Page 36 - World of Animals - Issue #33
P. 36
A beginner’s guide to birdwatching
Birds to spot
across the globe
There are amazing birds to be seen
everywhere in the world. Here are six
species that are worth travelling for
1. Ruby-throated 2. Andean condor 3. Ostrich 4. Wallcreeper 5. Emperor penguin
hummingbird Western and southern South Sub-Saharan Africa Mountains of Eurasia Antarctic
Eastern North America America This is the world’s largest The wallcreeper is an You’d need to take an
To be honest, any of the This magnificent raptor is and tallest bird, measuring absolute gem of a bird, Antarctic cruise to see one,
300 or so species of the world’s largest bird of up to 2.8 metres (nine feet) which also happens to but what a bird! It dives
hummingbird would do. prey, with a wingspan of high. It runs the fastest and occur in high, spectacular deeper than any other,
Any bird that can beat its around three metres (ten lays the largest eggs. It is mountain ranges. It hunts more than 500 metres
wings 80 times a second feet). Its feet, though, are pretty easy to see on safari for insects on huge, sheer (1,640 feet) down, and it
and can fly backwards, comparatively small and it in Africa, but if you do spot cliffs and when it flies its is the only bird to breed
forwards and upside feeds only on dead meat it don’t expect to see its broad wings make it look during the Antarctic winter,
down is worth seeing. and carcasses. It is easiest head buried in the sand. more like a butterfly than enduring temperatures
This common American to see in Patagonia. In This myth comes from a bird. It has a great song, down to -60 degrees
‘hummer’ migrates prehistoric times similar them keeping their heads but is generally hard to find Celsius (-76 degrees
across the Gulf of birds attained a wingspan of low to the ground to evade – though it is a real treat if Fahrenheit) in its
Mexico – incredible! six metres (20 feet). predators. you do manage to spot it. famous huddles.
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