Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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Three of the four exotic bird species have joined the Moscow Zoo's collection for the first time. The zoo has welcomed the shuttle-billed ibis, the black-faced ibis, and the frogmouth, while the Inca cockatoo has arrived at the Moscow Region's rare species reproduction center after a long absence.
Night herons
The shuttle-billed owls are housed in the left wing of the "House of Birds" pavilion on the old property, in an aviary decorated to resemble the White Sea coast. Four juveniles arrived at the zoo; their sex is not yet known—it can only be determined by blood testing. Two shuttle-billed owls are currently on display. They also share the aviary with several small waders.
Shuttlebills inhabit riverbanks and mangrove swamps in Central and South America. These large birds, up to 50 centimeters long and weighing around 700 grams, are distinguished by a large, dark crest. These birds have an unusually shaped bill—it's short and wide, with a tooth at the tip of the upper mandible.
Shuttlebills are also known as night herons. They are solitary birds, meeting with their relatives only during the breeding season. These birds are often seen in the wild, but they are rare in zoos.
"Within their own group, shuttle-bills are quite noisy, but they live peacefully with other species—in our case, waders. These birds have different diets, so they don't compete for food. Waders at the Moscow Zoo are fed shrimp and small crustaceans. Shuttlebills, on the other hand, are fed live fish in large bowls, from which they fish out the fish—flying trout and African catfish," explained Svetlana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow Zoo.
Guests from South America
Eight black-faced ibises have taken up residence in the Birds and Butterflies pavilion in the new area. They can be seen in the first enclosure from the entrance (on the left side).
Black-faced ibises live alongside white-faced whistling ducks, sacred ibises, and spoonbills. A pair of newcomers has already formed. These birds communicate with each other in a distinctive manner and jingle their beaks.
Black-faced ibises feed on a variety of protein-rich foods, including fish, shrimp, squid, meat, and cottage cheese. They are also given specialized vitamin and mineral supplements and flamingo feed.
Black-faced ibises live in the southern part of South America: Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. These birds prefer open meadows, pastures, fields, and forests, and are also found near river swamps. They were recently classified as a separate species.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are between 25,000 and 100,000 nesting pairs of these birds worldwide.
Invisible bird
After quarantine, the smoky frogmouth took up residence on the second floor of the Bird House pavilion. This floor is currently closed for renovations, so visitors are unable to see the exotic inhabitant.
The frogmouth's sex and age are not yet known. Staff feed it with tweezers. The bird receives rodents and large insects, such as locusts and crickets.
The sooty frogmouth is also known as the sooty white-footed, giant white-footed, and owl-footed frogmouth. These birds are found in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Tasmania. They are extremely secretive, hunting exclusively at night, and during the day they perch on logs or tree branches close to the trunk.
Thanks to its protective coloration, the frogmouth blends into the tree. When threatened, it freezes, eyes almost closing.
The birds feed primarily on insects, but sometimes eat frogs or other small animals. They catch them with their beaks in flight, and in some cases, they overtake prey crawling on the ground.
Pairs of sooty frogmouths mate for life. They typically use the same nest year after year, renovating it as needed. These birds often build nests on smooth tree trunks or tree cuts.
Long-lived parrots
Inca cockatoos are rare and very beautiful parrots, rarely seen in Russian zoos. When describing these birds, German zoologist Alfred Brehm compared their crests to Native American headdresses. However, they are native to Australia.
Inca parrots inhabit coniferous and eucalyptus forests and prefer areas undisturbed by human activity. They are a vulnerable species, while their relatives and neighbors, the pink cockatoos, thrive, easily adapting and settling near humans.
In nature, hybridization can occur between these two bird species—they are similar in lifestyle, build, and, to some extent, coloration. However, the pink cockatoo lacks the beautiful tricolor crest that the Inca cockatoo displays when excited.
Inca cockatoos are truly long-lived, especially in zoos. For example, one of them, a world record holder, lived in a zoo for 83 years.
These birds will be available for viewing by visitors to the reproduction center during the warmer months, when they are moved to an outdoor enclosure.
Participants in the Moscow Zoo's winter event will be able to receive a ticket for the summer season.A pair of Egyptian spiny-tailed bats have taken up residence at the Moscow Zoo.
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