Ornithology Exam 1 Life bio

Order: Cuculiformes

Cuckoos are small to medium-sized, slender, usually long-tailed birds with zygodactyl feet. Terrestrial cuckoos have sturdy legs, arboreal species somewhat weaker ones, but in all species the foot is well adapted for perching. The bill is usually slender and slightly decurved but is laterally compressed in the anis, chicken-like in the coucals, and almost toucan-like in the Channel-billed Cuckoo. Many species have a colorful, fleshy eye-ring, and some are crested. The plumage colors of cuckoos range from streaked or solid brown and solid black and to brilliant, metallic green in the emerald cuckoos. Cuckoos are mostly insectivorous, often specializing in hairy caterpillars. The coucals of Africa and Asia often take small birds and eggs. All Old World species in the Order Cuculiformes are brood parasites, some of which produce eggs that mimic the eggs of their hosts. Others build an open, platform nest. Anis of the New World tropics have communal nests. Clutch size varies; both sexes feed the young which fledge in about 10 days

Order Passeriformes

Defining characters include a distinctive bony palate structure; unique oil glands, spermatozoa, and forelimb and hindlimb muscles; and feet with an enlarged flexible hind toe (hallux). They have large brains for their body size and superior learning abilities, particularly with respect to vocalizations. Fundamental differences in the anatomy of the syrinx distinguish two suborders: the oscines and the suboscines. The reasons for the apparent evolutionary success of passerines are a topic of great interest. Could any of their defining attributes have been "key adaptations" that gave them an advantage over non passerine competitors and promoted speciation?

Family: Fringilidae Order: Passeriformes

Morphology: Small to moderately large birds with strong, stubby beaks (which can be quite large in some species). Plumage is primarily browns, but many have black and carotenoid-based bright yellows and reds. Breeding Biology: Lay 2-6 eggs in an open cup nest. They are monogamous and males will defend females rather than territories. Habitat and Diet: Commonly occur in forests, shrublands, or edge habitats. Diet consists mainly of seeds still attached to the plant, but rarely insects or nectar. Interesting Facts: House Finches were originally southwestern birds before a small number were released on Long Island, New York in the 1940s after the authorities caught up with illegal attempts to sell them as "Hollywood Finches". Rather than be fined, the store owners simply opened the cages and now they are one of the most common North American birds.

Family: Columbidae Order: Columbiformes

Morphology:small to large plump birds with small heads, short legs have small reticulate scales, fleshy cere at base of the bill, plumage dominated by tans and grays, many species have scaling or barring on wings and tail and some exhibit showy irridescent patches on the nape Breeding Biology:invariably lay 2 eggs in flimsy open cup nest, monogamous and both parents contribute Habitat and Diet:commonly occur in open habitats, including fields, croplands, grasslands, deserts, woodlands, suburbs and citis. diet is seeds and fruits, muscular gizzard + ingested grit helps digest food Interesting facts: all have large crop the lining of which secretes "pigeon's milk" to nourish nestlings. extinct Dodo was a pigeon

Order: Gaviiformes

Loons, which are the size of large ducks or small geese, resemble these birds in shape whenswimming. Like ducks and geese, but unlike coots (which are Rallidae) and grebes (Podicipedidae), theloon's toes are connected by webbing. The loons may be confused with the cormorants(Phalacrocoracidae), but can be distinguished from them by their distinct call. Cormorants are not-too-distant relatives of loons, and like them are heavy-set birds whose bellies, unlike those of ducks andgeese, are submerged when swimming. Loons in flight resemble plump geese with seagulls' wings thatare relatively small in proportion to their bulky bodies. The bird points its head slightly upwards whileswimming, but less so than cormorants. In flight, the head droops more than in similar aquatic birds.Loons are excellent swimmers, using their feet to propel themselves above and underwater.However, since their feet are located far back on the body, loons have difficulty walking on land, thoughthey can effectively run short distances to reach water when frightened. Thus, loons avoid coming to land,except for mating and nesting.Loons find their prey by sight. They eat mainly fish, supplemented with amphibians, crustaceansand similar mid-sized aquatic fauna. Specifically, they have been noted to feed on crayfish, frogs, snails,salamanders and leeches. They prefer clear lakes because they can more easily see their prey through thewater. The loon uses its pointy bill to stab or grasp prey. They eat vertebrate prey head first to facilitateswallowing, and swallow all their prey whole. Loons mate on land, often on the future nest site, and build their nests close to the water,preferring sites that are completely surrounded by water such as islands or emergent vegetation. Loonsuse a variety of materials to build their nests including aquatic vegetation, pine needles, leaves, grass,moss and mud. Sometimes, nest material is almost lacking. Both male and female build the nest andincubate jointly for 28 days. If the eggs are lost, the pair may re-nest, usually in a different location. Sincethe nest is very close to the water, rising water may induce the birds to slowly move the nest upwards,over a meter. Most clutches consist of two eggs, which are laid in May or June, depending upon latitude.Loon chicks are precocial, able to swim and dive right away, but will often ride on their parents' backduring their first two weeks to rest, conserve heat, and avoid predators. Chicks are fed mainly by theirparents for about six weeks but gradually begin to feed themselves over time

Family: Cuculidae Order: Cuculiformes

M: A family of small to medium, long-tailed, generally short-legged birds most of which have a stout, slightly decurved bill, and toes that are zygodactylous or semi-zygodactylous. BB: Cuculidae boasts a wide variety of breeding strategies, from brood parasitism to cooperative breeding and from monogamy to polyandry. Eggs of many brood-parasitic species mimic the eggs of their hosts, and some species can parasitize a remarkable array of egg types. This is accomplished by individual females laying eggs of only a single type and parasitizing the appropriate host, usually the same species of host that raised the female. In some brood parasitizing species, the young, upon hatching, may physically eject the eggs of the host from the nest. Among obligate brood parasites, there is remarkably little known about the mating system. Despite the lack of any parental duties, it appears that most species are mostly monogamous, with a bit of both polyandry and polygyny in different systems. Among the species that care for their own young, some are monogamous with biparental care, some are polyandrous with male care only, and many are cooperative breeders, with up to five mated pairs of birds defending a single territory and all the females of the breeding group laying their eggs in a single nest and cooperating in caring for the offspring. The cuckoos that raise their young have a variety of nest styles, from dome-shaped nests of dried grass, with a side entrance, to relatively shallow, bowl-shaped nests made of sticks. Parental species generally lay 1 to 5 eggs, but clutches can climb to 20 eggs when several females lay in a common nest. In the socially monogamous species, as well as the cooperative breeding species, both sexes participate in all aspects of parental care, from incubation to feeding young. The growth rates of cuckoo chicks are high, with rapid development and short nestling periods for both brood-parasitic and parental species. H/D: Most cuckoos inhabit forested and woodland habitats, though some species prefer open savanna and arid scrubland. Most cuckoos feed primarily on insects, many preferring caterpillars, and some of the larger species prefer small vertebrates whereas others feed primarily on fruit. IF: gets common name from onomatopoeia of the call of the male common cuckoo

Family: Anatidae Order: Anseriformes

M: Anatids (members of the family Anatidae) are medium to extra-large birds with stocky bodies, webbed feet, and a flat bill. Coloring varies but is primarily brown with white, black, and metallic green accents. BB: Most anatids are monogamous. In geese and swans, pair bonds may last for life. Breeding aggregations among waterfowl can vary from highly territorial pair groups to dense breeding colonies. Intraspecific brood parasitism occurs in some species, and some species lay their eggs in their own nests as well as those of other species, but only in the Black-headed Duck Heteronetta atricapilla has obligate brood parasitism evolved. Most species nest on the ground—usually near the edge of the water— and line the nest with down, especially at high latitudes. But some species nest in tree holes or burrows or even arboreal stick nests created by other species. Waterfowl lay 4 to 13 relatively large eggs, which hatch after 21 to 40 days of incubation. In most ducks, only the female incubates the eggs and cares for the chicks. However, in the larger and highly territorial anatids, males will sit on the eggs when the females are away, even though they do not possess a brood patch for functional incubation. Chicks are highly precocial; soon after hatching, they leave the nest, imprinting on the nearest animate being (usually their mother), who will attend them until they reach independence, weeks to months later. H/D: Anatids have the broadest habitat preferences of any aquatic birds: open ocean, bays, lagoons, lakes and ponds, freshwater marshes, and rivers of all sizes. Most species rely on water, although some can forage extensively away from it. They are absent from the deep ocean, although many species frequent the relatively shallow waters above continental shelves during the non-breeding season. Most geese, swans, and "dabbling ducks" (ducks of shallower waters in the genus Anas) are herbivorous. Many geese and some ducks graze to feed; swans and other ducks feed on the surface of the water or pull vegetation from beneath them. Many of the dabbling ducks filter feed using lamellae on their bills. During the breeding season, many dabbling ducks also consume large quantities of insects and aquatic invertebrates. "Diving ducks," on the other hand, are mostly carnivorous. Scoters, eiders, and mergansers feed on fish as well as mollusks and other aquatic invertebrates. Aythya ducks also dive for plant material. IF: male waterfowl have corkscrew penis. ducks molt their flight feathers all at once resulting in annual flightlessness

Family: Gaviidae Order: Gaviiformes

M: Characteristics include a strong tapered bill, small pointed wings, webs between the front three toes, and legs placed far back on the body, which makes walking awkward. Loons have thick plumage that is mainly black or gray above and white below. During the breeding season the dorsal plumage is patterned with white markings, BB: Loons are socially monogamous with biparental care. Loon nests vary in form, not only among species but within as well. The two primary nest types consist of aquatic vegetation placed on dry land or a nesting platform in shallow water, built by piling mud and aquatic vegetation until it sits just above the water line. Female loons usually lay 2 eggs, and both parents share in nest construction, incubation, and provisioning of the young. After about a month of incubation, the precocial chicks hatch and remain in the nest for a few days, but soon join their parents in open lake waters, either swimming along or riding on the back of one of the parents while the other dives for food. By about three weeks of age, they begin feeding themselves, but they are still fed occasionally by their parents even after they can fly at about seven to nine weeks of age. H/D: Most loons nest on Arctic and subarctic ponds and lakes, with one species (Gavia immer) nesting on large lakes surrounded by boreal forest. They winter in coastal waters or on very large lakes. Adult loons feed primarily on fish with some amphibians and aquatic invertebrates. Newly hatched young are fed aquatic arthropods before small fish are introduced. IF: The wail call of the common loon is haunting and can be heard in many scary movies

Family: Podicipedidae Order: Podicipediformes

M: Grebes have stocky bodies; thick, waterproof feathers; long, slightly webbed, lobed toes; long necks; small heads; and small tails. Some species have long, pointed bills; other species have medium length, conical bills. BB: Grebes are monogamous with biparental care. Some species have elaborate courtship displays, including in a few a spectacular synchronized "dance" across the water. Most grebes nest on mats of floating vegetation that incorporate emergent vegetation as nest material and camouflage. Others nest on a mound of vegetation in shallow water built up from the bottom, and rarely an individual will build on dry land next to the water. Females normally lay 2 to 7 eggs, and both male and female are active in all aspects of parental care, from constructing the nest, through incubating the eggs, to feeding the chicks. Incubation takes 20 to 30 days and begins with the first or second egg. The brood hatches asynchronously, but as soon as the last chick hatches, the whole brood climbs onto the back of one of the parents. Both parents stay with the chicks throughout their development, most often one diving for food and the other serving as a mobile nest, ferrying the brood to sources of food. Occasionally, in some species, chicks from an earlier brood assist in nest construction and care of a second brood. H/D: Grebes live in a wide variety of freshwater habitats, ranging from large lakes to marshes. To construct and anchor their nests, grebes require some vegetation on or near the water's edge. Many species spend the winter in marine environments, but usually not far from shore. Grebes primarily feed on fish and aquatic invertebrates. Diet varies among species, with larger species taking mainly fish, and smaller species a higher proportion of aquatic insects and crustaceans, including brine shrimp and crayfish. Grebes mainly dive for their food, either to chase fish or pluck prey from aquatic vegetation or lakebeds. Occasionally they will take prey from the water surface or overhanging vegetation. IF: Grebes carry their young on their back even when diving. They also create floating nests

Family: Alcedinidae Order: Coraciiformes

M: Kingfishers are small to medium sized colorful birds with short necks, large heads and long, thick bills. BB: Most kingfishers are monogamous with biparental care. In diverse species across the family, cooperative breeding sometimes occurs, with either retained offspring or unrelated helpers. Serial polyandry has also been reported in some. All kingfishers are cavity-or burrow-nesters, though they use a variety of substrates. Many excavate their own burrows in earthen banks, using their semi-fused front toes to help shovel out dirt and sand. Others nest in tree cavities, utilizing old woodpecker cavities when available, or excavating their own nest hole in soft or rotted wood or in arboreal termite nests. Kingfishers generally lay 2 to 10 eggs, with fewer eggs laid in tropical species. Both members of the pair involve themselves in all aspects of parental care, from nest construction on. The chicks hatch naked with eyes closed, and some use a hook on their bill tip to kill siblings if food deliveries from the parents are sparse. Incubation takes two weeks to a month (longer in larger species) and chicks are in the nest for three to six weeks. Most are fed for only a few days after leaving the nest, and they become independent fairly rapidly. H/D: Many kingfishers live near water, but the terrestrial kingfishers of the Old World occupy a variety of woodland and forest habitats. As with their habitats, kingfishers have a varied diet, although all are entirely carnivorous. Most kingfishers are sit-and-wait predators, either perching or hovering over water or the forest floor. Small terrestrial kingfishers feed primarily on large insects, whereas larger terrestrial kingfishers such as Halcyon and Dacelo also eat lizards, amphibians, mammals, and birds. The many aquatic kingfishers feed primarily on fish, which they capture by plungediving into the water. Clytoceyx uses its short, heavy bill to push through soft dirt in search of earthworms and other subterranean prey. IF: The belted kingfisher is one of the few bird species where the female is more brightly colored than the male This family includes 3 species that have been recorded in N. America. Kingfishers occur inmany habitats, usually near water and/or in woods and forests on all continents and many islands. Mostspecies have a long, strong, pointed bill and short legs. They feed on many kinds of animals, includingfish, insects and other terrestrial arthropods, frogs, lizards, crabs, mollusks, snails, birds, mice andoccasionally plants. Most are sit-and-wait predators, perching on a branch and flying down to capture fishor terrestrial prey. Living prey items are often beaten on a branch before being swallowed. Some hover over water and dive from the wing. Kingfishers nest in holes, lay nearly round white eggs, and do notremove the nestlings' droppings. Both sexes incubate. The eggs are laid at one-day intervals andincubation begins with the first egg causing a distinct hatching asynchrony and size hierarchy ofnestlings. When food is scarce only the older nestlings survive and there is much competition for the foodbrought by the parents

Family: Ardeidae Order: Pelicaniformes

M: Loose-plumaged wading birds of moderate to large size, most with slim body and long neck; bill usually long, straight, and sharp; legs medium to long, BB: Herons are generally monogamous with biparental care, though some cases of polygyny and promiscuity have been reported. Most species nest in colonies, but most bitterns and some of the larger herons tend to nest solitarily. During the breeding season, many herons and egrets acquire ornate plumes on their heads and backs, as well as brightly colored bare skin. Most herons build their rough platform nests of sticks in a tree or larger shrub near or over the water, whereas bitterns build their nests of reeds in a marsh. Herons generally lay 3 to 7 eggs in a clutch. Both parents take part in nest construction, incubation, and provisioning of the young. Incubation takes 14 to 30 days (longer in larger species), and chicks hatch asynchronously, leading to sibling competition that can result in the death of the weaker chick. Chicks leave the nest after 25 to 90 days, but many are not independent of their parents for at least a couple of weeks post-fledging. H/D: Most herons live on or near bodies of water, in habitats ranging from open marsh and shores to savanna and dense forests. In general, the larger species prefer more open habitats. During the breeding season, most herons and egrets need trees or shrubs, or isolated islands, for nesting, whereas bitterns hide their nests deep in marshes. Ardeids have a varied diet that includes a large proportion of aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates (fish, amphibians, small birds, and mammals) and invertebrates. They vary from active, probing pursuers of prey to unflappable sit-and-wait predators. Some species have taken this foraging strategy to an extreme, luring in fish prey with shade from outspread wings or small bits of food as bait. The Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis, on the other hand, hunts in open grasslands, where it forages close to large mammals that flush prey. All species seize their prey with a lightning quick jab and grasp of the bill. IF: Snowy Egrets were once hunted for the curved back plumage which adorned women's hats

Family: Threskiornithidae order: Pelecaniformes

M: Medium-sized wading and terrestrial birds of temperate and tropic regions, with prominent bills (decurved in ibises, broad and flat in spoonbills), long neck and legs, anterior toes, and highly social habits BB: Threskiornithids are monogamous with biparental care. Most are colonial species that nest in trees or bushes near or over water, but some species nest on protected cliffs and others are solitary nesters. The nests are typically large platforms constructed of sticks, upon which is laid finer materials such as grasses, rushes, and leaves that are often roughly woven together. Typical clutches contain 2 to 5 eggs, but a range of 1 to 7 has been recorded. Both males and females participate in all aspects of parental care, from nest construction and incubation to feeding the young. Incubation takes two to three weeks, and the chicks hatch with little to no down and short, straight, fleshy bills that will grow into either ibis or spoonbill shapes. As in other aspects of their breeding biology, the fledging period is quite variable, with chicks leaving the nest for good in a month to two after hatching. H/D: Most threskiornithids live in open wetlands, with a few species preferring savanna and some flooded forests. Ibises and spoonbills eat a great variety of prey, either terrestrial or aquatic. Both invertebrates and small vertebrates are taken, including mollusks, crustaceans, worms, insects (including larvae), amphibians, lizards, rodents, and fish. Ibises and spoonbills use their tactile senses in finding prey, ibises by probing mud and water, and spoonbills by sweeping their bills back and forth through the water IF: Some species feed in flocks of over 1000 birds

Family: Procellariidae Order: Procellariiformes

M: Member of the family Procellariidae are small to medium-sized seabirds. There are no obvious differences between the sexes, although females tend to be smaller. Procellariids have a characteristic tubular nasal passage, which is used for olfaction. The plumage of the procellariids is usually dull, with grays, blues, blacks and browns being the usual colors, although some species have striking patterns (such as the Cape petrel). The wings of all species are long and stiff. BB: Procellariids are monogamous, often meeting the same mate at their nest site for many years in succession. Most species of procellariids nest in burrows or crevices, though Macronectes species build mounds of vegetation on the ground and Fulmarus species nest on cliff ledges. Many burrow-nesters nest in remote slopes, sometimes as much as 30 km from, and hundreds of meters above, the sea. Females lay a single egg, which is incubated for six to nine weeks, longer in the larger species. Both parents participate in the construction of the nest, both incubate the egg on incubation shifts of two days to two weeks, and both feed the chick. The chick is brooded at first, for up to 20 days in some species; then the parents cease brooding and visit the chick only to feed it. The parents often intersperse short feeding trips (at intervals of a few days) with long trips (at intervals more like a week), the end result from the chick's perspective being that it receives food from the parents every couple of nights or so for most of its development. Most chicks fledge and disappear out to sea at three to four months post-hatch. H/D: Procellariids inhabit open oceans worldwide except when breeding. They usually breed on small islands far from the mainland that are, or at least were originally, predator free. Most species feed primarily on small aquatic invertebrates and fish. Many of the petrels and prions grasp prey from the water while in flight, and many shearwaters dive for prey from the water surface. Some Pachyptila species have comb-like lamellae on the bill, and they filter for zooplankton at the surface either while sitting or sometimes while propelling themselves along the water surface with their feet and wings, mouth submerged. Pelecanoides species, similar in appearance and feeding behavior to murrelets (Alcidae), are distinctively able to dive from the air and pursue prey underwater all in one motion. The largest species (Macronectes) feed on carrion of large vertebrates and are active predators of colonial seabird eggs and chicks. IF: Tube nosed swimmers, both parents and young squirt foul smelling stomach oil at intruders of the nest

Family: Icteridae Order: Passeriformes

M: Members range in size from 16 to 54 cm (6 to 21 inches) long. They have conical bills, strong feet, and long, pointed wings. Most show black in varying degrees. BB: Most species of icterids appear to be socially monogamous, and quite a few are polygynous, most serially so. Many are colonial breeders, and cooperative breeding occurs in a few species. The icterids include a single clade of obligate brood parasites, the cowbirds, different species of which parasitize anywhere from one or two species to over a hundred. Two primary types of nests are constructed by the icterids: a typical open cup nest or the alternative— constructed by the caciques, oropendolas, and orioles—a long, pendulous basket woven of grass or other fibers. In species that build cup nests, nests may be placed in trees, bushes, reeds, or on the ground. Ground-nesting Sturnella meadowlarks construct an arch over the nest to protect the eggs and nestlings. Icterids typically lay 2 to 7 eggs, with tropical species laying smaller clutches. In most icterid species, only the female is responsible for nest construction and incubation. In many species, especially those that are polygynous, the female is entirely responsible for feeding the young as well. However, in other species, males may also help with feeding young. In the cowbirds, the chicks are cared for entirely by the host parents. Incubation generally takes 11 to 15 days, and up to 20 days in the larger oropendolas; cowbird eggs generally hatch after only 10 to 12 days of incubation by their host. Chicks of most icterid species leave the nest after 10 to 14 days, but chicks of the larger species can remain in the nest for up to 35 days. H/D: Icterids live in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from boreal forest and bogs at the northern limits of their range to tropical rainforest, grasslands, arid shrubland, savanna, and marshes. The New World blackbirds and their allies feed on a broad range of items, including insects and other invertebrates, small vertebrates (including nestlings of other birds), fruit, and nectar. IF: Most are territorial, but others form large colonies of up to 100,000 birds

Family Psittacidae Order Psittaciformes

M: Often green. They have thick, hooked bills; zygodactyl feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward; and muscular tongues. The upper mandible of their bill is hinged to their skull and their lower mandible fits under the upper mandible. BB: New World and African parrots are monogamous with biparental care. Cooperative breeding is rare, with good evidence for it only in the Golden Parakeet (Guaruba). Almost all parrots nest in some sort of cavity, whether that be a hole in a tree, a burrow, or a termite nest. The only exception to this are the parakeets in the genus Myiopsitta, which build massive stick nests at the tops of trees and poles or on cliff ledges, with particularly large nests having several nest chambers for multiple pairs. Many psittacids re-line preexisting cavities, but the majority likely do a majority of excavation in sandy soil or rotting wood. Females typically lay 1 to 11 eggs, with smaller clutches laid in larger species and those living in less seasonal environments. Incubation, which takes 14 to 28 days, begins with the first egg, leading to asynchronous hatching; in most species, only the female incubates. The chicks of different species have different amounts of down at hatch, and most are brooded by the female, who is fed by the male parent through at least the first week post-hatch. As the chicks grow and become better insulated, the female starts taking provisioning trips as well, and both parents generally feed the chicks until fledging. Psittacids generally have relatively slow development, with some chicks not leaving he nest until nine weeks post-hatch. Post fledging care is quite variable; in Forpus parrotlets, young are almost immediately independent upon fledging, whereas many macaws are still being fed occasionally by their parents for up to a year post-fledging. H/D: New World and African parrots live in a broad variety of wooded habitats, from dense forest to open woodland and savanna. Although trees are essential for the majority of species, which nest in cavities, some species live in open country far away from trees, where they nest in burrows or rock crevices. Most New World and African parrots feed primarily on fruit and seeds, using their strong, curved bills and powerful zygodactyl feet to grip and break open hard to access seeds and nuts. In some places, such as southern Peru, large flocks of parrots gather at exposed clay banks and eat clay, a dietary addition that may serve to neutralize plant toxins that are ingested while foraging. IF: Parrots can be found on all topical and subtropical continents

Family: Pelecanidae Order: Pelecaniformes

M: Pelecaniform birds are medium to large aquatic birds with totipalmate feet (all four toes joined by web). Most have distensible gular sac located between the branches of the lower mandible. In tropicbirds the small gular region is feathered, in pelicans the bare sac is pendulous, and in frigatebirds the large, bare, red gular sac is inflatable. Only tropicbirds have exposed external nares. All pelecaniform birds' skulls lack supraorbital groove for a nasal gland and dorsal vertebrae are opisthocoelous. Plumage ranges from mostly black with some white to mostly white with some black. Feet and bare regions of face and gular sac may become brightly colored during breeding. BB: Pelicans are monogamous with biparental care. They are colonial nesters, with the largest colonies containing thousands of pairs. Nests placed on the ground are typically very simple structures, and can be no more than a scrape in the ground, sometimes with a rim of sand constructed around it. Species that nest in trees build sturdy stick platforms usually lined with softer material. Pelican clutches vary from 1 to 6 eggs, with clutches of 2 or 3 by far most common. Both sexes share in nest construction, incubation, and chick provisioning. The chicks hatch naked and asynchronously after 30 to 36 days of incubation, and they are brooded when necessary for the first two to three weeks, by which time they are well feathered with down and the first contour feathers. They fledge at about 75 to 80 days post-hatch, though some may be fed occasionally by the parents for another 20 days or so. Chicks of ground-nesting species often join a crèche where they are fed during much of their development. H/D: Pelicans are found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, including saline lakes, marshes, and coastal marine environments. Pelicans feed almost entirely on fish, with some species taking a few crayfish. The mode of fishing varies. Brown and Peruvian Pelicans (P. occidentalis and P. thagus, respectively) plungedive from the air after spotting fish below the surface. The other species do not dive, but use their long necks to pursue and capture prey with their bucket-like mouths. Birds of these species often band together in foraging parties, driving small fish toward each other or into very shallow water. Typical prey range in size from small schooling fish such as anchovies and sardines to large fish such as carp, perch, and pike. IF: the brown pelican uses a plunge dive method to hunt, where the bird dives headfirst and catches unsuspecting fish in their pouch

Family Phalacrocoracidae Order Suliformes

M: Phalacrocoracids are medium to large birds (50-100 cm; 360-3875 g; 80-160 cm wingspan). Plumage in most species is iridescent black; some species have white on the head and underparts. During breeding the bare facial skin and gular pouch, eye-ring, bill and mouth lining become red, yellow, green or blue in color. Crests and plumes on the head and neck are present during breeding. Generally, the sexes are monomorphic in plumage, but dimorphic in size with males heavier and larger. Iris is yellow, blue, green, or brown. Juveniles are light brown and lighter on underparts. The slender, cylindrical bill is hooked, palate is desmognathous, nostrils obsolete (no exposed external nares). Legs are set far back on body and feet are totipalmate. Neck is long and laterally compressed. BB: Cormorants and shags are monogamous with biparental care. Though some species will nest in trees, they typically nest on the ground, often in a bowl-shaped nest made of seaweed and grass that is held together with mud and excrement, although some species merely construct a scrape on the ground. Cormorants and shags usually lay 2 to 4 eggs, although up to 7 can be laid. Both male and female assist in nest construction, incubation, and provisioning the chicks. Incubation begins after only the first or second egg is laid; thus chicks hatch asynchronously and develop an evident size hierarchy within the brood. Incubation takes 23 to 35 days, and the chicks fledge after 50 to 80 days in the nest. Post-fledging care can last up to 4 months H/D: Most cormorant and shag species live along the sea coasts, breeding in large coastal colonies or on small islands just offshore; however, some species are primarily freshwater inhabitants. Cormorants and shags feed primarily on fish of a wide variety of species, but many also take a smaller number of crustaceans, mollusks, or cephalopods. Cormorants in Asia are sometimes adopted as household commensals, trained to dive for fish from a boat, fastened by a tether on a neck collar that is too tight to allow swallowing the fish they catch. IF: Cormorants will often be seen drying their wings after diving into the water to catch fish. this was retained from flightless Galapagos cormorant. Traditional Chinese and Japanese culture included using cormorants to catch fish

Family: Caprimulgidae Order: Caprimulgiformes

M: Small to medium-sized nocturnal and crepuscular birds with small bill, large gape and eyes, long wings and tail, short legs, cryptic coloration, and comb-like serrations on the claw of middle toe BB: Because caprimulgids are mostly nocturnal, and very cryptic, there is not a great deal of information available on the breeding biology of most species. Most nightjars lay their eggs on the ground, often on leaf litter or gravel, without the addition of any nesting material. Caprimulgids do not typically even make a scrape in the ground in which to lay their eggs. Across the family, eggs are generally light-colored, with darker blotches and spots in many species, but tightly sitting adults probably provide the greatest protection against discovery by predators. Most caprimulgids lay 1 or 2 eggs, which are incubated for 16 to 22 days. The chicks are capable of moving around in the nest vicinity from an early age but unable to regulate their own body temperature until quite well developed. Both parents aid in incubation and chick-rearing duties. H/D: Caprimulgids live in a wide variety of habitats, from forest, to desert, to densely settled cities. Nighthawks (Chordeiles) are particularly well known for inhabiting cities, nesting on gravel rooftops and hunting insects by large lights at night. Caprimulgids are all aerial insectivores, taking exclusively insects. With their enormous mouths, nightjars can catch insects that are quite large, including large grasshoppers and moths IF: They are referred to as goatsuckers (latin name) from the mistaken belief that they such milk from goats

Family: Ciconiidae Order: Ciconiiformes

M: Storks are medium to large wading birds, birds who walk through shallow water in search of food. They have long legs, long necks, powerful bills and broad, strong wings. Male and female storks look alike. BB: Storks are monogamous with biparental care. Some species are highly colonial, with colonies numbering in the thousands. Most aggregations, however, are smaller and sometimes include other species; some ciconiids are solitary nesters. The large, bulky nests of sticks are typically built in trees, though buildings and cliffs may suffice. Clutch size is usually 2 to 5 eggs. Both parents participate in all aspects of parental care, including nest construction, incubation, and provisioning chicks. The incubation period is about a month, and the near-naked chicks soon grow a coat of down. They cannot even stand completely until a couple weeks of age; they remain in the nest for a couple of months, and often return there to be fed by the parents occasionally for sometimes weeks later. In some species, adults regurgitate water for chicks during hot days. H/D: Most storks live in wetland and marsh habitats, with a few venturing into savanna or forest. Ciconiids generally hunt in wet areas, using tactile foraging techniques to capture smaller vertebrates such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, and rodents, with some species taking many insects, mollusks, and crustaceans. The openbills (Anastomus) specialize on snails, and Leptoptilos species eat a great deal of carrion. IF: The Marabou Stork of Africa has attained a height of 5 feet

Family: Turdidae Order: Passeriformes

M: The birds in this family are small to medium-sized, between 4.5-13 inches in length. They have slender bills; short, rounded or pointed wings; and medium-sized tails. The birds in this family come in a variety of colors and patterns including brown, blue, gray, and black. They often have patches of red, orange, white, or yellow. BB: Turdids are monogamous with biparental care, and some species breed cooperatively. Western Bluebirds Sialia mexicana, for instance, frequently have helpers that aid in defending territory and feeding chicks. As with most cooperatively breeding species, the majority of helpers are males retained from previous nesting of the breeding pair. The nests of turdids typically consist of a woven cup of grass and other vegetative material, with mud being added in some species. Species living in close proximity to humans also incorporate objects like rope and ribbon into their nests. Some will also decorate their nests with moss and epiphytes. The placement of nests varies substantially; for example, bluebirds (Sialia) typically nest in tree cavities or nest boxes, whereas the solitaires typically nest on the ground or in a niche in a bank or trunk. Female turdids typically lay 1 to 7 eggs. Only female thrushes build the nest, gathering nesting material and choosing a nest site. Only females incubate as well, but both male and female provision the chicks, the male often doing the bulk of the work at that stage. Incubation generally takes 11 to 15 days. Nestlings leave after 11 to 19 days in the nest (usually less than 15), and the young are fed by the parents for 10 to 25 days after they leave the nest. H/D: The habitat of thrushes varies, from dense forests to grasslands, but they usually avoid extremely arid habitats. Thrushes feed on a wide variety of invertebrates, including insects, worms, and spiders, and various small fruits. Although some will also take small vertebrates, these rarely constitute a sizable proportion of the diet of any thrush species. During the winter months, fruit becomes an important food item for species wintering in temperate regions. Many thrushes forage for invertebrate prey on the ground by gleaning or probing the top soil layer. Other thrushes, like the bluebirds and solitaires, actively sally for insects. Some otherwise terrestrial thrushes flycatch occasionally. IF: AZ is one of the few places all 3 bluebird species co-occur

Family: Strigidae Order: Strigiformes

M: The characteristic facial disk in strigid owls is circular, rather than heart-shaped, and their eyes are relatively larger. Many species have thickly feathered legs; their well-developed talons have a smooth edge on the claw of the third toe (in contrast to the pectinate claw of the tytonids), which is longer than the second toe. These owls have large heads, large, slightly elongated eyes, a short, hooked bill that points downwards. Their sternum has four notches, and is not fused with the furcula. Nonetheless, they do share many features with their tytonid relatives. They have large wings and strong legs. Their talons are sharp and hooked and their feet are zygodactyl with a reversible fourth toe. Plumage is soft and dense; feathers lack an aftershaft and have a downy base. Strigids tend to be cryptically colored and some species have dark nape patches that resemble false eyes. Many species have ear tufts that have been suggested to have behavioral functions; they do not function in sound acquisition. BB: Courtship involves aerial displays in some species; in many others it may only involve ritualized feeding in which the male brings food to the female. The owls are extremely adverse to building nests; they will utilize nests of other species or tree cavities; some species nest on the ground. Some smaller species are very particular in the their nesting choices, nesting mainly in cavities excavated by woodpeckers. The burrowing owl is unique in that they nest in underground burrows dug by mammals. Females generally lay a clutch of 4-7 eggs, though some smaller species have smaller clutches, and in times of abundant food, some species may lay larger clutches. In the northern saw-whet owl the female may reach 150% of her non-breeding body mass while egg-laying! Females usually begin incubating with the first egg laid, resulting in a large size skew among young once all are hatched. Once incubating, females will generally leave the nest only once or twice a night to defecate; the male will provide food to the female and to newly hatched young. Females will not resume hunting until later in the brood-raising period. Because they are the only incubators, females are usually the primary nest-defenders in the face of an enemy. Some species are extremely aggressive towards humans, especially during this crucial period. When threatening an intruder, the owl will crouch down, lower its head, droop its wings, and ruffle its feathers. It will usually vocalize or bill-clap as well, in an effort to scare away the unwanted visitor or predator. Most of the strigid owls spend their time alone or in mated pairs all year. Only four species are considered 'social' when breeding, though none are truly colonial. Several species roost in colonies during the winter. H/D: Strigid owls feed on a variety of prey items, with small mammals forming a large part of the diet of some species. Eagle owls, the most powerful of strigid owls, can even handle larger mammalian prey such as foxes, young roe deer, and monkeys. However, not all species focus on mammals. Many are insect specialists, some hunt birds or bats, and both the fish-owls and the fishing-owls prey mainly on freshwater fish. Although several of the strigids hunt during daylight, all species are nocturnal to some degree. They are found worldwide, on every continent of the world except Antarctica, but 80% of the strigids are found in the tropics. Strigid owls cover nearly all terrestrial habitats, though 95% are forest-dwelling species. Most of the typical owls are non-migratory. Less than 10% of species have migratory populations within some part of their range, although some species do have seasonal habitat shifts.

Family: Apodidae Order: Caprimulgiformes

M: Their sickle-shaped wings are well adapted for high-speed flight. As their name Apodidae (meaning "without feet") suggests, they have tiny feet and are not able to perch. However, modified tail feathers help swifts land on and move around on vertical surfaces. Their plumage is dull black or brown; some species have white or gray patches, and a few have brighter chestnut-reddish throats. Males and females look similar and both play equal roles in nesting and rearing young. BB: Swifts are monogamous with biparental care. The nest locations of different swift species are diverse, with some species nesting in dark caves, some behind waterfalls, some under eaves of bridges and buildings, and some in hollowed-out trees. Although the nests of most swifts are attached to a vertical wall with either mud or saliva, this too can vary. Nest material includes mosses, liverworts, grass, sticks, feathers, plant down, and mud, often all glued together, and to the substrate, by adhesive saliva. In the extreme case (i.e., Edible-nest Swiftlets Aerodramus fuciphagus), the nest can be made entirely of saliva. In others (e.g., African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus), dried saliva holds the eggs to a vertical nest wall. Clutch size varies from 1 to 5 eggs, and both parents share all parental duties. Incubation takes two to four weeks and the nestling period six to ten weeks. One species has been reported to lay two 1-egg clutches 50 days apart, the second being incubated by the developing chick from the first. Many of the non-migratory species have longterm pair bonds, and at least one species breeds cooperatively, with retained helpers from previous breeding attempts. H/D: Swifts inhabit the full array of terrestrial habitats, but live mostly airborne, moving with air masses and local convection currents to take advantage of local concentrations of prey. Being reliant on aerial planktonic prey, they often travel far from their nests while foraging for themselves and their offspring. Using mud or adhesive saliva, swifts glue their nests—or eggs—to plants, walls, or cliff faces. These fascinating nest-building methods allow a steep descent for take-off while providing protection from predators. Feed almost entirely on insects. IF: Swiftlets have evolved a primitive form of echolocation for navigating in the dark to their roosts. They are also a master of flight and can stay airborne for 10 months straight

Family: Tytonidae Order: Strigiformes

M: These owls have a heart-shaped facial disk, an elongated, compressed bill, and proportionately smaller eyes than Strigidae owls. They have long legs, and their inner toe, which is as long as the middle one, has a pectinate claw. Their sternum has two notches and is fused with the furcula. Like the other owls, however, their talons are well developed, and their fourth toe is reversible. Females are generally larger than males, and may have darker spots. Their plumage is soft and dense, generally darker with markings on the upperparts, while the underparts are pale and often without any markings. BB: Barn owls are typically monogamous (rarely polygynous) with biparental care. Most species nest in cavities in trees, caves, cliffs, or buildings, though a couple of species build a grass nest on the ground. Cavity nests are often little more than a mass of cast pellets, upon which the eggs are laid. Females lay 1 to 14 eggs, with 4 to 7 being most common (larger clutches in years of high rodent populations); clutches are generally smaller in the tropical species. Females are typically the only ones to incubate the eggs through an incubation period of four to six weeks, and the chicks hatch asynchronously, with brood size hierarchies common. Both male and female feed the chicks, which appear to reach fledging age at 70 to 90 days post-hatch. H/D: The barn owls occupy a wide variety of habitats worldwide, ranging from desert to dense tropical rainforest, but they generally do not venture into environments as cold or harsh as those some strigids occupy.Tytonids feed most frequently on small rodents, with smaller numbers of birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and insects also taken. Barn owls are strongly nocturnal and hunt primarily by ear, with an extraordinary ability to pinpoint the location of prey by sound. They generally eat their prey whole and regurgitate dense pellets of non-digested fur and bone

Family: Sturnidae Order: Passeriformes

M: They are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. They have a shiny/greasy appearance BB: Males attract mates by singing near a nest site they've claimed and flapping their wings in circles at the same time. After they've paired, males follow their mates everywhere, chasing off other males. Male starlings begin building the nest before mating takes place, filling the cavity with grass and pine needles, along with feathers, trash, cloth, and string. There's a depression near the back of the cavity where the cup is built and lined with feathers, fine bark, leaves, and grass. Females oversee the final arrangements and may discard some of the material the male added. H/D:Starlings typically live around people, using mowed lawns, city streets, and agricultural fields for feeding; and trees, buildings, and other structures for nesting. Their main requirements are open, grassy areas in which to forage, a water source, and trees or buildings that contain suitable cavities or niches for nesting. They avoid large, unbroken stretches of forest, chaparral, and desert. Starlings will eat nearly anything, but they focus on insects and other invertebrates when they're available. Common prey include grasshoppers, beetles, flies, caterpillars, snails, earthworms, millipedes, and spiders. They also eat fruits including wild and cultivated cherries, holly berries, hackberries, mulberries, tupelo, Virginia creeper, sumac, and blackberries; as well as grains, seeds, nectar, livestock feed, and garbage IF: European Starlings were intentionally introduced bc groups wanted all of Shakespeare's birds to live in North America. After a few tries, there are now 200 mill

Family: Picidae Order: Piciformes

M: They range in size from 3-23 inches in length. Many species in this family have some combination of red, white, and black feathers. They have strong, straight bills; long, sticky tongues; long, stiff tail feathers; and zygodactyl feet. That means they have two toes facing frontwards and two toes facing backwards. BB: Most woodpeckers are monogamous with biparental care. Several species, including the Red-cockaded Woodpecker Leuconotopicus borealis and Acorn Woodpecker, are cooperative breeders. In addition, the Acorn Woodpecker is polygynandrous, with multiple males mating with multiple females and up to three females laying their eggs in the same cavity. Almost all woodpeckers excavate their own nest cavities in trees, and many dig a new hole every year, creating a niche for a diverse guild of cavity-adopters in other families of birds. Where woodpeckers are found in areas with no trees, they find alternate nesting sites, such as large cacti, termite nests, or tunnels in the ground. Nest chambers are not lined with any additional material, with the exception of woodchips produced during excavation. As with many other cavity-nesting birds, the eggs are white. Female woodpeckers lay 2 to 12 eggs. Both males and females are active in nest construction, incubation, and feeding chicks. Males typically incubate the eggs at night. After an incubation period of only nine to 14 days, the young hatch naked and bypass a downy plumage by molting directly into an adult-like juvenile plumage. They are brooded by the parents at first, but they grow relatively quickly and fledge in three to four weeks. H/D: wide variety of habitats but nest in tree cavities. Most woodpeckers feed primarily on insects and other arthropods that are gleaned or excavated by chiseling or hammering from bark or branches and occasionally caught in mid-air. Many species supplement their diet with seeds, nuts, fruit, and nectar. The large family also includes many species with specialized foraging strategies, such as the sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus), which specialize on sap harvested from trees; many species that specialize on ants (Colaptes, Picus, and Jynx); and some, such as the Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus, that store acorns in thick-barked trees for use throughout the winter. IF: The acorn woodpecker has a complex social system where family groups hold territories and he young stay with their parents for several years to help them raise offspring

Family: Phoenocopteridae Order: Phoenocopteriformes

M: Throughout all the species of flamingos they are very similar. Some distinct characteristics are long thin legs, bright pink coloration, and a neck that is able to bend in curves in different directions. Males and females are generally similar but males tend to be bigger in size while females are smaller size. Although females tend to get their pink color sooner than males. Besides those differences, males and females do not differ. BB: Since family Phoenicopteridae are very social birds, an intricate courtship display is important to find a mate. There is a tendency for male courtship displays to be less intense compared to those of their female counterparts. There are various movements that can go into a courtship display, not every species or individuals do the same movements. The general first movement that signals the beginning of courtship for the whole flock is what's called head flagging. Generally started by the tallest individuals in each flock (most of the time males) this movement consists of a stiff neck while the head moves side to side. Best described as a waving motion. This is seen in all members of family Phoenicopteridae, but Puna flamingos Phoenicoparrus jamesi have displayed a more exaggerated movement compared to other species in the family. Some species show more intricate displays, Andean flamingos Phoenicoparrus andinus have a synchronized march while head-flagging. Lesser flamingos Phoeniconaias minor also have some similar characteristics to the Andean flamingo, but while marching they also may display what looks like a broken neck. The motion of the "broken neck" is when the beak is brought to the base of the neck making a large bend. Due to the large size of flocks there tends to be some squabbling and jousting within the flock (Paul 2021). H/D: Due to the nature of family Phoenicopteridae and their food sources they require access to standstill water to feed. Family Phoenicopteridae generally occupy tropical coastal regions in order to sustain large flocks. The most regularly occupied habitats are large lakes. There is some specialization within the family, Lesser flamingos Phoeniconaias minor generally like undisturbed alkaline lakes and salt pans. Andean flamingo Phoenicoparrus andinus also generally likes alkaline lakes and salt lakes but at an elevation between 2300-4500m. Puna flamingo Phoenicoparrus jamesi also follows the trend and generally occupies saline lakes in the high Andean plateaus. The other 3 remaining species are less specialized and occupy more coastal and marine wetlands IF: similar to pigeons, flamingos produce milk rich in fat and proteins which they feed to young chicks. They gets their pink color from carotenoids in their food

Family: Trogonidae Order: Trogoniformes

M: Trogons have a bright red to yellow belly in contrast to a dark chest and upperparts. Most trogons are 24 to 46 cm (9 1/2 to 18 inches) long, an exception being the resplendent (or Guatemalan) quetzal, also called resplendent trogon (Pharomachrus mocinno), which is about 125 cm (50 inches) long. The graduated tail, of 12 feathers, is carried closed (square-tipped) and typically has a black-and-white pattern on the underside (as in cuckoos). The wings are rounded, legs short, feet weak. Uniquely, the second (inner) toe is fixed rearward. The bill is short, curved, and broad, with bristles at the base; in many species it is serrated. The eye is ringed with colourful bare skin. BB: Trogons are monogamous with biparental care. All are cavity-nesting birds, usually nesting in a hole made by other species or excavating their own hole in the pithy mass of a termite nest or a rotten trunk. Trogons lay 2 to 4 eggs, from which altricial chicks hatch after an incubation period of 15 to 19 days. Males and females share in parental care, from incubation on. Brooded attentively by the parents for the first week or so, the chicks develop for 16 to 30 days before they fledge and leave the nest. H/D: Trogons inhabit a wide variety of forest types, spanning a rainfall continuum from relatively dry pine-oak forests to humid tropical rainforest. Trogons often sit midway up trees, often well below the canopy level, in areas that afford numerous perches from which they sally while foraging. GENERALISTS. Trogons eat fruits, small vertebrates, and invertebrates. Studies of Neotropical trogons have shown their diet to consist mainly of fruit and insects, with some of the larger species taking vertebrate prey up to the size of small frogs and lizards. Studies of Asian trogons reveal diets that are similar to those of New World species. African trogons, however, are thought to be exclusively insectivorous, and quetzals feed almost entirely on fruit for most of the year. IF: Trogons are the only birds with heterodactyl feet

Family: Passeridae Order: Passeriformes

M: a chunky full-breasted bird with a round head and a stout bill. Breeding males have gray crowns white cheeks, a black bib, and a chestnut neck BB: 1-8 eggs, chicks are entirely naked upon hatching with birght pink skin, eyes closed, clumsy When males display to a prospective mate, they fluff up their chest, hold their wings partially open, fan the tail, and hop stiffly in front of the female, turning sideways and sometimes bowing up and down. Sometimes, other males who spot such a display in progress will fly in and begin displaying as well. In flocks, males tend to dominate over females in fall and winter, but females assert themselves in spring and summer. H/D:The House Sparrow prefers to nest in manmade structures such as eaves or walls of buildings, street lights, and nest boxes instead of in natural nest sites such as holes in trees. IF: hundreds of house sparrows were introduced to Brooklyn NY. they are very smart and can perform complex tasks like opening automatic doors

Family: Trochilidae Order: Caprimulgiformes

M: sexually dimorphic (sexes do not look alike); males (especially trochilines) often have bright iridescent feathers while females have more cryptic coloration. Some male hummingbirds have elaborate ornamentation such as elongated tail feathers and iridescent crests. BB: Hummingbirds are polygynous, and males mate with multiple females over the course of a breeding season. Males court females either from leks or by defending a rich patch of nectar-bearing flowers, and the females tend to all aspects of parental care from nest-building on. Hummingbirds' small nests come in a variety of shapes and locations. The most typical nest is an open cup on a branch or branch-fork, but some build domed or partially domed nests, and many build pendant nests attached with spider silk to large overhanging leaves. Others build nests in niches in rock faces and cliffs. Spiderwebs are harvested and used in construction by many species, providing the adhesion to hold the nest together, and often to fasten lichens onto the outer surface of the nest as camouflage. Females typically lay 2 eggs, incubate the eggs solo for two to three weeks, and feed the chicks a diet of invertebrates and nectar until they fledge after three to six weeks. H/D: Hummingbirds occur in a wide variety of habitats across the New World, from arid deserts, to dense tropical rainforests, to high Andean scrub near glaciers and snowfields. Hummingbirds feed on nectar and small insects and other invertebrates. Although nectar is most important for all species, hummingbirds are remarkably effective insectivores, capturing small flying prey with their bills. The few studies available indicate that about 90% of a hummingbird's diet is composed of nectar, with 10% being small insects and other small arthropods. Nectar is required by hummingbirds to fuel their fast metabolism and maintain their body temperatures with such small body size. IF: Most of the time hummingbirds enter torpor at night to save energy. However, during incubation, females can't because they need to keep their eggs warm. They don't use brood patches, instead increase blood flow to their legs

Order: Strigiformes

Morphology: Small to large birds with large, rounded heads and big eyes that are strengthened by a cylinder of bony plates that provides telescopic vision. Surrounding the eyes are large facial discs of feathers that concentrate sound and greatly increase hearing ability. Nearly all owls arecryptically colored, reducing discovery while they roost by day. Their dense plumage is soft, enabling silent flight. In some species, the outer, bony portions of the two ears are differently shaped, creating a stereophonic effect that enables them to locate precisely sounds made by prey. ▪ Interesting Facts: Owls must turn their heads just to look sideways and some species can rotate their head 270 degrees to look behind them!

Order Psittaciformes

Parrots are a stereotyped group of small to medium-sized birds with stout, hooked bills with a fleshy cere,found in mainly warm and tropical regions. Parrots have a pan-tropical distribution (found in all tropicalregions around the world) with several species inhabiting the temperate Southern Hemisphere as well.The upper mandible is movable, attached by a hinge-like articulation to the skull. The most importantcomponents of most parrots' diets are seeds, nuts, fruit, buds and other plant material, and a few speciesalso eat insects and small animals, and the lories and lorikeets are specialized to feed on nectar fromflowers, and soft fruits. The tongue is fleshy, and some species in the Australasian region have brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar. The neck and legs are short, and the toes are zygodactyl, adapted forperching and climbing; the scales on the legs and toes are small and granular. Parrots hold and manipulatefood with their feet, and they use their bill as well as their feet in climbing.Parrots are gregarious, highly intelligent, vocal birds, and the ability of some parrot species toimitate human voices enhances their popularity as pets. They have exceptional abilities to mimic thehuman voice and to communicate abstract information. They also can be destructive. The raptor-like Keaof New Zealand pulls large nails from buildings, rips automobile upholstery, and kills sick sheep to feedon their kidney fat.Many parrots are green or largely green, but others, especially in the Australasian region, sportbrilliant colors as well as solid black. The plumage is sparse, and some species, most notably thecockatoos, are crested. The tail is most commonly fan-shaped but may be long and pointed.Parrots and macaws generally nest in holes. The young are naked at hatching in some species, coveredwith down in other species. As a group, the parrots and macaws include the greatest proportion ofthreatened and endangered species of any large family of birds. Trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade,as well as other hunting, habitat loss and competition from invasive species, have diminished wildpopulations, and parrots have been subjected to more exploitation than any other group of birds

Order: Coraciiformes

The rollers and kingfishers and their allies are small to medium-sized stocky birds with large heads and small feet. The anterior toes of most members of the order are fused at the base. Feather features peculiar to individual families include eyelashes in hornbills, a long, erectile crest in the Hoopoe, and the spatulate tips of the central tail feathers in motmots. In addition to their varied patterns and often brilliant colors, the families differ greatly in the shape of the bill, ranging from the slender bills of bee-eaters, woodhoopoes, and the Hoopoe and the sturdier bills of kingfishers and rollers to the huge, ornamented bills of the large hornbills. The foods of coraciiform birds include arthropods (particularly insects, spiders, and scorpions),fish and aquatic invertebrates including crabs and shellfish, small terrestrial vertebrates, and worms. Hornbills are omnivorous and consume many fruits as well as animals. Feeding techniques range from aerial sallies after flying insects (bee-eaters and rollers) and probing into deep crevices (hornbills and woodhoopoes) to hovering and plunge-diving by some kingfishers. Sit-and-wait predation is a common tactic. Most coraciiform birds nest in cavities; hornbill females molt while sealed by the male into the nest. The young are typically helpless (altricial) and naked when they hatch. Cooperative breeding systems are quite common in these mostly tropical birds

Order Pelecaniformes

The species included in this order have changed greatly in recent years and it is still unclear if the current taxonomic grouping correctly reflects evolutionary history. The species range in size from the Least Bittern to the large Goliath Heron. All are water birds, many of which are colonial

Order: Trogoniformes

Trogons are tropical and subtropical forest-dwelling birds with short bills, strongly arched culmens, and serrated edges on the upper mandibles. The small and weak feet differ from those of all other birds: they are heterodactyl, with the first and second toes directed backward and the third and fourth toes directed forward. Trogons have dense, lax plumage and a well-developed after shaft; the feathers tear loose from the thin skin very easily. The wings are short and rounded. The tail is long, usually squared at the tip. The upper tail coverts are much longer than the other tail feathers of the quetzals of the New World tropics. Most species have sexually dimorphic, iridescent green plumage; many have bright red or yellow underparts. The red pigment is unstable, fading quickly in museum specimens, and is maintained in life only as a result of feather replacement during molt. They feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. They nest in holes dug into trees or termite nests, laying 2-4 white or pastel-coloured eggs. Incubation lasts 17-19 days and the young are naked at hatch