(E.B.W.) Critter Corner: Oct. 17/2018

Feature:

10 Amazing Flightless Birds From Around The World

“…Most of the world’s flightless birds evolved on islands with no predatory mammals over millions of years. With no land mammals to attack them, many birds became ground-dwellers. This is the case in New Zealand, before humans arrived. Instead, the predators were birds like eagles & falcons, so other birds found that camouflaged plumage, feeding at night, & staying completely still were more effective strategies than flying, to avoid being caught.

That all changed when humans arrived, bringing with them animals like rats & stoats, which wiped out numerous interesting & unusual bird species…

Here are 10 of the most amazing & beautiful flightless birds found around the world.

1. Takahe

This bird… is a species found only in New Zealand, & for a long time was thought to be extinct, when many fossil bones were found. Thankfully, it was rediscovered in 1948 after a wide search, although only on the South Island, where it resides primarily in the Takahe Valley. Some have also been relocated to predator-free islands nearby, but it is still considered critically endangered with fewer than 300 individuals. Pairs are monogamous, mating for life which can be 12 years or more.

2. Kiwi

The kiwi is a famously flightless bird & the national symbol of New Zealand. These birds have been flightless for so long that it’s hard to spot their vestigial wings under all those fluffy feathers. There are 5 species of kiwi, all native to New Zealand: 2 are classified as vulnerable, one is endangered, & one is critically endangered.

3. Kakapo

The kakapo, named for the sounds it makes, is a ground-dwelling parrot, also native to New Zealand. It is in fact the world’s only flightless parrot, also the heaviest one, with its large grey beak, short legs, large feet, & short tail…Females are solely responsible for raising chicks, & it is also possibly one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a life expectancy of 95 years.

4. Weka

The weka is a flightless bird species of the rail family, which used to be found all over New Zealand, although it is no longer so common. It is endemic to New Zealand, where four subspecies are recognized. Weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they eat pretty much anything they can find, including insects, slugs, frogs, as well as leaves, berries, & seeds.

5. Cassowary

…The magnificent cassowary is native to New Guinea & Australia, & there are 3 species: the southern cassowary, the northern cassowary, & the dwarf cassowary. These birds are the second heaviest bird behind the ostrich; the claws on their toes can grow to 5 inches long, & they can run as fast as 31 miles per hour.

6. Ostrich

The ostrich, native to the savannah & desert regions of central & southern Africa, is indeed the heaviest living bird. Its species name is camelus, & it used to be known as the ‘camel bird’ owing to its long neck & prominent eyes, as well as its jolting walk. Just like camels, ostriches can go without water for a long time & tolerate extremely high temperatures.

7. Emu

…the emu is the second-largest living bird in the world by height after the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird. An emu’s feathers are quite unusual: instead of the expected softness of feathers, the bird’s tail feathers are stiff, & can be rattled to scare off predators like dingoes.

8. Flightless Cormorant

Shifting to South America, & the Galapagos Islands, we find the world’s only cormorant that cannot fly (in spite of those huge wings!). This is one of the rarest birds in the world, found on only 2 islands in the Galapagos. Instead of flying over the waves, the flightless cormorant uses its powerful legs & swims for fish & other marine prey close to the shore…

9. Penguin

Also in the Americas, we find penguins, highly adapted for life in water…All penguin species are native to the Southern Hemisphere, & many of them live in Antarctica, but they are also found further north. Some species are found in the temperate zone, & one, the Galapagos penguin, is found near the equator.

10. Rhea

The rhea is another flightless bird native to South America, & living in the forest. It is a ratite, meaning that it is a large flightless bird with no keel to its breastbone or sternum. This ratite is in fact the largest bird in the Americas. It makes up for not flying by running really fast, with its neck practically horizontal to the ground. Rheas like to get together in flocks of 20 to 30 birds.”