My bird is the Greater Yellowlegs. The scientific name for this bird is Tringa Melanoleuca.

A similar species to th
checkered black, gray and white wading bird with bright yellow legs and a long thin dark bill. The bird will most likely be
Yellowlegs has a clutch size of 4 eggs and takes 23 days to hatch. It takes the bird 18 to 20 days to leave the nest on its ow
interesting fact about this bird is that it runs around quickly bobbing its head, and tail. Like a good watchdog.

Listen to the birds song

The Northern Shoveler has brown eyes. This bird has an orange bill with dark patches. This kind of bird has spots
Canada. In the winter the Northern Shoveler goes to the southern regions of the United States. The bird has a wingspan of
builds its nest on dry land near fresh water. The Northern Shoveler’s breeding habitat is in wetlands. The Northern Shovel
birds to leave the nest. An interesting fact about the Northern Shoveler that it makes a sound like took took. Isn’t that a fu
 My birds name is the Common Grackle. The scientific name is Ouiscalus Quiscula. A similar species is the Black bi
eyes, and a very long tail. It is 10-12 inches in length. Its nest is an open cup shape. It eats insects, fruits, worms, reptiles o
of the United States. In winter it flies to the southern United States. The Common Grackles egg is 1.2 inches in diameter. I
a that the common Grackle is now one of the most abundant breeding birds in North America.

Listen to the birds song

My bird is the Northern Pintail. The Northern Pintail lives in the United States and north. Its scientific name is A
stripe down the middle. The birds neck is pure white. Its bill is pure black, along with its tail. It also has a brownish –black
head. The female also has a black bill and tail. Just like the male does. The immature birds upper parts are brown and black
anything like that. It nests in a grassy area near salt water and its nest is a bowl of flat grass. It is a vegetarian with a diet of
of flat grass. It takes the eggs 22 to 25 days to hatch into the new world. When the immature bird hatches from the egg, it t
Another interesting fact about my bird is that it got its name by because it breeds in the north and it is a pintail. That’s why
 The bird I am going to tell you about is the American Coot. The American Coot is slate gray, has a black head with
American Coot is 12 inches long. Its size in wingspan is 25 inches long. It weighs 1.4 pounds. The American Coot’s scient
States and Canada. It eats aquatic animals and plants. The American Coot’s nesting area is over water in a tree 1 to 4 feet d
parkland, and grasslands. The American coot has a clutch size of 2 – 22 eggs and incubates them for 21 – 25 days. Once th
northern United States and Canada. One interesting fact about my bird is that it is plump and has difficulty taking flight. I h

The American Crow is black from beak to toe and has a squared off tail and a plunged back so you can notice it be
migrator. The American Crow has a clutch size of 3-8 eggs. The length of incubation is 18 days. It takes 28 - 35 days to fle
and winter.

Listen to the birds song

The Black-Throated Green Warbler’s (Dendroica Virens) upper parts are olive green. The throat and sides of the bre
breast. The throat of the female and the immature bird sometimes has black spots on it. It stands about 4 and a half inches t
Warbler, Black Burnian Warbler, Townsend Warbler, Cap May Warbler, the Palm Warbler and the Magnolia Warbler. Th
southeastern Canada, and open stands of hemlock. They are found in the United States near the Great Lakes, throughout N
to northern South America and in the West Indies. In the summer the Black –Throated Green Warbler lives in the Northwe
mountains of Georgia. Its nest is made out of grass, moss, plant fibers, hair, and feathers. My bird normally eats insects and
on flight 9 days after they are hatched. An interesting fact about the Black-Throated Green Warbler is that it is the common
 My bird is the Common Merganser. It’s scientific name is Mergus Merganser. It has a wingspan of 37 inches and
sides and a red long pointed bill with serrated edges to help catch slippery fish. The female has a gray body and brownish c
females than it is males. The Common Merganser eats mostly fish but it eats smaller quantities of aquatic invertebrates. It
Merganser lives near wooded rivers and ponds. The Common Merganser is found in Southeastern Alaska, Manitoba, and N
northern Mexico and sometimes in the Gulf coast. The Common Merganser breeds in wetlands and open water. It’s clutch
interesting fact is that many Common Mergansers were shot because it was thought that they destroyed valuable game fish
the surviving fish become greater in size.

My bird is the Common Yellowthroat. Its scientific name is the geothlypis trichas. This bird’s length is five to six
are green and brown. The female has no black mask. It has a yellow throat and breast and brownish flanks. It also has a wh
throughout North America. In the summer it lives in the northern United States and Canada while in the winter it travels to
materials. Its nest is also bulky and loose. It builds its nest from zero to three feet off the ground. It eats spiders, seeds, and
marked with brown and black spots. They are eighteen millimeters in diameter. That is a very small egg. The Yellowthroat
common kind of warbler throughout its range, wherever its diet is found.

Listen to the birds song

I would like to tell you about the Double-crested Cormorant it’s scientific name is Phalacrocorax Auritus. The len
birds that both have a long hooked bill, long thin neck and a long tail. Also they both often perch their wings spread out to
cormorant has a pale throat and chest darkening below and is brownish black on the wings. The Double-Crested Cormoran
islands. Its diet is fish. The breeding habitat is in lakes, rivers, swaps and coasts. The clutch size is 3-5 eggs .The length o
fishermen used them in the past to fish with. Another interesting fact about them is that they are water birds, but they are n
Listen to the birds song

The bird your about to hear about is the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Its scientific name is Pheucticus Ludovicianus. Th
blue breast with a rosy-red patch. The adult Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. has a rosy-red triangular breast patch, black head, wh
Breasted Grosbeak. is similar to the adult but duller. A similar species is the Plumaged Black Headed Grosbeak. the Pluma
Grosbeak. is mainly insects, fruit, seeds, and flowers. Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks live in woodland areas. They build their ne
nest in the mid-story. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Can lay up to 3 to 6 eggs at one time. It takes the Rose-Breasted Gros
migrates to Central America and northern South America in the winter and returns to the northern United States and Canad
many potato beetles.

Listen to the birds song

The bird I’m going to tell you about is very fascinating and interesting, it is the Herring Gull (Larus Argentatus). To
The head, body, and tail are white its bill is yellow with a red spot and the lower legs are flesh or pink colored. In the winte
plumage. Herring Gulls are a very populous species; in fact they are the most widespread species! Their main winter range
Great Lakes area the can be found year round. The nest is made of grass, moss, debris, lined with fine grass, and feathers.
The nest is circular. They are very social birds and prefer to nest in groups. On cliffs Herring Gulls tend to nest on turf cov
new birds 35 days to leave the nest. Another important fact is their food/diet. The Herring Gull a scavenger, it will eat anyt
clams, small fish, floating dead animals, young of other nesting birds, bread, french fries, and so on.
 The name of my bird that I am researching is the Mallard duck. The scientific name of this bird is Anas Platyrhync
flanks, and a white ring around it’s neck. The habitat of the bird is marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, and bays. It has a cluct
eats roots, wild flowers, reeds, cat tails, duck weed, seeds, millet, rice, smart weed, plants, and insects. It breeds on open w
burps. It also nests in a tree while only few ducks do.

The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus Gabula) stands about 6.5 inches high. Also the Baltimore Oriole has a quite sharply p
underpants, tips, and rump. The Baltimore Oriole male has a white wing bar and edges. The female Baltimore Oriole is tot
a gray belly and two wing bars. The immature male is similar to the Baltimore Oriole female grown up but is a brighter ora
The clutch size is about three to six eggs. The length of incubation is about twelve to fourteen days. The days to fledge are
the Baltimore Oriole lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, however in the winter it lives in the southern parts of the United States
17th century English Man who founded the Maryland colony and wore a cloak the colors of orange and black, the colors of
vivid colors and its unique body texture that is why I picked the Baltimore Oriole for my bird.
Listen to the birds song

The Osprey, its scientific name is Pandion Haliactus. It’s song sounds like it is screeching. It has a white chest an
standing trees, not trees that have already fallen. Their nests are made out of sticks, seaweed, bones, driftwood, and cornsta
seacoasts in the United States, Canada, and Alaska in the summer. In winter it lives in South America, Mexico, and the So
heavily blotched with dark brown spots. Incubation lasts about 35-38 days. Ospreys need lots of wing exercise before fledg
the male is only 2-3 pounds. The female is 2-4 pounds. The last interesting fact about the Osprey is that it can fly from 20-

Listen to the birds song

My bird is the Ovenbird. The scientific name of the Ovenbird is Seiurus Aurocapillus. It’s identification marks are
only be seen at a close range. An adult ovenbird has a white rung around it’s eye. On a young bird the tips of the tail feath
is the song of the Ovenbird. Ovenbirds are found mostly in the Eastern parts of North America. The Ovenbird eats mostly
shaped like an old-fashion oven. An Ovenbird breeds from Central Canada South to Northern Georgia. Ten days later the
many interesting facts about the Ovenbird. One fact is the Ovenbird is some times called the teacher bird. Another intere
Listen to the birds song

My class just finished studying about migratory birds. I chose the American Robin or the Turdus Migratorius. The
head is a blackish color and is different from the female’s head color which is a gray color. The height of my bird is ten inc
Spotted Towhee and the Hermit Thrush. The American Robin lives in North America in the summer and spends the winte
and sumac plant. It also eats caterpillars. The American Robin builds it’s nest on the ground , or in shrubs and in low trees,
be on ledges, on rocks at ground level, on window sills, on tips of trees, or even along a road bank. Once a bird lays her eg
you know the American Robin is famous for it’s tame and friendly nature? The habit of my bird is hopping on the ground a
sound. My bird belongs to a family called thrushes. Those breeding at higher latitudes and altitudes move with the seasons

Listen to the birds song

Our class just finished researching migratory birds. My bird is the American Black Duck. The scientific name is Ana
black patches and it’s legs are generally orange. An immature bird is paler in color but very similar to the adult. They are a
An American Black Duck migrates in North America on many of the lakes. It lives in salt marshes and in trees of old hawk
It takes 60 days for the birds to leave the nest. I learned some interesting facts about the American black duck. One interest
ago. I enjoyed researching the American Black Duck.
Blue Jays are one of the many birds that migrate. This bird is 10 ½-12 ½ inches tall. It has a blue back and tail, w
appearance. The baby is similar to the adult. Cyanocitta Cristata is the Blue Jay’s scientific name. It’s similar species are
from southern Canada to Texas. The Florida Jays extend their summer range Southward. Blue Jays eat nuts, berries, insec
robins whose nest height is usually 6 feet to over 20 feet in the air. Cyanocitta Cristata likes to breed in city parks, suburba
hatch into immature Blue Jays. It usually takes 2 weeks for the baby Blue Jay to fledge, which means they have 14 days to
which they consider a threat. Blue Jays can mimic the calls of other birds especially hawks. Cyanocitta Cristata are omniv
researching the Blue Jay and learned a lot.
Listen to the birds song

The Canada Goose is a great bird to research. It’s scientific name is Branta Canadensis. I like learning about it becau
gray, brown and the neck is black with white cheeks. The tail is white at the bottom and black at the tip. The length of it is
Snow Goose and the Tundra Swan. In the winter the Canada Goose lives in Florida where the weather is warm. However,
muskrat houses on tree stumps and in lakes and ponds. They build them close to other geese. The Canada Goose eats grain
days for the eggs to hatch. After 42 days the young leave their nest. This is called fledging. These geese mate for life which
this interesting bird, I learned many interesting facts. One fact is large geese honk while small geese cackle. The Canada G

Listen to the birds song

 My class just finished researching migratory birds of North America. The bird I chose is the Chipping Sparrow or th
eye and a white line over it. It sounds like a loud trill chirp. The Field Sparrow and the Clay Colored Sparrow resemble m
America, Canada and Northern Florida in the summer. In the winter it lives in the Southern United States. It breeds from N
Chipping Sparrow has 4 eggs in a clutch. The babies take 21 days to fledge. I learned lots of interesting facts. One fact is
its chipping wood. I enjoyed researching the Chipping Sparrow.

Have you ever seen the Common Moorhen? Immature birds have white necks with a white streak on the side and th
size of a pigeon but related to the Coot, the Sora and the Purple Gallinule. Moorhen’s wings are short and rounded. Adults
tipped red bill. Their legs are greenish, with orange or red bands on the lower part. Croaks and squawks make up their vo
they live in the Southern states along the coast. Both male and female birds help to build the nest. The male carries the ma
for courtship. My bird eats worms, snails and small fish. Breeding habitats of the Moorhen can be found in California, Ne
Common Moorhens have 5-11 eggs that are greenish white with spots. It takes 20-21 days for the eggs to hatch. The babi
ounces. The nest may be partly floating with a shallow cup in the center for the eggs. Adults eat the eggshells after the ch
the Common Moorhen.

Listen to the birds song

 I can’t believe how outstanding the Downy Woodpecker is! The Downy Woodpecker’s scientific name is Picodes
the back of his head. The female is just black and white and sort of looks like an Oriole. The Downy Woodpecker is 6 ½ in
The young woodpeckers are tiny and helpless, almost naked, sprawled at the bottom of captivity. The Downy Woodpecker
thirty feet above ground. The nests are made in dead trees. The Downy Woodpecker got its name from pecking it’s beak in
woodpeckers native to North America. The Downy Woodpecker has a very interesting breeding cycle. Egg clutches range
fact is that it flew from Ithaca, New York to Birmingham, Alabama, which is 800 miles. Another interesting fact is that eac
during egg laying time the male and female take turns guarding the nest by sitting in the tree. I really enjoyed researching

Listen to the birds song

I recently studied the Hooded Merganser. The Hooded Merganser has white o
yellow eye and a black head. His large neck is black. He has a white patch on his che
dusty brown but a little lighter on the underside. Also, they have a reddish brown cres
of the bill and the lower mandible. A couple of the similar species of the Hooded Merg
Merganser. The scientific name is Mergus Cucullatus. The song of the Hooded Merga
migration pattern goes from Southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. In wooden swam
nest. Insects, fish and crustaceans are what this bird normally eats. Nests are usually f
clutch. Hooded Merganser’s eggs take 31 days to incubate. It takes 24 days for the ba
eggs in a Wooden Duck’s nest. Another interesting fact is that this bird is one of th
style. I enjoyed researching the Hooded Merganser.
Our class has been researching migratory birds. My bird is the Killdeer. The
it’s head when it walks. The adult bird has a dark brown color on its body and white b
Charadrius Vociferus. Similar species are the Semipulmated Plover and the Black-bell
by late November. It’s nest is built on the ground (bare or pebbly) with or without shor
24 days for the eggs to hatch. The babies will fledge from the nest in 2 days. That’s am
stumbling along the ground while dragging one of it’s wings. When the potential attac
interesting facts about this migratory bird.
Listen to the birds song

Have you ever heard of a Mourning Dove? It makes a beautiful 5 syllable “coo
many black spots, and a light colored belly. The adult female and male look the same.
have black spots on their upper wings? Some similar species are, the Wood Pigeon, th
Mourning Dove. In the summer, the Mourning Dove lives in the humid Eastern Unite
weeds, seeds, and waste grain. Small seeds, corn, peanuts and soybeans are also eaten.
nest. Clutches have two eggs, which take 28 days to incubate. The clutches can be foun
evergreens, or marshes. One interesting fact about my bird is that the adults feed their
squeaky whistling noise. The Morning Dove was fun to learn about.
Listen to the birds song

The bird that I am researching is a Northern Cardinal also known as a Common

crest, and a cone shaped red bill. The female is dull brown with a reddish tinge on its c
Northern Cardinal because a Cedar Waxwing has a pointed crest, black facemask, and
Vermillion Flycatcher. Vermillion Flycatchers are similar to the Northern Cardinal be
of the Northern Cardinal. When the Cardinal does it’s song fast it sounds like, wee, w
Southwestern United States to Guatemala. It’s diet is fruit, seeds, and many kinds of i
vines. Sometimes nests are in saplings 3 to 12 feet above the ground. Northern Cardin
bushy swamps, woodland borders, and thickets and in recent years has become commo
takes 12 to 13 days of incubation and 10 to 11 days until fledging. An interesting fact t
that the Cardinal gets it’s name from the red robe worn by Roman Catholics. I have en
Listen to the birds song
 You will never believe how interesting the Red-Tailed Hawk is. The R
the feet. Baby Red-Tailed Hawks have gray tails that might or might not sho
meat eaters. Before the name Red-Tailed Hawk they used to call them the H
it’s home in deserts or forest. Usually the Red-Tailed Hawk eats rodents, rab
made out of sticks and twigs. The Red-Tailed Hawk has interesting facts abo
spots and splotches. It takes 40 days for the eggs to hatch and 44 days for th
Hawk used to be called the Chicken Hawk and the Hen Hawk because they k
120 mph to get their food. It can spout a mouse from a half mile away. Wh
Hawk. I really enjoyed researching the Red-Tailed Hawk and hope to see on

I have been researching migratory birds. I have the Ring-Billed Gull. T

white head, breast, and under parts, with a light gray back and wings. A dark
related to the Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Calia Gull, and a Black-Back Gu
gull spends the winter in the Great Lakes and New England. It’s diet consis
Ring-Billed Gull is found near lakes and rivers. Some Ring-Billed Gulls go
to leave their nest in 30 days. This is fledging. While researching this bird I
years. Also, it is known as a scavenger, which means it eats anything it find

Our class has been researching migratory birds. My bird’s name is the
colored bills it has. In the summer, it has a black ring neck and a coned shap
uniformly brownish body. It sounds like a cuckoo. The immature bird has w
three different birds that are similar to my bird are the Horned Grebe, Red-n
Argentina in Central America. It builds a nest on marshy lakes or willow tre
either anchored in place or can be free floating. Some floating nests maybe
the Pied-Billed Grebe is interesting. It lays five to eight eggs. They hatch in
researching this bird I learned some interesting facts. One fact is it is one of
spends most if it’s time on land, but cannot walk easily on land. Also when
get a chance to see the Pied-Billed Grebe.
 Do you know about the Eastern Phoebe? I just finished researching this incredible bird and I have learned a lot of g
has two wings, one tail and it’s under parts are white with olive colored sides and breast. Eastern Phoebes are usually six t
feathers, two buff wing bars and a cinnamon rump (behind). Eastern Phoebe’s similar species are the Eastern Flycatcher a
and Canada. The Eastern Phoebes eat flying insects, ants, bugs, flies, wasps, winter ground insects and berries. Eastern Pho
wooden ledges of country houses, rocks and cliffs. The Eastern Phoebes breed in the North, South and Eastern parts of No
days. In order for the Eastern Phoebe to fledge it takes three to thirteen days. I found lots of interesting facts about my bird
it’s tail not it’s head as it moves along. I enjoyed researching the Eastern Phoebe and have learned a lot of interesting facts

Listen to the birds song

Though penguins are the most well known, many species of birds call the Arctic and Antarctic home for at least part of the year.
Skuas, petrels, Adelie penguins, and many other types of seabirds breed and raise their young in the polar regions during the
summer months. Yet other species, such as the emperor penguin, the snowy owl, and the willow ptarmigan, remain in the polar
regions throughout the year.
Birds that migrate to the polar regions include the skua, giant petrel, and Adelie penguin.
Birds that live in the polar regions year-round include the emperor penguin, snowy owl, and willow ptarmigan. Photos courtesy
f Glenn Grant (National Science Foundation), Macaulay Library (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), and Jean-Guy Dallaire (Flic kr

If you live in an area with cold, snowy winters, you know that January means piling on the coats, scarves, and gloves, and perhaps
drinking a hot beverage. But how do birds that spend their winters in cold places stay warm? Packed into those birds are physical
and behavioral adaptations to keep them provisioned throughout the year!
First, birds' feathers provide a lot of insulation. You might have noticed birds "fluffing up." They fluff their feathers to trap air
between their feathers and bodies. The result is a natural layer of insulation, like a down sleeping bag. Also, when they sleep or
rest, the birds tuck their bills under their wing feathers in order to breathe in this warmer air.
You may also notice many birds coming to your feeders when it is cold and snowy. Like mammals, birds are warm-blooded and have
a high metabolic rate. In the winter especially, they must eat to maintain their heart rate and be able to shiver to maintain their
body temperature. As in humans, the shivering generates warmth.

A common redpoll at a feeder. Photo courtesy of Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
While a few birds, such as the willow ptarmigan, have feathers on their feet to help keep warm, many birds have naked feet. A
countercurrent blood exchange in the feet helps keep the heat loss to a minimum while preventing frostbite (see the Complex Duck
Feet section). A bird might also tuck one foot up under its feathers, balancing on only one leg!
A willow ptarmigan's feathered feet help keep it warm and work as "snowshoes." Photo courtesy of Jean-Guy Dallaire via Flickr.
Birds also might change behaviors in the cold. Besides eating more, some huddle together for warmth. Birds such as snow grouse
may hide in a snow burrow for shelter and warmth.
Finally, while many people think migration is a way for birds to "escape the cold," often the migration takes place to secure
adequate food resources rather than to just stay warm. See the Migration: Should I Stay or Should I Go? section for more
information.
COMPLEX DUCK FEET

A gull stands in icy water. Photo courtesy of Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
If you've ever seen a duck swimming along on a partially frozen pond or a gull standing on ice, you may have wondered how its feet
don't freeze! Those feet are not thick enough to have an insulating layer of fat, nor are they covered in feathers. The blood flows
close to their skin, cooling rapidly in the freezing water. The problem for these birds is balancing the need to conserve body heat
with the need to supply their legs and feet with enough oxygen, nutrients, and warmth. Consider humans: for us, frostbite is caused
by severely reduced blood flow to our extremities in cold weather. Over extended periods, the tissues in our fingers and toes do not
get warmth or nutrients from the blood and can die. One secret to avoiding this in ducks and gulls is their blood flow system, called
"countercurrent exchange."
Image by Christi Sobel.
Arterial blood leaves the bird's core at a warm body temperature, while venous (returning) blood in the bird's foot is quite cool.
Some birds have circulatory patterns to reduce the heat lost through their feet when standing on ice or swimming in cold water. As
cold blood runs up the leg from the foot and passes by the arteries, it picks up most of the heat from the arteries via conductance.
As it travels, the blood flowing down is cooled, and the blood flowing up is warmed. Thus, by the time arterial blood reaches the
foot, it is cool and does not lose too much heat in the cold water, and venous blood reaching the core has already been warmed,
helping maintain core heat. Certain birds, such as gulls and waterfowl, have a specialized countercurrent heat exchanger located in
their upper leg (see image). In these birds, blood flow is carefully regulated to maintain the delicate balance of providing blood but
maintaining core body temperature. While the core temperature of a duck or gull standing on ice may be 104 degrees F, its feet
may be only slightly above freezing.
MIGRATION: SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

Snow Geese migrating. Photo courtesy of Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
When ornithologists speak of migration, they are usually referring to seasonal migration, or the large-scale, annual movement of all
or part of a population between its breeding (summer) and nonbreeding (wintering) grounds. It's a cycle that birds on every
continent repeat each year, in response to the change in day length. Different bird species have different migration habits. The
habits include everything from the journey of arctic terns (who travel halfway around the earth from Antarctica to their breeding
grounds in far-northern Canada) to movements of blue grouse in the Northern Rockies (up mountainsides in the winter and back
down to the valleys in the spring).
Arctic Tern. Photo courtesy of Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
These movements are almost always based on the availability of food rather than "keeping warm." Birds need to eat a lot to keep
going; some species can eat up to 20 percent of their body weight daily. That's like a 140-pound adult eating 28 pounds of food a
day! Plus, birds need to find even more food when they're feeding their young.
The need to feed and raise young is the main reason that many birds don't just stay in the warm tropics year-round. Although the
tropics have a favorable climate, they are also home to a huge number of birds competing for food. Leaving their tropical winter
homes and flying north into the temperate region (the northern United States and Canada) offer birds the promise of a tremendous
explosion of food sources, such as insects, which hatch in the spring and summer. Birds can take advantage of this seasonal supply
of food to feed their young. It's a balancing act, though, since migration itself is dangerous and increases a bird's risk of death
Singing birds:

American Robin
The birds pour forth their souls in notes,
of rapture from a thousand throats
William Wordsworth

American Robin (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer)

The cheerful song of the robin is familiar to almost everyone. It is the melody we remember from childhood, the bird song that drifted in through open windows and
greeted us at dawn. The male's song is described as a series of wavering, musical whistles delivered in a lively series: "Cheerily, cheeriup, cheerio, cheerily," the robin
seems to say, before pausing and singing again. The robin's most common call is a rapid outburst of notes sounding like the whinny of a tiny horse.

Scarlet Tanager
Thy duty, winged flame of spring, is but to love and fly and sing.
James Russell Lowell

Scarlet Tanager (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer)

If you've ever seen a Scarlet Tanager in full sun, you will know why this bird is called the "flame of spring." The male's robin-like song is a series of burry, whistled
phrases sounding like "zureet, zeeyer, zeero, zeery." Usually, there are long pauses between songs. The tanager's performance is often likened to that of a "robin with a
sore throat," referring to the throaty quality of the song. The tanager's primary call sounds like "chick-breee."

Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Only birds sing the music of heaven in this world.
Kobayashi Issi

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer)

Named for it's triangular rose-red breast patch, the Rose Breasted Grosbeak is one of our most colorful forest songbirds. The male's huried song is an exquisitely
beautiful carol. It resembles the song of the robin but is more bright and musical, like the song of "a robin who took singing lessons."

Baltimore Oriole
A melancholy bird? Oh idle thought!

In nature there is nothing melancholy.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Baltimore Oriole (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer)

The Baltimore Oriole is a familiar inhabitant of neighborhood woodlots and is often heard whistling from tall shade trees along city streets. Both sexes sing, although
the female's song usually simpler and is normally heard only during the early courtship phase. Song is made up of rich, slurred whistles that have a distinctive quality.
Some songs contain one or more harsh notes. Each bird has a stereotyped song pattern but may vary song length.

Wood Thrush
And where the shadows deepest fell,
the wood thrush rang his silver bell.
John Greenleaf Whittier

Wood Thrush (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer)

An common inhabitant of eastern deciduous forest, the Wood Thrush has a beautiful, flutelike song. It begins with one to several soft "tut" notes which lead into
variable melodic phrases that usually terminate with a high, buzzy trill. Common song patterns sound like "tutut-eee-o-lay-o-eeee" or "tutut-eee-ay-eee." Each bird has
several different song patterns that are not sung in a fixed sequence, although successive songs are usually different. Females sing patrtial songs during territorial
encounters. The common call is a rapid volley of liquid "wit" notes.

Indigo Bunting
What are the voices of birds, but words,
our words, only so much more sweet?
Robert Browning

Indigo Bunting (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer)

The male Indigo Bunting is a rich, deep blue all over, but may appear dark and blackish in poor light. Song is composed of loud, strident high-pitched notes that are
often delivered in pairs. A popular memory-phrase for the song is "fire-fire, where-where, here-here, seeit-seeit." Indigo Buntings frequent forest clearings and second-
growth habitat in the East and Midwest.

Red-eyed Vireo
Bury me where the birds will sing over my grave.
Alexander Wilson

Red-eyed Vireo (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer)

A drab, forest-dwelling bird, the Red-eyed Vireo is one of our most common eastern songbirds. It is more often heard than seen, and is sometimes referred to as the
"preacher bird" because of its habit of singing all day without every being quiet. The male's monotonous song is composed of short, whistled phrases separated by
pauses. One scientist followed a male for a day and found that he sang over 22,000 song phrases! The alarm call of the species is a harsh, nasal "chway."

Tufted Titmouse
As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls, birds, and winds sing.
John Muir

Tufted Titmouse (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer)

The Tufted Titmouse, named for its tufted crest, is a common backyard species and a regular visitor to birdfeeders. The whistled song of the male is a whistled "peter-
peter-peter" or "peeyer-peeyer-peeyer." Neighboring male's share song patterns and often match their patterns as they sing back-and-forth during territorial disputes.

White-throated Sparrow
A light broke upon my brain. It was the carol of a bird.
Lord Byron

White-throated Sparrow (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer)

The memorable song of the White-throated Sparrow, a bird of northern coniferous forests, is a series of clear, thin, tonal whistles, usually following the cadence
implied by these phrases:"Old Peabody, Sam, Peabody, Peabody, Peabody", or else "My Canada, Sweet, Canada, Canada, Canada." The song is easily imitated by
humans who are good whistlers. It is an unforgettable experience to hear White-throats whistling their tunes at dusk and dawn in the northwoods lake country
wilderness.

FRESHWATER BIRDS

MAIN INDEX | Types of water birds |

| Plants and water birds | | Water bird list | Bird diseases | Species richness |

With so many wetlands and miles of coastline, Florida is a bird watcher's paradise. Most of these wild birds aren't hunted, so
many of them have grown accustomed to being around people. Indeed, some have adapted enough to survive and even prosper in
some local areas, while living among 16 million Floridians. People from around the world, ecotourist birdwatchers, come to spot
our birds, each year spending more than $1 billion to do so.
 During the day, most water birds search for food, usually fish, but also
snails, crayfish and other small aquatic animals. Many birds also look
for certain plants, dining on leaves, stems and seeds. Thewaders stalk
the shallows, constantly stabbing into the mud with their long beaks.
The divers prowl underwater for many seconds at a time.
The paddlers move about on the surface, sticking their heads into the
water to spot food. The aquatic birds of the air soar overhead, White ibis
sometimes fighting over fish, their huge nests encumbering many

Aquatic Plants Used by Birds

Among the native aquatic plants that are especially important to Florida's water birds are:
the submersed plants of these genera:Ceratophyllum, Chara, Najas,Potamogeton, Ruppia, Utricularia, andVallisneria;
the tallish emersed plants of these
genera: Carex, Cladium, Crinum, Cyperus,Distichlis Echinochloa, Eleocharis,Eriocaulon, Fimbrystilis, Juncus, Leersia,Panicum, Paspalum, Phragmites,Polygonum, Ponteder
ia, Rhynchospora,Sacciolepis, Scirpus, Spartina, Typha,Xyris, Zizaniopsis and Zizania;
and the floating and floating-leaved plants of these genera: Brasenia,Lemna, Nelumbo, Nymphaea, Spirodela, and Wolffia.

waterside trees.

AQUATIC PLANTS AND BIRDS

Aquatic plants, as well as aquatic plant management, are essential to the survival of Florida's water birds. In their work, aquatic
plant managers attempt to take into consideration the needs of water birds and other aquatic animals.

Aquatic plants are used by birds directly as food, for hunting grounds, for nest building, and for protection. Some birds are
adapted to submersed vegetation habitats: their legs are just long enough, their beaks are shaped just so, their very eyesight and
calculated movements all contribute to the feeding strategies certain birds have developed to take advantage of submersed
vegetation and to catch the fish, shrimp and other small animals living amongst the plants.

Some bird species are adapted to tallish emersed plant habitats where they pick small animals from the sides of the plants. Other
bird species stand on floating vegetation in deeper water while they hunt for the small fish, insects and other animals beneath.

Some birds eat the plants themselves. It has long been known that certain aquatic plants are excellent food for ducks and other
water birds. And some birds use aquatic and wetland plants for nest building and nursery areas.
 It isn't easy to manage large areas of plants without accidentally harming native plants and animals.
However, plant managers try to do no harm. For example, aquatic plant management agencies that work in
the Lake Okeechobee and Kissimmee chain of lakes areas consider the needs of the endangered Everglades
snail kite by curtailing plant management operations on plants and in areas where the snail kite forages and
lives. The plants not controlled in these areas include water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) and spikerushes
(Eleocharis spp.) that are home to the apple snail, the primary food of the snail kite. Managers also leave
certain areas of cattail (Typha) and bulrushes (Scirpus) unmanaged because, though the snail kite prefers
small trees such as the southern willow, pond apple and buttonbush for nest building, the birds do also make
nests in cattails and bulrushes.

Another example of how managers must consider how their actions will affect wildlife: cattail control will have
negative impacts on least bitterns, red-winged blackbirds and boat-tailed grackles, but positive impacts on
wading birds, ducks and rails.

For more about water birds and aquatic plants, see this article on this web site.

Little blue heron Great blue heron Night heron Tricolored heron

Florida has a colorful and uneasy history with its water birds. Back in the early 1900s, the fashion industry began using bird
feather plumes in ladies' hats and accessories. An ounce of bird feather plumes was soon worth
twice its weight in gold. Nesting rookeries packed with these birds made the easiest targets and
were plundered by the plume hunters. Even when laws were passed and protective measures taken,
the black market persisted. One Audubon game warden was killed by bird poachers in the
Everglades. This drew public outrage, increased awareness, and ultimately, more protection. When
hat fashions changed and demand dropped off, the carnage was finally over.

Water birds made a comeback because much of Florida was still undeveloped in those early years.
However, bird populations dipped again with increased human population and development. Human
encroachment on marshes, lakes, and rivers is now the number one threat to Florida's water birds.

Working the marina

Today, all of Florida's wading water birds are protected by law.

Water birds are dependent upon wild wetlands, which continue to dwindle. Though Florida has more than 7,800 lakes, many
are now shared by people - whose numbers increase daily. Vegetation and shorelines are altered in many ways, as is the natural
food chain.

Some water birds adapt to people, while others retreat. Some birds, like the snowy egret, sandhill crane, blue heron, and wood
stork work the marinas and boatslips for their daily meals and become quite used to being around people.

TYPES OF WATER BIRDS

Some of Florida's water birds are endangered, threatened or species of special concern. For definitions of these terms and a
list of freshwater plants and animals in Florida that are in peril, go to this page of our web site.

WADING BIRDS

Waders include the herons, egrets, ibis, wood stork, limpkin, roseate spoonbill, bittern, and the native
flamingo. Egrets and herons feed by wading in the shallows and depend on their keen eyesight to spot any tempting
morsels. You won't see one of the waders actually swimming, unless the bird is in dire shape.

Great egret Great blue heron Limpkin Glossy ibis

 Reddish egret
Tricolored heron Flamingo Spoonbill
(white phase)

Wading birds thrive best in shallow water, but are very adaptive. The snowy egret can do a tightrope act on a dock
rope, spearing fish below. The great egret has been seen hunting in the shrubbery of commercial buildings on early
mornings, catching lizards before cars and customers arrive. The brightly coloredroseate
spoonbills and flamingos filter mud for tiny bits of food, so they spend a lot of time with their heads beneath the
water.

The endangered wood stork, the only stork in North

America, is a large wader which grows to more than 4 feet
tall, with a wingspan of more than 5 feet. In the 1930s there
were about 60,000 wood storks; by 1988 there were about
10,000 remaining. The wood stork eats fish, baby gators,
snakes, and crayfish. It feeds in shallow water by slowly
wading along sweeping its opened bill from side to side in
the water; when a fish is touched, the bill snaps shut (in Wood stork Wingspan to 5 feet
about 25 milliseconds), raises its head and swallows its food
with a backward jerk. Wood storks nest in the tops of cypress and mangrove trees. To learn more about wood
storks, go to this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service web page.

LAND GRAZING WATER BIRDS

Some water birds spend much of their time on land, grazing and carousing.

Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes

Grazing sandhill cranes Sandhill crane nest By a city sidewalk A married pair
Sandhill cranes and whooping cranes are among the largest birds in the world, and they are Florida residents for
at least part of the year. Sandhill cranes are listed as endangered in the U.S., but the Florida sandhill crane is listed
as threatened. The sandhill crane makes its nest from aquatic plants (in order of preference): maidencane,
beakrushes, pickerelweed, spikerushes, yellow-eyed grasses, swamp lily, sawgrass, water lily, and pipeworts. The
cranes pick the plants and carry them to the site, evenually making a mat nest that is up to a foot-and-a-half above
the water, and up to five feet across. For an unknown reason, sandhill cranes make several nests during the season,
eventually choosing one for egg-laying. Usually between February and mid-March, an average of two eggs are
layed on top of the open nest.

Whooping cranes are the tallest North American bird, to 4.5 feet in height.
The whooping crane reached the edge of extinction before intensive efforts to
save them were begun. In 1994 only 146 individuals were known to exist. The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has captive-reared and released whooping
cranes in Florida with the goal of establishing a non-migratory population. In
the mid-1990s there were 15 whooping cranes in the state. See more about the
whooping crane rescue efforts at this FWS web site. In northern Canada,
whooping cranes make their nests mostly from Scirpus validus,Typha
latifolia and Carex aquatilis, all aquatic plants.

Cattle egret

EXOTIC WATER BIRD

The cattle egret, native to Africa, was first seen in South America in the 1930s and in Florida in the 1950s, and
now is a very common bird here and in the rest of the eastern U.S. The cattle egret wades in the water like other
egrets, and breeds in aquatic rookeries with other egrets, herons and ibises. (Actually, all egrets are herons.) The
cattle egret, though, prefers feeding with the ruminants, and is often found following in the footsteps of cattle and
horses, pouncing on disturbed insects and other animals. (In Africa, it follows hippos and rhinos...) It sometimes is
seen perching on the backs of cattle.
DIVING BIRDS

Cormorants in Gulf Anhinga and friend Cormorant in canal Pied-billed grebe

Non-duck divers in Florida include the anhinga, the doubled-crested cormorant, the pied-billed grebe and
the common loon (which winters in Florida). All four swimmers feed during the day by prowling around
underwater, grabbing fish. All four birds swim more gracefully than they fly. The anhinga has no oil in its feathers,
and thus no waterproofing so it must dry off several times each day. Likewise, the cormorant can be seen
stretching its wings on occasion too, though it is certainly more waterproof. The cormorant is a fine fisher and has
increased its numbers to a dramatic degree. As a result, it has depleted many ponds (including hatchery ponds) of
stocked fish - and now faces predation control in some areas. The grebe can submerge vertically, not having to
plunge forward. The grebe has a vertically compressed beak, rather than a duck's flattened beak; the grebe's toes are
not webbed, but scalloped. The grebe makes its floating nest from aquatic plants such as maidencane. As for
the loon, its haunting cry carries far across the bigger Florida lakes, an echo of lakes far to the north in Canada.

PADDLING BIRDS

Paddlers are made up mostly of coots and other rails, gallinules, geese, swansand ducks.

Purple gallinule
American coot Common gallinule
(a rare bird)
The American coot is a rather comical, blackish bird with a white bill. It is often found in large social groups on
many Florida lakes during winter. The coot has lobed feet which enable it to run across the water to reach takeoff
speed. Like the gallinule, the coot feeds among aquatic plants such as cattail, bulrush, spatterdock and water lilies,
looking for aquatic beetles and other morsels. Coots, like ducks, consume aquatic plants directly, including
pondweeds (Potamogeton), water lilies (Nymphaea), naiads (Najas), bladderworts (Utricularia), coontail
(Ceratophyllum), duckweeds (Lemna and Spirodela), and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). The common gallinule,
also called the "moorhen", has a red forhead and beak. The plentiful common gallinule is often seen swimming with
coots. The puple gallinule is as colorfully beautiful as it is very rare. Coots and gallinules are easy prey for
alligators and bald eagles. Alligators are slow (or hibernating) during winter, unless the weather is warm. But the
eagles are swift and deadly year-round.

Mallard Wood duck Muscovy

Black-bellied
Teals
whistling duck

Migrating geese and swans are a rarity in Florida, but a number of ducksmigrate into the state with the advent of
winter, or pass through on the way to Cuba or Central America. Among the first to arrive each September are the
bluewing and greenwing. Then, in autumn, the usual ducks arrive for the winter - the pintail, widgeon, ringneck,
scaup and a scattering of other species. Ducks may be recognized from other birds seen on the water by their
flattened beaks. As noted above about coots, ducks feed on many kinds of aquatic plants in Florida. For more about
ducks, go to this page of this web site.

AQUATIC BIRDS OF THE AIR

Florida's hunting birds of the air, which require aquatic sites for their survival, include the eagle, osprey,
kingfisher, kites and hawks, as well as the barred owl.

Snail kite Bald eagle Osprey with fish

Red shouldered hawk Belted kingfisher Barred owl

America's national bird, the bald eagle is a common raptorial bird of Florida's wetlands. The eagle is listed as
"threatened" in the U.S. With its white head and tail, it is unmistakable. Its wingspan is to 7.5 feet. Eagles eat fish,
coots, snakes and other animals, which it may grab from the water or may boldly steal from the osprey. Most eagles
leave Florida during the summer, flying as far north as Alaska, returning to our lakes and rivers during the fall.
 The osprey, also known as the fish hawk, is found
throughout the U.S., and all over Florida. This large bird has
a white head with a black area from the back of the head to
the eye. Seen flying, the osprey's wings are bowed in the
middle area; the tail has a black band. Osprey dive for fish
from varying heights.

The endangered Everglade snail kite is a hawk with a wingspan of almost four feet. In 1988 there were an
estimated 500 individuals. The snail kite lives in Florida's open freshwater marshes of sawgrass (Cladium
jamaicense) and spikerushes (Eleocharis). It spends much of its time searching for apple snails, the bird's exclusive
diet, that have climbed up the stems of emersed plants such as spikerushes. With its very hooked beak the snail kite
grabs and is able to extract the freshwater apple snail. Aquatic plant management is essential to the recovery of the
snail kite: infestations of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) prevent the bird from spotting apple snails. The
snail kite usually makes its nest in small trees such as southern willow and pond apple, but sometimes makes its
nest among cattail and bulrushes. To learn more about the Everglade snail kite and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service recovery plan, go to this FWS web page.

The barred owl, a large night hunter, is found throughout Florida. It too depends on swamps and forested streams
as its preferred habitat and hunting grounds. This two-foot tall bird takes mice, rabbits, fish, crayfish and frogs. In
Florida, it chooses the hollow of a tree and nests starting in late January.

An interesting search continues for a bird that is (or most likely, was) dependent on lowland forests and river bottom timber for
survival. This was the huge ivory-billed woodpecker, of which the last confirmed bird was shot in a north Florida swamp by
taxidermists back in 1924. The hunt for this bird has lately resumed in Louisiana's Pearl River Swamp after one was allegedly heard.
This particular woodpecker species was likely doomed because of man's encroachment, logging practices, and the bird's inability to
adapt. Each nesting pair of ivory bills required six square miles (or 3,800 acres) of prime forest, often in swamp land, for their food
supply.

WATER BIRD SPECIES RICHNESS

According to research, bird abundance and species richness tend to increase on eutrophic and hypereutrophic lakes, because these
lakes have greater natural food resources. However, wild bird populations under normal situations do not significantly impact
the trophic status of lakes.

Research has shown that aquatic vegetation is vitally important to bird populations using lakes. The removal of submersed
aquatic weeds from lakes may have no real effect on average bird abundance. Instead of reduced numbers of birds, the bird species
composition changes. For example, when submersed aquatic plants are removed it was found that the ringneck duck may be
replaced by an open water bird species such as the double-crested cormorant.

As for shoreline vegetation, research shows that shoreline alteration can be detrimental to wading bird populations. It seems that as
shorelines are developed for homes and parks, much vegetation is (unfortunately for the birds) removed so people can view the
lake. Removing that vegetation can affect not only how many birds are present on the lake, but also which species leave and which
stay.

Great egret Least bittern Bald eagle Snowy egret

WATER BIRD DISEASES

Crowded bird populations on a water body can result in an increased chance of diseases spreading among the birds, such as avian
cholera or duck plague. This problem is more prevalent in other parts of the country, in regions with less water, which invites bird
crowding. In a watery state like Florida, a lake crowded with wading birds is often a sign of dropping water levels, which
concentrates water birds' natural food, such as fish. However, a crowd of birds will add bird droppings (guano) and resulting
bacteria to the water, which can lead to bird epidemics.

One finds aggressive muscovy ducks and domesticated mallards on many water bodies where people live in close proximity. These
birds live all year in Florida, unlike their wild cousins. The muscovy and tame mallards are not recommended on Florida lakes and
ponds because they carry avian diseases that can foul smaller water bodies and ultimately spread to wild duck populations.

It is illegal to release tame mallards onto state waterways. Aside from the health risks to wild waterfowl, they breed with wild
Florida mottled ducks, hybridizing the species. For more about mallards in Florida, and the new mallard possession rule, go to
the Florida's Waterfowl page of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission web site. Click on "new mallard rule".
WATER BIRDS AND WEST NILE VIRUS
One disease of special concern is West Nile virus, which has been spreading through the bird population down the eastern seaboard
into Florida. The disease is carried by mosquitoes and kills birds. It then spreads, again by mosquitoes, to people. In Florida, it has
been detected in great blue herons, least bitterns, double-breasted cormorants, and green herons. West Nile virus is expected to
spread to additional bird species. See USGS Health Alert #01-02.

WATER BIRDS AND POLLUTION

Water birds are susceptible to a variety of pollutants in water. A constant diet of fish can build up various toxins or heavy metals
(such as mercury) in these birds, a process called bioaccumulation. One problem was solved years ago, by banning DDT. Before
that happened, a build-up of DDT in water birds sometimes meant that their egg shells became too thin to survive in the nest. That
made for poor hatching success. This was especially prevalent in pelicans and eagles.

The National Wildlife Association has a good web site called Effects of Water Pollution on Wildlife.
Also see this site for more information on mercury concentrations in feathers of wading birds in Florida.