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. 

A small raptor (weighing between 3 to 6 ounces) with a widespread distribution throughout much of the Americas, the American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America. It is one of few dimorphic raptors, with the male and female being very differently colored. The best way to tell the difference? Males have blue-gray wings while females are slightly larger with brown wings. 

This species occurs in open and semi-open habitats, including grasslands hayfields, and crop fields, as well as early old-field successional habitats. The kestrel has also become adapted to both suburban and urban settings in many areas. This species feeds on small mammals, insects, and small birds, and is an obligate secondary cavity nester; the kestrel uses natural cavities in trees or cavities previously excavated by woodpeckers for nesting. It will also make use of artificial nest boxes.

The primary conservation challenge for the American Kestrel is the loss of open grassland habitat due to urbanization; however, the species has shown an ability to adapt to some anthropogenic habitats.

The Wood Thrush is a medium-sized songbird found primarily in forests across eastern North America. Recognizable by its rich, flutelike song, it has a distinctive appearance with a reddish-brown back and spotted breast. These thrushes are primarily migratory, spending their winters in Central America and returning to North America to breed.

One of the most notable features of the Wood Thrush is its haunting, melodious song, which is often considered one of the most beautiful among North American songbirds. They prefer dense, mature forests with a mix of tree species, where they build their nests in low branches.

Unfortunately, the Wood Thrush has been experiencing a decline in population due to habitat loss, especially from logging and the destruction of forests. Fragmentation of their forest habitat makes it harder for them to find suitable nesting areas. Climate change and the increasing presence of predators like raccoons and nest parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds also contribute to their struggles. As a result, the Wood Thrush conservation efforts are focused on protecting and restoring forest habitats to help stabilize their numbers.

In many species, such as Red-crested Finches, males have a distinct appearance compared to females. They have a dark red coloration with a narrow white eye ring and a black-bordered bright red crown. Males can partly conceal or show off their crown coloration according to the situation. On the other hand, females have a white eye ring but lack any black and bright red on their crown. They are much duller above and paler below than the male and only have bright red coloration on the rump. 

Yellow-rumped Caciques are named after the bright yellow plumage on their rump, which is brighter in males than females. They are highly social birds that build nests in tight clusters of 20-100 nests in just one or two trees. 

Puna Teal are dabbling ducks that feed by tipping up and reaching down into shallow water and are commonly found on bogs, lakes, and wetlands in the high Andes Mountains. Male and female Puna Teal look alike and sport a blue bill and a crisp, black cap, though males tend to be slightly brighter.

Blue-billed Curassows are large, turkey-like birds found in small, fragmented lowland habitats in Colombia. Males and females both have a fleshy blue wattle that hangs below the bill, but only the male grows a cere, or a knob, on the bill. They are primarily found on the forest floor, where they find worms, insects, fruits, and seeds, but they do roost in trees. Males have a loud, distinctive booming call that they use to attract a mate. Blue-billed Curassow young are precocial, meaning they hatch fully feathered and ready to leave the nest shortly after hatching. They stay close to home, though, for several months.

Blue-billed Curassows are Critically Endangered, with an estimated 150 to 700 individuals remaining in the wild. These birds rely on large, undisturbed tracts of humid forest in lowlands and foothills, and habitat fragmentation has led to a sharp decline for the species.

The Ringed Teal is a colorful dabbling duck of South American forests where it favors swampy tropical forests and marshy clearings in well-wooded lowlands. Although its diet is not well known, it probably includes mostly seeds, other vegetable matter, and aquatic insects. A cavity nester, the Ringed Teal forms very strong pair bonds that can last a lifetime.

A very common dabbling duck of the Nearctic region, and introduced elsewhere where it is sometimes considered an invasive pest, the Mallard occurs on almost any body of shallow water, but especially those with submerged or floating vegetation. In the breeding season the Mallard eats mostly animal foods such as aquatic insect larvae and snails, but at other times of year they favor seeds, aquatic vegetation, and cereal crops. The Mallard usually nests near water but on the ground  in upland areas, with the nest hidden under overhanging vegetation.

The third largest of the vultures of the Americas, the King Vulture has one of the strongest beaks out of all the American vultures and is able to open carcasses that the others cannot. While some of its food may be dead fish or lizards, other times it feeds on sloths, monkeys, or cattle. This is a vulture of the tropical lowland forests of Central and South America. Like other vultures, the King Vulture requires variety in its habitat so that it combines open areas where carrion can be found, isolated nest sites such as rock outcrops, and undisturbed stands of large trees for roosting. Although not considered threatened at this time, there are few data on population trends and some concern that the King Vulture may be declining as a result of habitat destruction.

Andean Condors are among the largest flying birds, with a body weight of up to 30 pounds and a wingspan of over 10 feet. They are mostly black with large white patches on their wings and the distinctive bald head for which vultures are known. Condors have no feathers on their heads which facilitates cleaning after they have been feeding on carrion (after a meal, condors can frequently be seen wiping their heads on the ground to clean themselves off). Their diet primarily includes large land mammals, but condors have been seen feeding on the carcasses of seals and whales near the coast. Andean Condors may travel 150 miles a day in search of food and they often feed in groups. As scavengers, Andean Condors act as a natural clean-up crew, eating dead animals before they become a health risk to humans. In addition, the direct exposure of their skin to the disinfecting properties of ultraviolet light helps eliminate any residual bacteria. The Andean Condor is the only New World vulture that shows obvious differences between males and females. Males have dark eyes and a fleshy crest, called a “caruncle”, on their heads, while females have bright red eyes and lack the crest. Andean Condors may live 50 years or more.

Although they are long-lived, Andean Condors reproduce slowly and are vulnerable to human persecution, including both intentional and secondary poisoning. Since 1989, over 60 of these spectacular birds have hatched in U.S. zoos, and some have been released in the remote regions of Colombia, including a male chick named Kendall that hatched at the National Aviary in 2003. A female chick named Kachina, hatched at the Aviary in 2007, is currently part of a breeding program at another zoo to help the species’ population grow. The National Aviary is currently partnering with Bioparque Amaru, a zoo in Ecuador, where the population has dwindled to about 25 pairs of adult breeding birds and fewer than 150 condors in all. In 2022, the National Aviary celebrated the hatching of Marijo, the first Andean Condor to hatch in Condor Court!

The National Aviary is delighted to welcome a new male Andean Condor, Chavín, to our flock as part of an AZA-led Species Survival Plan®. Witness the majestic beauty of Chavín, Lianni, and juvenile counterparts, Marijo and Illimani, during your next Aviary visit.

One of a number of species of toucans, popular for their enormous, colorful beaks, the Toco Toucan is the only one which is adapted to drier, more open habitats. These include a mosaic of natural forested, agricultural, and successional habitats, including gallery forests, palm groves, open woodlands, secondary forest, savanna and thorn-forest, plantations, and orchards. Toco Toucans use their bills to feed on a variety of fruits and insects, but are also well-known for preying on the eggs and nestlings of other bird species. This toucan nests in hollow trees. While many bird species in tropical South America are threatened by the conversion of natural forests to agriculture, the Toco Toucan is more flexible in its habitat requirements and is not currently of conservation concern.