FlamingoFlamingos or flamingoes () are a type of wading bird in the familyPhoenicopteridae, which is the only extant family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas (including the Caribbean), and two species native to Afro-Eurasia. EtymologyThe name flamingo comes from Portuguese or Spanishflamengo'flame-coloured'; in turn, the word comes from Provençalflamenc – a combination of flama'flame' and a Germanic-like suffix .
LoonLoons (North American English) or divers (British / Irish English) are a group of aquatic birds found in much of North America and northern Eurasia. All living species of loons are members of the genusGavia, family Gaviidae, and orderGaviiformes. DescriptionLoons, which are the size of large ducks or small geese, resemble these birds in shape when swimming.
SpeciesBasic unit of taxonomic classification, below genusThe hierarchy of biological classification's eight major taxonomic ranks. A genus contains one or more species. Minor intermediate ranks are not shown.A species (pl. species) is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity.
Family (taxonomy)Family (Latin: familia, pl.: familiae) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy. It is classified between order and genus. A family may be divided into subfamilies, which are intermediate ranks between the ranks of family and genus.GenusGenus (; pl.: genera) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus. E.g. Panthera leo (lion) and Panthera onca (jaguar) are two species within the genus Panthera.
CootCoots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family, Rallidae. They constitute the genus Fulica, the name being the Latin term for "coot". Coots have predominantly black plumage, and—unlike many rails—they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water. Taxonomy and systematicsThe genusFulica was introduced in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the of his Systema Naturae. The genus name is the Latin word for a Eurasian coot.
PoachingPoaching is the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights. Poaching was once performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes and to supplement meager diets. It was set against the hunting privileges of nobility and territorial rulers. Since the 1980s, the term "poaching" has also been used to refer to the illegal harvesting of wild plants.
PaleontologyPaleontology or palaeontology is the scientific study of the life of the past, mainly but not exclusively through the study of fossils. Paleontologists use fossils as a means to classify organisms, measure geologic time, and assess the interactions between prehistoric organisms and their natural environment.
SeaA sea is a large body of salt water. The term has two distinct meanings. The first is the interconnected body of seawater that spans most of Earth, known as the sea or the ocean. The second is a named body of water: usually either a marginal sea (a second-order section of the oceanic sea such as the ), or a large, nearly landlocked body of water.
Bird migrationSeasonal movement of birdsA flock of barnacle geese during autumn migrationExamples of long-distance bird migration routesBird migration is a seasonal movement of some birds between breeding and wintering grounds that occurs twice a year. It is typically between northern and southern regions. Migration carries inherent risks, including predation and other hazards en route.
Monogamy in animalsSome animal species have a monogamous mating system, in which pairs bond to raise offspring. This is associated, usually implicitly, with sexual monogamy.
Morphology (biology)In biology, morphology is the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features. This includes aspects of the outward appearance (shape, structure, color, pattern, size), as well as the form and structure of internal parts like bones and organs, i.e., anatomy. This is in contrast to physiology, which deals primarily with function.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.