Captive images - Joel Sartore

A roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. .

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BIR016-00041

A roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. .

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ANI084-00301

Damaraland mole rats (Fukomys damarensis) at the Houston Zoo. These burrowing rodents from sub-Saharan Africa are one of only two known eusocial mammals.

A mouse opossum (Thylamys elegans) at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.

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ANI012-00055

A mouse opossum (Thylamys elegans) at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo.

Bilby (Macrotis lagotis), a vulnerable Australian mammal.

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ANI051-00033

Bilby (Macrotis lagotis), a vulnerable Australian mammal.

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ANI051-00032

Bilby (Macrotis lagotis), a vulnerable Australian mammal.

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BIR053-00057

A silver pheasant hen (Lophura nycthemera) at the Houston Zoo.

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BIR037-00160

Black-headed Parrot (Pionites melanocephalus) at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita.

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BIR037-00161

Black-headed Parrot (Pionites melanocephalus) at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita.

A red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) at the Houston Zoo. This individual is very vocal and inquisitive.

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BIR053-00053

A red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) at the Houston Zoo. This individual is very vocal and inquisitive.

A male and female tambourine dove (Turtur tympanistria) at the Houston Zoo. This pair is particularly nervous and have to be approached in a sensitive manner.

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BIR052-00006

A male and female tambourine dove (Turtur tympanistria) at the Houston Zoo. This pair is particularly nervous and have to be approached in a sensitive manner.

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BIR055-00006

Wonga pigeon (Leucosarcia melanoleuca ) at the Houston Zoo. This male likes to sit in the smallest nest (intended for finches) in the enclosure even when there are no eggs.

A crested quail-dove (Geotrygon versicolor) at the Houston Zoo.

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BIR052-00005

A crested quail-dove (Geotrygon versicolor) at the Houston Zoo.

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A blue-winged kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) at the Houston Zoo. This bird does not appreciate keepers in his enclosure and attacks by flying at their head. He enjoys only the company of his mate and makes threat displays at everyone passing by.

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BIR052-00007

An African collared or barbary dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas.

Picture of a critically endangered, female blue-knobbed curassow (Crax alberti) at the Houston Zoo

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BIR053-00043

A critically endangered, female blue-knobbed curassow (Crax alberti) at the Houston Zoo.

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BIR053-00044

A critically endangered, female blue-knobbed curassow (Crax alberti) at the Houston Zoo.

Picture of a critically endangered, male blue-knobbed curassow (Crax alberti) at the Houston Zoo

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BIR053-00042

A male blue-knobbed curassow (Crax alberti) at the Houston Zoo. In the wild, this critically-endangered species is found only in Colombia but this individual was hatched in captivity and is quite tame. He likes to offer treats in his bill to his keepers and makes a squeaking vocalization until the keeper takes the ‘gift’.

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BIR053-00041

Yellow-knobbed curassow (Crax daubentoni) at the Houston Zoo. This bird is over 20 years old and has fathered many offspring. The whistle of this species sounds like a bomb dropping in a cartoon.

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BIR053-00039

Yellow-knobbed curassow (Crax daubentoni) at the Houston Zoo. This bird is over 20 years old and has fathered many offspring. The whistle of this species sounds like a bomb dropping in a cartoon.

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BIR053-00038

Golden-fronted leafbird (Chloropsis aurifrons) at the Houston Zoo.

A male and female Madagascar button quail (Turnix nigricollis) at the Houston Zoo. This hen has laid many eggs but is not a big fan of her mate, although her mate is a big fan of hers.

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BIR045-00048

A male and female Madagascar button quail (Turnix nigricollis) at the Houston Zoo. This hen has laid many eggs but is not a big fan of her mate, although her mate is a big fan of hers.

An African pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus) at the Houston Zoo.

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BIR021-00079

An African pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus) at the Houston Zoo.

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BIR053-00032

A great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) at the Houston Zoo.

Picture of a pair of lesser whistling ducks (Dendrocygna javanica) at the Columbus Zoo.

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BIR032-00308

A pair of lesser whistling ducks (Dendrocygna javanica) at the Columbus Zoo.

A violet-backed starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) at the Houston Zoo. Though bright purple in sunlight, this bird is extremely difficult to see in the shade of the forest.

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BIR053-00052

A violet-backed starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) at the Houston Zoo. Though bright purple in sunlight, this bird is extremely difficult to see in the shade of the forest.

Picture of an Egyptian Plover (Pluvianus aegyptius) at the Tulsa Zoo.

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BIR057-00136

An Egyptian Plover (Pluvianus aegyptius) at the Tulsa Zoo.

Picture of various finches including two blue-headed cordon-bleus (Uraeginthus cyanocephala), a lavender waxbill (Estrilda caerulescens), a red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala) and a red-billed firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala) at the Tulsa Zoo.

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BIR039-00049

Various finches including two blue-headed cordon-bleus (Uraeginthus cyanocephala), a lavender waxbill (Estrilda caerulescens), a red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala) and a red-billed firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala) at the Tulsa Zoo.

Picture of various finches including a blue-headed cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephala), a lavender waxbill (Estrilda caerulescens), a red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala) and a white-rumped parson finch (Poephila cincta cincta) at the Tulsa Zoo.

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BIR039-00047

Various finches including a blue-headed cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephala), a lavender waxbill (Estrilda caerulescens), a red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala) and a white-rumped parson finch (Poephila cincta cincta) at the Tulsa Zoo.