It’s been awhile since I’ve started a new thread, but with PZ1 probably done I think it’s worth looking towards a sequel. Now, I don’t want this to be just about birds in general. Namely, this thread will be dedicated to one of my favorite things to visit in real world zoos. Those being tropical houses! I love the smell of the plants, the running water, the curtain of humidity! I also love seeing all the animals living together in one big habitat!
So yes, I agree the Rhea, bald eagle, snowy owl, puffins, and other birds are essential for a sequel. However this thread isn’t about them. This thread will be about some of the common zoo birds, found in the tropical forests from the Americas all the way to Oceania.
With that being said, it shouldn’t be a surprise what my first bird is. My baby boy, by shining star, my current #1 animal, it’s the same duck I have been talking about for over a year! The white faced whistling duck
! From South America all the way into Madagascar, this is just the tropical duck for me. As I said, one of the benefits of tropical birds are the potential of mixed habitats. Keep it with Pygmy hippos, lemurs, or capybara. While not as widespread as say the fulvous whistling duck, or as common in the Americas as the black belly whistling duck. The white faced whistling duck would get me to buy the sequel on its own. YOU HEAR THAT PHIL AND FRONTIER! ILL GIVE YOU MY MONEY!!!!!!!! 
For another common bird from the Americas, I’ll actually give it to the sunbittern. Maybe not the most charismatic of tropical house birds, but it is common nonetheless. Often found near water, it is also a good way of filling out a tropical house.
For another bird from the Americas, I’ll give it to the scarlet ibis. Striking colors make it worth it alone. Obviously the roseate spoonbill also falls into this spot. I would be equally happy with both, just for a tropical aviary I love these guys.
Finally moving on from the Americas, I want to go into the Congo. Here is an example from one of my local zoos! The Yellow Billed Stork may not be the most striking of birds, but tropical house birds are there to fill out an area. Still, I think it’s very pretty. I can already see it hanging over a bongo or okapi habitat, or maybe nearby some mandrill. At Franklin Park Zoo you can see them over the meshed gorilla habitat.
The hamerkop and red crested turaco are also two awesome birds native to the Congo. One is certainly more drab, but the hamerkop is still a very cool animal. Likewise, the turaco is easily one of the more colorful birds on this list.
As we move into Asia, we encounter one of my personal favorites. Hot take, but I prefer the Nicobar pigeon over other related species. Though it just narrowly beats out the Victoria crowned pigeon. Both add awesome splashes of color, and both can also be housed together!
I’ll leave this small grouping as is right now, but trust me, I do intend to speak on the parrots, toucans, hornbills, waterfowl, and other species I missed. I also want to open the door for others to drop their favorite tropical house birds. I also plan on posting pictures and examples from zoos I have been to, and would love for people to do the same. I love tropical houses, but they aren’t the same without birds! I would like to get this ball rolling, and help Frontier understand their necessity.
So yes, I agree the Rhea, bald eagle, snowy owl, puffins, and other birds are essential for a sequel. However this thread isn’t about them. This thread will be about some of the common zoo birds, found in the tropical forests from the Americas all the way to Oceania.
With that being said, it shouldn’t be a surprise what my first bird is. My baby boy, by shining star, my current #1 animal, it’s the same duck I have been talking about for over a year! The white faced whistling duck
! From South America all the way into Madagascar, this is just the tropical duck for me. As I said, one of the benefits of tropical birds are the potential of mixed habitats. Keep it with Pygmy hippos, lemurs, or capybara. While not as widespread as say the fulvous whistling duck, or as common in the Americas as the black belly whistling duck. The white faced whistling duck would get me to buy the sequel on its own. YOU HEAR THAT PHIL AND FRONTIER! ILL GIVE YOU MY MONEY!!!!!!!! For another common bird from the Americas, I’ll actually give it to the sunbittern. Maybe not the most charismatic of tropical house birds, but it is common nonetheless. Often found near water, it is also a good way of filling out a tropical house.
For another bird from the Americas, I’ll give it to the scarlet ibis. Striking colors make it worth it alone. Obviously the roseate spoonbill also falls into this spot. I would be equally happy with both, just for a tropical aviary I love these guys.
Finally moving on from the Americas, I want to go into the Congo. Here is an example from one of my local zoos! The Yellow Billed Stork may not be the most striking of birds, but tropical house birds are there to fill out an area. Still, I think it’s very pretty. I can already see it hanging over a bongo or okapi habitat, or maybe nearby some mandrill. At Franklin Park Zoo you can see them over the meshed gorilla habitat.
The hamerkop and red crested turaco are also two awesome birds native to the Congo. One is certainly more drab, but the hamerkop is still a very cool animal. Likewise, the turaco is easily one of the more colorful birds on this list.
As we move into Asia, we encounter one of my personal favorites. Hot take, but I prefer the Nicobar pigeon over other related species. Though it just narrowly beats out the Victoria crowned pigeon. Both add awesome splashes of color, and both can also be housed together!
I’ll leave this small grouping as is right now, but trust me, I do intend to speak on the parrots, toucans, hornbills, waterfowl, and other species I missed. I also want to open the door for others to drop their favorite tropical house birds. I also plan on posting pictures and examples from zoos I have been to, and would love for people to do the same. I love tropical houses, but they aren’t the same without birds! I would like to get this ball rolling, and help Frontier understand their necessity.
