Birds

Birds are the only vertebrates that have feathers. All birds are warm-blooded and lay eggs. Adaptations such as hollow bones enable most birds to fly, although there are flightless birds, including the ostrich. There are nearly 10,000 bird species in the world.

An African Fish Eagle at the LA Zoo spreads its wings.

African Fish Eagle

This bird’s distinctive call can be heard for miles and has earned it the name “the voice of Africa.”

African Spoonbill

This long-legged wading bird sweeps its spoon-shaped through water to search for food.

Andean Condor

With a wingspan of ten feet, the Andean condor is one of the world’s largest flying birds.

Bald Eagle

The national bird of the United States has a remarkable recovery story.

Bateleur Eagle

Bateleur is French for “street performer” and refers to this eagle’s acrobatic flight abilities.

Black Vulture

Black vultures keep close social ties with their extended families throughout their lives.

Bufflehead Duck

The bufflehead is North America’s smallest sea duck (diving duck).

California Condor

California condors are highly intelligent, inquisitive, and social birds.

Chestnut Teal

This Australian duck was named for the color of the male of the species.

Common Peafowl

The peacock is known for its iridescent colors and the spectacular tail feathers produced by males.

Crested Caracara

Known as the Mexican eagle, the crested caracara is the national bird of Mexico.

Crested Oropendola

Oropendolas make one of the most unusual and unique nests in the bird world.

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

A distinguishing feature of this particular owl species is the orange color of its irises.
Flamingoes

Flamingos

Flamingos are extremely gregarious birds with some flocks consisting of 200,000 paired birds.

Great Horned Owl

The great horned owl is able to hunt an extensive array of prey, including animals that are larger and heavier than it is itself.

Greater Roadrunner

The roadrunner is known by many as the speedy bird from Warner Brothers cartoons who always bested Wile E. Coyote.

Green Aracari

Green aracaris are the smallest members of the toucan family.

Harpy Eagle

A large harpy eagle can carry its body weight, about 17 pounds, in long 5-inch talons.

Harris’s Hawk

As with all birds of prey, Harris’s hawks find prey by using their exceptional vision.

Hornbills

Hornbills have exceptionally long eyelashes (modified feathers) to keep dirt and debris out of their eyes.

King Vulture

What does it take to become king among vultures? A unique skill set and connections to the gods.

Lanner Falcon

Lanner falcons are known for fast and agile flight as well as unusual hunting tactics.

Laughing Kookaburra

The outstanding feature of the laughing kookaburra is its distinctive vocalizations.

Macaw

Macaws belong to a family of birds that includes parrots, parakeets, lorikeets, love birds, and cockatoos.

Nicobar Pigeon

Nicobar pigeons roost and nest on small, uninhabited islands to keep safe from predators.

Ostrich

The ostrich is the fastest land animal on two legs.

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine falcons are the world’s fastest animals, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour when diving (or “stooping”) after prey.

Red-Legged Seriema

Sounding like a yelping dog, the red-legged seriema’s call is very unusual.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-tailed hawks are one of the best-known birds of prey. Among the largest hawk species, they can be found across North America and are often seen soaring in and over the Zoo.

Salmon-Crested Cockatoo

This species namesake salmon-crest is a ridge of feathers on the top of the head that the bird can raise when threatened or excited.

Sarus Crane

The sarus crane is the world’s tallest flying bird. In many Asian cultures, symbolizes marriage because it performs elaborate courtship dances and mates for life.

Speckled Mousebird

Living exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa, the bird is named for its gray color and mouse-like scurrying in the brush while hunting for food.

Spectacled Owl

This owl is named for the ring of white feathers around its eyes that resemble a pair of glasses or spectacles.

Steller’s Sea Eagle

Steller’s sea eagles live along narrow strips of coast in Siberian Russia and the northern parts of Korea where they (as their name implies) rely on ocean fish for sustenance.

Sunbittern

Sunbitterns are wading birds native to Central and South America.

Turaco

Although they spend all their time in the trees, turacos are actually not very good fliers.

West African Black-Crowned Crane

The two species of Balearica cranes are the smallest of the fifteen crane species, and they are the only cranes that roost in trees.

White-Faced Whistling Duck

These birds are sometimes called white-faced tree ducks because of their habit of occasionally perching in trees.

Yellow-Naped Amazon

These gregarious birds are strong fliers and gather in large flocks to feed. Green feathers provide excellent camouflage in their forest canopy habitat.