When it comes to the Standard-winged Nightjar, the first thing we need to address is its name, both common and scientific (Caprimulgus longipennis). First, lets handle the long penis. This is a compound Latin word, and while the ‘long’ part does mean long, the ‘pennis’ part is from the word penna, which means feather. ThisContinue reading “Bird 236 – Standard-winged Nightjar”
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Bird 235 – Black Skimmer
Today we have a true freak of the bird world, the Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger). At first glance you may wonder what failed medical experiment they were part of, what with their intense underbite. Skimmers are the only birds whose lower mandible is longer than their upper mandible. If you were to take an even closerContinue reading “Bird 235 – Black Skimmer”
Bird 234 – Flame Robin
Today we’re going to look at one of Australia’s favourite birds, the Flame Robin (Petrocia phoenicea). Hey, hang on here. European Robin, American Robin, Flame Robin? What’s going on; who are all these Robins and are any of them related? No, of course not, because there is no consistency in avian nomenclature. It’s all madness,Continue reading “Bird 234 – Flame Robin”
Bird 233 – American Robin
Today we have one of the United States’ favourite birds, the American Robin (Turdus migratorius). Now, the first thing we need to clear up is, no, the American Robin is not related to the European Robin. Our little friend from last week is a member of the Old World Flycatcher family, while its Yanky cousinContinue reading “Bird 233 – American Robin”
Bird 232 – European Robin
Today we have the UK’s favourite bird, the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula). The Robin is a distinctive and spunky bird. They’re easily identified by their bright orange face and breast, as well as the melodious songs they sing. While it might sound like a cheerful tune to our ears, to other Robins it is a war cry.Continue reading “Bird 232 – European Robin”
Bird 231 – White Stork
Today I have a famous bird for you: the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia). Not only are these log-legged, black and white birds the iconic embodiment of stork-i-ness, but because of their habit of living close to human habitation they have featured heavily in folklore for centuries. Most famously, White Storks are said to deliver babiesContinue reading “Bird 231 – White Stork”
Bird 230 – Torrent Duck
There are many excellent ducks in the world, and we’ve featured a few of them over the years. But today, we’re going to look at possibly the greatest one of all, the Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata). Many birds are poorly named, the Torrent Duck is not. These handsome quackers live high in the Andes Mountains.Continue reading “Bird 230 – Torrent Duck”
Bird 229 – Bar-tailed Godwit
Today we present a bird that is all beak, the Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica). They’re a type of Sandpiper, a bird that spends its life in tidal zones, estuaries and mudflats. In these squelchy places, it uses its overgrown beak to probe the sand in search of worms and crustaceans. But I know what you’reContinue reading “Bird 229 – Bar-tailed Godwit”
Bird 228 – Northern Rockhopper Penguin
So, I was reviewing the accounts from 2021 and I realised we never featured a penguin. Well, to start off 2022 we will rectify the situation with the Northern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi). The Rockhopper Penguin is the most dramatic of all the penguins with their flowing yellow crest, blood red eyes and photogenic attitude.Continue reading “Bird 228 – Northern Rockhopper Penguin”
Bird 227 – Christmas Frigatebird
Christmas has arrived, so I thought I’d offer up the most festive bird I could find: Ah yes, there are few birds that evoke a greater season of holly-jolliness than the Christmas Frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi). I mean, it’s all in the name. It is said that Saint Nicholas himself experimented with Frigatebirds as an option forContinue reading “Bird 227 – Christmas Frigatebird”
Bird of the Week 