Thursday, February 16, 2012

Tuesday Lab - Newport News Park

Location: Newport News Park
Weather: Chilly, some wind, clear skies

Birds We Saw:
Muscovy Duck
  •  Bright red, lumpy warts around eyes and above beak
  • Can be variations of white, black and brown
  • Short, flat, wide tail
Mallard
  • Green head with white ring around neck
  • Chestnut brown chest and body
  • Yellow bill and red/orange legs
Mute Swan

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mute_Swan/id/ac
  • Very large body
  • All white plumage
  • Black mask on face and orange bill
Great Egret
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/id/ac
  • Very large heron
  • All white plumage
  • Long black legs
  • Long yellow bill
  • Signature S-shaped neck
Peking Duck
  • Aflac duck! and the kind we eat
  • All white
  • Yellow bill
  • Bred from the Mallard
Ring-billed Gull
  • Short and slim yellow bill
  • Long wings with black tips
  • Gray body with yellow legs
  • White head and underside
Canada Goose

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/id/ac
  • Black head and neck which is long
  • White chinstrap and black bill
  • Very large body
  • Brown back
Pied-billed Grebe

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pied-billed_Grebe/id/ac
  • Small body size
  • Brown head and body with white arse
  • Lighter colored bill with black ring
Redhead

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Redhead/id/ac
  • Surprise! It has a red head
  • Gray back
  • Blue-ish bill with black top
  • Brown neck and rump
Red-bellied Woodpecker

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/id/ac
  • No red belly - actually white or pale underside
  • Red cap and black barred back
  • Medium in size
Turkey Vulture


http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/id/ac
  • When in flight, they look like they have finger-like protrusions off their wings
  • Dark brown/black with red head
  • Pale bill
  • Underside of wings are grayish
Red-headed Woodpecker

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-headed_Woodpecker/id/ac
  • Full red head instead of just red cap
  • Black back and white chest
  • Known to be aggressive
Tufted Titmouse

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/id/ac
  • Gray body with with underside
  • Rust-colored flanks
  • Large black eyes
  • Tuft on head very distinguishable
Red-tailed Hawk

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-tailed_hawk/id/ac
  • Saw adult and juvenile
  • Broad, rounded wings
  • Short, wide cinnamon red tail
  • Brown body and barred red underneath
Double-crested Cormorant
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/id/ac
  • Dark black/brown body with long neck
  • Blunt bill with orange/yellow near the base
  • Dark legs
  • Often seen sunning their wings
Dark-eyed Junco

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/id/ac
  • Sparrow that is quick in flight
  • Rounded head and long tail
  • Dark gray body and white underside
  • White tail feathers can be seen in flight
Downy Woodpecked
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/id/ac
  • Very similar to Hairy Woodpecker except smaller
  • Straight bill
  • Black and white checkered back with large white streak in the middle
  • White underside
  • Striped head - males have red patch on head
White-breasted Nuthatch
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-breasted_Nuthatch/id/ac
  • Large head and small neck
  • Long narrow bill
  • Blueish-gray on back with some black
  • White face and black streak from bill to back
  • Some rust color on underside
Carolina Chickadee

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Chickadee/id/ac
  • Long, narrow tail
  • Distinct black hooded head with white on either side
  • Gray body
  • Black bill
Hooded Merganser

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/id/ac
  • Fluffy fan-shaped head with white on either side
  • White does not go all the way around head
  • White chest
  • Eyes yellow or black depending on if they are breeding
Ring-necked Duck
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-necked_Duck/id/ac
  • Actually no ring on neck - white ring on gray bill with black tip
  • White stripe on shoulder
  • Gray wings and dark back
American Wigeon
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Wigeon/id/ac
  • Males - white streak in middle of head
  • Speckled appearance on face
  • Coloration varies based on gender and reproductive phase - usually grayish
  • Pale bill
Bald Eagle
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bald_eagle/id/ac
  • White head and dark brown body
  • Bright yellow hooked bill
  • Yellow legs and feet covered to the ankle in feathers
  • Extremely large body size
  • Can be seen by everyone except Lindsey :)

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