Common Crane, Lammergeier, Crimson Rosella, Scarlet-Chested Sunbird, Stonechat, Honey Buzzard, European Nightjar, Burrowing Owl, Sacred Ibis, American Robin
The common crane is a tall, elegant bird that breeds in secluded wetland areas of northern Europe. It is well known for its graceful
dancing displays, which are often performed by whole flocks.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 3~-4 ft .
Wingspan: 7~ ft. Weight: 10-15 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Thought to be
5 years.
Breeding season: April to June.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 2. Incubation: About 1 month.
Fledging period: 2~ months.
LIFESTYLE Breedi ng areas of the common crane. Wintering areas.
DISTRIBUTION
Call: Male's call is long and low.
Female's is short and high-pitched.
Habit: Gathers in flocks outside the
breeding season.
Diet: Plants, insects, reptiles.
lifespan: May be up to 70 years .
Breeds in Scandinavia, northern Germany, Turkey, and from
eastern Europe to eastern Asia. Winters in southern Spain,
North Africa, Iraq, Iran, India, and eastern Asia.
RELATED SPECIES CONSERVATION The closest relative is the hooded
crane, Crus monacha, which breeds
in Siberia, Mongolia, Korea, and
Japan.
Although the common crane is protected by law in Scandinavia
and Finland, the population is declining in most areas due to
the loss of its wetland habitat.
FEATURES OF THE COMMON CRANE ~
Flight: Flies with neck outstretched and legs extended backward. Slow, strong wing beats . Flies high and sometimes soars.
Bill: Long and pOinted , ideal for probing the ground in search of food.
~6gs: Long and thin f~r W;din,g , through shallow w,ate tf.
Plumage: Both sexes have gray plumage with dark wingtips and throat, white patches on cheeks and neck, and red crown. Tail feathers are dark, long , and bushy. Feathers are molted (shed) annually.
Eggs: 2 per clutch. Pale greenish brown , blotched and spotted with darker brown.
0160200491 PACKET 49
The common crane nests in secluded sites away
from other birds. During migration cranes form
large flocks that fly in a V formation. The birds travel
day and night, uttering loud calls to keep the flock
together. They use as little energy as possible
on their long journey, soaring high in the air
on rising currents of warm air.
~ HABITS The common crane lives in wetlands but is also found in grasslands. Although it is an aquatic bird, the common crane does not have webbed feet and it stays in shallow water. Outside the breeding season, cranes form flocks of up to 400 birds.
The crane flies with its neck outstretched, beating its wings in slow, strong movements. Its feet usually extend backward in flight, but they may be tucked under the breast feathers in cold weather. In summer the crane molts, or sheds, its feathers. Every few years, it loses all
its flight feathers and cannot fly for five or six weeks.
The crane's well-known dancing display may be performed by a single pair of birds, but often a whole flock takes part. During this display, the bird fans its wings and leaps into the air, then bows its neck almost to the ground. Stamping its feet, it picks up objects such as feathers or stones and tosses them into the air. The dancing was once thought to be a courtship display, but it also occurs when an intruder appears. The birds also seem to dance just for pleasure.
~ BREEDING The crane pairs for at least a few years and often for life. Newly paired birds may perform the dancing ceremony prior to mating, but older birds rarely display in this way.
The pair establishes its breeding territory in a secluded wetland and returns there every year. Using dry vegetation, they build a platformlike nest in shallow water. The female usually lays two eggs, which both parents incubate for 28 to 30 days.
Left: A shy, wary bird, the common crane is constantly on the lookout for predators.
DID YOU KNOW? • A nesting crane may cover itself with mud or vegetation for camouflage. • A pair of calling cranes can be heard for several miles. Their coiled windpipes act like trumpets and amplify the sound. • Migrating cranes can fly two miles above the ground.
Because incubation starts as soon as an egg is laid, the chicks may hatch a day or two apart. The first chick may have left the nest by the time the second chick hatches. This ensures that there is enough food for each chick.
The newly hatched chicks are helpless, but within hours they can crawl out of the nest. After nine weeks they can fly, even though their flight feathers are not yet fully developed.
Right: A young crane is able to swim and run only 24 hours after hatching.
• If suitable roosting sites are unavailable, common cranes may gather in large numbers. One site in the U.S.S.R. contained 3,500 birds at one time. • In Japanese mythology, the crane signifies long life. It was believed to live for a thousand years.
~ MIGRATION At the end of summer, the common crane moves to a flooded or swampy area to molt its feathers . Then it migrates south with its flock to a warmer climate. Depending on the location of their breeding ground, cranes winter in Spain, North Africa, Iraq, Iran, India, eastern Asia, or China.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The crane eats almost anything that is available. Its main food is plant material such as grasses, crops, and herbs. In summer the crane eats frogs, slowvvorms, lizards, snakes, and even small mammals such as rodents. It also consumes earthworms, spiders, snails, and wood lice. Once in a while the crane eats fish or the eggs and young of small birds. In fall and winter it eats grains and nuts.
The crane often travels long
Left: Although the crane usually feeds on riverbanks, it can badly damage crops.
Migrating cranes use the same stopover points each year, often before crossing a large stretch of water such as the Mediterranean. Here they forage for food and wait for suitable weather before continuing their journey. Immature birds migrate with their parents to learn the route.
distances in search of TOod. It leaves its roost about half an hour before sunrise to spend the day feeding . It may return to the roost at midday to rest, then continue to feed until just after sunset.
Standing in shallow water, the crane forages on the bank, either picking food from the surface or probing the soil with its bill. When one bird finds a good food supply, others join it, but they do not go near enough to bother one another. A few individuals always stand aside to act as lookouts.
LAMMERGEIER
""'---~ ORDER FAMILY Falconiformes Accipitridae
CARD 162 1
GROUP 2: BIRDS GENUS &; SPECIES Gypaetus barbatus
The lammergeier is a magnificent sight as it soars over a cliff or perches on a high ledge. This vulture searches for carcasses or
bones that have been picked clean by other scavengers.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 4 ft. Wingspan: 9 ft. Weight: 10-15 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5 years.
Breeding season: January to July.
Eggs: 1 or 2; pale buff.
No. of broods: 1 . Incubation: About 2 months.
Fledging period: 3-3~ months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Usually solitary.
Diet: Carrion and bones. Also tor
toises, birds, and mammals.
Call: Usually silent. A shrill whistle
in display.
lifespan: Unknown.
RELATED SPECIES
There are more than 217 species in
the family Accipitridae, including
the Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus.
Range of the lammergeier.
DISTRIBUTION Found in mountainous areas in southern Europe; northern,
eastern, and southern Africa; the Middle East; and central Asia.
CONSERVATION
The lammergeier is very rare and threatened by hunting, acci
dental poisoning, and habitat disturbance. Preservation efforts
include artificial feeding, protection of nests, and the release of
birds into areas where the wild population has died out.
r FEATURES OF THE lAMMERGEIER
Plumage: Front and belly are usually a light creamy buff. Darker wings and tail. Black beardlike mask around eyes and bill . Juvenile has a darker head and breast.
Feet: Strong legs but relatively weak talons. Better adapted for moving on the ground than for catching prey.
Used to pick meat and marrow from bones. Also used to carry bones and live prey in the air before dropping them on rocky ground.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Wings: Long, narrow; and curved slightly forward . An important feature for identi
fying the bird in flight.
Eggs: 1 or 2; laid in late winter or spring
in a large nest. Incubated mainly by
the female.
016020061 1 PACKET 61
The lammergeier is known in Spain as the "bone breaker"
because it drops large bones onto rocks to split them
into manageable pieces. In this way it exposes the
nutritious marrow inside the bones. A special digestive
system allows the lammergeier to consume bone and
gristle, which are inedible to most predators.
~ HABITAT The lammergeier lives in the more remote parts of the high
mountain ranges of Europe, Africa, and Asia. In the Pyrenees it nests on cliffs and soars
above the highest peaks. It can also be seen flying over the hotter, more arid foothills. In
the Himalayas it may reach altitudes of 15,000 feet.
When the lammergeier flies at lower altitudes, it is lifted by thermals (warm air currents) ris
ing from ridges and valleys. In these conditions it can spend
hours soaring because it uses little energy to remain in the
air. When flying higher up, it rides on the strong winds above cliffs and peaks.
~ BREEDING The lammergeier builds its nest
on a deep ledge underneath an overhang or locates it inside a small cave high on a cliff face.
It has up to five alternate nests, but it may use the same one
for years. The nest is a pile of
sticks, rags, paper, and other trash about three feet high
and six feet wide. The nest
becomes larger each year as new sticks and linings of wool
Left: The lammergeier can spot food on the ground from a height of several hundred feet.
I DID YOU KNOW? • In Asia the lammergeier often visits dumps, farms, and slaughterhouses to feed on
discarded meat and bones.
• According to legend, the ancient Greek dramatist Aes
chylus was killed by a tortoise
dropped by a lammergeier.
and manure are added to it. One or two large spotted
buff eggs are laid in late win
ter. They are incubated mostly by the female and hatch in about two months. The chicks
are fed by both parents, but only one chick reaches maturity. Even after 10 weeks in the nest, the chick is still fed by its
parents four times a day. It can fly after about three months.
Right: The lammergeier is among the most solitary members of the vulture family.
• The lammergeier is the rarest vulture in Europe, but 40 pairs live in the Pyrenees.
• The lammergeier is also known as the "bearded vulture" because it has a black
mask and bristles drooping from its bill.
~ FOOD & HUNTING The lammergeier usually eats the remains of dead animals. After other vultures finish eat
ing, it tackles what they leave behind-the tougher meat and
skeletons of goats, sheep, and deer. The bird breaks big bones into manageable pieces but
swallows small bones whole.
~ BEHAVIOR After a good feed, the lammergeier takes a rest to digest its
meal, perching for hours on a cliff ledge or on top of a large
tree on a rocky slope. It can easily take flight from such points.
In the air, the lammergeier is
a splendid sight. Its long slotted
wings and large wedge-shaped
tail are ideally suited to soaring
on thermal air currents, and it
needs only one or two power
ful wingbeats to take off. The lammergeier is usually
shy, and it is easily disturbed. It rarely lets humans come close while it is on the ground, but
Left: The-Iammergeier perches on high cliffs, from which it can easily take to the air.
The lammergeier may kill partridges and other birds. In
Africa it carries small rodents into the air, drops them from
a great height, and then eats them. It also picks up tortoises
and drops them onto rocks to shatter their shells and expose the flesh.
it may circle low overhead.
The lammergeier generally searches for food alone, but a pair roosts and occasionally
feeds together. In winter and
early spring, male and female adults display near the nesting site. The birds slowly circle to a
great height, then roll over, interlock their talons, and tumble
earthward together in a cartwheeling dive.
The lammergeier usually remains in its large territory all
year. It has been seen migrating only rarely. Although it occasionally flies from Turkey to
Cyprus over the sea, it tends not to because there are no thermals above the water.
'" CARD 163 I CRIMSON ROSELLA
,,~------------------------------~~~~~~ ... ORDER ~ Psittaciformes
FAMILY Psittacidae
... GENUS & SPECIES ~ P/atycercus e/egans
The crimson rosella is one of the most brilliantly colored and popular members of the parrot family. This bird inhabits eastern
Australia, where it is becoming common in suburban gardens.
KEYFACTS _____________________________ ~
SIZES Length: 13-15 in.
Weight: 2-2)1,; oz.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Breeding season: September to
early February.
No. of broods: 1-2. Eggs: 5-8; white, rounded.
Incubation: About 3 weeks.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Mostly sedentary. Lives in
pairs or small groups.
Diet: Seeds, fruits, blossoms, in
sects and their larvae.
Range of the crimson rosella.
DISTRIBUTION lifespan: About 10 years in the
wild; longer in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES The crimson rosella is closely re
lated to the Adelaide rosella and
yellow rosella. There are 3 sub
species of crimson rosella and 8
species of rosella.
Found in eastern and southeastern Australia, mainly in wooded
coastal regions and adjacent mountain rainforests. The bird was
successfully introduced to New Zealand and Norfolk Island.
CONSERVATION Habitat destruction is reducing the crimson rosella's range. How
ever, the bird seems to be adapting to suburban areas, and its
numbers are generally stable.
FEATURES OF THE CRIMSON ROSELLA
Juvenile: Plumage is mainly green with red patches. This coloring lets the bird blend in with its dimly lit forest habitat. Poorly fed young may be mainly red throughout their lives.
Upperparts: Black with red margins that give characteristic scalelike markings.
Adult: Plumage is mainly red with blue cheeks, wing margins, and tail feathers. The wings are broad and rounded. The sexes look similar, but the female is slightly smaller than the male.
Eggs: 5 to 8 rounded white eggs per clutch. Eggs hatch in about 3 weeks. In good conditions, the female may move to another nest and lay a second clutch before the chicks from the first brood have flown.
0160200661 PACKET 66
Most members of the parrot family are quite
aggressive, but the crimson rosella is not as noisy and
combative as its relatives. This bird brightens suburban
gardens in Australia with its vivid plumage, but it is not
welcome in orchards because it feeds on fruit. By also
eating insect pests, however, the crimson rosella
offsets the damage that it does to crops.
~ HABITS The crimson rosella inhabits the
coastal regions of eastern and
southeastern Australia. It pre
fers heavily wooded areas and
mountain rainforests at altitudes
ranging from sea level to 6,500
feet. This bird is also becoming
common in suburban gardens
near large cities and towns.
The crimson rosella moves to
more open countryside during
fall and winter. It is comfortable
around humans and will take
bread and fruit from picnic sites.
The adult birds tend to live in
pairs or small groups, while the
young form flocks.
There are three subspecies of
crimson rosella. The smallest
and darkest subspecies-Platycercus elegans nigrescens~ives only in northeastern Queens
land in Australia . The largest
and brightest subspecies-Po e.
melanoptera--is found only on
Kangaroo Island. The third sub
species-Po e. elegans--is the
most common and widespread.
This subspecies has been suc
cessfully introduced to parts of
New Zealand.
Right: The crimson rosel/a is unusual because the juvenile's plumage differs from that of the adult.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The crimson rosella's feeding
habits are typical of a member
of the parrot family. It eats fruits,
seeds, blossoms, insects, and in
sect larvae. The bird usually feeds
on the forest floor. It picks seeds
from grasses and plucks flowers
from eucalyptus shrubs as well
as other plants. It also takes ber
ries and fruits from bushes and
the undergrowth.
The crimson rosella is an ex
pert at shelling seeds. With its
thick tongue, it holds the seed
Left: The crimson rosel/a's beautiful plumage makes the bird desirable for aviaries.
DID YOU KNOW? • The crimson rose II a is also called Pennant's parakeet.
• The proportion of red and yellow in a crimson rosella's
plumage depends on the cli
mate of its habitat. A very hu
mid climate promotes darker
pigmentation. Low humidity
helps to produce yellowish
brown pigments.
steady under the upper part of
its bill. It uses the cutting edge
at the front of its lower bill to
chip away at the seed. In this
way, the bird peels off the husk
and extracts the kernel inside.
The crimson rosella can be a
nuisance to farmers who grow
corn and fruit. But its reputation
for destroying crops is probably
exaggerated. Any damage this
bird does is balanced by its hab
it of eating insect pests that are
harmful to crops.
Right: The crimson rosel/a uses both its beak and claws to crack open seeds.
• Some young crimson rosel
las already have adult plum
age when they leave the nest.
The plumage of other juve
niles may take as long as 16
months to turn from green to
red. Young birds that are well
fed start off with green plum
age. Poorly fed birds are red
as juveniles and adults.
~ BREEDING Male and female crimson rosel
las form pairs quickly at the on
set of the breeding season. The
male displays by drooping his
wings, squaring his shoulders,
fluffing up his breast feathers,
and fanning his tail from side to
side. He either holds his head
high and tilts it back, or he bows
slightly forward. While chatter
ing, he feeds the female, who
acts shy at first.
The male searches for a nest
site that will provide adequate
protection for such a brilliantly
colored bird. He chooses a hol
low tree trunk or a branch with
Left: The crimson rosel/a is general/ya sedentary bird. It feeds on the ground and rarely flies far
from the safety of its woodland home. It is often found in
shady areas, which it favors.
an entry hole three to six feet
above the ground. The female
joins the male at the nest site,
which may be selected some
time before the first egg is laid.
The female lays five to eight
eggs on a bed of wood debris.
She begins incubating after lay
ing her second egg. The male
feeds her and tends the nest.
The eggs hatch in about three
weeks. The naked young are
blind for their first two weeks.
The chicks fly at five weeks old
but stay near their parents for
another month. They then join
a small flock of other juveniles.
"" CARD 164 I SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD
,,~------------------------------~~~~~~ ~
ORDER Passeriformes
FAMILY Nectariniidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Nectarinia senegalensis
The scarlet-chested sunbird lives in a variety of habitats in tropical Africa. It is often seen in parks and gardens, probing
flowers for nectar with its long, curved bill.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 6 in.
Wingspan: 12 in.
Weight: About 1h oz.
BREEDING
Nest: Built on tip of branch. Pear
shaped with roofed entrance.
Breeding season: From August
to March.
Clutch size: 2.
Broods: 1.
Incubation: 14-15 days.
Fledging: 1 6-19 days.
LIFESTYLE
Range of the scarlet-chested sunbird.
DISTRIBUTION Diet: Nectar, small insects, and
spiders.
Call: Sharp, metallic notes.
Lifespan: Probably 3-4 years.
Found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert, from Senegal in the
west to Kenya in the east, and excluding most of South Africa
and Namibia.
RELATED SPECIES CONSERVATION There are 107 species of sunbird in
Africa, Asia, and Australasia. The
closest relative is the black, or
amethyst, sunbird.
There are no apparent threats to this adaptable and common
species of sunbird. It is flourishing throughout its range in Africa.
FEATURES OF THE SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD
Male: Colorful, iridescent plumage during breeding season. Glossy black overall except for bright red breast and green crown and throat. Plumage is duller outside the breeding season.
Female: Duller plumage than male. Dark brown upper
parts. Mottled, lighter brown underparts.
0160200601 PACKET 60
The scarlet-chested sunbird is a lively bird that moves
constantly when feeding. It flits busily among strongly
scented flowers, probing blossoms for the nectar that
makes up a large part of its diet. The sunbird also feeds
on the many insects that are attracted to the flowers. The
brightly colored male is more aggressive than the female
and often chases away other sunbirds when feeding.
~ HABITAT The scarlet-chested sunbird lives in the moister regions of tropical Africa south of the Sahara. It is not found in the dry semidesert areas of northern and southwestern Africa.
The bird favors sunny open areas of savanna woodland. It also likes heavily wooded areas that have small clearings beside
streams. In addition, it frequents ornamental gardens and city parks, where it finds nectar-rich exotic flowers as well as blossoming native bushes and trees. It is as comfortable in treetops as it is in bushes near the ground.
Right: The female scarlet-chested sunbird builds an elaborate nest covered with dead vegetation.
~ BEHAVIOR The lively scarlet-chested sunbird is constantly on the move when feeding . It searches for flowers in the treetops as well as in small bushes that are close to the ground.
The male sunbird tends to be more aggressive than the female. He often stops feeding to chase away another male,
Left: The scarlet-chested sunbird has strong legs and feet for perching while feeding.
DID YOU KNOW? • To keep predators away, the scarlet-chested sunbird often makes its nest near a hornet's nest or inside a thick, sticky network of cobwebs. • The scarlet-chested sunbird is often quite fearless. It will even continue feeding when
pursuing the latter for hundreds of feet in a quick, agile flight.
When calling, the male sunbird whistles a loud, musical four-note tune. The second note is a lower, more piping sound than the others. When he calls, the male sunbird can be heard every few seconds for an hour or more.
Right: Outside the breeding season, the male has duller plumage that looks like the female's.
it is less than three feet away from a human observer. • The structure of a sunbird's feathers makes them reflect certain wavelengths of light in vivid shades. This produces the shiny, iridescent colors of the bird's plumage.
~ FOOD & FEEDING Like hummingbirds, sunbirds are specially adapted for feeding on nectar. But unlike hummingbirds, sunbirds rarely hover when feeding. Instead, they perch beside flowers to feed.
The scarlet-chested sunbird uses its long bill to probe small flowers for nectar. Sometimes it pecks through the base of larger
~ BREEDING The female scarlet-chested sunbird builds her nest in three to five days and reuses it for several years. The pear-shaped nest is suspended from a branch high above the ground. It is made from grass, lichen, dead leaves, and cobwebs and covered with decayed leaves. Over the entrance hole at one side of the
blossoms to reach the nectar inside. It sucks up the liquid with its long, tubular tongue. The sunbird favors Leonotis, Erythrino, and Aloe flowers.
The sunbird also eats insects. In addition to crickets, ants, and caterpillars, it eats the spiders that live around the heads of its favorite flowers.
nest is a small, porch like roof. The female lays two oval eggs
that are white or cream-colored with gray or olive flecks. The eggs hatch in about two weeks, and the young can fly in 16 to 19 days. The young bird resembles the female but has a black chin that is darker than the adult's. Males later develop red breasts.
STONECHAT
ORDER Passeriformes
FAMILY Turdidae
J
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS & SPECIES SaxicoJa torquato
The stonechat perches on bushes, diving from time to time to catch a moth or another insect. Cold winters kill off its prey, causing
it to suffer from severe shortages of food.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 5 in .
Wingspan: 7-8 in .
Weight: About Yz oz.
BREEDING
Breeding season: April to August.
No. of broods: 2-3 .
Eggs: 5 or 6.
Fledging period: 14-16 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active; solitary or lives
in pairs.
Diet: Insects, plus other inverte
brates and some seeds.
Call: "Tchack" and softer "whit."
Lifespan: 6 years.
RELATED SPECIES
A small thrush, the stonechat is
most closely related to the Canary
Islands chat, SaxicoJa dacotiae, and
the whinchat, S. rubetra. There are
7 other species of SaxicoJa in Asia.
Resident range of the stonechat.
DISTRIBUTION
Winter range. Summer range.
Found throughout much of Europe and Asia, as well as north
west Africa, parts of Africa south of the Sahara, and Madagas
car. It is not found in parts of northern and eastern Europe or in
western Asia.
CONSERVATION
The stonechat is still widespread, although habitat loss and se
vere winters have reduced numbers in parts of western Europe.
FEATURES OF THE STONECHAT
head and tail , chestnut breast. white patch on neck. white rump and wing markings. The male's plumage is less vivid outside the breeding season.
Flight: During the breeding season , the male may make a hovering song flight. He rises and falls as much as 80 feet above the ground.
Female: Beige-streaked upper parts, dull chestnut breast, white throat patch. The streaked plumage provides camouflage that protects the bird while on the nest.
Eggs: 5 or 6, pale blue with rust-brown speckles. Incubated by the female . There are up to 3 broods a year
The male stonechat is a restless little bird whose
striking breeding plumage matches his bold behavior.
He flies from perch to perch within his territorYt scolding
any intruder. The stonechat gets its name from the
sound of its "tchack" call, which is very similar to
the sound of two stones being struck together.
~ HABITAT The stonechat breeds in a wide range of heathland and grassland habitats, as well as abandoned or marginal farmland. In some areas it is found in forest clearings, scrubby mountain slopes, and sand dunes. The habitat must provide low vegetation for nests, perches
The stonechat is easy to spot on its perch, flicking its wings and tail and making "whittchack-tchack" calls. The male has vivid breeding plumage,
I a large black head, a white patch on the neck, a chestnut
from which prey can be seen, and taller perches from which the bird can guard its territory and launch into song flights.
In Great Britain the stonechat is found mainly on rough coastal grassland. The stonechat has also colonized farms of young conifers.
breast, and white wing markings and rump. The female is much duller and paler, with a streaked upper body and no white on the rump. Young birds are even paler, with streaked upper parts.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The stonechat feeds mainly on insects: beetles, flies and their larvae, ants, caterpillars, butterflies, and moths. It also eats spiders and worms.
The stonechat watches for prey from a low perch like a bush, then swoops down on it. In spring the perches are about a yard above the ground. But when vegetation is taller in summer, the bird moves to a higher perch. It often hovers
left: The stonechat eats mostly insects, which it plucks from either the air or the ground.
near the ground looking for prey, and it may grab insects from the air.
The young are fed on moths, butterflies, and caterpillars, as well as the larvae of glowworms and other beetles. Adult stonechats first break up large prey such as a caterpillar by pulling it through their bills or beating it to a pulp on a rock. Then they feed the food to their chicks or eat it themselves.
Right: Unlike the male's bold coloring, the female's plumage blends with the undergrowth.
left: During the breeding season, the male finds a perch from which he sings to attract the female. The song perch is higher than the bird's feeding posts.
DID YOU KNOW? • Stonechats have been seen hovering above water and plucking young fish from the surface. • Most male stonechats have a single mate for at least one season. But some breed with more than one female. Since a
~ BREEDING Many stonechats live in pairs year-round. But others, especially those that migrate, separate after breeding.
In spring the male drives off rivals with an aggressive display. To attract a female, he utters a high-pitched song, usually from a spot higher than his feeding perches. The male may display in a brief song flight, rising and falling 30 to 80 feet above the ground. The male may also hover above his intended mate or display on the ground.
The female builds a nest at the
left: Many stonechats die in winter, so a high rate of reproduction is necessary.
female can have three broods, each with five to six young, the male can father an extensive family. • In Great Britain the stonechat is called the furze chat, vuzzy napper, black head of gorse, and stone chucker.
base of a bush, in a clump of grass, or in other dense vegetation. It is an untidy cup of dry grass and leaves lined with hair, feathers, or sheep's wool. Often a short tunnel runs through the vegetation to the nest.
The female alone incubates the eggs and tends the young for the first few days. Then both parents care for the chicks until four to five days after they have fledged. The female then leaves to build a nest for her second brood. The male remains to feed their first family for another five to ten days. This procedure may be repeated with a third brood .
The honey buzzard is a bird of prey that eats mainly wasps. It will even follow an unsuspecting insect to its nest in
order to find and feed on the protein-rich larvae.
KEY FACTS --------~~------
SIZES
Length: 1 ~-2 ft. Female slightly
larger than male .
Wingspan: 4-5 ft.
Weight: 1 -2 lb.
BREEDING
Breeding season: Mid-April to
June. No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 1 or 2, occasionally 3.
Incubation: 4-5 weeks.
Fledging period: About 6 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary.
Diet: Mainly wasps and their lar
vae. Also hornets, bees, and small
animals.
Lifespan: Oldest recorded, 28
years, 10 months.
RELATED SPECIES
The only related species are the
barred honey buzzard, Pernis celebensis, and the Oriental honey
buzzard, P. ptilorhynchus.
Breeding range of the honey buzzard. Winter range.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds throughout most of Europe, to Norway in the north,
east to the Soviet Union, and south to the Caspian and
Mediterranean coasts. Winters in western and central Africa.
CONSERVATION
The honey buzzard is still numerous, but its numbers have
declined in the last 50 years due to the slaughter of birds as
they migrate over countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece.
FEATURES OF THE HONEY BUZZARD ~\
Flight: Soars on updrafts of warm air, revealing barred underparts and slotted wingtip feathers.
Head: Ash gray. Crown is covered with small , dense feathers for protection from wasp stings. Nostrils are like slits, so they are protected when the bird
Plumage: Eggs: Usually 1 Dark brown or 2 per clutch.
with pale tips Brown with dark on upper blotches of feathers. purple-red or
Pale under- reddish brown . parts with
brown bars.
Feet: Large and powerful with sharp talons. Help the buzzard tear open
insect nests.
0160200501 PACKET 50
The honey buzzard is a widespread woodland bird that
is specially adapted to its diet of wasps/ hornets/ and
occasionally bees. It has tiny, densely packed feathers
that protect its forehead from stings and powerful feet
that it uses to rip open nests. Its nostrils are like slits
so dirt cannot get inside when the bird scoops out
earth with its bill in order to get at prey.
~ HABITS The honey buzzard prefers to live in warm, moist, wooded areas with open spaces, where it can easily find wasps-its main food source. It may also inhabit meadows, thickets, and small wetlands, but it stays away from cultivated and populated areas.
The honey buzzard summers in Europe and winters in western and central Africa. From August to mid-September, after the breeding season, large flocks gather before heading for the wintering grounds. The birds begin to return to Europe from mid-April to May. The honey
buzzard prefers to fly on rising air currents, so it avoids long sea crossings and follows routes over narrow channels such as the Straits of Gibraltar.
The honey buzzard spends less time in the air than many other birds of prey, and it regularly searches for its food on the ground. It usually roosts high in the branches of broad-leaved trees such as beech, but it also nests in pine and spruce trees in some parts of its range.
Right: The down-covered fledgling is confined to the nest for about six weeks after birth.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The honey buzzard's favorite foods are the pupae, larvae, and adults of wasps, hornets, and occasionally bees. It also eats other insects, spiders, worms, frogs, snakes, small mammals, nestlings of other birds, fruit, and berries.
The honey buzzard may walk through the forest searching for food. Or it may sit on a perch and watch a stretch of open ground, swooping down to catch prey in its bill.
left: The pattern of the honey buzzard's plumage varies widely between individuals.
DID YOU KNOW? • Every year, up to 120,000 honey buzzards cross the Mediterranean Sea via the Straits of Gibraltar, and about 25,000 make the crossing via the Bosphorus in Turkey. • In its wintering grounds, the honey buzzard tries to find surroundings that are similar
Sometimes the honey buzzard follows a wasp to its underground nest. The bird digs into the nest with its strong feet, scooping out earth with its bill. It swallows both the adults and the larvae whole, first removing the adults' stingers by nipping them off with its bill. During the breeding season, the honey buzzard feeds the protein-rich larvae to its chicks. The chicks may also get roughage by eating the cell walls in which the larvae develop.
Right: Built high in a tall tree, the buzzard's nest is often hard to see from the ground.
to its breeding site in Europe. • It is thought that there are only 20 nesting pairs of honey buzzards left in the British Isles. • The honey buzzard is an elusive bird in its African wintering quarters, and very little · is known about its behavior in that area.
~ BREED I NG The honey buzzard mates almost as soon as it returns from its wintering grounds in Africa. The male puts on an aerial display, repeating the same performance several times. He flies upward in a steeply curving arc, then hangs in the air with wings extended. Before he plummets back to earth, he beats his wings three or four times, touching the tips behind his back.
Honey buzzards usually pair for life. Both birds build the nest in a tall tree, using twigs for the basic structure and green vegetation for the lining. This well-
left: The honey buzzard is well adapted for feeding from wasps' nests. Its curved bill is ideal for digging, and its short, dense feathers protect it from wasp stings.
camouflaged nest provides a soft bed for the chicks and hides them from predators.
The female lays one to three eggs at two-day intervals, and they are incubated by both parents for about five weeks. After hatching, the chicks are fed by their parents for up to 18 days. Then they begin to feed themselves with food brought to the nest by the adults. The young birds leave the nest after about six weeks, but they often return to be fed. They are independent by the end of the summer, when it is time to migrate.
""CARD 167J . __ ~ EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR
KEY FACTS
,,~-----------------------------~ ORDER ~ Caprimulgiformes
FAMILY Caprimulgidae
GENUS & SPECIES Caprimulgus europaeus
The European night jar is a graceful aerial hunter that preys on insects during the night. It can scoop up more than a dozen
insects at a time while flying through the air.
SIZES
length: 11 in., including tail.
Wingspan: About 2 ft.
BREEDING
Breeding season: May to August.
Eggs: 2, creamy white, mottled
with brown or gray.
Broods: Usually 2. Incubation: 18 days.
Fledging period: 1 7 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Forms pairs that are re
newed each breeding season; oth
erwise solitary. Active at night.
Diet: Flying insects captured dur
ing flight.
lifespan: Up to 8 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 44 species in the genus
Caprimulgus worldwide, including
the whip-poor-will, C. vociferus, of
North American woodlands.
Breeding range of European night jar.
DISTRIBUTION
Wintering range of European night jar.
Breeds throughout Europe, southern Scandinavia, and western
and central Asia. Winters in Africa south of the Sahara.
CONSERVATION
The European night jar is threatened by insecticides, which poi
son its food. It has suffered a serious decline in Great Britain,
where there are now only 2,000 breeding pairs.
I THE EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR AND ITS NEST
Hunting: The European night jar uses its large, owl-like eyes to locate prey. It swoops forward silently to trap its prey.
Roosting: The European night jar is active at night and often spends the day sleeping on a branch.
Bristles: Stiff bristles on both sides of the mouth protect the eyes.
Tail: Flashes of white on the wingtips identify the male bird.
Eggs: Two creamy white eggs, mottled with brown or gray.
0160200551 PACKET 55
The European night jar hunts at night and spends the day
resting. Its brownish gray plumage provides excellent
camouflage in its woodland habitat, making the bird
almost invisible to predators. The sound of its trilling
song is often the only sign that a night jar is in the area.
~ HABITS The European night jar is active
only at night. It spends the day
roosting on the ground or on a
branch. Because its downy gray
brown plumage offers excellent
camouflage, the bird makes lit
tle attempt to conceal itself. A
roosting night jar looks like a
heap of dead leaves or a strip
of bark. It completes its disguise
by lying motionless with its big
black eyes narrowed to slits. It
is not asleep, however, and will
fly off with a sharp cry when
an intruder comes too close.
The night jar has a variety of
calls and cries, but its song is
unique. A prolonged low trill
that sounds like a small motor,
the song may last up to five
minutes, rising and falling in
pitch as the bird turns its head.
The night jar also has a short,
soft flight call. There is some
evidence that the night jar uses
the echoes from such calls to
locate obstacles in the dark, the
way a bat uses echolocation.
~ BREEDING A pair of European night jars may
return to the same nesting area
for years, usually arriving in mid
May. To impress his mate, the
male soars above her, fanning
his feathers and showing off the
white flashes on his wingtips
and tail. He also raises his wings
in flight and flicks them down to
produce a sharp noise like the
crack of a whip.
The eggs are laid on a bare
scrape on the ground in late
May. At night both birds incu-
Far right: The night jar's eggs are incubated by both parents for about 78 days.
Right: The down-covered chicks leave the nest within a week, but they remain close to the nest.
Left: The night jar's long tail and very large wings make it an extremely agile flier.
DID YOU KNOW? • The European night jar is also
called a "goatsucker" because
it was thought that the bird
took milk from goats' teats.
• Night jars and owls both
have soft feathers for the
bate the eggs, taking turns so
that each has a chance to hunt.
During the day only the female
incubates. The male takes over
at dawn and dusk, so she can
leave the nest to feed.
The eggs hatch after 1 8 days,
and the chicks are fed insects by
both parents. If his mate pro
duces a second clutch, the male
may take charge of feeding. The
chicks leave the nest a week af
ter hatching and can fly within
1 7 or 18 days.
same reason: they are silent in
flight, enabling the birds to
surprise their victims.
• Night jars have big appetites.
One bird had 500 mosquitoes
in its stomach when examined.
Left: The night jar's brownish gray plumage provides perfect camouflage against tree bark.
~I BIRDWATCH The European night jar is usu
ally found in heaths, open
scrubland, and pinewood
glades. It appears in spring
and migrates to Africa at the
~ FOOD & FEEDING The European night jar is ana-
tomically very similar to a swift
or a swallow. Like those birds, it
pursues insects through the air,
scooping them up in flight. The
night jar always preys at night,
Left: The nightjar's small beak opens wide to trap flying insects.
end of summer. It can be
seen at night, twisting and
swooping through the air in
pursuit of insects. Its long
vibrant trill is a distinctive call .
on all kinds of insects. It may
dive through a cloud of mos
quitoes, engulfing a dozen at a
time. Or it may chase a night
flying beetle or hawk-moth.
The night jar probably uses its
large owl-like eyes to locate its
prey as it flies silently through
the sky on its soft-feathered
wings. With its beak open, the
night jar traps insects in its huge
gape, or mouth opening, which
extends all the way back, right
under its eyes.
'" CARD 168 I BURROWING OWL
,,~------------------------------~~~~~ ~
ORDER Strigiformes
FAMILY Strigidoe
.,. GENUS & SPECIES ~ Speotyto cuniculorio
The burrowing owl is a bird of prey that is found on the plains of both North and South America. In this open, treeless terrain it
finds shelter in the abandoned burrows of small rodents.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 8-10 in.
Wingspan: About 2 ft.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: Spring.
Eggs: 5-9, depending on avail
ability of food. Round, white,
and glossy.
Incubation: 3 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active during the day, but
hunts mainly at dusk. Nests in
abandoned burrows. Pairs for life.
Diet: Insects, small mammals, rep
tiles; occasionally scorpions and
centipedes.
Range of the burrowing owl.
DISTRIBUTION
Found on the open prairies of North and South America.
CONSERVATION Call: "Cack, cack" when alarmed.
Cooing sound in mating season.
RELATED SPECIES
Closely related to the owls of the
genus Athene, including the little
owl, Athene noctuo, and the spot
ted owlet, A. bromo.
The burrowing owl population has been declining in recent
years as burrowing animals like prairie dogs become rarer.
Since burrowing animals ruin farmland, farmers poison and
seal off their burrows. This deprives the owl of its nesting and
roosting sites.
FEATURES OF THE BURROWING OWL
Young: Grayish, downy plumage. Leaves the nest before it can fly but stays close to the burrow.
Eggs: 5 to 9. Round and glossy white. Laid in underground nest.
Plumage: Upper parts are brown with white spots and white streaks on the crown . White face. Cream-colored underparts with dark brown collar. Male and female have the same plumage, but the coloring varies within the owl's range. Those in semidesert areas are a light, sandy brown.
X II IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Head: Rounded. Sharp, short, bulbous beak, used in catching prey and digging burrows. Large, yellow, forward-facing eyes provide good
vision for hunting .
;Legs: Covered with short, hairlike feathers. Very
"'long, enabling the owl to walk and burrow easily.
0160200551 PACKET 55
The burrowing owl is active mainly at night.
But it can also be seen during the day, sitting on
the ground or perching on a fencepost as it watches
for prey. It is closely related to the little owl of Europe
and shares that birds characteristic reaction to danger.
When it is threatened, the burrowing owl bobs up and
down in place by bending its long legs repeatedly.
~ HABITS The burrowing owl is found in
open country and on the prairie in North and South America. It
lives in the abandoned burrows
of animals such as small rodents. It may also take over the lair of
a large reptile. The most popular burrows
are those of prairie dogs, small mammals that live in huge burrow colonies known as towns.
The owl frequently makes its
home alongside such a colony. Although the owl occasional-
ly preys on the young, prairie dogs tolerate its presence. The viscacha, a large South Amer-
ican rodent, even lets the owl share its burrow.
If there is no suitable burrow
available, the owl may enlarge one that is too small . Some
times it digs its own burrow with its beak and powerful feet.
Inside its burrow, the owl is safe from most predators. But it
is still preyed upon by skunks, opossums, and rattlesnakes. When threatened, it bobs up
and down. If it is close to its
burrow, the owl retreats underground with an alarm call and a menacing hiss that sounds
like the hiss of a rattlesnake.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The burrowing owl feeds on insects, small mammals, frogs,
snakes, lizards, and sometimes scorpions and centipedes. It
usually watches for prey from an observation point, often a
"lookout" mound built by a prairie dog. The burrowing
owl may also keep watch from the branches of a bush or the
top of a rqck pile. It mainly hunts on the ground but oc
casionally hovers in the air or
catches insects in flight.
left: The burrowing owl's long legs evolved as a result of spending so much time on the ground.
DID YOU KNOW? • The site of a breeding pair of burrowing owls is often
marked by huge piles of leftover food outside the bur
row entrance.
• Two races of burrowing owl in the West Indies became ex
tinct by the late 19th century.
The mongoose, a predator introduced to control snakes,
Although the burrowing owl has keen vision, it usually lo
cates its prey by sound. Movable ear flaps and the ability
to turn its head make the owl a proficient hunter. It can pinpoint the location of a sound
by calculating the difference in the time it takes to reach
each ear. When it is sure of its
prey's location, the owl flies from its perch straight to the animal and snatches it in its
claws or beak.
Right: Around dusk, the burrowing owl hunts for food such as insects and larvae.
was easily able to gain access
to the owls' burrows, and it wiped out the birds.
• The burrowing owl can often be found living on golf
courses, roadside embankments, and airfields.
• In winter, burrowing owls that live north of Oregon and Kansas migrate farther south.
~ BREEDING Burrowing owls nest in small colonies with about 12 breed
ing pairs in the same group of
burrows. In spring the male and female look for a nesting site.
They enlarge the hole if necessary and line the nest chamber
with grass and twigs. The female lays five to nine
white eggs, which both adults incubate for three weeks. The newly hatched owlets are blind
and deaf, and they are covered with whitish down. Their eyes
left: After fledging, a young owl stays with its parents to perfect its hunting skills.
left: The burrow offers protection from predators and the heat of the sun. The nest site may be three feet below the ground, at theendofa tunnel up to ten feet long.
and ears open within a week. The parents bring food to the
nest and regurgitate it into the
gaping mouths of the young. The owlet's beak is lined with sensitive hairs. When touched,
these hairs stimulate the owlet
to open its mouth and take the food. As they get older, the
young wait at the burrow entrance to take food from the adults when they return from
hunting. The owlets explore the terrain around the nest be
fore they can fly. They do not stray far and retreat into the
burrow at any sign of danger.
SACRED IBIS
'" ~ ORDER Ciconiiformes
FAMilY Threskiornithidae
" CARD 169 I
~ .. ~ GROUP 2: BIRDS ~ ~ GENUS &; SPECIES Threskiornis aethiopicus
The sacred ibis of Africa is a curious-looking bird. Its body and tail are covered with abundant black and white feathers,
but its head and neck are completely bald.
KEY FACTS
SIZES length: 2-2~ ft. Weight: 3~ lb. Wingspan: 3~-4 ft.
BREEDING Breeding season: March to August. Number of broods: 1. Eggs: 1-5, usually 2-4. Greenish white with brown spots. Incubation period: 4 weeks. Fledging period: 5-6 weeks.
LIFESTYLE Range of the sacred ibis.
DISTRIBUTION
Habit: Sociable; feeds by day. Diet: Invertebrates, reptiles, fish, eggs and nestlings, carrion, offal. Call: Guttural, wheezing grunt. lifespan: Oldest recorded bird, more than 21 years.
Found mainly inland and close to water, in tropical and subtropical areas throughout most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Also breeds in Iraq.
RELATED SPECIES CONSERVATION The ibis and spoonbill family includes the glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus, found in both the Old World and the Americas.
The sacred ibis became extinct in Egypt during the 19th century. It survived elsewhere by adapting to a variety of habitats and today is common within its range.
Flight: Reveals scarlet breeding plumage under wings. Neck and legs
are held outstretch·ed. The long, broad wings are
. ~ beaten stiffly but ~ ...... fairly rapidly.
Bill : Long, heavy, and curved. Ideal for probing soft mud for prey.
Juvenile: Mostly wh it~ plumage is mottled and streaked with black. Neck and head are covered with feathers for the first 2 years but naked in adulthood.
Neck: Long, slender, and naked. Like the head, it has dull , charcoal gray skin.
Eggs: Usually 2 to 4 laid in a nest of grass and rushes. The roughly textured shell is greenish white with brown spots.
Plumage: Sexes are similar. Wings and body are mostly white outside the breeding season. Wings have black tips .
Tail plumage: Blue-black with metallic
sheen. The long feathers fall over the closed wing.
Although the sacred ibis is now extinct in Egypt, it was
once a seasonal visitor to the banks of the Nile River.
The bird was worshiped by the ancient Egyptians,
who believed that it was a symbol of their god Thoth.
Archaeologists have discovered paintings of the
sacred ibis inside tombs. They have also found
large numbers of its mummified remains.
~ HABITAT The sacred ibis has adapted to tropical and subtropical habitats throughout Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Usually found inland, this bird favors the muddy shores of lakes, rivers, and swamps-areas where food is plentiful. When it is not feeding, it rests on sandbanks or perches in trees.
A sociable bird, the sacred ibis gathers in flocks when searching for food by day and when roosting at night. It often
mingles with other species. It also breeds in large colonies, with up to 200 birds in one small breeding area.
The sacred ibis is not a regular migrant. But it often makes seasonal journeys to look for food or to avoid the rainy season . Flocks tend to scatter more widely at the end of the breeding season.
Right: Long legs enable the sacred ibis to wade through shallow lake water in search of prey.
~ BREEDING The sacred ibis nests in a colony that may also include herons, storks, egrets, and cormorants. The male is the first to arrive at the breeding site, and the female follows two days later.
The male displays to a female by extending his neck forward and jerking it downward with his bill open. Both birds then stretch their necks up and flick their heads back. They bow and intertwine their necks as they preen and call out. The pair bond lasts only for the breeding season.
left: The sacred ibis usually rests in trees after feeding and may nest in the branches.
DID YOU KNOW? • More than a million ibis mummies were found in one group of tombs in Egypt. • The sacred ibis sometimes steals crocodile eggs that are dug up by monitor lizards. • The sacred ibis is not afraid of humans. It may breed and roost near towns.
The female selects a nest site in a tree, on a flat-topped bush, or on the ground among rocks. She builds the nest from twigs and lines it with grasses and rushes collected by the male.
The female usually lays two to four greenish white eggs. Each parenttakesturnsincubating the eggs for four weeks. Both birds then feed the young with partially digested food . The chicks leave the nest after five or six weeks. But they rely on their parents for food for a few more days until fledging is completed.
Right: For about five weeks, a chick takes partially digested food from its parents.
• Up to 100 pairs may gather on a breeding ground of 100 square feet. Over 25 nests may be built in an area of 50 square feet. • As it matures, the spoonbill develops a thin, curved bill like that of its relative the sacred ibis.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The sacred ibis feeds by day in small flocks. It wades through the shallow edges of rivers and lakes, probing the soft mud with its long, curved bill. Or it takes food from the banks.
The ibis has a mixed diet but feeds mainly on invertebrates. Worms, locusts, grasshoppers, spiders, insect larvae, crustaceans, and mollusks are popular prey. The ibis also eats small frogs, reptiles, and the remains of fish. It will kill smaller birds
left: Like the other members of its family, the sacred ibis has a very long, curved bill. This shape is ideal for picking prey out of muddy riverbanks and for probing into carcasses.
such as young cormorants or chase adult birds from a nest and steal their eggs. The ibis also eats carrion, picking at the remains of a dead bird or an animal left by vultures. Since its head and neck are bald, there are no feathers to become matted with blood when the ibis scavenges.
If there is no suitable food nearby, a flock may fly miles from its breeding colony to find a betterfeeding ground .
The American robin is common throughout the United States and Canada. It is popularly known as "robin redbreast" because
of the color of the plumage that covers its breast.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: lOin.
Wingspan: 14-16 in .
Weight: 2-3 ~ oz.
BREEDING
Breeding season: Early April in the
south to mid-May in the north.
No. of broods: Up to 3 per year.
Eggs: 3-5, pale blue.
Incubation: 11-14 days.
Fledging period: 14-16 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Forms a pair in summer.
Flocks in winter.
Diet: Mainly insects, earthworms,
small fruits, and berries.
Calls: A variety of sharp notes.
RELATED SPECIES
A member of the thrush family, the
American robin is the only species
in the genus Turdus that breeds in
North America.
Resident and breeding range.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeding areas of the American robin.
Breeds in North America from the northern tree line of Alaska,
the Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland south to Mexico.
Some winter as far south as Cuba and the Bahamas.
CONSERVATION
Because the American robin flourishes alongside human settle
ments, its numbers are greater than would be possible in a totally natural habitat.
FEATURES OF THE AMERICAN ROBIN
Eggs: 3-5, pale blue. They hatch in 11-14 days.
Male: Brownish gray upper parts with darker head. Orange-red breast (duller on the female) . White throat streaked with black, and pale rump flecked with brown .
Bill: Short and pointed fo, eating insects and picking berries from trees. J
Juvenile: Brown upper parts. Pale breast flecked with darker brown.
0160200491 PACKET 49
In Canada and the northern United States, the
arrival of the American robin signals the beginning
of spring. The robin population is flourishing, thanks
in large part to human activity. Farmland and gardens
provide it with an ideal habitat, where there is a
constant supply of food. Today, there are more robins
living near people than there are in the wild.
~ HABITAT The American robin inhabits
most of North America . It can
be found in sparse woodland,
open scrub, and at the edges
of forests . By clearing land for
farming and housing, people
provide an ideal environment
for the robin . It is now more
often found living near people
than in its original wild habitat.
In Canada and the northern
parts of the United States, rob
ins m igrate south for the win
ter. The distance they travel
depends on the severity of the
weather. Some robins go as far
Right: The robin disperses seeds by eating them and then depositing them elsewhere in its droppings.
south as Bermuda and the Ba
hamas. In warmer parts of the
United States the robin is resi- .
dent year-round .
~ FOOD &: FEEDING In winter the American robin
eats mostly fruit crops and wild
berries. Because it eats large
quantities of various berries,
it plays an important role in
spreading the seeds of several
species of trees and shrubs.
The robin also eats insects,
but they make up a smaller pro
portion of its diet than plant
matter. It prefers beetles and
caterpillars but also eats grass-
Left: The American robin collects mud in its bill to make a smooth lining for its nest.
DID YOU KNOW? • A robin may repair and add to the same nest year after year.
After six years, one nest had
grown to eight inches high.
• The robin may become
drunk after eat ing fru it that
is overripe.
• The robin may share a nest
with other species. In one case,
hoppers, flies, spiders, wood
lice, earthworms, wireworms,
millipedes, and snails.
The American robin suffered a
serious decline in the late 1950s
and early 1960s when DDT and
other powerful insecticides were
being sprayed on farmland and
gardens. Earthworms became
contaminated with the chemi
cals and caused the deaths of
the robins that ate them.
Right: The robin can be a problem for farmers when it feeds on crops of soft fruit.
four young robins were discov
ered in a nest with two young
finches and four finch eggs.
The parents of both species
fed each other's young.
• Winter roosts may have large flocks. A Florida bird-watcher
estimated one flock as having
50,000 birds.
The female robin is quite often
courted by three or four males.
They run around her chattering
loudly with their tails fanned and
wings shaking.
The robin usually builds its
nest in a forked branch of a tree
or shrub. In cities it often uses
building ledges, gateposts, roof
gutters, porches, or drainpipes.
The female builds the nest, and
her mate helps by bringing the
materials. The outer layer of the
nest is made from twigs, stalks,
grass, or even pieces of string or
cloth. The cup-shaped bowl is
Left: In California's warm climate, the robin may rear up to three broods a year.
Left: The robin feeds mainly on berries, but it also eats insects and invertebrates. Before pulling a worm from the ground, the robin pauses with its head cocked.
