Biota

Exploring Nature

Section 1 — Ratites, Tinamous & Gamebirds

Early‑branching ground birds with ancient lineages, many of which are poor fliers or completely flightless. This section includes the Palaeognaths — one of the oldest branches of modern birds — such as ostriches, rheas, emus, cassowaries, kiwis, and tinamous. Although tinamous can fly, they share the same deep ancestry as the large flightless ratites.

It also includes the early‑diverging waterfowl and gamebirds: ducks, geese, swans, pheasants, grouse, and their relatives.

Orders included:

  • Struthioniformes — Ostriches
  • Casuariiformes — Cassowaries and Emus
  • Apterygiformes — Kiwis
  • Rheiformes — Rheas
  • Tinamiformes — Tinamous
  • Anseriformes — Waterfowl
  • Galliformes — Landfowl (pheasants, grouse, quail etc.)

Species I’ve Seen in This Section

Listed below by Order, Family, and species, with notes on where and when each was recorded.

Order: Apterygiformes

Kiwis
Small, nocturnal, flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, known for their whisker‑like feathers and long probing bills.

Southern Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis)
— New Zealand 2023

Order: Tinamiformes

Tinamous
Ground‑dwelling birds of Central and South America; capable of flight but generally secretive and terrestrial.

Brown Kiwi

Order and Family recorded: expand each to view species.

Order: Apterygiformes — Family: Apterygidae (Kiwis) – 2
  1. Southern Brown Kiwi  (Apteryx mantelli) — New Zealand 2023
  2. Little Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx owenii) — New Zealand 2023
Order: Tinamiformes — Family: Tinamidae (Tinamous) – 2
  1. Slaty-breasted Tinamou (Crypturellus boucardi) — Costa Rica 2015
  2. Great Tinamou (Tinamus major) — Costa Rica 2015

Order: Anseriformes

Waterfowl

A globally distributed group of aquatic birds including ducks, geese, swans, screamers, and the magpie‑goose. Most species are adapted for life on water, with webbed feet, dense waterproof plumage, and broad bills specialised for filtering or grazing.

Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
— Norway 2018

Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis)

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans) – 76

Geese & Sheldgeese

  1. Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) — Spain 2016
  2. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) — Norway & Finland 2018
  3. Greylag Goose (Anser anser) — Various – common UK bird
  4. Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) — Speyside & Orkney 2017; Norway & Finland 2018; Svalbard 2022
  5. Taiga Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) — Norway & Finland 2018
  6. Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  7. Tundra Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris) — Norway & Finland 2018
  8. Brent Goose (Branta bernicla) — Svalbard 2022
  9. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) — Various – common UK bird
  10. Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) — Norway & Finland 2018; Svalbard 2022
  11. Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrida) — Antarctica 2021
  12. Upland Goose (Chloephaga picta) — Antarctica 2021
  13. Ashy-headed Goose (Chloephaga poliocephala) — Antarctica 2021
  14. Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps) — Antarctica 2021
  15. Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides) — Antarctica 2021

Swans

  1. Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) — Buenos Aires 2021
  2. Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) — New Zealand 2023
  3. Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) — Yellowstone 2017
  4. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  5. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) — Various – common UK bird

Dabbling Ducks

  1. Brazilian Teal (Amazonetta brasiliensis) — Amazon 2024
  2. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) — Yellowstone 2017; Norway & Finland 2018; Bhutan & India 2020
  3. White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  4. Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  5. Brown Teal (Anas chlorotis) — New Zealand 2023
  6. Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) — Various – common UK bird
  7. Speckled Teal (Anas flavirostris) — Antarctica 2021; Buenos Aires 2021
  8. Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) — Texas 2024
  9. Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica) — Antarctica 2021
  10. South Georgia Pintail (Anas georgica georgica) — Antarctica 2021
  11. Grey Teal (Anas gracilis) — New Zealand 2023
  12. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) — Various – common UK bird
  13. Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) — New Zealand 2023

Whistling Ducks

  1. Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) — Costa Rica 2015; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
  2. Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) — Bhutan & India 2020

Diving Ducks

  1. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  2. Redhead (Aythya americana) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  3. Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  4. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) — Various – common UK bird
  5. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) — Various – common UK bird
  6. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) — Norway & Finland 2018
  7. New Zealand Scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae) — New Zealand 2023
  8. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) — Slovenia 2024
  9. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  10. Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) — Speyside & Orkney 2017; Norway & Finland 2018
  11. Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) — Yellowstone 2017
  12. Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) — Norway & Finland 2018; Svalbard 2022
  13. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) — Texas 2024
  14. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) — Yellowstone 2017; Speyside & Orkney 2017; Norway & Finland 2018; Bhutan & India 2020
  15. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) — Speyside & Orkney 2017; Norway & Finland 2018; Texas 2024
  16. Eider (Somateria mollissima) — Speyside & Orkney 2017; Norway & Finland 2018; Svalbard 2022
  17. King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) — Norway & Finland 2018; Svalbard 2022

Other Specialists

  1. Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) — Costa Rica 2015; Amazon 2024
  2. Ringed Teal (Callonetta leucophrys) — Buenos Aires 2021
  3. Blue Duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) — New Zealand 2023
  4. American Wigeon (Mareca americana) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  5. Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) — Various – common UK bird
  6. Gadwall (Mareca strepera) — Various – common UK bird
  7. Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) — Norway & Finland 2018
  8. Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) — Norway & Finland 2018
  9. Smew (Mergellus albellus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  10. Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca) — Buenos Aires 2021
  11. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  12. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) — Costa Rica 2015; Yellowstone 2017; Norway & Finland 2018; Texas 2024
  13. Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) — Yellowstone 2017; Antarctica 2021; Texas 2024
  14. Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) — Costa Rica 2015; Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  15. Garganey (Spatula querquedula) — Norway & Finland 2018
  16. Australasian Shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis) — New Zealand 2023
  17. Chiloe Wigeon (Spatula sibilatrix) — Antarctica 2021
  18. Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor) — Buenos Aires 2021
  19. Falkland Steamer Duck (Tachyeres brachypterus) — Antarctica 2021
  20. Flying Steamer Duck (Tachyeres patachonicus) — Antarctica 2021
  21. Flightless Steamer Duck (Tachyeres pteneres) — Antarctica 2021
  22. Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) — Bhutan & India 2020
  23. Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) — Various – common UK bird
  24. Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) — New Zealand 2023
Family: Anhimidae (Screamers) – 1
  1. Southern Screamer (Chauna torquata) — Buenos Aires 2021

Order: Galliformes

Landfowl / Gamebirds

A diverse group of largely terrestrial birds including pheasants, grouse, quails, megapodes, guineafowl, and curassows. Most species are heavy‑bodied with strong legs, short rounded wings, and a preference for walking or running over sustained flight. Many are noted for elaborate courtship displays, striking plumage, or communal mound‑building.

Great Curassow (Crax rubra)
— Costa Rica 2015

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Cracidae (Chachalacas, Guans, and Curassows) – 7
  1. Great Curassow (Crax rubra) — Costa Rica 2015
  2. Grey-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis cinereiceps) — Costa Rica 2015
  3. Rufous-vented Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficauda) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  4. Variable Chachalaca (Ortalis variabilis) — Amazon 2024
  5. Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) — Texas 2024
  6. Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens) — Costa Rica 2015
  7. Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra) — Costa Rica 2015
Family: Odontophoridae (New World Quail) – 3
  1. California Quail (Callipepla californica) — New Zealand 2023
  2. Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) — Texas 2024
  3. Spotted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus guttatus) — Costa Rica 2015
Family: Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies) – 15
  1. Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) — Various – common UK bird
  2. Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) — Spain 2016
  3. Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  4. Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  5. Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) — Various – common UK bird
  6. Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) — Speyside & Orkney 2017; Norway & Finland 2018
  7. Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  8. Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) — Bhutan & India 2020
  9. Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) — Speyside & Orkney 2017; Norway & Finland 2018
  10. Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) — New Zealand 2023; Texas 2024
  11. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) — Various – common UK bird
  12. Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  13. Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) — Norway & Finland 2018
  14. Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan satyra) — Bhutan & India 2020
  15. Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) — Texas 2024