birds

FEATHERY FRIDAY #81

Woohoo- it’s time to meet another bird friend and we’re heading to the northern United States to meet today’s feathery friend. The good news is that this bird can be found all over the world! Are you ready? Let’s go!!!!

MEET THE HEN HARRIER!

    Range/Habitat: North America-Europe-Asia/grasslands

    Diet: Carnivore: small mammals

    Length/Weight: 17-20 ½”/13-19 oz

    Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

•          Hen harriers fly close to the ground.
•          They have keen eyesight and hearing.
•          Hen harriers nest on the ground.
•          Hen harriers females are brown and the males are gray.
•          Females are larger than the males.

Hen harriers are cool birds of prey. The way the fly close to the ground is very unusual! Watch out animals!

FEATHERY FRIDAY #79

We’re super excited to head down to South America for today’s adventure! We’re going to meet a flamingo and do some flamenco! Hahahaha!  

MEET THE PUNA FLAMINGO!

   Range/Habitat: West South Amercia/ wetlands-salt lakes

   Diet: herbivores: microscopic algae

   Length/Weight: 8”/3 ½-4 oz

   Conservation Status: near threatened

Fun Facts:

•          Puna flamingos are also known as James’s Flamingos.
•          They are pink with red streaks.
•          Puna flamingos are one of 3 South American flamingo species.
•          Puna flamingos live in high altitude.
•          They live in large flocks.

Puna flamingos do a fancy mating dance during breeding season. They even do it as a flock! Get on your dancing shoes!

FEATHERY FRIDAY #77

We’re heading to Southeast Asia to find today’s feathery friend. These little birds are often found in parks and near homes, so let’s have an evening picnic and meet today’s bird!

MEET THE SUNDA SCOPS OWL!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ forests, suburbs

   Diet: carnivore: insects, rodents

   Length/Weight: 8”/3 ½-4 oz

   Conservation Status: common 

Fun Facts:

•          Sunda Scops Owls are small.
•          They have prominent ear tufts.
•     Sunda Scops owls hunt at dusk.
•          Sunda Scops owls lay up to 3 eggs per clutch.
•          Male and females call together.

Sunda Scops owls are so cute. We wish we had them near us! It’s great that they love to eat bugs too!

FEATHERY FRIDAY #76

It’s Friday! It’s Friday! It’s Feathery Friday! We’re going right out our back door for today’s adventure in search of a really cool little feathery friend!

MEET THE NORTHERN FLICKER!

   Range/Habitat: North-Central America/ woodlands-suburbs

   Diet: carnivore: insects

   Length/Weight: 30-35”/ 100-175 g

   Conservation Status: common 

Fun Facts:

•         Northern Flickers are members of the woodpecker family.
•          They have long pointed bills.
•          Northern flickers often feed on the ground.
•          Northern flickers long bills are used for pecking in to the ground.
•          They have spotted undersides.
•          Northern flickers have long tails.

We love it when we find a Northern Flicker pecking on the ground in our neighborhood. Who knew there were woodpeckers who didn’t just peck on trees for their dinner?

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 76

WHO AM I? Look at the picture, read the clues and take a guess!

• I live in the Arctic.
• I am a carnivore.
• I am active during the day, unlike most of my relatives.

WHO AM I?

FEATHERY FRIDAY #74

It’s Feathery Friday and we’re going to the tropical seas to meet a bird who spends most of it time out over open water. So let’s board the E & E boat and head out on today’s bird watching adventure!

MEET THE SOOTY TERN!

   Range/Habitat: Worldwide/ Tropical seas

   Diet: carnivore: fish

   Length: 13-14”

   Conservation Status: common 

Fun Facts:

•          Sooty Terns are brownish-black on top with white on the bellies.
•          They are often seen in large flocks over open ocean.
•          Sooty terns swoop near the water to scoop up prey.
•          Sooty terns do not dive.
•          They nest in large colonies on small islands.
•          Sooty terns have a life span of up to 32 years.

Sooty terns are beautiful birds. We love that there are amazing birds that fly over open waters looking for their dinner!

FEATHERY FRIDAY #73

Woohoo for Friday! It’s that day where we meet a feathery friend! We’re going to South America to meet a bird of prey who has a very particular prey! Grab your wellies because we’re heading in to the marshes!

MEET THE SNAIL KITE!

   Range/Habitat: Cuba-Central & South America/ wetlands-marshes

   Diet: Carnivore: apple snails

   Length/Weight: 16-18”/ 13-14 oz

   Conservation Status: common 

Fun Facts:

•          Snail Kites fly slowly and low to the ground to spot their snail meals.
•          They have a curved beak they use to remove the snail from its shell.
•          Male snail kites are dark grey.
•          Female snail kites are brown.
•          Snail kites nest in bushes or on the ground.

Snail kites are gorgeous! Often birds of prey are not so specialized when it comes to food. We do wonder if apple snails taste like apples though. If they do, Edmond might try them out!

FEATHERY FRIDAY #72

It’s Feathery Friday and we’re going to South America to meet a bird who lives in the wetlands. So grab your wadders and bug spray and let’s head out on today’s adventure.

MEET THE WATTLED JACANA!

   Range/Habitat: South Central America-South America/wetlands

   Diet: omnivore: aquatic insects, invertebrates, rice seeds

   Length/Weight: 6 ½-10”/ 3 ¼-4 oz

   Conservation Status: common 

Fun Facts:

•          Wattled Jacanas have large red wattles on their bottom bill.
•          They have spurs on their wings.
•          Wattled Jacanas have extremely long toes.
•          Wattled Jacanas are able to stand on aquatic plants.
•          Male wattled jacanas incubate eggs and raise the young.

Wattled jacanas are neat little birds with their long legs and long skinny toes. Those dads are also great! Woohoo Wattled Jacana!