There are more than 10,000 living species of birds, and they can be found worldwide thanks to most species’ ability to fly. They are the only living dinosaurs which means that they are technically reptiles, with their closest living relatives being crocodilians. All birds possess a covering of feathers, a horny beak without teeth, and a lightweight skeleton, and like mammals, they are warm-blooded. Birds range in size from the tiny bee hummingbird to the common ostrich, which can stand taller than a man. Below is a list of some noteworthy bird species I have seen in the zoos I have visited.
- Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi)
- Bengal eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis)
- Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)
- Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)
- Kea (Nestor notabilis)
- Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus)
- Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
- Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis)
- Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)
- Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)
For information on birds I have seen in the wild in Ireland, see my Wildlife page.