Horned Grebe Diet And Habitat

The Horned Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.Horned grebes resemble small, compact ducks with short, pointed bills. They are 31 to 38 cm long and weigh 300 to 570 g.Male and female horned grebes are similar in appearance, but the male is slightly larger than the female and has brighter breeding plumage.

Horned grebes begin breeding when they are 1 year old.Horned Grebe Breeds on large and small lakes and ponds, floodwaters, sloughs, wet marshes. and calmer river and stream backwaters; where vegetation is present. Often solitary. but with a number of nests near each other at times. Nests usually in small bays. with tall vegetation in the water providing cover.

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Pied Billed Grebe Facts And Diet Information

The Pied billed Grebe is a species of the grebe family of water birds.Pied billed grebe is the most widely distributed grebe in the Americas.pied-billed grebe has brownish feathers and a short whitish bill.Pied Billed Grebe Breeds on lakes and ponds. often very small, floodwaters, marshy borders of large lakes and rivers: exceptionally on quiet parts of estuaries.
 Nest usually floating in vegetation bordering open water.During the breeding season, pied billed grebes reside in freshwater ponds or lakes to moderately brackish waters. They usually live in areas with emergent or aquatic vegetation which provides good nest site locations.It eats small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects but is especially fond of crayfish, which it crushes easily with its stout bill. They are very shy and solitary.The pied-billed grebe is an excellent swimmer and diver. It often dives to evade predators.

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Skylark Bird Facts And Informations

Nest in a slight depression in the ground; sometimes sheltered by a tuft of grass.It is found on different kinds of land, such as moorland, dunes, farmland and grassland, so basically a lot of lands.

When it was said that the skylark bird lives on different kinds of land, it really meant, different kinds of LAND for these birds make nests on land, preferably somewhere in the middle of vegetation. Skylark makes nests, really hard to find.When the skylark takes flight it sings a beautiful song, which can be clearly heard by all, although it can be difficult to see him as he flies 50 to 100 m above the ground, staying in one spot.

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Yellow Billed Cuckoo bird Facts and other Informations

Yellow-billed cuckoos reach a length of 10.5 to 12.5 inches, with a wingspan of 17 inches.This shy, slender bird gets its name from the soft coo-coo-coocoo call of the male seeking mates. In some places, it is called the "rain crow" or the "storm crow" because it begins calling right before the summer rains begin.

Yellow-billed cuckoos prefer open woodlands with clearings and a dense shrub layer. They are often found in woodlands near streams, rivers or lakes. In North America.Breeds in open woodland, scrub, parkland, orchards and gardens. Nest in a bush or tree, 2-20 ft. up, in a crotch or on a horizontal limb, usually concealed in dense foliage.

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Mourning Dove Bird

The Mourning Dove is a member of the dove family. Mourning dove is a slender, medium-sized dove with a relatively small head and a distinctive long, pointed tail.

Breeds in a wide variety of habitats. Open woodland, cultivated areas with trees or shrubs, suburban gardens, semi-arid and arid areas within reach of water. Nest usually in a tree or shrub between 10-25 ft.Mourning Doves raise three or more broods in a single breeding season. 

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Northern Bobwhite Bird Diet And Habitat

Northern bobwhites can be found from southeastern Ontario to Central America.Northern bobwhite are fairly common in grasslands, shrubby pastures, hedgerows and woodland edges. 
Northern Bobwhite Breeds in a Wide variety of habitats, but basically a species of scrub scattered cover in grassland or cultivated areas, and on woodland edge Nest on the ground , usually in low cover bordering an open space.The northern bobwhite is a popular game bird and is welcomed by farmers as a destroyer of weeds and harmful insects.

Diet:

Plants and small bugs(grasshoppers, snails, and potato beetles) seeds, grass, partridge peas, wild berries, and cultivated grains.

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Montezuma Quail

The Montezuma Quail is a stubby, secretive New World quail of Mexico and some nearby parts of the United States.Male has striking black-and-white face markings, rounded buff crest, and bold white spots on sides and flanks. Female duller, face markings less obvious.Breeds in montane pine-oak and oak scrub.

 Nest on the ground, sometimes under a bush, and usually built into the side of a tuft of grass or herbage.These Montezuma Quails are secretive birds and it takes one quite a while to spot them in the grassy oak woodlands in the American Southwest and western Mexico. These beautiful birds in America are under threat because of the extensive habitat degradation and destruction that has taken place as well as the increased hunting that is taking place.

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Greater Prairie Chicken Bird Information

The Greater Prairie Chicken's original habitat was the tallgrass prairies of midwestern North America.A Prairie Chicken lives in grasslands. That all grass protects it from predators.Greater Prairie Chicken may be best known for their unique spring breeding behavior. Breeds on open grassland and prairies.
Nest on the ground in growing herbage. in the open or on the edge of marshes, bushes or scrub woodland. Males have a communal lek display and are promiscuous. Females nest alone.

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Willow Ptarmigan Diet And Habitat

The Willow Ptarmigan is a bird in the grouse subfamily Tetraoninae of the pheasant family Phasianidae.willow ptarmigan's range stretches from Alaska to Labrador and south to central British Columbia, northern Ontario, and central Quebec.Breeds in zones of willow, birch, or juniper scrub, often in partially open and rather boggy places on tundra, or on more open areas in low, close, shrubby growth on rocks. 
Like the other ptarmigan species, the willow ptarmigan nests in sparsely timbered or treeless areas.Tall bushes are an important feature for willow ptarmigan. In the winter, the willow ptarmigan often flies into snow banks and nestles in the snow to sleep.

Diet:

In summer, eats buds, flowers and insects. In the winter, the willow ptarmigan eats buds and twigs from willows and alders. 

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Spruce Grouse

The Spruce Grouse or Canada Grouse is a medium-sized grouse closely associated with the coniferous boreal forests or taiga of North America.The male spruce grouse has a black throat and red comb over the eye and a rusty-orange band at the tip of the tail. The female lacks the red comb and the black throat.Breeds in forest areas.

Nest on the ground, well concealed, often under low branches and at the base of coniferous growth, or in brush, or in deep moss by or in spruce thickets. Males arc promiscuous.Spruce grouse mate in April or May. Hens nest on the ground where they lay as many as 12 eggs that hatch in 24 days. Chicks can fly in two weeks. They stay with their mother for about three months.
Spruce Grouse Food:
In the summer season the main foods that spruce grouse eat are berries, green plants, fungi, and some insects. In winter, when only needles are consumed, the caeca increase in number to enhance digestion.

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Ring Necked Pheasant Diet And Habitat

The Ring necked Pheasant is a very distinctive and colorful bird.Ring necked Pheasants Breeds in reedbeds, on waste ground among cultivation, hedgerows, scrub, and woodland. Introduced (from Asia) in cultivated regions. Males are polygamous and females nest alone. Nest normally on the ground in cover of tall plants, briers or shrubs, rarely on raised sites on stacks or overgrown ruins, or flattish old bird nests or squirrel nests in trees.Ring necked Pheasant usually walk or run and only occasionally resort to flying, usually when disturbed at close range by humans or other predators.

Diet: Cultivated seeds, grains, leaves, grasses, roots, wild fruits, nuts and insects.

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Grey Partridge Bird Diet And Habitat

The Grey Partridge also known as the English Partridge. After the last Ice Age, the grey partridge arrived naturally in Britain. Breeds on grassland, and the borders of scrub and cultivation.Nest on the ground in tall grasses or growing crops or in the base of hedgerows or shrubs, or young trees: very rarely above ground in stacks.

Grey Partridge diet: Plant material, insects, green leaves of grasses, grain and weed seeds, cereals and clover.

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Guianan Cock of the Rock Facts And Breeding Information

The Guianan Cock of the Rock is a stout bodied-bird with a prominent half-moon crest.This species belongs to North-Eastern South America in the habitat like rocky outcrops.They are found tropical rain forests.The male is bright orange and have a prominent half-moon crest.While females are brownish and much dull in color. 

Feeding:

They feed on mostly fruits but sometimes may eat snakes and lizards.

Breeding:

Guianan Cock of the Rock make their nests on the rocky cliff faces and caves rather than trees.Female lays 1 or 2 eggs in the nest of mud or some plant material.Male is not involved in building the nest or incubation period.Incubation period is about 27-28 days.Due to the solid nests they also use their nest again and again, Females repair their nests after the breeding season.

Some important Facts about Guianan Cock of the Rock:
Weight:                      5 oz.
Length:                       11''
Wingspan:                   Unknown
Sexual Maturity:          probably 2-3 years               
Breeding Season:         March-July              
Number of eggs:          2                
Incubation Period:       27-28 days              
Fledging Period:           Unknown                
Typical diet:                 Forests fruits also some frogs and insects
Lifespan:                     Unknown                                   

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Feral Pigeon Important Facts And Breeding Information

Feral pigeon also known as city pigeon or street pigeon.They are abundant in cities and towns all over the world. 

Some Important Facts about Feral Pigeon:

Weight:                          7–14 oz.            

Length:                          11–14".

Wingspan:                     23–27.5".

Sexual Maturity:           6–12 months.                          

Breeding Season:          All year.                     

Number of eggs:            2.                        

Incubation Period:         16–19 days.              

Fledging Period:             35–37 days.

Breeding interval:          3–6 clutches each year.      

Typical diet:                   Garbage, bread, grain and other seeds.       

Lifespan:                        Up to 16 years 

Breeding:

pigeon pairs usually nests on the roof space or on an open ledge. Male brings twigs and stems or sometimes garbage which are arranged to make nest.Pigeon feeds its youngs on a liquid that is made in its crop(throat pouch).Pigeon can breed throughout the year. 

Food and Feeding:

Pigeon will eat almost everything offered by human and whatever that found on streets i.e garbage, bread, grain and other seeds etc.

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Most Common Types of Falcon Bird

Falcon is hunting bird found in almost all continents of the world.It has different species, names and pictures of some common species of Falcon are given here.

1.Common Kestrel

2.Altai Falcon

3.Peregrine Falcon

4.African red necked falcon

5.Eurasian Marlin

6.Taita Falcon

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Kingfisher Distribution And Facts

Kingfishers

They are brightly colored small to medium sized bird.They have large heads, long, sharp and pointed bills short legs and stubby tails.

Occurrence:

In the world they found in west of Ireland, through much of Europe, parts of Russia and Iran east to India, China, Japan and Southeast Asia; also parts of North Africa having almost 90 species.

Some important Facts about Eurasian Kingfisher:

Weight:                          1.3-1.5 oz.                   
Length:                           6.5–7" 
Wingspan:                      10–10.5"   
Sexual Maturity:             1 year                         
Breeding Season:            March–July in Europe;March–April 
                                           in northwest Africa; April– July in India;
                                           January–June in Southeast Asia.
Number of eggs:             Up to 10, but usually 6 or 7                         
Incubation Period:          19–20 days                        
Fledging Period:              24–25 days               
Typical diet:                    Fish, aquatic insects, larvae                      
Lifespan:                         Up to 15 years

           

Diet and Feeding:
They eat almost a vast variety of foods but mostly believed to hunt and eat fishes.Some species catch fishes while other are also involved in hunting amphibians i.e frogs, insects and spiders etc. Some species have been seen catching birds and mammals.

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Golden Eagle Facts And Feeding Information

Golden Eagle

Golden eagle known as the "King of Birds" is the most widely distributed species of eagle and one of the best known bird of prey.It has a dark brown plumage with light golden color on the napes.

Facts:
Weight:                        Male 6.5– 11 lbs.; female 9–15 lbs.
Length Head/Body Tail:           2.5–3' 10–14"
Wingspan:                    6.5–7'
Sexual Maturity:          4–5 years             
Breeding Season:         February–July               
Number of eggs:           Usually 2, but rarely 1 or 3          
Incubation Period:       42–45 days    
Fledging Period:           65–70 days
Breeding interval:        1 year
Typical diet:                 Mammals, birds, lizards, carrion
Lifespan:                      Up to 25 years

Habitat:

It favors open and mostly mountainous habitat avoids densely forested regions.

Breeding:

Nest sites are called eyries, on tree tops or on cliff ledges. Within a territory a pair of golden eagle may have up to a dozen eyries. Female lays usually two eggs but sometimes 1 or 3.When hatching takes place male brings food to the nest. 

Food and Hunting:

Its diet varies with the region but its common prey is small to medium sized mammals and birds such as rabbits, hares, ground squirrel, partridges and pheasants.Prey once spotted during its flight it glides in high speed and catches its prey in powerful talons, sharp claws swiftly kills the victim.

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Secretary Bird Facts Habitat And Breeding

Secretary Bird

Length:                        4–5'

Weight:                       Up to 9 lbs.; males are heavier than females
Wingspan:                   4'

Sexual Maturity:          2 years             

Breeding Season:         All year (mainly spring and summer)      

Number of eggs:           2 or 3       

Fledging Period:           About 80 days

Incubation Period:        43–46 days  

Breeding interval:         1 year

Typical diet:                  Rodents, large insects, reptiles

Lifespan:                       10–12 years

Secretary Bird is a large-sized bird of prey. It is a terrestrial bird of prey native to Africa, belonging to genus Sagittarius. Famous as snake catcher of African Savannah. It hunts a variety of prey as it walks.

Habitat:

Grasslands of Savannah and southern plains of Sahara are the habitat of secretory bird.It mostly selects open areas instead of dense forests.Population density is directly dependent upon availability of food.

Food:

A small sized prey up to the size of an adult hare is a suitable prey of secretary bird. But its main prey are small mammals and insects also eats young birds and reptiles like snake.

Breeding:

Unlike other raptors its female is slightly smaller in size as compared to male.Adult secretary birds pair for life and use the same nest year to year.Nest is 17-20 feet high above the ground on the top of thorny trees like acacia. 2-3 white eggs are laid in 2-3 day intervals. Young hatch within about 45 days.

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Kiwi Facts, Feeding, Habitat And Breeding Info

Some Important Facts about Kiwi:

Length:                            1–2'.

Wingspan:                       1.5–2".

Sexual Maturity:              5–6 years.

Breeding Season:             August–January.

Number of Eggs:              1 or 2.

Incubation Period:            71–84 days.

Fledging Period:               14–20 days.

Breeding Interval:             1 year.

Typical Diet:                     Insects, worms and berries.

Lifespan:                           Unknown in wild; 30 years in captivity.

Description: 
Kiwis are flightless birds of New Zealand .These are about the size of chicken.Smallest of all ratites ,Kiwis lay largest egg in relation to size of the body than any other bird species.

Habitat:

Kiwis are found mostly in wet forests of podocarps and hardwoods but also in dry forests, scrub land and meadows surrounded by woodland. Because of deforestation in New Zealand now kiwis are also found on agricultural land.

Breeding:

Partnership stays for life once established. Female lays 1 - 2 eggs in vegetation, hollow log or roots.Female may take a month to lay another egg after the first.Eggs are gigantic and may be one fifth of female's body weight.Then male incubates egg for three months this is the longest incubation period in birds.Hatching may take three days and chicks are strong enough to search for food.

Behavior:

Kiwis are nocturnal, as they are flightless night provides them safety from predators. Their habits are more related to mammals as compared to birds. They are aggressively territorial.They remain in pairs throughout year and keep in contact within their home range by using calls.

Feeding:
They mostly feed on insects, worms and spiders.During night kiwis search for food on the ground.

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Canada Goose Facts, Habitat, Migration And Breeding Information

Canada Goose

Some Important Facts about Canada Goose:

Weight:                                    3–11 lbs.

Length:                                    22–44"

Wingspan:                               4–6'

Sexual Maturity:                     2–3 years

Breeding Season:                    March–July

Number of eggs:                     Usually 4–7

Incubation Period:                  24–30 days    

Fledging Period:                     6–12 weeks 

Breeding interval:                  1 year         

Typical diet:                          Grasses, grain and aquatic vegetation

Lifespan:                               Up to 23 years

The Canada goose belongs to genus Branta.It has blackish head and neck and has white colored patches on the face and brown body.It is mostly found on arctic and temperature regions of North america and sometimes also migrates to northern Europe.

Habitat:

Canada goose is an open-country bird and favors a variety of freshwater wetlands e.g. lakes and swamps.However in winter season it favors cultivated fields and coastal marshes.

Migration:

These birds are generally non-migratory although sometimes migrate locally. Bird migration is not a completely understood phenomena. It is still unknown that how birds find way to same place every year. Probably they use a variety of aids helping in navigation like landmarks, sun, stars and their built in sensitivity to earth's magnetic field that helps in determining direction.

Those living in far north travel the longest distances sometimes more than 3000 miles.while southerly species travel a hundred miles or some do not migrate at all.They when travel form a V-formation.

Feeding:

Canada Goose eat a variety of plant parts like seeds, leaves, roots, stems, fruits and rhizomes.Mostly feeds on land but also in water upending like a duck to reach juicy growths at the bottom.While grazing sentry birds keep the flock alert.They can also raid cereal crops, sometimes entire field is covered by the flock.Agricultural advancements in north lead to greater availability of foods, this can be the reason that why migration from the north is decreased as compared to previous decades.

Breeding:

Canada goose mate for life and selects its partner at wintering grounds.Courtship involves neck movements and honking duets. Even the established pairs also repeat this routine annually.Female builds nest and also incubates eggs.Male defends the nest until eggs are hatched.Then both parents protect their young ones whenever on the roam. The chick called gosling nibbles plants and eats insects until it is strong enough to feed properly.

Significance to Humans:

In north america non migratory species of Canada Goose are on the rise they have been found on golf courses, parks, and parking lots.They are suspected to be a cause of an increase in high fecal coliforms at beaches.They can also raid cereal crops.

They can also attack humans whenever they feel themselves or their chicks threatened.When goose attack, first the goose will stand erect and will produce a whistling sound and then attack by wing or may also bite. 

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