221 Exotic Birds Encyclopedia

The Eutriochis astus (scientific name) or Madagascar serpent eagle is found only in the tropical forests of Madagascar. With a height of 22-26 inches, this medium-sized eagle has a dark barred brownish-grey plumage on the upperside. The underside (throat, belly and chest) is a lighter grey. It has yellow eyes and a sharp hooded beak. […]

The Centropus steeril (scientific name) or black-hooded coucal is found only in the tropical, moist forests of Mindora, the Philippines. With a height of 18.8 inches, this bird has a glossy black head which resembles a hood. The rest of the body has brownish-black plumage, while the tail is greenish-black. Its diet consists largely of

The Macrocephalon maleo (scientific name) or maleo is native to the tropical hill forests of Sulawesi, Indonesia. With a height of 39 inches, the maleo has black plumage on the upperparts, and a rosy salmon-coloured chest and underparts. It has a yellow bare facial skin, reddish iris and a reddish-orange beak. It has a black

The Podicipedidae (scientific name) or grebe is a family of birds with a cosmopolitan distribution. Small-medium sized birds, their height varies from 9-28 inches depending on the genera. They have pointed bills, tiny tails and rounded bodies. Their plumage colouration varies from white and brown-grey (non-breeding males) to rusts and chestnut (breeding male). Their plumage

The Porcellariiformes (scientific name) is an order of birds in which the petrel exists. The petrel is mostly found on the open seas of the Southern Hemisphere. It is pelagic and comes to land only to breed. Depending on the species, its size can vary from 7-16 inches. Plumage colouration is in shades of white,

The Pedionomus torquatus (scientific name) or plains wanderer is native to the sparse grasslands of Australia, and is the only living representative of its family. 5.0-7.5 inches in length, this bird is a ground bird. The male and the female differ, with the male having brown upperparts and whitish underparts, with black crescents and the

The Threskiornithinae (scientific name) or ibis is a group of wading birds which are found almost all across the globe in warm regions, except the South Pacific Islands. Depending on the species, their height ranges from 22-30 inches. Known for their long necks and beaks, these birds usually have brown, white and grey plumage. They

The Calidrispygmaea (scientific name) or spoon-billed sandpiper is a migratory bird, which breeds in coastal lagoons and bays of North-Eastern Russia and spends in winters in coastal, marine sites of South-East Asia. 14-16 inches in length, this wader has dark black-brown upperparts, white underparts and black legs. Its head, neck and chest are red-brown in

The Cuculidae (scientific name) or cuckoo is a family of birds with a cosmopolitan distribution, found in all habitats across all continents excepting Antarctica and parts of South America. Medium-sized, their length varies from 6-25 inches. There are two body types, the arboreal (slender with short tarsi) or the terrestrial (heavy set with long tarsi).

The Frigata andrewsi (scientific name) or Christmas island frigatebird is found only on the Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean. 25-40 inches in height, this bird has glossy black feathers overall, except for the white patch on its belly. It also has a forked tail. The male has a red gular pouch below its beak,

The Pithecophaga jefferyi (scientific name) or Philippine eagle is found only in the Philippines. From 2.8-3.3 feet in height, it is considered one of the largest eagles in the world. The back is dark brown, while the underside is creamy-white. Its face, nape and crown have brown feathers. It also has a shaggy-looking crest, giving

The Sypheotides indicus (scientific name) or lesser florican is typically found in tall grasslands in the Indian sub-continent. Smaller in height than its counterpart, the Bengal Florican, this bird is 25 inches in height. While both birds are nearly similar in appearance, the lesser florican has three ribbon-like feathers that are four inches long and

The Strigops habroptilus (scientific name) or kakapo is native to New Zealand. A heavy flightless bird, the kakapo is 24 inches in length, and stores a large amount of body fat, making it the heaviest parrot in the world. It has yellow moss-green feathers on the upperparts, which are barred or mottled with black or

The Rhynochetos jubatus (scientific name) or kagu is the only surviving member of its family, and is found only in dense mountainous forest of New Caledonia. 22 inches in length, this bird is bluish-grey in colour, has bright orange-red long legs, which help it to walk long distances. This is because the kagu is a

The Aegothelis savesi (scientific name) or new caledonian owlet is found only in the savannah and humid forests of New Caledonia, an island off the coast of Australia. 11 inches in height, its plumage is grey-brown and black in colour. It has a long but rounded tail, short rounded wings, and longer legs than any