Southern Giant Petrel

Southern Giant Petrel - Photo by Paul Gale

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Procellariiformes
Family : Procellariidae
Genus : Macronectes
Species : M. giganteus

Wingspan : 78in (200cm)
IUCN Status : Least Concern

This particular species of bird goes by many names : the Southern Giant Petrel, Stinker, Stinkpot, Giant Fulmar, and "Bone-shaker" among them. Why Stinker and Stinkpot though? When these birds feel threatened they can accurately spit blobs of regurgitated food and oil at their attackers. Stinky indeed!

Southern Giant Petrels can be found in the Southern Hemisphere, breeding near Antarctica and its nearby islands. They are large seabirds, rivaling the albatrosses for size, though then have slimmer wings and much, much larger beaks. Petrels often skim over the water, and are able to take off and land in it. These abilities are the source of the name "Petrel," which comes from St. Peter, the Apostle who walked on water.

Southern Giant Petrel - Photo by Paul Gale

These birds are huge scavengers, feeding off whatever penguin, seal, and whale carcasses they can find. They do on occasion take surface dwelling squids and fishes, but carrion is their primary meal source.

Southern Giant Petrels mate in October and November, and each pair only lays one egg at a time, which takes over two months to incubate. Both parents care for the egg and the chick until it fledges around March and goes off on its own. Young Petrels will fly about on a long migration for several years, but after about six or seven they return to the place that they were born in order to breed.

Southern Giant Petrel

Southern Giant Petrel - Photo by Paul Gale

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Aves

Order : Procellariiformes

Family : Procellariidae

Genus : Macronectes

Species : M. giganteus



Wingspan : 78in (200cm)

IUCN Status : Least Concern



This particular species of bird goes by many names : the Southern Giant Petrel, Stinker, Stinkpot, Giant Fulmar, and "Bone-shaker" among them. Why Stinker and Stinkpot though? When these birds feel threatened they can accurately spit blobs of regurgitated food and oil at their attackers. Stinky indeed!



Southern Giant Petrels can be found in the Southern Hemisphere, breeding near Antarctica and its nearby islands. They are large seabirds, rivaling the albatrosses for size, though then have slimmer wings and much, much larger beaks. Petrels often skim over the water, and are able to take off and land in it. These abilities are the source of the name "Petrel," which comes from St. Peter, the Apostle who walked on water.

Southern Giant Petrel - Photo by Paul Gale

These birds are huge scavengers, feeding off whatever penguin, seal, and whale carcasses they can find. They do on occasion take surface dwelling squids and fishes, but carrion is their primary meal source.



Southern Giant Petrels mate in October and November, and each pair only lays one egg at a time, which takes over two months to incubate. Both parents care for the egg and the chick until it fledges around March and goes off on its own. Young Petrels will fly about on a long migration for several years, but after about six or seven they return to the place that they were born in order to breed.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Laridae
Genus : Larus
Species : L. smithsonianus

Length : 24in (60cm)
Wingspan : 53in (135cm)

IUCN Status : Least Concern

It's a pretty disgusting day today, but the Seagulls are still out and about, which made me want to write about them. And then I remembered that I had run into this problem when writing about the Little Gulls- there are like a zillion species of Seagull. So I tried to figure out which one was the species that I see all the time, and I think it might be today's animal, the Herring Gull.

The Herring Gull is, to quote Cornell's All About Birds, "the quintessential basic "seagull," with no distinctive characters that immediately set it apart from other gull species." It can be found all across North America, including several Caribbean Islands. Their habitat types vary, but are always close to water. They are found in both natural and urban environments, and have quite the affinity for garbage dumps.

Herring Gulls are large-ish Gulls, and have coloration and patterning that makes it easy to confuse them with many other Gull species. One interesting mark they have is a small red dot on their lower beak.

They are a carnivorous species, and are very opportunistic feeders. They eat a wide variety of vertebrates and invertebrates, and also feed off of carrion and garbage. Herring Gulls have the ability to drink salt water, possessing glands near their eyes that allow them to excrete the salt.

Herring Gulls live in flocks that are organized around a loose hierarchical system based on size. Many populations migrate, though not all, and they communicate through a wide variety of calls.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Aves

Order : Charadriiformes

Family : Laridae

Genus : Larus

Species : L. smithsonianus



Length : 24in (60cm)

Wingspan : 53in (135cm)



IUCN Status : Least Concern



It's a pretty disgusting day today, but the Seagulls are still out and about, which made me want to write about them. And then I remembered that I had run into this problem when writing about the Little Gulls- there are like a zillion species of Seagull. So I tried to figure out which one was the species that I see all the time, and I think it might be today's animal, the Herring Gull.



The Herring Gull is, to quote Cornell's All About Birds, "the quintessential basic "seagull," with no distinctive characters that immediately set it apart from other gull species." It can be found all across North America, including several Caribbean Islands. Their habitat types vary, but are always close to water. They are found in both natural and urban environments, and have quite the affinity for garbage dumps.



Herring Gulls are large-ish Gulls, and have coloration and patterning that makes it easy to confuse them with many other Gull species. One interesting mark they have is a small red dot on their lower beak.



They are a carnivorous species, and are very opportunistic feeders. They eat a wide variety of vertebrates and invertebrates, and also feed off of carrion and garbage. Herring Gulls have the ability to drink salt water, possessing glands near their eyes that allow them to excrete the salt.



Herring Gulls live in flocks that are organized around a loose hierarchical system based on size. Many populations migrate, though not all, and they communicate through a wide variety of calls.

Wilson's Snipe

Wilson's Snipe

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Scolopacidae
Genus : Gallinago
Species : G. delicata

Length : 25in (63cm)
Wingspan : 43in (109cm)

IUCn Status : Least Concern

Wilson's Snipe is a birds that can be found in a variety of marshy and watery areas. They are a migratory species, spending their summers breeding in the northern parts of North America, and then moving south, sometimes as far as South America, during the winter. They were once thought to be a subspecies of the Eurasian Common Snipe, but are now designated separately.

Male Wilson's Snipes create a strange, non-vocal sound to attract mates and defend territory. They beat their wings to flow air over their back tail feathers, creating a low whistling sound called "Winnowing." After finding a partner and mating, Wilson's Snipes have an interesting parenting strategy. They almost always lay four eggs, and the male takes the first two to care for, and leaves the female with the nest and the last two. They have no further contact.

Did you know that Snipes are the source of the word "Sniper?" These birds are notoriously difficult to hunt, so in order to shoot one you had to be an excellent sharpshooter.

Wilson's Snipe

Wilson's Snipe

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Aves

Order : Charadriiformes

Family : Scolopacidae

Genus : Gallinago

Species : G. delicata



Length : 25in (63cm)

Wingspan : 43in (109cm)



IUCn Status : Least Concern



Wilson's Snipe is a birds that can be found in a variety of marshy and watery areas. They are a migratory species, spending their summers breeding in the northern parts of North America, and then moving south, sometimes as far as South America, during the winter. They were once thought to be a subspecies of the Eurasian Common Snipe, but are now designated separately.



Male Wilson's Snipes create a strange, non-vocal sound to attract mates and defend territory. They beat their wings to flow air over their back tail feathers, creating a low whistling sound called "Winnowing." After finding a partner and mating, Wilson's Snipes have an interesting parenting strategy. They almost always lay four eggs, and the male takes the first two to care for, and leaves the female with the nest and the last two. They have no further contact.



Did you know that Snipes are the source of the word "Sniper?" These birds are notoriously difficult to hunt, so in order to shoot one you had to be an excellent sharpshooter.

Shoebill

Shoebill

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Balaenicipitidae
Genus : Balaeniceps
Species : rex

Height : 45-60in (115-150cm)
Wingspan :125cm (260cm)

IUCN Status : Vulnerable

Today's bird isn't the most attractive fellow, but you certainly won't forget him! Shoebills are large wetlands-living birds that are related to Storks and can be found in East Africa.

Shoebills are also sometimes known as Whaleheads, and are named for their larged, patchy colored bill that resembles a shoe. Males are slightly taller and larger billed than the females, but both sexes are greyish-blue in color.

Shoebills are carnivores, and feed off of the reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals that live in their marshy habitats. They hunt by ambushing their prey, waiting patiently and then striking with rapid speed using their large, hooked beaks.

Pairs of Shoebills are monogamous, and breed at the start of the dry season. Nests that measure up to a meter in diameter are woven on the ground, and 1-3 eggs are laid. Chicks are cared for by both parents, but typically only one will survive from each brood. Shoebills are relatively long-lived, with some wild individuals reaching 36 years of age.

Scarlet Ibis

Scarlet Ibis

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Ciconiiformes
Family : Threskiornithidae
Genus : Eudocimus
Species : ruber

Body Length : 24in (61cm)

IUCN Status : Least Concern

My family is pretty into the Oscars and all of the film awards shows that lead up to them. Tonight is the big event, and I wanted to write about a red animal to celebrate the red carpet. And what animal is more red than the striking Scarlet Ibis?

Scarlet Ibises are found in South America, and are the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago (which is quite impressive, considering the number of species there.)

Male Scarlet Ibis

Like Flamingos, Scarlet Ibises get their striking coloration from the food that they eat. They gain pigmentation from various small crustaceans and grow more and more red with age. Their long beaks and long legs allow them to wade through water and locate their prey.

Female Scarlet Ibises lay 2-3 eggs, which hatch after about 3 weeks. Both parents incubate the eggs and acre for the chicks. The young are a dull brown color. It will take about two years to reach a full, bright red.

Greater Flamingo

(Image Source)

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Phoenicopteriformes
Family : Phoenicopteridae
Genus : Phoenicopterus
Species : roseus

Height : 43-60in (110-150cm)
Weight : 4.5-9lbs (2-4kg)

IUCN Status : Least Concern

The Greater Flamingo is both the largest, and the most widespread of all the Flamingo species. They are found in wetland parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, living in large colonies that can number as many as 200,000 birds. These colonies can be so large that breeding pairs develop special calls just so they can locate each other.

(Image Source)

Because they are taller than other flamingo species, Greater Flamingos are able to move into deeper water in search of food. They wade about, stirring up the water with their feet before collecting it into their beaks and siphoning it through filters in their mouth. Greater Flamingos feed on small invertebrates, as well as vegetation.

Greater Flamingo nests are pretty weird looking. They pile up mud and make in indentation in the top for the single egg laid. These eggs hatch after about a month, and within a week the chicks join a Creche with other young Flamingos. Chicks return to the nest to be fed via regurgitation, and parents and chicks are able to find each other based on their calls. Greater Flamingos mate for life.

Greater Flamingos are quite long lived. They often don't breed till they are round 10 years old, and can live as long as 40 years in the wild. One Flamingo from the Adelaide Zoo has lived at least 75 years.

Northern Bald Ibis

Captive NHI at the Milwaukee County Zoo

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Ciconiiformes
Family : Threskiornithidae
Genus : Geronticus  
Species : eremita

Length : 27-32in (69-81cm)
Weight : 1-1.3kg

IUCN Status : Critically Endangered

The Northern Bald Ibis, also known as the Waldrapp Ibis, is a bird that once had an extensive distribution across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. These days their numbers are restricted to areas within Syria, Turkey, and Morocco, though tagging has shown that a handful birds migrate into other countries. Overall there are probably less than 700 of these birds in the wild, with around 1,200 involved in captive programs.

The population decline of these birds can be attributed to several causes. They have been hunted, their breeding sites have been disturbed, their overall habitat has been lost in many areas, and they have been adversely affected by pesticides. In Turkey in the 1950s, hundreds of these already rare birds were killed by DDT spraying, and the few survivors had a noticeably lower success breeding.

Currently there are efforts in place to reintroduce these birds into the wild. The International Advisory Group of the Northern Bald Ibis oversees the conditions of release, ensures genetic diversity in the species, and maintains the captive studbook. There have already been projects to reintroduce these birds into areas where they are now extinct, most notably in parts of Europe. One of the difficulties with these northern sites is that the birds need to learn to fly south in Winter. Ultralight planes (like those used for Whooping Cranes) have been tested to train the birds, and have shown that it is possible for the Ibises to learn in this manner.

Northern Bald Ibises are social birds that live in semi-arid steppe areas. They are carnivorous and feed on invertebrates, fish, and small reptiles. These birds nest in colonies, and both parents care for the young. Northern Bald Ibises are a relatively long lived species, and have reached 25-30 years in captivity.

Little Gull

Summer Plumage

I woke up this morning wanting to write about Seagulls. And then I quickly realized that there are many, many species and genera of gulls, and that I'd need to narrow it down to just one. So let's take a look at the smallest of all gulls, the aptly named Little Gull.

Little Gulls (Hydrocoloeus or Larus minutus) can be found in Europe and parts of Asia, and has even been seen over in Canada, the United States, and down into North Africa. They are migratory, and during the breeding season can be found in mixed species flocks that can number over 2,000 birds. Even outside of the breeding season they remain gregarious, though the groups are far smaller and number up to two dozen birds.

Winter Plumage

Little Gulls measure about 10in (27cm) long, and sport a wingspan of up to 24in (61cm). Their plumage changes depending on the season; they sport a black hood and more vibrant tones on the bill and legs during summer, and in the winter the head becomes mostly white (save for a small black cap) and the bill and legs become more dull.

Insects make up the bulk of the Little Gulls' diet, and they are able to catch them by skimming over the water. They also consume small fish and marine invertebrates.

Snowy Egret

Breeding Plumage and Chicks

The Snowy Egret is actually a small, white heron that can be found across the United States, and all the way down to South America. Population in warmer climates remain as permanent residents year round, while others in colder regions are migratory.

Male and female Snowy Egrets look alike, with slender, white-feathered bodies, black beaks, black legs, and yellow feet. During the breeding season they have long plumes on their heads, backs, and necks. They stand about 2ft (61cm) tall and possess wingspans of around 3ft (92cm).

Snowy Egrets feed on crustaceans and fish. They hunt by stirring up the water with one foot, and then plunging down with their bill once prey emerges. Snowy Egrets breed once a year, and 3-5 eggs are laid in large, platform-like nests that are built either on the ground or up in trees. Both parents feed and care for the chicks. Interestingly, there is evidence that the Egret mates can only recognize one another while at the nest. When returning, a bird must do an elaborate ceremony to prove that they are not an intruder.

Egret in Flight

Did you know that at one time Snowy Egret feathers cost twice as much as gold by weight? Plumes were highly valued for the hat-making industry in the late 19th century. Egret feathers at that time sold for as much as $32 an ounce. The demand for these feathers was so high that the Egrets nearly went extinct from over-hunting. They were eventually given protective status and their population recovered. They are now listed by the IUCN as being of Least Concern.

American Coot

(Image Source)

I injured my back a few days ago and spent a lot of time on the sofa watching nature documentaries. I finished up Great Migrations and in the process noticed a neat looking little bird that apparently lives (for at least part of the year anyway) right in my proverbial back yard, though I've never seen one. I really feel like I need to take up bird watching. Hmm.

Anyway, the species in question is the American Coot (Fulica americana), a gregarious waterbird of the Rallidae family that can be found in just about every part of North America during some part of the year. Birds that reside in the Western United States and Mexico are residential, while other populations are migratory, heading up to Eastern Canada, the Midwest, and the American Northeast in order to breed.

American Coots spend their lives on or near water, though interestingly, they do not have webbed feet like ducks do. They swim and dive for their food, and they are very opportunistic feeders. American Coots eat both plant material, as well as other animals such as snails, tadpoles, and fish.

Young Coots are precocial, which means that they are able to swim and feed themselves very quickly after hatching. Parents build nests that float on the water, and females lay 6-11 eggs that are incubated by both the mother and father. They may build multiple nests, which are then used by the family to roost.

Sacred Ibis

The Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is a wading bird native to Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and Iraq. They occur primarily in marshes and wetlands. Sacred Ibises stand around 30in tall, and are covered in white feathers with the exception of the neck and head. These are featherless and covered in black skin that begins to show around two years of age.

(Image Source)

Sacred Ibises get their name due to the fact that they were literally were worshiped as gods. The ancient Egyptians believed the Ibis to be the earthly manifestation of the scribe-god Thoth. They even mummified these birds, and one tomb group contained over one million Ibis mummies! Killing an Ibis was a act punishable by death, as it was also believed that the birds prevented plague. Interestingly, the birds actually did prevent a disease, Bilharzia (or Schistosomiasis). The disease is carried by a parasite that latches to snails that were a favorite snack of the Ibises. By eating these snails en masse the disease was kept at bay. Unfortunately, the Sacred Ibis is now extinct in the very country that once worshiped it, due to loss of swampland (and the disease that they once held in check has now reappeared there.)

The Sacred Ibis is able to eat a pretty wide variety of meals, thanks to their curved bills that allow them to probe into muddy areas. They eat snails, amphibians, and insects, and will also scavenge for other types of food on land, including other birds' eggs. Sacred Ibises are communal, and will sometimes even roost among other bird species. They are also very quiet, and only vocalize while on breeding grounds. Both parents assist in the guarding and feeding of chicks, who will fledge and leave the colony when they are less than two months old.

Whooping Crane

The Whooping Crane has a quite remarkable story. In the Pleistocene, these birds had a range that covered a vast area of North America. When westward expansion began in the 19th century, unregulated hunting and loss of habitat caused numbers to dwindle. By 1941, there were only sixteen birds left. Since then, multiple efforts have been made to both protect existing birds, and to create new migratory flocks. The only naturally occurring flock left migrates between Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories, Canada and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. An additional route has been established between Wisconsin and Florida.

Whooping Cranes are the tallest birds in North America. They stand at about five feet, and possess a seven and a half foot wingspan. Aside from its dark legs, beak, and facial markings, the adult Whooping Crane is entirely white. They are named for their whooping call, which is instrumental in the mating process. Mated pairs will sing duets together, while additional calls are made by nesting birds to announce their territory. They live in marshland areas, and are omnivorous. Whooping Cranes feed off of a variety of different things including plants, crustaceans, fish, and insects.

(Image Source)

But lets go back to those reintroduction efforts. There are now, as of January 2010, 551 Whooping Cranes in the wild and in captivity. One of the most interesting things I learned about this process is that ultra-light planes have been used to lead young Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population from their birthplaces in Wisconsin down to their wintering grounds in Florida. In the spring, the young birds are able to make the flight back to Wisconsin unassisted. In a side note, there was also, briefly in the 1970s and 80s, an effort to integrate young Whooping Cranes with Sandhill Cranes, and form a migratory population that ran from Idaho to New Mexico. Unfortunately this program was unsuccessful and has been discontinued.

While Whooping Cranes are now protected from hunting and egg collection, habitat loss is still a threat, as the wetlands continue to diminish. While the current populations live in protected areas, their isolation could prove disastrous should a major environmental change affect that specific area.

Roseate Spoonbill

Flamingos aren't the only large, pink, wading birds out there. Roseate Spoonbills, actually get confused with Flamingos on occasion, but are are one of a handful of Spoonbill species found within the genus Plateinae. They around found at various parts of the year in the southern United States and throughout areas of of South America. Roseate Spoonbills are migratory birds, moving during the breeding season. They are monogamous.

Image from Nature Works

Roseate Spoonbills are quite striking. They stand over 80cm tall, and have 125cm wingspans. Their feathers are a bright pink color and were prized in the construction of ladies fans at the turn of the century. These feathers were so popular that the species numbers drastically declined and they had to be legally protected.

Roseate Spoonbills feed mostly off of fish, with a spattering of crustaceans and mollusks. Their long bill is extremely sensitive and will snap shut if prey swims past it. They have nostrils placed high up on the bill, which allows them to keep it submerged for long periods of time, creating whirlpools that draw in prey.

Great Blue Heron

Image from Outdoor

I'm on a bit of a bird kick this week, so bear with me as I work my way through some of my favorite feathered creatures. Yesterday a huge Great Blue Heron flew over my car, and I was simply inspired. Great Blue Herons are one of the most widespread of all the herons, as well as one of the largest. They can be found in nearly every part of non-arctic North America at some point of the year.

Great Blue Herons don't get their name from being tiny. They have a body length of around 4 feet, and sport a wingspan of over 6 feet. They have long legs, a ruff at the base of the neck, and a black stripe that extends across the side of the head.

Herons are wading birds, and are found living in coastal areas, swamps, ponds, rivers, marshes, etc. They use their long legs to wade and hunt, doing so by standing still and waiting for prey to swim by. When it does so, the Heron strike with it's long, spear-like bills. They also slowly stalk their prey. Great Blue Herons eat all sorts of creatures, including fish, amphibians, lizards, small mammals, insects, and crustaceans. However, they can only eat what they are capable of swallowing, and can choke if trying to do otherwise.

Image from Animal Pictures Archive

Great Blue Herons nest in large colonies, which I would absolutely love to see. Seeing one of these guys in flight is pretty amazing, seeing dozens? Sign me up. Anyway, these colonies consist of seasonally monogamous pairs who build their nests in tall trees. 2-7 eggs are laid, and the chicks are able to fly when they are two months old. Young herons and eggs are preyed upon by ravens, hawks, eagles, and a variety of other birds. Adults can also be preyed upon by larger birds. Great Blue Herons are listed as being of Least Concern, but human encroachment on their habitats could be detrimental in years to come.

Cape Thick Knee

Continuing on with South African wildlife, (completely unintentional, really) we have the Cape or Spotted Thick Knee. These guys are one of the 9 members of the Burhinidae family, birds who are typically nocturnal insectivores who inhabit tropical and sometimes temperate zones. The Cape Thick Knee resides in southern areas of the African continent, including the South African Cape, with the "thick knee" part coming from, well... their thick knees.

These birds are sedentary, meaning that they do not normally migrate. As already stated, they eat all kinds of invertebrate species, but they will also make meals of small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and will also dine on the eggs and chicks of the White-Fronted Plover.The primary predators of Cape Thick Knees are other birds, such as eagles and owls. If a predator is after one of a Thick Knee's chicks, the chick will lie motionless while the adults will pretend to have a broken back or wings in order to draw attention away.
Cape Thick Knees are very monogamous birds. Not only do they stick to one breeding partner for a breeding season, they will stick with that partner for life.(Upon the death of one mate,the other will seek out a new one) Nests are just a scraping in the ground, through twigs and stones are sometimes used for lining. Each breeding pair may have multiple groups of young during the August to April breeding season. Both parents care for the chicks, and in years were multiple broods are laid, a older group of young will leave about ten days after the younger group hatches.

Caribbean Flamingo

Flamingo Hop!

The Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is the most vibrantly colored of all flamingos, and the only species truly native to North America. Like all flamingos, this species gains it coloration from the existence of carotenoid pigments within the algae and tiny crustaceans that they ate. In captivity, flamingos exist on a special pellet diet that not only provides them with their required nutrients, but also gives them the pigmentation needed to maintain their snazzy colors.

In order to get at their food, flamingos feed with their heads upside down. They use their tongues to suck in water and everything that comes with it, and then using filters built in to the ridges of their beaks they are able to dispel the excess water.

Like many animals that I have discussed here, there is some argument surrounding the classification of the Caribbean Flamingo. Some consider it to be its own species, (though it is sometimes called the American Flamingo, due to the fact that it lives in the Galapagos Islands - well away from the Caribbean) while others consider it to be a subspecies of the Greater Flamingo. Those in the subspecies camp have given it the full name of Phoenicopterus ruber ruber.

Flamingos at the Milwaukee County Zoo

Caribbean Flamingos can live to be 40-50 years old and exist in large colonies with mating pairs that often change from year to year. The couples build cone-shaped nests out of mud that keep their single egg off of the ground. Chicks are born white, and then eventually turn grey, and then finally pink during their second year. They do not have the special filters in their beaks that the parents have, and must subsist off of "crop milk," a secretion produced by glands in the upper digestive tracts of both parents. Pigeons and some penguins also produce similar milks. After about two weeks, the young flamingos join a creche, a large gathering of juvenile birds.

Capped Heron

I

Pilherodius pileatus (Whoa Latin!) is the lovely inspiration for my logo. What a happy bird! Anyway, finding vast resources of information about the dapper little dude was actually pretty difficult, even the Wikipedia article is a stub!

But here is what I have learned: In German, it is called the Kappenreiher, and in Spanish it is the Garza Capriotada, but I like the German name better. (Both names basically translate to capped or hooded heron anyway).They live in South and Central America, feasting on insects, fish, small mammals and other little beasties. They also make "whoop whoop woo" sounds, and fly by beating their wings never above horizontal! And now you know!
Image from Mongabay.com