Azores bullfinch

Pyrrhula murina

Photo by Carlos Ribeiro (Flickr)

Common name:

Azores bullfinch (en); priolo (pt); bouvreuil des Açores (fr); camachuelo de Azores (es); Azorengimpel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Fringillidae

Range:

The Azores bullfinch is endemic to the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. They are only found in the mountainous areas of the eastern part of the island, in Serra da Tronqueira and Pico da Vara.

Size:

These birds are 15-17 cm long and have a wingspan of 25 cm. They weigh up to 30 g.

Habitat:

The species appears entirely dependent on the trees of the native laurissilva forests, at altitudes of 300-700 m. In the Summer they prefer more open areas, while in the Winter they go deeper into the forest.

Diet:

This species is mostly herbivorous, consuming a range of seeds, fruits and flower buds from native plants. They are also know to eat fern sporangia and fronds, and moss tips. They may occasionally hunt small invertebrates, namely Hemiptera.

Breeding:

The Azores bullfinch breeds in May-August. The nest, placed in a low tree, consists of an outer layer of twigs and an inner layer of rootlets, grass and moss. The female lays 3-5 eggs which she incubates alone for 12-14 days. The young typically fledge from mid-July onwards.

Conservation:

IUCN status - EN (Endangered)

Although the population is not currently declining, there are just 1300 individuals spread over an extremely small breeding range. The species was abundant until the early 1900s, when it was considered a pest of fruit orchards. It became rare in the 1920s due to hunting and deforestation. Presently, the main threat is the spread of alien invasive plant species that limit their food supply. Predation by introduced rats and mustelids may also be affecting nesting success.

Northern saw-whet owl

Aegolius acadius

Photo by Ian Maton (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:

northern saw-whet owl (en); mocho-amolador (pt); petite nyctale (fr); lechuza norteña (es); sägekauz (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Strigiformes

Family Strigidae

Range:

This North American species breeds from southern Alaska in the north, down along the Pacific coast, throughout southern Canada and the northern states of the United States and in the western half of the United States down to northern Mexico. The northern populations winter in the eastern half of the United States down to Florida, and in Mexico.

Size:

This small owl is 18-21 cm long and has a wingspan of 42-48 cm. They weigh 75-110 g.

Habitat:

They inhabit both coniferous and deciduous forests, with thickets of second-growth or scrubs. They mostly breed in forests where woodpeckers create cavities for nest sites. The nesting sites are usually in swampy or wet, rather than dry areas, and riparian habitats are also used.

Diet:

These nocturnal predators mostly hunt small mammals, including mice, shrews, voles, squirrels, moles, bats and flying squirrels. Small birds are sometimes taken, including swallows, sparrows, chickadees and kinglets. Frogs, insects and crustaceans may also be taken in some parts of their range.

Breeding:

The northern saw-whet owl breeds in March-July. They usually nest in natural tree cavities or woodpecker holes, but can also use nest boxes. Nests are often in dead trees at heights of 4-6 m. The female lays 3-7 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 21-28 days, while being fed by the male. The chicks fledge 4-5 weeks after hatching and may continue to be fed by the parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

With a population of 2 million and a very large breeding range, this species is not threatened at present.

Blue-breasted cordonbleu

Uraeginthus angolensis

Photo by Ian White (Flickr)

Common name:

blue-breasted cordonbleu (en); peito-celeste (pt); cordonbleu d'Angola (fr); cordón azul común (es); Angola-schmetterlingsfink (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Estrildidae

Range:

This species is mostly found in Africa south of the Equator. They range from the north of South Africa up to Angola, Congo, D.R. Congo, Tanzania and Kenya. They are also found in the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago.

Size:

The blue-breasted cordonbleu is 12-13 cm long. They weigh around 10 g.

Habitat:

They are found in Acacia thorn bush savannah and in sparse woodland near water. They are often seen around the edge of water holes and river banks. In some parts of their range they are common in human settlements.

Diet:

The blue-breasted cordonbleu mostly eats seeds taken directly from grass inflorescences. These may be supplemented with termites and caterpillars.

Breeding:

They may breed year-round, but mostly in December-May. The nest is a small round ball with a short spout like entrance, built from green, flowering grass stems and feathers, and typically placed in the foliage of a bush or tree. The female builds the nest alone but the male helps to collect nest materials. Each clutch consists of 2-7 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 11-12 days. The chicks are fed green grass seeds and termites by both parents and fledge after 17-21 days. They may continue to be fed by the parents for another 2 weeks.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

The species has a very large breeding range and although there is no reliable population estimate, they are described as common or locally abundant. They are not considered threatened at present.

Kakapo

Strigops habroptilus

(Photo from Topbiologia)

Common name:

kakapo (en); kakapo (pt); kakapo (fr); kákapu (es); kakapo (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Psittaciformes

Family Strigopidae

Range:

The kakapo is endemic to New Zealand. They are now extinct on their original range and occur

only in a few small islands off the coast of new Zealand, namely Codfish, Chalky, Anchor and Maud.

Size:

This large parrot is 58-64 cm long and weighs up to 4 kg. These birds are flightless so the wings are small and not functional.

Habitat:

The species can use a variety of habitats, including tussocklands, scrublands and coastal areas. They also use forests and areas of avalanche and slip debris with regenerating and heavily fruiting vegetation.

Diet:

This nocturnal bird is herbivorous, mostly eating native plants, seeds, fruits, pollen and even the sapwood of trees.

Breeding:

The kakapo has a lek breeding system. The males loosely gather in an arena where they dig one or more saucer-shaped bowls where they display, using sound to attract the females. The males and females meet only to mate, no pair bonds are formed. After mating the female returns to her territory and lays 1-3 eggs on the ground, under the cover of plants or in cavities such as hollow tree trunks. The female incubates the eggs for 30 days and feeds the young for 3 months until fledging. The young may remain with the mother or several months after fledging and may be fed sporadically for up to 6 months.

Conservation:

IUCN status - CR (Critically Endangered)

The species almost went extinct, mostly due to predation by exotic species, like cats, rats and mustelids. Now extinct in most of New Zealand, the last 124 individuals are confined to 4 small islands and the focus of strong conservation measures that allowed the species to survive. Although the population is now stable or even increasing slightly, the very low population size, the very restricted breeding range and the potential threat of new introductions of predator justifies the critically endangered status.

Przevalski's rosefinch

Urocynchramus pylzowi

Photo by Martin Hale (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:

Przhevalski's rosefinch (en); pintarroxo-de-cauda-rosa (pt); bruselin de Przhewalski (fr); pinzón de Przhewalski (es); rosenschwanzgimpel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Emberizidae

Range:

The species is endemic to the mountains of western China

Size:

This small finch is 13 cm long and has a wingspan of 17,5-20 cm.

Habitat:

The Przhevalski rosefinch is a resident of high altitude alpine scrubs, between 3000-5000 m above sea level.

Diet:

Their diet mostly consists of small seeds from a variety of plants.

Breeding:

The female builds the nest in a bush, using dry grasses, leaves, hair and feathers. The clutch of 3-6 eggs is incubated mostly by the female for 13-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents until fledging, 13-14 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

Although the population size has not been quantified, it is believed to be stable as there are no evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Three-toed jacamar

Jacamaralcyon tridactyla

Photo by João Quental (Tree of Life)

Common name:

three-toed jacamar (en); cuitelão (pt); jacamar tridactyle (fr); jacamará tridáctilo (es); dreizehen-glanzvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Galbuliformes

Family Galbulidae

Range:

The three-toed jacamar is endemic to south-east Brazil, from northern Minas Gerais south to north-west Paraná.

Size:

These birds are 17-20 cm long and weigh 17,5-19 g.

Habitat:

They are found in subtropical or tropical dry forests, and in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, mostly near river banks. They can also be found in degraded areas where the native vegetations has been replaced by plantations, namely Eucaplytus.

Diet:

They forage on small insects in flight, showing a preference for small cryptic Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Birds also take Diptera, Odonata, Homoptera, Hemiptera and Isoptera.

Breeding:

Three-toed jacamars breed in September-February. They nest in cavities excavated in earth banks and there is evidence that females are responsible for most of the excavating. They are possibly colonial, as up to 20 holes have been recorded in same bank. Each clutch consists of 2-4 eggs which are incubated by both parents.

Conservation:

IUCN status - Vu (Vulnerable)

With a restricted breeding range and a declining population estimated at as little as 1000 individuals, the species is threatened by habitat destruction and fragmentation and is currently considered vulnerable.

Alpine swift

Tachymarptis melba

Photo by Daniele Occhiato (PBase)

Common name:

alpine swift (en); andorinhão-real (pt); martinet à ventre blanc (fr); vencejo real (es); alpensegler (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae

Range:

The alpine swift breeds in the Iberian Peninsula, in southern and Alpine Europe through France, Italy, Switzerland, the Balkans and Greece. Also in Mediterranean Africa and through the Middle East into Asia Minor, India and the Himalayas. They winter further south, both in sub-Saharan Africa and in the Indian sub-continent.

Size:

These large swifts are 21 cm long and have a wingspan of 55 cm. They weigh 100 g.

Habitat:

They are mostly found breeding in cliffs in mountainous areas, in rocky habitats in deep ravines, but also in the centre of large cities like Istanbul. They often hunt over wetland habitats such as rivers, swamps and seasonally flooded grasslands.

Diet:

They eat flying insects and spiders caught in flight. The honey bee Apis mellifera is one of their major preys.

Breeding:

Alpine swifts build their nest in colonies, in a suitable cliff hole or cave. Both the male and the female make a shallow cup of stems and grass, fixed with saliva. The breeding season is in April-June, during which one clutch of 1-4 eggs is laid. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs for 20 days, and both parents rear the chicks until they are ready to fledge when they are 50 to 70 days old. They are old enough to breed at the age of 2-3 years

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and a total population estimated at 1-4 million.The population is suspected to be stable and there is no evidence for any declines or substantial threats.