TheBirdCage

They all blew away.

The New Zealand Pigeon is a large, 550–850 grams (19–30 oz), arboreal fruit-pigeon[5] found in forests from Northland to Stewart Island/Rakiura, ranging in habitats from coastal to montane.[6] The general morphology is that of a typical pigeon, in that it has a relatively small head, a straight soft-based bill and loosely attached feathers. It also displays typical pigeon behaviour, which includes drinking by suction, a wing-threat display, hitting with the wing when threatened, a diving display flight, a 'bowing' display, ritualised preening and 'billing' during courtship. New Zealand Pigeons build flimsy, shallow, twiggy nests and feed crop milk to hatchlings.

The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genusof the family Passer.[1] They are distinct from both the American sparrows, in the family Emberizidae, and from a few other birds sharing their name, such as theJava Sparrow of the family Estrildidae. Many species nest on buildings, and theHouse and Eurasian Tree Sparrows in particular inhabit cities in large numbers, so sparrows may be the most familiar of all wild birds. They are primarily seed-eaters, though they also consume small insects. Some species scavenge for food around cities and, like gulls or Rock Doves, will happily eat virtually anything in small quantities.

The New Zealand Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) is a small insectivorous bird. A common fantail found in the South Island of New Zealand, also in the North Island as subspecies Rhipidura fuliginosa placabilis, the Chatham Islands as Rhipidura fuliginosa penita and formerly (now extinct) theLord Howe Island as Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina. Also known as the Pied Fantail (pied morph only) or by its Maori name, Pīwakawaka orTīwakawaka. The species is considered by many to be conspecific (the same) as the Grey Fantail of Australia and New Caledonia,[2] however due to differences in its calls some authorities now treat it as a separate species

The oystercatchers are a group of waders forming the family Haematopodidae, which has a single genus,Haematopus. They are found on coasts worldwide apart from the polar regions and some tropical regions of Africa and South East Asia. The name oystercatcher was coined by Mark Catesby in 1731 as a common name for the North Americanspecies H. palliatus, described as eating oysters.[2] Yarrell in 1843 established this as the preferred term, replacing the older name Sea Pie.

In New Zealand, the Silvereye was first recorded in 1832. It arrived in greater numbers in 1856, and it is assumed that a migrating flock was swept eastwards by a storm.[2] As an apparently self-introduced bird it is protected as a native New Zealand species. Its Māori name, Tauhou, means "stranger" or more literally, "new arrival".

Bird of the day - Dunnock The dunnock (Prunella modularis) is a small passerine bird, or perching bird, found throughout temperate Europe and into Asia. It is by far the most widespread member of the accentor family, which otherwise consists of mountain species. Other common names of the dunnock include, the Hedge Accentor, Hedge Sparrow, or Hedge Warbler. The name "dunnock" comes from the Ancient British *dunnākos, meaning "little brown one."