ZSL London Zoo New Bird House
- Thread starter CZJimmy
- Start date
I'm not sure where ISIS gets their English names but they're not entirely reliable. Psophia crepitans is variably known as Grey-winged or Common and Psophia c. crepitans is just a subspecies of that i.e. neither Common nor Grey-winged are specially associated with the subspecies. The most used name is Grey-winged. ISIS information on distributions is often not reliable either. They say Psophia crepitans is found in southeastern Brazil. It is really found in north Brazil, north Peru, southeast Colombia, south Venezuela and Guyanas. But the new London zoo aviary looks interesting but based on the photos could perhaps need some more cover for the birds. Anyone know if they only have Amazilia hummingbirds? Because this photo is not an Amazilia but I am not sure what species:
Hummingbirds fly into London Zoo | News
I saw the revamped BirdHouse for the first time last week. Its obvious what they've tried to do- retain a Victorian theme as it is an old house with a make-over, not a new house. The Toucans in the aviaries in the entrance hall are supposed to give you this 'first impression' as you enter- so here the design has been more for architectural effect than the bird's actual requirements perhaps.
I only saw one Hornbill in this house(outside aviary). One other pair still on the North Bank. No Giant Hornbill in evidence anywhere. Also a pair of Ground Hornbills in the old Parrot house avairies near the restaurant. And a notice on their aviary stated the skin- pouch colour (predominately red in the male, blue in female) IS a sexual difference as I always thought. Some people on here have said its related to the race(Northern or Southern) but this seems(partially or wholly?) to be incorrect. There is a single (male? red pouch) Ground Hornbill in Whipsnade's Bird Garden too- plus the pair of Sulawesi ones.
I've been confused by this too, so I dug out my old copy of the African Handbook of Birds (series 3 volume 1), Mackworth-Praed & Grant. The southern species, Bucorvus leadbeateri, which they call the ground hornbill has the bare throat red in the male and blue with a red rim in the female. This species has a small casque which is closed in front.
Bucorvus abyssinicus, the Abyssinian ground hornbill has the upper throat blue and the lower part red in the male, and the bare skin is completely blue in the female. The casque is cylindrical and open at the front.
Alan
The pair at London must be Abyssinian then, as they both have the open -fronted (broken-looking) Casque. The female's skin pouch is all-blue, the male's is predominately red with some small blue splotches. I can't now remember if the one at Whipsnade has an open or closed Casque but he definately has a red pouch so is a male...
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Birdworld bred Abyssinian Ground Hornbills in 1989. I have a photo of the chick somewhere. I'll post it when I find it.
I think Paignton also breed them. I'm not certain if anyone else has done so.
The Ground Hornbills at London and Whipsnade are Abyssinian.
I think Paignton also breed them. I'm not certain if anyone else has done so.
The Ground Hornbills at London and Whipsnade are Abyssinian.
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zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
London Zoo have bred the Southern Ground Hornbill many years ago as the animal they bred is now living at the Exotic Pet Refuge.
Paignton have several Ground Hornbills but I can't recall which race.
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
Yes I think London have three Amazilla humminbirds.
Also, according to Zootierliste, london's 0.1 tarictic hornbill is a penelopides affinis. Where is this hornbill kept?
Also, according to Zootierliste, london's 0.1 tarictic hornbill is a penelopides affinis. Where is this hornbill kept?
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It was in the old Parrot aviaries but I didn't see it(or a label) this time.
(See my note under 'Yak' in general forum about Whipsnade Gaur...)
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
the room in which the nectar-feeder aviaries are found can be used as a free-flight space for the birds, I think the keepers were going to let them settle in for some time before they dared to open the hatches to their aviaries. I believe they are still waiting for a male from europe.
Sorry to bing up such an old thread, but I thought you might be interested that when I did my work experience at Tropical Wings in 2008, there was a single male Costa's hummingbird (Calypte costae) that was on display at the time.
I just found this thread and it reminded me of the old humming bird house previously mentioned. It was a hidden gem, tucked away at the side of the bird house and even on busy days few people found there way in there. The last birds housed in it were, a pair of Jamacan streamer-tailed hummingbirds, rufous-tailed amazilias, purple honeycreepers, green broadbills, red-headed tits and the blue-backed manakins. It was demolished in the mid 70s.
The bird house itself was originally built as a reptile house and converted to house a collection of birds of paradise. The tall raised enclosures along the side walls were fitted with a sprinker system to simulate rain. The pipework for this could still be seen in the old building before the present refurbishment.
The hummingbird house was closed primarily because the Victorian wrought iron and glass roof became unsafe and was deemed beyond repair. It had originally been an annex to house giant tortoises.
The bird house itself was originally built as a reptile house and converted to house a collection of birds of paradise. The tall raised enclosures along the side walls were fitted with a sprinker system to simulate rain. The pipework for this could still be seen in the old building before the present refurbishment.
The hummingbird house was closed primarily because the Victorian wrought iron and glass roof became unsafe and was deemed beyond repair. It had originally been an annex to house giant tortoises.
I remember the old Hummingbird House very fondly. It was where the entrance to the squirrel monkey walkthrough and their indoor accommodation are now.
There was a central walkway running through the house, separated from the planting by shallow, gravel-based moats on each side. If I remember correctly these moats extended around and behind the plants, which were effectively on two low islands - so you were quite close to the birds with nothing to obstruct your view. The moats kept the humidity high, which must have suited the shrubs on the islands.
I particularly remember the blue-backed manakins which bred in the house: wonderful little birds, but a nightmare to photograph among the foliage.
Alan
There was a central walkway running through the house, separated from the planting by shallow, gravel-based moats on each side. If I remember correctly these moats extended around and behind the plants, which were effectively on two low islands - so you were quite close to the birds with nothing to obstruct your view. The moats kept the humidity high, which must have suited the shrubs on the islands.
I particularly remember the blue-backed manakins which bred in the house: wonderful little birds, but a nightmare to photograph among the foliage.
Alan
Your memory is almost perfect Alan but the shallow moat was only on one side of the building, the left as you came through the entrance lobby. The right hand side was a meter high wall which retained another raised planted area.
The breeding of the blue-backed manikins was an avicultural first. The day the fledgling left the nest it was removed, together with its mother, for fear it might drown. She continued to feed it in cage off the keepers kitchen until it was strong enough to return to the exhibit.
The breeding of the blue-backed manikins was an avicultural first. The day the fledgling left the nest it was removed, together with its mother, for fear it might drown. She continued to feed it in cage off the keepers kitchen until it was strong enough to return to the exhibit.
As you stated, this building was originally a Giant Tortoise House; it was built in 1897.
Sorry to contradict you, but the Humming Bird House was demolished in 1985; its demolition is recorded in the ZSL Annual Report for 1985-1986.