The Ultimate, Essential Bird Meta-Wishlist (Habitat AND Aviary)

I think the thing is, Frontier has stated they won't add extinct species into the game. That includes animals that have been in zoos, like the Thylacine, which could also theoretically still exist.

I'm sure that if the glaucous macaw is spotted again, it's status will stay as critically endangered. But until then, it's probably best to consider it extinct
Thanks.
 
@The Carcharodontogenius
Im sorry, but this species is extinct at this point. ☠️
Focus on the Glaucous Macaw on the left image to the image on the right.
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With said...Community poll! Taking a break from all things arid, what are some of your favorite cold temperature birds? BUT NO PENGUINS, cuz everyone loves penguins.
I really like Gannets. In Germany, there are those on the island of Helgoland, our northernmost island.
They always look kind of grumpy and I like the coloring of their face with those black markings and the bright yellow hood. They breed on the steep cliffs of the "Lange Anna"
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@TheDuckKnight

I sent you a DM about this, but I guess you missed it. "Buzzard" is the European equivalent of "hawk", so the common buzzard should be moved into the hawk category. They are all Buteos. For example, in Europe, the rough-legged hawk is known as the rough-legged buzzard.

If I vote for the rough-legged hawk, will it be placed in hawk or buzzard? I'm Canadian, so we call them rough-legged hawks, but according to that Wiki page you linked they are called rough-legged buzzards in Eurasia, as they are found in both continents. I agree that these categories should be merged, they are basically synonyms.
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lol Awkwafina voiced a gannet in the new Little Mermaid

@TheDuckKnight

I sent you a DM about this, but I guess you missed it. "Buzzard" is the European equivalent of "hawk", so the common buzzard should be moved into the hawk category. They are all Buteos. For example, in Europe, the rough-legged hawk is known as the rough-legged buzzard.

Thank you for the feedback, the buzzards will be placed within the hawk category next list update.

If I vote for the rough-legged hawk, will it be placed in hawk or buzzard? I'm Canadian, so we call them rough-legged hawks, but according to that Wiki page you linked they are called rough-legged buzzards in Eurasia, as they are found in both continents. I agree that these categories should be merged, they are basically synonyms.
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See above comment, and please vote! The more, the merrier!
 
I said it elsewhere and say it again, but to preface: I think Frontier has done an amazing job with Planet Zoo overall. It's hands down now my favorite game of all time (and I'm not even a builder). They should be very proud of the work they've done and I think their passion and love for the game and game's subjects truly shows

However, I do feel like in a couple of specific areas Frontier has progressed very little. I'll leave off the other from here since this is about birds, I but I do feel like the bird selection is quite pitiful and that they have thus far really failed to incorporate birds, especially non-ground oriented birds, into the game. At this point, unless we do somehow get a bird-dedicated pack, which is very doubtful, I'm coming to terms that the Kiwi may well be the only remaining bird we may get.

To be clear, I'm fine with looped flying animations for exhibit appropriate birds. The Eagles, Macaws, Toucans, Cockatoos etc. I have no issues with the larger habitat type of birds not having the ability to fly. - by that I mean the Secretary Bird, wading and aquatic fowl. The majority of us in this thread are not even asking for something that Frontier already cannot do in game. Begrudgingly, but we've now reached that point. But for some reason, even with lowering our expectations, we still feel unheard.

Family, friends, etc that I talk about the game with, I tell them how great it is. But I also tell them it's everything you could want unless you wanted birds beyond flightless birds and a couple of others. It's the truth. I feel like when support ends I'm going to be extremely happy with the game and the zoos I can create, but there will be the one (not so little) corner of the animal world that I will also feel is missing.

I guess I could feel the same about marine species, but I've always kind of pegged them for a separate aquarium game. Not so much with birds. There's not all that many Aviary - specific attractions around the world.
 
@jcp011c I agree with A LOT of what you have to say - PZ is the best zoo game ever and what Frontier continues to put is truly incredibly work, but the lack of birds is indeed the one area that is in need of improvement. And yes, for my criteria and preferences, it does impact my enjoyment of the game.

And I also feel the same way about marine animals - no DLC could possibly and properly respect the vast biodiversity of the ocean. Life under the sea absolutely deserves its own game.

With that said, I don't think I share as bleak of an image for the future birds in the game. The Secretary Bird is now a close second to the most requested animal. The Kiwi is now in the Top 10, and a very practical choice - especially considering the absence of its mammalian sister pick, the Tasmanian Devil.
A Coastal/Semi-Aquatic pack (with another top pick the walrus front and center) can absolutely usher in the long coveted Pelican.

And hey, if Frontier does indeed may close attention to these forums, ducks are nearing 100 votes, that's something not to be taken lightly.

And then of course is the issue of the flying birds. We have the walkthrough exhibit, and yes, we stil haven't seen birds being implemented in a system that seems practically designed for them.

But I do think theming has played a role in this.

With Grasslands, the ability to incorporate multi-species WE with the butterflies very well could set the template for a multi-bird aviaries in the future.

With Tropical, I understand the practicality of sloths in WEs, and completely acknowledge their needed presence in the game - sloths are by far the most iconic species hold-out amongst the mammals, and they have major, major appeal being so many people's favorite animals.

That's why I can't be too mad. PZ needed sloths, the current habitat system doesn't properly accommodate them, WE are the only solution.

And now Arid...here's the thing. I think ultimately, the root problem of all of the detractors of this DLC, is the name.

Why call it an Arid pack when it only focuses on one region of one continent, especially when all other biome based packs were multinational?

It's a strange, inconsistent choice, but it's what they went with. I think if the pack was called the "Sahara Animal Pack" or the "North African Animal" Pack, an overwhelming amount of negativity towards the pack will simmer down immensely.

And I'll put on my developer hat for a moment: We're making a Sahara Animal Pack.
What iconic, marketable flying birds do we associate with that part of the world?
Frankly, I can't think of any.
So I am really going to spend time and energy implementing the first flying birds in the WE to garner minimal reception? Especially when reptiles are right there and also need some love?
Now, if the pack was indeed multinational, then birds like budgies and lorikeets would be natural picks and wildly celebrated.
But as is, it's just not the direction they went in.

I don't know if birds will ever make their way to WEs. I think it would be a tremendous, tremendous misstep if not, one I could never understand. But I'm holding out hope. That's all I got.
That and managing this list, encouraging the larger community to participate, being level-headed and constructive in my criticism and loud and proud in my praise, and a fostering a safe space for fellow, fine-feathered, friend fanatics.

That's how we win.
 
1. Secretary Bird
2. California Condor
3. Harpy Eagle
4. Little Blue Penguin
5. Stellar Sea Eagle
6. Black-Headed Weaver
7. Southern Ground Hornbill
8. American Flamingo
9. Northern Rockhopper Penguin
10. Victoria Crowned Pigeon
11. Red-Throated Bee-Eater
12. Egyptian Vulture
13. Bali Myna
14. Andean Condor
15. -of-the-Rock
16. Nene
17. Shoebill
18. Jabiru Stork
19. Alala
20. Eurasian Eagle-Owl
21. Scarlet Macaw
22. North Island Brown Kiwi
23. Wattled Jacana
24. Ruppel's Vulture
25. Scarlet Ibis
 
1. Abyssinian Ground Hornbill
2. Greater Rhea
3. Golden Pheasant
4. Greater Roadrunner
5. Lesser Roadrunner
6. North Island Brown Kiwi
7. Canada Goose
8. Common Loon
9. Bald Eagle
10. Snowy Owl
11. Atlantic Puffin
12. Pileated Woodpecker
13. Rough-Legged Hawk
14. American White Pelican
15. Scarlet Macaw
16. Blue-And-Yellow Macaw
17. Helmeted Guineafowl
18. Lanner Falcon
19. Hummingbird
20. Northern Gannet
21. African Gray Parrot
22. Galah
23. Toco Toucan
24. Wood Duck
25. Andean Condor

I must say I'm surprised that I'm casting the first ever woodpecker vote!
 
  • Mallard
  • White faced Whistling Duck
  • Mandarin Duck
  • Domesticated Chicken
  • Either Domesticated or Wild Turkey
  • Harlequin Quail
  • Green Peafowl
  • Mute Swan
  • Black Swan
  • Greylag Goose
  • Hyazinth Macaw
  • Scarlet Macaw
  • Blue and Gold Macaw (could also include a Lutino Color Morph)
  • Lyrebird
  • Australian Brush Turkey
  • Budgeriar
  • Galah
  • African Grey Parrot
  • Kagu
  • Kookaburra
  • Common Raven
  • Griffon Vulture
  • Lappet Faced Vulture
  • Victoria Crowned Pigeon
  • Gentoo Penguin
A Shame the Kea and Kiwi didn't fit on my List anymore
 
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With said...Community poll! Taking a break from all things arid, what are some of your favorite cold temperature birds? BUT NO PENGUINS, cuz everyone loves penguins.
Cold temperate birds? 😁 my favourite kind of birds

Of course the atlantic puffin is at the top. Nothing will ever beat the cuteness of waddling puffins
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Second would be the Northern Gannet
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Arrrrr its the pirate of the seas, the great skua loves puffins aswell
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With said...Community poll! Taking a break from all things arid, what are some of your favorite cold temperature birds? BUT NO PENGUINS, cuz everyone loves penguins.

The only reason there's any warm weather birds on my lists is because I'm trying to be reasonable with myself.

But cold weather ones is where it's at.

Firstly at the very top, couple spaces above any other place is easily Steller's Sea Eagle. I'm like little kid when it comes to big birds of prey, I basically fell in love when I first saw Steller's Eagles in my local zoo before I knew they were a thing. Such majesty.

Next tied on second place are mountain dwelling scavengers. The two top candidates here are easily Andean Condor and Bearded Vulture, both give off such iconic looks of animals surviving in harshest environments.

And to limit myself to three spots, it would be a tie again between two biggest (I didn't look that up) European owls: Eurasian Eagle Owl and Great Grey Owl. I mean if I had to pick one it would be Eagle one, because it's local to me, but both are so elegant and awe inspiring
 
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