Birdorable Carolina Parakeet

Today’s bird is the 19th and final species in this year's Birdorable Bonanza! It is also our 350th Birdorable bird - introducing the Birdorable Carolina Parakeet!

The Carolina Parakeet was a colorful species of parrot native to the southeastern United States that is now unfortunately extinct. The last captive bird died in 1918, with the last wild birds dying out around that time or earlier. The Carolina Parakeet was a beautiful bird, with a green-blue body and warmer reds, oranges and yellows around the face. They used their powerful beaks to feed on seeds and fruit pits.

Photo by Tim Krepp (CC BY 2.0)

Cute Carolina Parakeet Gifts

Birdorable Pileated Woodpecker

Today’s bird, and the 18th (and second-to-last!) species in the Birdorable Bonanza, is the Pileated Woodpecker!

Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker by
magnificentfrigatebird

Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest species of woodpecker currently found in the Americas (the believed-extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker and Imperial Woodpecker were both larger). During nesting season, both male and female birds take care of incubating the eggs, though males will take over for overnight incubation. Both parents care for the nestlings as they grow.

Birdorable Pileated Woodpecker Product Samples

Tomorrow's bird is an extinct bird that used to live in the United States. Can you guess what it will be?

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Birdorable Roadside Hawk

Just two more days -- we've almost reached the end of Birdorable Bonanza 2011. Today's new bird species is the Roadside Hawk!

GAVIÃO-CARIJÓ ( Rupornis magnirostris )
GAVIÃO-CARIJÓ ( Rupornis magnirostris ) by Dario Sanches

The Roadside Hawk is the smallest species of Buteo, a family that also includes Red-tailed Hawks and Broad-winged Hawks. Roadside Hawks are found throughout parts of Central and South America. Despite their urban-sounding name, they are highly adaptive and can be found nesting in a wide variety of habitats.

Birdorable Roadside Hawk Product Samples

Tomorrow's bird has a large red crest and lives in North America. Can you guess what it will be?

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Birdorable Cyprus Warbler

Today’s bird, and the 16th species in the Birdorable Bonanza, is the Cyprus Warbler!

Warbler Cyprus,Kala Chorio,Cyprus 17/10/07
Warbler Cyprus,Kala Chorio,Cyprus 17/10/07 by Mick Sway

The Cyprus Warbler is a small species of warbler that lives on the island of Cyprus during breeding season, and in Israel, Jordan or Egypt during the winter months. Male Cyprus Warblers, like our Birdorable version, have black heads, grey backs, and dark streaking on the breast. Females are similar in color scheme though the brightness is toned down considerably.

Birdorable Cyprus Warbler Product Samples

Tomorrow's bird is a common hawk from Latin America. Its species name translates as 'large beak'. Can you guess what it will be?

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Birdorable Chinstrap Penguin

Today’s bird, and the 15th species in the Birdorable Bonanza, is the Chinstrap Penguin!

Chinstrap Penguin at Point Wild, Elephant Island
Chinstrap Penguin at Point Wild, Elephant Island by Liam Q

Chinstrap Penguins are cute little black-and-white birds that live in huge colonies in Antarctica and nearby islands. They are named for the black stripe that runs under the chin which resembles a helmet strap. Chinstrap Penguins are one of the most common species of penguin found in the world, with a population estimated at over 8 million birds.

Birdorable Chinstrap Penguin Product Samples

Tomorrow's bird is a little black and grey bird that breeds on Cyprus. Can you guess what it will be?

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Birdorable Common Moorhen

For 19 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2011. We're counting up to revealing our 350th species! Today's bird is the Common Moorhen.

Common Moorhen photo

The Common Moorhen is a species of rail that has a wide range. They live across parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The similar North American Common Gallinule was recently split from the Common Moorhen. Common Moorhens have dark, chubby bodies supported by yellow legs and relatively enormous feet. They have a prominent red facial shield as well.

Birdorable Moorhen Product Samples

Tomorrow's bird can be easily recognized from the black line under its chin. Can you guess what it will be?

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Birdorable Dickcissel

Birds fly when you're having fun ... we're already at our 13th species in this year's Birdorable Bonanza. Today’s bird is the Dickcissel!

Singing Dickcissel (Spiza americana)
Singing Dickcissel by cyclewidow

The Dickcissel is a small grassland bird that breeds across parts of the Midwest in the United States. These migratory birds head south to Central and South America during the winter months. Male Dickcissels in breeding plumage are extremely bright and beautiful, as you can see in our Birdorable version of this species. Dickcissels are named for their song, part of which sounds like they are yelling "dick! dick! cissss cissss..."

Birdorable Dickcissel Product Samples

Tomorrow's bird is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution. Can you guess what it will be?

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Great Black-backed Gull

Today’s bird, and the 12th species in the Birdorable Bonanza, is the Great Black-backed Gull!

Lesser Black Backed Gull
Great Black Backed Gull by Hilary Chambers

Great Black-backed Gulls are the largest species of gull in the world, larger than the very common and oversized Herring Gull. Like many gull species, Great Black-backs will scavenge for much of their food. They will also take live prey, using a variety of techniques including drowning and vigorous physical attack. These large and sometimes predatory gulls have very few predators to fear themselves.

Tomorrow's bird is a small American bird that perched in an open field sings "dick dick ciss ciss ciss". Can you guess what it will be?

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Birdorable Northern Bobwhite

For 19 days we're adding a new bird species to Birdorable every day. Today’s bird is the 11th species in the Birdorable Bonanza: the Northern Bobwhite!

Northern Bobwhite #1 ♂
Northern Bobwhite #1 ♂ by leppyone

Northern Bobwhites are small game birds that live across parts of the southeastern United States and into parts of Mexico. They are significant as both game birds and as research subjects, due in part to their successful reproductive abilities. There are a whopping 22 subspecies of Northern Bobwhite. The birds are named for their whistle-like call; they are also known as Virginia Quail or Bobwhite Quail.

Northern Bobwhite Products

Tomorrow's bird is the largest gull in the world. Can you guess what it will be?

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Bonanza Bird #10: Pink-footed Goose

Birdorable Pink-footed Goose

Today’s bird, and the 10th species in the Birdorable Bonanza, is the Pink-footed Goose!

Pink Footed Goose
Pink Footed Goose by Hilary Chambers

The Pink-footed Goose is a migratory species of goose that breeds in parts of Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. The species population has increased dramatically over the past 50 years, mainly due to extra hunting restrictions in their winter range. The Pink-footed Goose featured prominently in the recent birder movie The Big Year. Two of the main characters missed out on seeing the rare vagrant to the United States early in the film (and early in the big birding year). The bird appears again later in the movie as well.

Pink-footed Goose Products

Tomorrow's bird is a quail that can be found in eastern United States and is named after its characteristic whistling call. Can you guess what it will be?

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