Our Birdorable Bonanza 2012 concludes today as we reveal our 400th species: the Eurasian Eagle-Owl!
Eurasian Eagle-Owls are very large and powerful birds. They have beautiful cryptic plumage, prominent ear tufts, and striking bright orange eyes.
Eurasian Eagle Owl by cookipediachef
Did you know...?
The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is sometimes considered to be the world's largest owl species. Their wingspan may be up to 6 and half feet or two meters!
The scientific name for the Eurasian Eagle-Owl is Bubo bubo. Bubo is Latin for owl.
This species has a very wide range, with breeding birds recorded in much of south and eastern Europe, and across much of temperate Asia.
Eurasian Eagle-Owls eat a variety of prey, including mammals like voles and hares.
Nesting usually occurs on rocky surfaces such as cave entrances, cliff ledges, or other crevices. They may also take over abandoned nests of other large raptor species.
Like other owl species, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl achieves silent flight through a fringe-like edging across their primary wing feathers.
We've added a coloring page of this beautiful owl. Check out the Eurasian Eagle-Owl and other free PDF downloads here: Coloring Pages.
We hope you've enjoyed our Birdorable Bonanza 2012! We had a lot of fun introducing 22 new birds in 22 days and look forward to the next time! Here is a list of all the birds released during this Bonanza, in case you missed any of them.
We're almost there! Today's new bird in our Birdorable Bonanza 2012 is also our 399th species: the Red-legged Seriema!
Red-legged Seriemas live in open grassland habitat in central parts of South America. They feed on small reptiles like lizards and snakes, as well as large insects and small rodents.
Seriema / Red-legged Seriema ( Cariama cristata ) by Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes
They have very long legs; seriemas are skilled and fast runners. They are able to fly, but they are awkward in the air and prefer to run away from danger. Red-legged Seriemas have a wide range, and their population is considered stable and of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. With tomorrow's bird we will conclude our Bonanza for this year! We will leave you guessing, with just a silhouette for a clue to #400. :)
Today's latest Birdorable species is a fantastic bird of prey from Australia: the Black Falcon!
The Black Falcon is a species of raptor endemic to Australia. They are found across a wide range which covers roughly the eastern two-thirds of the continent.
BLACK FALCON Falco subniger by beeater
Black Falcons have an overall dark plumage. Young birds are nearly completely black. Birds become lighter as they age; older Black Falcons are usually a dark sooty brown color overall.
Tomorrow's species is a long-legged bird of South American grasslands. Can you guess what it will be?
Today another penguin joins Birdorable! Here is our cute Gentoo Penguin.
This special flightless bird lives across parts of the Antarctic. Gentoo Penguins are closely related to Adelie Penguins and Chinstrap Penguins. Unlike their cousins, Gentoos prefer rocky surfaces to packed ice for both roosting and nesting.
Gentoo Penguins on Saunders Island by Liam Quinn
We're offering our Gentoo Penguin on a wide variety of novelties, apparel, and gifts, including embroidered shirts and bags.
Tomorrow's species is bird of prey who lives Down Under and who is named for its color. Can you guess what it will be?
Today a beautiful bird of prey from the American west joins Birdorable: the Ferruginous Hawk!
Ferruginous Hawks are the largest species of hawk found in North America. They are even sometimes mistaken for eagles when seen in flight - they're that big! They live in open habitats across western North America. They are known for their beautiful coloration, and for their large gape (mouth opening). Check out the photo below!
Ferruginous Hawk by USFWS Pacific Southwest Region
Today a beautiful parrot from Australia joins Birdorable: the Eastern Rosella!
Eastern Rosellas are colorful parrots that live in southeastern parts of Australia, including Tasmania. Their beautiful plumage is a mix of red, yellow, blue, green, orange, black, and white. In their native range, they sometimes visit back yard feeding stations.
eastern rosella by jeaniephelan
These colorful birds are cavity nesters. They nest in tree hollows, but will also use nest boxes, as you can see in this cute video. An adult tends to a juvenile in the box.
Eastern Rosella Family by JayEL58 on
Tomorrow's species is a bird of prey known for its wide gape. Can you guess what it will be?
