Category Zoology

       Some say the males of the great bustard are possibly the heaviest flying birds. An adult male is 90 to 105 centimetres tall. The bird typically weighs about 7 kilograms; however, a male bird can weigh up to 18 kilograms!

       Their breeding takes place in open grasslands and farmlands of southern and central Europe and across temperate Asia. While the great bustards in Europe do not migrate from one region to another, their Asian counterparts move farther south in winter.

       These birds are considered vulnerable, as their population is rapidly decreasing. In fact, the bird became extinct in Great Britain.

       The last bird of the country was reportedly shot dead in 1832. Another 60 per cent of its population is found in Portugal and Spain. These birds are omnivorous, relishing different foods in different seasons.

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        The greater flamingo is one among the most easily distinguishable birds on account of its intense colouration.

       Other than their characteristic pink colour, the most striking aspect of the bird is its unusual bill. While the bill is short and straight in young birds, it becomes hooked as the bird mature. They are very sociable birds and from breeding colonies of many thousands of individuals. They construct their nests with mud.

      The largest species in the flamingo family, the greater flamingo is found in Africa, India, the Middle East, and southern Europe. Greater flamingos have a height of 1.1 to 1.5 metres. They can weigh up to 3.4 kilograms. The largest male flamingo has been recorded to have a height of 187 cm and weighed 4.5 kg.

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       A crimson chat can fake an injury to distract a predator such as cat, snake or fox from discovering its nest and eggs. With crimson colour all over its body, it looks as if someone had sprayed a red pichku while celebrating holi. It is small bird with a short bill that curves downwards. It is usually 10 to 13 centimetres in length and 10 to 11 grams in weight. The crimson chat is also known as the tri-coloured chat, saltbush canary, and crimson-breasted nun. Endemic to Australia, they feed on the ground. Their diet consists mostly of insects.

        Both males and females help in the building of the nest which is in the shape of a cup. They are usually located close to ground. The female bird lays 2 to 5 pink and white eggs, with brown-red-spots.

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      A burrowing owl’s name comes  from its nesting habits. The burrowing owl is a small owl, commonly found in the grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other pen dry areas with low vegetation in North and South America. One of their distinctive features is their long legs that were developed because of their living in open grasslands. Their legs help them to sprint as well as fly while hunting.

      They nest and roost in burrows, excavated by prairie dogs. While other owls are comfortable getting out during the night, burrowing owls are often active during the day, although they tend to avoid the midday heat. Their hunting usually take place from dusk to dawn. They measure 19 to 28 centimetres in length and have a wingspan of 50 to 61 centimetres. They weigh between 140 and 240 grams.

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       A bird with ordinary white and brown feathers becomes distinct because of its blue feet. Their name booby is derived from ’bobo’ the Spanish word for stupid. These birds re popularly considered stupid because they are quite fearless of Man and do run away there is an enemy nearby. However, they can fly very well and are capable of swimming underwater in search of prey.

       These birds usually lay one to three eggs at a time. Unlike many other species, these birds wait for the last egg to be laid to start incubation. This phenomenon is known as asynchronous hatching. This practice helps all the eggs to hatch together. When chicks hatch together, there will be fight for food among them. Such fights may even lead to killing each other. For scientists, the blue-footed nobody is an important model for studying parent-offspring conflict and sibling rivalry.

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          Hummingbirds are very small birds. The bee hummingbird is the smallest among them. As their name suggests, they are almost the size of a bee. The male may weigh about 1.95 grams! Now, compare the bee hummingbird with an ostrich that weighs about 145 kg.

          Hummingbirds are swift, flitting through the air like a flash. They are generally found in Cuba and the Isle of Pines. The nectar form flower is their main food. However, they also prey on insects occasionally. The colouration of the bird is so brilliant that its iridescence makes it look like a tiny jewel. A lot of research is being done in determining the movement of the bird; for now, we do not know much about it. Ornithologists consider the birds sedentary, as they seem to spend a long time in one place.

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