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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