Pink pigeon

The pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri) is a species of pigeon in the family Columbidae endemic to Mauritius. The pink pigeons became nearly extinct in the 1990s and is still rare.

This large pigeon has a light pink body and usually brown wings. Its bright-colored bill is moderately long and has a hooked tip.


The species is currently classified as endangered.  Due to habitat destruction and introduced predators, the population had diminished to only 10 in 1991, but captive breeding and reintroduction has resulted in a population of about 450 in the wild in 2011.

Natal Midland Dwarf Chameleon

Unlike other chameleons, dwarf chameleons give birth to live young. The Natal Midland Dwarf chameleons(bradypoidon thamnobades) is a typical species, with a high casque covering its neck. Its color varies, but it is usually more colorful in the long-tailed males than in juveniles, which are often brown or gray.

Guianian lava lizard

The Guianan lava lizard (Tropidurus hispidus) is dark brown above and white below. Its flat shape allows it to hide in narrow cracks for protection against predators. The dark color of the lizard helps it to warm up quickly while basking in the sun, usually on vertical surfaces.

White-lipped pit viper

The white-lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Southeast Asia. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

This slender green snake, easily confused with other green vipers, has a wide, rounded head with prominent heat pits. It lives in a favored hunting place waiting for prey to come within range, then drawing back its head when its ready to strike.

Bearded barbet

The bearded barbet (Lybius dubius) is an African barbet. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.

The bearded barbet has black upperparts and red underparts, with a black breastband and whithe flanks. It feeds on fruit, mainly wild figs.

Burchell's courser

The Burchell's courser (Cursorius rufus) is a wader in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae.


This species of wader is unique because it is the only one that can live in dry habitats. The Burchell's courser is rust brown, providing excellent camouflage in the country land, where it lives. When threatened, it stands upright to avoid detection and then runs away quickly.

Wrybill

The wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) is a species of plover endemic to New Zealand. It is sprecial because, unlike other birds, its beak is bent sideways.


The beak, as mentioned earlier, is useful when feeding on beaches, allowing it to flick stones aside while searching for prey. The plumage is soft gray above and white below, which is more strongly defined in males rather than females.

Morepork "More Pork!'

The morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae), also called the Tasmanian spotted owl, is a small brown owl found throughout New Zealand and Tasmania.


Many races of this species live throughout Australia, but all make a high-pitched boobook sound. But regardless of where it lives, the morepork rests in trees in day and feeds at night on  scarab and huhu beetles, moths and caterpillars, spiders, and grasshoppers.
The bird has almost 20 alternative names, including mopoke, boobook and ruru . Many of these names are onomatopoeic, as they emulate the bird's distinctive two-pitched call.

Galah

The galah /ɡəˈlɑː/ (Eolophus roseicapilla), also known as the rose-breasted cockatoo, galah cockatoo, roseate cockatoo or pink and grey, is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos, and it can be found in open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia.


Flocks of these noisy, abundant birds are found throughout Australia. Farming has increased its food supply, regarding it as a pest. The galah has a relatively small crest, and its gray back and pink underparts create an alternating effect as it veers through the air.

Paradoxical frog

A comparison between the tadpole and the adult.

The paradoxical frog, also known as the shrinking frog, is a species of hylid frog from South America.


In most frogs, the adult frog is bigger than the tadpole, but here the situation is reversed. The tadpole can live an unusually long life, and can grow up to 4 times bigger than the adult.

Rainbow Lorikeet

The rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) is a species of parrot found in Australia. 


This brightly colored lorikeet hat a stocky body and a long tail. Juveniles have dark brown bills, but adults have bright red or orange. Like most other lorikeets, this lorikeet has a  brush-tipped tongue adapted for gathering pollen from flowers.

Red-fan parrot

The red-fan parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus), also known as the hawk-headed parrot, is an unusual New World parrot hailing from the Amazon Rainforest.

When excited or alarmed, it raises its blue-edged red neck feathers to form a fan. Its long, rounded tail is also a distinguishable feature. Usually seen alone or in small groups of up to 20 birds, it is often inconspicuous but is often heard before it comes in view.

Mauritius kestrel

The Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus) is a bird of prey from the family Falconidae endemic to the forests of Mauritius, where it is restricted to the southwestern plateau's forests, cliffs, and ravines.It is the most distinct of the Indian Ocean kestrels. 


It can reach a size between 26 and 30.5 cm. The weight is up to 250 grams. The males are slightly smaller than the females. Wingspan is approximately 45 cm and wings are rounded, unlike those of other falcons. The lifespan is approximately 15 years . The Mauritius kestrel hunts by means of short, swift flights through forests. Like all birds of prey, the Mauritius kestrel is carnivorous 

This bird nearly became extinct due to destruction of its natural habitat and cyclones. The recorded population dropped to an all-time low of only 4 individuals in 1974, but successful breeding programs have brought the population to 1000.

Bearded Vulture

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), also known as the lammergeier^[a] or ossifrage, is a bird of prey and the only member of the genus Gypaetus.

The Bearded Vulture is one of the world's largest Old World vultures, with huge wings and a lozenge-shaped tail — unusual among birds of prey. It feeds on carrion, but specializes in at feeding on bones, carrying large ones into the air and dropping them on rocks below. Once the bones have shattered they feed on the marrow inside.

Egyptian Vulture

The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), also called the white scavenger vulture or pharaoh's chicken, is the only member of the genus Neophron. It is widely distributed; the Egyptian vulture is found from southwestern Europe and northern Africa to India. They are the smallest Old World vulture.

Egyptian Vultures scavenge many types of food, but are known for using stones to break open eggs of other birds. Due to their small size, they have difficulty competing with other vultures at carcasses and are often the last to feed. 


In Culture

A southern Indian temple at Thirukalukundram near Chengalpattu was famed for a pair of birds that reputedly visited the temple for "centuries" (even though they do not visit it anymore). These birds were ceremonially fed by the temple priests and arrived before noon to feed on offerings made from rice, wheat, ghee, and sugar. Although normally punctual, the failure of the birds to turn up was attributed to the presence of "sinners" among the onlookers. Legend has it the vultures (or "eagles") represented eight sages who were punished by Shiva, with two of them leaving in each of a series of epochs.

Flightless cormorant

The flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi), also known as the Galapagos cormorant, is a cormorant native to the Galapagos Islands, and an example of the highly unusual fauna there. It is unique in that it is the only cormorant that is unable to to fly. This was probably caused by the lack of ground predators on the Galapagos, making flight useless.

The Flightless cormorant is the largest living species of cormorant, 89–100 cm (35–39.5 in) in length and weighing 2.5 –4kg.