The laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is a type of kingfisher. Their distinctive laughing call can often be heard in stock soundtracks depicting jungle settings, even if they don’t take place in their native Australia. Ahhh, “movie magic”.
Ilove them. I mean, look at their big, shiny eyes! NO ONE can say that they aren’t cute as hell!
Theotherreason I love these animals is because they’re basically what happens when evolution tries to make a bat out of a bird.
These little guys are known as oilbirds (Steatornis caripensis), and are also called guácharo (and also several other things, because they are found in South America, plus Trinidad & Tobago, which all have INCREDIBLE language diversity).
Oilbirds are nocturnal, flying around the forests of South America at night looking for fruit to eat. They also live colonially in caves, which they navigate using echolocation.
So, to review:
(I’m making my Generic Bats a verygeneric fruit bat, for the record).
Oilbirds are the only birds with this combination of traits, which I think is pretty cool of them! Why are they so much like bats? Basically, when different types of animals evolve under similar selective pressures, they often evolve the same features! This is called convergent evolution, and wowI talk about it a lot on this blog! It turns out that nocturnal animals that live in caves and eat fruit can sometimes benefit from traits like these!
(they’re, like… spooky-cute. Cute-spooky? Either way, I like them a lot)
So, if these birds are flying around at night, how do they stop themselves from flying into things while searching for that tasty, tasty fruit?
Well, in the forest, they mostly rely on their AMAZING night vision (which is another trait they share with bats, fyi). That is why they have such big, adorable eyes, which has a lot of light-sensing cells called rods. They actually hold a record for the density of the rods in their eyes: one million per square millimetre. That is the highest density of any known vertebrate. It’s about 6x denser than the rods found in human eyes!
Their amazing vision allows them to see verywell in low light, which is how they navigate the South American jungles at night, searching for food under the moon and stars. That said, their vision just doesn’t cut it when it comes to flying in the caves they call home. Why? Well, caves are dark as hell, and even the best night-vision can’t do anything for you when there’s no light at all. Plus, flying into cave walls/ cliff faces hurts, so it’s good to be extrasure you’re not flying into solid rock!
Sohowdo they find their way around these dark caves? Well, they use something veryunusual for birds: echolocation!
Oilbirds are one of only a few species of birds that are known to use echolocation (the others are a few species of the closely-related swiflets (Collocaliini), but I HAVE DECIDED TODAY IS FOR THE OILBIRDS im sorry, swiflets, ilu2).
Look at them, not flying into rocks! I’m so proud (˃̣̣̥ ◡ ˂̣̣̥)
Also, a bonus fact, because idk where to fit this but I MUST mention it:
They have little whiskers around their beaks (which are technically called “rictal bristles”, but I’m going to call them “whiskers” because I like that word better). These whiskers are basically used to feel things that they have in and around their mouth, helping them find, manipulate, and eat their tasty fruit!
Cats: “mew” • Like to make little noises to communicate • come off as aloof but actually just show affection differently • sometimes like touch…sometimes NO • ZOOM
Bats: often sensitive to light • unheard communication • known for flapping (literally called “Bats”) • so misunderstood - and feared??? • Needs dark and quiet
Birds (especially corvids and parrots): Sounds Galore! Some even mimic sounds they hear • More flapping • puzzle solvers • some are prone to anxiety when favorite person is gone • unique senses of style
Whales (Dolphins, “whales”, porpoises, belugas, narwhals): “EEEEE” • Some are very social, othrs are shy and roam the world humming ethereal tunes in the darkness we cannot comprehend • they do flips and spins just for fun • Sound sensitive. Noise pollution is harmful • Trickster Gods. But also have shown great empathy
Fireflies: Light it Up Gold! • Nonverbal Communication • Just love dark nights and cozy leaf litter • sensitive environmental changes • Somehow… we always find each other in the darkness ♡
The ‘Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko’ is perfectly evolved to blend in with surrounding trees. It is so well camouflaged that anybody could easily mistake these lizards for leaves.
These reptiles are native to the tropical forests of Madagascar.
The amazing prarie dog. Did you know that prarie dogs are known for having their own language? They are second only to humans with speaking their own organized language.
This stork-like bird is probably best known for, you guessed it, its massive beak. In fact, the bill is so big, it’s earned the bird a nickname: “whalehead.” But you won’t find this bird in the ocean, its preferred habitat are the marshes and freshwater swamps of east Africa.
Today, enjoy a few facts about the shoebill (Balaeniceps rex):
It’s okay to admit. To some eyes, these birds could be seen as a tad frightening. They’re big, with some shoebills standing over 4 feet (1.22 meters) tall and weighing around 12 pounds (5.4 kg).
Shoebills have a large prominent beak that looks a lot like a wooden shoe. They also have surprisingly large feet (see photo above), which may help them navigate shallow waters surfaced with floating vegetation.
When it comes to mating, shoebills are monogamous. Both males and females participate in all aspects of the chick rearing. And as the University of Michigan notes, shoebills engage in “egg watering,” filling their beaks with water and dumping that on eggs to help keep them cool.
AsAudubon points out, the diet of a shoebill is diverse and ranges from eels and lungfish to baby crocodiles. While hunting, the birds will stand and wait or slowly stalk through vegetation in shallow water until they can find a meal.
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