Original subtitles

.

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 EVERYONE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

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

TODAY, WE'RE TAKING OFF TO SEE SOME FANCY AND FASCINATING

FEATHERED CREATURES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.

WE'LL MEET AFRICA'S AVIAN SINGING SENSATIONS.

AND CATCH UP WITH A COLORFUL CHARACTER FROM ANCIENT FOLKLORE.

LATER, WE'LL SEE WHY THIS STORK IS READY TO GET BACK IN THE

SADDLE.

BUT OUR JOURNEY BEGINS IN A TROPICAL FOREST WHERE ONE BIRD

HAS TAKEN CLIMBING TO NEW HEIGHTS.

GET READY FOR SOME HIGH-FLYING ACTION RIGHT HERE ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN GENERAL, FOR US, BIRDS EQUAL FLYING.

WINGED, GRACEFUL CREATURES SOARING THROUGH THE SKY.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A WHOLE GROUP OF BIRDS DEFINED BY THEIR

INABILITY TO TAKE OFF AND PREFER A LIFE MORE GROUNDED.

LIKE GALLIFORMES, AN ORDER OF HEAVY-BODIED GROUND-FEEDING

SPECIES THAT INCLUDE TURKEYS AND QUAIL.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE A FEW MORE EXOTIC EXAMPLES OF THESE

FLIGHTLESS FANCIES HIDDEN AMONG THE TREES IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

TAKE A LOOK.

IT'S WILD AVOCADO SEASON IN THIS LUSH CORNER OF COSTA RICA.

AND THAT MEANS A FEW AVIAN APPETITES ARE AT THEIR PEAK.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A GOOD REASON TO INCITE A LITTLE ENVY.

A TREE-DWELLING SPECIES OF THE GALLIFORMES, OR BIGGER-BODIES,

MOSTLY FLIGHTLESS BIRDS, HAS LOCATED THIS NOURISHING MANOR.

IT'S A BLACK GUAN, ENDEMIC TO COSTA RICA AND PANAMA.

THIS CLIMBING BIRD IS VERY MUCH AT HOME IN THE AGUACATILLOS

TREES.

ITS FEEDING HABITS ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

IT ASKS NO QUESTIONS, IT JUST CONSUMES.

ITS LARGE SIZE ALLOWS IT TO SWALLOW THE FRUIT WHOLE AND ITS

ANATOMY ALLOWS THE PITS TO BE EVACUATED BY A NATURAL MEANS.

ANOTHER RESIDENT OF THE CLOUD FOREST IS THE EMERALD TOUCANET.

AS AN OMNIVORE, THESE BIRDS FEED ON VEGETATION, FRUITS AND EVEN

SMALL ANIMALS LIKE INSECTS.

BUT THEY'LL OCCASIONALLY HUNT FOR OTHER BIRDS' CHICKS AND

EGGS.

THAT MAKES THEM A TROUBLESOME TROPICAL NEIGHBOR FOR OTHER

LOCAL AVIANS.

HOWEVER, TODAY, A MENU FAVORITE FOR THE EMERALD TOUCANET ARE

THESE PERFECTLY-RIPE AVOCADOS.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL FEEDING METHOD.

FIRST, THEY USE THEIR BEAKS TO PIT THE AVOCADO.

WHOOPS, DROPPED IT.

LUCKILY, THERE'S PLENTY MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

AND THIS TIME, THERE'S NO PROBLEM FINISHING ITS SNACK.

ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE AVIAN APPETITE IS THAT OF THE QUETZAL.

THIS ONE SWALLOWED A MASSIVE AVOCADO 20 MINUTES AGO.

THE QUETZAL CERTAINLY TAKES ITS TIME TO DIGEST.

FIRST, THE FRUIT PASSES THROUGH THE PROVENTRICULUS, AN ORGAN

THAT PRE-DIGESTS THE FOOD BEFORE IT ENTERS THE STOMACH.

CHEMICAL DIGESTION IS AT WORK.

NOW IT'S BEEN 25 MINUTES.

THE FRUIT'S PIT CANNOT BE DISSOLVED AND IT'S TOO LARGE TO

PASS THROUGH THE DIGESTIVE TRACT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SO, NOW THE BIRD HAS DIGESTED THE PULP AND SKIN.

THE PIT COMES BACK OUT THE WAY IT CAME.

THE QUETZAL IS DOING ITS PART TO REPLENISH THE FOREST, DISPERSING

THE SEEDS OF THE TREES THAT FEED IT.

LIKE A GARDENER, THE QUETZAL REPLANTS THE FOREST.

THE EXACT MOVEMENTS OF THIS BIRD HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEEN

DISCOVERED.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: LIKE MANY OF THE PLANET'S RAREST LIVING TREASURES, THE

QUETZAL AND ITS UNIQUELY EXOTIC ENVIRONMENT REQUIRE CARE AND

PROTECTION TO ENSURE THEIR BRILLIANT ADDITION TO THE WILD

IS NEVER LOST.

COMING UP, COMPETITION IS HIGH TO BE THE SAVANNA'S MOST

CELEBRATED SOLOIST.

AND WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT A LIVING LATIN LEGEND.

PLUS, PRETTY PLUMAGE IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THIS BOLDLY-COLORED

BILL.

WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE SOUNDTRACK TO THE AFRICAN SAVANNA IS A DIVERSE,

BUT SINGULAR TUNE; BIRD SONG.

FIRST, A VERY DISTINCTIVE ONE IN TWO CLEAR BEATS.

THE BLACK-BELLIED BUSTARD.

[MUSIC AND BIRD SONG]

DYLAN: EVEN THIS YOUNG IMPALA IS IMPRESSED.

AND THEN THERE'S THE SONG OF THE FRANCOLIN, WHICH IS MORE LIKE A

SHOUT THAN A SONG.

AS THERE ARE NEARLY 300 SPECIES OF BIRDS IN THE SAVANNA AND THEY

OFTEN SING AT THE SAME TIME, IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT

EVERYONE IS SINGING THEIR OWN VERSE AS PART OF A CAPTIVATING

CHOIR.

THE TRUTH IS FAR MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD; IT'S MATING

SEASON.

AND ALL THESE BIRDS ARE LOOKING FOR A PARTNER.

FOR WOODLAND KINGFISHERS, WHEN THE PAIR HAVE GOT TOGETHER,

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL THE MALE FROM THE FEMALE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S EASIER WITH THE LESSER MASKED WEAVER

WHEN THEY FIND A MATE.

THE MALE IS DISTINGUISHED BY ITS CHARACTERISTIC BLACK MASK.

[MUSIC AND BIRD SOUNDS CONTINUE

DYLAN: FOR THE WEAVERS, THIS TIME OF YEAR IS ALL ABOUT

PREPARING FOR NEWBORNS.

THE MALES GATHER IN DOZENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS, IN THE SAME TREE

TO BUILD THEIR NESTS DESPITE THE RIVALRY BETWEEN THEM.

BECAUSE WITH THESE BIRDS, THE FEMALE DOESN'T CHOOSE A PARTNER,

SHE CHOOSES A NEST.

AND IT'S THE BUILDER OF THE BEST NEST WHO WINS THE FEMALE'S

AFFECTION.

[MUSIC AND BIRD SOUNDS CONTINUE

DYLAN: YOU CAN SEE WHY THE MALES CHOOSE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IT PROVIDES THE BIRDS WITH PRECIOUS RAW MATERIAL.

LONG STEMS OF GREEN GRASS WHOSE FLEXIBILITY IS JUST RIGHT FOR

WEAVING.

[MUSIC AND BIRD SOUNDS CONTINUE

DYLAN: THEIR EXPERT TECHNIQUE NEVER CHANGES AND BEGINS WITH

THE CHOICE OF A BRANCH ALWAYS POINTING TOWARDS THE GROUND.

THE BIRD CLEARS AWAY THE LEAVES AND STARTS ON THE BUILDING OF A

HOOP...

WHOSE LOWER PART WILL SERVE AS A PERCH THROUGHOUT THE WORK.

THOSE BIRDS WHO FINISH BUILDING PLACE THEMSELVES AT THE ENTRANCE

OF THE NEST AND START TO BEAT THEIR WINGS FURIOUSLY.

THIS IS A SIGNAL TO FEMALES THAT THERE'S A HOME TO VISIT AND AN

AVAILABLE PARTNER.

THE GO-AWAY-BIRD IS ANOTHER UNIQUE ADDITION TO THE WILD.

AS IT HAS TO DRINK FREQUENTLY, THE GO-AWAY BIRD SPENDS ITS DAYS

BY THE WATER ALONG WITH THE FISH-EATING BIRDS, AS WELL AS A

FEW THAT PREFER ALTERNATIVE EATS.

CONTRARY TO ITS NAME, THE WOODLAND KINGFISHER IS AN

INSECTIVORE; A KINGFISHER THAT DOESN'T FISH.

IT'S ONE OF NATURE'S MANY EXAMPLES THAT YOU CAN'T JUDGE A

BOOK, OR A BIRD, BY ITS COVER.

AFTER THE BREAK, COLOR AND WONDER DEFINE THIS RARE BIRD OF

BEAUTY.

AND A LONG-LEGGED SPECIES IS LOOKING FOR LOVE IN THE AFRICAN

WILD.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE, "EARTH ODYSSEY" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: CLOUD FORESTS ARE A WEIRD TYPE OF RAINFOREST FOUND IN

TROPICAL AREAS WHERE MIST AND FOG ENGULF FOREST CANOPIES

YEAR-AROUND.

THE PLANTS AND TREES RECEIVE NEAR CONSTANT MOISTURE DIRECTLY

FROM THE CLOUDS, ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE IN AS MUCH WATER AS

POSSIBLE.

THIS HYPERHYDRATION ATTRACTS ALL TYPES OF SPECIES AND ANIMALS

INCLUDING ONE OF THE RAREST BIRDS IN THE WORLD.

THE CLOUD FORESTS OF COSTA RICA ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE

AND VIBRANT EXAMPLES OF BIODIVERSITY ON THE PLANET.

[MUSIC AND BIRD SOUNDS]

DYLAN: AND IN THE HEART OF THESE FORESTS LIVES A BIRD OF MYTH AND

LEGEND...

... THE MAGNIFICENT QUETZAL.

THE BIRD IS CLASSIFIED AS A NEAR THREATENED SPECIES, ON THE RED

LIST OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE REMARKABLE TAIL FEATHERS CAN FORM A TRAIN NEARLY

3 FEET LONG.

THESE ONLY OCCUR ON ADULT MALES.

THOSE LESS THAN 3 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.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: 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 AGUACATILLO, A TYPE OF WILD AVOCADO, IS ONE OF ITS

FAVORITES.

THESE TREES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER UNUSUAL CHARACTERISTIC

OF THIS BIRD; ITS FEEDING HABITS.

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.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: 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 COME BACK, WE'LL SEE ONE OF THE WILD'S MOST COLORFUL

COMMUNITIES.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN NATURE, THERE ARE VERY FEW ANIMALS THAT HAVE 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.

[BIRDS SOUNDS]

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

THIS LARGE BIRD MEASURES ALMOST 5 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'RE 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.

ONE BIRD MAKES SEVERAL HUNDRED FLIGHTS A DAY.

IT'S THOUGHT THAT ONLY ABOUT 1 IN 3 IS PRODUCTIVE.

BEES AND WASPS MAKE UP MOST OF THE CATCH.

ONCE BACK ON ITS PERCH, THIS LITTLE BEE-EATER SHAKES THE

INSECT VIGOROUSLY TO GET RID OF ITS VENOM.

THIS SPECIES IS NOT ONLY THE SMALLEST OF ALL THE BEE-EATERS,

IT'S ALSO THE ONLY ONE TO NEST ALONE.

OTHER BEE-EATERS NEST IN COLONIES LIKE THIS, THE

WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER.

WHEN THEY NEST TOGETHER, THEY PREFER TO CHOOSE RIVERBEDS.

OR MORE PRECISELY, SLOPING RIVERBANKS.

THE BIRDS ARE HARD AT WORK, BUILDING THIS COLONY THAT WILL

NUMBER ABOUT 20 NESTS.

ONCE THEY'VE CHOSEN THE PERFECT SPOT, BEE-EATERS DIG WITH THEIR

BEAKS, SUPPORTING THEMSELVES ON THEIR WINGS WHILE PUSHING THE

RUBBLE OUT WITH THEIR FEET.

BOTH MALES AND FEMALES WILL TAKE PART IN BUILDING THE NEST.

BUT AS THE OPENING IS NARROW, THEY TAKE TURNS, WORKING IN

RELAYS, WHICH EXPLAINS THIS CONSTANT ACTIVITY.

IN ORDER TO PREVENT FLOODING FROM RAINWATER, THE HOLES ARE

DUG SLOPING GENTLY UPWARDS.

AS AN EXTRA PRECAUTION, THE CHAMBER WHERE THE EGGS WILL BE

LAID IS A FEW FEET AWAY FROM THE TUNNEL'S ENTRANCE.

THIS WILL KEEP THE EGGS AND CHICKS OUT OF THE REACH OF

BABOONS' HANDS AND STORKS' BEAKS, ENSURING EVERY MEMBER OF

THE FLOCK CAN THRIVE IN THE UNPREDICTABLE WILD.

EVERY CLASS OF CREATURES 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."

[MUSIC]