Most of those that were in this collection look like they would do were not born on our planet.
In which time does not cease to amaze imagination of nature. This time our attention was drawn to birds. Most of those that were in this collection look like they would do were not born on our planet.
Bearded
The bearded man, or as it is called, the vulture — bird of the family accipitridae. The only species in the genus bearded. This is a fairly large bird with a body size of 95-125 cm They can weigh up to 7.5 kg, and the wingspan of the largest members comes to 308 cm
The bears live mainly in the Anterior and Central Asia, also found in Eastern and southern Africa, and southern Europe. In Russia these birds can be found in the Caucasus and occasionally in the Altai and Sayan mountains. But everywhere rare due to human persecution.
Thick-billed muravlevka
The bird, known as the “Mona Lisa of the bird Kingdom” because of the thick curved beak, similar to a mysterious smile. A few years ago it was rediscovered by scientists in Colombia after a 40-year absence.
The study of this species is complicated by the fact that they live in a very remote tropical forests of Venezuela and Colombia. For this reason, from 1965 to 2004, these birds have not been seen.
Malay, kalau
Malay, Kalo is one of the largest hornbills. Some specimens reach a length of 122 cm and weigh up to 3 kg. Live mostly in humid subtropical forests of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo. The main habitat — wooded slopes at an altitude of about 1500 meters.
Another feature of these birds is their life expectancy. As a rule, in captivity they live for 35 years or longer. There are isolated cases when representatives of this species lived to 90 years.
Hoatzin
The bird that its appearance resembles some ancient fledged lizard. Not large — about 60 cm Lives in Equatorial South America, from Colombia to Bolivia. Haazinu almost do not fly, most of the time stick to the trees and rarely descend to the ground.
An interesting feature of this species is their system of digestion. This all occurs through fermentation in the large goiter. From this, the hoatzin has an unusually unpleasant dung smell. That is why the European settlers of South America called the hoatzin “stinky bird”. Besides the meat of the hoatzin has a sharp musty smell inedible and never eaten even by the natives.
The shoebill
The shoebill, also referred to as the Royal Heron is a large bird of the order numerous and variable. Its average height is 1.2 m and a wingspan of up to 2.3 m. the distinctive feature of the shoebill is large, similar to wood Shoe beak, making him a skillful master of fishing. At the same time, nothing else this beak, the bird can not do. And if the usual feed becomes tight, she faces starvation.
Another unusual feature is the eye of the shoebill. They are not two sides of the skull, like most other birds, and in its front part. Because of this, he sees everything in bulk. The birthplace of the shoebill — swampy areas of Africa. Despite the fact that the habitat of birds is large enough, some populations are very small and scattered.
The South American harpy
Large birds of prey of the family accipitridae. Dean’s body harpies comes to 110 cm, and the wingspan can exceed 2 meters. In this case, and weigh the birds very well: up to 9 kg. As the name implies, these hawks live in the plains in the tropical forests of Central and South America from Mexico to Brazil.
South American harpy incredible large and powerful legs that are capable of keeping a very large weight. Fingers vooruzhen long black claws. Not surprisingly, the villages of these predators will sometimes carry small piglets and lambs.
Muscovy duck
On the territory of the former USSR this bird is widely known under the name of “indoda,” which means, supposedly its hybrid origin from Turkey and ducks. In fact the name of a Muscovy duck received from attributed to old individuals properties identified in the field fleshy growths on the head of the fat supposedly with the smell of musk.
For the first time Muscovy duck was domesticated by the ancient Aztecs. Later this bird was brought first to Africa, then to Europe, Asia and Australia, and Russia. On the territory of the former USSR musk ducks were first imported in 1981 from the GDR, and then again in 1988 from France.
Aeronomy crowned pigeon
Pretty large bird of the family columbidae. Found only in New Guinea, mainly in the Northern part of it. Body length 74 cm, weight 2.5 kg. Crowned pigeons can fly, but they do it very reluctantly, only in case of danger. Most of the time spend on the ground, which collect the fallen fruits, seeds and berries.
This kind of pigeons is a rare and vulnerable species. The number of birds everywhere declining. This is mainly due to excessive and uncontrolled hunting for feathers and also due to the destruction of their natural habitat — the wetland forests and forests of sago palms.
Kaffir horned Raven
It is the largest hornbills of all existing in the world. Body length they can reach up to 129 cm and a weight of 6.2 kg. the Main area of their habitat is the African Savannah, South of the equator. Most of the time they spend on the ground, collect food, slowly walking across the Savannah.
Besides the fact that they are the largest hornbills, they are still the only real predators in this family. Kaffir horned crows feed on arthropods and insects: grasshoppers, beetles, termites and even Scorpions. However, in the dry season, it can get even a squirrel, a young hare or a mongoose.
Royal vulture
The most striking of the Vedas from the family of American vultures. It Inhabits South America. I wonder what its Latin name Sarcoramphus papa comes from the fact that in fights with other vultures over carrion, this species usually turns out to be a winner.
The Royal vultures are rather large birds. Their bodies can reach the size of 85 cm, and weight to reach 4.5 kg. the extent of the wings has about 2 meters, so flying vulture makes a strong impression.
