Our Birds
- Birds & Habitats
- Our Birds
FUN FACT
The foot color of Snowy Egrets changes from yellow to reddish-orange in the breeding season.
Snowy Egrets are strikingly beautiful birds, with pure white plumage and graceful and elaborate courtship displays. The feathers of the Snowy Egret were highly sought after for fashion, primarily for women’s hats, throughout the late 1800s and into the early twentieth century. The species’ population declined rapidly until restrictions on hunting were put into place and the feather trade was ended. Snowy Egrets made a comeback and even extended their range. They are adaptable to a range of environmental foraging conditions. Snowy Egrets are a focal species that attracts other waders to foraging aggregations, and the addition of more feeding birds may increase success rates for all foraging birds. The Snowy Egret’s bright yellow feet enhance a foraging maneuvers, like “foot-stirring” that attract or startle prey. Today, the Snowy Egret remains vulnerable to oil spills, habitat loss, plastic pollution, and pesticides.
Habitat
Shallow estuaries, salt-marsh pools, tidal channels, shallow bays, and mangroves
Diet
Wide range of prey items including earthworms, aquatic and terrestrial insects, crabs, shrimp, prawns, crayfish, other crustaceans, snails, freshwater and marine fish, frogs/toads, and snakes/lizards
Status
Least Concern
Breeding
The male attracts a mate with elaborate courtship displays, including dipping, bill raising, aerial displays, diving, tumbling, and calling. The immediate vicinity of the nest is vigorously defended from other birds, and the female constructs the nest with materials brought by the male. Nests are built 2-3 m up in a tree or shrub. A clutch of 3-5 eggs is incubated for 22-23 d by both sexes. Both sexes feed the young, which fledge in about 3-4 weeks.
FUN FACT
Southern Bald Ibises forage across fields in flocks of up to 100 birds;. They will flip over cow patties to feed on dung-eating insects.
The Southern Bald Ibis is a gregarious, glossy bluish-black ibis restricted to the southern tips of South Africa. This ibis resides in mountainous regions, where it prefers higher elevation short-grass habitats, as well as recently burned, plowed, mowed, or heavily grazed fields and cultivated lands. In these grasslands, the Southern Bald Ibis feeds frequently in large flocks, primarily searching for grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. This species usually nests colonially, building a platform of sticks on ledges or cliffs where it may be safer from predators. This ibis has suffered from human disturbances at its colonial nest sites, and impacts on grassland foraging grounds.
Habitat
High altitude grasslands, usually at 1200–1850 m. Prefers short-grass habitats, such as recently burned, plowed, mowed, or heavily grazed fields and cultivated lands.
Diet
Insects, especially grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. Prey may also include earthworms, snails, frogs and small dead mammals and birds.
Status
Vulnerable
Breeding
The Southern Bald Ibis usually nests in colonies of 2–72 pairs, but sometimes singly. Their nest is a platform of sticks lined with soft vegetation placed on ledges or cliffs. Clutch size is 1-3 eggs, and the incubation period is about 30 days. Fledging can occur between 40 and 60 days.
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FUN FACT
The Southern Three-banded Armadillo is the only armadillo species that can completely curl up into a ball!
Southern Three-banded Armadillos are one of the mammal species living at the National Aviary. They are among the smaller of the armadillo species, and are native to grassy areas and forests throughout Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Armadillos have very acute senses of hearing and smell, which helps them to find termites and ants and then use their strong legs and claws to grab. Their strong senses also help them to detect predators. When startled, the Southern Three-banded Armadillo will roll up into a tight ball for protection.
FUN FACT
Speckled Mousebirds have an unusual arrangement of toes, called pamprodactyly. All four toes point forward, with the two outer toes capable of reversing their orientation. This characteristic is only true for mousebirds and swifts.
Speckled Mousebirds are very social, often living in flocks of twenty or more birds. They are among the few folivorous bird species specializing in eating leaves. When food is scarce, or in cooler weather, mousebirds often huddle in large groups and can reduce their energy requirement by going into a state of inactivity known as torpor.
Scientists have described the six extant species of mousebirds, including the Speckled, as “living fossils” due to their lineage of more than two dozen species from the end of the Cretaceous (66 million years ago) to the end of the Miocene era (5 million years ago).
Habitat
Forest edges and clearings, as well as, open woodland and dense scrub, including hedgerows, parks, and gardens in towns.
Diet
Leaves, flowers, fruits, and even bark!
Status
Least Concern
Breeding
Speckled Mousebirds are monogamous, cooperative breeders, with pairs receiving help from offspring of prior nestings. The offspring also with nest construction, incubation, and nestling provisioning.
FUN FACT
In Brazil, Spectacled owls are known locally as “knocking owls” because of their loud, repetitive calls, which sound like tapping or knocking.
Adult Spectacled Owls are distinctive for their brown upperparts and head with whitish face markings resembling a pair of glasses. As juveniles, their facial markings are the complete opposite—pure white except for a chocolate brown facial disc! This distinctive species can be found throughout Central and South America in dense rainforest habitats. The call of the Spectacled Owl is a quick series of popping sounds, which sound like someone knocking on a door. Males sing more often than females, usually to claim territory, but have been known to sing duets together.
Habitat
Dense tropical and subtropical rainforest with mature trees; also, forest edge, savanna woodland, dry forest, coffee plantations, and gallery forest
Diet
A varied diet that includes primarily small or medium-sized mammals, frogs, reptiles, birds, insects, and invertebrates
Status
Least Concern
Breeding
Spectacled Owls nest in large tree cavities, laying two eggs which are incubated by the female. Usually only one chick survives and fledges after six weeks.
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FUN FACT
The name “whistling” duck comes from their loud whistling call.
The Spotted Whistling-duck is a distinctive duck species found in southeast Asia. Also known as the tree duck, it has long legs and a long neck compared to other ducks, and is very comfortable perching high up in trees. They favor low-lying wetlands, where they both dabble and dive for food which includes seeds and invertebrates; they are most active at night. This species is not globally threatened.
Habitat
Low-lying wetlands, including marshes, river margins, mangroves, lakes, and ponds, surrounded by scattered trees and grasslands
Diet
Seeds and invertebrates (e.g., snails); both dabbles and dives for food
Status
Least Concern
Breeding
The Spotted Whistling-duck nests in hollow trees near standing water. 10-11 eggs are incubated for about 30 days.
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FUN FACT
The Steller’s Sea Eagle and the Bald Eagle are both members of the genus Haliaeetus (the fish-eating eagles), making them close cousins even though the average Steller’s is nearly twice the size of the average Bald Eagle!
The Steller’s Sea Eagle is a fierce, impressive raptor with chocolate-brown plumage and striking white shoulders and tail. With its deep, strongly arched bill and massive yellow feet, it’s no wonder that the Japanese call this bird O-washi (The Great Eagle). At nearly four-feet in length and an average weight of 13-20 pounds, Steller’s Sea Eagles are one of the largest eagle species in the world, outweighing both the Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) and the Philippine Monkey-eating Eagle (Pithocophaga jefferyi), and with a wingspan (up to 6 – 8 feet) second only to its near-cousin the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). Not surprisingly, an adult Steller’s Sea Eagle has no natural predators.
The species is vulnerable to changes in its habitat and food supplies, however. This huge eagle needs an equally huge territory, so the Steller’s population (which is not large) is widespread and particularly sensitive to habitat loss due to climate change. Threats to already declining Pacific Salmon populations translate into potential prey shortages during the all-important breeding season.
Habitat
Often near mouths of rivers, along seacoasts, on rivers where salmon run, by lakes; most often river valleys and on rocky coasts with terraced cliffs
Diet
Principally fish, especially Pacific salmon, taken alive or dead; supplemented with scavenged mammals and birds when fish is in short supply
Status
Vulnerable
Breeding
Steller’s Sea Eagles build large stick nests about 2.5 meters wide and 4 meters deep in trees or on cliffs up to 30 meters above ground. Females incubate a clutch of 1-3 eggs for 38-45 days; chicks fledge after 70 days and remain dependent on parents for 2-3 months.
FUN FACT
The Sunbittern is perhaps best known for a characteristic display involving large “eyespots” in the plumage of their wings.
The Sunbittern is an unusual bird of forested streams of Central and South America. This species is perhaps best known for a characteristic display involving large “eyespots” in the plumage of their wings. Sunbitterns have a characteristic “Frontal Display” that they use when they are threatened. The spread and tilt their wings forward, exposing two large eyespots. The tail is lifted and fanned out to fill the gap between the wings. Overall, the posture dramatically increases the apparent size of the displaying bird while exposing the fake eyes. Both sexes use the display, and young Sunbitterns practice the display in the nest when they are just 10 days old.
The Sunbittern is at home on both swift and rocky streams, and slower moving, sandy or silt-bottomed streams, where is stalks fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects. and then captures them with a quick lunge. The Sunbittern is currently listed as a species of Least Concern.
Habitat
Forested streams and rivers with sandbars and pools. Uses both swift and rocky streams and slower moving, sandy or silt-bottomed streams.
Diet
Fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects. Hunts by looking intensely and patiently for prey and then lunging with a rapid thrust, similar to a heron.
Status
Least Concern
Breeding
The Sunbittern's nest is a globular structure made of decayed leaves, sticks, and green moss, and held together predominately by mud. Nests are built on on bare branches 2-3 meters above ground, usually near streams but not directly above water. Both parents incubate the clutch of 2-3 eggs for 27 days. Chicks fledge in 17-24 days.
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FUN FACT
Researchers have learned that Superb Starlings have unique alarm calls that convey whether an approaching predator is a bird or a mammal; not only do the starlings themselves understand the difference, but local vervet monkeys have learned what the different calls mean, too!
Superb Starlings are dark iridescent blue on the back of their head and chest, a black face that sets off their bright white eyes, metallic blue-green back and wings, and a dark orange belly bounded by bright white under the tail and in a band across the breast. The Superb Starling occurs in open woodland, including very arid country, as well as cultivated areas and gardens around human habitations of East Africa. This starling forages mostly on the ground where its diet consists mostly of insects, but it will also eat berries, small fruits, and human food scraps from around settlements and picnic sites. This species practices cooperative breeding, with helpers assisting in nest-building and feeding young. The helpers are most often males from a previous brood. The Superb Starling is not considered threatened.
Habitat
Open woodland, including very arid country; also lakeshore woodlands, cultivated areas and gardens, and around human habitation
Diet
Mostly insects, but also eats berries and small fruits, and nectar from Agave, and food scavenged from around settlements and picnic sites. Forages mostly on the ground, where it both runs and hops
Status
Least Concern
Breeding
Superb Starlings are cooperative breeders, with most breeding pairs having helpers. Helpers contribute nesting material for the large dome-shaped nest and feed young, but do not feed the female on nest. Females incubate a clutch of 4 eggs for 12-14 days. Nestlings are fed by both parents and by helpers for 17-25 days, and for up to 7 weeks after fledging.
FUN FACT
Taveta Golden Weavers have strong legs, feet, and claws for hanging on while constructing their intricately woven nests.
The Taveta Golden Weaver occurs in East African in Kenya and Tanzania. They are found in swampy lowland areas during the breeding season. Outside of the breeding season, they are found in adjacent dry bush country. They build impressive spherical nests hanging over water. The intricately weaving strips of reed leaf blades that make up their ovoid-shaped nests are hung from bulrushes or from overhanging trees. While the Taveta Golden Weaver is very localized, it occurs in large numbers, and is not globally threatened.
Habitat
Swampy lowland areas when breeding; found in adjacent drier bush country outside the breeding season
Diet
Seeds, including grass seeds and maize; also some insects, including ants
Status
Least Concern
Breeding
Taveta Golden Weavers are colonial and presumed polygynous. They build a spherical or ovid nest of woven strips of reed leaf blades, suspended over water. They lay 3 eggs, which are incubated for 13 days. The nestling period is 16 days.
FUN FACT
In cold months, Tawny Frogmouths go into torpor, slowing their body functions to conserve energy and heat.
Tawny Frogmouths are comical looking birds with large eyes and wide mouths. They are found throughout Australia in a wide variety of habitats, from Eucalyptus forests to city parks. They inhabit areas with extreme temperature variation, with very cold nights and very hot days. To stay cool, Tawny Frogmouths engorge the blood vessels in the mouth, which helps to cool air as it is inhaled. In the winter, pairs roost together to share body warmth, and they will often sunbathe in the daylight, opening their beaks wide and moving their heads from side to side for sunlight to penetrate their thick feathers. In the winter, they spend much of their days and nights in torpor.
Habitat
Occurs in a wide variety of open forested habitats, including Eucalyptus forest, trees along watercourses, edges of roadways in rainforest areas, tree-lined roadsides in farmland, city parks and large gardens with shade trees
Diet
Diet consists mainly of large insects and other terrestrial invertebrates (scorpions, spiders, centipedes); will also take frogs, earthworms, snails, slugs, crustaceans, millipedes, lizards, small birds, and small mammals
Status
Least Concern
Breeding
The Tawny Frogmouth's nest is a coarse, loose platform of crisscrossed twigs built in the fork of a tree, or rarely on an old nest of another bird. Both parents incubate a clutch of 1-3 eggs for 28-32 days, with parents feeding each other at the nest. Young fledge after 25-35 days and are fed for another 1-2 weeks after they leave the nest.
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FUN FACT
At almost two feet long and weighing one and a half pounds, the Toco Toucan is the largest of more than 40 species in the Toucan family.
One of a number of species of toucans, popular for their enormous, colorful beaks, the Toco Toucan is the only one which is adapted to drier, more open habitats. These include a mosaic of natural forested, agricultural, and successional habitats, including gallery forests, palm groves, open woodlands, secondary forest, savanna and thorn-forest, plantations, and orchards. Toco Toucans use their bills to feed on a variety of fruits and insects, but are also well-known for preying on the eggs and nestlings of other bird species. This toucan nests in hollow trees. While many bird species in tropical South America are threatened by the conversion of natural forests to agriculture, the Toco Toucan is more flexible in its habitat requirements and is not currently of conservation concern.
Habitat
Uses a mosaic of natural forested, agricultural, and successional habitats, including gallery forests, palm groves, open woodlands, secondary forest, savanna and thorn-forest, plantations, and orchards
Diet
Fruits, insects, bird eggs and nestling birds
Status
Least Concern
Breeding
Toco Toucans nest in tree hollows. Both parents incubate a clutch of 2-4 eggs for 17-18 days. They feed nestlings insects at first, then fruit. Young fledge at 43-52 days.
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The National Aviary is home to more than 500 birds representing 150 species; some of which live in behind-the-scenes habitats. To enhance our guests’ educational experience, and with regard to individual bird preferences, different species may spend time in various public-facing habitats.
In The News
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The National Aivary's Avian Medicine program is providing cutting-edge care to our feathered friends, including Red the Macaw. She was here with Dr. Pilar Fish, the senior director of advancement in avian medicine at the National Aviary.
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