We’ve had a mouse, we’ve had a cat, so you know what comes next in the animal hierarchy. That’s right, the Atlantic Canary (Serinus canaria). That may be a little unexpected, I hear you say. This is a small yellow finch, from a small African island … rather archipelago. We all know that Canaries comeContinue reading “Bird 197 – Atlantic Canary”
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Bird 196 – Feline Owlet-nightjar
Last week we met a mouse, this week we meet a cat: the Feline Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles insignis). This bird is somewhat ironically named: it isn’t a cat, it isn’t a baby owl, it isn’t the night, and it isn’t a jar. But boy oh boy, is it kooky looking. Of course, I’m being facetious, NightjarsContinue reading “Bird 196 – Feline Owlet-nightjar”
Bird 195 – Speckled Mousebird
As we continue our march to 200, we come to a bird who aspired to be a rodent, the Speckled Mousebird (Colius striaus). Now Mousebirds (Micebirds??) are so named because they resemble mice. They are fluffy and grey, have long tails and tend to scurry about in branches and on the ground. So, at firstContinue reading “Bird 195 – Speckled Mousebird”
Bird 194 – Painted Tiger Parrot
In the jungles of New Guinea there’s a bird with the spirit of an artist and the ferocity of a lion: it’s the Painted Tiger Parrot (Psittacella picta). This is a bird of extreme contrast. By day they fly the jungle canopy in search of the best vistas and breath-taking mountainscapes. Painted Parrots are famedContinue reading “Bird 194 – Painted Tiger Parrot”
Bird 193 – Florida Grasshopper Sparrow
So we’ve had a zebra, a snail and a squirrel, and up next we’ve got an insect-based bird: the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). Now, you may ask what makes this little bird different from the millions of other stray sparrows bouncing about our city sidewalks? And I grant you, they look almost indistinguishable toContinue reading “Bird 193 – Florida Grasshopper Sparrow”
Bird 192 – Squirrel Cuckoo
Today we have a curious bird from Central and South America, the Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana). Straight out of the gate, there are a lot of questions we need to clear up. What is this animal? Is it a squirrel that acts like a cuckoo – offloading its children onto unsuspecting mice to raise them on itsContinue reading “Bird 192 – Squirrel Cuckoo”
Bird 191 – Snail Kite
Before we begin, the long awaited fourth episode of the Bird of the Week podcast is now up and ready. So, if you want some audio stories about bird nests, get along and check that out. (Also on Spotify and Apple.) But now, I want you to meet this handsome fellow. What a majestic creature! With its lethal lookingContinue reading “Bird 191 – Snail Kite”
Bird 190 – Zebra Finch
Welcome to our 190th bird, and the beginning of our countdown to 200. All those naysayers said we’d never make it past 10, me included, well now who’s laughing? To take us through to the big 2-double-0, I’m going to bring you ten weeks of birds that are named after other animals. That’s right, sometimesContinue reading “Bird 190 – Zebra Finch”
Bird 189 – Palawan Peacock-pheasant
Everyone loves a peacock, right. Just look at that darn thing with its vibrant colours and ostentatious tail. But the Peafowl isn’t the only bird that went all in on tail accessories. Meet the Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis). It’s like a wee lil mini peacock. With their blue eye-spots and mottled tail colouring the Triple-P certainlyContinue reading “Bird 189 – Palawan Peacock-pheasant”
Bird 188 – Arctic Tern
Small piece of housekeeping before we dive in. After several late night seances with the ghost of Steve Jobs, we have finally managed to strike a deal with Apple to get the Bird of the Week podcast listed on their platform. So, if Apple is your poison of choice, you can now get your birdContinue reading “Bird 188 – Arctic Tern”
Bird of the Week 