Wild Facts

Photo by Patko erika (Wikimedia)

After hanging out in the ocean yesterday, I figured we could dry off by taking to the air. The Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock is a beautiful South American passerine bird that is pretty easy to identify. Normally, I like to share how animals get their names, however, I have absolutely no idea why this stunning bird is referred to as the Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock. But it is definitely an interesting name! So let’s grab our binoculars and head to the mountainous regions of South America to see if we can spot one of the most spectacular birds on the planet.

All in the Mohawk

Like I said, even the most amateur birder will have no problems spotting this bright orange bird with a half-moon crest on their head. Although, only the males have these stunning colours. The females are a duller blackish-brown colour with a grey head. Although the males are quite colourful, their vibrant colouring and crest are more than just a fashion statement. The male uses these two distinct features to help him attract a lovely lady during mating season. The males will generally gather in groups of 5 to 25 (but have been known to gather with as many as 50 individuals) and each bird will get a small area for their mating purposes. When the females come into the area, the males will puff up and remain motionless, except for their tail filaments which will move back and forth to entice the female. The males are polygamous and don’t share any of the nesting duties with the female after mating occurs. I guess the male Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock is not much of a romantic.

Photo by Marc Chretien

Taking Flight

The Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock is a strong flier that will rely on their short but powerful wings to escape any potential predators. The wing tips of this magnificent bird will make a loud hissing sound as they coast through the air. When they aren’t mating or escaping predators, the Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock enjoys a healthy diet of fruit. Although, they will supplement this diet with reptiles, frogs and large insects. Now that is the diet of champions!

It looks like we have come to the end of another interesting Wild Fact (well, I thought it was interesting). Have a great day and I will see you again tomorrow.

Photo by: Donar Reiskoffer

It is the end of the week and the beginning of another long weekend (in North America) so I think this is cause to celebrate.  We are going to celebrate by learning about the Keel Billed Toucan.  What? You have never celebrated with a Toucan before? This is going to be a lot of fun.  Before we “party down” let’s find out a little more about this colourful bird.

The Keel Billed Toucan is also known as the Rainbow Billed Toucan.  Can anyone out there guess as to how they got this name? I have a hunch it has to do with having one of the most colourful beaks in all of the bird world.  Their bills are shades of green, red, yellow and orange.  This amazingly colourful bill can get up to 20 cm (8″) long and is actually about one third of the entire birds length.  Surprisingly this disproportionate bill does not cause the bird to simply fall over all the time.  It would be kind of funny if it did but let’s face it, evolution would have taken care of such a poor design.  Instead, their bill is made of keratin (yes the same stuff our finger nails are made of) which makes it very light.  This is handy since they don’t have to worry about being top heavy all the time.

Photo by: Adalberto Hernandez Vega

In order to check out these colourful birds we will need to venture into the jungles of South America.  Oh, don’t be scared, what could possibly harm you in the deep, dark jungles of the rainforest? The good news is, once you find one Keel Billed Toucan you will probably see others.  This particular bird is very sociable and very seldom seen by themselves.  In fact, they are known to live in the holes of the trees with several other Keel Billed Toucans.  You would think that it would be uncomfortable but I guess that is the price you pay to have a fraternity/sorority house.

Keel Billed Toucan Fast Fact - Fitting in with their social “extrovert” lifestyle the Keel Billed Toucan is known to be a playful bird.  They have often been spotted throwing berries at other birds or using their bills to jostle with their Toucan Friends.  Right now, I have this image of birds throwing berries at each other like a snowball fight.

That does it for Friday’s Fun-Filled Fact.  Make sure you tune in on Monday for a holiday special. Have a great weekend everyone!

For some additional Friday fun, check out the video of Pogo the Pet Keel Billed Toucan.  I dare you not to smile when Pogo turns his head to look at the camera.