the year.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The Andean flamingo feeds on
algae that live near the water's
surface. These tiny plants con-
tain red pigments that stain the
lakes and color the flamingo.
The flamingo's bill is specially
adapted for its diet. Short but
deep, it has a bulbous lower
segment, or mandible. The nar-
rower upper mandible fits neat-
ly in a groove on the lower one.
Standing in shallow water, the
bird places its head between its
legs. It can then hold its hook-
Left: The flamingo gets its pink hue
from carotenoids-red pigments
in the algae it eats.
I DID YOU KNOW?
The name flamingo is tak-
en from the Latin word for
"flame" and refers to the
bird's vivid pink plumage.
The water in the mountain
lakes that the Andean flamin-
go inhabits is 10 times saltier
than seawater.
The Andean flamingo's fil-
ter system of feeding guar-
shaped bill upside down under-
water. Moving its head, it uses
its tongue in a pumping action
to suck in mouthfuls of water.
The water is filtered through
lamellae (fine, hairlike structures
inside the mandibles) and then
expelled. Particles of food are
trapped in the lamellae, then
scraped off with the tongue. In
addition to the lamellae, there
are stiffer hairs to prevent coars-
er particles from entering the
flamingo's mouth.
Right: Given a proper diet, the An-
dean flamingo maintains its color
in captivity.
antees that its food is virtual-
ly dry when it is swallowed.
The alkaline or saline water
would be toxic if swallowed
in large quantities.
The main colony of Ande-
an flamingos lives approxi-
mately 13,000 feet above
sea level. It was discovered
only in 1957.
~ BREEDING
The Andean flamingo breeds at
the beginning of the rainy sea-
son in late November or early
December. The birds gather to
nest in colonies with as many as
2,000 individuals. Courtship dis-
plays are accompanied by mat-
ing calls that are quite different
from flight calls.
The male and female build a
cone-shaped nest of mud and
stones. As they reach out from
the nest site to scoop up mud
with their beaks, a ring of water
Left: Until it develops the curved
bill that filters food, a chick is fed
by its parents.
I
I
forms around the structure. This
"moat" separates one nest from
another, although they are all
close together.
After making a depression in
the mud with her bill, the fe-
male lays one white egg and
incubates it. The downy chick
hatches in about four weeks
and stays in the nest for five to
eight days. During this time it
is fed a rich, dark red secretion
regurgitated by both parents.
At 10 days of age, the young
flamingo is able to swim. It then
joins the other young in the col-
ony to form a nursery.