"only sing when perched, and Thomas Hardy referenced the eerie silence of a hunting bird in ""Afterwards"": ""If it be in the dusk when, like an eyelid's soundless blink/The dewfall-hawk comes crossing the shades to alight/Upon the wind-warped upland thorn"". ""Caprimulgus"" and the old name ""goatsucker"" both refer to the myth, old even in the time of Aristotle, that nightjars suckled from nanny goats, which subsequently ceased to give milk or went blind. This ancient belief is reflected in nightjar names in other European languages, such as German ""Ziegenmelker"", Polish ""kozodój"" and Italian ""succiacapre"", which also mean goatsucker, but despite"
"Nightjar Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the subfamily Caprimulginae and in the family Caprimulgidae, characterised by long wings, short legs and very short bills. They are sometimes called goatsuckers, due to the ancient folk tale that they sucked the milk from goats (the Latin for goatsucker is ""Caprimulgus""), or bugeaters, due to their insectivore diet. Some New World species are called nighthawks. The English word 'nightjar' originally referred to the European nightjar. Nightjars are found around the world except in New Zealand and some islands of Oceania. They are mostly active in the late evening and in"
"Nightjars are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats (the Latin for goatsucker is ""Caprimulgus""). In October 2018, the University of Alberta published research on the common nighthawk revealing that it travels 20,000 kilometres every year during migration between the rainforests and savannas of Brazil and its breeding grounds in northern Alberta. Nighthawks have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves. Some species perch facing along a branch, rather than across it as birds usually do. This"
"a goose. It has blue feathers, long legs and a large beak, similar to that of a hornbill. As an example of sexual dimorphism, the male Mockery Birds have a large hump on their beak, while the females have only a small, bony shield. The bird was named after its call, that sounds like laughter (much like the kookaburra's). The Mockery Bird was worshipped by the native Fangoua people, but was believed to be hunt to extinction. Mysteriously, when the bird was lost, a tree species, the Ombu tree also disappeared. This shows that there was a strong ecological link"
"in 1929, a specimen that was held in the hand. Surveys in the 1970s and 1990s failed to find it. It is perfectly possible that it has evolved as a species that can really be identified in the wild only by other Vaurie's nightjars, rather than by humans. As a result, scientists do not know whether it is extinct, endangered, or even locally common. Nightjar Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the subfamily Caprimulginae and in the family Caprimulgidae, characterised by long wings, short legs and very short bills. They are sometimes called goatsuckers, due to the ancient"
"goshawk genus ""Accipiter"". This bird was named after the naturalist William Cooper, one of the founders of the New York Lyceum of Natural History (later the New York Academy of Sciences) in New York. Other common names; big blue darter, chicken hawk, hen hawk, Mexican hawk, quail hawk, striker and swift hawk. The average mass of an adult male ranges from with a length between . The adult male is significantly smaller than the average female, which weighs and measures long. Its wingspan ranges from . Individuals living in the eastern regions, where the sexes average and , tend to"
"spiders and seeds. Outside of the nesting season, these birds forage in mixed flocks. In winter, they also eat berries and plant nectar. The song of the male bird is a buzzed ""zee-zee-zee-bzz-zee"", somewhat similar to that of its eastern relative, the black-throated green warbler. The call is a sharp ""tup"". This bird was named after the American ornithologist, John Kirk Townsend. Although Townsend is also credited with first describing this bird, he used a name chosen by Thomas Nuttall, who was travelling with him, and so sidestepped the convention against naming a species after oneself. Townsend's warbler Townsend's warbler"
"Guaiabero The guaiabero (""Bolbopsittacus lunulatus"") is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae, belonging to the monotypic genus Bolbopsittacus and closely related to the lovebirds (""Agapornis"") and hanging parrots (""Loriculus""). It is endemic to the Philippines and locally known as ""bubutok"". Its common name is derived from its reputation for eating guavas. Measuring around in length, it is a smallish, stout parrot with a large bill and stubby tail. The sexes differ in plumage. The adult male is green overall, with more yellowish underparts and a pale blue face and collar and wing primaries. The rump is yellow-green. The"
"Grass warbler The grass warblers are small passerine birds belonging to the genus Locustella. Formerly placed in the paraphyletic ""Old World warbler"" assemblage, they are now considered the northernmost representatives of a largely Gondwanan family, the Locustellidae. The genus name ""Locustella"" is from Latin and is a diminutive of ""locusta"", ""grasshopper"". Like the English name, this refers to the insect-like song of some species. These are rather drab brownish ""warblers"" usually associated with fairly open grassland, shrubs or marshes. Some are streaked, others plain, all are difficult to view. They are insectivorous. The most characteristic feature of this group is"
"Jacobin cuckoo The Jacobin cuckoo, pied cuckoo, or pied crested cuckoo (""Clamator jacobinus"") is a member of the cuckoo order of birds that is found in Africa and Asia. It is partially migratory and in India, it has been considered a harbinger of the monsoon rains due to the timing of its arrival. It has been associated with a bird in Indian mythology and poetry, known as the ""chataka"" (Sanskrit: चातक) represented as a bird with a beak on its head that waits for rains to quench its thirst. The Jacobin cuckoo was described by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc,"
"Accipiter Accipiter is a genus of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae. Most species are called goshawks or sparrowhawks, although almost all New World species (excepting the northern goshawk) are simply known as hawks. They can be anatomically distinguished from their relatives by the lack of a procoracoid foramen. Two small and aberrant species usually placed here do possess a large procoracoid foramen and are also distinct as regards DNA sequence. They may warrant separation in the old genus ""Hieraspiza"". Extant accipiters range in size from the little sparrowhawk (""A. minullus""), in which the smallest males measure long, span"
"Hoatzin The hoatzin (""Opisthocomus hoazin""), also known as the reptile bird, skunk bird, stinkbird, or Canje pheasant, is a species of tropical bird found in swamps, riparian forests, and mangroves of the Amazon and the Orinoco basins in South America. It is notable for having chicks that have claws on two of their wing digits. It is the only member of the genus Opisthocomus (Ancient Greek: ""wearing long hair behind"", referring to its large crest), which in turn is the only extant genus in the family Opisthocomidae. The taxonomic position of this family has been greatly debated, and is still"
"names for the same species. Southern Yellow Grosbeak is used in The Birds of Ecuador and Golden-bellied Grosbeak is used by the American Ornithologist Union’s (AOU) checklist and The Birds of Northern South America to name Pheucticus chysogaster. Three currently recognized species Golden/Southern Yellow Grosbeak (P. chrysogaster), Black-thighed Grosbeak (P. tibialis) and Yellow Grosbeak (P. chrysopeplus) used to be considered the same species and went under the name Yellow Grosbeak. Southern Yellow Grosbeak was the common name given to the subspecies of the Yellow Grosbeaks found in the South American Andes of Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Columbia that is now"
"Northern goshawk The northern goshawk (; ""Accipiter gentilis"") is a medium-large raptor in the family Accipitridae, which also includes other extant diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. As a species in the genus ""Accipiter"", the goshawk is often considered a ""true hawk"". The scientific name is Latin; ""Accipiter"" is ""hawk"", from ""accipere"", ""to grasp"", and ""gentilis"" is ""noble"" or ""gentle"" because in the Middle Ages only the nobility were permitted to fly goshawks for falconry. This species was first described under its current scientific name by Linnaeus in his ""Systema naturae"" in 1758. It is a widespread species"
"from the Mascarenes, described by Henry Ogg Forbes under the name ""Necropsar leguati"" and sketched by bird illustrator John Gerrard Keulemans. It was supposed to be a close relative of the Rodrigues starling. A vernacular name for this supposed species was ""white Mascarene starling"". However, in April 2000 ancient DNA analysis of that skin in the Smithsonian Institution led by Storrs Olson had shown that the Liverpool specimen was nothing more than a misidentified and mislabeled albinistic specimen of ""C. g. gutturalis"". Grey trembler The grey trembler (""Cinclocerthia gutturalis"") is a songbird species in the family Mimidae. It is found"
"Nutcracker (bird) The nutcrackers (Nucifraga) are a genus of three species of passerine bird, in the family Corvidae, related to the jays and crows. The genus name is a New Latin translation of German ""Nussbrecher"", ""nut-breaker"". The most important food resources for both these species are the seeds (pine nuts) of various pines (""Pinus"" sp.), principally the cold-climate (far northern or high altitude) species of white pine (""Pinus"" subgenus ""Strobus"") with large seeds: ""P. albicaulis, P. armandii, P. cembra, P. flexilis, P. koraiensis, P. parviflora, P. peuce, P. pumila, P. sibirica"" and ""P. wallichiana"", and also the pinyon and lacebark"
"approached by humans or other potential threats, males at bowers and females at nests often mimic the calls of predatory birds such as the wedge-tailed eagle (""Aquila audax""), blue-winged kookaburra (Dacelo leachii), grey-crowned babbler (""Pomatostomus temporalis""), grey butcherbird (""Cracticus torquatus""), pied butcherbird (""Cracticus nigrogulari""s), australian magpie (""Gymnorhina tibicen""), australian raven (""Corvus coronoides""), apostlebird (""Struthidea cinerea"") and honeyeaters (Meliphagidae spp.) among others. Other sounds mimicked include large herbivores moving through scrub or over fallen branches, the twang of fence wire, wood chopping, the crack of stock whip and the whistling flight of crested pigeons. First described by John Gould as ""Ptilonorynchus"
"old English name for the goldcrest is the ""woodcock pilot"", since migrating birds preceded the arrival of Eurasian woodcocks by a couple of days. There are unfounded legends that the goldcrest would hitch a ride in the feathers of the larger bird, and similar stories claimed that owls provided the transport. Suffolk fishermen called this bird ""herring spink"" or ""tot o'er seas"" because migrating goldcrests often landed on the rigging of herring boats out in the North Sea. Goldcrest The goldcrest (""Regulus regulus"") is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden crest feathers gives rise"
"Grey-tailed tattler The grey-tailed tattler or Polynesian tattler, ""Tringa brevipes"" (formerly ""Heteroscelus brevipes"") is a small, foraging shorebird in the genus ""Tringa"". The English name for the tattlers refers to their noisy call. The genus name ""Tringa"" is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek ""trungas"", a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific ""brevipes"" is from Latin ""brevis"", ""short"", and ""pes"", ""foot"". This tattler breeds in northeast Siberia. After breeding, they migrate to an area from southeast Asia to Australia. The grey-tailed tattler is closely related"
"Crested goshawk The crested goshawk (""Accipiter trivirgatus"") is a bird of prey from tropical Asia. It is related to other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards (or buteos) and harriers, and thus placed in the family Accipitridae. This raptor has short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees. It is 30–46 cm in length, with the female much larger than the male. The larger size and a short crest, clearly visible in profile, are the best distinctions from its relative, the besra (""A. virgatus""). The male has a dark brown crown, grey head sides and"
"activity. Much of the forest has been cleared for agricultural purposes. Logging also occurs, especially to obtain timber from the forest tree ""Faurea wentzeliana""; this reduces the density of the forest, reducing habitat quality for the bird. Some populations are in protected areas, but the species is thought to be in general decline. Dapple-throat The dapple-throat (""Arcanator orostruthus"") is a species of bird in the small African family Modulatricidae. Other common names include dappled mountain robin and dappled mountain greenbul. It is native to Mozambique and Tanzania. This is the only species in the monotypic genus Arcanator. This species has"
"Richardson's ground squirrel Richardson's ground squirrel (""Urocitellus richardsonii""), also known as the Dakrat, or Flickertail, is a North American ground squirrel in the genus ""Urocitellus"". Like a number of other ground squirrels, they are sometimes called gophers, though this name belongs more strictly to the pocket gophers of family Geomyidae. This squirrel was named after the Scottish naturalist Sir John Richardson. North Dakota is nicknamed the Flickertail state after the squirrel. The nickname Dakrat, is derived from ""Dakota Rat"" . Native to the short grass prairies, Richardson's ground squirrel is found mainly in the northern states of the United States,"
"rufous-breasted sparrowhawk (""A. rufiventris""), sharp-shinned hawk (""A. striatus""), white-breasted hawk (""A. chionogaster""), plain-breasted hawk (""A. ventralis""), rufous-thighed hawk (""A. erythronemius""). Accipiter Accipiter is a genus of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae. Most species are called goshawks or sparrowhawks, although almost all New World species (excepting the northern goshawk) are simply known as hawks. They can be anatomically distinguished from their relatives by the lack of a procoracoid foramen. Two small and aberrant species usually placed here do possess a large procoracoid foramen and are also distinct as regards DNA sequence. They may warrant separation in the old genus"
"the only known locustellid warblers from Europe, it is still fairly likely that the bone piece belongs to a basal ""Locustella"". Grass warbler The grass warblers are small passerine birds belonging to the genus Locustella. Formerly placed in the paraphyletic ""Old World warbler"" assemblage, they are now considered the northernmost representatives of a largely Gondwanan family, the Locustellidae. The genus name ""Locustella"" is from Latin and is a diminutive of ""locusta"", ""grasshopper"". Like the English name, this refers to the insect-like song of some species. These are rather drab brownish ""warblers"" usually associated with fairly open grassland, shrubs or marshes."
"the species are migratory, but they will leave their usual ranges if a cone crop failure causes a food shortage. Nutcracker (bird) The nutcrackers (Nucifraga) are a genus of three species of passerine bird, in the family Corvidae, related to the jays and crows. The genus name is a New Latin translation of German ""Nussbrecher"", ""nut-breaker"". The most important food resources for both these species are the seeds (pine nuts) of various pines (""Pinus"" sp.), principally the cold-climate (far northern or high altitude) species of white pine (""Pinus"" subgenus ""Strobus"") with large seeds: ""P. albicaulis, P. armandii, P. cembra, P."
"In ancient European falconry literature, goshawks were often referred to as a yeoman's bird or the ""cook's bird"" because of their utility as a hunting partner catching edible prey, as opposed to the peregrine falcon, also a prized falconry bird, but more associated with noblemen and less adapted to a variety of hunting techniques and prey types found in wooded areas. The northern goshawk has remained equal to the peregrine falcon in its stature and popularity in modern falconry. Goshawk hunting flights in falconry typically begin from the falconer's gloved hand, where the fleeing bird or rabbit is pursued in"
"Sooty tern The sooty tern (""Onychoprion fuscatus"") is a seabird in the family Laridae. It is a bird of the tropical oceans, breeding on islands throughout the equatorial zone. The sooty tern was described by Linnaeus in 1766 as ""Sterna fuscata"", bearing this name for many years until the genus ""Sterna"" was split up. It is now known as ""Onychoprion fuscatus"". The genus name is from Ancient Greek ""onux"", ""claw"", and ""prion"", ""nail"". The specific ""fuscatus"" is Latin for ""dark"". Colloquially, it is known as the wideawake tern or just wideawake. This refers to the incessant calls produced by a"
"birds as their primary prey. They are also called ""hen-hawks"", or ""wood-hawks"" because of their woodland habitat. The subfamily Accipitrinae contains ""Accipiter;"" it also contains genera ""Micronisus"" (Gabar goshawk), ""Urotriorchis"" (long-tailed hawk), and ""Megatriorchis"" (Doria's goshawk). ""Melierax"" (chanting goshawks) may be included in the subfamily, or given a subfamily of its own. ""Erythrotriorchis"" (the red and chestnut-shouldered goshawks) is traditionally included in Accipitrinae, but is possibly a convergent genus from an unrelated group (see red goshawk taxonomy). The """"Buteo"" group"" includes genera ""Buteo"", ""Parabuteo"", ""Geranoetus"", and most of ""Leucopternis"". Members of this group have also been called ""hawk-buzzards"". Proposed new"
"of its range. In Brazil, indigenous peoples sometimes collect the eggs for food, and the adults are occasionally hunted, but in general this is rare, as it is reputed to have a bad taste. While its preferred habitats, mangrove and riverine forest, are disappearing quickly in some regions, it is less threatened than the Amazon rainforest, which is a primary target for deforestation. The hoatzin therefore remains fairly common in a large part of its range. The hoatzin is the national bird of Guyana. Hoatzin The hoatzin (""Opisthocomus hoazin""), also known as the reptile bird, skunk bird, stinkbird, or Canje"
"alone or in pairs. It often hovers with its head and tail pointed downwards as it picks insects off from leaves, and it rarely goes to the ground, preferring to hunt insects from mid-canopy. Restless flycatcher The restless flycatcher (""Myiagra inquieta""), or restless Myiagra, is a passerine bird in the family Monarchidae; it is also known as the razor grinder or scissors grinder because of its distinctive call. It is a native of eastern and southern Australia. Populations in New Guinea and northern Australia, which were at one time considered to be a subspecies, are now accepted as a separate"
"Gray catbird The gray catbird (""Dumetella carolinensis""), also spelled grey catbird, is a medium-sized North American and Central American perching bird of the mimid family. It is the only member of the ""catbird"" genus Dumetella. Like the black catbird (""Melanoptila glabrirostris""), it is among the basal lineages of the Mimidae, probably a closer relative of the Caribbean thrasher and trembler assemblage than of the mockingbirds and ""Toxostoma"" thrashers. In some areas it is known as the slate-colored mockingbird. The name ""Dumetella"" is based upon the Latin term ""dūmus"" (""thorny thicket""; it thus means approximately ""small thornbush-dweller"" or ""small bird of"
"and some islands in Argyll. This bird will feed on rodents, small birds, and insects in the breeding season, but the majority of its diet (espeially in winter and on migration) is made up of food that it acquires by robbing other birds (primarily gulls and terns) of their catches in an act called kleptoparasitism. Parasitic jaeger The parasitic jaeger (""Stercorarius parasiticus""), also known as the Arctic skua, Arctic jaeger or parasitic skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. The word ""jaeger"" is derived from the German word ""Jäger"", meaning ""hunter"". The English ""skua"" comes from the Faroese"
"water only from dew and spray picked up from plant leaves suggesting that it may have been the basis for the idea that the ""chatak"" only drank raindrops. To compound the issues with matching vernacular names, it has been pointed out that in Bengal ""chātak"" also refers to skylarks (which are also crested). Jacobin cuckoo The Jacobin cuckoo, pied cuckoo, or pied crested cuckoo (""Clamator jacobinus"") is a member of the cuckoo order of birds that is found in Africa and Asia. It is partially migratory and in India, it has been considered a harbinger of the monsoon rains due"