Birds at the Lazy 5 Ranch in North Carolina

See Pictures and Learn About Fowl at Mooresville, NC Lazy5 Safari

Aug 15, 2009 Katrena Wells

The Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, NC offers visitors the opportunity to see several varieties of exotic and domestic birds. Learn more about and see these beautiful birds.

The Lazy 5 Ranch, in Mooresville, North Carolina’s privately-owned animal safari, offers visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of fowl. From ostriches to quail, many of these birds originate in other countries. View pictures and learn more about these interesting birds. The Ranch offers a quite informative booklet with pictures of many of these animals and more, and many of the interesting facts are from this booklet.

Several of these birds are pictured in this article and on articles linked throughout.

Large Birds in the Safari Area at the Lazy 5 Ranch

The ostrich is the largest of living birds today and the second fastest animal in the world, clocking sustained speeds of 30 miles per hour. Visitors may see an ostrich nest with forty or more eggs because the male makes the nest for all of the females to share. Rheas also share a nest and may readily stick their heads in vehicles to get a tasty treat. Emus are the oldest living bird species today. Their eggs are dark green, which are incubated and protected by the male.

Ducks and Geese at the Lazy 5 Ranch Walk-through Areas

Sarus Cranes are from the Indo-Philippines area and are taller than any other flying bird. These gray birds have a dark head and white neck and tail. East African Crown Crane males and females have a striking head crest and are the only cranes that perch in trees, but most visitors will see them walking in the grass.

Canada Geese can fly up to 50 miles per hour and people of the South may often see these beautiful birds flying in a V formation. The Lazy 5 Ranch has three of the eleven living species of Canada Geese, including the Cackling, Giant, and Atlantic varieties. Egyptian Geese have a dark area on the chest and may be known as a Large Spotted Goose. Males hiss while females cackle. The Mute Swan and Australian Black Swan are also quite beautiful. Male swans are called cobs; females are known as pens; and young swans are named cygnets. Cygnets may be seen on a parent’s back while swimming.

Muscovy Ducks are originally from Central America and tropical South America and have large red carbuncles on their faces, so some might think they are a bit ugly while others consider them to have considerable character. Although originally only black, domesticated Muscovy ducks may be a variety of colors. Mandarin Ducks have a dark ring with white stripes at the neck and originally come from East Asia, Korea, China, and Japan. After hatching in a hole in a tree, their ducklings fearlessly jump out and freefall, sometimes as much as thirty feet, to their mother’s calling. Mallard ducks are particularly helpful to the ecosystem by eating mosquito larvae, which are also quite prevalent in the South. Male mallards have a green head with a yellow beak, while females are primarily brown and care for the young.

Smaller Birds Along Walking Paths at the Lazy 5 Ranch

The button quail, originally from South Africa, Australia, India, and Sri Lanka is also known as the Chinese Painted quail. Females initiate courting while males care for the nest and young. Gambel’s Quail can be found in the southwestern United States and are also called Arizona, top-knot, or desert quail. Distinct white lines serve as a stark contrast to their brown heads. The Blue-scale quail lay as many as 30-60 eggs each season and is considered a delicacy in the southwestern United States.

The Blue-eared pheasant comes from China and has blue tinted feathers on the sides of its head. Reeve’s pheasants, also originating from China, are known for their strikingly long tails, which may extend up to eight feet. Silver pheasants are a favorite image in ancient Chinese art and poetry and are also called the White Phoenix. George Washington may have helped the Golden pheasant to become more well-known since he raised these beautiful birds at Mt. Vernon. Lady Amherst’s pheasants are also known as Shan pheasants. Males are quite colorful and resemble a peacock, or Indian Blue Peafowl, which can be seen freely roaming the Lazy 5 Ranch.

Guinea Fowl are naturally from Africa. Females make an interesting noise that resembles the word “buck-wheat.” Diamond Doves are light-colored birds that originate in Australia and are usually found in pairs. They remain with their mate for life and only after one dies will the other look for another mate.

Tropical Birds at the Lazy 5 Ranch

These birds are perched on tall limbs in open areas along the walking paths.

Blue and Gold Macaw are interesting because although they are born pink, these birds eventually grow brilliant blue and yellow feathers. These birds have an excellent grasp and strong beaks that can clamp with about 40 pounds of pressure. Scarlet Macaws tend to be noisy, especially if they sense danger and are endangered.

Many Birds at the Lazy 5 Ranch

Guests of the Lazy 5 Ranch enjoy seeing over 750 domestic and exotic animals, many of which are beautiful birds. Readers may also wish to learn about the Lazy 5 Ranch's 4-legged animals. Readers may also wish to visit the Lazy 5 Ranch web site.

The copyright of the article Birds at the Lazy 5 Ranch in North Carolina in Family Travel is owned by Katrena Wells. Permission to republish Birds at the Lazy 5 Ranch in North Carolina in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Ostrich at Lazy 5 Ranch Sitting on About 40 Eggs	Blue and Gold Macaw at Lazy 5 Ranch in NC	East African Crown Crane at Lazy 5 Ranch in NC
Young Rhea at Lazy 5 Ranch Drive-Thru Safari	Rhea Will Readily Eat Food at Lazy 5 Ranch