Most Wanted Part I: The World

Hoiho [Yellow-eyed Penguin] (Megadyptes antipodes); 17 January 2010; Otago Peninsula, New Zealand. World bird #1.226

We all have things we would like to see in the world. For a world bird watcher like me, there are particular birds, or types of birds, I would like to see in the world. I do aim to see as many species as is reasonable in my life, but there are particular birds that have a bit of a draw for me. In no particular order, they follow.

Any ratite. For those unfamiliar, ratites are a collective group of the most well known flightless birds. Scattered across the world, I'd like to see all of them, but I would be happy with any. There is some debate to their evolution, part of which stems from their locations in the world: New Zealand, Australia (and part of the pacific islands nearby), Africa, and South America. None in Europe, Asia, or North America. The birds include the Ostrich (Struthio camelus); the Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae); the kiwis (Apteryx species), and the rheas (Rhea species), among others. The best opportunities I have had to see one were kiwis in 2010, when I was able to hear them calling (but never saw them), and the Emu when I was guiding in Australia at the Lotus Bird Lodge. Alas, the only Emu seen was the day I left! Of these, I would most like to see a kiwi. If only for the excuse to go to New Zealand again!

A closely related group of birds to the ratites are the tinamous of the New World. Similar to the ratites in various ways, they actually can fly, though rarely do. I describe the flight as a "hairy cannonball," and it is as grace(less) as you can picture that to be. Very secretive birds, I have actually had the opportunity to see 3 species.
Little Tinamou (Crypturellus soui) at Bosque del Rio Tigre Lodge, Costa Rica. World bird number 969, or thereabouts (it was a busy bird day!)

Any of the following three birds: Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja); Philippine Eagle [Monkey-eating Eagle] (Pithecophaga jefferyi); or Crowned Eagle [Crowned Hawk-eagle] (Stephanoaetus coronatus). Found in Central and South America, the Philippines, and Africa, respectively, these are all massive birds of prey. The Harpy Eagle is usually considered the strongest bird of prey in the world, though not the largest. It can rip a sloth - which weighs nearly as much as the bird itself - off a branch and not break stride, er, wing flap. Each of these represents the "apex bird" of their respective habitat. Also, as a result, will tend to be rare and at low densities.

The Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is an unusual bird of prey. Instead of soaring and dropping to the gr0und to capture food, it walks and runs on the ground to capture food. It's just one of those enigmatic birds that a birdwatcher just has to see. And watch, to wonder at the way nature makes birds do unusual habits.

The Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin). An unusual bird of the Amazon in South America. As a youngster, the nestlings have little claws on their wings, which allow them to crawl among the branches in their habitat to escape predators. Somewhat unusual among birds, their diet is mostly vegetation, specifically leaves. They even have bacteria in their crop to ferment the food, much like ruminants such as cows do in their stomachs.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus). Found world wide in the arctic, occasionally the species makes what are known as irruptions. For whatever reason (usually a collapse of the lemming population), every few years an abundance of these birds will venture much farther south than usual, and can be found as far as New York, Pennsylvania, and the mid-west, instead of much farther north in Canada. I remember falling in love with this bird in grade school. Perhaps even then I knew I had birds on the brain. Of the birds on this list, this is most likely the first one to be seen.

Any ptarmigan species: Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta); Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus); or White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura). The most likely one of these I will see is the White-tailed, since it is found only in the US (the others are found in northern North America and Eurasia), and I am most likely to visit its location (Rocky Mountains). Something unique about these birds is they grow their own snowshoes! And their own camouflage! In the summer, the birds will be mottled brown, black, and gray, to blend in with their rocky surroundings. As summer turns to fall and winter and the snow flies, they grow white feathers to blend in with their surroundings, and little side spurs on their feet, for traction on snow (and to prevent themselves from falling through snow).

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). The largest falcon. And the only one I have left to see in North America (that is a regular occurring bird, anyway). It can take out a Canada goose (Branta canadensis). I gotta see a bird that can manage that!

Lammergeier, or Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). Why? Well, more to watch it "hunt." It feeds nearly exclusively on bone marrow. It gets at the bone marrow by finding bones, picking them up, and dropping them from extraordinary heights to break them apart to get at the marrow. It does not have strong enough talons or bill to open it with those "normal" bird utensils.

Some birds that used to be on my most wanted:

Any of the "great" albatrosses (genus Diomedea), which have the longest wingspans in the world. The Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) has the largest wingpan, up to 3.5 m wide. I saw my first Diomedea species, the Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) on the same trip, and the same day, as the Hoiho above. In spite of this - I still want to see a Wandering Albatross.
Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi); Otago Peninsula, New Zealand. World bird #1.225

And of course, any penguin species was on my list. When I went to New Zealand, one of the reasons I headed as far south as I could (to Stewart Island, and the south end of the south island), was for the chance to see a penguin. And I wasn't disappointed! The Hoiho above wasn't even the FIRST species I saw, but it did offer the best looks. The first one I saw was making chirping noises in the water, and it took a while for me to see. Eventually, from talking to locals and knowing where to go, I got a good look at the smallest penguin in the world, the Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor).

Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor). Stewart Island, New Zealand. World bird #1.218

Other birds included the I'iwi of Hawai'i (that's the all red bird with the crazy curved bill); toucans (I've seen 12 species now!); any antbird (beyond numerous to count now); and any macaw (Scarlet Macaw [Ara macao], in Costa Rica).

Stay tuned for my Most Wanted Part II: North America list.