Sparrow

Female

Male

Aren't birds interesting? They can fly, they can build nests, they can even balance on narrow wires and trees- yet there is one unfair part about birds. The female bird is almost always deprived of color! In this instance, the male sparrow has brighter blacks and browns than the female, who has tan feathers. Now, I have nothing against the colors brown and tan, but I just don't find it fair.

Sparrows, as you probably know, can be found all over the world. However, they originally came from areas near Russia! That's right, someone had the nerve to take these pesty birds from Russia and bring them into our country! Sparrows are chunky little birds, with small heads and fat bodies. However, they are also very social all year round.

In winter, sparrows will join in with flocks of other birds to scout for food, and it's nests are usually grouped together in clumps. This bird easily survives the winter as it eats whatever is available, though prefers grains, grasses, and weeds.

Gemsbok

The gemsbok is a large antelope and is often found living in deserts and other dry, extremely warm places. The gemsbok has adapted over time and can live in very hot places that most mammals cannot survive in, some living in temperatures of over 113 degrees Fahrenheit. These animals keep cool by staying in the shade most of the day and drawing water out of fruits and other foods. They are herbivores and often eat fruits, seedpods, and grasses.

The gemsbok have very long horns on their head, and they actually are used as a defense mechanism. The horns are 30 inches of pain, and have been known to impale attacking animals- most often lions. Gemsbok typically live 20-30 years. They have no set mating season, but young in a herd are often close to the same age indicating that females are synchronized in that area of life. The gestation period is 8.5 months, and gemsbok reproduce every 9 months. The young are never seen with their mother, but are always safely hidden nearby.