Hi all. I’ll be visiting the zoo tomorrow. What are the rarities to look out for & where can I find them?
I know you already went, but in case you're able to go for a second time (its hard to see it all n one day), I figured I'd help you out. At the very least, it could help someone else out. This isn't my local zoo but I know of some of them. The main thing that stood out to me is there's an African darter in the Scripps Aviary. Possibly the last in captivity, but it seems like there's a place in South Africa that might also have them. Either way, its still really rare. Apart from that, I hastily compiled a list of species held by SDZ uncommon in the US. Note that I used the species holders lists available on this site, so it will not be comprehensive, as not all groups of animals have such lists. I also verified each animal with the latest SDZ species list.
Italics indicate that the animal is in multiple areas of the zoo.
FRONT STREET
Bus loading area:
Golden-headed quetzal
Flamingo lagoon (possibly off-exhibit):
Ashy-headed goose
Knob-billed goose
Ring-necked duck
DISCOVERY OUTPOST
Hummingbird Habitat:
Wattled jacana
Anna’s hummingbird
Costa’s hummingbird
LOST FOREST
Aviary Trail:
Sulawesi hornbill
Mountain peacock-pheasant
Blyth’s tragopan
Mindanao bleeding-heart
Western crowned pigeon
Beautiful fruit dove
Wompoo fruit dove
Papuan Mountain Pigeon
Wrinkled hornbill
Scripps Aviary:
Madagascar pond heron
African olive pigeon
Blue-headed wood dove
White-bellied go-away bird
Adamawa turtle dove
Ferruginous duck
African openbill
Maccoa duck
Laughing dove
Tambourine dove
Blue-naped mousebird
Southern bald ibis
Black crake
Parker Aviary:
Black-spotted barbet
Owen’s Aviary:
Cotton-headed pygmy goose
Philippine collared dove
Metallic pigeon
Pink-necked green pigeon
Collared imperial-pigeon
Purple-tailed imperial pigeon
Green imperial pigeon (chestnut-naped)
Wompoo fruit dove
Papuan Mountain Pigeon
Maleo
Gorilla Tropics:
Crowned eagle
Blue-naped mousebird
Red-and-yellow barbet
Tiger Trail:
Siamese fireback
Purple-tailed imperial pigeon (across from fishing cat)
Coroneted fruit dove
Black-chinned fruit dove
Ituri Forest:
Madagascar partridge
Waterfowl pond by Eagle trail (likely off-exhibit):
Ashy-headed goose
Ring-necked duck
Gadwall
White-breasted cormorant
Eagle Trail:
Ornate hawk-eagle
Harpy eagle
ASIAN PASSAGE
Golden takin (between red panda yards and snow leopards/Amur leopards)
Polar Bear Plunge (bird exhibits possibly temporarily closed):
Harlequin duck
Ring-necked duck
Eurasian wigeon
Mountain peacock pheasant
Purple-tailed imperial pigeon
Tongan megapode
AFRICA ROCKS
Madagascar
Honey badger/ratel (yes, I know)
Ethiopian Highlands
Gelada
Acacia Woodland Aviary
Blue-naped mousebird
Laughing dove
Namaqua dove
Emerald-spotted wood dove
Outback:
Wonga pigeon
Diamond dove
Wompoo fruit dove
Tasmanian devil
Parma wallaby