Great Crested Flycathcher – with Tawny Emperor larva Myiarchus crinitus June – Texas L=8.75”...... WS=13” ....... WT=1.2 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Tyannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) The Great Crested Flycatcher prefers open deciduous or mixed woodlands, especially at the edge of clearings. They are seldom found deep in a forest but rather occupy wooded corridors, wooded swamps and urban areas with large trees and adjacent open areas. These preferences have allowed this species to prosper in human habitats as more edge habitats are created. This particular picture was taken at an urban park where native grasses had recently been transplanted. The nesting pair found the Tawny Emperor larvae and butterflies and other insects very good for feeding their young.
Savannah Sparrow – ForagingPasserculus sandwichensis April – Texas L=5.5” ...... WS=6.75”....... WT=0.7 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Emberizidae (New World Sparrows) Savannah Sparrows, like many sparrows, forage on the ground in grassy areas. Because of this and their skulking behavior, they can be hard to observe closely. Like most sparrows, they can be hard to identify due to their small size, tendency to flush rapidly, and very similar appearance to other sparrows. One behavior that aids in identifying Savannah Sparrows is their tendency to flush when humans are relatively far away and fly to nearby trees, shrubs or other elevated objects before continuing to forage. Most other sparrows wait until almost stepped on to flush and then fly a long distance and resume foraging.
Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus October – Texas L=9.5” ...... WS=11” ...... WT=4 oz Order: Podicipediformes (Grebes) Family: Podicipedidae (Grebes) The Least Grebe is the smallest New World grebe and, while widely distributed throughout Central and South America to northern Argentina, its presence in the U.S. is limited to the Rio Grande valley and Gulf Coast of Texas to Houston. This grebe has a particularly rapid reproductive cycle which enables the use of newly created or temporary bodies of water for breeding.
