Birds of prey hunt and eat other animals, mainly mammals, reptiles, and smaller birds, but some also hunt fish. White-breasted Nuthatches may grow up to 14 cm in length and have a wingspan of 27 cm. JUVENILE Similar to nonbreeding adult, but heavily streaked below. Observation Tips One of the hardest North American species to observe. JUVENILE Resembles a small, short-tailed, and dowdy female. The Downy Woodpecker has white spots on its wings and a white belly. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. The wonderfully cryptic camouflage makes it hard to spot. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to breed. Buoyant and aerobatic flight is used to good effect when hawking insects or picking food items from waters surface. In general they are shy and secretive, making them difficult to observe. You can read more about me Herons and egrets are wading birds with long necks and legs. This species male and female have similar plumage colors, but the female lacks the little red dot on the males head. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Takes to the air noisily and explosively when flushed. Migrates south in fall and winters from southern U.S. to northern South America. The male provides sustenance for his young as well as the female. Unobtrusive, but sometimes perches in bush if flushed and then easy to see, albeit briefly. This list of birds of Florida includes species documented in the U.S. state of Florida and accepted by the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee (FOSRC). Formerly common, but now threatened: numbers have declined catastrophically in recent decades. Observation Tips Easy to see at breeding colonies in summer months although sometimes abandons previously used sites if water levels are not suitable. ADULT FEMALE Similar to nonbreeding male. Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteriidae. Three to six eggs are laid by the female White-eyed Vireo. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country. IMMATURES Similar to respective-sex winter adults. Sexes are separable and there is distinct seasonal variation in adult plumage. Description ADULT From most of range covered by this book is brown overall, with bold dark streaking on back. Short, triangular bill is used to turn stones and tideline debris in search of seashore invertebrates. Their necks are similarly adorned with blackish-brown rings. Louisiana is home to beautiful swamps, vast wetlands, mixed-grass prairies, and an eclectic mix of birds. Bill is yellow during the winter months. Some altitudinal migration sometimes occurs in winter. Adult male is unmistakable and slightly less colorful female is hard to confuse. Voice Utters various squeaks. Utters various squeaks. The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. Once known as the Louisiana heron, this coastal wading bird can actually be found hunting small fish and amphibians as far south as Brazil. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. ADULT MALE BREEDING Has streaked black and white back and nape, and blackish wings with pale feather edges and two bold white wing bars. The official wildflower of Louisiana is the Iris giganticaerulea, commonly known as the Louisiana iris. Sexes are similar, but geographical variation is discernible with care. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. Voice Song is a two-part, buzzing trill (bzzzrt-tzeee), preceded by two or three chip notes; call is a thin stip. Feeds mainly on buds, shoots, and fruits. ADULT FEMALE Similar, but has less well-marked upperparts and is marginally paler on underparts. This bird consumes insects that are captured in mid-flight by this breed. Sexes are similar, but geographical variation is discernible with care. Most have strong legs with long toes, short rounded wings, and are weak fliers. JUVENILE Rather uniformly pale blue-gray. Discussion Diminutive rail and the smallest of its kind in Eastern North America. Family: Rallidae, Rails, Gallinules, Coots. They eat grains and seeds from a wide range of small plants and herbs. Utters a whinnying squeal, and a loud keek in alarm. Many swifts have very long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Observation Tips Easy to see and tolerant of people. Sexes are similar, but males tail streamers are longer than females. Their feet are four-toed and webbed. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. Formerly a student of Sherry's, Henry is now his colleague. Similar Species Yellow-billed Loon G. adamsii (L 34-35 in) has similar summer and winter plumage. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills, members of the Ardeidae fly with their necks pulled back into a curve. Typically skulks along marsh margins, its long toes allowing it to walk over soft mud or floating plants. In the United States, sparrows are renowned to attend bird feeders.. The words woodpecker come after the birds gleaming reddish-brown plumage. They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. Easily recognized as a meadowlark and recognition as such is straightforward across most of its eastern range where it is the only meadowlark species present. Easy to see in suitable habitats at appropriate altitudes. Takes to the air noisily and explosively when flushed. Underparts are dark blue-gray with black and whitish barring on flanks, belly, and undertail coverts. Eastern Towhees build their nests in shrubs or small trees. Feeds mainly on aquatic invertebrates. The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerines. The Eastern Towhee consumes a wide variety of tiny insects, such as mosquitoes, bugs, and caterpillars. In winter, its precise occurrence is unpredictable and flocks soon abandon previously favored sites if food supply is exhausted. Southern subspecies are similar, but without streaks on breast. In alarm, utters a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk as bird flies away. The Brown Thrashers female lays 3 to 5 eggs, which she watches till they develop. Our results suggest that functional enhancement of two night-vision genes, namely, GRK1 and SLC24A1, underlies the . JUVENILE Similar to winter adult, but upperparts are brownish gray, scaly-looking on back. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Named after rusty feather margins seen in fall and early winter. So quite unique indeed. Description ADULT MALE Has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, striking red wattle, and long, orange and barred tail; white collar is absent in some birds. This bird is endemic to North America, however, it spends the wintertime in the southern American States. In comparison to the summer, they are more commonly found in the feeding areas throughout the winter. ADULT FEMALE Similar to adult male, but smaller and with shorter tail. ADULT WINTER (this plumage is acquired gradually Jul-Sep) Has gray upperparts, entirely white underparts; black on head is restricted to cap, nape, and ear coverts. From the air, they assault their victim. The typical body length of a Barn Swallow is 7.2 inches, with a total wingspan of 33 cm. Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partly joined at the base. Typically skulks along marsh margins, its long toes allowing it to walk over soft mud or floating plants. Discussion Dumpy and rather secretive waterbird. Most hunt in the diurnal and hunt in the day, except owls which are mostly nocturnal and hunt at night. The high-pitched calls and songs of both kinglets are inaudible to many people. Subtly colorful corvid, with the body proportions and bill shape of Clarks Nutcracker. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. Underparts are pale with gray wash to flanks. All adult birds show a striking subterminal black band on otherwise brown or gray tail, most noticeable in flight. Turns up during migration (Apr-May and Aug-Sep) at inland freshwater sites south of breeding range, but often only pauses to feed for a day or so, sometimes just a matter of hours. Easy to overlook, so listen for its song. Olive-colored feathers cover the head and throat of this bird. Males drumming display is created by rapid wingbeats. As an adult, a White-throated Sparrow might measure anywhere from 22 to 32 grams. The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Because Louisiana has such a diverse range of habitats, it attracts a wide range of birds. IMMATURE Recalls adult female, but wings and tail of immature male are much darker than those of immature female. Underparts are flushed yellow on breast, grading to white on belly and with dark spots on flanks. Range Eastern Canada, Mid-Atlantic, Florida, Great Lakes, Northwest, Western Canada, Plains, New England, California, Texas, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Southeast, Alaska. Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae. Females deposit eggs, which they wait on until they hatch. Pale supercilium is yellow in front of eye and yellow throat is bordered by white malar stripe and defined below by V-shaped black chest band. Males & females have very little in common in terms of looks. Description ADULT Has very pale gray (nearly white) head, pale gray back and breast. Both the male and female sit on the eggs until they hatch. The White-throated Sparrow has black, brown, and white stripes on its wings, head, and feathers. A male Downy Woodpecker weighs more and has a wider wingspan than a female. Pacific Loon G. pacifica (L 24-26 in) is smaller, with a daintier bill. The Tufted Titmouseis a small species native to North America. elegans, which is more rufous overall and has wider tail bands. The physical form and size of men and females are identical. They have such a shorter tail, a huge head, a robust beak, and robust claws. The Eastern Towhee does have a wingspan of roughly 2030 cm and a total height of 17.3 to 23 cm. Both male and female Northern Cardinals sing. Voice Song is a series of breezy, vibrating, buzzing trills, vaguely cricketlike; call is a thin tzip. Voice Territorial male utters a sharp, repeated kiki durr, kiki durr, mainly after dark. Habitat Locally common in deciduous woodland, especially where Aspen Populus tremuloides is common (buds and shoots feature in diet). In flight (typically brief and low), note white trailing edge to inner wing (above and below) and white leading edge to underside of inner wing. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Let's get to it! Male & female Pileated Woodpeckers have subtly different looks. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Habitat Common summer visitor (May-Sep) to barren northern tundra, from northern Canada and Greenland west; winters widely across southern Canada and northern U.S. in grassy fields; occasionally seen on beaches. BirdAdviser is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Three to six eggs are laid by the female White-eyed Vireo. JUVENILE Recalls adult female but is browner overall. In winter, favors rocky coasts and large lakes inland. The Pine Warbler feeds on microscopic insects, wheat grains, and pine nuts. extimus is very pale overall. Song is a descending series of sweet whistles, si-si-si-si, tsi, tsi, tsuu; call is a tongue-smacking tchhup. According to estimates, well over 70% of birds classify as diurnal, with the remaining 30% identified as nocturnal. Sexes are similar. ADULT MALE NONBREEDING (sometimes seen in fall) Recalls breeding male, but red elements of plumage become yellowish green. JUVENILE Recalls adult counterparts but is dark brown above and paler below, heavily streaked on breast, with dark-tipped primaries and more evenly barred tail. Winters in southeastern U.S. The sexes usually have distinct plumages. Intricate plumage patterns afford it superb camouflage on woodland floor. Subtle plumage variations exist among the several recognized subspecies that occur across its wide range, but all adults show striking reddish orange shoulders. Adopts an upright posture when perched and mostly employs a sit-and-wait hunting approach, scanning ground from an unobtrusive woodland perch (typically a branch); feeds on small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and large insects. They thrive in moderate North American climates. Biology professors Tom Sherry and Donata Henry (G '05) marvel at the diversity of birds in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans. Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colors, their upright posture, and some of their habits; however they are not closely related to penguins and are (with one extinct exception) able to fly. Don't let its small size fool you, though; unlike its larger, still-as-a-statue cousins, the Tricolored Heronbedecked in gray-blue, burgundy and white . Flushed and then easy to see in suitable habitats at appropriate altitudes flies away the Thrashers... 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