The Cuban Grassquit (pronounced grass-keet, like parakeet!) is a member of the tanager family known for its beautiful calls. So much so that the “canora” in their scientific name is derived from the Latin canorus, which means “melodious.”

Males are notably different than their female counterparts. Males feature a black mask and breast-patch with bright yellowish-orange feathers around the neck area. Female plumage is relatively similar, however, their pattern is more “dull” – similar to male and female Northern Cardinals.

Endemic to Cuba, a population of Cuban Grassquits has resided in New Providence, Bahamas, since the early 1960s. Worried about the declining population numbers caused by human settlements and deforestation, biologists introduced these species in an effort to sustain a wild population. 

The Curl-crested Aracari is an eye-catching small toucan found in lowland forests in parts of Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. It is very colorful, with bright yellow, red, and green feathers and a multi-colored bill. Its most distinctive feature is the glossy black curlicue feathers atop its head. They eat mostly fruits but occasionally will eat the eggs of other birds. This species is not globally threatened but is vulnerable to human hunting activities.

The Dhyal Thrush, also called the Oriental Magpie-Robin, is a small songbird found throughout India and southeast Asia. It is the national bird of Bangladesh. The Dhyal Thrush can be found in a variety of habitats including deciduous forest, orchards, cacao plantations, and even in residential village gardens. It has a clear warbling song that can sometimes include mimicry. This species is not globally threatened but is experiencing declines due to the cagebird trade.

A smaller egret, the Eastern Cattle Egret is named for its habit of stalking insects and other small prey disturbed by herds of cattle moving through and grazing in grassland habitats. Egrets will fly to a grass fire from far away in order to catch fleeing insects, and they even forage at airports, waiting at the edges of the runways for airplanes to pass and blow insects out of the grass. A worldwide phenomenon, the Eastern Cattle Egret is renowned for having colonized without human assistance three continents in just the last hundred years! This world-traveling species inhabits a wide variety of open drier, grassy habitats such as fields, pastures, and rice paddies, and so has likely benefited from agricultural disturbances. The Eastern Cattle Egret nests colonially often and is sometimes present in mixed colonies with other species of herons, cormorants, storks, and ibises.

Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes are hawk-like songbirds. They have a strong hooked bill for capturing prey which they can carry in their beak or with their feet. They impale larger inspects and vertebrates on long thorns and even barbed wire fences. This action makes it easier for them to consume their prey and enables them to hunt prey in abundance – storing it for later consumption. The act of storing prey for up to a few days can degrade the structure of any toxins, making it safe to eat -a similar adaption can be found in Monarch Butterflies! 

Conservation:
The Eastern Loggerhead Shrike is one of Canada’s most endangered songbirds. Loss of Grassland habitats due to issues such as overuse of agricultural land and pesticides are contributing to their rapid decline. The National Aviary is collaborating with the Wildlife Conservation Partners (WCP) in a carefully coordinated breeding program to help increase this species’ population. The Aviary currently hosts one pair of Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes’ behind-the-scenes. The pair have hatched chicks that will be released by the WPC team, at the Napanee and Carden plains of Ontario to supplement existing wild populations. 

Eastern Screech-Owls are a very common owl species throughout North America, and they have gotten very used to living near humans. These pint-sized owls can be gray or a reddish-brown. They roost and nest in cavities in trees, but also make use of nest boxes. Males are smaller than females, but still have a deeper voice.

Eurasian Eagle-Owls have the largest wingspan of any owl species, reaching a whopping 6.5 feet! This species is widely distributed across Europe and Asia, and frequents a variety of habitats, from coniferous forests to grasslands and deserts. Eurasian Eagle-Owls are powerful flyers and soar on updrafts, similar to the flight style of many hawks. They are considered an apex predator, and have no natural predators, and they use a variety of hunting techniques to obtain prey. They are not picky eaters, and will eat anything from small mammals like voles to snakes and lizards, and occasionally even other birds of prey.

The Fairy-bluebird lives up to its name: this bird’s plumage is a deep brilliant blue. Males have glossy black feathers on the wings, chest, and tail, and the eyes of both sexes are bright red. Found in tropical forests throughout southeast Asia, the Fairy-bluebird mainly eats fruit, which it takes while perched or snatches from trees mid-flight. This species often joins mixed-species parties of insectivores hunting among foliage; it is observed in flocks of up to ten, but as many as 40 may gather at especially rich food sources. The Fairy-bluebird is not globally threatened and is more or less common throughout most of its range. However, local decreases and disappearances due to hunting, habitat loss, and the cagebird trade may soon require a reassessment and downgrading of its status to Near Threatened or Vulnerable.

This small, endearing species found primarily in North Africa, is known for its distinctive appearance, featuring a rounded body covered in tiny spines. Unlike their larger European counterparts, these hedgehogs are small and have four toes on each foot instead of five, hence the name!

They are nocturnal and active at night, foraging for various small invertebrates such as insects, worms, and slugs. Their spines offer them protection from predators, especially when searching in underbrush for food. During the day, they are most likely sleeping in burrows.

Four-toed Hedgehogs keep insect populations in check – serving as natural pest control which benefits plants and wildlife, including birds. Many bird species, particularly ground-nesting birds, benefit from a natural reduction in the number of insects that can harm their nests or threaten their young.

The Golden Eagle, named for the golden feathers on its nape, is a resident of the New and Old Worlds, and occurs in a wide variety of open habitats, from desert areas to the edge of the tundra, and from sea-level to high alpine mountain levels. It is one of the largest birds in North America. It generally avoids forested areas, except in the winter, and nests on cliffs, isolated trees, or other structures. The Golden Eagle forages primarily on small to medium-sized mammals. Although not considered to be globally threatened, this species is frequently a victim of shootings and poisonings. Many are killed by collision with power lines and, in certain areas, wind turbines.

A small, understory specialist, the Golden White-eye is an Endangered bird restricted to the islands of Saipan and Aguijan in the Northern Mariana Islands. This species occurs in a wide variety of wooded and semi-wooded habitats, including suburban areas where it pursues a generalized diet of berries, seeds, nectar, and flower parts, as well as flying insects and other small invertebrates. Although still locally common, the introduction of the brown tree snake on Saipan has put this bird at extreme risk. The National Aviary is a partner with the Marianas Avifauna Conservation (MAC) Project, which is working to save this and other species in the region from extinction.

The Golden-breasted Starling is a beautifully colored bird, unmistakable and hard to miss! It inhabits the dry bush and savanna of the arid and semi-arid regions of northeastern Africa. This starling forages mainly on the ground for a variety of insects and some fruits, but termites are a favorite food. This species is a cooperative breeder, meaning multiple birds of the same species participate in the rearing of young. As many as nine helpers can assist at the nest of a pair of Golden-breasted Starlings. The nest itself is placed in a natural cavity in a tree, or in an abandoned barbet nest. The Golden-breasted Starling is not considered threatened at this time.