a rare albino turkey vulture. turkey vultures are normally a deep brown color. albinism can be deadly for birds – melanin is part of their feather structure, and albino animals lack melanin, which can mean weak feathers. albino birds are also often targets for predators and may be rejected by others of their species.
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a male greater prairie chicken displays by ‘booming’. the prairie chicken’s mating ritual involves puffing out the air sacs on their necks and snapping their tails. these behaviors take place on ‘booming grounds’, largely vegetation-free areas where the males may display for up to two months.
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a common kingfisher eats a proportionately large fish. kingfishers consume their prey whole, then later cough up pellets formed of indigestible pieces like scales and bones.
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the long-tailed sylph is a species of hummingbird native to parts of south america.
the male long-tailed sylph is distinctly different from most hummingbirds. their tail reaches around four inches in length – longer than the entire rest of their body.
the male and female are easy to differentiate. the female lacks the incredibly long tail, and is somewhat more drab in coloration.
these birds feed off of nectar, like other hummingbirds, along with small insects and spiders.
the long-tailed sylph is fairly common in its range and is rated least concern by the iucn.
a greater prairie chicken perched atop a skull in a field. greater prairie chickens were once abundant and had a large range throughout north america, but agricultural development has reduced their range and population size. despite their name, prairie chickens are actually a member of the grouse family.
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a male mikado pheasant, a large member of the pheasant family. these pheasants are related to the more well known chinese ringneck pheasants, but are very recognizable by their rich purple color. they are native to taiwan.
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a leucistic greater prairie chicken. normally these birds are barred grayish-brown. leucism is a reduction in different pigments, not just melanin, that causes either an overall paler look or pale splotches (“pied”). greater prairie chickens are found in north america, though in only a fraction of their former range.
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common kingfishers are small members of the kingfisher family – about the size of a sparrow – that are native to eurasia and north africa.
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oriental dwarf kingfishers are small members of the kingfisher family (small enough to fit in the palm of an adult’s hand) native to southeastern asia. despite their small size, the kingfishers can catch proportionately large animals like lizards and frogs.
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turkeys are often regarded as dull, but that definitely isn’t the case with the ocellated turkey. these birds are native to a small range in mexico and south america. they are smaller than north american wild turkeys, but they have much more vibrant plumage. both males and females have iridescent colorful plumage, though females can be slightly more brown.
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today's bird 