Ornithology Exam 2

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Bufflehead

Large puffy head, steep forehead and short bill. Black above, white below, large white patch on head. White patch across wing shown in flight.

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Common Goldeneye

Round white spot on each side of face, scapulars mostly white

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Barrow's Goldeneye

White crescent on each side of face, white patches on scapulars shown as row of spots. Black bar extends forward towards breast.

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Hooded Merganser

Puffy round chest, thin bill. White head patches are fan shaped. Rapid wingbeats.

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Common Merganser

Large duck, slim neck. Hooked red bill. White breast and sides.

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Ruddy Duck

Chunky with large head, broad bill, long tail often cocked up. Blue bill during breeding.

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Chukar

Gray above, flanks barred black and white, buffy face and throat outlined in black.

Introduced to NA as game in 1930's from....

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Gray Partridge

Gray-Brown with rusty face and throat. Dark chestnut patch on belly. Flanks barred reddish brown.

Introduced from Europe in 1900's. Found in open farmland or grassy fields.

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Ring-necked Pheasant

Long pointed tail, short round wings. Iridescent bronze, greenish/purple head with red eye patch.

Introduced from Asia. Found in open country, farmland and bushy areas.

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Wild Turkey

Largest game bird in N.A.. Unfeathered head, chest tuft. Dark iridescent body.

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Ruffed Grouse

Small crest, black ruff on sides of neck (not usually seen) tail with wide dark band near tip. Female has broken tail band.

In courtship male raises ruff and crest, fans tail and beats wings to make a drumming that accelerates.

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Spruce Grouse

Dark throat and breast, edged with white. Red eye combs. Black tail with chestnut tip.

In courtship male spreads tail, erects eye combs and beats its wings.

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Dusky Grouse

Neck sack purple-red.

Display involves low fluttering or making short circular flights then strutting with tail fanned and body tipped forward head drawn in and wings dragging.

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Sharp-tailed Grouse

Underparts scaled and spotted, tail mostly white and pointed. Yellow eye combs, make has purple neck sacks that inflate during courtship display.

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Greater Sage Grouse

Blackish belly, long pointed tail feathers. Yellow combs, black throat and bib and large white ruff on breast.

In display males rapidly inflate and deflate air sacs making a loud bubbling pop.

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Common Loon

In winter plumage crown and ape are darker than back, white extends up around eye and bill heavy silver.

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Pied-billed Grebe

Winter birds loose ring and chin becomes white. In flight no white is shown on wing.

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Horned Grebe

Chestnut fore-neck and golden horns.

Winter- White cheeks and throat contrast dark crown and nape. Light spot in front of eye.

Breed on lakes and ponds. Winter on salt water.

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Eared Grebe

Blackish neck, and golden ears that fan out behind eye.

Winter- Dusky neck, cheek dark, white on chin extends up as a crescent behind the eye. Rides higher in the water than the Horned.

Nests in large colonies on freshwater lakes.

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Clark's Grebe

Orange bill. Courtship involves rising out of the water and rushing forwards.

Winter-darker lore region.

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Western Grebe

Bill yellow green. Courtship involves rising out of the water and rushing forward.

Winter-lore region acquires a white color

Nests in reeds along freshwater lakes.Winters on sea coasts.

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Double-crested Cormorant

Throat pouch yellow. Tuft curving back on both sides of head from behind eyes. Totipalmate feet, plumes on top of head for breeding.

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American White Pelican

Black primaries and outer secondaries.

Breeding has pale yellow crest on head. Orange bill with fibrous plate on upper mandible that is shed after eggs are laid. Fly with head drawn back. Scoop feeder. Coast for winter comes into land to breed. Soaring flight.

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American Bittern

Mottled brown upper parts and brownish neck streaks. When alarmed it freezes with its bill pointing up or flushes with rapid wingbeats. "Thunderbird" They are stalk predators.

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Great Blue Heron

Black stripe extends above eye. Breeding adult has yellowish bill and ornate plumes on head, neck and back. Feathers used to be fashionable.

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Black-crowned Night-Heron

Short neck and legs, white hind-neck plumes are long in breeding season. High breeding = pink legs. Nocturnal feeder.

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White-faced Ibis

Bronzer tones in chestnut plumage, reddish bill, red eye, red legs.

Breeds in freshwater marsh.

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Turkey Vulture

Rocks side to side in flight with little flights and wings held in shallow v.

Red head lacking feathers. Feeds on carrion and refuse. Dihedral flights pattern.

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Osprey

Dark eye strip. In flight long narrow wings are bend back at wrist showing dark carpal patches. East mostly fish by hovering over water, diving down and plunging feet first.

Nests near water, bulky nests built on high platforms or trees.

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Golden Eagle

Plumage is acquired in four years. Soars with wings slightly uplifted in "V".

Juvenile-White wing patch with white tail base.

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Bald Eagle

Flies like a board.

Juvenile- blotchy white on under wing , larger head than Golden. Do not get white for 6 years.

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Northern Harrier

Owl like facial disk. Slim body, wings long and narrow with somewhat rounded tips.

Perches low and flies close to the ground, wings upraised. Only flies high in courtship display.

Sometimes form communal ground roosts with Short-eared owls. Brown F, Gray M. White rump patch. Called Marsh Hawks

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Sharp-shinned Hawk

Smaller than Cooper, square tail shape, thinner legs, hooded look, head appears small on body. Broad chest, narrow hips. Eye appears to be midway between front and back of head.Pale eyebrow. Wingbeats choppy, often found at feeders preying on small birds. When flying, head barely extends past wings. Forest Hawk

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Cooper's Hawk

Larger than Sharp-shinned, rounded tail shape, larger head, capped appearance on head. Tube shaped body, eye appears closer to front of head. When flying, head extends beyond wings. Preys on songbirds often perches on telephone poles. Forest Hawk

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Northern Goshawk

Eyebrow flaring behind eye, separates dark crown from gray back. White underparts with gray barring. Preys on birds and mammals as large as hares.

Forest Hawk

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Swainson's Hawk

Long narrow pointed wings, plumage variable. White underwing coverts contrast with dark flight feathers. Brown breast. Dark hood over head and chest with a white chin. Smaller build and feet. Soars over open plains with up-tilted wings in teetering flights. Migrates in large flocks. Nests in ranch land. Comfortable with people looking. Soaring Hawk

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Ferruginous Hawk

Pale head, extended gape line going back under eye. Tail is pale rust, white and gray. Rust in shoulder and legs. Badlands. Rarest to see. Soaring Hawk

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Rough-legged Hawk

White tail with dark band on end. Bill is small. Legs feathered to the toes. Black belly band. Square carpal patch in flight. Hovers while hunting, perches on branches. Nests in tundra, found only in winter.

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Red-tailed Hawk

Most common! Wings broad and rounded, looks heavy billed. Pale mottling on scapulars contrasts dark mantle. Belly band of dark streaks. Red tail. Preys on rodents.

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American Kestrel

Smallest and most common falcon. Russet back and tail, double black stripes on white face. Tear streaks. Fees on insects, reptiles and small mammals, hovers before plunging. Summer bird that nests in cavities and hunts in meadows.

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Merlin

Gray above. Lacks strong facial markings, and red of Kestrel and has broader wings. Wings come to a point. Strongly barred tail. Powerful flyers, no hovering. Catches birds in flight with a sudden burst of speed. Seen all year.

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Prairie Falcon

Pale brown above, creamy white and heavily spotted below. Brown crown, dark mustache stripe, pale below and behind eye. In flight-dark axillaries and dark bar on wing lining. Long thin tear streaks, 2 stripes. Dark armpits.

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Peregrine Falcon

Crown and nape black, black wedge extends below eye forming a helmet. Nest in cliff near water. Knock out prey using their feet as clubs then cut the spinal cord.

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Gyrfalcon

Heavily built, wings broad. Yellow eye ring, cere (nose) and legs. Tail extends beyond wingtips. Mostly white with black spots. Used to kill sage grouse. KING! Greenland primary habitat. Inhabits tundra near cliffs.

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Sora

Short thick bill yellow. Long legs, black flank with white stripes. Black muzzle. Gray breast. Common in freshwater/ brackish marshes.

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Virginia Rail

Cheeks gray, wings chestnut, legs and bill red. Slightly decurved bill. Secretive, found in freshwater/brackish marshes.

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American Coot

Gray with black head, outer under tail coverts white. White bill with dark subterminal band. Red/brown forehead shield. Toes lobed. Short tail. Lays 15-18 eggs. Bald eagle food. Swims like a duck.

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Sandhill Crane

Gray with dull red skin on crown and lores, white chin, cheek and throat. Often stain feathers on back and lower neck with muddy bills. Often sound closer than they are. Meadow habitat. Babies are called colts. Has tertial bustles (butt feathers?)

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Killdeer

Double breast bands. Orange rump patch. White eye band. Nest in gravel. Only lays 4 eggs.

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Mountain Plover

Completely white underneath. Sandy tan above. Black on forehead and lores. Threatened! Short grass prairie. Only lays 4 eggs.

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American Avocet

Black and white above, white below. Head and neck rusty. recurved bill and partially webbed feet. White scapular patch. Feed by sweeping bills side to side. Only lays 4 eggs.

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Willet

Large, plump, gray overall with gray legs. Black and white wing pattern seen in flight. Primary tip black, white in middle then black near wrist. See black at tip of wing when folded. Only lays 4 eggs.

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Greater Yellowlegs

Legs yellow/orange. Bill longer than head in length slightly upturned. Throat and breast heavily streaked, belly spotted. Bill black. Only lays 4 eggs.

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Lesser Yellowlegs

Legs yellow. Dark bill short thin and straight. Sides and flanks not barred like greater.Nests on tundra or woodland. Only lays 4 eggs.

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Spotted Sandpiper

Barred upper parts, spotted underparts mostly pink bill with dark tip.Very small. Common along rivers and mud bars. Tip downward as running. Seen in spring chasing each other because females have testosterone. Polyandrous-females reproduce with one male , leave him to raise young then go on to another male. 4 eggs per clutch.

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Long-billed Curlew

Cinnamon brown above, buff below. Long decurved bill. Shorebird that does not nest in wetland but in grassland. 4 eggs.

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Wilson's Snipe

Stocky, with very long bill. Striped head and barred flanks. Snipes have stripes! Stiff outer tail feathers with thin veins. Only 4 eggs.

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Wilson's Phalarope

Long thin bill. Underparts gray, dark ear patch, yellow legs. Dark maroon neck on breeding. Gray otherwise. Only 4 eggs. Inland, nests on grassy borders.

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Franklin's Gull

Three year gull. Black hood white crescent on eye. gray wings with white bar and black and white tips. White spots on tail.

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Ring-billed Gull

Three year gull. Black band on bill. Yellow legs. Gray above white bellow. Pale eye.

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California Gull

Four year gull. Black and red spots on bill. Gray secondaries and black primaries. Dark gray mantle. Nests on lakes.

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Black Tern

Mostly black with dark gray back, wings and tail. White under tail coverts. Tail short and forked. Bill black. Long pointed wings. Plunge-dive into water.

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Common Tern

Gray above, black cap and nape, pale below. Tail does not project past wing tips. Bill red tipped with black. Dark wedge in flight near tip of upper wing. Full breeding plumage acquired by third spring. Nests in colonies. Plunge dive feeding.

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Rock Pigeon

City Pigeon (larger than dove). Multicolored. Natural ancestral coloration gray with blue and purple neck. Head and neck darker than back, black bars on inner wing, white rump and black tail band. Introduced from Europe. Nests on huge window ledges, bridges or barns. Some have reverted back to nesting on rocky cliffs.

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Mourning Dove

Trim body, long tail tapers to a point with white tips. Black spots on upper wing. Pink wash below. Flight shows white tips on outer tail feathers. Most abundant and widespread dove.

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Barn Owl

Pale owl with dark eyes and heart shaped face. Darker birds always females. Flies with slow shallow wingbeats. Roosts/nests in dark cavities.

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Long-eared Owl

Slender with long close-set ear tufts. Boldly streaked and barred breast and belly. Red facial disk. Black around eyes. Hunts at night over open fields and marshes. Day-roosts in a tree close to the trunk. Lives in thick woods.

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Short-eared Owl

Tawny boldly streaked on breast, belly paler. Dark primary covert patch. Heavily spotted above. Active before dark. Wingbeats erratic. Nests on ground.

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Great Horned Owl

Large, bulky, with a white throat. Ear tufts on sides of head. Barred below. Nocturnal. Nests in trees, caves or ground.

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Great Gray Owl

Largest but not heaviest owl. Black and white bowtie below facial disk. Prominent rings on facial disk make eyes appear small. Hunts for small mammals in forest clearings, night and sometimes dawn/dusk. Hunts by day during summer. Boreal forests and wooded bogs.

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Snowy Owl

Large, whit round head. Yellow eyes. Dark bars and spots heaviest on females. Old males pure white. Open tundra, nests on ground, preys on lemmings hunting both day and night.

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Eastern Screech-Owl

Small with yellow eyes and pale bill tip. Bill base is yellow. Round head. Underparts marked by vertical streaks crossed by dark bars. Crossbars are spaced well apart and are nearly as wide as vertical. Ear tufts.

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Northern Saw-whet Owl

Reddish/brown above, white below with red streaks. Dark bill with red facial disk without dark border. Nocturnal. Roosts all day in nest hole during breeding. Winter in dense evergreens. Concentrations of regurgitated pellets and whitewash poo build up below winter roosts.

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Burrowing Owl

Long legs mark it as ground dweller. Boldly spotted and barred. Nocturnal. Flight low and undulating, hovers. perches during daylight at entrance to burrow. Nests in single pairs or small colonies in open country, golf courses, airports.

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Common Nighthawk

Wings long and pointed. Tail slightly forked. Bold white bar across primaries slightly farther from wing tip. Throat white in male, buffy in female. p10 longer than p9 resulting in a pointed wing tip. More active in daylight than other goatsuckers. Roosts on the ground. Males wings make hallow booming in courtship. Wide mouths help snare insects.

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White-throated Swift

Black above, black and white below (tuxedo appearance) long forked tail help to a point. White flank patches. White throat. Nests in crevices. Common in mtns, cliffs, canyons.

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Calliope Hummingbird

Short bill and tail. Primary tips extend well past end of tail. Carmine streaks on males throat. Nests in mountains. Common in fall. Desert for spring.

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Rufous Hummingbird

Red back marked with green. Red throat. Migrate through Rockies during fall.