From colorful birds to toucans to the majestic harpy eagle,
the South American tropics have been linked as one of the world's best birding
hotspots.
About 3,800 species of birds live there. There are more than
1,300 species of birds in the Amazon, of which 28 birds may be endemic to the
region.
There is a geographic variation from one species to another.
The harpy eagle lives from southern Central America to the Amazon, and several
species of toucans live in restricted areas.
Approximately 575 species of chooks have been identified in
no more than 5,500 hectares of the Peruvian Amazon. In comparison, 700 species
of chooks are determined in the entire area of North America.
Many birds stay within secret forest areas, others determine
flying insects or fruit and plant life, and a few catch a variety of mammals
and reptiles, and birds, including the harpy eagle. The Amazon chook species is
amazing.
The differences that can be seen between the birds are the
style of the Amazon species that each has developed. However, this heritage is
in jeopardy as the Amazon rainforest, and high chukar habitats are being lost
to grasslands and cropland.
Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja)
One of the most majestic Amazon birds, the harpy eagle looks
over a meter tall and has a wingspan of about two meters. The moment and base
are set and the top has tall black-gray pages. Females are about one-third
larger than males.
Eating monkeys, sloths, and birds, hardly any prey is as big
as the harpy eagle.
Harpy eagles spend a great deal of time sitting still and
listening. After spotting prey, they extend their claws and head towards it,
catching the prey as they swoop. Because of their size, females attack larger
prey than males.
Although this species grows from the rainforests of South-Central
America to the Amazon rainforest, it is very difficult to find in this vast
area. Deforestation is destroying their habitat, and as a result, their
population is decreasing. Because eagles are spread over a large area,
obtaining an accurate population estimate is a difficult task.
The harpy eagle is assessed as a threatened species on the IUCN Red List.
Hummingbirds
Small, hyperactive, and amazingly adaptable, these
hummingbirds count over 300 species. Hummingbirds often look like giant bugs
when seen from a distance.
In the forest, because of the nectar and fruit, many birds
can identify one food or one food completely.
Hummingbirds are the best nectar feeders and they are
interested in red, orange, and yellow plants. Male birds are territorial and
guard vegetation with preferred plants and nectar.
One of their unique features is the ability to rotate their
wings through a 180-degree cycle. Heart rate reaches 1,260 beats per minute. This
allows some species to beat their wings up to 80 times per second. All of this
comes at a cost – hummingbirds need to replenish the energy they use and need
frequent feeding.
Toucan (Ramphastos species)
The Toucan is a ubiquitous animal in the Amazon, recognized
for its colorfulness. The feathers are uniformly colored and come in shades of
green, yellow, red, and white. The wingspan ranges from 31 to 61 cm.
This bird species is found in lowland moist forests and
montane cloud forests where they nest and roost in tree hollows. Toucans are
common in rainforests but stay close because they often stay in the upper
canopy.
They are mainly fruit eaters and prefer ripe fruits. Toucans
pick fruit with their bill and hold it at the tip. They tilt the fruit behind
their head and swallow the food. In addition to fruit and berries, toucans eat
spiders, insects, lizards, and snakes, as well as nesting birds and eggs.
Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoatzin)
The Hoatzin can be found in Amazon River estuaries and oxbow
lakes. Primitive birds are inspired by the length and appearance of dying as
the dimensions of a chicken. It has a small head, a dreamy neck, and a
prominent mark on the top. These miles are for a vulnerable flyers.
Hoatzin eats more than 80% of its diet from poisonous including
vegetation on leaves.
Hoatzin reproduction involves 2-7 birds in one nest.
Non-breeding birds are called "helpers" and help care for and feed
the young. As a result, the young grow faster, which reduces the time they are
vulnerable to predators. When faced with danger, young Hoatzin falls from the
branches into the water.
