Miami MetroZoo / February 23, 2007

Miami MetroZoo

Miami MetroZoo

Miami MetroZoo

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

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

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

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

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.

White Ibis

The White Ibis is highly sociable at all seasons, roosting and feeding in flocks, and nesting in large colonies, making it 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. White Ibis can be found along the coast of North Carolina to Florida and Texas.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck and White-faced 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. 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.

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.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck and White-faced 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. 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.

Red-crested Pochard [male]

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.

White Tiger

White tigers are Bengal tigers. They’re not albino or their own separate species, as many people think. White tigers occur when two Bengal tigers that carry a recessive gene controlling coat color are bred together.

White Tiger

White tigers are Bengal tigers. They’re not albino or their own separate species, as many people think. White tigers occur when two Bengal tigers that carry a recessive gene controlling coat color are bred together.

White Tiger

White tigers are Bengal tigers. They’re not albino or their own separate species, as many people think. White tigers occur when two Bengal tigers that carry a recessive gene controlling coat color are bred together.

Bengal Tigers

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species. At one time there were eight subspecies; now, there are only six. They once ranged widely across Asia, from Turkey in the west to the eastern coast of Russia (Nowell and Jackson, 1996). Over the past 100 years, tigers have disappeared from southwest and central Asia, from two Indonesian islands (Java and Bali) and from large areas of Southeast and Eastern Asia. Tigers have lost 93% of their historic range (Sanderson et al., 2006). Tigers are currently found in twelve Asian range states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Viet Nam. They may still persist in North Korea, although there has been no recent confirmed evidence. It is the largest living member of the cat family and no two animals are the same; each Bengal Tiger has its own pattern of stripes. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Miami MetroZoo

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.

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.

Siamang

The Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) (SEE-uh-mang) belong to the family Hylobatidae, which includes all 11 gibbon (or lesser ape) species. It is the largest of the lesser apes. Siamangs are native to the island of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Siamangs sing so loudly that it can be heard for up to 3 miles (4.8 km). To produce this loud call, Siamangs have a hairless, reddish-brown or gray throat (laryngeal) pouch which acts as a resonator to enhance the carrying of their call. When not in use, the pouch is hidden under their long, shaggy, jet-black fur. When inflated, the pouch is about the size of a Siamang's head, and amplifies its hooting and barking to ear-splitting levels. Usually involving the adult pair, the male and female sing different but coordinated parts; songs have a definite beginning, middle and end. Each elaborate duet begins slowly, then accelerates in speed. A song lasts about 18 seconds and is repeated for about 15 minutes. The Siamang is the largest of the lesser apes. Siamangs and gibbons are the only anthropoid apes that habitually walk erect like humans. In their treetop habitat, they will walk along a vine as if on a tightrope with their hands held high for balance. The Siamang is distinctive for two reasons. The first is that two fingers on each hand are fused together (hence the name "syndactylus"). The second is the large "gular sac" (found in the male of the species), which is a throat pouch that can be inflated to the size of its head, allowing the Siamang to make loud resonating calls or songs. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Cuban Crocodile

The Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is the rarest crocodile in the Western Hemisphere. It has the smallest range of any crocodile and can be found only in Cuba in the Zapata Swamp in the northwest and in the Lanier Swamp on Isla de Juventud (Isle of Youth). The Cuban Crocodile appears to favor freshwater habitat such as swamps, marshes, and rivers and rarely swims in salt water. Status: Critically Endangered --> Status information found at the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Cuban Crocodile

The Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is the rarest crocodile in the Western Hemisphere. It has the smallest range of any crocodile and can be found only in Cuba in the Zapata Swamp in the northwest and in the Lanier Swamp on Isla de Juventud (Isle of Youth). The Cuban Crocodile appears to favor freshwater habitat such as swamps, marshes, and rivers and rarely swims in salt water. Status: Critically Endangered --> Status information found at the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Cuban Crocodile

The Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is the rarest crocodile in the Western Hemisphere. It has the smallest range of any crocodile and can be found only in Cuba in the Zapata Swamp in the northwest and in the Lanier Swamp on Isla de Juventud (Isle of Youth). The Cuban Crocodile appears to favor freshwater habitat such as swamps, marshes, and rivers and rarely swims in salt water. Status: Critically Endangered --> Status information found at the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species