Reference:
Most Amazing Exotic Birds
The Northern Cardinal
The male Northern Cardinal may be responsible for getting more people to
open up a field guide than any other bird. They're a perfect combination of familiarity, conspicuousness,
and style: a shade of red you can't take your eyes off. Even the brown females sport a sharp crest and
warm red accents. Cardinals don't migrate and they don't molt into a dull plumage, so they're still
breathtaking in winter's snowy backyards. In summer, their sweet whistles are one of the first sounds
of the morning.
Facts:
1.The oldest recorded Northern Cardinal was a female, and was 15 years, 9 months old when she was found in Pennsylvania.
Facts:
1.The oldest recorded Northern Cardinal was a female, and was 15 years, 9 months old when she was found in Pennsylvania.
2.The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding
territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary
intruder.
3.Many people are perplexed each spring by the sight of a cardinal attacking its reflection in a window, car mirror, or shiny bumper. Both males and females do this, and most often in spring and early summer when they are obsessed with defending their territory against any intruders. Birds may spend hours fighting these intruders without giving up. A few weeks later, as levels of aggressive hormones subside, these attacks should end (though one female kept up this behavior every day or so for six months without stopping).
4.Only a few female North American songbirds sing, but the female Northern Cardinal does, and often while sitting on the nest. This may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest. A mated pair shares song phrases, but the female may sing a longer and slightly more complex song than the male.
3.Many people are perplexed each spring by the sight of a cardinal attacking its reflection in a window, car mirror, or shiny bumper. Both males and females do this, and most often in spring and early summer when they are obsessed with defending their territory against any intruders. Birds may spend hours fighting these intruders without giving up. A few weeks later, as levels of aggressive hormones subside, these attacks should end (though one female kept up this behavior every day or so for six months without stopping).
4.Only a few female North American songbirds sing, but the female Northern Cardinal does, and often while sitting on the nest. This may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest. A mated pair shares song phrases, but the female may sing a longer and slightly more complex song than the male.
The Peacock
Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green)
known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive
train that is more than 60 percent of the bird's total body length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue,
gold, red, and other hues.Females choose
their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.
Population
Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants, and small creatures. There are two familiar peacock species. The blue peacock lives in India and Sri Lanka.
Population
Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants, and small creatures. There are two familiar peacock species. The blue peacock lives in India and Sri Lanka.
A more distinct and little-known species, the Congo peacock, inhabits African rain forests.
Peafowl such as the blue peacock have been admired by humans and kept as pets for thousands of years.
Selective breeding has created some unusual color combinations, but wild birds are themselves bursting
with vibrant hues. They can be testy and do not mix well with other domestic birds.
The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl. Suitable males may gather harems of several females, each of which will lay three to five eggs. In fact, wild peafowl often roost in forest trees and gather in groups called parties.
The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl. Suitable males may gather harems of several females, each of which will lay three to five eggs. In fact, wild peafowl often roost in forest trees and gather in groups called parties.
The Golden Pheasant
A truly magnificent sight, the Golden or Chinese Pheasant is another
type of bird that catches the eye with a wonderful display of color. These are gamebirds,
native to western China, although they have been bred in other countries like the UK, and
are unmistakably lovely with a golden crest, rump and bright red body. When showing off to
attract a mate, the male spreads his deep orange 'cape,' which looks just like a black and
orange fan covering everything except the bright yellow eye. It is native to forests in
mountainous areas of western China, but feral populations have been established in the
United Kingdom and elsewhere.
The Golden Pheasant's preferred habitats are dense forests
and woodlands and sparse undergrowth.Golden Pheasants mainly feed on the ground on grain,
invertebrates, berries, grubs and seeds as well as other kinds of vegetation.
Golden Pheasant Behaviour
Little is known about their behaviour in the wild as although
the males are very colourful birds, they are difficult to spot. The best time to possibly
observe a Golden Pheasant is very early in the morning when they may be seen in clearings.
Vocalisations include a "chack chack" sound. Males have a distinctive
metallic call during the breeding season.Also, during the males elaborate courtship display,
he will spread his neck feathers over his
head and beak, like a cape.Macaw
Fast Facts
Type:Bird
Diet:Omnivore
Average life span in the wild:
Up to 60 years
Size: 11.8 to 39.5 in (30 to 100 cm)
Weight: 4.5 oz to 3.75 lbs (129 to 1,695 g)
Group name: Flock
Did you know?
The hyacinth macaw-the largest of all parrots-has an enormous wingspan of more than 4 ft (127 cm).
Relative: Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man
Diet:Omnivore
Average life span in the wild:
Up to 60 years
Size: 11.8 to 39.5 in (30 to 100 cm)
Weight: 4.5 oz to 3.75 lbs (129 to 1,695 g)
Group name: Flock
Did you know?
The hyacinth macaw-the largest of all parrots-has an enormous wingspan of more than 4 ft (127 cm).
Relative: Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man
Macaws are beautiful,
brilliantly colored members of the parrot family.
Many macaws have vibrant plumage. The coloring is suited to life in Central and South American rain forests, with their green canopies and colorful fruits and flowers. The birds boast large, powerful beaks that easily crack nuts and seeds, while their dry, scaly tongues have a bone inside them that makes them an effective tool for tapping into fruits.Macaws also have gripping toes that they use to latch onto branches and to grab, hold, and examine items. The birds sport graceful tails that are typically very long.
Macaws are intelligent, social birds that often gather in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. Their loud calls, squawks, and screams echo through the forest canopy. Macaws vocalize to communicate within the flock, mark territory, and identify one another. Some species can even mimic human speech.
Flocks sleep in the trees at night, and in the morning they may fly long distances to feed on fruit, nuts, insects, and snails. Some species also eat damp soil, which may help to neutralize chemicals in their fruity diet and ease their stomachs.Macaws typically mate for life. They not only breed with, but also share food with their mates and enjoy mutual grooming.There are 17 species of macaws, and several are endangered. These playful birds are popular pets, and many are illegally trapped for that trade. The rain forest homes of many species are also disappearing at an alarming rate. Hyacinth, red-fronted, and blue-throated macaws are seriously endangered.
The glaucus macaw and Spix's macaw may already be extinct in the wild.
Many macaws have vibrant plumage. The coloring is suited to life in Central and South American rain forests, with their green canopies and colorful fruits and flowers. The birds boast large, powerful beaks that easily crack nuts and seeds, while their dry, scaly tongues have a bone inside them that makes them an effective tool for tapping into fruits.Macaws also have gripping toes that they use to latch onto branches and to grab, hold, and examine items. The birds sport graceful tails that are typically very long.
Macaws are intelligent, social birds that often gather in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. Their loud calls, squawks, and screams echo through the forest canopy. Macaws vocalize to communicate within the flock, mark territory, and identify one another. Some species can even mimic human speech.
Flocks sleep in the trees at night, and in the morning they may fly long distances to feed on fruit, nuts, insects, and snails. Some species also eat damp soil, which may help to neutralize chemicals in their fruity diet and ease their stomachs.Macaws typically mate for life. They not only breed with, but also share food with their mates and enjoy mutual grooming.There are 17 species of macaws, and several are endangered. These playful birds are popular pets, and many are illegally trapped for that trade. The rain forest homes of many species are also disappearing at an alarming rate. Hyacinth, red-fronted, and blue-throated macaws are seriously endangered.
The glaucus macaw and Spix's macaw may already be extinct in the wild.