(Thursday Lab 4/5/12) Pigeons, Doves, Hummingbirds, Kingfishers, and Waxwings
Rob Rice and Danielle Creel
Rock Pigeon (Family Columbidae)
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Identification
–Most
are bluish-gray and have two black bands on the wings
–Tail
is broad, rounded, and has a dark
–Wings
are broad, but pointed
–Most
have red eyes
–Short,
curved beak
–Some
have an iridescent throat
Behavior
-Feed
on seeds, fruits, and rarely small invertebrates. Opportunistic, and will eat left-out food.
-Nest
in ledges, and under overhanging
structures on walls.
-Males
typically find a nest spot, then sit there calling for mates.
Mourning Dove (Columbidae)
Identification
–Short
legs
–Small,
curved bills
–Tan
overall, with darker colors on the wings
–Primary
flight feathers can have a white border
–Pointed,
dark-tipped tail. They fly with occasional,
powerful wing-beats. This makes them highly agile
Behavior
-Feed
in open grasslands and fields, mostly on seeds.
Doves occasionally eat grasses, weeds, herbs, and berries.
- Nests are typically
made of ground-litter (leaves, pine tags, grass) and are placed on tree
branches.Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Trochilidae)
Female: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird_by_Dan_Pancamo_2.jpg
Identification
–Small
(0.1-0.2g) with slender, slightly downwardly curved bill
–Typically
hover, and feed while flying
–Bright
emerald green back and head
–Light
belly and rump
–Males:
•Have
a bright iridescent red throat and light belly
Behavior
-Feed
directly from red or orange tubular flowers, such as the trumpet creeper,
honeysuckle, or morning glory. They can also catch insects in midair.
- Nests are typically
build on branches of hardwoods, usually 10’-40’ up.honeysuckle, or morning glory. They can also catch insects in midair.
Belted Kingfisher (Alcedinidae)
Identification
–Medium
Size
–Large
, thick, pointed bill
–Large
blue crest on males
–Females
have a less pronounced, grey crest
–Males:
•Blue
back
•Black
Wing Tips
•White
throat and collar
•White
belly with a brown/brick red band across the upper chest
–Females:
•Slate
grey back
•Black
Wing Tips
•White
throat and collar
•White
belly with brick red band across the belly
Behavior
-Diet
includes fish, aquatic invertebrates, insects, and small terrestrial
vertebrates.
-Nest
in burrows along banks near water.
-Hunts
by watching the water from a perch or by hovering, then dives at prey.
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycillidae)
Identification
–Pale
brown on the head/back, which blends to a grey tail
–Tail
is tipped with yellow
–Red
waxy secretion on the secondaries
–Small,
slightly curved, dark beak
–Black
mask across the eyes, which is outlined in white
–Pale
yellow belly
Behavior
-Named after the red waxy secretion found near the tips of the wings.
-Social birds that move in large flocks and nest in trees at the forks of branches.
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