Gazelle

Gazelles, genus Gazella, are slender, graceful antelopes belonging to the family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla. There are about 12 species and 50 recognize forms. The largest gazelle is the dama, or red necked, gazelle, G. damaruficollis, of northern Africa, which stands slightly less than 1 m (3 ft) tail at the shoulder. Other species are 51 to 85 cm (20 to 34 in) tall. Gazelle have long, thin legs with two-toed hooves. Both sexes have beautiful, black ringed, 25 to 38 cm long (10 to 15 in) horns, except for Persian, or goitered, gazelle, only the bucks of which have horns.

Bazelles have brown or fawn colored coats, usually with black and white markings around the face and neck, white undersides and rump, and often a horizontal band of dark color along the flanks. The ears are long and narrow. The tail is short. The large, luminous black eyes are a striking feature. Many gazelles are fast runners, and Grant’s gazelle has been clocked at 80 km/h (50 mph).

Gazelles inhabit open plains from Mongolia and India to Egypt and Morocco and into tropical eastern and central Africa. Several species have become threatened because of overhunting. Gazelle graze in herds numbering from four or five to several hundred. Central and eastern African gazelles often mingle with herds of other herbivores. Like other antelopes, gazelles are ruminants, or cud-chewers.

Vulture

Vultures are large birds of prey that live mainly as scavengers on carrion. They are divided into two groups; the New World vultures, family Cathartidae, and the Old World vultures, subfamily Aegypiinae, family Accipitridae. Both group are placed in the order Falconiformes, together with hawks and eagles, and Old World vultures are in fact related to hawks. New World vulture, however, are of more ancient evolutionary origin and have been linked genetically to the storks. The combined classification resulted from superficial similarities produced by convergent evolution; thus the head and neck of all vultures are usually bare except for a thin covering of down, and both groups have weak feet adapted more for walking than clutching. Bills of New World vultures, however, are relatively weak; those of the Old World vultures are generally much stronger.

New World vulture species include the turkey vulture, Chathartes aura, and black vulture, Coragyps atratus both widespread in the Americas; the King vulture, Sarcoramphus papa, of tropical forest regions; and two South Americans Cathartes species. (in United States, vultures are also called buzzards). Turkey vultures depend more on eyesight for finding carrion. The two condor species include the California condor, Gymnogyps californianus, and the Andean condor, Vulture gryphus, which are among the world's largest flying birds.

Old World vultures inhabit the warmer parts of Europe, all of Africa, and the dried parts of Asia. They are most common in mountainous or open country and are seldom found in forest or in areas with high rainfall. All are carrion eaters except for the palm-nut vulture, Gyphohierax angolensis, which feeds principally on the fruit of the oil palm.

Blackbird

Blackbird is the common name for about 25 species of birds of the New World family Icteridae, which also includes orioles and bobolinks, and for several unrelated Old World birds of the Thrush family, Turdidae. American blackbirds range from 20 to 28 cm (8 to 11 in) long and have pointed bills and rounded tails. Males are typically black, and some have marking in bright colors. Females may be brown, grayish, or mottled. The red winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus male has flashing red shoulder patches, for example, and the female is brown and striped, they are abundantly distributed over the marshes and upland fields of most of North America.

Many blackbirds are gregarious and nest in colonies; two to seven eggs are laid. They feed on insects, seeds, and grain. The common blackbird of the Old World resembles the duller species of American blackbirds but is actually a thrush related to the American robin.

Blackbird are among the most populus of all birds, with some winter flocks numbering in the million. The yellow headed blackbird, the only North American bird with a yellow head and a black body; the red winged blackbird; and the brewer’s blackbird.

The male of the nominate subspecies, which is found throughout most of Europe, is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill and has a wide range of vocalisations; the adult female and juvenile have mainly brown plumage. his species breeds in woods and gardens, building a neat, mud-lined, cup-shaped nest. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, berries, and fruits.

Both sexes are territorial on the breeding grounds, with distinctive threat displays, but are more gregarious during migration and in wintering areas. Pairs will stay in their territory throughout the year where the climate is sufficiently temperate. This common species has given rise to a number of literary and cultural references, frequently related to its melodious song.

Other Birds:

• Falcon Bird
• Pigeon Bird