Exactly one year ago today Anna from the Bird Spot team stepped off a plane after spending just over 2 weeks in Costa Rica.
During that time, she was lucky enough to spot one of the world’s most iconic birds, the resplendent quetzal, a bird in the trogon family that is well known for its colourful plumage.
Little did she know that for the next 12 months she would barely leave her postcode, let alone have the opportunity to travel the world seeking out more amazing birds. And with lockdown restrictions still in place it doesn’t look as though she’s going anywhere soon.
So we asked her to go on a virtual tour of the world, picking 10 iconic birds she’d love to see in their natural environment.
My first port of-call is to see the Andean-cock-of-rock. I picked this bird for 3 reasons, its name, the way it looks, and where it lives.
There are actually 2 cocks-of-the-rock; the Guianan cock-of-the-rock, and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, but it is the latter that seems to get most of the attention.
It’s a stunning bird that displays extreme sexual dimorphism. The male has fiery orange plumage which contrasts with black and silver wings, and a prominent disc-shaped crest that is so large it almost obscures its bill. Females are much duller with smaller crests and pale sky-blue eyes that area a bit spooky looking.
One of the of the best places to spot an Andean cock-of-the-rock is in the Mindo Cloud Forest in Ecuador. It is famed for over 500 species of incredible birds, and has won the Audubon Christmas Count six times.
My days spent in the enchanted Monteverde Cloud forest of Costa Rica were some of the most memorable of the trip, where you could literally spend an hour or so examining the ecosystem supported by just one tree, so I would love the opportunity to experience another cloud forest in a different country.
I was lucky enough to see the smallest bird in the world, the bee hummingbird, a couple of years ago on a trip to Cuba, so I’d leave Ecuador and travel down the coast of South America to Peru for the chance to see the largest flying bird in the world, the Andean condor.
Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world, is the most popular place in Peru to see these magnificent birds. With wingspans of up to 3 m they like to live in windy places where they can glide on the currents in search of their next meal. They rarely flap their wings, relying on thermals to keep them afloat. Indeed, Charles Darwin noted that he watched them for half an hour and not once did he see a flap.
The Andean condor was considered a sacred bird by the Incas, one of their three totems, the others being the puma, and the snake. Because they fly so high, they believed they were God’s messengers and that they carried the dead on their wings to the afterlife. They also believed they were immortal, perhaps because Andean condors live so long – up to 50 years in the wild.
Of course, a fantasy trip to Peru wouldn’t be complete without trekking the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. So I’d have to make a slight detour before embarking on the journey to my next birding destination.
Staying in South America, my next stop would be the Falkland Islands, to see the penguins, specifically the king penguin.
There are more penguins than people on the Falkland Islands and as it’s not overrun with tourists it’s one of the best places in the world to see them. 5 species inhabit the island – rockhopper, gentoo, magellanic, and macaroni are the others.
Although emperor penguins are larger and, as the stars of numerous films such as Happy Feet and March of the Penguins, probably a bit more famous, I went for the king as the ones on the Falkland Islands are sort of British penguins which amuses me, and it’s really, really hard to see emperor penguins, particularly if you don’t fancy the idea of a helicopter flight to do so.
The colony of around 1,500 is concentrated at Volunteer Point, a remote lowland headland on the east coast of East Falkland, an area important for birdlife, as well as a colony of elephant seals. Conversation is taken seriously so that visitors can enjoy their visit without disturbing the wildlife. There are limited car parking spaces, and guidance on how far away you should remain as you observe the birds.
I’d leave South America for a long journey across the South Pacific Ocean to Papua New Guinea and Varirata National Park.
Home to many fantastic species of birds it’s the raggiana bird-of-paradise I’ve come to see, and the country’s national bird.
Many consider the raggiana bird-of-paradise the most beautiful bird on the planet and I’m inclined to agree. Males have fabulous plumage with long tail feathers that are so light and airy they can lift them above their heads during their elaborate courtship displays.
They begin their courtship dance at dawn when a number of males gather at a lek site, often in the high branches of tall trees, and announce their presence to nearby females with loud, frenzied calls. The dance involves three set phases from convergence to copulation, designed to show off their flamboyant plumage through a series of movements and postures.
The breeding season is a long one – from April to December – so there’s an excellent chance of seeing the raggiana bird-of-paradise display. While I’m waiting there are plenty of other iconic birds to keep me occupied, including cassowaries, hornbills, and kookaburras.
Leaving Papua New Guinea, I’d journey south to Australia for the next bird on my list which isn’t much to look at but is certainly one to listen to.
The superb lyrebird is one of the world’s largest song birds and famous for its excellent mimicry. It is estimated that up to 80% of the male’s calls are imitations of the calls of other species of birds which are so accurate that even the species being copied is unable to distinguish them from the original. Females are also capable of mimicry, although not to the extent of males.
Lyrebirds were featured in David Attenborough’s Life of Birds although somewhat controversially. The birds were shown mimicking anthropogenic sounds including chainsaws, camera shutters, and a car alarm. However, it turned out that two of the lyrebirds he observed were in captivity and were mimicking the sounds they had heard during construction works at a zoo.
The Lyrebird Forest Walk in Mirboo North Regional Park is about a 2 hour drive from Melbourne, and a magical place with tall trees, streams, and fern gullies. It’s also home to another of Australia’s iconic animals, the kangaroo.
Time to head back north to Japan and to the Kushiro Marshlands to see the tancho, or Japanese red-crowned crane. Situated near Kushiro City, the marshlands are a haven for local wildlife, including Steller’s sea eagle.
Red-crowned cranes are an important part of Japanese culture. These beautiful birds are said to live for 1,000 years and they are synonymous with happiness and longevity. An ancient legend promises anyone who folds 1,000 origami cranes will be granted happiness or good luck, or even a wish by the gods. One appears in the logo of Japan Airlines and a pair was used in the design of the 1000-yen note.
A winter visit is a must for the best chance to see the cranes dancing on a backdrop of snow. The dance is thought to strengthen the pair bond and occurs all year round, and they will also engage in honking rituals before performing the dance.
I’d have to spend a while in Japan to absorb its culture and sample its amazing food. Ramen, oden, soba, robata, wagyu beef, sushi, sashimi, katsu, tempura, a tea ceremony, and sake would all be on the menu.
India next and one of the top bird watching destinations in the world. Keoladeo National Park, formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is home to 1,000s of birds particularly during the winter when migratory waterfowl visit.
I’m here to see a bird that exhibits probably the most famous example of extreme sexual dimorphism, the Indian peafowl. Best known for their extravagant display feathers which form an ornamental train, during courtship male peafowl, or peacocks, erect their train into a majestic fan giving female peafowl, or peahens, the best possible view of the eyespots in the middle of the feathers.
The peafowl is the national bird of India and plays an important role in Indian mythology and folklore. The powerful Mauryan dynasty is named after the peafowl and a peacock feather is to be found adorning the crown of Lord Krishna.
Peafowl have been imported to all corners of the world as ornamental birds, including the UK. In fact I could have stayed closer to home to see peafowl in the ‘wild’ as a number of escapees from collections have formed feral colonies, sometimes driving local residents to distraction during breeding season.
Across to Africa next and the Great Rift Valley. Here in one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth lives the lesser flamingo, not only an iconic bird, but a remarkably resilient specimen.
Soda lakes are strong alkalic and saline lakes that contain high concentrations of carbonate salts and sodium chloride. Most flora and fauna would not survive in this environment, but these prehistoric conditions maintain surprisingly productive ecosystems and are ideal for cyanobacteria, sometimes referred to as algae, and brine shrimp which make up the majority of the flamingo’s diet.
Flamingos are filter feeders meaning they sift the water with their specially adapted bill, in a manner similar to how whales and oysters feed. The lesser flamingo has such a dense filter that it can sift out single-celled plants that measure just 0.05 cm. It is the brine shrimp and blue-green algae that give flamingos their distinctive pink colour. When born flamingos have grey feathers, but their plumage gradually turns pink from a natural pink dye called canthaxanthin found in the food they eat.
Flamingos have evolved well to this harsh environment. Scales cover their legs so they can stand in the toxic water and with little fresh water available they are able to drink boiling hot water from geysers dotted around the lake.
I’d stay in Africa for my penultimate stop, and the second flightless bird on my list, this time a record-breaker. The common ostrich is the largest species of any living bird, it lays the largest eggs, and can run at speeds of up to 70 km/h, the fastest land speed of any bird.
You can find ostriches all over Africa on ostrich farms where they are bred for their meat and to entertain tourists, although thankfully ostrich rides are being phased out. But I want to see an ostrich in the wild. So I’d head to Kruger National Park in north east South Africa, one of the largest game reserves in Africa.
While I’m there I’d also aim to spot the Big Five – the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo – that everyone traditionally tries to see on safari. And as I’m meant to be on a bird watching safari I’d try for the even more elusive Big Six, an alternative list for birders, that comprises the lappet-faced vulture, martial eagle, saddle billed stork, kori bustard, ground hornbill, and Pel’s fishing owl.
It’s almost time to return home and after this jam-packed bird watching jaunt around the world, I’d probably be in some desperate need of a little rest and relaxation.
Where better place to spend the final days of my trip than in the beautiful wilds of Scotland? I’d find a remote cabin in the Scottish Highlands where I’d look to the skies in search of a golden eagle soaring overhead.
This huge bird of prey, second only in size to white-tailed eagle in the UK is notoriously elusive so I know this wouldn’t be an easy spot. A hike into the mountains of Cairngorms National Park may give me my best chance as it’s prime golden eagle territory, where they hunt ptarmigan, rabbits, and mountain hares that roam the tundra.
Golden eagles are a true Scottish icon and a glimpse of one of these majestic birds of prey would be a fitting end to my trip.
In need of some more inspiration? Take a look at our pick of the hottest bird watching destinations around the world.
