Aviarium

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

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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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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Turac de Guinea

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 08:01:36 +0000

Senegal Turaco

These attractive jungle birds from West Africa live on fruit, flowers and shoots. They live in gallery forests and next to crop fields from sea level up to 1,100 metres.
Their plumage features two pigments that do not exist in any other bird: turacine (red) and turacoverdin (green). The red colour is found under the wings and is only visible when the birds are in flight.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 09:01

Tauraco persa

Forests of West Africa

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Cuculiformes

Family

Musophagidae

225-290 g

40-43 cm

Up to 12 years

Habitat

Jungle

Social life

Solitary

Feeding

Frugivorous

Oviparous

Days

21-23

Baby

Description

The Guinea turaco is a mid-sized bird some 40 cm long, with green colouring on its head, breast and dorsal, which turns a deep bluish or lilac tone on the wings to the tips of its long tail. It has a striking green crest and a small reddish coloured beak. A slash of bright white in the inner corners of the eyes and a red circle around them adds a splash of colour to this part of its face. The subspecies at the Zoo does not have the long white mark across the top of its cheeks. Turacos’ plumage has two pigments unique to the entire bird world: turacine (a red colour) and turacoverdin (a green colour). The red is mainly under their wings and only visible when they fly.

Habitat

They occupy gallery forests and the edges of croplands from sea level to 1100 metres high.

Feeding

These striking jungle birds from western Africa feed on fruit, flowers and shoots.

Reproduction

It generally breeds between May and June, although in some of its areas of distribution it may do so between December and February. It builds a platform of branches and twigs interwoven with plant matter of different origins some five metres from the ground, in which it generally lays two spherical whitish coloured eggs, which both members of the pair incubate for 21 to 23 days.

Conduct

Sedentary and highly territorial. They remain in the same territory the entire year and aggressively defend them. They may move between drier and wetter areas depending on the food sources available.

Status and conservation programs

Abundant and common in the large part of its territory.

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Faisà d'esperons de Palawan

atenea — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 07:02:34 +0000

Palawan peacock-pheasant

This small pheasant lives in the rainforests of the Palawan Islands, in the Philippines archipelago. Given its reduced area of distribution and over-exploitation by collectors, it is highly endangered.

As with all pheasants, the males and females look very different. During the mating display, the male fans out its tail to one side to impress the female with its colourful ocellus.

atenea Tue, 12/13/2016 - 08:02

Polyplectron napoleonis

Breeding program

EEP

Palawan islands in the archipelago of the Philippines.

Degree of risk

Vulnerable

Class

Aves

Order

Galliformes

Family

Phasianidae

322-426 g

40 - 50 cm

Up to 15 years

Habitat

Jungle

Social life

Solitary

Feeding

Herbivorous

Oviparous

Days

18-20

Baby

Description

There is clear sexual dimorphism, where males have gorgeous, iridescent black and blue plumage, with a face spotted with white, while the females have a more discrete brown colour. During the mating ritual, the male unfolds its eye-catching tail sideways.

Habitat

This small pheasant lives only in the rainforest of the Palawan Islands in the archipelago of the Philippines.

Feeding

They feed from the forest floor on seeds, fruits, berries, tender shoots and small invertebrates.

Reproduction

Despite the lack of data on how this species breeds in liberty, in captivity they tend to lay two eggs, which are incubated by the female for 18 to 20 days.

Conduct

Resident and sedentary.

Status and conservation programs

Given their small area of distribution and excessive capturing they have suffered at the hands of collectors, they are currently seriously endangered. Today their status is vulnerable.

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Alció de collar blanc

atenea — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 17:00:39 +0000

White-collared kingfisher

This colourful forest bird prefers to live in coastal areas, particularly mangrove swamps but also in more open habitats. Although it can catch fish like its closest relative, the Common Kingfisher, it has a much more varied diet that includes crabs, insects, worms, snails and small vertebrates. It usually perches high up, remaining motionless in wait for its prey.

atenea Mon, 12/12/2016 - 18:00

Todiramphus chloris

Different parts of eastern Africa, western India, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and northern Australia

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Coraciiformes

Family

Alcedinidae

51-100 g

23-25 cm

Up to 11 years

Habitat

Wetlands

Social life

Solitary

Feeding

Piscivorous

Oviparous

Days

20-22

Baby

2 to 5

Description

This kingfisher species, with very widespread distribution, has enormous physical variability, making it quite complex to find common distinctive traits among its 50 subspecies. The subspecies at the Zoo is the symbolic one, characterised by its long powerful black beak with a yellowish base, its white face, chest and belly, green crown and dorsal, and blue wings and tail. It has a lavish black mask that finishes at the nape. This kingfisher receives its name from the white collar-like ring around its neck.

Habitat

This bird selects aquatic environments around its area of distribution, with a clear preference for mangroves and flooded forests along the coastlines of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea and northern Australia.

Feeding

The populations closest to coastal areas primarily feed on crabs, crustaceans, molluscs and small fish they capture with their enormous powerful beak. As populations get further from the sea, their dietary range varies and even includes small reptiles, mammals and amphibians, while consisting mainly of insects and invertebrates.

Reproduction

Due to the variety of environments it occupies, with changing climates and microclimates, the breeding period cannot be defined equally for all populations and subpopulations. Nests can even have different substrates and be made differently depending on the area where it is. It can end up using termite mounds and sandbanks to dig the nest or take advantage of holes in rotten or fallen trees, always employing a hole made by another species. Indeed, over half of this species’ nests are located in termite mounds, generally those built using a tree for support. Females lay between two and five eggs in the nests, although the most common number is three, which both members of the couple incubate for 29 or 30 days.

Conduct

Resident and sedentary, although they scatter and are nomadic in some points of their area of distribution.

Status and conservation programs

It is a common bird that is not endangered in the majority of its area of distribution. While quite common in the mangroves of the Indonesia, the Philippines and Southeast Asia, in northern Australia they are rarer and less abundant. In many parts of their distribution area they are diminishing due to loss of habitat and the degradation of coastal lands.

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Tilinop superb oriental

atenea — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 15:57:56 +0000

Superb fruit dove

The superb fruit dove is a rainforest dove with significant sexual dimorphism: the female has green plumage with a white mark on the back of the head, while the male has a purple crown and orange neck. They lay a single egg which they both incubate, the male during the day and
the female at night.

atenea Mon, 12/12/2016 - 16:57

Ptilinopus superbus

Rainforests of New Guinea and Australia

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Columbiformes

Family

Columbidae

80-145 g

21-24 cm

Up to 10 years

Habitat

Forest

Social life

Solitary

Feeding

Frugivorous

Oviparous

Days

Baby

Description

The eastern superb fruit dove is a forest pigeon with marked sexual dimorphism: the female has green plumage with a blue spot at the back of its head, while the male has a purple crown and orange nape.

Habitat

It occupies all types of forests, mangroves and farmlands with some tree cover in New Guinea and its surrounding islands and the east of Australia, from sea level to 2500 metres.

Feeding

It is essentially frugivorous. It forms large food groups often, mixed with other Columbidae species.

Reproduction

It builds a simple nest with branches and plant matter, in which it lays a single egg that both members of the pair incubate, the male during the day and the female at night, for some 14 days.

Conduct

The majority of this species' populations are resident and sedentary, although some subpopulations may be more nomadic.

Status and conservation programs

It is locally abundant and common in the majority of its area of distribution. In some areas, generally islands and isolated regions, it is endangered due to the destruction of its habitat.

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Tilinop de clatell negre

atenea — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 15:41:58 +0000

Black-naped fruit dove

The fruit dove is a small forest bird with a very definite sexual dimorphism: the female has green plumage, while the male has a green body, the lower part of the tail is yellow, orange and red, and its head and neck are greyish, with a black nape. A herbivore, it feeds on fruit, young shoots, berries and seeds.

atenea Mon, 12/12/2016 - 16:41

Ptilinopus melanospila

Breeding program

ESB

Indonesia y Filipinas

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Columbiformes

Family

Columbidae

90-120 g

21 - 27 cm

Up to 8 years

Habitat

Forest

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Herbivorous

Oviparous

Days

18-26

Baby

Description

The black-naped fruit dove is a small forest dove with marked sexual dimorphism, as the female’s plumage is entirely green, while the male has a green body, with the bottom of the tail yellow, orange or red, greyish white head and neck, and—naturally—a black nape.

Habitat

They mainly inhabit the rainforests and more open forests of the south Philippines and other Southeast Asian islands, including Sulawesi (the former Celebes Islands), Java, Bali and Maluku. They can be found in these regions both at sea level and in mountains over 1000 metres high. Very adaptable, they also often frequent croplands and the parks and gardens outside of cities.

Feeding

Herbivorous, they feed on fruits, tender shoots, berries and seeds that they eat on the high branches of trees.

Reproduction

The nest is a simple platform made with twigs that they normally build in the branches of trees close to the ground. They tend to lay a single egg, which is incubated from 18 to 26 days.

Conduct

Despite being considered eminently sedentary, recent studies reveal that the species can behave nomadically, changing islands quite often and taking off on long trips over the sea.

Status and conservation programs

This species is still common in many regions of its area of distribution.

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Goura victòria

atenea — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 15:26:03 +0000

Victoria crowned pigeon

The Victoria crowned pigeon lives on the forest floor of the rainforests in the north of New Guinea and the islands of Yapen and Biak. It differs from other species of crowned pigeon in that the crest is larger with white patches and dark edges on the wings. Crowned pigeons are the largest of all living pigeons and can weigh up to 2.5 kg.

atenea Mon, 12/12/2016 - 16:26

Goura victoria

Breeding program

ESB

New Guinea

Degree of risk

Vulnerable

Class

Aves

Order

Columbiformes

Family

Columbidae

1,8-2,4 kg

66 - 75 cm

Up to 15 years

Habitat

Jungle

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Herbivorous

Oviparous

Days

28-31

Baby

Description

Crowned pigeons are the largest pigeons that exist and they can weigh up to 2.5 kg. The plumage of the Victoria-crowned pigeon is blue, with a brown chest and a conspicuous white spot on the wings. Their eyes are red, framed by black eyebrows, with a crest of delicate long blue feathers spotted with black and white high on the head. The other species that lives at the Barcelona Zoo, the blue-crowned pigeon, is different due to having a blue chest and blue head feathers without black-and-white spots.

Habitat

They inhabit lowland mangroves and rainforests in northern New Guinea and other nearby smaller islands, where they travel in small flocks of between two and a dozen individuals.

Feeding

Their diet is fundamentally herbivore. They eat fallen fruits, seeds, berries and tender shoots, although it can also capture small invertebrates.

Reproduction

The nests are large platforms made with leaves and twigs that they build in branches some distance from the ground. They lay one white egg and incubate it 30 days

Conduct

They are sedentary birds that do not make seasonal migrations. Although they are essentially terrestrial, they tend to spend nights high in treetops.

Status and conservation programs

In recent years, wild populations of this species have suffered a steep decline, due to overhunting for human consumption and, primarily, the deforestation of their forest habitat.

The Barcelona Zoo participates in the European Studbook (ESB) for this species in captivity and keeps an important breeding colony of this endangered pigeon.

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Goura coronada

atenea — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 15:09:19 +0000

Blue crowned pigeon

Crowned pigeons are the largest living pigeons, with a weight that can reach nearly 2.5 kg. With terrestrial habits and basically a herbivore, they eat fallen fruits on the ground, seeds, berries and young shoots, although they can also catch small invertebrates. The blue crowned pigeon is characterised by its blue breast and the blue crest on its head.

atenea Mon, 12/12/2016 - 16:09

Goura cristata

Breeding program

ESB

New Guinea

Degree of risk

Vulnerable

Class

Aves

Order

Columbiformes

Family

Columbidae

1,8-2,4 kg

66 - 75 cm

Up to 15 years

Habitat

Jungle

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Herbivorous

Oviparous

Days

28-30

Baby

Description

Crowned pigeons are the largest pigeons that exist and they can weigh up to 2.5 kg. The plumage of the blue-crowned pigeon is blue, with brown shoulders and back and a conspicuous white spot on the wings. Their eyes are red, framed by black eyebrows, with a crest of delicate long blue feathers high on the head. The other species that lives at the Barcelona Zoo, the Victoria-crowned pigeon, is different than the blue-crowned pigeon due to having a brown chest and spotted black-and-white head feathers.

Habitat

They inhabit lowland mangroves and rainforests in western New Guinea and other nearby smaller islands, where they travel in small flocks of between two and a dozen individuals.

Feeding

This terrestrial bird is fundamentally herbivorous, and eats fallen fruits, seeds, berries and tender shoots, although it can also capture small invertebrates.

Reproduction

The nests are large platforms made with leaves and twigs that they build in branches some distance from the ground. They lay a single egg which is incubated by both sexes for 28 to 29 days..

Conduct

Although they are essentially terrestrial, they tend to spend nights high in treetops. They are sedentary birds that do not make seasonal migrations.

Status and conservation programs

In recent years, wild populations of this species have suffered a steep decline, due to overhunting for human consumption and, primarily, the deforestation of their forest habitat.

The Barcelona Zoo participates in the European Studbook (ESB) for this species in captivity and keeps an important breeding colony of this endangered pigeon.

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Dúcula imperial

atenea — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 14:55:41 +0000

Pied imperial pigeon

The Pied Imperial Pigeon is a frugivorous pigeon, characterised by its bicolouration, with the head, body and legs in white and the tips of its wings and tail in black.
It lives in the coastal jungles and mangrove swamps of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Sulawesi, the Philippines and western New Guinea, from sea level right up to the mountain forests at an altitude of over 1,000 metres.

atenea Mon, 12/12/2016 - 15:55

Ducula bicolor

Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

Degree of risk

Least Concern

Class

Aves

Order

Columbiformes

Family

Columbidae

365-510 g

35 - 42 cm

Up to 10 years

Habitat

Jungle

Social life

Gregarious

Feeding

Herbivorous

Oviparous

Days

25-30

Baby

Description

This large pigeon, up to 42 cm long, is characterised by its dual-coloured plumage, to which its taxonomic name makes reference. All the plumage is white except for the tips of the wings and tail, which are black.

Habitat

They inhabit coastal mangroves and jungles of southwest Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, generally in lowlands, although some subspecies can be found in forested regions at over 1000 m altitude.

Feeding

Frugivorous, they eat all types of fruits and berries that they prefer to consume high in the treetops.

Reproduction

They reproduce in small colonies located on small islands with little human interference. They normally lay one egg, although two have occasionally been recorded.

Conduct

They travel quite considerable distances between their breeding and feeding grounds, forming flocks can be made up of numerous specimens.

Status and conservation programs

Still a quite common species in some regions of their extensive area of distribution, they are threatened in many others primarily due to the deforestation and deterioration of their jungle habitat. This species also lives on Komodo Island, sharing its habitat with the largest saurian in the world, the infamous Komodo dragons.

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