Best Equipped Bird (1 Viewer)

D

Darrell Clegg

Well-known member

• Sep 15, 2004

• #1

We know that birds have evolved with some pretty specialised characteristics. Swifts and Hummingbirds for instance are superbly designed for the niche they fill.

What you you think are the best (and worst!) evolved birds? To start the ball rolling I'll put in my vote for Gulls. They are excellent in flight, able to travel long distances without too much trouble. They can swim, and readilly sit on the water. They can walk on land, and they are pretty cosmopolitan in their diet.

Any more?

Darrell

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Sep 15, 2004

• #2

Starling must be a close second to Gulls on ability to adapt to different conditions... though not swimming.

Peregrine takes some beating as an evolvolutionary pinnacle.

Neither very good on water though!

 

desgreene

Well-known member

• Sep 15, 2004

• #3

As an adaptable and versatile survivor I'd go for Magpie. As a specialist I'd vote for the woodpeckers.

Des.

 

DJ Sideboard

Well-known member

• Sep 15, 2004

• #4

I'm always in awe of Ptarmigan.....the males stay up near the top of the Scottish hills in pretty much any weather. I've seen them wandering about, nicely camouflaged against the snow, at the summit of Lochnagar on days when I could hardly stand upright in the wind and my teeth hurt because it was so cold....

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Sep 15, 2004

• #5

Phalaropes - good swimmers, good swift flyers that undergo long migrations and they can wade and walk about very effectively too. And hey they even look pretty cute. Excellent all rounders.

 

jurek

Well-known member

• Sep 15, 2004

• #6

Ehm, Argentine pond duck (Oxyura vittata) is the most evolved bird. 42,5 cm, and corkscrew-shaped.

www.nature.com/nature/journal/v413/n6852/fig_tab/413128a0_F1_lgnd.html

 

E

Edward woodwood

Member

• Sep 15, 2004

• #7

Sword-billed Hummer

longest bill wrt body

here it is with its favoured flower

 

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Last edited: Sep 15, 2004

L

Lee Walker

Member

• Sep 15, 2004

• #8

Budgie!! Not only has it got a very large species of mammal to look after it in a nice warm environment, safe from all predators, but the aforementioned mammal feeds it, cleans it, talks to it (for some unknown reason) and even removes its droppings for it! One highly evolved intelligent bird, or one stupid mammal species. You decide!

 

M

mcdowella

Well-known member

• Sep 15, 2004

• #9

Another candidate for a good all-rounder might be the Mallard - domesticated or wild, at home on, in, or flying above the water. Given the optics bias of other parts of these forums, perhaps the best equipped birds has the best eyesight - Any ideas on this? A quick websearch suggests the Buzzard Buteo Buteo might be a contendor, but isn't all that definitive.

 

pauco

Старлин&

• Sep 15, 2004

• #10

Lee Walker said:

Budgie!! Not only has it got a very large species of mammal to look after it in a nice warm environment, safe from all predators, but the aforementioned mammal feeds it, cleans it, talks to it (for some unknown reason) and even removes its droppings for it! One highly evolved intelligent bird, or one stupid mammal species. You decide!

Click to expand...

One very clever bird, it even talks back to you!!
bert.

 

pauco

Старлин&

• Sep 15, 2004

• #11

Cormorant, even comes inland and beats the angler to the catch!! now thats adapting.
bert.

 

C

chris3871

Explorer Extraordinaire

• Sep 15, 2004

• #12

What about worst?
I think maybe kakapos? An amazing bird, but only really capable of living in a world without predators. I.E how New Zealand was. There really a bit too chubby and cuddly.

 

Birdspotter

Well-known member

• Sep 15, 2004

• #13

The DUNNOCK