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Juvenile White-Naped Crane

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Some animals have young that look similar to their adult parents. Other animals have young that look very different from their adult parents. The juvenile White-Naped Crane in the photograph is one month old.

The White-Naped Crane (Antigone vipio) is a large wetlands bird. The adult measures about 130 centimetres (51 inches) tall, with a large wingspan of 2 metres (6.5 feet). The young (juvenile) White-Naped Crane looks very different from its parents.

The juvenile White-Naped Crane has fluffy pale-brown and white feathers. The adult White-Naped Cranehas a grey and white striped neck and a grey body. It takes 2-3 years for the juvenile to gain its adult feathers.

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African Giant Pouched Rat

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The African Pouched Rat (Cricetomys gambianus) is a muroid rodent. It is also known as the Gambian Pouched Rat. It is not a true rat. It has pouched cheeks like a Hamster. 

The African Pouched Rat has a long grey-reddish furred body, light-coloured tail, pink ears, and a pink-grey nose. It has long incisor teeth. 

It has an excellent sense of smell. African Pouched Rats can detect land mines and tuberculosis.

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Budgerigar

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The Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) – or budgie – is a small Australian bird. It is also called the Common Parakeet or Shell Parakeet.

The Budgerigar in the wild is green (on the body) and yellow (on the head) with black scalloped markings on the neck, back, and wings. In captivity, there are many colours, such as blue, white, yellow, and grey. It has cheek spots that are usually blue or grey, with three black spots across each side of its throat. Its beak is pearl or clear, with a pearl-white cere, and is down facing. Its legs are blue-grey. It has a long, blue tail.

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Palm Cockatoo

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The Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) is a large parrot from New Guinea and a small area of northern Australia. It is also known as the Goliath Cockatoo or Great Black Cockatoo. Probosciger means long, thin nose.

The Palm Cockatoo is grey-black with red cheeks that can change colour when it is frightened or excited. It has a very large grey beak. It has the second largest beak of all parrots in the world (the Hyacinth Macaw has the largest beak). The top mandible (jaw) and the bottom mandible do not meet. It has a large crest. It has black feet and large black claws. It has black eyes.

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