Meet the world’s animals.

Photos: 12,676 · Stories: 19,540

• Cook Reed Warbler Acrocephalus kerearako

  

  The Cook Reed Warbler is an island reed warbler of the Cook Islands. Bell’s comparative study covers populations on Mangaia and Mitiaro and records the species beside lakes, ponds, and rivers.

• Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis

  This weaver uses woodland edges, scrub, and moist savanna. Male plumage varies by region, from black in the east to brown-black in central Africa.

• Usambara Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris usambaricus

  This sunbird lives in Tanzania’s Usambara Mountains. A study around Mazumbai Forest Reserve found it mainly in areas with limited crown cover; most recorded food came from non-native plants.

• Mount Victoria Babax Pterorhinus woodi

  A babbler recorded from northeastern India and western Myanmar. Its 1902 original description is of one specimen from Kanpetlet, and the authors were cautious about distinguishing it without comparative specimens.

• African Black Duck Anas sparsa

  A duck strongly associated with rivers, especially fast-flowing rivers and streams. It eats aquatic plants and small animals.

• Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater Pipreola frontalis

  This fruiteater occurs in two separated parts of the eastern Andes. Males have red on the throat and breast, while females have green upperparts and scaled underparts; birds forage in humid montane forest.

• Red-throated Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne rufigula

  The Red-throated Crag-Martin is a small swallow found widely in western and eastern Africa. It is dull brown, uses rocky and arid habitats, and attaches mud nests to cliffs or buildings.

• Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus

  A grackle found mainly in Central and South America, with its range extending into parts of North America. Males have long tails and a purple gloss, while females are brown.

• Saffron-breasted Prinia Prinia hypoxantha

  This small bird lives in highland grassland in southern Africa. It has a brown back and yellowish-white, lightly streaked underparts.

• Chinese Thrush Turdus mupinensis

  The Chinese Thrush is a thrush that breeds in central China. Dark spotting stands out on its underparts. It is usually unobtrusive and shy, though it can be easier to see in cold weather.

• Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata

  The Spectacled Petrel is dark, with white markings around its eyes, and ranges over the South Atlantic. Its only known breeding site is Inaccessible Island in the Tristan da Cunha group.

• Striated Yuhina Yuhina castaniceps

  The Striated Yuhina moves through the middle storey and undergrowth, sometimes in groups with other birds. The account also uses Staphida and notes subspecies differences in crest colour.

• Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus

  The Common Rosefinch breeds across northern Asia and parts of eastern and central Europe, then moves southeast for winter. Older males are red; females and young males are brown.

• Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

  In breeding plumage, a golden-spangled back contrasts with a black breast and belly. It uses uplands in summer and lowlands in winter.

• Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata

  A hornbill with a large black casque that moves through forest trees in search of fruit.

• Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis

  Male and female Long-tailed Manakins have very different plumage. During courtship, two males dance together, and the birds mainly eat fruit.

• Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda

  This weaver lives in and around Tanzania’s Serengeti. Its brown plumage looks scaly where pale feather edges overlap, and a dry-season study found it using open grassland.

• Greater Yellow Finch Sicalis auriventris

  This seed-eating finch lives in the Andes of Chile and Argentina. Adult males are yellow, while females are gray-brown.

• Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis

  The Savanna Nightjar rests on the ground or rocks by day, blending into its surroundings, and catches flying insects at dusk and at night.

• Rusty-belted Tapaculo Liosceles thoracicus

  The Rusty-belted Tapaculo is a South American bird with a rusty back and breast band. It walks on the forest floor in search of small insects.

• White-streaked Friarbird Melitograis gilolensis

  The White-streaked Friarbird occurs in the North Moluccas. Fine white streaks mark its throat and breast; it feeds on nectar, arthropods and small fruit.

• Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis

  The Northern Waterthrush is a streaked bird that walks along wetland edges in search of small aquatic animals.

• White-bellied Minivet Pericrocotus erythropygius

  This account refers to Pericrocotus erythropygius and excludes the separately treated Jerdon's Minivet. Males show black, white, and orange, while females are mainly grey-brown and white.

• Gray Falcon Falco hypoleucos

  A pale gray falcon with faint dark streaks on its white underside and feathered legs, it occurs in inland Australia.