As you trek through the Jungle you have the opportunity to encounter several wonderful species of mammals, fish, reptiles and birds from tropical areas around the world.

A journey through the Jungle will introduce you to more than 60 species of birds that live there. Shortly after entering the Jungle, sit and relax on the bench. From here you can see a majority of the exhibit – many of the Jungle birds can be seen flying from perch to perch. Typically a cardinal-sized, green and black bird, the collared finch-billed bulbuls, can be observed singing and calling to one another. Watch long enough and you may see them defending their territory and chasing off smaller birds while tolerating others. Looking in the trees you’ll notice several orange slices. Zookeepers put these out for many of the fruit and nectar loving birds. As you trek onward keep an eye out for these oranges and the birds that feed on them throughout the exhibit.

Cross the suspended bridge towards the Jungle lake and look up! Many visitors are familiar with our scarlet macaws who live near the waterfall. But few realize that there is another parrot at home in the Jungle – the red-lored amazon can be seen preening her feathers or squawking at the public above the bridge.

On the opposite side of the bridge is another resting place. From this vantage point you may see some Jungle residents associated with bodies of water. Look carefully in the trees above the lake to find a white-collared kingfisher. Similar to Kansas’s native belted kingfisher, the white-collared kingfisher inhabits areas near open water. The kingfishers will watch from a perch above the lake and dive into the water to catch their food. Also in the area, around the lake edge or possibly perched just above the water, may be a sunbittern. The sunbitterns use their long, snake-like necks and sharp bills to catch their prey. When threatened, sunbitterns will spread out their wings to reveal large red and yellow markings. These “suns” will frighten off intruders and are the source of the sunbittern’s name.

Winding further down the path, just before the tamarin exhibit, is a feed station without a bench nearby. This feed station is a great place to look for greater green leafbirds and grosbeak starlings. greater green leafbirds are native to the tropics of Asia. In our Jungle they provide a pleasant song as they vocalize in the trees. The grosbeak starlings are another source of sound. Their loud calls help the flock to stay together as they fly through the vegetation.

Before entering the tunnel under the lake, take time to sit on the bench near the golden lion tamarin exhibit. After watching the tamarins scamper around their exhibit, look on the rocks behind the bench for wonga pigeons and crested quail doves. Both members of the pigeon family, these two species patrol the rocks near the tunnel entrance and exit searching for nesting material and displaying to their mates.

Exiting the tunnel and continuing toward the bat cave, you will find the most popular feeding area and another bench for resting and bird watching. Many of our smallest avian residents may be seen here. Keep an eye on the ground for cordon blue finches, a small blue bird from Africa. Observing the trees around this area, you may see southern yellow grosbeaks, turquoise tanagers and lesser green broadbills.

Moving towards the waterfall, two of the building’s most colorful and vocal residents can be found – our two male scarlet macaws. They spend most of their time behind the waterfront exhibit climbing in and out of the trees. At times you may observe the macaws crawling into a hole in the base of the tree. macaws nest in cavities in trees and our macaws have excavated this hole for that purpose. If on occasion, you are unable to spot them, don’t be alarmed. They both enjoy relaxing out of public view from time to time.

Continue through the waterfall towards the exit of the building; keep watch along the top of the rock wall above the cut-away stream for black crakes and bleeding heart doves. Black crakes are a very shy bird with black bodies with a bright yellow bill and orange legs. They enjoy bathing in the small pools along the rock wall. Bleeding heart doves are impressive little birds. Both male and female birds possess a bright crimson patch of feathers in the center of their breast. These bright red feathers are so convincing, it appears to many that the bird has a large wound and is bleeding. Often Zoo guests report this false injury to the Zookeepers. Our male bleeding heart dove likes to sit near the jungle exit. From there, he spends his time calling to his mate with a low booming song.

While visiting the Jungle you have the opportunity to see birds from all over the globe. On your next visit count how many different species you see.