Today's highlighted t-shirt design features one of North America's least-liked birds, the Brown-headed Cowbird. Cowbirds have an unusual breeding strategy, living as brood parasites. They lay their eggs in other bird nests and may use mafia-like tactics to keep their eggs safe and ensure the foster parents will care for their chicks. In this original spoof logo design from Birdorable, The Cowbird is depicted as the king of mobster bosses.

Birdorable Secretary Bird

For 18 days we've been adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. We saved a very special bird for the final bird of our bonanza. Today's bird is the Birdorable Secretary Bird! Secretary Birds are large birds of prey native to sub-Saharan Africa. They have atypically long legs for a bird of prey, standing a whopping four feet high. Their distinctive look also includes their long scraggly head crest, featherless red faces and extremely long tails. They are like big crested eagles standing on towering crane legs! Wow!

Secretary Birds - Masai Mara National Reserve
Secretary Birds by vanbikkel

Three boys in South Africa made the news last week in a wildlife rescue story involving a Secretary Bird. The boys were alerted that another group of youths was stoning a Secretary Bird on their block. The hero boys grabbed the bird by the feet (good idea - those talons are dangerous!) and body and brought it back home. Wildlife experts were called in to care for the rescued bird, which is expected to be released back into the wild after rehabilitation.

Birdorable Secretary Bird Kids Sweatshirt Birdorable Secretary Bird Travel Mug
Birdorable Secretary Bird
Kids Sweatshirt
Birdorable Secretary Bird
Travel Mug
Birdorable Anna's Hummingbird

For 18 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. The Bonanza will be wrapping up soon! Today's bird is the Anna's Hummingbird! Anna's Hummingbird is a small species of bird native to the west coast of the United States. The species was named after Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli, by French naturalist René Primevère Lesson.

IMG_6382 Anna's Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird by loismanow
Birdorable Anna's Hummingbird Long Sleeve T-Shirt Birdorable Anna's Hummingbird Ringer Mug
Birdorable annas-hummingbird
Ladies Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Birdorable annas-hummingbird
Ringer Mug

Tomorrow's bird will be the 18th and last in the Birdorable Bonanza. Can you guess what it is?

Birdorable Bali Mynah

For 18 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. Today's bird is the beautiful Bali Mynah! The Bali Mynah is a stocky perching bird related to starlings. In fact, the species is also known as the Bali Starling. Bali Mynahs are almost completely white, with black at the tip of the tail and wings. They also have a long drooping crest and a bright blue patch of skin around the eye.

Bali Mynah
Bali Mynah by Mark McLaughlin
Birdorable Bali Mynah Kids Sweatshirt Birdorable Bali Mynah Basic Long Sleeve Raglan
Birdorable Bali Mynah
Kids Sweatshirt
Birdorable Bali Mynah
Basic Long Sleeve Raglan

Tomorrow's bird is a small North American bird with a red crown. Can you guess what it will be?

Here are three new Birdorable coloring pages for some cute coloring fun! They are the Gouldian Finch, Wood Duck and Laughing Kookaburra, three new birds from our Birdorable Bonanza. Go to Coloring Pages to download these two new PDFs and check the Meet the Birds page to check the colors.

Birdorable Coloring Pages: Gouldian Finch, Wood Duck and Laughing Kookaburra

These downloads will be available until 15 September 2010. Check here for more coloring pages. Subscribe to the Birdorable Blog by RSS feed or by email to get notified when new downloads like this are added.

Birdorable Tree Swallow

For 18 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. Today's bird is the Tree Swallow! Tree Swallows are relatively common North American breeding birds that nest in cavities. They will use nestboxes when natural cavity nesting sites are unavailable. Tree Swallows are extremely agile in flight. They are adept at catching their primary food - insects - on the wing.

Tree Swallow Closeup
Tree Swallow Closeup by Phil Armishaw
Birdorable Tree Swallow Organic Grocery Tote Birdorable Tree Swallow EDUN LIVE Lamb Toddler Essential Crew T-Shirt
Birdorable Tree Swallow
Organic Grocery Tote
Birdorable Tree Swallow
EDUN LIVE Toddler T-Shirt

Tomorrow's bird is a critically endangered bird that is endemic to Bali, Indonesia. Can you guess what it will be?

Birdorable Red-winged Blackbird

For 18 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. Today's bird is the Red-winged Blackbird. Red-winged Blackbirds are closely related to orioles and grackles. Here in northern Illinois, where we live, Red-winged Blackbirds are an early sign of spring. They return to nest in our county each after spending the winter further south. Hearing the first Red-winged Blackbirds calling on territory with their distinctive "konkaREE!" cry always means warmer weather is on the way soon.

Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird by Gary Grossman
 
What a Display!
What a Display! by vtpeacenik

Tomorrow's bird is an aerial forager who nests in cavities. Can you guess what it is?

Red-winged Blackbird Gifts

Birdorable Wood Duck

For 18 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. Today's bird is the North American Wood Duck. Male Wood Ducks, like our new Birdorable, are beautifully plumaged. Iridescent green heads, brick-red breasts and sandy flanks are just part of the multicolored story.

Wood Ducks nest in trees, or nest boxes. They are considered perching ducks, and it is not uncommon to see them perched high up in trees.

Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa)
Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) by musicarver

Tomorrow's bird likes to show off his red epaulets while calling. Can you guess what it is?

Birdorable Chattering Lory

For 18 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. Today's bird is the Chattering Lory. The Chattering Lory is a beautiful species of parrot native to parts of Indonesia. They have gorgeous bright red heads and bodies, with green wings and orange beaks.

Chattering Lory (Lorikeet): Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Chattering Lory by dbillian

Tomorrow's bird is a beautiful North American duck. Can you guess what it is?

Birdorable European Greenfinch

For 18 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. Today's bird is the European Greenfinch, shown above with two other common European feeder birds: the European Goldfinch and Chaffinch. The European Greenfinch, known simply as Greenfinch in its native English-speaking countries, is a small bird of the finch family. Like other finches, they feed primarily on seeds, and will visit garden feeders to eat sunflower seeds and other bird seed. Greenfinches are social birds and it is not uncommon to find large flocks of them feeding together, especially outside of breeding season. They will form mixed flocks with other small birds, like European Goldfinches or Chaffinches.

Verdilhão / Greenfinch
Greenfinch by António Guerra

Tomorrow's bird is a chatty red parrot from Indonesia. Can you guess what it is?