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There are many birds that are active nocturnally. Some, like owls and nighthawks, are predominantly nocturnal whereas others do specific tasks, like migrating, nocturnally. North Island brown kiwi, Apteryx mantelli [1] Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax [1] Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus [1] Long-eared owl, Asio otus [1]
Coot species that migrate do so at night. The American coot has been observed rarely in Britain and Ireland, while the Eurasian coot is found across Asia, Australia and parts of Africa. In southern Louisiana, the coot is referred to by the French name "poule d'eau", which translates into English as "water hen".
The cormorants possess a layer of unique feathers that retain a smaller layer of air (compared to other diving birds) but otherwise soak up water. [20] This allows them to swim without fighting the buoyancy that retaining air in the feathers causes, yet retain enough air to prevent the bird losing excessive heat through contact with water. [23]
Skimmers have a light graceful flight, with steady beats of their long wings. They usually feed in large flocks, flying low over the water surface with the lower mandible skimming the water for (in order of importance) small fish, insects, crustaceans and molluscs [9] caught by touch by day or especially at night. [8]
The birds formerly bred on Ascension Island itself, but the colonies were exterminated by feral cats introduced in 1815. The birds continued to breed on a rocky outcrop just off the shore of the island. A program conducted between 2002 and 2004 eradicated the feral cats [67] and a few birds have returned to nest on the island. [68] [69]
The European Anglophone name "diver" comes from the bird's habit of catching fish by swimming calmly along the surface and then abruptly plunging into the water. The North American name "loon" likely comes from either the Old English word lumme, meaning lummox or awkward person, or the Scandinavian word lum meaning lame or clumsy. Either way ...
Such birds may enter the water from flight, such as pelicans, gannets and tropicbirds; or they may dive from the surface of the water, such as the diving ducks, cormorants and penguins. It is theorized that they evolved from birds already adapted for swimming that were equipped with such adaptations as lobed or webbed feet for propulsion. [1]
Birds can hit the water at speeds of up to 100 km/h (30 m/s). [34] This allows them to penetrate up to 11 m (36 ft) below the surface, [81] and they will swim down to an average 19.7 m (60 ft), sometimes deeper than 25 m (80 ft). [82] The bird's subcutaneous air sacs may have a role in controlling their buoyancy. [34]