Facts and Features of Uguisu

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family: Cettiidae
Genre : Cettia
Scientific Name: Cettia diphone
Common Name : Uguisu
Other Name ( s ) : Oriental bush warbler ,Japanese Bush -warbler,singing bush warbler
Group:Birds
Number of species : 1
Staying Location: Japan, China, Korea
Habitat: Lowland and Mountain Forests
Color: Green, Brown , Green
Skin Type : Feathers
Size ( L ) : 14 cm - 16.5 cm ( 5.5 - 6.5in )
Wingspan: 20cm - 22cm ( 7.9in - 9 inches)
Weight: 18 g - 22 g (0.5 oz - 0.7 oz )
Maximum SPEED : 30kph (18 mph)
Diet: Omnivore
Eating habits : Insects , worms , berries
Attackers: cats , snakes , birds of prey
Lifestyle: Diurnal
Group Behavior : Solitary
Life Period : 2-5 years
Sexual Maturity Age : 10 to 12 months
Gestation period : 2 to 3 weeks
Average Clutch Size : 3
Young name chick
Fledging age: 12-15 days
Preservation Status : Least Concern
Estimated Population Size : Stable
Major Threat: Loss of habitat
Most distinctive feature :Light colored lines on the eyes

Classification and evolution of Uguisu

Uguisu is a small bird species found in Japan ,China and Taiwan ,along with a number of other regions in East.It is also popular as the Japanese Bush - warbler,named due to it's beautiful special song.The Uguisu is more closely attached to other small song birds like nightingales ,Bushtits which are similar in appearance as well, although the Uguisu is slightly larger.Although they do not sing at dark night , as per the fact of it's beautiful song it is popular as Japanese nightingale.In 1830 it was first explained as a documented species by Heinrich von kittlitz.

Appearance and Anatomy of Uguisu

The Uguisu is characterized by it's dull coloration,especially compared to the beauty of  it's singing.They tend to be light brown or olive green along with dark plumage color to the tips of the wings and tail.Uguisu tail is relatively long in relation to their body size and consists of straight feathers , and it is similar in appearance to long tailed tits with which the Uguisu are believed to be closely attached.Like other species of small bird, the Uguisu also has thin legs , toes with long claws to help stick to branches more easily.The Uguisu has small dark eyes with light strips on top of each, and straight tan coloured beak.

Distribution and Habitat of Uguisu

The Uguisu commonly stays across Japan , where it is found throughout the year , along with some parts of northern Philippines.The Uguisu is also found in southern Russia, China and Korea, and in countries like Taiwan on seasonal.The Uguisu tends to be found in the mountainous regions in the different heights and is known to come down the mountains during winter season.The Uguisu is found in seasonal forests and bamboo thickets , where a lot of leaves are available to hide, along with a wide range of foods.

Behavior and lifestyle of Uguisu

As similar to Nightingales ,the Uguisu is a solitary bird and they gather during the breeding season.The Uguisu is pretty quiet during the winter months making low chirping noise in the bare trees , but in early spring they try to attract a mate by singing.Due to its highly hiding nature ,it is normally not seen rather than heard because they spend most of the day hours hiding in deep shadows of surrounding foliage.In some parts, the Uguisu are migratory birds flying different countries with the change of seasons.This is commonly used to protect themselves from cold mountain winters , especially in the large Japanese island of Hokkaido in the north direction.

Reproduction and Life Cycles of Uguisu

In the early spring season the breeding begins when the males are broken into beautiful song in order to try to attract a female to mate. As Nightingales , males and females are quite similar in appearance although the female are slightly smaller in size.The Uguisu female builds a cup-shaped nest in a dense branches,where it gives up to 5 small eggs.The female sits on eggs to keep hot and protect them from 2 to 3 weeks , when the chicks hatch.Uguisu Chicks are fed and taken care by their mother until they leave the nest about 2 weeks old.The Uguisu tend to live between 2 and 5 years in the wild .

Diet and Prey of Uguisu

The Uguisu feeds on a variety of plants and animals as it is omnivore in nature.Like other warblers and nightingales , the Uguisu has a predominantly diet consisting of  flies, worms , beetles , moths and grasshoppers.The Uguisu also eats fruits and berries to supplement their diet.The need for food is one of the reasons why the Uguisu migrate its natural environment.During the winter months , Uguisu faces difficulties to find food in these conditions without compromise.Moving to the lowlands , there is a greater likelihood that food will not be so scarce.

Attackers and Threats of Uguisu

The sound of this bird can be heard through the mountain forests of the Far East.Although it's easy to hear the sound but difficult for predators to detect among the foliage.There are a number of animals that catches Uguisu such as cats and dogs as well as snakes , lizards and birds of prey. Uguisu are also threatened by people who are declining natural forests to make way for the growth of cities , which means that the Uguisu has lost much of its natural range.

Special Facts and Features of Uguisu

The beautiful song of this bird is believed to not only be concerned with finding a partner ,but also is believed to be a declaration of territory to other individuals in the area.The Uguisu droppings (called guano ) are now used as a product in certain facial creams , as it will make skin smoother and more radiant Apparently , it is believed that this peculiar choice of moisturizer that has been used by geishas and Kabuki actors in Japan for centuries , and is now sold as a business elements.The Uguisu is seen as a sign of coming spring in Japan , so it is popular for other names, such as spring bird and Hanami bird.

Relationship of Uguisu with humans

Due to it's Japan habitat, the Uguisu has been represented in art and poetry for the beauty of its song.Also it is kept as cage birds which is very sad for this bird to live.As a use of guano in skin product it is kept to be transferred all around the world.Growing human settlement and land clearance for logging and agriculture , and increasing pollution levels are leading to decline the population of Uguisu.

Status and Life Today of  Uguisu

It has been included in the IUCN Red List as an animal of Least Concern and therefore is not under imminent threat as a species in its natural environment.This is because it is available in a number of countries at different altitudes and habitats.Population figures in certain areas are also stable , but are declining in others , mainly due to deforestation. At present it is cultivated in Japan , so their droppings can be collected and used as a composition of facial creams.

Facts and Features of Beautiful Quetzal

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class: Aves

Sort : Trogoniformes

Family: Trogonidae

Genre: Pharomachrus , Euptilotis

Scientific name: Pharomachrus , Euptilotis

Common name : Quetzal

Other Name ( s ) : Trogon

Group: Bird

Number of species : 6

Location: Central America

Habitat: moist cloud forests and high

Color: Green, Blue, Red, White , Bronze, Grey, Brown

Skin Type: Feathers

Dimensions ( H): 35cm - 41 cm ( 14in - 16in )

Weight: 205g - 225g ( 7 oz - 8 oz)

Diet: Omnivorous

Prey : fruits, berries, insects

Predators : squirrels , owls , hawks

Lifestyle: Twilight

Group behavior : Solitary

Life Time: 20 - 25 years

Sexual Maturity Period: 5 - 6 years

incubation Time: 18 days

Average size of the clutch : 2

Name Of The Young: Chick

Fledging Age 4 weeks

Preservation status : Threatened

Estimated Population Size: 50,000

Greatest threat : the loss of habitat and trapping

Distinctive feature : Calls soft and deep, but loud

Trivia:Male feathered tail can be 1m long !

Classification and Evolution of Quetzal

The Quetzal is a medium sized bird that lives in the Central America tropical rainforests from southern Mexico to Panama.There are six sub-species of Quetzal which are located in different geographical locations including the Golden-headed Quetzal, the white-tipped Quetzal, the Pavonine Quetzal, the Eared Quetzal,Crested Quetzal and the most well-known Resplendent Quetzal, each of which belong to the family of  Trogon birds.The Quetzal is a bird with extremely colorful plumage in metallic colour and is widely regarded as one of the most amazingly, beautiful birds in the world.They are best known for the long tail feathers of the male.

Anatomy and appearance of Quetzal

The Quetzal males display the deep red chest and belly along with its bodies consisting of metallic green or blue colour.The male Quetzal also has a distinctive tuft of golden green feathers that consists a crest above the head and long double tail feathers that can grow up to one meter length.Although females do not grow like males but have same colouration to their male counterparts with their plumage not quite bright.The deep red chest is often much duller or even gray (as is the metallic green), and have colored heads of gray or bronze edged with green. As for the other members of the trogon family, at the foot of the Quetzal are unique with two facing forward and two backward on each foot that helps while reaching  high up in the trees.

Distribution of Quetzal

In the mountainous rainforests of Central America the Quetzal are found ,where they tend to prefer high mountain ranges at altitudes between 5,000 and 10,000 meters.The Quetzal likes to live in humid tropical forests areas that are incredibly moist,cooler and contain dense vegetation. Rainforests are one of the most successful living area for the Quetzal,where high humidity level makes fog in the forest. Quetzals lives in trees holes near the top of the canopy which is designed and build by them with their beaks, or that have been made by woodpeckers.The plumage of the Quetzal means that these birds are perfectly camouflaged among the lush vegetation that surrounds them.

Behaviour and Lifestyle of Quetzal

As the feet design of Quetzal and it is very lazy in nature so due to this reason it is rarely available on the ground to walk around .The Quetzal perches high up in the tree canopy,where their voices are almost as distinctive as their appearance.Depending on the situation,they make various kinds of calls which are soft and loud.The Quetzal is vocal when there is a lot of fog at dawn and dusk and rarely call during very sunny or windy atmosphere.Although the sounds of males tend to be more deep than those of females ,during the mating season the sounds produced are described as "whining."The Quetzal is also popular to make whistle-like calls at dawn and sunset to stake it's claim on its territory.

Reproduction and Life Cycles of Quetzal

It uses the strong beaks to make holes in rotting trees so that they can make nest.The female lays between one and three eggs that are incubated in the hole by both female and the male alternately.However, due to the fact that the male has feathers tail that can grow up to 3 feet long , they are often seen protruding out of  the nest when he is sitting on the eggs.Incubation lasts until  three weeks and when the chicks hatch are born with their closed eyes and are fed by their parents until they are strong enough to move. Quetzal chicks can usually fly from the moment there are three weeks old and once are confident enough , they will flee the nest to find a territory of their own (although they remain close to their father for their first years ).

Diet and Prey of Quetzal

The Quetzal is an omnivorous animal who is a skilled hunter ,swooping down and catching its prey before eating it while still in the air.They have a diet of mainly fruit-based and in particular encourage small avocado -like fruits that belong to the laurel family and are known to gather in large numbers around fruit trees.When their is a scarcity of fruits,the Quetzal eats insects and small animals such as frogs, lizards,snails and larvae provide the nutrition needed.The Quetzal plays a vital role in keeping with its surroundings,as the seeds of fruits and berries are scattered throughout the forest during eating.

Attackers and threats of Quetzal

Despite the fact that the feathers provide this beautifully colored bird with good camouflage in the forests are not particularly good  fliers and instead rely more on hopping among the branches.The Quetzal is therefore relatively easy prey for other animals to capture prey and mammals such as the Kinkajou , along with squirrels,hawks and owls.Due to the human settlements and agriculture decrease their areas of survival,so it is the most dangerous threat for Quetzal.

Features of Quetzal

Although Quetzal male is distinctly known for its incredibly long tail feathers ,do not begin to grow until they are three years ,with many individuals do not reach sexual maturity until they are almost six. The resplendent Quetzal is also known as the Guatemalan Quetzal and is not just a national symbol of the nation, but the currency in Guatemala is actually known as the " Quetzal ".The Quetzal belong to the family ' Trogon ' which is the Greek word for " gnawing ",which is a distinctive feature of these birds.

Human relation with Quetzal

The Quetzal was seen as a sacred animal to the ancient indigenous people including the Aztecs and the Maya and was often referred to as the Rare jewel bird of the world, together with regularity is depicted in native art .The long tail feathers of  males were also used in garments worn by royalty.Today, however, even if the Quetzal is still a valuable species  including Guatemala and Costa Rica countries , their numbers are decreasing due to both human interference in their natural range and capture them to exploit.

Conservation Status and Today's Life of Quetzal

The Quetzal is now considered as threatened species in it's  surroundings, as the population in their characteristic habitats are declining.Although there are protected forest areas where the will not be irritated ,are becoming popular tourist attractions ,both for birdwatchers and animal organizations.In some parts of natural surroundings ,does not survive very successful in captivity means that they are caught in the wild on a regular basis ,resulting in a decrease in the number of population.