the bearded vulture is a large old-world vulture found in parts of europe, asia, and africa. the majority of the bearded vulture’s diet consists of bones. small bones are eaten whole, while large bones are cracked open by the vultures, who drop them from great heights. the vultures are naturally a light off-white, but they dye themselves orange-red using clay. it’s theorized this is a status symbol, with the darkest-colored vultures being the highest ranking.
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the red-winged blackbird is native to most of north america and parts of central america. they are mainly found in marshes and the edges of wetlands. the majority of their diet is seeds, but a large portion is also insects, particularly insects associated with water such as dragonflies, and in warmer months berries are also eaten.
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an azure tit is captured for banding. native to russia and asia, this small pale-colored songbird is mainly insectivorous. they are closely related with the more common eurasian blue tit, and regularly hybridize with them.
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the carolina wren is a small species of songbird found in the eastern half of north america. wrens feed off of insects, small lizards, and seeds. mates typically do not stay together for life, but for several years, during which time they stake out a territory and raise their broods in the summer.
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part of a male bowerbird’s courtship display includes elaborate dances. sometimes, these dances can be perceived as threatening by the female, particularly younger females with less experience. studies suggest that male bowerbirds react accordingly and, like gentlemen, adjust their dance to a pace that she prefers.
the hooded parrot is a small species of brightly-colored parrot found in australia. hooded parrots mainly forage on the ground for their food, a large portion of which is grass seeds. hooded parrots have unusual nesting behavior – they make their nests in termite mounds.
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a white-breasted nuthatch accepts food from a person’s hand. white-breasted nuthatches are native to north america. they commonly feed off of insects taken from tree bark, but are also known to be backyard bird feeder visitors.
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sulphur-crested cockatoos, native to australia, nest in tree hollows lined with wood chips. both parents work together to incubate the eggs then feed and raise the nestlings.
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the brown-headed nuthatch is a small passerine bird native to the southeastern united states. this nuthatch matches the pygmy nuthatch for size, making them the two smallest nuthatches. brown-headed nuthatches scurry along tree trunks and forage for insects in the bark.
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despite having very similar distinct body shape & behavior, swifts and swallows are only very distantly related. the two families are an example of convergent evolution – when two unrelated organisms evolve the same traits for the same purpose. despite looking very much like swallows, swifts are actually closely related to hummingbirds.
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today's bird 