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178 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Common Loon Gavia immer |
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Loons - common characteristics |
Medium to large fish-eating birds Long bodies, legs set well back on their bodies for greater swimming capability Straight dagger-like bills Nest on shorelines of lakes |
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Red-Throated Loon Gavia stellata |
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Grebes - common characteristics |
Similar to Loons, smaller with shorter necks Small tail feathers are invisible under most conditions Rarely fly Build floating nests, hunt for small fish and aquatic animals |
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Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps |
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Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus |
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Cormorants - common characteristics |
Similar to Loons- only one species is commonly found in fresh water in Canada Fly in large flocks like geese, but with necks "kinked" Great swimmers, feed on fish |
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Double-Crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus |
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Double-Crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus |
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Examples and characteristics of wading birds |
Ex. Egrets, Herons, Bitterns Long-legged shoreline wading birds Most have long necks, ad long pointed bills to spear fish/frogs/other prey Vary in size, from medium to very large birds |
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American Bittern Botarus lentiginosus **check thin stripes on throat, |
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Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis |
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Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias |
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Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias |
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Great Egret Ardea alba |
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Great Egret Ardea alba |
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Green Heron Butorides virescens |
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Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax |
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Waterfowl -- examples & common characteristics |
Swans, Geese, Dabbling/Puddle Ducks, Diving Ducks Swans and geese: males and females are same colour Ducks: males are very different colour from females Migrate in groups Breed, nest, feed in or around water Legs set under body for swimming on swans, geese and dabbling ducks Legs set further back on diving ducks for greater swimming ability |
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What behaviour do you expect if you sneak up on a dabbling duck? A diving duck? |
Dabbling ducks: fly away Diving ducks: "run" away, dive |
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Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator *All black bill, point @ forehead, larger than tundra swan |
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Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus *Some yellow in bill, round at forehead, smaller than trumpeter swan |
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Mute Swan Cygnus olor *Introduced species |
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Canada Goose Branta canadensis |
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Snow Goose Chen caerulescens *Blue phase and white phase |
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Black Duck Anas rubripes |
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Mallard Anas platyrhynchos |
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Pintail Anas acuta |
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Blue-winged Teal Anas discors |
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Blue-winged Teal Anas discors |
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Green-winged Teal Anas crecca |
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Green-winged Teal Anas crecca |
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Wood Duck Aix sponsa |
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Canvasback Aythyra valisineria |
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Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula |
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Bufflehead Bucephala albeola |
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Common Merganser Mergus merganser |
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Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus |
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Diurnal Raptors -- examples and characteristics |
Eagles, Hawks, Kites, True Falcons Upright body shape, aerial hunters, many soar from long distances, carnivorous, top predators, long talons & hooked beaks |
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Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus *Moth-Like fliers, open field huter, female buff/brown, males grey, VERY distinct white rump in flight *Only hawk with facial discs |
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Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus *Moth-Like fliers, open field huter, female buff/brown, males grey, VERY distinct white rump in flight *Only hawk with facial discs |
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Eagles - examples and characteristics |
Bald and Golden Largest raptors in N. America Both have dark bodies Broad, rounded wings; broad, wide tails Large, round heads, obvious hooked beak, large talons Easiest to identify from other Raptors due to size (2m wingspan) Early distinguished from each other as adults |
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Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
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Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
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Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos |
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Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos |
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Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis *Forest hunters, Pursuing birds through trees or ambushing in woodlands |
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Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperi *Forest hunters, Pursuing birds through trees or ambushing in woodlands |
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Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus *Forest hunters, Pursuing birds through trees or ambushing in woodlands |
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Name 3 types of hawks from Accipiter genus, and their shared characteristics |
Northern Goshawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk Forest hunters, Pursuing birds through trees or ambushing in woodlands |
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Name hawks from Buteo genus, and their common characteristics |
-Mid- to large sized raptors -Wide variety of species and colouration, habitats, and hunting styles -Broad, rounded wings; short, wide tails -Large, round heads -Easier to identify in flight |
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Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis |
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Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis |
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Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus *Wide, round wings, outlined black. Broad black and white bands on short tail |
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Broad-Winged Hawk Buteo platypterus *Wide, round wings, outlined black. Broad black and white bands on short tail |
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Osprey Pandion haliaetus *Dark upper, white under, dark stripe on face, always found around water sources, nest on hydro lines |
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Name 4 True Falcons and their common characteristics |
Merlin, American Kestrel, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon -More aerodynamic shape than hawks in flight, with long, pointed wings, fast fliers, tails long, At/past wing tips in perched |
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American Kestrel Falco sparverius |
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Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus |
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Merlin Falco columbarius |
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Merlin Falco columbarius |
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Turkey Vulture Cathartidae aura *Carrion feeders, find food by small, often seen soaring or roosting in groups, "wobbly" soar with wings in "V" pattern |
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Turkey Vulture *Carrion feeders, find food by small, often seen soaring or roosting in groups, "wobbly" soar with wings in "V" pattern |
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Upland Game Birds -- examples and characteristics |
Quail, Grouse, Pheasant, Ptarmigan Chicken-like, ground dwelling birds. Many roost in trees, but usually on ground. Well camouflaged/secretive birds, explosive take off when disturbed, elaborate courtship displays in some species |
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Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis |
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Ruffled Grouse Bonasa umbellus |
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Ring-Necked Pheasant Phasianus colchius |
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Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo |
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Cranes - common characteristics and examples |
-All inhabit marshy wetlands -Flock/group birds -- feed and fly together like geese (this is unlike herons) -Cranes are tall birds -Sandhill Crane |
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Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis |
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Shorebirds - characteristics and examples |
-Small to medium sized birds with thin bills and long legs -Eat aquatic insects, worms, etc. -Semipalmated plover, black-bellied plover, American woodcock, Killdeer, common snipe, |
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Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus |
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Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola |
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Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago |
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Killdeer Charadrius vociferus *Double black stripe, red eye, broken wing decoy |
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Killdeer Charadrius vociferus *Double black stripe, red eye, broken wing decoy |
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American Woodcock Scolopax minor *Found in damp, brushy wooded areas rather than shorelines *Mating displays in open fields *Does that funny dance-walk |
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Pigeons and Doves- common characteristics and examples |
-seed and fruit eaters -bob head when they walk -found in groups or pairs -All species have low cooing calls -Mourning Dove, Rock dove |
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Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura |
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Rock Dove Columba livia |
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Owls - common characteristics and examples |
-Largely nocturnal hunters -Upright body position, large eyes, facial discs, well camouflaged -Sharp talons and hooked beaks -Cavity nesters (exception barn and burrowing owls) |
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Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca *predominantly northern dweller, heaviest owl |
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Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca |
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Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus *Large owl, yellow eyes, ear tufts, use existing nests or cavities/ledges/manmade platforms |
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Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa *No ear tufts, overall gray colouration, FACIAL DISCS, forest hunters |
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Barred Owl Strix varia *Black eyes, brown/buff, DARK/black eyes, forest hunter |
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Long-eared Owl Asio otus *Medium sized, slender, long ear tufts, white X on face with orange facial discs, forest hunter |
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Eastern Screech Owls Megascops asio *small, ear tufts, hunt in forests, cavity nesters, 2 colour morphs |
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Eastern Screech Owl Megascops asio *small, ear tufts, hunt in forests, cavity nesters, 2 colour morphs |
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Barn Owl Tyto alba *Open field predator, hunts rodents, distinctive colouration with white facial discs and belly, cream above and on wings |
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Swifts and Nighthawks - characteristics and examples |
-Nighthawks largely nocturnal hunters, eat insects -Nighthawks = well camo'd, Swifts=solid colour Common nighthawk, E. whip-poor-will, Chimney Swift |
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Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor *Check white tuft on underside of shoulder |
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Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor *Check white markings on underside of wing, and white stripe along bottoms of tail feathers |
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Eastern Whip-Poor-Will Caprimulgus vociferus *Part of Nighthawk family |
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Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica *Long ass wing feathers, unable to perch, cling on walls |
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Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica *Unable to perch, cling on walls instead |
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Hummingbirds - common characteristics and example |
-Long bills, short tails, long wings -Tiny birds -Hover in flight -Feed on nectar Ruby-throated hummingbird |
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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Archilocus colubris |
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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Archilocus colubris |
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Woodpeckers - common characteristics and examples |
-Stiff tail feathers (used to prop themselves up on tree) -Use beaks to peel and chisel wood -Cavity nesters -Downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker, black-backed woodpecker, Northern flicker, Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Pileated woodpecker |
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Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens *Nearly identical to Hairy Woodpecker, smaller |
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Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus *Nearly identical to Downy Woodpecker, bigger |
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Three-Toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis *White markings down side of wing, small yellow cap |
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Black-Backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus *Yellow cap, black wing |
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Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus |
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Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus |
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius *Female (no red markings on throat) |
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Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius *Red cap, red marking on throat (male), yellow on belly, and bright white feathers on wing |
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Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus *Slicked-back hairdo, red markings on beak (male) |
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Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus *Larger than other woodpeckers, sweet hairdo |
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Corvids - characteristics and examples |
-Considered most intelligent bird species -Tool users, medium to large, long tailed, noisy/aggressive -Bulky nests in trees -Omnivorous -Gray Jay, American Crow, Common Raven |
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Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis |
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American Crow Corvus bracyrhynchos |
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Common Raven Corvus corax |
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Swallows - characteristics and examples |
-Flocking birds -Smooth flight with pointed wings and forked tails -Insectivores -varied nests Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Tree Swallow |
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Purple Martin Progne subis *swallow family |
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Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor |
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Bank Swallow Riparia riparia |
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Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica |
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Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica |
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Chickadee family - characteristics and examples |
Black-capped chickadee, boreal chickadee, |
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Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapilla *Black cap defining feature |
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Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonica *brown cap, orangey underside |
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Nuthatches - characteristics and examples |
-Small, short tailed, long billed birds -Feed on insects on trees head down -Cavity nesters-Undulated flight pattern Red-Breasted Nuthatch, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper |
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Red-Breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis * females have grey crowns instead of black |
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White-Breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis * Females have grey crowns instead of black |
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Brown Creeper Certhia americana *Part of nuthatch family |
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Wrens - characteristics and examples |
-small, brown, camouflaged active birds -creep through vegetation -distinctive tail raised above their backs -erratic flight -cavity nesters House Wren, Winter Wren |
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House Wren Troglodytes aedon |
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Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis |
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Kinglets - common characteristics and examples |
-small, insectivorous -Nest in small "cup" nests in branches of trees ex. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Golden-Crowned Kinglet |
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Ruby-Crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula |
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Golden-Crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa |
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Thrushes - characteristics and examples |
-Diverse group of brids -Usually song birds -Insectivores -Nest in grass and mud cup on a branch -Strong, smooth flight pattern Eastern Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, American Robin, Veery |
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Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis *Thrush |
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Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides *Thrush |
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American Robin Turdus migratorius *Thrush |
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Veery Catharus fuscescens *Thrush |
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Starlings - characteristics and examples |
-Often found in huge flocks - feed on berries and insects -Iridescent feathers with white spots on back and breast -Cavity nesters -Only one species in Ontario - European Starling |
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European Starling Sturnus vulgaris |
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Waxwings - Characteristics and examples |
-Unique, sleek look, pointed wings, crest of feathers -Yellow-tipped tails , red tips on wing feathers -Found in flocks except when nesting Bohemian Waxwing, Cedar Waxwing |
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Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garullus *Note the yellow, red, AND white colouration on wings |
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Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum *Note there is only red colouration, some white on wing |
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Wood Warblers - Characteristics and examples |
-Males generally similar to females -Variable plumage -Forest species -Small song birds, insectivores Black-and-White Warbler, Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler |
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Black-Throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens |
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Black-Throated Green Warbler Setopaga virens |
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Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica |
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Black-and-White Warbler Mniotilta varia |
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Cardinals & Allies - Characteristics and examples |
-Crested, long-tailed, medium sized birds -Stout bills -- triangular -Seed feeders -Loud, melodic ex. Northern Cardinal, Scarlet Tanager |
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Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea *Male, red body, black wings |
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Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea *Female |
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Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis *Male, crest on crown, red bill |
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Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis *Female, crest on crown, red bill |
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Sparrows & allies - characteristics and examples |
-Ground dwelling, brown camo'd -Feeds on seeds in winter, insects in summer -Nest in a cup in low bushes/ground ex. Field Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, White-Throated Sparrow, White-Crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juno, Eastern Towhee |
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Eastern Towhee Piplio erythrophthalamus *Dot on eye, orangey-brown colouration under wing, ally of sparrow family |
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Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis *Oregon morph, ally of sparrow family |
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Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla *White eye ring, unmarked breast, pink bill |
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American Tree Sparrow Spizella pusilla *Dark chest spot on breast, bicoloured bill |
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White-Throated Sparrow Zonotricha albicollis *White throat, grey bill |
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White-Crowned Sparrow Zonotricha leucophrys *No white throat, yellow bill |
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Dark-Eyed Junco Junco hyemalis *Slate coloured morph, ally of sparrows |
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Icterids - Common characteristics and examples |
-Slender pointed bills, found in grassy areas, flocks/mixed flocks, feed on grain and insects ex. Larks, Bobolinks, Cowbirds, Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles |
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Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna *Black V on chest |
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Bobolink Dolichonyx oryziorus *White fro, white butt |
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Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater *Kind of a dick-head, nest parasite bird |
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Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula *Iridescent colouring -- like an oil slick. Yellow eye distinctive feature |
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Red-Winged Blackbird Ageliaus phoeniceus *They are a black bird with a red wing |
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Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus *Yellow eyeball |
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Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula *Orange chest, white stripe on black wing, unique hanging nest |
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Family Fringillidae -- characteristics and examples |
-Tree dwelling, brown, camo'd, drab colouring, congregate in large flocks ex. Finches, grosbeaks, old world sparrows |
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Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus *Large head and bill, yellow eyebrow, white wing bar, yellow and black distinctive |
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Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator *Grey-red overall, large dark bill |
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Purple Finch Carpodacus prupureus *Extensive burgundy/white colour on head, break and back. White undertail coverts, grey bill |
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House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus *Bright red on head and breast, heavy streaks on flanks, grey bill |
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Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea *Dark burgundy/wine cap on forehead, pink breast, streaked sides, yellow bill |
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American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis *White breast and belly, black, yellow, and white wings |
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Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus *finch family, streaked brown overall, yellow wing bars, brown "half moon" on face, thin grey bill |
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Anatomy of a Bird |
1) Crown 2) Nostril 3) Upper Beak 4) Lower Beak 5)Throat 6)Breast 7) Wing 8) Side 9) Belly 10) Thigh 11) Leg 12) Undertail Coverts 13) Tail 14) Uppertail Coverts 15) Rump 16) Back 17) Nape 18) Head |
