Quick question: what does this bird have in common with this frog? Well, this is a Hooded Pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) and a Golden Poison Frog, which is one of the famous poison dart frogs. That’s right, our little Pitohui is one of the only poisonous birds in the world and actually has the same typeContinue reading “Bird 161 – Hooded Pitohui”
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Bird 160 – Palm Cockatoo
Friends, we’re all familiar with the classic white cockatoos, we see them everywhere. But have you ever come across their distant relative, the Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)? These black beauties are the biggest cockatoos getting around, which is why they’re also known as Goliath Cockatoos. With that black mohawk and face paint they’re basically theContinue reading “Bird 160 – Palm Cockatoo”
Bird 159 – Sociable Weaver
Like me, you will probably be glued to the screen today, anxiously awaiting results from the US election. It’s a stressful time, and in these times it’s important to remember that there are birds, and they do some pretty cool things. So please enjoy this bonus bird as a small reminder that no matter whatContinue reading “Bird 159 – Sociable Weaver”
Bird 158 – Gouldian Finch
Let’s begin with one of the strangest images in the avian world. What fresh horror is this? Why, it’s only a begging Gouldian Finch baby (Chloebia gouldiae). Their babies have distinctive, highly reflective markings around the edge of their beaks. (Some sources will tell you they’re phosphorescent, but don’t you believe it, they’re only reflective.)Continue reading “Bird 158 – Gouldian Finch”
Bird 157 – Rothschild’s Lobe-billed Bird-of-Paradise
Last week I said I’d bring you another mystery bird at some point. Well, that point is now, and I’ve got a bird with one mouthful of a name, Rothschild’s Lobe-billed Bird-of-Paradise (Loborhamphus nobilis?) Much like our pretty pigeon from last week, only two examples of this species(?) were ever found, but it is aContinue reading “Bird 157 – Rothschild’s Lobe-billed Bird-of-Paradise”
Birds-of-Paradise Part II: When does a bird come from Paradise?
In Part I, I said there were 42 species of Birds-of-Paradise, but eagle-eyed readers would have spotted a little asterisk against that number. You see, I put a caveat there because that number has a nasty habit of fluctuating from year to year. For example, a couple of years ago it was 39, a coupleContinue reading “Birds-of-Paradise Part II: When does a bird come from Paradise?”
Bird 156 – Negros Fruit Dove
There are many unsolved mysteries in the bird world, and today I am going to introduce you to one. I’d like to say meet Negros Fruit Dove (Ptilnopus arcanus), but I can’t. You see, there is no picture of this bird (alive at least). Let me tell you a story. Way back in 1953 twoContinue reading “Bird 156 – Negros Fruit Dove”
Bird 155 – Red Phalarope
By now you’ve heard (read?) me say dozens of times that male birds are pretty and female birds are dull. We have several reasons to thank for this, including both natural and sexual selection as well as the literal genetic makeup of their sex genes. But there is always an exception to the rule andContinue reading “Bird 155 – Red Phalarope”
Bird 154 – Golden-tailed Sapphire
One of the great things about Hummingbirds are their delightful names. Today we add another to the list, the Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone). Here is one displaying its golden tail and sapphire head. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a bird that is 100% iridescent before, but this Hummingbird wanted to sparkle and heavenContinue reading “Bird 154 – Golden-tailed Sapphire”
Bird 153 – Ruspoli’s Turaco
I’d like to introduce you to a rather unique individual, Ruspoli’s Turaco (Turaco Ruspolii) They’re a goofy looking green bird, sporting a white mohawk, with some aggressive orange eye shadow. Some might say they’re forward leaning fashionistas. But let’s start with that name: Ruspoli. Eugenio Ruspoli was an Italian explorer who first discovered our littleContinue reading “Bird 153 – Ruspoli’s Turaco”
Bird of the Week 