Pictures of Birds

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Common Snipe
The common American snipe is one of 81 species of sandpiper, which comprises the largest family of shorebirds. All sandpipers have relatively long wings and short tails, but differ greatly in the shape of their bills. The snipe can be found in swampy marshes and other wet habitats, where it uses its long, slender bill to probe for aquatic insects, snails, and small crustaceans.





Emu
The emu, Dromiceius novae-hollandiae, is a large, flightless bird native to Australia. Emus roam the western half of the continent in mass movements that may involve as many as 70,000 birds. They depend on the fruits, seeds, and flowers that grow in areas of recent rainfall and must migrate once they have depleted local sources. Frustrated farmers have constructed a 1000 km (600 mi) fence barring the emus from inland agriculture. Only when the males, which hatch and raise the young, are nesting are the giant birds tied to one location.


European Goldfinch
The European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis, lives in open country where it feeds on the seeds of thistles and other weeds. Native to Europe and parts of Africa and Asia, this colorful songbird has been successfully introduced to Australia and South America. Its cheerful call is a repeated tswitt-witt-witt.






Feral Pigeon
Although pigeons are regarded as pests by many city dwellers, they are fairly unique in the bird world. They drink with their beaks underwater, actually sucking water through the nostrils. They are also the only bird besides the flamingo to produce a milklike crop secretion very similar in consistency and function to that of mammals. The feral pigeon is one of several breeds of rock pigeon, Columba livia. Although the bird pictured here hitched a ride from Liverpool, England, to Caracas, Venezuela, on a merchant ship, other members of its species typically migrate thousands of miles, maintaining speeds of up to 70 km/h (44 mph).

Flamingo
Colorful flamingos are found in lagoons and lakes in parts of the Galápagos Islands. Flamingos feed on microscopic life that they strain from the water and mud with their sievelike bills.









Franklin’s Gull
Not all gulls are seagulls. Also called prairie pigeon or prairie dove, the Franklin’s gull has adapted to life far from the ocean. It lives on the lakes and marshes of the Great Plains where it forages for insects, seeds, and fish. During the breeding season each mating pair builds a large floating nest out of cattails and other plants.





Godwit
Godwits live on the tidelands and prairies of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. These large, long-legged sandpipers may have been named for their ringing god-wit call. Godwits graze in shallow water by probing with their long pointed bills for insects, snails, and marine worms.





Golden Eagle
The golden eagle, found in northern North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, is one of thirty species of booted eagles, so named because of their completely feathered legs. The golden eagle has an involved aerial courtship display.







Goldeneye
The bright yellow eyes of this stocky duck contrast with its dark purple or green head. The female, shown here, has brownish-gray and white plumage. Goldeneyes are strong swimmers who can dive to depths of 6 m (20 ft) or more in search of food. They feed primarily on aquatic insects, crayfish, and plants.




Gouldian Finches
Gouldian finches are one of about 153 species of finches found worldwide. The bills of finches are structurally adapted for shelling seeds, their primary food. A seed wedged in a small groove on the side of the palate is crushed when the lower portion of the bill is raised up against it. The tongue then removes and discards the husk, after which the seed is swallowed.

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