Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 April 22

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Adult of Jackdaw subspecies spermologus

The Western Jackdaw is a passerine bird in the crow family. The name derives from the word "jack", meaning "small", and "daw", its native English name. Found across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, it is mostly resident, although northern and eastern populations migrate south in winter. Four subspecies are recognised, which mainly differ in the colouration of the plumage on the head and nape. Linnaeus first described it formally. Later analysis of its DNA shows that, with its closest relative the Daurian Jackdaw, it is an early offshoot from the genus Corvus, and possibly distinct enough to warrant reclassification in a separate genus, Coloeus. Measuring 34–39 centimetres (13–15 in) in length, the Western Jackdaw has black plumage with a grey nape and distinctive pale-grey irises. It is gregarious and vocal, living in small groups with a complex social structure in farmland, open woodland, on coastal cliffs, and in urban settings. An omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, it eats a wide variety of plant material and invertebrates, as well as food waste from urban areas. Western Jackdaws are monogamous and build simple nests of sticks in cavities in trees, cliffs, or buildings. (Full article...)

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From Wikipedia's newest content:

A small-flowered "cactus dahlia"

  • ... that Dahlia Hill in Midland, Michigan plants over 250 different cultivars of dahlia (example pictured) each year?
  • ... that scholarly estimates for the dates of southeastern Illinois' Hubele archaeological site vary by 1,400 years from earliest to latest?
  • ... that the Negros Fruit Dove is only known from a single female shot from a tree on the slopes of a Philippine volcano in 1953?
  • ... that One Night in Malaysia was enough to make Nico Pelamonia Best Director?
  • ... that consumption of sweetened beverages has been linked to obesity and related health problems?
  • ... that Peter Lauritson's directorial debut, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Inner Light", was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation?
  • ... that the Native American sport snow snake is named for the snake-like wiggling motion of wooden poles sliding down an icy track?
  • Today's articles for improvement

    In the news

    Giorgio Napolitano
  • Tsegaye Kebede and Priscah Jeptoo win the men's and women's races, respectively, at the London Marathon.
  • Giorgio Napolitano (pictured) is re-elected President of Italy.
  • A 6.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Lushan County, Ya'an, in China's Sichuan province, killing more than 150 people and injuring thousands.
  • Serbia and Kosovo reach an EU-brokered deal towards normalising bilateral relations.
  • A manhunt across the Boston area results in the death of one suspect and the capture of a second in the Boston Marathon bombings.
  • Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is arrested on charges relating to his dismissal of judges in 2007.

    Recent deaths: Storm Thorgerson

  • On this day...

    April 22: Earth Day

    Pedro Álvares Cabral

  • 1500 – Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral (pictured) and his crew landed in Brazil and claimed the land for Portugal.
  • 1622 – An Anglo-Persian force combined to take over the Portuguese garrison at Hormuz Island in the Persian Gulf.
  • 1930 – France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States signed the London Naval Treaty, regulating submarine warfare and limiting military ship building.
  • 1948Civil War in Mandatory Palestine: The Jewish paramilitary group Haganah captured Haifa from the Arab Liberation Army.
  • 1969 – British yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston won the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race to complete the first solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world.
  • 1998Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida opened, covering more than 500 acres (2 km2), making it the largest single Disney theme park in the world.

    More anniversaries: April 21 April 22 April 23

    It is now April 22, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page
  • From today's featured list

    A woman wearing sunglasses and a red jacket signing a compact disc

    The Grammy Award for Best Native American Music Album was an award presented at the Grammy Awards to recording artists for quality albums in the Native American music genre. The honor was first presented to Tom Bee and Douglas Spotted Eagle at the 2001 Grammy Awards as the producers of the compilation album Gathering of Nations Pow Wow. In 2011, the category was eliminated along with thirty others due to a major overhaul by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; Native American works are now eligible for the Best Regional Roots Music Album category. As performing artists, Bill Miller and Mary Youngblood (pictured) share the record for the most wins in this category, with two each. Thomas Wasinger holds the record for the most wins as a producer, with three. (Full list...)

    Today's featured picture

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    A panoramic view of Pittsburgh from nearby Mount Washington at dawn. Pittsburgh, with a population of 307,484 and an area of 58.3 square miles (151 km2), is the second-largest city in the US commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

    Photo: Matthew Field

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