This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The tūī is 1 of the largest species in the diverse Australasian honeyeater family. They are 1 of 2 living species of that family that dwell in New Zealand. Introduced mammals pose the most severe direct threat to these birds. Rats, stoats, weasels, and ferrets frequently prey on their eggs, […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The plum-headed parakeet is a species of parakeet that hails from India. They quickly fly about with twists and acrobatic turns throughout the day. These birds face the threats of deforestation and habitat fragmentation at the hands of agriculture expansion, logging, and urbanization that are actively shrinking their environment. Tree […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The wels catfish, aka sheatfish or wels, is a massive species of catfish native to wide areas of Europe and Asia. They’re also found in the basins of the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas. Due to the destruction and degradation of natural river networks, via habitat loss and destruction, specifically […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The red-shouldered hawk hails from North America–primarily the west coast and eastern half of the United States as well as Mexico. These raptors migrate from the northern parts of their ranges to central Mexico. They face the threat of deforestation via the clearing of large, mature, contiguous forests for timber, […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The northern rosella, aka Brown’s rosella or smutty rosella, is a species of parrot that hails from northern Australia, ranging from the Gulf of Carpentaria and Arnhem Land to the Kimberley. These birds face the threat of land clearing for development or agriculture which reduces available woodland habitats. Uncontrolled or […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Arrau turtle, aka South American river turtle, giant South American turtle, giant Amazon River turtle, Arrau sideneck turtle, Amazon River turtle, or the Arrau, hails from South America. They face the threats of poaching and trafficking for the illegal pet trade. Mega, hydroelectric dams flood critical nesting beaches, alter […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The gang-gang cockatoo is the only species in the genus Callocephalon. Their name hails from the New South Wales Aboriginal Wiradjuri language. These birds face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments. Land clearing along the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The eastern rosella is a species of parrot native to south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. They were first introduced to New Zealand in cages, and individuals were either intentionally released or accidentally escaped into the wild. Now they inhabit the entire North Island and are working on the South Island. They […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The flame robin, aka robin redbreast, is a small sized passerine bird native to southeastern Australia. While not closely related to either the European or American robins, they do appear to be an early offshoot of the Passerida group of songbirds. These birds face the threat of habitat loss due […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Australian pelican is touted as having the longest bill of any living bird. They hail from Australia, but have spread to Australasia as well. Because they often interact with recreational fishing areas they are highly vulnerable to swallowing discarded fishing hooks and becoming entangled in monofilament lines, which can […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.