Bird Species R to S
See our huge list of all bird species from R to S. We cover birds from the racket tail parrots to the fun and playful swifts. Click each main heading to read and learn more about these amazing birds.
Racket Tail Parrots
Rackettail parrots can be distinguished from other parrots due to their long central tail feathers, with the spatula and bare shaft at the end. (Please refer to the drawing on the right).
The overall plumage color is green, with some blue or red highlights.
The average adult parrot is 30 cm long.
Rails
Rails, crakes and coots are all members of the family Rallidae. In Europe, Africa and Asia (the Old World), the long-billed species is often called “rails”, while the short-billed are “crakes”. In North America they are all commonly called “rails”, regardless of their length. Other large species include swamphens and gallinules.
Ravens
The most common corvid is the raven, which can be found in Europe, North Africa and Western Siberia. Ravens also live in North America, Greenland, North America, and Greenland.
The Common Raven, also known as the Northern Raven, is well-known to most of us.
Crows are intelligent birds that share many traits with them. They are resourceful and clever, and can adapt to different climates and terrains.
Even this requires a high level of intelligence. Problem-solvers by nature, they can even solve problems that scientists have created.
Razorbills
The only member of the genus Alca that is still alive is the Razorbill.
A bird that was ringed and tagged in the UK back in 1967, has lived for at least 40 years. This is a record for this species.
Red Shining Parakeets
The Red Shining Parrot is an endemic bird to the islands Vanua Levu (Taveuni) and Vanua Levu in Fiji. The majority of populations are found in the forests or close to them on the islands Kadavu, and Ono.
The parrot was introduced to the southern Tonga Islands, specifically Eua and Tongatapu Islands.
Habitats that are suitable for this species include mangrove forests and lowland subtropical or tropical humid areas.
Red Shining Parrot is sometimes considered conspecific (of the same species) but may be more similar to Masked Shining Parrots. The Crimson Shining Parrot has been classified as monotypic, a genus with only one species.
The Red-billed Parrot Or Coral-billed Pionus Parrot
The Red-billed Parrot is about 11 inches long (28 cm). The plumage of the Red-billed Parrot is olive green. The head is olive-green, except for the feathers on the crown and the back of the head which are dark-blue. The cheeks have blue tips and are olive. A blue band runs across the upper breast and throat. The breast and abdomen have dull olive feathers with a bluish pink tinge. Undertail-coverts have a red color. The feathers are olive brown and the back is olive green. The outer tail feathers are red and blue at the base. Their bills are red with a paler bottom. Their eye rings are gray and their irises are dark brown. Their feet are grey.
Young birds are pale green on the head and have yellowish-green tail coverts, with some red feathers.
Red-cheeked Parrots
The Red-cheeked Parrot is 8 to 8.4 in (21 cm) long and weighs around 4.7 to 6 oz (135-180 g).
The general color of its plumage, which is green. The front, throat, and sides of the bird’s head are all red. The crown of the bird and its back are mauve blue. Yellow-green is the color of the breast, abdomen and tail upperside. Lower back is green. The median wing covers have a patch of reddish brown. Underwing-coverts have a blue color. The underside is green-yellow. It has pale yellow eyes. The feet are gray. The lower beak and upper beak are both brown-grey.
The female looks like a male for the most part. However, her head is brown with an olive tint to her cheeks. The upper and lower beaks are brown-grey. Please refer to the image to the right.
Red Crown Parakeets (Kakariki)
Red-crowned Parakeets were once common on the New Zealand mainland and islands. The Red-crowned Parakeet was very abundant in the 1880s. Irruptions were seen in many locations because of their vulnerability to introduced species such as stoats rats and possums.
Despite recent evidence that some small groups still exist, the species was once considered to be “effectively” extirpated on New Zealand’s mainland. Some vagrants or cage escapes/releases from off-island populations have also established.
The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand – B.D. Heather and H.A. Robertson, 2005; 440pp. Viking says: “Common or abundant on islands without mammalian predators.” Very rare on mainland.”… “In North Island, some are found in the heavy forest of the western Northland and central North Island as well as the Rushine Range.”… “[V]agrants from nearby islands visit bush patches along Northland’s eastern coast.”
This species is mostly restricted to Stewart Island/Rakiura, and some offshore islands, such as Kapiti Island (also known as Tiritiri Matangi Island), Matiu/Somes Island, and the Kermadec Islands in the north of New Zealand. It can also be found on the Auckland Islands, to the south, and the Chatham Islands, to the east.
Sometimes, the two island populations are given subspecies status. BirdLife International and the IUCN consider them vulnerable because of the fragmentation.
Porirua City News (17 Novembre, page 8) from October 2004 reported that two pairs of Red Crowned Parakeets had been seen in the Porirua Scenic Reserve. They probably flew in from Kapiti Island.
Red-footed Boobies
The Redfooted Booby or Sula Sula is a large seabird in the Sulidae family. The Red-footed Booby is a powerful and agile flyer, but they can be clumsy when taking off and landing.
Yellow-cheek Amazon Parrots
The Red-lored amazon is usually 12 – 13 inches (30 – 35 cm) long (including the tail), with a wing span of 15 – 17 inches (38 – 43 cm). Weight ranges between 310g and 480g.
In some subspecies, the cheeks are yellow (sometimes with red spots). The crown is thick and blue. The lower tip of the beak is gray-colored horn, while the upper beak has a light-colored horn color. The feet range from light grey to dark gray.
Both males and females are similar in appearance, although some breeders believe that mature females will have brown irises, while mature males will have a gold iris. If it is crucial to identify the correct sex, DNA-based sexing may be required.
The iris of a juvenile is darker, with less yellow and less red.
Redstarts
Redstarts is a small ground-feeding bird that lives in the Old World. The majority of northern species migrate.
The group was named after their red tail (the modern English equivalent of Middle English start and Old English steort)
Philippine Creepers (Rhabdornises)
The family is native to the Philippines. The group is made up of three species in a single Rhabdornis genus. They don’t migrate other than for local movements.
Rheas
The Rhea is a large flightless bird with a gray-brown feathering, long legs, and slender necks. It looks similar to the ostrich.
The birds can grow up to 5.6 feet (1.75 m) and weigh as much as 88 pounds (40 kilograms). The wings of this flightless bird are very large and spread out when they run, like sails. Rheas only have three toes, unlike most birds. The front of their tarsus is covered with horizontal plates. The cloaca is also used to store urine.
Ptiloris: Riflebirds
The genus Ptiloris consists of riflebird species that are a part of the Bird-of-paradise Family.
You can find them in the rainforests of New Guinea, and Australia.
The black and green feathers of these birds were named “riflebird” because they resembled those worn by British riflemen in the early nineteenth century.
Asiatic or African Parakeets/ Ringneck, Long-tailed Parakeets
The colorful and vibrant ringneck parakeets have a pleasing appearance and are easy to tame. The majority of them breed easily in captivity, resulting in a large supply of young parrots for the pet industry.
Owners describe these birds as intelligent birds who learn concepts quickly and like to show off. They are often very good talkers. Their clarity can be compared with that of Quakers and Grays, species that are well-known for their speaking abilities. Contrary to popular belief, both males and females are capable of speaking. They can learn new words and phrases very quickly, without much training. Listening is all they need to do. If training is provided, it’s possible to increase their vocabulary.
Roadrunner Bird : Chaparral Cock
These two bird species are native to North America and Central America. They belong to the family Cuculidae of the genus geococcyx. These two species of cuckoos are ground-feeding cuckoos.
Species – Robins / Thrushes
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Black Robin (Turdus infuscatus)
Clay colored Robin or Clay colored Thrush
Flame Robin (Petroica phoenicea)
Mountain Robin (Turdus Plebejus), also known as Mountain Thrush
New Zealand Robins (Toutouwais)
Norfolk Island Pacific Robin Also known as the Norfolk Island Scarlet Robin (Petroica Multicolor Multicolor) or Norfolk Island Robin
Pacific Robin (Petroica multicolor)
Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii)
Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)
Sooty Robin (Turdus nigrescens).
Toutouwais (New Zealand Robins)
Rodriguez Parrots
The Rodrigues parrot is an extinct species that once lived on Rodrigues, a Mascarene Island. It can be identified by subfossil bone fragments, the 1708 description from Leguat and the 1726 report by Julien Tafforet.
The birds were described in general as being green, with a large beak, a large tail and a large head. They were also larger than a local parakeet or a pigeon.
Rollers
The rollers are found in the warm areas of the Old World, including Europe, Asia and Africa.
The crow is a bird of medium size with a plumage that’s mostly brown and blue. The two front toes on their inner foot are joined, but the outer toe is not.
Mostly, they feed on insects and catch them in the air. The name comes from the aerial acrobatics that they do when they hunt insects.
Usually, they nest in tree cavities. Nests usually contain 2 to 4 eggs.
Rose Faced Parrots
The Rose-faced Parrot is usually between 9 and 9.5 inches in length (23-34 cm) and weighs about 7.1 to 7.3 oz.
Both males and females have a green plumage. The nape is dark grey/brown and they have distinctive rose/pink Lores, which are the areas between the bill and eyes on the side of the bird’s face. They also have feathers that cover the ears and the area around the eyes. The chin and cheeks are pale pink. The back neck is dull yellow/olive, reaching up to the breast. It then turns greenish. The forewings and lesser wing covers are orange and yellow. The base of their green tail is red, and the tip of it is blue. The bill is horn colored. The eye rings and irises of the bird are pale yellow.
The females are smaller than the males, but they look similar.
The face of immatures is not fully colored. The pink/rose coloration on the face is restricted to the superciliary and ear coverts. The crown and nape are more green. The cheeks and chin are green/brown. There is a green/yellow tint to the breast. The irises have a darker color.
Rose Ringed Parakeets
The Rose ringed Parakeets are found in Northern and West Africa, from Guinea and Senegal to southern Mauretania and east to western Uganda and south Sudan. They can also be found in Southern Asia depending on the subspecies.
The pet industry is a big fan of these gregarious parakeets. However, their numbers have been decreasing in certain areas because they are being trapped for the pet market. In many parts of the Indian Subcontinent, the population of Rose-ringed parakeets has decreased dramatically.
The Indian royals cherished them for their speaking ability and as pets. Owning one of these birds was a popular status sign in Indian culture.
This beautiful bird can live up to 30 years.
Rose Ringed Parakeets
The Rose ringed Parakeets are found in Northern and West Africa, from Guinea and Senegal to southern Mauretania and east to western Uganda and south Sudan. They can also be found in Southern Asia depending on the subspecies.
The pet industry is a big fan of these gregarious parakeets. However, their numbers have been decreasing in certain areas because they are being trapped for the pet market. In many parts of the Indian Subcontinent, the population of Rose-ringed parakeets has decreased dramatically.
The Indian royals prized these birds for their abilities to talk and as pets. They were also a status symbol.
This beautiful bird can live up to 30 years.
Rose Ringed Parakeets
The Rose ringed Parakeets are found in Northern and West Africa, from Guinea and Senegal to southern Mauretania and east to western Uganda and south Sudan. They can also be found in Southern Asia depending on the subspecies.
The pet industry is a big fan of these gregarious parakeets. However, their numbers have been decreasing in certain areas because they are being trapped for the pet market. In many parts of the Indian Subcontinent, the population of Rose-ringed parakeets has decreased dramatically.
The Indian royals cherished them for their speaking ability and as pets. Owning one of these birds was a popular status sign in Indian culture.
This beautiful bird can live up to 30 years.
Ruff
The Ruff is a medium-sized Wader. It is often considered to be the sole member of the genus Philomachus. However, recent research (Thomas et. al 2004) suggests that the Wide-billed as well as the Sharp Tailed Sandpiper could also belong in this genus.
In northern Europe and Russia, they breed in bogs and marshes with short vegetation. Wintering in Africa, India, and southern and western Europe are Ruff. A flock of over 1 million birds wintered in Senegal.
Ruppell’s Parrots, Ruppel’s or Rueppel’s Parrots
The Rueppell’s Parrot ( RA 3/4ppell’s Parrot) is found in Southwestern Africa. This includes central Namibia, southwest Angola and Luanda. The birds are often seen in small groups of 20 or less, but can gather in places where there is abundant food.
In the northern part of their range, they prefer riparian woodland, Acacia, thornveld, and dry steppe, as well as palm trees, like Northern lala palm. In the south, it is usually found in Acacia woodlands and cluster-leaf stands. This species is more common around rivers or streams.
The name honors German naturalist Eduard RA 1/4ppell.
The maximum reported longevity in captivity has been 34.4 years.
Rusty-faced Parrots (Hapalopsittaca / Hapalopsittica)
Size: Rusty face parrots average about 23 cm (9 inches) in length, including the tail.
The adult plumage is mainly green. The undertail-coverts and abdomen are yellowish green. The birds have a pale yellow lores and a dull orange head crown (the region between the eye and bill at the side of the bird’s face). The orange-red cheeks are streaked with yellow. The yellow shafts on the olive ear-coverts are slightly elongated. The shoulders are red. The outer median and second-order wing-coverts have a dark blue color. The tail is brownish red with a violet blue tip. The secondary coverts are blue and the primaries are dark bluish (=the longest wing feathers). The flight feathers’ underside is greenish-blue. The bill has a base of bluish grey and a horn color. The eye rings (periophthalmic rings) are dark grey. Their irises and feet are both dark grey.
The cheeks and ear covers of young (immature birds) have yellow stripes. The head is duller red, and the secondary feathers on the wings are green.
Saffron Head Parrots
The Saffron Head Parrot is usually between 9.5 and 9.6 inches long (24cm).
The plumage of the eagle is green except for the bright yellow throat and head. The orange-yellow color is used to wash the ear coverts. The breasts and napes are an olive-yellow. Some of the feathers on the thighs are red and yellow. The edges of the wings and the side of the body, as well as under the wing-coverts, are all red. The primary wing and wings are both black, with a blueish tint and bluish green edging. Lesser wing covers have a greenish-blue tinge, while the greater wing covers are blue and green. The blue wing tips are on the central tail feathers. The inner webs of the outer tail feathers are yellow. The irises have a dark brown color. The cere and the feet are dark gray.
The heads of immature birds are greenish. The cheeks of the birds and their ear coverts are olive-yellow. The breast and throat are olive. The bend of the wings and the wing-coverts have a green color with some red feathers. The edge of the wings is interspersed in green. Green is the predominant color of the greater wing-coverts.
Saltator
Saltator means “leaper”, “dancer” in Latin. Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot gave it to the genus due to the way that the birds hopped on the ground.
Sanderlings
The sanderling is different from other sandpipers, and some have suggested that it be classified as a monotypic Crocethia. (A genus with only one species). The most recent review (Thomas and al. 2004) suggests that the sanderling, a small sandpiper, is more typical of the ” stint”. It should therefore be placed in its own genus, separate from the large knots.
The size of this bird is comparable to that of a Dunlin. However, it has a larger bill and a larger body. In flight it has a prominent white wingbar. It runs along sandy beaches with its characteristic “bicycling”, stopping often to pick up small food items. It feeds on small crabs, as well as other invertebrates. Birds migrating from South America to the north consume large quantities of horseshoe crab egg in the Delaware Bay region.
Sandgrouse
The sandgrouse is found in northern, southern, and eastern Africa, as well as Madagascar, the Middle East, India, and central Asia, and the Iberian Peninsula, where they are limited to open, treeless areas such as plains or semi-deserts.
Shorebirds: Waders and Sandpipers
Waders are also known as Shorebirds (in North America, “waders” refers to wading birds with long legs, such as Storks or Herons), and they belong to the order Charadriiformes. This excludes the marine web-footed groups of seabirds. These include the skuas, gulls, terns, skimmers and auks. The pratincoles and Crab Plovers (Dromadidae), both of which look like waders but are actually seabirds, also have a close relationship.
Santarm Tui Parakeets
Santarem Tui Parakeets are smaller than Tui Parakeets, with an average length of 6 inches (16cm). They look similar to the nominate species except for the small size difference. The yellow patch on the forehead can be more extensive.
Sapsuckers
Sapsuckers, as their name suggests, feed on sap from trees and shrubs. They move between different species of tree or shrub on a seasonally basis. During the breeding season, insects, particularly those that are attracted by the sweet sap that comes out of sap holes, can be captured and fed to young.
Birch trees are the easiest to identify during breeding season. This genus is characterized by slender, long-winged birds with stiff tails.
Screamers – South American Waterfowl
The Screamers belong to the Anhimidae, a small bird family. They were once thought to be related with the Galliformes due to their similar bills. However, they are actually related to Ducks and most closely related to Magpie Goose. This family is unique among living birds because it lacks uncinate processes in the ribs.
Scrub Jays
The Scrub Jay has a deep, rich blue color on its head (including the top, nape and sides). The Unicolored Jay is a species that has blue feathers all over. Some species have dark ear feathers and a white band above the eye. The chest and back are also grey-white or white. The tail and wings of most species are bright blue.
Similar Species These jays can be confused with the common Blue Jay. However, they are larger, have a longer and wider tail, and their wings are slightly smaller and more rounded.
Scrubfowl – Genus Megapodius
These birds do not incubate eggs using body heat. Instead, they bury their eggs.
The male tends to the mounds, adding or removing the litter to maintain the temperature until the hatchlings emerge.
Scrubwrens
Scrubwren is any of several small Australasian bird species belonging to the Sericornis genus, also known as scrub tit.
Yellow-vented Parrots
Senegal Parrots are the most well-known and popular of all the Poicephalus species, including Meyer’s Red-bellied and Jardine Parrots.
The small and playful African parrots can be found in many pet shops in the USA and Europe. They were imported in large numbers until 1992, when their importation was made illegal.
The life expectancy for Senegal Parrots is 20-30 years. However, captive birds can live up to 50 years.
The Seychelles Parakeet is about 16 inches (41 cm) long. The Alexandrine Parakeet was similar, but smaller. It also lacked a pink collar. The general plumage of the bird was green. It had a blue-washed back, a broad cheek stripe, and an obscure line running from cere to eye.
Phalacrocoracidae – Cormorants and Shags
Cormorants and shags are not distinguished consistently. The words “cormorant”, “shag”, and their variants were the original common names for the two species in Great Britain: Phalacrocorax (now called the Great Cormorant by ornithologists) and P. The Common Shag is P. aristotelis. The British form of the Great Cormorant does not have a crest. When English-speaking explorers and sailors discovered other species around the world, they called some cormorants, and others shags depending on if they had crests. In some parts of the world, the same species may be called a shag and in others a cormorant. The Great Cormorant in New Zealand is known as the Black Shag (the Australasian birds have a crest, which is not present in European species). The family has been divided into two genera, and some modern classifications have attempted to assign the names “Cormorant”, “Shag”, and “Shag”, to each. However, this is not widely accepted and does not fit with the common usage.
Shearwaters
Shearwaters (or “true” shearwaters) are medium-sized seabirds with long wings. They were named after their hunting style, in which they glide and fly close to the surface as they hunt for prey.
The majority of them are found in temperate or cold water, and they rarely occur in subtropical or tropical waters.
The marine birds live their entire lives in the ocean except for when they breed.
Short-tailed Parrots and Sharp-tailed Parrots
Short-tailed Parrots are found in rain forests of tropical zones, including populations on both sides of Amazon River in Brazil’s northernmost state, in south-eastern Colombia and in eastern Ecuador and Peru. The Short-tailed Parrot can be found along the coasts of French Guiana, Amapa (a Brazilian state in the extreme north), and the eastern Ecuadorian region.
Outside of the breeding season they can usually be found in large noisy flocks. They like trees near watercourses. They tend to congregate on trees in the evenings.
This species, even though it is common in some parts of its range (CITES II), is endangered in its native habitat due to habitat destruction, and capture for the pet market.
Shrikes
A Shrike, a passerine of the family Laniidae is known for impaling insects, small mammals or birds on thorns. The shrike uses this to break the flesh down into smaller pieces. It also serves as “larder”, so it can come back to the uneaten parts at a later date.
The beak of a typical shrike is hooked like that of a predatory bird, which reflects its nature as scavenger.
Sibias
Sibias is a genus of Heterophasia that includes a number of species
- Heterophasia anectens, sometimes found in Leioptila
- Malacias White-eared Sibia Heterophasia auricularis
- Malacias
- Grey Sibia, Heterophasia GRACIS — sometimes in Malacias
- You can also find out more about
Epimachus : Sicklebills
Four species of birds-of-paradise are included in the genus Epimachus Cuvier, 1816.
The Sicklebill feeds by “trap-lining”, between their favorite plants. Unlike most other hummingbirds they actually perch while eating.
Yellow-headed Parrots and Singing Parrots
The Singing Parrot is usually between 9.75 and 10 inches long (25cm) from the head to the end of the tail. It weighs approximately 5.6 to 6 oz. (160-195g).
Male: The overall plumage color is green. The head of the male is yellow with a collar in greyish-mauve around his neck. The upperside of the tail, breast, abdomen and upper-tail coverts are all yellowish-green. The lower back of the bird is green, and the median wing covers have a patch of reddish brown. Underwing-coverts have a violet-blue color. The underside of the tail is dusky yellow. His irises are pale yellow with narrow grey periophthalmic bands. The upper beak and feet are pale horn colored. The lower beak has a dark grey color.
Siskins
The Siskins (genus Carduelis), are small Finches that have a global distribution. These little birds are active and feed mainly on insects and seeds.
Skimmers
The lower beaks of these tern like birds are elongated.
The majority of their diet is fish. They fly low and skim the surface of the water using the lower part of the beak to look for small fish.
Skuas
The Stercorariidae family includes the Skuas . In North America, the three smaller skuas go by the name jaegers. Even at the South Pole, they have been seen.
The Faroese Skugvur is the origin of skua. The island of Skuvoy, however, is famous for its colony. Jaeger comes from the German Jager which means hunter.
The term “Skua”, is also used at American Antarctic research bases such as McMurdo Station and the Amundsen Scott South Pole Station. The bird is the inspiration for this term, which means to scavenge or salvage equipment or gear.
Slaty Head Parakeets
The average slatyhead parakeet is between 15.5 and 16 inches long (40cm), with a tail that measures between 6 and 7 inches (158-178mm). Plumheads are larger than Slatyheads. The hens have a slightly smaller body than the cock. They are about the same size of an Eastern Rosella.
There are many different mutations, such as blue, olive and albino.
The original (natural), slaty headed parakeet is a mainly green bird. The head is dark grey, but with a slight blueish tint. There are also black stripes on the cheeks, and a narrow band at the nape with a bluish green band adjacent. The wing-coverts have a dark red spot. The underwing-coverts have a greenish-blue color. The middle tail feathers are blue, with a yellow tip and a green base. Upper beak is yellow with a red tip. The lower beak has a yellowish tint. The feet are grey and the irises white.
The females either lack or have a much reduced dark red patch on the wing coverts.
The cheeks are brownish-green and the head is greenish. A narrow green band is visible at the nape. Upper and lower beaks have a horn color with a brownish underside. When they reach adulthood, the plumage is about 30 months.
Slender Billed Conures aka long-billed Conures
The average length of Slender-billed Conures is 15-16 inches.
The overall plumage of the olive-green eagle is a light shade. The crown, neck and forehead feathers of the are outlined in brownish-black. The feathered cere (the region between the eye and bill on the side a bird’s face) and lores are crimson. The middle of the abdomen is maroon-reddish and the tail has a brownish-red with a hint of green.
The bill is dark grey. The upper beak of the crow is slightly curved and extended.
The irises of the eye are orange, and a grey periophthalmic circle surrounds them.
Nestorinae – Nestor Parrots (aka Kaka or New Zealand Kaka
Greenish brown; forehead; crown and nape dull green, with feather tips. Neck and abdomen are brownish red, with dark brown and yellow margins. Hind-neck is more crimson with darker brown and yellow edges.
Females have a shorter, less curved bill.
The lower beak is yellowish, as if it were immature.
Snipes
A Snipe can be any of the nearly 20 Wading species that are very similar. They have a long, slender bill with cryptic plumage. The snipes of the Scolopacidae family are either the New Zealand snipes (Coenocorypha) or the 15 typical snipes that belong to the genus Gallinago. These are the closest relatives to the Woodcocks. The small genera, however, represent an earlier divergence in the snipe/ Woodcock group (Thomas and al. 2004). The Painted Snipe is not closely related and belongs to its own family.
Softbills
The name “softbill” is misleading and can cause confusion.
Most people only associate these birds with their large, light and fragile beaks. The beaks of some “softbills”, however, are very strong and hard, and can cause significant damage. Many of their human caregivers can attest this.
The term “soft-bills” is used by authorities to describe birds on a diet of soft foods. This distinguishes them from birds with strong, hard beaks adapted for cracking nuts and seeds.
Softbills have beaks that are designed to feed on fruit, nectar, plants, insects, and/or other small animals.
Sparrows
Old World Sparrows, or the family Passeridae (which includes 140 species), are indigenous to the Old World tropics of Australasia and Australia.
The New World Sparrows are very closely related to Old World Sparrows. However, there are some differences in the physical appearance of the Old World Sparrows. These include the bill and head markings.
The average lifespan of a pig is between 4 and 7 years.
Spindalis
Spindalis is the genus of four non-migratory species of birds.
The Greater Antilles is home to this genus. A population of the West Indian fauna on Cozumel Island is found off the Yucatan Peninsula’s east coast.
Their true affiliation is still unknown. However, they are not Thraupidae.
Spoonbills/Wading Birds (family Threskiornithidae).
They all have large, flat spatulate bill and feed by wading in shallow water while sweeping their partially opened bill from one side to the other. When an insect, crustacean or small fish touches the inside surface of the bill, it snaps shut. They prefer salt water over fresh, but can be found in either environment. They must feed for many hours every day.
Birds of Paradise (Cendrawasih
Most species of male birds in this family have a plumage that is highly elaborate and elongated, extending from their beaks, wings, or heads.
Birds of Paradise range in size, from the King Bird of Paradise which weighs 50 grams and measures 15 cm (6 inches) to the Black Sicklebill that is 110 cm (43 inches) long and the curl-crested manucode that weighs 430 grams (15.2 oz).
Starlings
The plumage of these birds is usually dark and metallic.
Size and weight vary greatly between species.
- These mynas can reach a height of over 1 foot (30 cm) and weigh more than 8 oz (225 grams). The mynas are large, reaching up to 1 foot (30cm) in length and weighing over 8 oz. (225g).
Their flight is direct and strong.
Storks
Storks, which are wading birds of the Ciconiidae family, have long, stout beaks and long legs. The storks are found in many warmer parts of the world. They tend to live in dryer habitats, and lack the powder that other related groups use to remove fish slime. Storks are mute and have no vocal organ (syrinx). They do not make any bird calls. Instead, they use bill-clattering to communicate at their nest. Many species migrate. The majority of storks feed on frogs and fish. They also eat earthworms, insects, small mammals, and insects. There are six genera and 19 species of storks.
Storm-petrels – Family Hydrobatidae
The nesting is done in colonies, and they show a strong loyalty to the nesting site. All but one species visit breeding colonies at night. Most species nest in burrows or crevices. Incubation and chick-feeding duties are shared by pairs that form monogamous bonds over a long period of time. Incubation can take up to 50-days and the chicks may not be able to fly for another 70 days.
Sungrebes, or American Finfoots.
Finfoots and Sungrebes are found in the southeastern part of Mexico (Veracruz), throughout Central America, and most of northern South America. They tend to stay east of Andes Mountain Range. The range extends as far south as Bolivia and northeastern Argentina.
Finfoots are very secretive and, because of their reserved nature, they often remain unnoticed. During breeding season, they are very territorial. They do not migrate but they do disperse to create new colonies. They do not fly very well so they prefer to stay close to calm, shady waterways.
Finfoots are usually seen in pairs or alone. Even experienced ornithologists find it difficult to locate them. Birders are able to enjoy this rare sighting.
Sunbirds & Spiderhunters
Sunbirds have a strong sexual dimorphism.
Adult males have brilliantly colored feathers, whereas females and young birds are usually duller.
Sunbirds are characterized by their long, thin, down-curved bill and their brush-tipped tubular-tipped tongues. Both adaptations allow them to feed on nectar.
Surfbirds
Surfbird is a small, stocky wader of the family Scolopacidae. It is classified as Aphriza. However, more recent data suggest that it shares a close genetic relationship with Great knots, Red , and Great Knots . Therefore, Calidris should be considered. The Great Knot is a large, long-billed and darker surfbird.
Swallows
Their bodies are streamlined and slender. They have long, pointed wing tips, and many have long tails. They have feet that are more suited to perching than walking. The base of the front toes is partially joined.
SWAMPHENS
Porphyrio
Porphyrio, a genus of birds, is found in Africa and Americas. Its distribution barely reaches Asia and Europe.
Swans, Bird Genus Cygnus
Swan pairs are usually bonded for life. They stay together all year round, even when they migrate together. It has been noted that some swans switch mates during their lifetime, especially after nesting failures. Others who lost their mate do not mate again. Estimates place the “divorce” rate at around 6%. Studies have also found that a third or more of all broods are paternal.
Swiftlets or Cave Swiftlets
Swifts are a complex group of birds, and taxonomic research has shown that the swiftlet tribe remains a well-defined subgroup. The internal systematics of the swiftlet tribe is confusing. Its plumage, which is dull and usually in shades of gray, black, and brown, is very similar to that found on most other species. Swiftlets are four-toed, with the exception of the Papuan Swiftlet that lacks the back toe. The birds’ legs are short and prevent them from perching. However, they can cling vertical surfaces. The primary feathers are very long (flight feathers), and the breast muscles are small. This allows them to glide. The larger Aerodramus Swiftlets are about 10 cm in length and weigh 14 grams.
Swifts
Swifts belong to the family Apodidae of birds that are highly aerial. Swifts look superficially like swallows, but they are not related to passerine. They belong to the separate order Apodiformes which is shared with Hummingbirds.
