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6. The Victoria Crowned Pigeon is huge and raised on bird-milk (Maharajah Jungle)


Video: YouTube, @mykingdomforamouse (Jett Farrell-Vega)

You would think the Victoria Crowned Pigeon would be a difficult bird to miss—after all, it is the largest pigeon on the planet with one heck of a lacy crest.

Ironically, it’s rather easy to overlook these magnificent birds thanks to their surprising ability to camouflage, even in a place as small as the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Their plumage is impressive, but these mega-pigeons hold another unique secret.

Both females and males produce milk to feed their young.

Yup, you read that right. Everything we ever learned about bird and mammal biology is thrown out the window—not that we’ve necessarily gone full platypus. The Victoria Crowned Pigeon doesn’t produce milk through mammary glands but rather can reduce the food in its crop to a mixture strikingly similar to milk to feed their young for the first few days after hatching. Some other pigeons have this ability has well. The only other bird species known to do this are flamingos.

7. The Hamerkop thinks bigger is better (Gorilla Falls)

Hammerkop sitting by the water
Image: Flickr, HarshLight (license)

Amidst the eclectic residents of the Disney’s Animal Kingdom aviaries, the Hamerkop might seem a bit dull at first glance. He doesn’t have particularly bright plumage or a trilling song. Honestly, his only major feature seems to be his schnoz-like beak.

The Hamerkop doesn’t need courting dances or rainbow feathers—for this is a bird that understands that overkill is underrated…

Hamerkops are known for making unusually large nests—as big as 8 feet wide. Keep in mind this is a bird only about 22 inches standing. Nest is perhaps an understatement as Hamerkops basically make the equivalent of a wattle and daub bird apartment for their family, complete with a domed roof and tunnel door, usually nestled in the nook of a lonely tree like an acacia. These hefty structures are so strong, you could stand on one and not damage it (on a side note, don’t do that). In most cases, Hamerkops will reuse their nests annually. Male and female birds work together on the nest in a unique bonding ritual. Mom and dad get to enjoy extra comfy accommodations when their work is complete thanks to insulating layers in the walls. Cozy!

8. The Malay Great Argus is a ladies’ man (Maharajah Jungle)


Video: YouTube, @mykingdomforamouse (Jett Farrell-Vega)

The Maharajah Jungle Trek is currently home to two Malay Great Argus pheasants—and the male is quite the Casanova.

Similar to peacocks, male Great Argus pheasants use their vibrant plumage to draw the attention of lady birds. He likes everything in order, so he’ll meticulously clear his dancing ground ahead of time. The display begins with the usual prancing and feather fluffing you’d expect but takes an interesting turn in two ways. For one thing, the Great Argus pheasant has a… special mating call. His vocalization sounds rather like a cartoon character shouting “WOW-WOW!” to cat-call passing hens (see the video above). This sound can catch you off guard if you happen to be in range—think an airhorn suddenly going off, only that airhorn sounds like a weird kid on Ed, Edd, & Eddy.


Video: YouTube, @Mel Cutler

Things get really interesting when the male gets his female in sights and starts displaying—unlike the peacock, the Great Argus male uses his wings to make his magic. He tilts his wings all the way upside down to form a concave fan with mesmerizing patterns, then waves his long tail and quivers hypnotically, hiding his head. If all goes according to plan, she won’t be able to resist his charms.

Unfortunately, the female Great Argus at Disney’s Animal Kingdom tends to treat loverboy’s flirtations with indifference—while it appears the pair have had chicks before, by and large she walks away from most of their encounters with a shrug. Sorry, buddy!

9. The African Jacana can walk on water (Gorilla Falls)

African Jacana walking on water
Image: Flickr, Derek Keats (license)

The African Jacana is a bird of many names. Some of his epithets include the “Lotus Bird”, the “Lily Trotter”, and most unusually, “The Jesus Bird”. While the Jacana can’t raise the dead, he does have a pretty cool trick that earns him his namesake.

In a clever way, this little guy can walk on water.

The Jacana is able to accomplish this feat thanks to his huge… well, feet. His enormous toes stretch out almost three inches from his ankles, and these web-like claws allow him to spread out his weight to walk comfortably on lily-pads and other floating vegetation. It’s not quite true walking on water (the basilisk lizard comes a little closer using high-speed running), but the effect looks close enough to earn this little fellow his namesake.

10. The Vietnam Pheasant is one of the last of his species (Maharajah Jungle)

Edward's Pheasant
Image: Flickr, Kitty Terwolbeck (license)

From time to time, Disney’s Animal Kingdom keep birds in their aviaries that aren’t listed on their bird spotting guides. A chat with a cast member recently led to us learning some pretty amazing facts about this singular bird.

It’s unclear if this shy resident of the Maharajah Jungle Trek is an Edward’s Pheasant or Vietnam Pheasant (these species are so similar that they’re sometimes treated as the same). These unique birds are sometimes called firebacks, and younger visitors to the aviary have said they look like Spider-Man. Despite his tendency to remain unseen, the Vietnam Pheasant holds an extra special place in the aviary since he is one of the last of his species.

The Vietnam War led to a sharp decline in this particular species of pheasant. Some reports indicate there are less than 50 individuals left in the wild. Locations like Disney’s Animal Kingdom are working to see the species preserved, and the Edwards Pheasant has become a favorite at the park to those who can find him. Fortunately, these birds seem to do very well in captivity, so hope remains that the species can make a comeback. If you happen to see him on your next trip, consider yourself very lucky!

Enjoy this article? Keep reading to learn what to expect if you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom right now for yourself… or take a dive with us into the scariest Disney attractions (that weren’t supposed to be that scary).

 
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