a photographer captured a wild black vulture preening a northern caracara. while this interaction may seem strange, considering the birds are not in the same family, they are both scavengers and regularly interact over meals of carrion.
wisdom the laysan albatross is the world’s oldest confirmed wild bird and oldest banded bird. wisdom was born in 1951, and banded in 1956 for scientific study but returned to the wild. wisdom is well known for her mothering skills, even in old age – she recently raised another chick at the age of 67.
peach-faced lovebirds have established a feral colony in phoenix, arizona – the result of either escapees or released birds breeding and surviving for generations. lovebirds are native to africa, but have a fairly significant feral population size in arizona. they are frequently found nesting in cactuses. some of their roots from human breeding still show, as birds with color mutations only seen in captivity can be found in the flock.
black-thighed falconets are one of the world’s smallest birds of prey (they’re about the size of a sparrow!!) and they are perfect in every way imaginable
bee hummingbird appreciation post
bee hummingbirds are the world’s smallest bird. they are also so, so beautiful. they’re native to cuba, and their eggs are only the size of a coffee bean!
i just want everyone to know that there are small members of the toucan family called “toucanets”
this is whipper, a feather duster budgie. feather duster syndrome is a rare genetic mutation that causes uncontrollable growth of curly feathers, and is often ultimately fatal, as the birds cannot eat enough to maintain the energy needed for such growth. whipper, however, has been alive for several years, despite also having stubby wings that make it impossible to fly, and being blind. not much is known about this mutation, but it is suspected it resulted from inbreeding in english budgies.
today's bird 