Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Feb 18, 2009 0:18:22 GMT 1
Right then, here is the third of these challenges...
1. Between June to September, the male of this bird moults and looks very similar to the female - this is called 'eclipse ' plumage - and offers better camouflage until their flight feathers have been fully replaced.
2. The nests of these birds are built in shallow water from vegetation, and usually in the shelter of vegetation but can be in the open. During the breeding season, vicious territorial fights can occur.
3. Both male and female of these birds are grey-brown with black and white marking on head and flanks. They have a red bill, legs and eye ring. The nestlings are precocial.
4. These birds are a similar size to a Robin but have a longer tail, which is constantly quivering up and down. The tail and rump are bright orange-red, though the central feathers of the tail are brown. They have a black bill and black legs.
5. This bird is the same size as the goldcrest, but more brightly coloured: starkly contrasting white supercilium above black eyestripe, yellow-orange stripe on crown which is bordered by black stripes. Upperparts are lime-green, and shoulders are bronze coloured. They have grey ear coverts making the eye indistinct. Usually feeds at the ends of branches, fluttering almost hummingbird-like.
6. This bird's nest is built in the fork of a tree, cliff edge or even electricity pylon and is a large construction of twigs lined with hair and bark. It is built by both birds.
7. The male of this bird has a distinctive territorial call of 'hoo-hoo-oooo'.
8. In flight, the length of this bird's tail in proportion to its body can make its silhouette look like that of a Sparrowhawk, and sometimes other birds make the same mistake, giving alarm calls and dashing for cover.
9. The male of this bird rises vertically from the ground high into the air where it remains stationary for several minutes on fluttering wings before parachuting back down to the ground. All the time it is in the air the bird continuously sings its liquid warbling song. They always land on the ground and never in trees or bushes.
10. These birds usually nest near shallow, fast-flowing streams, waterfalls, mill-races, lakes, canals, etc. They build their nest in hollows or crevices out of twigs, grass, and moss.
Good luck.
1. Between June to September, the male of this bird moults and looks very similar to the female - this is called 'eclipse ' plumage - and offers better camouflage until their flight feathers have been fully replaced.
2. The nests of these birds are built in shallow water from vegetation, and usually in the shelter of vegetation but can be in the open. During the breeding season, vicious territorial fights can occur.
3. Both male and female of these birds are grey-brown with black and white marking on head and flanks. They have a red bill, legs and eye ring. The nestlings are precocial.
4. These birds are a similar size to a Robin but have a longer tail, which is constantly quivering up and down. The tail and rump are bright orange-red, though the central feathers of the tail are brown. They have a black bill and black legs.
5. This bird is the same size as the goldcrest, but more brightly coloured: starkly contrasting white supercilium above black eyestripe, yellow-orange stripe on crown which is bordered by black stripes. Upperparts are lime-green, and shoulders are bronze coloured. They have grey ear coverts making the eye indistinct. Usually feeds at the ends of branches, fluttering almost hummingbird-like.
6. This bird's nest is built in the fork of a tree, cliff edge or even electricity pylon and is a large construction of twigs lined with hair and bark. It is built by both birds.
7. The male of this bird has a distinctive territorial call of 'hoo-hoo-oooo'.
8. In flight, the length of this bird's tail in proportion to its body can make its silhouette look like that of a Sparrowhawk, and sometimes other birds make the same mistake, giving alarm calls and dashing for cover.
9. The male of this bird rises vertically from the ground high into the air where it remains stationary for several minutes on fluttering wings before parachuting back down to the ground. All the time it is in the air the bird continuously sings its liquid warbling song. They always land on the ground and never in trees or bushes.
10. These birds usually nest near shallow, fast-flowing streams, waterfalls, mill-races, lakes, canals, etc. They build their nest in hollows or crevices out of twigs, grass, and moss.
Good luck.