Desert Birds: Types And Their Adaptation

A desert is a barren land with sand on all sides. In the region of the desert, there is very little rainfall, i.e., almost nil. Therefore, the atmosphere of the desert region is very dry. In the desert environment, the day is as hot as the night is cold. In this cold and hot environment, the adaptation of the animals living there is different. The Plants And Animals found there are adapt themselves, for example, camel and cactus. Such creatures are specially adapted to living in the desert area only. Today we will tell you about the birds found in the desert area, which have adapted themselves. Also, in those extreme environments of the desert, many birds thrive with developed adaptations. Let us try to understand the adaptation of those desert birds.

Types Of Desert Birds Adaptation

Gambel’s Quail (Callipella Gambelli)

It looks like other types of quail. Each quail is characterized by having a rounded body and a head crest. In addition, there is a special feature of identifying their male and female. Male quails have dark-colored plumage. Apart from this, they have a dark face and black spots on the neck and chest. On the other hand, if we talk about female quail, their feathers are light in color, and black spots are not found in them.

These desert birds display an interesting method of incubation. When the female Gambel’s quail is no longer available or dies, the male attempts the process of incubating. Trees and plants are rarely found in the desert, so they become motionless to avoid their predators. These birds use camouflage by hiding in the vegetation.

Pin-tailed sandgrouse (Pterocles Alchata)

These desert birds are very beautiful to see. It is also easy to recognize their male and female. The male pin-tailed sandgrouse has a colorful plumage of a pale face, neck, and upper chest. In addition, golden spots are seen on their shoulders and back. The female pin-tailed sandgrouse is less colorful.

They have white chin and brown feathers with black spots. It is highly adapted for life in very dry areas due to its dense plumage.

Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes Uropygialis): Desert Birds

Coming from the species of woodpecker, the main diet of this good is insects. Male-colored barbs are black and white, and they have tan heads and abdomens. In addition, they have a red crown patch. Recognizing the female in this species can be difficult, but if understood, it is easy: The female looks similar to the male in color but does not have a red crown patch.

This species is characterized by having very flexible head and neck muscles. They have a long and pointed beak and a long tongue that can withstand the pressure of pecking into hard materials such as trees.

Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)

When young, verdins have an overall brown plumage. As they grow, they develop yellow feathers on their heads and chestnut-colored feathers on their shoulders. Also, these desert birds, mostly feeding on caterpillars, small spiders, are found in thorny scrub vegetation.

To adapt to the scorching heat of the desert summer, they live in shaded interior parts of shrubs. The nests they build are open to the wind as an additional cooling mechanism.

Lucifer Hummingbird (Calothorax lucifer)

Small in size, birds of this species are sexually dimorphic. The male bird has an impressive iridescent plumage and a purple gorget that flares out from the sides. In contrast, females are characterized by having an iridescent green petal with a cinnamon patch on the upper wings.

These Several Birds are quite adapted to the ones found in the desert. These desert birds feed on forage found in the biome most of the time. Also, they have developed a unique call in the form of a shrill scream to escape from predators.