The tailor bird is the popular name for any one of numerous species of small Asiatic and East Indian singing birds belonging to the genera Orthotomus, Prinia, and allied genera. They are noted for the skill with which they sew leaves together to form nests. The common Indian species are Orthotomus longicauda, which has the back, scapulars, and upper tail coverts yellowish green, and the under parts white; and the golden-headed tailor bird (Orthotomus coronatus), which has the top of the head golden yellow and the back and wings pale olive-green. Research Tailor Bird
Tail coverts are the feathers which cover the bases of the tail quills. They are sometimes much longer than the quills, and form elegant plumes. Those above the quills are called the upper tail coverts, and those below, the under tail coverts. Research Tail Coverts
The turkey (Meleagris) is a genus of large grouse game birds forming the subfamily Meleagrididae, of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. Turkeys formerly lived in woodland in North and Central America but today as a result of excessive hunting, their natural ranges are much reduced. They are powerfully built birds with dark greenish-grey feathers edged with black. The male (known as a tom or gobbler) of the common or North American turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, has a large protuberance on its neck, grows to 1.25 m, and has been extensively domesticated, with many breeds produced.
The ocellated turkey, Meleagris ocellata, is found in the tropical lowlands of the Yutacan Peninsular of Mexico, and in adjacent parts of Guatemala and British Honduras. It is a colourful bird with iridescent green, gold and reddish-copper bronzing over its wings and back with a purplish-blue ocellus in the tips of the grey and black pencilled main tail feathers and tail coverts.
The turkey was probably introduced directly to Spain by the Spanish, around 1520 soon after Columbus discovered America, and from there they spread through Europe reaching England in 1541, where being assumed to have originated in the country Turkey was named accordingly. The turkey, like the chicken, is remarkable in that hens can lay fertilized eggs without being fertilized by a male. Unlike chickens, however, turkey virgin births always result in a male offspring. Research Turkey
The yellow hammer or yellow bunting (Emberiza citrinella) is a British and north European species of bunting. The birds are about sixteen centimetres long, the general colouring mottled brown above and yellow below, the head being yellow, streaked with brown, and the rump and tail coverts chestnut. The food is chiefly insects and fruits, especially blackberries in autumn. The nest is placed usually upon the ground and contains four or five eggs. Research Yellow Hammer
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Tailor Bird
