Small ground-finch

Geospiza fuliginosa

Photo by Douglas Bolt (Mango Verde)

Common name:
small ground-finch (en); tentilhão-da-terra-pequeno (pt); géospize fuligineux (fr); pinzón terrestre pequeno (es); kleingrundfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family  Thraupidae

Range:
These birds are endemic to the Galapagos islands, being found in the islands of the archipelago except Genovesa, Wolf and Darwin.

Size:
Small ground-finches are 11 cm long and weigh 14 g.

Habitat:
They are mostly found in arid lowland zones, dominated by cacti, deciduous scrubs and dwarf trees, but also occur in forests at higher altitudes, up to an altitude of 1.700 m.

Diet:
These birds forage on the ground or in low vegetation, eating seeds, buds, flowers and leaves, and to a lesser extent also arthropods and the the fruits of Opuntia cacti. They are also known to glean parasites from the skin of iguanas and tortoises.

Breeding:
The small ground-finch breed opportunistically, with egg-laying being most profuse when rainfall is high and food abundant. They are typically monogamous and maintain small territories where they build a small dome-shaped nest on a scrub or cactus. There the female lays 3 eggs which are incubated for 12 days. The chicks are fed mostly insects and fledge 2 weeks after hatching.

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

Emperor goose

Chen canagica

Photo by Reginald David (Hawaii Biological Survey)

Common name:
emperor goose (en); ganso-imperador (pt); oie empereur (fr); ganso emperador (es); kaisergans (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae

Range:
This species is only found around the Bering Sea, breeding both along the western coast of Alaska and along the eastern coast of extreme north-eastern Russia. They migrate south to winter along the ice-free coasts of the Aleutian islands, the Alaska Peninsula and the northernmost Pacific coast of Canada.

Size:
These birds are 66-69 cm long and weigh up to 3 kg.

Habitat:
The emperor goose breeds in coastal saltmarshes and tundra grasslands near lakes and rivers. Outside the breeding season they move into ice-free coastal areas, including beaches, cliffs, dunes and reefs.

Diet:
They feed mainly on intertidal vegetation and invertebrates. The vegetation includes beach rye, crowberries, beach pea, sandwort, seaweeds, eelgrass and sea lettuce. Their animal prey are mostly blue mussels and Macoma clams, but also some crustaceans. They also eat sedges and bulbs.

Breeding:
Emperor geese breed in May-August. They are monogamous and mate for life. The female builds the nest, a scrape on the ground lined with dead vegetation. There she lays 3-8 eggs which are she incubates alone for 24-25 days. The chicks fledge 50-60 days after hatching, but remain with the parents for a long period, often returning to the breeding grounds with the parents the following spring. They start breeding at 3-4 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a relatively large breeding range. The population is Alaska was estimated at 84.500 individuals, while in Russia there are possibly 100-10.000 individuals. The population is suspected to have suffered a moderately rapid decline, mainly due to subsistence hunting and the effects of oil pollution. Climate change is expected to impact negatively on the tundra habitat on which they depend for breeding, with a modelled loss of 54% of their habitat expected until 2070.

beach rye, crowberries, beach pea, and sandwort. They are also known to eat seaweed, eelgrass, and sea lettuce. While emperor geese may eat crustaceans, they mainly consume bivalves. During the spring and autumn months their diet consists primarily of blue mussels and macoma clams.

Streaked scrub-warbler

Scotocerca inquieta

(Photo from Salidún)

Common name:
streaked scrub-warbler (en); fuinha-dos-espinheiros (pt); dromoïque vif-argent (fr); prinia desértica (es); wüstenprinie (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found from northern Mauritania and Morocco, through Algeria, Lybia and Egypt, and into the Arabian Peninsula and near Asia as far east as Pakistan and Afghanistan and as far north as southern Kazakhstan.

Size:
These birds are 10 cm long and weigh 6-10 g.

Habitat:
The streaked scrub-warbler is found in arid scrublands and grasslands, sandy deserts with scattered low scrubs, sandy woodlands, dry savannas and rocky slopes. They are commonly found in oasis and other freshwater springs within arid areas. This species is present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.500 m.

Diet:
They feed on insects and other arthropods, namely beetles, caterpillars and larvae.

Breeding:
Streaked scrub-warblers breed in January-June. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a domed structure made of twigs, grasses and other plant material, lined with feather, hair and wool. The nest is typically placed within dense thorny scrubs. The female lays 2-5 white or pinkish-white eggs with small reddish markings, which are incubated for 13-15 days. The chicks fledge about 14 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be scarce to locally common. The population is estimated to be in decline following a recorded decrease in Israel in the 1980s, probably owing to habitat loss.

Royal tern

Sterna maxima

Photo by Ianaré Sévi (Wikipedia)

Common name:
royal tern (en); garajau-real (pt); sterne royale (fr); charrán real (es); königsseeschwalbe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Charadriiformes
Family Sternidae

Range:
This species breeds along the coasts of West Africa, from Mauritania to Cameroon, along the Caribbean and the coasts of South America from Colombia no northern Brazil, and along the coasts of south-eastern Brazil, Uruguay and north-eastern Argentina. There is also a breeding population in the eastern United States along the coasts from North Carolina to Massachusetts Outside the breeding season they wander from Morocco to Angola, along Central America and the Gulf of Mexico, and also along the Pacific coast from Guatemala to northern Chile.

Size:
These birds are 42-50 cm long and have a wingspan of 125-135 cm. They weigh 350-450 g.

Habitat:
The royal tern is found in inshore waters, bays, lagoons, harbours, estuaries, saltmarshes, mudflats, sandflats and mangroves, preferring barren sandy beaches and coral islands to breed. They are only found in coastal areas, up to an altitude of 100 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt on salt water, feeding on small fish, squids, shrimps and crabs.

Breeding:
Royal terns can breed all years round, varying between different parts of their range. They nest in large, dense colonies of up to several thousands of pairs, often in association with other terns and small gulls. They are monogamous and both sexes help build the nest, a shallow scrape on bare ground placed near the high tide line. There the female lays 1-2 eggs which are incubated by both sexes for 25-31 days. The chick may remain in the nest for up to 1 week, but eventually leaves to join the other chicks of the colony in a large crèche. While in the crèche they continue to be fed by their parents. They remain in the crèche until fledging, 28-35 days after hatching, but continue to rely on their parents for food and protection for 5-8 months.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and the overall population trend is believed to be stable, although some population have an unknown trend and the population in North America have undergone a small increase over the last 4 decades.

Mottle-cheeked tyrannulet

Phylloscartes ventralis

Photo by Cláudio Timm (Flickr)

Common name:
mottle-cheeked tyrannulet (en); borboletinha-do-mato (pt); tyranneau ventru (fr); orejerito oliváceo (es); olivgelb-laubtyrann (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae

Range:
This South American species is found in two disjunct populations. One population occurs in south-eastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and marginally into north-eastern Argentina, the other in found along the eastern slopes of the Andes, from northern Argentina to northern Peru.

Size:
These birds are 12 cm long and weigh 8 g.

Habitat:
The mottle-cheeked tyrannulet is mostly found in moist, tropical mountain forests, but also in tropical moist forest at lower altitudes and temperate forests. They are present at altitudes of 1.000-2.300 m.

Diet:
They feed on various insects and possibly also other small invertebrates.

Breeding:
Mottle-cheeked tyrannulets nest in a closed pouch-like nest with a circular entrance. There the female lays 3 eggs which are incubated for 18 days. There is no information regarding the length of the fledgling period.

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

Rain quail

Coturnix coromandelica

Photo by Jugal Tiwari (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
rain quail (en); codurniz-da-chuva (pt); caille nattée (fr); codorniz coromandélica (es); regenwachtel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Galliformes
Family Phasianidae

Range:
This species is found throughout India and marginally into Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and also into Myanmar and southern Thailand.

Size:
These birds are 15-17 cm long and weigh 64-71 g.

Habitat:
The rain quail is mostly found in grasslands and scrublands, also using arable land. They are known to move between different parts of their range in response to monsoon rains, avoiding the areas with heavier rains and moving into other areas that become more attractive with the rains.

Diet:
They eat the seeds of various grasses and seeds, as well as small insects and insect larvae.

Breeding:
Rain quails breed in March-October, the exact period varying between different areas in accordance with monsoon patterns. They are monogamous with strong pair bonds. The nest is a small hollow on the ground, lined with grasses or sometimes without any lining, often hidden among low scrubs. The female lays 4-9 yellowish or rust coloured eggs with yellow streaks, which are incubated for 16-19 days. The chicks are precocial, leaving the nest soon after hatching, but remain with their parents for up to 8 months.

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

Black-breasted thrush

Turdus dissimilis

Photo by Brian Gratwicke (Wikipedia)

Common name:
black-breasted thrush (en); tordo-de-peito-preto (pt); merle à poitrine noire (fr); zorzal pechinegro (es); schwarzbrustdrossel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Turdidae

Range:
This species is found in northern Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, marginally into north-eastern India and Bangladesh, and in southern China in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan.

Size:
These birds are 18-23,5 cm long and weigh 75 g.

Habitat:
The black-breasted thrush is mostly found in moist tropical forests with dense understory, and also in mangroves, moist scrublands and dry tropical forests including mountain pine woodlands. They are found at altitudes of 1.200-2.500 m.

Diet:
They mainly forage on the ground, taking insects, snails, slugs and other invertebrates. They also consume berries and ripe figs.

Breeding:
Black-breasted thrushes breed in April-June. The nest is a sturdy cup made of green moss and plant fibres, placed on a fork in a small tree or scrub, or occasionally on the ground. It is usually placed 1-6 m above the ground. There the female lays 3-4 buff, pale green or greenish-blue eggs with dark markings, which are incubated for 12-14 days. The is no information regarding the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as common to rare. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and degradation, but it is not considered threatened at present.