Description

Little Bunting

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Context:

The Delhi Winter Birdcount 2024 recorded over 254 bird species in a single day.

About Little Bunting

Common Name	Rustic Bunting
Scientific Name	Emberiza pusilla
Distribution	Breeds in the taiga in the far northeast of Europe and northern Eurosiberia to the Russian Far East. Migrates to subtropics of northern India, southern China, and northern parts of Southeast Asia during winter.
Features	Small bunting, measuring 12–14 cm in length. White underparts with dark stripes on the breast and flanks. Maroon face with a white malar stripe, resembling a small female reed bunting. Black crown bars, a white eye ring, and a fine dark border on the back of the maroon cheeks. The sexes are similar.
Call	Distinctive jingle
Song	Rolling siroo-pan-pan-siroo
IUCN Red List Status	Least Concern

Source:

TOI

Humpback Whale

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Context:

A male humpback whale swam 13,046 km from South America to Africa, setting a record for the longest migration and crossing two breeding populations.

About Humpback Whale

Scientific Name	*Megaptera novaeangliae*
Appearance	Females are larger than males.
	Mostly black or gray with a white underside to flukes, fins, and belly.
	Large knobs on the head, jaws, and body, each connected to one or two hairs.
Distribution	Found in all oceans around the world.
	Undertake long migrations between polar feeding grounds in summer and tropical or subtropical breeding grounds in winter.
Feeding Method	Use a unique method called bubble netting, in which bubbles are exhaled as the whale swims in a spiral beneath a surface of water full of food.
Protection Status	IUCN: Least Concern
	CITES: Annex I

READ ABOUT

CITES

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/international-union-for-conservation-of-nature

Source:

Hindustan Times

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements regarding the Humpback Whale:

Its scientific name, Megaptera, means "big-winged" due to its long pectoral fins.
Humpback whales are only found in polar regions throughout the year.
They are known for their unique feeding method called "bubble netting."

How many of the above-given statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The scientific name Megaptera means "big-winged" and refers to the whale's long pectoral fins.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Humpback whales are found in all oceans around the world and undertake long migrations between polar feeding grounds in summer and tropical or subtropical breeding grounds in winter. They are not restricted to polar regions throughout the year.

Statement 3 is correct: Humpback whales use a unique feeding method called "bubble netting."