The Ocreatus underwoodii (scientific name) or booted racket-tail hummingbird is endemic to South America, specifically Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. 2.9 inches in length, this hummingbird is distinguishable from the others because of its tail feathers. The upperparts are golden-green in colour; the throat and breast are iridescent emerald green, and legs are feathered […]
Insects are invertebrates that are found in almost all environments across the globe. Most of them have bodies, which can be divided up into head, thorax and abdomen. Bugs and insects have more than a million different species. More importantly, they represent more than half the number of living organisms found on the planet. This
The Rhegmatorhina melanosticta (scientific name) or hairy-crested antbird is found in tropical moist lowland forests of South America, specifically Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. 5.9 inches in length, this bird is quite dramatic-looking. Overall plumage is brown in colour, with a bushy grey crest, black face and the orbital skin which is pale blue
The Aglaeactis Pamela (scientific name) or black-hooded sunbeam is found only in the tropical moist and high altitude forests of Bolivia. At 5.1 inches in length, these birds are relatively large in size for hummingbirds. They have purplish-black plumage, while the tail is rufous, chest tufts are white and wings and lower back are glittering
The Recurvirostra andina (scientific name) or Andean avocet is found in areas above 3500 metres above the sea level in the Andes, South America. 17-19 inches in length, this bird has a white head, neck, chest, belly and rump. The wings and upperparts are black and the legs are thin, long and grey. The beak
The Sappho sparganura (scientific name) or red-tailed comet is found not only in woodlands, but also around human habitation in the Central Andes of Argentina and Bolivia. 8.6 inches in length, this bird is easily identifiable because of its tail. It has a long, metallic golden-red tail. The head and wing plumage is moss green,
The Ampelion rubrocristatus (scientific name) or red-crested cotinga is found in tropical moist forests, edges of the cloud-forests and heavily degraded forests of South America, specifically Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. 8.2 inches in length, this bird has grey plumage overall. The base of its beak is usually white and it also has a
The Ardeotis kori (scientific name) or kori bustard is found in open grasslands, plateaus, plains and arid scrublands of Africa. At 3.9 feet, this bulky bird is one of the largest flying birds in the world. The face and the neck are predominantly grey, and a black crest runs back from the crown. The upperparts
The Pygoscelis papua (scientific name) or gentoo penguin is found only in the Antarctic Peninsula, and the islands surrounding the Antarctic. 30 inches in height, the gentoo penguin has an orange bills, black colouring on the back and white colouring in the front. A unique identifying feature is the white strip, which resembles a bonnet,
The Microhierax fringillarius (scientific name) or black-legged falconet is found in the forested areas of South-East Asia, specifically Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. 5.0-5.6 inches in length, it resembles a sparrow. The upperparts are darker blackish plumage, while the forehead is streaked white and the throat and underparts are a light buff
The Mellisuga Helenae (scientific name) or bee hummingbird is found only in the forests which are on the main island of Cuba. Only 2.0-2.4 inches in length, this bird is the smallest living bird in the world. The male bee hummingbird has very colourful plumage. The head and throat have red-pink feathers, which are elongated
The Loxia curvirostra (scientific name) or red/common crossbill is usually found across the Northern Hemisphere, in areas like the Scottish Highlands, North Norfolk coast, forest of Dean, new forest, Breckland and even Northern Asia, which have conifer trees. 5.0-6.6 inches in length, the male is usually reddish-brown with black colouring while the female is green
The Lybius dubius (scientific name) or bearded barbet is commonly found in the tropical parts of West Africa. 10 inches in length, this bird has a short neck, large head and plump body. The head, back, upper chest and wing are all glossy black. The area below the eyes, chin, throat and belly are all
The Crax globulosa (scientific name) or wattled curassow is found only in the rainforest regions of Western Amazon basin, South America. 32-35 inches in length, this bird has overall black plumage, except for the area between the tail and legs, which is white (buff coloured in case of females). The feathers on its head are
The Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (scientific name) or American white pelican is a migratory aquatic bird, which breeds in North America, but migrates South to Central and South America in winters. 50-70 inches in length, this bird has pure silver-white plumage overall, excepting the lower wing feathers, which are grey-black and visible in flight. The beak, bare