10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

What extraordinary birds penguins are: physically, they remind us of ourselves, so we think we understand their behaviors, but, as the authors say, “their private life is as complex and mysterious as that of any wild animal.” Dragan]: Europe’s Birds: An Identification Guide , by Hume, Still, Swash, and Harrop is a photographic guide.

Sri Lanka 219

Sri Lanka Malaysia Birds Suriname 219

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2022

While hoopoes are in their own family, DNA studies suggest that the hoopoe diverged from hornbills, and the wood-hoopoes and scimitarbills from the hoopoe. To put it in the language of science: “Males did not prefer conspecific females whenever they were given a choice of a larger heterospecific female” Bigger is always better?

Zimbabwe 147

Zimbabwe Birds South Africa Benin 147

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2012

Or, Pygmy leaf-folding frogs, Afrixalus brachycnemis, from Tanzania, tiny climbing frogs who lay their eggs in leaves and then fold the leaves over them for protection, sealing the nest with secretions. As Mattison says, “Frogs are unlikely to be mistaken for any other type of animal.” It turns out there is no scientific difference!

Reptiles 182

Reptiles Madagascar Family New York City 182