Bird of the Week

Bird 246 – Ancient Murrelet

So here’s a question, what makes a Murrelet ancient?

Here’s a better question, what the heck is a Murrelet?

There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get started. Murrelets are cute little ocean-going birds. They’re a member of the Auk family, so they’re closely related to Puffins. But they are tiny by comparison. Like all members of the Auk family though, they have super stubby wing. They help them swim better under water, but they’re not great for flying. To get up and going a Murrelet has to beat its tiny wings mighty fast. So they always look rather frantic in the air.

But what makes them ancient? Are they long lived? Have they been kicking about since the Cretaceous period?

Well, no. Sadly the answer is a bit mundane. They’re called Ancient Murrelets because of their grey backs. Apparently someone thought it looked like a shawl an elderly person might wear, and so the name was born.

Maybe the most interesting thing about the Murrelet is their breeding behaviour. You see, these birds hate coming onto land. being expert divers and swimmers, they were built for the sea. They’re clumsy on land, they can hardly perch in a tree, and walking: forget about it, they’re stumbly and bumbly.

They only come to land for one reason and one reason only, to lay their eggs. They dig little borrows where two eggs get laid.

Murrelet chick by https://www.laskeekbay.org/bir…

Their chicks don’t get much time to rest on land, though. After just two days in the nest the parents encourage their babies to leave. They go outside and start calling to them. Encouraging them to run through the forest where their nests are, down to the beach and then out into the ocean. For the next 7 months the family will swim together on the sea until the chicks are old enough to fly. After that they won’t bother with land again until it’s egg laying time. As a result, the Ancient Murrelet has the distinction of being the bird that has come closest to completely severing all ties with land.

08/05/2022

Bird 245 – American Dipper

Take a good look at this little brown bird.

Seems like any other brown bird. Plump, round thing, with a pointy beak. Nothing special, right? Well, sit yourself down because the American Dipper is one of the most extraordinary birds getting around.

The American Dipper might look like every other terrestrial song bird that hangs out in a tree and sings sweetly in the spring. But in a shock twist, these guys have dedicated their lives to living and hunting underwater.

The Dippers are a curious family of birds, the only song birds that swim. They favour living along the banks of fast-flowing fresh water streams, and set up a territory that they guard fiercely. They splash about in the shallows, dipping their heads underwater in search of insect larvae. They can also take to deep water where they dive and swim, able to fold their breath for up to 30 seconds.

BBC still photoage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programm…

At first glance it may not seem like they’re properly adapted for a life in the water, but they have a number of helpful features. First, they have a special second eye-lid that allows them to see underwater. Their wings have grown to be especially stubby, but strong, so they can be used as flippers to propel themselves while swimming. They also have extra powerful preen oil that keeps them dry while diving. It’s so effect that when under water they shimmer silver because of the pocket of air that gets trapped on their feathers. Not to mention they also have solid bones, allowing them to sink easier, and special nose scales that stops water from getting up their snoot.

Quite rightly, the American Dipper has long been admired for its unusual lifestyle choices. The famed naturalist, John Muir, sometimes dubbed the Father of American’s National Parks, once said of the Dipper:

He is the mountain streams’ own darling, the hummingbird of blooming waters, loving rocky ripple-slopes and sheets of foam as a bee loves flowers, as a lark loves sunshine and meadows.

01/05/2022

Bird 244 – Little Penguin

Is it Penguin time? I think it’s Penguin time. Specifically, Little Penguin time.

“Little Penguins exiting Burrow” by JJ Harrison

When we think of Penguins the first thing that comes to mind might be a cheeky fellow sliding down a snow drift, or diving off an iceberg. But Penguins are versatile, and the Little Penguins native to Australia and New Zealand live in far more temperate habitats. The most famous colony of Penguins live on Phillip Island, right up close to Melbourne.

Because they live in warmer waters, the Little Penguin has been able to grow … well … little. If you live in a cold climate, there is an advantage to being big because it means you lose body heat slower. But most Little Penguins will never see a chunk of ice in their life, so this is of no concern to them.

Group waddle by Phillip Island Nature Park

The upside of this adaptation is the Little Penguin has become dangerously adorable. They don’t call them fairy penguins for nothing. Their nightly journey from the sea to their burrows has become a major tourist attraction, with people flocking from all over to catch a glimpse of the penguin parade. Most penguins spend extended time at sea, staying away from shore for weeks or even months on end, but the Little Penguin returns to its on shore colony each evening.

Little Penguins make their homes in sandy burrows or rocky crevices where they lay two to three eggs. They remain loyal to their partner during each breeding season, but may swap mates when a new breeding season rolls around.

Solo waddle by Phillip Island Nature Park

Now, there are many questions we could ask about Penguins. Like, why do they wear tuxedos, how do they swim in polar water without freezing to death and why did they give up their life in the sky? Do these questions have answers? You bet they do, and you can find out all about it in this week’s podcast episode, which is all about Penguins! (Apple, Spotify)

24/04/2022

Bird 243 – Andean Condor

Today we’ve got another big fella for you, the Andean Condor. This is one of the biggest birds in the world. With a wingspan of over three metres, only the largest Albatrosses and Pelicans can boast a greater girth.

Having said that, the Andean Condor isn’t going to win $10 in a beauty contest any time soon. With a bald red head, loose skin, facial caruncle, and its fondness for rotting flesh, these vultures of the New World are perfectly comfortable being as gross as they want.

Speaking of gross, Condors have a delightful habit of pooping on their feet. This behaviour is called urohidrosis. There are several birds that do it, and traditionally it’s seen as a way for the bird to cool down. It works in a similar way that sweating does for us, via the evaporative process. The only catch is Condors live high in the mountains where it’s generally pretty cold to start off with. So … it doesn’t really make sense. Perhaps they just like the way it feels. Squelchy.

Andean Condor looking back by Eric Kilby

The Andean Condor is surprisingly slow growing and long-lived. It takes their chicks well over a year to leave the nest. Six years to fully mature, and then in the wild they can glide about for 50+ years. The longest lived Condor was a captive bred male named Thaao. He was born in 1930 and only died in 2010, making him nearly 80 years old.

When asked what his secret to long life was, Thaao said it all came down to simple clean living. Stand in your own poop for half an hour each morning, and eat one partially decomposed liver before bed.

Lessons we should all consider adopting in our own lives.

17/04/2022

Bird 242 – Snowy Owl

Today we meet the ghost of winter, the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus).

“Nice male snowy owl” by Tambako the Jaguar

Possibly the most handsome of all the owls, the Snowy Owl is instantly recognisable by their pure white plumes that they use for camouflage in their artic tundra homes.

The most famous Snowy Owl is Hedwig from the Harry Potter series. But here’s a fun fact. Although Hedwig is always described as female, the bird used in the films is clearly male. Only male Snowy Owls possess the pure white feathers, while females have mottled dark flecks over their chest and wings. Once again, your childhood is a lie. THE BIRD IS A LIE!

“Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), Vlieland, Netherlands” by Frank.Vassen

Snowy Owls are unusual among owls. Not only are they the only white owl, but they’re also the only diurnal owl, meaning they’re active during the day rather than the night. This is partly because they live so far north, and during their summer breeding season the sun never sets, so they’ve had to adapt to hunt during daylight hours.

“Snowy Owl in flight” by GoldenBright (Larry)

Unlike other owls, the Snowy Owl also prefers hanging out on the ground. They have feet unsuited to gripping branches and prefer to walk about on flat surfaces. You know, when they’re not flying about and swooping on their prey. They even make their nests on the ground. Their ideal choice of nesting site has been described as a “shallow depression on a windswept eminence in the open tundra.”

Which … sounds awful. But I guess they are Snowy Owl by name, Snowy Owl by nature.

See above, a Snowy Owl which has cunningly camouflaged itself as a creepy snowman, perfectly blending into its surrounds. You can hardly tell where it is.

10/04/2022

Bird 141 – Southern Cassowary

It was recently drawn to our attention that we have featured an overabundance of small birds. I was accused of cuteness bias! Outrageous! Well, today we undone that with one of the biggest, baddest birds getting around, the Southern Cassowary.

These beefy boys are the third largest bird, second only (third only?) to their close relatives the Emu and Ostrich. But they’re also closely related to the Kiwi and they kick the Kiwi’s butt in the size department. Although, I should say beefy girls, because it is the female Cassowary who is dominate. They can grow up to 1.8 metres tall and top out at about 70kg.

Now there are a couple of things we need to get straight when it comes to the Cassowary.

“Cassowary at the Budapest zoo” by brenkee

First: what’s up with that horn? This is the Cassowary’s helmet and … we’re not super sure what it does. Technically, it’s called a casque, and it isn’t solid. Rather it’s made of a strange spongy material that can be compressed and squeezed. Maybe they use it to protect their heads when they forge through the jungle. Or maybe they use it to amplify the low frequency calls they make. We don’t know.

Second: murder toes. The Cassowary has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous birds. They are both aggressive and possess a blade like inner toe which they use to slash their enemies. Who are their enemies? A review of every documented Cassowary attack since 1900 found that in almost all instances the Cassowary lashes out when you get between it and its food. So … don’t mess with their food, you wouldn’t like them when they’re hungry.

Dezidor – Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/…

But here’s the good news, of the 100s of human attacks, they’ve only managed to kill a person twice. Sooooo, you’ve got to like those odds.

Third: cute babies. Yes, that’s right the cute bias continues. Cassowaries have super adorable, black and white chicks. The males (despite being smaller and weaker than the females) take on sole protection and parental duties of the young. They make a nest, which the female lays the eggs into. After this the female leaves to find another stud. Cassowaries are solitary birds and spend almost no time with other members of their species. In fact, if they meet in the jungle a standoff will ensue, with flexing and rumbling until one of the birds backs down.

That is unless a male meets a female, in which case the male skitters away like a frightened mouse.

03/04/2022

Bird 240 – Norwegian Blue

Today we have a very special bird, all the way from Scandinavia, the Norwegian Blue. Now, the Norwegian Blue has beautiful plumage, and this is what brought it to the attention of the pet trade. People desperately wanted this parrot for their aviaries and zoos and so they were bred especially for the aviculture scene.

Of course, this came with its own problems. You see, the Norwegian Blue turned out to have a melancholy nature, and when separated from its native Norway would pine for the fjords. The Norwegian Blue would look for any chance to escape and return to the artic circle, and so aviaries were obliged to nail them to the perch, otherwise they would muzzle up to the bars and VOOM!

One of the more curious habits of the Norwegian Blue is its tendency to sleep on its back. Famously, the Norwegian Blue prefers keeping on its back. This has, erroneously, led many owners to believe their bird was dead. But not at all. The Norwegian Blue is a remarkable bird, beautiful plumage.

No, I must level with you. This bird is not the Norwegian Blue at all. It is actually the Ultramarine Lorikeet (Vini ultramarina) an incredibly rare bird that lives on just one island in French Polynesia, which is about as far away from Norway as you can get … whilst still being on Earth.

At any rate, I wish you a very joyous 1st of April.

01/04/2022

Bird 239 – King Bird-of-Paradise

Long-time followers of the Weekly Bird will know I am semi-obsessed with the Birds-of-Paradise. That obsession continues today with the King Bird-of-Paradise (Cicinnurus regius). And I think the best starting place is to just say, ‘Holy Hell, look at that thing!’

It possesses the most scintillating scarlet plumes, blue feet, shoulder fans and, most fancy of all, green tail disks.

“King Bird of Paradise, Cicinnurus regius” by SeabrookeLeckie.com

Like all Birds-of-Paradise, this ornamentation is for the benefit of the female. The males bring their ensemble together during their courtship dance to put on one hell of a show. They puff up their white bellies until they look like a cotton ball, flare out their shoulder fans, and lift their tail feather up so the coils bounce around above their head.

It’s an … odd choice, but this the price we pay for high fashion.

By comparison, the females are plainly clothed. The male’s outrageous getup has been sexually selected by the females. The females, though, wield all the power when it comes to mate choice and so have no need for preposterous plumes. Rather they have retained a more cryptic colouration that helps them blend into the forest while they’re sitting on the nest.

Now, the King Bird-of-Paradise lives only on the island of New Guinea, and then spends all its time high in the canopy, so it is notoriously difficult to see, outside of a museum. But back in 2009 these birds were at the centre of one of the largest museum heists of all time. Hundreds of rare birds were stolen, and stolen so their feathers could be turned into salmon fly lures.

What’s that you say, salmon … fly … lures? Wait, what?

That’s right, $250,000 worth of dead birds were stolen for fishing lures. It is one wild story, and if you want to hear all about it, then tune into the first part of a double feature on the natural history heist of the century (Apple, Spotify). The story’s got everything: flutes, fish, feathers, felons, what more could you want?

27/03/2021

Bird 238 – Cuban Tody

Let me take you to the April Sun in Cuba (I know it’s still March) as we meet today’s bird, the Cuban Tody (Todus Multicolor).

“CUBAN TODY Todus multicolor” by LennyWorthington

Despite having a name vaguely reminiscent of a gross, wart covered amphibian, the Cuban Tody is more colourful than a clown with a confetti canon. These pint-sized flappers may look rather like a Hummingbird but they’re more closely related to Kookaburras.

There are only five species of Tody and every one of them lives on a Caribbean Island. So if you ever wanted an excuse to visit Cuba or Jamaica or Hispaniola or Puerto Rico, then look no further. Not Barbados though, they don’t live there, so cancel that trip.

The Cuban Tody is, funnily enough, restricted to the island that shares its name. These guys may not weigh more than a thick piece of lint, but they are packed full of spunk. If you’re going to mix blush pink flanks with cyan cheeks, and a too-long bill, then you’re going to need attitude. They zip about at high speed, hunting insects. Like a Hummingbird, their wings whirr when they fly, and people often find them by listening for the distinct wing flaps.

The Tody is also a burrower. They dig tunnels up to 30cm long to use as nests. Males and females work together as a pair to excavate and incubate, lining their tunnels with a mixture of moss and feathers to make a soft cosy place for their babies.

Now, after last week, I know what you’re wondering. What great horror do they inflect on other animals? Do they eat whales when they come to the surface to breath? That would be quite a feat, but sadly no. Only Kelp Gulls do that.

The good news is the Cuban Tody does nothing but look painfully adorable.

20/03/22

Bird 237 – Great Tit

I want you to take a good look at this sweet little bird. Yes, it’s called a Great Tit, which is obviously hilarious, but this is no bird to be taken lightly. What if I told you this bright song bird was a horrendous monster, capable of deeds usually reserved for the most barbaric of horror films?

Would you say I was mad? How dare you. You don’t even know me.

Alright, let’s take it one step at a time. First, the Great Tit is a common bird across most of Europe. Because of their large size (relative to other Tits) distinctive colours and diverse songs, they have become popular with us people. They primarily eat a range of creepy-crawlies we hate. They also feed their babies caterpillars in such high numbers that orchids with a Great Tit nest do far better than those without one.

great tit with a green caterpillar in its beak in front of its breeding cavity by Rosember

But what about this horror business? Well steady on, because here it comes.

Unlike a lot of other song birds, Great Tits don’t migrate. They’re a hardy bird that survives the winter even when times are tough. But when food gets scarce sometimes you have to take drastic action. Turns out the Tits living in Hungary have developed a … unique food acquisition strategy. They eat the brains of hibernating bats.

Pair of Great Tits Bathing” by Andy Morffew

You heard me: bat, brain, eat.

Was Ozzy Osbourne inspired by the Great Tit? Almost certainly. In their hibernating state, the bats are unable to defend themselves. The Tits peck in their skulls, eat their brains, and discard the rest of the body before moving on to their next victim. I have spared you pictures, but if you’re keen, here’s a link to the scientific paper, which includes photos.

This behaviour seems to have spread through the Tit community via social learning. Research has shown that Tits are quite intelligent and capable of learning through observation and insight, as opposed to trail and error. By all accounts, this winter feasting has been going on for some time, with locals reporting it anecdotally since at least the 1990s. To be fair, brains are an excellent source of fats, protein and nutrients.

Great Tit (синица) in the rimed forest” by Tatters ✾

I’m not saying we should start eating brains, but I’m also not not saying it.

This is all to remind you that birds were once dinosaurs. Tits remember when they were at the top of the food chain, and they have plans to rise again. They’re smart, they’re organised, and if you fall asleep on a park bench they will eat your brain.

But enough of this gruesome talk. How about a bird that only eats nectar? That sounds better. Well good news, because the latest podcast episode has just dropped, and it is all about Hummingbirds. So get some of that bejewelled goodness into your ears (Apple, Spotify).

13/03/22