#birdfactoftheday

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Snail Kite

^image credit: Andreas Trepte, Wikipedia

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)

The Snail Kite is named because its diet consists almost entirely of Apple Snails. They glide low and slow over marshes, and drop to pick up a snail with one foot from the surfaces of water or plants. They are believed to turn to alternative food sources only when Apple Snails become scarce, such as during drought.

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Gyrfalcon

^Image: Olafur Larsen

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)

The Gyrfalcon is the largest of all falcon species. Its plumage varies depending on location, from pure-white to dark brown - these variations in plumage are known as morphs. Its breeding distribution is remarkably similar to that of the Rock Ptarmigan, and Ptarmigan form a substantial part of its diet, but it preys on many other bird species as well as mammals.

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Snowy Sheathbill

^Image credit: Gordon Leggett

Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus)

The Snowy Sheathbill is the only land bird native to the continent of Antarctica. It does not have webbed feet, and finds its food on land - it is an omnivorous scavenger and kleptoparasite, eating nearly anything. They are one of two species of sheathbill.

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Adélie Penguin

^Image credit: Andrew Shiva

Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)

The Adélie Penguin is common along the entire coast of Antarctica, the only place they are found. Apsley Cherry-Garrard quotes in his book The Worst Journey In The World that they are "extraordinarily like children, these little people of the Antarctic world, either like children or like old men, full of their own importance". These penguins seem to have a strong curiosity that overrides their desire for self preservation.

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Crested Pigeon

^image credit: Lip Kee Yap, Wikipedia

Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)

The Crested Pigeon is found mainly throughout mainland Australia, except for the far northern areas. They breed all year round, however it is more common in the warmer months. Their nest consists of a relatively basic platform of twigs. Pictured in the image is a male doing his mating display.

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Maleo

^Image credit: Ariafrahman, Wikipedia

Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo)

The Maleo lays eggs, about five times the size of a domestic chicken, in a deep hole in sand on the island of Sulawesi. After hatching, the young birds dig their way up through the sand, and are immediately able to fly and feed themselves, being completely self-sufficient only hours after hatching. The hot sand acts as an incubator for the eggs.

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Flightless Cormorant

^image credit: putneymark, Wikipedia

Flightless Cormorant (nannopterum harrisi)

The Flightless Cormorant, as its name suggests, is the only species of cormorant which has lost the ability to fly. Also called the Galapagos Cormorant, it is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. While swimming, it does not use its wings to 'fly' through the water like penguins do, but rather tucking in their wings and kicking their powerful hind legs to hunt for their prey.

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Wandering Albatross

^Image: By JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18290990

Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans)

The Wandering Albatross has the largest wingspan of all living birds, averaging 3.1 meters and reaching up to 3.5 meters - larger wingspans have been reported but not verified. As they age, their plumage becomes whiter, with juveniles being a chocolatey-brown colour. Sometimes, they eat so much that they are unable to fly and have to rest on top of the water.