Dark-eyed Junco – "Pink-sided"Junco hyemalis January – Colorado L=6.25” ...... WS=9.25”....... WT=0.7 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Emberizidae (New World Sparrows) The Dark-eyed Junco was considered 5 distinct groups, two of which had sub-species, until the 1970’s when the American Ornithologist’s Union grouped all five into one species. Still, the distinctiveness of the individual sub groups was recognized. Today the Dark-eyed Junco has the following five groups – “slate-colored”, “Oregon”, “white-winged”, “gray-headed”, and “Gaudalupe”. The “pink-sided” shown here is a sub-species of the group “Oregon”. Clearly, though these are considered to be one species the physical differences are notable. Even with this confusion, the Dark-eyed Junco is one of the most common and most recognized birds in North America. It is abundant, tame, conspicuous in its foraging behavior, and frequents feeders and urban landscapes.
Common Moorhen – ForagingGallinula chloropus February – Texas L=14” ...... WS=21”...... WT=11 oz Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots) The Common Moorhen is a rail with behavioral and appearance characteristics intermediate between the American Coot and Purple Gallinule. It is widespread in the Eastern United States and locally in the Western U.S. The mature bird has a striking appearance, especially its bright red and yellow bill, and makes a variety of loud and unusual calls. Common Moorhens forage for plant materials and micro invertebrates on the water’s surface, along the shoreline, and in submerged plants. In addition to inhabiting the continental United States there is an endemic subspecies with very similar appearance in Hawaii. In Hawaiian mythology, a moorhen brought fire to humans and in the journey the fire scorched the bird, explaining the red on the bill and forehead(†). (†) Pukui, Mary Kawena, ‘Olelo No’eau: Hawaiin Proverbs & Poetical Sayings. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press, 1983
Common Moorhen – Juveniles watching a passerbyGallinula chloropus July – Texas L=14” ...... WS=21”...... WT=11 oz Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots) Common Moorhens have large feet and very long toes allowing them to walk on floating plants and very soft soil on shorelines and in marshes. Even though their feet lack lobes or webs they swim well. They nest near emergent vegetation close to relatively open water. The young lack the bright colors of the mature bird and typically stay close to the parent and the nest while learning to forage.
