Birdwatching

Öland, 1968. Public domain photograph, 1900s Sweden, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

1968. Public domain photograph, 1900s Sweden, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Kvismaren Öbykulle 10 april 1960. Public domain photograph, 1900s Sweden, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

19 oktober 1964. Public domain photograph, 1900s Sweden, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

1965. Public domain photograph, 1900s Sweden, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

North America's only indigenous passenger pigeon, which may have gathered in flocks numbering in the billions, became extinct in 1914 at the hands of humans. So, how are pigeons one of the most easily-recogniza More

American rosefinches form the genus Haemorhous. This includes Cassin's finch (H. cassinii), the purple finch (H. purpureus) and the house finch (H. mexicanus). Identify the house finch by its streaked flank fea More

Their coloration is gull-like but their shape and flight are falcon-like. Look for mostly white underparts with black wingtips and shoulders. Due to shooting and egg-collecting, the white-tailed kite was almost More

Kvismaren bild tagen från Öbykulle 10 april 1960.

Like most desert animals, rock wrens don't drink water (even in captivity). They get their water from the insects and spiders they eat. They are also fantastic singers, especially males. He may have an amazing More

Native to warm and subtropical Asia, these doves were introduced to North America in the 1980's.

The Hawaiian coot, also called 'alae kea' in Hawaiian, is similar to the American coot (Fulica americana) you are probably familiar with. They are similar in appearance, size and weight as well as both exhibiti More

Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a jay native to North America and is, perhaps not surprisingly, closely-related to the blue jay. Jays are noisy, (usually) colorful birds in the crow family. This particul More

Birdwatchers on the Towpath Trail Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Birdwatchers on the boardwalk at Beaver Marsh

birdwatching Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Mallards are also commonly called simply, 'wild duck'. This dabbling duck lives in wetlands and enjoys eating water plants and small animals. Highly social, it congregates in groups / flocks of varying sizes. T More

Northern cardinals are found in southern Canada, through the eastern US and south through Mexico in woodlands, gardens, shrublands and even swamps. The common & scientific names of this bird refer to the cardin More

Researchers study details in the black oystercatcher's eye to aid in determining the sex of the bird.

Flammeus literally means "flaming" or "color of fire" in Latin. Owls belonging to the genus Asio are known as the eared owls because their tufts of feathers resemble mammalian ears. Interestingly, these 'ear' t More

Picryl description: Public domain image of a mountain cliff view, natural rocky landscape, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

This wood stork (Mycteria americana) goes about its own business with American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) lounging nearby.

Picryl description: Public domain image of a bird, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Researchers study details in the black oystercatcher's eye to aid in determining the sex of the bird.

This New World vulture is the largest land bird in North America and one of the world's rarest bird species. Sadly, the condor became extinct in the wild in 1987 which means that every condor you see has been c More

The anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) has many common names, including snakebird and water turkey. You've probably guessed that the name water turkey stems from its swimming habits and broad turkey-like tail seen in th More

Breeding great blue herons gather in colonies or heronries to build stick nests high off the ground. Known for its dagger-like bill, slow walk while stalking prey and a conspicuous S-shaped curl in its neck, th More

This small songbird is the only member of its genus, Protonotaria. Adult males have a bright orange-yellow head; females and immature birds are duller and have a yellow head.

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the largest eagle native to North America and a bird of prey also known as a 'sea eagle'. Sea eagles are all birds of prey in the genus Haliaeetus. Their diets consi More

The osprey has many common names, including fish eagle, sea hawk, river hawk and fish hawk. While the osprey can live in a wide variety of habitats, it prefers to live and nest near bodies of water with an adeq More

Bullock's orioles are sexually dimorphic, with males showing more color (as in the photo) than females. Males are also slightly larger and heavier. Juveniles resemble females with a pink or whitish bill and dar More

This New World vulture is the largest land bird in North America and one of the world's rarest bird species. Sadly, the condor became extinct in the wild in 1987 which means that every condor you see has been c More

This New World vulture is the largest land bird in North America and one of the world's rarest bird species. Sadly, the condor became extinct in the wild in 1987 which means that every condor you see has been c More

Breeding great blue herons gather in colonies or heronries to build stick nests high off the ground. Known for its dagger-like bill, slow walk while stalking prey and a conspicuous S-shaped curl in its neck, th More

The day after hatching, young wood ducks will climb to the tree nest entrance (or in this case, man-made nest box entrance) and jump! These precocial ducklings then make their way to the water where they are al More

The wild turkey is native to North America and is the same species as the domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Interestingly, the head and neck of the male (tom) turkey turns bright blue during courtship. So, More

Find the western tanager at the park throughout spring and summer.

The arctic tern is a strongly migratory seabird with a convoluted route between its northern breeding grounds and the Antarctic coast. By far, it has the longest known migration in the animal kingdom (up to 44, More

These birds live in deciduous or mixed evergreen-deciduous woods above 2,000 feet elevation. Distinguish the tufted titmouse from other similar titmice by the black patch just above its bill. This bird has inte More

These are just some of the park's winter residents; see the tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) in flight and the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) resting in the tree.

These woodpeckers have strikingly-barred backs and gleaming red caps. Don't confuse this species with the similar but rarer red-headed woodpecker which has a mostly black back with big white wing bars. If you c More

Along with the lesser roadrunner (G. velox), it is one of only two species in the roadrunner genus, Geococcyx. The name 'geococcyx' is Latin for 'earth-cuckoo' but you may also know this bird by the name chapar More

The mountain bluebird is a relative of the eastern and western bluebirds.

The common eider is the largest eider species. They are characterized by a bulky shape and large, wedge-shaped bill. The male is unmistakable with its black and white plumage and green nape. The female, as you More

The magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) is the largest frigatebird at 35-45 inches in length. This seabird is recognized mostly for the male's striking red gular sac which it uses to attract a mate. A More

This New World vulture is the largest land bird in North America and one of the world's rarest bird species. Sadly, the condor became extinct in the wild in 1987 which means that every condor you see has been c More

Picryl description: Public domain image of a bird, eagle, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) was originally called the 'winged tiger' or 'tiger of the air' by naturalists, which has gained it the modern nickname of tiger owl. This extremely adaptable bird has suc More

Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) will soon begin heading south. They fly from northern breeding grounds to antarctic wintering areas, travling up to 50,000 miles each year. Arctic terns are long-lived birds wit More

The American kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the smallest falcon in North America and the smallest raptor in America (under traditional classifications.) Unlike other raptors, the sexes of the kestrel differ more More

This heron can be found throughout most of the world, except the coldest regions and Australasia (where a related night heron is found instead). You probably know herons for their ambush predator behavior: a he More

This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals that are larger than itself. However, that doesn't mean it will pass on tiny dishes like scorpions, mice and frogs. It's one of the most common owls in Nor More

This migratory passerine breeds in North America and winters in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Very social outside breeding season, tree swallows may form flocks of several thousand birds near roost sites.

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) was originally called the 'winged tiger' or 'tiger of the air' by naturalists, which has gained it the modern nickname of tiger owl. This extremely adaptable bird has suc More

The white-faced ibis is very similar in appearance to the glossy ibis in its non-breeding plumage (as pictured). However, the white-faced ibis is smaller with somewhat warmer-colored plumage. To tell them apart More

The northern fulmar and the southern fulmar are the only extant species in the genus Fulmarus. Though similar in appearance to gulls, they are actually members of the family Procellariidae, along with other sea More

It is similar in plumage to the little tern except that the least tern's rump and tail are grey, not white.

The long-billed curlew's diet includes many invertebrates and even some vertebrates; however, its bill is best adapted for capturing shrimp and crabs living deep below tidal mudflats or earthworms in flooded pa More

One Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) can cache up to 98,000 whitebark pine seeds in a single year. The gnarly whitebark pine survives in harsh environments with the help of birds like the nutcracker.

This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals that are larger than itself. However, that doesn't mean it will pass on tiny dishes like scorpions, mice and frogs. It's one of the most common owls in Nor More

Nene or nēnē (pronounced nay-nay), is the official state bird of Hawai'i. It is thought that the nene evolved from the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) after arriving on the Hawai'ian islands about 500,000 year More

The barred owl (Strix varia) is better known as the hoot owl because of its distinctive call. The only similar owl in an overlapping range is the spotted owl; however, the spotted owl, perhaps not surprisingly, More

This species has quite a large range and found anywhere from Wolf Park to as far west as California and north to British Columbia, Canada. The preferred habitat includes brushy thickets and weedy grasslands sim More

This is a bird of open ground. Look carefully at bare, brown fields - especially in winter - and parts of the brown ground may appear to be moving. In fact, a horned lark's body blends well with the ground but More

Nene or nēnē (pronounced nay-nay), is the official state bird of Hawai'i. It is thought that the nene evolved from the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) after arriving on the Hawai'ian islands about 500,000 year More

Look for the spotted towhee beneath the dense chaparral, noisily scratching at the leafy ground. This spunky bird will often be seen jumping backwards and scratching through the leaves, looking for seeds and in More

Breeding great blue herons gather in colonies or heronries to build stick nests high off the ground. Known for its dagger-like bill, slow walk while stalking prey and a conspicuous S-shaped curl in its neck, th More

You may know the great northern loon as the common loon (Gavia immer). This adult is still in breeding plumage, with a black head, white underparts and a checkered black-and-white mantle. After breeding season More

As summer becomes fall and fall becomes winter, Kansas witnesses one of the most impressive natural dramas: birds migrating south to warmer climates. These starlings, introduced to North America in the 1890s, a More

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) tolerate a wide variety of habitats and will nest almost anywhere near a body of water with an adequate food supply. The osprey has many common names, including fish eagle, sea hawk, More

True to its name the cactus wren (campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) builds nests in cactus plants, sometimes in a hole in a saguaro or sometimes where its nest will be protected by prickly cactus spines of a cho More

Breeding great blue herons gather in colonies or heronries to build stick nests high off the ground. Known for its dagger-like bill, slow walk while stalking prey and a conspicuous S-shaped curl in its neck, th More

Brandt's cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) is a strictly-marine cormorant, inhabiting the Pacific coast of North America. The specific name penicillatus is Latin for 'painter's brush', meaning pencil of ha More

Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii) chicks seek cover under Mojave yucca. Not to be confused with California quail (Callipepla californica), look for a black patch on the lower breast of the male bird. This pa More

A flock of waterfowl, mostly mallards (Anas plathyrhynchos) and scaups (Aythya), rise up from the Kobuk River on a clear September day. Soon they will be gone and the land will seem a little quieter until next spring.

Sandhill cranes mate for life, choosing their partners based on dancing displays. They stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow and leap into the air during their mating displays. Juvenile sandhill cranes usu More

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) tolerate a wide variety of habitats and will nest almost anywhere near a body of water with an adequate food supply. The osprey has many common names, including fish eagle, sea hawk, More

Picryl description: Public domain image of a bird in flight, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

One of only three pelican species found in the western hemisphere and one of only two that feed by diving into water. Although a large bird in general, it is the smallest of the pelicans. Easily distinguish thi More

The barred owl (Strix varia) is better known as the hoot owl because of its distinctive call. The only similar owl in an overlapping range is the spotted owl; however, the spotted owl, perhaps not surprisingly, More

One Clark's nutcracker can cache up to 98,000 whitebark pine seeds in a single year. The gnarly whitebark pine survives in harsh environments with the help of birds like the nutcracker.

Common goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) breed in the boreal forest / snow forest, also known as the taiga. This migratory bird winters at more temperate latitudes in protected coastal water or open land waters, More

The red-throated loon is the most widely distributed of the loons but it breeds primarily in the Arctic. It is also the smallest and lightest of the loons. Look for the distinctive reddish throat patch during b More

As of 2014, this large American wading bird is classified as a threatened species. It is the only stork presently breeding in North America, with small breeding populations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina a More

This large, long-bodied duck has long, thin wings and a very straight, narrow bill - which is very unlike the typical flat duck bill. Females, as you can see, have shaggy crests on the back of their heads. Male More

The gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis) lives year-round on permanent territories in coniferous forests. This species seems to prefer black spruce (Picea mariana), white spruce (Picea glauca), Engelmann spruce (Pi More

Though uncommon at Cape Lookout NS in late fall, these striking American white pelicans were seen at Old Drum Inlet in October 2014. With a wingspan of about 8-feet, they are considerably larger than our reside More

This tyrant flycatcher's common name comes from its song, which sounds like 'fee-bee'. The eastern phoebe has a white throat, dirty breast and buff underparts. Two other Sayornis (phoebe) species exist: the bla More

This large, distinctive woodpecker doesn't migrate and should be fairly easy to spot in leafless trees during winter. To locate the pileated woodpecker, look for large, oval holes in dying trees where the bird More

Don't confuse the scrub jay with a blue jay, which is an entirely different species of bird! True to its name, the western scrub jay prefers low scrub areas. These birds usually forage in pairs, family groups o More

This puffin is easily differentiated from the only other two puffin species because of its thick red bill and yellow tufts.

As a perch-hunter, this bird sits atop branches and scans the ground for small animals to devour. If you see a raptor, identify the red-shouldered hawk by the rusty patches on its shoulders that give the animal More

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) tolerate a wide variety of habitats and will nest almost anywhere near a body of water with an adequate food supply. The osprey has many common names, including fish eagle, sea hawk, More

Blue-gray gnatcatcher (polioptila caerulea) catches a meal on the wing.

This wading bird is one of the most widespread of the curlews, which are a group of birds characterized by long, slender, downcurved bills and mottled brown plumage.

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