RED-BREASTED MERGANSER ORDER Anseriformes FAMILY Anatidae GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS & SPECIES Mergus serra tor The red-breasted merganser is an excellent swimmer and diver. A slender, graceful bird, it flies low and fast over the water and is one of the fastest ducks in the world. KEY FACTS I SIZES Length: 1 ft. Wingspan: ft. Weight: 2-3 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2 years . Breeding season: Summer. No. of broods: 1. Eggs: 8-11; greenish or buff. Incubation: 1 month . Fledging: About 2 months. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, living in flocks. Frequents coastal waters in winter; some birds move inland to breed. Diet: Small fish and other water- dwelling animals; also some water plants. Lifespan: Oldest recorded, 9 years. RELATED SPECIES A close relative is the common mer- ganser, Mergus merganser. Range of the red-breasted merganser. DISTRIBUTION Found across much of northern Europe, Asia, and North Amer- ica, mainly near the coast but also near large inland waters. CONSERVATION Although persecuted because it eats fish, the red-breasted mer- ganser is not seriously threatened. The population in Europe is about 50,000. In North America, it is close to 250,000. FEATURES OF THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Body: Long , giving a slender, elegant shape . Bill: Long and thin . Red in both sexes, with black line along the top . MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM Female: Pale gray, scalloped plumage with brownish head and a long , shaggy double cre st li ke that of the male. PRINTED IN U.S.A. Flight: Reveals white f lashes on wings (male shown) . Male: Mainly gray plumage with speckled , reddish breast and white neck. Bottle-green head has a ragged double crest. THE MERGANSER'S BILL One of the so-called sawbills, the duck has finely serrated edges on its bill for gripping slippery fish. 0160200881 PACKET 88
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RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
ORDER Anseriformes
FAMILY Anatidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS & SPECIES Mergus serra tor
The red-breasted merganser is an excellent swimmer and diver. A slender, graceful bird, it flies low and fast over the water
Found across much of northern Europe, Asia, and North Amer
ica, mainly near the coast but also near large inland waters.
CONSERVATION
Although persecuted because it eats fish, the red-breasted mer
ganser is not seriously threatened. The population in Europe is
about 50,000. In North America, it is close to 250,000.
FEATURES OF THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
Body: Long, giving a slender, elegant shape.
Bill: Long and thin . Red in both sexes,
with black line along the top.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Female: Pale gray, scalloped plumage with brownish head
and a long, shaggy double crest like that of the male.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Flight: Reveals white flashes on wings (male shown) .
Male: Mainly gray plumage with speckled, reddish breast and white neck.
Bottle-green head has a ragged double crest.
THE MERGANSER'S BILL One of the so-called sawbills, the duck has finely serrated edges on its bill for gripping slippery fish.
0160200881 PACKET 88
The red-breasted merganser is a type of duck known as a
sawbill. The serrated edges on its long, thin bill make it ideal
for grasping small, slippery fish. This birds liking for salmon
has brought it into conflict with anglers, but despite some
persecution its populations are not seriously threatened.
In North America, it is the most numerous merganser
species, with a population of almost 250,000.
~ HABITAT In winter the red-breasted merganser lives in a flock that usually numbers 20 to 30 birds but sometimes up to a thousand. At this time of year, the flocks are found in coastal areas. The birds prefer sheltered, shallow bays, estuaries, and inlets with clear waters and plenty of suitable banks where they can rest.
In summer many red-breasted mergansers stay in their coastal habitats, but others move inland to breed near clear lakes
or rivers. The migrating birds tend to settle in the band of coniferous forest that runs around the lands south of the Arctic Circle. There they find dense vegetation for nesting and watery habitats for feeding. In summer, as in winter, they are sociable birds, nesting in colonies.
After breeding, the migrating populations come back to their winter quarters on the coasts. Separate flocks mix quite freely during the winter months.
~ BREEDING The male red-breasted merganser tries to attract a mate with a series of displays, including the "curtsy." In this display, he dips his neck, raises his back out of the water, and then points his tail down. The male also chases females and rivals across the water. After pairing up, the birds stay together only to mate. The male usually leaves when the female begins incubating.
The female finds a nest site among dense vegetation, with grass, brambles, or heather for cover. The approach to the nest is often a tunnel through thick
Left: In the breeding season, the female red-breasted merganser watches for courting males.
DID YOU KNOW? • One red-breasted merganser was recorded flying at a speed of about 37 miles per hour over Alaska. • The red-breasted merganser has a variety of nicknames. It is called the spring sheldrake or sea robin in the United States, the popping wigeon or beldrake in Ireland, and the her-
plant growth. The bird may also nest among tree roots or boulders or in an old rabbit burrow. The nest is a shallow dent in the ground lined with grass, leaves, and the female's down. She lays 8 to 11 eggs, which she covers with down when away from the nest.
The ducklings can find their own food soon after hatching but are watched very closely by their mother. Broods often join together when the females begin to leave the young on their own. Often one female is left to watch several sets of young.
Right: After a dive, the duck may rise up from the surface to shake water off its wings.
aid or earl duck in Scotland. ct In 1898 a red-breasted merganser became the first duck to be banded. The experiment helped to establish banding as a method for tracking birds. • The red-breasted merganser eats large quantities of fish. A duckling eats over 45 pounds in its first three months of life.
BIRDWATCH The red-breasted merganser usually lives in small flocks in the winter. The birds are easy to spot in their coastal habitats. In the summer the bird breeds in boreal forests and in swampy tundra, usually near the coast but also on inland
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The red-breasted merganser feeds mainly on fish. In fresh waters it favors salmon, sticklebacks, pike, and eels. In coastal waters it eats herring, flounder, sand eels, and gobies. It also feeds on aquatic insect larvae, crabs, and shrimps, as well as the seeds, leaves, and roots of underwater plants.
The duck dips its head below
Left: Primarily coastal, the redbreasted merganser favors sheltered areas, where it dives for fish.
lakes and rivers. The very well hidden nest is obvious only when the ducklings appear.
The red-breasted merganser is not noisy. In the breeding season the female utters a rasping call, and the male responds with a catlike call.
the water's surface to look for food, then dives quickly and propels itself through the water with its wings and feet. It can stay submerged for up to two minutes, but it usually surfaces in half a minute. It often feeds in a small group, moving across the water in a line to force fish into the shallows and then diving for them. It generally brings food to the surface to eat and, like many fish-eating birds, takes a sip of water after eating.
SNOW BUNTING
"'-... ORDER , ~ Passeriformes
FAMILY Emberizidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS &: SPECIES Plectrophenax nivalis
The snow bunting rears its young farther north than any other land bird. Its nesting sites include the northernmost tip of
Greenland, within 370 miles of the North Pole.
KEY FACTS ----------------------SIZES
Length: 6-7 in .
Weight: 1-1 ~ oz .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: May to July.
No. of broods: 1-2.
Eggs: Usually 4-6, occasionally 7-8.
Incubation: 12-13 days.
Fledging period: 10-12 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable outside the breed
ing season.
Diet: Insects in summer and seeds
in winter.
Call: Short, descending whistle or
loud, warbling song .
Lifespan: 4 years recorded .
RELATED SPECIES
The closest relative of the snow
bunting is McKay's bunting, Plectrophenax hyperboreus, which nests
only on islands in the Bering Sea.
Breeding range of the snow bunting.
DISTRIBUTION
Winter range.
The snow bunting breeds along the northern coasts of North
America, Europe, and Asia and on islands in Arctic waters. Most
populations winter farther south.
CONSERVATION
The snow bunting is a common bird on its northern breeding
grounds. It is also common, but more spread out, on its win
tering grounds farther south.
r ATURES OF THE SNOW BUNTING
Female, winter plumage: Rusty brown and white. Has less white on her wings than the male.
Male, summer plumage: Mostly white except for black back, tail, and primary wing feathers .
Feet: Typical for perching bird : 3 toes ' point forward and 1 backward .
Flight: Undulating . Large white flashes on wings. Male in rusty brown winter plumage is shown above.
Bill: Black in the summer. Yellow
with black tip during winter.
0160200851 PACKET 85
The snow bunting is named both for its extreme northerly
breeding grounds and for its predominately snow-white
breeding plumage. During the winter months, the bird
usually moves south to more temperate regions in Europe,
Asia, and North America. At that time the snow bunting
can sometimes be spotted in the United States along
the coasts as well as on inland hills and fields.
~ HABITAT The snow bunting lives as well as breeds on the northernmost coasts of North America, Asia, and Europe and on islands in the Arctic. Its breeding range stretches south to Labrador.
This bird inhabits tundra and rocky coasts in addition
~I BIRDWATCH During the mating season, the adult male snow bunting is almost unmistakable in flight. His breeding plumage appears to be almost entirely white.
I You are most likely to see the snow bunting during the win-
to bare mountaintops and outcrops in glaciers, usually at elevations over 3,000 feet. In the extreme north of its range, it also lives at sea level. In winter it flies south to grassy coastal areas, sand dunes, and open inland fields.
ter, when it visits the northern states and southern Canada. It is easiest to spot on the coasts but may also be seen inland . This bird almost never perches in trees, preferring to run or to hop across the ground.
~ BREEDING The male snow bunting displays his bold black-and-white coloring when the breeding season begins in May. He struts away from the female with his wing and tail feathers spread. Then he turns and runs back toward her and repeats the ritual. He also sings a flutelike tune, either in flight or on the ground.
The female builds a nest of dead grasses, stalks, moss, and
Left: The snow bunting sings its loud musical song both in flight and when perching.
DID YOU KNOW? • In some regions people call snow buntings "snowflakes" because flying winter flocks resemble a flurry of snow. • Reports of inland sightings of the snow bunting are often mistaken. A partially albino sparrow is usually responsible for the confusion. • No more than 15 pairs of
lichens. She lines it with fine grass and sometimes wool and feathers. She usually lays four to six eggs, which vary from pale yellow to bluish green, and incubates them for 12 to 1 3 days.
Both parents feed the nestlings day and night. The young can fly after about 1 0 days. The adults may have time to raise a second brood, especially in the southern parts of the range.
Right: The female incubates her eggs for up to two weeks while the male feeds her.
snow buntings breed and winter in Great Britain. They are all confined to Scotland. • Almost all snow buntings fly south for the winter, but the birds that breed in Iceland do not usually migrate. • McKay's bunting is a rare bird that was not discovered until 1879.
Left: After molting (shedding) in the fall, the male snow bunting acquires his winter plumage. His head, breast, and upperparts gain a reddish tinge, and his usually black bill becomes yellow with a black tip.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The snow bunting eats seeds, grasses, buds, and insects. In summer, air currents carry insects as far as the Arctic snow fields, where they are stranded as well as paralyzed by the cold. Snow buntings spot the insects against the white snow and pick them off easily. Young birds eat almost nothing but insects.
Large winter flocks feed on seeds and grains in fields . The snow buntings "leapfrog" over one another as the flock moves forward. Sometimes the birds comb beaches for food.
Left: The snow bunting eats mostly insects, but its diet varies in the fall and winter.
MERLIN
ORDER Falconiformes
FAMILY Fa/canidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS & SPECIES Falco columbarius
The merlin is a bird of prey that hunts by day. A daring and determined predator, it dashes out from its perch at
great speed to strike down small birds with deadly accuracy.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 1 ft. Wingspan: 1 ~-2 ft. Weight: Male, 5-6 oz. Female,
7-8 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 2 years.
Female, 1 year.
Breeding season: May to July.
No. of broods: 1.
Eggs: 2-7, usually 5-6.
Incubation: 1 month.
Fledging period: About 1 month.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Mainly solitary; day-active.
Diet: Mainly small birds; some in
sects and small mammals.
Call: High-pitched cackling cries.
lifespan: Oldest recorded, 1 O~
years.
RElATED SPECIES
There are 37 species in the genus
Falca, including the American kes
trel, F. sparverius.
FEATURES OF THE MERLIN
Male: Pale streaked face. Slate-blue crown. Bluegray back and tail feathers. Whitish underparts with brown streaks.
Eyes: Dark red . Give good vision in dim light, but cannot see
in the pitch black nesting cave , where the bird re
lies on echolocation .
Bill : Strong and hooked for grabbing fruit from •• branches . Surrounded by stiff black bristles .
0160200931 PACKET 93
The oilbirds nestlings feed heavily during their first two
months, building up stores of fat in preparation for
learning to fly. In the past, Native Americans used to
venture into the remote nesting caves to hunt the plump
young birds. They then extracted the fat and processed it
into a pure oil that was used for cooking food and burning
in lamps. This practice is the origin of the oilbird's name.
~ HABITS The oil bird inhabits deep moun
tain caves in Panama, northern
South America, and on Trinidad's
northern coast. Up to 50 pairs
nest in the pitch-black depths.
They shun light, waiting until
dusk to leave their cave.
The oilbird is well adapted to
its dark environment. It moves
skillfully through the crowded
cave on its long wings, and its
large eyes give it keen night vi
sion. It cannot see in total dark
ness, however. Some nests are
2,600 feet from the cave's en
trance-the only source of light.
In these depths, the bird navi-
gates by echolocation, emitting
high-pitched clicking sounds as
it flies. The sound waves bounce
off cave walls and stalactites, as
well as other birds. The echoes
then help the oilbird judge its
distance from these objects. The
bird's clicks become more fre
quent as it nears an object, pro
viding an accurate idea of the
object's location
The clicking in oilbird caves is
audible to humans. If a human
enters or if the beam of a flash
light penetrates the darkness,
the cave erupts with the shriek
ing calls of frightened birds.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The oilbird feeds on fruit, espe
cially the fruit of oily trees such
as laurel, palm, and balsam fir.
Foraging trips start at dusk and
may take the bird 30 miles from
its nesting cave.
The oilbird has a keen sense
of smell, which helps it find the
flavorful or spicy fruit that it gen
erally eats. After it picks up the
scent of a food source, the bird
uses its acute night vision to lo
cate the tree. It usually seizes
the fruit in flight, hovering be-
Left: The oilbird's large eyes and hooked bill help it feed from fruit trees at night.
I DID YOU KNOW? • Using echolocation, the oil
bird can detect objects only if
they are 14 inches or more in
width. But the bird can fly the
entire length of a 2,600-foot
cave without hitting anything.
• Trinidadians call the oilbird
diablo tin, which means "little
devil," because of its shrieking,
bansheelike call. Similarly, its
side a branch and then plucking
its prize with its strong, hooked
bill. It may at times perch on a
branch to feed .
The oilbird swallows the fruit
whole or in large chunks and
retains the food in its stomach
until it returns to the cave be
fore sunrise. The following day
it stays in its nest, digesting its
meal. It then regurgitates the
seeds, which drop to the cave
floor and form a layer of sprout
ing humus.
Right: The oilbird can fly through a pitch-black cave without bumping into anything.
Spanish name is gu6charo, or
"the yelling one."
• Only one other bird-the
cave swiftlet of southern India
and southeast Asia--€mploys
echolocation to navigate.
• The oilbird is one of the few
birds that has a keen sense of
smell. Others include the kiwis
and storm petrels.
An oilbird pair breeds in the
same nest each year. Set high
on a cave ledge, the shallow
nest is made from a paste of re
gurgitated fruit. The nest gets
higher and bulkier over time as
the birds add more paste to it.
Oilbirds can breed at any time
but mate most often early in the
year. The female lays two to four
eggs at intervals of a few days,
and both sexes incubate them
for about a month.
The hatchling's sparse down is
Left: Tiny seedlings sprout from regurgitated seeds on cave ledges where the oilbird roosts.
Left: The oilbird chick feeds intensively on regurgitated oily fruit, and it soon grows very fat. By the time it is ready to fly, it weighs more than an adult oilbird.
replaced by a second coat of
down after three weeks. Feath
ers appear when the chick is 10
weeks old . Until then, the par
ents feed the youngster regur
gitated oily fruits three or four
times a night, until the chick has
eaten a third of its body weight.
This intensive feeding makes
the nestling fat. By the time its
feathers appear, it weighs one
and a half times as much as an
adult. It loses this weight during
the strenuous period of learning
to fly. The young bird remains in
the nest until it is three to four
months old .
SANDGROUSE
ORDER Co/umbiformes
FAMILY Pteroclidae
CARD 275
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENERA Pterocles, Syrrhaptes
Sandgrouse are hardy birds that live on open, arid terrain. Their ability to go without water for days enables them to
inhabit some of the world's most inhospitable deserts.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 10-16 in.
Wingspan: 1 ~-2 ft.
Weight: 9-11 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: Usually April
to July.
Eggs: Usually 2-3.
Incubation: 19-24 days.
Fledging period: 4-5 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, often forming
flocks of 1,000 or more birds.
Diet: Mainly seeds and grains.
Sometimes berries and insects.
Call: Musical calls as well as rau
cous gurgling.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 16 species in 2 genera.
They include the pin-tailed sand
grouse, Pterocles a/chata, as well
as Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes
paradoxus.
FEATURES OF SANDGROUSE
Adult: Brown or buff base coloring provides camouflage. The male's body feathers have a specialized structure that enables him to carry water to his offspring.
" MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of sandgrouse.
DISTRIBUTION
Found from southern France, Spain, and Mongolia in the north
to China and India in the east and Madagascar and southern
Africa in the south.
CONSERVATION
Because sandgrouse thrive in arid habitats, they are rarely af
fected by human interference and are in no danger.
Namaqua sand grouse:
Eggs: Usually 2 or 3, sometimes 4. Glossy with reddish brown speckles. Incubated by both sexes.
Lives in southwestern Africa.
PRINTED IN USA. 0160200861 PACKET 86
There are 16 species of sandgrouse, and all cope very well
with the often harsh conditions of their habitats. By nesting
out in the open, where most animals cannot endure the heat
these birds are able to avoid many predators. Sandgrouse
have a number of other remarkable survival tactics. One
example is the ingenious way in which the male carries
water to his offspring over distances of many miles.
~ HABITS Sandgrouse are found in Africa,
Asia, and southern Europe. These
hardy birds can survive in diffi
cult conditions. Many species
inhabit arid regions, but the Ti
betan sandgrouse lives in a cold
climate at 10,000 to 20,000 feet,
and the Malagasy sandgrouse
dwells in hilly green areas.
Sandgrouse are fast fliers and
may cover 50 miles in a day to
find food. They are also highly
sociable, often roosting and fly
ing in large groups. Some spe-
cies roost at night. Others, such
as Lichtenstein's sandgrouse of
East Africa, rest during the hot
test part of the day. This bird rubs
its rump in the ground to make
a cool hollow in which to lie.
Sandgrouse are wary birds.
They crouch on the ground so
that their buff or brown color
ing blends with the surround
ings. When disturbed, a flock
rises almost vertically. The birds
rapidly attain a great height,
calling loudly to each other.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Sandgrouse feed primarily on
seeds and grains. They also eat
berries if these are available. The
chestnut-bellied sandgrouse of
East Africa and the Arabian Pen
insula feeds on black ants.
Most sandgrouse forage in
the morning or evening. Some
species feed in huge flocks. The
pin-tailed sandgrouse, for ex
ample, forms large groups that
move very slowly across newly
planted fields, eating seeds. This
species is found in the western
Mediterranean, North Africa,
and central Asia.
If water is scarce, sandgrouse
Left: Lichtenstein's sandgrouse of East Africa rests when the daytime heat is most intense.
DID YOU KNOW? • A sandgrouse can fly at 37
miles per hour. This is faster
than some birds of prey.
• Large flocks of crowned
sandgrouse in Egypt gather
on main roads to feed on
grain that spills from trucks.
• Flocks of 50,000 pin-tailed
sandgrouse have been seen
in Turkey.
can go without drinking for up
to five days. When water is avail
able, they gather in flocks of 20
to over a thousand birds and
fly to drinking sites.
A flock generally lands a few
yards from the edge of the wa
tering hole. The birds wait for a
minute or two, taking off at the
slightest noise. If there is no sign
of danger, they run to the wa
ter and drink, immersing their
bills to eye level and sucking up
the water. After drinking, a bird
may wait to leave with its flock
or fly back alone to its roost or
feeding ground.
Right: The pin-tailed sandgrouse is one of the two species that nest in Europe.
Left: A clutch of five eggs is unusual. 5andgrouse usually lay two or three eggs.
Right: The young suck moisture from the male's specially adapted breast feathers.
Most sandgrouse species breed
and nest between April and July.
When courting, the male walks
stiffly, lowers and fans his tail,
and then jumps a few feet.
A sandgrouse nests in a small
natural depression or shallow
scrape on the ground. It often
surrounds its nest with a ring of
large pebbles. The female usual
ly lays two or three eggs, which
Left: Mottled down helps to camouflage chicks against sandy or rocky surroundings.
both sexes incubate for 21 to
23 days. Often the female incu
bates during the day, and the
male takes his turn at night.
The hatchlings are covered
with thick down and can feed
themselves almost at once. But
the male supplies them with wa
ter by soaking his breast feath
ers at a watering site and then
returning to the nest-which
may be a flight of 20 miles or
more. The young then suck the
water from his plumage.
PIED FLYCATCHER
ORDER Passeriformes
FAMILY Muscicapidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS & SPECIES Ficedula hypoleuca
The pied flycatcher is a lively little bird that breeds in mature woodland, nesting in tree holes as well as birdhouses. It
migrates long distances to winter in parts of Africa.
Breeds in mature woodlands across Europe, from western Scot
land and Wales east to central Siberia . All pied flycatcher popu
lations winter in Africa south of the Sahara Desert, migrating via
southwestern Europe.
CONSERVATION
The pied flycatcher does not seem to be in any immediate dan
ger, although loss of habitat may pose a threat.
FEATURES OF THE PIED FLYCATCHER
Male: Breeding plumage features black tail , wing feathers, and upperparts. Underparts and forehead are white. Wintering males and birds in their first winter resemble the female.
When perched , the pied flycatcher constantly flicks its wings and jerks its tail up and down.
Eggs: 4 to 7; pale blue. Color may help adults see the eggs in the nest hole.
Female: Brown upperparts. Has buff-white
bars on her wings and on the sides of her tail.
Juvenile: Brownbuff plumage. Distinguished by scaled and spotted feathers.
0160200911 PACKET 91
The pied flycatcher lives up to its name by catching insectj
in midair. Howeve" it obtains a great deal of its food from
foraging on the ground as well as in foliage and the bark
of tree trunks. Only the male during the breeding season
displays the species' distinctive bold, pied plumage.
~ HABITAT The pied flycatcher prefers hillside woods-especially those near water, which attracts abundant insect prey. Its ideal habitat contains mature trees that show signs of decay and possess nest holes made by woodpeckers.
In some parts of its range, the
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The pied flycatcher catches flies, beetles, butterflies, and other flying insects in midair. It supplements this diet with grubs
pied flycatcher has benefited a great deal from the provision of birdhouses. Often a lack of tree holes for nesting keeps this bird from colonizing a wooded area. Breeding density in regions with birdhouses can be twice that of areas without them.
and worms from the ground. It also hovers to pick insects from foliage or clings briefly to trees to take insects from the bark.
~ BREED I NG Male pied flycatchers return to the breeding grounds in spring, often to the nest holes that they used the previous year. The females arrive several days later. Each male defends a small territory around his nest hole. He sings, often from a high perch, to proclaim ownership and attract a mate. The male usually has one mate, but he occasionally has two or even three.
After the female has built her nest and begun incubating, the male may court another female at another nest site. But after she lays her eggs, he abandons her and returns to his first mate to help raise the chicks. By moving up to two miles away from his
Left: The agile pied flycatcher can hover near foliage to snatch larvae.
DID YOU KNOW? • The ranges of the collared and pied flycatchers overlap in eastern Europe. The two species interbreed, and hybrid birds form up to 10 percent of the combined population.
first nest site, the male may be able to deceive the second female into believing that he is unmated. Many males try this strategy, but most fail and have just one mate.
The broods that hatch early are more successful than later ones. This is because the young eat mainly caterpillars, which become scarce as the season progresses. The average clutch size also declines later in the season, since the female does not waste energy hatching chicks that she will be unable to feed .
In an attempt to lessen feeding visits, the nestlings are often fed prey that is larger than what the adults eat.
Right: Pied flycatcher parents may feed their chicks 30 times an hour.
• The male pied flycatcher sings from late April to June. Before pairing, he may sing over 3,000 times in one day. After finding a mate, he sings only about 1,000 times a day.
~ ~ BIRDWATCH In the breeding season, the pied flycatcher is found in mature woodlands. The male has a white forehead and a large white area on each wing. Fe-
~MIGRATION Pied flycatchers migrate across southwestern Europe to winter in sub-Saharan Africa. Many of them settle in the moist coastal forests of the Gulf of Guinea.
Because of their roundabout migration route, some eastern populations fly westward for over 1,500 miles before turning south for Africa. For most birds, the stopover area is in northern Portugal. There they devour berries and other food for about a
Left: The pied flycatcher often nests in an abandoned woodpecker hole.
males and winter males have similar plumage: brown above and buff below, with less white on thei r wings and none on their foreheads.
month to acquire adequate reserves to sustain them on their long journey. To obtain enough food, they may defend feeding territories. From Portugal, the birds fly without stopping across the Mediterranean and the Sahara, taking just a few days to reach their winter quarters.
On the return trip in spring, pied flycatchers take a quicker route, flying farther to the east. This enables them to arrive early at the breeding grounds in order to find the best nest sites.
CORN CRAKE
,,~-----------------------ORDER Gruiformes
FAMILY Rallidae
GENUS & SPECIES Crex crex
The corn croke is more often heard than seen, since it spends most of its time concealed in tall grass. When disturbed, this bird runs
quickly instead of revealing its position by taking flight.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 11-12 in.
Wingspan: 18-21 in.
Weight: 5-7 oz.
BREEDING
Mating season: May and June.
No. of broods: 1, occasionally 2.
Eggs: 6-14, usually 8-12. Grayish
green or buff with rust, gray, and
purple spots.
Incubation: 14-18 days.
Fledging period: 5 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; night-active.
Diet: Seeds and grain, as well as
small invertebrates.
Call: Male repeats loud, rasping
"crek-crek" for long periods in the
breeding season.
RELATED SPECIES
Closely related to the 13 species in
the genus Porzana, including the
North American sora, P. carolina.
Breeding range of the corn crake. Winter range.
DISTRIBUTION
The corn crake breeds in northern Europe from Ireland east to
central Asia. It winters in southern Africa.
CONSERVATION
The corn crake population has declined in some parts of Europe as a result of modern farming methods. The bird is still com
mon in eastern Europe, where traditional farming survives.
FEATURES OF THE CORN CRAKE
Plumage: Feathers on upperparts are black in the center and edged with brown, giving a scalloped effect. Buff underparts barred with chestnut. Chestnut patches on wings. Gray throat and breast.
The crested lark is found in open arid regions in Europe,
Asia, and Africa. This bird makes up for its dull brown
plumage and stocky appearance with its melodious voice.
It sings tirelesslYt whether high in the air., on the ground, or
on a low perch. The crested lark has a wide repertoire of
twittering, whistling, and fluting sounds. But it also imitates
other birds, including thrushes, sparrows, and starlings.
~ HABITAT The crested lark likes flat, open country with sparse vegetation. It may stray into farmland but avoids dense crop fields. It prefers hard, dry soil where it can walk about freely.
The crested lark thrives in dry climates. It is found in many des-
~ HABITS The crested lark forms pairs or groups of three or four. Flocks of up to 15 birds may gather to feed, drink, and migrate, but older breeding pairs tend to remain together.
With its rounded wings and short tail, the bird looks compact in the air, but its flight is
ert and semidesert regions such as Saudi Arabia, where it is resident all year. In northern areas such as the Russian and Ukrainian steppes, it migrates south before cold weather arrives. But a few hardy birds stay in these regions during mild winters.
not graceful. It prefers to walk. The crested lark spends most
of the day foraging for food. At sunset it settles down to roost in a hollow in the ground, ruffling its feathers for warmth.
Right: A crested lark parent generally gives the most food to the offspring that opens its mouth widest.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The crested lark feeds primarilyon the ground. It digs in the soil with its long bill to extract beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and ants. It also catches dragonflies and flies in the air, then removes their wings before devouring them.
In addition, the bird eats spiders, snails, and small worms, as well as seeds, seedlings, buds,
Left: The crested lark's sandy plumage provides good camouflage in arid areas.
DID YOU KNOW? I • The crested lark enjoys taking a sand or dust bath, especially on a dusty road, so its plumage often looks dirty. • The crested lark fends off a rival for food by singing to the other bird. Squabbles rarely become physical. • In cold weather crested lark fledglings can fall into comas
flowers, grain, and leaves. During the winter it eats fewer insects and a greater number of seeds, especially grass seeds.
The crested lark employs its conical bill as a hammer to soften the tough, protective shells of some insects before it eats them. The bird also strips the husks off grains and seeds by crushing them on the ground.
Right: The crested lark spends most of its day foraging for insects and roosts at night.
if they are left alone too long. But they revive when they are warmed up. • If a snake or another enemy approaches her nest, a female crested lark will lure it away by running just ahead of it and calling loudly. • A crested lark can be taught to imitate human speech. --..J
Left: The female lays her speckled eggs in a grass-lined nest that she makes on the ground. She may produce two or even three clutches each year.
The crested lark pairs for life. In spring the male displays to the female . He puffs out his chest, cocks and fans his tail, and holds his crest erect while flapping his wings and singing loudly. Meanwhile the female crouches, with her crest raised and tail fanned.
The female makes a nest, lining a ground scrape with grass. She may add a dome for shelter, using the lower branches of a bush. She incubates the three to five eggs for 11 to 13 days, taking breaks to feed and preen. Instead of returning directly to the nest, she lands some distance away and looks around first.
While the female sits on the nest, the male sings from a low
perch and watches for danger. If disturbed, the female may abandon her eggs or chicks. But she lays a replacement clutch later.
The hatchlings are blind and covered in straw-colored down. Both parents answer their offsprings' cheeping calls for food by supplying them with insects, especially caterpillars. Some of the young may die because the parents tend to give the most food to the offspring that opens its mouth widest.
The young can leave the nest at about nine days old, but the parents feed them until they can fly at about three weeks. When threatened, the young crouch flat or hide in the grass.
SNOWY SHEATHBILL
ORDER Charadriiformes
FAMILY Chionididae
GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS & SPECIES Chionis alba
The snowy sheathbill is an aggressive hunter and scavenger that lives on the harsh shores of Antarctica. It feeds on
anything from seaweed and tiny krill to young penguins.
KEYFACT~S ____________________________ ~
SIZES
Length: 14-16 in.
Wingspan : Up to 2 %; ft . Weight: 1 %; lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating season: From December
to January.
Eggs: 2-4. Off-white with gray and
brown markings.
Incubation: 4 weeks .
Fledging period: 7 -8 %; weeks.
LIFESTYLE Range of the snowy sheath bill.
DISTRIBUTION
Habit: Day-active in small flocks.
Diet: Marine invertebrates, birds '
eggs and young. Also scavenges
from penguins and humans.
Call: Screeches loudly during dis
putes. Growls as a threat.
Lifespan: 10 years or more.
The snowy sheath bill lives on or close to the shores of Antarctica
and the southernmost islands of the Atlantic. Some birds spend
the winter in the Falkland Islands and in Tierra del Fuego on the
tip of South America .
RELATED SPECIES CONSERVATION
The lesser, or black-billed, sheath bill,
Chionis minor, is the only other mem
ber of the family.
A remote habitat and plentiful food supplies ensure that the
snowy sheath bill faces no immediate threat.
FEATURES OF THE SNOWY SHEATHBILL
Body: Squat, plump appearance is due to the ~-inch-thick layer 0 fat under the skin. . ,/
'"
Legs: Short and pink. Feet are not webbed like those of gulls, although the snowy sheathbill is a strong swimmer. Sharp claws are used for grabbing food and as weapons in disputes.
Bill: Short and sturdy, reinforced by a horny sheath that gives the bird its name. This strengthens the bill so the bird can dig for food between rocks.
Chick: The down turns gray after about a week. White adult plumage appears at about 1 year.
:t MCMXCI I IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Face: Partly naked , with warty pink skin. Facial feathers
would be easily soiled by the snowy
sheaffi6i II 's scavenging.
0160200871 PACKET 87
Although the Antarctic shoreline looks bleak, it provides the
snowy sheathbill with an abundant supply of food. Without
even a moment's hesitation, this bird will go from pecking at
seaweed to pouncing on a mollusk or stranded fish. The
snowy sheathbill is also an expert scavenger that tolerates
humans in order to receive handouts or sift through refuse.
~ HABITS The snowy sheath bill lives on
the shores of one of the world's
harshest habitats. It has water
resistant down and a thick layer
of fat to protect it in severe win
ters. This sheath bill can remain
on the Antarctic mainland year
round. But occasionally it mi
grates north to winter on South
Atlantic islands such as the Falk
lands or South Georgia.
Although it can fly hundreds
of miles, the snowy sheath bill
prefers to stay on the ground.
It seems reluctant to fly, even
when pursued. This bird spends
most of the day hopping or trot
ting along the shore in search
of food. It flaps its wings in or
der to propel itself forward or
to threaten rivals.
The snowy sheathbill lives in
small flocks and never strays far
from the sea. It is a very strong
swimmer, even though its feet
are barely webbed. It uses its
sharp claws to snatch food and
for defense. It also uses a small,
sharp spur at the base of each
wing as a weapon .
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The snowy sheathbill is both a
predator and scavenger. It feeds
on the eggs and young of terns,
petrels, and other seabirds. It
snaps up small fish and mollusks
that wash up on shore and eats
large amounts of seaweed for
the plankton and krill it contains.
The snowy sheath bill will also
raid penguin colonies, especially
during the breeding season. It
scampers among the birds as
they feed their chicks. Avoiding
their darting bills, it harasses the
penguins by fluttering its wings
and pecking at them. Then it
makes off with theirfood . The
Left: The snowy sheathbill is protected from chilly temperatures by a layer of fat.
DID YOU KNOW? • The snowy sheathbill and its
relative the lesser sheath bill are
the only land-based birds that
breed exclusively in the South
Polar region.
• The snowy sheath bill may be
a "missing link" between gulls
and wading birds-possibly .
sheath bill haunts seal colonies as
well, looking for afterbirths and
stealing food from the young.
Snowy sheath bills are greedy
birds that compete with each
other for food. Fierce quarrels,
accompanied by loud screech
ing and furious wing flapping,
often develop over stolen food.
The snowy sheath bill exploits
its encounters with humans to
obtain food. It raids garbage
bins at scientific stations and
explorers' camps. In the past it
was frequently found in South
Atlantic whaling stations, feast
ing on whale carcasses.
Right: A snowy sheathbill will stab at a penguin 5" egg until the tough shell breaks.
closely related to a common
ancestor of the two groups.
Although it looks like a gull, it
behaves more like a wader.
• The snowy sheath bill is also
called the kelp pigeon because
it has a pigeon like shape and it
eats seaweed.
The snowy sheath bill mates in
the brief Antarctic summer from
December to January. It requires
a nesting site that is isolated and
has a ready food source, so it of
ten uses a crevice in a rock over
looking a penguin colony. The
nest may be hidden three feet
inside the crevice. As a further
precaution, the pair approaches
the site by a roundabout route.
Both sexes build the nest from
Left: The brown down of the newly hatched chicks becomes gray after about a week.
Left: Snowy sheathbills scavenge for anything they can find. They will fight violently over a nutritious morsel such as the placenta of a seal.
debris such as grass and snail
shells. They use feathers and
seaweed to make a cushion for
the eggs. During the breeding
period, the pair continues to
feed with the flock but always
returns to the nest afterward.
Male and female take turns
incubating the two to four eggs
for four weeks. The eggs hatch
at intervals of eight or nine days.
The parents usually rear only
one chick successfully. The oth
ers fall victim to birds of prey, in
cluding other sheathbills.
COMMON POCHARD
ORDER Anseriformes
FAMILY Anatidae
CARD 280
GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS & SPECIES Aythya ferina
The common pochard is one of Europe ~ most attractive diving ducks. The male ~ chestnut, black, and gray plumage
is a familiar sight on large stretches of fresh water.
'\J KEY FACTS
~ SIZES ~ Length: 1 ~ ft. Male usually larger
than female.
Wingspan: About 2~ ft.
Weight: 1 %-2~ lb. Male heavier
than female.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Usually 1 year.
Breeding season: April to June.
No. of broods: 1.
Eggs: 6-11; pale green.
Incubation: Almost 4 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social; lives in a flock for
most of the year.
Diet: Aquatic plants, seeds, and
invertebrates.
Call: Usually silent. Male utters a
soft, wheezing call and female a
harsh "karr, karr" when courting.
RELATED SPECIES
Closely related to the tufted duck,
Aythya fuligula, and the greater
scaup, A. marila.
Breeding range of the common pochard.
DISTRIBUTION
• Winter range.
Breeds across most of Europe and Asia from Great Britain and
Ireland eastward to Siberia and Mongolia. Winters in parts of
Africa and southern Asia.
CONSERVATION
Although the common pochard's habitat has been destroyed
in some areas by land drainage, this duck has adapted well to
new habitats. It is common throughout its range.
FEATURES OF THE COMMON POCHARD
Flight: The duck has trouble taking off from the water.
~ MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
It patters over the surface for some
distance before
Female: Mostly soft brown and gray. Pale tJelly visible in flight.
Legs: Set well back on the body to facili
tate diving. Makes the dyeR "t rQJJt-heavy"
and lumsy on land .
PRINTED IN U,S.A.
Male: Bright chestnut head , glossy black chest and rump, pale g ray back and flan ks. Dark bill with broad grayish band .
Body: Plump and rounded . Sits low in the water.
0160200861 PACKET 86
The common pochard is a sociable bird that lives in a flock
for most of the year. It is frequently seen on European lakes
and ponds in urban parks, often in the company of other
diving ducks. The common pochard spends most of its time
on the water and rarely ventures onto land. This bird even
sleeps on the water with its head tucked underneath its wing.
~ HABITS The common pochard is one of
Europe's most common diving
ducks. Its breeding range covers
most of Europe, and it extends
across Asia to Siberia and Mon
golia. Some birds winter in west
ern Europe; others migrate to
southern Asia and parts of Africa.
This pochard can be found in
a variety of habitats, including
lakes, ponds, and slow-moving
streams, as well as marshes and
gravel pits. It also frequents res
ervoirs with banks that are cov
ered by reeds or irises.
The common pochard spends
most of the year in a flock. Large
groups of up to 500 ducks fre
quently form "rafts" on the wa
ter in winter. Even larger flocks
of 3,000 or more birds gather to
molt (shed their feathers). The
common pochard often associ
ates with other ducks---€special
Iy the tufted duck and greater
scaup. However, it tends to stay
with its own species when it is
resting on the water.
The common pochard has the
typical diving duck profile, with
legs set well back on its body to
make diving easier. It is reluctant
to fly and prefers to swim out of
danger. This is not surprising be
cause its takeoff requires a long
run, with rapid wing beats and
much pattering over the water.
But once it is in the air, the com
mon pochard flies quickly and
directly, often in a V formation.
~ BREEDING Common pochards usually pair
up while still in their winter quar
ters. In spring they fly north to
their breeding grounds for the
mating season, which lasts from
mid-April to June and several
weeks longer in the northern
most parts of the range.
The male remains with the fe
male until she lays her eggs but
does not usually help incubate
or rear the chicks. The female
Left: The male common pochard's gray, black, and chestnut plumage makes him easy to identify.
DID YOU KNOW? • In Europe, the common po
chard is found only in fresh
water, but in the Asian parts of
its range, it also frequents salt
water habitats.
• Migrating pochards often
cover great distances. One
bird banded in Great Britain
lays her eggs in dense vegeta
tion near water or in the shal
lows, normally in a down-lined
depression on a heap of plants
and weeds. She usually lays 6 to
11 pale green eggs and incu
bates them for almost a month.
The ducklings can leave the
nest soon after hatching. The
mother supervises them in the
water until they are indepen
dent at about eight weeks old.
Right: The female pochard watches over her ducklings during their first weeks on the water.
was recovered on the shores
of the Sea of Okhotsk, off the
Kamchatka Peninsula in the
extreme northeast of Siberia.
• A huge flock of 50,000 molt
ing pochards, mainly males,
congregates yearly on Lake
Ijssel in the Netherlands.
~I BIRDWATCH The common pochard can be
seen across much of Europe
during the breeding season,
from April to June. These div
ing ducks gather in big flocks
on lakes, gravel pits, and re
servoirs, as well as in smaller
groups on ponds in city parks.
The male common pochard
can be easily identified by his
chestnut, black, and pale gray
plumage. The female is not as
distinctive, with her soft gray
and brown plumage.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The common pochard eats al
most anything it can find when
it dives underwater. It feeds pri
marily on the seeds, roots, buds,
and leaves of water plants such
as pondweed and stonewort. It
also eats mollusks, crustaceans,
worms, and some insect larvae.
The duck feeds mainly in the
early morning and evening, div
ing underwater with a jump up
from the surface. It usually stays
submerged for 13 to 16 seconds.
It prefers to feed in clear water
from 3 to 12 feet deep, but it
can feed in the shallows by up
ending instead of diving.
Left: Like most diving ducks, the common pochard is "front-heavy" and waddles awkwardly on land.