The flamingo is a filter feeder with a specially designed beak that strains food from the water. In this way, they resemble whales and shellfish more than birds.
The phainopepla has a number of interesting characteristics. Its preferred food source is the mistletoe berry which it can eat over 1000/day. It is the only bird known to have a specialized gizzard which removes the skins from berries for more efficient digestion. Rarely drinking water and losing 95% of its body mass in water per day, it obtains the water it needs from the berries it eats. They are also known to immitate the calls of other birds when stressed. Thirteen different spicies are known to be mimicked including the red-tailed hawk and northern flicker. Phainopepla breed in two distinct habitats at two different times of year and exibit different behaviors in each habitat. When breeding in the desert, the pairs are territorial and protect their feeding territories, whereas breeding in the woodlands they form loose colonies. Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada USA
These spiders (jumping spiders) are the only ones I know of that are acutely aware of your presence. They seem to want to interact and look you in the eye which makes them ideal models. This one is lifting his head to look right into the lens which is often the case.
