Birds have many different places where they can hide and take shelter. The specific places that different species of birds hide depends on their habitats, nesting behaviors, and whether they are trying to avoid predators, take cover from weather, or find a safe place to rest. Some key areas birds may hide include in trees and foliage, cavities, burrows, nests, man-made structures, caves, and crevices. In Trees and Foliage One of the most common places for birds to hide is within trees and dense vegetation. Thick foliage provides cover from predators and camouflage from prey. Many species spend most of…
Author: Peter Knight
The dodo was a flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Dodos became extinct in the late 1600s, within 100 years after humans first set foot on Mauritius. Being flightless and fearless of humans made dodos vulnerable to human activities. So what did dodos do to try to survive in the face of human threats? Key Facts About Dodos Here are some key facts about dodos that provide context on their survival abilities and challenges: Dodos were flightless birds around 3 feet tall and weighing over 20 pounds. Their wings were tiny and weak.…
Dragon Brand bird’s nest is a popular type of edible bird’s nest that is highly valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Bird’s nests are one of the most expensive animal products consumed by humans, with quality nests selling for upwards of $3,000 per pound. Dragon Brand bird’s nest originates from swiftlet nests that are harvested from cave walls and cliffs across Southeast Asia. The top producing countries are Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Dragon Brand sources their nests ethically and sustainably from nest farmers across this region. What are bird’s nests? Bird’s nests are made from the solidified saliva…
Barn owls are known for being one of the most efficient predators of small mammals, particularly mice and voles. Their hunting and dietary habits have fascinated ornithologists and bird lovers for centuries. Here we’ll take a closer look at the barn owl’s diet and their taste for mice. The barn owl’s diet Barn owls are opportunistic predators, meaning they will eat whatever small prey is abundantly available. However, the bulk of their diet consists of small rodents: Mice – Specifically, wood mice and house mice. Voles – Especially field voles. Rats Moles Shrews Bats They also prey on birds, reptiles,…
Black-capped chickadees are small songbirds that can be found across much of North America. They have black caps and bibs, white cheeks, and soft gray underparts. Chickadees are well known for their acrobatic ability to hang upside down while feeding. They are also incredibly hardy birds that manage to survive the harshest winters despite their small size. So how do black-capped chickadees make it through the winter when food is scarce, temperatures plummet, and dangerous snowstorms are frequent? They have many behavioral and physiological adaptations that allow them to make it through this challenging season. What Do Black-Capped Chickadees Eat…
If you live in North America, you may have noticed a small, gray bird with white outer tail feathers visiting your backyard feeders or scavenging beneath shrubs during the winter months. This sociable bird is likely the dark-eyed junco, a member of the sparrow family that migrates south each fall from breeding grounds in Canada and the northern United States. Juncos are extremely common winter residents across much of the continental U.S., but their numbers plummet as spring approaches and the birds migrate back north again. Read on to learn why juncos only visit many backyards during the winter. Juncos…
Sparrows are a small family of birds that are found all over the world. There are over 140 different species of sparrows, spread across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. Some of the most common types of sparrows include the House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, and Chipping Sparrow. Sparrows have adapted well to living alongside humans in urban and suburban environments. Sparrows may seem like an ordinary backyard bird at first glance, but they are actually quite remarkable in many ways. Here are some of the key reasons why sparrows are so special: They are extremely resilient Sparrows have…
Roadrunners are medium-sized cuckoos found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. They are known for their distinctive appearance, speed, and amusing antics. Roadrunners reproduce in a unique way compared to many other bird species. Roadrunner Mating Season The roadrunner mating season begins in early spring, around March or April. This lines up with the beginning of the rainy season in their desert habitats. The increased rainfall causes more insects, lizards, and other small prey to be available, which provides plenty of nutrition for female roadrunners before and after laying eggs. Male roadrunners will start calling to attract mates in…
The dodo bird was a flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It was first discovered by Dutch sailors in the late 16th century, who gave the bird its name. “Dodo” comes from the Dutch word “dodaars”, meaning “sluggard”. This was likely in reference to the dodo’s apparent lack of fear of humans and inability to fly away from danger. The dodo’s extinction in the 17th century was caused primarily by overhunting by humans, along with predation by invasive species. Though the dodo only existed during the Age of Discovery, it gained an…
There are a few different ways to read and pronounce the English word “bird”. The most common pronunciation in both American and British English is to read it as a single syllable word that rhymes with “word”. Phonetically, it is pronounced as /bɜːrd/. When teaching children to read, sometimes the word “bird” is sounded out letter-by-letter as “buh – ir – duh”. This can help kids learn the connections between letters and sounds. But in normal speech, adult native English speakers do not usually pronounce “bird” this way. Some other key points about reading/pronouncing the word “bird”: The “i” is…