Spotted catbird

Ailuroedus melanotis

Photo by Larry Dunis (Bushpea)

Common name:
spotted catbird (en); jardineiro-malhado (pt); jardinier oreillard (fr); maullador orejudo (es); schwarzohr-laubenvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Ptilonorhynchidae


Range:
This species is found in northern Queensland, Australia and in New Guinea and nearby islands.


Size:
These birds are 26-30 cm long and weigh 150-200 g.


Habitat:
Spotted catbirds are found in tropical and sub-tropical rainforests and in moist scrublands. They are found from sea level up to an altitude of 2.250 m.


Diet:
They mostly eat fruits, but also seeds, flowers, sap, insects and during the breeding season even lizards, frogs and the eggs of other birds.


Breeding:
Spotted catbirds are monogamous and breed in September-December. The female builds the nest and lays 1-3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 19-25 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 19-20 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and it is described as widespread and common within this range. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Green-throated carib

Eulampis holosericeus

Photo by Donald Gudehus (Parfait Image)

Common name:
green-throated carib (en); beija-flor-das-Caraíbas-de-garganta-verde (pt); colibri falle-vert (fr); colibrí caribeño gorgiverde (es); blaustern-Antillenkolibri (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae


Range:
This species is only found in the Caribbean, in the islands from eastern Puerto Rico and Grenada.


Size:
They are 10,5-12,5 cm long and weigh 5,5-8 g.


Habitat:
The green-throated carib is found in open secondary vegetation, semi-deciduous woodlands, rainforests, moist scrublands, agricultural areas and parks. It is present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.


Diet:
These birds mainly feed on the nectar of flowering scrubs and trees, including Heliconia, Lantana, Cordia, and Bryophyllum, as well as other flowering plants with long nectar repositories. They also eat flies, wasps, ants, small beetles and spiders.


Breeding:
Green-throated caribs breed in February-May. The female builds the nest alone, a compact cup made of bark and lichens, and lined with soft fibres of cacti, seeds, and tree ferns. The nest is usually placed in the fork of a twig, up to 9 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 17-19 days. The chicks are fed by the female and fledge 20-22 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 3-4 weeks later. Each pair raises 1, or rarely 2 broods per years.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species as a small breeding range, but it is described as common. Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to be declining and it is known to adapt well to human-affected habitats.

Greater thornbird

Phacellodomus ruber

Photo by Markus Lagerqvist (Pbase)

Common name:
greater thronbird (en); graveteiro (pt); synallaxe rouge (fr); espinero grande (es); rotbrauner bündelnister (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae


Range:
This South American species is found in central and southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina and northern Uruguay.


Size:
These birds are 19-21 cm long and weigh 35-50 g.


Habitat:
Greater thornbirds are found in the undergrowth of tropical moist forests, in moist scrublands, riverine thickets, marshes and degraded former forests. They are present at altitudes of 300-1.400 m.


Diet:
They forage on the ground, among dense vegetation or near the edges of water bodies, taking insects, such as ants and beetles, and other small invertebrates.


Breeding:
The greater thornbird breeds in October-January. The nest is a bulky, cone-shaped structure, made of sticks, twigs, and branches and lined with fine grasses and feathers. It is placed in low vegetation, 1-3 m above the ground, and often over water. The female lays 3-4 white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 20-22 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and possible fledge 25-29 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Adelie penguin

Pygoscelis adeliae

Photo by Sten Shebs (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Adelie penguin (en); pinguim-de-Adélia (pt); manchot Adélie (fr); pingüino de Adelia (es); Adeliepinguin (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Sphenisciformes
Family Spheniscidae


Range:
This species is found on the coasts of Antarctica and in nearby islands such as the South Shetlands, the South Orkneys, Bouvet, Balleny and Peter Island.


Size:
These birds are 60-75 cm long and weigh 3,6-6 kg.


Habitat:
The Adelie penguin spends the winter in large coastal ice platforms, from which he dives in the sea in search of food. During the season they are found in beaches, rocky islands and other other areas free of ice.


Diet:
They catch their prey by pursuit diving, usually less than 20 m down. They mainly eat krill, but also fishes such as Myctophidae and the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum, squids and amphipods.


Breeding:
Adelie penguins breed in October-February. They are monogamous and mate for life. The nest is a pile of stones on the ground, where the female lays 1-2 eggs. The eggs are incubated by both parents for 24-43 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and remain in the nest for 4 weeks, after which they join a creche of other juvenile while still receiving food from the parents. The chicks become independent about 2 months after joining the creche. Each pair raises a single clutch per season.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 4-5,2 million individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Coppery-chested jacamar

Galbula pastazae

Photo by Nick Athanas (Antpitta)

Common name:
coppery-chested jacamar (en); ariramba-acobreada (pt); jacamar des Andes (fr); jacamará cobrizo (es); kupferglanzvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Galbuliformes
Family Galbulidae


Range:
This species is found along the eastern slopes of the Andes, in southern Colombia, Ecuador and across the border into northern Peru.


Size:
These birds are 23-24 cm long and weigh 30-35 g.


Habitat:
The coppery-chested jacamar is found in mountain rainforests, especially along forest edges and in nearby second growths, at altitudes of 600-1.700 m.


Diet:
They eat a wide variety of flying insects, including beetles, wasps and butterflies, which they catch by sallying out from a perch and catching them in the air.


Breeding:
Coppery-chested jacamars nest in holes well-hidden in the ground. The female lays 1-4 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 20-23 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 21-26 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a small and fragmented breeding range, and the global population is estimated at 2.500-10.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be declining slowly as a result of habitat destruction and fragmentation. The lower slopes of the eastern Andes in Ecuador are seriously affected by clearance for small-scale agriculture, and for tea and coffee plantations, with forest disappearing at an alarming rate. In Colombia, the forest remains as the climate and terrain are unsuited to coffee or tea growing. Proposals to build a new road in the area may represent a further threat.

Canyon towhee

Melozone fuscus

Photo by Joe Schelling (Natural Moments)

Common name:
canyon towhee (en); tico-tico-pardo (pt); tohi des canyons (fr); rascador pardo (es); braunrücken-grundammer (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae


Range:
This species is found in the south-western United States, in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and in Mexico, down to Oaxaca.


Size:
These birds are 19-22 cm long and have a wingspan of 28-30 cm. They weigh 40-45 g.


Habitat:
These birds are found in arid scrublands, chaparral and pinyon-juniper woods, on desert foothills and canyons. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 3.100 m.


Diet:
During winter they mainly feed on insects, while during spring and summer insects become an important part of their diet. They also eat fruits and berries when available.


Breeding:
Canyon towhees are monogamous and may mate for life. The nest is a bulky open cup, made of twigs, weeds and grasses, and lined with leaves, fine grass, strips of bark, and animal hair. It is usually placed in a small tree, dense scrub, or cactus, 1-4 m above the ground. The female lays 2-6 whitish eggs with reddish-brown spots, which she incubates alone for 11-12 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 9-10 days after hatching. Each pair may raise 2-3 broods per year.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and a global population of 7 million individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Spotted dove

Streptopelia chinensis

Photo by J.M. Garg (Wikipedia)

Common name:
spotted dove (en); rola-malhada (pt); tourterelle tigrine (fr); tórtola moteada (es); perlhalstaube (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Columbiformes
Family Columbidae


Range:
This species is found throughout southern Asia, from India and northern Pakistan to north-eastern China and south to Indonesia and the Philippines. It has also been introduced in eastern and southern Australia, New Zealand and several other Pacific islands and to southern California.


Size:
These birds are 28-33 cm long and have a wingspan of 43-47 cm. They weigh around 150 g.


Habitat:
These birds are found in parks and gardens, riverine woodlands and other forests, from sea level up to an altitude of 2.400 m.


Diet:
They feed on a wide variety of seeds, which they collect from the ground.


Breeding:
Spotted doves can breed all year round. they nest on a loose platform of twigs, usually placed on a large scrub or tree, on an horizontal branch or fork of branch. The female lays 2 glossy white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for around 2 weeks. The chicks are fed crop milk and seeds by both parents and fledge 14-16 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as very common throughout almost all of its range. The population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat.