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@ Lovebirds
Natsu Dragon Slayer begins his journey to encounter Avian pets!
Lovebirds
Found on the African continent, wild lovebirds are mostly green, and get their name from their strong, monogamous pair-bonding amount of time they spend sitting together.

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@ Hummingbird, green

Yellow Daisy Egg
My pets are in awe of these beautiful eggs—they would love to try to paint their own one year. Easter and spring are times of joy as the earth awakens, plants are pushing forth from the soil, and the days are becoming warmer. Many baby animals are born in the spring, and life is burgeoning. May these eggs bring you joy and be a reminder of the earth renewing itself.

Hummingbird, green
'There are hundreds of different types of hummingbird, ranging in size from 5 inches down to the smallest at just 2 inches long! (13 cm - 5 cm). Hummingbirds have a very high metabolic rate. To conserve energy at night when not foraging, they can enter a state of torpor, similar to hibernation, and slow their metabolic rate to one-fifteenth of its normal rate.

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@ Java Sparrow
"I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said Visor, after he and Natsu Dragon Slayer had spent some time exploring another rural pathway to its end and meeting nearby inhabitants.
"Is there a gift shop at the end?" enquired Natsu Dragon Slayer. "The thought of that generally keeps me going."
Java Sparrow
aka the Java Finch! It is found in Java, Bali and Bawean in Indonesia. Males and females are the same in appearance, being grey and pink and a black head with white cheeks, and a black tail. Its call is chip-chip-chip.

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@ Green Crested Turaco
“Let’s pose with one of us each side of our new friend and I’ll set the self-timer to take a group shot,” said Natsu Dragon Slayer to Tommy. “It’ll be a fab souvenir of our time here!”
Green Crested Turaco
A native to the forests of tropical West Africa, this distinctive green and purple bird generally prefers mature rainforest edge habitats, bordered by rivers. These are easily recognisable birds, due to their colouring, but are well camouflaged when in the treetops.

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@ Red-crested Turaco
“If there's time at the end of the day when we get back to our accommodation, I might do some initial sketches for a charcoal picture of one of our new friends," Julian said, offering Natsu Dragon Slayer a toffee from the bag and then unwrapping one for himself.
“That sounds like a good plan, Julian!" said Natsu Dragon Slayer. "Very relaxing, and your portrait will be a great souvenir of our visit to all these interesting creatures!"
Red-crested Turaco
The red-crested turaco Tauraco erythrolophus is the national bird of Angola, Central Africa. It eats mainly fruit. The birds are usually to be seen in trees rather than on the ground. Its outer feathers are a bright, almost metallic green, with grey and softer green down its front, a white face, yellow beak, and a pronounced crest of the red that gives it its name.

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@ Ibis, Scarlet
fresh was sprawled flat on the grass after a good lunch. “What do you reckon is the tiniest creature we've met so far, Natsu Dragon Slayer?” she queried sleepily.
Natsu Dragon Slayer pondered. “Perhaps that gerbil?”
"Mmm. Or would it be the hummingbird, maybe?"
Ibis, Scarlet
This striking bird, found in South America and the Caribbean, is very similar to the American white ibis, the principal difference of course being the colour! The scarlet ibis is the only shorebird of this colour in the world. It is one of the two national birds of Trinidad & Tobago.

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@ Nicobar Dove
"It's turned a bit hot, Natsu Dragon Slayer. I'm going to put my sunhat on," said Snowball.
"Good scheme! I'll dig mine out as well," said Natsu Dragon Slayer.
Nicobar Dove
This strikingly beautiful creature (Caloenas nicobarica) is found in India and the regions of Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Borneo. Incredibly, its nearest relative is the extinct dodo! It is a large bird, measuring 16 inches in length (40cm) and has metallic green feathers for the main part, with grey plumage on the head and neck, and a short, pure white tail.

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@ Australian King Parrot
Natsu Dragon Slayer and Choose a name had shaken paws and then took some time to enjoy looking at the next creature in its habitat in a companionable silence!
Australian King Parrot
This handsome scarlet and green bird is found only in eastern Australia.

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@ Scarlet Macaw
“I’ve written a postcard to my aunty to tell her about our amazing safari!” said Natsu Dragon Slayer. “She’ll wish she was here! Where’s the nearest postbox?”
Tommy shielded his eyes and rotated 360°, elaborately scanning the horizon. “I don’t think they’ve thought to provide a postbox here, Natsu Dragon Slayer. How remiss of them!” Seeing Natsu Dragon Slayer’s ears beginning to droop, Tommy added, “Don’t worry, you can give your card to reception at the hotel to post.”
Scarlet Macaw
This very colourful bird is found in Mexico to Colombia and the Amazon Basin. It is 81–96 cm (32–36 in) long, and is mostly bright red, with red, yellow and blue on the wings.

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@ Salmon-crested cockatoo
“I’m going to buy that inflatable toucan from the gift shop, Natsu Dragon Slayer,” announced George. “It looks such fun!”
“I think I’ll go for the inflatable parrot! It’s just the job when splashing about in the garden pool in this warm weather!” responded Natsu Dragon Slayer.

Salmon-crested cockatoo
This bird is found in Indonesia, but it has also been introduced into Hawaii with modest breeding success. It eats nuts, seeds , fruit and coconut.

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@ Magpie in flight
“Have you seen those fabulous pink and white flamingo suncatchers in the giftshop, Natsu Dragon Slayer?” asked whisper. “I'm going to buy one as a souvenir of our time here!”
“Sounds great!” responded Natsu Dragon Slayer.

Magpie in flight
With a wingspan of up to two feet (60 cm) with not just black and white but shiny iridescent bluey-green feathers, the flying magpie makes a stunning sight. Its scientific name is Pica pica and its acquisitive nature towards shiny objects is famous! There is even an opera by Rossini called La Gazza Ladra—The Thieving Magpie. Most of us will be familiar with the "Magpie" nursery rhyme. In its earliest recorded version in 1780 it went: One for sorrow,
Two for mirth,
Three for a funeral,
And four for birth.
but it became extended over subsequent years, with regional variations, into the best recognised rendering: "One for sorrow, two for joy" et cetera.

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@ Black Crowned Crane
“Whatever were those screaming noises you were making earlier, Flitter?" exclaimed Natsu Dragon Slayer.
Flitter looked embarrassed. "That wasn't screaming. That was me, er, singing, to enable the safari guide to find me when I couldn't find my way out of that cave!"
Black Crowned Crane
The black crowned crane is found in a great swathe across Africa, from Mauritania on the west, to Ethiopia and Kenya on the east. This bird is very distinctive. Its body is black with white/gold wings, it has red/white cheek patches and its head bears a crown of gold feathers.

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@ Pink & Grey Cockatoo
“It's so cool to have a species name in Latin as well as English, Natsu Dragon Slayer!” said Badger, studying the detail in the tour guide. "What would we each called in Latin?"
"I don't know," said Natsu Dragon Slayer. "We'll look it up when we get back to the hotel tonight!"
Pink & Grey Cockatoo
This chap looks like an English barrister off to court in his white wig and grey gown! It is also known as the galah, and is found throughout Australia.

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@ Hummingbird in flight
Natsu Dragon Slayer was excited to meet up again with Cherokee. They both took a moment to admire the amazing scene around them.
Hummingbird in flight
Why are they called "hummingbirds"? This is because of the humming sound created by their rapidly beating wings, which creates a sound frequency audible to humans. The birds can hover in mid-air flapping their wings at rates which vary from around 12 beats per second in the largest species to around 80 per second in the smallest!

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@ Golden Conure, 1
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Golden Conure, 1
This bird, with its bright yellow feathers with green on the outer wings, is also known as the Golden Parakeet. It grows up to 13 inches long (33 cm). It is found in the Amazon Basin, south of the Amazon River in the state of Pará, northern Brazil.

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@ Golden Conure, 2
“Shall we take a selfie?” Natsu Dragon Slayer asked poddu laddoo as they drank in the scenery and admired their new friend standing between them.
Golden Conure, 2
This beautiful bird is found in Brazil. It feeds on fruits such as mango, muruci and açai, and also flowers, buds, seeds and crop plants, particularly maize.

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@ Hummingbird with Honeysuckle
SPARKLES studied the itinerary thoughtfully for some time. “There's a lion-tailed macaque and a lion-headed goldfish,” she remarked. “Do you think there's a lion-tummied creature that we'll meet?”
Natsu Dragon Slayer snorted. "That's you, judging by how you're packing away that popcorn, SPARKLES!"
Hummingbird with Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle—nature's own hummingbird feeder! Hummingbirds are attracted to its orange-red flowers and sweet nectar.

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@ Hyacinth Macaw
Zuri groaned, clutching her stomach. "Oh, my poor tum. Why are so many of these places only accessible by boat? I've never been a good sailor, you know."
"Never mind, Zuri," sympathised Natsu Dragon Slayer. "It's ages till we set off back, and with lots of walking around visiting the different creatures, you'll feel as right as rain in no time!"
Hyacinth Macaw
This is the largest parrot in the world, going by length! It is 1 metre (3 ft 3") from its beak to the tip of its tail. It is native to central and eastern South America.

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@ Black-grey Toucan
"Hey, you should have joined Foxy and me for lunch at that café, Natsu Dragon Slayer!" said BUDDHA.
"Oh, I couldn't resist going to that street exhibition of art by local pets. I grabbed a cheese and onion pasty from a street vendor. Anyway, what did you both have to eat?"
"We had celery soup and a sandwich each. It was great!" responded BUDDHA.
Black-grey Toucan
The toucan's beak is made of keratin, the same substance as hair and fingernails. Toucans look very similar to hornbills but there is a huge geographical divide between them. Toucans live in Central and South America, while hornbills are found only in Africa and Asia.

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@ Contemplative Toucan
“It's so cool to have a species name in Latin as well as English, Natsu Dragon Slayer!” said PluttiPott, studying the detail in the tour guide. "What would we each called in Latin?"
"I don't know," said Natsu Dragon Slayer. "We'll look it up when we get back to the hotel tonight!"
Contemplative Toucan
Toucans, some of the most easily recognisable birds in the world, spend their lives high in the rainforest canopies of Central and South America. A toucan spends its nights in a nest in a hollow tree cavity, and curls up by turning its head and laying its beak along its back, tucking the beak under a wing, and then curving its tail over its head.

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@ Garden Greenfinch
Lady Aelfgifu studied the itinerary thoughtfully for some time. “There's a lion-tailed macaque and a lion-headed goldfish,” she remarked. “Do you think there's a lion-tummied creature that we'll meet?”
Natsu Dragon Slayer snorted. "That's you, judging by how you're packing away that popcorn, Lady Aelfgifu!"
Garden Greenfinch
An all-year-round visitor to rural and urban birdtables, the pretty greenfinch is a delight to spot squabbling over the black sunflower seeds!

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@ Laughing Kookaburra
Natsu Dragon Slayer and Flatts shook paws and said “How do you do?” to the next creature who had come to meet them, and posed for a souvenir photo. “Why am I always on the left?” grumbled Natsu Dragon Slayer. “Let’s change sides.”
“No,” said Flatts. “Being on the right shows my best side.”
Laughing Kookaburra
The kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae is a well-known symbol of Australia’s birdlife. Most of us will have first met the kookaburra when growing up as the “merry, merry king of the bush” in the children's song. It has dark brown wing plumage and a white head and underside. Dark brown eye stripes run across its face. Its reddish-coloured tail is patterned with distinctive black bars which makes the bird easily recognisable from a distance.

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@ Long-tailed Tit Songbird
rex groaned, clutching his stomach. "Oh, my poor tum. Why are so many of these places only accessible by boat? I've never been a good sailor, you know."
"Never mind, rex," sympathised Natsu Dragon Slayer. "It's ages till we set off back, and with lots of walking around visiting the different creatures, you'll feel as right as rain in no time!"
Long-tailed Tit Songbird
The long-tailed tit is a tiny but noisy and sociable bird of hedgerows, woodland, parks and gardens, recognisable by its subtle and pretty colours of pink, light brown, black and white. It builds a domed nest out of moss in a bush or the fork of a tree, and camouflages it with cobwebs and lichen. It lines the nest with many hundreds of feathers to make it soft for the eight to twelve eggs it lays.

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@ Blue & Red Parrot
“Have you seen those fabulous pink and white flamingo suncatchers in the giftshop, Natsu Dragon Slayer?” asked Dave. “I'm going to buy one as a souvenir of our time here!”
“Sounds great!” responded Natsu Dragon Slayer.

Blue & Red Parrot
Unusually for parrots, the male and female Eclectus roratus look totally different, so much so that it was once thought that they were different species. Moreover, unusually for birds, the female is more colourful than the male, in her bright red and purple plumage with orange tail compared to his equally intense green (with red and blue under-wing patches).

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@ Eurasian pygmy owl
Autumn Fall studied the itinerary thoughtfully for some time. “There's a lion-tailed macaque and a lion-headed goldfish,” she remarked. “Do you think there's a lion-tummied creature that we'll meet?”
Natsu Dragon Slayer snorted. "That's you, judging by how you're packing away that popcorn, Autumn Fall!"
Eurasian pygmy owl
Found principally in Siberia, where it stays all year round, this is Europe's smallest owl, with a wingspan of just over 1 ft (32 cm). Its Latin name is Glaucidium passerinum.

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@ Pair of Green-Winged Macaws
“Oh hello, Natsu Dragon Slayer!” cried Fanny. “Didn’t we bump into each other in Turkey back in the spring? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!”
"It certainly is!" declared Natsu Dragon Slayer.
Pair of Green-Winged Macaws
These birds aren't green-winged, so how do they get this name? It's because they have a green band between the red and blue colours of its wings. The beaks of large macaws are strong enough to break walnuts.

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@ Rainy Day Jay
Natsu Dragon Slayer and Molly shook paws and said “How do you do?” to the next creature who had come to meet them, and posed for a souvenir photo. “Why am I always on the left?” grumbled Natsu Dragon Slayer. “Let’s change sides.”
“No,” said Molly. “Being on the right shows my best side.”
Rainy Day Jay
Here's a colourful but shy bird that, in common with the squirrel, likes to put food by for a rainy day! Each autumn this member of the crow family can often be observed flying back and forth finding and storing acorns to help see them through the winter. The acorns are hidden in the cracks and crevices of trees, but also in leaf litter on the ground. An individual jay can each year store around 8000 acorns and many remain buried to grow into oak trees.

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@ Long-tailed Tit
“Ooh, that’s a scary looking creature!” whispered Itchy. “It’s bigger than me! I’ll stay here and wait for you to come back.”
“C’mon, Itchy, it’ll be fine—it’s not so very big; it's a trick of perspective, and anyway, it’s looking forward to meeting us!” said Natsu Dragon Slayer.
Long-tailed Tit
Or to use its Sunday-best name: Aegithalos caudatus! It is recognisable by its beautiful colouring of buff, pink, white and black, its short black beak and, of course, a very long tail! This little bird is a favourite in all British gardens, but it can also be seen in woodland, farmland hedgerows, scrubland and parkland.

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@ Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree
Natsu Dragon Slayer has now met enough "Avian" pets to last a lifetime. As he exits the experience, he receives a wonderful gift!
Flock of Herons
Sitting high on a cliff on your blanket to watch the sunrise over the ocean, you notice movement below. You watch in amazement as a flock of herons take to flight, adding wonder to an already stunning event.

Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree
Native to the eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia, the kookaburra is the largest member of the kingfisher family, weighing up to one pound and growing to 18 inches (46 cm) in length. Its beak can reach 4 inches (10 cm) long
Natsu Dragon Slayer has enjoyed meeting "Avian" pets, but it is time to go home now! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also meet pets of every shape and size!