Entries Tagged 'National Birds' ↓

Emu

Australia’s national bird, the Emu is the world’s second-largest living member of the ratite (ra-tight) family of flightless birds. Most Ratites are now extinct; only the emu, ostrich, cassowary, kiwi and rhea are alive today.

The Emu was designated in 1960 by the Australian government to be their national bird, although some sources say this is not official. Either way, the Emu is a perfect choice as it is a native endemic species and important to the country ecologically and as a resource.

Photo Courtesy of CmdrGravy (Joe)

Emus can be six feet tall and weigh as much as 140 pounds. They are strong, fast runners with a long stride. They live in most of the less-populated areas of the continent and although they can survive in most regions, they avoid dense forest and severe desert.

The Emu is on the Coat of Arms of Australia

Canada’s national bird, the Common Loon, is an enchanting bird, a symbol of the country’s rugged wilderness. Common Loons are stunning in their breeding plumage and a joy to watch if you can get close enough!

The ghostly sound of the Common Loon is frequently heard in movies, though sometimes a bit out of place. Their haunting sound is inspiration for music, Loon-calling contests and festivals, and both Minnesota and Ontario claim the Common Loon as theirs.

The Royal Canadian Mint introduced a beautiful new one-dollar coin in 1987 with the Common Loon on it, the “loonie”. Canada made a good choice with the Common Loon as their national bird.

Photo by CBCNews.ca

They are beautiful in winter plumage as well. Photo by Mike Baird

Read A Loon Story for a heartwarming rescue of this great species.

A rare and wonderful find in the United States, the Clay Colored Robin is abundant in Costa Rica. Costa Ricans declared the Clay Colored Robin their national bird in 1977, whose strong, musical call marks the beginning of their rainy season. The Clay Colored Robin is in the thrush family and they are very similar to the American Robin.

There are 850 different kinds of birds in Costa Rica. In the U.S., southern Texas is a great place to find this cool thrush.

Belize’s national bird, the Keel-billed Toucan is one of the most recognized bird species in the world. This gorgeous resident of lowland rainforests draws many tourists. The Keel-billed Toucan travels in small groups and nests in tree cavities. They are big, bright and loud. Their call can be heard up to a mile away.

Photo courtesy of (c)Tony Rath Photography

Nestled in between China and India, the Kingdom of Bhutan is about half the size of Indiana. Where Bhutan lacks in size, it makes up for in location. The diversity of habitat largely made by the presence of the Himalayan Mountains provides a multitude of awesome birds, highlighted by Beautiful Nuthatch and Ward’s Trogon along with laughingthrushes and Satyr Tragopan.

However, it is the Common Raven (Corvus corax) that adorns the royal crown and is Bhutan’s national bird.

The Javan Hawk-Eagle is an endemic that gained much publicity when it became the official Indonesian symbol.

Photo courtesy (c) LutFi Sahid Nurhakim

This bird is rare and endangered due to logging and poaching, though there are conservation efforts being made. The Fauna & Flora International became involved in conserving the Javan Hawk-Eagle in 1997.

There are many symbols that can be used to represent a country. A national bird is one of the most common. Often these symbols are printed on flags, seals, money, and popular products. People then associate that bird with their country.

Photo courtesy of (c) Dinali Sanchez, dinali77

Mexico’s national bird is the (Northern) Crested Caracara. It is depicted on the Mexican flag and is considered an omen of good luck.
The Aztec and Myan cultures held this bird in high esteem and wore jewelry of their claws and headresses of their feathers.

These (Northern) Crested Caracaras are mostly found on or near the ground in open areas. They are scavengers and predators.

Read more information about the Crested Caracara.