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ANIMALS

Meet the Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, The Africa’s Cutest Flying Species

Meet the Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, The Africa's Cutest Flying Species

Have you ever noticed how characters with big red cheeks in cartoons and animations are incredibly cute? Artists intentionally exaggerate those features to make them more appealing and endearing to the audience, especially children. We often assume that such characters only exist on the screen, but it’s astonishing to discover that real animals possess similar traits. One such adorable creature is a small passerine bird belonging to the Estrildidae family, known as the red-cheeked cordon-bleu.

Image source: Natasha alba

These birds are originally from the grasslands, savannas, and shrublands of sub-Saharan Africa. Found in diverse ecosystems, they are known for their remarkable ability to adapt to various environmental conditions.

They don’t have any special requirements for their living arrangements, and it appears that they prefer resting on open branches rather than in nests or sheltered areas. This particular behavior makes them susceptible to colder temperatures.

Image source: Kevin Agar

The male bird stands out with its vibrant and striking colors, making it easy to distinguish from the female. It boasts a striking red patch on its cheeks, vivid blue feathers on its back and wings, and a white belly. Interestingly, their patches can sometimes display shades of orange or even yellow. On the other hand, the female has lighter coloring, with a grayish-blue back and wings, and a less prominent red spot on its face.

While young birds bear a closer resemblance to the females, the male birds in their juvenile stage display some hints of their future appearance. They start to develop blue coloring, which is primarily visible on their face and throat.

Image source: Makgobokgobo

The Red-cheeked cordon-bleu, scientifically known as Uraeginthus bengalus, is a tiny bird that typically measures around 10 to 12 centimeters in length, with a wingspan of approximately 15 centimeters.

Image source: Dorothy Sutherland

Female red-cheeked cordon-bleus often sing when protecting the area near their nest. However, their singing is less frequent and less complex compared to the males. It is believed that female singing helps with breeding synchronization and maintaining the bond with their partner, especially before laying eggs.

Image source: Russ

The red-cheeked cordon-bleu is a social bird that often forms small groups of around 20 individuals. They mainly feed on seeds, particularly weed and grass seeds. Interestingly, there have been occasional observations of them feeding on beeswax as well.

Image source: Neil Hilton

During the mating season, the male red-cheeked cordon-bleu often performs a courtship dance to attract the female. This dance includes puffing up its chest and tail feathers while hopping around in front of her.

The red-cheeked cordon-bleu builds its nest using grass, creating a large dome-shaped structure with a side entrance. These nests are typically found in trees, shrubs, or thatch. The female lays around 4-5 white eggs inside the nest. During the incubation period, the males become aggressive towards each other, and if the birds are startled, they often abandon the nest.

Image source: Neil Hilton

While the Red-cheeked cordon-bleu is currently not classified as an endangered species, its population has been affected by habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agricultural practices, urbanization, and climate change. Additionally, the species faces threats from illegal capture and trade, driven by its popularity. To protect the bird’s habitat and prevent illegal activities, it is important to implement strong conservation measures.

Image source: Greg Lavaty

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ANIMALS

Amazing Video of Unseen Ocean Creatures in the Ningaloo Canyons

Amazing Video of Unseen Ocean Creatures in the Ningaloo Canyons

The Schmidt Ocean Institute recently explored the Ningaloo Canyons on the western coast of Australia using a robotic underwater vehicle called the ROV Sebastian. Check out the amazing video of what they discovered in the deep parts of the Indian Ocean.

More info: Youtube

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ANIMALS

These Pics Are Art and the Artists Are Insects

These Pics Are Art and the Artists Are Insects

Flying insects move so quickly that they are hard to follow, but new technology and some smart ideas have helped Spanish photographer Xavi Bou do just that. After spending 10 years focusing on birds in flight for his Ornithographies project, he turned his attention to insects.

For Entomographies, he uses high-speed video footage taken by Adrian Smith, an insect expert at North Carolina State University, to study and record how insects move. Bou then picks multiple frames and combines them into single images that show the fast movements of one or more insects through space and time.

With Smith’s help, Bou has captured the aerial tricks of wasps, the jumps of leafhoppers, and the fluttering of butterflies in amazing detail. He hopes that by doing this, he can make people more aware of the decline in important insect populations around the world.

1. Zebra longwing

This butterfly, which is common in many areas of the Americas, really fits its name. It can fly very high with just a few flaps of its large wings.

Image source: nationalgeographic

2. Two-lined spittlebug

This insect, which comes from the eastern United States, is often seen as a pest because it likes to eat grass. Its springy back legs can make it jump into the air like a rocket.

Image source: nationalgeographic

3. Yellow-collared scape moth

Unlike most moths, this North American species flies during the day. Its shiny blue-black wings sparkle in the sunlight.

Image source: nationalgeographic

4. Ailanthus webworm moths

These tropical moths have spread farther north in the U.S. Because of their larval host, the invasive tree of heaven, they are now one of the most common backyard moths in the country.

Image source: nationalgeographic

5. Common stonefly

Mostly found in eastern North America, this insect starts its life as an underwater nymph in forested streams or rivers. Then it leaves the water, sheds its skin, and becomes an adult with wings.

Image source: nationalgeographic

6. Green lacewings

Eighty-seven species of this insect have been found in the U.S. and Canada. Since they eat a lot of unwanted plant pests like aphids and mites, they are often used to naturally control these pests.

Image source: nationalgeographic

7. Grapevine beetle

This insect, fittingly named, eats the leaves and fruit of grapevines, both wild and farmed, but it doesn’t do much damage to the plants. As a type of scarab beetle, it often flies in a curved path.

Image source: nationalgeographic

8. Oak treehopper and green treehopper

Treehoppers are known for their uniquely shaped pronotum, the part behind their head, which often looks like plant parts to hide from predators. They can jump well thanks to special muscles.

Image source: nationalgeographic

9. Banded orange

This brightly colored butterfly can be found from Mexico to Brazil. Before mating season, male butterflies look for mineral salts, sometimes even drinking salty fluids from the skin, eyes, and nostrils of other animals.

Image source: nationalgeographic

10. Sapho longwing

Longwings can live for 6 to 7 months, longer than most butterflies. This type, found from Mexico to Ecuador, has shiny blue wings, which is why it’s also called the Sapphire longwing.

Image source: nationalgeographic

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ANIMALS

Eagle and Fox in an Epic Midair Battle Over a Rabbit, Were Captured by a Photographer

Eagle and Fox in an Epic Midair Battle Over a Rabbit, Were Captured by a Photographer

Wildlife photography often depends on the perfect combination of good timing and the right place.

That’s exactly what happened when Kevin Ebi, an experienced wildlife photographer, captured an incredible battle between a bald eagle and a red fox, both competing for a rabbit meal.

In a detailed blog post, Ebi shares the fascinating series of events that unfolded while he was photographing foxes in San Juan Island National Historical Park, located in Washington state.

Ebi noticed a lively group of eight fox kits as they began their hunting lessons. Suddenly, they spotted a rabbit, and a thrilling chase ensued. Eventually, one of the foxes emerged as the winner, proudly carrying the rabbit across the field.

Image source: Kevin Ebi

Ebi shares what happened at that moment: “As I followed the fox with my camera, a sudden bald eagle cry caught my attention. It was swiftly approaching, clearly aiming for the rabbit. I quickly focused on the fox, anticipating a quick turnover of events.”

To Ebi’s astonishment, instead of a quick surrender, the situation turned into a intense fight in the air.

The eagle used its power to lift the fox and rabbit high up in the sky. Even while airborne, the fox attempted to break free by swinging back and forth.

Image source: Kevin Ebi

Image source: Kevin Ebi

Image source: Kevin Ebi

In the end, the eagle moved the rabbit to its other claw, causing the fox to let go. The intense battle came to an end in less than 10 seconds.

Image source: Kevin Ebi

For those worried about the fox’s well-being after the fight, Ebi reassures that it was not injured. The fox swiftly bounced back from the encounter and resumed its playful behavior with the other young foxes, showing no visible wounds from the aerial clash.

Image source: Kevin Ebi

Image source: Kevin Ebi

Image source: Kevin Ebi

Image source: Kevin Ebi

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