Inca tern

Larosterna inca

Common name:

Inca tern (en); andorinha-do-mar-Inca (pt); sterne Inca (fr); charrán Inca (es);

Inkaseeschwalbe (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Charadriiformes

Family Sternidae

Range:

Confined to the Pacific coast of South America, these birds breed in the coasts of Peru and Chile.

Size:

The Inca tern is a large tern, 40-42 cm long. Males and females are similar in size, with a wingspan of 60 cm and a weight of 220 g.

Habitat:

This species feeds in the cold waters of the Humboldt current. It breeds on inshore (and occasionally offshore) islands and rocky coastal cliffs.

Diet:

The Inca tern feeds by plunge diving for fish. Often in large flocks, they prey on schooling anchoveta Engraulis ringens, mote sculpins Normanychtic crokeri and silversides Odothestes regia. They also eat crustaceans and scavenge offal and scraps from sea-lions and fishing boats.

Breeding:

The Inca tern nests in a hollow or burrow, or sometimes the old nest of a Humboldt penguin Spheniscus humboldti, and lays one or two eggs. The two main peaks of egg-laying occur in April-May and October. The eggs are incubated for about 4 weeks, and the chicks leave the nest after 7 weeks.

Conservation:

IUCN status – NT (Near-threatened)

Although still common in many locations, the current population of 150.000 is much lower than in the past. Recent phenomena of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) have caused mass breeding failure. The guano industry and overfishing of their prey are the two main threats on this species.

Slender-billed prion

Pachyptila belcheri

Photo by Phil Woollen (Cape Town Pelagics)

Common name:
slender-billed prion (en); faigão-de-bico-fino (pt); prion de Belcher (fr); petrel-azul de pico delgado; dünnschnabel-sturmvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae

Range:
This species has a restricted breeding distribution in islands of the southern oceans. The main colonies are located in the Falkland Islands, in the Atlantic; in the islands of Crozet and Kerguelen, in the Indian Ocean; and in Isla Noir, in Chile. Non-breeding distribution in all southern seas, as far north as southern Australia and the coasts of Peru and southern Brazil.

Size:
This small-sized seabird is 26 cm long as has a wingspan of 56 cm. They may weigh up to 180 g.

Habitat:
This pelagic species of the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic seas may also feed inshore or in shallow offshore waters during the breeding season. They are mostly found between 30º and 65º South.

Diet:
Generally eats larger animals than filter-feeding prions. It feeds mostly on crustaceans, with a heavy dependence on amphipods (particularly Themisto gaudichaudii). It can also take small fish and squid. It mainly forages at night, grabbing prey from the surface or plunge-diving up to a depth of about 3-5 m.

Breeding:
The slender-billed prion nests in burrows under rocks or under low plants. Breeding starts in October. They lay a single egg in the first three weeks of November; this egg is incubated by both parents for 46-47 days. Hatching takes place in late December or early January. The chick is feed by both parents until fledging which takes place 43-54 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status – LC (Least Concern)
With a population of 7 million, this seabird has no significant threats at present.

Pink-necked green-pigeon

Treron vernans
 

Photo by David Behrens (PBase)

Common name:
pink-necked green-pigeon (en); pombo-verde-de-pescoço-rosa (pt); colombar giouanne (fr); vinago cuellirosa (es); frühlingstaube (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Columbiformes
Family Columbidae

Range:
A native of southeast Asia, this species can be found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Size:
This average sized pigeon is 22-24 cm long and has a wingspan of 30-32 cm. They weigh 138-142 g.

Habitat:
Occurs in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, in subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and in subtropical or tropical moist mountain forests.

Diet:
Largely frugivorous. They eat soft fruits, mostly figs and berries of all kinds. On wastelands, they regularly feed on the sticky fruit of the straits rhododendron Melastoma malabathricum, and the Singapore cherry Muntingia calabura. They have also been seen eating flower petals and seeds.

Breeding:
Breeds from late March to late July. The nest is built by both male and female using twigs. The female lays 1-2 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 17 days. The chicks are raised by both parents who may continue to feed the young even after fledging.

Conservation:
IUCN status – LC (Least Concern)
It is a common and widespread species within its range. Deforestation and hunting may have a negative effect on this species, but these threats don't seem significant at present.

Red-crested cardinal

Paroaria coronata

(Photo from Natura-Aves Silvestres)

Common name:
Red-crested cardinal (en); cardeal-de-topete-vermelho (pt); paroare huppé (fr); cardenal de cresta roja (es); graukardinal (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
Native to South America, the red-crested cardinal can be found in northern Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The species as also been introduced to Hawaii and Puerto Rico and may be found in other areas of Brazil outside its original range.

Size:
They measure 18-20 cm in length and have a wingspan of 20-22 cm. The weight is similar in both sexes, rounding 30-35 g.

Habitat:
This species occurs in tropical and sub-tropical dry shrubland and can also be found in heavily degraded secondary forests.

Diet:
The red-crested cardinal feeds on the ground for seeds, plant matter, insects, and fruit.

Breeding:
The males use plant material to wove an open, cup-shaped nest into twigs of trees and bushes. Each clutch has 2-4 white eggs, mottled and streaked with greyish or brownish-olive. The eggs are incubated for 10-12 days and both parents feed the chicks until fledging, which takes place 2 to 3 weeks later. A pair may fledge up to 3 clutches per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status – LC (Least Concern)

Although the species is not threatened at present it does suffer from loss of habitat and illegal hunting for commercial purposes. Many birds are captured every year to be sold as cage birds.

Magpie goose

Anseranas semipalmata

Photo by Andy Burton (Flickr)

Common name:
magpie goose (en); ganso-preto-e-branco (pt); canaroie semipalmée (fr); ganso urraca (es); spaltfußgans (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Anseriformes
Family Anseranatidae

Range:
The magpie goose is a resident breeder in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. After a successful reintroduction project this species is now also present in Tasmania, where it had existed in the past.

Size:
This large waterbird is 70-90 cm long and has a wingspan of 150 cm. They can weigh up to 2 kg.

Habitat:
The magpie goose is found on a variety of tropical open wetlands such as floodplains, swamps and lagoons.

Diet:
Their diet includes seeds of wetland sedges, rushes, grasses and other aquatic plants. Some small invertebrates may also be taken. In some areas they also eat rice, becoming some what of an agricultural pest.

Breeding:
They nest on the ground or over floating vegetation. The breeding season is usually from March to April, but may vary according to rainfall. Females lays 5-14 yellowish white eggs which are incubated for a period of 24-25 days. Some males mate with two females, all of which raise the young until fledging.

Conservation:
IUCN status – LC (Least Concern)
With an estimated population of 1.000.000, the species is not threatened at present and has a controlled hunting season when numbers are large. Still, the magpie goose is affected by habitat loss due to the drainage of wetlands for agricultural and other human purposes. Degradation of habitat through water pollution and nest loss from trampling and overgrazing are other potential conservation issues.

Resplendent quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Photo by Matteo Piccinini (Flickr)

Common name:
resplendent quetzal (en); quetzal-resplandecente (pt); quetzal resplendissant (fr); quetzal mesoamericano (es); quetzal (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Trogoniformes
Family Trogonidae

Range:
Unlike the other quetzal species, which are only found in South America, the resplendent quetzal is an inhabitant of Central America, occuring from southern Mexico to western Panama.

Size:
The largest species in the trogon family, the resplendent quetzal measures 36 cm in lenght. The males have an impressive tail that can grow up to 64 cm. These birds have a wingspan of 40 cm and can weight up to 210 g.

Habitat:
The typical habitat are the cloudy mountains of Central America, where they can be found in the canopy and sub-canopy, in undisturbed, humid and epiphyte-laden forests. They require the presence of rotting trees, where they carve holes to nest. This species can also be found in vegetated ravines and cliffs, and in open areas with scattered trees adjacent to forests. They are present at altitudes of 900-3200 m.

Diet:
A specialized fruit eater, the resplendent quetzal may also include insects, small amphibians, lizards and snails in its diet. They mostly eat wild avocados and other fruits of the laurel family. They swallow the fruits whole, after which they regurgitate the pits, thus helping to disperse the trees.

Breeding:
The nests is built on a hole carved in a tree. The female lays 2 pale blue eggs which are incubated by both parents for 18 days. The male mostly incubates during the day, while the female incubates during the night. After hatching, the parents both take care of the young, feeding them pieces of fruits and small animals. It is not uncommon for the female to abandon the young near the end of the rearing period, leaving it up to the male to continue caring for their offspring until fledging.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
With a total population estimated at 20.000-50.000, the resplendent quetzal is threatened by widespread deforestation in most of its range. This causes habitat fragmentation and destruction, especially at lower altitudes, where the species lives outside the breeding period. Direct persecution may still occur in some areas, particularly southern Mexico, but appears to have reduced.

Black-headed batis

Batis minor

(Photo from Adventure Camps of Tanzania)

Common name:
black-headed batis (en); papa-moscas-de-cabeça-preta (pt); pririt à joues noires (fr); batis carinegro (es); keniaschnäpper (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Platysteiridae

Range:
An African species, the black-headed batis is present in sub-saharan Africa from Chad, the Central African Republic and Ethiopia in the north, down to Angola and Tanzania.

Size:
A small and stout passerine, the black-headed batis has a wingspan of 13-14 cm.

Habitat:
Typically found in sub-tropical or tropical dry forests. Also common in moist savanna and schrubland near lakes and rivers.

Diet:
The most important component of their diet are insect, although spiders, milipedes and scorpions may also be taken. Amongst the insect prey a number of different types are eaten, including beetles, grasshoppers and other Orthoptera, flies, mosquitoes, wasps, termites and mantises.

Breeding:
This species can be found nesting from May to August. They build a nest on the branches of a thorny bush or tree, often Acacia or Euphorbia. The clutch size if often 2 and both parents feed the chicks until fledging.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
The wide breeding range and their widespread abundance suggests no serious threats to this species at present.