Miami MetroZoo / May 30, 2009

Hibiscus

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.

Miami MetroZoo

Bromeliad Flower Bract

Bromeliad Flower Bract

Wood Duck [male]

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.

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.

Cinnamon Teal [breeding plumage]

The Cinnamon Teal [breeding plumage] (Anas cyanoptera) is the only duck with separate breeding populations in North America and South America. Unlike most North American dabbling ducks, the Cinnamon Teal rarely breeds in the midcontinent prairie-parkland region. The female Cinnamon Teal often places her nest below matted, dead stems of vegetation so it is completely concealed on all sides and from above. She approaches the nest through tunnels in the vegetation.

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.

Cape Teal

Cape Teal (Anas capensis)

Cape Teal (Anas capensis)

Cape Teal

Cape Teal (Anas capensis)

Bromeliad Flower Bract

Bromeliad Flower Bract

Bromeliad Flower Bract

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.

American Coot [chick]

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 [chick]

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 [chick]

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 [mom with chick]

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 [mom with chicks]

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 [mom with chick]

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 [chicks]

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 [chick]

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 [chick]

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.

Bengal Tiger

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

Bengal Tiger

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

Bengal Tiger

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

Bengal Tiger

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

Bengal Tiger

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

Bengal Tiger

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

Bengal Tiger

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

Orchid

Orchid

Red-bellied Woodpecker

The Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), a common woodpecker over much of the South, is scarcer farther north but has expanded its breeding range northward in recent decades. Like most woodpeckers, it is beneficial, consuming large numbers of wood-boring beetles as well as grasshoppers, ants, and other insect pests. It also feeds on acorns, beechnuts, and wild fruits. It is one of the woodpeckers that habitually stores food. Interesting Fact: A Red-bellied Woodpecker can stick out its tongue nearly 2 inches past the end of its beak. The tip is barbed and the bird’s spit is sticky, making it easier to snatch prey from deep crevices. Males have longer, wider-tipped tongues than females, possibly allowing a breeding pair to forage in slightly different places on their territory and maximize their use of available food. More information can be found at The Cornell Lab of Oronthology.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

The Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), a common woodpecker over much of the South, is scarcer farther north but has expanded its breeding range northward in recent decades. Like most woodpeckers, it is beneficial, consuming large numbers of wood-boring beetles as well as grasshoppers, ants, and other insect pests. It also feeds on acorns, beechnuts, and wild fruits. It is one of the woodpeckers that habitually stores food. Interesting Fact: A Red-bellied Woodpecker can stick out its tongue nearly 2 inches past the end of its beak. The tip is barbed and the bird’s spit is sticky, making it easier to snatch prey from deep crevices. Males have longer, wider-tipped tongues than females, possibly allowing a breeding pair to forage in slightly different places on their territory and maximize their use of available food. More information can be found at The Cornell Lab of Oronthology.

Double-wattled Cassowary

The Double-wattled Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), found in New Guinea and northern Australia, is one of the largest birds in the world. Weighing as much as 128 pounds, only the ostrich is heavier. Flightless birds, Cassowaries are covered in coarse black feathers, with the exception of the skin on the head and throat which is brightly colored red and blue. One of the Cassowary's most distinguishing features is the large protuberance on the top of its head called the casque. It is believed that the casque assists the Cassowary in pushing through the dense tropical forest vegetation, and may also provide some sort of protection. In captivity, Cassowaries have been observed using their casques like a shovel to search for food on the ground. It is believed that the size of the casque may indicate dominance and age, since the casque continues to grow throughout the life of the bird. Another distinguishing feature of the Cassowaries is their wattles. Wattles are present in two of the three species of Cassowary. These brilliantly colored folds of skin hang from the bird's neck, and may act as social signals in the dark forest.Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [NOTE: The site indicates that this bird is Least Concern; however, further down on the page, it shows it still as Vulnerable as of 2017.]

Malayan Sun Bear

The Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is nocturnal and escapes the sun's heat by sleeping in caves or trees by day. Bowed forelegs, curved claws, and great strength equip the sun bear for tree-climbing. Named for the golden crescent, or "U" shaped golden patch on their chest, sun bears are otherwise all black with smooth, short fur. Given the Sun Bear’s dependence on forest, it is clear that the large-scale deforestation that has occurred throughout southeast Asia over the past three decades has dramatically reduced suitable habitat for this species. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Malayan Sun Bear

The Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is nocturnal and escapes the sun's heat by sleeping in caves or trees by day. Bowed forelegs, curved claws, and great strength equip the sun bear for tree-climbing. Named for the golden crescent, or "U" shaped golden patch on their chest, sun bears are otherwise all black with smooth, short fur. Sun Bears occur in mainland Southeast Asia as far west as Bangladesh and northeastern India (Chauhan 2006), as far north as southern Yunnan Province in China, and south and east to Sumatra and Borneo, respectively. It now occurs very patchily through much of its former range, and has been extirpated from many areas, especially in mainland southeast Asia. Its current distribution in eastern Myanmar and most of Yunnan is unknown. Given the Sun Bear’s dependence on forest, it is clear that the large-scale deforestation that has occurred throughout southeast Asia over the past three decades has dramatically reduced suitable habitat for this species. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Malayan Sun Bear

The Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is nocturnal and escapes the sun's heat by sleeping in caves or trees by day. Bowed forelegs, curved claws, and great strength equip the sun bear for tree-climbing. Named for the golden crescent, or "U" shaped golden patch on their chest, sun bears are otherwise all black with smooth, short fur. Sun Bears occur in mainland Southeast Asia as far west as Bangladesh and northeastern India (Chauhan 2006), as far north as southern Yunnan Province in China, and south and east to Sumatra and Borneo, respectively. It now occurs very patchily through much of its former range, and has been extirpated from many areas, especially in mainland southeast Asia. Its current distribution in eastern Myanmar and most of Yunnan is unknown. Given the Sun Bear’s dependence on forest, it is clear that the large-scale deforestation that has occurred throughout southeast Asia over the past three decades has dramatically reduced suitable habitat for this species. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Malayan Sun Bear

The Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is nocturnal and escapes the sun's heat by sleeping in caves or trees by day. Bowed forelegs, curved claws, and great strength equip the sun bear for tree-climbing. Named for the golden crescent, or "U" shaped golden patch on their chest, sun bears are otherwise all black with smooth, short fur. Sun Bears occur in mainland Southeast Asia as far west as Bangladesh and northeastern India (Chauhan 2006), as far north as southern Yunnan Province in China, and south and east to Sumatra and Borneo, respectively. It now occurs very patchily through much of its former range, and has been extirpated from many areas, especially in mainland southeast Asia. Its current distribution in eastern Myanmar and most of Yunnan is unknown. Given the Sun Bear’s dependence on forest, it is clear that the large-scale deforestation that has occurred throughout southeast Asia over the past three decades has dramatically reduced suitable habitat for this species. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Malayan Sun Bear

The Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is nocturnal and escapes the sun's heat by sleeping in caves or trees by day. Bowed forelegs, curved claws, and great strength equip the sun bear for tree-climbing. Named for the golden crescent, or "U" shaped golden patch on their chest, sun bears are otherwise all black with smooth, short fur. Sun Bears occur in mainland Southeast Asia as far west as Bangladesh and northeastern India (Chauhan 2006), as far north as southern Yunnan Province in China, and south and east to Sumatra and Borneo, respectively. It now occurs very patchily through much of its former range, and has been extirpated from many areas, especially in mainland southeast Asia. Its current distribution in eastern Myanmar and most of Yunnan is unknown. Given the Sun Bear’s dependence on forest, it is clear that the large-scale deforestation that has occurred throughout southeast Asia over the past three decades has dramatically reduced suitable habitat for this species. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Asian Fairy Bluebird [female]

The Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella) lives in the forest crown and are gregarious fruit-eaters. They live in pairs or small troops and keep to the evergreen lowland forest. They have a very loud contact call and short sharp whistles. While not migratory, they wander locally depending on the seasonal abundance of fruit.

Ferruginous White-eyed Duck [male]

The Ferruginous White-eyed Duck (Aythya nyroca) breeds in southern and eastern Europe and southern and western Asia. They are somewhat migratory and winter farther south and into north Africa. The adult male is a rich chestnut color with a darker back and a yellow eye. The pure white undertail helps to distinguish this species from the somewhat similar Tufted Duck. The female is similar but duller, and with a dark eye. Status: Near Threatened --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Ferruginous White-eyed Duck [male]

This was pretty funny . . . he actually stopped and stared right at me :) The Ferruginous White-eyed Duck (Aythya nyroca) breeds in southern and eastern Europe and southern and western Asia. They are somewhat migratory and winter farther south and into north Africa. The adult male is a rich chestnut color with a darker back and a yellow eye. The pure white undertail helps to distinguish this species from the somewhat similar Tufted Duck. The female is similar but duller, and with a dark eye. Status: Near Threatened --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Ferruginous White-eyed Duck [male]

The Ferruginous White-eyed Duck [male] (Aythya nyroca) breeds in southern and eastern Europe and southern and western Asia. They are somewhat migratory and winter farther south and into north Africa. The adult male is a rich chestnut color with a darker back and a yellow eye. The pure white undertail helps to distinguish this species from the somewhat similar Tufted Duck. The female is similar but duller, and with a dark eye. Status: Near Threatened --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Asian Fairy Bluebird [female]

The Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella) lives in the forest crown and are gregarious fruit-eaters. They live in pairs or small troops and keep to the evergreen lowland forest. They have a very loud contact call and short sharp whistles. While not migratory, they wander locally depending on the seasonal abundance of fruit.