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Gryphon

waterfaller1

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As far as I have found, he's one of the oldest mousebirds in the US.
14 this year FB_IMG_1625306834923.jpg
 
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sunnysmom

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He is adorable. I would love to meet a mousebird someday.
 

waterfaller1

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He is adorable. I would love to meet a mousebird someday.
Hey there hi. Thank you!
Sadly they're mostly dieing out in the US, due to the difficulty of breeding them. You might find them in a zoo. There's supposed to be other species like whiteheads in some zoos... which are not kept by individuals.
 

zoo mom

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Gryphon is still very handsome.
 

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Wow, what a pretty bird, and congrats on taking such good care!
I notice the beak shape, it looks between a finch and a hookbill, if I'm seeing right.
(It really does look like the gryphon beak in Harry Potter. Is that how he got his name?)
What is his diet?
 

April

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Hello again you delightfully handsome boy! I didnt realize that Gryphon was that old now,you take amazing care of him :heart: I've really missed seeing his sweet little face.
 

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He doesn't look a day over 12... :xflove:
 

waterfaller1

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Thanks everyone :)
Mommybird, I have never seen Harry Potter, but to me he looked like a Gryphon, which is kind of a raptor/dragon/ lion sort of mythical creature.
He's considered a softbill. So low iron mazuri pellets, low iron fruits like banana, blueberries, and Caribbean red papaya.
 

waterfaller1

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** as a side note
I've always kept lighting over my birds, but it doesn't come close to what the sun can do.
If gryphon was in an outdoor aviary, or in the wild,he would have a red beak , reddish legs, and facial patch. He does have a lot of blue. And the turquoise nape.
 

April

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Ooh that’s fascinating to know he’d look so different if he was outside all the time.
 
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waterfaller1

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Gryphon is a blue naped mousebird
Other types of mousebirds:
White back
Whiteheaded
Speckled
Red face
Red back
 
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waterfaller1

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Other interesting things
If you read about them
They're called a living fossil, unchanged for eons. They cannot ' step up". They have big funny feet,used for scurrying on the ground,hence the name.
In the wild they eat fruits, sticks and leaves
Some which would be considered poisonous to others.
The tail consists mainly of four long stiff feathers
They can go into torpor, (like an amphibian) if they get cold.
 
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waterfaller1

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Don't know if you remember, I almost lost him many years ago. He jumped on my back. And I didn't know he was there. I went outside to throw a trash bag in the bin, and he flew up into this huge live oak in my yard. I cried all day, and Judy was on the phone with me. I had his cage and food out there.
And he was just having a good time in the trees.
Suddenly I saw a flash of birds flying out towards and across the street. A hawk was hot on his tail.By the time I got there,all I saw was a bunch of feathers.
I thought he was gone. I looked and looked.
I went back across the street. Crying like crazy. I called Judy back and she said look again! I looked in other places, and there he was, silent, hiding under a bush. I scooped him up and oh gosh I was so happy, and grateful to Judy for saying keep looking!
 

Kassiani

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What a gorgeous baby! He looks in great condition!!

My late husband always wanted a mousebird. We contacted a breeder, but apparently his pair never had any more chicks.
 

Kassiani

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I've always loved how mousebirds perch. Kind of hanging down on their heels. So cute!
 

April

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Don't know if you remember, I almost lost him many years ago. He jumped on my back. And I didn't know he was there. I went outside to throw a trash bag in the bin, and he flew up into this huge live oak in my yard. I cried all day, and Judy was on the phone with me. I had his cage and food out there.
And he was just having a good time in the trees.
Suddenly I saw a flash of birds flying out towards and across the street. A hawk was hot on his tail.By the time I got there,all I saw was a bunch of feathers.
I thought he was gone. I looked and looked.
I went back across the street. Crying like crazy. I called Judy back and she said look again! I looked in other places, and there he was, silent, hiding under a bush. I scooped him up and oh gosh I was so happy, and grateful to Judy for saying keep looking!
Oh my gosh,I don't remember that. How absolutely terrifying, that's so incredibly lucky that he was able to evade the Hawk and had the sense to stay hidden until you were able to find him. Thank goodness that Judy said to keep looking for sure. He's one lucky little guy :heart:
 
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