White Ibis – juvenile foragingEudocimus albus February – Texas L=25” ...... WS=38” ...... WT=2 lb Order:Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
Ruddy Turnstone – foragingArenaria interpres September – Nova Scotia L=9.5” ...... WS=21” ...... WT=4 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family:Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies) Ruddy Turnstones get their name from their foraging technique of flipping over stones, pebbles, seaweed, shells and other items with their chisel shaped beak. They will eat almost anything including insects, small fish, carrion, human trash, and bird eggs. They have stout legs, no webbing between the toes, and a small hind toe which enables them to be skilled at walking, running, climbing on rocks, and digging. As they forage they will run from place to place making behavior observation rewarding and entertaining.
Eastern Phoebe – LandingSayornis phoebe February – Texas L=7”...... WS=10.5” ....... WT=0.7 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Tyannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) Eastern Phoebes are flycatchers with dull coloration and unobtrusive behavior. Their breeding range is expanding apparently because of their willingness to nest on human dwellings and under bridges. Even so, Eastern Phoebes have a strong site attachment – a fact first observed by James Audubon in 1804. Eastern Phoebes move from place to place almost exclusively by flying - they rarely walk, hop or even pivot when on a perch. They are also loners who usually fail to even acknowledge other species, except predators.
