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BIRDS |
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COCK OF THE ROCK:
(Rupícula Peruviana)
The cock of the rock is known for being Peru´s national bird, belongs to the cotingas family, its diet consists 70% in wild fruits, supplementing it with small invertebrates and amphibians. Their habitat is the cloud forest (where is endemic), exists only in South America in the eastern Cordillera of the Andes (being part of the Amazon basin) between 500 and 1600 meters From Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Males have a very brilliant red-orange color; females are a grayish brown that mimics very well in the middle of the forest where live. During most of the year these birds gather at places called: “leks” (Swedish word that means place to dance) for make a mating ritual dance, the males in these places used all their skills to be chosen by courting some of the females who come to select his favorite male, then build nests in rocky ravines near mountain streams. They normally lay two eggs; female usually cares more the offspring. Hardly two chicks reach maturity, in most cases only one reaches its maturity.
MACAWS:
(Ara Macaw)
In the case of Macaws or Aras, we will talk in general rather than in particular species. The Aras or Macaws live only or in the neo-tropics jungles, there are currently 16 species of which 7 living in the Madre de Dios basin, where it is not difficult to see, several colorful pairs of Ara Ararauna (blue and yellow ), Ara Macao, (red, yellow and blue, "scarlet"), Ara Militaris, (green), or the Ara Cloroptera (red and green macaw) across the sky, these are the largest (almost one meter), then we have the Ara Severa (chestnut fronted macaw), Ara Couloni (blue headed macaw) and the Ara nobilis (red belly).
These are the seven species of macaws known in the Manu and Madre de Dios areas. What characterizes them of their brother’s parrots and parakeets is not only their size but also their nesting shape and their face without feathers. Parrots and parakeets, unlike the parakeets all have their body full of feathers (except the legs).
Macaws are birds very sensitive to human impact and the currently deforestation of tropical forests threatens extinction of these beautiful and colorful birds. For their beauty and intelligence are commercialized as pets. This market produces a movement of several thousand dollars, and this unfortunately contributes to their rapid disappearance.
For a pair of macaws reproduce requires very special conditions, one of these is first find a palm tree or other kind of three, where previously a woodpecker has opened a hole so they could use it as an entry door to ensure the nest against predators such as cats, weasels, eagles, monkeys and others. The number of predators increases when we talk about their eggs, such as rodents, toucans, snakes and more.
When they are lucky enough to find favorable conditions, normally lay two eggs of which in most cases is only one that survives, and this will require three to four years before they reach sexual maturity.
Macaws like most feeding vegetarian animals need to supplement their diet with special minerals found in river banks, where mornings without heavy rains gather in large numbers before they dawn to clay lick "collpear", a term that refers to the activity of feeding on this particular clay, which helps to eliminate the tannins (toxic substances developed by some fruits when they are not yet ready or mature).
HARPy EAGLE:
(Harpia Harpyja)
The Harpy eagle belongs to the order of falcons, Family: Accipitridae, its scientific name is: Harpia harpyja. It is the largest predator in the sky, reaches measure up to 2.24 meters wide, the male usually measured 0.96meters and weighs 14 pounds, while the female is always larger and usually measured 1.08meters and weighs 18 lbs. Adults have a black crest, black bill, necked gray head, black chest and white abdomen, black back, white and black striped tail and yellow legs.
Lives in the tropical rain forests, up to 600 meters from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. It feeds on arboreal mammals, birds, and reptiles. Their favorite foods are sloth and some species of monkeys. It builds its nests in trees higher than 35m and used particularly bifurcations of the main branches. The Harpy eagles like the jaguar are at the highest level of the food chain and plays an important role in the balance of ecosystems. They are natural drivers of other animal’s populations.
CRESTED QUETZAL:
(Pharomachrus Antisianus)
In Manu’s cloud forests are three species of quetzals: the golden-headed, the crested and the pavonine. The three are endemic of the cloud forest on the eastern side of the Andean slopes, quetzals are probably the most beautiful bird in the world, and it is in danger of extinction. This bird is sacred revered for many centuries in Central and South America, by the Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs. In Guatemala is considered the national bird and its name gives rise to the country's currency.
The adult male is green-glowing metal; the bottom of the breast is brown, which gradually transforms into shiny carmine in the abdomen. The bill is yellow and has grey olive legs. The female is much more opaque. The head is opaque green. The chest is gray and the abdomen pale carmine, similar to the immature specimen. They are birds that can be very calm quiet for long time, standing in tree branches. They feed on a wide variety of fruits, including fruits of Lauraceous, moraceus, annonaceus, malvaceus, melastomataceus, rutaceus and others, in addition to capture small insects, frogs, lizards and small snails.
In its breeding period make altitudinal migration. Its nest is deep and naked, similar to those done for woodpeckers, with a unique entrance side on a decaying trunk. They lay two clear sky blue eggs; the incubation period lasts between 17 to 18 days. They have up to two breeding a year. The young are cared for both parents and leave the nest after 23 to 29 days. Their biggest predators are Toucanets, Squirrels, Snakes and some larger animals such as the tayra (Eira barbara), cats, monkeys and others.
One very exciting feature is its distinctive plumage that is photo chromatic, which means changes in the color according to the environment that surrounds between green and blue, for mimetic reason as a matter of defense against any predators.
TOUCANS:
(Ramphastidae)
The toucans, little toucans and aracaris belong to the Ramphastidae family. These birds are natural from the Americas and mostly live in tropical forests. The location extends from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.
All this family members have long thick bill. Despite his robust appearance, the bill is very light, does not generate any problem to their flight even if appears to be awkward when flying between the weed; they do it with great skill.
The bills as well as the feathers are of diverse and attractive colors. The legs are strong and spend most of their time standing in the trees. The food is mainly based on fruit, being supplemented with insects and small animals, including other birds and their eggs.
The nest is made inside tree holes. Do not add any materials to the nest, and the eggs are lay at the bottom of the hole. Very few are known about the breeding of these birds, those who have studied the breeding consists of two to four whites’ egg.
OWLS:
(Strigiformes)
They are called night raptors as they are nocturnal active and carnivorous. Their relation with diurnal raptors is as close as to any other birds group. In other words, they are not related to eagles and hawks, the unique relativity is been birds.
Owls are predatory birds, very well adapted to nightlife. Although there are some members of this group who usually hunt during daylight hours
Theirs vision and hearing are highly developed. The head, in proportion to the body is larger than other birds. The feathers of the wings cushioned the air so when they fly, make no noise. |
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