This image is included in a gallery curated by sdttds.
Kea, rated as one of the most intelligent of all birds, is an alpine parrot that is both playful and destructive, their inquisitive nature often making them unwelcome at alpine huts, car parks, and ski-field. Farmers are also on the alert for kea that are known to sometimes injure their sheep. The kea is essentially a ground bird, but when airborne they are magnificient fliers who love to roll and tumble. The male can be distinguished from the female by his larger and longer curving upper mandible. Their beautiful scarlet underwings are rump are revealed when in flight.
Birds of the Southern Alps, they are found at carparks and rest areas waiting for an opportunity to search your vehicle for food or to just clown around removing window rubbers or other accessories that may take their fancy. (Sourced from "BIRDS New Zealand beauty like no other" by Paul Gibson.
This was taken through the windscreen while our coach is waiting for passage at the entrance of Homer Tunnel, coming from Milford Sound back to Queenstown. Finding no fun nor food, this bird is just about to fly off.
Tags: Travel Nature National Geographic Concordians closetonature close-up avian New Zealand South Island blue motor car Summer Kea Nestor notabilis parrot Homer Tunnel bird watcher protected species alpine parrot in gallery Afternoon
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This image is included in a gallery "Natura 25" curated by Stefano Bacci.
With its white plumage and bright yellow crest, the sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) is one of Australasia’s most recognisable parrot species. The crest is erectile and can reach up to 14 centimetres in length. The undersurfaces of the wings and tail are washed with pale yellow, while the bill and feet are black and dark-grey respectively. The sexes are almost identical, except for the eye, which is brown in the male and red-brown in the female. It is found in wooded habitats in Australia, New Guinea, and some of the islands of Indonesia. They can be locally very numerous, leading to them sometimes being considered pests. (The Parody Wiki)
A highly intelligent bird, they are well known in aviculture, although they can be demanding pets. Sulphur-crested cockatoos' distinctive raucous calls can be very loud, which is a result of an adaptation in order to travel through the forest environments in which they live, including tropical and subtropical rain forests. These birds are naturally curious, as well as very intelligent. They have adapted very well to European settlement in Australia and live in many urban areas. (Wikipedia)
Tags: Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita bird watcher Parrot geo tagged Wildlife Nature National Geographic closetonature Concordians close-up Macro photography Telephoto lens Winter Morning garden wooden fence eucalyptus gum tree Victoria Australia turf war avian erected crest shadow SLB-flying in gallery side-lit
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Tags: Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus Autumn Victoria Australia Candlebark Park Morning landing Nature Concordians closetonature blue sky wildlife
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These little critters are having fun in the stifling heat of a Summer's afternoon in Western Australia. Captured near a Roadhouse between Carnarvon and Monkey Mia.
Tags: Zebra finch avian Western Australia Monkey Mia Taeniopygia guttata blue sky Macro photography close-up Concordians closetonature Travel Summer In flight Nature National Geographic wildlife bird watcher
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Very close encounter : while photographing dragonflies at a pond, unannounced, this Grey Fantail landed silently on a dead branch a few feet from me. There was just enough time to set my lens's range to 1.5m and fired a few shots. Luckily the light compensation was spot on.
This was taken a split second before it took off.
Tags: Grey Fantail morning Autumn Victoria Australia nature closetonature concordians wildlife Rhipidura albiscapa (fuliginosa) National Geographic macro photography close-up NGC NPC bird watcher
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