221 Exotic Birds Encyclopedia

The Ispidina picta (scientific name) or African pygmy kingfisher is found mainly in woodland and forest habitats of Africa, but from the South of the Sahara. 4.7 inches in length, this kingfisher is a burst of colours. The crown and wings are a beautiful midnight blue, with iridescent cobalt blue shading. The sides of the […]

The Hypargos margaritatus (scientific name) or pink-throated twinspot is found mostly in the dry savannah and moist tropical shrub lands of the Southern African coast, specifically Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa. 4.7 inches in length, this finch is colourful. The plumage from the crown to the tail, including the back and upper tail coverts is

The Promerops cafer (scientific name) or cape sugarbird is found in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. 13-17 inches in length, their overall body plumage is brownish-grey with spots on the chest. The beak is long and downward curved. The wing and tail feathers are darker brown-black in colour. The most noticeable

The Terathopius ecaudatus (scientific name) or bateleur is endemic to the open savannah of Sub-Saharan Africa and also South-West Arabia. 22-28 inches in length, this bird is extremely colourful with mainly black plumage, but also a chestnut-coloured mantle and tail, grey plumage on the shoulders and tawny-coloured wing coverts. The facial skin, beak and legs

The Steatornis caripensis (scientific name) or oilbird is a nocturnal bird found only in the forests of Northern South America. Also known as guacharo, it is 16-19 inches in length and most of its plumage is reddish brown with white spots on the wings and nape. The lower parts are cinnamon buff. The beak is

The Rupicola peruvianus (scientific name) or Andean cock-of-the-rock is endemic to the Andean cloud forests of South America. 13 inches in length, this medium-sized bird displays sexual dimorphism. While the female is dull brown, the male has a disc-like crest right above its beak, which many times hides the beak completely. The overall plumage is

The Centrocercus urophasianus (scientific name) or greater sage-grouse is totally dependent on sagebrush populated areas. It can be found in Western United States and Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. Approximately 29 inches in length, the adult male has long pointed tail feathers. The belly and general upper body is brown-black with white spots. The head

The Stephanoaetus coronatus (scientific name) or African-crowned eagle is found only in the Sub-Saharan regions of Africa and Eastern parts of South Africa. 31-39 inches in length, this bird has blackish brown-grey upperparts with a tinge of blue. The belly, chest and underparts are brown but have blotches of white. The crown on the head

The Anhinga anhinga (scientific name) or anhinga is found mostly on the American Continent. Divided into 2 species based on their locations, one of them is found in the Andes in South America and in Trinidad and Tobago, while the other is found in Southern USA. 33 inches in length, the anhinga is mostly glossy

The Acryllium vulturinum (scientific name) or vulturine guineafowl is found in savannah and dry grasslands of North-East Africa, from South of Ethiopia to Northern Tanzania. 24-27 inches in length, this bird has a big body and disproportionately small head. The blue head and black neck are bare. It has long cape-like blue and white hackles.

The Parotia sefilata (scientific name) or Western parotia is found only in two forested regions, the Wandammen Peninsula, Western New Guinea and Vogelkop mountain forests, Indonesia. 12.9 inches in length, this medium-sized bird-of-paradise has mostly black plumage with an iridescent golden-green breast shield and triangular silver crown feathers. It also has long black plumes on

The Batrachostomus moniliger (scientific name) or Sri Lankan frog mouth is a nocturnal bird found in the forests of Western Ghats in South India and Sri Lanka. 9.1 inches in length, the plumage colouration of this frog mouth is a mixture of brown, ochre and rust. It is spotted and textured in such a way

The Laphorina superba (scientific name) or superb bird-of-paradise is found in the rainforests of New Guinea. 10.2 inches in length, this bird has one of the most elaborate plumages and courtship dances. The head and overall body plumage is jet black, excepting the feathers on the crown and the neck which are a gorgeous iridescent

The Astrapia mayeri (scientific name) or ribbon-tailed astrapia is native to the Sub-Alpine forests in the Western part of Papua New Guinea. 12.5 inches in length (not including its tail) it is the latest addition to the birds of paradise. The plumage is dark glossy black, with the head being an iridescent olive-green and bronze,

The Leptoptilos crumeniferus (scientific name) or marabou stork is found in wet and arid regions near human waste sites, south of the Sahara, Africa. 60 inches in height, it is also known as the undertaker bird because of its physical attributes. It has black cloak-like wings and upper body, thin white legs and a mass