The Miami MetroZoo is a cageless zoo where animals roam in settings similar to their natural habitats. It is the only zoo in the United States in a subtropical climate and is one of my favorite places to visit.
Today was another bird-watching day; however, there is ONE photo that is not a bird - it's the Orangutan :)
Today was another bird-watching day; however, there is ONE photo that is not a bird - it's the Orangutan :)
![Denise > Red-crested Pochard [male] (Netta rufina) (September 1, 2008)
Larger than a Pochard (Aythya ferina), the male has an orange-brown head with a red beak and pale flanks. Females are brown with pale cheeks. In flight, they show whitish primaries. They dive, dabble and up-end for their food. There is a large population in Spain and nearer but smaller numbers in France, Netherlands and Germany. Occasional wild birds may be found in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom breeding birds almost certainly all come from escaped birds.
They are unusual among ducks in that the drake will dive and bring food to the female during breeding season.](http://newenglander.smugmug.com/Travel/Florida-Miami-MetroZoo/Miami-MetroZoo-September-1/IMG6317-Red-crested-Pochard/366977577_VLKJd-Ti.jpg "Denise > Red-crested Pochard [male] (Netta rufina) (September 1, 2008)
Larger than a Pochard (Aythya ferina), the male has an orange-brown head with a red beak and pale flanks. Females are brown with pale cheeks. In flight, they show whitish primaries. They dive, dabble and up-end for their food. There is a large population in Spain and nearer but smaller numbers in France, Netherlands and Germany. Occasional wild birds may be found in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom breeding birds almost certainly all come from escaped birds.
They are unusual among ducks in that the drake will dive and bring food to the female during breeding season.")
![Denise > Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) [male] (September 1, 2008)
A member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," the Ruddy Duck has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.](http://newenglander.smugmug.com/Travel/Florida-Miami-MetroZoo/Miami-MetroZoo-September-1/IMG6319-Ruddy-Duck-September-1/366977586_6agnT-Ti.jpg "Denise > Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) [male] (September 1, 2008)
A member of the tribe of \"stiff-tailed ducks,\" the Ruddy Duck has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.")
in this box: