The Mariana crow (Corvus kubaryi) (Chamorro name: åga) is a species of the crow family from the tropical Western Pacific. It is a glossy black bird about 15 inches (38 cm) long and known only from the islands of Guam and Rota.
It is a rare bird which has steadily declined in numbers since the 1960s.[2] On Guam there are no remaining native Mariana Crows, the population having been decimated by the introduction of the brown tree snake.[3] On Rota the population has declined to fewer than 200 individuals,[4] the main threats here being the reduction of suitable habitat because of development and predation. Despite translocations from Rota to the Guam National Wildlife Refuge in the late 1990s and early 2000s, by 2011 the Mariana Crow was extirpated from Guam.[5] Current conservation efforts on Rota include habitat protection,[6] and a captive rear-and-release program.[7] The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the bird as being "critically endangered".
The Hawaiian Crow, or Alala, is a medium-sized bird at 19–20 inches long. Notably, it flaunts stark black feathers with brown-tinged wings and tail and a thick, strong beak.
Our last type of crow is the rarest of all corvids and became extinct in the wild in 2002, mainly due to habitat destruction and diseases. However, through conservation efforts, captive birds rose from 20 in the 90s to 115 individuals in 2014. They have been reintroduced into native Hawaiian forests since 2016.
The Rock Dove, also known as the Rock Pigeon, is a versatile bird native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. They have a colorful appearance with distinct black bars on their wing coverts.
Their homing instinct is their most remarkable feature, allowing them to navigate back home from hundreds of miles away at 50 miles per hour.
Rock pigeons can also travel up to 700 miles daily and have a storied history as long-distance messengers, aerial acrobats, and survivors.
The Common Wood Pigeon is a dove species in Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia. It has a soft grey body, pinkish breast, and white neck patch. Likewise, it has adapted to various habitats, feeding on seeds, crops, fruits, and invertebrates.
The Stock Dove measures 12.6-13.4 inches. It has a blue-grey coat with a touch of pink on its chest and a vibrant green patch on its neck.
This type of dove prefers living in woodlands, farmlands, parks, and gardens; it nests in tree hollows, old woodpecker holes, or buildings.
It has a diet of seeds and grains and occasionally invertebrates. Its soft cooing sounds are faster and less repetitive than its relatives.
The breeding season runs from April to July, and the female lays two eggs. Both parents are responsible for looking after them for around 17-19 days. While hunting threatens the Stock Dove in some areas, its population remains stable.
The White-winged Dove has a unique appearance with a white stripe on its wings that becomes prominent during flight. Its plumage is gray-brown with hints of pink on the chest, and it has a blue ring around each eye.
The bird primarily lives in desert scrublands and ranges from the southwestern United States to parts of South America. Its diet includes seeds, grains, and fruits; it also feeds on the nectar of the saguaro cactus, which helps pollinate them.
The White-winged Dove's cooing sound, often mistaken for an owl's call, adds to the natural sounds of the region.
Mourning Doves have soft, grayish-brown plumage, pinkish blush on their chest, and pointed tails bordered with white edges. It feeds primarily on seeds and supplements its diet with snails and insects.
These types of doves can thrive in various habitats, including open countryside, urban areas, roadsides, and woodlands. Their cooing sound often resounds in the early morning or late evening, which inspired its name.
The Eurasian Collared Dove is a bird with a black crescent at the back of its neck that is native to warm, temperate, and subtropical regions of Asia. It has adapted to various environments, and its diet mainly consists of seeds and grains.
Moreover, Eurasian Collared Doves are monogamous, laying two eggs in a cozy nest where both parents share the responsibility of incubation.
This type of dove plays an essential role in seed dispersal and has a unique three-part coo that sounds throughout the day and night.
The African Collared Dove is a medium-sized bird commonly found in the arid savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. It has also made a home for itself in the United States, particularly in California.
Known for its pale gray body with a pinkish blush on the chest, it has a varied diet and prefers to stay in one place all year round.
The Spotted Dove is a medium-sized bird in southern Asia. A coat of light grayish-brown feathers decorates this bird, with a hint of pink and a black collar patch on its neck dotted with white spots.
These doves eat seeds, fruits, and grains but occasionally eat insects and caterpillars for a protein boost.
They are skilled at navigating through the trees, and they build their nests in trees or shrubs, where they usually tuck away two white eggs. Both parents share the duty of incubating these eggs. Once hatched, the fledglings stay around the nest for about 12 to 18 days before launching into the sky to explore the world.
