Today we meet the Oriental Dollarbird, a curious bird from Australia and Southeast Asia. Now from the name we may wonder what they have to do with currency? Are they the bird bankers? Do they use money to line their nests? Sadly, the answer to these questions in no. Dollarbirds are called Dollarbirds because ofContinue reading “Bird 276 – Oriental Dollarbird”
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Bird 275 – Australian King Parrot
The Australian King Parrot is easily one of the most beautiful parrots getting around. Utterly unmistakable; the males have a brilliant red chest and head, matched with rich green wings and a deep blue rump. The females are primarily green, but they also wear red pants. This makes these Kings a little unusual among their parrotContinue reading “Bird 275 – Australian King Parrot”
Bird 274 – Marabou Stork
If you do a google search for the world’s ugliest bird I can guarantee this guy will be somewhere near the top: the Marabou Stork. The Marabou Stork is a huge bird that lives in sub-Saharan Africa. They stand about 1.5 metres tall and have a wingspan of over 3 metres, big bird. No doubtContinue reading “Bird 274 – Marabou Stork”
Bird 273 – Gang-gang Cockatoo
Today we meet one of the most unusual parrots getting around, the Gang-gang Cockatoo. They are the black sheep of the cockatoo family. Aside from the even odder Cockatiel, they are the smallest member of the family. They are also unusual for being the only cockatoo with strong sexual dimorphism. The males possess a brightContinue reading “Bird 273 – Gang-gang Cockatoo”
Bird 272 – White-crested Laughingthrush
Today we meet a bird with an unusual name, the White-crested Laughingthrush. And it’s a good thing this is a bird, because the last thing I want to hear a doctor say is ‘you’ve laughing thrush’. Funnily enough, the Laughingthrushes aren’t related to our other feathered Thrush friends. Turns out they’re part of the larger Babbler family,Continue reading “Bird 272 – White-crested Laughingthrush”
Bird 271 – Purple Martin
This week’s bird is the Purple Martin. Now, the name is quite deceptive. First, they don’t really look like a Martin, more like a Morris if you ask me. And second, they’re not even purple. They have dark blue/black plumes, but they are highly iridescent and under certain light they can shimmer deep blue, royalContinue reading “Bird 271 – Purple Martin”
Bird 270 – Dutch Hookbill
According to Captain Holt from Brooklyn Nine-Nine the Dutch Hookbill is the worst kind of duck. But is the good captain right? Is there a case that this poor little duck is terrible? Well, let’s find out. First, the Hookbill is not a proper species of bird. It is a form of the domesticated duck. In muchContinue reading “Bird 270 – Dutch Hookbill”
Bird 269 – Hooded Dotterel
Although better known as the Hooded Plover, today’s bird is the Hooded Dotterel. What is a dotterel, you may well ask. It’s a type of plover. Is there a reason why some birds are called dotterels and others are called plovers? Nope. I know that’s an unsatisfying answer. But common bird names make no sense.Continue reading “Bird 269 – Hooded Dotterel”
Bird 268 – Far Eastern Curlew
One of the funny things about living on a globe is that everything is relative when it comes to direction. If you’re standing at the south pole, by definition, every direction is north. And what is north of the north pole? Well may we ask the same questions about the Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis). DoContinue reading “Bird 268 – Far Eastern Curlew”
Bird 267 – King Island Emu
So, I know you’ve all heard of the Emu. But did you know there used to be a mini Emu that lived on King Island? Well, there was, and today you’re going to find out all about it. King Island is located in the Bass Strait, halfway between Tasmania and the Australian mainland. During theContinue reading “Bird 267 – King Island Emu”
Bird of the Week 