Birds Seen Tuesday, 2/21 at Grandview Beach

Ring Billed Gull

http://www.greglasley.net/images/RA/Ring-billed-Gull-0003.jpg

•  Black tipped tail
• Black ring on bill

Herring Gull

 http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/photos/birds/herring-gull-38389.jpg

• Black tipped wing
• Red spot on lower part of bill

Great Black Backed Gull

 http://www.spwickstrom.com/seagull/GreatBlack-backedGull2004-10-29-001.jpg

• Black wings on back
• Black ring on bill

Brown Pelican

 http://magblog.audubon.org/files/magazine/u134/pelican_Rebecca_Field.png

• Long bill with extensible pouch
• Tail short.
• Soars close to water surface. 

Common Loon

  http://www.junglewalk.com/animal-pictures/624/Common-Loon-4234.jpg

• Dark red eye
• Black head with gray band on neck
• When in water, neck primarily visible as it protrudes out of water.

Red Winged Blackbird

  http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/terrestrial/migratory_birds/bird_conservation/images/red_winged_blackbird_359.jpg

• Glossy black back
• Red and yellow shoulders

Bufflehead

 http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/images/olc/bufflehead2nps.jpg

• White on head extends all around neck

Morning Dove

 http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/americanwildlife/Bird/mourning-dove-1.jpg

• Gray all over 
• Occasional black specks on wings

Great Blue Heron

  https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LYIsw3uehT7_jMtvIQmhaZU7YZyh41QZW3KCJrZysiboMQc2EIo3Hy7ZltbLr2hIf5RKaJFT_nsEV8rRW9cdwAmfZjKW2FnN4CtoBACCUYeJX607eH05sYUKgPFguYTluMxD5kb6ujU/s1600/great-blue-heron-797050.jpg

• Black crown, black stripe by eye
• Blue/gray color all over

Great Egret

 http://www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice/images/Great%20Egret.jpg

• All white
• Black legs

Northern Mockingbird

 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Northern_Mockingbird3.jpg

• white wingbars 
• black legs, white chest

Thrushes, Thrashers, Mockingbirds, and Vireos
- Overall Descriptions

1) Family Vireonidae
- Plumages are mainly gray, greenish or brown above and whitish or yellowish below.
- Small passerines with short and sturdy bill slightly hooked at tip.
- Most forest types, semi-open areas with scattered trees, and scrub.

2) Family Mimidae (Thrashers, Mockingbirds, and Catbirds)
-Medium-sized thrush-like birds, with short wings, long legs and long tail
-Generally dull-plumaged, mostly grey or brown, some with white or rufous.
-Second growth, open woodland, scrub and desert habitats.

3) Family Turdidae (Thrushes, Bluebirds, and Robins)
-Small to medium-sized passerines with fairly strong bill,
-Usually medium-long tail, plumages varying from dull grey or brown to black
-Some species with bright colors.
-Cosmopolitan.
-Most habitats, from dense forest to open country.

Identification

White Eyed Vireo

http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com/d/6485-4/white-eyed_vireo_F5R6002.jpg

• Yellowsides.
• Yellowspectacles.
• Whitethroat.
• Twowhite wingbars.
• Eyeswhite

Red Eyed Vireo

http://macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/munshisouth10/files/2010/10/RedEyedVireo.jpg

• Eyesdark red
• Eyebrow white with black stripethrough the eye
• Crowngray to blue-gray

Yellow-Throated Vireo

http://leesbirdblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/yellow-throated-vireo-vireo-flavifrons-by-anthony-747.jpg

• Bright yellow throat, breast, and eye spectacles.
• Belly and under tail white.
• Two white wingbars.

Hermit Thrush

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/HermitThrush63.jpg/200px-HermitThrush63.jpg

• Reddishtail contrasts with duller brown/gray body
• Denseblack spotting on upper breast
• Completewhite eye ring

Wood Thrush

http://www.naturesound.com/birds/hires/woody.jpg

• Large,pot-bellied thrush
• Shorttail
• Brightbrick-red above
• Whitebelow with dense, dark spotting

Eastern Bluebird
- Male

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/eastern_bluebird_glamor.jpg

- Female

http://www.dvoc.org/Conservation/Corner2007/Images/eastern-bluebird-female-BIN.jpg

• Reddishorange breast and throat
• Whitebelly and undertail
• Bodyheld upright
• Thinbill
• Slightwhite eyering,heavy toward the back of the eye
• Orangeextends to side of neck

American Robin

http://mayo.personcounty.net/Bird%20Folder/Songbirds/American%20Robin.jpg

• Reddish orange breast and sides
• White belly
• Gray upperparts, darker head
• White eye crescents
• Dark tail with white corners in flight
• Yellow bill with black tip

Brown Thrasher

http://www.animalspot.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Brown-Thrasher.jpg

• Largelong-tailed
• Upperpartsbright rufous.
• Underpartswhite with black streaking.
• Yellow eyes

Grey Catbird

http://worldbirdwatching.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/grey-catbird.jpg

• Graybody, wings, and tail
• Darkcap
• Longdark tail
• Reddishundertailcoverts
• Darkeye and bill

Northern Mockingbird

http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/photos/sevcik/northern-mockingbird--mimus-polyglottos-1.jpg

• Slender bill
• Gray head and upperparts
• Yellow eye
• White underparts
• Long black tail with white outer tail feathers
• White wing bars
• White patch in wing, especially visible in flight
• Black legs

Thrushes, Mockingbirds, Thrashers and Vireos

FamilyTurdidae:
Thrushes, Bluebirdsand Robins

•PhysicalCharacteristics

–Small with strong straight bills

–Squared or rounded tails

–Sexual Dimorphism and camouflage adolescents

•GeneralBehavior

–Generally Monogamous

–Very Territorial

Melodious

FamilyMimidae:
Thrashers,Mockingbirds and Catbirds

•MediumSongbirds ranging from 8-12 cm long

•Diet-insectsand fruit

•Pairsoften stay together for more than one breeding season

•PhysicalCharacteristics

–Slender Bill

–Short, rounded wings

–Long Tails

FamilyVireonidae

•Typicallydull plumage and greenish in color

•Eatmostly insects and some fruit

•Foundin broad-leaved forests and scrubs

•Hookedupper mandibles

Wood Thrush



http://roaneviews.com/?q=node/938
•Nest in lower perches such as saplings or bushes
•Physical Characteristics
–Pot Bellied
–Short Tail
–Large Head
–Brick red to brown back and cap
–Spotted/ striped chest
–Pink Legs

Hermit Thrush



•Nest on the ground or in low shrubbery
•Physical Traits
–Brow back and cap
–Reddish tail
–Distinct Spots on chin that get more blurred towards the chin and tummy

Eastern Bluebirds



•Identifiers
–Small, large eyes and round heads
–Slender, short bills
–Males have bright blue back with rust colored chest, sides and flanks
•Females are same colors but paler
•Behavior
–Males may squat and flutter pointed wings during mating season
–May be found in small flocks

American Robin

•Identifiers

–Black Head

–Grey back and wings

–Rusty orange breast

–White under-tail

–White and black streaked throat

--Nest in bushes and trees

Brown Thrasher



http://www.ellenmichaelsphotos.com/v/central_park_birds/brown_thrasher_3311.jpg.html

• Identifiers
–Long Tail
–Back and Head are brownish Red
–Striped and spotted from chin to belly
•Behavior
–Nest In shrubs, like thorned bushes
–Aggressively territorial

Northern Mockingbird



•http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_mockingbird/id/ac
•Identifiers
–Medium, Smaller than Thrasher
–Small heads with thin, slightly curved bill
–Primarily grey but darker on the top than bottom
–Have black tails and wing tips
–White wing patches
–Long Legs
–Wings are short, rounded and broad
•Behavior
–Aggressively territorial
–Easily seen perched openly on fence posts, branches, and telephone branches.
–Sing frequently

Grey Catbird



http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gray_Catbird/id/ac
•Identifiers
–Dusty Gray body with black cap and rusty rump
–Black, rounded tail
–Narrow, long beak
–Long legs
–Broad wings
•Behavior
–Keeps well hidden
–Prefers short flights among branches or just over vegetation, not likely to be found in open areas
–Male sings loud to claim territory, sings quietly when close to nest and female may sing back to him

White-Eyed Vireo



http://www.powdermillarc.org/highlights/2008/spring.aspx
•Identifiers
–Olive-Green back and cap
–Yellow mask
–White throat
–Two white wing bars
–White eyes
–Yellow sides
–Dark wing and tail
•Behaviors
–Secretive
–Found in overgrown fields and along edges of forests

Red-Eyes Vireo



http://www.birdzilla.com/bird-identification/which-bird-did-you-see/search-by-size/small.html
•Identifiers
–Olive green Back
–White underside
–Blue-grey cap
–White eyebrow with black stripe through eye
–Dark red eyes
•Behavior
–Sings continuously from forest canopy
•Fun Fact
–Kills larger prey by crushing it or beating it against a branch
Yellow Throated Vireo



http://leesbird.com/birds-world/fm/vireonidae/
•Identifiers
–Olive green head
–Bright yellow throat, breast and around eyes
–White belly
–Two white wing bars
–Thick Blue grey legs
–Hooked lower mandible

Thursday Feb. 16th: Newport News Park

Birds we saw in Newport News Park:

Canada Goose

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/id/ac
-Black neck and head
-White Cheeks

Tufted Titmouse

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/id/ac
-Pointed Crest
-Black patch above small, round bill

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-bellied_Woodpecker
-Black and white striped back
-Red cap

American Coot

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id/ac
-All black
-White, chicken-like bill with black mark near tip

Ring-Necked Duck

http://www.njwildlifetrails.org/PineBarrensTrails/Sites/tabid/1698/Scope/site/Guide/PINEBARREN/Site/322/Default.aspx
-Bump on back of head
-Bluish bill with white ring near black tip
-Subtle purplish ring around neck

Double-crested Cormorant

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/id/ac
-Large, dark body
-Long, s-shaped neck

Ring-billed Gull

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-billed_Gull/id/ac
-Black ring around tip of yellow bill
-Black edge of wing

Tundra Swan

http://www.animalspot.net/tundra-swan.html
-Black bill
-Yellow mark by eyes

Bonaparte's Gull

http://www.birdcapemay.org/gallery/main.php/birds+of+cape+may/Gulls_Terns_and_Skimmers/gulls/Bonaparte_s+Gull_+ad+breeding_+June.jpg.html
-Black tipped wings
-Black hood- during mating
-Black bill
-Orange legs

Great Egret

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/id/ac
-Long black legs and feet
-Long yellow bill
-S-shaped neck
-Ornamental feathers

Birds from Ambre's Yard

Hey guys, I went birding in my yard today. Here are all of the birds I saw without even leaving my front step.

1. Yellow-bellied sapsucker: white stripe down its side, red throat and head

2. Eastern Towhee: Black head and back with rust sides and white belly, red eyes

3. White-breasted nuthatch: white chest and lower head, black stripe down center of head, grey back, long, skinny bill, behaves a lot like a woodpecker

4. Northern Cardinal - completely red

5. Group of American crows: heard the "caw-caw" call

6. Yellow-rumped warbler: yellow patches on the sides and its rump

7. Tufted titmouse: Grey with crest, rust color under wings

8. Carolina Wren - brown body, slightly curved beak, white eye stripe

9. Female Northern Cardinal: Brown body with red accents

10. Carolina Chickadee: Very small, black cap and throat separated by white

11. White-throated sparrow: Black and white stripes on head with yellow spots above the eyes

12. Red-bellied woodpecker: Red cap, distinctive black and white barring on back

13. American robin: Black back and head, orange/rust chest

14. Ruby crowned kinglet: VERY small bird, white bars on wings, end of the wings are olive-green colored (during breeding season, males have a small red tuft in the middle of their heads)

Happy Birding!