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