Life On Earth. An Encyclopedia Of Life On Earth

Recent Articles

4 weeks ago
5

a Meaningful Bond Between Dogs and Horses

The relationship between dogs and horses is a fascinating example of interspecies…
January 18, 2026
42

Learning Languages Through Birds in a Connected Planet

Nature speaks in many forms. Wind moves through trees, oceans follow steady…
December 29, 2025
83

Rufous-bellied Eagles

Rufous-bellied Eagle is an impressive bird of prey that belongs to the…
December 29, 2025
173

Lappet-faced Vultures

The Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus), also known as the Nubian Vulture, is one of Africa’s…
December 29, 2025
49

White-fronted Plovers

The White Fronted Plover is also known as the White Fronted Sandplover. It can be…
December 29, 2025
116

Hartlaub’s Touracos

Test excerpt update - please ignore
December 29, 2025
128

Grey Partridges

Grey Partridges ( perdix perdix), commonly known as Hungarian Partridges, English Partridges, or…
December 28, 2025
137

Common Fiscal Shrike

The Common Fiscal, also called the Fiscal Shrike (Lanius collis), is one…

birds

Gila Woodpeckers

Table of Contents Toggle Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) Distribution / Range Subspecies and Ranges Description Similar species: Breeding / Nesting Diet / Feeding Calls / Vocalisations Alternate (Global) Names Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) Member of the Picidae Family: Woodpeckers…
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The 8 Best Quality Chicken Brooders
The 5 Best Cheap Chicken Brooders
Breeding Pheasants
Housing Pheasants
Feeding Muscovy & Wild Ducks
Wild Bird Houses
Coronation Sussex Chicken
Muscovy vs Pekin Duck (& Other Ducks)

Bird Anatomy

Bird Frontal Shield

A bird’s forehead, also known as the frontal region, contains a fascinating array of specialized adaptations suited to their way of life. This integral anatomical region between the eyes and upper mandible performs a variety of essential functions for vision,…
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Bird Forehead Or Frontal Shield
Australian Waterbirds

Eagles

Rufous-bellied Eagles

Rufous-bellied Eagle is an impressive bird of prey that belongs to the family Accipitridae. This diverse group includes hawks and buzzards as well as kites and Old World Vultures. The elegant eagle has chestnut-colored underparts and a powerful hunting ability. The Rufous-bellied…
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White-fronted Plovers
Tufted Flycatchers
White-shouldered Fire-eyes
Yellow-bellied Flycatchers
Crested GosHawks
Forest Kingfishers
Red-Tailed Hawks
Fiji White-eyes

Backyard Birds

The 8 Best Quality Chicken Brooders

The 8 Best Quality Chicken Brooders: The Complete Guide There are some essential pieces of equipment you will need to raise chicks. A chicken brooder is one of these items. A chicken brooder can be described as a Mummy for…
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The 5 Best Cheap Chicken Brooders
The Moustached Parakeet
What Birds Can Be Kept With Budgies
Domesticated Ducks
Plegadis
Darwin’s Rheas
Andean Teals
Long-billed Curlew

Waterfowl

American Wigeon

The American Wigeon, also known as the Baldpate and commonly called American Widgeon (Anas Americana), is one of North America’s most widely recognised and common dabbling ducks. The males of this species are best known for their distinctive cream-colored heads and…
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African Rails
Common Teals
Upland Geese
Toulouse Geese
Orinoco Geese
Thick-billed Murres
Glossy Ibises
Yellow-billed Teals

Wild Birds

Lappet-faced Vultures

The Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus), also known as the Nubian Vulture, is one of Africa’s most impressive and formidable birds of prey. As an Old World vulture belonging to the order Accipitriformes, it shares its lineage with eagles, hawks, buzzards, and kites. This species stands apart not only…
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White-fronted Plovers
Hartlaub’s Touracos
Grey Partridges
Common Fiscal Shrike
Red-Tailed Hawks Subspecies
Whooping Cranes
White-cheeked Barbets
Bush Stone-curlews

Muscovy Ducks

Feeding Muscovy & Wild Ducks

Muscovy ducks are omnivorous, feeding on worms, insects, fish, and reptiles. They also forage for larvae and pupae usually found under rocks, aquatic animals, snails and crabs. They also eat a variety of plant material, including weeds, leaves, stems, seeds,…
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Domesticated Muscovy Ducks
How to Care for Baby Muscovy Ducks?
Muscovy vs Pekin Duck (& Other Ducks)
Muscovy Duck Behavior
Muscovy Duck Facts
Keeping Muscovy Ducks With Chickens: What You Should Know
Are Muscovy Ducks Invasive Species?
Muscovy Duck Caruncles: Why Do Muscovy Ducks Have Bumps on Their Faces

Breeding

What Is Asexual Reproduction?

Asexual reproduction is a process in biology that is quite interesting because it permits living beings to give birth without having sex partners. It is common among many unicellular organisms, plants and even some animals. Unlike sexual reproduction where two…
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The Best Egg Incubators
The 8 Best Quality Chicken Brooders
The 5 Best Cheap Chicken Brooders
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers Nest Box
Common Goldeneye Nest Box
Elaborate & Complex Bird Nests
Bird Nest Identification

Reptiles

Alligators
Crocodiles
Lizards
Snakes
Turtles
Tortoises

Reptiles

Gordon RamelSeptember 16, 2021
245

Alligators

The Alligators (Crocodilia Order) Having spent the past year in Florida, I have seen alligators of all sizes with a mixture of fascination and respect. I am amazed at their size and, of course, the fearsome looking teeth. I have seen the crocodilians (as the…
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April 7, 2010

What Eats An Alligator Or Crocodile?

Alligators

Gordon RamelApril 7, 2010
7,000

What Eats An Alligator Or Crocodile?

10 Alligator Predators: What Eats An Alligator Or Crocodile? The complete guide to all predators that eat an alligator or crocodile Along with cockroaches, alligators and crocodiles are one of the few animals to have not changed much over the years. Scientists believe that their…
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Lizards

Gordon RamelApril 6, 2010
809

What Eats Lizards?

What Eats Lizards? What do Lizard Eat? There are many kinds, or species, of lizard, and most of them have a lot of predators or natural enemies. Many kinds of birds eat small lizards. Larger birds of prey such as hawks, owls, and eagles hunt,…
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birds

Gordon RamelJuly 11, 2023
0 9,424

Do Peacocks Eat Snakes and How Do They Kill Them?

Yes, peacocks eat snakes when the opportunity presents itself. In fact, in India the word used to call a peacock is ‘mayura,’ which translates as “the killer of snakes.” Many wealthy people and farmers alike keep peacocks on their property to specifically keep cobras away,…
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April 25, 2022

Most Dangerous Snakes in the World
April 6, 2010

What Eats Snakes?

Reptiles

Gordon RamelApril 6, 2010
146

What Eats Turtles?

What Eats Turtles? What Do Turtles Eat? Freshwater turtles have lots of natural enemies, or predators. In the tropics they are eaten by crocodiles, alligators and caimans, which crunch through their shells and gulp them down. Some big cats such as jaguars will also bite…
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Spiders

Spiders

DukeOctober 23, 2023
0 239

Jumping Spiders

Jumping spiders of the genus Portia are a fascinating group of spiders found throughout many tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. There are over 20 described species in this genus, all displaying incredible hunting behaviours and strategies. Portia spiders…
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Insects

Gordon RamelDecember 4, 2022
948

Do Crickets Eat Spiders?

Do Crickets Eat Spiders Or Do Spiders Eat Them? Yes, crickets do eat spiders; of course, that would depend on the species and the size of the spider. In general, spiders are a delicacy for most insects, so crickets are…
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chelicerata

Gordon RamelJuly 13, 2022
0 432

History of Arachnology

History of Arachnology: How Spiders Became More Than Just Insects The history of arachnology and how it evolved over the centuries is a fascinating read in itself. Learn the path that spiders took from being just another insect to a…
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chelicerata

Gordon RamelMay 31, 2020
0 133

12 Common House Spiders: Just Who’s Hanging Out In Your Bath?

The Great House Spider Safari There are just over six hundred different sorts of spider in the British Isles. But of these, only a handful are commonly found in houses. But before we take a deeper look at the most…
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chelicerata

Gordon RamelMay 31, 2020
0 161

Spider Poems, Stories & Etymology – A Look Through History

Any look at spider poems and stories wouldn’t be complete without first understanding the word ‘spider’ itself, where it comes from and what it means. So with that said, let’s do just that. However, you can also skip ahead using…
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chelicerata

Gordon RamelMay 31, 2020
1 365

Spider Ecology: Taking A Look At Molting, Mimicry & More

Spider Ecology Spider ecology is a very diverse topic, which includes Spider Reproduction and Spider Diet – both of which have their own pages. Other aspects of spider ecology include growth, dispersal, survival and their effects on the environment they live in. I…
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Insects

October 31, 2022
46,281

The 20 Weird Insects

It’s no secret that weird insects give us the creeps. Of course, who wouldn’t be afraid of the giant, flying beetles or venomous spiders? While these insects may be intimidating, there is another side to the insect world. It is…
April 17, 2020
27,433

Embioptera: The Silk Spinning World Of The Webspinners

The Embioptera (Webspinners) are a small group of soft bodied, relatively small, gregarious insects. They can be found in most tropical and warm temperate climates. There are about 300 species world wide. They are hemimetabolous (having a simple or very…
November 24, 2022
27,003

The 12 Ugliest And Creepiest Bugs In The World

The 12 Ugliest And Creepiest Bugs In The World With Pictures Insects can be found on every continent on Earth, even Antarctica. They can be found lurking under leaf litter or within cave systems, at the bottom of lakes, or…
April 12, 2020
11,606

The Insect Orders: Including true insects and other Hexopoda

Introduction to the Insect Orders The insect orders currently stand at 27. Three other orders that were once considered insects, the entognatha, are part of the Hexapoda, but not recognised as true insects. They are included here for convenience. The…
September 9, 2025
8,398

Net-winged Beetles

Net-winged Beetles are a fascinating group of insects that inhabit the beetle Family Lycidae. They are a diverse group with over 4,00 species. The greatest diversity is found in the tropical regions, where niche ecosystems are diverse. The environments vary from dense undergrowth jungles to…
October 8, 2020
6,968

10 Of The Best Entomology Books

10 Of The Best Entomology Books (That I’ve Actually Read) Whether you’re looking for the densest of entomology text books or simply a basic entomology book to get started, rest assured you’re in the right place. On this page you’ll…

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