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Many birds live in tropical climates, where the weather is always warm.  But one large family of birds lives only where there is very cold water.


If you saw something like this waving around above the water you might think at first that it was a snake. But a snake doesn't have a beak and it doesn't stand upright in the water. There's a big bird under that water. It may be trying to hide from you, or it may just want to cool off.

All About Owls

You'll never mistake an owl for another kind of bird! They are the only birds with flat faces and both eyes in front.  Unlike other birds, they can watch an object with both eyes at the same time, but they cannot look sideways without turning their heads.

The Kiwi

Pronounced "kee-wee." Sometimes called "apteryx."   If we had an election for the strangest looking bird in all the world, the kiwi would be a good candidate. It has stringy feathers, no tail, and just little knobs where its wings should be.

The Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Hadeda Ibis

Bostrychia hagedash

Chinese Goose Or Swan Goose

Anser cygnoides

The Call Duck

Anas platyrhynchos

The Red-masked Conure

Aratinga erythrogenys

The Rosy-faced Lovebird

Agapornis roseicollis

The Cape Weaver

Ploceus capensis

The Golden Palm Weaver

Ploceus bojeri

Rameron Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Bird Extremes

The biggest bird: The largest bird is the ostrich, common to South Africa. It can grow up to 9 feet (2.7 m) tall. The ostrich also lays the largest birds' eggs which are up to 4.5 x 7 inches (11 x 18 cm) across and their eggs weigh 3 pounds (1400 g).

The Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

The Cape Bulbul

Pycnonotus capensis

The Cape White-eye

Zosterops virens or Zosterops pallidus

The Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

African Grey Parrot

Psittacus erithacus erithacus

The Senegal Parrot

Poicephalus senegalus senegalus