This week we’re going to talk about one of Australia’s most beautiful birds, the Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus). These guys are dropped dead gorgeous, with their multicoloured feathers and little tail-streamers. As the name suggests, Bee-eaters do indeed eat bees. Most birds don’t go after bees, because they are A) hard to catch and B)Continue reading “Bird 178 – Rainbow Bee-eater”
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Bird 177 – Whiskered Auklet
We all know cats are the polar opposite of birds. It’s a well-known fact, cats and birds are like chalk and cheese. So, have you ever asked yourself what would happen if you merged them together? Would they just annihilate each other in a blinding flash of light, like an electron and a positron? QuiteContinue reading “Bird 177 – Whiskered Auklet”
Bird 176 – Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant
Today I’ve got one of the cutes little birds that ever did live, and it’s got an adorable name to boot: the Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant (Myironis ecaudatus). These birds are aptly named, for not only do they have almost no tail to speak of, but they are also one of the smallest birds in existence.Continue reading “Bird 176 – Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant”
Hail the King!
Every now and again I come across a bird that raises questions. For example, the Jamaican Mango (Anthracothorax mango). This cute, little Hummingbird is native to Jamaica, as the name suggests. But then … there’s that second half of its name: mango. What’s up with that? Well, you might think to yourself, it probably hasContinue reading “Hail the King!”
Bird 175 – Fieldfare
Okay, I know why you to come to Bird of the Week. It’s to see bland, boring birds. Well, this week we are delivering. Meet the Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). This rather unremarkable bird is from Europe. They are migratory and hang out in family groups where they help each other raise and protect their young.Continue reading “Bird 175 – Fieldfare”
Bird 174 – Powerful Owl
Today let’s meet a favourite of the Australian bush: the Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua). These big birds are Australia’s largest owl, but they’re also one of the least owl-like looking owls getting around. With their long body and small head, they don’t exactly cut an owly figure. These features make them look a lot more hawk-like,Continue reading “Bird 174 – Powerful Owl”
Bird 173 – Northern Goshawk
Way back in 2017, when Bird of the Week was just a fledgling gag email, we received our first ever request. Someone asked for North Korea’s national bird. But because I’m incredibly changeable, I decided the bird that really need to be featured was Kiribati’s national bird. But never let it be said that we don’tContinue reading “Bird 173 – Northern Goshawk”
Bird 172 – Kakapo (II)
What’s this? A bird on a Tuesday, have the gods gone mad? Well, as long-time subscribers may know, it is Australia Day, and that means we need to take a moment to acknowledge New Zealand’s Bird of the Year. And this year they selected the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus). Now, this is a little break inContinue reading “Bird 172 – Kakapo (II)”
Bird 171 – Great Blue Heron
This week we’ll be taking a sneaky peak at a bird from a family I’ve never featured before, the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), once again an unacceptable oversight on my part. But in my defence, there are a lot of birds. Like all large, wading birds, Herons have a kind of elegance to them.Continue reading “Bird 171 – Great Blue Heron”
Bird 170 – Eurasian Golden Oriole
Today I have a rather handsome boy for you, the Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus). These are little migratory birds that winter in South Africa and summer in Europe. The word ‘oriole’ derives from the Latin aureolus, meaning golden. So, technically they’re the Golden Golden. Given their taxonomic name is Oriolus oriolus, I guess someoneContinue reading “Bird 170 – Eurasian Golden Oriole”
Bird of the Week 