Original subtitles

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NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE

WATCHING TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI THERE, I'M DYLAN DREYER, AND WE ARE TAKING FLIGHT

ON TODAY'S EPISODE OF "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'RE SOARING THROUGH THE EARTH'S SKIES FOR A LOOK AT THE

FEATHERED WONDERS OF THE WORLD, LIKE THIS STUNNING EXAMPLE OF

BEAK BEAUTY.

IN CENTRAL AMERICA, WE'LL SEE SOME PLUMAGE AS COLORFUL AS IT

IS RARE.

AND LATER, A BIRD THAT NEVER HAS A PROBLEM STAYING GROUNDED.

BUT FIRST, WE HEAD FOR THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH, WHERE THESE

SWIFT WATER SKIMMERS ARE CONSIDERED FISHING ROYALTY.

GET READY FOR AN AVIAN ADVENTURE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

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SPEED, STRENGTH, AND SHARP SENSES ARE VALUABLE TOOLS FOR

ANY ANIMAL HOPING TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD; HOWEVER, THEIR

APPEARANCE CAN PLAY AN EQUALLY CRITICAL ROLE, ESPECIALLY AMONG

OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS.

A BIRD'S PLUMAGE CAN WARD OFF PREDATORS, CAMOUFLAGE THEM IN

THEIR ENVIRONMENT, AND BE THEIR BEST CHANCE AT FINDING A MATE.

SO FOR THE AVIAN POPULATION, KNOWING HOW TO TAKE CARE OF

ONE'S LOOKS IS CRUCIAL; HOWEVER, NOT EVERYONE'S METHOD

IS THE SAME.

A LITTLE SELF-CARE IN THE WILD NEVER GOES UNAPPRECIATED.

IN FACT, GROOMING IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE DAILY ROUTINE,

AND THESE PIED KINGFISHERS ARE NO EXCEPTION.

THESE BIRDS FLY VERY FAST, SKIMMING THE SURFACE OF THE

WATER, OFTEN FLITTING FROM ONE FISHING SPOT TO ANOTHER BECAUSE

THEY EAT NOTHING BUT FISH.

WHEN THE KINGFISHER THRASHES ITS PREY TO MAKE IT EASIER TO

SWALLOW, THE BIRD'S FEATHERS GET COVERED IN MUCOUS.

SO, ONCE IT HAS FINISHED ITS MEAL, IT AUTOMATICALLY RETURNS

TO THE WATER TO TAKE A BATH.

THE SAME PLUMAGE CONCERNS AND THE SAME BEHAVIOR APPLY TO THE

WOODLAND KINGFISHER, WHICH DIVES TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

BIRDS ARE GREAT BATHERS.

IT'S A WAY FOR THEM TO KEEP COOL AND HELP KEEP

THEIR FEATHERS CLEAN.

KEEPING THEIR FEATHERS IN GOOD CONDITION IS SO IMPORTANT FOR

BIRDS, THAT THEY DEVOTE A LARGE PROPORTION OF THEIR TIME TO IT.

EACH SPECIES HAS ITS OWN WAY OF GOING ABOUT THIS.

FRANCOLINS FAVOR DUST BATHS.

THIS MARABOU STORK IS DOING SOMETHING THAT ALL THE BIRDS DO.

IT IS METICULOUSLY PUTTING ITS FEATHERS, ONE-BY-ONE,

BACK IN PLACE.

YELLOW-BILLED STORKS GO AS FAR AS TAKING CARE OF

ONE ANOTHER'S PLUMAGE.

TO GET THOSE HARDER-TO-REACH FEATHERS, ONE NEEDS

THE HELP OF A FRIEND.

THESE BIRDS USE THEIR LONG BEAKS WITH REMARKABLE SKILL.

THIS MUTUAL COOPERATION IS ALSO SEEN AMONG SPECKLED MOUSEBIRDS.

THEY LIVE IN SMALL FAMILY GROUPS WHERE THE BIRDS ARE PHYSICALLY

VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.

THEY ALSO DISPLAY AN UNUSUAL RITUAL.

THE BIRDS FEED EACH OTHER WITHOUT ANY CONTEXT OF SEDUCTION

OR FEEDING OF CHICKS.

AS THE SUN RISES, BIRDS ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST

TO BECOME ACTIVE.

THE MARABOU STORK LEAVES ITS PERCH.

THE BLACKSMITH PLOVERS STRETCH THEIR WINGS

WITH A WARMUP FLIGHT.

THIS FAMILY OF EGYPTIAN GEESE HAS SPENT THE NIGHT TOGETHER,

BUT NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE CHICKS TO WAKE UP AND LEAVE THE WARMTH

OF THEIR MOTHER'S FEATHERS, READY FOR ANOTHER

DAY IN THE WILD.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL MEET A BIRD WITH A ONE-OF-A-KIND BILL

AND THE SYMBOL OF WEALTH FROM ANCIENT MAYAN AZTEC LORE.

PLUS, A SPEED SPECIALIST ON THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH,

NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: IN NATURE, THERE ARE VERY FEW ANIMALS THAT AS VARIED

COLOR SCHEMES AS BIRDS.

SOME ARE COMPLETELY WHITE, LIKE THESE CATTLE EGRETS...

...WHILE OTHERS HAVE BRIGHT COLORS, LIKE THE RED BREAST OF

THE GROUND HORNBILL THAT CONTRASTS WITH THE DEEP BLACK OF

ITS PLUMAGE.

TO BEGIN WITH, ALL FEATHERS ARE WHITE, BUT OVER TIME, A COATING

OF MELANIN GIVES BIRDS LIKE THE LESSER GRAY SHRIKE,

THE FORKED DRONGO,

AND THE STARLING THEIR PATENTED BLACK PIGMENT.

THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE PLUMAGE OF SADDLE-BILLED STORKS.

THIS LARGE BIRD MEASURES ALMOST FIVE FEET TALL, AND THE MALE AND

FEMALE ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL.

BUT TWO DETAILS SHOW THAT THIS IS A MALE.

FIRST, ITS EYE IS BLACK, WHEREAS IN THE FEMALE,

THE EYE IS YELLOW.

ALSO, THE TWO LITTLE SHREDS OF YELLOW SKIN HANGING FROM THE

BASE OF HIS BEAK INDICATE HE IS IN THE REPRODUCTIVE PERIOD.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST PIGMENTS THAT GIVE BIRDS

THEIR BEAUTIFUL COLORS.

SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A TRICK OF THE LIGHT.

WITH BEE-EATERS, IT'S OFTEN A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

LIKE MANY BIRDS, WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG, SOUTHERN CARMINE

BEE-EATERS HAVE DULLER PLUMAGE.

IT'S ONLY THE ADULTS THAT HAVE THIS LONG TAIL

AND VIBRANT COLORS.

BEE-EATERS HAVE DIFFERENT PLUMAGES ACCORDING

TO THE SPECIES.

THE WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER HAS A GREEN BACK, YELLOW BELLY, AND

A RED THROAT...

...WHEREAS THE EUROPEAN BEE-EATER, WHICH WINTERS IN

AFRICA, HAS A BLUE BELLY.

ITS THROAT IS YELLOW AND ITS BACK GOLDEN.

WHILE THEY MAY LOOK DIFFERENT, ALL BEE-EATERS HAVE THE SAME

HUNTING TECHNIQUE.

THEY LAND ON A BRANCH TO OBSERVE INSECTS PASSING AROUND THEM.

AND WHEN THEY HAVE LOCATED PREY, THEY LAUNCH AN ATTACK, TRYING TO

CATCH THE INSECTS ON THE WING.

IF THERE ARE A LOT OF BEETLES IN ONE PLACE, IT SUGGESTS IT'S A

GOOD HUNTING GROUND.

A SINGLE BIRD CAN MAKE SEVERAL HUNDRED FLIGHTS A DAY.

IT'S THOUGHT THAT ONLY ABOUT ONE IN THREE IS PRODUCTIVE.

BEES AND WASPS MAKE UP MOST OF THE CATCH.

ONCE BACK ON ITS PERCH, IT'S FINALLY TIME FOR A MOMENT'S REST

IN ORDER TO ENJOY A WELL-EARNED SNACK.

COMING UP, ONE OF CENTRAL AMERICA'S MOST COLORFUL

CHARACTERS AND AN AFRICAN NATIVE

NOT CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.

BUT FIRST, IT'S TIME FOR WILDLIFE A TO Z.

FOR VULNERABLE OR ENDANGERED SPECIES AROUND THE GLOBE,

ACCREDITED ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL

IN THEIR PROTECTION.

THESE HUMBOLDT PENGUINS ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

AT TWO FEET TALL, THESE BLACK-AND-WHITE BEAUTIES ARE

CAREFULLY LOOKED AFTER TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE THRIVING

IN THEIR HABITAT.

BUT THE WORK DOESN'T STOP THERE.

FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS, BROOKFIELD ZOO HAS PARTNERED

WITH THE PUNTA SAN JUAN PROGRAM IN PERU TO HELP DEEPEN OUR

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THIS VULNERABLE SPECIES,

MAKING SURE THEY CONTINUE TO PROSPER NOT JUST IN THE ZOO,

BUT IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN WILD.

STAY TUNED.

THERE'S MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK.

I'M HERE AT BROOKFIELD ZOO ALONG WITH DR. MIKE ADKESSON.

DR. MIKE, I'M SO CURIOUS ABOUT THE COLORS WE SEE IN THE WILD.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE BRIGHT AND COLORFUL?

DR. ADKESSON: YEAH, SO BEING BRIGHT AND FLASHY CAN OFTEN HELP

YOU FIND OTHER ANIMALS THAT ARE THE SAME AS YOU.

SO, YOU STAND OUT.

IT'S EASY TO IDENTIFY THE OTHER ANIMALS THAT

ARE THE SAME SPECIES.

IT'S ALSO HELPFUL FOR FINDING A MATE.

SO, THE BRIGHTER AND THE FLASHIER YOU ARE, FOR MANY

ANIMALS, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO FIND A PARTNER.

DYLAN: WHEN I THINK OF BRIGHT, COLORFUL ANIMALS, I THINK OF

BIRDS, ESPECIALLY IN THE TROPICS.

WHY DO WE FIND SOME OF OUR MOST VIBRANT COLORS THERE?

DR. ADKESSON: FOR THOSE TROPICAL ANIMALS, THOSE BRIGHT COLORS CAN

REALLY STAND OUT AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE GREEN JUNGLE.

DYLAN: THAT'S SO INTERESTING, DR. MIKE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NOW BACK TO OUR SHOW.

NO MATTER WHAT COLOR PLUMAGE A BIRD MAY HAVE, STANDING OUT IN

ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST REGIONS OF BIODIVERSITY IS A

TRUE TESTAMENT TO ORIGINALITY.

AND IN THE HEART OF THESE COSTA RICAN FORESTS LIVES A BIRD OF

MYTH AND LEGEND WHO DOES JUST THAT,

THE MAGNIFICENT QUETZAL.

THE ANCIENT AZTECS PLACED MORE VALUE ON ITS FEATHERS THAN THEY

DID ON GOLD OR EMERALDS.

ONLY THE GODS AND THE EMPEROR WORE THEM.

THE REMARKABLE TAILFEATHERS CAN FORM A TRAIN NEARLY

THREE FEET LONG.

THESE ONLY OCCUR ON ADULT MALES.

THOSE LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD MUST WAIT.

THE FEMALES ARE MORE DISCREET.

ALTHOUGH THEIR PLUMAGE IS LESS VARIED, IT IS

STILL BEAUTIFULLY IRIDESCENT.

LIKE THE SCALES ON THE WINGS OF A BUTTERFLY, THE FEATHERS OF THE

QUETZAL CHANGE COLOR DEPENDING UPON THE LIGHT AND THE ANGLE

FROM WHICH THEY ARE OBSERVED.

BEING AN UNUSUAL BIRD, IT'S NO SURPRISE THE QUETZAL HAS SOME

UNUSUAL BEHAVIORS.

HERE'S THE PROOF.

THESE BIRDS MIGRATE, BUT VERTICALLY.

NORMALLY LIVING AT AN ALTITUDE OF ALMOST 4,000 FEET, EVERY

YEAR, THEY FLY UP TO ONE-AND-A-HALF MILES TO

REPRODUCE IN THE CLOUD FOREST.

THIS SEASONAL EVENT IS RELATED TO THE FRUITING OF THE SPECIES

THAT IT EATS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 40 TYPES OF FRUITING TREES ON ITS MENU,

AND THE AGUACATILLOS, A TYPE OF WILD AVOCADO, IS

ONE OF ITS FAVORITES.

THESE TREES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER UNUSUAL CHARACTERISTIC

OF THIS BIRD, ITS FEEDING HABITS.

THE QUETZAL IS A BIRD THAT ORDINARILY NEVER

TOUCHES THE GROUND.

IN RELATIVE PROPORTION TO ITS MASS, IT HAS THE SMALLEST FEET

OF ANY SPECIES OF BIRD.

THIS PECULIARITY IS SOMEWHAT COMPENSATED FOR BY A 40 PERCENT

INCREASE IN MUSCLES FOR FLYING.

WHEN EATING AVOCADOS, THE QUETZAL USES A VERY ORIGINAL

FEEDING METHOD.

IT GRABS ITS FOOD WHILE IN FLIGHT.

AND WITH ITS BEAK WIDE OPEN, IT GRABS THE FRUIT AND RIPS IT FROM

THE TREE.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS EVEN MORE PECULIAR.

NO CHEWING.

NO TEARING.

THE SPOILS ARE SWALLOWED WHOLE.

THE AVOCADOS VARY IN SIZE, AND THE SHREWD EYE OF THE QUETZAL IS

ATTRACTED TO THE LARGEST FRUITS.

ITS MANDIBLES WHICH FORM THE BEAK AND ITS CLAVICLES CALLED

THE FURCULA IN BIRDS ARE HIGHLY FLEXIBLE.

THIS ALLOWS THE QUETZAL TO SWALLOW

PARTICULARLY LARGE FRUITS.

YET IN SPITE OF ALL ITS EFFORTS, CERTAIN DRUPES ARE JUST TOO

LARGE TO SWALLOW.

EVEN FOR THESE EXPERT EATERS, SOMETIMES THE EYES ARE BIGGER

THAN THE STOMACH.

WHEN WE RETURN, A BULKY BIRD BUILT TO SPRINT, NOT SOAR.

THIS AND SO MUCH MORE COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: WHILE TAKING FLIGHT IS WHAT MOST OF US THINK OF WHEN WE

HEAR THE WORD "BIRD", THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE.

IF IT HAS A BEAK, WINGS, FEATHERS, AND IT LAYS EGGS, THEN

THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION IT'S A BIRD.

AND THE OSTRICH IS JUST THAT, A BIRD AND ONE OF

AFRICA'S MOST ICONIC SPECIES.

THE WORLD'S OLDEST AND LARGEST BIRD, THE OSTRICH CAN WEIGH MORE

THAN 200 POUNDS.

IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE SEVEN TIMES TOO HEAVY TO BE ABLE TO FLY.

IT WOULD NEED 60 POUNDS OF MUSCLES TO WORK ITS WINGS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH ROOM ON ITS

SKELETON FOR THE FLIGHT MUSCLES.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE BONY RIDGE ON THE STERNUM

THAT OTHER BIRDS HAVE.

WHEN IT DRINKS, THE OSTRICH SHOWS ITSELF TO BE A BIRD LIKE

ANY OTHER.

LIKE ALL BIRDS, IT USES ITS BEAK AS A SCOOP.

THE OSTRICH DRINKS ONLY A LITTLE WITH EACH BEAKFUL.

TO QUENCH ITS THIRST, IT HAS TO KEEP AT IT.

THIS DOES HAVE AN ADVANTAGE.

THE BIRD HAS TIME TO KEEP AN EYE ON ITS SURROUNDINGS.

THERE IS ONE BIRD, THOUGH, THAT DRINKS DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHERS.

THAT'S THE KORI BUSTARD.

IT RIVALS THE EUROPEAN BUSTARD FOR THE TITLE OF

LARGEST FLYING BIRD.

SINKING DOWN ON THE LOWER PART OF THE LEGS, THEY SWALLOW WATER

IN LONG GULPS.

IT'S A UNIQUE WAY FOR A BIRD TO DRINK.

BUSTARDS ARE SOLITARY, OR LIVE WITH ONE OR

TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

HERE ARE TWO MALES, TWO LARGE BIRDS MORE THAN THREE FEET TALL.

THEY WEIGH ABOUT 35 POUNDS.

THE FEMALES WEIGH HALF THAT, BUT THEY HAVE THE SAME PLUMAGE, ALL

IN SHADES OF GRAY AND BEIGE THAT BLEND PERFECTLY WITH ROCKS,

DRIED GRASSES, AND DEAD WOOD.

CAMOUFLAGE IS VITAL TO A BIRD THAT RARELY FLIES AND SPENDS

MOST OF ITS LIFE ON THE GROUND.

EVERY AVIAN FLYING, SWIMMING, OR RUNNING HAS A UNIQUE METHOD OF

SURVIVAL THAT IS ON FULL DISPLAY IN EARTH'S WILDEST ENVIRONMENTS.

EVERY CLASS OF CREATURE BRINGS THEIR OWN STYLE TO THE ANIMAL

KINGDOM, AND FEW HAVE THE VARIETY OF SHAPES AND COLORS

THAT BIRDS DO.

FROM CITY-DWELLING SURVIVALISTS LIKE PIGEONS AND PARAKEETS TO

RARE, EXOTIC STANDOUTS LIKE THE QUETZAL, THE BEAUTY AND

ADAPTABILITY OF BIRDS ARE ON FULL DISPLAY FOR US TO

APPRECIATE ALL ACROSS THE PLANET.

THANKS FOR COMING ALONG ON TODAY'S AVIAN ADVENTURE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

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