Birdorable 192: Horned Guan

Cute Birdorable Horned Guan

The Horned Guan, the 192th bird in our Birdorable Bonanza, is a large turkey-like bird with remarkable plumage and a striking red head-horn. The species lives in mountainous forests of Mexico and Guatemala at high elevation. The endangered Horned Guan is a target bird for many birdwatchers traveling within their range. Because of where it lives it's often hard for people to get to see it. In fact in can be quite an ordeal - Birdhick even calls it a death march.


Photo by Jeff Bouton (Source: Flickr)

Until the 31st of July we'll be adding a new bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza until we reach the 200th at the end of this month. Here's a preview of tomorrow's bird:

Preview of Birdorable 193

Birdorable 191: Harpy Eagle

Cute Birdorable Harpy Eagle

Today's new bird in our 17-day-long Birdorable Bonanza is the American Harpy Eagle, a powerful raptor that can be found across Central and South America where it lives in the upper canopy layer of tropical rainforests. Unfortunately the Harpy Eagle is threatened due to habitat loss from logging. Hunting has wiped out lots of Harpy Eagle too, as it was seen as a threat to life stock and humans because of its large size. The National Institute of Amazonian Research in Brazil is currently conducting research at 45 known nesting locations that are being monitored by volunteers.

Harpy Eagle
Photo by Jose Garcia / Panama Birds (Source: Flickr)

Until the 31st of July we'll be adding a new bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza until we reach the 200th at the end of this month. Here's a preview of tomorrow's bird:

Preview of Birdorable 192

Birdorable 190: Rockhopper Penguin

Cute Birdorable Rockhopper Penguin

The Birdorable Bonanza continues with our 190th Birdorable: the Rockhopper Penguin. There are actually three species of Rockhopper Penguins -- Southern, Northern and Eastern -- that until recently were considered conspecific under the name Eudyptes chrysocome. The Southern Rockhopper Penguins are thought to have a global population of about 1 million pairs, two-thirds of these breeding on the Falkland Islands off Argentina and southern Chile. Their breeding colonies in South America are a popular tourist destination. Some of the characters in the animated feature film Surf's Up are Rockhoppers and one of the characters voiced by Robin Williams in Happy Feet is a Rockhopper as well. :)

Until the 31st of July we'll be adding a new bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza until we reach #200 at the end of this month. Here's a preview of tomorrow's bird:

Preview of Birdorable 191

Birdorable 189: Galah

Cute Birdorable Galah

Today's 189th Birdorable is this Birdorable Galah, also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo or Pink and Grey. It is a widespread parrot in Australia, where it can be commonly seen in the bush as well as urban areas such as Perth and Melbourne. Wow, I can't imagine having such colorful birds visit our backyard feeders.

Galah
Photo by scuze (Source: Flickr)

Until the 31st of July we'll be adding a new bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza until we reach #200 at the end of this month. Here's a preview of tomorrow's bird:

Preview of Birdorable 190

Birdorable 188: Greater Roadrunner

Cute Birdorable Greater Roadrunner

Today's addition in our Birdorable Bonanza is the Greater Roadrunner, a long-legged bird and the largest North American cuckoo. Its breeding habitat is desert and shrubby country in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Although capable of flight, it spends most of its time on the ground where it can run at speeds of 20 miles per hour, which is an important capability when you're being chased a coyote, of course. ;)

Whaddyou Lookin' At???
Photo by Uncle Phooey (Source: Flickr)

And here's a sneak peek at tomorrow's bird in the Birdorable Bonanza. Until the 31st of July we'll be adding a new bird every day until we reach #200 at the end of this month.

Preview of Birdorable 189

Birdorable 187: Green Aracari

Cute Birdorable Green Aracari

Today's addition in our Birdorable Bonanza is the Green Aracari, which lives in northeastern South America. It is one of the smallest toucans. These birds spend most of their lives in the highest trees of the forest. They don't come down very often, not even to drink or bathe which they do with rain water that collects in tree forks and leaves. This is our totally cute Birdorable Green Aracari!

Green Aracari
Photo by Eric F Savage (Source: Flickr)

And here's a sneak peek at tomorrow's bird in the Birdorable Bonanza. Until the 31st of July we'll be adding a new bird every day until we reach #200 at the end of this month.

Preview of Birdorable 188

Birdorable 186: Golden-winged Warbler

Cute Birdorable Golden-winged Warbler

Today's addition in our Birdorable Bonanza is the Golden-winged Warbler, a cute little warbler that breeds in eastern North America and in winter migrates as far south as Ecuador. It is also a very rare vagrant to western Europe, where it was once recorded at a supermarket parking lot in Maidstone, Kent, in 1989.

Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)
Photo by mesquakie8 (Source: Flickr)

Check out our other Birdorable birds for more warblers and other birds of North America. Here's a sneak peek at tomorrow's bird:

Preview of Birdorable 187

Birdorable 185: Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Cute Birdorable Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Today's addition in our Birdorable Bonanza is the Andean Cock-of-the-rock, a bird from the Cotinga family that lives in the Andean cloud forests of South America. The male has a large disk-like crest and brilliant scarlet or orange plumage. The males compete with eachother for breeding females, who are more brown in color, by displaying their colorful feathers while bobbing and hopping around.

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, male
Photo by Pia's birdseye view (Source: Flickr)

Check out our other Birdorables for more colorful birds from South America. And here's a sneak peek at tomorrow's bird:

Preview of Birdorable 186

Birdorable 184: Scarlet Ibis

Cute Birdorable Scarlet Ibis

In the next 17 days we'll be introducing a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza. Today's addition is the Scarlet Ibis, a beautiful bird that lives in tropical South America. It is completely scarlet-colored, except for black wing-tips. It is very closely related to the American White Ibis and sometimes hybridizes with them, producing pink offspring. How cute is that? :)

Scarlet Ibis
Photo by bikeracer (Source: Flickr)

Here's a sneak peek at tomorrow's bird. Until July 31st we'll be adding a new Birdorable bird species every day until we reach the 200th Birdorable at the end of this month.

Preview of Birdorable 185

Fun Adelie Penguin Facts

Birdorable Adelie Penguins

Here are some fun facts about the Adélie Penguin, a species that captures the essence of the Antarctic's unique wildlife:

  • The Adélie Penguin holds the distinction of being the smallest penguin species residing in the Antarctic. Despite their diminutive size, they are hardy and well-adapted to the harsh conditions of their icy habitat.
  • Known for their southern breeding range, Adélie Penguins nest and raise their chicks farther south than any other penguin species, showcasing their incredible adaptability to extreme cold.
  • These resilient birds have a lifespan that can reach up to 20 years old, demonstrating remarkable endurance in one of the planet's most challenging environments.
  • Adélie Penguin colonies vary widely in size, ranging from as few as 100 pairs to as many as 250,000 pairs. These large congregations highlight their social nature and the importance of community for survival.
  • Globally, there are approximately 5 million Adélie Penguins, spread across 38 different colonies. While this number may seem large, it's worth noting that over the last 25 years, their population has decreased by 65%. This decline is attributed to factors like sea ice reduction and food scarcity.
  • The Adélie Penguin was named in 1840 by French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, who chose to honor his wife, Adélie, with this nomenclature.
  • Adélie Penguins have made appearances in popular culture, most notably in animated films. They are presumed to be the penguin characters in the 2005 film "Madagascar." In the 2006 movie "Happy Feet," the main character, an Emperor Penguin, befriends a group of Adélie Penguins, uniquely characterized by a Mexican accent.

These fascinating facts about Adélie Penguins offer a glimpse into the life of one of Antarctica's most charming inhabitants, highlighting both their unique characteristics and the challenges they face in an ever-changing environment.

Adelie Penguins photo

Adelie Penguins by Gregory Smith (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)

Cute Adelie Penguin Gifts