Nightingale

Nightingale

In Europe, the nightingale has a reputation for being one of the finest singers in the bird world.  Its plain brown plumage and secretive habits make it difficult to see, but ist rich fluty song is impossible to mistake.  Nightingales are unusual because they sing by night as well as day, which is how they get their name.  They feed on insects and fruit and nest low down in tangled vegetation.

Scientific Name: Luscinia megarbynchos

Dwarf Beetle

Dwarf Beetle

As we;; as being the smallest beetles in the world, dwarf beetles are among the smallest of all insects.  The smallest species looks like little more than a speck.  These beetles feed on the decaying remains of plants and fungi.  Their feathery hind wings fold when not in use.

Scientific Name: Nanosella fungi

Chinese Giant Salamander

Chinese Giant Salamander

This is the largest amphibian in the world.  It has a large, broad, small eyes and dark, wrinkly skin.  It lives in cool mountain streams, where it eats insects, frogs, and fish.  Chinese giant salamanders are very rare.  They are threatened by pollution and they are also collected for food and for use in traditional medicine.

 

Scientific Name:  Andrias davidianus

Size:   Up to 1.15 m cm long

 

Kea

     Kea

 

The Kea is a larger and heavily built parrot from the mountain of New Zealand. Unlike other parrots, it eats dead animals and insects, as well as fruits and seeds. It has dark green plumage, a large beak and strong feet for walking on the ground. Kea is inquisitive and will help themselves to picnics and leftover food. They will also tug at shoelaces and car windscreen wipers .They used to be short for apparently attacking sheep, but they are now protected

Scientific name – nestor notabilis

Distribution       - South island of New Zealand

Size    -   Up to 48cm long             

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl is live in open places, where there is no cover for rearing a family. They dig burrows for shelter or take over ones made by other animals. They have long, slender legs and use their feet and beaks to scratch at the ground . Burrowing owls hunt at night but spend much of day standing by the entrances to their homes. If they are disturbed, they make a call that sounds like a rattlesnake shaking its tail.

Scientific name – Athene cunicularia

Distribution       - North  America

Size                       - Up to 25cm long