wildlife fact file - birds - pgs. 121-130
DESCRIPTION
Great Titmouse, Common Swift, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Swan, Greater Rhea, Red-Billed Quelea, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Village Weaver, Eurasian Woodcock, Royal AlbatrossTRANSCRIPT
GREAT TITMOUSE
ORDER Posseriformes
FAMILY Poridoe
GENUS fit SPECIES Porus major
The great titmouse is the largest of the European titmice. Highly agile, this lively bird entertains bird-watchers with its acrobatic
antics as it searches for insects and other food.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: 5-6 in. Weight: About ~ oz.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: Early spring. No. of broods: 1, rarely 2. Eggs: Up to 12. White with reddish spots. Incubation: 13-14 days. Fledging period: 16-22 days.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, forming flocks of 6 or more. Often flocks with other
titmice. Diet: Insects, seeds, and nuts. Lifespan: Average 2-3 years, but few chicks reach adulthood.
RELATED SPECIES Relatives include the blue titmouse, Porus caeruleus, in Europe and the black-capped chickadee, P. otricapillus, in North America.
FEATURES OF THE GREAT TIT
Flight: A sequence of rapid wingbeats and short glides gives the great titmouse its "bouncing" flight.
• Range of the great titmouse.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout Europe and Asia, from Great Britain and Portugal to Japan and Malaysia, except above the timberline in mountain areas and in desert regions and Arctic tundra. Also found in northwestern Africa .
CONSERVATION
The great titmouse is common throughout its range and is not in any danger of extinction.
Plumage: Its brightly colored plumage makes the great titmouse easy to recognize. But in its wood
land home, sunlight coming through the trees makes the blue,
green, yellow, and black
Eggs and nest: The tightly woven nest has an open top. Up to 12 white eggs are camouflaged with
Male: Coloring is brighter and black chest stripe is broader than on the female .
reddish flecks.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200451 PACKET 45
The great titmouse, or great tit, is one of the most
beautiful birds in Europe. A relative of the black-capped
chickadee, it is easily recognized by its colorful yellow
and black plumage. At home in all types of woodlands,
the great titmouse is also frequently found in gardens,
where it readily moves into birdhouses and
picks up nuts and seeds from bird feeders.
~ HABITS The great titmouse usually lives
in woods but can also be found
in marshes, hedgerows, parks,
and gardens. It is very sociable,
and in winter it often searches
for food in small flocks. Some
times it is joined by the blue
tit and other woodland birds.
Feeding in flocks is a safety
Right: The great titmouse has a range of songs.
Center: Even after they leave the nest, young great tits may be fed by their parents for several days.
measure. If one bird spots a
predator, it warns the others.
At the start of the breeding
season, the male great tit
mouse becomes aggressive
and fiercely defends his ter
ritory. As soon as the eggs
hatch, however, the birds live
together again in harmony.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The great titmouse eats mainly
insects and their larvae, which
it collects from the leaves and
twigs of trees. At times it ham
mers at bark with its short beak
to find food in the cracks. In
winter insects are scarce, so the
great titmouse eats nuts and
seeds, especially acorns.
The great tit is always on the
left: The great titmouse's varied diet includes buds, seeds, spiders, and caterpillars.
DID YOU KNOW? • In its search for food, the great tit has learned how
to pierce the top of a milk
bottle to get at the cream.
• In the 1 700s, French kings kept great tits in cages and
trained them to do tricks.
• To get food for their hungry chicks, great tits may leave
move, flitting from branch to
branch in its search for food.
Because this bird is heavier
than other titmouse species, it
keeps to the lower, stronger
branches. When foraging in a
flock, each bird keeps an eye
on its companions. As soon as
one bird finds food , the others
fly down to share it.
Right: The great titmouse feeds on insects that it finds on tree trunks and low branches.
the nest 1,000 times a day.
• Only one in six chicks survives the first year. Only one
in 12 lives to two years.
• It is rare for a bird that feeds
its chicks to lay as many eggs
as the great tit does. Usually
only birds whose young feed
themselves lay so many eggs.
The blue, green, yellow, and
black feathers of the great tit
mouse make it easy to identi
fy. But this bird can also be
recognized by its noisy call.
More than 50 calls have been
identified, but the great tit's
most common call sounds like
~ BREEDING In early spring the male great
t it chooses a territory and de
fends it against rival males. To
attract a female, he displays his
black throat patch. After mat
ing, the female builds the nest
il'1 a tree hole or similar cavity.
The male helps by gathering
materials. The nest is lined
"teacher, teacher, teacher."
The great tit will nest in a
birdhouse if there is no suit
able natural site nearby. It will
also visit a bird feeder filled
with nuts and can be seen
cracking open nuts as large
as a hazelnut.
with a soft, warm layer of
moss, hair, and plant down.
The female lays up to 12
eggs at a rate of one egg per
day. While she is laying and
then incubating the eggs, her
mate brings her food.
The eggs hatch after 1 3 to
14 days. Within three or four
days, the parents must spend
all their time feeding the chicks.
Because feeding their young is
so exhausting, great tits pro
duce more than one brood
only if there is a good food
supply. The fledglings leave
the nest after 1 6 to 22 days.
left: When competing for a mate, the male great titmouse frightens rivals with a threat display.
COMMON SWIFT
ORDER Apodifofmes
FAMILY Apodidoe
GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS &: SPECIES Apus opus
The common swift spends almost its entire life in the air. This bird lives up to its name as its long crescent-shaped wings
take it to high speeds to catch flying insects.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: About 6~ in.
Wingspan: 16-19 in. Weight: 1-2 oz.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 4 years.
Breeding season: May to July. No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 2-3, white. Incubation: About 3 weeks.
Fledging period: 5-8 weeks.
LIFESTYLE Call: Noisy. Utters shrill screams
and screeches. Habits: Sociable. Spends most of
its time flying. Diet: Insects caught in flight.
Lifespan: 21 years recorded, but a longer lifespan is likely.
RELATED SPECIES There are more than 80 species
of swift, including the familiar chimney swift, Choetura pelogico,
of North America.
Summer range of the common swift. Winter range.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds in northwest Africa and most of Europe except in the
far north . To the east its breeding area reaches from Afghanistan in the south to southern Siberia in the north.
CONSERVATION
The common swift has suffered from loss of breeding sites in many parts of Europe, although pairs can increasingly be found in less polluted urban areas.
IDENTIFYING THE COMMO
Wings: Long
Flight: The swift is a fast and adept flier.
It wheels and swoops as it funnels insects
into its gaping . mouth .
and sickle-shaped. The common swift alter the speed of its left and right wings independently, enabling it to turn sharply and powerfully.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Plumage: Overall dark gray-brown,
with ash gray chin and fore
head.
ciaws: Tiny but very strong, on short feet. Able to cling to very
small cracks in a cliff or wall.
PRINTED IN U.S.A
THROAT POUCH
The swift stores insects in an expanding throat pouch to take them back to its nestlings.
FLOCKING SWIFTS
Swifts can be seen racing noisily over roofs as they prepare for a night's flying.
0160200431 PACKET 43
The common swift spends the winter in Africa,
and it can be seen in Europe and parts of Asia from May
to July. Although not related, the swift is sometimes
compared to the swallow family because of its agility
in flight and its habit of nesting on buildings.
~ HABITS The common swift feeds in
flight and spends most of its
nights in the air. It even drinks
and bathes without alighting
on the ground, landing only to
nest or to rest on high perch
ing places. At dusk, noisy flocks
utter shrill screams as they circle
upward for a night in the air.
With its long, pointed, stiff
wing feathers, the swift is well
adapted for flight. It hardly uses
its tiny legs and feet. But it has
strong, sharp claws that enable
it to cling to vertical rock faces
or walls. In this way the bird
can rest on its migratory flights
between Africa and Europe.
The common swift's flight
combines short glides with very
fast wingbeats. The bird can
move one wing faster than the
other. This ability serves as an
important means of steering,
since the tail is too short to be
an efficient rudder on its own.
The common swift has an
average cruising speed of about
25 miles per hour, which is
much faster than that of swal
lows and martins. As a result,
the swift can nest in towns and
cities, even though flying in
sects are scarce there. The swift
simply travels widely over the
surrounding countryside to find
its airborne prey.
Not only are swifts frequently
more numerous in cities than
swallows, but as a group they
are now probably more numer
ous than they were when Eu
rope was largely covered by
forests. One reason is that
buildings provide many more
nesting sites than the cliffs
where they formerly nested.
Above: The swift often flits around old buildings looking for a place to nest.
~ MIGRATION In August the common swift
leaves Europe to spend the
winter in Africa. It returns in
April and breeds from May to
July. The short breeding period
is time for only one brood.
Although the young start the
long flight to Africa soon after
leaving the nest, common
swifts are less likely than many
other bird species to die in
their first year.
~ BREEDING Common swifts mate in flight,
after which they build a nest
on a flat surface, either in a
crevice on a cliff, in a hole in a
wall, or under roof eaves. The
nest is a shallow cup of plant
materials and feathers that the
birds cement with sticky saliva
from their special glands.
The female lays two or three
left: Even with tiny claws, the swift can cling easily to a cliff when it needs to rest.
DID YOU KNOW? • The swift's short legs and small feet hamper it from tak
ing flight from flat ground.
It cannot raise its body high
enough to open its wings.
• The spinetailed swift from eastern Asia is thought to be
the fastest swift. It can fly
~ FOOD & FEEDING The common swift feeds on
flying insects, catching most of
them in the air at high speeds.
It stretches open its tiny bill,
which acts as a funnel to draw
in the insects. It can store the
insects it catches in a throat
pouch to take back to the nest
to feed its young.
Below: The fledgling may spend several weeks in the nest before it is fully independent.
eggs, which both adults incu
bate. The young are often left
uncovered while the parents
seek food, but they can survive
low temperatures by becom
ing sluggish to save energy.
The fledging period depends
on the supply of food. In bad
weather the young may not fly
until they are eight weeks old.
When the young leave the nest
they must be self-sufficient and
able to fly for long stretches, as
they will be migrating soon.
almost 200 miles per hour.
• The African palm swift uses
saliva to glue feathers to a
palm leaf, then glues one or
two eggs to this vertical pad.
The parents incubate the eggs
by clinging to the vertical
surface with their claws.
""CARD 123] ROCK PTARMIGAN
,,~--------------------------~~~~ ~
ORDER Galliformes
FAMILY Phasianidae
The rock ptarmigan is a member of the grouse family that gets its name from its rocky habitat in the Arctic. This bird
is well adapted to the cold regions where it lives.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: 13-15 in.
Wingspan: 21-24 in. Weight: 16-20 oz.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: May to July. No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: Usually 5-10. Incubation: 24-26 days. Fledging period: About 10 days.
LIFESTYLE Call: Various croaks and clucks. Habit: Solitary. Male mates with one, sometimes two, females. Diet: Low-growing vegetation,
according to season . Lifespan: Average 4-5 years.
RELATED SPECIES There are 2 other species in the
genus Lagopus: the willow ptarmigan, L. lagopus, and the white-tailed ptarmigan, L. leucurus.
Range of the rock ptarmigan.
DISTRIBUTION Found in northern Alaska, northern Canada, Iceland, Spitsbergen, Scandinavia, and across Siberia to the Bering Sea,
northern and central Kurils, and Japan. Also found in Scotland, the Pyrenees, and the Alps.
CONSERVATION Given its harsh habitat, the rock ptarmigan is little affected by humans. Its numbers fluctuate but are stable.
FEATURES OF THE ROCK PTARMIGAN
Flight: In spring the male makes display flights. His black tail patch and
white wings are clearly Visi~bl~e~.~~~~~~~ti~:io""'
Summer plumage: Mottled , graybrown upper parts act as camouflage against dull vegetation. Lower parts stay white. Red eyebrow-shaped patch is brighter on I
male.
'~ MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILEw PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eggs: Relatively large. Rusty
yellow, densely speckled with dark
spots.
Winter plumage: White with black edge to tail. Black
face patch on male. Dense feathers provide insulation
as well as camouflage when habitat is covered by snow.
Feet: Large and covered with feathers . On soft snow they spread
the bird 's weight so it does not sink in. The feathers also keep
the feet warm.
0160200491 PACKET 49
The plumage of the rock ptarmigan changes radically
two times a year. In winter its white feathers blend
with the snow covering the ground. In summer,
when the snow melts, the rock ptarmigan's back
turns gray-brown and merges well with rocks
in the surrounding landscape.
~ HABITAT The rock ptarmigan breeds mainly on tundra and rocky mountainsides above the tree line. In these places the vegetation is low, including many sedges and lichen. The only taller plants are shrubs that may grow in the shelter of gullies or ravines.
In winter the rock ptarmigan often moves closer to the tree line, where tall shrubs project above the snow and offer it more protection. The bird usually moves only short distances between its summer and winter grounds. But rock ptarmigans that breed in particularly harsh areas may travel quite far
Right: To help it survive, the rock ptarmigan chick is fairly mature when it hatches.
south. The female is more likely to move to a protected environment in winter, while the male may remain in a cold and bleak habitat.
In winter the rock ptarmigan seeks shelter at night among rocks or in ravines. It may also dig a shallow depression in the snow and lie there with only its head visible.
~ ADAPTATIONS The rock ptarmigan is well adapted to living in its snowcovered habitat. Its large, feathered feet help it to move easily across snow. Its winter plumage is white with a black edge on the tail. The male also has a black face patch.
The female molts (sheds its feathers) earlier in spring than
Left: Some white remains on the rock ptarmigan's wing tips and underparts in summer.
DID YOU KNOW? • It was said that rock ptarmigan chicks flew so early that bits of shell still stuck to them. In fact, they cannot fly until they are 10 days old. • The rock ptarmigan population seems to have a six- to ten-year cycle. It increases,
the male to provide camouflage as she incubates her eggs on the rocky ground. In spring the bird's wings and belly stay white, but its upper parts turn a mottled gray-brown that is paler on the female. Above each eye is a red patch, which is brighter on the male in the breeding season.
Right: The male starts to lose his white coloring later in spring than the female.
then plummets. A successful reproduction period then restores the numbers. • In popular mountain resort areas, skiers are a danger to this bird. Frightened into the air, it may fly into ski-lift wires and be killed.
~ FOOD & FEEDING In winter the rock ptarmigan may scratch through snow to find vegetation to eat. But usually it seeks out places where the wind has blown off the snow and exposed plants. In this season it eats evergreen herbs and other low-growing
~ BREEDING In May and June the rock ptar-migan moves to higher elevations to breed. The male goes first to establish a territory. He chooses a lookout point from which he can see other birds approaching. From this point he chases other males away or displays to a female.
At the sight of another male, the bird takes to the air with a call that sounds like a human belch. He then spreads his tail and, with his eye comb erect and body rocking, chases the other male away. Rival males try to hit each other with their wings and to grasp their opponent's bill. This struggle can re-
Left: Both the mother and her offspring are well camouflaged against their tundra habitat.
vegetation, buds and twigs of willows and birches, and leaves of evergreen shrubs.
In spring new plant growth provides fresh food . By summer, leaves and flowers are available, followed in early fall by berries and seeds.
suit in torn neck feathers and eye combs.
The male attracts the female with displays in flight and on the ground. He usually mates with only one female but in some places may mate with two. The female builds a simple nest-little more than a depression in the ground-and incubates the eggs without help from the male.
The clutch is usually five to ten eggs. The eggs hatch after about three and a half weeks. The chicks are well developed at hatching, which is necessary for survival in their bleak surroundings. They leave the nest almost immediately, but they are not fully independent for about 10 weeks.
BLACK SWAN ,,~----------------------------~~~~~~~ ... ORDER ~ Anseriformes
... FAMILY ~ Anatidae
GENUS fit SPECIES Cygnus atratus
The black swan is the only swan native to Australia. It is also found in New Zealand, where it was introduced in 1864. The black swan is now a familiar sight in wildfowl collections throughout the world.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 3-4 ft. Female, slightly
smaller .
Wingspan: 5-6 ft. Weight: 12-13 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years.
Breeding season: Varies with location.
February to August in most areas.
No. of eggs: 4-10, usually 5 or 6. Incubation period: About 6 weeks.
Fledging period: About 3 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable.
Diet: Various plants, including duck
weed, sedges, and grass.
Lifespan: Up to 1 ° years.
RELATED SPECIES
The black swan is 1 of 6 swan
species, which include the black
necked swan, Cygnus melanocoryphus, and mute swan, C. alar.
Range of the black swan.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout most of Australia, where it is native. Intro
duced to New Zealand in 1864 and now found widely on both
North and South islands.
CONSERVATION
The black swan was hunted by European colonists in the past,
but it has now regained most of its range. It is protected, but
limited control for crop protection is allowed.
FEATURES OF THE BLACK SWAN
Plumage: Uniformly black feathers with curly tips on the back. The bird's white Wil)gtips are IDnst clearly vi.sible in flight.
Male
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Bill : Large orange-red bill with white band near the tip.
Nest: Built from grasses and twigs. Stationary nests measure about 3 feet across, but floating nests are usually much larger.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eggs: About 5 or 6 pale green eggs are laid at intervals of 12 to 24 hours.
0160200471 PACKET 47
The hot, dry climate of Australia may not seem to be
an ideal habitat for swans. Yet the black swan is an
adaptable bird, capable of adjusting to the unpredictable
nature of its environment. It is a strong flier and can cover
great distances in search of fresh water and food.
Although it is a nomadic bird, the black swan will stay
in one place if there is a good food supply.
~ HABITAT The black swan is a nomadic bird and a powerful flier. It is one of the most adaptable of waterfowl and takes to almost every kind of wetland habitat. But it prefers habitats where the water is less than three feet deep, since that is the maximum depth at which it can feed.
During the breeding season the black swan is commonly found on and around shallow
lakes. At other times this bird frequents isolated billabongs (small, stagnant pools), sheltered bays, or saltwater coastallagoons.
The black swan ranges widely across Australia. In its travels it makes use of temporary habitats such as lakes and flooded agricultural land. But the swan will remain in one place in areas where food and nest sites are plentiful.
~ BREEDING The black swan's breeding season usually coincides with the rainy season. In northeastern Queensland it may breed as early as February, while in western Australia it may not lay its eggs until August. During periods of extended drought, the bird may not breed at all.
The black swan constructs a large nest, usually on dry land but always near water. Sometimes, however, it will nest in swamps and on rafts of floating debris.
Unlike other swans, the black swan is tolerant of neighbors. On small islands whole colonies
Left: Courting black swans swim together, craning their necks into a heart shape.
DID YOU KNOW?
• During the breeding season it is not unusual to see a nest of cygnets adrift on a lake. Although the nest is usually anchored to vegetation at first, it often breaks free.
• Black swans usually travel at night, flying in single file and at high altitude. As they fly,
of black swans may nest side by side, with all the nests evenly spaced apart.
The first pale green egg is laid just after the nest is begun, and another four or five eggs are laid soon after. The adult birds take turns sitting on the eggs during the six-week incubation period. Since incubation begins when the clutch is almost complete, the light gray cygnets (young) usually hatch over a two- or three-day period.
When the first cygnets hatch, they quickly take to the water under the wing of a parent. The other adult stays on the nest until the remaining eggs hatch. Then the family unites in the water.
their trumpeting calls can be heard clearly.
• The first black swans were shipped to Europe during the middle of the 18th century. In England these birds were at first considered unlucky, possibly because of their allblack plumage.
~ BLACK SWAN & MAN
The black swan was once common throughout Australia. But colonists hunted it for food and depleted the population in the south. The large black bird was an easy target, especially during its flightless molting period.
In more remote areas black swans continued to prosper, as
~ FOOD & FEEDING The black swan feeds exclusively on plants, including algae and duckweed. It eats insects or invertebrates only by accident.
This water bird feeds mainly while it is swimming. It submerges its head and neck to reach plants growing beneath
Left: The black swan secretes a waterproofing oil from its bill, which it applies to its feathers when preening.
did those that were introduced in New Zealand. After receiving legal protection, the black swan rapidly increased its numbers. The population has now grown so much that its numbers are controlled in some areas to limit the damage that large flocks can do to crops.
Above: A few hours after hatching, the fluffy gray cygnets take to the water.
Left: The black swan prefers to feed in shallow water, where food is more accessible.
the surface. In deeper water, it willI/upend," extending
its reach by plunging its long neck deep into the water and pointing its tail skyward. It also wades in the shallows, nibbling at whatever plants come within range of its long neck and powerful red bill.
The black swan is frequently seen grazing inland, far from water, as it has a taste for certain grain crops.
"'CARD 125 I
GREATER RHEA " GROUP 2: BIRDS ,,-------------------------------------------~ ~
ORDER Rheiformes
FAMILY Rheidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Rhea americana
The greater rhea is a large South American bird that resembles a small ostrich. The rhea cannot fly, but its powerful legs enable
it to move with great speed across the pampas.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: Up to 5 ft. Male slightly
larger than female.
Length of beak: 3-5 in.
Weight: 44-55 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Breeding season: September to
December.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 13-30. Ivory or golden
yellow; shiny.
Incubation: 25-40 days, by male.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Lives in flocks of
up to 50 birds.
Diet: Grasses and herbs; insects
and other small animals.
Call: Deep, loud "nan-du" call.
RELATED SPECIES
Also from South America, the lesser
rhea, Pterocnemia pennata, is the
only other species in the family
Rheidae.
Range of the greater rhea.
DISTRIBUTION
Inhabits grassy plains in South America, from northeastern Brazil to
central Argentina. Prefers damp areas near rivers or swamps.
CONSERVATION
The greater rhea is hunted for its eggs and for its feathers, which
are used to make feather dusters. The main threat to the bird is
from ranchers, who are fencing off the pampas to provide pas
ture for cattle and sheep.
FEATURES OF THE GREATER RHEA
Plumage: Grayish brown; useless for flight. Soft and fluffy on upper parts and wings. Feathers on thighs and rump are much shorter and more compact.
(c)~Ar:~AXr:\l1 I~AP R\lII~AP INr: WII nl IFF FAr:T FII pM
Beak: Up to 5 inches long. Used to bite
PRINTFD IN lJSA
RHEA AND OSTRICH COMPARED
At a maximum height of 5 feet, the South American rhea is much smaller than the African ostrich, which measures up to 8 feet.
Feet: 3 large, widely spaced toes give the bird a sure footing when it runs .
us P 6001 12054 PACKET Fi4
The greater rhea is the largest bird in the Americas.
Although it is a flightless bird, the rhea's wings are large
and well developed. The wings are usually folded over
the bird's body like a cloak. During the breeding season,
the rhea uses its wings in an elaborate courtship ritual.
The wings also help this bird make sudden, sharp changes
in direction when running away from a predator.
~ HABITS The greater rhea inhabits the grassy plains of South America known as the pampas. It prefers areas with tall vegetation near swamps or rivers.
Greater rheas usually live in flocks of 20 to 30 birds. During the breeding season, the flocks separate into smaller
groups made up of 5 to 10 hens (females) and headed by one cock (male). The cock leads the hens to his territory,
which he vigorously defends from rival males.
The greater rhea has excellent hearing and vision. With its long neck and legs it can easily see over the tall grass of the pampas to spot intruders.
The rhea has few enemies, and it can usually sprint to safety if it becomes aware of danger. Its powerful legs and large, widely spaced toes let it take long, bounding strides, each of wh ich may span up to six and a half feet. If pursued, the bird takes off at a run with its neck stretched out in front. To confuse its pursuer, the rhea utters a series of loud calls. In addition it keeps swerving and
changing direction, which it is able to do by spreading out one wing and then the other as it runs.
Right: Although the rhea has large wings, its soft, fluffy feathers are useless for flight.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The greater rhea feeds mainly on herbs and grasses, such as alfalfa and clover. It also eats insects and other small animals, which it catches with a darting lunge of its long, curved neck. The rhea gets most of its water from vege
tation. It needs to drink only during dry periods when the
Left: Rhea chicks grow quickly. At five or six months old, they are the same size as their parents.
DID YOU KNOW? • During the breeding season, a rhea cock in a zoo may chase
I his keeper from the cage, just as a wild bird would chase a
I rival from his territory.
• Flocks of rheas may mingle with herds of bush deer, which benefit from the rhea's ability to detect predators from afar.
plants contain little moisture. In some regions the rhea is
considered a pest because it competes with sheep for food.
But some ranchers find the rhea helpful because it eats burrs that get tangled in the sheep's wool . This saves ranchers the trouble of untangling the sheeps' coats.
Right: The rhea feeds on a variety of plants but also eats animals such as insects, snails, and lizards.
• One rhea egg is equal in volume to 12 chicken eggs and is
highly valued as food.
• The rhea is also called the nandu, after the sound of its loud call.
• Argentinian ranchers often use dogs to keep aggressive male rheas at bay.
The greater rhea breeds from September to December, de
pending on its location . During this time the cocks fight
often, biting and kicking each other with their necks intertwined. After establishing a breeding flock of hens and driving rivals from his territory, the cock begins his court
ship display. He runs around, abruptly changing direction, while his thick feathers billow out and his neck swings from side to side. As he does this, he keeps on uttering his loud "nan-du" call .
After mat ing with the hens,
the cock finds a dry, sheltered nest site and lines a shallow
Left: The rhea's large beak can serve as a weapon. During the breeding season, the male may use it to inflict painful bites on his rivals. He may even snap at humans that intrude on his territory.
hole with vegetation . The cock watches over the hens as they lay their eggs. If a hen lays outside the nest, the cock uses his beak to roll the eggs into it.
The cock incubates the eggs
for up to 40 days, stretching out his neck and hissing violently to protect them from intruders. There may be up to 60 eggs in a nest, but up to 30 is more common . Since the cock cannot incubate all the eggs, a high percentage do not hatch .
The cock tends the chicks for six months, until they are fully grown and independent. They reach sexual maturity at two or three years old .
RED-BILLED QUELEA
,,-----------------~----------------~~~~~~ ORDER Posseriformes
FAMILY P/oceidoe
GENUS &: SPECIES Que/eo que/eo
The African red-billed quelea is one of the world~ most numerous birds, with a population of about a hundred billion. It is often described
as a feathered locust because of the damage it does to crops.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 5 in.
Weight: ~ oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: Beginning of
the rainy season. Varies according
to the region .
Eggs: 2-4, pale blue.
Incubation period: 12 days.
Fledging period: 2 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives in large flocks.
Diet: The seeds of wild grasses and
cultivated crops.
Lifespan: 2-3 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are more than 140 species
of weaver and sparrow in the P/o
ceidoe family. The genus Que/eo in
cludes the red-headed and cardi
nal queleas, Q. erythrops and Q.
cardinolis, both confined to Africa.
Range of the red-billed queJea.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in most parts of central and southern Africa south of the
Sahara Desert.
CONSERVATION
In regions where the red-billed quelea raids crops/ it is consid
ered a pest, and attempts have been made to control it. Its
population has declined recently, but the cause is unknown.
FEATURES OF THE RED-BILLED QUELEA
NONBREEDING PLUMAGE
Outside the breeding season , the male's brown plumage is similar to that of the female . He is distinguished only by his red beak.
Male: Develops a black face mask and a red ti nge to his chest and head plumage during the breeding season.
Bill : Short and conical. Ideal for stripping and crush ing seeds.
DQI/\IT~n 1/\1 II c: 11
Eggs: 2-4 , pale blue. Incubated by the female for 12 days.
Female: Brownish yellow plumage similar to that of a sparrow.
The red-billed quelea is a highly social bird that
prefers to live and breed in colonies. When large
numbers of these sparrow-size weaver finches take
to the air as a flock, they can easily be mistaken for
clouds of rippling smoke. As they jostle for perches
in a crowded tree, individual birds in the flock
can be seen making quick, darting flights.
~ HABITS Red-billed queleas inhabit the grasslands of Africa south of the Sahara. They fly, feed, and roost in enormous flocks that frequently swoop low over water. The lowest-flying birds drink while in flight. Like other weaverbirds, the red-billed quelea is very sociable and lives close to people. It often devastates cultivated
lands when searching for food. The quelea has the short, stout
bill of a seedeater. Its crop (the pouched enlargement of its gullet) can hold so much that, when full, the seeds can be identified through the taut skin.
Right: The red-billed que/eo builds its oval nest out of grass among acacia bushes.
~ BREEDING Outside the breeding season the male and the female quelea both have brownish yellow plumage. In the breeding season the male develops the main feature of his courtship coloration-a black mask around the face. The female's bill changes from red to yellow-brown at the height of the season.
During courtship the male builds part of a nest, where he perches and displays himself to
Left: During the breeding season the male develops a red tinge on his crown and chest plumage.
a female. The oval-shaped nest is completed after mating.
The female lays two to four pale blue eggs that she incubates for 12 days. When the chicks have hatched, both parents bring them food. For a few days the young are fed with caterpillars and adult insects; then they are given seeds. At two weeks of age the chicks leave the nest. At four weeks they are entirely independent.
Right: The quelea has a short conical bill that is ideal for its diet of seeds.
Left: Flocks are silent most of the year, but the birds chatter constantly throughout the breeding season.
DID YOU KNOW? e The red-billed quelea often ing colonies are so densely travels 30 to 40 miles each day packed that one small tree in search of food. Sometimes may hold as many as 500 it migrates vast distances to nests. Up to 6,000 nests have find a food supply. been seen in larger trees. e The red-billed quelea is also e Branches sometimes break commonly known as the red- under the weight of a tightly billed dioch. packed flock of red-billed
L.-e_T_h_e_r_e_d_-b_i_"e_d_q_U_e_l_ea_'_s _n_es_t_- _ q_U_e_le_a_s_ro_o_'ting tOgeth:.J
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The red-billed quelea's natural diet is wild grass seed. At dawn the flock leaves the roost to find a good feeding area. The birds settle together over a large area of land to eat.
As the day grows hotter, the red-billed quelea flies off to roost in a shady place close to water. There it rests, preens,
and drinks. When the day cools, the quelea resumes its search for food before roosting for the night. If the supply of grass seed becomes depleted, the quelea feeds on crops of wheat, corn, and rice. Thousands of queleas often converge on fields, stripping the crops bare in a few days.
"'" CARD 127 I EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK \(~------------------------------~~~~~~ .. ORDER ~ Falconiformes
FAMILY Accipitridae
.. GENUS & SPECIES ~ Accipiter nisus
The Eurasian spa"owhawk almost disappeared from parts of Europe in the 1960s due to the deadly effects of pesticides. Today,
this bird of prey is widespread throughout the region.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: 12-16 in .
Wingspan: About 2 ft . Weight: Male, 3-7 oz. Female,
6-12 oz.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2 years,
occasionally 1 .
Breeding season: Spring and
early summer.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 4 to 6, bluish white
speckled with brown.
Incubation: About 5 weeks.
Fledging period: About 4 weeks .
LIFESTYLE
Range of the Eurasian sparrowhawk.
DISTRIBUTION Habit: Solitary except during
breeding season .
Diet: Small birds in flight.
Call: Loud chattering.
Lifespan: 12 years recorded.
Found in coniferous and deciduous woodland, farmland
with groves, and plantations. Breeds throughout Europe
and across Asia to the Pacific; also in northern Africa.
CONSERVATION
RELATED SPECIES
There are about 50 species of the
genus Accipiter in the world .
The Eurasian sparrowhawk was almost wiped out in Great
Britain and parts of Europe by pesticides in the 1960s, but
subsequent protection has enabled its numbers to increase.
FEATURES OF THE EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK
Flight: Great skill in the air. Darts out of cover at great speed to kill prey. Flies low over the ground in open country, skimming over hedges.
Male: Smaller than female. Dark gray upper parts; reddish brown below.
Talons: Large middle talon. Extremely sharp for piercing prey.
Bill: Short, but hooked and sharp for tearing up prey.
Eggs: 4 to 6, bluish white speckled with brown. Incubated'for 33-35 days by female.
Female: Larger than male. Grayish brown plumage. Brown and white bars on underparts.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200461 PACKET 46
Like all other rap tors, or birds of prey,
the Eurasian sparrowhawk is a master of the air.
It hunts fast-moving small birds, often launching surprise
attacks. Although other rap tors have stronger legs,
the sparrowhawk's slim legs and long talons
enable it to snatch prey easily in the air.
~HABITS The Eurasian sparrowhawk is
one of Europe's most common
raptors, or birds of prey. In all
species of raptor the female is
heavier, but the weight differ
ence is most noticeable in spe
cies like the sparrowhawk that
feed on fast-moving prey.
Like all birds of prey, the spar
rowhawk is an excellent aerial
hunter. Its long tail acts like a
rudder, and its short, rounded
wings give it extra maneuver
ability when flying between
trees in dense woodland.
The sparrowhawk has strong,
slim legs and a long middle
talon to make seizing and killing
prey easier. Its sharp, hooked bill
is well suited to plucking feath
ers and ripping flesh.
Right: The chick depends on its parents even up to four weeks after it is fledged.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The Eurasian sparrowhawk eats
mainly small birds such as the
sparrow, starling, chaffinch, and
thrush. It hides in a tree or bush
and darts out quickly to snatch
the victim in its talons, often kill
ing it with the impact.
In open country the sparrow
hawk stays close to cover, flying
low over the ground, skimming
over fences and hedges and
left: The Eurasian sparrowhawk has large, forward-facing eyes that enable it to spot prey easily.
I ~ BIRDWATCH The Eurasian sparrowhawk's
I chattering call is easy to rec
ognize. The bird can be readi
ly spotted in open country,
where it flies low in search of
prey. But in wooded areas, it is
DID YOU KNOW? • About 70 percent of male
sparrowhawks die in their first
year. Some are killed acciden
tally by females, since they
are small enough to be mis
taken for prey.
• A female sparrowhawk can
be mistaken for a male gos-
then pouncing on any prey.
The female usually catches
the larger birds, such as wood
pigeons, and forces them to the
ground. The male tends to take
smaller birds, such as tits, often
snatching them out of the air.
The sparrowhawk always
plucks feathers from its dead
prey before eating it. It plucks
large birds on the ground, but
usually carries small prey to a
favorite tree stump or branch
for plucking.
more difficult to see, since it is
camouflaged by the leaves. In
spring the male sparrowhawk
can be seen performing his
aerial courtship displays high
above the treetops.
hawk, but a sparrowhawk has
a longer tail with a square
end, and its wings are shorter
than a goshawk's.
• In some European countries it is legal to kill sparrowhawks
because they are mistakenly
believed to kill game.
Breeding occurs in spring and
early summer so that the spar
rowhawk chicks will hatch when
there are plenty of small birds
to hunt.
The male establishes his terri
tory and encourages a mate
to enter. His courtship displays
consist of a series of quick soar
ing and falling movements high
above the treetops.
The female constructs the
Above: The Eurasian sparrowhawk perches on a tree stump to pluck its prey.
left: The bird's sharp, hooked bill is small, but it is extremely effective for tearing flesh.
nest, and the male helps collect
some of the materials. The nest
is made of both green and dry
twigs and set in the branches of
a conifer close to the trunk.
The female lays four to six blu
ish white eggs speckled with
brown. She incubates them un
til they hatch, about five weeks
later. The chicks are fledged at
four weeks but may stay in the
nest for another four weeks.
""'CARD 128 I VILLAGE WEAVER ,, ___________ ~ ______________________ G~R~O~U~P~2~:~B~IR~D~S~~ ... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS &: SPECIES
'11IIIIIIII Passeriformes "'11IIIIIIII Ploceidae "'11IIIIIIII Ploceus cucullatus
The village weaver is little larger than a sparrow, but its noisy colonies make it easy to locate. The trees in which it breeds are
filled with nests, each a masterpiece of construction.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 6-7 in.
Wing length: 3-4 in.
BREEDING
Breeding season: Varies depend
ing on region.
No. of broods: 1-3 per female
each season.
Eggs: 2-3. White, pink, blue, or
green. Plain or marked with red
dish brown.
Incubation: 2 weeks.
Fledging period: About 3 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Colonial. Bold and noisy.
Diet: Seeds and grain.
RELATED SPECIES
The village weaver is one of 100
species of typical weavers that form
the subfamily Ploceinae. A few oc
cur in southern Asia, and the re
mainder are African.
Range of the village weaver.
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, except in the far south and
the arid northeast. Introduced in the West Indies, where it is
now a major agricultural pest on some islands.
CONSERVATION
The village weaver is common and abundant, especially near
human settlements. It is regarded as a pest in some areas be
cause it damages crops.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VILLAGE WEAVER
Female: May have up to 3 mates in a single season.
Eggs: Color varies from white to pink, blue, or green.
I P
Frame: Made of palm leaves and grass. The nest is constructed around the frame.
PI
Nest: Often grouped with others in a single large tree. One tree may have hundreds of nests.
Male: Does not breed until second year, so it is outnumbered by females.
P T
The vii/age weaver has bright red eyes, and the male
is distinguished by its bold yellow-and-black plumage.
It is a familiar bird in much of Africa. It is called
vii/age weaver because it is usually found near
human settlements. At times, however, this bird incurs
the wrath of farmers because it raids their crops.
~ HABITAT The village weaver is one of
Africa's most abundant and
widespread birds. It is probably
the best known of the weavers,
ranging from the edge of the
Sahara to the grasslands of
southern Africa. This bird is
found in woodland savannas,
grasslands, cultivated lands with
scattered trees, and gardens
at altitudes over 8,000 feet. It
shuns dense tropical forest and
keeps to marshy or wooded
areas in very arid regions. It likes
water, so it appears in the dry
parts of eastern Africa only dur
ing the summer rains.
As its name implies, the vil
lage weaver often lives near vil
lages, especially in western and
central Africa. An entire colony
may even nest in a large village
tree. The birds feed on crops
and visit local dumps.
~ BEHAVIOR The village weaver is a noisy,
aggressive bird. Its life centers
on its breeding colonies, where
the birds crowd together and
often engage in disputes as they
build and repair their nests. In
central Africa these colonies of
ten occur next to or even com
bined with colonies of Vieillot's
black weaver, Ploceus nigemmus. Mating between the two
species, with the production of
hybrids, has been recorded.
The village weaver is very
vocal in the breeding season,
DID YOU KNOW? • The male village weaver
varies in coloring. In southem
Africa his head may be gold
flecked with black. In Angola
his head and nape are all
Right: A male vii/age weaver begins to build a nest in between two other nests by making a frame of grass and palm leaves.
chattering harshly. But once in
a while the whole colony sud
denly falls silent. The village
weaver utters repeated "chuck
chuck" notes when bringing
nesting materials to the colony.
Its alarm call is a sharp "zip."
Like most weavers and spar
rows, the village weaver has a
thick conical bill for crushing
seeds and grain. It forages for
food both on the ground and
in trees. In some places the
bird is a pest, feeding on crops.
It also eats flower juices.
black. In West Africa a chest
nut band may separate his
black crown and yellow nape.
• A colony may all rise into
the airfor no obvious reason.
Left: Many African farmers consider the village weaver a pest because it often raids their grain fields in search of food.
The village weaver's breeding
season varies across its range. In
humid equatorial regions, breed
ing occurs all year, but other
areas have distinct seasons. In
Nigeria, for example, breeding
occurs from June to August,
while south of the equator in
Angola the season runs from
January to March.
During the breeding season,
the male is a bold yellow, chest
nut, and black, but normally his
plumage is subdued, like the fe
male's. He starts to build a nest,
often on a branch overhanging
water. First he constructs a frame
out of long grasses or palm leaf
strips, which he obtains by peck
ing a hole in a frond, gripping
the torn rim in his beak, and fly
ing away. The male then weaves
a thick ball- or kidney-shaped
Far left: The plumage of the breeding male vii/age weaver can be a striking blend of black, yellow, and chestnut. But outside the nesting season, the male's coloring is more in keeping with the female's subdued hues.
Left; The female vii/age weaver is not as showy as her male counterpart.
nest around the framework.
The nest's entrance is under
neath, and the male hangs up
side down next to it, beating his
wings and chattering to attract a
female. His mate completes the
nest by lining it with seed heads
and other soft material.
After mating, the male takes
little further interest in the nest.
He may start another nest and
attract another mate. Most vil
lage weavers are polygamous:
males have up to five mates
and females up to three each
season. In many colonies fe
males outnumber males.
Incubation and the rearing
of young are left to the female.
She lays two or three eggs and
incubates them for about two
weeks. Three weeks later, the
young are ready to fly.
EURASIAN WOODCOCK
ORDER Charadriiformes
FAMILY Scolopacidae
GENUS & SPECIES Scolopax rusticola
CARD 129
The Eurasian woodcock is a member of the sandpiper family that has taken to living in forests and damp heathland. It uses its
long bill to probe the ground for earthworms.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 1 3-14 in.
Bill length: 2 ~-3 in.
Weight: 1 0-11 oz.
Wingspan: About 2 ft.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 1 year.
Male, 2 years.
Breeding season: Late March to
early April.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: Usually 4.
Incubation: 3-3 ~ weeks.
Fledging period: 2-3 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary except during the
breeding season.
Diet: Mainly earthworms and
ground-dwelling insects.
RELATED SPECIES
Belongs to the sandpiper family.
Related to the American wood
cock, Scolopax minor, and com
mon snipe, Galfinago gallinago.
Range of the Eurasian woodcock.
DISTRIBUTION
Lives in Great Britain, non-Mediterranean Europe, and east to
Japan, except in the extreme north. Northern birds winter in
western Europe, the Mediterranean, and southern Asia.
CONSERVATION
Although it is hunted across most of its range, the woodcock is
successful probably because of its camouflaging plumage. Its
main threat is habitat destruction.
FEATURES OF THE EURASIAN WOODCOCK
Flight: As the bird rises from covering vegetation , the flapping of its wings sounds like a piece of stiff paper being torn in half.
Eggs: Well camouflaged with chestnut blotches to blend in with leaf debris.
Young: The female woodcock is one of the few birds that carries
her young against her body 1 f
when flying from danger. r
Ci Mr.MXC:1 IMP BV/IMP INC: WILDI IFF FAC:T RINT A.
Eyes: Set far back on the head to allow
vision while bill is buried in ground.
Bill: Size varies but usually long
and effective for probing. Some
woodcocks have abnormally
short bills.
1 2 4 1 A 4
The Eurasian woodcock is so well camouflaged that it can
be almost invisible when on the ground. The bird's body
and wing plumage is dark brown, mottled with yellow,
cream, and black. Underneath, the plumage is light brown
with dark brown bars. The crown of the head is patterned
with dark and light stripes. The woodcock's chicks
and its eggs are also well camouflaged.
~ HABITS The Eurasian woodcock is a solitary bird that lives in for
ests and damp heathland. Its
rounded wings and squat, dumpy body make it easy to spot in flight. It flies with its
long, straight bill pointed down
ward, except when it is calling. The woodcock is hunted
The Eurasian woodcock is not easy to find because it is so well camouflaged. If it is dis
turbed it will rise straight up
from the ground and flyaway quickly, whirring its wings.
both for sport and for food,
but its camouflaging plumage helps to protect it from hunt
ers. It conceals itself on the ground in dense cover and re
mains perfectly still. Then, just before it is stepped on, it flies
straight up into the air, beating its wings rapidly.
This bird is easier to spot
when it is flying, especially during spring, when the male makes regular circular
display flights over the breed
ing area at dawn and dusk. J
~ BREEDING The male Eurasian woodcock
displays in spring. At dawn and dusk he flies low in a circle over
the breeding area and sings. His display flight, called roding, lasts about 20 minutes while he looks
for females on the ground. The same circular route is repeated day after day, and several males
may display over the same area. The male also displays on the
ground, strutting around each
Left: The Eurasian woodcock is a solitary bird except during the mating season in spring.
DID YOU KNOW? • The woodcock is among the few birds that carry their
young when in danger. The female presses a chick to her
body with bill and feet and flies with it to safety.
• If the nest is threatened, the female woodcock will fake injury in order to divert
female with his chest feathers
fluffed out and wings droop
ing down. After mating, the male stays
with the female until she lays
the eggs, but he takes no part in incubation or rearing the
chicks. Four yellowish eggs with brown blotches are laid in
a scrape (hole in the ground) lined with moss and leaves. The eggs are incubated for 20
to 24 days. The chicks fly at two to three weeks and are independent at five to six weeks.
a predator from her chicks.
• The woodcock can see well at dusk. Its eyes are set far back on the head so it can see even with its bill buried in soil.
• Woodcocks are the only
members of the sandPi:Jer family that live in woodland
rather than by water.
Above: The detailed camouflage markings of its plumage help the Eurasian woodcock survive even though it is hunted for sport.
Left: The woodcock forages in damp ground, where its sensitive bill can probe for the earthworms, insects, and larvae that are its main diet.
Above: Even at one day old, the woodcock chick is camouflaged and blends in with the undergrowth and leaves in its habitat. In this way the chick is well protected from daytime predators.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The Eurasian woodcock's main
food is earthworms, but it also
eats beetles, earwigs, caterpillars, spiders, and centipedes.
The woodcock feeds mainly
at dusk on damp ground. It probes soft soil with its long,
slender bill, which it buries almost completely when it de
tects food . The bird then twists the tips of the bill outward to
grasp its victim . If the prey is very small, the woodcock may
swallow it before removing its bill from the soil.
During bad weather the
woodcock sometimes probes for freshwater mollusks near tidal rivers .
"' CARD 130 I
ROYAL ALBATROSS
'(~------------------------------~~~~~~ .. ORDER
'1IIIIIIII Procellariiformes FAMILY Diomedeidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Diomedea epomophora
The royal albatross and its relative the wandering albatross are the largest of all seabirds. For years biologists failed to
recognize that these ocean birds were separate species.
____ ~,~K~E~YFACT~S------------------------------~ SIZES
Length: 3~-4 ft. Wingspan: 1 0-11 ~ ft. Weight: Up to 27 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 6-10 years.
Egg-laying: November or Decem
ber in the southern summer.
Egg: 1, large and white.
Incubation: 2-3 months.
Fledging period: About 8 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary. Usually seen flying
over the sea. Breeds in low-density
colonies.
Diet: Fish, squid, crustaceans.
Lifespan: Up to 58 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans; the Amsterdam alba
tross, D. amsterdamensis; and the
royal albatrosses are known collec
tively as the "great" albatrosses.
Range of royal albatrosses.
DISTRIBUTION
Breed on Chatham, Campbell, and Auckland islands in the
South Pacific and on South Island, New Zealand. Nonbreeders
range widely over the southern oceans.
CONSERVATION
In 1940 there were an estimated 19,000 pairs of royal alba
trosses. The population is vulnerable to the effects of pollution
and overfishing because of its low birth rate.
FEATURES OF ROYAL ALBATROSSES
Bill: Hooked and powerful. Ideal for catching and tearing apart fish and squid.
Egg: White. Large size and long incubation (2~ months) allow chick to develop.
Wings: Large surface area of wings compensate for the bird 's great
Plumage: There are 2 races of royal albatross: the northern race, [)fomedea epomophora sanfordi, and the southern race, D. e. epemophora. Sanfordl: shown here, has a completely black upper wing. Epomophora has mucl:! more white on the leading edge of the upper wing.
body weight. Long, narrow wings are ideal for soaring in updrafts and gliding on
ocean currents.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200471 PACKET 47
Propelled by the wind, a royal albatross can glide
for hours over the sea on its long, narrow wings.
An immature bird will roam widely for years across
the southern oceans. But a mature adult rarely strays
far from its breeding site on islands in the South Pacific.
Only when gathering food for its young does the
mature bird make a long flight over the sea.
~ HABITS Stretching its huge wings out
stiffly, a royal albratross can glide for hours without a sin
gle wingbeat. This bird rides the wind with ease, gliding at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. Flying in this way allows a royal albatross to cover vast stretches of ocean without using much energy.
Problems arise, however, when the wind slows. A royal albatross must then alternate short glides with tiring bursts of flapping. If conditions are too calm, the bird must rest on the sea until the wind picks up. Its long wings and heavy body are then a drawback:
the albatross needs a long run to become airborne.
An adult royal albatross is
most commonly seen when hunting for food for its young near breeding sites in New Zealand and on islands in the South Pacific.
Immature birds appear to spend their first six years circling the southern oceans. They are regularly seen off the
South American coast as far north as Peru and southern Brazil. Later they tend to return to the breeding region, lingering around their old
nesting sites before settling down to breed.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Royal albatrosses feed on fish, squid, krill, and other crustaceans. They take food from the ocean's surface, sometimes dipping below the surface to grasp a fish. The bird's sharp hooked bill is ideal for holding fish and tearing flesh.
Because some sea animals,
including squid, move to the surface of the water at night, royal albatrosses often feed in
Left: Like other albatrosses, royal albatrosses have distinctive tube nostrils on their bills.
DID YOU KNOW? • The low birth rate of royal albatrosses is balanced by long life and low mortality. Only about 3 out of 100 birds die each year.
• The two-and-a-half month incubation period of royal albatrosses is one of the longest among birds.
the dark. They sometimes circle trawlers in order to snatch
discarded fish and refuse, but they scavenge less often than wandering albatrosses.
During the breeding season, an adult albatross often flies hundreds of miles over the sea to gather food for its nestling. When the parent returns, it regurgitates half-digested food for the chick.
Right: Rarely together at the nest, male and female take turns incubating their egg.
• Unlike most birds, royal albatrosses may court at sea and arrive at breeding grounds
already paired.
• If disturbed, a young chick may spit an oily, smelly substance at intruders. This by
product of its fish diet is also used to waterproof feathers.
~ BREEDING In October many breeding adults return to the colonies where they mated two years earlier. These colonies are on islands in the South Pacific and off New Zealand. The male usually arrives first to prepare a new nest site or restore an old one.
An unpaired adult searches for a mate. The pairs of birds then engage in striking courtship rituals, facing each other with their bills pointed upward and wings spread. Old pairs perform similar displays.
Left: The chick's fat reserves and down help it fight cold in the nest for eight months.
Left: Royal albatrosses conserve energybygJiding on air currents over water. Their webbed feet act as stabilizers in flight and as air brakes when landing.
The nest is about 30 inches
wide and filled with wet mud and grass. The male and female
take turns incubating the egg for about a week at a time.
After hatching, the chick is brooded for four to five weeks. Then both parents fly out to find food. As sea trips become longer, feeding visits are less frequent. After eight months at the nest site, the parents leave
their young. They retire to the sea for several months of rest, which they need after more than a year's breeding effort. Royal albatrosses are therefore among the few birds that breed only every two years.