Search Results for: birds of prey

What Are Birds Of Prey?

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Written by: Niki Giovanis

Birds of prey actively pursue their prey and hunt them down, sometimes even when their prey is much larger than them in size, but more often eat small mammals, reptiles, other birds, fish and large insects. Birds of prey are also known as raptors, derived from Latin word “rapere”, which means to take by force or snatch. Traditionally, birds of prey included five avian families in the order Falconiformes, but now they have been split into two orders that include Accipitriformes.

Characteristics of birds of prey

These birds have characteristic features that … Continue

Birds Of The World: Inca Tern

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The Inca Tern(Larosterna inca) is a South American bird that is classified in the avian order Charadriiformes and family Laridae. 

Physical Characteristics

An adult Inca Tern’s body is mostly gray throughout. This species has a long white “ moustache” which starts at the base of the bill and curls down around the cheeks. There are bare yellow patches at the base of the bill. The legs and bill are red. The average measurements of an adult Inca Tern are as follows: 41 centimeters(1 foot 4.14 inches) long; 195 grams(6.88 ounces) in weight. 

Juvenile Inca Terns  are blackish, and have small … Continue

Birds Of The World: Magellanic Penguin

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The Magellanic Penguin(Spheniscus magellanicus) is classified in the avian order Sphenisciformes and family Spheniscidae. The Magellanic Penguin was named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan

Physical Characteristics 

An adult Magellanic Penguin has a black black and white abdomen. There are two black bands between the head and the breast, with the lower band shaped like a horseshoe.There is pink around and above each eye.  The bill is black but sometimes has a dark gray tip, Near the tip of the bill there is a grayish band.The legs are grayish and are irregularly spotted pink.

GenusSpheniscus
SpeciesS. magellanicus
Binomial
… Continue

Birds Of The World: Gentoo Penguin

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The Gentoo Penguin(Pygoscelis papua), is classified in the avian order Sphenisciformes, and the family Spheniscidae.

GenusPygoscelis
SpeciesP. papua
Binomial NamePygoscelis papua
Length51-90 cm(1’8.1”-2’11.4”)
Weight4.5-8.5kg(9.9-17.6 lbs.)
Dietcarnivore
IUCN StatusLeast concern 

Physical Characteristics

Adult Gentoo Penguins’ backs are blackish, they have a white band on their crown that extends from one eye to the other. Their torsos are white, their bills are red or orange, with a black culmen(a culmen is the upper ridge of a bird’s bill). Their legs are orange-yellow to pink. 

Range and Habitat

The Gentoo Penguin’s breeding range consists … Continue

Birds Of The World: African Penguin

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The African Penguin(Spheniscus demersus), also known as the Cape Penguin, Black-Footed Penguin, Jackass Penguin, or the South African Penguin is classified in the avian order Sphenisciformes, and family Spheniscidae. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature currently lists the African Penguin as endangered.

GenusSpheniscus
SpeciesS. demersus
Binomial NameSpheniscus demersus
Length60-70 cm(1’11.6”-2’3.6”)
Weight2.1-3.7 kg(4.6-8.2 lbs.)
Dietcarnivore
IUCN Statusendangered

Physical Characteristics 

An adult African Penguin’s back is black; it’s torso is white with a black horseshoe shaped band across its upper chest and down through its sides. There is a bare pink … Continue