1 00:00:01,869 --> 00:00:05,539 The ostrich can't fly but it sure can run. 2 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,843 The Inca tern has a fancy mustache 3 00:00:09,843 --> 00:00:12,946 and kind of a fancy lifestyle. 4 00:00:12,946 --> 00:00:15,415 The marabou stork maybe the ugliest bird 5 00:00:15,415 --> 00:00:17,284 on the African savannah. 6 00:00:17,284 --> 00:00:21,021 The peacock is simply as handsome as they come. 7 00:00:21,021 --> 00:00:24,191 And the hornbill is a true romantic. 8 00:00:24,191 --> 00:00:27,094 All these winged weirdoes have amazing abilities 9 00:00:27,094 --> 00:00:30,697 that help them survive with style. 10 00:00:30,697 --> 00:00:40,741 (♪♪♪) 11 00:00:40,741 --> 00:00:50,717 (♪♪♪) 12 00:00:50,717 --> 00:00:53,253 (♪♪♪) 13 00:00:53,253 --> 00:00:56,823 The biggest bird in the world is a fraud. 14 00:00:56,823 --> 00:00:59,660 It can't even fly. 15 00:00:59,660 --> 00:01:01,495 It's misleading in its appearance 16 00:01:01,495 --> 00:01:04,331 with the wings and all. 17 00:01:04,331 --> 00:01:08,502 But a fraud has also been perpetrated on the ostrich. 18 00:01:08,502 --> 00:01:13,173 So, in fairness, it should be cleared up. 19 00:01:13,173 --> 00:01:14,474 Contrary to believe, 20 00:01:14,474 --> 00:01:17,244 the ostrich doesn't bury its head in the sand 21 00:01:17,244 --> 00:01:21,148 to avoid unpleasant situations. 22 00:01:21,148 --> 00:01:25,018 Whoever came up with that owes the ostrich an apology. 23 00:01:25,018 --> 00:01:27,087 It's a ridiculous notion. 24 00:01:27,087 --> 00:01:29,756 It couldn't breathe while doing that. 25 00:01:29,756 --> 00:01:31,825 Though it may look like it sometimes, 26 00:01:31,825 --> 00:01:34,494 what it is probably doing is eating. 27 00:01:34,494 --> 00:01:38,031 But some of their behavior is quite bird-like. 28 00:01:38,031 --> 00:01:40,500 It is attracted to shiny things. 29 00:01:42,836 --> 00:01:44,671 It lays huge eggs 30 00:01:44,671 --> 00:01:48,275 and it has wings. 31 00:01:48,275 --> 00:01:50,110 But it is an odd bird. 32 00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:51,979 But what is odd about the ostrich 33 00:01:51,979 --> 00:01:56,316 is what's great about the ostrich. 34 00:01:56,316 --> 00:01:58,819 It is indeed the biggest bird in the world 35 00:01:58,819 --> 00:02:01,221 and it has large, impressive wings 36 00:02:01,221 --> 00:02:03,890 and it cannot fly. 37 00:02:03,890 --> 00:02:08,362 What it can do is run like the wind. 38 00:02:08,362 --> 00:02:11,398 Of course, it looks a little silly when it runs 39 00:02:11,398 --> 00:02:15,335 but this is the bird you want to put your money on in a race 40 00:02:15,335 --> 00:02:18,739 because that is the fastest silly walk you'll ever see- 41 00:02:18,739 --> 00:02:21,808 up to 45 miles an hour of silly. 42 00:02:25,912 --> 00:02:27,247 With only two toes, 43 00:02:27,247 --> 00:02:30,017 their clawed feet look like a dinosaur's, 44 00:02:30,017 --> 00:02:34,588 that actually helps them reach that incredible speed. 45 00:02:34,588 --> 00:02:38,325 But why do they need to be so fast? 46 00:02:38,325 --> 00:02:41,328 Sometimes, they have to get away from very fast predators 47 00:02:41,328 --> 00:02:45,699 like lions, cheetahs or hyenas. 48 00:02:45,699 --> 00:02:49,569 The ostrich's speed comes from its long powerful legs, 49 00:02:49,569 --> 00:02:53,006 which can take strides of up to 15 feet. 50 00:02:53,006 --> 00:02:54,374 They have to turn quickly, 51 00:02:54,374 --> 00:02:57,077 that's where the wings come into play. 52 00:02:57,077 --> 00:03:00,714 They will use them as rudders to help change direction. 53 00:03:00,714 --> 00:03:02,282 And if it gets cornered, 54 00:03:02,282 --> 00:03:05,619 those legs can be used as a formidable weapon. 55 00:03:05,619 --> 00:03:08,388 The ostrich could potentially kill a large animal 56 00:03:08,388 --> 00:03:11,558 with a well-placed kick, 57 00:03:11,558 --> 00:03:15,629 especially with that nasty claw sticking out. 58 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:19,232 But mostly they run away 59 00:03:19,232 --> 00:03:22,369 and they look pretty funny doing it. 60 00:03:22,369 --> 00:03:25,372 But why can't they fly? 61 00:03:25,372 --> 00:03:29,376 Some scientists think their ancestors could. 62 00:03:29,376 --> 00:03:32,379 Dinosaurs were the biggest predators. 63 00:03:32,379 --> 00:03:35,582 One theory is that after the dinosaurs disappeared, 64 00:03:35,582 --> 00:03:38,652 the ancestral ostrich didn't need to fly 65 00:03:38,652 --> 00:03:40,821 because nothing was hunting it. 66 00:03:40,821 --> 00:03:42,823 And because there was an abundance of food 67 00:03:42,823 --> 00:03:45,959 at runway level. 68 00:03:47,327 --> 00:03:50,130 Ostriches turned in their pilot's license 69 00:03:50,130 --> 00:03:53,333 and became grazers. 70 00:03:53,333 --> 00:03:57,104 They turn their attention to life on the ground. 71 00:03:57,104 --> 00:03:59,906 But because their wings didn't just fall off, 72 00:03:59,906 --> 00:04:02,476 the ostrich found new uses for them, 73 00:04:02,476 --> 00:04:05,011 including one of the oddest mating rituals 74 00:04:05,011 --> 00:04:08,248 in the animal kingdom. 75 00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:11,685 The males perform a flamboyant mating dance, 76 00:04:11,685 --> 00:04:15,255 using their wings heavily in their choreography. 77 00:04:15,255 --> 00:04:17,791 They blow up their neck like a balloon 78 00:04:17,791 --> 00:04:20,827 and most turn bright red in the process. 79 00:04:20,827 --> 00:04:22,796 The male crouches down 80 00:04:22,796 --> 00:04:26,466 and, kind of, awkwardly gets on top of a female 81 00:04:26,466 --> 00:04:29,603 and sways back and forth while fluttering his feathers. 82 00:04:29,603 --> 00:04:31,938 It's a peculiar-looking affair. 83 00:04:31,938 --> 00:04:36,209 But since we still have ostriches, it must be working. 84 00:04:36,209 --> 00:04:39,479 Why be boring when you can be that flamboyant? 85 00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:42,983 And the result of that wacky dance? 86 00:04:42,983 --> 00:04:46,052 Giant prehistoric-looking eggs. 87 00:04:46,052 --> 00:04:48,221 Ostriches have the largest eggs 88 00:04:48,221 --> 00:04:50,624 in the contemporary bird kingdom. 89 00:04:50,624 --> 00:04:52,726 Before that, the elephant bird, 90 00:04:52,726 --> 00:04:55,395 which was like a bigger version of an ostrich 91 00:04:55,395 --> 00:04:57,898 and went extinct around the 17th century, 92 00:04:57,898 --> 00:04:59,966 laid a doozy of an egg- 93 00:04:59,966 --> 00:05:03,170 a foot long and 8 inches wide- 94 00:05:03,170 --> 00:05:05,505 that's bigger than your head. 95 00:05:05,505 --> 00:05:08,041 But the ostrich egg is still something. 96 00:05:08,041 --> 00:05:11,378 It's 2,000 times bigger than the smallest bird egg, 97 00:05:11,378 --> 00:05:13,513 which belongs to the hummingbird. 98 00:05:13,513 --> 00:05:17,517 One ostrich egg is equal to about two dozen chicken eggs. 99 00:05:17,517 --> 00:05:21,855 That's 3 pounds of egg; that's a big omelette. 100 00:05:21,855 --> 00:05:24,858 And ostrich eggs are so strong 101 00:05:24,858 --> 00:05:28,028 that an average-sized person can stand on top of them 102 00:05:28,028 --> 00:05:30,063 and they won't break. 103 00:05:30,063 --> 00:05:31,331 These strange birds 104 00:05:31,331 --> 00:05:34,935 also have some pretty unusual nesting rituals. 105 00:05:34,935 --> 00:05:37,904 Ostriches live in a pride of about 10 birds 106 00:05:37,904 --> 00:05:40,040 and within that is a harem. 107 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,742 There's an alpha male and a dominant female 108 00:05:42,742 --> 00:05:45,178 and then other females below her. 109 00:05:45,178 --> 00:05:48,415 Each hen can lay between 5 and 10 eggs 110 00:05:48,415 --> 00:05:51,418 and all the hen's eggs go into one nest, 111 00:05:51,418 --> 00:05:55,222 which is really just a shallow depression in the ground. 112 00:05:55,222 --> 00:05:57,624 But it's not one big happy family. 113 00:05:57,624 --> 00:06:01,127 The head female wants nothing of the other females' eggs, 114 00:06:01,127 --> 00:06:03,530 so she'll kick them out of the middle of the nest, 115 00:06:03,530 --> 00:06:06,900 leaving them on the edge, where they are vulnerable to predators 116 00:06:06,900 --> 00:06:10,270 and unlikely to get properly incubated. 117 00:06:10,270 --> 00:06:13,640 Luckily, the ostrich can easily protect their nest too, 118 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:17,410 as they don't need to get up for a drink of water very often. 119 00:06:17,410 --> 00:06:22,249 Ostriches are a lot like another strange-looking animal, 120 00:06:22,249 --> 00:06:24,251 the camel. 121 00:06:24,251 --> 00:06:26,720 In fact, the scientific name for the ostrich 122 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:31,558 is Struthio camelus , which means "ostrich camel". 123 00:06:31,558 --> 00:06:33,927 They get a lot of water from their food 124 00:06:33,927 --> 00:06:36,429 and can regulate their temperature and water loss 125 00:06:36,429 --> 00:06:39,165 because they don't sweat. 126 00:06:39,165 --> 00:06:41,735 Also like camels, they have big eyes 127 00:06:41,735 --> 00:06:45,505 with special eyelids to protect them from sand. 128 00:06:45,505 --> 00:06:49,342 Some say their eyeball is bigger than their brain 129 00:06:49,342 --> 00:06:52,679 but that's not nice or fair. 130 00:06:52,679 --> 00:06:56,316 Watching an ostrich, you might think they have a small brain... 131 00:07:00,687 --> 00:07:02,656 But they're actually pretty smart. 132 00:07:02,656 --> 00:07:04,491 An what they may lack in finesse, 133 00:07:04,491 --> 00:07:07,961 they more than make up for in speed and personality. 134 00:07:09,496 --> 00:07:13,600 That said, they still like shinny things. 135 00:07:18,605 --> 00:07:22,142 On the coast of Peru and Chile lives a handsome bird 136 00:07:22,142 --> 00:07:24,878 with immaculate grooming habits. 137 00:07:24,878 --> 00:07:28,048 The Inca tern's plumage is legendary. 138 00:07:29,716 --> 00:07:31,284 But under that façade 139 00:07:31,284 --> 00:07:34,721 is a surprisingly chivalrous and brave bird. 140 00:07:38,391 --> 00:07:40,327 Preferring to nest on rocky cliffs 141 00:07:40,327 --> 00:07:42,696 and sandy beaches along the West Coast, 142 00:07:42,696 --> 00:07:46,299 they live in massive colonies of thousands of birds, 143 00:07:46,299 --> 00:07:49,469 usually living alongside humble penguins. 144 00:07:49,469 --> 00:07:53,306 These seabirds are known for their mustache-like tufts, 145 00:07:53,306 --> 00:07:56,142 making them look like proper gentleman. 146 00:07:56,142 --> 00:08:00,413 All that's missing is a cigarette holder and a martini. 147 00:08:00,413 --> 00:08:02,515 They're also very easy to spot 148 00:08:02,515 --> 00:08:06,720 thanks to their impressively manicured bright red feet, 149 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,989 making this fellow one of the most unusual-looking birds 150 00:08:09,989 --> 00:08:13,560 in the animal kingdom. 151 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,196 The mustache is made of long feathers 152 00:08:16,196 --> 00:08:20,734 underlined by a fleshy wattle. 153 00:08:20,734 --> 00:08:23,570 It's for more than just decoration though. 154 00:08:23,570 --> 00:08:25,505 Much like a buck's antlers, 155 00:08:25,505 --> 00:08:29,275 the mustache is for display and sexual selection. 156 00:08:29,275 --> 00:08:33,513 That's right, mustaches are sexy again. 157 00:08:33,513 --> 00:08:37,217 But unlike antlers, both male and female Inca terns 158 00:08:37,217 --> 00:08:41,388 have these dashing decoration above their beak. 159 00:08:41,388 --> 00:08:44,124 In both sexes, it's to show off that they're mature 160 00:08:44,124 --> 00:08:46,359 and healthy enough to mate. 161 00:08:46,359 --> 00:08:48,361 The bigger and longer the 'stache, 162 00:08:48,361 --> 00:08:50,797 the healthier the bird. 163 00:08:50,797 --> 00:08:54,868 And presumably, the healthier the chicks they can produce. 164 00:08:54,868 --> 00:08:56,703 Once they produce those chicks, 165 00:08:56,703 --> 00:08:59,739 the males and females incubate the eggs 166 00:08:59,739 --> 00:09:02,742 and then share parenting and fending duties. 167 00:09:02,742 --> 00:09:05,945 Because after all, this is a progressive bird 168 00:09:05,945 --> 00:09:09,315 and a gentleman never abandons his nest. 169 00:09:09,315 --> 00:09:18,591 (♪♪♪) 170 00:09:18,591 --> 00:09:21,394 Most of their nests can be found high up on cliffs 171 00:09:21,394 --> 00:09:25,598 on the west coast of South America, in hollows and burrows. 172 00:09:25,598 --> 00:09:30,637 Here, these impeccable-looking birds aren't afraid to get wet. 173 00:09:30,637 --> 00:09:33,740 They can often be seen hovering in groups over schools 174 00:09:33,740 --> 00:09:35,608 of anchovies and small fish, 175 00:09:35,608 --> 00:09:39,012 every so often making impressive dives for their dinner. 176 00:09:42,415 --> 00:09:46,753 So there's more to these dashing birds than their looks. 177 00:09:46,753 --> 00:09:49,622 They're daring and devoted to their families. 178 00:09:49,622 --> 00:09:52,325 And hey, just because you've settled down, 179 00:09:52,325 --> 00:09:54,994 doesn't mean you can't have style. 180 00:09:58,798 --> 00:10:03,203 The marabou stork is not the best-looking bird in the world. 181 00:10:05,171 --> 00:10:08,308 And their eating habits live up to their appearance 182 00:10:08,308 --> 00:10:10,877 but they are the neighbor you want. 183 00:10:12,512 --> 00:10:13,880 They'll eat dead animals 184 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:17,050 and have even been known to nibble on flamingos. 185 00:10:22,622 --> 00:10:25,992 From behind, they kind of look like an undertaker. 186 00:10:31,231 --> 00:10:34,968 From the front, they don't get much better. 187 00:10:34,968 --> 00:10:37,737 They're not old or sick or dying, 188 00:10:37,737 --> 00:10:40,173 this is just how they look. 189 00:10:44,978 --> 00:10:48,414 These strange-looking birds are hard to miss. 190 00:10:50,350 --> 00:10:53,219 They can grow up to 5 feet tall. 191 00:10:53,219 --> 00:10:59,392 (♪♪♪) 192 00:10:59,392 --> 00:11:01,661 And with a wingspan of over 12 feet, 193 00:11:01,661 --> 00:11:05,231 the marabou stork boasts the second largest wingspan 194 00:11:05,231 --> 00:11:09,769 of any living bird, where the albatross sporting the biggest. 195 00:11:09,769 --> 00:11:12,705 At 20 pounds, they're also one of the heaviest birds 196 00:11:12,705 --> 00:11:16,175 that can still fly. 197 00:11:16,175 --> 00:11:19,746 Soaring at up to 13,000 feet in the air. 198 00:11:21,281 --> 00:11:23,883 That's partially thanks to their hollow leg bones 199 00:11:23,883 --> 00:11:27,854 and toe bones, which cuts back on quite a bit of weight. 200 00:11:27,854 --> 00:11:32,091 Speaking of their gangly feet, they're supposed to be dark grey 201 00:11:32,091 --> 00:11:34,527 but because of a build-up of bird poop, 202 00:11:34,527 --> 00:11:37,630 they tend to look mostly white from a distance. 203 00:11:37,630 --> 00:11:40,733 Though it may seem that hygiene is not for these birds, 204 00:11:40,733 --> 00:11:44,571 they defecate on their legs to cool down. 205 00:11:44,571 --> 00:11:46,472 This pink balloon under their bill 206 00:11:46,472 --> 00:11:50,577 is actually called a gular sac. 207 00:11:50,577 --> 00:11:52,979 When a marabou stork wants to appear threatening 208 00:11:52,979 --> 00:11:56,482 and dangerous to other storks, it inflates the sack. 209 00:11:58,318 --> 00:12:00,687 It also helps them regulate temperature 210 00:12:00,687 --> 00:12:02,789 because this pink inflatable sack 211 00:12:02,789 --> 00:12:05,491 is packed with blood vessels. 212 00:12:05,491 --> 00:12:07,660 With no feathers to insulate the heat, 213 00:12:07,660 --> 00:12:11,564 it is released, helping to keep them cool- 214 00:12:11,564 --> 00:12:15,134 that strange sac is practical. 215 00:12:15,134 --> 00:12:19,472 The naked head and neck are not the result of a bad haircut, 216 00:12:19,472 --> 00:12:21,741 these storks feed on dead animals, 217 00:12:21,741 --> 00:12:25,812 just like their cousins, the vultures. 218 00:12:25,812 --> 00:12:27,246 If they had a feathered head, 219 00:12:27,246 --> 00:12:29,449 it would just get clogged with blood and guts 220 00:12:29,449 --> 00:12:33,786 during dinner time. 221 00:12:33,786 --> 00:12:37,857 They also eat scraps and really anything they can find. 222 00:12:41,127 --> 00:12:45,431 Like frogs, eggs and some say, even shoes sometimes, 223 00:12:45,431 --> 00:12:49,636 now that's putting a foot in your mouth. 224 00:12:49,636 --> 00:12:51,804 To maximize their scavenging opportunities, 225 00:12:51,804 --> 00:12:53,973 they tend to live their garbage dumps, 226 00:12:53,973 --> 00:12:56,376 fishing villages and slaughter houses, 227 00:12:56,376 --> 00:12:58,845 not exactly hot markets for real estate 228 00:12:58,845 --> 00:13:01,781 and easy to find a place. 229 00:13:01,781 --> 00:13:04,884 When it's not scavenging dead animals or garbage, 230 00:13:04,884 --> 00:13:06,853 it's playing house. 231 00:13:06,853 --> 00:13:10,289 Collecting sticks to build a nice comfy nest 232 00:13:10,289 --> 00:13:12,892 to keep his partner happy. 233 00:13:14,894 --> 00:13:17,730 Strangely enough, marabou storks can often be found 234 00:13:17,730 --> 00:13:19,866 heading towards fires, 235 00:13:19,866 --> 00:13:23,703 not to be heroic and help put out the fire though. 236 00:13:23,703 --> 00:13:25,838 They've learned that's a very efficient way 237 00:13:25,838 --> 00:13:29,409 to find dead or dying animals to feast on. 238 00:13:29,409 --> 00:13:32,812 Now, that's a hot meal. 239 00:13:32,812 --> 00:13:36,082 Their massive wedge-shaped bill and elastic stomachs stretch 240 00:13:36,082 --> 00:13:39,686 to fit whatever they find. 241 00:13:39,686 --> 00:13:43,756 They're not picky, eating almost 2 pounds of food each day. 242 00:13:46,325 --> 00:13:48,995 As gross as they seem, the marabou stork 243 00:13:48,995 --> 00:13:52,031 plays an important role in the ecosystem. 244 00:13:53,900 --> 00:13:56,169 They are waste removal engineers, 245 00:13:56,169 --> 00:14:00,273 cleaning up garbage and dead animals. 246 00:14:00,273 --> 00:14:04,043 It's a dirty job but someone has to do it. 247 00:14:06,446 --> 00:14:08,848 Just be grateful that the marabou stork volunteered 248 00:14:08,848 --> 00:14:11,884 to clean up the neighborhood. 249 00:14:11,884 --> 00:14:20,626 (♪♪♪) 250 00:14:20,626 --> 00:14:23,596 The marabou stork couldn't care less about appearances 251 00:14:23,596 --> 00:14:25,765 but in India and Sri Lanka lives a bird 252 00:14:25,765 --> 00:14:29,769 who's paying very close attention to how it looks. 253 00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:33,106 But this club is gentleman only. 254 00:14:35,575 --> 00:14:37,810 Like the dandies of the 19th century, 255 00:14:37,810 --> 00:14:41,881 these suave male birds grew up cultivating their vanity. 256 00:14:44,083 --> 00:14:48,554 With peacocks, it's all about the show. 257 00:14:48,554 --> 00:14:50,990 Strutting around with crowns of blue, 258 00:14:50,990 --> 00:14:55,394 these flamboyant creatures have only one thing on their minds, 259 00:14:55,394 --> 00:14:59,132 looking good for the ladies. 260 00:14:59,132 --> 00:15:02,301 Peacocks have been romanticized throughout history, 261 00:15:02,301 --> 00:15:04,604 even by Shakespeare. 262 00:15:04,604 --> 00:15:06,906 They're often used to display wealth 263 00:15:06,906 --> 00:15:10,276 and are revered as a symbol of immortality. 264 00:15:10,276 --> 00:15:11,477 Technically speaking, 265 00:15:11,477 --> 00:15:14,614 the long-tailed birds are called peafowl 266 00:15:14,614 --> 00:15:18,451 and they only have long tails for part of the year. 267 00:15:18,451 --> 00:15:22,655 Only males are peacocks as females are peahens. 268 00:15:23,990 --> 00:15:27,126 Always looking for an opportunity to show off, 269 00:15:27,126 --> 00:15:29,929 they gather to munch on plants and small insects 270 00:15:29,929 --> 00:15:34,934 they find on the ground always in their best attire. 271 00:15:34,934 --> 00:15:36,669 Males spend a lifetime 272 00:15:36,669 --> 00:15:39,539 putting themselves at risk with predators. 273 00:15:39,539 --> 00:15:43,042 Flaunting a magnificent train of feathers on their back end, 274 00:15:43,042 --> 00:15:45,278 they're not exactly blending in. 275 00:15:45,278 --> 00:15:47,346 But it's not for the sake of their suits, 276 00:15:47,346 --> 00:15:51,117 it's for the sake of showing off to the females. 277 00:15:51,117 --> 00:15:53,953 But what's the point of this ostentatious display 278 00:15:53,953 --> 00:15:56,155 of feathers by the males? 279 00:15:56,155 --> 00:15:57,557 It is a legitimate attempt 280 00:15:57,557 --> 00:16:01,060 at charming a potential mate in a competitive world. 281 00:16:04,063 --> 00:16:05,832 In a grandiose performance, 282 00:16:05,832 --> 00:16:10,002 the peacock fans his large train of feathers across his back, 283 00:16:10,002 --> 00:16:12,138 creating an impressive wall of color 284 00:16:12,138 --> 00:16:14,140 to woe the onlooking peahen. 285 00:16:15,908 --> 00:16:18,978 The fan, made up of 150 feathers, 286 00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:22,048 is more than 60% of his total body length. 287 00:16:24,483 --> 00:16:26,719 The outrageous mating ritual is developed 288 00:16:26,719 --> 00:16:30,256 into an elaborate and technical dance. 289 00:16:30,256 --> 00:16:33,526 If the peacock suspects the peahen is interested, 290 00:16:33,526 --> 00:16:38,030 he turns around and actually shakes his booty at her. 291 00:16:38,030 --> 00:16:39,932 But there's more to this spectacle 292 00:16:39,932 --> 00:16:42,068 than simply showing off. 293 00:16:44,003 --> 00:16:48,174 Females choose their mates according to the size, color 294 00:16:48,174 --> 00:16:51,043 and quality of the feathers. 295 00:16:51,043 --> 00:16:53,679 They're very particular. 296 00:16:53,679 --> 00:16:56,215 The eyespots on each feather in particular 297 00:16:56,215 --> 00:16:59,518 are essential to these courtship displays. 298 00:16:59,518 --> 00:17:02,288 Each feather features an iridescent eye-like pattern 299 00:17:02,288 --> 00:17:05,591 that is indeed eye-catching. 300 00:17:05,591 --> 00:17:07,059 Females, it seems, 301 00:17:07,059 --> 00:17:11,864 are especially fond of the blue green patches in each eyespot. 302 00:17:12,798 --> 00:17:16,569 And we can only imagine how things appear to a peahen. 303 00:17:18,871 --> 00:17:20,973 Peafowl have refined color vision, 304 00:17:20,973 --> 00:17:23,309 different than humans, making the contrast 305 00:17:23,309 --> 00:17:25,912 in the eye markings on the peacock's feathers 306 00:17:25,912 --> 00:17:28,214 even more pronounced. 307 00:17:31,117 --> 00:17:32,818 The mating dance of the peacock 308 00:17:32,818 --> 00:17:36,656 is the ultimate display of sexual selection. 309 00:17:36,656 --> 00:17:40,826 Females choose the peacock with the most fantastic fan 310 00:17:40,826 --> 00:17:44,730 because the nicer the tail, the better the genes. 311 00:17:44,730 --> 00:17:48,100 So getting some tail means a lot more for these birds. 312 00:17:49,902 --> 00:17:53,806 An impressive male can actually mate with several females 313 00:17:53,806 --> 00:17:57,944 who lay three to five eggs each. 314 00:17:57,944 --> 00:18:00,913 Females, of course, are the more practical sex, 315 00:18:00,913 --> 00:18:04,350 needing to avoid predators while incubating their eggs. 316 00:18:04,350 --> 00:18:08,154 Peahens sport a dull-looking coat in order to blend in. 317 00:18:08,154 --> 00:18:11,490 It's a sensible look for survival. 318 00:18:11,490 --> 00:18:15,094 But if peacocks fail to harness the beauty of their tails, 319 00:18:15,094 --> 00:18:17,163 their lineage will end with them, 320 00:18:17,163 --> 00:18:21,200 leaving them sad and beautiful with no one to appreciate them. 321 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:25,271 Maybe then they'll go for a solo flight of remorse. 322 00:18:25,271 --> 00:18:29,375 Yes, believe it or not, these birds can fly. 323 00:18:29,375 --> 00:18:31,110 In fact, the peacock is considered 324 00:18:31,110 --> 00:18:33,212 one of the largest flying birds 325 00:18:33,212 --> 00:18:35,614 because of the reach of its tail. 326 00:18:35,614 --> 00:18:38,351 But don't expect to see it fly very often. 327 00:18:38,351 --> 00:18:41,721 Peacocks don't exactly like to tousle their feathers, 328 00:18:41,721 --> 00:18:44,290 just the opposite, of course. 329 00:18:44,290 --> 00:18:48,561 But sometimes, all that primping may have truly been in vain. 330 00:18:52,131 --> 00:18:54,300 Most birds have small bills. 331 00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:57,203 But then, there's the hornbill. 332 00:18:57,203 --> 00:19:00,339 It has a huge one. 333 00:19:00,339 --> 00:19:03,542 But this noble creature also has a huge soft spot 334 00:19:03,542 --> 00:19:06,145 for love and family. 335 00:19:06,145 --> 00:19:09,815 (Hornbill cackling) 336 00:19:11,150 --> 00:19:14,153 They say, size doesn't matter, 337 00:19:14,153 --> 00:19:16,722 but no one told the hornbill. 338 00:19:16,722 --> 00:19:21,227 They're known for their comically large bills. 339 00:19:21,227 --> 00:19:23,229 They're even named for it. 340 00:19:25,364 --> 00:19:28,167 It's an incredible multipurpose tool, 341 00:19:30,336 --> 00:19:34,340 helping them fight, clean, eat and construct their nests. 342 00:19:37,243 --> 00:19:39,912 Why it's so large is a mystery. 343 00:19:43,215 --> 00:19:45,951 The bill is so enormous that the hornbill's first 344 00:19:45,951 --> 00:19:48,587 and second vertebrate are fused together 345 00:19:48,587 --> 00:19:52,091 to help them carry the extra weight. 346 00:19:52,091 --> 00:19:56,295 They're the only bird with this unique neck adaptation. 347 00:19:56,295 --> 00:19:59,031 They also have incredibly strong neck muscles, 348 00:19:59,031 --> 00:20:03,035 making the bill even bigger in some species. 349 00:20:03,035 --> 00:20:06,605 The impressive piece on top is called "the cask". 350 00:20:06,605 --> 00:20:10,209 It's a hollow piece of carotin, sometimes reinforced with bone 351 00:20:10,209 --> 00:20:14,613 which is there to keep the bill sturdy. 352 00:20:14,613 --> 00:20:16,282 On some birds, the cask alone 353 00:20:16,282 --> 00:20:19,785 can weigh up to 10% of their body weight- 354 00:20:19,785 --> 00:20:23,722 that's like balancing a 3-month-old baby on your head. 355 00:20:25,491 --> 00:20:28,427 It's thought the cask acts like a vibrating chamber 356 00:20:28,427 --> 00:20:32,465 to help the hornbill's voice project through the forest. 357 00:20:32,465 --> 00:20:37,002 (Cackling) 358 00:20:37,002 --> 00:20:39,271 Hornbills have binocular vision, 359 00:20:39,271 --> 00:20:40,973 which means their forward-facing eyes' 360 00:20:40,973 --> 00:20:44,176 fields of view overlap in front. 361 00:20:44,176 --> 00:20:45,778 This helps them focus on the food items 362 00:20:45,778 --> 00:20:48,447 they're picking up with their bill, 363 00:20:48,447 --> 00:20:52,251 allowing for intense precision. 364 00:20:52,251 --> 00:20:55,821 But if they catch food at the tip of their beak, 365 00:20:55,821 --> 00:21:00,459 their tongues aren't long enough to bring it into their mouths, 366 00:21:00,459 --> 00:21:04,697 so they have to tip their heads back to gulp it down. 367 00:21:05,965 --> 00:21:08,367 That helps them eat some more dangerous meals 368 00:21:08,367 --> 00:21:11,437 like scorpions without getting stung 369 00:21:11,437 --> 00:21:15,374 because the scorpion goes down so fast. 370 00:21:15,374 --> 00:21:20,179 For the hornbill, romantic gestures are big too. 371 00:21:20,179 --> 00:21:22,448 A male will flirt with a female 372 00:21:22,448 --> 00:21:26,352 by bringing her food for a whole year to build trust. 373 00:21:26,352 --> 00:21:30,289 Trust is important when you mate for life like these lovebirds. 374 00:21:30,289 --> 00:21:32,691 Once they mate and the female lays eggs, 375 00:21:32,691 --> 00:21:35,628 she stays hold up inside a tree hollow, 376 00:21:35,628 --> 00:21:39,498 with the opening sealed except for a tiny hole to feed through. 377 00:21:41,467 --> 00:21:44,403 His job while she's in there caring for their young 378 00:21:44,403 --> 00:21:47,506 is to deliver them delicious food. 379 00:21:47,506 --> 00:21:49,508 This helps protect the chicks from predators 380 00:21:49,508 --> 00:21:51,477 until they're old enough to defend themselves 381 00:21:51,477 --> 00:21:54,647 outside of the hollow. 382 00:21:54,647 --> 00:21:57,416 The male hornbill really does get to his mate 383 00:21:57,416 --> 00:21:58,751 through her stomach 384 00:21:58,751 --> 00:22:03,322 and in turn, she protects their brood. 385 00:22:03,322 --> 00:22:07,393 After all is said and done, that big bill is impressive 386 00:22:07,393 --> 00:22:11,330 but it's not as impressive as their love. 387 00:22:11,330 --> 00:22:15,901 Devoted to each other for life, hornbills really are love birds. 388 00:22:18,504 --> 00:22:20,506 All of these bizarre looking birds 389 00:22:20,506 --> 00:22:23,442 are beautifully adapted to their environments. 390 00:22:23,442 --> 00:22:27,613 The fast and flamboyant ostrich, the dapper and daring Inca tern, 391 00:22:27,613 --> 00:22:31,350 the scrappy marabou stork, the iridescent peacock 392 00:22:31,350 --> 00:22:34,019 and the hopelessly romantic hornbill 393 00:22:34,019 --> 00:22:38,357 are all proving there's a lot more to them than meets the eye. 394 00:22:38,357 --> 00:22:41,694 These are true survivors. 395 00:22:41,694 --> 00:22:51,737 (♪♪♪) 396 00:22:51,737 --> 00:23:01,780 (♪♪♪)