Habitat - Freshwater Marshes and Lakes
Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea July – Texas,/h3> L=24” ...... WS=42” ....... WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)
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).
strong>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).
Common Moorhen – ForagingGallinula chloropus February – Texas L=14” ...... WS=21”...... WT=11 oz Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots)
Common Moorhen – LoafingGallinula chloropus April – Texas L=14” ...... WS=21”...... WT=11 oz Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots)
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Adults and juvenilesDendrocygna autumnalis January – Texas L=21”...... WS=30” ...... WT=1.8 lb Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese Swans) Family: Aatidae (Ducks, Geese Swans)
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks – LoafingDendrocygna autumnalis December – Texas L=21”...... WS=30” ...... WT=1.8 lb Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese Swans) Family: Aatidae (Ducks, Geese Swans)
Little Blue Heron – Watching for danger Egretta caerylea March – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36” ....... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)
Little Blue Heron – Alarm call Egretta caerylea March – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36” ....... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)
Little Blue Heron – About to dive for fish Egretta caerylea March – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36” ....... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)
Green Heron chick– Practicing foraging Butorides virescens July – Texas L=18” ...... WS=26” ...... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)
Green Heron – Foraging Butorides virescens April – Texas L=18” ...... WS=26” ...... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)
American Bittern– Examing threats in"Bittern Stance" Botaurus lentiginosus February – Texas L=28” ...... WS=26” ....... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)
American Bittern– Foraging Botaurus lentiginosus March – Texas L=28” ...... WS=26” ....... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)
Great Egret – Preening in breeding plumageArdea alba April – Texas L=39” ...... WS=51” ...... WT=1.9 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
Great Egret – Diving from flight to catch a fishArdea alba October – Texas L=39” ...... WS=51” ...... WT=1.9 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
Sandhill Crane – Flying out in early morningGrus canadensis January – New Mexico L=41-46” ...... WS=73-77” ...... WT=7.3-10.6 lb ....... m>f Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, Allies) Family: Gruidae (Cranes)
Sandhill Crane – Drinking during the dayGrus canadensis January – New Mexico L=41-46” ...... WS=73-77” ...... WT=7.3-10.6 lb ....... m>f Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, Allies) Family: Gruidae (Cranes)
Sandhill Crane – Returning to roost at sunsetGrus canadensis January – New Mexico L=41-46” ...... WS=73-77” ...... WT=7.3-10.6 lb ....... m>f Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, Allies) Family: Gruidae (Cranes)
Forster's Tern – Diving for fishSterna forsteri January – Texas L=13” ...... WS=31” ...... WT=6 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Allies)
Northern Pintail – DivingAnas acuta January – New Mexico L=21-25” ...... WS=35” ...... WT=1.8 lb Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese and Swans) Family: Anatidae (Ducks, Geese and Swans)
