Category Amazing Birds

Can the rock ptarmigan change colour?

       Do you know that some birds can change colours with changing seasons? The plumage of the rock ptarmigan undergoes dramatic changes throughout the year; its feathers moult from white in winter to brown in spring or summer. The rock ptarmigan is a bird that comes in the order of Galliformes, which includes chicken, turkey and grouse. it is 34 to 36 centimetres long with a wingspan of 54 to 60 centimetres. These birds live primarily birds can change colours on the Arctic tundra and on alpine slopes where plant cover is minimal.

       The bird is simply known as ptarmigan in the UK and Canada. The rock ptarmigan is the official bird of the territory of Nunavut, Canada and the official game bird of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

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Which is the largest flying parrot?

        If you are a bird lover, you would certainly love to be-friend a hyacinth macaw. Predominantly blue in colour, the bird is also known as the blue macaw, it is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species, weighing about 1.2 to 1 .7 kilograms. The bird has a length of 100 centimetres and much of its length comes from its long tail.

       Native to Brazil, much of the hyacinth macaw’s diet consists of Brazilian nuts, from native palms such as arcuri and bocaiuve. These birds are intelligent. Limited tool use has been observed in both wild and captive hyacinth macaws. Although these beautiful birds could be seen throughout Brazil and parts of neighbouring regions, their population is declining. The reasons for the decline are habitat loss due to agriculture and poaching. The species is classified as vulnerable on the international Union Conservation of Nature’s Red List.

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Why sun parakeets are called so?

      Who would not like to have a pet parrot? There are hundreds of kinds of parrots with varying colouration, kept as pets by human beings. Among them, the sun parakeet is a favourite of aviculturists.

      The bird is also known as sun conure. It derives its name from the vivid yellows, reds, and oranges of its plumage. In fact, the sun parakeet is one of the most brightly coloured of the small South American parrots.

       The sun parakeet is a medium-sized, vibrantly coloured parrot native to northeastern South America.

       Like most other species of parakeets, the sun parakeets announce their presence with loud screeching in flight. They chatter while eating and are quite sociable. They roost and feed in small groups. Their food consists of fruits, flowers, berries, nuts and insects. It is said that a sun parakeet kept in captivity may live up to 30 years! They weigh about 110 grams and have a length of about 30 centimetres.

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Which bird has the greatest wingspan in the world?

       The wandering albatross has the greatest known wingspan that measure up to 3.5 metres. Sometimes, it cans some up to 4 metres! The bird is, in fact, one of the largest birds in the world.

       This bird loves to travel and gets its name from its wanderlust. It is one of the most far ranging birds in the world. Do you know that some of these birds are known to cover more than 1,20,000 km in a year? A bird of the open oceans, it feeds mainly on squid and fish taken from the water surface, usually at night.

      The wandering albatross is, in fact one of the best known and studied species of birds in the world.

Picture Credit : Google

 

Is the blue-faced honeyeater an angry bird?

        The blue-faced honeyeater is a gorgeous bird; but it can be menacing and intimidating when it is not in the right mood!

       The blue-faced honeyeater is large and easily identifiable. They are known for the large patches of blue skin around their eyes, which give them their name. These birds are commonly found in northern Australia and New Guinea. The blue-faced honeyeaters usually do not make nests. Sometimes they use the nests of Austral-Papuan babblers and miners. At times, they forcibly evict the original occupants!

       However, they may construct their own nests occasionally by building a large cup-shaped structure using twigs and other vegetation. Very often, these birds become aggressive and intimidating if they perceive an intruder coming closer to their habitat. They are dangerous during breeding season as well.

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What is special about the greater hoopoe-lark?

       Larks are known for their songs. Many poems and songs were written on the sad songs of larks.

       Apart from its song, the bird has an odd ability to stay alive for a long time without water. The bird prefers to live in hot and arid habitats; and in order to cope with the heat, it feeds in the early morning and just before sunset. The bird can sing while diving down.

       The greater hoopoe-lark is s song bird, which can be easily identified due to its distinct physical features. It has a long curved Hoopoe-like bill and a bi\old wing pattern. Its wing pattern is the most striking of any lark and mainly provides protection from predators. Its plumage makes it visible in flight and indistinguishable on land. The bird was formerly known as bifasciated lark and sometimes as the large desert lark.

Picture Credit : Google