Harris’s SparrowZonotrichia querula January – Colorado L=7.5” ...... WS=10.5”....... WT=1.3 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Emberizidae (New World Sparrows) Harris’s Sparrows are the largest member in North America of the Emberizidae (New World Sparrows) family. By comparison it is about 25% larger than the ubiquitous House Sparrow (which is an Old World Sparrow and not a member of the Emberizidae family). This sparrow is named after Edward Harris, a travelling companion of John Audubon.
Common Grackle – At the bird feeder Quiscalus quiscula April – Texas L=12.5” ...... WS=17” ....... WT=4 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Icteridae (Blackbirds, Orioles, Allies) The Common Grackle is large and conspicuous with a traditional range in the Eastern United States. It extreme flexibility in diet and nesting habits along with the clearing of forests which has increased nesting habitats has led to a surge in its population. It has also expanded its range into the Western United States in the last half century. This success has negative consequences as flocks of grackles are amongst the most significant agricultural pests. Similarly, Common Grackles will descend in great numbers and with great commotion on back-yard bird feeders driving all others off until. In poor light conditions the Common Grackle looks black but with sunlight a beautiful array of iridescent colors becomes apparent. It song, sung loudly and frequently is inharmonious to human ears but undoubtedly is music to their own.
Purple Gallinule – ForagingPorphyrio martinica February – Texas L=13” ...... WS=22”...... WT=8 oz......m>f Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots) The Purple Gallinule is a striking and exotically colored bird. It has three very long front toes and an exceptionally long hind toe which enable it to walk on floating vegetation to forage for food. The name “gallinule” derives from the Latin “gallina” meaning “little hen”. Purple Gallinules have proven to adapt well when their habitats have been modified. For example, they thrive in rice fields and eat invasive plant species such as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata).
