Muddy Alligators (1917) by John Singer Sargent

the killdeer is a large member of the plover family found in the americas. it is named for its shrill, two-syllable call, which is often described as “kill-deer” or “kill-dee.” they are primarily brown and white in appearance, with a brown upper side and white underside, though two large black bands cross the chest, along with black markings around the bill and eyes of the bird. while their nonbreeding habitat is typically coastal wetlands and beach habitats, like other plovers, their breeding grounds are typically any kind of open field with short vegetation, not necessarily near water. (they’re often found creating nests on various sports fields in their range.) the nest itself is typically a simple scrape, often lined with vegetation and white materials like seashells or pebbles. each clutch consists of 4-6 eggs, which both parents work to incubate for 22 to 28 days. the day after hatching, killdeer parents lead their young away from the nest and to a feeding territory - often a space with dense vegetation, where vulnerable young have spaces to hide - where they remain until 31 days after hatching. killdeer parents are also known for using the ‘broken wing display’, in which an adult bird feigns being injured in order to lead a potential predator away from vulnerable young. killdeer have a varied diet; though insects are preferred, they also feed on seeds and other invertebrates; if given the opportunity, they will diversify their diet with what is available, including frogs and dead minnows. the oldest recorded killdeer reached an age of 10 years, 11 months, although on average these birds lead much shorter lives, with a large portion of birds never reaching adulthood due to their vulnerability during the first month of life.

Common Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica), male, family Columbidae, order Columbiformes, Karnataka, India

photograph by Satisha Sarakki

Dark-breasted Rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis), family Fringillidae, order Passeriformes, WB, India

Photograph by Syamala Rupakula

Rainbow-bearded Thornbill (Chalcostigma herrani), male, family Trochilidae, order Apodiformes, found in the Andes of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia

photograph by Faber Mosquera

i just found out about this bird (scale-crested pygmy tyrant) trying to find the most biodiverse countries and i feel tears welling up in my eyes because its so cute

why does it look like that i love him so much he's a little fella

whatever 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

I did my PhD in a fish lab, and one time I was emailing a fish company, and the guy emailed me back with the signature “Best fishes,” followed by these guys

White-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus)

somebuggy

i aint the snuggest bug in the bed

She was looking at the dung with a beetle's antennae in a shape of an L on her forehead

Favorite bird genre has got to be 'that's literally just a dinosaur'

Groove-Billed Ani

Hoatzin

Pheasant Coucal