Birds
Overview
Continuing along the trail you will find all sorts of exotic birds from the species below...
White Cheeked Turaco
White Cheeked Turacos originate from Central and South Africa and like to live in tall evergreen forests and wooded valleys. They are considered frugivores which mean they eat mostly fruits but do occasionally eat insects too. They are not an endangered species.
FUN FACT: These clever birds have tiny claws at the end of each wing allowing them to grip twigs nearby their nests.
White-Faced Whistling Ducks
As the name suggests, this breed of bird is very noisy with a three-note whistling call. The White-faced Whistling Duck breeds in sub-Saharan Africa and much of South America. The White-faced Whistling Duck nests on a small platform near the ground and lays 8-12 eggs a time.
FUN FACT: These birds travel in large flocks of a thousand birds or more at dawn in some favoured sights.
Pied Imperial Pigeons
These birds can be found in forests and woodland in Southeast Asia, ranging between Thailand, Philippines and New Guinea, particularly in coastal regions. Pied Imperial Pigeons mostly feast on fruits and berries, including wild figs and large fruits wild nutmeg.
FUN FACT: These birds like to preen themselves and do ‘rain-bathing’ to keep their feathers in optimal condition!
Military Macaws
Military Macaws are originally from the forests of Mexico and South America and usually nest in large flocks, high up in the trees. Macaws can be very loud; a scream can reach over 105 decibels! They like to eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits and berries.
FUN FACT: Macaws can blush! The white patches on their faces can turn red when exposed to sunlight or when they get excited!
Hamerkops
Hamerkops can be found in the wild in the wetlands of Africa , Madagascar and South West Arabia. When a mating pair build a nest they create a huge haystack-like structure nearly 2m across in fork of tree branches. It is built by the male and re-used every year. The entrance remains at the bottom to deter potential predators.
FUN FACT: ‘Hamerkop’ means ‘hammerhead’ in Afrikaans.
Orinoco Geese
The Orinoco Goose is a resident breeder in the forests of tropical South America. They prefer forest lakes or marshes with access to open woodland or savannas They are very territorial during the breeding season, and usually nest in hollow trees.
FUN FACT: Orinoco Geese rarely swim or even fly.
Giant Wood-rails
The Giant Wood Rail is native to South America. It is a very shy and secretive bird and likes to spend most of its time in lowland forests and swamps. Giant Wood Rail will lay between 4-7 eggs which are usually born after 24 days.
FUN FACT: Giant Wood Rail’s are very noisy before dawn to help attract mates but also demonstrate territorial boundaries.
White-naped Cranes
The White-naped Crane is approximately 130cm (4ft) tall and is distinctive for its long neck, red face and pink legs. White-naped Cranes breed in wetland areas and river valleys. The White-naped Crane is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red list with less than 6,000 remaining in the wild due to habitat loss.
FUN FACT: During mating season, White-naped Cranes often display elaborate courtship dances which often involve circling each other, head-bobbing and tossing feathers and sticks in the air.
Brazilian Teals
Brazilian Teals live in pairs or in small groups of up to twenty birds and their preferred habitat is fresh-water away from the coast with dense vegetation nearby. Adults eat seeds, fruits, roots and insects, while hatchlings, who are looked after by both parents, eat only insects.
FUN FACT: When flying, Brazilian Teals make a loud weeping whistle noise, which means they are often heard before they are seen.
Andean Condor
Andean Condors are one of the largest flying birds in the world with a very broad wingspan of more than 3 metres! They are mostly black with white patches around their neck and wings. Andean Condors are scavengers, eating meat which other predators have left behind. They are not very good at hunting themselves as they have blunt claws instead of sharp talons.
FUN FACT: Andean Condors have been known to live for 75 years!
African Ground Hornbill
These birds, as their name suggests, are ground dwellers, living in savannah areas throughout central and southern Africa. African Ground Hornbill’s do not start breeding until they reach four years old. Pairs are monogamous but only one pair from each group breeds and only one baby from each nesting is reared by their parents.3
FUN FACT: The Masai have many superstitions about the African Ground Hornbill, such as, if one lands on the roof of a house the occupants must move at once or death will be brought on the family.
Red Legged Seriema
Red Legged Seriemas like to spend most of their time on the ground and have developed as very quick runners to escape from any danger. Red Legged Seriemas like to eat a variety of foods including seeds, fruit, insects, small rodents, lizards and frogs. They have very sharp claws which helps them when hunting.
FUN FACT: One of the most distinguishing characteristics of Red Legged Seriema is their call, many people say their cry sounds a lot like a yelping puppy and can be heard several kilometres away.
Great Grey Owl
One of the World’s largest owls, the Great Grey Owl has beautiful dark grey fluffy plumage with light grey and white flecks throughout. These birds choose to only fly short distances close to ground, except when nesting, and when hunting they prefer the ‘sit and wait’ method.
FUN FACT: When the ground is covered in snow, the Great Grey Owl can hunt by hearing alone. They can hear small rodents moving as far as 30cm underneath snow.
King Vulture
Unlike most other vultures, the King Vulture is relatively colourful! They are white with black tails and wing tips with yellow, orange and red heads and necks. They are scavengers, feeding off dead animals, with powerful beaks and talons. They are found throughout South America.3
FUN FACT: It is believed that King Vultures got their name from an old Mayan legend when the vulture was the ‘king’ that carried messages between humans and the Gods.
Moluccan Cockatoo
With its distinctive salmon pink colouring and orange crest, Moluccan Cockatoos are one of our most popular birds. They are the largest species of Cockatoo reaching an impressive 60cm. Farmers in their native Indonesia often find them a pest as they like to eat their plants – they can even chew through coconut shells!
FUN FACT: Moluccan Cockatoos can hold their food in one foot and break pieces off with the other!
Scarlet Macaw
The most distinctive of the Macaw species, Scarlet Macaws have a brilliant bright red plumage, with yellow-blue on their wings and tail. They live in South American rainforests and savannah areas. Macaws mate for life, and preen each other and their offspring for many hours a day.
FUN FACT: Macaws eat mud! This is so they can get enough minerals and neutralize acid in their diet.
Northern Helmeted Curassow
This ground dwelling bird only lives in a certain areas of South America, in subtropical, mountainous regions. During breeding season males actually sing to the females by producing a very low booming sound. Both sexes look very similar with dark green plumage and white breast, however the male is slightly bigger.
FUN FACT: The Northern Helmeted Curassows’ scientific name is Pauxi pauxi
Striated Caracara
Native to the Falkland Islands, Striated Caracara are birds of prey with very dark feathers and grey flecks on their neck. In the hunt for food, they often raid dustbins and move rocks, proving they are very clever birds.
FUN FACT: Striated Caracara are known for stealing red objects as they think it is meat!
Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta Peposaca)
Rosybill Pochard’s are instantly recognisable for their bright red bill and black and white striped wings. They feed on aquatic plants by dabbling and head dipping in the water. They also graze offshore where they like to eat seeds, roots, grasses. Rosybill’s are very fast flyers and can descend from very high altitudes when trying to escape predators.
FUN FACT: The species name peposaca is derived from a Guarani word for ‘showy wings’
Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove
The Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove gets its name from the red patch on its white chest. It has a round body, short tail and long legs. Both males and females look very similar. Bleeding Heart Doves are quite a shy bird spending most of their time hidden amongst shrubs on the ground.
FUN FACT: The Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove is classified as Threatened according to CITES so conservation programmes are in place globally to protect them.
Book your visit now, or for the chance to get even more involved, see our information about Zoo Keeper for a Day, Animal Parties and Adoption .
The birds can be found in the Monkey & Bird Garden.
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