Miami MetroZoo - August 12, 2007

Miami MetroZoo

Ruddy Duck [male]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Ruddy Duck [male]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Ruddy Duck [male]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Ruddy Duck [male]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Ruddy Duck [male]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Ruddy Duck [male]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Ruddy Duck [male]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Ruddy Duck [male]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Green Heron

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens), a small, stocky wading bird, is common in wet spots across much of North America. It can be difficult to see as it stands motionless waiting for small fish to approach within striking range, but it frequently announces its presence by its loud squawking. The Green Heron is one of the few tool-using birds. It commonly drops bait onto the surface of the water and grabs the small fish that are attracted. It uses a variety of baits and lures, including crusts of bread, insects, earthworms, twigs, or feathers. The Green Heron is part of a complex of small herons that sometimes are considered one species. When lumped, they are called Green-backed Heron. When split, they are the Green Heron, the widespread Striated Heron, and the Galapagos Heron. As is typical for many herons, the Green Heron tends to wander after the breeding season is over. Most wanderers probably seek more favorable foraging areas and do not travel far, but occasionally, some go farther, with individuals going as far as England and France.

Rosy-billed Pochard [male and female]

Sometimes refered to simply as Rosybills, the Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca) is endemic to South America. They are named for the drakes large, rosy colored bill that has a knob at the base. They are commonly kept in aviaries. Rosybills are classified as a diving duck, but this pochard feeds more like a dabbling duck. They are closely related to Europe's Red-crested Pochard, whom they may hybridize with in captivity. There is no eclipse plumage in drakes. Hens are similar to other diving duck hens, mostly brown and her face will become white in color as she ages.

Rosy-billed Pochard [female]

Sometimes refered to simply as Rosybills, the Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca) is endemic to South America. They are named for the drakes large, rosy colored bill that has a knob at the base. They are commonly kept in aviaries. Rosybills are classified as a diving duck, but this pochard feeds more like a dabbling duck. They are closely related to Europe's Red-crested Pochard, whom they may hybridize with in captivity. There is no eclipse plumage in drakes. Hens are similar to other diving duck hens, mostly brown and her face will become white in color as she ages.

Rosy-billed Pochard [male]

Sometimes refered to simply as Rosybills, the Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca) is endemic to South America. They are named for the drakes large, rosy colored bill that has a knob at the base. They are commonly kept in aviaries. Rosybills are classified as a diving duck, but this pochard feeds more like a dabbling duck. They are closely related to Europe's Red-crested Pochard, whom they may hybridize with in captivity. There is no eclipse plumage in drakes. Hens are similar to other diving duck hens, mostly brown and her face will become white in color as she ages.

Wood Duck [female]

The Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches. Wood Ducks pair up in January, and most birds arriving at the breeding grounds in the spring are already paired. The Wood Duck is the only North American duck that regularly produces two broods in one year.

Wood Duck [male nonbreeding]

The Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches. Wood Ducks pair up in January, and most birds arriving at the breeding grounds in the spring are already paired. The Wood Duck is the only North American duck that regularly produces two broods in one year.

Common Moorhen

The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is the most widely distributed member of the rail family. Vocal and boldly marked, the species can be quite conspicuous, sometimes using its long toes to walk atop floating vegetation.

Red-crested Pochard [drake in eclipse plumage]

The male Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) has an orange-brown head with a red beak and pale flanks. Females are brown with pale cheeks. In flight, they show whitish primaries.The Red-crested Pochard is larger than a Common Pochard (Aythya ferina).They dive, dabble and up-end for their food. Red-crested Pochards are the only ducks known to engage in a feeding ritual whereby the male dives and brings food offerings to his mate while she swims on the surface.

Red-crested Pochard [drake in eclipse plumage]

The male Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) has an orange-brown head with a red beak and pale flanks. Females are brown with pale cheeks. In flight, they show whitish primaries.The Red-crested Pochard is larger than a Common Pochard (Aythya ferina).They dive, dabble and up-end for their food. Red-crested Pochards are the only ducks known to engage in a feeding ritual whereby the male dives and brings food offerings to his mate while she swims on the surface.

Red-crested Pochard [drake in eclipse plumage]

The male Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) has an orange-brown head with a red beak and pale flanks. Females are brown with pale cheeks. In flight, they show whitish primaries.The Red-crested Pochard is larger than a Common Pochard (Aythya ferina).They dive, dabble and up-end for their food. Red-crested Pochards are the only ducks known to engage in a feeding ritual whereby the male dives and brings food offerings to his mate while she swims on the surface.

Miami MetroZoo

West Indian Whistling-Duck

The West Indian Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arborea) is endemic to the West Indies, meaning that it is found nowhere else in the world. It is rare and endangered on many islands throughout its range. This is the largest of the Whistling Ducks. It has a distinctive whistling vocalization. Interpretations of this whistled call have given rise to a number of local names for the species including "Chiriria," a Spanish name used in Puerto Rico. Restricted to the northern West Indies, the West Indian Whistling-Duck is among the rarest ducks in the Americas. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

West Indian Whistling-Duck

The West Indian Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arborea) is endemic to the West Indies, meaning that it is found nowhere else in the world. It is rare and endangered on many islands throughout its range. This is the largest of the Whistling Ducks. It has a distinctive whistling vocalization. Interpretations of this whistled call have given rise to a number of local names for the species including "Chiriria," a Spanish name used in Puerto Rico. Restricted to the northern West Indies, the West Indian Whistling-Duck is among the rarest ducks in the Americas. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

West Indian Whistling-Duck

The West Indian Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arborea) is endemic to the West Indies, meaning that it is found nowhere else in the world. It is rare and endangered on many islands throughout its range. This is the largest of the Whistling Ducks. It has a distinctive whistling vocalization. Interpretations of this whistled call have given rise to a number of local names for the species including "Chiriria," a Spanish name used in Puerto Rico. Restricted to the northern West Indies, the West Indian Whistling-Duck is among the rarest ducks in the Americas. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Ruddy Duck [juvenile]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Miami MetroZoo

White Ibis

The White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is one of the most numerous wading birds in Florida and is common elsewhere in the southeast. The White Ibis is highly sociable at all seasons, roosting and feeding in flocks, and nesting in large colonies. Immature White Ibis are dark brownish with a white belly, white rump, and curved red bill. The White Ibis is an excellent example of the colonial waterbird. These birds nest in huge colonies in fresh water marshes or along the ocean coast. Researchers have counted 60,000-80,000 individuals in one colony in the Everglades National Park, Florida. During the day, White Ibis may fly up to 15 miles or more to find small crustaceans, fish, frogs, and aquatic insects to eat and to feed their young. When breeding, the bill, face, and legs turn scarlet. White Ibis can be found along the coast of North Carolina to Florida and Texas.

White-faced Whistling-Duck and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

The White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) is found in tropical South America and Africa south of the Sahara. It does not migrate across the Atlantic Ocean so the separation may have taken place when the two continents were much closer together or it may have been a small group of birds colonising one continent from the other. The white face is distinctive and unlike any other duck. It has a very erect posture. The Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) is found from southern USA through Central and South America to northern Argentina. It prefers ponds and lakes close to trees and often near agricultural land. It is easily identified with its red bill and legs, grey head, brown neck and back and black belly. Its common names are "Wi Chi Chi" or "Oui Ki Ki." It does not quack but has a descending, high whistle which sounds like its common name.

White-faced Whistling Duck

The White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) is found in tropical South America and Africa south of the Sahara. It does not migrate across the Atlantic Ocean so the separation may have taken place when the two continents were much closer together or it may have been a small group of birds colonising one continent from the other. The white face is distinctive and unlike any other duck. It has a very erect posture.

Ruddy Duck [juvenile]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Common Merganser [female]

The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a large diving duck with a long thin bill that is found along large lakes and rivers across the northern hemisphere. The long bill has toothy projections along its edges that help the duck hold onto its slippery fish prey.

Common Merganser [juvenile]

The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a large diving duck with a long thin bill that is found along large lakes and rivers across the northern hemisphere. The long bill has toothy projections along its edges that help the duck hold onto its slippery fish prey.

Common Merganser [juvenile]

The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a large diving duck with a long thin bill that is found along large lakes and rivers across the northern hemisphere. The long bill has toothy projections along its edges that help the duck hold onto its slippery fish prey.

Common Merganser [juvenile]

The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a large diving duck with a long thin bill that is found along large lakes and rivers across the northern hemisphere. The long bill has toothy projections along its edges that help the duck hold onto its slippery fish prey.

White-cheeked Pintail

The White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) is a native of the West Indies and South America. It is a rare to casual visitor in southern Florida. Found near rivers, lakes, and ponds as well as costal marshes and rocky or sandy seashore.

White-cheeked Pintail

The White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) is a native of the West Indies and South America. It is a rare to casual visitor in southern Florida. Found near rivers, lakes, and ponds as well as costal marshes and rocky or sandy seashore.

White-cheeked Pintail

The White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) is a native of the West Indies and South America. It is a rare to casual visitor in southern Florida. Found near rivers, lakes, and ponds as well as costal marshes and rocky or sandy seashore.

Double-crested Cormorant

The Double-crested Cormorant is the most numerous and widespread North American cormorant. It's also the only one that occurs in large numbers inland as well as on the coast. Growing in numbers throughout its range, this cormorant is increasingly being blamed for declines in sport fisheries and for devastating fish farms. The Double-crested Cormorant makes a bulky nest of sticks and other materials. It frequently picks up junk, such as rope, deflated balloons, fishnet, and plastic debris to incorporate into the nest. Large pebbles are occasionally found in cormorant nests, and the cormorants treat them as eggs.

Caribbean Flamingo

The Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), also called the American flamingo, is the most brightly colored and largest of all flamingos. With their bright feathers and strongly hooked bills, flamingos are among the most easily recognized waterbirds. Their pink or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments (like the pigments of carrots) in the algae and small crustaceans that the birds eat. The Caribbean flamingos are the brightest, showing their true colors of red, pink, or orange on their legs, bills, and faces. They are a scarlet pink color overall and have black primary feathers. Their bill is downward bending at its midpoint. They have large bodies and flexible long necks topped with a small head. The flamingo's long legs and feet are bare, and their toes are webbed, which is good for wading. Young birds are mostly grey and do not develop their characteristic pink until after the first year. The sexes are similar in appearance.

Caribbean Flamingo and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

The Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), also called the American flamingo, is the most brightly colored and largest of all flamingos. With their bright feathers and strongly hooked bills, flamingos are among the most easily recognized waterbirds. Their pink or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments (like the pigments of carrots) in the algae and small crustaceans that the birds eat. The Caribbean flamingos are the brightest, showing their true colors of red, pink, or orange on their legs, bills, and faces. They are a scarlet pink color overall and have black primary feathers. Their bill is downward bending at its midpoint. They have large bodies and flexible long necks topped with a small head. The flamingo's long legs and feet are bare, and their toes are webbed, which is good for wading. Young birds are mostly grey and do not develop their characteristic pink until after the first year. The sexes are similar in appearance. The Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) is found from southern USA through Central and South America to northern Argentina. It prefers ponds and lakes close to trees and often near agricultural land. It is easily identified with its red bill and legs, grey head, brown neck and back and black belly. Its common names are "Wi Chi Chi" or "Oui Ki Ki." It does not quack but has a descending, high whistle which sounds like its common name.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

The Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) is found from southern USA through Central and South America to northern Argentina. It prefers ponds and lakes close to trees and often near agricultural land. It is easily identified with its red bill and legs, grey head, brown neck and back and black belly. Its common names are "Wi Chi Chi" or "Oui Ki Ki." It does not quack but has a descending, high whistle which sounds like its common name.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

The Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) is found from southern USA through Central and South America to northern Argentina. It prefers ponds and lakes close to trees and often near agricultural land. It is easily identified with its red bill and legs, grey head, brown neck and back and black belly. Its common names are "Wi Chi Chi" or "Oui Ki Ki." It does not quack but has a descending, high whistle which sounds like its common name.

American Coot

The American Coot (Fulica americana), often mistaken for a duck, is a common waterbird. Its all black body and white chicken-like beak distinguish this swimming rail from the real ducks. Although it swims like a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. Instead of having all the toes connected by webs, each coot toe has lobes on the sides of each segment.

American Coot

The American Coot (Fulica americana), often mistaken for a duck, is a common waterbird. Its all black body and white chicken-like beak distinguish this swimming rail from the real ducks. Although it swims like a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. Instead of having all the toes connected by webs, each coot toe has lobes on the sides of each segment.

American Coot

The American Coot (Fulica americana), often mistaken for a duck, is a common waterbird. Its all black body and white chicken-like beak distinguish this swimming rail from the real ducks. Although it swims like a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. Instead of having all the toes connected by webs, each coot toe has lobes on the sides of each segment.

Yellow-faced Myna

Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii) - The mynas (also spelled mynahs) are part of the family Sturndidae, along with the starlings and oxpeckers. This is a group of passerine birds which occur naturally only in eastern Asia, although several species have been introduced to North America and New Zealand, and the Common Myna to southeastern Australia, where it is regarded as a pest species. Mynas are medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Several species live around habitation and are effectively omnivores.

Yellow-faced Myna

Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii) - The mynas (also spelled mynahs) are part of the family Sturndidae, along with the starlings and oxpeckers. This is a group of passerine birds which occur naturally only in eastern Asia, although several species have been introduced to North America and New Zealand, and the Common Myna to southeastern Australia, where it is regarded as a pest species. Mynas are medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Several species live around habitation and are effectively omnivores.

Yellow-faced Myna

Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii) - The mynas (also spelled mynahs) are part of the family Sturndidae, along with the starlings and oxpeckers. This is a group of passerine birds which occur naturally only in eastern Asia, although several species have been introduced to North America and New Zealand, and the Common Myna to southeastern Australia, where it is regarded as a pest species. Mynas are medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Several species live around habitation and are effectively omnivores.

Yellow-faced Myna

Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii) - The mynas (also spelled mynahs) are part of the family Sturndidae, along with the starlings and oxpeckers. This is a group of passerine birds which occur naturally only in eastern Asia, although several species have been introduced to North America and New Zealand, and the Common Myna to southeastern Australia, where it is regarded as a pest species. Mynas are medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Several species live around habitation and are effectively omnivores.