Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Birds
Copyright 2010 Top That! Publishing plc Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1AP, UK www.topthatpublishing.com Top That! is a trademark of Top That! Publishing plc All rights reserved
CONTENTS
Swifts, Swallows and Martins Pages 45 Doves, Cuckoos and Pigeons Pages 68 Crows, Rooks, Jays and Magpies Pages 911 Creepers and Nuthatchers Pages 1213
CONTENTS
Waders Pages 3435 Gannets and Boobies Pages 3638 Ostriches, Emus and Rheas Pages 3941 Owls Pages 4244
A swift
A house martin
Arctic Circle
Great Britain
FACT BYTES
Swifts once nested in cliffs, but have adapted to live near humans. Young swallows return to the same area where they were born to make their nests.
What is migration
When it gets cold and there is little to eat, many species of bird will set off on long journeys that last hundreds of miles. Some head north to the Arctic Circle, where the long hours of daylight lead to a flowering of life. Swifts, swallows and martins mainly head to warmer climes, such as Africa. The common swift leave Europe in August, head to Africa and return in April, where they settle to breed.
Africa
Pigeons frequently encounter people, as they are found in large numbers in highly populated areas
Feral pigeons have adapted to urban life and are a familiar sight in towns and cities
A collared dove
FACT BYTES
Jays are egg thieves and also kill and eat young birds. Although they look attractive, gardeners hate them as they eat soft fruit.
A carrion crow
A hooded crow
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Nuthatches stuff food into crevices and hack at it with their strong bills this gives them their name
Youll have to be sharp-eyed! For a start, nuthatches are relatively small birds. White-breasted nuthatches, for example, are only 14 cm (5 in.) long. Pygmy nuthatches are found mainly in the United States and are around 9 cm (3.5 in.) long, whilst their Eurasian equivalents, brown-headed nuthatches, are only 10 cm (4 in.) in length. They creep up trees so fast and in so many different directions that they can be very difficult to spot!
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WARBLERS
Like wallcreepers and nuthatches, warblers are also passerine birds (birds that are characterised by perching). Some types of warblers are very rare indeed. Dartford warblers are one of the rarest birds in Britain.
A wood warbler
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A willow warbler
FACT BYTES
Dartford warblers can appear as if they are on fire as they have reddish plumage. They do not like harsh winters and die in extreme cold. Some can eat eighty per cent of their body weight in insects every day! Therefore, they are essential in the control of insects.
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DIPPERS
Dippers are any of five species of songbirds, found in western North America, South America, Europe and Asia. All live near water and the amazing thing about dippers is that theyre the only songbirds that can swim and dive. Enlarged preen glands for waterproofing the feathers, dense plumage and highly developed nictitating (blinking) membranes to protect the eyes are adaptations to their aquatic habits.
FACT BYTES
Dippers swim with their wings open. Dippers often swim underwater. They can even walk on the bottom of a river bed as they search for food.
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Dippers are often seen among rocks along the waters edge, bobbing in and out of the water
Adult dippers have a brown head and neck. Their rump, wings and tail are very dark, whilst their chin, throat and breast parts are bright white. They have a distinctive chestnut patch on their underside
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FACT BYTES
Although skylarks can be easily overlooked when on the ground, their distinctive flight makes them more visible, as they hover in the air and sing at the same time.
A pied wagtail
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A rock pipit
A meadow pipit
A golden pipit
Some meadow pipits migrate to Northern Africa, but in the summer months they are widespread from Greenland to central Asia. They run and walk on open moors, revealing a brown and white streaky breast. Rock pipits can be found breeding on the coasts of Britain, Scandinavia and Russia.
They have dark brown plumage on their top feathers to act as camouflage against rocks, and are buff underneath. If you head for exotic climates you might see the stunning golden pipits, with their bright yellow undersides. They do not migrate, and live in eastern Africa all year round.
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Chile
Antarctica
21
FACT BYTES
The largest penguins, emperor penguins, weigh 27.41 kg (60 lb). Little blue penguins are the smallest. They weigh just 1 kg (2.2 lb).
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24
FACT BYTES
Storks dont eat toads, as when they are picked up, they squirt poisons from their bodies. Bald ibises were once quite common in some parts of the world. However, their numbers are dropping and many countries are introducing breeding programmes.
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A laughing gull
FACT BYTES
Arctic terns have the longest migration of all birds. Lesser crested terns (right) often share their nesting sites with other types of tern, or with gulls.
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A juvenile gull
An Arctic tern
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A little egret
A great egret
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A bittern
A grey heron
FACT BYTES
Flamingos only lay one egg. Flamingo chicks have no baby brothers or sisters to grow up with. Most baby birds have their mouths open wide when the mother returns to the nest. This tells her that her chicks want to be fed.
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Flamingos range from light pink to bright red, due to the amount of vitamins and bacteria found in their food. They tend to eat small creatures, such as shrimp that live in the water and plankton. A healthy flamingo is brightly coloured, and therefore a more desirable mate to other flamingos.
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ALBATROSSES
There are 21 species of albatross birds that often follow ships out at sea. While people think of them as large birds, some of them are, in fact, quite small. Sadly, of the 21 species, 19 are threatened with extinction.
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FACT BYTES
Albatrosses are the worlds largest flying birds. Their wingspans are 3.4 m (11 ft) and they can weigh up to 6.5 kg (14 lb).
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WADERS
Members of one of the larger bird families, waders are common on coasts and seen throughout most of the world. They tend to have long, thin bills to pick invertebrates from the soil or mud and live near water, along shores and marshes. Plovers, lapwings and oystercatchers are all waders.
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Gannets dive from a great height, folding back their wings just before they enter the water
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Young gannets have a greybrown plumage, whereas adults are white with yellow heads
FACT BYTES
Booby is the old Spanish word for clown. Boobies got their names from sailors, who saw their tameness as a sign of stupidity and also because they are very clumsy on land! Gannets and boobies fish by diving on their prey from great heights. They follow and chase their prey through the water. They can drop vertically into the sea from heights as great as 45 m (150 ft).
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A blue-footed booby
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Emu
Emus can grow up to 2.1 m (7 ft.) in height. Their wings are very small and are generally hidden in their long, loose feathers. They have distinctive blue patches on their necks.
Rhea
Rheas can grow up to 1.7 m (5 ft 6 in.) tall. They have loose wing feathers, and small feathers on their heads, faces and necks. Like emus, rheas have three toes.
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Emus usually prefer to walk, but can reach speeds of 50 km/h (30 mph)
40
FACT BYTES
In some countries, people ride on the back of ostriches and race each other! Emus are good swimmers and can live in the wild for up to thirty years.
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OWLS
Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night. They are able to fly noiselessly because of their thick plumage, which allows the wind to pass over their wings. Many owls hunt small mammals and insects, whilst some hunt fish.
42
Long-eared owl
Long-eared owls breed in forests. In winter, as many as twenty longeared owls may roost together.
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owls live across Europe. Unusually for an owl, they hunt during the daytime.
Barn owl
Barn owls are becoming increasingly rare and do not always nest in barns, choosing holes in trees, old ruins or, more commonly, specially sited nest boxes.
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FACT BYTES
Between 1967 and 1975, snowy owls bred in The Shetlands in Scotland. Now, they are rare visitors and the future of snowies in the UK is uncertain.
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BIRDS OF PREY
There are over 45 different species listed as birds of prey. They come in all sorts of different sizes and shapes, and they are all meat-eaters with hooked bills and strong feet. Most birds of prey catch and kill their food.
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FACT BYTES
Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey that not only fly over low ground to catch their prey, but have also been known to chase small birds on foot!
A red kite
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PARROTS
Beautiful and intelligent, parrots form strong pair bonds and have excellent memories. They are brightly coloured and have sharp beaks to open and eat their favourite food seeds!
A monk parakeet
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Stretching wings
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GAME
Chickens, turkeys and game birds are all bred to be eaten and their eggs have a multitude of culinary uses! However, not all of these birds are eaten who would want to eat a beautiful peacock?
North America
Europe
Turkeys were once found in the wild in North America. In the 1500s they were introduced to Britain and Europe. They have been kept in captivity ever since although escaped turkeys now breed in Germany. Wild turkeys are timid and live in forests and clearings. In the wild, they eat berries, seeds and nuts. Wild turkeys live in flocks during cold winter months.
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FACT BYTES
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BIRDS OF PARADISE
Birds of paradise are beautiful. Most of these fascinating birds have very long, colourful tail feathers and groups of feathers on their bodies.
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New Guinea
Australia
New Zealand
FACT BYTES
In 1520, the Sultan of Batchian gave Captain Magellan a bird of paradise skin for the King of Spain. In the 1500s, Europeans thought birds of paradise floated in heaven. They believed the birds fed on dew until they died and fell to Earth. It took almost two hundred years for Europeans to realise that this was not the truth!
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HUMMINGBIRDS
Hummingbirds are some of the most agile birds to be found in the Americas. They can fly forwards, upwards, downwards and unlike any other birds, backwards! They get their name from the sound their wings make.
Jamaica
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A giant hummingbird
FACT BYTES
Trinidad and Tobago is known as the land of the hummingbird. It is found on the nations coat of arms and on one of their coins.
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FACT BYTES
The bright red feathers of Iiwi-Hawaiian honeycreepers were highly prized by the Hawaiians, who used them to make feathered capes and helmets for their chiefs. One of the smallest sunbirds in the Sungei Buloh Nature Park in Singapore is the crimson sunbird. Adult males weigh only 7 g (0.01 lb) and appear like tiny red dots among the vegetation.
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GLOSSARY
Adapted Changed to suit their surroundings. Air sacs Sacs full of air so that the birds can float on water. Cuckoo Any bird of the family Cuculida, having pointed wings and a long tail. Dipper Any of a genus of aquatic songbirds that inhabit fast-flowing streams. Egg The oval, or round, reproductive body laid by the females of some animals, consisting of a developing embryo, its food store and often jelly, all surrounded by an outer shell or membrane. Egret Any of the various wading birds, which are similar to herons, but usually have a white plumage, and in the breeding season, long feathery plumes. Emerald dove Australian bird that only flies when in danger. Eurasia The continents of Europe and Asia considered as a whole. Feral Species, or individual, that were once domesticated, but have been released or escaped and have become wild. Fledges Ready to fly. Genus A class of objects, or individuals, that can be divided into two or more groups or species. Gull An aquatic bird, such as the common gull, which have long pointed wings, short legs, and a mostly white plumage. Heron Any of the various wading birds, which have a long neck, slim body, and a plumage that is commonly grey or white. Honeycreeper A small tropical American songbird, which has a slender downward-curving bill and feeding on nectar. Hovering Staying motionless in the air. Ibis Any of the various wading birds that occur in warm regions and have a long, thin down-curved bill. Incubation Supply of heat to eggs to keep them warm. Killdeer A North American plover. Lapwing Type of wader with shimmering green plumage and a black crest. Lark Any brown bird of a predominantly Old World family of songbirds. Larvae An early form of a creature that changes into something else. Magpie Type of crow with a reputation as a thief. Mane Long hair that grows from the neck. Manx shearwater Type of gull that glides, or shears over the water as it follows a boat.
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GLOSSARY
Migrant A bird that moves from one area of the world to another.
Passerine Of, relating to, or belonging to an order of birds characterised by the perching habit. Peacock A male peafowl, having a crested head and very large tail marked with blue and green eyelike spots. A female is known as a peahen. Pesticides Chemicals used to kill pests.
Pipit Any of the various songbirds, which have brownish speckled plumage and a long tail. Plover Any of a family of shore birds, typically having a round head, straight bill and large pointed wings. Plumage The feathery part of a bird. Pollen Food produced from plants. Red kite Bird of prey found in some parts of Britain. Rock Dove Ancestor of the tame pigeon, this bird still exists in the wild. Ruffles Erected (standing up on top of the head) feathers. Sheen Gleaming brightness. Sickle-shaped Crescent shaped. Spoonbill Closest British relative to the ibis.
Swallow Any of the various songbirds, which have long pointed wings, a forked tail, short legs and a rapid flight. Swift Any of the various insectivorous birds of the Old World. They spend most of their time flying. Vulture Bird of prey that eats carrion. Wagtail Any of the various passerine songbirds of Eurasia and Africa, which have a very long tail that wags when the birds walk. Warbler A small, active songbird of the Old World. Wingbeat A complete cycle of movement of the wing by a bird in flight. Woodpecker Brightly coloured climbing bird.
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INDEX
adelie penguin 21 alaudidae 18 albatross 3233 auk 2123 bald eagle 46 bald ibis 25 barn owl 43 bee hummingbird 58 birds of paradise 5355 birds of prey 4547 bittern 2930 black browed albatross 32 blackpoll warbler 14 black stork 24 boobies 3638 booted racquet-tail 58 broad-tailed hummingbird 58 brown albatross 32 brown-headed nuthatch 12 Bullers albatross 33 buzzard 47 calliope hummingbird 58 cape gannet 36 carrion crow 1011 chicken 50 cockatoo 49 common jay 9, 11 crow 911 cuckoo 68 Dartford warbler 15 dipper 1617 dove 68 egret 2931 emperor penguin 21-22 emu 3941 flamingo 2931 game 5052 gannet 32, 3638 golden eagle 4647 golden pipit 20 grey heron 30 grouse 52 gull 2628 harpy eagle 46 Hawaiian honeycreeper 5961 heron 2931 herring gull 28 honeycreeper 5961 hooded crow 1011 humboldt penguin 21 hummingbird 5658 ibis 2425 jay 911 king bird of paradise 55 lapwing 3435 lark 1820 laughing gull 26 little blue penguin 2122 little ringed plover 35 long-eared owl 43 lovebird 49 macaw 49 magpie 9 manx shearwater 28 martin 45 meadow pipit 20 mican 49 monk parakeet 48 motacillidae 18 northern parula warbler 15 northern royal albatross 33 northern spotted owl 42 nuthatch 1213 ocelli 50 ostrich 3941 owl 4244 oystercatcher 3435 parrot 4849 partridge 52 passerine 12, 14 peacock 5051 peahen 50 pelican 2123 penguin 2123 pheasant 50, 52 pied wagtail 19 pigeon 68 pipit 1820 plover 3435 puffin 23 pygmy nuthatch 12 ratite 39 red grouse 52 red kite 4647 red-winged parrot 4849 rhea 3941 rifle bird 54 rock dove 6 rock pipit 20 rook 9 screech owl 44 shore lark 20 short-eared owl 43 sicklebill 54 snowy albatross 32 snowy owl 42, 43, 44 sparrowhawk 46 spoonbill 25 stork 2425 sunbird 5961 swallow 45 swift 45 tawny owl 43, 44 tern 2628 treecreeper 1213 turkey 50 vulture 4547 wader 3435 wagtail 1820 wallcreeper 1213 wandering albatross 33 warbler 1415 white-breasted nuthatch 12 white stork 24 willow grouse 52 woodpecker 12 wood warbler 14
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Why are flamingos pink? How do owls catch their prey? What is a boobie? What is a warble? There are 64 pages of bite-sized facts, brilliant illustrations and diagrams to tell you all about the incredible world of birds. No question is too tough to tackle, and no answer too difficult to explain. Focus On titles are the ultimate in addictive reading!
Published by Top That! Publishing plc Copyright 2010 Top That! Publishing plc Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1AP, UK www.topthatpublishing.com Top That! is a registered trademark of Top That! Publishing plc All rights reserved. 0246897531