Mike Toms

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Articles

Why do birds sing in the morning?

3 weeks ago | countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Mike Toms

Birdsong has stimulated a great deal of research in recent years, and the question of why many birds deliver the majority of their daily output early in the morning is the one that has attracted the most attention says Mike Toms. The two main functions of birdsong - to attract a mate and to repel rivals - are likely to exert an influence on the timing of its production, and changes in its output over the course of the breeding season have been recorded. How do birds sing?
Why is bird poo white, rather than brown like most poop?

Nov 15, 2024 | discoverwildlife.com | Mike Toms

The droppings produced by birds contain materials from the excretory (uterine) and alimentary (faces) systems, a result of the two emptying into the cloaca, where the reproductive system also has an opening. Whereas the faces contain undigested food remains, and so tend to reflect the diet in general composition, the urine is responsible for the white appearance seen in many bird droppings. Do birds pee? The urine produced by bird varies widely in appearance, but is usually cream-coloured.
Why do flamingoes stand on one leg?

Aug 23, 2024 | discoverwildlife.com | Mike Toms

Though a number of theories have been proposed to explain why some birds - including flamingoes - stand on one leg, a behaviour known as apodal resting, research has finally produced an explanation. A study on captive Caribbean flamingos has revealed that standing on one leg helps to conserve warmth. This probably also applies to other waterbirds, such as various species of wader. Is it just a flamingo’s feathers that are pink?
How do birds fuel their migrations? We take a look how they stoke up for lengthy journeys

Aug 16, 2024 | discoverwildlife.com | Mike Toms

Migration can be energetically expensive, requiring birds to lay down significant fat deposits. Fat is a highly efficient fuel, delivering up to nine times more energy than other alternatives. Oxidation – the process that delivers energy rom fat – also produces an equal weight of water, which is essential during flight. There are costs to using fat as fuel.
Why is it called a murder of crows?

Jan 4, 2024 | discoverwildlife.com | Mike Toms

The origin of the term murder meaning flock of crow has much to do with the scavenging nature of this and other corvids. Historically the presence of the gallows and slaughter on the battlefields would have provided rich pickings for our two species of crow. Crow vs raven: what's the difference between these two black corvids? Crows have a reputation for being smart, but are they actually clever?
Pecking order meaning: what it is and why 'pecking order' is crucial for survival

Dec 19, 2023 | discoverwildlife.com | Mike Toms

Pecking orders’, or more correctly ‘dominance hierarchies’, have been described for a number of bird species, typically those that have been easy to study because of their domestication. The domestic fowl is perhaps the best example, but others include canaries, zebra finches and even oystercatchers.
How do birds’ eggs form?

Dec 18, 2023 | discoverwildlife.com | Mike Toms

Here are the stages of egg formation, from a single cell to the finished eggAn egg starts as a cell, and development is initiated by hormonal changes within the female’s body. First the cell increases in size, then, over a period of a few days, a recognisable yolk is laid down. The growing egg passes down into the mouth of the oviduct (the tube leading from the ovary) where, assuming that viable sperm are present, it will be fertilised.
What is moult-migration?

Nov 10, 2023 | discoverwildlife.com | Mike Toms

Moult migration is a form of migration seen in some ducks and geese. It occurs towards the end of the breeding season and sees individuals travel a substantial distance to gather at traditional sites. These sites are selected because they offer food and safety from predators, allowing the birds to replace their flight feathers – a process that leaves them flightless and potentially vulnerable.
Do all bird migrants fly twice a year?

Nov 9, 2023 | discoverwildlife.com | Mike Toms

Bird migration is defined by its regularity, the outward and return journeys occurring at the same time each year, and the travellers following similar routes and using the same areas at each journey's end. The regularity of these movements reflects the predictability of the resources (such as food) on which the birds depend. In the absence of a guaranteed larder, movements become more opportunistic and less resemble true migration – yet the birds involved are still thought of as migrants.
Why do white terns lay their eggs on branches?

Nov 7, 2023 | discoverwildlife.com | Mike Toms

The white tern (sometimes mistaken called fairy tern) is a widespread species that breeds on tropical islands. While these birds also nest on rocky slopes, cliffs and buildings, they are unique among terns in using branches, a habit famously observed on Bird Island. Here, females often lay a single egg directly onto the bough of a Casuarina tree, typically in a fork or depression.