The age of Imperialism truly wrecked the ecosystems of the world. Of all of these, island ecosystems were the most at risk, as the animals there were often unique and unable to deal with humanity and the creatures that often accompanied them. The island of Choiseul in the Solomon islands is one such example, as it was once home to the spectacular Choiseul Crested Pigeon, a relative of doves that was endemic only to Choiseul.
Classification: Birds
Australian Magpie (Yowies Series 2 by Cadbury)
4.5 (2 votes)
The evolution of life is a curious thing. You never know what is going to become a forgotten twig on the tree of life and what will be the start of large branches. When fossils of dinosaurs were found, I imagine most were sad that no relatives exist today. However, it turns out one group did, and they are all around us today: birds.
Masked Lapwing (Yowies Series 3 by Cadbury)
3.5 (2 votes)
The wetlands of the world are great places to witness a variety of life. Birds are common here, wading and collecting food among the silt and water. This review will look at one from the southern hemisphere, the Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), a common animal in New Zealand and Australia, adaptable and able to live in open fields, wetlands and even arid environments.
Salmon-crested Cockatoo (Webkinz by Ganz)
3.3 (3 votes)
Review and images by Birdsage; edited by bmathison1972
The Salmon-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), also known as the Moluccan Cockatoo, is a species of parrot that is endemic to Seram and several other islands in Indonesia’s Maluku Archipelago. The species resides in lowland rainforests up to an altitude of 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
South African Penguin (Sealife by CollectA)
5 (4 votes)
It’s July in the South Africa and mating season for its penguins, the males begin calling out with their harsh braying. A local bystander hears this and decides the perfect name to call this bird…
Alas, the South African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus), is unfortunately dubbed the ”Jackass Penguin” for its donkey-like sounds.
Alas, the South African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus), is unfortunately dubbed the ”Jackass Penguin” for its donkey-like sounds.
Marabou Stork, Pair (Noah’s Pals by Caboodle! Toys LLC)
4 (3 votes)
When a toyline picks it’s species, it is best to be as diverse as possible. Sure you can go for the same old lions and tigers and bears (oh my!), but people, especially collectors, will often grab things that are rarely done or look interesting. Noah’s pals has been a good example of this.
Magpie Goose (Yowies Series 4 by Cadbury)
3.5 (2 votes)
Some may read the title and think “what is that?! A freak of nature? Science creating some hideous hybrid?!!?!?” The answer is more interesting: the Magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata) is the last of a family of waterfowl, the Anseranatidae, which is a living fossil from the KPg boundary.
Greater Roadrunner (Wild Safari North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
5 (5 votes)
Review and images by EpicRaptorMan; edited by bmathison1972
Does the Looney Tunes Roadrunner say “meep-meep” or “beep-beep“? Well, whatever it says the real roadrunner’s call is more of a “coo coo” which makes sense as they are members of cuckoo family, Cuculidae.
Grey Fantail (Yowies Series 2 by Cadbury)
3.5 (2 votes)
The pygostyle is an amazing evolutionary adaptation. The fusion of several vertebrae allows for some amazing tail fans, allowing birds to perform incredible displays in mating displays. One group that exemplifies this are fantails, named for their large tail feathers, allowing the males to display elegantly to females. One such example is the Grey fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), a small insectivore from Australia, along with the Solomon islands, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Giant Moa (Yowies Lost Kingdoms Series A by Cadbury)
3 (3 votes)
The largest bird today is the Ostrich, and this is owing to it’s flightlessness. The recent past, however, provided greater flightless giants. One such came from New Zealand, in the form of the South island Giant Moa, Diornis robustus, with females able to reach up to 11ft 10″ if they stretched up, being 6ft 6″ on a horizontal plane.
Turkey, tom (Safari Farm by Safari Ltd.)
4.6 (5 votes)
Review and images by Saarlooswolfhound; edited by bmathison1972
In honor of the American holiday of Thanksgiving, here is a poultry to satisfy any bird lover’s appetite. The Safari Ltd. #242929 turkey (Melagris gallopavo), released as part of their Safari Farm line in 2007 and still in production today, is a marvelous avian figure.
Turkey (Red Rose Tea, Calendar Series VII, by Wade Ceramics)
3 (2 votes)
It’s Thanksgiving this week in the United States, and as a result I feel once again compelled to review a turkey, as I did the year prior. Since I didn’t have a plastic turkey for review last year, I went with a plush one instead. Here it is a year later, and I have failed to acquire a turkey since then and now have to resort to whatever turkey I might have lying about.
Kea (Yowies Series 3 by Cadbury)
3 (2 votes)
Parrots are an amazing group of birds. Whilst most think of them as brightly coloured tropical birds that repeat phrases, they are actually some of the most intelligent animals on the planet, ranking high among birds, along with corvids. And yes, while parrots like the macaws are brightly coloured, many are primarily green, matching their environment.
Common Raven (Wings of the World by Safari Ltd.)
5 (4 votes)
It’s Halloween and what better way to end our spooky season than by looking at one of its most symbolic animals, the common raven (Corvus corax). The common raven ranges around the northern hemisphere and lives in all the varied habitats therein. As a result, it also features in the varied mythologies, folklore, and religions from wherever it lives.
European Robin (Wild Animals by Papo)
5 (5 votes)
Review and images by Lanthanotus; edited by bmathison1972
Probably even the most urban European citizen can instantly recognize the European robin (Erithacus rubecula) by its striking red breast. So it a small wonder it took the toy companies so long to produce a figure of this small bird.