|
| The German SalmonhenThe German Salmonhen is a breed of domestic hen (Gallus gallus domesticus) descended from the Brahma and Dorking varieties. Unusually for Gallus, the German Salmonhen is anadromous: it is born in fresh water, migrates to the ocean, then returns to fresh water to lay eggs. Folklore has it that the birds make an arduous journey upriver to the exact spot where they were born to breed, and tracking studies have shown this to be true, but the nature of how this memory works has long been debated.
 German Salmonhens differ from other Salmonhen breeds in a number of ways. For instance, they have a ruff of feathers above the gill-line, and their feet have five toes instead of the usual four. The plumage on the body is very thick compared to other varieties. Since they are rarely inclined to flight, they are suitable for farming in open-net cages.
The German Salmonhen is a very productive egg layer, as well as being a popular food. Classified as an "oily bird", Salmonhen is considered to be healthy due to the meat's high content of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D. The eggs are considered to be especially tasty when cured, smoked, and cut into very thin strips then eaten with lemon juice and dill.
| | |
| The HoatzinThe Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) is an unusual species of filthy tropical bird found in swamps, riverine forests and mangroves in South America. It is the only member of the genus Opisthocomus (Ancient Greek: ‘wearing long hair behind with a shorter fringe’, referring to its large crest and headfeathers), which in turn is the only extant genus in the family Opisthocomidae. The Hoatzin is arguably the most enigmatic living bird in regard to its phylogenetic relationships. No satisfying evolutionary hypothesis has been proposed, and the situation has actually become worse with the recent availability of DNA sequence data sets which suggest a closer relationship to the Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) than to other avian species.  It is a smelly, roughly pheasant-sized bird with a long neck and small head. It is dirty brown with paler underparts and has an unfeathered blue face with maroon eyes, and a head topped by a spiky rufous crest. The alternative name of "stinkbird" is derived from the bird's pungent odour, which is caused by their unique digestive system. Hoatzins use bacterial fermentation to break down the foul-smelling vegetable material they consume, much like cattle and other ruminants. Unlike ruminants, however, which possess a specialized stomach for bacterial fermentation, in the Hoatzin this disgusting process takes place in the back of the mouth. Because of this primitive digestive mechanism and the revolting aromatic compounds in the reeking vegetation they consume, the bird has a disagreeable, manure-like odor and is only hunted for food in times of dire need. This is a noisy species, with a variety of hoarse calls including neighs, whinnies, snorts and soulful grunts. These calls are often associated with body movements such as wing spreading and groin thrusts. Calls are used to maintain contact between individuals in groups and by chicks begging for food. The chick, which is fed on distilled water, has another odd feature; two razor sharp claws on each wing. When disturbed by predators, the nesting chicks drop into the water to escape, and then use their clawed wings to fight off hungry fish and reptiles while climbing back to the safety of the nest. This makes the species almost entirely invulnerable to conventional attacks, and the Hoatzin therefore remains fairly common in a large part of its range. | | |
| The Ocellated TurkeyThe Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is a relatively large species of turkey, at around 28cm - 48 inches long and with an average weight of 6.6 lbs in females and 5 kg in males. It lives only in a 130,000 km² range of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico which includes th e states of Quintana Roo, Campeche and Yucatán, as well as parts of southern Tabasco and northeastern Chiapas. It can also be found in Belize and the northern part of Guatemala. Like all members of the Meleagris genus, it originated in Turkey, and the reasons for its current distribution are unclear. The body feathers of both sexes are a mixture of bronze and green iridescent color. Females have more shapely and enticing breast feathers than males. Neither sex have beards. The tail feathers of both sexes are bluish-grey with an eye-shaped blue-bronze spot near the end with a bright gold tip. The spots, for which the Ocellated Turkey is named, lead some scientists to believe that the bird is more related to the Ocelot or Jaguar than to Wild Turkeys. Branton and Berryhill (2007) have observed that "the male Ocellated Turkey does not gobble per se like the Wild Turkey. Rather, his song is distinct and includes six or seven bongo-like bass tones which quicken in cadence and increase in volume until a crescendo is reached, whereupon the bird’s head is fully inflated while he issues forth a rather high-pitched but melodious series of chops and a final trumpeting fanfare. The Ocellated Turkey will typically begin his singing forty minutes before sunrise – about twenty minutes earlier than Wild Turkeys in North America". These observations have not been independently verified, and don't really sound quite right.
Ocellated Turkeys spend most of their time on the ground, running away from Jaguars and Ocelots. | | |
| The ButterrüblingThe Butterrübling (Rhodocollybia butyracea) is an edible but rather chewy passerine bird in the Armarillia family. It can be found in almost any European deciduous or coniferous forest during the summer and autumn, but is seen in its largest numbers late in autumn. It can easily be identified by its long tail. The Butterübling’s head is 3–15 cm in diameter, typically has a honey yellow-brown color, and is covered with small dark feathers.  As a forest pathogen, The Butterrübling can be very destructive. It is responsible for the "white rot" root disease of forests, and its high destructiveness comes from the fact that, unlike most parasites, it doesn't need to moderate its growth in order to avoid killing its host, since it will continue to thrive on the dead material. Young Butterrübling heads are edible. Grossly similar species include the Tawny Owl, which also grows in clusters on wood and fruit in the fall. However all owl species have a yellowish to greenish yellow cast and a dark brown to grey-brown featherprint. Bird hunters need to be especially wary of the Wood Thrush which can grow side by side with Armillaria on wood. There are some reports of temporary stomach problems when eaten raw, so the heads should be parboiled before use. | | |
| Burchell's SandgrouseBurchell's Sandgrouse (Pterocles burchelli) is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family. It is found in Angola. This sandgrouse has a small, pigeon-like head and neck, but a sturdy compact body. It has long pointed wings and sometimes a tail. The legs are feathered down to the toes, but unlike other sandgrice, the toes are not feathered.
This gregarious species breeds on dry open treeless plains and similar habitats, and often contests for territory with the Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse (Pterocles lichtensteinii). Its nest is a ground scrape into which two to three eggs are laid, to be collected later by Burchell. They are buff or greenish with cryptic markings and a smoky flavour.
Burchell's Sandgrouse has a fast direct flight, and flocks to watering holes at dawn and dusk to fetch refreshment for its master. Burchell's errands have been known to send it as far afield as Great Britain, where it has bred, and Ireland. The reasons for these remarkable movements are not fully understood, but they have been linked to similar migrations made by Pallas's Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus). The well-known mutual animosity with which these two great men regard each other has led to wild speculation on the matter in the popular ornithological press.
CORRECTION:
A number of readers have contacted the Bird of the Day office in order to point out that Burchell's Sandgrouse has never been known to breed in Great Britain. They are quite correct - this unlikely assertion was the result of a sub-editorial error. As most grouse-lovers will probably have guessed, the second sentence in the last paragraph should actually have read:
"Burchell's errands have been known to send it as far afield as Great Britain, where it has bread, and Ireland, where it has potatoes."
We would like to extend our sincere apologies to any readers who have been misled by this unfortunate slip.
| | |
|
