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Grebes (/ ˈ ɡ r iː b z /) are aquatic diving birds in the order Podicipediformes (/ ˌ p ɒ d ɪ s ɪ ˈ p ɛ d ɪ f ɔːr m iː z /). [1] Grebes are widely distributed freshwater birds, with some species also found in marine habitats during migration and winter. Most grebes fly, although some flightless species exist, most notably in stable ...
Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family, Rallidae.They constitute the genus Fulica, the name being the Latin term for "coot". Coots have predominantly black plumage, and—unlike many rails—they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water.
A water bird, alternatively waterbird or aquatic bird, is a bird that lives on or around water. In some definitions, the term water bird is especially applied to birds in freshwater ecosystems , although others make no distinction from seabirds that inhabit marine environments .
The common murre is a pursuit-diver that forages for food by swimming underwater using its wings for propulsion. Dives usually last less than one minute, but the bird swims underwater for distances of over 30 m (100 ft) on a regular basis.
The jacanas (sometimes referred to as Jesus birds or lily trotters) are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found in the tropical regions around the world. They are noted for their elongated toes and toenails that allow them to spread out their weight while foraging on floating or semi-emergent aquatic vegetation.
The high haemoglobin concentration in their blood gives them a capacity to store oxygen greater than that of other birds, allowing them to remain underwater for 30 seconds or more, [9] whilst their basal metabolic rate is approximately one-third slower than typical terrestrial passerines of similar mass. [14]
These birds forage for food like other auks by swimming underwater. They mainly eat crustaceans , especially copepods , of which a 150 g (5.3 oz) bird requires ~60,000 individuals per day (equivalent to 30 g [1.1 oz] of dry food weight), [ 19 ] but they also eat small invertebrates such as mollusks , as well as small fish.
The speed at which small fish (which along with krill are the auk's principal prey) can swim doubles as the temperature increases from 5 to 15 °C (41 to 59 °F), with no corresponding increase in speed for the bird. The southernmost auks, in California and Mexico, can survive there because of cold upwellings. The current paucity of auks in the ...