The white-necked rockfowl is a medium-sized bird in the family Picathartidae, mainly found in fragmented groups in rocky forested areas at higher altitudes in West Africa from Guinea to Ghana. The rockfowl typically chooses to live near streams and inselbergs. It has greyish- black upperparts and white underparts. Its unusually long, dark brown tail is used for balance. The head is nearly featherless, with the exposed skin being bright yellow except for two large, circular black patches located just behind the eyes. These rockfowl feed primarily on insects, though parents feed small frogs to their young. Rockfowl move through the forest primarily through a series of hops and bounds or short flights in low vegetation. This species rarely flies for long distances. This species is classified as Vulnerable as it is threatened by habitat destruction; conservation efforts are underway in parts of its range. Some of the indigenous peoples of Sierra Leone considered the species to be a protector of the home of their ancestral spirits. This rockfowl is considered one of Africa’s most desirable birds by birders and is a symbol of ecotourism across its range.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-necked_rockfowl
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1658:
Anglo-Spanish War: English colonial forces repelled a Spanish attack in the largest battle ever fought on Jamaica. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rio_Nuevo_(1658)
1910:
The United States Congress passed the Mann Act, which prohibited interstate transport of females for "immoral purposes". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Act
1944:
World War II: United States Navy and Royal Navy ships bombarded Cherbourg, France, to support U.S. Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardment_of_Cherbourg
1975:
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unilaterally had a state of emergency declared across the nation that last nearly two years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emergency_(India)
2009:
Singer Michael Jackson died after suffering cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home, which authorities later declared a homicide caused by the combination of drugs in his body. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Michael_Jackson
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
flense: To strip the blubber or skin from, as from a whale, seal, etc. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/flense
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
If you turn the other cheek, you will get a harder blow on it than you got on the first one. This does not always happen, but it is to be expected, and you ought not to complain if it does happen. --George Orwell https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Orwell
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