The absence of the cuckoo is extremely noticeable in the UK. Since the 1980s the cuckoo population has dropped by 65%. It is postulated that the drop is due to the absence of the host the cuckoos use to lay their eggs. Cuckoos spend their winter months in Africa and migrate to the UK in the summer to breed and lay eggs. Since they lay their eggs in host nests, the decline in the population of their hosts has led to a decline in the cuckoo population to the point of endangerment.
Other reasons for the endangered condition of the cuckoo can be attributed to the lack of prey, climate changes during the summers or issues during migration paths.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Reproduction
The two bigger species from my order are the Cuckoo and the Ani. Today, I will be looking at the reproductive behavior of these species.
There are varied similarities and differences between the Cuckoos and Anis.
Similarities include:
Mating Choice, Life History and Developmental Mode:
Cuckoos and Anis are both diurnal birds, which means that they call both at night and during the day. Their call can be secretive and is used for attracting mates. Since there is no sexual dimorphism among the cuckoos or anis, the birds have to rely on the call to attract mates. Singing during the day and night helps increasing the chances of finding mates for these birds.
Cuckoos and Anis live approximately for 5-6 years.
Both Cuckoos and Anis are atricial.
Mating Systems:
Both Cuckoos and Anis display monogamy as their mating systems. However, the nesting patterns for both species varies drastically.
Cuckoos:
Cuckoos are considered to be brood parasites. Brood parasitism means that the female lays her eggs in the nest of a bird of a different species, most often Passerines in the case of cuckoos. The female often lays a single egg, the same size and color as the host's eggs to camoflague her egg. Due to this, the egg is incubated and hatched by a bird of a different species.
Often Cuckoo chicks are bigger than the host species and compete for the parent's food by pushing the host eggs or even host chicks out of the nests to ensure greater nutrition
Anis:
Anis on the other hand are monogamous and raise their own young in their own nests. Young are cared for by both males and females.
There are varied similarities and differences between the Cuckoos and Anis.
Similarities include:
Mating Choice, Life History and Developmental Mode:
Cuckoos and Anis are both diurnal birds, which means that they call both at night and during the day. Their call can be secretive and is used for attracting mates. Since there is no sexual dimorphism among the cuckoos or anis, the birds have to rely on the call to attract mates. Singing during the day and night helps increasing the chances of finding mates for these birds.
Cuckoos and Anis live approximately for 5-6 years.
Both Cuckoos and Anis are atricial.
Mating Systems:
Both Cuckoos and Anis display monogamy as their mating systems. However, the nesting patterns for both species varies drastically.
Cuckoos:
Cuckoos are considered to be brood parasites. Brood parasitism means that the female lays her eggs in the nest of a bird of a different species, most often Passerines in the case of cuckoos. The female often lays a single egg, the same size and color as the host's eggs to camoflague her egg. Due to this, the egg is incubated and hatched by a bird of a different species.
Often Cuckoo chicks are bigger than the host species and compete for the parent's food by pushing the host eggs or even host chicks out of the nests to ensure greater nutrition
Anis:
Anis on the other hand are monogamous and raise their own young in their own nests. Young are cared for by both males and females.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Songs
Since my order was Cuculiformes, I thought it would be appropriate to have one of my birds as the Cuckoo.
I used youtube to find a video of the cuckoo singing.
Here is a link to the video: Cuckoo Song
I observed that the song sounded like the bird was singing "Kooo", as in Cuckoo. It also had an inflection in the sound as if the bird was asking Koo Who?
The video sounded to me as if the bird was sending warning sounds to the birds near by because after the first time it 'Coo'ed other birds responded to its call. However, as the cuckoo's call started coming closer together, the birds stopped responding to it.
Another bird that I looked for was the Road runner.
Below is the link for a road runner call: Road runner song
The type of call was a mating call. I believe that the video shows two types of calls because the road runner begins with a call that sounds like a fast paced 'hoot' and then makes a different sound at the end that sounds like fluttering. I believe the first part of the song is calling for the mate, while the latter part may be a call to let the mate know of where he is located.
I used youtube to find a video of the cuckoo singing.
Here is a link to the video: Cuckoo Song
I observed that the song sounded like the bird was singing "Kooo", as in Cuckoo. It also had an inflection in the sound as if the bird was asking Koo Who?
The video sounded to me as if the bird was sending warning sounds to the birds near by because after the first time it 'Coo'ed other birds responded to its call. However, as the cuckoo's call started coming closer together, the birds stopped responding to it.
Another bird that I looked for was the Road runner.
Below is the link for a road runner call: Road runner song
The type of call was a mating call. I believe that the video shows two types of calls because the road runner begins with a call that sounds like a fast paced 'hoot' and then makes a different sound at the end that sounds like fluttering. I believe the first part of the song is calling for the mate, while the latter part may be a call to let the mate know of where he is located.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Morphology
Cuculiformes are made of the Families Cuculidae, Musophagidae, and Opsithocomidae. The admittance of Musophagidae in the Order Cuculiformes is disputed by many taxonomists because of their distinct differences. The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy also has called the inclusion of Opsithocomidae into the Cuculiform order into question.
Turaco from the Musophagidae family
Hoatzin from the Opsithocomidae family
Cuculidae, the primary family of the Cuculiformes, are the only family found in North America. Family Cuculidae, primarily made up of cuckoos have distinct morphological characteristics that are shared by the species in the family. Morphologically, these birds are all medium sized, with slender bodies and zygodactyl toes. The arboreal species are considered to have more slender bodies than the heavier species that are less arboreal. Their wings and tails are fitted to their lifestyles, and long tails are used to steer for arboreal species.
Most species are insectivores and prefer insects such as caterpillars. These species prefer to "process" their food by rubbing the insect against branches and stones before consuming the insect to ensure that they are not eating any hairy substances the insects may have for protection against predation.
Sources:
Wikepedia
Tree Of Life
Turaco from the Musophagidae family
Hoatzin from the Opsithocomidae family
Cuculidae, the primary family of the Cuculiformes, are the only family found in North America. Family Cuculidae, primarily made up of cuckoos have distinct morphological characteristics that are shared by the species in the family. Morphologically, these birds are all medium sized, with slender bodies and zygodactyl toes. The arboreal species are considered to have more slender bodies than the heavier species that are less arboreal. Their wings and tails are fitted to their lifestyles, and long tails are used to steer for arboreal species.
Most species are insectivores and prefer insects such as caterpillars. These species prefer to "process" their food by rubbing the insect against branches and stones before consuming the insect to ensure that they are not eating any hairy substances the insects may have for protection against predation.
Sources:
Wikepedia
Tree Of Life
Monday, June 4, 2012
Introduction to Cuculiformes
Order Cuculiformes is made up of 1 family, 35 genera and 137 species. The Cuculiformes are made up of cuckoos, couas, coucals, malkohas, roadrunner. Most Cuculiformes are characterized by their medium size, long slender bodies and zygodactyl toes, which mean two inner toes point forward and two outer toes point backward. These toes can allow the birds to grasp branches well while looking for prey. Their species range from tree inhabitants to ground dwellers in warm temperate climates. Their prey include large insects, reptiles and amphibians.
Their species include
Cuckoos:
Cuckoos are the primary species of the Cuculiform Order. They belong to the Cuculidae family and are characterized by their slender bodies and long tails. They are a migratory species that resides in the temperate climate. They feed on large insects such as caterpillars and sometimes small reptiles. The cuckoo is known to lay her eggs in the nest of a different species. The species found in the Eastern North America are the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Mangrove Cuckoo and Black-billed Cuckoo.
Anis:
Anis belong to the Crotophaga genus in the Cuculidae family. Anis are large black birds with deep black ridged bills. They are ground feeders and have weak, wobbly flights. They are predatory birds that prey upon insects, amphibians and reptiles. They lay eggs in a community setting and incubate and feed their own young. In Eastern North America, only the Smooth Billed Ani is found in Florida.
Other Species not found in Eastern North America include
Couas:
Coucals:
Road Runner:
Their species include
Cuckoos:
Cuckoos are the primary species of the Cuculiform Order. They belong to the Cuculidae family and are characterized by their slender bodies and long tails. They are a migratory species that resides in the temperate climate. They feed on large insects such as caterpillars and sometimes small reptiles. The cuckoo is known to lay her eggs in the nest of a different species. The species found in the Eastern North America are the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Mangrove Cuckoo and Black-billed Cuckoo.
Anis:
Anis belong to the Crotophaga genus in the Cuculidae family. Anis are large black birds with deep black ridged bills. They are ground feeders and have weak, wobbly flights. They are predatory birds that prey upon insects, amphibians and reptiles. They lay eggs in a community setting and incubate and feed their own young. In Eastern North America, only the Smooth Billed Ani is found in Florida.
Other Species not found in Eastern North America include
Couas:
Coucals:
Road Runner:
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