Birds

Guacamai roig d'ales verdes

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 16:27:25 +0000

Red-and-green macaw

This macaw lives in the rainforests all the way from the west of Panama to the north of Argentina and is still quite common. It is not a very social species and lives in pairs or small family groups, rarely forming large flocks, unlike other macaws. It can be distinguished from the scarlet macaw by the green edges to its wings and the small feathers in stripes around the eyes.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 17:27

Ara chloroptera

North and center of South America east of the Andes.

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Psittacidae

1000-1700 g

90 - 95 cm

More than 15 years

Habitat

Jungle

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Frugivorous

Oviparous

Days

25-30

Baby

Description

The red-and-green macaw has red plumage on the top part of its body, with green and blue back and wings. The tail, longer than the rest of the body, has iridescent teal and blue feathers. The featherless face is white with darker striations, yellow irises and a two-coloured beak: the large curved top mandible is white and the bottom one is black.

Habitat

They inhabit lowland and mountain tropical forests up to 1500 metres high, although they can also penetrate more open savannahs, following the wooded shores bordering waterways. They can also be seen close to the coast in some areas. Their area of distribution includes central and northern South America, east of the Andes Mountains, from southern Panama, through Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia to Paraguay and northern Argentina.

Feeding

They feed on seeds, nuts, fruits, berries and different types of plant matter that they find high in the treetops.

Reproduction

They make nests in holes in trees and occasionally on platforms dug into the steep banks of rivers, in which they lay two or three eggs.

Conduct

They tend to live in pairs or small family groups, although in some sites like the clay deposits on the vertical walls of rivers, they can come together in large groups, often mixed with specimens of other parrot species.

Status and conservation programs

Like all macaws, their populations are endangered today, due to the destruction of their forest habitat and excessive capturing for the pet trade.

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Guacamai de front vermell

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 16:14:31 +0000

Red-fronted macaw

This small macaw, approximately 60 cms long, is only found in the rainforests in the provinces of Cochabamba, Potosí and Santa Cruz in Bolivia, at altitudes of between 1,000 and 3,000 metres. Given this small range and the fact that there are very few specimens in captivity, it is one of the least known of the South American parrots, and is currently in grave danger of extinction.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 17:14

Ara rubrogenys

Bolivia

Degree of risk

Critically endangered

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Psittacidae

450-650 g

55 - 60 cm

More than 15 years

Habitat

Forest

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Frugivorous

Oviparous

Days

25-27

Baby

1 to 3

Description

The red-fronted macaw has green plumage on its body, with blue on the tips of the wings and a green tail that is longer than the entire body. The area surrounding the eye is bald, the forehead and back are red, as well as a round spot located behind the eyes and its beak is black.

Habitat

It only lives in dry forests in a limited region of central Bolivia, in the provinces of Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and Chuquisaca, between 1000 and 2500 metres above sea level.

Feeding

It feeds on seeds, nuts, fruits, berries and different types of plant matter.

Reproduction

It makes nests in holes in trees and, more rarely, on platforms dug into the steep banks of rivers. It lays one to three eggs that are incubated for some 26 days (data taken from experiences with this species in captivity at different zoos).

Conduct

They travel in pairs or in small family groups, sometimes made up of over a dozen individuals.

Status and conservation programs

Like all macaws, their populations are in danger of extinction today, due to the destruction of their habitat and excessive capturing for the pet trade. In this case, the situation is worse due to their small area of distribution and the limited original population.

The Barcelona Zoo participates in the EEP for this species.

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Cacatua sulfúria

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 15:58:06 +0000

Lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo

The lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo is native to Sulawesi, Timor and other Sunda Islands. It lives in open areas with scattered trees, farming land and edges of forests from sea level up to mountainous areas of over 500 metres in height. It nests in holes in trees and is now in serious danger of extinction due to over-capturing for use as a pet.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 16:58

Cacatua sulphurea

Sulawesi, Java, Timor and adjacent islands

Degree of risk

Critically endangered

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Cacatuidae

350 g

33 cm

Up to 40 years

Habitat

Forest

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Frugivorous

Oviparous

Days

Baby

2 to 3

Description

The sulphur-crested cockatoo is a bird in the Cacatua family—in the same order as parrots and macaws, Psittaciformes—that is characterised by its bright white plumage, although the crest, erectile and quite large, is yellow, as well as the ventral area of the tail and cheeks.

Habitat

It primarily inhabits forests and open fields up to altitudes of 1200 metres on the islands of Sulawesi, Timor and the Sundas.

Feeding

It mainly eats seeds and fruits.

Reproduction

The breeding season starts in September or October, although very little is known of this aspect of its biology. It builds its nest in holes in trees, padding it with plant matter, where it lays two or three eggs that both the male and female incubate for a period of some 27 days. With regard to its breeding biology, this has only been determined due to specimens in zoos.

Conduct

Status and conservation programs

It is critically endangered. Formerly common and quite well rooted in its islands of origin, the indiscriminate capture of specimens for private collections and the pet trade has caused a sharp drop in this species’ numbers, estimated at fewer than 7000 in freedom.

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Cacatua de cresta groga

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 15:46:06 +0000

Triton sulphur-crested cockatoo

The triton cockatoo is a very adaptable bird found both in the rain forests and in the lowland savannah or agricultural lands of New Guinea and other islands to the north and east.

Outside the breeding season, they form large groups of a strongly social character. When they feed in open spaces, some of the group keep watch at the top of a tree, although this does not occur when they feed inside the forest.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 16:46

Cacatua galerita

It mainly inhabits primary rainforests, open fields and evergreen forests up to 1400 metres high in New Guinea and Australia.

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Cacatuidae

815-975 g

45-55 cm

Up to 40 years

Habitat

Forest

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Frugivorous

Oviparous

Days

25-27

Baby

2 to 3

Description

The yellow-crested cockatoo is in the same order as parrots and macaws—Psittaciformes—although it belongs to a family containing all Cacatuas, which are taxonomically very different from other Psittacidae. Its plumage is mainly white, although it has a considerably long yellow crest, which it can raise. Sometimes, and depending on the subspecies, the orbital area, feather free, can be white, blue or greyish.

Habitat

It mainly inhabits primary rainforests, open fields and evergreen forests up to 1400 metres high in New Guinea and Australia.

Feeding

It mainly feeds on seeds and fruits, although it can complement this diet with bugs, insects and larvae, which it captures by pecking the ground.

Reproduction

The breeding season runs from August to January in Australia and from May to September in New Guinea. It builds its nest in holes in trees, padding it with plant matter, where it lays two or three eggs that both the male and female incubate for a period of 25 to 27 days. It is decidedly territorial during the breeding period.

Conduct

Even though it is territorial and solitary during the breeding period, outside this time it can form quite large groups, especially for travel—sometimes many kilometres—searching for food.

Status and conservation programs

It is not endangered, although its loss of habitat and capture for the pet market represent a constant pressure that leads to a constant drop in numbers and could entail the species being in greater danger. In New Guinea, the loss of habitat is starting to be a real problem for island populations.

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Cacatua blanca

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 15:34:33 +0000

White cockatoo

This species, now rarely found in the wild, inhabits the forests of the islands of Halmahera, Tidore, Batjan and Obi among others, in the Moluccan archipelago.
A tree-dweller, it is most often found in pairs or small groups in the topmost branches of the highest trees in the forest. Although it was common until a few years ago, its numbers have declined rapidly and it is difficult to see nowadays.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 16:34

Cacatua alba

Forests of islands Moluccas

Degree of risk

Endangered

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Cacatuidae

500-630 g

46 cm

Up to 30 years

Habitat

Forest

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Frugivorous

Oviparous

Days

27-28

Baby

2 to 3

Description

The white cockatoo is a bird in the Cacatua family, in the Psittaciformes order, which is primarily characterised by the bright white colour of its plumage. It has a slight yellowish hue on the inside of its wings and tail, and the orbital skin, with no feathers, is a blue colour. It has a considerably long crest, which moves forward slightly when standing on end. It has the classic parrot shape, although it is more robust and compact.

Habitat

It mainly inhabits primary low-lying forests and lands that are quite flat and plains on the Maluka Islands.

Feeding

It mainly feeds on seeds and fruits, although recent studies have revealed that it can complement this diet with quite large insects.

Reproduction

The breeding season generally starts in May, although nesting attempts have been reported even earlier. It makes its nest in holes in trees, laying two to three eggs, which it incubates from 27 to 28 days.

Conduct

It is quite solitary—generally in a pair—and larger groups have rarely been witnessed, always with very few individuals.

Status and conservation programs

It is endangered. Due to the loss of habitat and capture of birds for the pet market, this species has shrunk greatly, moving from a vulnerable status to seriously endangered in a short time. If the island’s development pace and individual development there continues at the same rate, it is estimated that this cockatoo may be irreversibly headed for extinction.

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Trompeter alagrís

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 15:08:39 +0000

Grey-winged trumpeter

The grey-winged trumpeter lives in groups of between 6 and 20 individuals that move about the humid tropical forests of the northern part of South America. It feeds on ripe fruit and small invertebrates and often follows groups of tree-dwelling animals, such as howler monkeys, to pick up the seeds and fruit that they drop.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 16:08

Psophia crepitans

Northern Brazil, Guaianes, Venezuela and south Colombia, Equador up to northern Peru

Degree of risk

Near threatened

Class

Aves

Order

Gruiformes

Family

Psophidae

1-15,5 Kg

45-52 cm

Up to 15 years

Habitat

Jungle

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Frugivorous

Oviparous

Days

27-28

Baby

2 to 4

Description

This bird, from the crane family, can measure up to 45 cm long, a very interesting fact for an eminently forest-dwelling species that does not choose open areas for living. Its plumage is blackish on the dorsal and tertiary feathers, turning a light grey with a small cream area on the highest part of the back, still quite far from the nape. It has long light-coloured legs, a yellowish or light beak and a long thin neck, with rainbow hues on the belly, including greens and purples.

Habitat

It mainly inhabits dense woods and tropical jungles from sea level to altitudes of 750 metres, in the north of Brazil, the Guianas and Surinam, southeast Venezuela and Colombia, eastern Ecuador and the north of Peru.

Feeding

This bird is primarily frugivorous, although it can become more of an insectivore and even carnivorous depending on the season.

Reproduction

It breeds in cooperative groups, especially during the wet season, although there is some variability depending on temperatures and the particular microsystems of each region. It builds a nest in hollow trees, in the open air and with no roof, in which it lays two to four eggs, although three is most common, which both members of the pair incubate for 27 or 28 days (this cooperative behaviour for incubation is known for pairs in captivity, as it has not been confirmed in nature).

Conduct

Sedentary and territorial throughout its area of distribution.

Status and conservation programs

It is not endangered and is still widely distributed, although its territorial nature means that the density of pairs continues to be low. It suffers most in some countries due to furtive hunting and loss of habitat. In some areas and due to its ferocious nature and loud calls, it has been domesticated to use as security guards.

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Cotinga metàl·lic

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 14:57:58 +0000

Spangled cotinga

Spangled cotingas are striking tropical birds, living in the forests and jungles of the north of South America, from Venezuela and the Guyanas to Colombia, Bolivia and the Amazon region of Brazil.

It eats mainly fruit and the males and females are quite distinct: the males have spectacularly bright plumage, while the females are a much duller brownish colour.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 15:57

Cotinga cayana

North of South America, from Venezuela to Colombia and guava, Bolivia and the Amazon region of Brazil.

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Cotingidae

56-72 g

18 - 22 cm

More than 10 years

Habitat

Jungle

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Frugivorous

Oviparous

Days

23-25

Baby

1 to 3

Description

The Spangled cotinga is an eye-catching colourful tropical bird, essentially standing out due to its distinct sexual dimorphism: males have spectacularly coloured plumage—blue and turquoise, with purple hues on the wings, tail and scapular feathers, with a bright purple gular area—while the females are much more discreet, a brownish colour with greys on the back and lighter brown on the dorsal and belly areas.

Habitat

They live in the forests and jungles of northern South America, from Venezuela and the Guianas to Colombia, Bolivia and the Amazon region of Brazil, up to altitudes of 600 metres. They rarely go higher than this.

Feeding

Fundamentally frugivorous, even though during breeding season it adds several insect species to its diet.

Reproduction

It nests in trees with some height, creating a cup shaped nest padded with all types of plant matter, where it lays a single egg that is incubated for no longer than 20 days.

Conduct

When a predator approaches the nest, cotingas fly up to the treetops, performing aerial acrobats and spreading their tails like a fan to attract the intruder and expel them. Their antics to distract intruders are conspicuous and simply wonderful.

It is resident and sedentary, although nomadic movements of this species are periodically seen in Venezuela, dependent on the climate and rainfall.

Status and conservation programs

It is not endangered and is abundant and common in forests and jungles in its entire area of distribution.

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Corb de pit blanc

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 14:19:35 +0000

Pied crow

The Pied crow is characterised by white markings on its chest and around its neck. The couple, with no visual distinction between the male and female, makes nests in isolated trees and other high-up places. It is an omnivorous animal, found in open areas and populated zones of a large part of sub-Saharan Africa. It usually lives with its breeding partner and in small family groups, although it can form part of a large flock when food supplies are abundant.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 15:19

Corvus albus

South of the Sahara.

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Corvidae

400-700 g

40 - 50 cm

More than 30 years

Habitat

Savannah

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Omnivorous

Oviparous

Days

18-19

Baby

1 to 7

Description

The black colour with blue and purple highlights on the head, neck, top of the breast and wings contrasts with the white neck that surrounds the dorsal area, extending to the belly and under the wings.

Habitat

The Pied crow inhabits almost all open regions of Africa to south of the Sahara.

Feeding

With omnivorous diets, they are well-adapted to human presence, frequently visiting the areas surrounding crops, towns and even cities searching for food. They eat all types of invertebrates (spiders, locusts, beetles, termites and snails) and small vertebrates (frogs, lizards, rodents, fish, small birds and eggs). They can hunt birds and bats while in flight and also use the remains. As a good omnivore, they also eat a large variety of seeds, fruits and roots. They normally eat in somewhat large groups.

Reproduction

Monogamous, the two members of the pair build a large cup-shaped nest made of twigs, roots and sometimes wire, covering the inside with mud, manure, wool, string and grass, located high in a tree or in some other high structure. Both members of the pair incubate the eggs, normally four or five, for some 18 or 19 days, feeding them after they hatch.

Conduct

Crows are known to be intelligent birds, with proof of highly-complex behaviours seen in different species. They have been seen tricking other animals in different ways to capture them; they can avoid traps; follow predators like wolves and coyotes to take advantage of the food they hunt; drop food from heights onto hard surfaces to access the soft part inside; and use objects as tools, among other actions.

Status and conservation programs

Common and abundant throughout its area of distribution, it is not endangered and in South Africa it is even considered a pest and, thus, a species that must be controlled. There is an order to destroy nests in many areas of the country.

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Polla blava comuna

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 10:55:15 +0000

Purple swamphen

In spite of its bright colouring, the swamphen is easily frightened so it does not often show itself.

Its long toes enable it to walk through the semi-flooded reed beds where it lives and to peck at its food while holding it. The swamphen is omnivorous and preys on small water vertebrates, insects and crustaceans although its diet mainly consists of the tender shoots of bulrushes and other plants.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 11:55

Porphyrio porphyrio

Widespread across paleartic and Australia

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Gruiformes

Family

Rallidae

520-1300 g

38-50 cm

More than 10 years

Habitat

Wetlands

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Herbivorous

Oviparous

Days

23-27

Baby

3 to 5

Description

The western swamphen stands out for its frontal shield, scarlet-red legs and bright turquoise plumage. The face, throat and part of the neck are a paler colour and it has a very conspicuous white bottom. Not much of a swimmer, their long toes let them move through semi-flooded cane fields and hold down food while pecking it. Due to their broad distribution in the Old World and Oceania, the western swamphen is classified by 13 subspecies, including some with odd and wonderful variations in their colouring and plumage. The subspecies endemic to Madagascar, for example, has similar colouring on its body, but part of the wings and dorsal are green and golden. However, in the Philippines the subspecies there has much lighter plumage—white at some points on the head and neck—and a brownish dorsal with yellow hues.

Habitat

It mainly inhabits swampy areas and non-flowing aquatic ecosystems with abundant vegetation and reed beds on their shores, in Europe, central and southern Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, as well as all of Indonesia and the coasts of Australia.

Feeding

Omnivorous, they prey on small aquatic vertebrates, crustaceans and insects, even though their main diet is tender marram grasses and other plants.

Reproduction

Due to the extensive distribution area of this species, it is hard to pinpoint a breeding season, as in more temperate regions it breeds in summer, while in the southern Sahara and southern hemisphere it tends to be in September and October. Breeding systems also vary by subspecies, as toward the north they tend to form monogamous pairs, while in southern and, especially, tropical regions, they can be communal. Despite this, the species—which is common in its entire area of distribution—builds nests from aquatic plant matter and dry reeds in reed swamps. It lays from three to five eggs, although this varies depending on several conditions, with both sexes incubating them from 23 to 27 days. Breeding is communal for this subspecies, and there are even young, pre-breeding age, individuals that help with the chicks.

Conduct

Their customs and shy nature mean that they are rarely spotted in the swamplands covered with reeds and the shores of lagoons with thick vegetation that they inhabit.

Status and conservation programs

Species with an extensive distribution around the world, typical of tropical and subtropical climates. Their presence, tightly connected to bulrush reeds, has become increasingly rare, in line with the regression of the populations of this aquatic plant and the desiccation of the marshes.

They continue to be common around the world through their Asian and Australian subspecies, although in Europe there is only a small population in southern Spain and North Africa remaining. Spain concentrates about 90% of the entire European population.

In our country, after having been in an extremely critical situation, in recent decades they have recovered significantly and their former area of distribution is slowly being recovered.

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Rul-rul crestat

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 08:48:25 +0000

Crested partridge

The crested partridge is a small, ground-dwelling bird, related to quail and pheasants, that lives in the jungles and forests of south-west Asia and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

It is a solitary bird and an omnivore. It makes its nest in the ground, hidden among the vegetation, where it lays from 5 to 6 eggs which it incubates for 18 to 19 days.
The males and females are very distinct from each other: the colours of the two are very different and the male has a bright red crest.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 09:48

Rollulus rouloul

Southeast Asia and islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Degree of risk

Near threatened

Class

Aves

Order

Galliformes

Family

Phasianidae

202-232 g

25-27 cm

Up to 8 years

Habitat

Jungle

Social life

Solitary

Feeding

Omnivorous

Oviparous

Days

18-19

Baby

5 to 6

Description

The crested wood partridge is a small bird with terrestrial habits, related to quails, partridges and pheasants. It is a very enigmatic and unsociable bird, some 25 cm long, with clear sexual dimorphism: the colouring of the two genders is very different and the male also has a bright-red crest. Indeed, the male is completely blue and black—although the dorsal and rump have olive tones and the wings are more brownish—while the female has mostly green plumage, except for the wings, brown, and the head, totally grey.

Habitat

It lives in tropical woods and jungles in Southeast Asia and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Feeding

Omnivorous, it takes advantage of periods with abundant fruits to feed, while eating insects and seeds during other periods. It sometimes associates with wild boars to eat the remains from the fruits the boar eats.

Reproduction

Crested wood partridges make their nests on the ground, hidden among vegetation, in which they lay five or six eggs. The incubation period is 18 to 19 days and is done completely by the female from beginning to end.

Conduct

Solitary and resident in their entire area of distribution.

Status and conservation programs

Today, their populations are endangered, primarily due to the deforestation of their jungle habitat. They have not been the object of much conservation in their countries of origin, making their highly vulnerable to all types of destruction of habitat.

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