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Seabirds and Shorebirds
Oceans cover a majority of the earth and it is only natural that many species of birds have adapted to take advantage of this wealth of nutrients and diverse habitats. Fly into this category to ask and answer questions about seabirds.
575 Questions
Many bird species lay only one egg per clutch, whilst a further large number lay two eggs to guard against the loss of one but never fledge more than one nestling.
An (incomplete) list of birds that lay only one egg would include:
- almost all pelagic seabirds (procellariforms, tropicbirds, frigatebirds, many gannets, most auks)
- many large raptors (vultures, eagles)
- all flamingos
- many tropical frugivores (Papuan bowerbirds and bird-of-paradise, all satinbirds, all berrypickers, fruit pigeons, most cotingas, many manikins, some cuckoo-shrikes)
- many sunbirds (which are nectarivorous)
- some large parrots (e.g. black cockatoos)
- some Australo-Papuan insectivorous songbirds of heathland or rainforests (e.g. lyrebirds, the Noisy Scrub Bird, the Chowchilla or Southern Scrub Robin)
- most swifts that nest in hotter regions
- many nightbirds (all potoos, most nightjars, larger frogmouths)
- some bustards (e.g. Eupodotis)
Birds that rear only one chick despite laying two eggs include:
- some gannets and pelicans
- the crested penguins (Eudyptes)
- many cranes
- a large number of raptors
- many hornbills and large parrots
The reason why these species lay only one egg or fledge only one chick is either:
- that the collection of food for more young is simply impossible (as with pelagic seabirds that must forage far from small islands) or
- that adult mortality is so low that rearing more young would lead to reduced adult survival through extra labour (as with many birds of aseasonal climates in the tropics, Australia and Southern Africa)
In geological terms, the restraints these species have on fast reproduction are exceptionally typical. It is almost certain that the large clutches (five or more eggs) typical of altricial birds on the extremely young Enriched World soils were unknown before the first ice sheets swept across the northern hemisphere in the late Pliocene. In hot climates, small birds are very long-lived due to the difficulties catching them and the limited, seasonally stable food supply. The small clutches of seabirds and Tropical and Unenriched World landbirds make them very sensitive to disturbance, since population turnover is slow and recovery from losses difficult.
It is important to recognise that species laying only one egg do not necessarily have the highest cost of reproduction. Obligate cooperative breeders such as the Australian mudnesters and Varied Sittella cannot rear a single young without helpers at the nest. These species lay two to four eggs per clutch, but need at least six adults to feed them.
In contrast, with birds that lay only one egg (seabirds especially) remaining on a nest site with parents is very costly to long-term survival because of competition for food.
The Kingfisher bird does not conventionally sing but makes a different sound that is a rattling squall. There is sound clips at the following website: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/lifehistory
Well, if Superman was real, probably not, most birds and planes can't but superman might, if he was real.
An alcid is any of a variety of birds of the family Alcidae, which includes auks and puffins.
Why does the albatross represent bad luck?
the albatross is said to represent good luck to mariners. when they see a sea bird (albatross) land is near. it has been thought of as bad luck from an old poem where a man shoots one down and has to wear it around his neck by his shipmates, for ruining their good fortune. he is said to have had terrible luck from then on.
Aquatic insects and other small creatures comprise the diet of the wading Avocet.
What can be done to help seabirds whose feathers have oil on them?
gently bath with tepid water and dawn dishwashing liquid such a stupid answer
What Diving bird starts with m?
* merganser * Macaroni Penguin (true!). There are about 18,000,000 of them. Surely unmissable!
(see related links below)
The Common Sandpiper breeds in Europe and Asia. In Australasia it visits New Guinea and Australia, mainly in the north and west. It is less often seen in New Zealand.
Habitat
In Australia, the Common Sandpiper is found in coastal or inland wetlands, both saline or fresh. It is found mainly on muddy edges or rocky shores. During the breeding season in the northern hemisphere, it prefers freshwater lakes and shallow rivers.
The Common Sandpiper breeds in Europe and Asia. In Australasia it visits New Guinea and Australia, mainly in the north and west. It is less often seen in New Zealand.
Habitat
They use a kind of camoufladge called countershading.
Well considering they put in mascara I would say it is perfectly fine as long as you spray it with GERM-X then it will be clean and sanitized or sanitary or sanitarial to eat, every body knows that
What bird in the pacific northwest is black with a red beak?
If they have sleek, jet black feathers, a fiercely red beak, bright eyes and they emit cute peeps constantly, then you ware probably looking at an Oystercatcher. A very common seabird. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oystercatcher
All are fish-eaters, dining on small eels, fish, and even water snakes. They dive from the surface, though many species make a characteristic half-jump as they dive, presumably to give themselves a more streamlined entry into the water. Under water they propel themselves with their feet. Some cormorant species have been observed at depths of over 40 feet. In England and Wales, roach and perch are the most numerous prey items while rainbow and brown trout are consumed at put-and-take trout fisheries. Cormorants commonly take fish between 5 and 15 cm (2 to 6 inches) in length, but have been recorded eating fish of over 40 cm (16 inches) and eels of over 60 cm (24 inches) long.
