A tall, elegant member of the heron family, this striking wading bird is native to Asia, Africa, and temperate Europe. The heron was a symbolic bird in ancient times. From Ancient Egypt to Ancient Rome, it was highly regarded, as evidenced by its...
The Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), is certainly a bird that lives up to its name, adding a splash of color to the bird feeders of many a garden bird table. Formerly a denizen of deep dark woodland, it is a species that has adapted well to...
Named the buckeye state after the ubiquitous trees dotting the landscape, Ohio boasts a diversity of birdlife. Birds native to Ohio include the great blue heron, the cardinal – which is also the state bird – and a variety of warblers...
Much like a typical duck, its plumage and other features suggest not a parental relationship, but a convergent evolution in the ancestors of stiff-tailed ducks. It is a small dark duck: the male has a black head and coat, and a lighter side and...
As ancient paintings show, the red-breasted goose not only fascinated ornithologists from all over Europe of modern days, but had already also generated a great deal of attraction, also for the ancient Egyptians. Typical example of bird species that...
The Muscovy duck is a species native to South America and in Europe, in its domestic form. It’s specialised in the production of excellent quality meat (even if it does not enjoy a great reputation for the smell of musk that emanates from the...
Often mistaken for a swallow or a martin, the common swift belongs to a family in its own right – the Apodidae. One of the most remarkable aspects of this species is its aerial prowess. Common swifts spend more time in the air than any other...
Definitely one of the most elegant birds of the world: the shapes, the grace and the style of this bird are summed up in its scientific name: “anthropoides”, human like, and “virgo”, latin for young lady, demoiselle. Characteristics appreciated...
Originally coming from a small area of Eastern Asia, the colorful males of the mandarin duck, with their showy orange ornamental feathers, are often raised as ornamental birds. The species was introduced in Europe as far back as the early 18th...
The White-naped Crane (Antigone vipio) is a species of East Asian origins, nesting in northeastern Mongolia and northern China and wintering on the Korean peninsula and Japan. During the breeding season it lives in pairs and leads a very reserved...