Birdorable Ruddy Shelduck

Today a pretty species of waterfowl joins Birdorable! The Ruddy Shelduck is our 50th species in the duck, goose, and swan family.

Ruddy Shelducks are large ducks with a wide range and growing population across much of Asia. Ruddy Shelducks are also found in isolated populations in Europe and Africa; unfortunately these groups are in decline. Ruddy Shelducks are aptly named, having an overall orange-brown (ruddy) body plumage, with a somewhat lighter shade over the head. Black flight feathers and white coverts can be seen in flight and in part while the bird is resting or swimming.

Shop for Ruddy Shelduck gift here: Birdorable Ruddy Shelduck

Tomorrow's new Birdorable is a native of Australia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. This little songbird is named for its fabulous tail. Do you know the species?

Birdorable White-tailed Eagle

Today we're kicking off our 14th annual Birdorable Bonanza! We're revealing 10 new birds in quick succession, from today through December 14th. The White-tailed Eagle joins Birdorable today as our 766th species, and 51st bird of prey.

White-tailed Eagles have brown body plumage, ranging from light brown on the upperparts to darker brown on the underparts. As the common name indicates, this bird can also be recognized by its white tail. Non-covered body parts, like the large beak and powerful feet, are yellow.

Birdorable White-tailed Eagle merchandise like this unisex sweatshirt is available on Amazon.

Tomorrow we'll add an Old World species of waterfowl named for its color. They are found across much of Asia and have isolated populations in Europe and Africa. Can you guess what our new Birdorable bird will be?

Birdorable Dollarbird

Today's new bird, the final species in this year's Bonanza, is the Dollarbird.

This Old World species can be found throughout eastern Asia, southeast Asia, and eastern Australia. Named for light-colored discs on the underwings, Dollarbirds are part of the Roller family and are also sometimes known as Dark Rollers. Our cute Birdorable Dollarbird shows the glossy iridescent plumage and bright orange-red beak of an adult bird.

This concludes our 13th Annual Birdorable Bonanza! Thanks for following along as we added a flock of new birds all in a row! We hope you enjoy a safe, happy, healthy, and bird-filled holiday season.

Dollarbird photo
Dollarbird by cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Cute Dollarbird Gifts

Birdorable Australian Brushturkey

Happy Thanksgiving! Today's new species isn't related to today's most famous bird, but the name is similar -- welcome the Australian Brushturkey to Birdorable!

Australian Brushturkeys are large, darkly plumaged birds with bare facial and neck skin. In males, the red head and yellow cowl are bright and unmistakable, especially during breeding season.

These large birds are clumsy in flight. They forage for food by scratching at the ground with their feet. Flight is used sparingly, to escape predators, or to reach safe roosting spots.

The Australian Brushturkey is known by a few other names, including Gweela, Scrub Turkey, or Bush Turkey.

Australian Brushturkey photo
Australian Brushturkey by Brisbane City Council (CC BY 2.0)

Tomorrow our 13th Annual Birdorable Bonanza will conclude with the addition of a species in the roller family with an appropriate name for Black Friday. Can you guess the species?

Birdorable bonanza preview #11

Cute Brushturkey Gifts

Birdorable Snow Goose

Today we're adding the Snow Goose to Birdorable! This large goose is the most abundant waterfowl across all of North America.

Snow Geese are known for gathering in huge flocks, during the winter and during migration. They frequently visit favorite spots year after year; there are entire birding festivals dedicated to viewing Snow Geese flocks in all their glory.

Huge flock of Snow Geese

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! We already have a Birdorable Wild Turkey, so we're adding a different bird with turkey in its name -- this one comes from Down Under. Can you guess the species?

Birdorable bonanza preview #10

Cute Snow Goose Gifts

Birdorable Ruddy Turnstone

Today we add a small, dapper shorebird to Birdorable. It's our Ruddy Turnstone!

In breeding plumage, as depicted in our Birdorable illustration, Ruddy Turnstones have white underparts, black and rufous upperparts, with black and white detailing around the face and neck. Outside of breeding, the Ruddy Turnstone's upperparts are more uniformly drab greyish brown.

Ruddy Turnstones are opportunistic feeders who search for prey in a variety of ways, including searching rocky shorelines and breakers by turning over stones (naturally!).

Ruddy Turnstones have a wide global range. They breed across the low Arctic in places like northern Alaska and the northern coast of Siberia. These impressive migrants winter along ocean shorelines nearly all over the world, including around the entire continent of Australia, both coasts of South America, and all around Africa.

Ruddy Turnstone photo

Tomorrow we'll add a species of waterfowl with a wintery name. Can you guess this bird?

Birdorable bonanza preview #9

Cute Ruddy Turnstone Gifts

Birdorable Wilson's Phalarope

Today Birdorable welcomes another bird named after the ornithologist Alexander Wilson to Birdorable, following Wilson's Warbler and Wilson's Plover. Today Wilson's Phalarope joins our flock!

Wilson's Phalaropes are the largest of all three of the world's phalarope species (the others being the Red-necked Phalarope and the Red Phalarope), but are still relatively small as wading birds go, reaching up to 24cm in length.

Wilson's Phalaropes breed across parts of the western and northern United States and western Canada. Winters are spent down across a wide range of South America, with some birds reaching the southern tip of the continent!

Phalaropes are known for their atypical sexual dimorphism attributes and parental behavior. Females are larger than males and have a more brightly developed plumage. Females also leave most parental duty to the male birds. They are also atypical by Birdorable standards, as our illustration depicts a female.

Wilson's Phalarope photo

Tomorrow another shorebird joins Birdorable, one of two species in its genus. This small shorebird with a wide global range can be found wintering along ocean shores, where it might search for food by turning over stones. Can you guess this species?

Birdorable Bonanza preview #8

Cute Wilson's Phalarope Gifts

Little Blue Heron

Today we add a small wader to Birdorable: the Little Blue Heron!

Little Blue Herons are New World wading birds with a wide distribution covering parts of North and South America. They are found near wetland habitats, where they feed, roost, and breed. Some birds are year-round residents (especially in South America) while some birds in North America migrate to breed further north.

Little Blue Herons are named for the plum and blue plumage of adult birds. For the first year of life, Little Blue Herons aren't blue at all -- they are white! This gives the young birds an advantage when hunting among Snowy Egrets, who are more likely to tolerate a bird, all white like them, hunting in close proximity.

Little Blue Heron Photo

Tomorrow we'll add another wading bird to Birdorable. Our illustration will feature the female of the species! This bird is named for a famous ornithologist. Can you guess the bird based on these clues?

Birdorable Bonanza preview #7
Birdorable Galapagos Penguin

Today we are adding another penguin species to Birdorable: the Galapagos Penguin!

This species of penguin has the northernmost range of all penguins, and it is the only penguin species to live north of the equator. The climate on their island home is warmer than that of most other penguins, so they have adapted methods to keep cool, which includes panting like a dog! They also jump into the water to cool off.

Galapagos Penguins are among the smaller penguin species. They are unfortunately the most endangered species of penguin, facing threats related to climate change as well as introduced predators and pollution.

Galapagos Penguins photo
Galapagos Penguins by Peter Swaine (CC BY 2.0)

Tomorrow we'll add a little New World wading bird named for the color of the adult plumage. Juveniles of these birds have no color at all. Can you guess the species?

Birdorable Bonanza preview #6

Cute Galapagos Penguin Gifts

Birdorable Abdim's Stork

Today's new Birdorable is the Abdim's Stork, the world's smallest species of stork! This cutie joins the flock at the front of the list (alphabetically speaking, at least).

Abdim's Storks have a dark, iridescent pluamge. During breeding season, the bare patch of skin on the face turns blue. These migratory birds are found across parts of sub-Saharan Africa, ranging all the way down to South Africa in the non-breeding season.

Abdim's Stork photo
Abdim's Stork by Bernard DUPONT (CC BY-SA 2.0)


Tomorrow we'll add a new species of penguin to Birdorable! This penguin is the only species found north of the equator. Can you guess the species?

Cute Abdim's Stork Gifts