The collection of the Moscow Zoo has been replenished with three rare species of exotic birds – the black-faced ibis and the smoky frog-beak, the news portal of the mayor and the capital's administration reported.
Four spheres are placed on the left side of the Bird House pavilion. The birds are kept in an aviary designed to resemble the White Sea coast. The bird's gender is currently unknown; it can only be determined by blood test results. The enclosure currently contains two representatives of the rare species along with amphibious species.
Shuttlers live on river banks and in mangroves in Central and South America. The length of birds can reach 50 cm, and their weight is about 700 grams. The bird's characteristics are a large dark crest, a wide and short bill with a small tooth at the end. Storks are also called “night herons”. Birds lead a solitary lifestyle and only meet relatives during the mating period. Young beaks consume shrimp, fish and small crustaceans as food.
“In their group, grosbeaks are quite noisy, but with representatives of other species – in our case wading birds – they live peacefully,” said Svetlana Akulova, general director of the Moscow Zoo.
Eight black-faced ibises also became new residents of the Bird and Butterfly Pavilion. They share an aviary with white-faced whistling ducks, sacred ibis and spoonbills.
The basis of the diet of the black-faced ibis is protein-rich food: they are fed fish, shrimp, squid, meat and cheese. They also add specialized vitamins, minerals and food for the flamingos. The black-faced ibis lives in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. They prefer open grasslands, fields, and forests. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are approximately 25 to 100 thousand breeding pairs of this species worldwide.
Among the black-faced ibis that came to the zoo, a pair formed. This type of bird contacts each other in a special way and makes a chirping sound.
After quarantine, the smoke-filled frog was moved to the cage on the second floor of the Bird House. Currently this part of the pavilion is closed for renovation so visitors will not be able to see the exotic birds, their gender and age are still unknown.
Representatives of these birds are called smoky white-footed, giant white-footed and frog-mouthed owls. This secretive bird lives in Southeast Asia, Australia and the island of Tasmania. Smoke frogs primarily hunt at night and can be spotted on logs or tree branches during the day. Thanks to its color, the bird easily blends into the bark of the tree.
Birds mainly eat insects, frogs and small animals, and they only enter into mating alliances once and for all. They use the same nest, located on a piece of wood or even scrap.
In addition, Inca cockatoos came to the center of the Moscow region to breed rare animals after a long rest. These Australian birds are rarely seen in Russian zoos. When describing birds, German zoologist Alfred Bram compared their crests with Indian hats. Inca cockatoos seek refuge in eucalyptus forests, away from humans. Birds live long; The world record holder lived in the zoo for 83 years.
The Inca cockatoo, unlike its adaptable relative the rose-cockatoo, is a very vulnerable species. You may only see these birds during warm weather, when they move to outdoor aviaries.
Previously, a male and female Egyptian spinytail settled in the Moscow Zoo. This lizard is rarely kept in captivity. Egyptian pointed tails can reach a length of 75 cm and weigh up to 1.5–2 kg. Their habitat is desert and semi-desert areas in Africa.
