"" CARD 1 GOLDEN EAGLE ~~------------------------------~------~ ~ ORDER

'IIIIIIIIIIII Accipitiformes .. FAMILY

'IIIIIIIIIIII Accipitridae ~ GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Aquila chrysaetos

One of only two kinds of eagle to breed in North America, the majestic golden eagle once provided the feathers for the

warbonnets of the Plains Indians.

Q)

Ol ell

E

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 30-35 in.

Wingspan: 6-7 ft. Weight: 6-1 3 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 4-5 years.

Breeding season: March-July.

No. of broods: 1 .

Eggs: 2, white with brown

blotches.

Incubation: 43-45 days.

Fledging period: 65-70 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary or paired, hunts for

prey on the ground while soaring

on thermals (hot air currents) .

Diet: Small mammals and birds

caught alive or eaten as carrion.

lifespan: 15-20 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The Imperial eagle, Aquila heliaco.

v Range of the golden eagle.

DISTRIBUTION

Found sparsely across northern Europe, Asia, North America,

and North Africa.

CONSERVATION

A protected species in the U.S. since 1962, this eagle is still

threatened by direct persecution and habitat loss. It is hunted

in some parts of the world.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE

The golden eagle spends much time soaring. Its wings are long and have well-spread primary feathers, which allow it to adjust its move­ments in air currents.

The golden eagle also has a particu­larly large and powerful hooked beak. It is used to dismember prey, which it carries back to its nest in pieces.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM

Its legs and feet are large and thick with long, sharp talons which enable it to grasp and crush its prey.

PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200021 PACKET 2a

The golden eagle is one of the largest

and most regal birds of prey. But it

has long been persecuted, especially

by some farmers, who have long

held the mistaken belief that it

kills farm animals and poultry.

~ HABITAT A large bird that hunts from and wetlands of eastern Asia, the air, the golden eagle is Europe, and North America, it most at home in wide open inhabits mountains and moors spaces. Today, although it can where there is little cover for be found among the forests its prey.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Golden eagles are thought much as 200 square miles. to live for 15-20 years in the • Golden eagles swoop down wild . Captive birds have been on their prey at speeds of up known to live for 40-45 yea rs . to 95 miles per hour. • In forested areas of North • In old England, only kings America, the golden eagle's were allowed to hunt golden home range may cover as eagles.

~ BREEDING Golden eagles usually build their nests, called aeries, on rocky ledges, cliffs, or trees. In some places eagles have used the same rocky ledges for hundreds of years. Nests in trees are often reused and expanded every year.

~ FOOD & HUNTING The golden eagle preys mainly on small animals, es-pecially the mountain hare. It scavenges the remains of larger animals, such as deer. Other prey includes young foxes, mink, lizards, snakes, and game birds such as red grouse and ptarmigan.

Most prey is caught on the ground, but the golden eagle will catch some birds in mid-air. Its sharp eyesight en-abies it to see small prey from some distance away.

When courting, the male flies quickly through the air, diving and soaring repeatedly. The first egg is usually laid -in March .

Incubation begins before a second egg is laid, so the first chick hatches three or four

days before the second. The second chick usually starves or is killed by the older chick.

Above: Golden eagles typically lay two brown, blotchy eggs which are incubated for over six weeks.

Left: Although two eggs may hatch, the

11 chick that f hatches first is ~ usually the ~ only survivor. ~ i? ';;!

The golden eagle is difficult to catch a glimpse of in the wild. Not only does it inhabit remote regions, but its numbers are few.

Spotting one i often a matter of being in the right place at the right time. In winter, it is possible to pot the bird in the southwestern United States and in Mexico, where some eagles migrate to e cape the harsh winters further north.

In spring and ummer the golden eagle can be seen soaring on the air currents produced by the sun­warmed ground below.

At a distance, the golden eagle sometimes looks li ke a common buzzard. However, an adult eagle is larger than a buzzard, and its wings are folded more parallel to its body. When soaring, the golden eagle holds its wings in a characteristic V-shape.

Right: After a ,----------0 ~ EAGLE & MAN successful hunt, an eagle tears up its prey into manageable pieces. If there are chicks to feed, the eagle will carry part of its kill back to the nest.

c 0 -g 0 -1 ro Cll

D

~ 0, OJ .0 D Cll 3: en

The golden eagle was once widespread throughout the Great Plains. Its numbers have declined due to persecution from hunters and farmers.

The eagle's habitat is now threatened as well. Reforesta­tion is reducing the open areas over which the eagle hunts. Insecticides (DDT, dieldrin) have adversely affected the eagle's breeding success. Despite bans on these chemi­cals, poisoning remains the greatest threat to the eagle today.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

ORDER Apodiforrnes

FAMilY Trochilidae

GENUS Est: SPECIES Archilochus colubris

This strikingly beautiful bird is one of the best-known hummingbirds. It gets its name from the male IS magnificent

blood red throat plumage.

KEY FACTS SIZES length: 4 in. Wingspan: 5 in. Weight: 1/100 oz.

BREEDING Breeding season: March-July. No. of broods: 1, sometimes 2. Eggs: 2 per clutch. Incubation: 16 days. Fledging period: 22-24 days.

LIFESTYLE Habitat: Woods, orchards, and gardens. Forest in winter. Diet: Nectar and insects. Call: Short, high-pitched squeaks. lifespan: 5 years.

RELATED SPECIES 320 different species throughout the two American continents.

Range of the ruby-throated hummingbird.

DISTRIBUTION Breeds in eastern North America and winters in Central America and the West Indies.

CONSERVATION Its plumage and minute size made the hummingbird a natural target for collectors in the nineteenth century. However, it survived well and is in no immediate danger. It is common in its normal range.

THE HUMMINGBIRD'S FLIGHT

The ability of the hummingbird to fly backwards and upside down and to hover is very unusual. Few other birds can do any of these things, and none as successfully as the hummingbird.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

The hummingbird is able to rotate the main parts of its wing in all directions. By positioning its body almost vertically and tracing a figure-eight with the tips of its wings, it produces lift and hovers.

WF DM NC 15

The tiny ruby-throated hummingbird

looks like a jewel flashing in the sun.

Bright 'light on its feathers produces

a brilliant metallic sheen.

In shadow, without this effect, its

plumag.e looks quite dull.

~MIGRATION Despite its tiny size, the ruby­throated hummingbird migrates more than 1,850 miles from the eastern United States, crossing 600 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, to spend the winter in Central America.

The ruby-throat's return to its breeding, grounds is timed

according to location. The birds that live in the southern part of the United States begin their return migration as early as February. The birds that live further north time their return to coincide with the flowering of their food plants.

~BREEDING Like many migrating birds, the male ruby-throated humming­bird arrives at the breeding area before the female. There, he establishes his territory. When the female appears, the male makes a courtship gesture by flying back and forth in a perfect arc.

Two eggs are laid sometime between March and July in a nest situated high up in a tree. The female makes the nest with lichen and other soft plants.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The hummingbird's agility in flight lets it flit from flower to flower like an insect. Although it tends to feed from red flowers, at least thirty-one different plants have flowers which attract the ruby-throated hummingbird. They include honeysuckle, petunias, nastur-

She incubates the eggs for 16 days until they hatch, and then feeds the young on nectar and small insects. The male takes no part in the rearing of the young and may go off to find another mate.

Young are fledged in three to four weeks, and some birds go on to raise a second brood .

Right: A mother feeds her young. She makes their nest from leafy material held together with spiders' webs.

tiums, and lilacs. Flying from flower to flower,

the hummingbird pollinates the plants it feeds on. Because it can hover for long periods of time, the hummingbird can effectively suck out all the nectar it needs from a flower with its long, fine bill. AI-

though nectar is its main food, providing essential high­energy sugars, hummingbirds will also eat some insects and spiders. The hummingbird is not attracted to regular bird feeders, but it will feed on red-colored sugarwater offered from a drip tube.

hummingbird's long beak is ideal for feeding on nectar.

left: The flowers'stamen touches the bird's head, depositing pol/en that is then carried to

L!...:.. _____ .;;......;::_-=-""--_ __ .lI.:;!I~ _______________ .....I the next plant.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The ruby-throated hum­mingbird has the smallest number of feathers ever counted on any bird.

• Ruby-throated humming­birds have been caught by dragonflies and praying mantises, trapped in spiders' webs, snatched by frogs, and stuck on thistles.

• Before migrating, the ruby­throated hummingbird stores a layer of fat equal to half its body weight.

• Victorians often decorated their living rooms with a case of stuffed hummingbirds. • During courtship, the ruby­throated hummingbird's wings beat up to 200 times per second, as opposed to its usual wing beat of 90 times per second.

• The hummingbird needs to eat twice its body weight in food everyday.

• Each hummingbird species makes a different humming sound, depending on the speed of its wing beats.

""" CARD 3 SNOW GOOSE

~~----------------------------------------~ ~

ORDER Anseriformes

FAMILY Anatidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Chen caeru/escens

Flying in perfect V-formations at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet, huge numbers of snow geese leave their chilly arctic breeding

grounds every fall for warmer southern climes.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 25-30 in.

Wingspan: 50-65 in .

Weight: Lesser, 5-6 lb. Greater, 6-7 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.

Breeding season: From mid-June.

No. of broods: 1 .

Eggs: 4-5, creamy white. Incubation: 22-23 days.

Fledging period: About 40 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable and migratory.

Diet: Grass, grain, berries, water

plants, and insects.

Lifespan: Typically 3 years. Captive birds, 15-20 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The snow goose is one of 15

species of true geese and brants. Similar in appearaJ;lce to the

smaller Ross's Goose (Chen rossii) .

SNOW GOOSE VARIET IES

Range of snow goose. Winter migration routes.

DISTRIBUTION

Breeds in northeastern Siberia, Arctic North America, and

Greenland. Migrates mainly to California and Mexico, but

also to eastern coast of North America, Japan, and China.

CONSERVATION

Although one of the most numerous of all goose species,

increased exploitation of the Arctic by man could threaten its mass breeding sites.

The wide variation in size and color of snow geese presented bird experts with a puzzle for many years. The

greater snow goose A. c. at/anticus (left) , is larger than the lesser (below) and breeds in Canada and Greenland.

(0MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Once thought to be a separate species, the blue goose (left) is a color variety of the lesser snow goose. Much of its plumage is gray, tinged with blue on the back and wing.

0160200041 PACKET 4

With its dazzling white plumage, the snow goose

is aptly named and is one of the easiest of all geese

to identify. However, there are three types of snow

goose, one of which is actually a dark,

gray-colored bird known as the blue goose.

The white and blue goose occasionally interbreed.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The snow goose's diet varies considerably throughout the year according to the availabil­ity of food in its different summer and winter habitats. It feeds mainly on grass, wheat, rice, and other vegetation,

~ HABITS The snow goose is one of the few species that are able to survive in the harsh environ­ment of the Arctic region . Its breeding season coincides with the brief Arctic summer. The snow goose raises its young in a land virtually free from com­petitors, predators, and human disturbance.

From June to August, the snow goose inhabits the Arctic tundra of northeastern Siberia, North America, and Green-

although it eats insects as well. It is a good swimmer but prefers to feed on land, where its relatively short, serrated­edged bill makes it well-suited to grazing on the short tundra vegetation .

land. It generally settles into low, sheltered ground near the water.

AI most as soon as the new­borns can fly at the end of summer, the geese migrate south. Most geese will cross the Bering Sea and head for the northwest coast of the United States, before moving south to California anti the Gulf of Mexico. Migrating flocks can be so dense that they block out the sun.

Left: The sociable snow geese form huge colonies. This colony has made the long journey from the Arctic to New Mexico for the winter.

Below: A snow goose uses its serrated bill to sever the tough lakeside reeds.

~ BREEDING

-----,.--------------------~-~------, Left: These

Unlike most geese, which are extremely aggressive and antisocial during the breed­ing season, snow geese nest together in huge colonies. In the more popular breeding grounds, colonies number­ing nearly 200,000 pairs are not uncommon.

Snow geese pair for life, although trios of a male and two females and, rarely, two males and a female, some­times occur. Paired birds migrate together, and as soon as they reach their breeding grounds, they begin nest building. Both birds work together to build their nest, which is set in a hollow on the ground of the

open Arctic plane, or tundra. The female incubates the

eggs for 22-23 days while the male stands guard . Protected by both parents, the goslings soon become self-sufficient. In little more than a month, they are ready to migrate south.

Right: Having been given a fairly safe start in life, these goslings will grow rapidly and will soon be ready to migrate.

snow geese are paired for life. They sit in the grassy nest that they have built together for this year's brood.

BI RDWATCH The snow goose is one of the easiest geese to identify. It i entirely white except for its black wing tips, pink legs, and a black-bordered crimson bill. Because they travel in such large flocks, they are easily

DID YOU KNOW?

• All 1 5 species of true geese inhabit the Northern hemi­sphere.

• Snow geese fly in V­

formation to reduce w ind drag and the risk of coll ision.

• A pure white snow goose may breed with a blue snow

vi ible on their migration routes.

The best places to observe the snow goose in winter are in national wi ldlife refuges on the east, west, and Gulf coasts.

goose, producing offspring of varying shades.

• The snow goose is the noisiest of all geese; it has a shrill honk that can be heard long before it flies into view.

• Lesser snow geese may be the most abundant of all wild geese.

~ CARD 4

~,--F_R_I_C_A_N_F_IS_H_E_A_G_L_E_ _ ~ROUP 2: BIRD~'''-: ... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS & SPECIES '"~ ~ Falconiformes ~ Accipitridae ~ Haliaetus vocifer

Sharply eyeing the water from its overhead perch, the predatory African fish eagle will swoop down to the surface to catch a fish

that may weigh as much as the eagle itself.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Wingspan: Males, 6 ft.

Females, 8 ft. Weight: Males, 5 lb. Females, 7 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 4-5 years.

Breeding season: Usually in dry season when water levels are low.

Eggs: 1-3; white, sometimes with a

few red marks.

Incubation period: 42-45 days.

Fledging period: 70-75 days.

LIFESTYLE Habits: Noisy; mates for life.

Diet: Mainly fish, but also

waterfowl and carrion .

Lifespan: 12-15 years.

RELATED SPECIES

Related species include the bald

eagle, the Madagascar sea eagle

and the European white-tailed sea

eagle.

Range of the fish eagle.

DISTRIBUTION

The African fish eagle is found throughout southern Africa

f rom the southern edge of the Sahara to the Cape.

CONSERVATION

Still common in much of Africa, the birds have benefited

from the construction of reservoirs . They are affected in other

places by chemical pollution of rivers and lakes, which

poisons the fish they feed on .

HOW THE AFRICAN FISH EAGLE CATCHES FISH

Spying a fish from its perch , the fish eagle will swoop down to the water's surface in a smooth glide , grasp its victim , and rise up again without slowing its pace . Occasionally, the fish eagle will hover over the water and then drop vertically on its victim as a falcon would .

If the eagle 's catch weighs more than 4 lb ., it will be dragged along the water's surface and eaten on the shore. Larger fish are too heavy to lift, so the eagle drags them ashore, paddling across the water with its wings.

PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200081 PACKET 8

Its distinctive black, brown, and white plumage

and loud ringing call make the fish eagle one of

Africa's most recognizable birds. Experts think that

the birds pair for life and maintain their close

bond by calling to each other constantly in

a variety of high and low notes.

~ HABITAT African fish eagles are always found near lakes, reservoirs, or rivers. They also hunt along the coast, particularly in river mouths and lagoons where the water surface is fairly sheltered. Where food is abundant and there are plenty of large trees suitable for nesting, fish eagles may be found every few hun­dred yards along the shoreline.

Right: Wings outspread, a fish eagle soars high in the air.

~ FOOD & HUNTING Fish are the eagle's main prey, and it hunts from a perch overlooking the water. It may make short foraging flights, but it rarely travels more than 50 yards from the shore.

A fish eagle's feet have long claws, and the spiky under-sides of its toes can hold wrig-

Right: The fish eagle 's hooked beak makes short work of prey.

Below: A young fish eagle takes its prey to the shore to eat.

gling prey securely. The eagle needs about 3 pounds of fish a day. In addition to fish, it will also eat waterfowl, terra­pins, and baby crocodiles.

Fish eagles also eat carrion, and will force other fish-eating birds such as herons to give up their food.

I DID YOU KNOW? • Where breeding territories are crowded, adult fish eagles may spend so much time defending their patch that they often have no time to breed. • One fish eagle nest is known to have been used regularly for 21 years. • Once they have found a good hunting area, fish eagles often do not have to hunt for more than 15 minutes a day.

~BREEDING At the start of breeding season, males and females increasingly call to one another, and they sometimes link claws while flying in midair. After displaying this mating behavior, the pair nests in a tall tree.

Most pairs have one or two nest sites that they use regu­larly. Older nests are very large-up to 6 feet across and 4 feet deep-and can be quickly prepared for use.

The eggs are usually laid when the seasonal rains have stopped. The female does most of the incubating, but

Right: Adult birds call to each other constantly. Below: Fish eagles lay two to three eggs in their large, bulky nests. Below right: Both parents share the task of feeding youngsters.

the male will sometimes incubate the eggs while she hunts for herself. Because the eggs hatch at intervals of 2-3 days, the eldest chick often kills the younger one.

By the end of 8 weeks, the young can feed themselves, and they begin to forage outside the nest 14 days later. Still, they are unable to fend for themselves for another 2 months. They will then be chased away from their parents' nest. When they reach breeding age, the birds will have to establish their own territories.

EMPEROR PENGUIN

ORDER Sphenisciformes

FAMILY Spheniscidae

GENUS & SPECIES Aptenodytes forsteri

The emperor penguin is not just the largest seabird, it is also the ' hardiest. Living on the Antarctic ice pack, it endures below-zero

temperatures and hurricane-force winds.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: 45 in. Weight: 45-90 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3-6 years. Breeding season: March­December. No. of broods: 1 . Incubation: 64 days. Fledging period: 40-80 days.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, living in colonies of 500 to 20,000 pairs. Diet: Fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Lifespan: 20 years.

RELATED SPECIES The emperor penguin's closest relative is the king penguin, Aptenodytes patagonico, which looks similar, but is smaller, measuring only 35 in. and weighing 25-45 lb.

CJ' ' • Range of the emperor penguin.

DISTRIBUTION It is the most southerly breeding penguin which rarely strays

outside the Antarctic.

CONSERVATION The emperor penguin has few natural enemies and ~xploits a habitat few other animals can. Despite numbering over 150,000 pairs, increased fishing and pollution of the polar seas could seriously threaten the bird's long-term survival.

UNDERWATER ADAPTATIONS OF THE EMPEROR PENGUIN

Unable to fly and ungainly on land, the emperor penguin is most at home on and under the water. Its smooth, seal-like body enables it to slip easily through the water in pursuit of prey.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Underwater propulsion is provided by powerful strokes of the penguin 's paddle-like wings, while the feet and tail are used to steer.

0160200061 PACKET 6

The sight of emperor penguins waddling over

the ice, flapping their specially adapted wings,

is quite comic. These birds have exchanged a

'mastery of land and air for grace and agility in the

water, together with an ability to survive

in Antarctic~one of the world's harshest

and most demanding environments.

~ HABITAT The emperor penguin is found only on the Antarctic ice pack and in the sur­rounding oceans. Although the emperor penguin is a marine bird and feeds exclusively at sea, its breed­ing sites, called rookeries, are usually situated on the solid ice under the shelter of an

ice cliff, often many miles inland.

Although the emperor penguin breeds in winter, it must choose a site where the ice will not melt before the young have fledged in sum­mer.

Below: Inland rookeries may contain up to 6,000 birds.

~ PREDATORS &: PREY There are more than 300,000 emperor penguins in Antarc­tica. Due to their remote habitat, they have few preda­tors. The only predators which occasionally kill adult penguins in and around the water are leopard seals and killer whales. One third of all the young fall prey to the giant petrel.

Emperor penguins them­selves prey on fish, squid, and shrimp. Although they are not fast swimmers-reaching only 3-5 miles per hour-penguins are agile and quite adept at catching their prey.

Below: Penguin pairs take turns incubating the egg.

Il:!I SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS The emperor penguin is specially adapted to survive in some of the most inhospitable cond it ions on earth . The pen­guin has thick plumage with 2 dozen feathers per square inch. They are short and stiff with a dow ny base. The closely overlapped feathers are highly effective at trapping a layer of

warm, insulat ing air. The em peror penguin's

body shape is also a heat­s.aving adaptation; it is blubbery and carried low to the ground, so less co ld ai r can circulate around it.

The emperor penguin's nasal passages even minimize heat loss when it breathes out.

DID YOU KNOW? • The emperor penguin can d ive to a depth of 870 feet and can stay underwater for 18 minutes . • During the breeding sea­son, males may not feed from March until Ju ly, a total of 11 0-11 5 days without food .

~BREEDING The breeding season begins in March and a single egg is laid between May and July. No suitable nest-building material is available in the Antarctic, so the parents support the egg on their feet to protect it from the cold . When the parents pass the egg from one to the other, they take part in a ritual display, dropping their bills onto their chests and calling .

After the female lays the egg, she returns to the sea to feed, leaving the male to incubate the egg. He incu­bates the egg for 40-50 days, shielding it from the icy tem­peratures (which may fall as

• Unlike flying birds, the emperor penguin does not have light, air-filled bones. Its heavier bones make it less buoyant in water, which allows it to d ive below the surface with ease. • On smooth, icy slopes, the emperor penguin lies on its belly and toboggans across it.

low as -400 F) with a fold of skin that extends from his belly. Large groups of incubating males huddle together for warmth.

The female returns just as the egg is about to hatch. She incubates the egg for the last few days before it hatches, and then broods the chick for 40 days. This allows the exhausted male, who by this time has lost nearly half his body weight, to r~turn to the sea to feed .

Below left: A two-week-old chick feeds from its mother.

Below: Fed by both parents, the chick grows quickly.

BLUE TITMOUSE

ORDER Posseriformes

FAMILY Poridoe

GENUS & SPECIES Porus caeruleus

Known for their acrobatic skills, blue tits are tough, inquisitive, and highly successful inhabitants of the temperate woodlands.

KEY FACTS

I ~ 41 SIZES ~,:::-!i Length: 41/2 in . Weight: 1/3 oz.

IVI BREEDING rJtg Breeding season: April-June.

Clutch size: Usually 7-13. Eggs: White; tan or brown speckles.

Broods: 1.

Incubation: 1 3-14 days.

Fledging period: 2-3 weeks.

IVI LIFESTYLE rJtg Habit: Social and inquisitive; forms

loose flocks in winter.

Diet: Insects and spiders in spring

and summer. Also seeds, fruit, grain,

and nuts.

Lifespan: Oldest known 15 years .

Ivl RELATED SPECIES ~Jtg There are 46 species in the titmouse

family, found in forests and woods

throughout Asia, Europe, Africa, and

North America.

FEATURES OF THE BLUE TIT

Range of the blue titmouse.

DISTRIBUTION

Common in woodland throughout the British Isles and

Europe from southern Scandinavia, east to Moscow, and

south to North Africa .

CONSERVATION

The total breeding population has probably declined in the

last 40 years because of the loss of woodlands. There are,

however, 4 million breeding pairs in the British Isles alone.

Adult male and female blue tits have similar coloring, although the male may be slightly brighter. Markings and colorings of juveniles are similar to adults , but duller.

Nests, built in holes in trees from moss and grass, are lined with feathers.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

The female lays seven to thirteen eggs at the rate of one a day. Incubation, which takes two weeks , is delayed until the clutch is almost complete.

0160200091 PACKET 9

The blue tit's characteristic plumage

of bright blue and yellow-and its habit of

visiting backyards to feed on nuts and scraps put

out for it-make it one of the most endearing

and best-known of the

birds of Europe.

~ HABITAT Blue tits are found in most of the broad-leaved woodlands throughout a large area of Europe. They are far less common in conifer forests.

During spring and summer, blue tits tend to be found in woodlands made up of older trees which have holes large enough for nests. In fall and winter, they can be found in woods of all ages, often

~ BREEDING

Blue tits usually start looking for nesting sites in February. Ideal sites are small holes or narrow cracks in trees or other structures, 3-50 feet from the ground.

Males and females seek nesting sites together. When the male finds a suitable place, he displays by flutter­ing his wings and calling to his mate. The female may reject several sites before deciding on the one she wants. She builds the nest alone, using moss and other material which she shapes by pushing it out to the edge of the cavity with her breast. She lines the cup-shaped structure with soft feathers or pieces of hair.

grouping together with other species of titmice, forming large, loose flocks which forage for insects. Their greater numbers give them extra protection from aerial predators, such as sparrow­hawks.

Right: In fall and winter, blue tits may be seen in woodland busily searching for scarce insects.

Blue tits lay seven to thir­teen eggs. During laying and through the incubation peri­od, the male defends the area around the nest site from

Left: The eggs take 13-14 days to hatch. It will be 2-3 weeks before the chicks are ready to leave the nest.

Right: At 9 days old, the chicks have some covering on their bodies and feed greedily. Both parents bring them food.

other blue tits, protecting the available food supply. He also brings food to the female so she can concentrate on laying and sitting on the eggs.

The eggs hatch at a time of year when food is most abundant. Hatchlings stay in the nest for two to three weeks. Their parents feed

~ FOOD & FEEDING During the summer, blue tits live mainly on insects picked from foliage. The abundant caterpillar population which appears on oak trees in late spring and summer is the usual diet ·for chicks. People who feed birds in winter should stop at this time so that birds will search for natural supplies.

In autumn, elderberries, beech-mast, and hawthorn berries are all sources of food. Seeds are the main winter food.

When searching for scarce food in winter, blue tits will probe and pry the bark of trees, searching for insects hidden underneath. Their strong, stubby beaks are well suited for this task.

them a diet made up mostly of caterpillars, and they remove the young birds' droppings regularly to keep the nest clean.

[@ NATUREWATCH The boldness of blue tits allows birdwatchers to watch them at close range. Winter is the best time to attract them with bags of nuts.

Blue tits should not be fed in the summer because the nestlings may find adult food indigestible.

A nesting box should have a very small entrance hole to keep out predators.

DID YOU KNOW? • In a single winter day, more than 200 blue tit~ may feed at a nut bag hung in a backyard.

• Females and their young are in danger from weasels which can squeeze through holes measuring only an inch across.

• Blue tits have been known to fly through an open window to tea r off strips of wallpaper for nest lining.

• Blue tits have been remark­ably successful in intelligence tests in which they pulled out a series of pegs and opened matchboxes to obtain food .

• During the cold winter, some blue tits will roost in street lights to keep warm.

FAIRY WREN "~ _________________________________ G_R_O_U_P_2_:_8_IR_D_S __ ~

ORDER Passeriformes

FAMilY Maluridae

". GENUS ~ Malurus

The fairy wren is found throughout Australia and is one of that country's most popular birds. The male is easily

recognized by his brightly colored plumage.

KEY FACTS

~ SIZES l1iJ length: 4-5 in. Weight: '/4-'/3 oz.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: Varies by region. No. of broods: 1-2. Eggs: 2-4, white with red-brown or dark brown spots. Incubation: 13-16 days. Fledging period: 9-11 days.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Forages ground vegetation; lives in family groups. Diet: Insects. lifespan: Up to 10 years.

RELATED SPECIES Experts' opinions vary on how many species there are, but there are thought to be 9-1 3.

Range of the fairy wren.

DISTRIBUTION

The fairy wrens are widespread across Austral ia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. They are found in most types of habitat.

CONSERVATION The fairy wren has been adversely affected by habitat change. The blue-breasted wren has lost much of its shrubland habitat in Western Australia to wheat or sheep farming .

~_--=:~~_ Nest: The dome-shaped nest is made from grass stems, leaves, roots, and bark, interwoven with spiders' webs. It

/is' lined with fine grass and feathers.

\lJl~4-~~~~~~tI~~~\l.~~~'::-Tail: The long tail of the fairy wren

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FI LETM PRINTED IN U.SA

must bend in the confined nest space, . d it may eventually stay in a bent position.

After having fought to protect its territory, the victorious bird puffs itself up and flies in a straight path back to the nest.

us P 6001 12012 PACKET 12

Species of fairy wren can be found

in almost every type of habitat throughout

Australia and New Guinea, including rainforests,

scrubland, swamps and desert plains. All the

species are similar in shape, but the male

displays a rich variety of blue, violet, red,

black, and white patterns in his plumage.

~HABITS The fairy wren lives on the ground in the undergrowth of low-lying vegetation. It has short, rounded wings that are not particularly well adapted to flying. Instead, it prefers to hop across the ground on its long legs. Its tail is nearly the same length as its body, and the bird carries it cocked at an angle most of the time.

The family bond is particu­larly strong among fairy wrens and, although it is not unusual to see solitary pairs, the birds most often live in small groups. They defend

communal territories ranging in size from one to seven acres. Each group usually has a breeding pair and several adult, non-breeding offspring. Most young birds stay in their parents' territory the first year after hatching.

After the breeding season is over, most male fairy wrens lose their bright blue feathers and grow brown- and cream­colored feathers similar to those of the females. An adult male over four years of age, however, retains its blue col­oration throughout the year.

~ BREEDING The different species of fairy wren breed at various times of the year, depending on cli­mate and conditions in each region. In drier habitats, breeding season falls during the rainy season, when food becomes more abundant.

The nest is an enclosed, dome-shaped structure ap­proximately five inches high. It is usually built in a bush or in a clump of grass. Here, the female lays and incubates her clutch of two to four eggs. She will leave the nest for

Left: The fairy wren prefers to hop about in the thick under­growth rather than fly.

Below: The contrast in color between the brilliant blue male and the female is striking.

short periods of time to forage for food with her mate. The young often leave the nest less than two weeks after hatching, well before their tails are fully grown. Since they cannot fly properly, they stay hidden in the foliage.

Though only one pair in each territory will breed, they can rear two to three broods each season as the other birds in the group help to care for them. Once the young of the first brood have left the nest, the non-breeding adults feed and take care of them, leaving the dominant female to lay another clutch. If the nest is threatened, each bird will play a part in helping to ward off the intruder.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The fairy wren is an insectivore and feeds on a variety of in­sects. Some species forage among the treetops, but most feed on the ground among low-growing vegetation. The splendid wren, Ma/urus sp/en­dens, will hop several yards straight up in the air to snatch a flying insect before diving back down into cover. This is called its "towering flight. II

DID YOU KNOW? • Campbell's fairy wren (Ma/u­(US combe/h) of New Guinea is the only fairy wren species found outside Australia.

• In spite of his bright colors, the male fairy wren is difficult to spot in the wild . He usually keeps to the undergrowth and is much more cautious than the dull-colored female. The male is often the first to leave a clearing if an intruder approaches. • Young fairy wrens often help to feed the nestlings of a

Another species, the su­perb wren, M. cyaneus, has adapted to living in gardens throughout suburban areas of southeastern Australia. It forages for insects but also regularly eats from bird feeders.

Below: Foraging in low vegetation, the fairy wren uses its thin beak to catch insects.

brood hatched later in the same season. • Most male fairy wrens lose their brightly colored feathers after the breeding season and are sometimes incorrectly identified as females. • Different species of fairy wren differ in their respons­es to humans. Though M. cyaneus is regularly seen in city suburbs and parks, it avoids any contact with human beings.

ECLECTUS PARROT

ORDER Psittaciformes

FAMILY Psittaeidae

GENUS & SPECIES fcleetus rorotus

The brilliant plumage of the eclectus parrot provides it with excellent camouflage from predators in its rainforest habitat.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 14 in.

Wingspan: Up to 28 in .

Weight: Up to 16 oz.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 3 years.

No. of broods: 1, possibly more.

Breeding season: Varies accord­

ing to location and climate; may be

almost continuous.

Eggs: White, 2 per clutch .

Incubation period: 26 days.

Fledging period: About 85 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable, roosting in large

groups of up to 80 birds.

Diet: Treetop seeds, nuts, fruits,

flowers, and leaves.

Lifespan: Probably 40- 50 years.

RELATED SPECIES

Includes the African gray parrot,

Psittacus erithacus.

Range of the ec\ectus parrot.

DISTRIBUTION

New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and other islands. On some

islands the birds may originally have been introduced as pets.

Also Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia.

CONSERVATION

Populations have been affected by hunting and land clearing,

but in many areas of the eclectus parrot's natural habitat, no

conservation measures are yet in force.

IDENTIFYING THE ECLECTUS PARROT

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

The contrasting colors of the male and female parrots' plumage are thought to help them survive in their natural forest habitat where they may be in danger from birds of prey. Males spend much time seeking food in the treetops where their bright green plumage blends in well with the foliage . By contrast. females incubating in dark nest holes are less conspicuous as their red and blue feathers merge with the shadows. At six weeks. the female chick (left) is more colorful than the male chick (right) who is still a grayish color.

Female chick Male chick

0160200031 PACKET 3a

Strikingly beautiful birds, eclectus parrots live in the

lowland rainforests of Pacific islands such as New

Guinea. These parrots are thought to have been intro­

duced to some islands by forest-dwelling natives who

kept them as pets.

~ HABITS Eclectus parrots are noisy, sociable birds that gather in large flocks of up to eighty. They fly very well and can climb trees with ease, using their beaks and feet to grip the branches.

The male is a stocky, medium-sized bird with

bright, glossy green feathers highlighted with red flashes on its sides and underneath its wings. The female is slightly smaller and has a bright red head, throat, and wings which contrast with her brilliant blue chest and purple underwings.

~ FOOD Iii FEEDING Like most other parrots, eclectus parrots are vegetari­ans. At sunrise, they leave their roosts in pairs or small groups and feed in the tops of tall trees. They eat a wide range of buds, blossoms, seeds, nuts, berries, fruit, and nectar.

When kept in captivity, eclectus parrots will eat large

I amounts of green vegetables in addition to fruit and nuts.

The birds are strong flyers and will travel far from their roosting sites in search of food. Large numbers will con­gregate on fruit-bearing trees.

Above left: Both male and female eclectus parrots have strong, curved beaks adapted for climbing and cracking nuts and hard seeds.

Right: The male's bright coloration helps him to blend with the lighter parts of the forest (see back cover). He feeds the female when she is in­cubating eggs.

DID YOU KNOW? • Newly-hatched eclectus parrot chicks are covered with short, thick bristles which are replaced with fluffy, gray down after two or three days .

• Male and female eclectus parrots are so different in color that they were at one time thought to have been two completely different species.

~ BREEDING The eclectus parrot has no regular breeding season. Dur­ing courtship, the male pur­sues one female and attempts to get her attention by mak­ing excited squawking calls. When the female is ready to mate, she selects a nest site in a hole high up in a tall tree trunk. The entrance is usually about three inches across. She chews up pieces of wood with

• Of the over 300 members of the parrot family, only a third are actually called parrots. Other members are commonly known as para­keets, macaws, cockatoos, and lorikeets. • Parrots have two claws facing forward and two facing backward; this gives them a good grip for climbing trees .

which to line the nest and makes a soft bed for the eggs.

The female lays two eggs and incubates them without the help of the male. The male visits the nest at regular intervals during incubation and feeds the female with regurgitated food. The eggs hatch after 26 days, and the young fledge (grow feathers) and learn to fly at 12 weeks.

"" CARD 9 ] ATLANTIC PUFFIN ~---------------------------------------~

ORDER Charadriiformes

FAMILY Alcidae

GENUS &- SPECIES Fratercula arctica

Looking like a relative of the penguin, or a marine version of the parrot, the squat Atlantic puffin is, in fact, related to neither

family: it is a species of auk.

KEY FACTS SIZES Wing length: 6-7 in. Weight: Males, 12-1 7 oz. Females, 11-12 oz.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 4-5 years. Breeding season: Return to breeding cliffs March-April to mate and lay eggs. Eggs: 1. Incubation: 39 days. Fledging: About 6 weeks.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Stay single or in pairs during the winter months, but congregate in colonies during breeding season. Diet: Sand eels in summer. Also whitebait or larval fish of many species.

RELATED SPECIES

Puffins belong to the auk family which includes the razorbill.

THE PUFFIN'S BEAK &: NEST

• Range of the Atlantic puffin.

DISTRIBUTION North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

CONSERVATION

Chemical and oil pollution of the sea in the 1960s is thought to have killed many puffins, and traditional colonies were deserted as numbers declined . Their situation has worsened due to overfishing of their food supply. Conservationists are working to limit the large amount of commercial fishing.

Nest: The nest at the end of a six-foot-Iong tunnel. Both birds dig out the nest, or they may take over an old rabbit den.

Winter colors

Beak: During the breeding season, the puffin 's beak is brightly colored (far left) . This color disappears during the winter, when the bill becomes small and gray.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200071 PACKET 7

The puffin's best-known feature-its colorful beak-

is used to attract mates. After breeding season ends,

it changes to a dull gray color and becomes

smaller in size. The puffin is also known as

the sea parrot, and, although it looks awkward

on land, it is perfectly adapted to

its environment.

c o

Atlantic puffins live in the cold waters of the Arctic, often hundreds of miles from land. They are most often seen singly or in pairs.

and gather in huge groups to §

In spring, they come ashore

breed. Although they prefer to ~

dig their burrows in steep, ~ grassy slopes, they may tunnel ~ under boulder debris at the S « foot of steep cliffs. ;';}

DID YOU KNOW? • The puffin can swim and fly very fast, but because its legs are placed so far back on its stubby body, it often crash­es while landing in strong winds.

• As it preens, the puffin takes oil from a gland near its tail and applies it to its feathers to keep them waterproof.

~ BREEDING Returning to their breeding colonies in March and April, puffins gather in dense groups offshore. Here the pairs rub bills and coo to each other before mating and going ashore to lay the eggs.

Sometimes a pair must dig a burrow in which to place the single egg, but they prefer to use an abandoned rabbit bur­row if possible. Puffins tend to pair for life, although they do not stay together year-round. Males often bring presents of grass or feathers to their mate.

The egg is laid in a chamber at the end of a six-foot-Iong tunnel and is incubated in turn by both parents. When the chick hatches, the parents also

~ FOOD &: HUNTING • Puffins are inquisitive and During the summer, there is a like to investigate one constant stream of puffins another's burrows, which flying back and forth be-can lead to fights. tween their burrows on the • On the ,·sland of St. Kilda,

cliffs and the fishing grounds. puffins were once used in Breeding success may

making porridge. depend on how far the • The Atlantic puffin makes puffins have to fly to find soft growling or purring food for themselves and their noises. _____ ~ ___ ___' hungry chick.

share the task of catching its food.

Predatory gulls are the biggest threat to the safety of young puffins. Once the puffin is ready to leave its parents, it must reach the sea without being detected by gulls. It does this by leaving its burrow at night and making its way to the water. It cannot fly at this stage, so it travels by swimming.

The following year, the young puffin will return to the colony. It does not breed until it is 4-5 years old.

Below: A parent brings food back to its single chick. Both parents share this task.

Puffin colonies can be found on and near rocky cliffs. One site is on the remote North Atlantic island of St. Kilda in the Scottish Outer Hebrides.

The puffin's favorite food is the sand eel, which it catches by diving down into the water with great speed . Its wings enable it to swim to great depths.

Below: Puffin's beak and mouth have backward-pointing spikes which can hold several eels.

Early in the breeding season, it is possible to see flocks of excited puffins flying at high speeds as they appear to dive at the cliffs .

" CARD 10 GREATER FLAMINGO

GENUS & SPECIES

Wading along the edges of shallow, salty lakes, the greater flamingo ducks its head as it fishes for tiny

invertebrates with its boomerang-shaped beak.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Height: 4-5 ft. Wingspan: 55-65 in. Weight: 6-7 lb.

BREEDING

Nest site: Open, muddy ground. Breeding season: April-August. Sexual maturity: 2-3 years. Clutch size: 1, off-white color. Incubation: 28-31 days. Fledging period: 70-75 days.

LIFESTYLE

Diet: Small invertebrates-insects, crustaceans, mollusks, worms. Call: Gooselike, grating call. Lifespan: Average 20 years in wild. Up to 50 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES

Include the lesser flamingo, Puna flamingo, and Andean flamingo .

HOW FLAMINGOS FEED

When it is feeding, a flamingo submerges its bill upside down underwater. It then opens its bill slightly and draws back its tongue, sucking in water through a coarse filter of bony plates which keeps out large particles. The flamingo then closes its bill and uses its tongue to force out the water through another, finer filter which traps particles of food.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILEn ..

Range of the greater flamingo.

DISTRIBUTION

Southern Europe, southwestern Asia, Africa, West Indies, and Galapagos Islands.

CONSERVATION

Habitat destruction and disturbance, especially by low-flying aircraft, are the main threats. Most colonies are stable, but are now always· seen in the same place each year.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Right: Striding across the surface of the lake, a greater flamingo builds up the nec­essary speed for takeoff.

left: Once they ~ are airborn, I flamingos fly ~ strongly, with ~ slow, lazy

'---_________________________________ ---" a: wingbeats.

The graceful, pink flamingos fly in

loose flocks, in long, single lines,

or in V-formation.

Their pink color comes from chemicals

called carotenoids which are contained

in the algae they eat.

~ HABITAT The greater flamingo is par­ticular about its choice of habitat. It needs shallow, very

salty lagoons and lakes in which to feed and breed successfu IIy. .

The flamingo dislikes distur­bance, particularly at breed­ing times, and will often seek out larger expanses of water

DID YOU KNOW?

• What appear to be the flamingo's knees are actually its ankles, which bend backward when it sits down.

• In ancient Rome, flamingo tongues were regarded as a delicacy. As recently as 30 years ago, flamingos and their

for solitude. In winter, the northernmost

colonies of greater flamingos in Asia will migrate south to the warmer coastal areas of Iran and India. Most other colonies will overwinter if the weather stays mild. But these birds will move on if the weather turns bad.

eggs were eaten by people in parts of southern Europe and the Caribbean.

• Many children came to know flamingos as the croquet mallets in Lewis Carroll's famous story, Alice in

Wonderland.

~ BREEDING The greater flamingo nests in colonies that often contain thousands of birds. Male and female birds build the nest together. The nest is a mound of mud, 12-20 inches in diameter, and, despite the

~ u: 0

.;:: += c '!! 0

(f)

D 0

6 ~ tf

~ FOOD & FEEDING The flamingo filters food from the water, much like the blue whale. It uses its specially adapted bill to capture and filter its food-a combination of protozoa and algae as well as crustaceans, mollusks, and

insects.

circular trench the birds con­struct around it, the nest and egg are often destroyed by a rise in water level.

A single white egg is incu­bated alternately by both parents for four weeks. The

Left: An

American

flamingo turns

an egg during

incubation.

Right: A chick

begins to feed

itself at about

30 days.

Far right:

Flamingos

gather in

thousands.

Its long legs enable the flamingo to wade through deep water and mud in search of food, and its long neck allows it to reach food at some depth. It can also swim easily and will partially sub­merge itself in order to feed.

chick is fed on regurgitated liquid called crop-milk. It begins to feed itself after a month, although the parents continue to feed it as well. About this time the chick joins other young birds in a group

called a creche, taking 1 0 weeks to fledge (grow feath­ers). Young birds are grayish brown in color and gradually become white and pink. They attain their full adult plumage at three to four years of age.

~ c C1l E Q)

o o Q)

g eli

~ <u

CD

o

~---------------~ ~

~ SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS The flamingo is found in extremely alkaline soda and salt lagoons. The chemical makeup of the water is so strong that it would remove

the skin from a person's legs in seconds. To feed in such

water, the flamingo has developed especially tough skin on its legs. If the soda is too concentrated, it can crystallize around the fla­mingo's legs, and the bird will become immobilized.