Name: Martina Borg Class: 505
I am going to relate my work done by Charles Darwin in the voyage of the beagle when he answered at the Galapagos Islands and analyses variation in different finches ( birds ). I am going to do the similar work on Maltese Migratory Birds.
Loons Loons are also known as divers. Loons are a group of aquatics birds. All living species are members of the genus Gavia, family Gaviidae and order Gaviiformes. The loon, the size of a large duck or small goose, resembles these birds in shape when swimming. Males are larger on average, but relative size is only apparent when the male and female are together. Loons find their prey by sight. They eat mainly fish. There are 5 species worldwide and 1 species which occur in Malta.
Grebes Grebes are small to medium-large in size, have lobed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, although they can run for a short distance, they are prone to falling over, since they have their feet placed far back on the body.
There are about 19 species in the world and 3 species which happen to be in Malta.
Flamingos Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (1.5 m) high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. They are more numerous in the latter. Flamingos filterfeed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly-shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume, and are uniquely used upside-down. There are about 6 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Malta.
Cuckoos Order: Cuculiformes. Family: Cuculidae The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Unlike the cuckoo species of the Old World, North American cuckoos are not brood parasites. There are about 141 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Malta.
Common Cuckoo
Bee-eaters Order: Coraciiformes. Family: Meropidae The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are about 26 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Malta. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus (A) European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
Birds loons
Size
grebes
23.5cm to 71cm
flamingos
1.5m high
cuckoo
15cm to 63cm
Bee-eaters
16cm-18cm
66 to 91 cm
Table 1 - Sizes 160
140 120 100 80
Series 1
60 40 20 0
loons
grebes
flamingos
cuckoo
bee-eaters
As you can see all migratory birds are in different sizes, the largest being the flamingo while the smallest bird is the bee-eater.
Birds Loons Grebes Flamingos Cuckoo Bee-eaters
Colour Black with patches Brown with patches Pink with patches grey colourful
white white white
pie chart
dark colours with white patches grey colourful
The majority of the migratory birds have white patches such as loons and flamingos. The beeeaters are colourful and the cuckoo are dark in colour.
Birds Loons Grebes Flamingos Cuckoo Bee-eaters
Size of leg Small Small Long Medium Small Sales
small legs mediumed legs large legs
Three migratory birds have small legs which are the loons, grebes and the bee-eaters. The cuckoo has medium legs so it could run faster and the flamingo has long legs.
Birds Loons Grebes Flamingos Cuckoo Bee-eaters
Structure of beak Long, pointed , thin Long and pointed ,thin Long and bented Short Long and thin Sales
long pointed short bented thin
The bee-eater has a long and thin beak so the bird will catch more easily his prey.
Birds Loons Grebes Flamingos Cuckoo Bee-eaters
Type of feathers Short feathers Brown and long Very Long feathers Short with patterns Thick and colourful type of feathers
Short long
colourful Patterned
The flamingo has long feathers because they cover the body to make it waterproof and increase insulation while flying in cold weathers.
In this project I did some research about five migratory birds of Malta. I point out the different variations in only 5 characteristics. This small project shows that variations are important for different lifestyles of these species. Different variations allow for different exploitations of different habitats, different forms of shelter and defense from predators, different movements and many more. The better adapted species will be better during competition for food, shelter, mate, etc and therefore they will be able to survive more. There is a total of 384 species, of which 167 are rare or accidental. Malta has a limited range of breeding birds with only 21 regular breeders and about 17 occasional breeders. However, it lies on a major migration route and many more species pass through during spring and autumn.