The Shearwaters (The Procellariidae) are the largest and most diverse group of Petrels. The 66 or so species (the taxonomy of both Prions and Gadfly petrels is uncertain) can be divided into four subgroups: The name ‘Shearwater’ arises from the habit of some species of flying and gliding close to the surface of the sea. … Read more
The word Albatross is supposedly an English corruption of the Portuguese word ‘alcatraz’ meaning large seabird. In this way it describes Albatrosses expertly. Weighing up to 11.3 kg (25 lbs) and with wingspans of nearly 4 m (12 ft) Albatrosses are among the world’s larger birds. Albatrosses can be distinguished from the other petrels because … Read more
Petrels and Albatrosses, with their wandering life cycles and ability to be seen thousands of miles from any land, have fascinated mankind for hundreds of years. Albatrosses – as symbols of good luck – feature in one of the greatest narrative poems of the English language, The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. Even today, Albatrosses … Read more
Penguins are wonderful, amazing delightful creatures. Penguins are, however, unusual birds. They walk upright, do not fly and have tidy plumage that makes it easy to believe that they are dressed in a suit. They are much loved across the world now that TV and advertising has brought them to the attention of millions. They … Read more
The passerine family Motacillidae contains six genera of birds: The Pipits and Wagtails have a world-wide distribution, except for the islands of the pacific – but the Longclaws are restricted to Africa. The family is believed to be relatively modern with the oldest fossil records dating from the Miocene 6-7 million years ago. All members … Read more
The Cranes, family Gruidae, are among the most amazing birds we have on this planet. With their large stature and loud resounding calls, cranes have appealed to mankind whenever we have met. In prehistoric times primitive peoples in Africa, Australia and Europe painted images of cranes in caves. In more recent times, The Ancient Egyptians … Read more
Mousebirds (Family Coliidae) Mousebirds: The Gregarious World Of The Colliformes The Coliidae are a small order of 6 species of birds all in the one genus, Colius. Collectively they are known as Colies or Mousebirds, because of the way they clamber around in dense vegetation. They occur in Africa, south of the Sahara. Here are … Read more
Hornbills are very distinctive birds, often seen in aviaries and zoos as well as on television nature programmes. Their generally large size, bold pied colouring and noisy manner make them obvious birds in many habitats. Besides all this though, it is their oversized beaks – often decorated with large casques – and their unusual breeding … Read more
The twelve species of Bittern in the subfamily Botaurinae complete the family Ardeidae. They range in size from around 80 cm (2.8 in) to 35 cm (1 ft 2 in) in length. Bitterns are less well known than Herons and Egrets because they are secretive birds living mainly in reed beds where they feed on … Read more
The birds of paradise are the most amazing and incredibly colourful family of birds. It is suspected that trade in skins and tail feathers of these birds has been going on in S. E. Asia for around 5,000 years. The natives of Papua New Guinea have used the tail feathers as adornment for as long … Read more