Bird

The greater rhea (or Rhea americana) is a large ratite that lives in the grasslands, scrublands, wetlands and deserts of South America. It has a long, grey-pink neck and legs, and grey-brown plumage with white tail feathers, which hide its vestigial wings. The greater rhea is between 1.4m and 1.7m tall and weighs between 20kg and 27kg. Males tend to be taller, heavier, and overall bulkier than females.

The American flamingo (or Phoenicopterus ruber), also known as the Caribbean flamingo, is a large species of wading bird native to the mudflats, coastal lagoons, and other coastal wetland environments of the Southern USA, Central America, and the Caribbean. It is a filter feeder and uses its distinctively shaped beak to stir up mud and feed on invertebrates and seeds. The plumage is of a pale pink, with more intensely orange-pink colouration on the neck and flight feathers. Male and female flamingos look the same, although males tend to be heavier and slightly taller.

The Sussex chicken is a breed of the domesticated chicken (or Gallus domesticus). It is named after its place of origin, the region of Sussex on the Southeastern coast of England. Sussex chickens are a medium-sized breed with a sturdy body and a broad back. The feathers on their neck, called hackles, and feathers on the tail are darker than the rest of the body (often black), while the body plumage may be white, grey, tan, red, or brown. The head is adorned with a comb on top and wattles below the beak. Sussex chickens are sexually dimorphic.

The mute swan (or Cygnus olor) is a large waterfowl that lives throughout Europe and Asia, with invasive populations in North America and Japan. It is white, with black feet and an orange-red bill, and black markings around the nostrils, eyes, as well as the edge and tip of the bill. A leucistic morph can occur, which is almost indistinguishable in adults, where the legs have a pink colour instead of black. Juvenile swans are normally grey, but have a white plumage if exhibiting leucism. Mute swans have a distinctive black basal knob on the root of the beak between the eyes.

The North Island brown kiwi (or Apteryx mantelli) is a small flightless bird native to the forests of Northern New Zealand. Its round body is covered in thick, brown feathers and supported by stocky, pink legs and feet. The kiwi has small, black eyes and a long, pink beak. Females are slightly larger and heavier than males, standing 50cm to 60cm tall and weighing around 2.8kg, compared to the male's height of 45cm to 55cm and weight of 2.2kg.

The little penguin (or Eudyptula minor), also known as the blue penguin, is a small species of marine bird that lives on the coastlines and in the surrounding oceans of Southern Australia and New Zealand. It has dark blue feathers dorsally – on its back – and white feathers ventrally – covering its belly and chin. The little penguin has black eyes, a black beak, and pink feet. Males and females of this species look alike. Little penguins stand 30cm tall on average, and weigh between 1.1kg and 1.5kg.

The emu (or Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the world’s second largest species of flightless bird, only dwarfed by the common ostrich. It lives in the savannahs and woodlands of Australia. The emu has a long, bald neck which may have a blue tint, shaggy brown feathers that begin partway down the neck, and long grey legs with large three-toed feet. Emus have a grey beak, orange eyes and tufty feathers on the top of their head. Males and females look alike, although female emus are generally larger and heavier than males.

Among the largest of cranes, the red-crowned crane (or Grus japonensis) is a species of wading bird native to the wetlands, rivers and tidal flats of eastern Russia, China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan. Many cranes migrate and spend their summer in Russia, China and Mongolia, and the winter in Korea and China. Japan’s population of red-crowned cranes however are residents and do not migrate. The plumage of red-crowned cranes is white, with black tail feathers, neck and face, as well as a row of black feathers on the wings.

The African penguin is a flightless bird that inhabits the coastline and islands of South Africa and Namibia. The African penguin has a black back and flippers, black feet and a black face ‘mask’ with white surround. It also has a white torso with a black strap across the upper chest. The eyes of the African penguin are surrounded by pink patches which are used in thermoregulation. Each penguin has a unique pattern of black spots on its chest. African penguins are 60 to 68cm in size and weigh between 2.2 and 3.5kg. Males are slightly larger than females and have a longer beak.

The king penguin (or Aptenodytes patagonicus patagonicus) is a large species of marine bird that lives in the Southern Ocean and breeds on sub-Antarctic islands including the Falklands and South Georgia. King penguins have dark grey feathers on their backs and flippers, white feathers on their chests and stomachs, and yellow colouration on their throats, while their heads are black, with bright orange cheek patches, as well as an orange streak along their beaks.