Sharp-Shinned Hawk

The smallest of the hawks to be found in North America, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus, is also one of the most common, with groups of ten thousand often concentrated in a small area.
There are subspecies of the Sharp-shinned Hawk, the likes of the Plain-breasted Hawk; Rufous-thighed Hawk; and White-breasted Hawk; these birds though are found in South and Central America.

An incredible small hawk, the male Sharp-shinned Hawk is only 30cm long, with a wingspan of 58cm. The female is larger by a few centimetres, as with many hawks, and can weigh up to twice as much, 110g, as the male.

Sharp-Shinned Hawk - Dario Sanches - CC-BY-SA-2.0

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is often mistaken for the slightly larger Cooper’s Hawk, as they do have many of the same characteristics. The hawks are blue-grey in colouring, with some reddish barring to be found on the under parts of the birds. The hawks are broad chested, with short rounded wings. Females as well as being larger will also be browner than the male.

The tails of the Sharp-shinned Hawk are long with a square tip. The tail will be grey or black, but will have a white terminal band. The crown and back of the neck of the birds are covered in darker feathers, which makes the Sharp-shinned Hawk appear that it has a hood.

Sharp-shinned Hawks also have thin, yellow legs, and a black, hooked bill. The bill is marked though with a yellow cere, the soft swelling found on the beak.

In flight the wing beats of the Sharp-shinned Hawk are erratic, although it only take a few to give them momentum, which is followed by a short glide.

Found throughout the United States and Canada, much of the Canadian population will fly south during the winter months. Normally the Sharp-shinned Hawk is to be found in the larger expanses of woodland, but can also often be found in urban surroundings.

Cooper's Hawk vs Sharp-Shinned - Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874–1927) - PD-life-70

The Sharp-shinned Hawk primarily feeds upon small birds, found in the woodlands or more often observed off of garden bird tables. It is though not unknown for the hawks to eat small mammals and rodents.  Due to the size of the male and female Sharp-shinned Hawk, the females will go for the larger prey.

During the breeding season the Sharp-shinned Hawk will make their nests within the densest areas of the forest, where the female will lay between four and five eggs, and incubate for four weeks. In the early weeks the youngsters are reliant on their parents for food, but this also provides the display of the parents feeding their offspring in flight.

The bird is not under any direct threat at the moment, and with regulations in place around the use of pesticide

The Crane Hawk

The Crane Hawk, Geranospiza caerulescens, is perhaps not one of the most famous members of the hawk or harrier family, but has physical characteristics that set it apart from many other birds of prey.

Part of the Accipitridae family, the family of birds that includes the majority of birds of prey, the Crane Hawk is by no means the largest bird of prey, nor even the largest hawk but does have some distinguishing features. It is most commonly grey in colour, although the tail feathers are predominantly black. Across the tail though are two white bands, and the tip is also white. The Crane Hawk also has orange legs, unlike most other hawks or harriers.

Crane hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens) - CC-BY-SA-2.0

In flight, the Crane Hawk has the ability to glide silently, like most hawks, and needs only the occasional beat of its wings to remain airborne.

It is often a case of the rarer a bird the more well known it is. The publicity for endangered birds certainly ensures that for at least a short while they are talked about in the media. However, the Crane Hawk is a bird rated as being of Least Concern. There are no exact figures of how many Crane Hawks are currently to be found in the wild, although a conservative estimate does rate them as numbering in excess of 500,000. It is, however, almost universally recognised that numbers have decreased in recent years; this decrease being a result of their preferred habitat also declining in area.
Crane Hawks are widespread, and can be found in most countries in South and Central America, as well as Australia, and even a few examples have been seen in the United States.

Crane Hawk - jerryoldenettel - CC-BY-SA-2.0

South America in particular offers up many of the conditions in which Crane Hawks thrive. Although Crane Hawks can make their home just about anywhere, they do have preference for subtropical and tropical forests, as well as mangrove and swamp areas.

Crane Hawks will feed on just about any form of prey, and will eat snakes, lizards, frogs, spiders and the young of other birds. As such, the Crane Hawk is often competing with other predators for the same food source. Fortunately, the Crane Hawk has unusual legs, which enables it to climb and also enables it to dig around in crevices; this allows them to seek out prey that other birds cannot reach.
The Crane Hawk is one of the most sought after birds during any arranged bird-watching tour, and, although not especially rare, is like many hawks, a delight to see when in hunting mode.

The Spoonbill

The name Spoonbill is one given to six different birds within the Threskiornithidae family of birds. The waterbird is recognisable due to its bill, from where the bird gets its name.

Spoonbills are large birds, with long legs, legs which have evolved to allow them to wade through shallow water in search of food. Equally the bills of the Spoonbills have evolved to help them with this search as well. The bill is large, flat and reminiscent of a spoon. Colours for the bird and bill vary between types, although most are white with black bills.

Unlike many waterfowl and birds, the Spoonbills are normally solitary birds, rarely found in large flocks, nor will they accommodate other birds living close to them.

The African Spoonbill - Steve Roetz - CC-BY-2.0

There are as previously mentioned six different spoonbills, although they share many common features. There is the African Spoonbill, a large white bird, with pink face, and nests in African marshes. The Black-faced Spoonbill is an Asian variety, with its name representing its most distinguishing feature against a predominantly white body. The Eurasian Spoonbill is found across Europe and Asia, and even makes a presence in Africa. The Roseate Spoonbill is to be found in North, Central and South America, and is identifiable amongst the mangroves because of its bright pink colouring. Royal Spoonbills are found in Australasia and the Pacific Island, as is the Yellow-billed Spoonbill.

In the United Kingdom it is the Eurasian Spoonbill, Platalea Leucorodia, which can be seen, although only if you are lucky. There are only about fifty of the birds that can be seen in such places as the Exe Estuary reserves and East Anglia coastline.

The Eurasian Spoonbill - Andreas Trepte, www.photo-natur.de - CC-BY-SA-2.5

All Spoonbills tend to eat a similar diet, mainly consisting of small fish and aquatic insects. The bill has evolved to help with the feeding process. The bill being swept from side to side through the shallow water as the bird waded; any food that enters the bill cannot escape, as it shuts as soon as it is detected. It is not the most efficient form of feeding though, and Spoonbills do spend a high proportion of their day feeding.

Problems of gathering food do lead to some issues when it comes to breeding. Male and female Spoonbills mate for the season before separating, but during the season, the males will gather the material for the nest whilst the females make them. The nests are either low lying in amongst the reeds, or high up in trees.

On average the female will then lay three eggs, before each parent takes turns at incubating the eggs. The problems arise though on hatching, and a lack of food is the primary reason why the Spoonbill chicks fail to reach maturity.

The Spoonbills are relatively under threat and there are few places in the world where the unusual looking bird can be said to be common. Whenever people do get to see them though they are a bird that is hard to forget because of that great bill of theirs.

The Black Necked Swan

Native to South America, Cygnus melancoryphus, the Black-necked Swan is a close relation to the Black Swan of Australasia and the Mute Swan found in the northern hemisphere. One of the smaller members of the swan family, the Black-necked Swan is nevertheless the largest of the waterfowl to be found in South America.

Like most of its genus relatives, the Black-necked Swan is normally to be found in a wetland habitat, especially lake shorelines, lagoons and freshwater marshes. During the breeding season the Black-necked Swans are particularly abundant on the Falkland Islands, and across Patagonia (the southernmost points of Chile and Argentina). Numbers of the swan are estimated to be anywhere between 26000 and 100000, although like many other swans they are susceptible to pollution in their natural environment. Relative common, the Black-necked Swan is not under any particular threat, and has a couple of nature reserves in Chile and Argentina were it is protected.

The Black Necked Swan - Patche99z - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The Black-necked Swans are migratory although this means flying north to Paraguay and the southern regions of Brazil, during the southern hemisphere’s winter. When the swans flock together there is not the same amount of noise associated with other birds, as the Black-necked Swans are similar to the Mute Swans in that they are almost silent letting out a small whistle.

The breeding and wintering grounds both offer the types of environments where the Black-necked Swans can feed on their favoured food, namely algae, other plants, fish spawn and insects.
With sufficient food male swans can grow up to 140cm in length, with a wingspan of about 180cm. This means adult males can weigh in between 4.5kg and 6.7kg. Females are slightly smaller, and weigh a kilogram or more less than the male.

Black-necked Swan - Tony Hisgett - CC-BY-2.0

Like other members of the swan family, Black-necked swans are predominantly white, although as the name suggests the neck of the bird is black. Both male and female have greyish bills, with a red knob located just above the beak. The red knob on the male becomes larger during the mating and breeding season. Black-necked Swans will mate for life.

During the breeding season the female Black-necked Swan will lay between four and six eggs, and incubate them alone. When born the cygnets are a light grey in colour, but unlike many birds the parents will both do their turn in raising the youngster, indeed the cygnets will ride on both of the adult’s backs.

The Black-necked Swan is as beautiful and as graceful as the others in the species, and although not currently under threat will need work to ensure that it is preserved for future generations.

The Shetland Goose

Like the majority of European and North American domestic geese, the Shetland goose is thought to have descended from the Greylag. As the name suggests, the Shetland Goose was domesticated upon the Shetland Isles off of Scotland and quickly became a mainstay of the islands bird’s population.

The Shetland Goose is not a particularly heavy goose, with the gander weighing at its peak between 5.4kg and 6.4kg, the goose weighs a kilogram or so less. The most distinctive feature of the Shetland Goose though is its colouring. The gander of the species is always white, with the goose always grey and white. The head and upper neck of the goose is white, with grey more prominent around the lower neck, under-wing back and thigh areas. This colourisation also makes it very easy to sex any hatchlings, and this can be done within a couple of days

The gander will also have blue eyes. The goose will have brown eyes normally, although brown and blue mottled is not unheard of. Shetland geese will have reddish bills at the tip, with a more orange hue closer to the face, the geese will also have pink coloured feet and legs.

The colourisation of the Shetland Goose does lead to it sometimes being confused with the Pilgrim breed of goose, although the bill of the Shetland is smaller and of a different colour.

The addition of Shetland geese to a farm or smallholding has many advantages. The obvious ones of include the decent size of the bird when stocked as an eating bird, with the bird regarded to have a flavour reminiscent of game, additionally a Shetland goose is likely to provide up to 25 eggs. The Shetland though is also a great forager and will happily graze with no need to provide any extra food. It is also a good idea to mix the Shetland in with other animals, including livestock, as the Shetland Goose will help to control parasitic levels.

The Shetland Goose is now to be found in many areas of the world, although the British Isles remains the focus for the majority of the population. The Shetland Goose though has the ability to travel, as its strong wings allow for sustained flight, unlike many other domestic breeds of geese, including the Sebastopol Goose.

The Shetland Goose makes a good addition to any grouping of wildfowl and livestock, and although they are unlikely to become family pets, will help in many other aspects.

Copyright - First Published 5th March 2010

The Pilgrim Goose

The Pilgrim Goose remains one of the more popular breeds of domestic duck, although there is some slight concern about overall numbers. It is a breed particularly favoured by smaller farms and domestic keepers of geese.

The standardisation of the Pilgrim goose is accredited to Oscar Grow a waterfowl breeder from Missouri. The breed itself is more likely to have originally come from Europe, and in particular it is said to have been a common British bird during the nineteenth century and earlier.

Pilgrim Geese - Redleg - Released into PD

The standardisation has lead to distinct colourisation characteristics, and the Pilgrim Geese breed is one of the few that can be identified sex wise by its colours. Ganders are mainly white, although some light grey can often be found on secondary feathers as well as around the rump area. Ganders also have blue eyes. Pilgrim geese, the female of the breed, are light grey in colour with some white around the head area. The female also have brown eyes.

When newly hatched the Pilgrim Goose can quickly be sexed, with males a light yellow with light beaks, and the female hatchlings a grey-olive colour with dark beaks.

The Pilgrim is regarded as a medium to small size goose, and a gander will normally weigh in the region of 6.4kg, with the mature female Pilgrim goose a kilogram lighter. The size does make it a good table bird.

Both the ganders and the goose of the Pilgrim breed will have orange feet and shanks and also an orange bill. The bill of the Pilgrim Goose should also be knobless, and the presence of a knob is a sure sign of crossbreeding.

There are a number of reasons as to why people like to have the Pilgrim goose on their property. The female is normally a decent layer, and in two clutches will normally lay about 30 eggs. The Pilgrim has also got a very docile temperament, and when raised from hatchlings will have a sweet nature that allows them to be more of a pet than anything else. The Pilgrim is also relatively hardy and will gain the majority of the food intake needs from foraging and grazing.

The Pilgrim Goose is recognised as being one of the quieter members of the species, although they can still be an effective guardian of property, as they can be very possessive. A good flock of Pilgrim geese can be a great addition to any holding.

Copyright - Originally Posted 5th March 2010

The Embden Goose

The Embden Goose is the very image of what most people think a domestic goose should look like, it is after all white, plump and with a long neck. As a result it is one of the most popular of all domestic geese.

The written history of the Embden Goose is not overly long, and it is generally thought to have come into existence in the last two hundred years. The exact origins of the breed though are somewhat confused. There is evidence that the Embden was produced as a cross breed of the German and English Whites, which is linked to its standardisation in the United Kingdom in 1865. Other evidence though does suggest that it was bred in the Germanic areas of Europe.

Embden Goose  - Noodle snacks - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The Embden is now primarily kept because of the fact that it is a heavy breed of goose. Fast to grow to maturity, the Embden can stand erect at a metre in height. Along with the impressive height is a weight of up to 14.5kg for ganders, and even 12.57kg for females.

One of the most striking of geese, a number of other breeds are often mistaken for the Embden, including the likes of the Tufted Roman Goose. This is mainly due to the misconception that all white geese are Embdens. Embdens are of course covered in pure white feathers, but are distinguished by the long neck, a neck that resembles a swan’s. The eyes of the goose are clear blue, and they have a short, orange bill.

There should be really little confusion between the Embden goose and other breeds of white geese, as the others are normally a lot smaller.

Embden Goose - Ralph Daily - CC-BY-2.0

Embden geese are not just kept for their meat, and indeed they are prolific layers, and can manage up to 40 eggs in a year. Additionally the feathers, though relatively hard, are sought after for pillows and duvets.

Known as great foragers, the Embden goose can strip away bark from tree, and will eat almost any plant life, which could leave a backyard looking extremely bare very quickly. They will happily look for food be it in water or on land.

The size of the Embden goose does make it an intimidating bird, and is often kept around as a substitute guard dog. The Embden Goose can be extremely protective, a characteristic often displayed by the gander when he believes that his mate or youngsters are under threat. They are though at the same time an extremely friendly goose, and when raised from a hatchling will be docile. They are considered to be somewhat of a handful and are normally only recommended for those who have had dealings with geese before.

Copyright - First Published 5th March 2010

The Silver Appleyard

A relatively common duck in the United Kingdom, the Silver Appleyard is a rarity elsewhere in the world, despite it being a favoured table duck, pet and show bird.

Initially the Silver Appleyard was developed by Reginald Appleyard, hence the name, in the 1930s. Appleyard was an expert breeder of waterfowl, and working from his farm, sought to develop an attractive but productive duck. It took though several further decades for the Silver Appleyard duck to become standardised, mainly due to the work of Tom Bartlett.

Silver Appleyard - Barbieri Anna Maria - CC-BY-SA-3.0

This standardisation has created expected characteristics for the Silver Appleyard. Both Drakes and Hens should have dark brown eyes, and a bill of medium length that has an upward curve as it moves to the brow. A well rounded brown and black head should have green feathers overlaying it. The legs of the Silver Appleyard are also to be noted as they will be well apart and slightly further back than on other ducks.

There are though notable differences between the Silver Appleyard Drake and the Hen. The Drake is relatively colourful, having a red-chestnut flank, breasts and sides. The shoulders may also have a hint of red, but often the green of the head, and also a whitish silver colour makes an appearance. The white-silver also extends to the underbelly of the Silver Appleyard. The wings are predominantly grey, with blue and white also present, whilst tail feathers are bronze. Male Silver Appleyard ducks will have orange feet, and a bill that is either yellow or green in colour.

Silver Appleyards - Barbieri Anna Maria - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The female Silver Appleyard is normally white but has brown or grey present. Wing feathers are also creamy white with fawn and blue also visible. The hen will have orange or yellow legs. The bill of the Silver Appleyard hen is yellow or orange, and has a black bean upon it.

A flavoursome duck, the Silver Appleyard will normally weigh between 2.7kg and 3.6kg.
The Silver Appleyard is often referred to as the Large Appleyard, this name is used to distinguish it from a variant of the Silver Appleyard Duck, the Miniature Appleyard.

The Silver Appleyard Duck is now primarily kept as an egg laying duck, and in a good year a duck can lay as many as 250 eggs. Equally though the Silver Appleyard is a friendly duck and if treated right will act more like a pet than a domestic duck.

Copyright - First Published 5th March 2010

Sebastopol Goose

Medium sized, the Sebastopol Goose is one of a number of domesticated breeds of geese found in the Northern Hemisphere.

There is some debate about the reason why the goose is called the Sebastopol Goose, although the most likely reason is that the Crimean port was the purchasing and dispatch point for the first of the breed to make its way to Great Britain in 1860. At the time though the goose was as likely to have been known as a Danubian Goose, a reference to the area of Europe around the river when the first of its breed was first developed.

Saddleback Sebastopol Goose - Davee - CC-BY-2.0

Traditionally the Sebastopol Goose was a white bird with long curly feathers. The colour of the goose though has evolved through the successfully breeding of the bird, and now varieties of the Sebastopol can be find in buff, saddle and grey. This breeding has also produced Sebastopol geese which have lower concentrations of curly feathers around the breast area, and are smooth like the bird’s neck area.

The legs of the Sebastopol Goose are orange and the bird has bright blue eyes.

Today the Sebastopol Goose is considered to be a medium sized one, with ganders weighing in at between 5.5kg and 6.4kg, with the goose at 4.5kg to 5.5kg. These weight though area an increase of a third over historical weights brought about by specific breeding.

Sebastopol Goose and Gosling - Davee - CC-BY-2.0

The nature of the curly feathers around the breast area has given rise to two German names for the Sebastopol Goose; Lockengans, translated as curl goose, and Struppgans, or unkempt goose. The curly feathers are a result of a lack of a rigid spine or quill within the feather, and whilst this leaves the Sebastopol goose as almost flightless, does have the benefit for owners as superb feather to be used in pillows and quilts. Owners of female geese can also expect on average 30 eggs in the year.
To help keep themselves clean the Sebastopol Goose does require more than the normal amount of water, but many geese do require a lot in order that their sinuses are kept free of dirt and debris.

Many people do like to keep Sebastopol geese as pets or as small flocks on smallholdings, although it is worth noting that the breed is perhaps not as friendly as other breeds, like the Roman Goose, having origins associated with the German Kampfganse and fighting geese from Eastern Europe.

Copyright - First Published 4th March 2010

Roman Goose

The Roman Goose, now more commonly known as the Tufted Roman Goose or Roman Tufted Goose, is one of the more common domestic breeds of goose. The Roman Goose and the Tufted Roman Goose are only named differently because of the fact that the latter has a tuft of feathers on its head.

The domestic Tufted Roman Goose has its roots back in the Danube River area of Europe and also Italy, with the breed being recognised back to several hundred years BC.

Roman Tufted Goose - Joe Thomissen - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The Roman goose is identified by its pure white plumage, blue eyes, orange or reddish legs and pink bill with white bean. Male and female Roman geese will look identical, although the male is likely to be slightly larger. In terms of weight, the Roman Goose is one of the smaller varieties weighing in between 4.5kg and 5.5kg.

The Tufted Roman Goose looks a great deal like the Embden Goose, although far smaller and lighter, but the normal tuft of feathers is a characteristic that sets the two apart. The tufts of feathers are smaller than a crest would be, and subsequently less pronounced.

The relative small size of the Roman Tufted Goose makes it generally unsuitable to be a bird bred for its meat, being financially unviable. This though doesn’t prevent it being a popular breed for many smallholdings. The Roman Goose is recognised as having a rather friendly nature, making it a good family pet. Whilst these geese may make a lot of noise, something that makes them useful as guardians of property, it is normally a noise related to delight.

An additionally benefit of keeping Roman Tufted geese around is the fact that they are an excellent form of insect and bug control for a garden. Bugs make up a large part of the bird’s diet, and will happily turn over rocks in search of the delicacy.

Although known as the Roman Tufted Goose it is quite possible to find them without the tufts. Indeed whilst a tuft-less Roman Goose may be rare in the United States, it is far more common in places like the United Kingdom, although in essence the two birds are the same.

It is now more common to see a Roman Goose in competition, or as a family pet, rather than in any commercial setting. Many people find that they do make good pets and can be quite friendly with their owners.

Copyright - First Published 4th March 2010

Difference between a Duck and Goose

Identifying the differences between a duck and a goose may not be as immediately obvious as it first seems. Most people would think that they wouldn’t get confused between the wildfowl but in their natural environment it is perfectly possible to mistake a goose for a duck.

Most people would probably say that the most obvious difference between a duck and a goose is that a goose is bigger than a duck. In most cases this is true but a Brent goose, which is one of the smaller members of the goose, could be the same size as a large duck.

Canada Goose and Wood Duck families - Jonathon Jongsma - CC-BY-SA-2.0

Looking at the science behind the two birds there is actually little difference between a duck and a goose. Both are members of the Kingdom Animalia; Phylum Chordata; Class Aves; Order Anseriformes; and Family Anatidae. Indeed it is only the subfamily that differs, just as swans differ from geese and ducks.

There are some physical characteristics that are different between a duck and a goose, although there are exceptions to this, and any generalisation made about the two birds. A goose has a longer neck than a duck, although ducks have relatively long necks themselves compared to many other birds.
Colour is also used as a differential between ducks and geese. Geese tend to be grey or white, with no difference in colours and markings between the male and female geese. Ducks though are often multicoloured with differences in colours between male and female members of the same type of duck.

Diets also tend to differ between the two birds, with ducks eating fish and insects, and geese having an herbivorous diet comprising of grain and grasses. This diet also sees the two birds locating in different areas, with geese grazing on land, and ducks feeding on and under the water.
There are also other differences between a duck and a goose that sometimes are true, with geese migrating further than ducks, and also having more webbing on their feet.

Toulouse goose and domestic duck - Jim Linwood - CC-BY-2.0

The differences between a duck and a goose are further complicated by the group of birds that is often placed between the two, the Shelducks. These are another part of the Anatidae family, many of who are called geese without actually being true members of the geese group of birds. Shelducks are often larger than normal ducks, and spend their lives split between time on the water and time on the land.

The difference between a duck and a goose is tiny, and is best described as being colour differences and the length of the neck. The two birds though can be confused and from a distance especially is an easy thing to do.

Copyright - First Published 4th March 2010

Gapeworms in Chickens causes and Treatment

Gapeworm, Syngamus trachea, is a parasitic worm that can result in the death of a chicken. More normally found in game birds, gape worms infect the trachea, making it hard for the chicken to breathe and to eat.

Gape Worms, also known as Red Worms and Forked Worms, are normally ingested in larvae form, either through direct feeding, or through the consumption of earth worms, snails or slugs which are caring the gapeworm. As the larvae grow the trachea becomes obstructed. Gapeworms that develop outside of a host can also be ingested by a chicken, although this is more uncommon as the parasite is easily killed, even by sunlight.

Healthy Chicken - Mindaugas Urbonas - CC-BY-SA-2.5

The gapeworm themselves are bright red, hence Red Worms, with the male measuring up to 6mm, the female is considerably larger. Once inside the chicken, the male and female then join in a Y-shape, hence Forked Worms.

The first sign of gapeworm normally comes when the chickens fail to eat, and cough a lot, and stretch their necks in an effort to get air into their lungs. Additionally a chicken may also have their eyes closed for most of the day. If a close examination is undertaken there will also likely to be signs of inflammation within the trachea. If the problem though is not dealt with quickly suffocation could be the end result. Gapeworm though normally proves to be more of an issue in young birds, and death is more common than in adults.

Gape worm is more common in birds that are allowed to run wild as confined breeding normally comes with regular cleaning programs for the chicken’s environment. The use of some insecticides will kill off the hosts that can transport the gapeworm larvae.

There are a few different treatment options for gapeworm, although most are only used on more expensive birds, otherwise they are not really cost effective. The use of Thiabendazole has been used successfully on pheasants when added to their feed. Levamisole and Fenbedazole are effective when added to the chicken’s drinking water. Treatments available will often vary in effectiveness depending on how long the infection has been present, and careful study should be undertaken before use.

As with any infection prevention is often a lot better than cure, and where possible chickens should be housed in the cleanest possible environments. As a parasite the gapeworm can prove to be deadly but treatment is available and effective.

Copyright - First Published 3rd March 2010

Scaup

The Scaup, Aythya marila, is a diving duck that is to be found in the colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It will be most commonly observed after the breeding season when the ducks migrate southwards; breeding occurring in the Arctic north.

In the Americas there are two different Scaup, the European Scaup, Aythya marila, is known as the Greater Scaup, and the Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis, which is found almost exclusively in North and Central America. The two ducks are very similar, with matching characteristics, although the Lesser Scaup is smaller than the Greater Scaup.

Greater Scaup - Calibas - Released into PD

The Greater Scaup is a relatively large diving duck, and on average has a body length of 45cm, with a wingspan of 75cm. The Scaup is sometimes confused with other ducks, including the Tufted Duck but does have some distinctive characteristics.

The male Scaup has a black head, with black shoulders, breasts and tail, with a light grey back. It additionally also has a white bottom and white flanks. In contrast the female Scaup is predominantly brown, with a few grey speckles on the flanks, there is also some white located at the base of the duck’s bill.

Occasionally referred to as Bluebill, the bill of the Scaup is sometimes blue although in most lights, it appears greyer in colour.

The Scaup is generally a cold weather bird and breeds over the warmer months in the Arctic regions; in the United Kingdom less than five mating pairs breed every year.

During the breeding season though the female Scaup will lay up to ten eggs, and will incubate them for between three and four weeks. Young Scaups are very self-sufficient and within a matter of weeks will be able to swim and fly as good as their parents.

Scaups are migratory and will travel south as the harshness of the Arctic winter sets in; this means that Scaups can be found in North America, Europe and Asia. There are no exact figures for the number of Scaups that migrate, although it is believed that there has been a steady decrease in numbers due to hunting and disease.

In both the migratory and breeding grounds, Scaups have a preference for saltwater, and will often be found around various coastlines, although some do go further inland to settle on and around lakes and marshes.

The habitats chosen by the Scaups are based to a great deal on their diet, with favoured food being shellfish and insects, although aquatic plant life is also eaten.

Scaup Flapping - Duncan - CC-BY-SA-2.0

Many birds are given names in honour of individuals or from characteristics, there is though some debate about why the Scaup is actually named as it is. The most popular reason put forward is that it is named after the noise it makes, scaup scaup; in much the same way that the Whooper Swan is named as it is.

There is though a counter claim for its naming, where it may have been named after the scalp, the bed of shellfish from which the bird feeds.

The Scaup is a bird that is a welcome visitor to many countries, and adds to the variety of birds that can be observed for much of the year. To survive though, it may well need some protection in future, especially if numbers decline at their current rate.

Copyright - First Published 3rd March 2010

The Brent Goose

The Brent Goose, Branta bernicia, is one of the smaller members of the goose family, and is often mistaken for a duck. In most cases an adult Brent Goose will only be 60cm in length. Despite now being commonly referred to as the Brent Goose, it should in reality be referred to as the Brant Goose, as the Latin names suggests.

There are normally said to be three different subspecies of the Brent or Brant Goose; the Dark-bellied Brant Goose, Pale-bellied Brant Goose, and Black Brant.

Brent Goose - Andreas Trepte - CC-BY-SA-2.5

The Dark-bellied variety is predominantly grey-brown in colour, with black head, and white patches on its neck. The Pale-bellied bird though has a light greyness to it, with a definite lightning of the goose’s flanks. As the name might suggest, the Black Brant is black, or at least blackish-brown although there is a striking contrast with the white flanks and neck.

The Brent Goose, including all three subspecies, though is renowned for having the shortest tail of any goose. All of the geese also have short, stubby bills as well.

There is some debate the origin of Branta as a name, although it is commonly thought to have come from the old Norse word, brandt, which relates to burnt, and the blackness of the Brent Goose.
The Brent Goose is a bird that breeds in the far north, around the various Arctic coastlines. The Dark-bellied Brant goose breeds around the Siberian coastline, the Pale-bellied Brant goose around Greenland and Canada, with the Black Brant found all around the Arctic. Each though has a favoured wintering area, the Dark-bellied goose flies south to Europe, the Black Brant prefers North America and the Pale-bellied flies to both Europe and America.

As the Brent Goose flies south, it is notable that it doesn’t fly in close knit formations like other geese but is flies as a loose flock. The flight south leaves behind the shallow pools of the tundra, and is replaced with coastline and estuaries for the winter. In the United Kingdom much of the east coast sees the presence of the Brent Goose from October to March, with concentrations at places like Lindisfarne and the Wash.

Brent Goose - Tim Bowman - USFWS

The wintering areas have been traditionally areas with a large amount of eelgrass, the Brent geese’s preferred food. It does though also appear that the birds have adapted to the decline amounts of eelgrass and have started to feed on residual crops in farmer’s fields.

Amongst the world’s geese population, the Brent Goose is comparatively rare, at an estimated 215000 birds. This is a huge recovered from the estimated 16500 of the late 1950s, but with continuing threats to estuaries and their favoured food of eelgrass, a future threat remains.

A regular visitor to many northern coastlines during the winter months, the Brent Goose adds a variety to many populations of bird life, and will often be seen mixing with other geese and birds. It is though a bird that is often overlooked when near to bigger forms of geese, but should be treasured just the same.

Copyright - First Published 3rd March 2010

The Trumpeter Swan

Generally thought of as the largest of all of the swans, the Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator, is also the largest of North American native birds.

The Trumpeter Swan is named for its loud and resonating honk, although it is also identifiable due to its size. Male Trumpeter Swans normally grow to 160cm in length, although a size of 180cm are not unknown. Adult males can also weigh over 12kg. It is though their extremely large wingspan that is most apparent, with 2m being normal, and 3m not unknown.

Trumpeter Swan - Dick Daniels - CC-BY-SA-3.0

In terms of size, the Trumpeter Swan is mostly closely associated with the Mute Swan, although in terms of actual appearance it is more closely related to the Whooper Swan or Tundra Swan. The long neck is unlike the curve of the Mute Swan, but as with many swans it is the beak that has the most distinguishing features. The black bill of the Trumpeter Swan has salmon pink markings rather than the yellow of the Whooper Swan or the reddish orange of the Mute.

Breeding pairs of Trumpeter Swans will often return to the same breeding ground, and the same specific area year on year. As with most swans, pairs often mate for life. Each breeding season, the female Trumpeter Swan will lay 7 eggs, and will incubate them for five weeks.

Today there is an estimated 34000 Trumpeter Swans living in the wild, and although they are still on the endangered list in some regions, they have seen a resurgence in numbers in others. Today the Trumpeter Swan is more at risk from competition from the Mute Swan, rather than hunters or pollution.

Trumpeter Swans in Grand Teton - PD-US-NPS

Trumpeter Swans and Mute Swans are both to be found in similar environments, particularly around shallow lakes and large rivers. The abundance of vegetation and the ease of foraging for food in and on the edges of such water supplies provides the swans with sufficient food to thrive, although Trumpeter Swans may also feed of crops. In most areas of North America there are constant populations of Trumpeter Swans, and it is only on the northernmost regions that sees a migration south as the weather cools.

The Trumpeter Swan is one of the most recognisable of all North American birds and has thrived in recent years. Hopefully it will be around for many years to come, so that future generations can enjoy the beauty and the grace of a majestic bird.

Copyright - First Published 2nd March 2010

The Mute Swan

The swan is considered one of the most beautiful of all birds, and most people when they imagine the swan think of a pristine white bird with a large wingspan, this is in essence just what the Mute Swan is, the archetypal swan. Around the world there are thought to be over five hundred thousand Mute Swans, with the Mute Swan being one of three breeds of swans that are commonly found in the United Kingdom, the others being the Bewick’s Swan and Whooper Swan. The Mute Swan though is a full time resident unlike the other two breeds.

Mute Swan - Fi15 - CC-BY-2.0

The large white swan is one of the largest in its species, and is also one of the heaviest birds that can still fly. Male mute swans can weigh up to 22 kilograms, although 12kg is a more normal weight. Male mute swans can grow up to 170cm in length, 120cm high; with an impressive wingspan of up to 240cm. Female mute swans are noticeably smaller than their male counterparts.

When in the air, the Mute Swan is identifiably by the flying action, which makes use of long, slow wing beats to propel itself.

Mute Swan in Flight - Lasse Olsson - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The story of the Ugly Duckling is based upon the early years of a Mute Swan, and although the Mute Swan cygnets may be dull to look at, they soon develop into the impressive and graceful Mute Swan of maturity. The Mute Swan is of course white, but has distinctive difference to other swans found in the United Kingdom. The Mute Swan has a curved neck rather than an angular one. The bill of the Mute Swan though is the main distinguishing feature. The Mute Swan has a reddish-orange colouring, rather than the normal yellow; additionally it also has a knob above the bill.

The other main characteristic of the Mute Swan is the noise that it makes, and rather than the loud honking associated with the majority of its brethren, a snort is normally made, hence the Mute.
The Mute Swan is also considered to be more aggressive than other swans, although this image is of course helped by its size. Male Mute Swans also often fight, which provides the display of two swans neck grappling.

In its natural environment the Mute Swan prefers a wetland environment, and is often found around marshes, estuaries and rivers. These areas provide the plants, snails and insects that make up the majority of their diet. In the United Kingdom this means that there is a suitable feeding area for the swans close by, and as such Mute Swans can be found pretty much anywhere. After the breeding season is over, Mute Swans often congregate together in large numbers, with places like Abbotsbury Swannery being popular with swans and tourists alike.

Two Mute Swans - Sangfroid - Released into PD

Abbotsbury Swannery has a good breeding record for the Mute Swan, and unlike the Whooper Swan and Bewick’s Swan, the Mute Swan breeds in large numbers in the country, and as such can be seen all year round. Every year fifteen thousand pairs of swans breed in the United Kingdom, and this number is further boosted by migrating birds arriving from colder regions of Europe. Like other swans, the Mute Swan is incredibly loyal to its partner, although as a general rule each swan will have four partners in its lifetime.

The Mute Swan is one of the staple parts of British birdlife, and folklore, although it is wrong to think of all unmarked swans being the property of the crown, as this only applies to sections of the River Thames.

Copyright - First Published 2nd March 2010

The Coscorba Swan

The Coscoroba Swan, Coscoroba coscoroba, is one of the species of swans native to South America, alongside the Black-necked Swan. Known as the smallest of the swans, there is some debate about whether the Coscoroba Swan should be classed alongside other swans, or as a separate species.

The Coscoroba Swan is primarily known for its diminutive size, especially compared to other swans. A male Coscoroba on average measures 1m long, with a wingspan of just over 1.5m, in terms of waterfowl this still makes it a large bird, but could be the half the size of a large Trumpeter Swan.

Coscoroba Swan - Dick Daniels - CC-BY-SA-3.0

Weight wise as well the Coscoroba Swan is small in comparison, and an average male will weigh only a little bit over 4kg. As a general rule, female Coscoroba measure in at about 80% of their male counterparts.

It is often argued that the Coscoroba Swan looks more like a goose than it does a swan, although of course like other swans it is predominantly white. The white plumage though is contrasted by black flight feathers on the tips of the wings, although these black tips are only visible when the bird is in flight or putting on a show.

There is also a splattering of red on the swan, with the beak, legs and feet coloured. It is though the face of the Coscoroba Swan that sets it apart from other swans. The other species of swans have a face that is bereft of feathers, whilst the region between bill and eye on the Coscoroba is covered in white feathers,

In the wild there is thought to be an estimated 25000 Coscoroba Swans, although as with other swans estimates do go to the high and low of extremes. Traditionally found in its breeding grounds across Patagonia, the southern extremes of Chile and Argentina, and the Falkland Islands, the Coscoroba Swans shares many of the same habitats as the Black-necked Swan. The Coscoroba Swan will migrate further north during the winter, making a home in Paraguay and the southern states of Brazil.
Coscoroba Swans were named by the indigenous population of the southern reaches of South America after the sound of their call, cos-co-ro-oa.

In both the breeding and wintering grounds the Coscoroba Swan looks for similar habitat, and is especially partial to wetland areas. In particular the swans can normally be found near to fresh water in the form of lakes, marshes and slow moving rivers. The swans also like a well vegetated area for both food and protection.

Coscoroba Coscoroba - Patche99z - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The diet of the Coscoroba Swan is primarily based upon the plant life to be found near or in the water, but will often supplement this source of food with fish and any shellfish found in its locality.
Breeding for the Coscoroba starts with a brief courtship and a short dance, before a pair generally mates for life. In most cases a female swan will lay one clutch of eggs, with normally 6 eggs in the clutch. The incubation of the eggs is solely down to the female swan for the incubation period of between four and five weeks, although the male will act as protector for that period of time. The role of protector continues after hatching as well, and in the early days the father will never be far away from his offspring.

The locality of the nest is important in the early days after hatching, and long vegetation will offer some degree of protection for the cygnets. New born Coscoroba Swans will quickly be able to feed themselves and swim, but will take about four months before they are able to fly and flee from ay predators.

After the breeding season has come to a close it is not unusual to see large numbers of the Coscoroba Swan congregate together. Family groups, like other swans, often stay close to each other, but additionally the Coscoroba will happily share its surroundings with other birds.

The Coscoroba may not be the biggest of swans but in its surroundings and amongst other waterfowl still makes an impression, and although not endangered, care of its habitat will be the only way that this beautiful bird will survive for future generations to admire.

Copyright - First Published 2nd March 2010

The Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus, the Whooper Swan, is one of the most recognisable of all of the swans. Primarily to be found in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, the Whooper Swan is the very image of how most people think a swan should look.

To many people all swans look alike, and yet there are some very distinctive characteristics of the Whooper Swan. The Whooper Swan is one of the largest of the swans, although smaller than the Trumpeter Swan. A male cob Whooper Swan can measure up to 160cm in length, with a wing span of up to 275cm, although female pen Whooper Swans are noticeably smaller than their male counterparts. The size of the swan of course has a direct impact upon the weight of the bird, with the largest swans weighing up to 20kg.

Male and Female Whooper Swans - Andreas Trepte - CC-BY-SA-2.5

The Whooper Swan is predominantly white, although they do have black legs, with black beaks. The black beaks can have a substantial amount of yellow on them, normally in a triangular shape. The Whooper Swan is also noted for its long thin neck and angular head.

Arguably the most distinctive of the Whooper Swan characteristics is not physical but is rather the call that they make, identified with the trumpet, the sound made is reminiscent of “whoop”, hence their name.

Another characteristic of the Whooper Swan is their courtship ritual. The pair of Whooper Swans will face each other, with their wings lifted and half open. The wings will then start to quiver as the necks of the cob and pen are bent and extended several times. Whilst the display is being put on, the birds will also make their distinctive trumpeting noise.

A successful courtship will see a pair of Whooper Swans mate for life, and also hopefully a successfully breeding period. Both the cob and the pen will help to build a nest, with the pen laying up to 12 eggs, although half that figure is more normal. As the female Whooper Swan then incubates the eggs, the male will become ultra protective over the nest and his mate, although the incubation period lasts for about five weeks.

Whooper Swans at Big Waters - Sciadopitys - CC-BY-SA-2.0

Visiting Whooper Swans to the United Kingdom are normally those that have bred in Iceland, and only a handful of Whooper Swans (three to seven pairs) actually breed in Scotland and northern England.

In the United Kingdom there are an estimated 7000 Whooper Swans to be found from October to March, although this is only a small percentage of the 180000 global population. The majority of Whooper Swans prefer other sites in Northern Europe and Asia. Whooper swans though do seek out particular types of environments. In particular they like wetland habitats, and spend the majority of their lives in water, primarily because their legs have trouble supporting their body weight. They also like farmland areas, as grain stubble and potatoes helps provide them with additional food on top of their normal aquatic plant diet.

The size and sound of the Whooper Swan makes it one of the more recognisable types of swans in the Northern Hemisphere.

Copyright - First Published 1st March 2010

Bewick's Swan

The Bewick’s Swan, Cygnus Bewickii, is one of the more established winter visitors to the United Kingdom, with up to 9000 of the bird migrating there each year. Indeed the Bewick’s Swan is one of only three swans to be commonly found in the United Kingdom, the others being the Mute Swan and the Whooper Swan.

Cygnus Bewickiiis a subspecies Cygnus columbianus, the Tundra Swan, but has a number of features that distinguishes it from other swans. Notably smaller than both the Whooper Swan and Mute Swan, the average size of a male is 135cm in length, with a wingspan of 180cm. This normally means that the swans peak at a weight of 10kg, although female Bewick’s Swans are smaller.

Bewick's Swan - Dick Daniels - CC-BY-SA-3.0

In appearance the Bewick’s Swan is very reminiscent of the Whooper Swan, although it has a shorter neck relative to its size, as well as a more rounded head. The beak though is arguably its most interesting feature, and the beak of the Bewick’s Swan is predominantly black with small amounts of yellow. The yellow markings though have been recognised to be unique to each bird.

The Bewick’s Swans are long time visitors to the United Kingdom and can be found from October through to March. The rest of the year sees them located in their breeding grounds of Siberia and the Arctic coastline. Exact numbers are not known, although there is thought to be a worldwide population of near to 40000, half of these winter in Europe with the other half migrating to East Asia.
Bewick’s Swans mate for life, and during the breeding season, the pen will normally lay five eggs, the incubation period being just over four weeks.

The ideal habitat for the Bewick’s Swan is in wetland areas, especially around lakes and slow moving rivers. To this end the UK populations of the swan are found in large numbers in Cambridgeshire, at the Ouse and Nene Washes, and around the River Severn, especially Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. The wetland areas provides the swans with their normal diet of shoots, roots and leaves, although the normal diet is also often supplemented with grain stubble from farmland. The social nature of the Bewick’s Swan means that it is normally to see family groups grow and stay together over a number of years.

Bewick's Swan - Jonathan Billinger - CC-BY-SA-2.0

As to why it is called Bewick’s Swan, it is recognition of the work undertaken by the eighteenth and nineteenth century British Engraver, Thomas Bewick, who did a great deal of work in creating images of British wildlife.

The Bewick’s Swan is a relatively common sight in the United Kingdom, and although perhaps not as instantaneously recognisable as the Whooper Swan, it is a welcome visitor to the island.

Copyright - First Published 1st March 2010