GOSHAWK

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ORDER
Accipitriformes
... FAMILY
"'1IIIIIIII Accipitridae
.... GENUS & SPECIES
"'1IIIIIIII Accipiter gentilis
A master of split-second timing as it darts through the trees
of its forest home, the goshawk is an agile hunter. Its piercing,
bright orange-red eyes give it a fierce appearance.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 11/2 ft. Female, 2 ft.
Wingspan: Male, 3 ft. Female, 4 ft .
Weight: Male, 1-21 /z lb. Female,
2-3 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Breeding season: April to June.
Eggs: 3-5; bluish white.
No. of broods: 1 per year.
Incubation: 35-38 days:
Fledging: 40-43 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary except in the
breeding season.
Diet: Mainly birds and small
mammals.
Lifespan: About 15 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The goshawk is the largest of 45
species of Accipiter worldwide.
Range of the goshawk.
DISTRIBUTION
Across parts of Europe, North Africa, northern and southern
Asia, and North America.
CONSERVATION
Wild goshawks almost became extinct in Great Britain in the
1900s, but because the protected species was reintroduced
to their former range, their numbers have increased.
FEATURES OF THE GOSHAWK
\0MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
The bird's short,
broad wings and
long tail give it
extra maneuvera-
bility in flight for
avoiding obstacles
while chaSing prey
through trees.
0160200331 PACKET 33
The shy goshawk is rarely seen,
even though it is considerably larger
than its close relative the sparrow hawk. The
predatory bird is most likely spotted in large forests,
flying through a glade or soaring over the
treetops in spring.
DID YOU KNOW?
The name goshawk is a
shortened version of "goose-
hawk," but this bird cannot
kill prey as large as a goose.
Although popularly used in
falconry, the fierce-tempered
goshawk is one of the most
difficult birds to train.
In India people use the
goshawk to help catch
gazelle. The bird stops the
fleeing animal so pursuing
dogs can pounce on them.
Goshawks mate for life, but
pairs often spend the winter
apart, reuniting in spring.
BREEDING
The goshawk's courting display
begins in early spring when
the female soars and swoops
over the treetops to attract the
male. Sometimes both birds fly
over the breeding grounds
with slow, deliberate wing
beats in a "sky dance."
The male builds a new nest,
but if an old nest is nearby, the
female may choose to reuse it.
High in the fork of a large tree,
the nest is built with twigs and
lined with pine needles or
leaves depending on the
woodland type.
FOOD &: HUNTING
A ruthless and efficient preda-
tor, the large goshawk can
hunt prey as large as rabbits
and hares. It also preys on rats
and squirrels.
The goshawk swiftly and
agilely hunts gamebirds such
as grouse, partridge, and
pheasant. Other feathered prey
include pigeons and crows,
and occasionally smaller birds
like thrushes.
Selecting its prey from a con-
cealed perch or from high in
the air, the goshawk acceler-
ates down to the ground at
great speed to catch the ani-
mal by surprise.
The bird grips and kills its
victims with its powerful claws.
It may eat the prey on the spot
or carry it to a perch where it
will be dismembered and
consumed. The goshawk drags
large prey such as an adult
rabbit to a safe place to devour
some of it before flying off with
the remains.
The female lays the eggs
over a two- to three-day
period and incubates them.
Five weeks later she broods
the newly hatched young
while the male brings them
all food. Both parents begin
hunting when the chicks'
appetites increase.
One month after fledging
the independent chicks are
able to hunt for themselves.
Right: When the chicks hatch,
the male brings the food for the
female to pass to the young.
The goshawk is found all over
the world-wherever it can
find a suitable habitat.
Over its wide range the
inhabits terrain
where woods alternate with
shrubby areas, plains, clear-
ings, and lakes or river shores.
The shy goshawk prefers
large forests where it can nest
and hunt away from humans.
With enough prey it will live
in either deciduous or coni-
ferous woodland.
Far left: The
goshawk is
most often
seen soaring
through the
air, searching
for prey.
Left: A female
goshawk
stands over the
young hare she
has killed.
BIRDWATCH
The rare and shy go hawk can
sometimes be seen in large,
mature coniferous (evergreen)
or mixed woodland, especially
in upland areas. Often only the
skin and feathers from large
prey left beneath a "plucking
post" give away the bird's
location.
On clear days in March and
April the goshawk can be
spotted hunting along broad
grassy paths, called rides. The
goshawk is most often spotted
while in pursuit of its prey.
"" CARD 92 J
EURASIAN JAY
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~
ORDER
Posserifarmes
FAMILY
Carvidoe
GENUS &: SPECIES
Gorru/us g/ondorius
The Eurasian jay is found in wooded countryside throughout
Europe, yet it is rare to catch more than a blurred glimpse
of this bird as it flits between branches.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 13 in.
Weight: 5-7 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: Spring to early
summer.
No. of broods: Usually 1 .
Eggs: 4-6.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Easily disturbed; territorial
during the breeding season.
Call: Loud, harsh screech. Mimics
other birds.
Diet: Small invertebrates, rodents,
acorns, seeds, berries, eggs, and
young of other birds.
Lifespan: Longest, 16 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 2 other Gorru/us species:
the purple jay from India and the
lanceolated jay from the Ryuku
Islands south of Japan.
Range of the Eurasian jay.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in wooded areas throughout Europe, except in the
far north; also found in northern Africa and western Asia.
CONSERVATION
The Eurasian jay is an adaptable bird and appears to be
thriving throughout its range. The only danger is the
continuing use of agricultural pesticides, which can
contaminate its food.
FEATURES OF THE EURASIAN JAY
Flight: The jay's
white rump
and wing
feathers can be
seen in flight. Bill: Strong and
pointed, well-adapted
for dehusking acorns
and burying seeds
and fruit.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Head: The crown is covered
with black and white feathers,
which the jay raises to form a
small crest when it is excited.
Eggs: 4-6 grayish green,
speckled brown.
Wings: Black with white
and blue patches. The
blue feathers are barred
with black.
Chicks: After hatching, ch
stay in the nest for up to
3 weeks.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200341 PACKET 34
The Eurasian jay is a colorful member of the crow
family. Its black wings have shimmering,
iridescent blue and white patches. When excited,
it raises the black and white feathers on
its crown to form a crest.
~ H A B I T S
The Eurasian jay is more often
heard than seen. It can be
identified by its white rump,
black tail, and blue and white
wing patches. When it flies
from tree to tree, it may ap-
pear only as a flash of color.
The jay frequently engages
in an activity called anting. It
deliberately disturbs an ant-
hill, encouraging the ants to
swarm over its feathers . The
Right: A young
jay demands
food from its
parent by
either pecking
at the adult's
bill or squawk-
ing loudly until
the food is
handed over.
excited ants then release a
substance called formic acid,
which the jay rubs into its
body. The formic acid acts as
an insecticide, keeping the jay
free from other insects.
Recently the jay's habitat
has broadened to include
orchards, parks, and gardens.
Right: Over distances the jay's
flight is heavy and wavelike.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The Eurasian jay's diet in-
cludes caterpillars, worms,
spiders, and small rodents. It
also eats seeds, fruit, and the
eggs and newly hatched
young of other birds.
In the fall the jay eats and
hoards thousands of acorns,
storing large quantities below
ground to have when other
Left: The Eurasian jay prefers the
cover of a wooded area.
DID YOU KNOW?
Male and female Eurasian
jays look alike and can be
distinguished only by thei r
mating behavior.
Jays are excellent mimics
and have been heard imitat-
food is scarce. The jay buries
each acorn separately. It
pecks a small hole in the
ground, drops the acorn in it,
then covers it with earth,
leaves, and twigs. It also
stores beechnuts, peas, and
berries in this way.
The jay eats an acorn by
holding it down with its feet
and picking off pieces of the
husk with its bill to expose
the soft part underneath.
ing dogs, goats, and even a
squeaking door.
Jays remember where they
have hidden acorns even
when the ground is covered
with snow or leaves.
Mating begins in spring after
a ritual known as the "spring
gathering," which is a way of
bringing together unpaired
birds. The male and female
jays gather in groups and
chase each other through the
air, holding their wings open
to display their blue patches.
After pairing, both male
and female defend a small
territory against intruders,
The Eurasian jay is found
mainly in woodlands and in
open country with lots of
trees. It is becoming more
common in suburbs.
Its pinkish body and blue
Above: The jay
rouses an ant-
hill with its
wings.
Left: The jay
often steals
eggs of other
birds.
and a pair may bond for life.
Both birds build a small, flat
nest hidden high in a tree.
In late April or May the
female lays four to six grayish
green eggs with brown spots,
which she incubates herself.
The chicks hatch 16 to 19
days later and leave the nest
after about 21 days, although
the parents feed them for sev-
eral more weeks.
and white wing patches
identify the jay. But it is
easily disturbed and more
likely to be seen flying away,
showing only its white rump
and black tail.
SECRETARY BIRD
ORDER
Falconiformes
FAMilY
Sagittariidae
GENUS &; SPECIES
Sagittarius serpentarius
The secretary bird gets its unusual name from the crest of
black-tipped plumes on its head, which resemble the quill pens
that British law secretaries used to stick in their powdered wigs.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
length: 4-5 ft.
Weight: 7-9 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Unknown.
Breeding season: Coincides with
rainy season.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 1-3, pale bluish green or
white, laid at 2-3 day intervals.
Incubation: 45 days.
Fledging period: 65-105 days,
usually 75-85 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives in pairs.
Diet: Small amphibians, lizards,
insects, small mammals, birds,
and snakes.
Call: Normally silent but growls
and croaks during courtship.
Mews when roosting at night.
RElATED SPECIES
The secretary bird has its own
family and no close relatives.
Range of the secretary bird.
DI STRI BUTION
Africa, south of the Sahara on savannah and similar areas.
CONSERVATION
While not an endangered, vulnerable, or rare bird, numbers
have always been low and are now decreasing due to habitat
loss. The secretary bird does not breed successfully in
populated areas where its low nests are vulnerable to
egg thieves.
FEATURES OF THE SECRETARY BIRD
Nest: Up to seven feet across, built in or on top of a
dense, thorny shrub or tall, flat-topped tree. Constructed
loosely from twigs and lined with soft grass.
"Secretary" crest: Characteristic set of plumes that
spread out during courtship or mating display.
IDMCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
' :(hecJ1ase: The secretary bird runs in
r' ' a zigzag pattern after its prey, often
flapping its wings to add to the
cQnfusiQn. It is agile and can easily
I. : to avoid a striking snake.
/
1/
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
The kill: When
attacking a
snake the bird
strikes it hard
just behind the
head to frac-
ture the spine.
0160200301 PACKET 30
Similar in appearance to the long-legged
crane, the secretary bird is unlike most other birds
of prey: instead of swooping down and grabbing its
food with its long talons, it walks along the ground
and picks up small items in its beak. It kills larger
animals such as snakes by stamping on them.

The secretary bird lives no-
madically, traveling far for
food in Africa's dry plains,
savannahs, and sparsely cov-
ered grasslands. Most of the
year adults live in pairs, for-
aging within sight of each
other and roosting at night in
the same tree. After dawn,
the secretary bird returns to
the ground to forage or take
a cleansing dust bath.
The secretary bird stays
mainly on the ground, but it
can fly in a series of steep
dives and upward arcs.

The secretary bird mates for
life. The male may court the
female with an undulating
flight while making a loud,
groaning call. But most often
he chases her on the ground
with wings outspread, both
birds performing a running
and jumping, dancelike
display.
The birds build a large nest
20 feet above ground on top
of a dense, thorny bush or a
sturdy, flat-topped tree. The
nest is a crude platform of
large sticks lined with grass. If
it remains undisturbed, a pair
will use the same nest each
year, adding to its size. A nest
can span as much as seven
feet.
The female" lays her pale,
bluish green eggs at intervals
every few days and incubates
them for seven weeks. The
white or pale gray down that
covers the newly hatched
young darkens in a few
weeks. The parents feed the
chicks predigested food at
first, later bringing live prey
in their beaks.
To test its wings for the
first time, the chick jumps
from the nest to the ground.
If unable to fly back up, it will
be fed while hidden in the
grass until it is able to fly.
r--------------------------------.
FOOD &: HUNTING
The secretary bird finds prey
by walking on dry ground,
stamping its feet to flush out
small mammals and reptiles.
When pursuing a snake or
rodent, the bird runs in a
zigzag pattern, flapping its
wings to confuse and
frighten the prey, thus
Left: Adults roost in pairs in tall,
flat-topped trees typically found
throughout the savannah.
Above right:
This adult is
giving water,
not food, to
its waiting
chick.
Left: The
adult secre-
tary birds
build a nest
from sticks
and twigs,
often on top
ofa sturdy
bush.
making it easier to catch.
The secretary bird eats
not only snakes, but also
insects, small mammals, and
birds and their eggs. Among
the bird's largest prey are
young hares, and snakes
such as puff adders and
cobras.
Right: A secretary bird tosses
a small snake in its beak after
breaking its spine.
DID YOU KNOW?
In pa rts of southern Africa
some farmers domesticate
secretary birds: they keep
them to clear their farms of
snakes and rats.
The secretary bird takes
small prey directly to its
young, but it may also
catch larger prey and hide
it under a bush for later.
The breeding male pro-
tects his territory by run-
ning after an intruding bird
with great speed, jumping
over it, and striking it down
with his powerful feet. This
assault forces the trespass-
ing bird to retreat.
Usually only one chick
from each brood survives
to maturity because of the
lack of nutritious food in
the secretary bird's arid
grassland habitat.
GREATER ROAD RUNNER
ORDER
Cuculiformes
FAMILY
Cuculidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
... GENUS Ex SPECIES
"11IIIIIIII Geococcyx californian us
The greater roadrunner is the world's fastest-running flying bird.
Its exceptional speed and agility help it to capture prey
and outmaneuver predators.
KEY FACTS
.. ---
SIZES
Length: Body, 16 in. Tail, 8 in.
Speed: Up to 18 mph .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 1 year.
No. of broods: 1 .
Breeding season: March to April.
Eggs: White. Up to 7; usually 3-5.
Incubation period: 20 days.
Fledging period: 18 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Generally solitary outside
the breeding season.
Call: Makes a wide range of
sounds, including crowing,
cooing, and hooting noises.
Range of the greater roadrunner.
--------------------
DISTRIBUTION
Diet: Insects, lizards, snakes, small
rodents, and small birds.
lifespan: Not known.
The greater roadrunner's range is confined to desert
chaparral (dense shrubs and trees) and the scrubby for-
ests of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
RELATED SPECIES
Member of the cuckoo family. Its
closest relative is the lesser road-
runner, Geococcyx velox, which
ranges from Mexico to Nicaragua.
CONSERVATION
Like most of the other cuckoo species, the greater road-
runner does not appear to be at risk at present from either
hunting or destruction of its habitat.
FEATURES OF THE GREATER ROADRUNNER
Neck: Straightened
and extended slightly
while running.
Legs: Powerfully built. Running at a
speed of 15 mpll , the roadrunner
takes about 12 st ps' per
Temperature control: Special patch
of dark-colored skin on the back, just
between the wings. The color absorbs
heat from the sun quickly, warming
the skin and blood vessels. This
helps the bird reach its daytime
temperature after its overnight
resting state.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Tail : Used for control and
changing direction when
running at high speeds.
Eggs: 3-7. Twelve eggs have
been recorded in instances
where one nest is shared by
two females.
"."
0160200371 PACKET 37
The greater roadrunner is a medium-size bird
with a streamlined body, strong legs, and a long tail.
Although it can fly, it prefers to stay on the ground,
where it runs at high speed in pursuit of prey.
This bird is particularly skilled at catching
a variety of snakes.
~ H A B I T S
The greater roadrunner lives
mainly on the ground. Al-
though it can fly clumsily for
short distances, it relies on
running to escape danger
and to catch prey. It runs very
fast (about 15 miles per hour)
and can change its direction
quickly by using its tail as a
rudder. When it runs, the bird
straightens and extends its
long neck and uses its tail and
wings to stay balanced.
The greater roadrunner lives
in a climate that is hot during
the day but can drop to very
low temperatures at night. In
these conditions other birds
burn energy to keep their
body temperature constant.
But the roadrunner allows its
temperature to drop slightly
each night and enters into a
state of torpor. This state of
reduced energy consumption
is similar to hibernation, and
the bird becomes sluggish.
Although it cannot respond
quickly to danger in this state,
it has so few predators that
any risk is outweighed by the
savings in energy.
~ FOOD & HUNTING
The greater roadrunner has a
varied diet that includes in-
sects, lizards, snakes, small ro-
dents, and birds. It picks small
prey like insects directly from
vegetation or flushes them
from cover by beating its
wings. The roadrunner sprints
after larger, fast-moving prey,
dashes it against the ground,
and then eats it whole. It
pounds tough-skinned prey
until it is soft enough to eat.
The roadrunner is a spe-
cialist at catching snakes. It
circles the snake, keeping out
Left: Adapted for speed, the
greater roadrunner's long tail
acts like a rudder.
of range of its fangs, and then
darts in and seizes it behind
the head. It kills the snake by
pounding its head against
the ground.
Newly hatched chicks need
more water than their food
alone provides. To supple-
ment a chick's water intake,
the adult holds out an insect
or other small prey at the tip
of its bill. When the chick tries
to take it, the adult regur-
gitates water into the chick's
mouth and then lets it take
the food .
Right: A strong bill and speed on
the ground make this bird a
formidable snake catcher.
Left: A special
patch of skin
behind the road-
runner's wings
absorbs heat
from the sun
quickly and
raises the bird's
body temper-
ature from its
nighttime state.
DID YOU KNOW?
The roadrunner received its
name before the automobile
was invented, when it used
to run on the road alongside
horses and carriages.
A greater roadrunner was
clocked at 26 miles per hour
while being chased by a car.
~ BREEDING
The male greater roadrunner
attracts the female with a series
of descending cooing sounds.
He then offers her food but
does not let her eat it until after
mating. As a display, he raises
his crest and flicks his tail while
cackling and quickly patting his
feet. He repeats the display sev-
eral times, alternating it with
bowing and cooing.
Unlike many other species of
Left: The male roadrunner offers
the female food but does not let
her eat until after mating.
This time equals the peak
speed of the 1988 world rec-
ord holder for the 1 OO-meter.
This bird was once hunted
in the mistaken belief that it
ate game birds.
The greater roadrunner is
also called a chaparral cock.
cuckoo, the roadrunner builds
its own nest instead of using
that of another bird. The fe-
male uses twigs to build a shal-
low, basket-shaped structure
off the ground.
The female lays between
three and seven white eggs
and incubates them for about
20 days. The chicks are born
black and naked. Both parents
bring them insects and small
lizards to eat. The chicks can
run about at 18 days and are
ready to leave the nest about
a week later.
"' CARD 95
COMMON EIDER

". ORDER
. Anseriformes
FAMILY
Anatidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Somateria mollissima
The common eider is a hardy sea duck that breeds on cold, bleak
northern coasts. Its protective plumage provides eiderdow,..-one of
the warmest, lightest materials known.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 1
1
/2-2
1
/2 ft .
Wingspan: 2
1
/2- 3
1
/2 ft.
Weight: 4
1
/2-5 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Breeding season: April to July.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 4-6, pale green.
Incubation: 28 days.
Fledging period: 70 days.
LIFESTYLE
Diet: Marine mollusks and
crustaceans.
Habit: Marine, sociable.
Call: Crooning (male), harsh
croak (female) .
RELATED SPECIES
There are 4 species of eider. The
common eider's closest relatives
are the king eider, Somateria
spectabilis, and the spectacled
eider, S. fischeri.
Range of the common eider.
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout the Arctic, on or near coasts, breeding as far
south as Nova Scotia, northern England, and the Baltic.
Feeds on more southerly shores in winter.
CONSERVATION
Down-collecting has little effect on eider populations, and
the eider's numbers are increasing. Nesting and feeding
grounds are vulnerable to coastal oil pollution.
FEATURES OF THE COMMON EIDER
Bill: Large, triangular, and
powerful , used for cracking
open mussels.
Nest: On ground, close to
water. Built from grass and
seaweed.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Drake (Male): Black cap and
underparts. Upper back and
leading wing edges are white.
Patches of pale green on nape
\". _____ and pale yellow on breast.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Duck (Female): Brown-
patterned with white
wing flashes.
0160200311 PACKET 31
The common eider spends its entire adult life out in
the cold, diving for food in icy, storm-tossed waters
and sleeping at sea amid the rolling waves. No other
duck has such a close affinity for the sea, and
few can match its diving skill.
HABITAT
The eider lives along the cold
northern sea coasts, from the
North Atlantic and Pacific up
to the high Arctic. It migrates
south when the polar seas
freeze over, but it always re-
turns north to mate.
The eider has adapted well
to its harsh conditions. It can
sleep on wet rocks near break-
ing surf. Offshore, fleets of ei-
ders ride out storms, bobbing
through the waves and
troughs with their heads
The eider feeds along north-
ern shores in the southern
part of its range throughout
the year. From a distance
the drake looks white with a
black cap, flanks, and tail.
Closer up, the pale green
patches on its nape and pale
yellow breast are visible.
tucked into their breasts. The
eider feeds among reefs
pounded by waves, drifting
close to the rocks in the lulls
and floating away just when
the wave breaks.
Although the eider can exist
in such harsh conditions, it
prefers quiet estuaries and
fjords, often congregating in
the lee (shelter) of headlands.
It breeds on the sheltered
shores close to the tide line
and out of the wave range.
The bird's heavy, tri angu-
lar bill gives it a streamlined
look. The female has the
same bill, but her plumage
is brown to provide camou-
flage while she is on the
nest. She is often quite
tame, even allowing herself
to be touched.
FOOD & FEEDING
The eider preys mainly on
shellfish such as mussels,
whelks, cockles, and crabs. It
crunches large mussel shells in
its bill and swallows
Left: A hardy duck, the eider forms
large and noisy flocks on northern
coasts.
BREEDING
During eider courtship, the
drake will circle the female in
the water, cooing and stretch-
ing his neck up and back. The
female will imitate him, and
soon they mate. The pair then
finds a nest site onshore.
The eider nests mostly near
the tide line sheltered by rock
or driftwood, or, sometimes,
in moorlands and woods. On
small islands without preda-
tors such as rats or foxes,
large eider colonies set up
nesting territories several feet
apart. The birds are territorial
over their nesting sites and
will fight for the best area on
which to build their nest.
The female builds the nest
from grass and seaweed while
the male leaves to molt (shed)
his feathers . She lines the nest
with down plucked from her
small mussels in one piece.
The eider can stay underwa-
ter for more than one minute,
but 30 seconds is usual. Often
plunging up to 30 feet to the
seabed, it may dive 50 feet to
grab mussels off rocks and
bring them to the surface.
Offshore, eiders pull shellfish
breast to insulate the eggs. If
she leaves the nest she covers
the eggs with down to hide
them from nest-robbers such
as the skua. But most of the
time she sits motionless on
the nest, well camouflaged by
her brown plumage.
Right: Snug
in their nest,
the chicks
have warm,
black down.
They are
fully fledged
at about 10
weeks.
Below: Eider
chicks can
swim almost
from birth,
and readily
follow their
mother.
from submerged reefs . At
high tide they dive deep for
crabs in seaweed beds below
the low tide mark.
In estuaries, the eider
liquifies mud by paddling
with its webbed feet and
then plunges its bill down to
snap up a cockle or crab.
The black, downy duck-
lings are active as soon as
they hatch, and within hours
their mother leads them
down to the sea. They swim
through the surf out to
calmer water where they
learn to dive for food.
DID YOU KNOW?
More than half of a brood
of young eiders may be
snatched by predators in
the few hours between the
time they hatch and when
they reach the sea.
The eiders may have in-
spired the first bird sanctu-
ary. The seventh-century
hermit St. Cuthbert pro-
tected them on the Farne
Islands. They are still called
st. Cuthbert's ducks and
the Farnes sanctuary exists
to this day.
In Iceland "eider farmers"
entice the birds to settle in
artificial nests with ribbons,
mirrors, and wind chimes.
EIDER & MAN
In the sometimes bitterly cold
far Arctic regions of the north,
eiderdown is used extensively
in quilts for its warmth. Few
man-made items can match
eiderdown for warmth and
lightness. Thus people treat
the eider duck with unusual
respect. In 1 780 a visitor to
Iceland wrote that the eider
is useful to the natives and a
smart housekeeper would
never shoot one.
In Scandinavia "eider farm-
ers" encourage the birds to
use artificial nesting hollows
so they can collect their feath-
ers. An eider provides enough
down to line two nests each
season, so the farmer removes
some of the lining after the
eggs are laid. The duck quick-
ly replaces it, and after it
leaves, the farmer gathers the
remaining down. It takes the
down from 100 nests to fill
one sleeping bag or quilt.
NORTHERN GANNET
ORDER
Peleconiformes
FAMILY
5ulidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Morus bassanus
The northern gannet's streamlined shape, long wings, and
daggerlike bill make it a lethal predator of fish. With its wings
drawn back, this seabird dives down to seize its prey.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
SIZES
Length: About 3 ft.
Wingspan: 5Yz -6 ft.
Weight: 5-8 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5-6 years.
Breeding season: Early spring to
summer.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 1, whitish.
Incubation: About 6 weeks.
Fledging period: Up to 3 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Breeds in colonies; less
sociable at other times.
Diet: Mainly fish.
Lifespan: 16-20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The northern gannet's closest
relatives are the Cape gannet,
Morus capensis, and the
Australian gannet, M. serrator.
Range of the northern gannet.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in the continental waters of the North Atlantic, with
breeding colonies in eastern Canada, Great Britain, Ireland,
Norway, and Iceland.
CONSERVATION
The number of northern gannets declined sharply in the
19th century because of hunting. Thanks to protected
colonies in Europe, the population is increasing.
FEATURES OF THE NORTHERN GANNET
\
~ -
'p .. lunge diVing:
The northern
gannet locates
~
its prey from
up to 130 feet
. above the water.
, With its wings
half-folded and
head down, it
starts to dive. It
gains so much
momentum as
it dives that it
may plunge
several yards
underwater.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Plumage: The northern gannet does
not gain its gleaming white plumage
and distinctive head markings until
it is 4 years old. First the bird is
colored black and
brown, then brown
and white.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eggs: Each gannet pair
has a single white egg,
which both parents
incubate. It hatches
after 6 weeks.
hick: When
only a few
months old, it
can dive and
feed itself.
0160200391 PACKET 39
The northern gannet is the largest seabird in the North
Atlantic. This remarkable diver can plunge 130 feet
from the sky to catch fish in the sea. Its huge nesting
colonies may contain tens of thousands of birds-
all gleaming white and creating a tumult of noise.
~ H A B I T S
The northern gannet is a large
North Atlantic seabird. It stays
mostly in continental waters
and rarely flies out to mid-
ocean. Its population today is
about 200,000 breeding pairs.
In the breeding season, gan-
nets gather in noisy colonies
on grassy coastal slopes or flat-
topped islands. The colonies
vary from fewer than 10 pairs
to many thousands.
Outside the breeding season,
the gannet is less sociable. It
fishes at sea and comes to the
coast only in harsh weather or
to pursue large schools of fish.
Some birds, especially younger
ones, fly south in winter-to
Right: The northern gannet
returns each year to the same
nest site and the same mate.
Florida in the west and Guinea-
Bissau in the east. In the early
spring, breeding adults return
to the nesting colonies.
The gannet's flight consists
of deep, powerful beats com-
bined with short glides. It can
maintain its course even in
strong winds.
~ FOOD & HUNTING
The northern gannet is re- surface to swallow it. Each dive
nowned for its plunge diving. lasts 5 to 20 seconds. Other
Flying as high as 130 feet above hunting techniques include
the sea, the bird locates its diving at an angle from a low-
prey and drops with its wings er height and diving from the
half-folded. Plunging head- surface after dipping its head
long, it gains so much mo- underwater to spot prey.
mentum that it dives several The gannet catches fish up
yards underwater. It can then to a foot long, including cod,
swim to a depth of 50 feet. herring, haddock, capelin,
After snatching its prey in its mackerel, pilchard, and an-
beak, the gannet swims to the chovy. It also catches squid.
Left: Male gannets frequently use
their bills to wrestle for ownership
of a nest site.
I DID YOU KNOW?
Large air sacs around the
northern gannet's throat and
neck help absorb the shock
when it hits the water.
The gannet's nostrils are
closed as an adaptation for
Right: The gannet is a strong
flyer and seeks shelter only in
very rough weather.
diving. The bird breathes
through its mouth.
When rearing its young,
the gannet may travel almost
400 miles from the colony to
find food.
Thirty percent of all northern
gannets nest in the western
Atlantic. Well -known colo-
nies are on Bonaventure
Island off Quebec's Gaspe
~ BREEDING
The northern gannet mates for
life and uses the same nest site
each year. The male returns
to the site in early spring. He
must reestablish ownership
before his mate arrives. A male
Left: The single chick is tended
by both parents until it can dive
for food.
Peninsula and at Cape St.
Mary in Newfoundland.
Gannets wi nter off the U.S.
coast and can be seen fro m
shore as they dive for fi sh.
breeding for the first time must
secure a site. He then attracts a
female by shaking and extend-
ing his head.
The male usually builds the
nest, piling up seaweed, grass,
and feathers mixed with earth
and droppings. A single egg
is incubated by both sexes
for about a month and a half.
After hatching, the chick de-
velops a downy coat. It eats
partially digested fish from
its parents' mouths. After a
couple of months it is left
alone and dives down to the
sea to feed. Gannets gain full
adult plumage after four years.
Left: Breeding pairs spar with
their bills to greet each other at
the nest.
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
ORDER
Procellariiformes
FAMILY
Diomedeidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Diomedea melanophris
The black-browed albatross is a bird of the open seas that lands
only to breed. An immature bird may circle the world several times
before it touches down on firm ground.
KEY FACTS
~ - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
SIZES
Length: 2lh-3 ft. Male larger.
Wingspan: 6-7 ft.
Weight: About 6lh-9 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 4-7 years.
Breeding: Once every 2 years.
Eggs: 1, white with red-brown
spots.
Incubation: Approximately 2
months.
Fledging: Over 9 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Mainly solitary but nests in
large colonies.
Diet: Squid, fish, crustaceans.
lifespan: 30 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 1 3 albatross species.
Nine species inhabit the south-
ern oceans, including the wander-
ing albatross, Diomedia exulans,
and the black-footed albatross,
D. nigripes.
Range of the black-browed albatross.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in the southern oceans. Nests on remote islands
where there are no predators, such as the Auckland Islands,
Tristan da Cunha, and South Georgia.
CONSERVATION
Once hunted by sailors, the black-browed albatross has
few enemies except man. It is the most numerous species
of albatross.
THE BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS FAMILY
Bill: Long and yellow, with a pinkish,
hooked tip. Small nostrils through which
stomach oil and salt are secreted.
Black "brow": A furrow of black
feathers over the adult's eye
distinguishes this albatross species.
Plumage: Both
sexes have dark
brown upper
wings, a dark
back, gray tail,
dark gray edges
on the front of
the underwing,
and an otherwise
white body.
Nest: A mound
of mud or earth
built on a high
site overlooking
the sea. Other
pairs nest
nearby.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Chick: Stays in nest
for over 9 months.
0160200361 PACKET36
The black-browed albatross glides easily on its long,
stiff wings. It can remain in the air for hours at a time
by riding the strong air currents that rise from the
surface of the sea. A native of the southern oceans,
this wide-ranging bird only occasionally strays
north of the equator.

Breeding occurs in colonies
on remote islands. Once birds
pair up, they mate and breed
every other season.
The male reaches the breed-
ing site first. When his mate
arrives, the two birds engage
in a noisy courtship display.
They dance around each other
with outstretched wings and
clattering bills.
The birds build a cup-shaped
nest from mud or earth. A
single egg is laid and incu-
bated in turn by each parent
for over two months.
The parents feed the newly
hatched chick predigested
food and take turns guarding
it. After a month both adults
may leave the chick for up to
10 days while they search for
food. The chick remains de-
pendent on the parents for
another eight months.
Right: A breeding colony.
Below: The adult offers its chick
predigested food.
Left: Light, air-
filled bones
help the black-
bra wed
albatross to
sustain its
gliding flight
for hours.
Right: The
albatross
usually nests
high on a hill
with a view
over the sea.
I DID YOU KNOW?
When threatened, the
black-browed albatross
regurgitates a smelly oil,
derived from its food, and
squirts it at the attacker.
The oil is also used in preen-
ing to help keep the bird's
feathers waterproof.

The black-browed albatross
has weak wing muscles and
relies on strong winds to lift
it. It circles the oceans at a
latitude of 30 to 60 degrees,
where there is enough wind
to keep it airborne. It favors
the windy sub-Antarctic zone.
Albatrosses from southern
waters rarely cross the wind-
less equatorial belt. The black-
browed species is an excep-
tion and has been seen off
the coasts of Florida and
Newfoundland.
Mollymawk is a name
sailors use for a medium-
sized albatross like the
black-browed species.
Once fully fledged, the
black-browed albatross may I
not alight on dry land for
four to seven years. .--J
FOOD & HUNTING
Most often the black-browed
albatross can be found glid-
ing 50 to 65 feet above the
water's surface. At this height
it gets the maximum benefit
from wind speed and can still
see prey swimming below.
The black-browed albatross
rf" '!
eats squid, crustaceans, vari-
ous fish, and lampreys. It is an
active scavenger and follows
ships for days waiting for left-
over food to be thrown away.
The albatross drinks seawater
and gets rid of the excess salt
through its nasal passages.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
The black-browed albatross
belongs to a group of birds,
called tube-noses, that have
tubular nostrils at the base
of their bills. These nostrils
may account for the bird's
keen sense of smelL They
may also help to keep sea
spray out of the bird's nose.
The albatross lives almost
entirely at sea, so it must
drink salt water. It has large
nasal glands that secrete the
salt in solution, and the tube
nose may keep this mixture
away from the bird's eyes.
Left: Tubular
nostrils give
the bird a keen
sense of smell.
They may also
deflect sea
spray from its
nose and se-
creted fluids
from its eyes.
"" CARD 98
TURTLE DOVE
~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Columbiformes
FAMILY
Columbidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Streptopelia turtur
The turtle dove is one of the smaller members of the pigeon family.
It spends its winter in the African and Asian sub tropics and flies
north in April to find its summer breeding grounds.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Up to 11 in.
Wingspan: 11/2 ft.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: End of April to
September.
Eggs: 2 or 3 clutches per season;
2 eggs per clutch.
Incubation: 14 days.
Fledging: About 20 days.
LIFESTYLE
Call: Purring.
Habit: More shy and territorial than
other members of its family.
Diet: Mostly seeds of weeds.
RELATED SPECIES
There are about 295 species of
pigeon and dove worldwide. Six
of these breed in Europe.
Range of the turtle dove.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds in Europe, with 'the exception of most of northern
Europe. Also found in southwest and central Asia and
North Africa. Winters south of the Sahara, north of the
equator.
CONSERVATION
Common throughout its range, the turtle dove's main
threats include humans.
IDENTIFYI NG THE TURTLE DOVE
Eyes: Ringed
with red.
Breast: Pinkish
gray.
VIEWED FROM BELOW
Neck flashes:
Striped, black-and-
Tail : Long and white patterns on
black with each side.
0MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Upper wings:
Red-brown and
dark brown
feathers make
"marbled"
patterning.
0160200311 PACKET 31
The turtle dove's soft cooing call can be heard
during most of the summer and gives the bird
its name. As the chatter of other birds
fades away at dawn, the turtle dove's call
can be heard heralding the beginning of the day.
~ HABITAT
The turtle dove lives in open
areas with trees, bushes,
shrubs, and copses (thickets of
small trees or shrubs) from the
end of April until it migrates
south in September. It often
stays in bushes close to culti-
vated land to collect food.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The turtle dove eats mostly
seeds, mainly various species
of fumitory, a weed that grows
primarily in farmed fields. The
bird prefers to pluck the living
seeds from the plants instead
of pecking the fallen ones
from the ground.
Fumitory dies at the end of
the summer, so the turtle
dove migrates to tropical Af-
The turtle dove prefers small
to medium-sized trees and
does not inhabit buildings in
towns and cities like the wood
pigeon does.
In September, the European
and western Asian turtle dove
populations migrate to Africa.
rica in September to take ad-
vantage of a new supply of
living seeds.
The turtle dove also feeds
on grain seeds-either those
first sown by farmers or the
ones that develop on mature
plants. Farmers in the Soviet
Union consider the turtle dove
a pest when it feeds on millet,
an important commercial
~ PREDATORS
The hawk is the primary natu-
ral predator of the turtle dove.
But some doves that fly low
during storms are shot by
sport hunters, which has re-
sulted in heavy population
decreases in some areas.
Nest-robbers such as the
magpie and jay take one-third
of the turtle dove's eggs dur-
ing the early summer when
food is scarce. During this
time the adult turtle dove has
to leave the nest unprotected
for long periods of time to
search for food.
Chicks born in late summer
have a greater chance of sur-
viving since there are more
seeds in the late summer.
Left: Both sexes of turtle dove have
patterned wings and necks and
pinkish gray breasts.
DID YOU KNOW?
Like all members of the
pigeon family, the turtle
dove feeds its young
"pigeon's milk" for the first
few days. The parent regur-
gitates the fluid, which is
very high in fat and protein,
from its crop (a pouchlike
crop. The dove also feeds on
the grain scattered for chick-
ens and other poultry.
A tiny proportion of the
bird's diet-only about three
percent-consists of insects
and small snails.
Right: A dove takes a long drink
after reaching its African winter
habitat.
' ~ BREEDING
The male turtle dove courts
the female by bowing. He
puffs out his chest and bobs
up and down in front of her,
part of the bird's esophagus) .
Unlike most birds, the turtle
dove does not raise its head
between sips when it drinks.
The turtle dove's scientific
species name, turtur, is an at-
tempt to imitate the bird's
soothing, purring call.
lowering his bill as he bobs.
The dove builds a nest of
twigs three to six feet above
ground in a bush or small
The turtle dove pretends
to be injured- weakly flap-
ping or dragging its wings
- to divert a predator's
attention away from the
dove's young.
Turtle dove chicks are called
"squabs:'
tree. The insubstantial plat-
form is lined with roots and
stems and sometimes even
with hair.
The parents share in the
two-week incubation period.
They both feed the newly
hatched young for just over
two weeks.
Late May to early June is
peak egg-laying time, but
clutches may be laid up to
September. Eggs laid and
chicks hatched later than
that may be abandoned by
their parents who lose their
breeding instinct and head
south for the winter.
Left: The turtle dove chick has a
thin covering of coarse, pale
down. It will leave the nest in
three weeks.
Below: Clutches usually have two
pinkish white eggs.
BI RDWATCH
The turtl e dove' s call an-
nounces its presence
throughout Europe f rom
the end of April to mid-
Sept ember. Look for it in low
tree branches and bushes.
The shy dove may be seen
feeding on scattered poultry
grain. In f light, look for it s
di stincti ve markings.
TOCO TOUCAN
ORDER
Piciformes
FAMILY
Romphostidoe
GENUS & SPECIES
Romphostos taco
With its unusual appearance, the toco toucan is one of the most
recognizable of all tropical birds. It is associated with South
America tropical forests, but it lives in a variety of habitats.
____________________________
SIZES
Length: About 2 ft.
Wing length: 9-10 in.
Bill length: 7-8 in.
Weight: About 1 lb.
BREEDING
Breeding season: Variable,
depending on region.
Eggs: 2-4, white.
Incubation: 16 days.
Fledging: 50 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Tree-dwelling. Lives in
small groups.
Diet: Fruit, seeds, insects, spiders,
eggs, nestlings, small lizards, and
snakes.
RELATED SPECIES
Of the 33 species in the toucan
family, the closest relatives are the
6 other members of the genus
Romphostos, including the keel-
billed toucan, R. sulfuratus, and
Cuvier's toucan, R. tucanus.
FEATURES OF THE
TOCOTOUCAN
Bill : Large but lightweight, made from
strong, horny material. Used to hollow
out nests inside decaying tree trunks
and to scrape flesh from fruit.
Wings: Short and
rounded, making
flight weak.
Legs: Strong. Each foot
has two toes pointing
forward and two
pointing back,
giving a good
grip on
branches.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the toco toucan.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in eastern and southern Brazil, the Guiana region,
Paraguay, Bolivia, and northern Argentina.
CONSERVATION
The toco toucan is widespread. Like many toucans, how-
ever, it is threatened in many areas by the destruction of
its forest habitat.
Eggs: 2 to 4
white eggs
incubated by
both parents.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
OTHER TOUCAN BILLS
1. Spotted-billed toucanet:
Visits citrus plantations to
collect insects for its young.
2. Black-necked aracari:
Aracari are slightly smaller
and lighter than toucans.
3. Keel-billed toucan: Its bill
has all the colors of the rain-
bow except violet.
0160200381 PACKET 38
Its large size and bold black-and-white plumage
make the toco toucan a striking sight.
But the bird's most remarkable feature is
its huge orange-and-black bill. The toco toucan
has the largest bill of all the toucans, and
this vividly colored bill accounts for
almost a third of the bird's total length.
~ HABITS
The toco toucan is the largest,
biggest-billed, and most fa-
miliar of the toucans. Although
it is found most frequently in
rainforests, the toco toucan
also lives in forest areas along
rivers, in woodland savannas,
on coconut and sugar planta-
tions, and in palm groves that
have large trees. Its range does
not actually extend into the
Amazonian rainforests.
Although it occasionally
steals food from houses, the
. to co toucan generally remains
among the treetops and rarely
comes close to the ground. Its
strong legs and its two rear-
pointing toes on each foot
allow it to grip branches firmly.
It prefers to hop, rather than
flap, from perch to perch. But
it occasionally makes short
flights across the treetops.
Although they are not as
sociable as most toucans,
small groups of toco toucans
may perch together. They
may also follow each other in
a straggly line during flight.
Companions, especially mates,
preen each other's plumage
with the pointed tips of their
bills. They share food with one
another and communicate in a
toadlike croak.
Right: The toco toucan uses the
tip of its bill to hold eggs stolen
from the nests of other birds.
~ BREEDING
The toco toucan nests in a
living tree in a hole formed
by decaying wood. If a hole
is too small, the bird may re-
move some of the surround-
ing soft wood, but it cannot
make its own hole in healthy
wood. Nests are not lined,
but regurgitated seeds are
frequently left in the hole
left: The large bill may allow
different types of toucan to
distinguish their own species.
DID YOU KNOW?
The toco toucan's bill is
hollow inside and very light.
A network of rods strength-
ens the inside of the bill .
A roosting toucan often
tucks its bill among its back
feathers and folds its tail up
over its body, so that it
resembles a ball of feathers.
to form a bed for the eggs.
There are usually two to
four eggs in a clutch, and the
parents take turns incubating
them. The young are blind
and naked when they hatch
and are fed by both parents.
They take several weeks to
develop and grow a layer of
feathers after a month.
Right: The toucan feeds on a
variety of fruits, using its bill to
scrape out the flesh.
Toucans are playful, often
jumping together in trees
and fencing with their bills.
Toucans bathe high in the
trees, not at ground level
like most birds. They use
pools of rainwater found in
the hollows of branches and
tree trunks.
~ SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
The purpose of the to co
toucan's oversized bill is not
completely clear. Some
naturalists think the large,
vivid bill serves to int imidate
smaller birds. Toucans are
not usually attacked when
they raid other birds' nests
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The toco toucan feeds mainly
on berries, fruit, and seeds. It
also eats insects and spiders
taken from bark and foliage.
Occasionally, it eats swarms
of termites, small lizards and
for food, but they are some-
times chased as t hey fly away
with thei r bills hidden from
view. It is also t hought that
the huge bill allows the tou-
can to reach for seeds and
berries that would otherwise
be out of reach.
snakes, and the eggs and
young of small birds.
The toco toucan picks up
food with the tip of its bill. Its
six-inch-Iong tongue helps it
manipulate the food. Slanted
notches along both edges of
the tongue deepen toward
the tip, so the end of the
tongue is like a brush. When
the food is in the right posi-
tion, the toucan throws back
its head and tosses it down its
throat. If the food particle is
too large, the toucan holds it
against its perch and tears off
pieces with its bill.
left: The brushlike bristles at the
end of the toucan's long tongue
help it manipulate food.
DOVEKIE
ORDER
Charadriiformes
FAMILY
A/cidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Aile aile
The dovekie thrives in the Arctic, where few other birds can
survive. In the cold polar waters, among the ice floes, it finds
a plentiful supply of plankton for food.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 6-8 in.
Wingspan: 15-20 in.
Weight: 4-6 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Unknown.
Breeding season: Late May to
August.
Broods: 1.
Eggs: 1 . Pale greenish blue.
Incubation: 24-30 days.
Fledging period: 26-30 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable; nests in large
colonies. Couples usually form
long-lasting bond.
Diet: Plankton, marine worms,
mollusks, very small fish.
RELATED SPECIES
The 23 species in the auk family
are all seabirds of the Northern
Hemisphere. Other members
include the puffin, razorbill, and
great auk.
IDENTIFYING THE DOVEKIE
Flight: Has a whirring flight ,
moving fast and low
over the water.
Swimming: Swims buoyantly on
the Arctic waters. Gathers its food
by diving from the surface of the
water, propelled by its wings and
webbed feet. Each dive is fairly
shallow and lasts from 25 to 40
seconds, usually with a 10- to 20-
second rest between dives.
Winter plumage: White throat,
chin, and lower face. White
markings curve up behind the eye.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the dovekie.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds in Greenland, Iceland, Jan Mayen Island, Bear Island,
Spitsbergen, Franz Josef Land, and Novaya Zemlya. Winters
in Arctic and North Atlantic oceans.
CONSERVATION
The dovekie is one of the most abundant auks, even though
it has disappeared from some former breeding grounds
during this century and is hunted tor food on some islands.
Egg: Female lays one pale
greenish blue egg
between late May and
early July. It is large
compared with her tiny
body size.
Breeding plumage: Mainly black,
with pure white underside.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200371 PACKET 37
The dovekie has a short, thick body
and black and white feathers similar to a puffin's.
It gathers in large numbers on islands in the
Arctic, where it breeds in late spring.
Some of the nesting colonies consist of more than
a million dovekies. In summer these colonies are alive
with the birds' activity and chatter:
~ HABITS
All auks live in the Northern
Hemisphere, but none quite
as far north as the dovekie. Its
total population is unknown,
but about 25 million pairs are
believed to nest in Greenland
and several million more on
the larger sub-Arctic islands.
At the end of summer the
colonies of dovekies disperse.
Most of the birds move off-
shore to feed in the broken ice.
Many head toward wintering
grounds in the North Atlantic
off of Newfoundland and the
northeast United States, as well
as in Norway and Scotland.
Small flocks of about 15
dovekies gather as part of larg-
er groups. The birds often con-
gregate on ice floes or rest
close together in the water in
formations known as rafts.
Although the dovekie is fairly
quiet in the winter, the sum-
mer nesting colonies are noisy.
The dovekie is agile on land.
It walks easily over rocks and
ice and can even negotiate
narrow cliff ledges. It swims
well and flies fast and low
over the waves.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The dovekie feeds mainly on
plankton (tiny plants and
animals in the water), espe-
cially crustaceans. It also eats
young fish, marine worms,
and mollusks. The abundance
of this food supply enables
the bird to survive in great
numbers in the harsh Arctic
environment. The dovekie's
nesting sites are always close
to stretches of sea that are
rich in plankton.
Left: The dovekie swims buoy-
antly. Groups of dovekies in the
water are called rafts.
DID YOU KNOW?
In gale conditions, rafts of
weakened dovekies have oc-
casionally been blown as far
south as the Caribbean Sea.
Fights often break out be-
tween male dovekies at the
breeding colonies. With their
bills locked together, two
rivals will sometimes roll
To gather its food, the dove-
kie dives from the surface of
the water, propelled by its feet
and wings. The bird has been
seen eating waste from fishing
boats. It probably takes plank-
ton from the gutted stomachs
of the fish.
During breeding season the
adults may fly miles to find
food for the hungry chicks.
They bring the plankton back
in their expandable throats.
Right: The dovekie, or "little
dove," is known in Europe as the
little auk.
several yards downhill.
The mass of red droppings
around dovekie colonies
helps to fertilize dense vege-
tation. Ironically, this growth
provides cover for Arctic
foxes and glaucous gulls-
the main predators of the
dovekie's eggs and young.
BREEDING
In summer thousands of pairs
of dovekies crowd for nesting
space on the cliffs and rocky
coasts of the Arctic islands.
Toward the southern part of
its breeding range, however,
the dovekie may nest in small
colonies. Most colonies face
the sea, but some are a bit
inland. The birds prefer sites
that are sheltered from winds
and rain, and where the snow
has already melted.
The dovekies gather at their
breeding areas in April and
early May. They assemble in
large rafts offshore and then fly
in to rejoin the colony. The
Left: Dovekies often gather in
small flocks that are part of a
very large group.
birds usually find their previous
mate and take over their old
nest site. Unpaired adults en-
gage in courtship rituals, with
fast flights through the colony
and fluttering displays in the air.
The dovekie nest may be
located in a crevice in a rock,
under a boulder, or among
piles of rocky debris. Some-
times the nest is lined with
pebbles and dried grasses.
A single egg is laid from late
May to early July. The egg is
large compared with the
female's body, so the chick
can develop well before it
hatches. Both parents incu-
bate the egg and then brood
the chick for two to four days
until it can keep itself warm.
A few weeks later, before it
can fly, the chick leaves the
colony. It is taken to the sea
and cared for by its father un-
til it becomes independent.
Left: The dovekie expands its
throat pouch when it collects
plankton to feed its young.