Category Archives: Birds

The king vulture is distinguished from the large number of other vultures by its brilliant plumage and its unusual appearance. Most American vultures are brown or black; the king vulture is a striking cream and black. It lives in Central and South America, usually in rather forested regions.

Three are only two species of cariamas found in the world today and both live in South America. But the cariamas are related to giant flightless birds which walked about the South American continent more than forty million years ago. The largest of these ancient carnivorous birds, Phororhacos, stood five feet tall and had a … Continue reading

Pelicans  are often seen flying in flocks in a V shape or line formation. Sometimes, depending on the wind, they fly close to the water with their long wings nearly touching the waves. At other times they can be seen circling very high in the sky.

Since the Middle Ages people of Central Europe have regarded the white storks as bringers of good luck to men. It is not known how such a legend arose but it has protected the storks. Perhaps it came about because the return of the storks meant that spring had come. In the 1700’s watchmen in … Continue reading

A Few years ago ornithologists estimated that there were about six million flamingos in the world. This included all the flamingos in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as those of the Americas. Unfortunately these beautiful and unusual birds are decreasing in number although in many areas they are now protected by law.

Penguins  fly in the water rather than above the water. Their wings have become almost like flippers, useless for flying but fine for propelling the birds through the water at speeds up to twenty-five miles an hour. Their webbed feet are used as rudders.

EMUS are one of the two very large flightless birds which can still be seen in the wild in Australia. They live on inland plains. Emus have brownish-grey feathers which form a heavy coat over their bodies. Only two patches of bare blue skin on their necks  and their heavy legs are not feathered. They … Continue reading

Swans play a prominent part in the folklore of Europe—the dying swan is supposed to sing a final song of indescribable beauty; the seven princes turned into swans by an enchantress, finally rescued by their devoted sister, Lisa; the enchanted maidens who are swans in the famous Russian ballet Swan Lake. One of the best-known … Continue reading