Birds, Nature, & Equivalence

Lesser GoldfinchSpinus psaltria

Common Gallinule (formerly Common Moorhen)Gallinula galeata (formerly Gallinula chloropus)

Sandhill CraneGrus canadensis These Sandhill Cranes are returning to roost just after sunset having spent the day searching for food and water.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks Dendrocygna autumnalis

Lewis’s Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis

Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus

Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica

Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis This picture is life size (in the book).

SanderlingCalidris alba Sanderlings are a joy to watch.....chasing receding waves and then running from the incomimg waves in hopes of catching prey churned by the water.

Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Sometimes the habitat is a surprise. Here a nocturnal bird of the lakes and swamps is foraging during the daytime in the heart of the city.

Great Egret Ardea alba Great Egrets normally stalk their prey by walking ever so slowly through shallow waters and then capturing the prey with lightning quick strikes. Here the egret is diving to catch prey sighted from flight.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea

Sandhill CraneGrus canadensis

Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum

American Goldfinch Spinus trirtis

Great Crested Flycathcher Myiarchus crinitus This bird and its mate were busy catching insects, in this case a Tawny Emperor butterfly larva, for thier chicks.

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoenicens Usually farmers harvest their rice fields before fall migration. Here a large migrating flock of Red-winged Blackbirds combines with resident birds to “harvest” a field that was not harvested in time by the farmer.

Great Blue HeronArdea herodias Sometimes success in foraging comes in excess. This Great Blue Heron stabbed its prey, a bowfin, that weighed about half as much as the bird himself. Occasionally herons choke and die when they try to swallow fish this size, but this one didn’t.

Northern PintailAnas acuta

White IbisEudocimus albus

Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea

Great Egret Ardea alba

American Robin Turdus migratorius

KilldeerCharadrius vociferus

Say’s PhoebeSayornis saya Notice the large fleshy gape on this fledgling. Young birds like this one can fly but are reluctant to do so even when there are potential dangers (such as a photographer).

Common Gallinule (formerly Common Moorhen)Gallinula galeata (formerly Gallinula chloropus)

White-winged DoveZenaid asaitica Juveniles sleep a lot. This individual picked a very busy bird feeder for its midday nap.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks Dendrocygna autumnalis Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks have large clutches (in excess of ten). This family portrait includes the parents and seven offspring.

Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja

Resplendent QuetzalPharomachrus mocinno During mating season male Resplendent Quetzals grow twin tail feathers that are up to three feet long.

BananaquitCoereba flaveola Bananaquits are small, tropical birds of the Western Hemisphere not found in North America. They are fond of sugar and can be seen in banana fields, taking nectar from flowers, around homes where sugar is present, and drinking from hummingbird feeders (they are similar in size to hummingbirds).

Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalus First winter male Black-headed Grosbeaks are unusual in that they have coloring and markings that are a combination of adult males and females. The head markings are like the female and the strong colored breast is like the male.

Northern JacanaJacana spinosa

Green Heron Butorides virescens

Broad-tailed Hummingbird – MaleSelasphorus platycerus

Broad-tailed Hummingbird – FemaleSelasphorus platycerus

Black-chinned Hummingbird – Male Archilochus alexandri

Black-chinned Hummingbird – Female Archilochus alexandri

Rufous Hummingbird – Male Selasphorus rufous

Rufous Hummingbird – Female Selasphorus rufous

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus The Eagle He clasps the crag with crooked hands; Close to the sun in lonely lands, Ring’d with the azure world, he stands. The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; He watches from his mountain walls, And like a thunderbolt he falls. Lord Alfred Tennyson 1851