# Class

Description:
Birds; bipedal, tetrapod vertebrates with feathers. Feathers alone distinguish birds from all other vertebrates.


# Family

Narrative:
The family Accipitridae includes 28 species that have been recorded in North America.

Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Harriers occur worldwide. Most accipitrines take live prey.  Members of the genera Accipiter take mainly birds, small mammals and reptiles.  The broad-winged soaring hawks, such as the buteos, catch their prey on the ground, from the wing or from a perch.  They feed mainly on mammals and reptiles, occasionally on birds.  Eagles  prey on large and small mammals, birds and reptiles; a few also eat carrion or 'pirate' food from other birds of prey. The Snail kite feeds only on snails  which are captured in one foot from the wing. Kites of the genus Ictinia live in open country and feed mainly on insects, captured in the feet while on the wing and eaten in flight. They also take insects by sorties from a perch or from foliage. Bats may be taken in flight and snails and small vertebrates on the ground.  The harriers fly low over the ground in open country or over marshes, dropping on prey that includes mammals, frogs, reptiles, insects and some birds. The Osprey occurs on lakes, rivers, and seacoasts in temperate and tropical regions. The feet are adapted for catching and holding fish captured by plunging into the water with the legs and talons extended to grasp the prey.  

Nests of the Accipitridae family are usually large structures of sticks and other material in a tree or on a rocky ledge or they may consist of little nest material on the ground.  Harriers usually nest on the ground.  Nests used in previous years are often renovated and used again.  Eggs are rounded oval or nearly round, few are truly oval or pointed at one end.  Eggs are laid at intervals of more than one day and incubation begins with the first egg, hence they hatch asynchronously and the young differ in size.  Incubation periods in the larger species are from 45-50 days or more. In smaller species 31-38 days.   In most species only the female incubates and she is fed by the male in or near the nest.  The male may bring the food to a point near the nest and call the female to come to it.


Narrative:
The family Aegithalidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

The Bushtit is found in woods, gardens and cultivated areas. The Long-tailed Tits  occur in Eurasia.  Long-tailed tits and bushtits are small (8-14 cm), long-tailed and fluffy-plumaged. They feed on insects and spiders gleaned from foliage. They also eat seeds.

The nest is a domed structure placed in a tree fork, composed of plant down, moss, cobwebs and fibers, almost covered with lichens; lined with feathers; side entrance a hole near the top.  Eggs 3-8, white or pale lilac, usually with reddish speckles forming a ring around the large end.


Narrative:
The family Alaudidae includes 2 species that have been recorded in North America.

Larks.  Most species of larks occur in Africa and Eurasia.  The widespread Horned Lark has also colonized the New World. Larks are open country birds, often occurring in desert, semi-desert, rocky or grassy environments.  Their plumages tend to match these backgrounds. Most are pale grayish, brownish or buffy above, paler below; often with streaks or black markings that disrupt the outline of the body.  A few species are black or mostly so, some are crested.  The sexes are alike.

Food is mainly seeds and insects.  The nest is a shallow depression on the ground, usually lined with plant material, hair, etc., often with a rim of clods or pebbles; often in or under a grass clump or rock; some with partial domes.  Eggs 2-5, variable, gray, greenish, pink, speckled with rufous/brown spots.


Narrative:
The family Alcedinidae includes 3 species that have been recorded in North America.

Kingfishers occur in many habitats, usually near water and/or in woods and forests on all continents and many islands.  Most species have a long, strong, pointed bill.  The legs are short.

Kingfishers feed on many kinds of animals, including fish, insects and other terrestrial arthropods, frogs, lizards, crabs, mollusks, snails, birds, mice and occasionally plants.   Most species are sit-and-wait predators, perching on a branch and flying down to capture fish or terrestrial prey.  Living prey items are often beaten on a branch before being swallowed.  Some kingfishers hover over water and dive from the wing.

Kingfishers nest in holes, lay nearly round white eggs, and do not remove the nestling's droppings.  Both sexes incubate. The eggs are laid at one-day intervals and incubation begins with the first egg, thus hatch at one-day intervals and the young are of different sizes, the oldest up to a week older than the youngest.  When food is scarce only the older nestlings survive and there is much competition for the food brought by the parents.


Narrative:
The family Alcidae includes 22 species that have been recorded in North America.

Alcids live almost their entire lives on the ocean. They come to shore only to nest, usually in burrows or rock crevices. Their diet is primarily fish and squid caught by diving or chasing them underwater. Wings are more suited for underwater pursuit than for flying. In flight all Alcids have rapid wing beats. All are colored black and white. During the breeding season, some have very colorful beaks. Alcids (found in the Northern hemisphere) fill the same ecological niche that Penguins fill in the Southern hemisphere.


Narrative:
The family Anatidae includes 59 species that have been recorded in North America.

Swans.  Large, long-necked birds with strong bills; sexes alike in plumage.  Herbivorous; forage for water plants from the surface, using the long neck to reach the bottom. Swans do not dive. The nest is a bulky structure on the ground. Incubation is 34-40 days.  Maturity is reached at 2-3 years of age.

Geese.  The plumages of the typical geese are alike in the sexes and lack iridescent colors.; downy young do not have complex plumage patterns. Geese reach sexual maturity at 2-3 years of age. 

Ducks, Teal, Scoters, Pochards, Eiders, Mergansers.  Most species are sexually dimorphic in plumage. Males have bold and/or colorful patterns while females are cryptically colored with buff and brown markings.  Most species have iridescent wing patches.  The bright nuptial plumage of the males is replaced by a dull "eclipse" plumage during the period of flightlessness when the flight feathers are being replaced.  Downy plumages are conspicuously patterned, usually dark brown with buffy or yellow markings on the back and head.  The bills of most species are broad'. The dabbling species forage from the surface or edges of ponds, streams or saltwater.  The bills of the mergansers are slender and serrated for grasping fish.  The diving ducks (pochards, scaup, eiders, scoters, goldeneyes, mergansers, etc.) have large feet placed far back.


Narrative:
The family Anhingidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Anhingas are medium to large (80-100 cm long) aquatic birds with a long, slender neck, long wings and long, graduated tail.  The bill is long and slender, sharply pointed, without a hooked tip.  The legs are short and set far back.

Food is mainly fish, amphibians and insects.  Anhingas dive and pursue fish underwater, propelled by the feet with the wings often partly spread; fish are impaled on the bill in a spearing motion.  Fish are brought to the surface, tossed into the air, caught and swallowed head first.  Anhingas often swim with the body submerged and head and neck above the water, slowly submerging to stalk fish, hence the nickname "snakebird".  

Anhingas nest in colonies, often with cormorants or herons.  The nest is a platform of branches, sticks or reeds, lined with leaves and stems of water plants; placed over water in a tree, bush or reeds, usually less than 2 m high.  The female builds the nest with material brought by the male.  Clutch size is 3-5 greenish or bluish eggs with a chalky coat, some with darker spots. Both sexes incubate 25-28 days, starting with first egg.  Young are naked at hatching but within 2 days covered with white or buffy down. Young are able to climb about at 8 days of age.  Small nestlings take fluid from the bill of adults. When larger they take food from the throats of the parents, or pick up regurgitated food.  Young birds leave the nest at 5 weeks and can swim and dive if alarmed. Anhingas fledge at 7 weeks and are fed by the parents for some time after fledging.  Age at first breeding is 1 or 2 years.


Narrative:
The family Apodidae includes 9 species that have been recorded in North America.

Typical Swifts range in size from 10-25 cm in length and vary in weight from 6.5 to ca. 200 gms. Plumage is hard without downy or silky feathers.  The apodid swifts are the most aerial of birds, feeding, drinking, bathing and copulating in flight and several species (e.g., Apus apus) can spend the night on the wing.  Plumage colors are mainly brown or gray with lighter patches; some species have iridescent areas.  The short legs and strong claws are adapted for clinging to the vertical surfaces of trees, cliffs, etc.  

Swifts forage entirely on the wing, feeding mainly on insects and spiders; occasionally they may take insects or spiders from the surface of the water, foliage or under the eaves of buildings.  Most swifts glue nest material together with sticky saliva. Clutch sizes vary from 1-6 eggs. Incubation periods are 19-23 days. The nestling period is long and variable: 5-8 weeks in Apus apus depending on the weather which determines the supply of flying insects.  Adults may forage far from the nest, returning to feed the nestlings with food items glued together with saliva and carried in the mouth.


Narrative:
The family Aramidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

The Limpkin occurs in wooded swamps and brushy areas in the southeastern U. S., Caribbean islands, and from Mexico to Argentina.  It is medium-sized (58-71 cm, 850-1050 gms), with a long neck, long legs, and brownish-olive plumage with white streaks.  The long bill is slightly decurved. The tail is short and the  wings are broad and rounded.  

Food is almost entirely large snails, mainly of the genus Pomacea, obtained in shallow water.  After capturing a snail the Limpkin extracts the body and discards the shell. The nest is a shallow, rather flimsy structure, of sticks and dry plants, on a shady site on the ground near water, or in a bush or tree.  Clutch is 4-8 pale buff eggs, spotted or blotched with light brown.  Both sexes incubate and care for the precocial young even after they are able to fly.  The young approach the adults from behind and reach forward between the legs of the parent to take a snail from the bill of the adult.


Narrative:
The family Ardeidae includes 17 species that have been recorded in North America.

Bitterns, Egrets, and Herons occur mainly in wet habitats in temperate and tropical regions and on many islands.  They are medium to large in size (30-140 cm long) with long legs; most species have long necks and slender bodies.  Bills usually long, straight and sharp-pointed.  The night herons are stouter with shorter necks.  

Food is mainly aquatic animals, including fish, amphibians and insects. Some species also take reptiles, small mammals, birds, mollusks and crustaceans.  Prey is usually seized in the bill, sometimes impaled.  Pellets of indigestible parts are regurgitated.  Various foraging methods are used: stand and wait in water for prey to appear; walk slowly in shallow water, along the margin or on a mudflat or beach; foot-stirring or trampling in muddy or sandy areas to flush prey; run about in shallow water to pursue prey; swim in deeper water and surface dive; hover and plunge-dive; dive from a perch.   Most herons are diurnal (active during the day). Night-herons feed during the day, at dusk and at night.

Most herons nest in dense or dispersed colonies. A few species, including most bitterns, are solitary.  Nests are platforms of interlocked sticks in trees or piles of vegetation in reeds or on the ground, built mainly or entirely by the female of material brought by the male.   Eggs usually 3-7, usually unmarked white, buff, pale blue, greenish or olive-brown. They are laid at intervals of 1-3 days. Incubation begins with the first or second egg, hatching asynchronous. Sibling murder or starvation may eliminate smaller chicks when food is scarce.  Usually both adults incubate (only female in polygamous bitterns) 19-30 days. Downy hatchlings are fed by partial and complete regurgitation by both parents or only female.  Young may leave the nest in a week and clamber about nearby, returning to the nest for feeding.  Fledging occurs at 30-55 days of age but young remain dependent on parents for longer periods, especially in the larger species.  Age at first breeding is 1-2 years.


Narrative:
The family Bombycillidae includes 2 species that have been recorded in North America.

Waxwings.  The name "waxwing" refers to the red, tear-drop shaped, sealing wax-like tips of the shafts of the secondaries.

The Cedar Waxwing has a white crissum and yellow tail tip. The Bohemian Waxwing has a rufous crissum and yellow tail tip.  Females and juveniles lack black throats. Juveniles are brownish and streaked below.  Waxwings feed mainly on berries and other small fruits. They take insects on the wing during breeding. They are nomadic, flocking in winter.  The nest is made of twigs, moss, lichens, with soft lining, usually in a spruce, less often in pine or deciduous tree.  The male may assist the female in nest building.  Eggs 3-7, usually 5, grayish-blue marked with black spots and lines. Both sexes incubate 15-18 days, female fed on the nest by the male.  Hatchlings are naked and fed by regurgitation. They fledge at 19-22 days, follow adults for 3 weeks.


Narrative:
The family Burhinidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Thick-knees (also called stone-curlews) occur in open areas, often near water, but also in arid habitats in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Neotropics.  They resemble large plovers, varying in length from 35-52 cm, with short, stout bills in the smaller species and long, massive bills in larger species.  The head is large and broad with large, yellow eyes adapted to their crepuscular and/or nocturnal habits.  The legs are long, bare, yellowish or greenish, with a  thickened tibiotarsal joint (hence 'thick-knee').  Plumage cryptically colored in browns, gray or buff, with bars, streaks and spots of black. The sexes are alike.

Thick-knees forage at dusk or at night, taking all available small animals, including insects, worms, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds' eggs and young and some seeds and other parts of plants.

The nest is a shallow scrape in open ground, often lined with small stones or shells.   Clutch is usually 2 white to buff eggs with brown markings.  Incubation by both sexes; hatching after 25-27 days.  Chicks are covered with thick down and are active a day after hatching; parents guard and feed the chicks, which may be moved from the nest site; fledging about 6 weeks of age.  Maturity is usually at 2-3 years.


Narrative:
The family Caprimulgidae includes 9 species that have been recorded in North America.

The caprimulgids occur in tropical and temperate regions and many oceanic islands.  The soft plumage is cryptically colored with gray, black, buff and rufous in mottled and vermiculated patterns, often with white patches on the chin or throat.  Most species range from 16-40 cm in length. A few species with long tails are up to 78 cm.  The long wings are pointed and the birds are excellent flyers.  Most species are active only at twilight or at night. During the day they perch quietly on the ground or lengthwise on a branch.  The Common Poorwill  of western North America hibernates in rock crevices during the winter.  During hibernation the birds are torpid with a body temperature of 18-19°C, versus the normal temperature of 40-41°C.

The feet are small and weak. The bill is also small and weak. The gape is deeply cleft with large bristles around the side to help guide insects into the mouth. Most caprimulgids feed mainly or entirely on flying insects captured in continuous flight.  No nest is constructed. The 1-3, usually 2, eggs are laid on the bare ground or on fallen leaves.  The North American species of nighthawks sometimes nest on the flat, graveled roofs of buildings.  The cryptically-colored eggs are white, gray or buff with markings of black, brown or violet.  Both sexes incubate (about 16-21 days) and brood the young which are covered with gray or buff down.  The hatchlings remain in the nest when born but soon become active, running about near the nest at night, but hiding under the female during the day.  The active young deposit their excreta a short distance from the nest site in any direction, producing a ring of small white droppings around the nest.  The adults collect insects in their crops during foraging flights and return to the young birds which take the parent's beak into their own. The parent then discharges the crop contents into the throat of the youngster.


Narrative:
The family Cathartidae includes 3 species that have been recorded in North America.

New World Vultures or Condors occur from southern Canada to southern South America.  They are large birds (60-100 cm long), including some of the largest flying birds: the California and Andean condors, the latter with a wingspan of 3.2 m.  The relatively small Black Vulture has a wing span of 1.5 m.  Plumages are mainly black or dark brown, some with white in the wings.  

The cathartines are carrion eaters, although Black and Turkey vultures occasionally kill new-born or defenseless animals.  Black Vultures feed on garbage and scavenge in towns.  Most species locate food by sight, but Turkey Vultures use their keen sense of smell to find rotting meat. No cathartine constructs a nest; eggs are laid on bare ground, in hollow logs, dense vegetation, on rocky ledges or in a cave.  Most are solitary; the Black Vulture may nest in loose colonies.  The Black and Turkey vultures lay 2 eggs which are white or cream colored with spots and blotches of brown.   Incubation 32-58 days, varying with the size of the species; both sexes incubate the eggs, brood and feed the nestlings.   A Black or Turkey vulture chick may fledge at 10 weeks; a California Condor at 22-25 weeks.  Young condors may be fed by the parents for more than a year after leaving the nest, hence the adults nest every other year.  Age at first breeding is at least 6-8 years in the condors, less in the smaller species.


Narrative:
The family Certhiidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Small; brownish above streaked and spotted with white and buff; whitish below; rectrices stiffened; bill thin, decurved, pointed.  Forage for insects, their eggs and larvae, moving only upward on tree trunks and limbs, using the tail as a prop.  Nest of moss, bark strips, grass, twigs, placed behind a piece of loose bark, usually of a dead tree. Both sexes build the nest. Eggs 6-9, white with reddish spots.


Narrative:
The family Charadriidae includes 16 species that have been recorded in North America.

Oystercatchers.  The oystercatchers occur mainly on beaches, mudflats and rocky seashores; some species also forage or nest in meadows or by inland lakes.  Their distribution is worldwide in temperate and tropical regions.  Oystercatchers are large waders with black-and-white or completely black plumage; sexes alike.  Food is mainly mollusks, crustaceans, annelid worms and insects.  The strong bill has tactile cells in the tip and is used to open mussels, dislodge limpets from intertidal rocks or probe for food on sandy or muddy shores. Nest is a scrape on the ground.  Eggs 2-4, yellowish-buff with brown or black markings; both sexes incubate about 26-27 days.  The chicks run as soon as they are dry and are fed by the parents for 6 weeks.

Stilts and Avocets occur over much of the world in temperate and tropical regions, usually in wet habitats -- marshes, mudflats, lakes, streams, flooded fields.  They are long-legged, long-necked, long-billed waders; 29-48 cm in length.  Avocets have a slender, upcurved bill and feed on insects and other invertebrates by sweeping their bill from side-to-side through shallow water. Stilts have a straight, slender bill.  The red legs of stilts are exceptionally long in proportion to their body size.   Avocets nest in colonies near water; open nests are placed on grass, sand, mud or in shallow water and may be unlined or lined with dead plants.  Clutch usually 4.  Eggs buff or brownish with black and gray markings; incubation by both sexes 23-25 days; asynchronous hatching; downy young cared for by both adults; fledging at 35-42 days.  Age at first breeding 2 or 3 years. Stilts nest in colonies near or in shallow water; nests of mud and plants or in grass clumps with little nest material; eggs 3-4, pale buff-brown with black and gray markings; incubation 22-25 days by both sexes, hatching synchronous; young precocial and nidifugous, cared for by both parents, but feed themselves.  Fledge in 28-32 days; independent 2-4 weeks after fledging.  Age at first breeding 2 years. 

Plovers and Lapwings are mainly terrestrial waders that occur worldwide, except in Antarctica.  Plumage colors are mainly brown, white, gray, olive and black, often with a white nape band, black breast band or bands and a dark tail band. Sexes are alike or nearly so.  Food is mainly animals taken from the surface of wet sand, mud or grass; forage by repeated short runs with pauses to peck at prey; may use 'foot-trembling' to startle prey into movement. Nests are scrapes with little or no lining, in the open or in thin vegetation.   Clutch 2-5 eggs; eggs cryptically-colored with buff, brown or gray marked with black.  In monogamous species both parents incubate eggs and care for young.  Incubation period 3-4 weeks; chicks are downy; fledging after 3 weeks in small species or  5-6 weeks in large species.  Tropical plovers may cool and wet the eggs with water carried in their belly feathers.  Age at maturity 1 year in small species, 2-3 years in large species.


Narrative:
The family Ciconiidae includes 2 species that have been recorded in North America.

Storks have very large bills and long legs. They probe slowly for food in shallow water. Storks are capable of flying long distances. The appear as a "kettle" of birds, rather than forming a "V" formation. Wood Storks are highly colonial with 5-25 nests per tree, occasionally touching.  Colonies will skip breeding due to lack of food, and will desert eggs and young if prolonged rains occur in dry season; such rains preclude effective foraging because water table does not drop and fish consequently do not become concentrated in relatively small pools.  Forages by moving open bill in water until contact with prey item triggers rapid bill-snap reflex; sighting of prey not required.  Often shuffles feet while feeding, presumably to flush fish. Both sexes incubate. Clutch size is usually three eggs.  Incubation takes 28-32 days. Young are able to fly after 55-60 days. Both sexes tend young.


Narrative:
The family Cinclidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Dippers live along swift streams in Eurasia, western North America, Middle America, and the mountains of western South America.  The name "dipper" refers to the virtually constant bobbing motion when out of the water. Such movements seem to be correlated with noisy habitats, such as rushing streams and marine shores. 

Food includes many kinds of aquatic animals: insects, larval insects, worms, small mollusks and crustaceans, tadpoles, small fish and fish eggs. Often feeds by moving stones to expose prey. Also feeds along stream banks by turning stones and debris.  Dippers wade into shallow water or dive when foraging. They walk on the bottom or swim underwater with strong wingbeats. They may dive from a perch or from the wing and can emerge from the water directly into flight. Underwater periods are usually 5-7 seconds in length, rarely 10.

The nest is a large, domed structure of moss, grass and leaves with a wide opening usually pointing down; lined with dry leaves, plant fibers and hair. Both sexes build the nest, placed in a steep bank above a stream, often close to or under a waterfall, in a hole or crevice, on a ledge, under a bridge and similar sites.  Eggs 4-5, white; incubation averages 16 days by female; male rarely incubates. Young are fed by both parents, fledging at 20-24 days, young fed for 7 or up to 18 days after fledging.


Narrative:
The family Coerebidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

The Bananaquit is found in the West Indies, Central America and South America in suburbs, parks, gardens, shrubs, thickets and hardwood hammocks. It has a  thick, decurved bill and feeds on insects and nectar from flowering trees.  The nest is globe-shaped.


Narrative:
The family Columbidae includes 18 species that have been recorded in North America.

Pigeons and doves occur on all continents and many islands. Columbids have  relatively small bills. The head is small. Plumage is soft, dense feathers with downy bases; wings and tail variable in shape and length.  Pigeons and doves have a well-developed bi-lobed crop that produces "pigeon milk" composed of the sloughed, nutritious cells of the crop lining plus semi-digested food, for feeding the young. 

Pigeons and doves mainly eat seeds, fruits, berries, flowers and tender leaves, but many species also take small invertebrates, such as snails and insects.   All or most species ingest grit, salty earth and molluscan shell fragments; the grit is used in the gizzard to grind hard seeds and the grit provides minerals, thus consumption of grit and shells increases during the breeding season.  Most pigeons drink by sucking or pumping without raising the head.

Most species build a shallow, rather flimsy nest of interwoven twigs, stems and other plant parts placed in a tree or bush; species that nest on the ground or on ledges usually build a nest, but sometimes lay on the bare substrate.  The female does most of the nest-building; the male brings the materials.  Most species lay 2 white or (rarely) buffy eggs; a few species lay 1, or rarely 3, eggs.  Both sexes incubate, 14-18 days.  The squabs grow rapidly and the smaller species can fly when about 2 weeks old; fledglings are fed by the male only or by both parents, until able to forage for themselves.  Larger species develop more slowly.  Most species reach maturity at 1 year of age.


Narrative:
The family Corvidae includes 20 species that have been recorded in North America.

The corvines are mostly medium to large in size, ranging from 25 cm to 66 cm.  The bill is stout, moderately long, often with a small  hook.  Many species of crows and ravens are black, some with white, gray or brown areas. Jays and magpies are usually brightly colored with blues and greens, some with long tails and some jays are crested. Sexes are alike. They tend to be omnivorous and to build open, cup-shaped nests of twigs lined with fine plant material.

Crow and raven species are omnivorous, with insects and other invertebrates composing most of their diet, plus fruits, small vertebrates, nestlings and eggs, etc.  The Raven and other large species often take birds and small mammals. Carrion is eaten by many or all species.  Most, perhaps all, species store food.  Nests are built by both sexes; bulky structures of twigs, often with mud, mammal dung or earth included, lined with finer materials, placed in a tree, on a cliff, building or on the ground.  Eggs usually 3-5, range 2-9; color variable but commonly greenish to whitish with brown and gray markings.  Incubation by female; 16-18 days in  small species, up to 18-20 days in Raven; fledging 30-35 days in smaller species, 6 weeks in Raven.  Male feeds female during incubation, but female also leaves nest to feed; both sexes feed the young.  Asynchronous hatching in large broods, smaller young often die.  Young fed for varying periods after fledging. Age at first breeding usually 2 years in smaller species, probably 2-3 years in largest species.  

The Jays  are omnivorous, taking a range of nuts, seeds, fruits and small animals, including insects, bird's eggs, nestling birds and mice.   Nest of twigs, bark, grass, etc., usually bound together with mud; lined with fine plant fibers; both sexes build; usually in a tree or bush, rarely in a tree cavity.  Eggs 2-6, usually 4-5, variable in color.  Incubation mainly by female, rarely by male; female fed on and off the nest by the male; incubation 16-18 days, young fledge at 17-21 days; young fed by both parents, only female broods; young fed for 1-2 months after fledging.  No evidence of communal breeding.  Age at first breeding usually 2 years, rarely 1 year.

In the Florida Scrub-Jay about half of the territories are occupied by a single pair, the other half by a monogamous adult pair with 1-3, rarely up to 8, helpers, usually offspring of previous 1 or 2 years.  Mated pairs remain together for life; longest known surviving pair bred together for 8 years.  Age at first breeding 2 years for about half, 3 years for most; females earlier than males The Western Scrub-Jay in California seems to be a monogamous breeder.


Narrative:
The family Cracidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Curassows, Guans and Chachalacas are long-tailed and arboreal with strong toes and long, strong legs. The beak is heavy and decurved. Wings are short and rounded. Food is mainly buds and fruits, occasionally small animals, including insects and frogs, are eaten.  Cracids do not scratch for food as much as do the galliforms.

The nest is loosely woven of dry twigs and leaves, usually in a tree, sometimes over water; a few species nest on the ground.  2-3, rarely 4, white eggs. Incubation 22-35 days in different species; young are led from nest by female on first day, able to fly in 3-4 days.  Plumage of chicks light brown or black, some with stripes.  Adults provide mainly animal food which is presented in the bill to the young. Chachalacas are partly polygamous and form nesting groups in which males cooperate in nest building.


Narrative:
The family Cuculidae includes 8 species that have been recorded in North America.

Cuckoos are slender, short-legged birds with long, graduated tails.  Food is mainly insects; at least some species take hairy caterpillars by beating the prey on a branch, extracting and eating the viscera and discarding the remainder.  They build an open, platform nest and usually raise their own young; some species  occasionally are brood parasites.  Clutch size varies; the Black-billed Cuckoo lays 2-6 eggs, one every other day and incubation begins with the first egg.  Both sexes feed the young which fledge in about 10 days, thus the last egg may be laid when the first hatchling is fledging.


Narrative:
The family Diomedeidae includes 7 species that have been recorded in North America.

Albatrosses are the largest seabirds with wingspans from 2 to 3.2 m and body lengths of 70-140 cm; males larger.  The short nostril tubes are separate, lying on the sides of the culmen at the base of the maxilla. A groove extends forward from each nostril tube along the side of the maxilla. Salty nasal gland excretion follows this groove and drips from the tip of the bill.   The bill is huge, with a hooked tip. 

Food is mainly squid, fish and some crustacea.  Some plant material accidentally ingested.  'Ballast' stones are swallowed.  Smaller seabirds (e.g., prions and small penguins) are sometimes seized, especially by the Sooty Albatross.  Some albatrosses also scavenge on dead animals and whale feces and follow ships to feed on garbage thrown overboard.  They readily come to dead fish ('chum') and fish oil attracts them.  Most food is taken from the surface, but albatrosses also feed below the surface by up-ending or making shallow dives.

All species nest on the ground, usually in colonies.  Most colonies are on islands.  Nests vary in size and are composed of material within reach from the nest site; plants and soil make up most nests.   One white egg, sometimes with reddish spots; both sexes incubate in shifts of several days; incubation period 65 -79 days.  Young guarded by both parents, one at a time, until chick is large enough to defend itself after 5 weeks in large species, 3 weeks in the small species.  Both parents feed the downy chick by partial regurgitation in which the nestling takes fluid and digested prey from the throat of the adult.   A Wandering Albatross can make its first flight at about 278 days, the Royal at 240 and the Sooty at about 139 days.  The extended period of brood care means that the larger species can breed only every other year.  Age at first breeding is roughly proportional to size; most populations of the Wandering Albatross can breed at 9-11 years, but some delay until 15 years of age.  The smaller species begin to breed at 4-7 years of age.  Longevity 30-40 years in the Royal; more than 25 years in Buller's Albatross.


Narrative:
The family Emberizidae includes 60 species that have been recorded in North America.

Sparrows, Buntings and Longspurs are small, brownish birds, usually with some streaking. They have short conical bills and eat primarily seeds and insects. Food is often uncovered by scratching on the ground with their feet. Many are long distance migrants. They have nine primary feathers on each wing. Most nest on the ground or in bushes.


Narrative:
The family Falconidae includes 10 species that have been recorded in North America.

The true falcons range in size from the tiny falconets and pygmy falcons (length 15 cm, weight 45-75 gms), to the Gyrfalcon (50-60 cm in length, average weights for males 1.17 kg, females 1.75 kg).  The falconets feed mainly on insects.  The large falcons are strong, fast flyers specialized for killing birds in flight, possibly by striking them with the hind claws or by seizing them in their talons and dropping to the ground. Kestrels take small mammals and insects by hovering and dropping to the ground for the capture.  The largest falcons, such as the Peregrine and Gyrfalcon, are able to kill large birds in the air or capture mammals on the ground.  Peregrines take mainly birds from passerines to pigeons, grouse, ducks and geese and mammals up to the size of rabbits.  Gyrfalcons also feed mostly on birds taken in flight or on the ground, ranging from passerines to ptarmigan, ducks, geese and seabirds. Few mammals are taken during the breeding season, more in the winter.

The caracaras are omnivorous. All feed on carrion and most species also take some or all of the following: adult insects and larvae, other arthropods, nestling birds, frogs, lizards, small mammals, fruits and other plant material.  

Falcons vary in their nesting, but none builds its own nest.  Some lay the eggs on a bare rock ledge or in a scrape on the ground, others use the old nest of another bird and some nest in cavities in trees or buildings.   Eggs of all falcons are buffy thickly blotched and speckled with dark reddish-brown. Clutch size usually 3-6 in small species, and 3-5 in large species.  Eggs are laid at 2-3 day intervals. Incubation is 25-32 days in small species to 32-35 days in large species.  Post-fledging dependency 2-3 weeks in small species to 2 months in large ones.  The female does most of the incubation and care of the young, the male brings most of the food.


Narrative:
The family Fregatidae includes 3 species that have been recorded in North America.

Frigatebirds occur on all tropical and subtropical seas and islands.  They are 70-110 cm in length with long, narrow wings (over 2 m in largest species), a deeply forked tail, short legs, small feet and a long, hooked bill. Females are larger than males.  Males are glossy black, sometimes with white ventral patches; females mainly white below.  Eye ring, throat skin and feet often brightly colored. Gular skin (pouch below bill) is bare and inflatable like a red balloon in breeding males.  Immatures have white heads.  They are remarkable flyers, spending most of the time on the wing except when breeding.  

Food is mainly flying fish and squid often taken from boobies and terns by piracy, i.e., by harassing the victim until it disgorges fish it is carrying, which the pirate then catches in midair.  Frigatebirds fly above shoals of tuna and dolphins to catch flying fish that leap out of the water to escape the predators, pick up dead or dying fish, baby sea turtles and offal from the beach or surface of the water, or swoop low over breeding colonies of seabirds to snatch unattended nestlings, including those of their own species.

They nest in colonies in trees or low shrubs, rarely on the ground. Nests are built of sticks, feathers, bones, etc., assembled mainly by male, built mainly by female during courtship and incubation. There is much theft of nest material among neighbors.  Clutch 1 large, white egg. Both parents incubate 44-55 days. Naked hatchlings are brooded for 2 weeks until covered with pale gray down.  Young cared for and fed by both parents by incomplete regurgitation, i.e., young feeds from throat or beak of adult.  Young guarded by adults for up to 45 days. Fledging delayed up to 6-7 months, plus long period of post-fledging care for 4-10 months or longer.  During this period the young birds gather in small groups, picking up objects from the surface of the sea, attacking boobies and terns and taking small chicks, including unattended frigatebirds.


Narrative:
The family Fringillidae includes 23 species that have been recorded in North America.

Finches are small, seed-eating birds with pointed wings and conical bills. The tail us relatively short and notched. When flying, they have distinctive calls. The flight pattern is typically undulating, as if they were riding on a small roller coaster.

They nest in trees or bushes, building a cup-shaped nest from grasses and twigs. Clutch size is typically 3-5 eggs.


Narrative:
The family Gaviidae includes 5 species that have been recorded in North America.

Loons breed on freshwater lakes and ponds in the northern Holarctic and winter in coastal waters and bays in the northern hemisphere.  They are large aquatic birds (53-100 cm long, 1-6 kg weight) that come on land only to nest.  They have straight, sharp-pointed bills, webbed feet, short wings and a short tail.  The legs are set so far back that they cannot stand upright on land.  Breeding plumages are strikingly patterned, mainly black, white and gray with contrasting spotting and barring. Winter plumages are dull, gray and white. 

Food is mainly fish, but crustaceans, aquatic insects and larvae, frogs and some plant material are also taken.  Mollusks and other invertebrates, as well as fish, are eaten during the winter in marine habitats.  Loons feed by diving and underwater pursuit of fish; often form cooperative flocks for fishing, especially during migration and in winter. The nest site is chosen by the male on open land next to the water or in shallow water; often on an island in a lake or pond.  The nest is usually a low mound of plant material with a shallow depression; sometimes little or no nest material is used.  Both sexes build the nest which may be used in subsequent years.  Clutch usually 2  olive-brown or olive-green eggs with dark spots; laid at interval of 1-3 days. They hatch asynchronously.  Both sexes incubate for 24-30 days.  Downy hatchlings are semi-precocial and immediately enter the water; brooded ashore for the first few nights. They are taken on the adult's back in the water or warmed under the wing during the day.  Both parents feed the chicks and continue to do so until after fledging at 55-75 days of age.  In most species the adults obtain food close to nest. The Red-throated flies to the ocean or a nearby river.  Fish are carried crosswise in the bill to feed the young for several weeks, then less frequently until fledging at 55-75 days.  Age at maturity is 2-3 years.


Narrative:
The family Glareolidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Pratincoles and Coursers inhabit open country, in wet or semiarid regions, in Africa, southern Europe, Asia and Australia.  They are small to medium-sized plover-like birds with long, pointed wings and rapid, almost falcon-like, flight. 

Plumages tend to be cryptically colored in buff, gray, brown and black. Sexes are alike. The typical pratincoles feed on insects usually captured in flight, "hawking" like giant swallows. They also forage for insects on the ground. 

They nest in colonies near water. The nest is a scrape in the ground or a depression on a rock. Eggs 1-4, usually 2-3, yellowish with dark markings.  In all pratincoles both sexes incubate for 17-21 days.


Narrative:
The family Gruidae includes 3 species that have been recorded in North America.

Cranes are large, long-legged, long-necked birds with long, broad wings, a short tail and a straight bill of medium length.  Plumages are mainly gray, white, brown, blue and black. Sexes are similar in plumage but the females are smaller. 

Cranes are omnivorous; all species use their bills to dig and probe for roots and tubers of marsh plants and they graze and browse on seeds, sedges, tender plants, buds, fruits, acorns and cultivated crops.  Insects, other small invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and the eggs and chicks of birds are taken.  Nests are composed of plants and are always on the ground, usually in marshes, sometimes in grassland or open woodland.

Eggs of most species are brownish with flecks of darker brown, or whitish with brown flecks.  Usually 2 eggs are laid and 1 young is reared; incubation by both parents about 30 days. Both parents feed the young bill-to-bill. Fledging varies from 55-105 days in different species.  Adults pair for life and return to the same spot to breed, sometimes using the same nest which becomes larger as they add to it over several years. They reach maturity at an average age of 4-5 years. Longevity in captivity to 55 years, in the wild probably at least 25 years.


Narrative:
The family Haematopodidae includes 3 species that have been recorded in North America.

The oystercatchers are found mainly on beaches, mudflats and rocky seashores. Their distribution is worldwide in temperate and tropical regions.  Oystercatchers are large waders (40-45 cm in length, about 500 gm) with black-and-white or completely black plumage. Sexes are alike with the females slightly larger.  The wings are long and pointed and the tail is short.  The distinctive bright orange-red bill is long, stout and laterally compressed with a chisel-like tip. The stout legs are reddish and the tarsi are covered with small, hexagonal scales.  The 3 short, thick toes are slightly webbed.

Food is mainly mollusks, crustaceans, annelid worms and insects.  The strong bill has tactile cells in the tip and is used to open mussels, dislodge limpets from intertidal rocks or probe for food on sandy or muddy shores, river gravel and farmland.

The nest is a scrape on the ground, sometimes lined with shells, stones or bones or with such objects around the periphery.  Eggs 2-4, yellowish-buff with brown or black markings; both sexes incubate about 26-27 days.  The chicks run as soon as they are dry and are fed by the parents for 6 weeks. They fledge at 5 weeks.  Maturity is at 2 years and 9 months. Longevity up to 36 years in the wild with an average probably more than 10 years.


Narrative:
The family Hirundinidae includes 14 species that have been recorded in North America.

Swallows are found worldwide, except in polar regions. They range in size from 10-23 cm.  Their long, pointed wings and small bills with broad gapes are adapted for capturing insects during sustained flight. Some occasionally eat berries. Eggs 3-8, plain white or with reddish spots. The female incubates.

Martins are the largest swallows with broad, triangular wings and long forked tails. The sexes differ.  Most breeding ranges do not overlap, but different species may migrate or winter together.  They feed mainly on flying insects, rarely on the ground for ants and other insects.  The nest is made of grass, leaves, mud, in holes, cavities, often in colonies, including bird houses with many compartments.  Eggs 3-8, usually 4-5, white.

Swallows are found in North, Central and South America. They are 12-13.5 cm in size.  All are glossy greenish-blue or blue above and white below. Most have a white rump or partially white rump. Tails are notched.  They forage in the open, often over water.  The nest is made of grass, hair, etc., in a tree hole or crevice. Some nest in loose colonies.


Narrative:
The family Hydrobatidae includes 10 species that have been recorded in North America.

Storm-Petrels are the smallest tubenoses; 12-25 cm long, 20-50 gms in weight. Males may be smaller than females. The bill is small with a hooked tip. The plumage is usually all black or black with a white rump.  They can walk or run on their toes for short distances on land and shuffle while crouching on the tarsi.  

Food is mainly planktonic crustaceans, mollusks,small fish, whale feces and offal from dead whales and other large animals.  Apparently they can smell oily animal fat because some species respond to cod liver oil on the water.  Most of the food is taken from the surface as the birds hover or fly just above the water, often dipping their feet into the water as they pick up a morsel. They sometimes take prey while swimming.  They often glide along the windward slope of a wave a few centimeters above the water where the updraft provides a lift.  Wilson's Storm-Petrel has been observed to dive below the surface.

Storm-Petrels come ashore only to breed in colonies on islands.  The nest is in a hole, crevice or burrow dug by both sexes in soil with a tunnel up to 1 m long. The nest chamber is bare or lined with grass, rootlets, etc.. Storm-Petrels usually come ashore only at night.  One dull white egg is incubated by both sexes for 40-50 days.  Hatchlings are covered with down.  Hatchlings are fed an oily mush, regurgitated into the open bill of the young, for the first few days. Larger nestlings are cared for and fed, by incomplete regurgitation, by both parents.  After 5-7 days the nestlings are left alone during the day and visited nightly for feeding. Feeding is discontinued at fledging at 59-73 days of age.  They may occupy nest holes at 2 years of age, but do not breed until 4-6 years old.


Narrative:
The family Icteridae includes 25 species that have been recorded in North America.

Orioles, Blackbirds and Meadowlarks are fairly large birds with slender, pointed bills. Orioles are black and orange or black and yellow. Blackbirds are black or glossy purple - green. Meadowlarks are primarily brown but with bold yellow breasts.

Blackbirds tend to form large mixed flocks, especially in the winter in southern states. They feed on grain and insects.  Orioles feed on insects, fruit and nectar. They can be attracted to feeders with orange slices. Meadowlarks feed on insects.


Narrative:
The family Jacanidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Jacanas occur in swamps, marshes, wet meadows and along streams in the tropics and subtropics of Africa, Asia, Australia, New Guinea and from Mexico to Argentina.  Jacanas range in length from 16.5-53 cm. Plumages are dark reddish or blackish-brown with areas of white or pale yellow. Sexes are alike in coloration, but females are larger than males.  Several species have fleshy wattles covering the forehead and all species have a sharp spur or a knob extending from the carpals.  The long, bare tibia, long toes and extremely long toenails are adapted for walking on floating vegetation.

Jacanas feed on insects taken from floating vegetation and on frogs, fish and invertebrates, from the surface or below the surface of the water.  They often turn over aquatic plants to search for prey and may eat some plant material, including the ovules of water lilies.

The females court and mate with several males. Nests are flimsy platforms of plant debris built on floating vegetation, mainly or entirely by the male.  Clutch usually of 4 glossy yellow to brown eggs with dark markings or unmarked. The male incubates for about 22-28 days.  The female may start a second clutch with another male a week after completing a clutch with the first male and continue to produce clutches for her other males.  She may copulate with all males in her group within 30 minutes.  Females feed in and defend the territories of their males.  Males provide all, or most, of brood care. Some species pick up and carry chicks under their wings to protect them from rain.  The downy precocial chicks feed only when with the male and are dependent on him for 3-4 months.


Narrative:
The family Laniidae includes 3 species that have been recorded in North America.

Shrikes occur in Africa, Eurasia and North America.  The bill is heavy and hooked. Feet and claws are strong. The plumage is mainly black, gray and white, some with rufous areas. In most species the females are duller, but similar to the males in plumage. 

Food is mainly insects, other arthropods and small vertebrates. They forage in open woodland, forest edge and often from wires, dropping from the perch to capture prey on the ground.  Some species take insects on the wing, others search in the leaf litter.  Most Northern Hemisphere species of Lanius impale some prey on thorns, sharp twigs or the barbs of barbed wire fences, hence the nickname "Butcherbird". 

The nests are cups of twigs, tendrils and other materials, lined with wool, hair, grass or feathers placed in a tree.  Eggs 2-6 in the tropics and subtropics, 5-7 or more in high latitudes. They are white or variously colored with darker markings. Some species are communal breeders.  Incubation is 15-18 days with fledging at 12-20 days.

The populations of most species of Shrikes have been declining for years, apparently related to human land-use practices including the excessive use of insecticides which destroy the insect species preyed upon by shrikes.  Habitat alteration is caused by farming methods which reduces the number of hunting perches and nest sites.


Narrative:
The family Laridae includes 53 species that have been recorded in North America.

Gulls and Kittiwakes occur worldwide on coasts, rivers and lakes.  Plumage is usually black, brown, gray and white. They are carnivores, scavengers, pirates and predators; they will eat anything animal or of animal origin, including fish, mollusks, other invertebrates, small mammals and birds, eggs, garbage, carrion and sewage.  The larger species are often predatory on the young and eggs of other birds, or engage in piracy against terns, smaller gulls, mergansers, cormorants or loons.  They obtain food by feeding on mudflats, shores, fishing by plunging, up-tilting, probing, prying and chasing. Most gulls breed in colonies, often on islands.  Nests vary from rudimentary to bulky structures composed of plants, sticks, etc.  Most species nest on flat areas; kittiwakes nest on rocky cliffs.  Clutch usually 2-3, brown, olive, blue or gray eggs with darker markings.  Both parents incubate for 3-4 weeks, varying with size.  The cryptically colored downy nestlings are precocial and are fed by both parents, in or near the nest, for 2-3 weeks.  Young peck adults' bill, often on a colored spot or band, to initiate feeding by regurgitation.  Fledging at 4-5 weeks and feeding by the adults may continue for several weeks thereafter.  Smaller species attain adult plumage in 1-2 years, large species in 4-5 years. Longevity is up to 20+ years.

Terns occur worldwide in temperate and tropical regions.  They are long-winged and mostly slender-bodied with forked tails and straight, sharp-pointed bills.  Plumages are usually white below, gray above, with a black crown in breeding plumage; a few species have brown wings.  Bills are red, yellow, orange or black; feet yellow, red, orange, brown or black.  Food is taken by plunge-diving from the wing, mainly for fish, squid and crustaceans, sometimes pelagic mollusks and worms. Terns feed mainly by day, but some by night in the tropics, or by moonlight. Most species prepare a scrape with little or no lining on sandy or gravelly substrates in flat, open areas, often on islands.  Eggs are cryptically-colored; clutch varies from 1 in the tropics to 3-4 in temperate latitudes with incubation 3-4 weeks by both sexes.  Chicks are downy at hatching and semi-precocial in ground-nesters; fledging in 1-2 months, parental care continues for several months until young become proficient at procuring food.

Skuas and Jaegers occur on the seacoasts of all continents, at least in winter.  They are medium to large gull-like birds. Most species obtain some of their food by piracy on terns, gulls, auks, gannets and other seabirds by pursuing the victim and forcing it to disgorge or drop food items.  

Skimmers are the size and shape of large terns with long, pointed wings and short, forked tails. The bill is yellow or red with a black or yellow tip and of a unique structure: the mandible (lower part of the bill) is longer than the upper part of the bill. The bill is used in "'skimming"' for food in which the bill is opened and the tip of the mandible is inserted into the water as the bird flies over the surface. They nest in loose colonies, usually on open sand or shell beaches, occasionally in salt marshes or on gravel roofs.


Narrative:
The family Mimidae includes 12 species that have been recorded in North America.

Mockingbirds and Thrashers occur in open woods, gardens, edge and scrub. Mockingbirds are 23-29 cm in length and slender with long tails. Plumages are mainly gray or brownish-gray above, white below, often with white wing patches and white in the tail. "Wing-flashing" is a conspicuous behavior pattern that is used by mimines during foraging and in the presence of potential predators.  One or both wings are rapidly and repeatedly opened and extended, sometimes the tail is fanned. Highly vocal with musical, complex songs, some mimic other birds.  Food mainly insects and fruit.  Nest a deep cup of grass, etc. in a bush or tree; 3-5 eggs, greenish-blue with brown markings.

Thrashers are rufous, brown or gray above, white or pale brownish below, some with dark spots, stripes or streaks, some unspotted or faintly so.  Food is insects, other small animals, fruits, berries.  Nests are open cups of twigs, grass, leaves, etc. on ground or in a bush or tree. Eggs 2-6, whitish, greenish-white, blue-green, spotted with reddish or unmarked.


Narrative:
The family Motacillidae includes 10 species that have been recorded in North America.

Wagtails are found in Europe, Asia and Africa, usually near water. Wagtails are slender birds with long bills. They bob their head when they walk. Insects and seeds make up most of their diet. They nest on the ground in a cup-like nest. Wagtails usually are solitary.

Pipits are found on the ground in areas with short grass, often in flocks. Pipits have long legs and often bob their tail.


Narrative:
The family Muscicapidae includes 14 species that have been recorded in North America.

This group includes the African and Eurasian "flycatchers", but not the convergently similar "flycatcher" groups that are members of the Muscicapidae family.  The New World tyrant flycatchers are members of the Tyrannidae family.  Thus, the "flycatcher" pattern of morphology and behavior has evolved independently from several ancestral lineages.


Narrative:
The family Odontophoridae includes 6 species that have been recorded in North America.

Quail are small, compact birds, with a short, stout bill. The head is often crested. Plumage is usually brightly marked with brown, buff, yellow, reddish, gray, black and white. Sexes differ in plumage in most species. Food is mainly seeds and insects.

New World quail are monogamous. They lay 4-15 white or brown-spotted eggs.  Nests are usually on the ground in a shallow depression lined with grass, leaves, etc., usually concealed in grass,  often next to a rock, log or base of a tree.  Gambel's Quail builds a lined nest often under vegetation so as to be shaded at midday or, occasionally, up to 10 feet above the ground in an old nest of a Roadrunner, thrasher or Cactus Wren.  The Montezuma Quail builds a well-constructed nest in a shallow depression roofed and overhung with grass.  The California Quail usually nests on the ground next to a log or rock but occasionally up to 10 feet high in a bush or tree.


Narrative:
The family Paridae includes 12 species that have been recorded in North America.

Chickadees and Tits occur in Eurasia, Africa and North America south to Mexico.  They are found mainly in woodlands and forests.  Among the smallest of birds (11-15 cm.), they are small-billed. They have fluffy body plumage. In winter they travel in small flocks with other species.  Chickadees and Tits feed on insects gleaned from foliage and bark, seeds and berries.  They will readily come to feeders. They nest in tree holes or other cavities.  Eggs are plain white or with reddish speckles.


Narrative:
The family Parulidae includes 57 species that have been recorded in North America.

Warblers are among the most colorful birds found in North America. They are small, active birds with sharp, pointed bills. They feed on insects. Birds that feed on the ground are often a drab tan or brown color while warblers that feed higher up are often colored a bright yellow and  black. Males in breeding plumage are the most colorful. Females and males in the fall can be surprisingly drab and difficult to identify. Warblers nest in a cup-shaped nest on the ground or in a bush or tree. A few nest in cavities.


Narrative:
The family Passeridae includes 2 species that have been recorded in North America.

Old World Sparrows are small brownish birds with conical bills. The eat primarily seeds and insects. The House Sparrow is found worldwide, usually in close proximity with human habitation. They are typically abundant in urban areas. The House Sparrow was introduced to New York City in 1850 and spread to the west coast within 60 years.


Narrative:
The family Pelecanidae includes 2 species that have been recorded in North America.

Pelicans occur in tropical and temperate areas on all continents. Most species inhabit inland lakes and seacoasts. Brown Pelican occur only on seacoasts.  The long, hooked bill, enormous gular pouch and webbed feet are the most obvious characters.  Length 140-180 cm, with long necks and heavy bodies. 

Food is mainly fish and some crustaceans.  Most species feed on the surface by scooping up fish in the bill while ducking the head below the surface or upending.  The pouch expands in the water creating a broad scoop filled with water and prey. The head is then raised, the water drains from the pouch and the fish are swallowed whole.  The larger species form U-shaped lines, herding fish before them as they swim to shallower water, scooping as they proceed.  The Brown Pelican plunge-dives from a height, folding its wings at the last instant before hitting the water.

Pelicans nest in colonies in trees or on the ground where there are no terrestrial predators, as on small islands.  Tree nests are large structures of sticks, ground nests are heaps of vegetation and debris. Nests are built by the female of material brought by the male in his pouch.  Eggs oval, white with rough surface. Clutch 1-3, rarely 5-6. Incubation is 30-37 days by both parents beginning with the first egg.  Hatchlings are pink and naked and turn black or gray within 4-14 days, thereafter develop a coat of gray, white or blackish down.  Young are fed from the pouch by partial regurgitation in which the young puts its head into the parent's pouch, or by complete regurgitation from food deposited in the nest. The young birds leave the nest at 20-30 days and form a crèche. They fledge at 65-80 days.  Age at first breeding is 3-4 years.


Narrative:
The family Peucedramidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

This is a family that contains only one species, the Olive Warbler. It is found in montane conifer forests. The relationships of the Olive Warbler have been uncertain because its hyoid apparatus (muscles controlling the tongue) is typical of wood-warblers.  While it looks like a wood-warbler, it differs in many ways. Some have thought that it is a sylviid.


Narrative:
The family Phaethontidae includes 3 species that have been recorded in North America.

Tropicbirds occur in all tropical and subtropical oceans, spending their non-breeding time at sea, coming ashore only to breed.  They are medium-sized (body 25-45 cm in length; weight 300-750 gms) aerial birds with a short neck, long, narrow wings and long central tail feathers extending  50-55 cm beyond the other feathers.  The plumage is typically white, sometimes flushed with pink or orange and with a black bar across the eyes and black markings on the wings.  The brightly colored yellow, red or orange bill is stout, pointed, slightly decurved with serrate tomia. The short legs are set far back and used for swimming; on land the birds cannot stand and must shuffle over the ground, pushing with the small feet. 

When foraging, tropicbirds fly several meters above the water, dropping in a swift nose-dive to capture flying-fish above the surface; other fish and  squid  are captured by plunge-diving from a height, usually with little penetration of the water but sometimes to a greater depth.  Usually solitary, sometimes in pairs or small groups.  When not breeding they remain at sea, resting on the water or flying.

Tropicbirds nest on islands, often in loose colonies on cliffs from which they can take off without walking.  The nest is a scrape in sand or earth with little or no nesting material. They may also nest in cavities, caves, under overhanging rocks or under vegetation. On some Pacific islands they nest in trees.  The single egg is pale to deep purple-brown with darker markings when laid, but the pigments are water soluble and are lost during incubation. Eggs are incubated by both sexes for 40-46 days. Hatchlings are covered with dense, silky, gray or yellowish-brown down.  Young are fed by regurgitation into the throat of the young by both parents.  Fledging is at 65-90 days, depending on food supply. Young become independent at fledging.


Narrative:
The family Phalacrocoracidae includes 6 species that have been recorded in North America.

Cormorants and Shags occur in tropical and temperate regions, mainly on seacoasts or islands. Some species are found inland on lakes and rivers.  They are medium to large-sized (50-100 cm long, 700-3500 gms) aquatic birds with a long neck, long wedge-shaped tail, short legs and large webbed feet.  The bill is of medium length with a hooked tip.  

Cormorants and shags feed mainly on fish caught under water by surface-diving and pursuit.  The dive begins with a forward leap and the feet are used for underwater swimming.  They also take crustaceans and cephalopods.  The prey is captured in the bill and brought to the surface before being swallowed.  Cormorants usually fish singly, but flocks may gather when prey is abundant. They sometimes cooperate by forming a moving line abreast, diving as they proceed.

They nest in colonies on rocky islands, cliffs or in trees, often with other species.  Nests may be scrapes or heaps of vegetation on the ground or composed of sticks and other items if in trees.  The male selects the nest site and brings the material to the female who builds the nest.  Clutch size is usually 3-4, pale blue or green, usually unmarked with a chalky surface. Eggs are incubated by both sexes on the feet for  4 weeks.  The chicks are naked at hatching but by 1 week of age are covered with black, gray and/or white down.  Small nestlings take water from the mandible of the parents. When larger they are fed on regurgitated food taken from the throats of the parents.  Young leave the nest at  4 weeks of age and fledge at  48-53 days. They are fed for 2-3 months after fledging.  Age at first breeding is 2-3 years.


Narrative:
The family Phasianidae includes 16 species that have been recorded in North America.

Pheasants, Grouse and Turkeys are terrestrial birds that feed and nest on the ground.  They are "chicken-like" in appearance. The Domestic Fowl (Gallus gallus) is a phasianid.  The wings are short and rounded, the tail varies from short to long, with extreme development in the males of the peafowl and some pheasants.  The legs and feet are strong.  Food is mainly seeds, fruits, other plant products and small animals.

Nests are simple, usually on the ground. Eggs are white, buff, olive green or spotted. Clutch size is variable, from 2 to 12+. Only females incubate. Males of monogamous species may help to raise young.  Most species are sexually mature at one year of age, but in some large species males do not breed until more than one year old and in peacocks and Argus pheasants, adult male plumage is not attained until 3-5 years old.  Longevity of large species is up to 30 years in captivity -- much less in the wild.


Narrative:
The family Phoenicopteridae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Flamingos occur in  Africa, southern Asia, the Andes of South America, Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, West Indies and the Galapagos Islands.  They are highly social, feeding in groups and nesting in colonies.  They usually inhabit shallow soda lakes and salt lagoons with an alkaline pH (up to 10.5), in barren country often surrounded by desert. 

Flamingos have long legs, long necks, webbed feet and a bill that is bent in the middle.  Plumage colors change with age, but are mainly rosy pink, red and white with black flight feathers.

The feeding method of flamingos is unique among birds and has been likened to that of whalebone whales because of the straining of water and solids through the lamellae.  The head is lowered to the water with the bent bill held upside down and the bill and head submerged.  In the smaller species the head is swept from side to side, taking in algae, diatoms and other small organisms. The larger species take mud and water into the bill as they feed on algae, diatoms, small crustaceans, mollusks and insect larvae. The fleshy, spinous tongue moves rapidly like a piston inside the bill, squeezing the mud and water out through the lamellations which retain the edible portions. 

Nesting is in colonies often of several thousand pairs and seldom in groups smaller than 10 pairs.  In shallow water the nests are built of stones and mud picked up by both sexes within reach of the nest site and placed beneath their bodies to form a circular pile with a shallow depression on top.  Nest mounds may be 30 cm high and separated from one another by approximately twice the length of the neck.  Nests situated on islands are constructed of stones, feathers and debris.  Clutch size is usually 1 white egg with a chalky surface. Incubation is by both adults for 27-36 days.  The hatchling is covered with short, wooly down, ash-gray with white below and has a straight, pink bill and pink legs, both of which turn black in a few days.  The nestling is fed by regurgitation of a secretion from glands in the adult's crop.  Chicks remain in the nest for 5-8 days, and can feed themselves when 4-6 weeks of age, varying with the species.  Most birds are in the adult plumage by age 2 and some may breed when 3 years old, but many may not nest until older.  Longevity is probably 25-60 years.


Narrative:
The family Picidae includes 25 species that have been recorded in North America.

Woodpeckers, Flickers and Sapsuckers are adapted for clinging to the bark of trees with their toes (two facing forward and two facing backward), and braced by stiffened tail feathers. They use their straight, strong, chisel-tipped beaks to drill into the tunnels of wood-boring insect larvae which are extracted with the barbed tongue.  The skull is thick and bony to withstand the pounding of the bill and the tongue is often coated with a sticky secretion  which aids in the extraction of insect larvae.  In most species the nostrils are protected from wood dust and chips by a covering of feathers.  Most woodpeckers have 12 flight feathers.  Woodpeckers range in size from 8.5 cm to 58 cm in length, most are 15-33 cm.  Many species are patterned in black and white, some green or brown, often with red or yellow crowns or flight feathers.  In a few species the sexes are alike. In many species the males have a red or yellow crown patch.  Spots and bars are frequent.

In addition to probing for insects on, or in, the bark of trees, woodpeckers may catch flying insects on the wing, probe fallen branches on the ground and eat fruit and nuts.  Some excavate ant nests in trees or in the ground and some take nestling birds.  Sapsuckers and some species of Picoides, feed on sap from pits they excavate in tree trunks and branches.  The Acorn Woodpecker stores acorns in holes drilled in tree bark or dead trees, including telephone poles, fence posts and buildings.

Woodpeckers roost and nest in holes, usually in trees, occasionally in an earthen bank.  The nest holes are excavated by one or both members of a pair and may be used for many years, or as the roosting hole during the non-breeding season.  The cavity is lined with wood chips. Clutch size is 2-9 eggs. Eggs are incubated by both sexes during the day, by the male at night.  The incubation period is about 11-17 days. Hatchlings are naked and blind, but rapidly develop feathers.  Both sexes feed the young which fledge after 2.5-3.5 weeks.  Fledglings are fed by the parents until independent.  The Acorn Woodpecker is a communal breeder.


Narrative:
The family Podicipedidae includes 7 species that have been recorded in North America.

Grebes are small to medium-sized (23-76 cm in length; 150-1500 gms weight) foot-propelled divers with thick, soft, waterproof plumage. Small, narrow wings and legs set far back. Food is mainly aquatic animals usually captured by diving, searching and pursuing prey underwater.  Fish-eating species have elongate bodies and long necks and bills. Species that eat mainly invertebrates tend to be rotund and to have short necks and bills.  Fish-eaters swallow their own feathers and also feed them to their young, possibly to entangle fish bones in the stomach.  Pellets composed of bones and feathers are regurgitated.  Pellet formation and regurgitation also occur in grebes that eat insects and crustacea.

Nests are shallow heaps of aquatic plant stems and leaves usually concealed in aquatic vegetation, floating, anchored to plants or on a platform built up from the bottom. Nests are rarely on land near water.  Most species are territorial and some breed in colonies.  Clutch 2-7 elongate eggs, white or cream-colored when laid, soon stained brown.  Incubation is 20-28 days beginning with the first or second egg, by both sexes.  When the incubating adult is disturbed or is leaving the nest it covers the eggs with nest material.  Young are precocial but depend on both parents for food, warmth and protection. They often ride on backs of parents when small.


Narrative:
The family Polioptilidae includes 4 species that have been recorded in North America.  Gnatcatchers are small. active birds found in woodlands and scrub areas. All have long tails.


Narrative:
The family Procellariidae includes 24 species that have been recorded in North America.

Petrels, Shearwaters, Fulmars and Diving-Petrels are known as the tubenoses or tube-nosed swimmers.  They are pelagic, occur in all oceans and nest mainly in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres.  Some high-latitude species move to lower latitudes or tropical waters in the non-breeding season and others are trans-equatorial migrants to high latitudes in the opposite hemisphere. Some make long movements during the non-breeding season, often far from the breeding grounds.  

Wings are long and narrow. The bill is heavy (slender in shearwaters). Sexes are similar in plumage, mostly black or gray above and white below or all dark gray. Food is mainly fish, squid and crustaceans, often as plankton. They also take carrion and scavenge.  Pterodroma species feed by swooping to the surface and pattering with the feet while picking up food items. Shearwaters  dive from a height and from the surface and pursue prey underwater.  

They nest in colonies. Some larger species nest in the open, often on cliffs and are active during the day. Small species dig burrows and are active mainly at night.  All species have a long breeding cycle.


Narrative:
The family Prunellidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Accentors are found in Europe, Asia and Africa. Historically, Accentors were usually treated as a family of thrush-like birds, but DNA hybridization indicates that the accentors are closer to the true sparrows and weavers. The Siberian Accentor is an accidental visitor to North America.


Narrative:
The family Psittacidae includes 8 species that have been recorded in North America.

Most parrots eat seeds and fruits. All parrots nest in holes, most in cavities in trees or holes in banks or rock crevices.   Monk Parrots build a huge communal nest of twigs and dead branches in which each pair has its own nest chamber. 

All parrots lay white eggs. Clutch sizes vary from 2-5 in larger species, up to 8 in small species.  Incubation begins with the first or second egg and in most species is by the female who is fed by the male. Duration of incubation varies with the size of the bird, from 17-23 days in small species up to 5 weeks for the large macaws.  Newly-hatched young are blind and naked or with sparse dorsal down which is white in most species.  The eyes open 1-2 weeks after hatching.  In most species the white down is replaced by a dense, gray down followed by the development of feathers.  Hatchlings are brooded by the female who is fed by the male. After several days the male feeds the young directly.  Young birds remain in the nest for 3-4 weeks in small species up to 3-4 months in the large macaws. Fledglings are fed by the parents for varying periods after leaving the nest.


Narrative:
The family Pycnonotidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Bulbuls occur in the Old World tropics. A few species are found in temperate areas of southeast Asia and Japan.  Sexes are alike. Bristles extend from the nape.  Biulbuls are arboreal or are found in scrub and thickets.  Food consists of fruits, seeds, insects, nectar, pollen.  The nest is an open cup of leaves and plant fibers in a tree. Eggs whitish or pinkish with reddish-brown markings.  The female builds nest the nest and incubates.

The Red-whiskered Bulbul has been introduced in Miami, Florida.


Narrative:
The family Rallidae includes 13 species that have been recorded in North America.

Rails occur worldwide in temperate and tropical climates and live mostly in swamps, marshes and wet grasslands. Some occur in dry habitats.  They are small to medium-sized. The body can be laterally compressed ("skinny as a rail") in typical rails. The bill varies in length and shape from long and curved to short and conical. Wings are short and rounded. Many island forms are flightless. Adult plumages tend to be alike in the sexes, but females are smaller.  

The food of most species is entirely or mainly animal, including insects, worms, mollusks and other small invertebrates. Larger rails may take frogs, small fish and bird's eggs.   Coots feed on aquatic plants by diving or on the surface.

Rails build their nests of plant materials on swampy ground in dense vegetation, among bent reeds over shallow water or on tussocks. Some species construct a roofed nest.  Coots may nest in less dense vegetation or in open areas at the edge of reedbeds or on floating platforms.  Clutches range from 1-14 eggs. Largest clutches may result from more than one female laying in a nest.  Egg color varies from white to buff with spots and blotches of reddish, gray, brown or black.  Incubation is usually by both sexes, in some species only by the female, for 2.5-4 weeks.  Nestling downs are black or dark brown in rails; reddish in at least some coots. The young leave the nest soon after hatching and are cared for by both parents until they are independent.

The greatest incidence of flightlessness occurs in rails and most flightless rails have evolved on islands.  Many have become extinct due to human influences, including the introduction of predators, but at least 15 subspecies and species of flightless rails are still alive. Flightlessness evolves to conserve energy where resources are low and mammalian predators are absent.


Narrative:
The family Recurvirostridae includes 3 species that have been recorded in North America.

Stilts and Avocets occur over much of the world in temperate and tropical regions, usually in wet habitats -- marshes, mudflats, lakes, streams, flooded fields.  They are long-legged, long-necked, long-billed waders 29-48 cm in length.  Avocets have a slender, upcurved bill; stilts a straight, slender bill. The red legs of stilts are exceptionally long in proportion to their body size. Avocets have bluish-gray legs.  Plumages of most species are pied black-and-white, some with areas of buff or reddish on the head, neck or breast.

Avocets feed on insects and other invertebrates by sweeping the bill from side-to-side through shallow water or by "tipping up" in deeper water.  Stilts feed from the surface of shallow water, from floating vegetation or from muddy surfaces, taking insects, insect larvae, freshwater mollusks, worms and tadpoles.  

Avocets nest in colonies near water; open nests are placed on grass, sand, mud or in shallow water and may be unlined or lined with dead plants.  Clutch size is usually 4, rarely 2, 3 or 5. Clutches of 8-12 probably due to more than one female laying in a nest.  Eggs are buff or brownish with black and gray markings. Incubation is by both sexes for 23-25 days. The young hatch; asynchronously. Young are cared for by both adults and fledge at 35-42 days.  Age at first breeding is 2 or 3 years.

Stilts nest in colonies near or in shallow water. Nests consist of mud and plants or in grass clumps with little nest material. Eggs 3-4, pale buff-brown with black and gray markings. Incubation is 22-25 days by both sexes, hatching synchronous. Young are precocial and are cared for by both parents, but feed themselves.  They fledge in 28-32 days. They are independent 2-4 weeks after fledging.  Age at first breeding is 2 years.


Narrative:
The family Regulidae includes 2 species that have been recorded in North America.

Kinglets are found in coniferous and mixed forests in North America and Eurasia. They are small (9 cm.) greenish above, whitish to yellowish below with white wing bars. They differ mainly in crown markings.  Kinglets feed on insects gleaned from foliage and often hover to take prey from leaves.  The nest is a bulky purse-like structure of moss suspended from, or attached to, twigs or branchlets. Eggs 5-10, white or buffy, usually with brown spots.


Narrative:
The family Remizidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

The Verdin is considered a part of the Penduline-tit family. These are small birds with 10 primary feathers on each wing. They eat primarily insects, fruit and seeds. The Verdin is found in mesquite, thorny shrub areas of the desert or brushy riparian woodlands. It is usually seen alone or in pairs. It is very active, behaving like a chickadee. Verdin are quite loud, often heard before they are seen.


Narrative:
The family Scolopacidae includes 65 species that have been recorded in North America.

Sandpipers, Snipe, Stints, Godwits, Dowitchers, Curlews, Whimbrel, Yellowlegs, Redshanks, Greenshanks, Knots, Surfbird, Phalaropes.

The sandpipers, snipe and allies occur worldwide, mainly in aquatic and marine  habitats, some in moist woodland, grasslands or swamps.  Size varies from 12-60 cm, but many have long, slender bills that make up a large portion of the length.  Bills vary from the short, slender bills of most sandpipers to the long, decurved bills of curlews and long straight bills of godwits.  The bill has sensory pits at the tip with which the bird can detect and evaluate objects when probing in mud, sand or soil. 

Food varies, but is mainly animal.  Nests are usually on the ground, often concealed by vegetation.  Eggs usually 4, in some 2-3. Eggs are cryptically colored, whitish with brown and black markings.  In most species both sexes incubate and incubation begins with the last egg, so young hatch simultaneously. Downy chicks leave the nest within a day after hatching and feed themselves.


Narrative:
The family Sittidae includes 4 species that have been recorded in North America.

Nuthatches forage on the trunks and branches of trees or the faces of rocks and cliffs.  The nuthatches and Wallcreeper do not brace the tail against the substrate when climbing about on trees or rocks. They often descend down tree trunks headfirst.  They have long, curved, sharp toenails, short tails and sharp, straight beaks.

They are 13-20 cm. in size.  Plumage is usually gray or bluish-gray above, white below, some with rufous underparts, some with a black or brown crown.  

Food is insects and seeds. Some open nuts with their sharp bill. They nest in a crevice or tree hole, lined with grass, moss, hair.  Old World species reduce the size of the entrance hole with mud.  They lay 4-10 eggs, white with reddish spots. The female incubates 12-14 days. Young are fed by the male.


Narrative:
The family Strigidae includes 21 species that have been recorded in North America.

Owls are carnivorous. Most species feed on rodents and shrews, some take birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crabs, earthworms and/or insects.  Some small species take moths and other insects in flight.  Indigestible portions of the prey (bones, hair, feathers, chitin) are regurgitated as pellets.

Owls do not build a true nest. Most deposit the eggs in a hole, on the ground or in the old nest of another bird.  The Short-eared Owl assembles a layer of dry plants on the ground and some species excavate a hollow on the ground.  The Burrowing Owl uses the holes of large rodents, e.g., prairie dogs and ground squirrels.  Owls often begin to breed in the winter when the nights are longest.  Eggs are chalky-white and almost round. Clutch sizes vary from 1-14, in many species depending on the food supply.  Snowy Owls may lay up to 14 eggs during years of rodent abundance, but fail to breed when rodent populations crash.  Eggs are laid at intervals and incubation begins with the first egg, thus the hatchlings differ in size and the number raised to fledging depends on the food supply.  Usually only the female incubates and the male brings food to her. Both sexes feed the young.


Narrative:
The family Sturnidae includes 1 species that have been recorded in North America.

Starlings are native to Eurasia and Africa, but the Common Starling has been introduced in many other parts of the world and four species of mynas have been introduced into certain regions. Starlings are medium-sized, wings pointed in most species, rounded in mynas.  Plumage colors vary from glossy black, brown and gray to white; some with yellow, orange or red areas or wattles; some are crested.  The sexes may be alike or differ in plumage.  Starling's beaks are straight, sharp, often yellow or red. Legs are long.  Highly vocal. Many starlings and mynahs mimic the songs and calls of other birds. Some mynahs can mimic human speech as well as, or better than, many parrots.  

Starlings feed mainly on the ground on insects, fruits, berries and virtually any other edible material.  Some species are pests in gardens, taking fruit.  Most species nest in holes or cavities, some build nests of twigs. Some are colonial.  Clutch size ranges from 2-9, usually 4-6, bluish or blue-green eggs, some spotted with brown or reddish markings.  Most species are social, forming flocks especially during the non-breeding season.


Narrative:
The family Sulidae includes 5 species that have been recorded in North America.

Boobies and Gannets occur on the coasts and islands of the oceans of the world.  Boobies are tropical and subtropical; gannets occur in temperate regions.  They spend long periods at sea, often far from the breeding areas.  The sulids are medium to large-sized birds (940-3100 gms) with long, relatively narrow wings and a long, wedge-shaped tail.  Sexes are the same size in gannets. Females are larger than males in boobies.  The bill is straight, strong, pointed, with a curved nail at the tip.

Food is mainly fish and squid, including many different species. Food is taken mainly by plunge-diving from various heights (up to 45 meters). They also dive from the surface and pursue prey under water, or on foot in shallow water.  Some boobies capture flying fish and squid on the wing. Some species hunt in groups and some scavenge.

All sulids except Abbott's Booby nest in colonies.  Nests are on the ground, cliff ledges or in trees. Ground scrapes or shallow depressions are unlined, or loosely woven nests of twigs and debris.  Nest construction is by both sexes, but the male usually brings the material.  Eggs are pale blue, green or white with chalky coat and becoming stained with brown. Clutch 1 in gannets, 1-4 in boobies, laid at intervals up to 5 days. Incubation begins with the first egg.  Incubation is 40-57 days by both sexes with eggs cupped between the foot webs. Hatching is asynchronous and a full clutch of more than 1 egg is seldom reared unless the food supply is ample and close to the nest. Sibling murder occurs in broods of two or more.  Young are fed and cared for by both parents. Young are usually fed by incomplete regurgitation in which the young take the food from the gullet of the adult.  Fledging is at 86 to 170 days, varying with the food supply. Gannets become independent at fledging; boobies with variable periods of post-fledging care at the nest site or as free-flying juveniles. Age at first breeding is 2-6 years. Adults of most species do not breed every year.


Narrative:
The family Sylviidae includes 2 species that have been recorded in North America.

Old World Warblers are found in grass, thickets, reedbeds, marshes, swamps, thickets, grass, usually near water.  They occur in Eurasia, Africa, Arabia, Japan, Philippines, southern Pacific islands and Australia.

They are 12-19 cm. in size.   Food is primarily insects.  The nest is a deep cup of plant material, cobwebs, often attached to several reeds over water or hanging from several twigs in a bush, thicket or similar sites.  Eggs usually 4-6, variable; pinkish, whitish, greenish with reddish, yellowish, gray to black spots/blotches.

Gnatcatchers are small (10-11 cm) and slender with long tails and medium-length bills. Four species occur in North America. Colors are mostly bluish-gray above, white or grayish below. Tails are black with white outer feathers. Some have black crowns or black mask.  They feed on insects and spiders.  

The nest is a small, neat cup of soft plant fibers camouflaged with lichens, bits of moss, fastened with cobwebs to a horizontal branch, in a tree fork or bush.  Eggs 2-3 in tropics, 4-5 in temperate areas, bluish to white, speckled with reddish-brown.


Narrative:
The family Threskiornithidae includes 5 species that have been recorded in North America.

Ibises and Spoonbills occur primarily in freshwater and estuarine habitats, including swamps, marshes, coastal mangroves, rice fields, rivers and ponds.    Ibises and spoonbills are widely distributed in the warmer regions of the world and are especially abundant in the tropics of Africa, Asia and South America.  Ibises are medium-sized (50-100 cm long) with moderately long legs and necks and long, decurved bills.  Spoonbills are 75-85 cm long, similar to ibises in other proportions, but their bills are straight and flattened with a spatulate tip. 

Food is mainly invertebrates, including insects, larvae, mollusks, crustaceans and small fish, reptiles, amphibians.  Ibises feed mostly in shallow water and muddy areas by probing with their curved bill.  In upland areas they take insects, spiders, bird and reptile eggs, small rodents and occasionally carrion.  Spoonbills feed by wading through shallow water, sweeping the partly open spatulate bill from side to side through water and silt.  They take insects, insect larvae, small fish, crustaceans, snails, frogs, tadpoles, worms and possibly plants.  Ibises and spoonbills usually feed in groups.

They nest mainly in colonies, each pair defends only the nest site.  Nests are large piles of sticks, other plant materials, lined with grass or reeds in trees or sometimes on the ground.  The nest is built mainly by the female of material brought by the male.  Clutch size is usually 2-5. Eggs white, pale green or blue, unmarked or spotted, with a chalky surface; laid at intervals of 1-3 days.  Incubation is 21-29 days by both sexes, beginning with the first egg. Hatching is asynchronous.  Both parents care for the hatchlings.  Nestlings are fed by partial regurgitation directly from adult to young, or by complete regurgitation into the nest to be picked up by the young.  Nestlings are brooded for 5-7 days and begin to move from the nest at 14-21 days, but return to be fed.  They are capable of flight by 30-50 days of age.  Age at first breeding is 3-4 years.


Narrative:
The family Trochilidae includes 23 species that have been recorded in North America.

Hummingbirds include the smallest living birds with most species 6-13 cm long and 2-9 gms in weight.  The bill is long (6-110 mm), slender, tubular, straight or curved. The tongue is long and adapted for nectar-feeding. Wings are adapted for hovering forward and backward. Hummingbird's high metabolism required for hovering is reflected in relatively large heart and lungs and high concentration of red blood cells. The plumage is usually iridescent.

All hummingbirds feed on nectar supplemented with insects and spiders.  Different species utilize different kinds of flowers and extract nectar in different ways, hence the variation in the shapes and sizes of bills.  Many plants are pollinated by hummingbirds which pick up pollen on the head plumage while feeding.  Most species insert the bill into the corolla of a flower to obtain the nectar. A few puncture the the base of the corolla tube to gain access to the nectar.  Hummingbirds have been observed taking juice from ripe fruit and some North American species take sap from openings in the bark of trees made by sapsuckers.  Insects are taken on the wing or gleaned from foliage. Spiders are taken from foliage or webs.  When food is scarce, or during extremely cold weather, hummingbirds may become torpid and appear to be dead, but will revive when warmed.

Sexual dimorphism tends to be highly developed in species in which solitary males display in a defended territory to which the females come for mating.  Each male defends several song perches and mating occurs on these perches.  In most species the males are polygamous and the females build the nest, incubate the eggs and rear the young alone.  

In most species the nest is a small, compact open cup placed astride a branch and composed of vegetable down, fibers and sometimes moss, bound together and to the branch with cobwebs. In some species lichens are attached to the outer surface.  The clutch is always two white, elliptical eggs. Larger clutches indicate that more than one female has laid in the nest.  Incubation begins after the second egg is laid and ranges from 14-19 days.  The  young are covered with sparse down and are brooded frequently for the first 8-12 days, after which brooding ceases.  Small nestlings defecate in the nest and the female removes the droppings; older nestlings defecate over the rim of the nest.  The female feeds the young on insects and spiders by regurgitation from her crop directly into the crops of the nestlings by inserting her bill into their throats.  Fledging varies from 18-28 days and is influenced by weather.  The female continues to feed the fledged young for up to about 40 days.


Narrative:
The family Troglodytidae includes 9 species that have been recorded in North America.

All but one species of wren occur in North and South America.  The group clearly originated in the New World. The only wren in the Old World is a subspecies of Troglodytes troglodytes, the Winter Wren of North America, known in Europe as The Wren, which occurs in Eurasia and nw Africa.  

Most wrens live in thickets and undergrowth, some in marsh vegetation or desert scrub.  Mainly are insectivorous, some take fruit. They are 10-23 cm. in length. Wrens are mostly small with short, slender bills, some decurved. Tails are short in most species, feet are strong, wings are short and rounded.  Plumages are mostly rufous, browns and grays; striped, barred, spotted or streaked with white, black or gray.  Sexes are alike. Wrens are highly vocal, many with complex, musical songs. Some sing duets.  Most nest in holes or build domed nests with side openings.  Eggs 2-3 in tropics, up to 10 in temperate regions; white, bluish, greenish, brown, often with speckles of brown or rufous.  Only females incubate 13-19 days, some fed by male. Young hatched naked or with sparse down; fledge at 14-19 days, fed by both parents.  Nests are used as dormitories by adults and young.  Many species are cooperative breeders.


Narrative:
The family Trogonidae includes 2 species that have been recorded in North America.

Trogons occur in tropical and subtropical forests and woodlands from the lowlands to 3500 meters. Some extend into temperate regions.  Trogons are among the most colorful birds. Males are red, pink, orange or yellow below, with a long, graduated tail that is black and white in most species.  The upperparts of males of the American and African species are metallic green. In the Asian species the dorsum is brown.  Female plumages are mainly brown or gray, some with reddish or yellowish tints on the lower abdomen.  Bill is short, broad at the base and the culmen is curved.

Food is mainly insects, usually taken on the wing by hovering before a leaf or branch to pick off the prey. Some insects are taken in flight.  They also eat small arthropods and fruits. Some species may take small frogs and lizards.   The fruit-eating quetzals have flatter bills than other trogons.

Trogons nests in cavities in trees, decayed stumps, excavated in the occupied nests of arboreal termites or wasps or in hollows formed by epiphytes.  Eggs white, cream, buff, brown, pale blue or pale green. Clutch size is 2-4. Incubation 17-19 days. The young are naked at hatching.


Narrative:
The family Turdidae includes 28 species that have been recorded in North America.

The typical thrushes are  among the finest singers in North America. Many species have melodious songs. The juvenal plumage is usually spotted.  Food is usually invertebrates and fruit.  Nests are cup-shaped, usually of plant materials. Some species include mud. The nest is usually built by the female. Eggs 2-6, rarely more, vary from white in hole-nesters to gray, greenish or blue. Incubation by female is 12-15 days, usually 13-14 days. Fledging at 12-15 days. Brooding is by the female. Both sexes feed the young.  Age at first breeding is probably 1 year.  

Thrushes.  The species are similar in size (20-30 cm) and include the largest species of thrushes, but they vary widely in plumage colors and markings.  Species of Turdus are native to all continents except Australia.  They occur naturally on many islands, including those of the southwest Pacific  and West Indies, and have been introduced to others.  The best-known species include the American Robin (migratorius), Eurasian Blackbird (merula) and Song Thrush (philomelos).  Many are notable songsters with melodious, fluid songs. They feed on insects, other invertebrates and fruits.  Nests of some include mud; open cups usually placed in a tree or bush.  Eggs tend to be blue with, or without, spotting.

Bluebirds occur in savanna, woodland edge.  Males are blue above.  Females mostly brownish with blue in the wings. They nest in holes, usually in trees, often in nest boxes; eggs pale blue to white.  Food is insects taken on the wing or on the ground, often by dropping from a low perch; also other invertebrates, fruits, and berries.


Narrative:
The family Tyrannidae includes 45 species that have been recorded in North America.

Tyrant Flycatchers are most abundant in the Neotropics and include a wide array of ecotypes, including species that are the counterparts of warblers, wrens, vireos, jays, shrikes, pipits, thrushes and certain New World orioles.  They range in weight from 4.5 to 80 gm. Plumages tend to be greenish, yellow, brownish and gray with little or no sexual dimorphism. Some have yellow, orange, white or red crests, often concealed until erected.   The species that make aerial sorties to capture flying insects tend to have long, narrow wings. Those that take insects from foliage may have short, rounded wings.  Tails vary from short and square to long and forked.  Legs are long in terrestrial species and short in arboreal species.

Most tyrants are insectivorous, but the methods of foraging include aerial sorties from a perch, gleaning from foliage, dropping to the ground from a perch and walking on the ground.  Some of the large species take fish, frogs, lizards, mice and bird's eggs, as well as large insects.  Many tropical species also eat fruit. The Piratic Flycatcher and some species of Elaenia are mainly frugivorous when fruits are available.

In most species both sexes build a cup nest placed in the fork of a branch. Others build globular nests of grass and twigs.  The species of Myiarchus nest in cavities and line the nest with soft animal material, usually including pieces of shed snake skin.  The Piratic Flycatcher takes over the nest of some other species, often throwing out the eggs or young of its victim.  Eggs vary from plain white to gray, brownish or buffy, often with spots or blotches of reddish, brown or lilac.  Clutch sizes usually 3-5 in temperate areas, 2-3 in the tropics. Incubation takes 14-20 days, only by females. Young remain in the nest for 14-23 days, brooded only by the female but fed by both sexes which bring insects in the bill, not by regurgitation.  Young of tropical species may remain with the parents in a family group for nearly a year.  Age at first breeding is probably 1-2 years in most species.


Narrative:
The family Tytonidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Barn Owls have skulls that are long and narrow and a facial disk that is heart-shaped. Their legs are long. Most individuals began to breed at one year of age and produced one brood per year. Incubation is 32-34 days. First clutches average 7 eggs. Young are blind and covered with whitish down which is replaced by a second downy plumage, followed by the true feathers.  Maturity is at one year. Barn Owls are carnivorous, feeding on rodents and shrews.


Narrative:
The family Upupidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.

Hoopoes occur in open country with scattered trees, pastures, orchards and savannas in Europe, Asia, Malaysia, Africa and Madagascar.  Weight is 65-67 gms.  Wings are broad, rounded and the tail is square.  They have a long, erectile crest. Plumage is buffy or pinkish-cinnamon, without metallic gloss. They perch and roost in trees. On the ground hoopoes walk strongly. Flight is undulating and erratic, reminiscent of a large butterfly.

Food is mainly insects and other small invertebrates taken on the ground or by probing with the bill. They also gather food by hawking for flying insects or by turning over refuse or dry cowpats.

Hoopoes nest in holes in trees, walls, crevices in rocks, buildings or nest boxes.  The nest site is found and cleared by the male. Some nests are lined with grass, others are bare. Eggs white, clutch size varies from 4-7 in the tropics to 5-8  in Europe.  Female incubates and is fed by the male, but may emerge to forage for herself.  The female remains in the nest for a week after eggs hatch, then both adults feed the nestlings.  Droppings of nestlings are not removed from the nest.  Incubation is about 17 days, nestling period 26-32 days.  There are one to three broods per season.


Narrative:
The family Vireonidae includes 16 species that have been recorded in North America.

Vireos are small (10-17 cm, 9-24 gm).  Plumages are mainly gray, greenish or brown above and whitish or yellowish below. Some species have white eyerings, white superciliary lines and/or white wing bars.  The sexes are alike.  Vireos inhabit broad-leaved or mixed forest and scrub. Food is mainly insects during the breeding season, with up to 50% fruit during migration and winter in Central and South America.  They forage by taking insects from the foliage, sometimes by hovering at leaf clusters and some by the capture of flying insects on the wing.  The Gray Vireo, which lives in the arid southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico, also forages on the ground.

Nests are deep cups of leaves, grass and bark strips, bound together with cobwebs and lined with fine grass. The nest is suspended by the rim from the fork of a small branch in foliage. Both sexes build in most species, only the female in some. Construction time is 5-15 days.  Eggs 4-5, white and unmarked, or white with various degrees of brown spotting, usually concentrated at the large end.  Incubation is 11-13 days beginning with the 2nd egg.  Males of most species sing while incubating. Both sexes care for the young during the  12 day nestling period. Fledging is 30-40 days after hatching.


Narrative:
The family Thraupidae includes 6 species that have been recorded in North America.

Tanagers are among the most colorful and vibrant of the New World birds. Tanagers have relatively thick bills; bill shape is related to feeding behavior. Tanagers eat mostly fruit and insects. They are found in forested and shrubby habitat in North and South America. The female takes the lead in nest-building. They typically lay 2-4 eggs in a cup-shaped nest. Incubation is by the female. Both sexes tend the young.


Narrative:
The family Cardinalidae includes 13 species that have been recorded in North America.

Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings are seed eaters. The conical bill is thick, short and powerful. Seed kernels can easily be cracked open. Insects are also a significant part of the diet. The plumage of the males is often very colorful in breeding plumage. Songs of birds in the Cardinalidae family tend to be very musical. The clutch size is 3-4 eggs.


Narrative:
The family Ptilogonatidae includes 1 species that have been recorded in North America.

Silky-flycatchers are slender, long-tailed and crested. Males are gray or blue-gray with yellow flanks and crissum, black wings and black-and-white tails. Females similar but more olivaceous in color.  They occur in loose flocks, feed on berries and hawk for insects from high, open perches.  Nest is an open cup of lichen or moss. Both sexes build the nest. Eggs 2, gray or whitish with brown or lilac markings. Only the female incubates 16-17 days. Both sexes feed young, fledging at 24-25 days.

Phainopepla is slender, long-tailed, crested and shining black with white wing patches in the male, gray in the female.  They feed on insects and berries, especially mistletoe. The nest, built mainly by the male, is a compact, open cup in a shrub or tree. Eggs 2-3, rarely 4. Both sexes incubate 14-15 days, fledging at 18-19 days.


Narrative:
The family Pandionidea includes  1 species that has been recorded in North America.


Narrative:
The family Phylloscopidea includes 6 species that have been recorded in North America.


Narrative:
The family Acrocephalidae includes 1 species that have been recorded in North America.


Narrative:
The family Megaluridae includes 2 species that have been recorded in North America.


Narrative:
The family Calcariidae includes 6 species that have been recorded in North America.


Narrative:
The family Stercorariidae includes 4 species that have been recorded in North America.


Narrative:
The family Tityridae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.


Narrative:
The family Heliornithidae includes 1 species that has been recorded in North America.


# LanguageRegionList

Comments:
Includes French names for over half of the world's birds.


Comments:
Spanish names for over half of the world's birds.


Comments:
German names for over half of the world's birds.


Description:
Includes names used in the UK and Europe

Comments:
Applying this Language/Region list will switch all common names to those used in Europe. Great Northern Diver appears instead of Common Loon and Wren appears instead of Winter Wren.


Description:
Includes names used in the United States

Comments:
Applying this Language/Region list will switch all common names to those used in the United States.


# Locations

Comments:
The contiguous United States -- excluding Alaska and Hawaii.


# Media

Caption:
adult females, dark (L) and light ( R) morphs


Caption:
in flight with Greater Yellowlegs and others


Caption:
male in breeding plumage, Myrtle sub-species


Caption:
worn adult - note distinctive undertail pattern


Caption:
adult, large-billed southwestern form - note tail pattern


Caption:
juvenile Harlan's sub-species, in flight


Caption:
juvenile molting to non-breeding plumage


Caption:
eastern female or immature male (east or west)


Caption:
transition to breeding plumage, nominate race


Caption:
male in breeding plumage, Audubon's sub-species


Caption:
adult rufous/Harlan's integrade morph in flight


Caption:
adult (center) with Black-footed Albatrosses


Caption:
adult in transition to non-breeding plumage


Caption:
adult in non-breeding plumage, (Kumlien's)


Caption:
russett adult female or young male variant


Caption:
Cackling Goose (left) Canada Goose (right)


Caption:
adult non-breeding ( R), Glaucous-winged/Western hybrid (L)


Caption:
adult breeding, griseus sub-species (eastern)


Caption:
adult (L), juvenile ( R)  - with Common Terns


Caption:
breeding male ( R)/breeding female (L), Siberian sub-species


Caption:
adult in breeding plumage (L) / juvenile


Caption:
Lesser Snow Geese, blue morph with goslings


Caption:
flock in flight, non-breeding plumage (note white napes)


Caption:
Cuban sub-species, note undertail pattern


Caption:
dance display (rust color is arctic clay staining)


Caption:
adult in breeding plumage, western sub-species


Caption:
adult molting to non-breeding plumage, fall


Caption:
adult in breeding plumage, eastern sub-species


Caption:
juvenile molting to first winter plumage


Caption:
adult in breeding plumage, hendersoni sub-species


Caption:
white morph of Great Blue Heron, non-breeding


Caption:
first winter female (L) / first winter male, (slate-colored)


Caption:
in flight, eastern sub-species, breeding plumage


Caption:
immature in flight, note feet and legs extending past tail


Caption:
first winter (L) / Bonaparte's Gull ( R)


Caption:
adults in transition to non-breeding plumage


Caption:
adult female with Mallard genes (note bill)


Caption:
adult (bird is grayer than photo makes it appear)


Caption:
uses bill to turn over stones and rocks looking for food


Caption:
rapid wingbeat flies faster and higher than most other ducks


Caption:
breeding adult female molting to non-breeding


Caption:
adult in non-breeding plumage (N. European form)


Caption:
L.a. vegae sun-species, mostly seen in Alaska


Caption:
dark first winter kumlien's sub-species in flight


Caption:
adult in breeding plumage (note green facial skin)


Caption:
adult in late summer - transition from breeding plumage


Caption:
non-breeding ( R), Lesser Yellowlegs (L)


Caption:
adult molting to non-breeding plumage, late summer


Caption:
adult male, gray morph (Turks and Caicos Islands)


Caption:
nominate race (western US) in non-breeding plumage


Caption:
colonial nest box with males and females


Caption:
fall immature female, Audubon's sub-species


Caption:
adult, Z.l. oriantha sub-species (western mountains breeder)


Caption:
Stilt Sandpiper ( R), Lesser Yellowlegs (L)


Caption:
all black wings, long red legs trail behind in flight


Caption:
rusty under tail coverts compared to Cedar Waxwing


Caption:
yellow belly compared to Bohemian, both have waxy red tips


Caption:
male singing "please, please, pleased to meet'cha"


Caption:
stiff shallow wing beats compared to Sharp-shinned Hawk


Caption:
immature white wing spots white tail with dark terminal band


Caption:
teeters body and bobs tail while foraging


Caption:
very long toes support it as it walks across lily pads


Caption:
Uses bill to turn over stones and rocks looking for food


Caption:
deeper wing beat with more flicker wrist action than Coopers


Caption:
moves briskly, shuffles feet to frighten prey out of hiding


Caption:
soars with wings held in a shallow V-shape


Caption:
male power dive courtship flight, noise from tail feathers


Caption:
rides higher on the water than other ducks


Caption:
Snowy Egret chasing immature Little Blue Heron


Caption:
when swimming, rides low in front with bill held down


Caption:
males and females - note long pointed tail


Caption:
foraging, notice tail is raised quickly, then lowered slowly


Caption:
often bobs whole body up and down when walking


Caption:
Flicks cocks short tail exposing white under tail coverts


Caption:
large round breast spots often alone and bobs or teeters


# Order

Narrative:
The waterfowl occur in temperate and tropical regions from the Arctic in summer to the southern tips of the continents and on many islands. They breed and feed primarily in wet environments; marshes, lakes, ponds and shores of the oceans. The screamers (Anhimidae) are confined to South America; the Magpie Goose (Anseranas) to Australia and New Guinea. The ducks, geese and swans (Anatidae) are widely distributed. Most species nest on the ground, some in holes in trees, rocks or earth; nest usually lined with down plucked from her breast by the female; eggs plain white or brownish; young nidifugous, with thick down.


Narrative:
DNA hybridization evidence indicates that swifts and hummingbirds are one another's closest living relatives, although not closely related. The typical swifts occur widely in tropical and temperate regions where flying insects are abundant. The four species of treeswifts (Hemiprocne) occur from southeastern and eastern Asia to Indon@esia and the Solomon Islands.Hummingbirds are endemic to the New World; most species are tropical, but the Rufous Hummingbird breeds in southern Alaska and the Green-backed Firecrown breeds in Tierra del Fuego.

All hummingbirds feed on nectar supplemented with insects and spiders. Different species utilize different kinds of flowers and extract nectar in different ways, hence the variation in the shapes and sizes of bills. Many plants are pollinated by hummingbirds which pick up pollen on the head plumage while feeding; flower structure of some plants is adapted for pollination by particular species of hummingbirds. Most species insert the bill into the corolla of a flower to obtain the nectar; a few puncture the the base of the corolla tube to gain access to the nectary. Hummingbirds have been observed taking juice from ripe fruit and some North American species take sap from openings in the bark of trees made by sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus: Picidae). Insects are taken on the wing or gleaned from foliage; spiders are taken from foliage or webs. When food is scarce, or during extremely cold weather, hummingbirds may become torpid and appear to be dead, but will revive when warmed.

Sexual dimorphism tends to be highly developed in species in which solitary males display in a defended territory to which the females come for mating. In the sexually monomorphic hermits (e.g., Phaethornis) from 2 or 3 to 100 males assemble in leks and call or sing short, loud phrases. Each male defends several song perches and mating occurs on these perches. During courtship the dull-colored hermits display their brightly colored gapes. In most species the males are polygamous and the females build the nest, incubate the eggs and rear the young alone. In Colibri coruscans the male may participate in incubation and brood care; an incubation patch was found in a male of Eupetomena macroura. The sexes are alike in these two species.

In most species the nest is a small, compact open cup placed astride a branch and composed of vegetable down, fibers and sometimes moss, bound together and to the branch with cobwebs; in some species lichens are attached to the outer surface. The Phaethornithinae build pendant nests fastened with cobwebs to the underside of a leaf so that the leaf forms the inner wall. Species that nest in caves (e.g., Oreotrochilus) attach the pendant nest to the rock wall with salivary glue. The clutch is always two white, elliptical eggs; larger clutches indicate that more than one female has laid in the nest. Incubation begins after the second egg is laid and ranges from 14-19 days. The nidicolous young are covered with sparse down and are brooded frequently for the first 8-12 days, after which brooding ceases. Small nestlings defecate in the nest and the female removes the droppings; older nestlings defecate over the rim of the nest. The female feeds the young on insects and spiders by regurgitation from her crop directly into the crops of the nestlings by inserting her bill into their throats. Fledging varies from 18-28 days and is influenced by weather. The female continues to feed the fledged young for up to 40 days.


Narrative:
The caprimulgids occur in tropical and temperate regions except New Zealand and many oceanic islands. The soft plumage is cryptically colored with gray, black, buff and rufous in mottled and vermiculated patterns, often with white patches on the chin or throat. Most species range from 16-40 cm in length; a few species with long tails up to 78 cm. The long wings are pointed and the birds are excellent flyers. Most species are active only at twilight or at night; during the day they perch quietly on the ground or lengthwise on a branch. The Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) of western North America hibernates in rock crevices during the winter. During hibernation the birds are torpid with a body temperature of 18-19°C, versus the normal temperature of 40-41°C.

No nest is constructed; the 1-3, usually 2, eggs are laid on the bare ground or on fallen leaves. The North American species of nighthawks (Chordeiles) sometimes nest on the flat, gravelled roofs of buildings. The cryptically-colored eggs are white, gray or buff with markings of black, brown or violet. Both sexes incubate (ca. 16-21 days) and brood the young which are covered with gray or buff down. The hatchlings are nidicolous but soon become active, running about near the nest at night, but hiding under the female during the day. The active young deposit their excreta a short distance from the nest site in any direction, producing a ring of small white droppings around the nest. The adults collect insects in their crops during foraging flights and return to the young birds which take the parent's beak into their own; the parent then discharges the crop contents into the throat of the youngster.

Most caprimulgids feed mainly or entirely on flying insects captured in continuous flight. A few species, (e.g., Caprimulgus pectoralis) hunt from a fixed perch.


Narrative:
Sandpipers, Godwits, Curlews, Dowitchers and Phalaropes occur worldwide as migrants or winter visitants, but the majority breed in the Northern Hemisphere, mainly in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. They nest in open habitats on moorlands or tundra and spend the rest of the year in coastal areas, including sandy beaches, tidal mudflats and salt marshes. Bills are used for probing in soft mud or sand; the tips may be opened (as in snipe, above) to grasp worms and other prey. Most sandpipers are adapted for wading with long legs, long foretoes, a short hallux and bare or partially bare legs. Wings are usually long and pointed; tails short and necks long.

Phalaropes have laterally compressed tarsi and short webs between the bases of the foretoes; all four toes are fringed by a continuous narrow membrane in Wilson's Phalarope and bordered with small lobes in the Red and Northern phalaropes. Breeding plumages tend to be a mixture of browns and grays above, white or streaked and spotted below, in patterns that are cryptic when sitting on a nest; winter plumages are paler and more uniform. Most species form flocks in the winter; some (e.g., Tringa macularia) are solitary.

Food is mainly invertebrates taken from, or near, the surface of the substrate, often in shallow water. Insects are taken during the breeding season, sometimes on the wing and some species eat berries. In winter much of the food is obtained at night. The Bristle-thighed Curlew, which breeds in Alaska, has been observed eating the eggs of frigatebirds, terns and boobies while wintering on Laysan Island in the Pacific Ocean. Phalaropes take most of their food from the surface of the water and all three species spin rapidly with the legs dangling, apparently to create a vortex that brings food items to the surface, sometimes upending like dabbling ducks. The Red-necked and Red phalaropes winter at sea often far from land and feed on plankton.

Most nests are on the ground; a few species use the old nests of thrushes, shrikes or pigeons, e.g., the Green Sandpiper and the Solitary Sandpiper. Female phalaropes are larger and more brightly colored than males and the males alone incubate the eggs and care for the young. Females may mate with two males when there is an excess of males.

Gulls, Terns, Skuas, Jaegers, Skimmers, Auks, Murres and Puffins occur worldwide, including many islands, the sub-Arctic and sub-Antarctic. The Laridae includes several groups including the Laridae (gulls and terns); Stercorariidae (skuas, jaegers), Rynchopidae (skimmers) and Alcidae (auks, murres, puffins, guillemots).


Narrative:
Bitterns, Egrets, and Herons occur mainly in wet habitats in temperate and tropical regions and on many islands. Ibises and Spoonbills occur primarily in freshwater and estuarine habitats, including swamps, marshes, coastal mangroves, rice fields, rivers and ponds. 

They are medium to large in size (30-140 cm long) with long legs; most species have long necks and slender bodies. Bills usually long, straight and sharp-pointed; the maxillary tomium often has a subterminal 'tooth' and is serrate near the tip. The night herons are stouter with shorter necks and the Boat-billed Heron has a broad, thick bill. Food mainly aquatic animals, including fish, amphibians and insects; some species also take reptiles, small mammals, birds, molluscs and crustaceans. Prey usually seized in the bill, sometimes impaled. Pellets of indigestible parts are regurgitated. Various foraging methods: stand and wait in water for prey to appear; walk slowly in shallow water, along the margin or on a mudflat or beach; foot-stirring or trampling in muddy or sandy areas to flush prey; run about in shallow water to pursue prey; swim in deeper water and surface dive; hover and plunge-dive; dive from a perch. Cattle Egrets feed on insects and other animals disturbed by cattle and other large grazing mammals. Most herons are diurnal; night-herons feed during the day, at dusk and at night.

Most herons nest in dense or dispersed colonies; a few species, including most bitterns, are solitary. Nests are platforms of interlocked sticks in trees or piles of vegetation in reeds or on the ground, built mainly or entirely by the female of material brought by the male.


Narrative:
Pigeons and doves occur on all continents and many islands. The extinct Raphidae occurred on the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean: the Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) on Mauritius and the Solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria) on Rodriguez. 

There is no confusion about which birds are, and are not, columbids, but the identity of their nearest living relatives remains uncertain. The sandgrouse (Pteroclidae) frequently have been thought to be related to the Columbidae, but DNA hybridization comparisons show that the sandgrouse are related to the shorebirds (Charadrii). The parrots, galliforms and shorebirds have been proposed as the closest relatives of the pigeons and doves, but DNA hybridization evidence indicates that the columbids have no close living relatives and that they may have shared a remote common ancestor with such groups as the gruiforms, ciconiiforms and passeriforms.

Pigeons and doves mainly eat seeds, fruits, berries, flowers and tender leaves, but many species also take small invertebrates, such as snails and insects. Ptilinopus coralensis feeds on insects and lizards. All or most species ingest grit, salty earth and molluscan shell fragments; the grit is used in the gastric mill of the gizzard to grind hard seeds and the grit provides minerals, thus consumption of grit and shells increases during the breeding season. Most pigeons drink by sucking or pumping without raising the head, the one exception if the Tooth-billed Pigeon (Didunculus strigirostris) which drinks by scooping water like most other birds.

Most species build a shallow, rather flimsy nest of interwoven twigs, stems and other plant parts placed in a tree or bush; species that nest on the ground or on ledges usually build a nest, but sometimes lay on the bare substrate. The female does most of the nest-building; the male brings the materials. Most species lay 2 white or (rarely) buffy eggs; a few species lay 1, or rarely 3, eggs. Both sexes incubate, 14-18 days. The blind, nidicolous hatchlings are clad in sparse, yellow or buff down. The young of seed-eating species insert their bills into the mouths of the parents and are fed "pigeon milk" by regurgitation until about 10 days of age, thereafter they are fed seeds and fruits. Fruit-eating species may feed "pigeon milk" for up to 40 days, because of the low protein content of fruit. The squabs grow rapidly and the smaller species can fly when ca. 2 weeks old; fledglings are fed by the male only or by both parents, until able to forage for themselves. Larger species develop more slowly, the Nicobar Pigeon not fledging until ca. 3 months old. Most species reach maturity at 1 year of age; some species of Zenaida and Columbina breed when only 3 months old.


Narrative:
Rollers and bee-eaters occur in the Old World, todies and motmots in the New World, and kingfishers are worldwide in distribution. DNA hybridization evidence indicates that these groups are one another's closest living relatives, but they are morphologically and genetically diverse. Kingfishers occur in many habitats, usually near water and/or in woods and forests on all continents and many islands. Kingfishers nest in holes, lay nearly round white eggs, and do not remove the nestling's droppings.


Narrative:
The typical cuckoos (Cuculi) occur on all continents and many islands; the anis in Mexico, Central and South America and the roadrunners from the southwestern U.S. to Argentina. The Hoatzin (Opisthocomi) is confined to northern South America. It often has been thought to be related to the galliforms or to be a "link" between cuckoos and galliforms. The cuckoos are a diverse assemblage. It seems clear that the cuckoos are an ancient lineage with no close living relatives.


Narrative:
In 2010 the AOU moved Hawks and Eagles  out of the Order Falconiformes and into Accipitriformes. The diurnal birds of prey include raptors and carrion eaters. Raptorial species have talons and hooked bills; carrion eaters tend to have bare heads, long necks and to lack sharp talons, but most of them also have hooked bills. Some species, e.g., the Osprey, have modified bills and/or feet adapted for particular kinds of prey

The diurnal birds of prey occur on all continents except Antarctica, on many islands and north to the Arctic. They range in size from the tiny falconets (45-75 gms) and small accipiters (100-200 gms), to large, powerful eagles such as Harpia, Pithecophaga and Haliaeetus. Some eagles weigh more than 6 kg, are 1 m in length with a wingspan of 2 m; the largest Old World vulture is the Himalayan Griffon which has a wingspan of 2.8 m and weighs up to 12 kg. In most species the female is larger than the male and often duller and browner in color; in many species the sexes are alike in color; in the Old World vultures the male is larger than the female or sexes are the same size.


Narrative:
The gallinaceous birds have representatives on the major land masses and many islands from the Arctic to the ends of the southern continents. They are absent from the Antarctic and Polynesia. The guans and chachalacas (Cracidae) are confined to the Neotropics; the megapodes occur in Australasia, the Philippines and southwest Pacific islands. The New World quail (Odontophoridae) occur in the Americas, the guineafowl (Numididae) in Africa and Madagascar, the grouse in the Holarctic, turkeys in North America and the partridges in Eurasia and Africa. Pheasants are mainly confined to south-east Asia and the francolins to Africa and Asia.


Narrative:
Loons breed on freshwater lakes and ponds in the northern Holarctic and winter in coastal waters and bays in the northern hemisphere. They are large aquatic birds (53-100 cm long, 1-6 kg weight) that come on land only to nest. They have straight, sharp-pointed bills, palmate feet, short wings and a short tail. The tarsi are laterally compressed and the legs are set so far back that they cannot stand upright on land. Breeding plumages strikingly patterned, mainly black, white and gray with contrasting spotting and barring; winter plumages dull, gray and white. In the post-nuptial molt the flight feathers are lost simultaneously, leaving them flightless until regrown. Food mainly fish, but crustaceans, aquatic insects and larvae, frogs and some plant material also taken. Molluscs and other invertebrates, as well as fish, are eaten during the winter in marine habitats. Feed by diving and underwater pursuit of fish; often form cooperative flocks for fishing, especially during migration and in winter.

Nest site chosen by the male on open land next to the water or in shallow water; often on an island in a lake or pond. Nest is usually a low mound of plant material with a shallow depression; sometimes little or no nest material is used. Both sexes build the nest which may be used in subsequent years. Clutch usually 2 (rarely 3) olive-brown or olive-green eggs with dark spots; laid at interval of 1-3 days; hatch asynchronously. Both sexes incubate for 24-30 days; single median brood patch. Downy hatchlings are semi-precocial and immediately enter the water; brooded ashore for the first few nights; taken on the adult's back in the water or warmed under the wing during the day. Both parents feed the chicks and continue to do so until after fledging at 55-75 days of age. In most species the adults obtain food close to nest; the Red-throated flies to the ocean or a nearby river. Fish carried crosswise in the bill to feed the young for several weeks, then less frequently until fledging at 55-75 days. Age at maturity about 2-3 years.


Narrative:
The gruiforms range in size from the large, long-legged, long-necked cranes, and the heavy-bodied bustards, to the rails which include sparrow-sized species. They include many species adapted to aquatic habitats and some that live in savannas or deserts.


Narrative:
The Order Passeriformes contains 59% of the world's 10,120 species. Most passerines are small land-dwelling birds that feed primarily on insects, seeds, fruit or nectar. The largest passerines are the Australian lyrebirds (Menura) and the Raven (Corvus corax), the smallest are the bushtits (Psaltriparus), kinglets (Regulus), fairywrens (Malurus) and the Pygmy Tit (Psaltria exilis).

Passerines tend to be morphologically similar, differing mainly in the structure of the syrinx, bill and feet. This relative uniformity, compared with the non-passerines, caused some systematists to assign them to a single family or to a few families; others have divided the same species into from 50 to 104 families. Based on DNA hybridization comparisons the Order Passeriformes is divided into 45 families, although some of the families of other classifications are represented by subfamilies or tribes in this classification, which also differs from previous arrangements because the DNA evidence produced new evidence of taxonomic relationships. For example, convergent evolution has produced morphologically similar species in different parts of the world which were placed in the same family in previous classifications and, conversely, closely related but morphologically dissimilar species have been placed in different families. The DNA data revealed at least some of these fallacies and made it possible to place many genetically-related species together, but this does not mean that all such problems have been solved. 

Incubation periods in most species range from 11 to 21 days; up to 28 days in some cotingas. The lyrebirds (Menura) are exceptional with 35-40 days. Young are hatched helpless and blind with sparse, mainly dorsal, down. Lyrebirds have a thick natal down. Most passerines begin to breed at 1 or 2 years of age; lyrebirds and bowerbirds delay breeding to about 5-7 years; some corvids 2-4 years; estrildine finches begin to breed at less than 1 year of age. Longevity varies but small species usually average about 2-3 years; larger species more than 3 years.


Narrative:
In 2010 the AOU moved Herons and Spoonbills to this order. Tropicbirds were moved to a new order called Phaethontiformes. Boobies, Gannets, Anhingas, Cormorants, Pelicans and Frigatebirds have long been placed together in the Order Pelecaniformes. They share several morphological characters, including totipalmate feet, a gular pouch (except tropicbirds), an intraorbital salt gland and the lack of a brood patch (except tropicbirds). No other living birds have totipalmate feet; no other seabirds or waterbirds (except flamingos) are known to lack a brood patch and the intraorbital salt-excreting gland seems to be confined to these groups. In many other characters they are diverse although additional similarities can be defined, which is true of any groups that may be compared. Thus, the traditional Order Pelecaniformes consists of birds that share several morphological characters, but that also differ in many characters (see below). The tropicbirds and frigatebirds often have been viewed as distant from the other pelecaniforms, but the pelicans usually have been thought to be most closely related to the boobies, gannets, anhingas and cormorants. DNA hybridization comparisons indicate that the Sulidae (boobies, gannets), Anhingidae (anhingas) and Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants) are closely related to one another; that the tropicbirds are distant from the other groups; that the frigatebirds are most closely related to the penguins, loons and tubenoses (Procellarioidea) and that the pelicans are most closely related to the Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) and next most closely related to the storks and ibises, as in the above classification.


Narrative:
Flamingos occur in southern France, Africa, southern Asia, the Andes of South America, Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, West Indies and the Galapagos Islands. They are highly social, feeding in groups and nesting in colonies. They usually inhabit shallow soda lakes and salt lagoons with an alkaline pH (up to 10.5), in barren country often surrounded by desert. The living species are often divided into three genera: Phoenicopterus with one or two species, ruber and chilensis, if two species are recognized; the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) of Africa; and the two South American species placed in Phoenicoparrus, andinus and jamesi. The DNA comparisons show that all five species are so closely related that they may be included in Phoenicopterus.

Flamingos combine characters shared with ducks and storks: long legs, long necks, webbed feet and a bill that is bent in the middle with fine, transverse lamellae on the inner surfaces of the maxilla and mandible; the maxilla fits inside the mandible or rests on it. Occipital fontanelles are present. These characters have been used to assign the flamingos to the vicinity of the Anseriformes or the Ciconiiformes, or to support an argument that the flamingos are intermediate between these two groups and therefore related equally to both. Stilts and avocets also have been proposed as close relatives of flamingos. However, DNA comparisons show that they are closest to the ibises, spoonbills and other members of Parvorder Ciconiida and that similarities to anseriforms or charadriiforms are due to convergence or retained primitive characters.

The feeding method of flamingos is unique among birds and has been likened to that of whalebone whales because of the straining of water and solids through the lamellae. The head is lowered to the water with the bent bill held upside down and the bill and head submerged. In the smaller species the head is swept from side to side, taking in algae, diatoms and other small organisms; the larger species take mud and water into the bill as they feed on algae, diatoms, small crustaceans, molluscs and insect larvae. In both groups the fleshy, spinous tongue moves rapidly like a piston inside the bill, squeezing the mud and water out through the lamellations which retain the edible portions. They often trample the substrate to stir up food items as they walk along. They may also feed while swimming or upending in shallow water.

Nesting is in colonies often of several thousand pairs and seldom in groups smaller than 10 pairs. In shallow water the nests are built of stones and mud picked up by both sexes within reach of the nest site and placed beneath their bodies to form a circular pile with a shallow depression on top. Nest mounds may be 30 cm high and separated from one another by approximately twice the length of the neck. Nests situated on islands are constructed of stones, feathers and debris. Clutch usually 1 (rarely 2) white egg with a chalky surface; incubation by both adults for 27-36 days. The hatchling is covered with short, wooly down, ash-gray with white below and has a straight, pink bill and pink legs, both of which turn black in a few days. A second downy plumage is darker gray. The nestling is fed by regurgitation of a secretion from glands in the adult's crop. The secretion is dark red at first due to a high level of the pigment canthaxanthin, the same pigment in the red plumage of adults, which is derived from the food, not synthesized by the birds. Later the secretion fades to yellowish. When feeding, the chick holds its open bill upward and the adult drips the secretion into it. Chicks remain in the nest for 5-8 days, and can feed themselves when 4-6 weeks of age, varying with the species. In some species the adults continue to feed chicks until they fledge at about 3 months, by which time the bill is bent as in the adults. After leaving the nest the young birds form groups (crèches) of up to several thousand individuals, but the adults seem to find and feed only their own offspring. The crèches break up when the chicks are about 100 days old. The juvenile plumage is gray with brown and pink markings and black bills and legs. Most are in the adult plumage by age 2 and some may breed when 3 years old, but many may not nest until older. Longevity is probably 25-60 years.


Narrative:
The typical woodpeckers occur in the wooded areas of the world, except Madagascar, New Guinea, Australia and most islands. The wrynecks (Jynx) occur in Eurasia and Africa; the piculets in the Neotropics, southern Asia and western Africa.

Woodpeckers, flickers and sapsuckers are adapted for clinging to the bark of trees with their zygodactyl toes (two directed forward and two back) and braced by stiffened rectrices. They use their straight, strong, chisel-tipped beaks to drill into the tunnels of wood-boring insect larvae which are extracted with the extensile, barbed tongue. The hyoid horns and musculature of the tongue extend up and around the back of the skull then forward in some species to the right orbit or right nostril, permitting maximum extension of the tongue. The skull is thick and bony to withstand the pounding of the bill and the tongue is often coated with a sticky secretion of the sublingual glands which aids in the extraction of insect larvae. In most species the nostrils are protected from wood dust and chips by a covering of feathers; in some the nostrils are reduced to slits. Most woodpeckers have 12 rectrices, Sasia species have 8 or 10 and Campephilus pollens have 10. Woodpeckers range in size from 8.5 cm to 58 cm in length, most are 15-33 cm. Many species are patterned in black and white, some green or brown, often with red or yellow crowns or flight feathers. In a few species the sexes are alike; in many species the males have a red or yellow crown patch. Spots and bars are frequent.

In addition to probing for insects on, or in, the bark of trees, woodpeckers may catch flying insects on the wing, probe fallen branches on the ground and eat fruit and nuts. Some excavate ant nests in trees or in the ground and some take nestling birds. Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus) and some species of Picoides, feed on sap from pits they excavate in tree trunks and branches. The Acorn Woodpecker stores acorns in holes drilled in tree bark or dead trees, including telephone poles, fence posts and buildings.

Woodpeckers roost and nest in holes, usually in trees, occasionally in an earthen bank. The nest holes are excavated by one or both members of a pair and may be used for many years, or as the roosting hole during the non-breeding season. The cavity is lined with wood chips; clutch 2-9 eggs, incubated by both sexes during the day, by the male at night. Incubation period about 11-17 days; hatchlings are naked and blind, but rapidly develop feathers. Both sexes feed the young, which fledge after 2.5-3.5 weeks. Fledglings are fed by the parents until independent. The Acorn Woodpecker is a communal breeder.


Narrative:
Grebes are small to medium-sized (23-76 cm in length; 150-1500 grams weight) foot-propelled divers with thick, soft, waterproof plumage; small, narrow wings and legs set far back. Grebes occur in temperate and tropical aquatic habitats on all continents and many islands, including New Zealand and Madagascar. Most classifications have placed the grebes and loons in the same order or in adjacent orders, but DNA hybridization and DNA sequence comparisons indicate that the similarities between grebes and loons are due to convergent evolution, not recent common ancestry. The loons are related to the tubenoses, penguins and frigatebirds; the grebes have no close living relatives.

Food mainly aquatic animals usually captured by diving, searching and pursuing prey underwater. Fish-eating species have elongate bodies and long necks and bills; species that eat mainly invertebrates tend to be rotund and to have short necks and bills. Fish-eaters swallow their own feathers and also feed them to their young, possibly to entangle fish bones in the stomach. Pellets composed of bones and feathers are regurgitated. Pellet formation and regurgitation also occur in grebes that eat insects and crustacea.

Nests are shallow heaps of aquatic plant stems and leaves usually concealed in aquatic vegetation; floating, anchored to plants or on a platform built up from the bottom; rarely on land near water. Most species are territorial, some breed in colonies. Clutch 2-7 elongate eggs, white or cream-colored when laid, soon stained brown. Incubation 20-28 days beginning with first or second egg, by both sexes, which have large, median brood patches. When the incubating adult is disturbed or is leaving the nest it covers the eggs with nest material. Young precocial but depend on both parents for food, warmth and protection; often ride on backs of parents when small. Older chicks are divided between the parents which may maintain contact or separate. The Hooded Grebe of southern Argentina lays 2 eggs, but takes the first young to hatch away from the nest, abandoning the second egg. Fledging after 44-79 days; age at first breeding 1-2 years.


Narrative:
Albatrosses, Petrels, Shearwaters, Fulmars and Diving-Petrels are known as the tubenoses or tube-nosed swimmers. They are pelagic, occur in all oceans and nest mainly in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. Some high-latitude species move to lower latitudes or tropical waters in the non-breeding season and others are trans-equatorial migrants to high latitudes in the opposite hemisphere; some make long movements during the non-breeding season, often far from the breeding grounds. 

Procellariids are characterized by the tubular nostrils on the upper or lateral surface of the bill associated with a highly developed olfactory region in the brain. The bill is deeply grooved with a hooked tip; rhamphotheca composed of 7-9 plates separated by deep grooves; feet palmate; wings vary from long and narrow to short and rounded; tail relatively short. Range in size from the small storm-petrels (12-25 cm in length) to the giant albatrosses (70-140 cm long). All species (except Pelecanoides) collect and store in their proventriculus an oily fluid derived from their food and used to feed small young. The nestlings of some species eject the oil in a stream as a defense against predators; adults of most species rarely do so, but adult Daption and Pagodroma do so in intraspecific agonistic encounters. Most species have a musty odor that persists in museum specimens

Verheyden and Jouventin (1994. Auk 111:285-291) conducted a series of experiments at sea off Africa to test the ability of procellariids to detect food-related odors. They used cod-liver oil to produce an oil slick and watched the behavior of 15 species. They concluded that species that detect the odor fly close to the water and upwind relative to the odor source. Other species approached at a greater height without reference to wind direction and apparently detected the oil by sight, possibly by following species that are tracking food-related odors. Many species of procellariids use olfaction to detect food.


Narrative:
Parrots occur on all continents and many islands, mainly in tropical areas; a few species occur in temperate regions. Parrots range in size from the tiny pygmy parrots (Micropsitta) at 8-9 cm to the Hyacinth Macaw at 100 cm. Parrots are defined by their distinctive stout, hooked bill with a prominent cere, zygodactyl feet and sparse, hard plumage.

Most parrots eat seeds and fruits; the lories and lorikeets feed on pollen, nectar and soft fruits. The pygmy parrots, which forage on tree trunks like woodpeckers, may include small fungi in their diet and the large Australian cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus) include insect larvae. Other species also eat insects in addition to seeds and fruits. 

All parrots nest in holes; most in cavities in trees or holes in banks or rock crevices; some (e.g., some species of pygmy parrots) in holes they excavate in termitaria. A few species excavate holes in trees (e.g., Cyclopsitta diophthalma). Monk Parrots build a huge communal nest of twigs and dead branches in which each pair has its own nest chamber. All parrots lay white eggs; clutch sizes vary from 2-5 in larger species, up to 8 in small species. Incubation begins with the first or second egg and in most species is by the female who is fed by the male; males of some species also incubate. Duration of incubation varies with the size of the bird, from 17-23 days in small species up to 5 weeks for the large macaws. Newly-hatched young are blind and naked or with sparse dorsal down which is white in most species, yellow in some cockatoos, pink in Cacatua roseicapilla and dark gray in Pezoporus. The eyes open 1-2 weeks after hatching. In most species the white down is replaced by a dense, gray down followed by the development of feathers. Hatchlings are brooded by the female who is fed by the male; after several days the male feeds the young directly. Young birds remain in the nest for 3-4 weeks in small species up to 3-4 months in the large macaws; fledglings are fed by the parents for varying periods after leaving the nest.

Longevity probably up to 30 years in the wild; an African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) in the London Zoo was known to be about 100 years old at death.


Narrative:
Owls are a distinctive group whose raptorial bills and feet and mainly nocturnal habits set them apart from other birds, but their closest relatives have been uncertain. The diurnal birds of prey and the goatsuckers (nightjars, etc.) have been suggested most frequently, but the morphological evidence has not provided a clear choice between these alternatives. DNA hybridization comparisons do not support a close relationship between owls and diurnal birds of prey. The relationship between owls and goatsuckers is ancient and uncertain; more and better evidence is needed to establish the relationships among these groups.

The species taxonomy of owls, especially in the Strigidae, is uncertain. Vocalizations are used as definitive characters to identify species by some taxonomists, even for widely allopatric populations. Molecular evidence is incomplete and complicated by uncertainty about the identification of samples. The following designations of "species" are provisional and subject to change as evidence accumulates.

Owls are carnivorous; most species feed on rodents and shrews, some take birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crabs, earthworms and/or insects. The fishing-owls (Scotopelia, Ketupa) which have bare legs and rough, spiny soles, catch fish in their talons from the surface of water. Some small species take moths and other insects in flight. Indigestible portions of the prey (bones, hair, feathers,chitin) are regurgitated as pellets.

Owls do not build a true nest; most deposit the eggs in a hole, on the ground or in the old nest of another bird. The Short-eared Owl assembles a layer of dry plants on the ground and some species excavate a hollow on the ground. The Burrowing Owl uses the holes of large rodents, e.g., prairie dogs and ground squirrels. Owls often begin to breed in the winter when the nights are longest. Eggs are chalky-white and almost round; clutch sizes vary from 1-14, in many species depending on the food supply; e.g., Snowy Owls may lay up to 14 eggs during years of rodent abundance, but fail to breed when rodent populations crash. Eggs are laid at intervals and incubation begins with the first egg, thus the hatchlings differ in size and the number raised to fledging depends on the food supply. Usually only the female incubates and the male brings food to her; both sexes feed the young. Incubation is relatively long, being 32-34 days in the Barn Owl, 26-28 in the Long-eared Owl, and 34-36 in the Eagle Owl. Young are nidicolous, blind and covered with whitish down which is replaced by a second downy plumage (mesoptiles), followed by the true feathers. Owls reach maturity at one year.


Narrative:
Trogons have no close living relatives, but they are members of the superorder Coraciimorphae which includes the rollers, motmots, todies, kingfishers and bee-eaters.

Trogons occur in tropical and subtropical forests and woodlands from the lowlands to 3500 meters; some extend into temperate regions. Trogons are among the most colorful birds; males are red, pink, orange or yellow below, with a long, graduated tail that is black and white in most species. The upperparts of males of the American and African species are metallic green; in the Asian species the dorsum is brown. Female plumages are mainly brown or gray, some with reddish or yellowish tints on the lower abdomen. Food mainly insects, usually taken on the wing by hovering before a leaf or branch to pick off the prey; some insects are taken in flight. Also other small arthropods and fruits; some species may take small frogs and lizards. Data from stomach analyses of 246 individuals of 17 species showed that quetzals. (Pharomachrus) differ from species of Trogon in being more frugivorous and the degree of frugivory varies among Trogon species; the larger trogons are the most frugivorous. The more frugivorous quetzals have flatter bills than other trogons (Remsen, et al. 1993. Condor 95:178-192). Nests in cavities in trees, decayed stumps, excavated in the occupied nests of arboreal termites or wasps or in hollows formed by epiphytes. Eggs white, cream, buff, brown, pale blue or pale green; clutch 2-4; incubation 17-19 days; nidicolous young naked at hatching.


Narrative:
In 2010 the AOU moved the Hoopoes into their own order. Previously they had been included in Piciformes with the other Woodpeckers.


Narrative:
This new order was created by the AOU in 2010 and includes the Tropicbirds


Narrative:
Boobies, Gannets, Anhingas, Cormorants,  and Frigatebirds were moved to the new order Suliformes by the AOU in 2010.


Narrative:
The order Accipitriformes was created by the AOU in 2010. The diurnal birds of prey include raptors and carrion eaters. Raptorial species have talons and hooked bills; carrion eaters tend to have bare heads, long necks and to lack sharp talons, but most of them also have hooked bills. Some species, e.g., the Osprey, have modified bills and/or feet adapted for particular kinds of prey

The diurnal birds of prey occur on all continents except Antarctica, on many islands and north to the Arctic. They range in size from the tiny falconets (45-75 gms) and small accipiters (100-200 gms), to large, powerful eagles such as Harpia, Pithecophaga and Haliaeetus. Some eagles weigh more than 6 kg, are 1 m in length with a wingspan of 2 m; the largest Old World vulture is the Himalayan Griffon which has a wingspan of 2.8 m and weighs up to 12 kg. In most species the female is larger than the male and often duller and browner in color; in many species the sexes are alike in color; in the Old World vultures the male is larger than the female or sexes are the same size.


# Owners

Name:
Amila Salgado/Birdwing Nature Holidays, Sri Lanka


# PeteySpeech

Speech:
Because if he lifted his leg, he would fall down.


Speech:
Which side of a parrot has the prettiest feathers?


Speech:
Because if they lived near the bay, they would be called bagels.


Speech:
What is a parrot called after it is seven days old?


Speech:
Did you know there are four different types of quizzes?


Speech:
My favorites are Pick One and Flash Card.


Speech:
Did you know that you would need four eyes to use a pair of binoculars.


Speech:
Did you ever notice that when ducks migrate in their "V" formation, one side of the line is longer than the other?


Speech:
A duck walks into a drug store and buys a chapstick.


Speech:
The clerk says, "Will that be cash or charge?"


Speech:
The duck says, "Just put it on my bill."


Speech:
These are the jokes that Pete Thayer thinks are funny!


Speech:
Two vultures were in the desert eating a dead clown.


Speech:
One looks at the other and says, "Does this taste funny to you?"


Speech:
A Frenchman walks into a bar with a parrot on his shoulder.


Speech:
The bartender asks, "Where did you get that?"


Speech:
The parrot replies, "In France, there are a millions of them over there."


Speech:
If you have ever faked your own death to attract vultures


Speech:
Two turkey vultures were preparing to migrate north for the summer but, after talking about it, they decided they were too old to fly all that way, so they decided to take a plane. When they were about to board the aircraft, the flight attendant, noticing that both buzzards were carrying a dead armadillo, asked, "Would you like to check those armadillos through as luggage?"


Speech:
"No thanks," the buzzards replied, "they're \map="carry on"="carrion"\."


Speech:
A man is riding down the road with a pickup truck full of penguins. A cop sees him, pulls him over, and says, "I want you to take those penguins to the zoo right now!"  The guy says, "Okay."  Next day the cop sees this same guy going down the road with the same penguins in the back but this time the penguins are wearing sunglasses. He pulls the guy over again and says, "I thought I told you to take those penguins to the zoo."  The guy says, "Yes, I did, and we had a great time.  Today we are going to the beach!"


Speech:
A man went swimming on Galveston Island and left his watch with his shoes. A bird ate his watch and flew away.  He chased it into a large flock of birds. Grabbing a rock, he started towards the flock. When a cop stopped him, he stated "One of those birds ate my watch, I'm leaving no tern unstoned until I find it".


Speech:
Did you hear about the newly discovered red-phase owl?


Speech:
It was found in San Francisco sittin’ on the dock of the bay.


Speech:
Scientists are not sure what the common name will be, but the scientific name is Otus Redding.


Speech:
There are sounds for over 700 bird species. Click Play Sound to hear the bird.


Speech:
Click the Maps tab to see the North American range map.


Speech:
Click the Video to see a short film clip. About 90 common birds have video clips.


Speech:
For a detailed description of the bird, click Description.


Speech:
Below you can see the information available on the Guide to Birds of North America CD.


Speech:
There may be additional images. Click the small arrow to see a list of all images.


Speech:
Click the Close button when you are finished.


Speech:
You should help newer birders.  You \emp\were one once.


Speech:
You should not feed me crackers through the CD-ROM drive.  I hate crackers and it messes up your computer.


Speech:
Seeing 700 species in the US and Canada is a really big deal.


Speech:
To see a lot of birds, you have to go to them, they will not all come to you.


Speech:
White appears more frequently than any other word in a list of the common names of birds of the world.


Speech:
You should buy the best binocular you can afford. You won't regret it.


Speech:
Do you know the scientific names of the first five birds you saw today?  Why not?


Speech:
Over 28,000 stamps from around the world have a bird's image on them.


Speech:
\map="wild birds dot com"="wildbirds.com"\ is a great web site for newer birders and backyard birders.


Speech:
I snore or start eating crackers when I am bored.


Speech:
You can make me go away by right-clicking on me and selecting Hide.


Speech:
You should offer to carry someone's scope for them if they have let you use it -- but be careful!


Speech:
The Top 25 birding web sites are listed at \map="www dot wild birds dot com"="www.Wildbirds.com"\


Speech:
The top 250 birding Hot Spots in the US and Canada are listed at \map="www dot wild birds dot com "="www.Wildbirds.com"\


Speech:
The Arctic Tern and the Sooty Shearwater travel the farthest of any birds each year.


Speech:
What have you done this year to help preserve the habitat of your favorite birds?


Speech:
White, black, bird, tail, bill and red are the words used most often in common bird names.


Speech:
You can easily update the Birds of Your State or Province to the full version over the Internet. Visit \map="www dot thayer birding dot com"="www.ThayerBirding.com"\.


Speech:
About three new bird species are described each year by ornithologists.


Speech:
Visit\map="www dot thayer birding dot com"="www.ThayerBirding.com"\ for all sorts of help with this program. Click on Get Help.


Speech:
South America is the continent with the most bird species.


Speech:
A Pelagic birding trip is one that involves going out to sea. There are a lot of birds out there that you will not see from land.


Speech:
Your bird club or Audubon chapter can buy Thayer Birding Software \map="see dees"="CDs"\ by the dozen at a discount. Call 800-865-2473.


Speech:
My favorite singer is Jimmy \map="buff et"="Buffet"\. We Parrot Heads have to stick together.


Speech:
Be sure to keep your bird feeders clean to avoid spreading disease!


Speech:
Songbirds love sunflower seeds!  Especially when they are offered in a tube feeder.


Speech:
Birds need water, especially in the winter.  Heat your bird baths.


Speech:
Have you added personal comments in the "My Comments" section of your favorite bird?


# Quiz

Name:
Great Plains: Platte River (Early Spring)


Description:
President of Victor Emanuel Nature Tours


Name:
NM BD - Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico


Name:
DC DC - Washington, District of Columbia


Name:
MT YE - Yellowstone N.P., Montana/Wyoming


Name:
ND US - Upper Souris N.W.R., North Dakota


Name:
SC HH - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina


Name:
NT YE - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories


Name:
IN ID - Indiana Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore, Indiana


Name:
MS VI - Vicksburg, Mississippi/Louisiana


Name:
NB GM - Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick


Name:
MO OF - Orchard Farm (St. Louis), Missouri


Name:
AZ SV - Salt-Verde Rivers (Phoenix), Arizona


Name:
Favorite Birds - Most Popular Favorite Birds


Name:
KY LB - Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky


Name:
MA NB - Northern Berkshire, Massachusetts


Name:
MD AG - Annapolis-Gibson Island, Maryland


Name:
TN GS - Great Smoky Mountains N.P., Tennessee


Name:
NC HC - Henderson County, North Carolina


Name:
NH CS - Coastal New Hampshire, New Hampshire


Name:
NT HR - Hay River, Northwest Territories


Name:
NT FS - Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories


Name:
OK TP - Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Oklahoma


Name:
PE HI - Hillsborough, Prince Edward Island


Name:
RI NC - Newport County-Westport, Rhode Island


Name:
SK PA - Prince Albert N.P., Saskatchewan


Name:
YT HJ - Haines Junction, Yukon Terrritory


Name:
DE CH - Cape Henlopen-Prime Hook, Delaware


Name:
OK WM - Wichita Moutains Wildlife Reefuge, Oklahoma


# Recorders

Name:
J. Sauer, B. Peterjohn, S. Schwartz, and J. Hines


Name:
Amila Salgado/Birdwing Nature Holidays, Sri Lanka


Name:
The Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum


# TaxonomyList

Comments:
Includes all birds in the Thayer's Guide to Birds of North America version 4.5


# ThingCharacteristics

m1:
Breeds on artic tundra lakes.  Migrates along both coasts and is found in many types of marine habitats. Often found along coastal shorelines with shallow  water and in enclosed bays. Usually 1-2 seen at a time, often flying high overhead with rapid wingbeats, 1-2 miles offshore. Occasionally concentrates in larger groups of up to 175 at favorite feeding spots (e.g. off Cape May, NJ).


m1:
Breeds at edge of arctic tundra and tiaga lakes in Cape of Wales region of Alaska. Most birds winter in Eurasia. A few migrate along Pacific coast. Prefers deeper waters and exposed ocean coastlines. Winters on salt water along Pacific coast. Forages in turbulent channels. Difficult to distinguish from abundant Pacific Loon in winter.


m1:
Breeds at edge of arctic tundra and tiaga lakes of Alaska and Canada. Migrates along Pacific coast, in much larger flocks than other loons. Over 70,000 reported flying by in one day off Pigeon Point, California. Prefers deeper waters and exposed ocean coastlines. Winters on salt water along Pacific coast. Forages in turbulent channels. Usually silent in winter.


m1:
Breeds at edge of northern lakes, preferring lakes with many small wooded islands, undisturbed by humans. This widespread loon prefers large lakes, protected bays, estuaries. Water must be deep enough for Common Loon to dive and elude its enemies. Migrates singly or in small groups, usually by day. Migration route is overland as well as along both coasts. Winters mainly on coastal waters and Gulf of Mexico, but occasionally on Great Lakes. Sleeps on the water. Must run across water to become airborne. Quick freezing ponds may trap bird in winter.


m1:
Breeds on freshwater artic tundra lakes, slow-moving rivers and shallow ponds above the treeline.  Replaces the Common Loon in the high Arctic. Migrates along coast and around Alaska peninsula. Overland migration to eastern side of Great Slave Lake. Winters along Pacific coast from Alaska to British Columbia. Recent increase in records of wintering birds well inland on large lakes and manmade reservoirs. Largest of the loons, usually seen foraging alone in shallow, protected waters. Call louder and harsher than Common Loon.


m1:
Common bird found on ponds, marshes and sluggish streams. Rare on salt water. Nests on marshy ponds with nest attached to reeds in shallow water. Often seen diving by taking a short leap forward. Solitary most of the year although flocks of 20,000 have been seen at the Salton Sea in California in November. On northern breeding grounds it is often the first grebe to arrive in the spring and the last to leave in the fall.


m1:
Temporary or permanent bodies of fresh and brackish water. Many suitable habitats including small tree-lined ponds and ditches (especially in south Texas), lakes, and slow-moving parts of rivers and mangroves. Just as likely to be found on water with almost no vegetation as in openings in marshes. Non-migratory. This small, inconspicuous bird may be hard to find. Often spends time in thick vegetation near shores of ponds, sloughs and ditches. Seldom flies.


m1:
Breeds in watery marshes and shallow marshy lakes and ponds. This large grebe is shy around the nest. It often spends much of the day sleeping. Dives below surface to feed on or near the bottom. Migrates individually or in small groups. Spends winter along both Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Prefers ocean, just beyond breakers. Usually alone. Silent in winter.


m1:
Breeds on sheltered freshwater lakes, small ponds or sloughs. Prefers water 5-25 feet deep. When diving for food, it often stays submerged for 1-3 minutes and may cover 400 feet in one dive. Dives with a quick, graceful movement. Less gregarious than most other grebes. Migrates alone or in very small flocks. Winters spent along Pacific and Atlantic coast in salt water and nearby lakes, rarely inland.


m1:
Breeds in large colonies on marshy, freshwater lakes. Very vocal with elaborate courtship displays. Often found together in large flocks in all seasons. Migrates at night . Large concentrations found in migration at Mono Lake in California. Some birds may remain at large inland lakes. Winters along Pacific coast or Gulf of Mexico where it prefers coastal lakes, open bays and the ocean.


m1:
Breeds on large, freshwater lakes and marshes with extensive areas of open water bordered by emergent vegetation. Their spectacular courtship display is known as "rushing". The male and female move rapidly across the water, side by side, kicking their feet so rapidly that their bodies are almost completely out of the water. Migrates at night in flocks. Rarely seen in flight. This largest of the grebes winters on salt water or brackish bays, estuaries or sheltered sea coasts. May also be found on large inland bodies of water.


m1:
Breeds on large, freshwater lakes and marshes with extensive areas of open water bordered by emergent vegetation. Their spectacular courtship display is known as "rushing". The male and female move rapidly across the water, side by side, kicking their feet so rapidly that their bodies are almost completely out of the water. Tends to forage farther from shore, and in deeper water than Western Grebe.  Uses springing dives more frequently than Western Grebe. Winters on salt water or brackish bays, estuaries or sheltered sea coasts. May also be found on large inland bodies of water.


m1:
Pelagic. Seen regularly in Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian islands in the Bering Sea in summer. In California, found in deeper water well offshore, primarily  from late October to February.  Glides on stiff outstreached wings. Relatively small albatross found in open Pacific Ocean in Northern Hemisphere. Most abundant albatross within this range. Nests on sandy, grassy areas on low atolls next to shrubs.


m1:
Pelagic. Only albatross seen regularly off the Pacific coast. Most numerous June-August off California coast. Pelagic, seldom seen from shore. Often follows ships for several hours. Glides on stiff outstreached wings, seldom flapping at all in heavy winds. Found in open Pacific Ocean in northern hemisphere. Prefers sandy habitat for nesting. Breeds on leeward Hawaiian Islands and atolls.


m1:
Pelagic. Formerly common, now extremely rare off the west coast. Almost wiped out by Japanese plume hunters between 1887 and 1903. Breeds only on the Japanese island of Torishima. Largest and rarest albatross in the north Pacific. Glides on stiff outstreached wings, seldom flapping at all in heavy winds. Found in open Pacific Ocean in northern hemisphere.


m1:
Pelagic. Usually seen on high seas beyong the range of most gulls. Usually flies very fast in long arcs up and down over waves. Rather flat, stiff-winged appearance. They gather in large flocks near fishing boats. Seldom dive for food. Common and increasing on both coasts. Nests on rocky cliffs.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests in burrows 1500 feet above sea level, primarily in Hispaniola. Graceful, alternating with rapid wingbeats and long glides on tilted wings. May be found inland after hurricanes.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests on Bermuda Islands. There are four North American records, all off the Carolina coast from late spring and summer. Also known as Cahow. This bird is critically endangered.


m1:
Pelagic. Found in northeast Pacific almost exclusively over mid-ocean waters. Flight pattern is rapid, bounding. Much steeper ascsent and descent than a shearwater. Does not follow ships. Silent at sea.


m1:
Pelagic. Occurs in central south Pacific Ocean. One found dead along California coast, three on Oregon beaches. Apparently regular, usually far offshore, along the Pacific coast in April and May. Does not follow ships.


m1:
Pelagic. Seen primarily in the Pacific Ocean, this bird is wide-ranging and also occurs in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Accidental off coast of Virginia.


m1:
Pelagic. Found in north Atlantic Ocean. About three North American records: from pelagic trip off Oregon Inlet, North Carolina on May 30, 1994. Also sighted in 1991 off North Carolina coast and off Georgia coast in 1984. This species was recently split from Soft-plumaged Petrel (P. mollis) and is almost impossible to differentiate in the field.The A.O.U. 7th edition checklists says" Reports of birds of the complex off North Carolina in 1981 Le  1984) wew attributed to mollis (A.O.U. 1985). More recent reports off North Carolina, including a bird photographed in 1991 (1992, Amer. Birds, 46: 130:1992, Chat 56: 52) and a bird seen off Georgia in 1984 (Haney et al. 1993) are considered likely to be feae. Beacuse feae and madeira mat not be distinguishable in the field or in photographs, available information is insufficient for inclusion of the species in the main list (see also DeBenedictis 1996). Bretagnolle (1995) suggests on the basis of vocal similarities that P. madeira may be conspecific with P. feae."


m1:
Pelagic. Rare but regular off west coast. Breeds on islands off New Zealand, ranges over most of north and central Pacific Ocean. Flight is rapid and erratic with fluttering wingbeats.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds in eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Seen off east coast in the summer and fall. Abundant in late summer and fall off Long Island, NY. Ocassionally seen in the Gulf of Mexico. This long-winged shearwater's flight is bouyant, albatrosslike, with slow wingbeats.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests on islands off the coast of Chile. Common from late spring through the fall off the Pacific coast of North America, from Baja California to Oregon. Rarely to southeast Alaska. Frequently seen traveling with large flocks of Sooty Shearwater.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds on islands off Australia and New Zealand.  Occurs primarily in Indian and western Pacific Ocean. Rare visitor off Pacific coas of North America. Usually seen offshore in July and August.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds in the south Atlantic Ocean. Migrates northward along the Atlantic coast of North America in spring and summer. More common in the spring. Typical flutter and glide flight pattern of a shearwater. Flies low, hugging the waves.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests in large colonies around North Island, New Zealand. Seen along west coast during its southward migration during late summer and fall. Most common from Gray's Harbor, Washington to Monterey, California.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests on islands off southern South America and New Zealand. Seen along Atlantic coast of North America as early as May and June but usually from July through September. Abundant along Pacific coast of North America where huge flocks migrate north and south. Often seen from shore.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests on coastal islands of Australia. Seen along Pacific coast from British Columbia to California from October to January with peak southward migration in November and December. Migration is a huge figure-eight, clockwise pattern, across the Pacific from Australia to North America.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests on small islands off Europe and Baja California. Common offshore along northern Atlantic coast from June to October.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests on islands off Baja peninsula. Common off Pacific coast from August to May. Rarely found more than 10 miles from the coast or islands. Often seen from shore.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds on Caribbean islands. Casual to common along Atlantic and Gulf coasts from May to December. Wing beat is much faster than those of other shearwaters.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds in the Southern Hemisphere. Commonly seen off the Atlantic coast of North America from May to September. Usually seen in the Atlantic's Gulf Stream. Skims across the waves with graceful, shallow, swallowlike flight. Thought by some ornithologists to be the most abundant bird in the world. Rare along Pacific coast from August to October.


m1:
Pelagic. Very rare off the Atlantic coast between August and October. Seen far out at sea between North Carolina and Massachusetts. Very erratic flight can be recognized at long distances. Stiff, shallow wingbeats. May swing from side to side like a pendulum. Does not follow ships closely.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds on islands near Baja California. Common off the coast of southern California between August and November. Flies low over the water with deep wingbeats.


m1:
Pelagic. Ranges in tropical oceans of the Atlantic and Pacific. Rare along Atlantic coast. Seen most often off the Carolinas in the Gulf Stream. Also seen in the Gulf of Mexico. There are a few records for southern California. Deep wing strokes and stiff-winged glides, like shearwater. Does not follow ships.


m1:
Pelagic. Widespread, especially in northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Nests on Aleutian Islands south the central Baja California islands and on Atlantic islands from Laborador south to Massachusetts. Distinctive flight very much like a bat or butterfly. More common along Pacific coast. Does not follow ships.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds on islands off California coast with largest colony at Fallaron Island. Fairly common May to November. Fluttery wingbeats. Smallest of the all-black, fork-tailed Storm-Petrels.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests on Aleutian Islands of Alaska during June and July. Ranges throughout northern Pacific Ocean. Rare along California coast but more common in British Columbia and Alaska. Stiff-winged glides, shallow wingbeats, deeply forked tail. Frequently settles on water, often in groups. Follows ships.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds from May to December on Santa Barbara Island and islands near Baja California. Abundant most years north to Point Reyes, California from August to November. Slow, deep wingbeats. Graceful flight.


m1:
Pelagic. Tropical oceans. Nests in the Pacific from Gulf of California south to the Galapagos Islands and in Caribbean from Panama to Lesser Antilles. Found almost annually off southern California coast. Very rare off Atlantic coast between April and early November. Flies with rapid, pigeonlike, steady wingbeats.


m1:
Pelagic. Tropical oceans. Seen almost annually in Dry Tortugas during April or May. Uncommon along Gulf and Atlantic coast north to North Carolina between April and September. Most Atlantic sightings are well offshore in the Gulf Stream. Dives from 50-100 feet for small fish. Has been  recorded in California.


m1:
Pelagic. Ranges over North Atlantic Ocean. Flight steady and purposeful, a series of flaps between glides. Breeds in large colonies on rocky cliffs. Seen migrating off Atllantic coast from September to December and returning north from March to May. Can often be seen from shore. Prefers coastal waters to open ocean. Stays at sea for first 3 years of its life. Rapid wingbeats alternate with short glides 30-50 feet above ocean surface.


m1:
Pelagic. Tropical Oceans. Prefers deep water for fishing where it executes near vertical plunge-dives from 30-40 feet. Fairly common in the Gulf of Mexico in June to August. May stray as far north as the Carolinas. Usually seen alone or in pairs. Follows ships. Often chased by frigatebirds which will grab booby's tail, causing it to disgorge fish which frigatebird then catches in the air!


m1:
Pelagic. Found in warm tropical waters of Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Occasionally seen in the Gulf of Mexico, away from shore. Accidental along Atlantic coast, north to New Jersey. Rare along southern California coast and the Salton Sea, California. Often follows ships. May roost on bouys and oil rigs.


m1:
Common in southern freshwater swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes and along rivers. In Florida, may be found on salt water as well. Frequently swims with only head and neck above water, giving the appearance of a snake rising out of the water. Often seen perching with wings half spread to dry. Can soar to great heights. In flight, with neck extended and tail spread, looks like a flying cross. Slow, regular wingbeats alternate with soaring on flat wings.


m1:
Widespread. Along coastline, inshore waters, beaches, inland rivers and lakes. Highly adaptive, using a variety of habitats including both fresh and salt water. Flies at a higher altitude than other cormorants. Dives from surface in pursuit of prey. Found almost anywhere fish are plentiful. Nests on rocky islands, cliffs facing water, stands of trees near water.


m1:
Lakes, marshy ponds and shallow inlets of coastal waters throughout tropical Western Hemisphere. Often perches on stumps or snags with wings and tail spread. Does repeated squatting or bouncing movement while in this position. Able to perch on relatively small branches or even wires. Frequently seen with Angingas and Double-crested Cormorants.


m1:
Along the Atlantic coast in winter south to Chesapeake Bay, rare further south. Breeds on remote cliffs and rocky islandsof maritime Canada, in small colonies. Found in temperate regions throughout the world. Swims low, with tail submerged. and bill tilted slightly upward. A coastal bird, rarely wandering inland.


m1:
Common along sea cliffs and rocky pinnacles of the Pacific coast. Strictly marine, almost never seen inland. Gregarious, often in large flocks diving beyond the intertidal zone for small saltwater fishes. Dives with a forward leap to take small fish from just beneath the water's surface. Flies low in long lines between feeding and roosting grounds. Nests in colonies on flat or gently sloping surfaces of islands.


m1:
Surf-battered, rocky shorelines of the North Pacific Ocean. Feeds alone in tidal rips and surf close to rocks. Capable of deep dives, but prefers fishing in shallow water. Less gregarious than the other cormorants. Flies with head and neck held straight out. Head is as thick as neck, so silhouette is rather distinctive.


m1:
Nests in colonies on broad, flat ledges of steep coastal cliffs of the Bearing Sea and Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Freely associates with murres, auklets and gulls. Exclusively marine. preferring wild, rocky coastlines.


m1:
Lakes, ponds, and coastal waters in winter. Breeds on isolated islands in lakes of inland North America. Usually found in flocks. Individuals reported from almost every state. White Pelicans, unlike Brown Pelicans, do not dive for food. They dip their bills into water while swimming. Will gather in groups for cooperative fishing.


m1:
Relatively common along coastal areas. Dives for fish (mostly menhaden) from the air. Small groups often seen gliding low over water in formation. Often sits on pilings close to shore. Can fly up to 25 miles per hour. DDT seriously depleted California and Louisiana flocks. Now recovering. May wander north of normal range, primarily in summer months.


m1:
Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the Americas. Caribbean islands. Soars for long periods and rises to great heights. Common above Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas. Generally stay close to shore. Will steal food from gulls, terns and boobies in mid-air by harassing them until fish is dropped, then catching fish in the air. Also snatches fish from the surface of the ocean. Nests in large colonies atop mangroves, trees and shrubs or on rocks.


m1:
Common in river and lake edges, wet meadows, freshwater marshes, swamps, fields and other wetland environments. Also tidal mudflats, sandbars and mangroves. Hunts by remaining motionless in shallow water and waiting for prey to come within striking distance. Flies with distinctive slow, labored wingbeats, trailing legs behind and head folded back on shoulders. Wary. May perch in trees. Most active just before dawn and at dusk.


m1:
Variety of habitats including pastures, road shoulders, lawns, median strips, fallow fields, open grassy areas, meadows, orchards, and freshwater swamps. Rarely in marine habitat. Least aquatic of the North American herons. First nested in North America in 1953. Has spread dramatically since then. Common near grazing cattle. Eats insects kicked up by animals.


m1:
Common worldwide in freshwater and saltwater marshes, ponds, lagoons, streams, lakes, mangrove swamps, mud flats. Prefers open habitats for feeding. Stalks prey slowly, methodically in shallow water. Flight is bouyant. Spends the night roosting in trees or shrubs in large communal flocks.  Movements in treetops are light and graceful. The Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society.


m1:
Uncommon in saltwater flats and lagoons, shallow coastal waters, open salt pans and along shore. Rarely found far from coast. Those that are, are almost always juveniles. Breeds on islands or in mangroves. When feeding appears to be dashing and lurching around as if drunk! Will extend wings when feeding to form a canpoy so that it can more easily see fish below surface. Flight is graceful and strong.


m1:
Prefers coastal areas, rare inland. Found along shallow saltwater shores, marshes, mudflats, mangrove swamps and tidal creeks. Will also frequent freshwater swamps and river edges and lake shores near the coast. Active feeder, running around to capture prey. In shallow water, may be seen with legs bent almost double, watching for small fish. Often stands or wades belly deep in water.


m1:
Common in inland freshwater lagoons, lakes, marshes, meadows, flooded grasslands. Also found in coastal saltwater wetlands such as mangroves and mud flats. Stalks prey quietly in shallow water. Flight is graceful and strong with relatively quick wingstrokes. Occasionally seen in company of Tricolored Herons.


m1:
Common in a wide variety of wetlands with fresh, brackish and salt water. Occurs along coast as well as inland. Marshes, ponds, mangrove swamps, occasionally in dry grasslands where it may associate with cattle. Extremely active. Moves briskly in the water, shuffling its feet to frighten prey out of hiding. Stabs repeatedly to catch it. Breeding colonies contain thousands of pairs of birds. Nuptial plumes of Snowy Egret were most sought after of all egrets' in early 20th century.


m1:
Common near streams, ponds, marshes, coastal wetlands, lake shores, wet woodlands, mangroves. Inhabits both fresh water and salt water marshes. Often seen perching in trees. Solitary. Flight is rapid. When alarmed, flicks tail downward, streches neck and raises crest. Roosts on or close to ground. Tends to feed during early morning and late afternoon.


m1:
Uncommon and local in tidal mudflats, mangrove swamps, cypress swamps, marshes, riverbanks, lakes, lagoons lush swamps and rocky shores. Found along coast but also inland near water's edge. Roosts in tall trees. Hunts at night, but also frequently seen during the day.


m1:
Common but local in marshes, wooded swamps, forests along shallow rivers and streams, and mangroves. Found in fresh, brackish and salt water habitats. Active at night. Hunts by standing motionless for long periods of time then quickly thrusting bill into water to catch small fish. Hunched posture. Flies with deep strokes and arched wings, head and back in a straight line


t1:
ku-ku-ku... (lower and throatier than B-B Cuckoo)

m1:
Freshwater marshes, wetlands. Occasionally in brackish or saltwater areas near the coast in the south. Often seen making short flights low over the marsh. Prefers to walk through reeds and cattails rather than fly. Movements are quick and graceful. Head shoots forward with each step. Very secretive. When flushed, it flutters for a short distance and drops back down into reeds.


m1:
Fairly common in cattails and bulrushes of freshwater or brackish marshes, wetlands, bogs, grassy fields. Often heard at dusk in marsh reeds. When alarmed, will freeze with head and neck pointing straight upward, blending into reeds. Flushes with rapid wingbeats, feet dangling. Flys low over marsh. Secretive and solitary. When feeding, stands motionless, bill level, then darts bill downward to catch frog or other prey.


m1:
Saline lagoons and salt pans. Breeds in the Caribbean region, northern South America and many other areas of the world. Rare in southern Florida in winter. Many sightings are escaped birds from parks and zoos.


m1:
Wet meadows, coastal swamps and marshes, mangroves, ponds, freshwater marshes, and shallow water in canals and ditches. Soar high above wetland regions, often flapping and soaring in unison. Roost in tall trees or on banks along waterways. Often common at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in southwestern Florida.


m1:
Locally common in all types of wetlands such as coastal salt marshes, estuaries, tidal mudflats, swamps, and mangroves as well as grassy or plowed fields. Often found near the coast. Inland, often near large bodies of water or flooded lands. Flies in long, straggling lines or in loose flocks. Probes mud with bill when feeding.


m1:
Locally common in freshwater and saltwater marshes and estuaries. Often feeds by probing bill in crayfish holes. Expanding range northward. May wander far from normal range. Flies with rapid, ducklike wingbeats, holding neck and legs extended and slightly drooped.


m1:
Fairly common in freshwater marshes, ponds, flooded pastures, wetlands, grassy fields. May also frequent brackish areas. Occasionally seen in dry fields.


m1:
Locally common in marshes, tidal ponds, sloughs and mangrove swamps along the Gulf Coast. May feed in shallow  brackish or salt water and occasionally fresh water by swinging their unusual bills in long arcs from side to side. Feeds alone or in small groups. Frequently seen in company of other wading birds.


m1:
Broad, open freshwater marshes, rice fields, flooded agricultural land, cultivated fields. More active at night than day.  Favors waters with rich shoreline vegetation and floating water lilies. Often difficult to see as it congregates in dense bulrushes or far out in marshes. Highly social. Wanders widely. Seldom perches in trees, even though it was previously known as Fulvous Tree Duck.


m1:
Woodland streams, tree-lined ponds, marshes, swamps and along banks of rivers. Perches in trees. Flies to woods when disturbed. Roosts in low tree branches above water. Seldom seen on deep water. In flight, flock utters a constant whistle. Walk in a more erect stance than Fulvous Whistling-Duck. Often forages in grassy pastures or in corn or rice fields. Highly gregarious.


m1:
Eurasian species introduced into North America in the mid 19th century. Often seen in parks, ponds, rivers, reservoirs, coastal bays. May move to open saltwater in winter.  Holds neck in graceful curve when swimming, often with wings arched over back. In many areas the Mute Swans are semi-domesticated. Wild populations on the east coast seem to be growing.


m1:
Breeds north of Arctic Circle in Eurasia on tundra lakes and marshes. When swimming, holds neck stifly erect, not bent. Recorded in western and central Aleutian Islands of Alaska. A few records from California. Found on shallow freshwater ponds and lakes, sheltered brackish water and salt water.


m1:
Locally common in quite lakes and marshes, especially at Yellowstone National Park and Red Rock Lakes NWR. In winter, along Pacific coast.  Prefers shallow waters that allow for foraging on aquatic plants. Much larger than Tundra Swan. Has been reintroduced at a number of former breeding areas.


m1:
Arctic tundra in summer. In winter, coastal wetlands, shallow ponds, and estuaries as well as lakes and large reservoirs in the interior of North America. Most common swan. Associates in winter with Canada Geese. Flies in V-shaped wedge at altitudes of 6,000 - 8,000 feet. Migrates along both coasts.


m1:
Found in the tropics of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Freshwater lakes, ponds, swamps and marshes with abundant vegetation and surrounded with dense tree cover. Most active at dusk and dawn. Rare and irregular in southern and coastal Texas and south Florida. Occasionally seen at Brazos Bend State Park near Houston.


m1:
Common and widespread. Prefered habitat includes freshwater swamps, marshes, ponds and lakes with emergent vegetation and areas of open water. In winter, often found in flocks on large lakes, brackish lagoons and estuaries. Fly infrequently, pattering over the surface of the water for some distance before becoming airborne. Do not mix freely with other ducks.


m1:
Breeds in open inland tundra near marshes, lakes and rivers but occasionally along coast. Winters in open country, agricultural lands, grassy fields or in marshy habitats. In migration, flocks fly quite high in V-shaped formation. On the ground, White-fronted Geese tend to keep together as a flock or family group even when feeding with other geese. In winter, the Greenland form of this bird might be seen along the east coast.


m1:
Breeds on low, grassy tundra near water or on stony ground. Winters on low agricultural land, grainfields and grasslands, often near the coast. Large flocks migrate in undulating, wavy lines rather than a well defined V-shape. Blue phase of the Snow Goose is usually seen on the Gulf and east coast.


m1:
Breeds on rocky or scrubby islands in large lakes of the Arctic. Winters on low agricultural land and grasslands. Almost always seen with Snow Geese. Common in California in winter. Ross' Goose has faster wingbeat than larger Snow Goose and lacks a "grinning patch". A rare blue phase Ross' Goose exists.


m1:
Breeds on open tundra near ponds, marshes and coastal lagoons or just above the high-tide line along the coast. This sea goose winters along rocky coastline, reefs, seashores and on sheltered sites with soft shores. Avoids human population centers, even during migration. Short, rapid wingbeat in flight.


m1:
One of the most common birds in North America. Found in a wide varitety of habitats near water including tundra, open country, wooded, suburban and  semi-desert habitats. Flocks fly in V-shaped formation, often "honking" as they pass by. Often seen feeding in wetlands, grasslands, golf courses or cultivated fields. Becoming more abundant. There are a dozen or more subspecies recognized with a significant difference in size.


m1:
Breeds very far north in lowland arctic tundra near the coast. Winters along estuaties and sandy shores. Locally common along both coasts in winter. Often seen resting on sandy points and sandbars. Flies low over water in ragged lines of 20-50 abreast. This sea goose is rarely seen inland.


m1:
Heavily wooded tropical wetlands, usually in lowlands but occasionally on coastal lagoons or marshes. Breeds near slow-moving rivers. Found from southern Mexico to central and eastern South America. Has been seen on the lower Rio Grande river of Texas, especially near Falcon Dam. Feral birds are encountered widely.


m1:
Freshwater swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes and slow-moving rivers surrounded by deciduous forest. Will nest in man-made nest boxes. Found in pairs or small flocks in the summer. During the fall and winter, may form larger flocks when roosting or feeding. Wood Ducks ride higher on the water than other ducks. Often seen perching on stumps, snags or branches near water.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia on shallow freshwater marshes, lakes and lagoons surrounded by scattered trees or open forest. Winters in coastal marshes, freshwater and brackish lagoons, estuaries and bays. Regular visitor to North America along both coasts. Most often seen as a lone bird among a flock of American Wigeon, rarely with Mallards or Northern Pintails.


m1:
Common in freshwater marshes, ponds, shallow lakes surrounded by meadows or other places to graze. In winter, found in coastal wetlands. Easy to pick out of a foraging mixed flock because of conspicuous white forehead and cap. Early fall migrant. Flies rapidly in compact flocks.


m1:
Shallow marshes with lots of cover, wetlands, ponds, sloughs, lakes with abundant vegetation. Prefers to nest on grass-covered islands. In winter, found on coast and in brackish water along Gulf Coast. Found in small to medium sized flocks of up to a dozen. Dives more often than other dabbling ducks. Swift and agile in flight. Range is expanding eastward.


m1:
Small freshwater lakes, shallow marshes with abundant vegetation. In winter may be seen in brackish wetlands or on coast. Feeds on mud flats, lake borders, marshes. Often walks long distances over land in search of food. Flight is fast and agile. During migration, the sexes sometimes separate into separate flocks. Smallest dabbling duck. Common throughout Northern Hemisphere where it is known as Common Teal.


m1:
Abundant throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Found near shallow fresh or brackish water in a variety of habitats including marshes, swamps, wetlands, ponds, lakes. After breeding season, also found near coast on estuaries, bays and other sheltered sites. Avoids fast-moving water. Very tolerant of humans. Hardy, often wintering far north as long as it can find food and open water.


m1:
Common in Florida, Louisiana and Texas in coastal freshwater marshes, ponds, pastures, fields as well as coastal waters and salt marshes. Some consider Mottled Duck to be a subspecies of the Mallard. Often seen in pairs or small groups, not large flocks.


t1:
quack quack quack... (lower than a Mallard)

m1:
Woodland lakes, streams, freshwater or tidal marshes and estuaries. After breeding season, also found on large, open lagoons and on coast, even in rough sea waters. Common along Atlantic coast salt marshes north of the Carolinas. Often interbreeds with Mallard, which seems to be replacing American Black Duck, especially in deforested areas. One of the most wary, quickest ducks.


m1:
Shallow freshwater marshes, small lakes and rivers, preferably with dense vegetation cover. In winter, found on coastal lagoons and estuaries of brackish water or feeding in grainfields. Feeds in deeper water than other dabbling ducks. More common in the west with huge fall concentrations at Sacramento NWR in California. In flight, appears very streamlined.


m1:
Shallow freshwater marshes, ponds, potholes, sloughs, small lakes, swampy grasslands and flooded meadows in open country. In winter, brackish or salt water wetlands and also on the coast, in tropical mangrove habitat. Fairly common in the east. Twists and turns as it flies in small, compact flocks.


m1:
Shallow marshes, ponds and lakes with abundant emergent vegetation and fringe vegetation. Both freshwater and brackish wetlands. Abundant in wetlands near Great Salt Lake, Utah. Seems to replace Blue-winged Teal west of the Rocky Mountains. Seldom seen in large flocks. This and Ruddy Duck are only two species of waterfowl to breed in both North and South America.


t1:
chik-chik, chik-chik,... (Fe quacks like mallard)

m1:
Shallow, freshwater marshes , wetlands, ponds, prairie sloughs, lakes with vegetation and slow-flowing muddy creeks. In winter, also found on brackish lagoons, bays and tidal mudflats. More common west of the Mississippi River. When swimming, rides low in front with bill held down. One of earliest fall migrants.


m1:
Shallow, freshwater marshes and swamps in prairie country with abundant vegetation as well as areas of open water, large inland lakes. In winter, on larger lakes and coastal freshwater bays and lagoons. Canvasbacks have a rapid wingbeat and fly faster and higher than most other ducks, migrating in irregular V-shapes or in lines.


m1:
Well-vegetated swamps, marshes, wetlands, lakes and slow-moving rivers with areas of open water throughout Europe and central Asia. In winter, on larger lakes, reservoirs, brackish lagoons and tidal estuaries. Migrants reported from western Aleutian Islands and Pribifof Island of Alaska. Also recorded in southern California and Saskatchewan.


m1:
Rather deep, freshwater swamps, marshes, wetlands, ponds, lakes with extensive areas of open water. In winter, on brackish coastal lagoons where they may gather in rafts of thousands of birds. Also seen in freshwater ponds in back of coastal beaches. Often associate with Lesser Scaup. Fly low over the water in tight, wedge-shaped flocks.


m1:
Shallow freshwater marshy areas in open country with extensive cover of floating vegetation and areas of open water, woodland ponds, small lakes. More likely to be found in forested areas than other diving ducks. In winter, form large flocks on larger bodies of water, including estuaries and coastal lagoons, but more frequently seen on fresh water. Gregarious. More descriptive name for this bird would be Ring-billed Duck.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia on large, deep, freshwater lakes and ponds with open water and islands for breeding. In winter, found on brackish lagoons, city ponds, rivers and tidal bays. Often associates with Ringnecks, Canvasbacks and Scaup. Regular visitor on outer Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Also found in small numbers each winter along the Pacific coast.


m1:
Breeds on shallow, small lakes and tundra ponds in the high arctic. Winters on both coasts on brackish lagoons, estuaries, bays and shallow marine waters. May also occur on the open ocean, well beyond the breakers.  Also winters inland on the Great Lakes, often forming large rafts. Greater Scaup prefer more open, saltwater habitats while Lesser Scaup prefer less saline bays.


m1:
Breeds on Canadian prairies in small ponds, lakes, marshes and sloughs in open country. Often near lightly wooded areas. Abundant in winter on large freshwater lakes, protected harbors and brackish bays and lagoons. Often form large rafts on water in winter. Uncommon on salt water. (Compare with Greater Scaup.)


m1:
Marine habitat, breeding on islands along rocky coass and estuaries of the high arctic. Also breeds inland on tundra ponds and rivers. In winter, found along northern regions of both coasts in shallow bays, river mouths, rocky shores, shallow seashores. Also may occur on the Great Lakes in winter months. Long lines frequently seen flying low over the ocean. Seldom flies over land. Hold bills pointing down toward the water.


m1:
Marine habitat. Breeds along coast, on freshwater lakes, ponds, bogs and small rivers in the arctic tundra. In winter, found at sea, in deep waters out of sight of land. In migration, hugs shoreline. Holds bill parallel to water.


m1:
Breeds in tall grass near small lakes, ponds, bogs and streams of arctic tundra, usually close to the ocean.  Favors shallow, muddy, coastal waters near river deltas. Spends the winters in the Bearing Sea, where the exact location is unknown. Rarest of the Eiders and declining. More commmon in Siberia.


m1:
Breeds on grassy areas, often near arctic ponds, small lakes, rivers and tundra bogs. In winter, at sea along low-lying rocky coasts, bays, river mouths. Smallest of the eiders. When swimming, often holds tail erect and angled upward.  Prefers clear waters. Flies much faster than other eiders.


m1:
Extinct. Last reported about 1875. One questionable record from 1878. Never very common. Only 44 specimins exist today. A sea duck, related to the scoters. It wintered along the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to Chesapeake Bay. Breeding range probably in Laborador. According to John James Audubon, it was shy, difficult to approach.


m1:
Breeds along fast-moving, turbulent streams and rivers of the rugged uplands. Spends winters along outer ledges of rocky coastlines. Dives for molluscs in the heavy surf. Swim in close formation. Harlequin Ducks are able to swim and walk underwater. More common on the Pacific coast. Fly low over the water, fast and agile with many twists and turns.


m1:
Breeds on small tundra lakes, ponds, bogs rivers and coastal areas of high arctic. Winters at sea along both coasts, far offshore. Also found inland in winter on Great Lakes. Unlike most ducks, Long-tailed Ducks have a distinct breeding and winter plumage. Active, noisy and relatively common. The common name was officially changed from Oldsquaw to Long-tailed Duck in the 42nd AOU supplement (July, 2000 AUK).


m1:
Breeds on freshwater ponds, small lakes or streams in tundra or bogs. Often in areas with scattered trees. Winters at sea in shallow waters of low-lying coasts. Smallest and least common of the 3 scoters. Last scoter to fly north and first to fly south during migration. May be quite numerous at traditional, local feeding areas. When swimming, holds head high with bill horizontal or pointing up, unlike other 2 scoters.


m1:
Breeds on small freshwater ponds and lakes in boreal forests or tundra country. Winters at sea in shallow waters of bays, estuaries and river mouths. Often seen diving for shellfish in the rolling breakers along coastal beaches. Only scoter limited in range to the New World. Casual inland migrant.


m1:
Breeds on small freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers of boreal forest and arctic tundra. Sometimes well inland. Winters at sea along both coasts in shallow waters near the shore. Very common along New England coast in winter. Huge flocks reported off Long Island, New York. Largest of the 3 scoters. A few spend the winter on the Great Lakes each year.


m1:
Breeds in forests near relatively shallow lakes and ponds. Nests in holes made by flickers and other large woodpeckers. In winter, found on larger lakes, rivers, brackish waters, sheltered bays and along coast. Smallest North American waterfowl. Flight is very fast with rapid wingbeats. Usually seen singly or in small groups.


m1:
Breeds on freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers surrounded by coniferous forests. In winter, found in brackish or salt water on coastal lagoons, estuaries, and protected bays. Much less common than Common Goldeneye. In flight, makes a whistling noise with wings.


m1:
Breeds on freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers surrounded by coniferous forests. In winter, found on coastal lagoons, estuaries, and protected bays as well as inland on the Great Lakes, other large lakes and rivers. Common Goldeneye fly in small, compact flocks. In flight, makes a whistling noise with wings


m1:
Uncommon. Breeds on secluded small lakes, ponds, swamps and fast-flowing streams and rivers in wooded areas. In winter, found on large lakes, rivers, coastal brackish lagoons and estuaries, very rarely on salt water. Flight is swift and silent. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks.


m1:
Breeds on freshwater lakes, ponds, streams, rivers and muskegs in taiga zone of Eurasia. In winter, on larger lakes, coastal brackish lagoons, estuaries. Uncommon on open sea. Migrants seen annually in western Aleutian Islands and Pribilof Island of Alaska. Also recorded during the winter in British Columbia, Washington and south to California.


m1:
Breeds on deep lakes and small rivers, usually in wooded areas. Winters mostly at sea, frequenting both inshore and offshore waters, estuaries, bays and lagoons. Much more likely to be found on brackish or salt water than other mergansers where they often are seen in flocks of 100 or more birds.


t1:
ah, ah, ah, ah... (low, even croaking in flight)

m1:
Breeds on freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, near trees. Winters on large lakes and rivers and brackish marshes. Flight is strong, fast and direct. Among the earliest spring migrants. Largest merganser. Dives quickly with a forward-curving plunge. Known as Goosander in Europe.


m1:
Common in dry, open country, farmlands, woodlands. Usually seen soaring alone or in small groups with wings in a shallow V (called a dihedral). Rocks and tilts erratically from side to side, with outer primaries separated. Slow, deep flapping in calm air. Perches on poles and dead trees, often with wings spread. Often observed eating road kill along highway. Roosts in tall trees, leaving late in the morning after thermals have formed.


m1:
Less common than Turkey Vulture, except along coast. Found in open country and around garbage dumps and fishing wharves. Flies on flat wings with 4-5 quick wingbeats between glides. Generally flies higher than Turkey Vulture when hunting as it searches for food by sight (not smell). Stubby appearance with very short tail.


m1:
Usually seen soaring in search of carrion over rugged chaparral, arid foothills, pine-covered mountains and ridge tops. Flight is steady and direct. Largest land bird in North America. No record of Condor ever attacking a living animal. In 1985 almost extinct due to lead poisoning, pesticides. By 1987, all wild birds had been placed in captivity for breeding. Release program began in 1992. Power lines and antifreeze killed some of first birds released. By 1996 there were over 100 California Condors in captivity, with over a dozen birds in the wild, primarily in California. Released birds are now found primarily in California and Arizona.


t1:
kyew, kyew, kyew, kyew, kyew (hp whistled)

m1:
Fairly common in coastal areas. Also seen at marshes, wetlands, ponds, lakes. Flies 30-100 feet above water's surface. Slow, powerful wingbeat alternates with glide. Often, angled wing shows black wrist patch. Perches on snags or rocks near water. Will hover then plunge feet-first for fish. Large stick nests built in dead trees and man-made structures and platforms.


m1:
Ranges from Mexico south to Argentina and Brazil. Uncommon in this range. Found in forests, usually in dense undergrowth or near freshwater marshes and wetlands searching for snails, insects, small amphibians. Flies with rapid flaps, and slow, unsteady glide. Rare in south Texas between the Falcon Dam and Santa Ana NWR.


m1:
Wet open woodlands, bottomlands,  wooded river swamps, marshes, wetlands, and along rivers, ponds and lakes. Agile and graceful in flight. Eats in flight by bending head and neck under body to eat prey held in talon. Will drink in flight, much like a swallow. Gregarious. Will sweep low over open fields and grasslands to catch food or soar very high for flying insects.


m1:
Formerly known as Black-shouldered Kite. The name was changed in 1993. Found in open country, brushy grasslands, farmlands, alfalfa fields with nearby trees, freshwater marshes, moist meadows. Flies with languid, floppy wingbeats, gliding with wings held above the horizontal. Dangles feet when hovering.  From a distance, resembles a gull.


m1:
Tropical freshwater marshes and wetlands with tall grasses dotted with clumps of trees and bushes. Feeds almost exclusively on apple snails. Flight is slow, with head down and considerable wing flapping, 5-30 feet above ground. Often perches in dead trees around marsh. Common in Central and South America. Local and uncommon in southern Florida.


m1:
Open woodlands, swamps, wet woodlands, wooded streams, semiarid rangelands near groves of tall trees. Gregarious, even when nesting. Flight is slow, smooth, graceful, veering deliberately in search for flying insects. Glides on flat wings. Common on southern Great Plains.


m1:
Along the coast and near large lakes, rivers. Nests on cliffs or in tall trees, usually near large bodies of water. Often perches on exposed limbs of tall trees near water. Eats fish, attracted to salmon runs (e.g. Chilkat River, Alaska in November.) In winter, often found in large concentrations near dams, wildlife refuges with ice-free water (Klamath/Tule NWR in California), along Mississippi River. Official bird of the United States.


m1:
Fairly common in freshwater marshes, wetlands, sloughs, open grassy fields, prairies. In winter, also found in coastal marshes, often roosting in large groups. Flies very low over the ground using its sense of hearing to locate small animals. Acrobatic and agile in flight. Spectacular courtship flight consists of a series of U-shaped maneuvers, with a stall at the top of each "U".


m1:
Large mixed woodlands, coniferous forests. In migration, fairly common along mountain ridges, lake shores and coast. Secretive. Flight is fast, silent through woods or just above canopy of forest where they use swift attacks to catch prey. Can turn abruptly in flight to snatch small bird out of the air. Easily confused with larger Cooper's Hawk, but "sharpie" has tail square at end, not rounded.


m1:
Mixed and deciduous forest edges, deciduous streamside groves, open woodlands. Flight is low, swift, through woods and brush. Reaches talons out in air to catch prey, occasionally flying to water to drown it. Often perches quietly in crown of tree where it is difficult to see. Does not tolerate smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk in same woodlot.


m1:
Northern coniferous forests, deep conifer/mixed woodlands. Normally does not migrate. Irruptive - comes south in winters when normal supply of snowshoe hares, lemmings and Ruffed Grouse are not plentiful. Darts rapidly through woods, turning sharply, to catch prey. Juvenile males often seen at northern concentration points of raptor migration. Uncommon.


m1:
Along rivers and streams surrounded with mature forests or thickets. Hunts from low perches over running water. Also stalks around sandbars and mud flats. Rather tame and sluggish. Often seen soaring high above its riparian habitat. Ranges from Mexico to South America. Regular in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico.


m1:
Dry country with mesquite and thorny shrubs, semi-arid woodlands, along valley streams in scrublands. Nests in mesquite, yucca and saguaro cactus. Frequently seen perched on telephone poles, top of large cacti. If startled, fly low and land near original perch. Soars in easy spirals. Body held more horizontal than other hawks when perched. Often seen in small family groups. Relatively tame.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to South America near streams and rivers, flanked by cottonwood and willow trees, with open land nearby, forest borders. This small, swift buteo flies like an accipiter. Local nester in southeast Arizona.


m1:
Moist, mixed or deciduous woodlands, often near streams, swamps, wooded river bottoms. Prefers mature forests. Hunts by perching quietly on tree limbs. Very noisy in spring. Red-shouldered Hawks often return to same nesting area year after year.


m1:
Large deciduous forests, mixed coniferous-hardwood forests around wilderness lakes, streams, swamps. Often sits on low limbs waiting for prey such as frogs or toads. Nests near water in woods. Wingbeats are slower than Red-shouldered Hawk. Huge flocks seen in migration, especially at Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania (west of Allentown) in mid-September.


m1:
Common throughout Mexico, Central and South America. Very uncommon in southern Florida where it is found in mixed woodlands-grasslands, savannah regions, also in mangrove and cypress swamps of the Everglades. Often perches in tall trees. Soars very high on flat wings with outer primaries turned up. Dives for prey from great heights.


m1:
Plains, prairies, arid regions. Nests in shrubs and trees near wetlands and drainage ditches or in windbreaks in fields. Often seen perching on fence posts and telephone poles along the road. Quite tame. Soars with wings held in a shallow V-shape. Huge flocks in migration soar to tremendous heights on thermals of warm air, then glide down for great distances to next thermal.


m1:
Common in Mexico, Central and South America. Prefers drier savannah, open and semiopen country, ranchlands, partially wooded terrain, semiarid brush country and open coastal grasslands. Uncommon in Texas. Wings held in V-shape when soaring. Perches on ground as well as in bushes, trees and on utility wires. Attracted to fleeing prey at grass fires.


m1:
Wooded canyons with streams, mesa and middle slopes of desert mountains near streams and rivers, wooded river bottoms, open or semiopen scrub. Usually nests in large cottonwood trees along canyon streams. Flight and appearance mimics Turkey Vulture., ie. slow flight with wings in V-shape, tilting from side to side. This deception may give it an advantage in hunting.


m1:
Very common in a wide variety of habitats including (in the east) semi-open country with pastures or fields mixed with woods, roadsides, (in the west) prairies near groves of trees, plains, in deserts with some trees, (in northwest) mountain forests. Commonly observed soaring or perched overlooking an open area. Preys on rodents. Seldom seen in large flocks.


m1:
In summer on open tundra in arctic and subarctic, mountainsides, coastal wetlands In winter in fields, open country. Lemming cycle in north affects number seen in United States during the winter from November to March. Migrates in large flocks. Perches on low branches or atop fence posts. Often hovers while hunting. In flight, may spiral up to great heights. Tame and unsuspicious.


m1:
Dry open country, arid intermountain regions, grassy prairies, treeless plains. Often seen sitting on fence post, low tree or knoll watching for prey. Soars in great circles high in sky. Also skims over ground in open country looking for prairie dogs or jackrabbits.


m1:
Open country in mountains and hilly regions of western north America. Often seen soaring over mountain ridges. Common at Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area in Idaho. May dive from great heights at speeds of 150 miles per hour.  In fall, seen annually at Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania (west of Allentown). In winter, occasionally found far from breeding range at National Wildlife Refuges preying on injured waterfowl.


m1:
Uncommon in Texas and Florida. Found in open arid and semiarid scrublands, grassland with scattered trees, ranchlands and also in prairie region of central Florida. Seen on the ground or perching on fence posts and tops of trees. Often seen walking along roadsides. Scratches like chicken for insects. The AOU Split this species in July, 2000 from the South American species Caracara plancus.


m1:
Borders of woodlands, farmlands, open fields, pastures with scattered trees, marshes, suburban areas, grasslands, arid plains, deserts with giant cacti, wooded canyons, forest openings. Often seen perched on wires along roads in rural areas. Hunts on the wing, often hovering. Often pumps tail up and down upon landing. Smallest falcon. Common.


m1:
Uncommon. Found in a variety of habitats including open woodlands, marshes, fields, grasslands, edges of lakes and ponds, coastline. Three subspecies nest in boreal coniferous forests, prairie-parkland and humid Pacific coastal regions. Preys on birds, caught in flight. Hunts with a series of shallow swoops. Seldom glides. Seen each fall during migration at Cape May, New Jersey.


m1:
Found in Mexico to Central and South America. Open plains covered with cactus, mesquite,and yucca. Dry to arid semiopen grasslands with scattered trees. Accidental in Texas. Formerly nested in southeast Arizona, southern New Mexico and south Texas. Recently reintroduced in south Texas.


m1:
Dry open country, prairies, deserts, arid plains, foothills and mountains, riverine escarpments, canyons. Nests on protected ledges of cliffs. Flight is direct and very swift. In winter, descends to lower elevations. Occasionally hovers.


m1:
This is the largest of the falcons. Habitat includes arctic tundra, escarpments, coastal wetlands, open country. Flies close to the ground and preys on ptarmigans and other birds. Perches with its body leaning forward in horizontal position. Occasionally ranges far to south in winters when food is not available. Rare.


m1:
Open country with rocky cliffs near lakes or rivers, tall city buildings and bridges, in winter along coast where prey (other birds) is plentiful. Almost wiped out by DDT. Efforts of Peregrine Fund (see web site at http://www.peregrinefund.org) and others have helped to bring this bird back from the edge of extinction.


m1:
Found in Mexico, south to Costa Rica. Dry open woodlands, dry brushy areas, chaparral thickets. Range in North America limited to scrubby areas along lower Rio Grande River in south Texas. Feeds in trees on leaves and buds. Can become very noisy, especially at dawn, calling out its own name. Shy, except in places like Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Texas, where your life bird is likely to be seen on top of a picnic table!


m1:
Arid foothills, chapparal, brushy ravines, edges of coniferous forests, brushy mountain slopes up to 10,000 feet. Fairly common but very difficult to observe. Nonmigratory but they descend to lower elevations in the winter, traveling 20-40 miles, mainly on foot. Gregarious.


m1:
Desert and semidesert scrublands, desert grasslands mixed with scrub, barren mesas and plateaus scattered with creosote bushes, cactus and mesquite. Seldom flies. Often seen among weeds of dry washes or near streams. Coveys of 30 or more common in the winter.


t1:
chi-ca-go, chi-ca-go or qua-quer-go, qua-quer-go

m1:
Coastal scrub, arid foothills, chaparral, brushy areas, open woodlands, farms, ranches, parks, suburban areas, stream valleys. Usually found near permanent sources of water. Very gregarious. Common. Roost low in trees or bushes.


m1:
Desert scrublands, low river valleys with dense mesquite thickets, willow thickets along streams, chaparral, scrubby mountain ravines. Found in arid habitat near permanent sources of water. Common. Gregarious. Males often seen calling from open perches.


m1:
Widespread and fairly common in woodland edges, edges of fields, thickets, old pastures, hedges between crop fields, woods, brushy fencerows, and in southwest in brushy canyons, dry grasslands with mesquite and cactus. Spends most of time on the ground. Often heard before it is seen. Whistles its name. Roosts in tight circles on ground, with head pointed outward.


m1:
Open coniferous forests, grassy oak canyons, juniper or pine-oak woodlands, wooded semiarid mountain slopes, rocky ravines. Secretive. Squats and sits motionless when alarmed. Fairly easy to see at Davis Mountains State Park, Texas.


m1:
Open woodlands with clearings, forest edges, brushy areas. Semiarid mountains in the southwest. Roost in trees at night. Spends early morning and late afternoon foraging on ground for acorns, seeds, fruits, nuts and insects. Poor flier. Largest North American game bird.


m1:
Northern coniferous forests with dense undergrowth, muskeg, berry patches. Spends most of time perched in spruce, fir, jack pine and larch trees eating buds and needles. Often seen along roadsides. Tame and unafraid.


m1:
Open conifer and mixed woodlands, edges of aspen groves, mountain slopes,  brushy areas, berry patches. In winter moves UP the mountains to conifer forests where they spend almost all their time in the trees. Solitary.


m1:
Common in arctic tundra, mountain slopes and upper edge of timberline, willow and alder thickets, bogs. In winter, found in brushy habitat in sheltered valleys at lower altitudes.


m1:
Hilly arctic tundra, high rocky slopes above timberline, willow thickets. Found in higher and more barren habitat than the Willow Ptarmigan. One of the hardiest of all birds.


m1:
Arctic tundra, rocky slopes above timberline. Only ptarmigan that nests in the US lower "48" where it lives at high altitudes of 10,000 - 14,000 feet. Found in areas with birch, willow and alder shrubs. In winter, moves to slightly below tree line.


t1:
drumming-thumping, accelerates into a whir

m1:
Deciduous and mixed forests, hardwood forests with dense undergrowth, aspen groves, brushy areas, cut-over woods. In winter, in coniferous or mixed cpnifers and deciduous woods. In spring, males makes accelerating, drumming noise by rapidly flapping wings while perched.


m1:
Arid foothills, sagebrush plains, salt desert scrub, rangelands, chaparral. Found near big sagebrush which it depends on for food and cover. Gather on leks (display grounds) for mating from late March to late May. Largest of North American grouse.


m1:
Arid foothills, sagebrush plains, salt desert scrub, rangelands, chaparral of Colorado and Utah. Found near big sagebrush which it depends on for food and cover. Gather on leks (display grounds) for mating from late March to late May.


m1:
Variety of habitats including brushlands, grasslands, sagebrush, woodland edges, brushy prairies, cleared farmland, bogs, river canyons, and boreal forest edges. Prefers to walk, rather than fly even though it is a strong flier. Gathers in the spring  at leks to "dance" in courtship display.


m1:
Native grasslands, tallgrass prairies mixed with croplands. Uncommon and local. Population declining. The Attwater's Prairie Chicken is a dark form found in southeast Texas. In spring, male inflates bright orange neck sacs during displays at the lek (display ground).


m1:
Arid or sandy native grasslands, shortgrass prairies, sagebrush. Uncommon and local. Population declining.  In spring, male inflates reddish-purple neck sacs during displays at the lek (display ground). Found in different habitat and more to the southeast than Greater Prairie-Chicken.


m1:
Introduced from Asia into the Ruby and East Humboldt mountains of northeast Nevada between 1963 and 1979. Found in remote, rugged, rocky, mountainous areas. Cackles and clucks as it feeds.


m1:
Introduced from Eurasia in the 1930s. Found in arid rocky slopes and canyons in mountainous areas, dry sagebrush, brushy or grassy slopes, talus slopes, brushy stream bottoms. Prefers areas with little vegetation. Gathers in coveys of 20-40 birds. Escapes from danger by running.


m1:
Introduced from Eurasia around 1900. Found on northern plains, grasslands, pastures, hayfields and grainfields, open farmlands, and in the west, canyons and brushy stream bottoms. Prefers cool, moderately dry climate. Forms coveys of a dozen or more birds in the fall.


t1:
kok-kok (squawky, raucous, followed by wing-whir)

m1:
Introduced from Asia in mid to late 1800s. Found in cultivated farmlands usually near crop fields, hedges and weedy ditches between fields, marshe edges, open country, small woodlots, woodland edges, brush piles. Fairly common. Also known as Common Pheasant.


m1:
Tundra, shallow open wetlands, marshes, sloughs, shallow ponds, grasslands, edges of fields. Often dance in spring by jumping 6-7 feet in the air with wings half spread. Often feed in dry fields during the day and return to wetlands in the evening. Some races in Mississippi and Florida do not migrate. In mid-March over 500,000 Sandhill Cranes gather along the Platte River in Nebraska between Grand Island and North Platte.


t1:
ker-laa, ker-laa (second note higher-pitched)

m1:
Freshwater marshes of Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta. Winters in shallow coastal marshes of Aransas Wildlife Refuge, Texas (boat tours in the winter usually permit great views of these birds). Sometimes seen along Platte river in March with Sandhill Cranes. Endangered. Intensive management and breeding programs have saved the Whooping Crane from extinction. Introduced flock in Idaho winters in New Mexico. Tallest flying bird in North America.


t1:
kraaaaaah (loud, piercing, usually repeated)

m1:
Freshwater marshes of saw grass, marshy riverbanks, wetlands, edges of swamps in southeastern United States. When walking, often pumps its tail. Common at Wakulla Springs State Park in northern Florida (take the jungle boat trip).


m1:
Freshwater marshes, brackish marshes, swamps, rice fields. In winter may be found in coastal marshes with Clapper Rails. Hard to see. Heard most often at dawn and dusk. Migrates at night. Some authorities believe King Rail is a freshwater race of the Clapper Rail.


m1:
Coastal salt marshes, wetlands, brackish marshes, tall marsh grasses surrounding lower Colorado River and Salton Sea, California. Common in the east. Very noisy at dusk and before a storm. When walking, bobs head and twitches tail. Often seen on mud flats at low tide.


m1:
Freshwater marshes, brackish marshes, wetlands, drier areas of coastal salt marshes. Secretive. Variety of songs, including one that sounds like a pig grunting. Runs through marsh when in danger. Difficult to flush. Flight is usually short and weak.


t1:
tik-tik, tik-tik-tik,... (2-3 rhythm, repeated)

m1:
Shallow freshwater marshes, wetlands, grassy fields, wet meadows. In fall and winter in saltwater marshes, savannas, rice fields. Extremely shy, rarely appearing in the open. Active at night. Call sounds like someone is tapping two small stones together. In breeding season, this call can go on and on for hours.


m1:
Inland freshwater marshes, coastal marshes, in back of beaches near sandy flats with Salicornia grasses, swamps, wetlands, grassy fields, wet meadows. Uncommon and extremely secretive. Birds in coastal areas may be flushed out into open at very high tides. Smallest of rails. Calls at night.


m1:
Common in small freshwater marshes, wetlands, bogs, wet grassy meadows, marshy areas next to lake or pond, ricefields, grainfields. In winter also found in saltwater marshes. Easiest rail to see in North America. Easy to flush, feeds at edge of openings in the marsh. Will usually respond to clapped hands.


m1:
Freshwater marshes with cattails and bulrushes, ditches of open water, pondand lake edges, slow-moving rivers. Often associates with American Coots. Climbs through dense reeds with ease. Bobs head when swimming. When threatened, half flies-half runs along surface of water. May dive for food but also feeds on land.


m1:
Freshwater marshes, coastal freshwater lowlands, overgrown swamps, lagoons, wetlands with pickerelweed, ponds and lakes with lily pads. Migratory. Tends to wander far from normal range where it could be seen in almost any habitat. Very long toes supports it as it walks across lily pads. Almost tame in Everglades National Park, Florida.


m1:
Marshes, wetlands, ponds, lakes, bayous, marshy rivers. In winter, occasionally found on salt water. Very common. Usually seen in large flocks close to shore. Bobs its head when swimming. Often dives to feed.


m1:
Atlantic barrier islands, coastal marshes, mudflats, beaches, rocky shores. Feeds on oysters and other mollusks during falling tide. Uncommon. Shy and wary.


m1:
Rocky Pacific coasts, rocky islands, rocky ledges, only rarely on sandy beaches or mud flats. Moves with slow, jerky motion. Does not migrate. Rather solitary.


m1:
Wide variety of wet habitats including freshwater marshes, alkaline lakes, wet meadows, brackish ponds of salt marshes, wetlands, flooded fields, freshwater ponds in back of beaches. Very active when feeding. Distracts predators by pretending to have a broken wing or broken leg.


t1:
wheek or kleet (given in flight, repeatedly)

m1:
Shallow saline lakes, sloughs, wet meadows, wetlands, marshes, saltwater or brackish ponds, lakeshores. Often seen feeding in large flocks, sometimes in a long line. Sweeps bill from side to side. A graceful, unmistakable bird.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra in Canada and western Alaska. In migration, in plowed fields, short-grass pastures, prairies. Migrates south along Atlantic coast and winters in South America. Spring migration is up the middle of North America. Formerly known as Lesser Golden-Plover prior to split with Pacific Golden-Plover.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra of Alaska. In migration, in plowed fields, short-grass pastures, prairies, tidal mud flats. Migrates along Pacific coast and winters on Pacific islands and southern Asia with a few remaining along coast in California. Formerly known as Lesser Golden-Plover prior to split with American Golden-Plover.


m1:
Nests on arctic tundra.  In migration and in winter, found on beaches, mudflats, salt marshes, tidal sand and mud flats, seacoast, plowed fields, wet grassy pastures. Often seen in spring migration up Mississippi Valley. Winters along both coasts.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia on shallow shores, sandy or gravel ground, heaths, river shores. Migratory. Breeds in eastern Canada on Ellesmere, Bylot and Baffin Islands. Rare migrant in western Alaska.


m1:
Coastal beaches, tidal mudflats, ponds in salt marshes, lakeshores, muddy creek and river edges, freshly plowed fields. Common. Frequently seen in the interior of North America during migration. In flight, compact flocks twist and turn in unison. Semipalmated Plovers often feed by running along the beach with their head up then stop suddenly to peck at the sand.


m1:
Ocean beaches, coastal dunes, sand and mudflats, barrier islands, open beaches at mouths of rivers. Will run from danger, rather than fly.


t1:
kill-deeeeer or kee-dee, kee-dee, kee-dee...

m1:
Common and vocal on open grassy fields, lawns, soccer fields, grassy areas of airports, meadows, dry upland prairies, farm fields, shores, riverbanks. Usually seen flying alone in erratic flight. Utters loud kill-deer call. Will pretend it has a broken wing to draw predators away from ground nest. Easily alarmed.


m1:
Sandy beaches, sandy flats between sand dunes, lakeshores. Prefers areas of sparse vegetation. Uncommon. Population is declining in spite of protective measures being taken at nesting sites along Atlantic coast.


m1:
Barren sandy beaches, mudflats, in interior of North America often found at shores of salt ponds and alkaline lakes. Usually allow humans to approach closely. Uncommon.


m1:
Found in Asia on dry alpine and tunrda. Rare migrant to Aleutian Islands and western Alaska where it is seen on beaches, coastal mudflats, along the coastal intertidal zone. A few may nest in Alaska.


m1:
High arid plains, dry upland short-grass prairies, semidesert. In winter, often found in bare dirt fields and open arid areas. Forms flocks in migration and during the winter. The Mountain Plover is NOT found in the mountains! One of few shorebirds that lives away from water.


m1:
Found in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australasia on damp grassy moorlands, muddy estuaries, mudflats, rice fields and flooded grasslands, muddy lakeshores. Migratory. Rare in western Aleutian, St. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands of Alaska. Accidental in migration along eastern coast of North America.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra, bogs, marshes at edge of boreal forests. Migrates through Great Plains in the spring and off the east coast in the fall. During migration, usually seen on mud flats, flooded fields, ricefields, muddy estuaries, shallow ponds, also on sandy beaches. Often feeds by standing in water up to its belly. Gregarious.


m1:
Nests on arctic lowland tundra and hilly uplands in Alaska. Casual in migration along Pacific coast where it is seen on mudflats, estuaries. European race has been seen along Atlantic coast.


m1:
Breeds in wet meadows of northern prairies near lakes and ponds. In winter, found along coastline, muddy estuaries, tidal mudflats, beaches, lake shores, sheltered bays, saltmarshes. Often in small flocks. Common along Pacific coast in winter.


m1:
Probably extinct. Nested on arctic tundra in northern Canada. Migrates north through Texas coast, Great Plains and western Misssissippi Valley. Migrated south through northeast Canada, New England and the Atlantic coast. Most sightings this century were along Texas coast in spring migration, often associating with American Golden-Plovers in fields, pastures and drier areas of marshes.


m1:
Nests on open tundra. Winters on beaches, mud flats, sandbars, coastal wetlands, wet fields, salt marshes, estuaries and tidal creeks, lake shores, moorlands. Fairly common on both coasts in migration. Fly in V-shaped flocks or long irregular lines during migration.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra in western Alaska, near mouth of Yukon River. Migrates to Pacific Islands, gathering first along west coast of Alaska on beaches, mudflats, fields. Casual as migrants on the Aleutian Islands and south Alaska.


m1:
Nests on both wet and dry uplands of Great Plains grasslands, preferring gravelly soil. In winter found in estuaries, mudflats, salt marshes, sandbars, coastal shorelines, sandy beaches, lake edges, grainfields. Winter flocks are very wary.


m1:
Upland fields with tall grass, meadows, hay and alfalfa fields, plains, prairies. Seldom seen near water. Often seen perching on posts and stumps or walking through tall grass with only its head visible. After alighting, briefly holds wings high above back before folding them. Rather solitary. Uncommon.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia on mudflats, wetlands, bogs, shallow marshes, ponds. Migratory. Rare in western Aleutian, Pribilof and St. Lawrence Islands of Alaska. Also recorded in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in fall and winter.


t1:
tu-tu-tu (whistled - three or more notes)

m1:
Nests on tundra, muskeg. Winters on coastal mud flats, shallow pools, lakeshores, marshes, edges of creeks, pastures occasionally on ocean beaches. Less gregarious than Lesser Yellowlegs. Often bobs whole body up and down when walking.


m1:
Nests on muskeg to edge of tundra, grassy marshes, drier areas than Greater Yellowlegs. Winters on mud flats, shallow pools in salt marshes, lakeshores, short-grass marshes, edges of creeks, pastures with rain puddles. Gregarious. Easier to approach than Greater Yellowlegs.


m1:
Shallow pools, sides of slow-moving woodland streams, small estuaries, and ponds, lake and river shores, fresh and brackish marshes. Often bobs its tail and head. Usually seen alone or in small flocks. Tends to keep wings raised momentarily after landing.


m1:
Found in Europe and northern Asia in bogs, freshwater marshes, flooded meadows, wetlands. Migratory. Has nested on western Aleutian Islands, St. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands of Alaska. Casual in western and northern Alaska.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia along shores of lakes and ponds, stony shores. Migratory. Rare in western Aleutian, St. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands of Alaska. Recorded once at Nome, Alaska.


m1:
Common near edges of ponds and lakeshores, marshes, streams, rivers, wet meadows, coastline, wetlands. Usually alone, constantly bobs and teeters. Flies with stiff, rapid wingbeats. Roosts at night on stumps, rocks or logs. Migrates at night.


m1:
Found in Northeastern Asia on mudflats, rice fields, along river edges, rocky coasts. Migratory. Rare in western Aleutian, St. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands of Alaska. Casual on western and northern Alaska mainland. Accidental along coast aouth to California.


m1:
Breeds along gravel edges of mountain streams above treeline. Usually seen alone or in small groups along rocky coastline of the Pacific during winter. Teeters and bobs as it feeds. Rarely seen on mud flats or beaches.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia on muddy riversides and lakeshores. Rare in western Aleutian, St. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands of Alaska and on western and southern coasts of Alaska. Accidental in California, British Columbia and Manitoba.


m1:
Wet grassy areas, moist prairies, salt and brackish marshes, bays, lakeshores, muddy banks of creeks. In winter, along beaches, mud flats and at Salton Sea, California. Often wades up to belly. Common. Noisy, especially when disturbed.


m1:
Nests on coastal arctic tundra. In winter, along coastal areas, stony, rocky and sandy beaches, also with Black-bellied Plovers in bare fields, grassy flats. Feeds singly or in small flocks. Uses bill to turn over stones and rocks, looking for food. Travel in large flocks in migration.


m1:
Nests on coastal arctic tundra. In winter, along rocky coastal areas, stony, rocky beaches, banacle-covered reefs. Occasionally on sand. Feeds singly or in small flocks. Uses bill to turn over stones and rocks, looking for food. More common on Pacific coast than Ruddy Turnstone.


m1:
Freshwater  marshes, grassy edges of ponds, lakes, bays, wetlands, grassy fields. In winter, may also be found in saltwater marshes.  Will spin rapidly on water to stir up food. Largest of the Phalaropes. Most likely to be found on land or muddy shores.


m1:
Breeds on arctic and subarctic tundra. Seen on the ocean during migration as well as inland on water. Winters at sea in the Southern Hemisphere. Much more  common in the west. Will spin rapidly on water to stir up food.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra. Seen on the ocean during migration, usually far offshore. Rare inland. Winters at sea. More maritime than other Phalaropes. Will spin rapidly on water to stir up food.


m1:
Young forests with scattered openings, moist woodlands and thickets, grassy meadows, alder thickets, bottomlands, along banks of streams. In spring, performs elaborate courtship flight at dusk, rising in widening circles and zigzaging back to earth and calling with a nasal "peent" sound.


m1:
Freshwater marshes, bogs, wetlands, wet grassy fields, pastures, grassy edges of small streams. In migration may be found in brackish or salt marshes. Male courtship flight involves power dive which causes outer tail feathers to vibrate, producing an unusual sound. Feeds at dawn and dusk.


m1:
Breeds in subarctic tundra of Canada and coastal Alaska. In migration and winter found in shallow ponds, open marshes, tidal creeks and flats, mudflats, brackish wetlands. Prefers salt or brackish waters to fresh water. Fairly common on both coasts. Seen in virtually every state during migration.


m1:
Breeds in subarctic tundra of Canada and coastal Alaska. In migration and winter found in open mud flats, shallow ponds, open marshes, wetlands. Unlike Short-billed Dowitcher, prefers fresh water. Fairly common on Pacific coast and western half of continent.


m1:
Nests in rocky mountains of Alaska above treeline. In winter, along rocky Pacific coast, rocky reefs and beaches. Usually feeds on barnacles and mollusks on rocks at edge of surf. In migration may occasionally be seen on sandy beaches.


m1:
Nests on high arctic tundra. In migration and winter, on sandy or stony beaches, mudflats, sandbars, saltwater marshes, tidal flats. Huge concentrations gather on the shores of Delaware Bay in May during northward migration to eat eggs of Horseshoe Crabs.


m1:
Breeds in high arctic tundra. In winter, along the coast on sandy beaches, tidal flats. Inland migrants found alone lake beaches, river sandbars. Very common worldwide. Seen running back and forth at ocean's edge as waves seem to chase small flocks. Sanderlings eat small mollusks and crustaceans exposed by retreating waves.


m1:
Breeds in high arctic tundra. In winter on beaches, mudflats, tidal lagoons, ponds, marsh creeks. Inland during migration on muddy shores of rivers and lakes. Probably the most abundant shorebird. Large flocks often seen flying and sharply turning in unison before settling back down on beaches or mudflats.


m1:
Breeds on dry high arctic tundra in western Alaska. In winter along coast on beaches, mudflats. Inland during migration at a variety of wetlands. Forages in deeper water than Semipalmated Sandpiper. Very common along Pacific coast. Gregarious and relatively tame.


m1:
Found in Northeast Asia on dry tundra. In migration occurs at inland wetlands. In winter in Australasia along coast at open beaches, mudflats. Name changed in 1995 from Rufous-necked Stint. Breeds irregularly in western and northern Alaska along the coast. Rare migrant in western Aleutian, St. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands. Casual migrant along Pacific coast.


m1:
Found in northern Europe and Asia on high arctic tundra. In migration found at inland wetlands. In winter along coast on mudflats, marshes and in inland Africa wetlands. Gregarious. Over two dozen North American records since the first in 1975. Many from Alaska. Others from Atlantic coast of Canada and United States. Also seen on Pacific coast.


m1:
Found in Asia and Europe breeding in sheltered sites on woodland fringes. Winters in Africa and India on inland wetlands, freshwater marshes, mudflats, ponds. Migratory. Rare in western Aleutian, St. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands of Alaska and coastal western Alaska. Also has been seen in British Columbia and Washington.


m1:
Found in Asia nesting in a variety of tundra and boreal habitats. In winter in Australasia at freshwater marshes, wetlands, tidal mudflats. Rare in western Aleutian, St. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands of Alaska and coastal western Alaska. Also has been seen in British Columbia, Oregon and Washington.


m1:
Nests on subarctic tundra. In winter on wet muddy areas, grassy areas, wet short grasses of salt marshes, tidal flats, sloughs, muddy lake shores, muddy margins of brackish ponds and creeks, also on sandy or gravel beaches. Smallest sandpiper. Tame.


m1:
Nests on  arctic tundra near coast. In migration found in shallow grassy pools, wet meadows, marshes, tidal mud flats, sandbars, beaches. Winters at southern tip of South America.


m1:
Nests on  high arctic tundra. In migration,  found inland on wet meadows, margins of wetlands, lakeshores, also at rotting kelp of upper coastal beaches. Winters in South America.


m1:
Nests on arctic tundra and dry grasslands of tidal flats. In migration in wet meadows, grassy marshes, wet fields, pond edges. Rarely at mud flats. Migrates through interior of North America.


m1:
Breeds in Siberia on arctic tundra. Seen in migration in western Alaska and occasionally along Pacific coast in grassy flats of salt marshes, wetlands, salt meadows, pools on wet fields. Often associates with Pectoral Sandpiper in migration. Seen most often in fall between mid-September and early November, mostly juveniles.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra of Canada and Greenland. Winters along Atlantic coast on rocky shores, rock jettys, breakwaters, rocky islets, seaweed coated rocks. Searches for food as tide falls, exposing crustaceans and mollusks on rocks. Winters farther north along Atlantic coast than other shorebirds. Range is increasing southward.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra in eastern Asia and in Aleutian Islands and western Alaska. Winters along Pacific coast, south to northern California,on rocky shores. Usually in the company of Black Turnstones and Surfbirds.


m1:
Breeds in arctic and subarctic tundra in Alaska and Canada. In migration, found at inland mud flats. In winter, along coastal beaches, tidal flats, beaches, muddy ponds, lagoons. Common along both coasts in winter. Travel in huge flocks during migration.


m1:
Found in northern Asia, nesting in coastal arctic tundra. In summer found from west Africa to Australasia on muddy wetlands,  mudflats. Migratory. Gregarious. Has nested in northern Alaska. Rare in western Aleutian, st. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands of Alaska. Casual along both coasts, less frequently seen inland.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra. In migration prefers ponds, inland and coastal pools, muddy edges of creeks in marshes, lagoons. Fairly common fall migrant along Atlantic coast. Some birds spend the winter at the Salton Sea, California. Feeds by wading up to belly, compact flocks. Often seen with dowitchers.


m1:
Breeds along coast on arctic tundra. Migrates through interior of North America, stopping in short grassy fields, wet rice fields, pastures, burned over grasslands.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia in the summer in lowland marshes and damp grasslands. Winters in Africa, India, Australia on grassland, rice fields, short-grass marshes, muddy shores of freshwater ponds and lakes. Migratory. Associates with Yellowlegs. Rare migrant along Atlantic coast and Great Lakes. Seen almost every winter in California. Has bred in Alaska.


m1:
Breeds in Iceland and Northern Europe and winters in North Atlantic ocean. Seen far from shore between November and April. Very rare in summer. Strong, powerful flier. Massive, barrel-chested appearance. Robs gulls and terns of their prey.


m1:
Breeds in Antarctic and winters (our summer) in North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Occurs far from shore between May and November. Seen in spring on east coast and in spring and fall on west coast. Strong, powerful flier. Massive, barrel-chested appearance. Robs gulls and terns of their prey.


m1:
Breeds on low, swampy arctic tundra. Winters at sea. Usually seen well off west coast in August and September. Rarely seen from shore. Largest of the Jaegers. Often robs other gulls, terns, shearwaters of their catches. Follows fishing boats.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra and along coast of Arctic Ocean. Winters at sea. Often seen from shore along both coasts in August and September. Rarely in inland waters. Robs other gulls, terns, shearwaters of their catches. Follows fishing boats.


m1:
Breeds on dry upland arctic tundra. Winters at sea in Southern Hemisphere. Migrates well off shore in August and September. Rarely seen from shore. Smallest of the Jaegers with buoyant and graceful flight. Only occasionally robs other gulls, terns, shearwaters of their catches. Follows fishing boats.


m1:
Breeds on islands in the high arctic. Winters in Arctic seas near pack ice. Casual along the Atlantic coast. Lives entire life near ice and snow. Scavenger, eats garbage, dead Arctic animals.


m1:
Common along the Pacific coast and offshore waters except for spring nesting season when it is found in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Rare inland. Often seen scavenging along shores and beaches with other gulls.


m1:
Common over a wide range. Found at inland marshes, wetlands, ponds, lakes and at coastal mud flats, beaches. Often seen eating fries at McDonalds parking lots (really).


m1:
Common along Pacific coast and beaches in winter. Breeds along shores of lakes and ponds in western Canada and United States. Feeds on insects in fields, plains. Statue erected by Mormons in Salt Lake City, Utah honors the California Gull for saving them from a cricket plague in 1848. State bird of Utah.


m1:
Common on Pacific coast, river valleys. Breeds on marshy ponds and lakes near woods and along sea coast. In winter at dumps, harbors, sewage outlets, mud flats, plowed fields, beaches.


m1:
Most abundant gull in North America. Found along both coasts although much more common along Atlantic. Also large inland lakes, rivers, sewage ponds, dumps, wharves, mud flats, beaches, plowed fields. Follows ships.


m1:
Breeds on arctic tundra in northern Canada. Winters along Pacific coast. Rare inland and on Atlantic coast.  Difficult to identify in the field. Once considered a race of the Herring Gull, some now consider Thayer's Gull to be a race of the Iceland Gull. However, Peter Thayer, creator of this software, believes it to be a separate species that should not be lumped into Iceland Gull until he has seen one!


m1:
Found in Europe. Very uncommon on the Atlantic coast along beaches, mudflats, harbors, landfills,garbage dumps, sewage outlets, and occasionally plowed fields. Also seen aroung Great Lakes. Becoming more common.


m1:
Common along the Pacific coast and offshore in a variety of marine habitats. Rare inland. Follows ships. Scavanges along beaches and at garbage dumps.


m1:
Breeds in Gulf of California, Mexico. Occasionally wanders north to the Salton Sea in southern California. Usually seen alone or in small groups along the shore at the south end of the Salton Sea.


m1:
Found on northeast coast of  Asia. Rare in Aleutian Islands and western Alaska. Most numerous in winter. Usually seen at edge of pack ice.


m1:
Along the Atlantic coast, bays, garbage dumps, mud flats, offshore fishing banks. Coastal species, but occasionally wanders up large rivers. Largest gull in North America. Aggressive around other gulls.


m1:
Along the Pacific coast in a variety of marine habitats, garbage dumps, docks. Inland along large river valleys of the northwest. Hybridizes with Western Gull. Most abundant gull in Pacific Northwest. Will drop food from air onto rocks to crack open shell.


m1:
Breeds in arctic. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts, open waters of Great Lakes and Hudson Bay. Seen in harbors, at garbage dumps and at feeding sites with other gulls. In summer feeds on other birds and lemmings.


m1:
Breeds on cliffs of Baffin Island and coastal Greenland. Winters along Atlantic coast south to Virginia. Seen most often scavaging at garbage dumps, sewage outlets, fighing piers, docks.


m1:
Beaches, coastal areas, saltwater marshes, wetlands, plowed fields, also along rivers and lakes. Abundant on southern beaches and salt marshes. Fairly common at southern end of Salton Sea, California. Will beg for food from humans at the beach. Follows fishing boats.


m1:
Freshwater marshes and marshy lake shores of the northern prairies, fields, pastures. Common at Great Salt Lake, Utah in summer. Graceful flight. Follows farmers plowing their fields.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia. Uncommon in winter along the Atlantic coast. Also seen in migration in western Alaska. Seen at inland freshwater marshes, grainfields, grasslands, as well as coastal regions, harbors, mud flats.


m1:
Nests in conifer trees near water in northern Canada and Alaska. In summer, found at ponds, wet meadows, migrating inland along rivers. In winter, along both coasts, bays, harbors, mud flats, sewage outlets. Common on the Great Lakes.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia. Began nesting in North America in 1962 (southeast Ontario). Very uncommon. Habitat is grassy marshes, marshy ponds, flooded fields. Associates with Black or Forster's Terns in summer. In winter often found with Bonaparte's Gulls near tidal channels and sewage ponds. Smallest of all gulls.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds on arctic tundra. Winters at sea in the Southern Hemisphere. Fairly common migrant off Pacific coast. Rare near shore. Often flies with deep wingbeats, close to water. Seldom glides.


m1:
Found in northeastern Asia where it breeds along swampy river deltas in arctic tundra. Found on ice packs of Arctic Ocean most of the year. Migrates along northern coast of Alaska, common at Point Barrow in September and October. Recently seen regularly in June at Churchill, Manitoba (this spot is probably the most easily accessible tundra in North America).


m1:
Pelagic. Nests in large colonies on coastal cliffs of Alaska, Canada and Greenland. Uncommon on both coasts. Winters well out at sea. Follow ships. Better able to fly and glide in strong winds than other gulls. Drinks only salt water.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests in large colonies on coastal cliffs of islands in the Bering Sea.  Very uncommon on Pacific coast. Winters well out at sea. Follow ships. Faster wingbeat and much less common than Black-legged Kittiwake.


m1:
Inland near freshwater marshes, lakeshores, wet meadows, ponds, prairie sloughs, wetlands. Common along Atlantic coast during migration. Skims low over water's surface like a swallow, catching insects. Flight is erratic and buoyant. Hovers.


m1:
Salt marshes, wetlands, outer beaches, estuaries, coastal bays, fields, rare inland except in Florida and at Salton Sea, California. Formerly abundant but almost exterminated in early 1900s for eggs and feathers. Found worldwide, local and uncommon in North America.


m1:
Fairly common at large lakes, coastal waters, marshes,  rivers, canals, bays, beaches. Largest tern in North America. Fishes with bill pointed downward, hovers. Flight more gull-like than tern-like.


m1:
Saltwater habitats such as coastal areas, beaches, bays, offshore areas. Rare inland. Nest in dense colonies. Feeds by hovering,  then diving below water's surface.


m1:
Mexican species that is found along the coast of California at sandy beaches and estuaries in the summer and fall. Often seen with other terns on sandy areas  between the Pacific Ocean and coastal bays. Breeds near San Diego.


m1:
Along the Gulf and lower Atlantic coast along beaches, estuaries, bays, inlets, jetties, coastal islands. Exclusively a saltwater species. Often found with Royal Terns.


m1:
Nest in large colonies along Atlantic coast and inland on sandspits or isolated islands. Common at lakes, ponds, bays, beaches, coastal waters. Rarely flies very far out to sea. Often seen in migration along Pacific coast.


m1:
Nests in arctic tundra, south to the northern Prairie Provinces of Canada on lakes, ponds, river sandbars and along the coast. Migrates well offshore along both coasts. Winters at sea in the Southern Hemisphere. Some may migrate, round trip, over 22,000 miles. As a result, Arctic Terns see more daylight during their lifetime than any other animal on earth!


m1:
Nests in freshwater marshes, marshy lake edges of southwestern Canada and northern United States, coastal marshes along both Atlantic and Pacific. Fairly common. Often seen along beaches, bays, coastline. Seen in migration through interior of United States and around Great Lakes region.


m1:
Nests from Nova Scotia to Virginia on coastal islands, sandy or rocky beaches often in the company of Common Terns.  More pelagic than other terns. Uncommon and declining. Flies with snappy wingbeat and noticeably buoyant flight.


m1:
Nest in loose colonies along the western coast of Alaska and throughout the Aleutian Islands. First recorded in Aleutians in 1962. Rarely  observed away from breeding grounds. Feeds by hovering 30-40 feet above water then diving (often submerging) for small fish.


m1:
Pelagic. Fairly common during the summer in the Gulf Stream off the southeastern coast from North Carolina to Florida Keys . Often observed on boat trips between the Dry Tortugas and Key West. Nests in the Bahamas and West Indies.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds in a large, dense colony in the Dry Tortugas, Florida between March and September. Uncommon along Atlantic coast and in Gulf of Mexico. Flies with deep, strong wingbeats over tropical seas. Often soars in circles. Feeds by plucking fish from surface, not by diving. One of the most abundant birds in the world.


m1:
Along both coasts, bays, coastal ponds, sandy beaches, inland along Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and their tributaries.  Has nested on rooftops in Florida! Flight is very light, buoyant and graceful.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests in a colony on Bird Key in the Dry Tortugas, Florida. Found in tropical oceans worldwide. Occasionally seen perching on floating debris at sea. Does not dive, but catches fish by flying low over the water's surface.


m1:
Pelagic. Uncommon visitor to Dry Tortugas, Florida. One or two Black Noddies may be found among the thousands of Brown Noddies on Bird Key. Black Noddy is smaller.  Found in tropical oceans worldwide.


m1:
Coastal bird seen near bays, tidal estuaries, canals, ocean beaches, large rivers and lakes. Favors salt water. Nests on sand spits and barrier islands. Flies very low over the water, skimming the surface with its lower mandible.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds on cliffs and rocky slopes along the coast in the North Atlantic as well as small numbers on islands in the Bering Sea. Winters far out at sea. Late fall storms occasionally blow birds in to coast or inland. Dives for food from surface. Very abundant in its range.


m1:
Breeds on rocky cliffs in Greenland and northeastern Canada, usually with murres. Winters on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland. When swimming, often holds tail cocked. Flies low, beating wings rapidly. In migration, flies in small flocks in single file.


m1:
Extinct in 1844. Formerly found along the coast of northeast North America. Flightless. Strong swimmer and diver. Killed by fishermen and Eskimos for food and bait and also for feathers (to make pillows and mattresses).


m1:
Breeds on rocky cliffs of the Pribilof Islands, Ellesmere Island, and many other rocky islands in the arctic. Generally, occurs farther north than Common murre. May be most abundant seabird in Northern Hemisphere, estimated at over 40 million.


m1:
Nests in dense colonies on rocky cliffs. Very common along the Pacific coast, less common on Atlantic coast. Flight is swift and strong. Often forms large rafts on water. Feeds by diving, often underwater for a minute or more. Recorded at depths of 200 feet or more.


m1:
Rocky coasts of Maine, Canada, and northern Alaska, usually close to shore in summer. Winters in shallow open waters near nesting places. Flies close to water with rapid wingbeats.


m1:
Common along rocky coasts of  Alaska south to Santa Barbara, California. Nests alone or in small colonies. Stays close to shore in breeding season. Feeds on fish at or near the bottom. Flies close to water with rapid wingbeats. Often seen sitting on rocks near the surf.


m1:
Coastal waters, protected bays, inside passageways, of northern Pacific. Nests inland in evergreen trees or on the ground. Nocturnal. Strong, fast flier. Flies low over water but at great heights when flying inland.


m1:
Found in eastern Asia along ocean shores and bays. Nests in conifer trees. Over a dozen sightings from interior North America. Split from Marbled Murrrelet in 1997.


m1:
In summer in protected waters of coastal Alaska. Often found near tidewater glaciers, especially Glacier Bay, Alaska. Nocturnal. Flight is strong and swift, faster than other murrelets. Nests on the ground in rocky alpine habitat, usually away from sea.


m1:
Breeds in colonies on rocky islands off Baja California, Mexico. Seen in the United States along coast of southern California, usually a few miles out to sea. Most common in late summer and fall as far north as Washington. Usually seen in pairs, riding low in the water with necks stretched up.


m1:
Breeds in colonies on rocky islands within the Gulf of California and along the coast Pacific of Baja California, Mexico. Seen in the United States along coast of southern California, usually two or more miles out to sea. Usually seen in pairs, riding low in the water with necks stretched up. Flies low to water, making it difficult to see underwing clearly -- a key field mark to help separate Craveri's from Xantus' Murrelet.


m1:
Breeds in colonies on rocky islands of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska south to British Columbia. In flight, holds its head higher than other murrelets and does not rock from side to side as other murrelets do. Feeding takes place in offshore waters throughout the year. Swims in line, one ahead of the other.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests in colonies along the Pacific coast. Nocturnal at the nest. Feeds in offshore waters farther from shore than murrelets. Common.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests in rock crevices in cliff faces or rocky shores. Found in pairs or small groups in Bering Sea and western Gulf of Alaska. On open ocean in winter. Rolls from side to side in flight, as do most other Auklets. Least gregarious of the auklets.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests in rock crevices in cliff faces or rocky shores. Very common and gregarious. Perform spectacular aerial displays st dusk as they return to the colony. Noisiest of auklets on breeding grounds. Winters on open ocean. Can dive almost 200 feet for food.


m1:
Pelagic. Eggs laid on bare rocks in rock crevices or rocky shores. Locally common in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Millions can be seen at Pribilof Island in June and July. Spends winter at sea offmcoast of eastern Siberia. Rolls from side to side in flight, as do most other Auklets.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests on central Aleutian Islands in rock crevices in cliff faces or rocky shores. Seen close to shore in tide rips during the summer. Spends winter in small flocks on open ocean. Least known of the Auklets.


m1:
Nests in burrows on slopes and cliff tops. Nocturnal. Forages in inshore waters during the day. Common along west coast in fall and winter, usually seen singly or in small groups. Escapes danger by diving.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds along Atlantic coast on coastal islands, rocky cliffs. Gather in rafts near islands or cliffs where they will nest, to court. Often seen carrying many fish in its bill back to nest site. Winters in the open Atlantic, farther out and in deeper waters than murres and Razorbill.


m1:
Pelagic. Breeds along Pacific coast in burrows on top of islands. Often dives underwater when approached by boat, rising completely out of water before plunging under the waves. Spends the winter on open sea.


m1:
Pelagic. Nests along Pacific coast in burrows along cliff tops. Often runs across water for great distances before becoming airborne. Spends winter far out at sea. Largest of the puffins. Least likely puffin to dive when approached by boats.


m1:
Eurasian species that has been introduced around the world. Brought to Virginia about 1622. The familiar pigeon of statue sitting fame. Now abundant in towns, cities, parks, farms, bridges, all urban areas. Often nests on buildings. Associates very closely with humans. Tame.


m1:
Found in West Indies in woodlands. Seen in southern Florida and Florida Keys in mangroves, wooded islands and flying swiftly overhead. White-crowned Pigeons normally roost along the coast in mangroves and fly inland to feed on fruit trees. Gregarious. Hard to miss while driving down Highway 1 from Key Largo to Key West.


m1:
Western bird found in mountainous areas of conifers, chaparral (northwest), oak trees and mixed woodlands, foothills (southwest), parks. Often seen perching for long periods of time at top of tall trees.


m1:
Found in Mexico and Central America in mature deciduous forests, river thickets. Seldom comes to the ground except to drink. Very uncommon in lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas from coast to Falcon Dam. Usually seen in the summer in dense woods and scrub undergrowth. Shy.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia. Accidentally introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970s. Now found in suburbs, parks throughout Florida. Expanding to surrounding states and beyond. The Eurasian Collared-Dove is replacing small unsustainable colonies of Ringed Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia risoria). In 1992 the American Birding Association removed Ringed Turtle-Dove from their list of naturally occuring species found in the United States and added Eurasian Collared-Dove. Ringed Turtle-Dove is an entirely domestic bird, with no natural populations anywhere in the world and is thought to be derived from the African Collared-Dove (S. roseogrisea).


m1:
Found in southern Asia. Introduced in Los Angeles, California in 1917. Now found in coastal areas from Santa Barbara south to San Diego. Common in residential areas with large trees, cities, towns, suburbs, parks, gardens, woods near rivers.


m1:
Extinct in 1914. By far the most abundant bird that ever lived. Flocks of 1-2 billion birds estimated by Wilson, Audubon in early 1800s. Formerly found in open woodlands of beechnut, acorn, maple trees. Decline began about 1850, decline accelerated drastically in 1870s. Cutting of forests and slaughter by hunters prime reason for decline. Last nest in the wild was about 1894.


m1:
Widespread and very common. Suburbs, woodlands, farmlands, open lands with scattered trees, fields, grassy meadows, backyard feeders, near water in arid regions. Found almost anywhere except dense forests. Wings make whistling noise in flight. North American population estimated at 400 million.


m1:
Deserts, desert scrubland, mesquite, dry woodlands, agricultural areas, residential areas, wooded areas along streams, citrus groves. Gregarious.


m1:
Open country, farmlands, dry brushy rangeland, open woodlands, forest edges, orchards, fields, sandy cultivated land, roadsides, lawns. Smallest North American dove. Common and tame.


m1:
Found in northern Mexico to South America in humid open and semiopen habitats, towns, clearings. Over three dozen North American records from southern Texas to southern California between mid-October and early May. Range of Ruddy Ground-Dove is apparently expanding northward. Only 5 records prior to 1978, all from south Texas.


m1:
Dry open country with mesquite and cactus, cities, towns, lawns, parks and gardens, fields, farms, feedlots. Often seen perched on telephone wires and along roadsides in arid southwest. Tame.


m1:
Found in Mexico to South America. Northern edge of range reaches the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. Prefered habitat is dry woodlands with dense, brushy  undergrowth, riparian thickets. Usually seen alone walking on ground in search of berries.


m1:
Found in arid regions of Australia. Usually called a "parakeet" in the pet trade. Escaped cage birds have established wild populations in suburban Miami and southwestern Florida coast. May be seen in suburbs, parks. Escaped birds may be seen almost anywhere in North America.


m1:
Found in Mexico and northern Central America in deciduous and pine forests. Established in southern Texas. Common in Brownsville suburbs.


m1:
Extinct. The last Carolina Parakeet died in September, 1914 at the Cincinnati Zoo -- remarkably, the same place, month and year as  the last Passenger Pigeon died! Formerly found in swamps, wet deciduous woodlands, wooded river bottoms. Highly gregarious. Slept inside hollow trees. Killed for feathers to put in lady's hats and by farmers who did not want the birds eating fruit and corn from orchards and fields. 1904 was the last year birds were seen in the wild.


m1:
Found in southern South America. Escaped cage birds have established breeding colonies in Florida and Texas. Also small colonies along the Atlantic coast. Usually seen in crop fields, suburbs, and towns, especially around Miami, Florida and Austin and Houston, Texas.


m1:
Found in central South America. Escaped birds are established in the wild in the suburbs along the southeastern coast of Florida and near Los Angeles, California. Usually seen in suburban areas and parks. The parking lot of Parrot Jungle (SW 112th St. & SW 57th Ave. in South Miami) is a good "habitat" for many wild Parrots and Parakeets.


m1:
Found in eastern Mexico in pine-oak woodlands and forest edges, semiopen country. Escaped birds have established breeding populations in suburban areas of Miami and Los Angeles. Birds seen in southern Texas near Brownsville may be escaped birds or wild birds at northern edge of their Mexican range.


m1:
Found in Europe, Asia and Africa in open country with bushes and trees, open woodlands and in mountainous birch forests and forest edges. Migratory. Seen over a dozen times in the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands and western Alaska between late May and early July. Also one May record from Massachusetts.


m1:
Dense brushy areas near fields or marshes, scrublands. Gregarious. Often dips and wags tail while perched. Not recorded before 1937 when a hurricane carried birds from West Indies to Miami Beach, Florida. Most common at Loxahatchee NWR and Bailey Tract of Ding Darling NWR.


m1:
Bushy pastures with livestock, woodland edges, woodlands, thickets, farm fields, semi-open country, orchards, also near marshes, riparian habitat. Usually feed on the ground, hopping in a clumsy manner. May roost in flocks of 30-40.


m1:
Desert scrubland, arid open country, mesquite groves, also in chaparral, grasslands, agricultural areas. Usually seen running quickly (15 miles per hour), with neck outstretched, chasing a lizard or insects. Sometimes perches on fence or utility poles although most of time is spent on the ground. Shy.


m1:
Woodlands, woodland edges, dense thickets, orchards, near streams. Favors more extensive woodlands than Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Very difficult to see in dense foliage. Almost always heard before they are seen.


m1:
Dense thickets, woodland edges, brushy roadsides, orchards, willow thickets near streams or ponds.  Unlike Black-billed Cuckoo, it is seldom seen in large woods. Very difficult to see in dense foliage. Almost always heard before they are seen.


m1:
Coastal mangrove swamps, coastal scrub, dense thickets near salt water in southwestern Florida and Florida Keys. Very shy. Often responds to recordings of its call on back roads of Sugarloaf Key, Big Pine Key and No Name Key during the  spring... but please, avoid harassing birds! Use recordings sparingly! Wait 5 minutes between playing of recordings and LOOK -- the bird is probably within 50 feet of you! Too many birders use tapes in these areas already!


m1:
Barns, open woodlands, fields, meadows, prairies, savannahs, marshes, suburban areas, woods, farmlands, desert. Nocturnal. Nests in tree cavities, caves and a variety of unoccupied structures such as silos and barns. Found almost worldwide in a variety of habitats.


m1:
Ponderosa pine forests in the Rocky mountains westward. Also in oak forests in Arizona. Occasionally found in wooded lowlands during migration. Nocturnal. Responds to tapes of its song from May to July. Uncommon.


m1:
Open woodlands, deciduous forests, parks, farms, riparian groves, swamps, old orchards, small woodlots, suburban areas. Strictly nocturnal. Fairly common.


t1:
accelerating hollow whistles, constant pitch

m1:
Oak woodlands, wooded canyons, riparian groves, deserts, deciduous forests, parks, farms, old orchards, small woodlots, suburban areas. Strictly nocturnal. Fairly common.


m1:
Dense oak groves and oak-conifer woodlands, sycamore woodlands, usually between 4,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation. Nocturnal. Roosts during the day on tree limb close to trunk.


m1:
Can be found in almost any habitat including coniferous and deciduous woodlands, deserts, open country, along coast, and urban areas (likes to eat rats caught in city parks). Nests as early as February. Widespread and fairly common. Primarily nocturnal.


m1:
Tundra, open grasslands. When lemmings are scarce in the Arctic, Snowy Owls may stage an "invasion" and travel south to spend the winter in the northern United States. During invasion years they can often be seen perching during the day on posts and utility poles. Prefer open farmlands, marshes, meadows, seacoast, lakes, airports. Primarily nocturnal.


m1:
Dense coniferous or mixed woodlands, wooded swamps, deep forests often near water, lake shores, bottomland. Primarily nocturnal. Very common in Florida. Responds to imitations of its call. Occasionally calls during the day.


m1:
Dense humid coniferous forests and mountains in the northwest, thickly wooded canyons in the southeast. Nocturnal. Requires large stand of old forest for hunting. Population declining due to habitat destruction. The Spotted Owl of the Pacific northwest has come to symbolize the ecology vs. economics debate in the United States.


m1:
Boreal forests, wooded bogs, dense conifer forests with open areas in mountains. Uncommon. Primarily nocturnal. Tends to hunt during the day in invasion years when it has been forced south in the winter to find food. Areas around Duluth, Minnesota and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan are good spots for Great Gray Owls in invasion years. Also seen along high meadows of Yosemite National Park in California.


m1:
Open country, spruce forests, spruce-tamarack bogs. Flight is hawk-like and low. Hunts during the day (diurnal). Will raise tail and slowly lower it. Tame. May appear well south of normal range during "invasion" years when northern food sources are scarce.


m1:
Coniferous forests, open pine-oak, oak, and riparian woodlands, dense woodlands in foothills and mountains. Hunts during the day and at night but most active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular). Flies with quick wingbeats, low to the ground.


m1:
Saguaro desert, lowland desert with vegetation, dry open woodlands, scrub woodlands along Rio Grande River in Texas. Call can easily be imitated and works well in bringing owl out into the open. Active during day and at night. Flies low with quick wingbeats. Often seen at Falcon Dam, Texas.


m1:
Saguaro desert, desert lowlands, foothills, wooded canyons with sycamore or oak trees, oak and oak-pine woodlands, riparian areas. Nests in cavities in Saguaro cactus and in trees. Strictly nocturnal. Males respond to tape recordings of their song. Smallest owl in the world!


m1:
Open country, prairies, grasslands, deserts, airports, golf courses. Nocturnal, but sometimes active during the day. Frequently bobs up and down. Perches during the day at burrow entrance or on low post. Easiest of the owls to see.


m1:
Dense coniferous forests, muskeg. Nocturnal. Rarely appears in United States in invasion years. Tame. Very difficult to locate when roosting during the day. Probably the most difficult of the North American owls to see.


m1:
Dense coniferous or mixed forests, wooded swamps, tamarack bogs, spruce groves. Strictly nocturnal. In winter, roosts in dense evergreens. Whitewash buildup and regurgitated pellets can help locate winter birds. Tame.


m1:
Conifer groves, riparian habitat, thick coniferous and deciduous woods. Hunts near marshes, fields. Uncommon. Gregarious in winter. Strictly nocturnal. One of the most secretive owls.


m1:
Open country, marshes, moorlands, tundra, grasslands, weedy fields, airports, dunes. Crepuscular, hunting at dawn and dusk by flying very low over open fields with irregular wingbeat. Somewhat gregarious in winter. Easy to see, for an owl.


m1:
Dry, open country, arid lowlands, deserts, dry fields, scrubland. Often seen skimming over ponds and riparian vegetation or perched on roadsides. Active at dawn and dusk.


m1:
Open woodlands, forests, towns, cities, suburbs, meadows, sagebrush plains, mountains. More active during day than other nightjars. Common on summer evenings high above city lights.


m1:
Found in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean in open country. Occasionally seen (and heard) at dusk at Key West and Marathon, Florida airports, and on the Dry Tortugas. Has also been seen on southeastern Florida mainland.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to South America. Northern edge of range reaches southern Texas. Occurs in dry country, brushy woods, woodland edges and clearings, scrub of Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Forages after dark. Often able to see eyeshine of Pauraques by driving slowly along country roads just after dusk.


m1:
Dry, low brushy areas, sagebrush, pine and oak woodlands, coniferous woodlands, chaparral-grasslands of coastal slopes. Often seen on roadsides after dusk. Hunts on or near ground. Only bird known to go into hibernation.


m1:
Pine-oak woodlands, live oak groves, farm fields, forest edges, woods along rivers. North America's largest nightjar. Strictly nocturnal. Often seen sitting on roads at night. Flight is silent, mothlike.


m1:
Found in Mexico and northern Central America in arid rocky washes, desert canyons, brushy slopes. Rare in Arizona and New Mexico. Occasionally seen at night at Florida Wash near Ramsey Canyon, Arizona. Nocturnal.


m1:
Rural country areas, farm woodlots, open coniferous and mixed woodlands, clearings. Calls often heard after dusk. Occasionally seen along side of road at night taking dust bath. Has red eyeshine.


m1:
Nests and roosts in seacoast caves, rocky cliffs and behind waterfalls in the west. Usually seen very high in the air at edges of clouds, often over mountains or canyons. Easiest to see in overcast weather when they forage at lower levels, usually over lakes, ponds and rivers. Often soars. Uncommon.


m1:
Nests in chimneys, barns, hollow trees. Gregarious and common. Almost always observed in the air. Flight combines shallow wingbeats with gliding and erratic turns, like a bat. Looks like a flying cigar.


m1:
Nests in hollow trees. Feeds over lakes and rivers surrounded by forests. Flight is erratic and batlike, with less soaring than some other swifts. Usually seen in open skies. Vaux's Swift is the western equivalent of the Chimney Swift.


m1:
Nests in cliff crevices and mountains. Seen above rocky cliffs of mountains, desert canyons, rugged foothills. Common. One of fastest flying birds in North America (up to 200 miles per hour). Flight is a series of swoops and sharp turns, all executed at tremendous speeds.


m1:
Found in the highlands of southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America. Humid to semiarid pine-oak, oak and evergreen forest and edge, clearings with flowers. Fourteen North American records since the first in 1961. Casual in south and central Texas and in Arkansas from April through October.


m1:
Desert mountain canyons, brushy slopes, low mountain woodlands, riparian woodlands, desert washes near mesquite, sycamore and cottonwood trees. Nests in foothills in arroyos and canyons near streams.


m1:
Found in Mexico in pine-oak, oak and evergreen forests. Rare in southeastern Arizona mountains and southwest New Mexico. Resident in some years at Ramsey Canyon, Arizona.


m1:
Found in western Mexico in arid to semiarid scrublands, thorn forests, riparian woodlands. Reaches northern limits of its range in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico where it is seen in low mesquite-sycamore or higher oak-sycamore canyons. Uncommon. Seen occasionally at feeders in Patagonia, Arizona.


m1:
Found in western Mexico in woodlands, forest edges, scrub oak areas, clearings. Rare in southeastern Arizona in mountain forests and moist canyons. There have been about a dozen sightings since the first in 1964.


m1:
Found in Mexico in arid to semihumid forests and forest edges, brushy scrub, clearings. Reaches northern limits of its range in the southern tip of Texas. Uncommon. Seen in undergrowth in wooded areas, especially at Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary and Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.


m1:
Found in western Mexico in pine-oak and oak woodlands, clearnings with flowers. Reaches northern limits of its range in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico and Big Bend State Park, Texas. Seen in higher mountain canyons near streams. Common at feeders in Huachuca and Chiricahua mountains of Arizona.


m1:
Found in western Mexico in pine-oak woodlands, evergreen forests, desert grasslands, clearnings with flowers. Reaches northern limits of its range in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico and Big Bend State Park, Texas. Seen in mountain canyons near streams and drier open pine forests, usually at elevations above 5000 feet. Common at feeders in Huachuca and Chiricahua mountains of Arizona.


m1:
Found in  Mexico in arid to semiarid scrub, brushy woodlands. Reaches northern limits of its range in Big Bend/Chisos mountains area of Texas. Closely associated with agave plant found in arid foothills and mesas of western Texas. Has also been seen in southeastern Arizona in the spring and summer.


m1:
Common in the east in gardens with flowers, woodland edges, orchards, suburban areas with hummingbird feeders, parks. Only hummingbird that regularly nests east of the Mississippi River. Attracted to the color red. (Do NOT color the sugar water fed to hummingbirds, just have part of hummingbird feeder colored red.)


m1:
Oak woodlands, riparian woodlands of canyons and lowlands, foothills, towns, rivers. Common. Seen at higher elevations later in the summer. Western equivalent of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.


m1:
Coastal lowlands, parks, gardens, suburbs, chaparral, woodlands, foothills, canyons, live oak woodlands, mountains. Also seen in the desert in winter. Very common in California.


m1:
Desert and chaparral, dry foothills, sage scrub areas, arid washes and hillsides, suburban flower gardens. Often seen perching at tip of yucca or ocotillo plants.


m1:
Open woodlands, mountain meadows bordered by conifer trees, aspen thickets, brushy areas within conifer forests, canyons with streams. Smallest bird that nests in the United States or Canada.


m1:
Mountain regions with pine, fir, aspen forests; meadows with flowers or willow thickets. Narrowed outer tips of first two primary feathers in male's wings create a slot which causes a whistling noise when it dives through the air in courtship displays.


m1:
Woodland edges, gardens, parks, forests, thickets, mountain meadows. Seen in the lowlands during the spring and the mountains during the fall. Migrates early - north in February, south in August.


m1:
Coastal woodlands and edges, brushy areas near conifer forests, meadows, gardens and parks near the coast.  Migrates early (even earlier than Rufous Hummingbird) - north in early February, south in August.


m1:
Found in Mexico and Central America in arid to semiarid woodlands, thorn forests, deciduous riparian woods. Reaches northern limits of its range in southeastern Arizona. Often seen in oak or pine-oak woodlands in mountain canyons and in sycamore and cottonwood trees near canyon streams at altitudes between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. Easiest to see in late spring or summer on South Fork Trail in Cave Creek Canyon near Portal, Arizona.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to the southern tip of South America near rivers, streams, lakes, marshes. Northern limits of range reach southern tip of Texas along lower Rio GRande Valley. First nested in United States at Falcon Dam, Texas in 1970. Prefers larger rivers and lakes than Belted Kingfisher. Perches on roadside wires. Bobs and flicks tail.


t1:
stuttering, non-musical, dry rattle in-flight

m1:
Common and widespread near wetlands, ponds, lakes, streams, estuaries, also rocky seacoasts. Often perched conspicuously on dead branches over rivers and streams. Solitary, except in breeding season. One of few North American birds where female is more colorful than male.


m1:
Near small shady streams, rivers, ponds and lakes with heavy vegitation along the shore. Usually seen perching on branch or rock just above water's surface. Rarely hovers. Reaches northern limit of its range in southern Texas.  Most common along lower Rio Grande Valley.


m1:
Open woodlands and woodland edges, especially open ponderosa pine forests, foothills, cottonwood groves along streams, clearings caused by recent forest fires. In winter, found in oak woods or nut orchards. Locally common. Catches flying insects by "flycatching" or soaring out slowly into the air.


m1:
Woodland edges, farmlands, open groves of large trees, river bottomlands, suburban areas, parks. Often seen at large, dead trees. Will dart out into air to catch insects. Forages on ground. Rarely drills into trees.


m1:
Common and very conspicuous in the west. Seen in oak woods, pine-oak woodlands where oak trees are common, parks, towns. Found in small (2-15) noisy colonies. Drills holes in "granary tree" in fall to store acorns. During summer eats mostly insects.


m1:
Saguaro deserts, scrub desert with creosote bushes and mesquite, dry washes, cottonwood groves near streams, canyons of foothills with willow and sycamore trees, river bottoms, towns, cities. Noisy and conspicuous.


m1:
Dry woodlands, mesquite brushland, pecan groves, orchards, parks, gardens, woods with large trees along river bottoms, upland mixed pine-oak forests. Conspicuous and vocal like closely related Red-bellied Woodpecker.


t1:
churrr, churrr (throaty, deeply trilled)

m1:
Open deciduous forests, wet woodlands, pine forests, oak woods, parks, shade trees in the suburbs, wooded bottomlands, swamps. Undulating flight, like most other woodpeckers. Common and conspicuous.


m1:
Deciduous forests, mixed deciduous-conifer forests. In winter found in almost any woodland habitat, orchards, parks. Drills series of regularly spaced holes about 1/4 inch in diameter in tree trunks (at least 275 species of trees - and counting). Comes back later to drink sap and eat insects attracted to the sap. Tree's scars visible years later.


m1:
Deciduous forests, mixed deciduous-conifer forests with aspens. In winter found in almost any woodland habitat, orchards, parks. Sapsuckers drill a series of regularly spaced holes about 1/4 inch in diameter in tree trunks (at least 275 species of trees - and counting). They come back later to drink sap and eat insects attracted to the sap. Tree's scars visible years later.Formerly considered a race of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.


m1:
Conifer forests, mixed deciduous-conifer forests near the coast. Prefers lower elevations and moister forests than Williamson's Sapsucker. Sapsuckers drill a series of regularly spaced holes about 1/4 inch in diameter in tree trunks (at least 275 species of trees - and counting). They come back later to drink sap and eat insects attracted to the sap. Tree's scars visible years later. Formerly considered a race of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.


m1:
Open dry coniferous forests, mountains with spruce, fir and pine trees. In winter prefers lower elevations with pine and pine-oak woodlands. Sapsuckers drill a series of regularly spaced holes about 1/4 inch in diameter in tree trunks (at least 275 species of trees - and counting). They come back later to drink sap and eat insects attracted to the sap. Tree's scars visible years later.


m1:
Scrublands at deserts' edge, cottonwood groves and brushy areas along small streams, wooded canyons, brushlands with cactus and mesquite, rural areas, towns, parks. Often feeds on the ground.


m1:
Oak woodlands, chaparral mixed with scrub oak, riparian habitats with willow and cottonwood trees, wooded canyons with sycamore and alder trees. Feeds on tree trunks by chipping away bark, rather than drilling. Prefers moister habitat than Ladder-backed Woodpecker.


m1:
Common and widespread in deciduous and mixed forests, small woodlots, suburbs, orchards, gardens, urban areas. In the west, often found in willow and poplar trees along streams.  May hang like a chickadee from small branches or leaves. Comes to feeders. Downy Woodpeckers are more closely related to Ladder-backed Woodpeckers than to the similar looking Hairy Woodpeckers. Smallest woodpecker in North America.


m1:
Mature open pine or pine-oak forests. Nests only in large southern pine trees afflicted with heartwood disease. Pine pitch drips down trunk, repelling snakes and making it easier to spot nests. Habitat loss is causing population declines. Many conservation efforts now underway to save bird and its nesting habitat. Hard to see in field.


m1:
Oak and pine-oak forests on mountain slopes and foothills of southeastern Arizona. Also found in canyons in the same area. Found at elevations below Hairy Woodpecker and above Ladder-backed Woodpecker. This Mexican woodpecker was recently split into Strickland's Woodpecker (Mexico) and Arizona Woodpecker (southeast Arizona).


m1:
Deciduous and coniferous forests, hardwood swamps, streamside woods. Shier than similar looking Downy Woodpecker. Found on larger trees in the same area as Downy Woodpeckers.


m1:
Open coniferous forests in mountains. Prefers sugar and ponderosa pine trees where it can often be seen hanging from cones. May occasionally alight on trunk or branch upside down! Typically winters at lower elevations than summer range of 4,000-9,000 feet.


m1:
Spruce and fir forests, burned over areas, swampy forests with dead snags. Prefers denser conifer forests and higher elevations than similar Black-backed Woodpecker. Tends to be less active than other woodpeckers.


m1:
Coniferous forests, burned over areas. Often seen low in conifers or in dead trees out in the open. Noisy on its nesting ground. Range and habitat overlap with Three-toed Woodpecker, but one will be common and the other rare in any local area.


m1:
Widespread in a variety of habitats including open woodlands, suburban areas, saguaro deserts, parks, mature forests. Feeds on the ground, eating ants. Yellow-shafted race of the east and Red-shafted race of the west are still considered one species. But Gilded Flicker is now a separate species.


m1:
Stands of giant saguaro cactus, desert lowlands and foothills, riparian habitats with cottonwood and willow trees. The American Ornithologists' Union split Gilded Flicker from Northern Flicker in 1995. It is, once again, considered a separate species.


t1:
kik-kik-kik-kik-kik... (rate & pitch rise then

m1:
Mature deciduous and coniferous forests, cypress swamps, edges of woodland meadows. In east, becoming more tolerant of humans, moving into suburban areas and second-growth forests. Shy. Largest North American Woodpecker.


m1:
Almost certainly extinct. Not seen in United States since early 1970s. Last remaining birds were in Cuba until late 1980s or early 1990s. Formerly found in old-growth hardwood forests of river bottoms and along the edges of pine forests. Dead trees supplied food, primarily larvae of wood-boring beetles. Cutting of habitat and hunting reduced populations. Never very common.


m1:
Dry country near wooded streams, woodland thickets, mesquite, sycamore or cottonwood trees in riparian habitat. Often difficult to see. Male singing from top of tallest trees is best way to locate this flycatcher. Much more common in Arizona than Texas.


m1:
Boreal forests, wooded borders of bogs, montaine coniferous forests, edges of clearings, shores of wilderness lakes. Almost always seen perched on high, very conspicuous dead branch. This is true even in migration.


m1:
Mountainous pine-oak woodlands with tall trees, mountain canyons with sycamore trees. Formerly known as Coues' Flycatcher.


m1:
Open coniferous and deciduous woodlands in the mountains, riparian habitat near sycamore and cottonwood trees, deciduous trees near lakes, streams, towns. Often seen swooping out into the air for insects and returning to the same perch. Song and range differentiate Western from Eastern Wood-Pewee.


m1:
Deciduous and mixed woodlands, suburban areas, urban shade trees. Prefers tops of tall deciduous trees, often sitting on dead branch. Call often heard from deep within woods during the day. Song and range differentiate Eastern from Western Wood-Pewee.


m1:
Damp boreal forests, spruce bogs, swamps, coniferous forests, wet areas with sphagnum-moss ground cover. Usually within a foot or two of the ground, often in thickets. Common, but difficult to see.


m1:
Swamps, moist mature deciduous forests, wooded ravines, hammocks and cypress bays in the south. Perches in deep shade, just under canopy.


m1:
Willow thickets, thickets along streams, mountain meadows, brushy upland fields and pastures, open woodland edges, prairie woodlots. Found farther south and in drier habitat than similar Alder Flycatcher.


m1:
Birch forests, bogs, edges of marshes, damp thickets of alder or willows, near small streams, thickets along borders of ponds. Found farther north and in damper habitat than similar Willow Flycatcher.


m1:
Open deciduous forests and forest edges, orchards, suburban shade trees, parks, towns, trees along country roads, woodlots. Fairly common in the east.


t1:
chip-chewy or chip-chewy-chew (hp and a bit burry)

m1:
Moist forests of firs, spruce or pines at higher elevations. In the northern part of its range, prefers deciduous forests. Usually seen high in the treetop, in the shade. Flicks wings and tail frequently.


m1:
Chaparral, dry open coniferous forests, brushy areas with small conifers on mountainside, shrubby openings in forest. Usually forages at low levels near brush. Perches in trees to sing.


m1:
Arid pinon-juniper woodlands, sagebrush scrub areas, brushy areas, dry open pine woods. Dips tail gently then slowly raises it back up while holding wings still.


m1:
Coniferous and mixed forests, moist shaded forests along the coast, along streams, damp wooded canyons, coniferous forests with deciduous understory. Pacific-slope and Cordilleran Flycatchers were previously called Western Flycatcher.


m1:
Deciduous and coniferous forests, moist shaded forests of the Great Basin, along streams, damp wooded canyons, coniferous forests with deciduous understory. Cordilleran and  Pacific-slope Flycatchers were previously called Western Flycatcher. Often perches on shaded limb under forest canopy and calls repeatedly.


m1:
Found in Mexico. Northern edge of range extends into Arizona to open pine and pine-oak woodlands at lower elevations of the Huachuca Mountains, dry mixed woodlands of canyon floors. Often seen foraging from low scrubby understory or close to the trunk of pine trees.


m1:
Woodlands near streams, suburbs, farmyards, bridges over streams and small rivers, rocky ravines. Nests in eaves and rafters and under bridges. Wags tail slowly after landing. Usually near water. Tame. John James Audubon once tied small wire around leg of Eastern Phoebe -- the first bird banding experiment in North America.


m1:
Open woodlands, suburban areas, marshy ponds, near mountain streams and reservoirs, parks. Usually nests near water and is never far from water. Even attracted to watering trough for livestock. Occasionally seen at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Lowers and raises tail slowly when perched. Perches on lower branches or fence posts.


m1:
Dry open country, sagebrush plains, barren foothills, canyons, bluffs, cliffs, ranches. Perches low to ground on rocks or small bushes. Very active. Rapidly dips and fans tail when perched.


m1:
Dry country near wooded streams and rivers; bottomlands with mesquite, willow and cottonwood trees; edge of wooded ponds; open brushy or grassy fields near water. Forages from low conspicuous perch. Often hovers. Tame. Never far from water.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to South America. Northern limit of range extends into Arizona and New Mexico. Pine-oak woodlands, edge of thick wooded streams in mountains, mountain canyons with sycamore and live oaks. Usually seen at elevations below 6000 feet. Prefers dense scrub oak thickets and deep shade.


m1:
Wide variety of habitats including semi-arid scrub and oak-juniper woodlands, deserts, chaparral, riparian habitat, mesquite thickets near stream beds, shrubby areas of canyons. Common.


m1:
Open deciduous and coniferous woodlands, clearings, suburbs, orchards, farm woodlots, parks, shade trees. Forages high in the canopy. Perches in the open. Often heard before it is seen.


m1:
Saguaro desert, wooded canyons and streamsides with cottonwood, willow and sycamore trees, river groves, towns, ranches. Conspicuous and noisy.  Formerly called Weid's Crested Flycatcher.


m1:
Found in Cuba, Bahamas and Grand Cayman Islands in mangroves, mixed woodlands and forests. About half a dozen North American records from Alabama (one) and southern Florida (five). Most from December and January.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to central Argentina in open woodlands, open areas with hedges and scattered trees, forest edges, wet woodlands, often near water. Northern edge of range reaches tip of south Texas. Perches high in trees with open foliage. Noisy.


m1:
Found in Mexico and Central America in humid to semiarid forests and edges, clearings, plantations. Northern edge of range reaches southeast Arizona where it is seen in canyon woodlands of oak, sycamore and pines. Often sits motionless in tall trees. Noisy. Typically at elevations of 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Fairly common.


m1:
Found in lowlands of Mexico south to South America in scrubby woodlands, brushy areas along streams, chaparral, forest clearings, lowlands near streams or ponds surrounded with tall trees. Northern edge of range reaches southeast Arizona where they are local and uncommon.


m1:
Found in Mexico in open scrubby woodlands, forest edges, plantations, brushy areas near rivers. Northern edge of range extends into southern Texas where it is seen in the lower Rio Grande Valley in groves and shrubs, usually near water.


m1:
Pine-oak or pinon-yucca woodlands, foothill grasslands, desert streamsides, lower parts of canyons with sycamore trees. Prefers denser habitat and usually found higher in foothills and mountains than Western Kingbird.


m1:
Found in Mexico in dry country near wooded streams, woodland edges, scrubby semiopen areas, plantations. Northern edge of range just barely reaches southeast Arizona. Usually seen in Guadalupe Canyon perched high in sycamore trees near streams. Often heard before it is seen.


m1:
Dry, open country with scattered trees, agricultural regions, ranches, towns, riparian habitat, prairies. Often seen perching on utility wires or fence posts. Common and widespread at low to moderate elevations.


m1:
Open and semi-open country, roadsides, chaparral, ranches. Often seen perched on utility wires or fences. Male performs acrobatic "sky dance" during courtship which even includes a few reverse summersaults in mid-air!


m1:
Found in tropics from southern Mexico to central Argentina in savannas, open country with scattered bushes. Migratory. Dozens of North American records throughout the year in central and eastern United States and southern Canada.


m1:
Open woodlands, clearings, rural roadsides, farms, orchards, edges of fields, streams, suburbs. Often near water. Perches conspicuously on wires, posts and tops of trees. Common and widespread.


m1:
Mangroves, marsh edges, suburbs, coastal scrub of Florida Keys and coastal Florida. Often seen perched on utility wires along Highway 1 in the Florida Keys. Prefers red mangrove trees for nesting.


m1:
Found in Mexico and Central America near wooded streams, forest edges, pine-oak clearings, open areas with scattered trees, wooded canyons, bottomlands. Northern edge of range reaches southeast Arizona and very southern tip of Texas. In United States, usually seen in Arizona in mature groves of sycamore, willow or cottonwood near flowing water.


m1:
Introduced in 1902 or 1903 from Europe. About 100 were released on the Saanich Peninsula near Vancouver, British Columbia. Resident on Vancouver Island and San Juan Islands in open fields, croplands, meadows, marshy flats, sandy coasts. An Asian subspecies is rare on the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Name changed by AOU in 1995 from Eurasian Skylark.


m1:
Dirt fields, farmlands, shores, prairies, tundra, open country, airports, golf courses. Widespread and common, especially in plowed fields.


m1:
Freshwater marshes, wetlands, brackish ponds and marshes, wet meadows, wooded habitat near water, especially where dead trees are abundant. Migrates in large flocks during the day. Will nest in man-made boxes.


m1:
Open woodlands, forest clearings, steep-walled canyons, suburban areas, coastal areas, towns, lakes, streams. Flies at relatively low altitudes. Nests in dead trees or in nest boxes.


m1:
Open country, farmlands, towns, agricultural areas, wetland borders. Often near open water. Locally common where there are suitable nest sites such as man-made colonial martin houses.


m1:
Stream and riverbanks, culverts, gravel pits, dams, under bridges, cliffs. Rather solitary. Arrive very early in the spring. Widespread and fairly common. Forages by flying low over ground or water to catch flying insects.


m1:
Stream and riverbanks, gravel pits, embankments along highways or railroad tracks.  Large colonies nest in excavated burrows in banks. Wingbeats are shallow and rapid.


m1:
Under bridges, barns and other farm buildings, culverts. Common and gregarious. Found worldwide. Often seen flying swiftly over fields, meadows, ponds to catch insects. Follows farmers plowing fields.


m1:
Buildings, bridges, cliffs, open country, towns and villages. Forages over water or open country. Nests on buildings and under bridges as well as cliffs. Locally common.


m1:
Limestone caves, sinkholes, overhanging cliffs, bridges, culverts of southwest Texas. Also found during spring and summer at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico.


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia in a variety of open habitats where it is known as Pied Wagtail. Uncommon to rare in western Alaska on coastal tundra. Usually found near water. Bobs head as it walks and also wags its tail.


m1:
Found in northeastern Asia in woodlands, thickets, bogs, along river banks, and mountain tundra. Rare in western Aleutian Islands and on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Also recorded at Reno, Nevada on May 16, 1967.


m1:
Found in northern Europe and Asia on tundra, wet meadows. Seen annually in western Aleutian Islands of Alaska and western coastal Alaska. Has nested at  Wales, Alaska. Accidental in California.


m1:
Tundra, mountaintops near treeline. In winter and in migration, found on grasslands, plowed fields, mudflats of wet fields, beaches, shores with little vegetation.


m1:
Short-grass prairie. Secretive and uncommon. Usually seen alone. Skulks through the grass, making it very difficult to see unless it is flushed into the air. During summer, spends most of day high in the air in courtship or territorial flight.


m1:
Found in Asia in gardens, scrub, open woodlands, lowlands and foothills to 5,000 feet. Caged birds escaped about 1960 in Miami, Florida and have established a breeding population. Seen in suburbs, on utility wires, and parklands south of Miami, especially near tennis club at SW 72nd Ave and SW 98th Street.


m1:
Open brushy areas, meadows, pastures, orchards, thickets along roads, hedges. More common in the western portion of its range.  Prefers low, unconspicuous perches.


m1:
Coniferous forests, forest edges, semi-open country, willow brush near swamps and bogs. Often perches high in tall trees. Uncommon.


m1:
Boreal forests, mixed woodlands, gardens with fruit trees. Travels widely and unpredictably in large flocks during the winter.


m1:
Open woodlands, clearings, towns, parks. Often seen near cedar and mountain ash trees. Very gregarious in the winter and during migration. Will feed together in trees in tight packed bunches. Occasionally get drunk from eating overripe fruit!


m1:
Mesquite brushlands, desert washes. Later in the summer found in oak chaparral, riparian areas. Often seen perched at very top of trees and shrubs. Fond of mistletoe berries. Flight is somewhat erratic.


m1:
Near clear rushing mountain streams. Seen at elevations as high as 11,500 feet. May move down mountain in winter if stream freezes. Bobs up and down while walking on rocks in middle of stream. Disappears underwater where they forage for small fish and insect larvae.


m1:
Deserts at low elevations with thorny scrub and cactus, especially large cholla, riparian brushy habitats, gravel streambeds, arid hillsides, desert residential areas. Often seen singing from top of cactus with head pointed up and tail pointed down.


m1:
Rock cliffs, canyons, open arid and semiarid scrublands, talus (rocky debris at base of a cliff) slopes, dry washes, quarries. Rather tame and very active. Often far from water.


m1:
Shady desert canyons with streams or rivers, rock cliffs, caves, mesas, river gorges. Common and easy to hear. Found at bottom of Grand Canyon.


m1:
Freshwater sedge marshes, wet grassy meadows, edge of spagnum bogs. Difficult to see. Formerly called Short-billed Marsh Wren.


t1:
varied, complicated, fast, bubbly and busy

m1:
Freshwater reedy marshes, wetlands, reedy shores of ponds, freshwater or brackish cattail swamps, marshy coastal areas, banks of tidal rivers. Secretive. Occasionally seen singing while clinging to a cattail. Formerly called Long-billed Marsh Wren.


m1:
Brushy areas, moist woodlands and swamps, suburbs, gardens, tangles, brush piles. Active and curious. Responds to pishing. Severe winters cause northern limit of range to retreat southward.


t1:
like Song Sparrow, but thinner, more rapid

m1:
Brushy areas, thick undergrowth, clearings, gardens, orchards, fencerows, suburbs, stream edges, open scrubby woods, cactus and mesquite, chaparral. Often seen flicking its tail sideways.


m1:
Dark coniferous forests especially under fallen tree trunks, along stream banks with overhanging ledges, edges of swamps, brush piles, brushy gullies. Easily mistaken for a mouse crawling through the underbrush. Uncommon and secretive.


t1:
stuttering, gurgling, musical, (v); at end

m1:
Deciduous woods and woodland edges, clearings, canyons, brushy areas, suburbs, gardens, parks, orchards, farmyards. Common. Will readily nest in bird houses.


t1:
varied mocker-like phrases (seldom repeated)

m1:
Dense thickets and undergrowth, vine tangles, bushy trees, deciduous woods, suburban areas, roadside bushes, hedges, gardens. Has a variety of calls, including one that sounds like a cat.


t1:
varied phrases (thrice or more repeated)

m1:
Open woodlands, suburban areas, gardens, pastures, thickets, hedges, towns, orchards, deserts. Male sings continuously for hours during the day or night. Often repeats vocalizations three times. Imitates many bird songs as well as other unusual noises.  Common and widespread.


m1:
Sagebrush plains, semi-dry open country, scrub areas, ranges, deserts. Seen primarily in valleys and mesas rather than foothills. Shy.


t1:
drop-it, drop-it, cover-it-up, cover-it-up, pull-i

m1:
Woodland edges, brushy areas, hedges, roadsides, gardens, thorn thickets. Usually seen on or near ground, although it may also be seen singing from exposed perch. Shy.


m1:
Dense thickets and undergrowth of river bottomlands, woodland edges, mesquite and cactus chaparral in southern Texas.


m1:
Desert scrublands, farmlands, grasslands, dry open country, saltbush flats, residential areas in central Arizona.


m1:
Desert scrublands, brushy riparian areas, canyons, chaparral, suburban areas. Common and conspicuous.


m1:
Deserts, desert scrublands, arid and sparsely vegitated habitats. Prefers hottest parts of desert. Very shy.


m1:
Chaparral, foothills, brushy parklands, edges of streams. Usually seen on ground under brush. In United States, found only in California.


m1:
Wooded streamsides in dry country, thickets, dense mesquite, chaparral. Shy and secretive.


m1:
Open woodlands, clearings, farmlands, parks, orchards, gardens, fields, along roadsides on utility wires and fences. Numbers declined due to competition from starlings and house sparrows for nest sites. Making a comeback as people erect bluebird houses.


m1:
Forest edges, orchards, parklike wooded areas of coniferous and deciduous trees in summer and semi-open areas, desert mesquite groves, farmland in winter.


m1:
Mountain meadows, timberline areas, foothills, open country, rangelands, farmlands, sagebrush plains. Usually seen above 5,000 feet in the summer and at lower elevations in the winter.


m1:
Open coniferous forests, mountains up to 12,000 feet in summer, lower canyons, wooded valleys in winter. Fond of juniper berries. Flaps wings slowly. Usually seen alone or in small groups. Often seen on high perch.


m1:
Dense, moist coniferous forests, montaine forests, coastal forests, alder groves near streams, near mountain lakes. Common but shy.


m1:
Dense thickets and undergrowth, moist deciduous and mixed woods, thickets along streams, willow and alder swamps, wooded lowlands. Often seen foraging on forest floor, turning over leaves with its bill. Likes to sing at dusk. Very pretty, flutelike song.


m1:
Damp boreal forests of spruce and tamarack, dwarf alder and willow thickets, mixed woodlands, arctic tundra. Can be seen almost anywhere in migration. Shy. Bicknell's Thrush (of the high mountains) was split from Gray-cheeked Thrush by AOU in 1995.


m1:
High mountains of New England and eastern Canada, thick stands of conifers up to tree line, mixed deciduous woodlands, mixed second-growth areas of conifers and hardwoods, scrub. Split from Gray-cheeked Thrush by AOU in 1995.


m1:
Spruce, fir and balsam forests, mountainous areas, swamps, wet deciduous and mixed woodlands, thickets especially near streams. Migrates at night. Shy.


m1:
Mixed forests, coniferous forests, sphagnum bogs, pine barrens, thickets. Unlike other thrushes in this family, the Hermit Thrush often spends the winter in the United States.


m1:
Moist deciduous woodlands, suburban wooded areas, swamps, wooded gardens, parks. Often heard and seen near streams. Common. Perhaps the most beautiful song of any North American bird.


m1:
Found in eastern Asia in open woodlands, suburban areas. Rare migrant in the western Aleutian, St. Lawrence and Pribilof Islands of Alaska. Accidental in western and northern Alaska.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to northern Colombia in dense thickets and undergrowth. Rare in southern and eastern Texas. Has nested at Bensten-Rio Grande State Park. Most often seen between December and April.


m1:
Found in western Mexico in deciduous woodlands, thickets, gardens. Rare visitor to southern portions of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Usually seen between late October and April. First recorded in the United States in 1960.


m1:
Common and widespread in suburbs, parks, moist woodlands, swamps, gardens, hedges, forest edges, lawns, pastures, orchards. Often nest close to human structures.


m1:
Found in northern Asia in forest tangles, riverside forests. Migratory. Casual spring migrant in western Aleutian, Pribilof and St. Lawrence  Islands in Alaska. One record from Ontario, Canada.


m1:
Found in northern Europe and Asia in montaine regions with dwarf willows, brush. Migratory. Breeds in northern and western Alaska. Occasionally seen on St. Lawrence Island and the western Aleutian Islands.


m1:
Found throughout Europe, Asia and (in winter) Africa in barren fields and short-grass areas. Fairly common in Alaska and northeast Canada (Greenland race) on tundra, open stony country, bare hillsides, dunes. Wheatear refers to white rump or "white arse".


m1:
Arid foothills, dense chaparral, low thickets, coniferous and coastal brushlands, parks, forest edges. Almost always heard before they are seen. Hides in dense bushes. Tail is usually cocked, much like a wren.


m1:
Open woodlands and brushy understory, thickets. In the west, seen in chaparral, scrub oak woodlands, pinon-juniper woodlands, thickets. Frequently flicks tail. Responds to pishing.


m1:
Chaparral, arid coastal scrub, dry coastal slopes, sagebrush mesas. Once considered a form of Black-tailed Gnatcatcher.


m1:
Chaparral, desert scrub, arid thorny brushlands, desert washes, ravines, riparian underbrush. During the winter, may be seen with Blue-gray Gnatcatchers near wooded streams of the southwest.


m1:
Found in northwestern Mexico in arid to semiarid scrub, foothills, chaparral, thorn forests. Very rare and sporadic visitor to southeast Arizona. Has nested in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. First North American record was in 1971.


m1:
In willow thickets near streams, deciduous and coniferous forests, birch forests, grassy tundra, brushy areas. Fairly common in western and central Alaska.


m1:
Coniferous forests, spruce woodlands. In winter often seen in mixed woods, thickets, hedges. Nervously flicks wings when moving from branch to branch. Extremely high pitched song. Very tame. Golden crown can be difficult to see in the field.


m1:
Coniferous forests in summer. In winter often seen in mixed woods, thickets, brush, hedges. Flicks wings rapidly when calling.


m1:
Oak woodlands, mixed deciduous woodlands, thickets, chaparral, gardens, scrub areas, parks. Travel in loose flocks of 10-50 birds, uttering a high pitched twittering as they move through the area.


m1:
Mesquite, thorny shrub areas of the desert, brushy riparian woodlands. Usually seen alone or in pairs. Very active, behaving like a chickadee. Quite loud, often heard before they are seen.


m1:
Mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, woodland edges, clearings, fields, thickets, orchards, suburbs. Often seen foraging in low branches of trees. Will come to feeders.


m1:
Mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, woodland edges, swampy areas, clearings, fields, thickets, orchards, suburbs, valleys, foothills. Where ranges overlap, found at lower elevations than Black-capped Chickadee. Prefers woods more than Black-capped. Often seen with Tufted Titmice and Downey Woodpeckers. Responds to pishing. Will come to feeders.


m1:
Found in Mexico in arid to semiarid conifer and pine-oak forests. Reaches northern edge of range in Chiricahua Mountains of southeast Arizona and Animas Mountains of New Mexico. Seen at elevations of 7,000-8,000 feet in the summer.


m1:
Open coniferous forests or mixed woodlands in western mountains. Found at elevations of 10,000 feet and more. In winter, often found at lower elevations in foothills with oak trees and valleys in cottonwood and willow trees by streams.


m1:
Found in northern Europe and Asia in woodlands, coniferous forests, montaine birch forests. Uncommon in Alaska and Yukon in willow thickets near streams, spruce forests at treeline, river valleys in the winter. Also known as Siberian Tit and Siberian Chickadee.


m1:
Coniferous forests of spruce, balsam and pine; cedar and hemlock swamps; birches and willows near streams. Often seen feeding high in balsam firs. Occasionally in small flocks with Golden-crowned Kinglets.


m1:
Thick coniferous and mixed forests, deciduous coastal forests near streams, eucalyptus groves, redwood groves. Feeds high in trees. Curious and tame.


m1:
Oak and pine-oak woodlands of Arizona mountains, foothills of the Huachuca Mountains. In winter may be seen in wooded valleys with sycamore trees near streams.


m1:
Oak woodlands; foothills; suburbs. Common and conspicuous. Will come to feeders. Plain Titmouse was split into Oak Titmouse and Juniper Titmouse in 1997.


m1:
Pinyon-juniper and pine woodlands; foothills; suburbs. Common and conspicuous. Will come to feeders. Plain Titmouse was split into Oak Titmouse and Juniper Titmouse in 1997.


m1:
Deciduous woodlands, suburbs, villages, parks, mesquite. Common, conspicuous and tame. Will come to feeders. Usually seen in small mixed flocks with chickadees and other species following the breeding season.


m1:
Ponderosa pine forests, juniper and pinyon woodlands, mixed hardwoods. Primarily in the mountains. Travel in loose flocks high in the pine trees, calling constantly to one another.


t1:
kit-kit-kit-... or ki-dit, ki-dit... (hp, rapid)

m1:
Pine woodlands in coastal plains, clearings, burned-over tracts, mixed forests, wooded residential areas. Southeastern counterpart of the Pygmy Nuthatch. Rarely strays far from pine forests. Travel in small flocks.


m1:
Balsam fir and spruce forests. Forages on small branches and outer twigs of conifer tree or probes rapidly around trunk. May move south in winters when seed crop is poor on breeding gounds.


m1:
Deciduous and mixed forests, suburbs, farm woodlots, towns, oak and ponderosa pine in western portion of its range. Common and widespread. Usually seen moving down tree trunk head first. Relatively tame.


m1:
Mixed forests, conifers, dense swampy forests with dead trees. Forages by spiraling upward from base of tree toward branches, then flies to another tree and begins again. Inconspicuous but fairly common. Uses tail as a prop when climbing up tree trunk. Usually seen alone, occasionally with chickadees and other small birds.


m1:
Pinyon-oak and pinyon-juniper woodlands, ponderosa pine forests, yellow pines, foothills, lower mountain ranges. Very gregarious.


m1:
Oak, beech and pine forests, parks, villages, suburbs. Common and widespread. Very noisy and bold. Flocks of 5,000 or more may gather at Point Pelee, Ontario in late September before flying out over Lake Erie on their southern migration.


m1:
Coniferous and pine-oak forests, campsites. Common, noisy and bold. Often scavenges at campsites and picnic areas.


m1:
Open oak woodland and brushland of Santa Cruz Island, California. Scrub-Jays were split into three separate species by the AOU in 1995.


m1:
Oak, pinyon and juniper scrub; brushland; chaparral; riparian woodland. Scrub-Jays were split into three separate species by the AOU in 1995.


m1:
Oak scrub with widely scattered pines, especially where low-growing and periodically burned. Usually seen in central Florida and near Atlantic coast. Scrub-Jays were split into three separate species by the AOU in 1995.


m1:
Pine-oak canyons of the southwestern mountains, riparian woodlands, evergreen oak woodlands. Common, noisy and gregarious. Formerly known as Gray-breasted Jay. Changed by the AOU in 1995.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to Colombia and Bolivia in forests, woodland edges, thickets. Reaches nothern edge of range in southern Texas. Usually seen in brushy areas and dense woods in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Will often come to investigate human intrusions into its area. For such a colorful bird, it can often be difficult to see in the tangles.


m1:
Found in Mexico in humid lowlands to semiarid forest and edges, second growth, semiopen areas with scattered trees. Reaches northern edge of range in southern Texas. Usually seen in dense woods along the Rio Grande River. Travels in small flocks. Pumps tail as it flies.


m1:
Boreal forests, campgrounds and picnic tables. Very bold and aggressive when it comes to snatching food from campers. Often travels in pairs or small groups. Usually seen gliding from tree to tree. Generally quiet. Formerly called Canada Jay.


m1:
Open country, open woodlands, thickets near streams, rangeland, pastures, foothills. Often found near water. Common and very social. Spends much of time on ground searching for food. Split from the Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) in July, 2000 (AOU 42nd supplement).


m1:
Parklike oak groves, tall trees near streams, orchards, cultivated fields, foothills, rangelands. Found only in California. Common within its range.


t1:
kraa-a-a-a (long, drawn-out), or kra-kra-kra-kra

m1:
High coniferous forests, mountains near timberline, campgrounds. Noisy, gregarious and bold. Often seen perched on bare snags. Occasionally move into lowlands and even desert areas in winter.


m1:
Abundant and widespread. Occurs in a wide variety of open and semi-open habitats including corn fields, woodland edges, suburbs, prairies, woodlots, dumps. Often mob (harass) owls and hawks.


m1:
Wooded shores of bays and beaches, mud flats, towns, coastal areas of the northwest. Often seen scavenging along the shore.


m1:
Found in northeast Mexico in open and semi-open country with trees and hedges,dry brushy areas, towns, rubbish dumps. Northern edge of range reaches Brownsville, Texas where it can easily be seen at the city dump.


m1:
Tidewater areas, salt marshes, coastal wetlands, beaches, banks of streams, low valleys along large eastern rivers, dumps. Gregarious and sociable.


m1:
Arid open country with yucca and mesquite, scrubby grasslands, desert scrub, agricultural areas, feed lots. More gregarious than similar Common Raven. Large flocks may form in the fall for southward migration. Formerly called White-necked Raven.


m1:
Very common. Found in a wide variety of habitats including deserts, dense boreal forests, steep canyons, foothills, mountains, rugged coastal areas, arctic tundra. Often seen along highways eating road kill.


m1:
Abundant. Found in a wide variety of habitats in virtually every part of the continental US and southern Canada. Introduced into New York in the late 19th century from Europe. Competes successfully with native species for nest holes. Often seen in large flocks with grackles and blackbirds.


m1:
Found in Asia in thickets near swamps, wet birch woodlands, coniferous forest edges. Migratory. Rare in western Aleutian Islands, Pribilof Islands, and St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Has also been seen in British Columbia, Washington and California.


m1:
Dry plains with buffalo grass, short-grass prairies. In winter also seen with Horned Larks in plowed fields, barren ground, dry lake beds, overgrazed pastures. Uncommon.


m1:
Tundra, grasslands, coastal areas, open fields, grain stubble, grassy fields, beaches and shores. In winter, often seen with Snow Buntings or Horned Larks. Most common of the longspurs.


m1:
Tundra, damp meadows, prairies, short-grass areas, grain stubble. Does not sing in flight. Very uncommon and localized, secretive and solitary. One of least-known North American birds.


m1:
Moist upland prairies, dense grass. Winters in deserts, plains and plateaus, rarely mixing with other longspurs. Fairly common. Prefers areas with taller grass than other longspurs.


m1:
Tundra, open fields, rocky shores, beaches, dunes, rocky talus slopes, weedy fields, grain stubble, roadsides. Usually seen in flocks during the winter, often with Lapland Longspurs or Horned Larks. Nests farther north than any other passerine (perching bird).


m1:
Tundra, coastal areas of Alaska. Breeds only on islands in the Bering Sea. Very closely related to Snow Bunting with similar habitat preferences.


m1:
Dry plains, prairies, sagebrush, short-grass prairies. Gregarious in winter and during migration. Common. State bird of Colorado.


m1:
Dense undergrowth in coniferous or mixed woods, dense thickets, chaparral, hedgerows, streamsides with brushy cover. Many subspecies vary greatly in appearance.


m1:
Common in woodland edges, weedy fields with brush nearby, brushy thickets, gardens, cattail marshes, along country roads, hedgerows, pond edges, streams lined with brushy cover.


m1:
Northern bogs, wet brushy meadows, thickets, hedgerows, brambles, mountainous scrub. Male sings while hidden in tree. Shy. Often pumps tail.


m1:
Swamps, freshwater marshes, wetlands, brushy fields and meadows, streamsides, woodland edges. Prefers weedy areas with dense cover. Sings from exposed perch during breeding season.


m1:
Boreal forest clearings, brushy areas near streams, woodland edges, hedgerows, brushlands. Probably the only species that summers entirely within Canada and winters entirely within the United States.


m1:
Brushy areas, tangles, open woodlands, willow thickets near streams, shrubby areas in mountains, residential areas, roadsides, parks.


m1:
Northern coniferous forests and clearings, bushy openings and undergrowth in woodlands, gardens, parks, feeders, hedgerows, shrubby pastures, brush piles, cattail marshes. Song often translated as "Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody" or "Sweet, sweet, Canada, Canada, Canada".


m1:
Timberline brush, stunted boreal bogs, willow and alder thickets near streams, open areas near tree line, chaparral, coastal shrub thickets, garden shrubs.


m1:
Conifers, edges of mixed forests, thickets, weedy fields, brushy areas, feeders, roadsides, parks, gardens. Very common in winter, especially at bird feeders. In 1973 the AOU lumped the Slate-colored, Oregon, Pink-sided and Gray-headed Junco together as Dark-eyed Junco.


m1:
Coniferous forests of ponderosa pines, douglas firs, mexican pinyons; pine-oak slopes; mountains above 6,000 feet elevation. Forages on ground. Tame near picnic grounds in Arizona.


m1:
Salt marshes, open wet grasslands, tundra, hayfields, short-grass prairies, mountain meadows, streamsides, grassy dunes. Prefers areas with dense cover. Common. Many sunspecies throughout North America with marked variation in appearance.


m1:
Freshwater marshes, wet meadows, brackish marshes, lakeshores. In winter, salt and brackish marshes. Runs like a mouse. Sharp-tailed Sparrow split into two species (Nelson's and Saltmarsh) by AOU in 1995. Named changed by AOU in 2209 from Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow to Nelson's Sparrow.


m1:
Atlantic and Gulf Coast salt marshes, spartina grass near tidal creeks. Responds to pishing. Large feet make it easy for bird to run over muddy ooze. Flies only a short distance when flushed. Dusky and Cape Sable subspecies were once considered separate species.


m1:
Salt marshes. Breeds along Atlantic coast from Scarborough, Popham Beach south to Pea Island, North Carolina. Runs like a mouse. Sharp-tailed Sparrow split into two species (Nelson's and Saltmarsh) by AOU in 1995. Named changed by AOU in 2209 from Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow to Saltmarsh Sparrow.


m1:
Prairies, weedy fields, moist meadows, rangelands, pastures. Uncommon. Forages on ground among long grass.


m1:
Wet grassy fields, edges of marshes, moist grassy plains, bogs. Fairly common but secretive and difficult to flush, preferring to run along ground. Flies only short distance before dropping back into grass.


m1:
Weedy moist meadows, shrubby fields, overgrown pastures. In winter, in understory of pine woods. Prefers low damp areas with dense ground cover. Secretive nature and weak song make bird difficult to locate.


t1:
pee-trip-treee (last syllable a raspy trill)

m1:
Prairie grasslands, pastures, old weedy fields, palmetto scrub, grain fields, hayfields. Fairly common but secretive.


m1:
Edge of taiga-tundra, woodland edges, brushy pastures, weedy fields, marshes, hedges, open country, groves of small trees. Usually seen in small flocks during the winter.


m1:
Woodland edges, grassy weedy fields, thickets, lawns, gardens, dry scrubland, mountain meadows, open ponderosa forests. Tame and common.


t1:
notes like a ping-pong ball dropped onto a table -

m1:
Old overgrown fields, weedy pastures, burned over woodlands, briars, brushy woodland edges, edges of plowed fields, thickets.


m1:
Chaparral covered hillsides, rugged mountain slopes with rocky outcroppings, dense sagebrush slopes, brushy arid foothills, canyon streams. Often seen singing from top of yucca.


m1:
Brushy fields, thickets near streams, shrubby areas, forest edges, burned-over areas, grasslands with shrubs, dry scrublands.


m1:
Sagebrush flats, dry brushy mountain meadows, desert scrub, balsam-willow groves. Common in Great Basin and northern Rocky mountain region. The birds of western Canada differ in vocalization, ecology and morphology. This group may soon be split from Brewer's Sparrow and called the Timberline Sparrow (Spizella taverneri).


t1:
like Song Sparrow, but lower, more guttural

m1:
Dry open country, barren fields, open grasslands, sagebrush, farmlands, close-cropped pastures, dry prairies, forest clearings. Forages by walking or running over ground.


m1:
Treeless plains with scattered shrubs, prairies, farmlands, ranchlands, open woodlands, brushy pastures, parks, along country roads. Often seen on utility wires or on fence posts in open country. Gregarious in winter.


m1:
Desert scrublands with creosote bushes, rocky slopes, sagebrush flats, arid mountain regions. Flies erratically, close to the ground. Common in driest, hottest part of the desert.


m1:
Sagebrush flats, alkaline flats with saltbush, desert scrub, chaparral,  foothills. Usually runs, rather than flies. Responds to pishing. Male usually sings from exposed low perch.


m1:
Found in Mexico in arid brushy scrub and thorn forests, rocky slopes, steep desert hills with tall dense brush. Reaches very northern limit of range in southern Arizona at Sycamore Canyon and California Gulch (between Nogales and Arivaca near Mexican border). Take LOTS of water if you go there!


m1:
Thornscrub, tall grasslands mixed with cactus and brush, mesquite, densely vegetated desert flats. Northern edge of range barely reaches southern Arizona.


m1:
Dry open pine woodlands, scrub palmeto, oak woods with undercover grasses, brushy fields, field edges. Very secretive. Spends most of time on ground. Males sing late into summer.


m1:
Grasslands with cactus and mesquite, dry brushy areas, dense tall grass. Almost always heard before it is seen. Sings from top of bush or post, not from ground. When flushed, quickly drops back into tall grass.


m1:
Short grasslands with cactus and mesquite, dry foothills or mountains, desert scrub. Almost always heard before it is seen. Often seen singing from top of yucca.


m1:
Brushy or grassy slopes, rocky arid hillsides, boulders, brushy hills, coastal scurb. Forages on the ground, making it fairly inconspicuous. Responds to pishing.


m1:
Found in Mexico and Central America in weedy fields. Small resident population in lower Rio Grande Valley centered around San Jacinto, Texas. Present since 1984. Usually seen near cemetery or along river in tall grassy weeds.


m1:
Woodland edges, old fields, thickets, undergrowth, brushy clearings, overgrown pastures. Known as Rufous-sided Towhee prior to 1995 when it was split into Eastern and Spotted Towhee by AOU.


m1:
Sagebrush, willows, chaparral, woodland edges, thickets, undergrowth, brushy clearings. Known as Rufous-sided Towhee prior to 1995 when it was split into Eastern and Spotted Towhee by AOU.


m1:
Scrubby rocky mountains, arid foothills, chaparral, wooded canyons, juniper-oak thickets, brushy hillsides. Formerly known as Brown Towhee.


m1:
Chaparral, woodlands, parks, riparian areas, open live-oak woodlands, suburban gardens, brushy areas. Formerly known as Brown Towhee.


m1:
Desert valleys, mesquite, streamside thickets, riparian areas with cottonwood and willow trees, suburban yards, orchards, farms, towns. Shy and difficult to see. Found at lower elevations than Canyon Towhee.


t1:
weet-churrr-chee-churrr (mixed sweet and burry not

m1:
Arid foothills, chaparral, dense shrub, sagebrush, mountainsides, high plateaus. Secretive. Scratches under brush for seeds.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to Costa Rica in deciduous forests, dense thickets and undergrowth, thorn forests, live oak. Reaches northern limit of range in southern Texas. Usually heard in brushy thickets. Often difficult to see.


m1:
Weedy fields and meadows, grainfields, tall-grass prairies, pastures, alfalfa fields. Forages on the ground. Nesting grounds change erratically. Gregarious in migration.


m1:
Open woodlands near water, thick brush, large trees near open areas, marsh borders, overgrown pastures, dense growth of small trees, woodland edges, gardens, parks.


m1:
Forest edges, thickets, edges of swamps, stream edges, open woodlands, parks, forested mountains up to 8,000-10,000 feet.


m1:
Woodland edges, fields, thickets, brushy undergrowth, suburbs, gardens, feeders with sunflower seeds, swamps, desert washes, riparian areas. Very common in the east. Both sexes sing almost the entire year.


m1:
Thorny desert scrublands, mesquite thickets, riparian areas, dry creek beds. In winter may also be seen in woodland edges, hedgerows, ranchlands and agricultural regions.


m1:
Woodland edges, old overgrown fields, thickets, brambles, hedgerows, farmlands, mesquite, orchards, willows near streams and ditches, brushy roadsides. Often seen perching on wires or fences.


m1:
Woodland edges, weedy fields, thickets, roadsides, hedges, orchards, clearings, brushy pastures. Often seen perched on utility wires or at top of trees. Male sings into August.


m1:
Open brushy areas, weedy areas, open deciduous woodlands of aspen, willows, alders or cottonwood trees, chaparral, scrublands, shrubs near streams,


m1:
Mesquite thorn scrub, chaparral, in washes, canyons near water, arid rocky areas, streamside thickets, brushy pastures. Shy and secretive.


m1:
Open country, woodland edges, weedy fields, low thickets near streams, hedgerows, gardens, roadside bushes, sunflower seed feeders, Thayer Birding Software box. Shy.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to Panama in oak and pine-oak forests. humid evergreen forests, woodland edges. About a dozen North American records from southeastern Arizona. Sightings were during the spring and summer. Pairs have nested in Ramsey and Madrea Canyons since 1993.


m1:
Open oak and pine-oak woodlands up to 7,000 feet elevation, pinon-juniper woodlands near streams, valleys with sycamore trees. Forages slowly high in trees. Also darts into air to catch flying insects.


m1:
Pine-oak and oak forests, streamside willow and cottonwood trees, dry open woodlands. Common but often hard to see in foliage at top of trees.


t1:
chick-burrr... (last syllable rapidly trilled)

m1:
Mature deciduous and mixed forests, suburban shade trees, wooded parks. Tends to remain motionless high in canopy of tree, making it difficult to see.


m1:
Open coniferous forests of Douglas fir, spruce and pine,  mixed woodlands with aspen trees, oak-pinyon woodlands of higher mountains up to 10,000 feet in elevation. Found in lowlands during migration. Common, but hard to see for such a colorful bird. Often sings from exposed branch.


m1:
Found in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles and Cozumel Islands in forests, scrubby hills and mountains, thickets, suburbs, parks. Rare in southeast Florida. Usually seen between late November and mid-June within a few miles of the coast. Name changed in July, 2000 from Stripe-headed Tanager.


m1:
Open coniferous forests, pine-oak forests, high mountains. Usually seen at elevations of 7,500-12,000 feet. Forages and nests very high in conifer trees. In winter may be seen in understory of deciduous trees or on ground.


m1:
Almost certainly extinct. Not seen since 1962 in I'On Swamp in South Carolina. Formerly in canebrakes, thickets at edge of mature deciduous swamp forests, low woodlands. Wintered in Cuba.


m1:
Edges of open deciduous woodlands, brushy and brier patch areas, overgrown pastures, second-growth woodlands with scrubby thickets. Nests on the ground. Male often sings from high, bare branch.


m1:
Open woodland edges, old fields with scattered trees, second-growth woodlands, brushy meadows, borders of streams. Often seen in lower branches of trees and undergrowth.


m1:
Coniferous and deciduous forests, edges of spruce forests, mixed open woodlands, brushy areas. In migration can be found in many wooded habitats. Often forages high in trees.


t1:
trill (ascending/accelerating, then tumbles (v); a

m1:
Open brushy areas, woodland edges, thickets, streamside edges, chaparral hillsides, brushy edges of fields. Forages in lower branches. Common in the west.


m1:
Open woodlands, brushy areas, cut-over and burned woods, second-growth woodlands, brushy edges of bogs, orchards, shade trees, chapparal. Often seen in aspen and birch groves. Forages in tree tops.


m1:
Coniferous forests, scrubby brush, pinon-juniper woodlands, yellow pine woodlands, ravines covered with scrub oak, streamside thickets of willow and alder. Most often seen at altitudes between 6,000 - 9,000 feet. Wags its tail conspicuously.


m1:
Found in Mexico in chaparral with scattered oaks and conifers, pinyon-juniper woodlands. Reaches US at about 6,000 - 7,500  feet elevations of Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, Texas. Often seen there in young maples, stunted oak woodlands, pine slopes. Not shy. Often wags tail while hopping around ground. Sings from prominent perch atop bushes or small tree. Usually seen within first hour of hike up the mountain.


m1:
Dry country near wooded streams, mesquite, cottonwoods, foothills, riparian areas, washes, ponds. Very active, often flicking its tail. Common in the southwest.


m1:
Humid conifer forests or mixed woods near water, southern swamps, areas with Spanish moss or long lichen. In migration may be found in almost any type of tree, roadsides, parks, orchards. Fearless and approachable. Forages at tops of trees.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to Peru and Argentina in woodlands, riparian groves with large trees and Spanish moss. Rare in Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas.


t1:
wee-zee, wee-zee, wee-zee... (like a bathtub squea

m1:
Deciduous and mixed forests, damp woodlands. Forages on trunk and lower branches of trees. One of first warblers to migrate north each spring since it does not need canopy of leaves for foraging.


m1:
Very common in marshes, swamps, streamside groves, willow and alder thickets, open woodlands with thickets, orchards, gardens, coastal mangroves.


m1:
Open deciduous forests, wooded hillsides near streams, bottomland swamps. Found high up in canopy of tall deciduous trees. Difficult to see. Most common in Ohio River valley. During nesting season, male sings all day long.


m1:
Mixed and deciduous forests with thick undergrowth, rhodendron thickets, beech and maple forests. In migration, in trees of parks and gardens. Often seen in low and mid-level branches.


m1:
Open pine forests, pine barrens, open mixed woodlands, scrublands. In migration, in deciduous trees, orchards, lowland thickets, overgrown fields, mangrove swamps (winter) as well as pines. Usually tame and approachable. Tends to stay near tops of trees. Will alight on pine trunks, much like a nuthatch.


m1:
Open woodlands, second-growth deciduous woods, brushy areas, overgrown pastures and fields, bushes along roadsides. Population increased dramatically this century as suitable habitat was created by clearing of woods.


m1:
Coniferous forests, mixed forests of southwestern mountains, yellow pines. Usually at elevation of 6,000 - 8,000 feet. Forages at top of tall pines, only occasionally near ground in oak thickets. Active.


m1:
Live oak forests with Spanish moss, southern pine forests, cypress swamps, bottomlands, river banks, orchards. Forages at the tops of trees with a deliberate, creeping motion.


m1:
Coniferous forests, mixed forests, pine-oak woodlands in the Appalachians. Usually remains in upper branches, making it difficult to see. In migration may occur in a variety of woodland habitats.


m1:
Dry oak woodlands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, clearings in coniferous forests, chaparral, brushlands. Fairly common.


m1:
Coniferous forests. Usually seen at the very top of tall conifer trees. In migration may occur in a variety of habitats including live oak trees. Male sings throughout the day in nesting season.


m1:
Open coniferous forests, mountains. Often associates with Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler. Forages at tops of conifers 150-200 feet above the ground. Not reclusive as name implies. Prefers drier habitat than Townsend's Warbler. In migration, also occurs in lowlands.


m1:
Oak and juniper woodlands of the Texas hill country, cedar brushy areas on dry upper slopes of Edwards Plateau of south-central Texas. Often seen on hillsides and canyons. Difficult to locate after male stops singing in May.


m1:
Coniferous forests or open mixed woodlands, birch and aspen woodlands, second-growth hardwood forests, swampy cypress forests, pine barrens


t1:
zee-zee-zee-zee... (steady rise in pitch)

m1:
Open woodlands, brushy areas with saplings, dry scrublands of oak or pines, overgrown fields, old pastures. Mangrove swamps in winter. Pump their tails.


m1:
Muskeg bogs, clearings. In migration and winter in woodland edges, low bushes, weedy fields, marshes, brushy areas. Constantly raises and lowers its tail.


m1:
Young jack pines of north-central Michigan. Rare in Wisconsin and Ontario. Winters in the Bahamas. Frequently wags tail. Rarely seen in migration, although best chance is northern Ohio along Lake Erie. Endangered species but population has been increasing steadily.


m1:
Open black spruce forests, fir trees, open woodlands. In migration, pine forests, mixed forests, shrubs of parks, towns.


m1:
Moist spruce-fir forests, clearings, along woodland roads, overgrown pastures, edges of swamps and ponds with small trees. In migration, lower branches near the center of trees and thickets.


m1:
Open coniferous forests or mixed woodlands, forest edges, clearings, spruce bogs, thickets. Previously two separate species: Myrtle Warbler of the east (white throat) and Audubon's Warbler of the west (yellow throat). Very common.


t1:
chipping trill (very hp - slower than chippie)

m1:
Spruce-fir forests in summer. Sluggish. Forages at tops of trees.  In fall, forages at lower levels in woodlands, trees of parks and gardens. Late migrant. Common.


m1:
Northern spruce-fir forests, clearings, forest edges. Forages at the mid-level of the trees. Southern migration is very early (August). Fairly common.


m1:
Deciduous and mixed forests, small groves, open second-growth woodlands. Actively chases flying insects. Often seen drooping wings and fanning tail. Quite animated. Common.


t1:
t-cheer, t-cheer, t-cheer... (tea-cher, tea-cher)

m1:
Mature deciduous woods without heavy undergowth, spruce forests. Often seen walking over forest floor. Sings from low branches in the forest. Common. Nest resembles Dutch oven.


m1:
Cool dark swamps, wet woodlands, stream banks, pond and lake edges, brushy bogs. Bobs body and moves tail up and down as it walks. Likes areas with standing, not rushing, water. Fairly common but shy.


m1:
Wooded streamsides, cool ravines, running brooks in dense woodlands. A ground dweller. Walks or runs rather than hops. Bobs and teeters like common sandpiper. Prefers faster moving water than Northern Waterthrush.


m1:
Swamps, canebrakes, thickets, wet woodlands, pineland depressions. Also found in mountain rhododendron at 2,000 - 3,000 feet elevation. Uncommon and secretive. Spends most of time walking on the ground or flitting close to ground.


m1:
Deciduous hillsides and ravines, slopes of shady damp woods with dense undergrowth. Often seen walking on the ground with tail slightly cocked. Male sings from perch 10-20 feet above ground. Uncommon.


m1:
Wooded swamps, streamsides, wet woodlands, bottomlands, willow lined riverbanks. Nests in tree cavity near stream or sluggish water. Common in the south.


t1:
witchedy-witchedy-witchedy (or) tchep (flat and ra

m1:
Common in swamp edges, tangles in wetlands, brushy pastures, damp brier patches, weedy grassy fields, roadsides with vines and tangles, cattails, sedges, shrubs.


m1:
Shady thickets of damp deciduous woods, bottomlands near streams and rivers, ravines, edges of swamps. Usually seen on ground in dense undergrowth or on low branches.


m1:
Wet woodlands with thickets, wet meadows, spruce-tamarack bogs, poplar and aspen woodlands. Walks rather than hops. Forages on the ground or low limbs. Very uncommon.


m1:
Woodland undergrowth, lowland thickets, moist woodlands, edges of swamps and bogs, shrubby burned-over land, old woods clearings. Unlike Connecticut Warbler, hops rather than walks. Very secretive and skulking.


m1:
Dense thickets and undergrowth of montane forests, brushy mountain hillsides, cut or burned areas of second-growth woodlands, dense willow thickets along streams. Hops rather than walks. Shy and secretive but fairly common.


m1:
Cypress-gum swamps, moist woodlands, dense forest undergrowth, moist ravines. Seldom seen higher than 15 feet above forest floor.


m1:
Moist woodland edges, willow thickets, spruce-tamarack bogs, alders or birches near streams and ponds, tangles near water. More numerous in the west. Active. Twitches tail and flicks wings. Usually seen within 10 feet of the ground.


m1:
Undergrowth in moist mature forests, dense woodlands near streams or swamps, brushy undergrowth. Active. Often seen "flycatching" or darting into air after flying insects. Forages in undergrowth or low branches.


m1:
Found in Mexico and Central America in pine-oak forests. Reaches norther limit of range in Arizona and New Mexico. Usually seen in mountain canyons at 6,500-9,000 feet elevation. Prefers yellow pine, spruce or Douglas fir. Often near streams. Easiest to find in April and May.


m1:
Evergreen oak woodlands, moist mountain canyons with pine and oak trees, pinyon-juniper forests, Often near streams with sycamore trees. Typically seen at 5,000-7,000 feet elevation.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to Guatemala in dense thickets and undergrowth, woodland edges, second growth woodlands. Eleven North American records from Texas and seven from southeastern Arizona. Sightings have occurred throughout the year.


m1:
Dense thickets and undergrowth, forest edges, brambles in low wet areas, swamps, pond edges, old pastures. Fairly common but shy, secretive and solitary. Sings at night. Flies between bushes with awkward flight. Easier to hear than to see.


m1:
Evergreen and live oak trees, open woodlands, mountain canyons with sycamore or maple treeas, chaparral, brushy areas, willows along streams. Also in humid forests of Pacific coastal areas. Responds to pishing.


m1:
Oak scrub of dry hillside and ravines, thickets, chaparral brush on rocky slopes. Found in Texas and Oklahoma hill country. Active but often difficult to see.


t1:
chick, per-wee-tee-o, chick or chick-per-wee-o

m1:
Dense thickets and undergrowth, woodland edges, hedgerows, brambles, old brushy fields. Often seen at eye level or lower. Sings repeatedly. Active. Responds to pishing.


m1:
Dry brushy areas, pinyon-juniper woods, low dense scrub of arid mountains and mesas, mesquite, chaparral. Flicks tail like a gnatcatcher.


m1:
Thickets along rivers and streams, open woodlands, brushlands, riparian areas, bottomlands, and in the southwest in mesquite near water. May sing all day long. Population of California's "Least" Bell's Vireo is declining rapidly. Suffers from cowbird parasitism and habitat destruction.


m1:
Forests, mixed woodlands, montane forests of eastern United States and Canada. Split from Solitary Vireo in 1997.


m1:
Open yellow pine forest, pine-oak woodlands, oak scrub, pinyon-juniper woodlands, riparian woodlands.  Found in a variety of wooded habitats in migration and winter.  Split from Solitary Vireo in 1997 by the AOU.


m1:
Open coniferous or mixed coniferous-deciduous woods, Oak woodlands.  Found in a variety of wooded habitats in migration and winter.  Split from Solitary Vireo in 1997 by the AOU.


m1:
Mature moist woodlands, semi-open deciduous forests, towns, orchards, along streams and lakes, shade trees. Often seen foraging near tops of tall deciduous trees.


m1:
Very common to abundant in deciduous woodlands, mixed woodlands, suburban shade trees, prairie groves, orchards, parks. Sings most of the day. Forages high in trees. Easy to hear - often hard to see.


m1:
Found in Mexico south to the Amazon region of South America. Reaches southern tip of Texas where it is uncommon. Seen in open forests, woodland edges, orchards, roadside trees, brushy pastures. Forages at mid to upper levels of deciduous trees.


m1:
Found in West Indes and also in south Florida during the summer. Mangroves, coastal scrub, Florida Keys.


m1:
Deciduous woodlands, second growth woods, alder thickets, aspen parklands, shrubs. Often seen in lower or middle part of deciduous trees. Uncommon and easily overlooked.


m1:
Open deciduous woodlands, streamside groves, isolated shade trees, riparian areas, farmyards, orchards, aspen groves, towns. This species will probably soon be split into Eastern Warbling Vireo (V. gilvus) and Western Warbling Vireo (V. swainsonii).


m1:
Found in Europe and Asia in birch forests, brushy areas, fields. Migratory. Seen during migration in the western Aleutian Islands, Pribilof Islands and St. Lawrence Island. Also recorded in over two dozen northern states and province.


m1:
Coniferous forests, mixed woodlands, groves of alders, shrubs, fields, feeders. Winter range is erratic with flocks often numbering over 100.


m1:
Woodland edges, fields, thickets, orchards, roadsides, riparian areas with willows, feeders. Common and widespread. Often seen eating thistle seed.


m1:
Weedy fields with scattered trees, open woodlands, woodland edges, gardens, farms, riparian areaswith brushy willows.


m1:
Arid foothills, chaparral, dry grassy slopes of valleys and lower mountains. Often seen in flocks with other goldfinches. Move about from year to year.


m1:
Arctic tundra, birch forests, brushy areas, weedy fields. Far less common than very similar Common Redpoll.


m1:
Arctic tundra, birch forests, brushy areas, weedy fields, feeders, mixed woodlands, roadsides. Winter population fluctuates widely. Often forms large winter flocks.


m1:
Alpine tundra, snowfields, rocks and cliffs high in western mountains. Formerly lumped with Black and Brown-capped and known as Rosy Finch.


m1:
Snowfields, mountaintops, high rocky slopes in the Great Basin. Formerly lumped with Grey-crowned and Brown-capped and known as Rosy Finch.


m1:
Snowfields, rocks and cliffs of Rocky Mountains, feeders, roadsides. Formerly lumped with Black and Grey-crowned and known as Rosy Finch.


t1:
warbling - varied phrases, fast, lively, brief

m1:
Open woodlands, conifer forests, suburban areas, parks, feeders, oak canyons along Pacific coast. Often seen in small flocks at tops of trees.


m1:
Open coniferous forests, upper mountain forests. Prefers pine forests that are higher and drier than those favored by Purple Finch.


t1:
zreee! (included in varied, warbling song)

m1:
Urban areas, suburbs, parks, farms, ranches, roadsides, feeders, desert. Gregarious and very abundant. Introduced to Long Island, New York in 1971. Has spread west very rapidly. One of most abundant birds in the west.


m1:
Open coniferous forests or mixed woodlands, mountains. In winter in deciduous woods, orchards, feeders. Winter populations in United States vary greatly from year to year.


m1:
Pine forests, mountains. In migration and in winter can be found in a variety of habitats, including sides of roads treated with salt to melt snow. Irregular wanderers, following cone crop. May "invade" southern US in some years when food is scarce.


m1:
Spruce-fir and hemlock forests, pine forests, sides of road eating salt or grit.  Irregular wanderers, following cone crop. May "invade"  US in some years when food is scarce, although less apt to wander as far south as Red Crossbill.


m1:
Conifer forests, open mixed woodlands, mountains, suburban areas, feeders with sunflower seeds, roadsides. Gregarious.


m1:
Towns, cities, suburbs, farms, ranches. One of the most abundant birds in North America.


m1:
Suburbs, parks, farmlands near St. Louis. Introduced from Europe. Has spread slightly to farmlands of western Illinois.


m1:
Found in Mexico and Central America in open woodlands, brushy scrub. Introduced to southern Florida in Miami area. Population stable but not expanding. Usually seen in gardens, parks and edges of West Indian hardwood hammocks.


m1:
Found in Mexico and Central America in subtropical woodlands, scrub areas, second-growth woodlands. Occurs in North America along the lower Rio Grande River in southern Texas. Forages in open areas in the woods. Noisy and easy to see. Formerly known as Lichtenstein's Oriole.


m1:
Open deciduous woodlands, suburban areas, orchards, tall suburban shade trees, edges of woods near streams. Formerly lumped with Bullock's Oriole and called Northern Oriole. Split in 1995 by AOU, presumably much to the relief of Maryland residents who selected the Baltimore Oriole as the official state bird.


t1:
varied, rich whistles and mixed gutturals

m1:
Open deciduous woodlands, riparian areas with cottonwoods and  willows, prairies, farmlands, lower moun tain canyons, suburban areas, orchards, tall suburban shade trees. Formerly lumped with Baltimore Oriole and called Northern Oriole. Split in 1995 by AOU.


t1:
warbling - varied phrases, incl. guttural notes

m1:
Old orchards, open country with scattered trees, suburban shade trees, woodland edges, groves of trees along streams, farms, ranches.


m1:
Palm trees in southern California, streamside woodlands, thickets, ranches, towns, riparian areas with cottonwood and sycamore trees, desert oasis with palm trees.


m1:
High desert slopes of mountains, semiarid plains, pinyon-juniper foothills, desert canyons, scrub oak areas. Often seen near flowering yucca plants.


m1:
Found in Mexico in humid evergreen forests, clearings, pine-oak woodlands. Northern limit of range extends to southern Texas. Usually found in dense woods. Forages at mid-level of trees. Shy and quiet, easily overlooked. Formerly known as Black-headed Oriole.


m1:
Freshwater marshes, sloughs, wetlands, reedy lakes, grassy fields, grainfields, farmlands, feedlots. Nests only over standing water. Gregarious. Arguably one of the worst sounding "songs" of the avian world!


m1:
Freshwater marshes, cattail marshes, wetlands, grassy fields, moist thickets, fields, orchards, woodland edges, rice fields. Abundant. Winter flocks may number in the millions in southern states.


m1:
Freshwater marshes with cattails and bulrushes, wetlands, grassy fields, wet meadows, rice fields, rangelands, livestock pens. Very gregarious, nesting in large colonies in marshes. Territory may be only 6 square feet!


m1:
Pastures, meadows, grassy fields, prairies, open country, country roadsides. Prefers moister habitat than Western Meadowlark. Often seen singing from fence posts or utility wires.


t1:
flute-like, 7-10 gurgling (some double) notes

m1:
Pastures, meadows, grassy plains, prairies, foothills, open country, country roadsides. Prefers drier habitat than Eastern Meadowlark. Often seen singing from fence posts or utility wires. Song is best way to separate Eastern and Western Meadowlark.


m1:
Parks, towns, ranches, coastal marshes, wetlands, flatlands with trees. Common. Usually near water. Very weird, unusual song


m1:
Coastal saltwater marshes, barrier islands, mud flats, parks, towns, lakes and streams in Florida, farmlands. Common. Usually within 20 miles of ocean, except in Florida.


m1:
Suburban lawns, parks, woodlands, groves along rivers, farmlands, orchards, swamps, croplands, open fields. Gregarious and abundant. Often seen in huge flocks with other blackbirds and starlings.


m1:
Spruce woods near water, swamps, riversides, wet woodlands, pastures, agricultural fields. Often seen in very large flocks with other blackbirds.


m1:
Pastures, fields, farmlands, ranches, open country, towns, golf courses, parks, meadows. Common. Flocks with other blackbirds.


m1:
Found in Caribbean and throughout South America in pastures, fields, open country, farmlands. Spreading north to southeastern United States.


m1:
Open country at lower elevations, farmlands, fields, lawns, feedlots, brushy areas, wooded mountain canyons. Often in flocks with other blackbirds, except in summer.


m1:
Pastures, fields, woodland edges, farmlands, suburbs. Feeds with tail cocked up. Female often sits quietly, waiting to lay her eggs in nest of another species - especially orioles, warblers, vireos and tanagers.


m1:
Grasslands, hay fields, weedy meadows, alfalfa fields, clover fields, grassy areas of smaller airports.


m1:
Deciduous woodlands, suburbs, villages, parks, mesquite. Common, conspicuous and tame. Will come to feeders.


m1:
Freshwater marshes, bogs, wetlands, wet grassy fields, pastures, grassy edges of small streams.


m1:
Found in northern Europe and Asia in meadows, bogs near water.


m1:
Open conifer and mixed woodlands, edges of aspen groves, mountain slopes,  brushy areas, berry patches. In winter moves UP the mountains to conifer forests where they spend almost all their time in the trees.


m1:
Lakes, ponds and rivers in high Arctic or taiga zone of Eurasia during breeding season. Winters in open country, on marshes or agricultural land of Europe and eastern Asia in winter. Rare spring migrant in western Aleutian Islands of Alaska.


m1:
Found naturally in Southeast Asia. Introduced in many locations worldwide where it is considered an invasive pest


m1:
Wooded mountains and canyons of the southwest. Rural country areas, farm woodlots, open coniferous and mixed woodlands, clearings. Calls often heard after dusk. Occasionally seen along side of road at night taking dust bath. Has red eyeshine.


m1:
Dark coniferous forests especially under fallen tree trunks, along stream banks with overhanging ledges, edges of swamps, brush piles, brushy gullies. Easily mistaken for a mouse crawling through the underbrush. Secretive.


# ThingsDescriptions

Description:
Thin black bill and yellow facial skin	Black legs with yellow feet	Shaggy plumes on head, neck, and back in breeding plumage


Description:
Yellow stripe up the back of the black legs ,and yellow feet	With pale-based bill when they leave nest, becomes black during autumn	Lacks shaggy head, neck and back plumes


Description:
Black legs with bright yellow feet	White overall with yellow facial skin	Slender black bill	Wispy plumes on head neck in breeding season	Medium-sized long-legged wading bird	Usually holds necks in "S" curve in flight	Entirely white plumage	Sexes similar


Description:
Common in a wide variety of wetlands with fresh, brackish and salt water. Occurs along coast as well as inland. Marshes, ponds, mangrove swamps, occasionally in dry grasslands where it may associate with cattle. Extremely active. Moves briskly in the water, shuffling its feet to frighten prey out of hiding. Stabs repeatedly to catch it. Breeding colonies contain thousands of pairs of birds. Nuptial plumes of Snowy Egret were most sought after of all egrets' in early 20th century.


Description:
Chestnut neck	White chin	White stripe down center of neck


Description:
Reddish-brown and white streaks on head and neck	Extensive white spots on wing coverts


Description:
Small, short-legged and short-necked heron	Greenish upperparts and dark cap	Blue-gray back and wings	Chestnut neck and chest	Yellow facial skin	Center of throat and neck are white	Yellow legs	Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extending it	Sexes similar


Description:
Common near streams, ponds, marshes, coastal wetlands, lake shores, wet woodlands, mangroves. Inhabits both fresh water and salt water marshes. Often seen perching in trees. Solitary. Flight is rapid. When alarmed, flicks tail downward, stretches neck and raises crest. Roosts on or close to ground. Tends to feed during early morning and late afternoon.


Description:
Red eyes	Blue-gray neck, chest, back and belly	Dark centers to back feathers	Pale yellowish forehead and buffy-white crown	Black face and chin with broad white auricular stripe


Description:
Eyes yellowish to amber	Head, neck, chest and belly dark gray-brown streaked finely with buff and white	Darker cap	Wings and back darker brown with small white spots at the tips of the feathers	Greater secondary coverts with crisp white edgings and small spots at tips


Description:
Gradually acquires adult plumage over 2 years, losing spotting and streaking and gradually acquiring face and body plumage of adult


Description:
Black face with white cheeks	Buffy-white crown	Gray body	Dark, stocky bill	Fairly small, long-legged, short-necked heron	Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extending it	Black bill	Leg color varies with age	Long legs, with feet and part of legs extending beyond tail in flight	Sexes similar


Description:
Uncommon and local in tidal mudflats, mangrove swamps, cypress swamps, marshes, riverbanks, lakes, lagoons lush swamps and rocky shores. Found along coast but also inland near water's edge. Roosts in tall trees. Hunts at night, but also frequently seen during the day.


Description:
Red eyes, legs yellow	Black bill	Black crown and back	White face, throat, foreneck, chest and belly	Blue-gray wings	Two long, white, filamentous plumes extending from back of head in breeding plumage


Description:
Eyes yellowish to amber, legs dull greyish	Yellow base to bill	Brown head, neck, chest and belly streaked with buff and white	Wings and back darker brown with large white spots at the tips of the feathers; spots especially large on the greater secondary coverts


Description:
Acquires full adult plumage in its third year	First-year birds are similar to juvenile, but have less extensive spotting on upperwings and a dark cap	Second-year birds resemble the adult, but have a brown neck and wings contrasting with darker brown cap and back


Description:
Black crown and back	Gray wings, light gray underparts	Pale yellow legs (reddish in breeding season)	White plumes on back of crown in breeding season	Fairly small, stocky, short-legged and short-necked heron	Bill medium-sized and pointed	Tucks neck in close to body in flight and at rest, rarely extending it	Sexes similar


Description:
Common but local in marshes, wooded swamps, forests along shallow rivers and streams, and mangroves. Found in fresh, brackish and salt water habitats. Active at night. Hunts by standing motionless for long periods of time then quickly thrusting bill into water to catch small fish. Hunched posture. Flies with deep strokes and arched wings, head and back in a straight line


Description:
Black cap	Black back	Fairly faint brown streaks on foreneck


Description:
Brown cap	Brown back	More obvious brown streaks on foreneck


Description:
Buff cap does not contrast with face	Blackish streaks on foreneck	Brown back


Description:
Very small wading bird	Buffy underparts and inner wing patches	Dark crown and back (black in male, dark brown in female)	Two thin white lines down back	Buff face and sides to the neck	White chin, throat, foreneck and belly	Buff wing coverts visible in flight and at rest	Rare morph, Cory's Least Bittern, has darker wing coverts


Description:
Freshwater marshes, wetlands. Occasionally in brackish or saltwater areas near the coast in the south. Often seen making short flights low over the marsh. Prefers to walk through reeds and cattails rather than fly. Movements are quick and graceful. Head shoots forward with each step. Very secretive. When flushed, it flutters for a short distance and drops back down into reeds.


Description:
ku-ku-ku... (lower and throatier than B-B Cuckoo)


Description:
Brown upperparts with black streaking	Light underparts streaked brown and white	Dark outer wings	Wings pointed	Medium-sized wading bird	Black malar streak	Yellow bill with dark culmen	Black primaries and secondaries	Sometimes "freezes" with neck held upwards	Immatures similar to adults but lack the malar streak


Description:
Fairly common in cattails and bulrushes of freshwater or brackish marshes, wetlands, bogs, grassy fields. Often heard at dusk in marsh reeds. When alarmed, will freeze with head and neck pointing straight upward, blending into reeds. Flushes with rapid wingbeats, feet dangling. Flys low over marsh. Secretive and solitary. When feeding, stands motionless, bill level, then darts bill downward to catch frog or other prey.


Description:
Dark pink plumage	Hooked, pink bill with black tip


Description:
Pale pink and gray plumage	Hooked, light bill with black tip


Description:
Large pink, long-legged wader with a long neck	Pink legs and feet	Pale bill with pink and black tip	Black primaries and secondaries	Holds neck extended in flight	Rare and local in Florida	Occasionally escapes from zoos	Sexes similar


Description:
Saline lagoons and salt pans. Breeds in the Caribbean region, northern South America and many other areas of the world. Rare in southern Florida in winter. Most often seen at the end of Snake Bight Trail in the Everglades (two mile hike - bring a scope and insect repellent). Many sightings are escaped birds from parks and zoos. There is a free-flying feral flock at Hialeah Park, Dade County, Florida.


Description:
Yellow bill	Feathered head is grayish-brown


Description:
Large, long-legged wader with a long neck	White body	Black tail, wing tips and trailing edge of wings	Very thick, dusky downcurved bill	Head and neck unfeathered and black	Holds neck extended in flight	Sexes similar


Description:
Wet meadows, coastal swamps and marshes, mangroves, ponds, freshwater marshes, and shallow water in canals and ditches. Soar high above wetland regions, often flapping and soaring in unison. Roost in tall trees or on banks along waterways. Often common at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in southwestern Florida.


Description:
White body plumage with black tips to outer primaries	Bill and facial skin pinkish-red	Red legs


Description:
Brown head, neck, back and wings	White belly	Orange bill and facial skin	Dull legs


Description:
Medium-sized long-legged long-necked wading bird	White overall	Long, downcurved reddish bill	Long red legs	Red facial skin	Holds neck extended in flight	Sexes similar


Description:
Locally common in all types of wetlands such as coastal salt marshes, estuaries, tidal mudflats, swamps, and mangroves as well as grassy or plowed fields. Often found near the coast. Inland, often near large bodies of water or flooded lands. Flies in long, straggling lines or in loose flocks. Probes mud with bill when feeding.


Description:
Bare facial skin at lores is blue-gray	Bare facial skin bordered partially with a white or pale blue band that is of varying width and does not encircle the back of the eye	Legs gray to dull red	Head, neck, back and belly an iridescent purple-red, appearing entirely dark or black at a distance or in poor light	Iridescent green wings and tail


Description:
Gray facial skin	Border to bare facial skin still present but dull gray	Gray-green legs	Head, neck, back and belly a duller gray-brown without iridescence	Head and neck streaked with white


Description:
Dull gray brown head, neck, back and belly sometimes with white streaking	Facial skin dull blue-gray, develops dull gray border during first autumn	Gray-green legs


Description:
Gray head, chin, and side of neck	Red throat and striped nape	White chest and belly	Dark back


Description:
Gray cap, forehead, nape, and back	White chin, throat, face, and belly	Gray nape not contrasting with white throat	Dark back speckled strongly with white


Description:
Dark red throat	Gray face and sides of neck	Black vertical stripes on white hindneck	Brownish-black back	Large diving bird with long body that rides low in the water	Dark thin bill is angled upwards at tip and is held above the horizontal	Feet set far back on body, and trail behind body in flight	Upperwings wholly dark in flight	Sexes similar	Immature like nonbreeding-plumaged adult, but with less well-defined face pattern


Description:
Breeds on Arctic tundra lakes.  Migrates along both coasts and is found in many types of marine habitats. Often found along coastal shorelines with shallow  water and in enclosed bays. Usually 1-2 seen at a time, often flying high overhead with rapid wingbeats, 1-2 miles offshore. Occasionally concentrates in larger groups of up to 175 at favorite feeding spots (e.g. off Cape May, NJ).


Description:
Breeds at edge of Arctic tundra and tiaga lakes in Cape of Wales region of Alaska. Most birds winter in Eurasia. A few migrate along Pacific coast. Prefers deeper waters and exposed ocean coastlines. Winters on salt water along Pacific coast. Forages in turbulent channels. Difficult to distinguish from abundant Pacific Loon in winter.


Description:
Dark bill	Gray crown and nape	Black chin, dark purple throat, and sides of neck striped black and white	White chest and belly	Black back with white checkering and spotting


Description:
Dark bill	Gray-brown cap, forehead, nape, and back	White chin, throat, and belly	Dark nape strongly contrasts with white throat	Sometimes has chin strap


Description:
Pale gray head and nape	Throat iridescent purple (can also appear black or green)	Back is checkered black and white	Winter: Sharp border between white and dark on neck	Large diving bird with long body that rides low in the water	Large bill is straight at tip and is held horizontally	Feet set far back on body, and trail behind body in flight	Upperwings wholly dark in flight	Sexes similar	Immature like nonbreeding-plumaged adult


Description:
Breeds at edge of Arctic tundra and taiga lakes of Alaska and Canada. Migrates along Pacific coast, in much larger flocks than other loons. Over 70,000 reported flying by in one day off Pigeon Point, California. Prefers deeper waters and exposed ocean coastlines. Winters on salt water along Pacific coast. Forages in turbulent channels. Usually silent in winter.


Description:
Black bill	Black head	Black neck with white markings	White chest and belly	Black back with white checkering and spotting


Description:
Pale gray bill	Gray-brown cap, forehead, nape, hindneck and back	White face, eye ring, chin, throat, foreneck and belly	Jagged border between white foreneck and dark hindneck


Description:
Like nonbreeding-plumaged adult but often with paler bill and white scalloping on back


Description:
Black head and bill	White neck ring with vertical black bars	Back checkered black and white	Winter: Irregular border on neck between white and dark areas	White triangular indentation on neck	Large diving bird with long body that rides low in the water	Large bill is straight, tapers to a point, and is held horizontally	Feet set far back on body, and trail behind body in flight	Upperwings wholly dark in flight	Sexes similar


Description:
Breeds at edge of northern lakes, preferring lakes with many small wooded islands, undisturbed by humans. This widespread loon prefers large lakes, protected bays, estuaries. Water must be deep enough for Common Loon to dive and elude its enemies. Migrates singly or in small groups, usually by day. Migration route is overland as well as along both coasts. Winters mainly on coastal waters and Gulf of Mexico, but occasionally on Great Lakes. Sleeps on the water. Must run across water to become airborne. Ponds that freeze quickly may trap bird in winter.


Description:
Yellow bill	Black head	Black neck with white markings	White chest and belly	Black back with white checkering and spotting


Description:
Pale bill	Gray-brown cap, forehead, nape, hindneck, and back	White face, eye ring, chin, throat, foreneck, and belly	Dark auricular spot


Description:
Pale yellow bill in breeding plumage	Black head and neck	White neck ring with black vertical bars	Back checkered with black and white	Large diving bird with long body that rides low in the water	Large bill is beveled upwards at tip and is held slightly above horizontal	Feet set far back on body, and trail behind body in flight	Upperwings wholly dark in flight	Sexes similar	Immature like nonbreeding-plumaged adult


Description:
Breeds on freshwater Arctic tundra lakes, slow-moving rivers and shallow ponds above the treeline.  Replaces the Common Loon in the high Arctic. Migrates along coast and around Alaska peninsula. Overland migration to eastern side of Great Slave Lake. Winters along Pacific coast from Alaska to British Columbia. Recent increase in records of wintering birds well inland on large lakes and manmade reservoirs. Largest of the loons, usually seen foraging alone in shallow, protected waters. Call louder and harsher than Common Loon.


Description:
Black ring around horn-colored bill	Whitish throat


Description:
Horn-colored bill without black ring	Brown throat


Description:
Small, stocky-bodied grebe with a short, thick bill	Black ring around stubby white bill	Black chin and throat	Brown plumage, darker on the crown and back	White undertail coverts	Feet set far back on body and trail awkwardly behind body in flight	Sexes similar


Description:
Common bird found on ponds, marshes and sluggish streams. Rare on salt water. Nests on marshy ponds with nest attached to reeds in shallow water. Often seen diving by taking a short leap forward. Solitary most of the year although flocks of 20,000 have been seen at the Salton Sea in California in November. On northern breeding grounds it is often the first grebe to arrive in the spring and the last to leave in the fall.


Description:
Black crown, nape, chin, and back	Dark bill


Description:
Small, stocky-bodied grebe with a short, thin bill	Dark gray head and neck	Golden-yellow eyes and thin, dark bill	Blackish crown, throat and back	White fluffy feathers on rump	White undertail coverts	Feet set far back on body and trail awkwardly behind body in flight	Sexes similar


Description:
Temporary or permanent bodies of fresh and brackish water. Many suitable habitats including small tree-lined ponds and ditches (especially in south Texas), lakes, and slow-moving parts of rivers and mangroves. Just as likely to be found on water with almost no vegetation as in openings in marshes. Non-migratory. This small, inconspicuous bird may be hard to find. Often spends time in thick vegetation near shores of ponds, sloughs and ditches. Seldom flies.


Description:
Black cap	Reddish neck	Pale gray face	Blackish hindneck and back	Whitish flanks and belly


Description:
Dark cap, hindneck and back	Dark gray face and foreneck, white crescent on cheek	Finger of white extending upwards at the rear of the head	Whitish flanks and belly


Description:
Black and white striping on head and upper neck


Description:
Like adult nonbreeding, but face pattern less distinct


Description:
A large, long-necked grebe with a long bill	Reddish foreneck	White chin and cheek	Black cap and back	Long, tapered bill	Bill yellow at the base (most evident on breeding adults)	White secondaries and leading edge of wing	Feet set far back on body	Sexes similar


Description:
Breeds in watery marshes and shallow marshy lakes and ponds. This large grebe is shy around the nest. It often spends much of the day sleeping. Dives below surface to feed on or near the bottom. Migrates individually or in small groups. Spends winter along both Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Prefers ocean, just beyond breakers. Usually alone. Silent in winter.


Description:
Head black with a golden stripe of feathers extending from eye to back of head	Reddish neck and flanks	Dark back	White belly


Description:
Black cap, hindneck, and back	White face, foreneck, flanks, and belly


Description:
Golden ear tufts (look like horns)	Chestnut foreneck	Black back	Small, stocky-bodied grebe with a short black bill, often with a pale tip	Blocky head, with a peak at the rearmost portion of the head	Feet set far back on body and trail awkwardly behind body in flight	White secondaries visible in flight	Sexes similar


Description:
Breeds on sheltered freshwater lakes, small ponds or sloughs. Prefers water 5-25 feet deep. When diving for food, it often stays submerged for 1-3 minutes and may cover 400 feet in one dive. Dives with a quick, graceful movement. Less gregarious than most other grebes. Migrates alone or in very small flocks. Winters spent along Pacific and Atlantic coast in salt water and nearby lakes, rarely inland.


Description:
Black head with a golden ray of feathers radiating from behind eye	Black neck and back	Reddish flanks


Description:
Slate-gray head, face, hindneck and back	White chin contrasts with dark face and dusky foreneck	Whitish flanks and belly


Description:
Golden ear tufts fan out behind eye	Black neck	Winter: dusky throat, dark cheek	Whitish chin extends up behind eye	Small, stocky-bodied grebe with short, thin bill with lower mandible beveled upwards at the tip	Black bill with no pale tip	Feet set far back on body and trail awkwardly behind body in flight	Head triangular, with a peak towards the center of the head	White secondaries visible in flight	Sexes similar


Description:
Breeds in large colonies on marshy, freshwater lakes. Very vocal with elaborate courtship displays. Often found together in large flocks in all seasons. Migrates at night . Large concentrations found in migration at Mono Lake in California. Some birds may remain at large inland lakes. Winters along Pacific coast or Gulf of Mexico where it prefers coastal lakes, open bays and the ocean.


Description:
Black cap extends down below eyes	Long neck, white on front, black on back	Long, thin yellowish-green bill	A large, long-necked grebe with a long greenish-yellow bill	Red eye	Black crown, face, and nape	Dark blackish-brown back and wings	White chin, throat, and belly	White secondaries	Feet set far back on body	Sexes similar


Description:
Breeds on large, freshwater lakes and marshes with extensive areas of open water bordered by emergent vegetation. Their spectacular courtship display is known as "rushing". The male and female move rapidly across the water, side by side, kicking their feet so rapidly that their bodies are almost completely out of the water. Migrates at night in flocks. Rarely seen in flight. This largest of the grebes winters on salt water or brackish bays, estuaries or sheltered sea coasts. May also be found on large inland bodies of water.


Description:
Black cap does not reach eyes	Long neck, white on front, black on back	A large, long-necked grebe with a long thin yellow-orange bill	Red eye	Black crown and nape	White chin, throat, face, and belly	Dark blackish-brown back and wings	White secondaries	Feet set far back on body	Sexes similar


Description:
Breeds on large, freshwater lakes and marshes with extensive areas of open water bordered by emergent vegetation. Their spectacular courtship display is known as "rushing". The male and female move rapidly across the water, side by side, kicking their feet so rapidly that their bodies are almost completely out of the water. Tends to forage farther from shore, and in deeper water than Western Grebe.  Uses springing dives more frequently than Western Grebe. Winters on salt water or brackish bays, estuaries or sheltered sea coasts. May also be found on large inland bodies of water.


Description:
Large seafaring bird with extremely long wings	White head, body, undertail coverts, and rump	Upperwings and back dark	Black and white patterning on underwings	Bill and feet pinkish	Sexes similar


Description:
Pelagic. Seen regularly in Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian islands in the Bering Sea in summer. In California, found in deeper water well offshore, primarily  from late October to February.  Glides on stiff outstretched wings. Relatively small albatross found in open Pacific Ocean in Northern Hemisphere. Most abundant albatross within this range. Nests on sandy, grassy areas on low atolls next to shrubs.


Description:
White at base of bill	Sometimes has white on belly


Description:
Like adult but less white on bill and belly


Description:
Large seafaring bird with extremely long wings	Dark overall	White area around bill	Dark gray bill, head, body, wings, and legs	Undertail coverts and underside of flight feathers somewhat pale	Sexes similar


Description:
Pelagic. Only albatross seen regularly off the Pacific coast. Most numerous June-August off California coast. Pelagic, seldom seen from shore. Often follows ships for several hours. Glides on stiff outstretched wings, seldom flapping at all in heavy winds. Found in open Pacific Ocean in northern hemisphere. Prefers sandy habitat for nesting. Breeds on leeward Hawaiian Islands and atolls.


Description:
Pelagic. Formerly common, now rare off the west coast. Almost wiped out by Japanese plume hunters between 1887 and 1903. Breeds only on the Japanese island of Torishima. Largest and rarest albatross in the north Pacific. Glides on stiff outstretched wings, seldom flapping at all in heavy winds. Found in open Pacific Ocean in northern hemisphere.


Description:
Large shearwater	Thick yellow bill with tube on top	Rapid wingbeats	Glides on stiff wings	Thick neck and head	Uniform overall in color (dark in Pacific, light in Atlantic)	Rounded forehead	Sexes similar	Stocky pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed	Light morph: White head and underparts; Gray back, upperwings, rump, and tail; White "flash" in primaries visible from above; Mostly white underwings	Gray morph: Gray head, body, wings, and tail; Paler underside of flight feathers and upper side of primaries	Intermediate morph also occurs


Description:
Pelagic. Usually seen on high seas beyond the range of most gulls. Usually flies very fast in long arcs up and down over waves. Rather flat, stiff-winged appearance. They gather in large flocks near fishing boats. Seldom dive for food. Common and increasing on both coasts. Nests on rocky cliffs.


Description:
Black cap	White forehead and white collar	White band at base of tail	Dark bill with tube on top	Long wings and tail	White underwing with dark border and dark bar across coverts	In flight, flaps with long glides	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Nests in burrows 1500 feet above sea level, primarily on Hispaniola. Graceful, alternating with rapid wingbeats and long glides on tilted wings. Usually seen May through September in the Gulf Stream off North Carolina. Very rare outside the Gulf Stream. May be found inland after hurricanes.


Description:
Pelagic. Nests on Bermuda Islands. Almost all sightings are off the Carolina coast from late spring and summer. Also known as Cahow. This bird is critically endangered.


Description:
Short dark bill with tube on top	Dark eye patch	Gray belly and upperparts	Upperparts sometimes mottled with white	Whitish throat and breast	White underwing with dark bar across coverts	Rapid flight	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed	Sexes similar


Description:
Pelagic. Found in northeast Pacific almost exclusively over mid-ocean waters. Flight pattern is rapid, bounding. Much steeper ascent and descent than a shearwater. Does not follow ships. Silent at sea.


Description:
15-16 inches W 38 inches (38-41 cm W 97 cm)


Description:
Pelagic. Occurs in central south Pacific Ocean. Seen annually far offshore, along the Pacific coast in April and early May. Does not follow ships.


Description:
Pelagic. Widespread in the Pacific Ocean, this bird also occurs in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. There have been sightings in the Gulf Stream off North Carolina, usually in late May and late July-August.


Description:
Pelagic. Found in north Atlantic Ocean. There have been sightings off North Carolina. Most sightings occur in late May and early June. There have also been sightings off Georgia and Virginia. This species was  split from Soft-plumaged Petrel (P. mollis) and is almost impossible to differentiate in the field.


Description:
Pelagic.  Breeds from October to April on islands off New Zealand, ranges over most of north and central Pacific Ocean. Winters in the middle of the North Pacific south of Alaska. Almost all records for the lower 48 are from California, south of Point Reyes, more tham 60 miles out to sea. Usually sighted April to November.


Description:
Grayish-brown upperparts	White underparts	Yellowish bill with dark tip	Flight: deep, slow wingbeats	Large shearwater	Yellow bill with tube on top	White underparts	Brownish upperparts	Slow wingbeats	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Breeds in eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Seen off east coast in the summer and fall. Abundant in late summer and fall off Long Island, NY. Occasionally seen in the Gulf of Mexico. This long-winged shearwater's flight is buoyant, albatrosslike, with slow wingbeats.


Description:
White throat and belly	Pink feet and pink bill with dark tip	Grayish-brown upperparts	White wing linings and underparts mottled dark brown on edges	Large shearwater	White belly with dark chest and undertail coverts	Upperwings dark and paler on the inner wings	Slow wingbeats	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Nests on islands off the coast of Chile. Common from late spring through the fall off the Pacific coast of North America, from Baja California to Oregon. Rarely to southeast Alaska. Frequently seen traveling with large flocks of Sooty Shearwater.


Description:
19.5 inches (50 cm) W 43 inches (109 cm)


Description:
Pinkish bill with tube on top	Flesh-colored feet	Dark overall with pale flight feathers	Legs and base of bill a pale flesh color	Dark wing linings	Large shearwater	All dark plumage	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Breeds on islands off Australia and New Zealand.  Occurs primarily in Indian and western Pacific Ocean. Seen off Pacific coast of North America. Rare in California and Washington. Usually seen offshore between May and November. Follows shrimp trawlers.


Description:
Large shearwater	White underparts and white band at base of tail	White cheeks and collar	Grayish-brown upperparts appear scaled	Dark bill with tube on top	Dark brown cap	Grayish-brown upperparts	Rapid wingbeats	Glides on stiff wings	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Breeds in the south Atlantic Ocean. Migrates northward along the Atlantic coast of North America in spring and summer. More common in the spring. Typical flutter and glide flight pattern of a shearwater. Flies low, hugging the waves.


Description:
Bright white underparts	Gray and dark gray upperparts make "M" shaped pattern	Dark cap	Long, wedge-shaped tail	Medium to large shearwater	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Nests in large colonies around North Island, New Zealand. Seen along west coast during its southward migration during late summer and fall. Most common from Gray's Harbor, Washington to Monterey, California.


Description:
Dark overall	Dark bill and legs	Whitish underwing linings	Large shearwater	Dark bill with tube on top	Pale underwings	Rapid wingbeats	Glides on stiff wings	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Nests on islands off southern South America and New Zealand. Seen along Atlantic coast of North America as early as May and June but usually from July through September. Abundant along Pacific coast of North America where huge flocks migrate north and south. Often seen from shore.


Description:
Medium-size shearwater	Dark overall	Dark bill and legs	Whitish-gray underwing linings	Flight: fast wingbeats and short glides	Steep forehead	Sometimes has pale chin	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Nests on coastal islands of Australia. Seen along Pacific coast from British Columbia to California from October to January with peak southward migration in November and December. Migration is a huge figure-eight, clockwise pattern, across the Pacific from Australia to North America.


Description:
Medium to small shearwater	Bright white underparts	White undertail coverts extend to end of tail	Black upperparts	Black on head extends down below eye	Dark bill with tube on top	Rapid wingbeats	Glides on stiff wings	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Nests on small islands off Europe and Baja California. Common offshore along northern Atlantic coast from June to October.


Description:
Medium-size shearwater often seen from shore	Dark brown upperparts	White underparts	Dark undertail coverts	Grayish mottled face	Dusky mottling on side of breast may extend across breast	Brown upperparts not contrasting with white underparts	Underwings white with brown trailing edge	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Nests on islands off Baja peninsula. Common off Pacific coast from August to May. Rarely found more than 10 miles from the coast or islands. Often seen from shore.


Description:
Medium-size shearwater	Dark brown upperparts	White underparts	Underside of wing white with dark border	Long tail with dark undertail coverts	Dark cap extends below eye	Rapid wingbeats	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Breeds on Caribbean islands. Casual to common along Atlantic and Gulf coasts from May to December. Wing beat is much faster than those of other shearwaters.


Description:
Blackish overall	Wide white "U" shaped rump patch extends onto undertail coverts	Short squarish or slightly rounded tail	Wings short and rounded	Pale wing patch	Medium to small storm-petrel	Dark bill with tube on top	Gray carpal bar	Yellow feet sometimes protrude beyond squared or rounded tail	Often patters its feet on water surface	Size and flight style reminiscent of Purple Martin	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Breeds in the Southern Hemisphere. Commonly seen off the Atlantic coast of North America from May to September. Usually seen in the Atlantic's Gulf Stream. Skims across the waves with graceful, shallow, swallowlike flight. Thought by some ornithologists to be the most abundant bird in the world. Rare along Pacific coast from August to October.


Description:
Pelagic. Rare off the Atlantic coast between August and October. Seen far out at sea between North Carolina and Massachusetts. Very erratic flight can be recognized at long distances. Stiff, shallow wingbeats. May swing from side to side like a pendulum. Does not follow ships closely.


Description:
Blackish-brown upperparts	Slightly paler underparts	Short tail	Small-sized storm-petrel	Dark bill with tube on top	Dark rump	Wedge-shaped tail	Deep, rapid wingbeats	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Breeds on islands near Baja California. Often seen off the coast of southern California between August and October. Very rare during in cool water but fairly common during El Nino years when water is warmer. Flies low over the water with deep wingbeats.


Description:
Large-sized storm-petrel	Dark bill with tube on top	Dark plumage	Narrow, rectangular, white rump patch	Slightly forked tail	Shallow wingbeats and glides like a shearwater	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Ranges in tropical oceans of the Atlantic and Pacific. Regular along Atlantic coast. Seen most often off the Carolinas in the Gulf Stream between mid-June to mid-August. Also seen in the Gulf of Mexico. There are a few records for southern California. Deep wing strokes and stiff-winged glides, like shearwater. Does not follow ships.


Description:
Medium-sized storm-petrel	Triangular whitish rump patch, divided by dusky line	Blackish-brown overall	Long, forked tail	Pale wing stripes on narrow, pointed wings	Dark bill with tube on top	Deep wingbeats	Flight style reminiscent of nighthawk	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Widespread, especially in northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Nests on Aleutian Islands south to the central Baja California islands and on Atlantic islands from Labrador south to Massachusetts. Distinctive flight very much like a bat or butterfly. More common along Pacific coast. Does not follow ships.


Description:
Medium-sized storm-petrel	Grayish brown overall	Dark crown, leading edge of wing	Long forked tail	Pale mottling on underwing coverts	Dark bill with tube on top	Somewhat paler underwings	Dark rump	Shallow wingbeats	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Breeds on islands off California coast with largest colony at Farallon Island. Fairly common May to November. Fluttery wingbeats. Smallest of the all-black, fork-tailed Storm-Petrels.


Description:
Bluish-gray upperparts	Light gray underparts	Dark eye and earpatch	Underwings dark on leading edge, paler on trailing edge	Long forked tail	Medium to large storm-petrel	Dark bill with tube on top	Underwings partly dark	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Nests on Aleutian Islands of Alaska during June and July. Ranges throughout northern Pacific Ocean. Rare along California coast but more common off British Columbia and Alaska. Stiff-winged glides, shallow wingbeats, deeply forked tail. Frequently settles on water, often in groups. Follows ships.


Description:
Large-sized storm-petrel	Blackish-brown upperparts	Pale bar on upper part of wing	Slightly paler underparts	Long, forked tail	Dark bill with tube on top	Dark rump	Deep, steady wingbeats	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Breeds from May to December on Santa Barbara Island and islands near Baja California. Abundant most years north to Point Reyes, California from August to November. Slow, deep wingbeats. Graceful flight.


Description:
Tern-sized	White head and body	Finely barred back	Outer primaries black	Dark eye patch sometimes extends across nape	Adult: Long white tail streamers; red bill	Immature: Lacks tail streamers; yellow bill	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Tropical oceans. Nests in the Pacific from Gulf of California south to the Galapagos Islands and in Caribbean from Panama to Lesser Antilles. Found almost annually off southern California coast from mid-July to mid-September. Very rare off Atlantic coast between May and late August. Flies with rapid, pigeonlike, steady wingbeats.


Description:
Tern-sized	White head and body	Outer primaries black	Dark eye patch	Adult: Long white tail streamers; yellow to orange bill; black diagonal bar on upperside of inner wing	Immature: Lacks tail streamers; yellow bill; finely barred back	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed


Description:
Pelagic. Tropical oceans. Seen almost annually in Dry Tortugas during April or May. Also seen along Gulf and Atlantic coast north to North Carolina between late May and mid-October. Most Atlantic sightings are well offshore in the Gulf Stream off of North Carolina. Has been  recorded in California.


Description:
Largest booby	White overall with black pointed wing tips	Buffy head	Pointed tail	Large bird that dives for fish from air	Adult: White head, body, tail, and inner wings; yellowish wash on head; black outer wing; large, gray, pointed bill; gray legs and feet	Immature: Dark brown plumage; white patches appearing as the bird ages	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed	Takes 4 years to reach adult plumage


Description:
Pelagic. Ranges over North Atlantic Ocean. Flight steady and purposeful, a series of flaps between glides. Breeds in large colonies on rocky cliffs. Seen migrating off Atllantic coast from September to December and returning north from March to May. Can often be seen from shore. Prefers coastal waters to open ocean. Stays at sea for first 3 years of its life. Rapid wingbeats alternate with short glides 30-50 feet above ocean surface.


Description:
White with black tail and trailing half of wing	Dark mask surrounds eyes and chin	Yellow bill	Large bird that dives for fish from air	Adult: White head, body and wing coverts; dark primaries, secondaries, and tail; dark patches on back; dark mask; large, yellow, pointed bill; yellow legs and feet	Immature: Dark head and upperparts dark separated by light collar; underparts white with U-shaped line between throat and breast	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed	Takes 2 to 3 years to reach adult plumage


Description:
Pelagic. Tropical Oceans. Prefers deep water for fishing where it executes near vertical plunge-dives from 30-40 feet. Often found along the Gulf coast and  in the Dry Tortugas (Hospital Key) between April and August. May stray as far north as the Carolinas. Usually seen alone or in pairs. Follows ships. Often chased by frigatebirds which will grab booby's tail, causing it to disgorge fish which frigatebird then catches in the air!


Description:
Dark brown with white underparts and wing lining	Bill and feet yellow to gray-green	Head whitish (west) or dark brown (east)	Large bird that dives for fish from air	Adult: Dark head, breast, mantle, and tail; white belly cleanly separated from dark breast; underwings white with dark border; large, yellow, pointed bill; yellow legs and feet	Immature: Plumage similar to adult but belly is slightly paler than breast	Sexes similar	Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed	Takes 2 to 3 years to reach adult plumage


Description:
Pelagic. Found in warm tropical waters of Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Occasionally seen in the Gulf of Mexico, away from shore. Rare year-round in the Dry Tortugas.  Accidental along Atlantic coast, north to New Jersey. Rare along southern California coast and the Salton Sea, California. Often follows ships. May roost on buoys and oil rigs.


Description:
Black head, neck and body with white plumes and edgings on wing coverts


Description:
Tan head and neck	Black body with white plumes and edgings on wing coverts


Description:
Black overall with greenish gloss	White spots and streaks on shoulders	Long, pointed yellow bill	Long, thin neck, long tail	Female: light brown neck and breast	Large, dark waterbird with long, loosely-jointed tail	Often perches with wings spread	Often swims with just head and neck above surface	May soar for extended periods, like a hawk.


Description:
Common in southern freshwater swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes and along rivers. In Florida, may be found on salt water as well. Frequently swims with only head and neck above water, giving the appearance of a snake rising out of the water. Often seen perching with wings half spread for thermoregulation. Can soar to great heights. In flight, with neck extended and tail spread, looks like a flying cross. Slow, regular wingbeats alternate with soaring on flat wings.


Description:
Entirely black plumage	Small white plumes on head during breeding season


Description:
Pale throat and chest darkening below to dark belly; some individuals are entirely pale underneath	Brownish back and upperwings


Description:
Black overall	Broad orange throat patch	Orange lores	Two tufts behind eye in breeding season	Flight: neck is crooked	Large, dark waterbird with a long, hooked bill and long tail	Often perches with wings spread to dry them	Sexes similar


Description:
Widespread. Along coastline, inshore waters, beaches, inland rivers and lakes. Highly adaptive, using a variety of habitats including both fresh and salt water. Flies at a higher altitude than other cormorants. Dives from surface in pursuit of prey. Found almost anywhere fish are plentiful. Nests on rocky islands, cliffs facing water, stands of trees near water.


Description:
Entirely dark plumage	Border to gular region becomes whiter


Description:
Dull brownish upperparts	Paler underparts


Description:
Yellowish throat pouch with white border tapers to a point	White plumes on side of neck in breeding plumage	Long tail	Large, dark waterbird with a long, hooked bill	Long, thin neck	Often perches with wings spread to dry them	Sexes similar


Description:
Lakes, marshy ponds and shallow inlets of coastal waters throughout tropical Western Hemisphere. Often perches on stumps or snags with wings and tail spread. Does repeated squatting or bouncing movement while in this position. Able to perch on relatively small branches or even wires. Frequently seen with Anhingas and Double-crested Cormorants.


Description:
Entirely black plumage	White flank patch in breeding season	Second-year bird like adult but browner


Description:
Pale belly with dark chest, neck and flanks	Brownish back and upperwings


Description:
Dark overall	White feathers surround small yellow throat patch	Thick neck and head	Large, dark waterbird with a long, hooked bill and long tail	White chin patch	Often perches with wings spread to dry them	Sexes similar


Description:
Along the Atlantic coast in winter south to Chesapeake Bay, rare further south. Breeds on remote cliffs and rocky islands of maritime Canada, in small colonies. Found in temperate regions throughout the world. Swims low, with tail submerged. and bill tilted slightly upward. A coastal bird, rarely wandering inland.


Description:
Entirely dark plumage except	Thin, white plumes on neck


Description:
Blackish-green overall	Pale buffy feathers on chin	In breeding season throat pouch blue with yellowish lower border	Head, neck, scapulars acquire fine white plumes	Large, dark waterbird with a long, hooked bill and long tail	Long, thin neck	Often perches with wings spread to dry them	Sexes similar


Description:
Common along sea cliffs and rocky pinnacles of the Pacific coast. Strictly marine, almost never seen inland. Gregarious, often in large flocks diving beyond the intertidal zone for small saltwater fishes. Dives with a forward leap to take small fish from just beneath the water's surface. Flies low in long lines between feeding and roosting grounds. Nests in colonies on flat or gently sloping surfaces of islands.


Description:
Entirely dark plumage except for white flank patch	Two crests on head	Thin, white plumes on neck


Description:
Dark glossy overall	No visible throat pouch	White patches on flanks during breeding season	Two crests, on crown and nape during breeding season	Large, dark waterbird with a long, hooked bill and long tail	Long, thin neck	Gular region red	Often perches with wings spread to dry them	Sexes similar


Description:
Surf-battered, rocky shorelines of the North Pacific Ocean. Feeds alone in tidal rips and surf close to rocks. Capable of deep dives, but prefers fishing in shallow water. Less gregarious than the other cormorants. Flies with head and neck held straight out. Head is as thick as neck, so silhouette is rather distinctive.


Description:
Entirely dark plumage except for white flank patch	Two crests on head	Thin, white plumes on neck	Bill is partially yellow


Description:
Red facial skin, brightest in breeding season	Gular region is blue and bordered bright red onto the forehead	Brown wings and glossy black upperparts	Large, dark waterbird with a long, hooked bill and long tail	Long, thin neck	Often perches with wings spread to dry them	Sexes similar


Description:
Nests in colonies on broad, flat ledges of steep coastal cliffs of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Freely associates with murres, auklets and gulls. Exclusively marine, preferring wild, rocky coastlines.


Description:
62 inches (158 cm) W 108 inches (274 cm)


Description:
Long, orange bill with a pouch	Short orange legs and feet


Description:
Brown-gray mottling about wing coverts	Bill gray to flesh-colored


