ornithology detailed

Dunlin Charadriiformes Scolopacidae Calidris alpina Low concern

A chunky, small shorebird with medium-length legs, a short neck, and a long bill that is curved toward the tip. Breeding adult has bright rusty back and crown, black belly patch, and white underparts with dark stippling. Nonbreeding adults have grayish brown upperparts, head, and breast, and are pale below. Juveniles are browner, with a scaly black and rusty brown marbled pattern above, white below, with faint stippling and trace of dark belly patch. The legs are dark. Forages by picking and probing in mud, walking slowly, usually in large flocks. Breeding males display over territories with fluttering, gliding flights and give unusual trilling songs. Breeds in wet tundra, often in areas with many small ponds. Winters in coastal estuaries and lagoons. Migrants turn up in many wetland environments with muddy edges as well as sod farms, wet agricultural fields, and sewage ponds.

Vermilion Flycatcher Passeriformes Tyrannidae Pyrocephalis rubinus Low Concern

A fairly small, stocky flycatcher with an upright posture. Fairly flat headed and barrel chested, with a slender tail and a broad, straight bill. Adult males are brilliant orange-red with a dark brown mask through the eyes and brown back, wings, and tail. Females and immatures are gray-brown with faint streaks on the breast and a salmon-red blush on the underparts. The bill is black. Vermilion Flycatchers spend long periods sitting on exposed perches such as the tops of shrubs and fence lines. They watch for flying insects, catching them in midair by quick flights (sallies), and often returning to the same perch. Open, shrubby habitats including scrubby desert, lightly cultivated lands, and riverine woodlands, and shrubby tropical lowlands.

Red-throated Loon Gaviiformes Gaviidae Gavia stellata Low Concern

A large ducklike seabird with long, sinuous neck, a thin but daggerlike bill, and long, narrow, pointed wings. The legs are set far back on the body and the feet trail behind the tail in flight. Breeding adults are grayish brown above, pale below, with pale gray neck, rusty throat patch, and thin black-and-white stripes on back of neck and sides of breast. Nonbreeding adults are blackish above and white below, with a sharp border along the neck and a mostly white face with a black gab. Immatures are grayish brown above, pale below. Red-throated Loons move almost constantly when foraging. They scan beneath the water's surface by dipping the head, then diving to pursue fish. They also locate prey while flying, often in large, dispersed flocks that quickly descend when schools of fish are detected. They breed in the arctic in tundra and taiga lakes and along marine coasts. They use large lakes and bays during migration, and coastal ocean waters during winter.

American Crow Passeriformes Corvidae Corvus brachyrhynchos Low concern

A large, long-legged, thick-necked bird with a heavy, straight bill. In flight, the wings are fairly broad and rounded with the wingtip feathers spread like fingers. The short tail is rounded or squared off at the end. American Crows are all black, even the legs and bill. When crows molt, the old feathers can appear brownish or scaly compared to the glossy new feathers. American Crows are very social, sometimes forming flocks in the thousands. Inquisitive and sometimes mischievous, crows are good learners and problem-solvers, often raiding garbage cans and picking over discarded food containers. They're also aggressive and often chase away larger birds including hawks, owls and herons. American Crows are common birds of fields, open woodlands, and forests. They thrive around people, and you'll often find them in agricultural fields, lawns, parking lots, athletic fields, roadsides, towns, and city garbage dumps.

Snow Goose Anseriformes, Anatidae, Anserinae, Anserini Chen caerulescens Herbivorous, Hunted 2-8 Eggs Low concern

A medium-sized goose with a hefty bill and long, thick neck. Juveniles are slightly smaller than adults in the fall, and this can be noticeable in flocks during fall and early winter. The Snow Goose is a white-bodied goose with black wingtips that are barely visible on the ground but noticeable in flight. The pink bill has a dark line along it, often called a "grinning patch" or "black lips." You may also see dark morph Snow Geese, or "Blue Geese," with a white face, dark brown body, and white under the tail. Snow Geese don't like to travel without the company of another couple dozen geese and can form flocks of several hundred thousand. Family groups forage together on wintering grounds, digging up roots and tubers from muddy fields and marshes. In flight, they are steady on the wing with even wingbeats. Snow Geese adapted quickly to use agricultural fields, which is one reason their populations are doing so well. During winter and migration, look for them in plowed cornfields or wetlands. Also check lakes, ponds, and marshes where they roost and bathe along shorelines and in open water. Snow Geese breed on Arctic tundra.

Black Tern Charadriiformes; Laridae Chlidonias niger Declining

A small and delicately built seabird with a thin, pointed bill; long, pointed wings; a shallowly forked tail; and short legs. Adults in breeding plumage are dark gray above with black heads and black underparts. The underwings and undertail coverts are pale. Nonbreeding adults are gray above, whitish below, with a dusky crown, ear-patch, and mark at the side of the breast. Juveniles are similar to nonbreeding adults but with a brown scaled pattern to the upperparts. Forages by flying slowly and gracefully and either dipping to the water's surface to pick small fish or insects or catching insects on the wing. Breeds in colonies in freshwater lakes, making nests on floating vegetation. Often forms flocks. Nests in freshwater marshes and bogs; winters in coastal lagoons, marshes, and open ocean waters. Migrants may stop over in almost any type of wetland. American Black Terns belong to the subspecies surinamensis, and Old World Black Terns belong to the slightly larger subspecies niger. Compared to surinamensis, Old World niger is paler below in breeding plumage, and in other plumages has a much smaller mark at the side of the breast. American Black Terns have been documented in Europe and the British Isles, but there are no records of Old World Black Terns in North America as of 2019.

Olive-sided Flycatcher Passeriformes Tyrannidae Contopus cooperi Declining

A stocky, barrel-chested flycatcher, with a large head and a heavy, long bill for its size. It has rather long wings that can make the tail look short. Sooty gray-brown above (with olive tones only in optimal light and fresh plumage), paler below. The dark gray sides of the breast contrast with white in the center, making it look as if the bird is wearing a vest. From the rear, large white tufts at the sides of the back are sometimes visible. Olive-sided Flycatchers spend much of their time perched high in trees, watching for large flying insects. They catch these insects by sallying—flying out in quick pursuit, seizing the prey in its bill, and returning to the same perch. Breeds mostly in northern and montane coniferous forest from sea level to timberline and the edge of the tundra. They are most numerous in mid- and higher-elevation forest in mountains (3,000-7,000 feet elevation) and around burned or boggy areas with numerous openings and dead trees. Migrants and wintering birds also favor gaps in coniferous forest. A subspecies known as majorinus breeds in southern California and northern Baja California. These individuals have longer wings and tails than Olive-sided Flycatchers in the rest of the range.

Black-necked Stilt Charadriiformes Recurvirostridae Himantopus mexicanus Low concern

A tall but small-bodied shorebird with very long legs, a long neck, small head, and thin, straight bill. These birds are black above and white below, with white around the eye and rosy pink legs. In females and immatures the black areas can be brownish. Black-necked Stilts wade into shallow bodies of water, seldom swimming, in pursuit of tiny aquatic invertebrates. Adults defending nests or chicks fly around and call loudly, sometimes performing a distraction display by feigning injury. Black-necked Stilts are almost always seen near shallow water, including both salt and fresh water, especially mudflats, salt pans, saltmarshes, and many human-modified habitats such as sewage ponds, evaporation pools, and flooded fields. The Hawaiian subspecies (knudseni), also known as the Aeo, has more black on the neck and less white around the eye than stilts in mainland North America (mexicanus). A subspecies in South America (melanurus), sometimes called the White-backed Stilt, has a white collar across the upper back.

Red-necked Grebe Podicipediformes Podicipedidae Podiceps grisegena Low concern

A thickset waterbird, similar in size to many ducks, but with a longer neck and a heavy, pointed bill. Nonbreeding birds are mostly dark gray above, paler below, with pale cheeks and sides of neck. Breeding adults have a rusty red breast and foreneck, with a smart black cap and sharply defined white cheek. Immatures are similar to nonbreeding adults but head pattern is less distinct. In the nonbreeding season, generally quiet and found singly or in small, loose groups. During the nesting season, pairs perform elaborate, noisy courtship rituals and aggressively defend territories, even against other species of waterfowl. Numerous aquatic habitats during migration and the nonbreeding season, from rivers to lakes, bays to open ocean; nesting birds select mostly larger lakes.

American Bittern Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Botaurus lentiginosus Low concern

American Bitterns are medium-sized herons with thick, compact bodies. They have shorter legs and thicker necks than typical herons and a slightly hunched posture. The daggerlike bill is long, straight, and sharply pointed. The wings are broad but the wingtips are somewhat pointed. American Bitterns are mostly warm brown, buff, and white. They are strongly streaked, especially on the neck, and they can be very hard to see against marsh vegetation. In flight the dark outer wings contrast sharply with the brown of the rest of the bird. Bitterns are stealth predators and typically stand motionless as they wait for prey to approach, or stalk it with barely perceptible motions. They adopt a classic pose when alarmed, with the beak pointing straight up, helping this streaky bird blend in with its reedy background. They tend to forage alone.

Anhinga Suliformes Anhingidae Anhinga anhinga Low concern

Anhingas are large and slender waterbirds with long fanlike tails that resemble a turkey's tail. They have a long S-shaped neck and a daggerlike bill. In flight, Anhingas look like a flying cross; the wings are held out flat and the neck and tail stick straight out. They have slim bodies and look rather flattened in flight. Adult male Anhingas are black with silvery to white streaks on the back and wings. Females and immatures have a pale tan head, neck, and breast. The bill, legs, and feet are yellowish orange. Anhingas swim with their bodies partly or mostly submerged and their long, snakelike neck held partially out of the water. After a swim they perch on branches or logs to dry out, holding their wings out and spreading their tails. They frequently soar high in the sky, riding on thermals much like raptors and vultures. Year-round, Anhingas inhabit shallow freshwater lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams with branches or logs near the water for drying and sunning themselves. They also use brackish bays and lagoons along the coast, but they generally don't use areas with extensive open water.

Black-billed Magpie Passeriformes Corvidae Pica hudsonia Low concern

Black-billed Magpies are slightly larger than jays with much longer, diamond-shaped tails and heavier bills. In flight, their wings seem to be too short to support their graceful flight. These birds are black and white overall with blue-green iridescent flashes in the wing and tail. The upperparts are mostly black with a white patch in the outer wing and two white stripes ("backpack straps") on the back. Black-billed Magpies are social, inquisitive birds that eat fruits, grains, insects, small animals, and frequently gather in large flocks at carrion. Magpies move in groups and give a variety of trill, cackle, and whistle calls. They flap steadily in flight, alternating deep and shallow wingbeats, and use their very long tails to negotiate abrupt turns. Black-billed Magpies are widespread in towns, fields, and stream corridors of the West. They also concentrate in flocks at feedlots and other areas where food is easy to find.

Northern Bobwhite Galliformes Odontophoridae Colinus virginianus Common bird in steep decline

Bobwhite are small quail with rounded bodies, small heads, rounded wings, and short tails. They are intricately patterned in brown, rufous, buff, and black. Males have a bold black-and-white head pattern. Females have a buffy throat and eyebrow. Northern Bobwhites travel in coveys and run across the ground from the shelter of one shrubby patch to another. When they are flushed, they explode into flight with quick wingbeats and then duck into the nearest cover. Northern Bobwhites live in open pine forests, overgrown fields, shrubby areas, and grasslands. They respond well to areas managed with prescribed fire, which helps to maintain an open, grassy ground layer. Male Northern Bobwhite vary considerably, but females look similar across their range. Males in the Southeast have more extensive black on the throat and breast than birds elsewhere. Great Plains and Texas birds are grayer on the back. Eastern birds have rufous across the breast. An isolated and endangered Southwestern population, called the "Masked" Bobwhite, is nearly all black on the head and rufous on the breast. Females are not as variable and look very similar across their range. There are also extremely rare rufous adults that are almost entirely reddish brown.

California Condor Cathartiformes Cathartidae Gymnogyps californianus Red Watch List

California Condors are the largest wild birds in North America. The wings are exceptionally long and broad, with long primary feathers giving a fingered look to the wingtips. In flight the body is noticeably bulky, the head appears small, and the tail is short and broad. Adults are black with striking white patches under the wings. The naked head and neck are yellowish orange. Immatures have dark heads, grayer necks, and mottled grayish instead of clear white patches under the wings. Adult coloration is reached at 6-8 years of age. Condors are masterful soarers that rarely flap their wings. They have a solid, heavy appearance in the air, and don't get buffeted by the wind in the way that smaller soaring birds do. Condors are social birds that form groups around carcasses, at bathing spots, and at roosts. California Condors scavenge for carrion in habitats ranging from Pacific beaches to mountain forests and meadows. They nest in caves on cliff faces in mountains up to 6,000 feet in elevation. Their size makes take-off difficult, leading them to use high perches for easier take-offs.

Purple Gallinule Gruiformes Rallidae Porphyrio martinica Low concern

Color Pattern Adults- Long yellow legs and toes Bright yellow and red bill Purple head and body Blue frontal shield above bill Green wing and back Juveniles- Has duller colors Pale brown Behavior Walk nimbly on the water's edge Walk slowly and investigates vegetation

Common Murre Charadriiformes Alcidae Low concern

Color Pattern Black back and head, white below Breeding- Completely black head and neck with white orbital ring extending down the cheek Non-breeding- White throat Behavior Hunt fish Surface dive Habitat - Oceans

Pileated Woodpecker Piciformes Picidae Dryocopus pileatus Low Concern

Color Pattern Black overall White stripes on face going down to neck Red crest Half-black half-white underwings Males - red cheek stripe Behavior Bark forager for birds Habitat - Forests

Tufted Puffin Charadriiformes Alcidae Fratercula cirrhata Low concern

Color Pattern Black seabird Breeding White face Long yellow plums on the back of head Large triangular red-orange bill Yellow bill plate Nonbreeding Dark gray face w/ no yellow plums Behavior Burrow when nesting Surface dive for fish Habitat - Oceans

Spotted Sandpiper Charadriiformes Scolopacidae Actitis macularius Low concern

Color Pattern Breeding- White breast with brown spots and brown back Orange bill Winter- Plain white breast and gray-brown back Pale yellow bill Behavior Walk with distinctive teeter Always bob their tail up and down Usually appear to be leaning forward Habitat- Anywhere near water

Red-headed Woodpecker Piciformes Picidae Melanerpes erythrocephalus Declining

Color Pattern Bright red head White underparts Black backs w/ large white patches on wings Behavior Hammer wood for food Catch insects in flight Also eat fruits and seeds Habitat - Open woodlands

Rock Pigeon Columbiformes Columbidae Columba livia Low concern

Color Pattern Broad but pointed wings 2 black bands on wings and dark tipped tail Green iridescent throat Behavior Ground forager for seeds Often gather in flocks Walk or run on the ground, pecking for food. When alarmed, the flock may fly into the air, circle several times, then come down again. Habitat - Towns

Red-tailed Hawk Accipitriformes Accipitridae Buteo jamaicensis Low concern

Color Pattern Broad, rounded wings Short, wide, fanned tail Rich brown above and pale below Cinnamon-red tail above, pale below Behavior Heavy wingbeats Circle high over fields Attack in a slow, controlled dive with outstretched legs Habitat- Open country

Cooper's Hawk Accipitriformes Accipitridae Accipiter cooperii Low concern

Color Pattern Broad, rounded wings Very long tail Adults- Blue-gray above+on tail Reddish bars on white underside Immatures- Brown w/ white below + head barred brown Behavior Hunt by flying fast near ground, then up over an obstruction to surprise prey Habitat- Wooded habitats Description (wingspan: 28''-34'') Cooper's hawks have blue-gray wings and back, while their chest and throat have red-brown bars.Their tails are long, skinny, and banded. The juveniles have brown feathers on their back and wings with brown streaks on throat and chest. They also lack the red eyes of the adults. These birds are commonly mistaken for Sharp-shinned Hawks. Diet Small to medium birds and small rodents make up the majority of their diet. Migration Here in Colorado, we have populations of Cooper's Hawks who stay in the mountains in the spring and summer but come down to the plains for the winter. We also have populations that stay down in the plains year-round. Breeding These birds tend to return to the same territory year after year to breed but rarely use the same nest more than once. The female will lay three to five eggs per brood. Young Cooper's Hawks fledge after four to five weeks.

Northern Flicker Piciformes Picidae Colaptes auratus Low Concern

Color Pattern Brown overall Gray neck and head Dark spots on underside Brown wings barred black Bright yellow or red tail underside Dark crescent on breast Male- Have a "mustache" Behavior Forages on ground for insects Habitat - Open woodlands

Wood Duck Anseriformes, Anatidae, Anatinae, Cairinini Herbivorous, Hunted 12-15 Eggs Aix sponsa

Color Pattern Crested head Long, broad tail Short, broad wings Males- Green head + white stripes Chestnut breasts+tan sides Bright red eyes Females- Gray-brown w/ white speckled breast Behavior Perches in nests & trees Head jerks back and forth when swimming Wood Ducks have a unique shape among ducks—a boxy, crested head, a thin neck, and a long, broad tail. In flight, they hold their head up high, sometimes bobbing it. Overall, their silhouette shows a skinny neck, long body, thick tail, and short wings. In good light, males have a glossy green head cut with white stripes, a chestnut breast and buffy sides. In low or harsh light, they'll look dark overall with paler sides. Females are gray-brown with white-speckled breast. In eclipse plumage (late summer), males lose their pale sides and bold stripes, but retain their bright eye and bill. Juveniles are very similar to females. Unlike most waterfowl, Wood Ducks perch and nest in trees and are comfortable flying through woods. Their broad tail and short, broad wings help make them maneuverable. When swimming, the head jerks back and forth much as a walking pigeon's does. You often see Wood Ducks in small groups (fewer than 20), keeping apart from other waterfowl. Listen for the female's call when these wary birds flush. Look for Wood Ducks in wooded swamps, marshes, streams, beaver ponds, and small lakes. They stick to wet areas with trees or extensive cattails. As a cavity nester, Wood Ducks take readily to nest boxes.

Turkey Vulture Cathartiformes Cathartidae Cathartes aura Low concern

Color Pattern Dark brown from above and underwing coverts White flight feathers tipped w/ dark brown from below Long "fingers" Hold wings slightly raised Red head Pale bill Behavior Teetering flight Fly relatively low to ground to sniff for carrion Habitat Open areas, roadsides

Trumpeter Swan Anseriformes Anatidae Cygnus buccinator

Color Pattern Entirely white Black bill and legs Behavior Forages in shallow water for aquatic vegetation Trumpeter Swans are immense waterfowl with heavy bodies and long necks typically held straight both on the water and in flight. The large bill slopes gradually down from the forehead. Adult Trumpeter Swans are entirely white with a black bill and black legs. Immatures are gray-brown. Trumpeter Swans forage in fairly shallow water, reaching under the surface to eat aquatic vegetation and at times tipping up in the manner of a dabbling duck. They also visit agricultural fields to eat spilled or leftover grains and crops. Trumpeter Swans breed in open habitats near shallow water bodies. They winter on estuaries, large lakes, and rivers that remain at least partially ice-free year-round. They sometimes forage in fields.

Hooded Merganser Anseriformes Anatidae Lophodytes cucullatus Low concern

Color Pattern Fan-shaped, collapsible crest Males- White breast and black stripes Chestnut flanks Yellow eyes Black and white crest Females- Gray and brown with a tawny-cinnamon head Behavior Dives to catch aquatic insects, crayfish, and fish Hooded Mergansers are small ducks with a thin bill and a fan-shaped, collapsible crest that makes the head look oversized and oblong. In flight, the wings are thin and the tail is relatively long and rounded. Adult male Hooded Mergansers are black above, with a white breast and rich chestnut flanks. The black head has a large white patch that varies in size when the crest is raised or lowered, but is always prominent. Females and immatures are gray and brown, with warm tawny-cinnamon tones on the head. Hooded Mergansers dive to catch aquatic insects, crayfish, and small fish. Males court females by expanding their white, sail-like crests and making very low, gravelly, groaning calls. Hooded Mergansers fly distinctively, with shallow, very rapid wingbeats. Look for Hooded Mergansers on small bodies of freshwater. In summer, these small ducks nest in holes in trees, often near freshwater ponds or rivers. For winter, they move to larger bodies of freshwater, marshes, and protected saltwater bays.

Bald Eagle Accipitriformes Accipitridae Haliaeetus leucocephalus Low concern

Color Pattern Flat broad wings when flying Long, hooked yellow bill Adults- Brown body+white head Immatures- Mostly dark heads+tails Brown wings mottled white Behavior Harass other birds or eat carrion Eat fish, but also gulls, mammals, waterfowl Habitat- Coasts + inland waters

Crested Caracara Falconiformes Falconidae Caracara cheriway Low concern

Color Pattern Flat white head + shaggy black crest Heavy bill w/ sharp tip Orange and gray beak Adults- Black body+white tipped underwings Yellow-orange legs and skin around bill Juveniles- Brown and white Lack orange legs + skin Behavior Fly near ground, adept to ground and air Habitat- Open country

Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgidae Antrostomus carolinensis Common bird in steep decline

Color Pattern Flat-headed Mottles brown, buff, and black Wings are entirely brown Behavior Eats insects Aerial Forager Often sit at roadsides at night Calls near nighttime Habitat Open woodlands

Green-winged Teal Anseriformes Anatidae Anas crecca

Color Pattern Green stripe on secondaries Yellow streak on tail Males- Grayish bodies White stripe from waterline to shoulder Wide green swoop from eye to the neck Females- Brown Behavior Dabbling duck Feeds on vegetation Green-winged Teal are very small ducks. They have short, blocky bodies and their tails sit high out of the water. The head is large, the neck is short, and the bill is relatively small. Adult males have grayish bodies with a narrow white vertical stripe extending from the waterline to the shoulder. In good light, their dark heads are cinnamon with a wide green swoop from the eye to the back of the neck. Females are brown with a yellowish streak along the tail. Both sexes have green wing patches in the secondaries (speculum), but these may be hidden when not in flight. Green-winged Teal are dabbling ducks that feed on vegetation by tipping up in shallow water or by picking at food items while standing in puddles, flooded fields, and margins of wetlands. Green-winged Teal feed on shallow bodies of water and in flooded fields. They breed in dense vegetation along river deltas. During migration and winter, look for them on shallow wetlands, coastal marshes and estuaries. In Europe and Asia, a form of the Green-winged Teal (often called Common Teal) lacks the male's white vertical stripe on the breast and instead shows a white horizontal stripe on the shoulder. Another subspecies from the Aleutian Islands shares these markings with "Common" Teal.

Caspian Tern Charadriiformes Laridae Hydroprogne caspia Low concern

Color Pattern Gull-like Black cap Gray wings White body Prominent red bill with dark tip Broad wings Dark outer primaries from below Behavior Aerial dive for fish Habitat - Shorelines

Mourning Dove Columbiformes Columbidae Zenaida macroura Low concern

Color Pattern Large black spots on wing coverts Thin black bill Pink legs Brown wings and tail buffy-tan head, neck, chest, and body Black bordered wingtips Behavior Nests in trees and forages for seeds on the ground Habitat - Open woodlands

Belted Kingfisher Coraciiformes Alcedinidae Megaceryle alcyon Low concern

Color Pattern Large head Blue- gray with white underside Straight, thick pointed bill Male- White chest, large crest Female- Chestnut belly band Behavior Most time perched on edge of water Fly quickly up+down rivers giving loud rattling calls Hunt by plunging directly from a perch or by hovering over water w/ bill down, then diving Habitat - Lakes and ponds

Peregrine Falcon Falconiformes Falconidae Falco peregrinus Low concern

Color Pattern Long pointed wings and tail Blue-gray from above White barred underparts Dark head and thick sideburns Juveniles- Heavily marked and barred Behavior Catch medium sized birds in the air Perch high up, then stoop (dive) Habitat High-up areas where they can stoop at incredible speeds

Sora Gruiformes, Rallidae Omnivorous, Hunted 6-12 Eggs Porzana carolina Low concern

Color Pattern Long toes Brown body with dark middle in feathers White edged feathers Black mask and throat patch Gray from below Yellow bill White undertail feathers Females- Less vibrant and black on face & throat Juveniles- Lacks black mask Behavior Walk through shallow wetlands pushing their head forwards Nervously flick tail upwards Forage on dense vegetation

Killdeer Charadriiformes Charadriidae Charadrius vociferus Low concern

Color Pattern Long wings and tail 2 black breast bands Large round eye with red orbital ring Short bill Brownish-tan on top, white below Brown face marked with black and white patches Rusty-red tail Behavior Run, stops to look around, then runs Fly when disturbed and circle overhead Rapid flight w/ intermittent wingbeats Habitat- Open ground with low vegetation

Canada Goose Anseriformes Anatidae Branta canadensis Low concern

Color Pattern Long, black neck Large, brown body Black, webbed feet Wide, flat bill Black head with white chinstrap and cheeks Tan breast Behavior Flocks create V formation Travel in pairs or flocks Canada Geese are big waterbirds with a long neck, large body, large webbed feet, and wide, flat bill. Canada Geese have a black head with white cheeks and chinstrap, black neck, tan breast, and brown back. Canada Geese feed by dabbling in the water or grazing in fields and large lawns. They are often seen in flight moving in pairs or flocks; flocks often assume a V formation. Just about anywhere near lakes, rivers, ponds, or other small or large bodies of water, and in yards, park lawns, and farm fields. Canada Geese tend to be smaller as you move northward; plumage tends to be darker as you move westward.

Ring-necked Pheasant Galliformes Phasianidae Phasianus colchicus Low concern

Color Pattern Long, pointed tail Black spotting on underside Males- Iridescent copper and gold plumage Green head Red face White colored neck Females- Brown with black markings overall Behavior Forage fields for seeds, grain, and insects Usually walk or run Habitat Agricultural areas and those will tall grass Ring-necked Pheasant is a large, chicken-like bird with a long, pointed tail. It has fairly long legs, a small head, long neck, and plump body. Male Ring-necked Pheasants are gaudy birds with red faces and an iridescent green neck with a bold white ring. The male's very long tail is coppery with thin, black bars. Females are brown with paler scaling on the upperparts; buff or cinnamon underparts with black spotting on the sides; and thin, black bars on their tails. They forage on the ground in fields, where they eat waste grain, other seeds, and insects when available. Ring-necked Pheasants usually walk or run and only occasionally resort to flying, usually when disturbed at close range by humans or other predators. Males give a loud, cackling display that can be heard over long distances. Ring-necked Pheasants are birds of agricultural areas intermixed with areas of taller vegetation, which they use for cover. Look for them along rural roadsides, in overgrown or recently harvested fields, and in brushy areas and hedgerows.

Snowy Egret Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Egretta thula Low concern

Color Pattern Long, slender bill All white Black bill and legs Yellow feet Yellow patch at base of bill Behavior Spear fish in shallow water Habitat Inland wetlands These are medium-sized herons with long, thin legs and long, slender, bills. Their long, thin neck sets the small head well away from the body. Adult Snowy Egrets are all white with a black bill, black legs, and yellow feet. They have a patch of yellow skin at the base of the bill. Immature Snowy Egrets have duller, greenish legs. Snowy Egrets wade in shallow water to spear fish and other small aquatic animals. While they may employ a sit-and-wait technique to capture their food, sometimes they are much more animated, running back and forth through the water with their wings spread, chasing their prey. They are most common along the coast, though they do breed patchily in inland wetlands. Snowy Egrets nest colonially, usually on protected islands, and often with other small herons. They concentrate on mudflats, beaches, and wetlands, but also forage in wet agricultural fields and along the edges of rivers and lakes.

Canvasback Anseriformes, Anatidae, Anatinae, Aythyini Omnivorous, Hunted 7-10 Eggs Aythya valisineria Low concern

Color Pattern Long, sloping bill Large head Breeding Males- Red head and eyes Black chest and rear White body Females- Pale brown and gray body Black eyes Behavior Dives for seeds, clams, and plant tubers A large, big-headed diving duck with a gently sloping forehead and a stout neck. Its long bill meets the sloping forehead, creating a seamless look from the top of the crown to the tip of the bill. On the water it has an oval body and a short tail that gently slopes down into the water. Breeding males have a chestnut head and neck set off against a black chest, whitish body, and black rear. Females are pale brown where males are chestnut and black, and they have a grayish rather than white body. In late summer and early fall, males have brown heads and necks with a paler body. Males have red eyes, and females have dark eyes. A diving duck that is gregarious during the nonbreeding season, forming large single-species rafts or mixing with Redheads and scaups. It dives underwater to feed on plant tubers, seeds, and clams. Breeds in lakes, deep-water marshes, bays, and ponds. In winter, found in deep freshwater lakes and coastal waters.

Double-crested Cormorant Suliformes Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax auritus Low Concern

Color Pattern Long, thick, kinked necks Strongly hooked bills Adults- Brown-black Patch of orange skin on the face Immatures- Browner and pale on neck and breast Behavior Float low on surface of water Dive to catch small fish Seen drying wings after hunt on rocks Travel in V-shaped flocks Habitat Seen most frequently in freshwater Nests high on trees or rocks Double-crested Cormorants are large waterbirds with small heads on long, kinked necks. They have thin, strongly hooked bills, roughly the length of the head. Their heavy bodies sit low in the water. Adults are brown-black with a small patch of yellow-orange skin on the face. Immatures are browner overall, palest on the neck and breast. In the breeding season, adults develop a small double crest of stringy black or white feathers. Double-crested Cormorants float low on the surface of water and dive to catch small fish. After fishing, they stand on docks, rocks, and tree limbs with wings spread open to dry. In flight, they often travel in V-shaped flocks that shift and reform as the birds alternate bursts of choppy flapping with short glides. Double-crested Cormorants are the most widespread cormorant in North America, and the one most frequently seen in freshwater. They breed on the coast as well as on large inland lakes. They form colonies of stick nests built high in trees on islands or in patches of flooded timber. Double-crested Cormorants in Alaska are larger with whiter, straighter crests than individuals in the rest of North America. Heading southeast through their range, they are smaller with less obvious, curly black head crests. The smallest individuals are in the Bahamas.

American Avocet Charadriiformes Recurvirostridae Recurvirostra americana Low concern

Color Pattern Long, upturned black bill White body and tail Long, black wings with a white wingbar Black patch on white back Bluish gray legs Breeding- Rusty head Non-breeding Gray head Behavior Wades through water sweeping bill side to side for aquatic invertebrates Habitat Fresh and saltwater wetlands

Green Heron Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Butorides virescens Common bird in steep decline

Color Pattern Look dark from far away Rich green on the back Rich chestnut breast and neck Yellow legs Behavior Hunt fish on shore rather than wading Habitat Wooded water sources Compared with most herons, Green Herons are short and stocky, with relatively short legs and thick necks that are often drawn up against their bodies. They have broad, rounded wings and a long, daggerlike bill. They sometimes raise their crown feathers into a short crest. From a distance Green Herons look all dark. In better light they are deep green on the back with a rich chestnut breast and neck. The wings are dark gray. Juveniles are browner, with pale streaking on the neck and spots on the wings. Green Herons stand motionless at the water's edge as they hunt for fish and amphibians. They typically stand on vegetation or solid ground, and they don't wade as often as larger herons. In flight these compact herons can look ungainly, often partially uncrooking their necks to give a front-heavy appearance. Green Herons live around wooded ponds, marshes, rivers, reservoirs, and estuaries.

Osprey Accipitriformes Pandionidae. Pandion haliaetus Low concern

Color Pattern M-shaped wings when seen from below Brown above, white below Head is white with broad brown stripe Crest on head Behavior Circle high above water (shallow) to spot fish Hover over water, then dive feet 1st to grab fish Habitat-Nearly any body of water

Great Blue Heron Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Ardea herodias Low concern

Color Pattern Orange bill Blue form- Blue-gray Wide-Black stripe over eye Pale fore-wing and darker flight feathers White form- pure white Behavior Wade slowly and stalk fish, then thrust into the water Largest of the North American herons with long legs, a sinuous neck, and thick, daggerlike bill. Head, chest, and wing plumes give a shaggy appearance. In flight, the Great Blue Heron curls its neck into a tight "S" shape; its wings are broad and rounded and its legs trail well beyond the tail. Great Blue Herons appear blue-gray from a distance, with a wide black stripe over the eye. In flight, the upper side of the wing is two-toned: pale on the forewing and darker on the flight feathers. A pure white subspecies occurs in coastal southern Florida. Hunting Great Blue Herons wade slowly or stand statue-like, stalking fish and other prey in shallow water or open fields. Watch for the lightning-fast thrust of the neck and head as they stab with their strong bills. Their very slow wingbeats, tucked-in neck and trailing legs create an unmistakable image in flight. Look for Great Blue Herons in saltwater and freshwater habitats, from open coasts, marshes, sloughs, riverbanks, and lakes to backyard goldfish ponds. They also forage in grasslands and agricultural fields. Breeding birds gather in colonies or "heronries" to build stick nests high off the ground. An all-white subspecies, the Great White Heron, is found in coastal areas of southern Florida, along with individuals that are intermediate in plumage (showing a grayish body with a mostly white head and neck), known as "Würdemann's Heron."

Mallard Anseriformes, Anatidae, Anatinae, Anatini Omnivorous, Hunted 9-12 Eggs Anas platyrhynchos

Color Pattern Orange, webbed feet White-bordered blue patch on wings Males- Iridescent green head Bright yellow bill Gray body w/ brown breasts + back Females and Juveniles- Mottled brown body Orange and brown bill Behavior Dabbling Duck Feeds on uw plants Mallards are large ducks with hefty bodies, rounded heads, and wide, flat bills. Like many "dabbling ducks" the body is long and the tail rides high out of the water, giving a blunt shape. In flight their wings are broad and set back toward the rear. Male Mallards have a dark, iridescent-green head and bright yellow bill. The gray body is sandwiched between a brown breast and black rear. Females and juveniles are mottled brown with orange-and-brown bills. Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue "speculum" patch in the wing. Mallards are "dabbling ducks"—they feed in the water by tipping forward and grazing on underwater plants. They almost never dive. They can be very tame ducks especially in city ponds, and often group together with other Mallards and other species of dabbling ducks. Mallards can live in almost any wetland habitat, natural or artificial. Look for them on lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and coastal habitats, as well as city and suburban parks and residential backyards. A subspecies of the Mallard called the "Mexican Duck," Anas platyrhynchos diazi, occurs in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. Both males and females closely resemble female Mallards, although the body color is somewhat darker than a typical female Mallard. Mexican Ducks were once thought to be a full species, but they hybridize extensively with typical Mallards in the northern parts of their range.

American Woodcock Charadriiformes Scolopacidae Scolopax minor Declining

Color Pattern Plump, short-legged birds Very long, straight bills Large head Rounded wings Buffy face and blackish crown Light gray across neck and back with brown wings Buffy-orange below Behavior Spend most of time probing for worms w/ their feet rocking back and forth Habitat- Forests and meadows

Wilson's Snipe Charadriiformes Scolopacidae Gallinago delicata Low concern

Color Pattern Pudgy shorebirds Very long bill Short tail Covered in brown stripes and bars Dark head with horizontal streaks Chest streaked and spotted with brown Dark wings above and below Behavior Probe in muddy ground for earthworms Heads move up+down (sewing machine) Habitat- Wet, open habitats

American Kestrel Falconiformes Falconidae Falco sparverius Low concern

Color Pattern Relatively small (between robin- crow) Long wings for its size Pale on underside Rusty brown and spotted black on back Black vertical slashes on white face Males- Slate-blue wings Females- Reddish brown wings Behavior Usually snatch prey from ground Habitat Open country

Common Loon Gaviiformes Gaviidae Gavia immer Low Concern

Color Pattern Rounded head Dagger-like bill Flat body and long neck when flying Summer- Black head and bill, block and white spotted back, and white breast Fall-Spring- Plain gray back and head White throat Behavior Stealthy divers; submerge with no splash to catch fish Habitat Quiet, remote freshwater Common Loons are large, diving waterbirds with rounded heads and dagger-like bills. They have long bodies and short tails that are usually not visible. In flight, they look stretched out, with a long, flat body and long neck and bill. Their feet stick out beyond the tail (unlike ducks and cormorants), looking like wedges. In summer, adults have a black head and bill, a black-and-white spotted back, and a white breast. From September to March, adults are plain gray on the back and head with a white throat. The bill also fades to gray. Juveniles look similar, but with more pronounced scalloping on the back. Common Loons are stealthy divers, submerging without a splash to catch fish. Pairs and groups often call to each other at night. In flight, notice their shallow wingbeats and unwavering, bee-lined flight path. Common Loons breed on quiet, remote freshwater lakes of the northern U.S. and Canada, and they are sensitive to human disturbance. In winter and during migration, look for them on lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastlines.

Downy Woodpecker Piciformes Picidae Dryobates pubescens Low Concern

Color Pattern Short, chisel-like bill Checkered black and white back Broad white stripe down back Small red patch on back of head White underside Behavior Bark forager Eats insects Habitat - Forests

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Apodiformes Trochilidae .Archilochus colubris Low concern

Color Pattern Slightly down-curved bill Males- Bright red throat (can appear black at some angles and light) Black mask, green crown Females- Green above, white below Dusky mask Behavior Drink nectar Hover when foraging Habitat - Open woodlands

American White Pelican Pelecaniformes Pelecanidae Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Low concern

Color Pattern Snowy white Black flight feathers Orange bill and legs Horn on bill during mating season Behavior Feed from water surface Catch fish and other organisms Upend like a dabbling duck Habitat Islands in shallow wetlands (breeding) Coastal waters (winter) A huge waterbird with very broad wings, a long neck, and a massive bill that gives the head a unique, long shape. They have thick bodies, short legs, and short, square tails. During the breeding season, adults grow an unusual projection or horn on the upper mandible near the tip of the bill. Adult American White Pelicans are snowy white with black flight feathers visible only when the wings are spread. A small patch of ornamental feathers on the chest can become yellow in spring. The bill and legs are yellow-orange. Immatures are mostly white as well, but the head, neck, and back are variably dusky. American White Pelicans feed from the water's surface, dipping their beaks into the water to catch fish and other aquatic organisms. They often upend, like a very large dabbling duck, in this process. They do not plunge-dive the way Brown Pelicans do. They are superb soarers (they are among the heaviest flying birds in the world) and often travel long distances in large flocks by soaring. When flapping, their wingbeats are slow and methodical. American White Pelicans typically breed on islands in shallow wetlands in the interior of the continent. They spend winters mainly on coastal waters, bays, and estuaries, or a little distance inland.

Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja Pelecaniformes Threskiornithidae Low concern

Color Pattern Spoon-like bill Pale pink Bright pink at shoulders and rump White neck and pale yellow-green head Red eyes Behavior Wade in water swinging bill side to side to feel for prey Habitat Fresh, brackish, and marine water Roseate Spoonbills are medium-sized waterbirds with a football-shaped body and long legs. The long bill that is flattened into a spoon at the end protrudes from their small head. They fly with their long necks outstretched and often rest with it curled into an S. Roseate Spoonbills are pale pink birds with brighter pink shoulders and rump. They have a white neck and a partially feathered, yellowish green head from which their red eyes shine. Juveniles are paler pink and have a completely feathered head for 3 years until they attain adult breeding plumage. Roseate Spoonbills wade through shallow water swinging their head side to side with their bill under the water feeling for prey. They tend to forage with their bodies held in a horizontal position just above the water with head hanging down. They fly with the neck outstretched, dipping slightly below the body. Spoonbills forage, roost, and nest in groups often with other ibises, herons, and egrets. Roseate Spoonbills forage in the shallows of fresh, brackish, and marine waters including bays, mangroves, forested swamps, and wetlands. They nest and roost in trees and shrubs along the water's edge.

Whooping Crane Gruiformes Gruidae Grus americana Restricted Range

Color Pattern Straight bill Long necks and legs Plump rear Adults- Bright white with accents of red on the head Legs, bill, and wingtips are black Immatures- Whitish below Mottles brownish-rusty head Behavior Browse and probe for food rather than hunting stealthily like a heron Tend to appear in small flocks rather than alone

Black-crowned Night-Heron Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Nycticorax nycticorax Low Concern

Color Pattern Thick proportions Thick necks Heavy pointed bills Adults- Light-gray with a black crown Black bills Immatures- Brown with large white spots on wings Yellow and black bills Behavior Perched on a tree in the day Hunt during evening and night Fly with an almost concealed neck Habitat Most wetland habitats Black-crowned Night-Herons are small herons with rather squat, thick proportions. They have thick necks, large, flat heads, and heavy, pointed bills. The legs are short and, in flight, barely reach the end of the tail. The wings are broad and rounded. Adults are light-gray birds with a neatly defined black back and black crown. Immatures are brown with large white spots on the wings and blurry streaks on the underparts. Adults have all-black bills; immatures have yellow-and-black bills. Black-crowned Night-Herons often spend their days perched on tree limbs or concealed among foliage and branches. They forage in the evening and at night, in water, on mudflats, and on land. In flight they fold their head back against their shoulders, almost making the neck disappear. These are social birds that tend to roost and nest in groups, although they typically forage on their own. Look for them in most wetland habitats across North America, including estuaries, marshes, streams, lakes, and reservoirs.

Common Nighthawk Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgidae Chordeiles minor Common bird in steep decline

Color Pattern Tiny bill Camouflaged in gray, buff, white, and black Less flat head than Chuck-will's widow Long, pointed wings with a white patch More dark brown than Chuck-will's Behavior Aerial Forager Eats insects Roost motionlessly on a tree branch during the day Habitat Grasslands

Chimney Swift Apodiformes Apodidae Chaetura pelagica Declining

Color Pattern Tube-shaped body Curved, long wings Dark gray-brown overall Pale throat Behavior Aerial forager Insects Fly with nearly constant wingbeats Habitat Towns

American Oystercatcher Charadriiformes Haematopodidae Haematopus palliatus Restricted Range

Color Pattern Very long, bright red bill Yellow eye Dark brown wings Black head and breast White underparts Red eye-ring White wingbar in middle of black wings Behavior Probe sandy and stony areas for clams oysters, and mollusks Opens food by cutting or smashing Habitat Islands, beaches, and reefs

Ring-billed Gull Charadriiformes Laridae Larus delawarensis Low concern

Color Pattern Very long, slender wings Gray above White head and body Black wingtips spotted white Yellow legs and bill Black stripe down bill Behavior Fly overhead by the hundreds Opportunistic feeders

Pied-billed Grebe Podicipediformes Podicipedidae Podilymbus podiceps Low concern

Color Pattern Virtually no tail Brown birds Crown and nape are dark Black throat Whitish bill with a black band Behavior Can adjust buoyancy Catch fish by diving Habitat Small, quiet ponds Pied-billed Grebes are small, chunky swimming birds. They have compact bodies and slender necks, with relatively large, blocky heads and short, thick bills. They have virtually no tail. These are brown birds, slightly darker above and more tawny-brown on the underparts. During spring and summer, the crown and nape are dark and the throat is black. While breeding, the bill is whitish with a black band ("pied'), but otherwise is yellow-brown. Juveniles have striped faces. Pied-billed Grebes can adjust their buoyancy and often use this ability to float with just the upper half of the head above the water. They catch small fish and invertebrates by diving or simply slowly submerging. They build floating nests of cattails, grasses, and other vegetation. Look for Pied-billed Grebes on small, quiet ponds and marshes where thick vegetation grows out of the water. In winter they occur on larger water bodies, occasionally in large groups.

Barred Owl Strigiformes Strigidae Strix varia Low concern

Color Pattern White overall but mottles brown Dark, almost black, eyes White marked with vertical brown bars below Behavior Roosts in trees during the day Habitat Forests

Snowy Owl Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo scandiacus Declining

Color Pattern Yellow eyes White overall Males- Pure white to white with varying levels of brown markings Females and Immatures- Denser marking than males Behavior Usually fly close to and nest on the ground Habitat - Tundras

Great Horned Owl Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo virginianus Low concern

Color pattern 2 prominent feathered tufts on the head Broad wings and rounded Short bill Mottles gray-brown Reddish-brown face White patch on throat Yellow-orange eyes Behavior Nocturnal Habitat Forests

Black Skimmer Charadriiformes Laridae Rynchops niger Declining

Color pattern Shorter upper bill than lower bill Prominent half-red half-black bill Orange-red legs Black above and white below Very long wings Behavior Fly very close to the water Long upstrokes and short downstrokes Habitat - Shorelines

Common Ground-Dove Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Columbina passerina Low concern

Common Ground-Doves are tiny doves with short, round wings, short tails, and short, thin bills. They are stocky, with short legs, and they shuffle as they walk. Common Ground-Doves are sandy brown overall, with large, dark spots on the wing coverts. In flight the wings show rich rufous patches. Males have a pinkish wash on the head, neck, and chest, and bluish crowns; females are duller. Both sexes have fine, dark scaling on the neck and chest, and pinkish-red bills with a dark tip. Common Ground-Doves are relatively retiring, and usually hide in grasslands and small groves of trees. Males sing a series of quiet, moaning coos. Frequently seen on the ground at backyard bird feeders, Common Ground-Doves eat seeds and grains, along with some insects. Common Ground-Doves live in open or shrubby areas with tall grasses or groves of trees, including riparian corridors and open savannas. They also live in towns and suburbs, where they frequent yards and hedges. Common Ground-Doves in the Southeast and Texas are darker and richer in color than the paler and grayer populations of the Southwest.

Black-billed Cuckoo Cuculiformes Cuculidae Coccyzus erythropthalmus Declining

Cuckoos are slender, dove-sized birds with a longer slightly curved bill and a very long tail. When perched it often has a hunchbacked posture. Black-billed Cuckoos are plain brown above without cinnamon tones and white below with a red ring around the eye and a black bill. From below, note the small white tips on the tail feathers. Sluggish and secretive, the Black-billed Cuckoo often hides in dense vegetation, perching motionless in the trees. It feasts on caterpillars especially fall web worms and tent caterpillars. Black-billed Cuckoos breed in dense woodlands and thickets with deciduous and evergreen trees, often near water. During migration they forage in thickets, woodlands, orchards, gardens, and scrublands. On the wintering grounds they also use thickets, woodlands, and scrub.

Golden Eagle Accipitriformes Accipitridae Aquila chrysaetos Low concern

Golden Eagles are one of the largest birds in North America. The wings are broad like a Red-tailed Hawk's, but longer. At distance, the head is relatively small and the tail is long, projecting farther behind than the head sticks out in front. Adult Golden Eagles are dark brown with a golden sheen on the back of the head and neck. For their first several years of life, young birds have neatly defined white patches at the base of the tail and in the wings. Usually found alone or in pairs, Golden Eagles typically soar or glide with wings lifted into a slight "V" and the wingtip feathers spread like fingers. They capture prey on or near the ground, locating it by soaring, flying low over the ground, or hunting from a perch. Golden Eagles favor partially or completely open country, especially around mountains, hills, and cliffs. They use a variety of habitats ranging from arctic to desert, including tundra, shrublands, grasslands, coniferous forests, farmland, and areas along rivers and streams. Found mostly in the western half of the U.S., they are rare in eastern states.

Great Crested Flycatcher Passeriformes Tyrannidae Myiarchus crinitus Low concern

Great Crested Flycatchers are large flycatchers with fairly long and lean proportions. Like many flycatchers they have a powerful build with broad shoulders and a large head. Despite its name, this bird's crest is not especially prominent. The bill is fairly wide at the base and straight; the tail is fairly long. Great Crested Flycatchers are reddish-brown above, with a brownish-gray head, gray throat and breast, and bright lemon-yellow belly. The brown upperparts are highlighted by rufous-orange flashes in the primaries and in the tail feathers. The black bill sometimes shows a bit of pale color at the base. Great Crested Flycatchers are sit-and-wait predators, sallying from high perches (usually near the tops of trees) after large insects, returning to the same or a nearby perch. Their clear, rising reep calls are a very common sound in summer. Great Crested Flycatchers live in woodlots and open woodland, particularly among deciduous trees. On its tropical wintering grounds it occurs in similar semiopen habitats. Migrants can occur in nearly any wooded or shrubby habitat.

Greater Roadrunner Cuculiformes Cuculidae Geococcyx californianus Low concern

Greater Roadrunners are large cuckoos with a distinctive shape: long legs, a very long, straight tail, and a long neck. The head has a short crest and the bill is long, heavy, and slightly downcurved. They are tan or brown with extensive blackish streaking on the upperparts and chest. The crown is black with small, pale spots, and they have a patch of bare, blue skin behind the eye. The wings are dark with white highlights. Greater Roadrunners spend most of their lives on the ground hunting lizards, small mammals, and birds. They are very fast runners, leaning over parallel to the ground with their tails streaming behind them. They are weak fliers, but you may see them perched above the ground on fence posts and sometimes telephone wires. Greater Roadrunners are characteristic birds of the hot, shrubby expanses of the Desert Southwest. They aren't restricted to deserts, though: look for them in open country with patches of shrubs or small trees almost as far east as the Mississippi River.

Herring Gull Charadriiformes Laridae Larus argentatus Common bird in steep decline

Herring Gulls are large gulls with hefty bills and robust bodies. In flight, they look barrel-chested and broad-winged compared to smaller species such as Ring-billed Gulls. Adults have light-gray backs, black wingtips, and white heads and underparts. In winter, dusky streaks mark their heads. Herring Gulls take four years to reach adult plumage. Juveniles are mottled brown; second-year birds are brown but show gray on the back. Third-years have more gray on the back and more white on the head and underparts. The legs are dull pink at all ages. Herring Gulls patrol shorelines and open ocean, picking scraps off the surface. Rallying around fishing boats or refuse dumps, they are loud and competitive scavengers, happy to snatch another bird's meal. They spend much of their time perched near food sources, often in congregations of gulls. Look for Herring Gulls in winter along coasts and near large reservoirs, lakes, and major rivers. They feed in habitats as diverse as open water, mudflats, plowed fields, and garbage dumps, and gather in almost any open space near food. In summer, they're most likely to be seen along the Atlantic Coast, Great Lakes, and coastal Alaska; they also breed across the boreal far north. Herring Gulls vary considerably across the Northern Hemisphere, and this combined with their tendency to hybridize with other gull species causes headaches in both taxonomy and identification. By sight, the different types of Herring Gulls are difficult to distinguish, and only the American Herring Gull (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) is likely to be seen in North America. European Herring Gulls (L . a. argentatus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis, recently designated a separate species) are very rare visitors to eastern North America. The Vega Gull (L. a. vegae), a subspecies with a darker gray back, breeds in northwest Alaska and northeast Asia, but is very rare in the rest of North America.

Blue Jay Passeriformes Corvidae Cyanocitta cristata Low concern

Large crested songbird with broad, rounded tail. Blue Jays are smaller than crows, larger than robins. White or light gray underneath, various shades of blue, black, and white above. Blue Jays make a large variety of calls that carry long distances. Most calls produced while the jay is perched within a tree. Usually flies across open areas silently, especially during migration. Stuffs food items in throat pouch to cache elsewhere; when eating, holds a seed or nut in feet and pecks it open. Blue Jays are birds of forest edges. A favorite food is acorns, and they are often found near oaks, in forests, woodlots, towns, cities, parks.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck Anseriformes Anatidae Dendrocygna autumnalis Low Concern

Large, gooselike duck with a long neck, long legs, and short tail. Broad wings, long neck, and hunched back. Dark overall: a chestnut breast and black belly are set off by a bright-pink bill and legs, grayish face, and broad white wing stripe, also visible in flight. Immatures are duller than adults, with a dark bill, pale breast, and mottled black belly. Flocks of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks regularly feed on waste grain in agricultural fields, often at night. Listen for their high-pitched whistles as they travel from feeding fields to roosting sites. They often perch in trees and on logs over water. They nest in cavities and they take readily to nest boxes. Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks roam edges of shallow ponds, golf courses, city parks, and schoolyards. They also frequent agricultural fields, particularly flooded rice fields. They seem to readily adopt human-altered habitats, and this has helped them move north into the southern U.S. in recent decades.

Laughing Gull Charadriiformes Laridae Leucophaeus atricilla Low concern

Laughing Gulls are medium-sized gulls with fairly long wings and long legs that impart a graceful look when they are flying or walking. They have stout, fairly long bills. Laughing Gulls are medium gray above and white below. Summer adults have a crisp black hood, white arcs around the eye, and a reddish bill. In winter, the hood becomes a blurry gray mask on a white head. The legs are reddish black to black. Immatures are much browner and more subtly patterned than adults; they take 2-3 years to gain adult plumage. Laughing Gulls eat almost anything, including food they catch or steal, handouts, garbage, and discards from fishing boats. They often congregate in parking lots, sandy beaches, and mud bars. Listen for their nasal, strident calls in flight, while feeding, and at rest. Laughing Gulls are a coastal species and are only occasionally seen very far inland. Look for them in plowed fields, garbage dumps, parking lots, and shorelines. They nest, often in large numbers, on islands near the shore but safely isolated from terrestrial predators.

Laysan Albatross Procellariiformes Albatrosses (Diomedeidae) Phoebastria immutabilis Restricted Range

Laysan Albatrosses are very large seabirds (though they are among the smaller albatrosses). They have very long, very narrow wings. The neck is thick and the head is large. Laysan Albatrosses are white-headed birds with dark gray-brown upperwings and mostly white underwings (with variable dark markings). The underparts are clean white. They have a dark patch around the eye. In flight, note the dark back, white rump, and dark tail. They fly by dynamic soaring: gliding low over the waves and then wheeling up into the sky to take advantage of the wind. They rarely flap their wings. They feed by sitting on the water, often at night, catching squid and other small prey with their bills. Laysan Albatrosses spend most of their time on the open Pacific Ocean, spanning tropical waters up to the southern Bering Sea. They nest on open, sandy or grassy islands, mostly in the Hawaiian Island chain.

Loggerhead Shrike Passeriformes Laniidae Lanius ludovicianus Common bird in steep decline

Loggerhead Shrikes are thick-bodied songbirds. They have large, blocky heads and a thick bill with a small hook. The tail is fairly long and rounded. The Loggerhead Shrike is a gray bird with a black mask and white flashes in the black wings. The gray head contrasts with the wide, black mask, black bill, and white throat. The tail is black with white corners; the wings are black with white at the base of the primaries that form a small "handkerchief" spot when the wing is closed and larger white patches in flight. Juveniles have darker barring above and below. Loggerhead Shrikes sit on low, exposed perches and scan for rodents, lizards, birds, and insects. They eat smaller prey (such as ground beetles) right away, but they are famous for impaling larger items on thorns or barbed wire to be eaten later. The species often hovers. When flying it uses bursts of very rapid wingbeats. Open country with scattered shrubs and trees is the typical habitat of Loggerhead Shrike, but the species can also be found in more heavily wooded habitats with large openings and in very short habitats with few or no trees. Shrikes from eastern North America have pale to medium-gray rumps. Loggerhead Shrikes from the Interior West have white rumps similar to those of Northern Shrikes. Loggerhead Shrikes breeding in southern California are slightly darker above and much darker below. An endangered subspecies of Loggerhead Shrike from San Clemente Island, in southern California, is the darkest gray of all.

Northern Fulmar Procellariiformes Procellariidae Low concern

Looks superficially like a gull. A heavyset, medium-sized seabird with a short neck, stout body, large head, and long wings. The bill is stout and hooked, with two nasal tubes on the top edge. Most fulmars are "light morph": gray above and white below, a pattern similar to large gulls. Some "dark morphs" occur in the North Pacific and are pale to dark gray all over. Flies with very stiff, shallow wingbeats interspersed with glides, a style very different from gulls. Catches prey at the sea surface or makes shallow dives underwater. Often forages in large flocks, mixed with other seabird species and sometimes marine mammals. Nests in dense colonies on rocky islands and cliffs. Forages far offshore, where upwelling brings nutrients and fish toward the surface. Also collects around fishing vessels to scavenge discarded fish parts.

Magnificent Frigatebird Suliformes Fregatidae Fregata magnificens Restricted Range

Magnificent Frigatebirds are large seabirds with long, angular wings. They have a deeply forked tail that is often held closed in a point. The bill is long and sturdy with a prominently hooked tip. Magnificent Frigatebirds are mostly black, but females and young birds have varying amounts of white on the head, chest, and belly. Females have a white chest and a dark head. Juveniles start with a white head and belly and gradually obtain darker heads. Young birds also have a pale tan streak on the upper wing. Breeding males are entirely black save for the bright red throat pouch, which is not always visible. Magnificent Frigatebirds soar over the ocean on outstretched wings with their head drawn into the shoulders. They rarely flap their wings, but when they do their wingbeats are slow and deep. Despite being a bird of the ocean, they don't dive after fish; instead they skim fish from the surface of the water or chase other birds, forcing them to give up their recent meal. Magnificent Frigatebirds soar over tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the Americas. They forage in lagoons as well as far out to sea and nest in low-growing scrub vegetation on islands.

Wild Turkey Galliformes, Phasianidae Omnivorous, Hunted 6-13 Eggs Meleagris gallopavo Low concern

Males- Red neck and head Blue face Bare skin on head Wings are dark and barred white Bronze-green iridescent plumage Tail feathers tipped with rusty white Females- Dark brown with darker barring Behavior Travel in flocks Search ground for nuts, berries, insects, and snails Habitat Woods Wild Turkeys are very large, plump birds with long legs, wide, rounded tails, and a small head on a long, slim neck. Turkeys are dark overall with a bronze-green iridescence to most of their plumage. Their wings are dark, boldly barred with white. Their rump and tail feathers are broadly tipped with rusty or white. The bare skin of the head and neck varies from red to blue to gray. Turkeys travel in flocks and search on the ground for nuts, berries, insects, and snails. They use their strong feet to scratch leaf litter out of the way. In early spring, males gather in clearings to perform courtship displays. They puff up their body feathers, flare their tails into a vertical fan, and strut slowly while giving a characteristic gobbling call. At night, turkeys fly up into trees to roost in groups.

American Golden-Plover Charadriiformes Charadriidae Pluvialis dominica Declining

Medium-sized to large shorebird. Legs moderately long. Neck short. Bill short. Head large and rounded. Golden and black speckled back. In breeding plumage, black from face to under tail. Juvenile similar to winter adult, but with light barring on chest, sides, and flanks, and more distinct yellow edges and spots on feathers of crown, back, and wings. Length: 9.4-11.0 in (24-28 cm) Weight: 4.3-6.8 oz (122-194 g) Wingspan: 25.6-26.4 in (65-67 cm)

Clapper Rail Gruiformes Rallidae Rallus crepitans Low concern

Medium-sized, chicken-like marsh bird. Compact body. Short tail. Strong legs. Long, slightly down-curved bill. Rounded wings. Gray or reddish; considerable variation in plumage color within many subspecies. Dull stripes on flanks. Males average larger than females, but the sexes are alike in plumage. Downy chick black, with pied bill. Juvenile similar to adult, but marking indistinct and with variable amount of black on sides. Length: 12.6-16.1 in (32-41 cm) Weight: 9.2-14.1 oz (260-400 g)

Northern Harrier Accipitriformes Accipitridae Circus hudsonius Low concern

Northern Harriers are slender, medium-sized raptors with long, fairly broad wings and a long, rounded tail. They have a flat, owl-like face and a small, sharply hooked bill. Harriers often fly with their wings held in a dihedral, or V-shape above the horizontal. Males are gray above and whitish below with black wingtips, a dark trailing edge to the wing, and a black-banded tail. Females and immatures are brown, with black bands on the tail. Adult females have whitish undersides with brown streaks, whereas immatures are buffy, with less streaking. All Northern Harriers have a white rump patch that is obvious in flight. Northern Harriers fly low over the ground when hunting, weaving back and forth over fields and marshes as they watch and listen for small animals. They eat on the ground, and they perch on low posts or trees. On the breeding grounds, males perform elaborate flying barrel rolls to court females. Northern Harriers breed in wide-open habitats ranging from Arctic tundra to prairie grasslands to fields and marshes. Their nests are concealed on the ground in grasses or wetland vegetation. In migration and winter, harriers typically move south away from areas that receive heavy snow cover, ending up in open habitats similar to those in which they breed.

Common Raven Passeriformes Corvidae Corvus corax Low concern

Not just large but massive, with a thick neck, shaggy throat feathers, and a Bowie knife of a beak. In flight, ravens have long, wedge-shaped tails. They're more slender than crows, with longer, narrower wings, and longer, thinner "fingers" at the wingtips. Common Ravens are entirely black, right down to the legs, eyes, and beak. Common Ravens aren't as social as crows; you tend to see them alone or in pairs except at food sources like landfills. Ravens are confident, inquisitive birds that strut around or occasionally bound forward with light, two-footed hops. In flight they are buoyant and graceful, interspersing soaring, gliding, and slow flaps. Common Ravens live in open and forest habitats across western and northern North America. This includes deciduous and evergreen forests up to treeline, as well as high desert, sea coast, sagebrush, tundra, and grasslands. They do well around people, particularly rural settlements but also some towns and cities.

Red-eyed Vireo Passeriformes Vireonidae Vireo olivaceus Low concern

Red-eyed Vireos are large, chunky vireos with a long, angular head, thick neck, and a strong, long bill with a small but noticeable hook at the tip. The body is stocky and the tail fairly short. Red-eyed Vireos are olive-green above and clean white below with a strong head pattern: a gray crown and white eyebrow stripe bordered above and below by blackish lines. The flanks and under the tail have a green-yellow wash. Adults have red eyes that appear dark from a distance; immatures have dark eyes. They forage in deciduous canopies where they can be difficult to find among the green leaves. They move slowly and methodically, carefully scanning leaves above and below for their favored caterpillar prey. However, their habit of near-incessant singing in summer, even in the heat of midafternoon, helps draw attention to them. Large expanses of deciduous forest, particularly deciduous trees with large leaves (such as maples), typify Red-eyed Vireo habitat during the breeding season. On migration, look for them in nearly any type of forest, woodland, or woodlot (particularly in deciduous stands). It is often the commonest of vireo migrants.

Ruffed Grouse Galliformes Phasianidae Bonasa umbellus Low concern

Ruffed Grouse are fairly small grouse with a short, triangular crest and a long, fan-shaped tail. They have short legs and often look slimmer than other grouse species. Ruffed Grouse are intricately patterned with dark bars and spots on either a reddish-brown or grayish background. Dark bars down the side of the neck continue and widen on the belly. The tail is finely barred, with one wide, black band near the tip. Look for Ruffed Grouse foraging on the forest-interior floor for seeds and insects. Displaying males make a deep, airy drumming sound by beating their wings while standing on a log. In spring you'll likely see lone birds; in summer look for females with broods of chicks. Winter birds form flocks and often eat buds of deciduous trees. Ruffed Grouse usually occupy mixed deciduous and coniferous forest interiors with scattered clearings. They also live along forested streams and in areas growing back from burning or logging.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Passeriformes Tyrannidae Tyrannus forficatus Low concern

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are slender, stout-billed kingbirds with very long, stiff, deeply forked tails. Males have longer tail feathers than females and immatures. These are pale gray birds with blackish wings and black tails with white edges. Adults have salmon-pink flanks that extend to underwing patches that are very conspicuous in flight. Males are more intensely colored than females. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers perch conspicuously on utility lines, treetops, and fence lines to watch for insect prey and defend their territories from interlopers. They are agile in the air, spreading their long tails wide to make abrupt turns and stalls. They are highly territorial, and will chase other birds out of their territories accompanied by loud, squeaky, bubbling calls. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers breed in open habitats in the southern Great Plains and south Texas, especially around scattered trees or utility lines. They tolerate human presence well and frequently breed in towns.

Least Tern Charadriiformes Laridae Sternula antillarum Conservation declining

Small tern. During breeding, black cap ending at white forehead. Short white eyestripe. Bill yellow with black tip. Back light gray. Underside white. Black leading edge to wing. In nonbreeding plumage has black eyestripe extending to back of head, white top of head, and black bill. Juvenile with U-shaped marks across back. Immature resembles winter adult. Length: 8.3-9.1 in (21-23 cm) Weight: 1.3-1.9 oz (36-54 g) Wingspan: 18.9-20.9 in (48-53 cm)

Steller's Jay Passeriformes Corvidae Cyanocitta stelleri Low concern

Steller's Jays are large songbirds with large heads, chunky bodies, rounded wings, and a long, full tail. The bill is long, straight, and powerful, with a slight hook. Steller's Jays have a prominent triangular crest that often stands nearly straight up from their head. At a distance, Steller's Jays are very dark jays, lacking the white underparts of most other species. The head is charcoal black and the body is all blue (lightest, almost sparkling, on the wings). White markings above the eye are fairly inconspicuous. Like other jays, Steller's Jays are bold, inquisitive, intelligent, and noisy. Steller's Jays spend much of their time exploring the forest canopy, flying with patient wingbeats. They come to the forest floor to investigate visitors and look for food, moving with decisive hops of their long legs. Look for Steller's Jays in evergreen forests of western North America, at elevations of 3,000-10,000 feet (lower along the Pacific coast). They're familiar birds of campgrounds, picnic areas, parks, and backyards. Scientists have described 16 subspecies of the Steller's Jay in North and Central America, showing varying combinations of black and blue on the crest, head, and body. The Queen Charlotte Islands off British Columbia are home to the largest and darkest race. In mainland North America, you can notice differences between darker Pacific forms, with blue streaks over the eye, and lighter Rocky Mountain forms with white streaks and a partial white eyering.

American Coot Gruiformes, Rallidae Herbivorous, Hunted 6-12 Eggs Fulica americana Low concern

The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Their tiny tail, short wings, and large feet are visible on the rare occasions they take flight. Coots are dark-gray to black birds with a bright-white bill and forehead. The legs are yellow-green. At close range you may see a small patch of red on the forehead. You'll find coots eating aquatic plants on almost any body of water. When swimming they look like small ducks (and often dive), but on land they look more chickenlike, walking rather than waddling. An awkward and often clumsy flier, the American Coot requires long running takeoffs to get airborne.. Look for American Coots at ponds in city parks, in marshes, reservoirs, along the edges of lakes, and in roadside ditches, sewage treatment ponds, and saltwater inlets or saltmarshes.

Eastern Kingbird Passeriformes Tyrannidae Tyrannus tyrannus Low Concern

The Eastern Kingbird is a sturdy, medium-sized songbird with a large head, upright posture, square-tipped tail, and a relatively short, straight bill. Eastern Kingbirds are blackish above and white below. The head is a darker black than the wings and back, and the black tail has a conspicuous white tip. Eastern Kingbirds often perch in the open atop trees or along utility lines or fences. They fly with very shallow, rowing wingbeats and a raised head, usually accompanied by metallic, sputtering calls. Eastern Kingbirds are visual hunters, sallying out from perches to snatch flying insects. Eastern Kingbirds breed in open habitats such as yards, fields, pastures, grasslands, or wetlands, and are especially abundant in open places along forest edges or water. They spend winters in forests of South America.

Eastern Phoebe Passeriformes Tyrannidae Sayornis phoebe Low Concern

The Eastern Phoebe is a plump songbird with a medium-length tail. It appears large-headed for a bird of its size. The head often appears flat on top, but phoebes sometimes raise the feathers up into a peak. Like most small flycatchers, they have short, thin bills used for catching insects. The Eastern Phoebe is brownish-gray above and off-white below, with a dusky wash to the sides of the breast. The head is typically the darkest part of the upperparts. Birds in fresh fall plumage show faint yellow on the belly and whitish edging on the folded wing feathers. The Eastern Phoebe generally perches low in trees or on fencelines. Phoebes are very active, making short flights to capture insects and very often returning to the same perch. They make sharp "peep" calls in addition to their familiar "phoebe" vocalizations. When perched, Eastern Phoebes wag their tails down and up frequently. These birds favor open woods such as yards, parks, woodlands, and woodland edges. Phoebes usually breed around buildings or bridges on which they construct their nests under the protection of an eave or ledge.

Screech Owl Strigiformes Strigidae Megascops asio Low concern

The Eastern Screech-Owl is a short, stocky bird, with a large head and almost no neck. Its wings are rounded; its tail is short and square. Pointed ear tufts are often raised, lending its head a distinctive silhouette. Eastern Screech-Owls can be either mostly gray or mostly reddish-brown (rufous). Whatever the overall color, they are patterned with complex bands and spots that give the bird excellent camouflage against tree bark. Eyes are yellow. Eastern Screech-Owls are active at night and are far more often heard than seen—most bird watchers know this species only from its trilling or whinnying song. However, this cavity-roosting owl can be attracted to nest boxes or, if you're sharp-eyed, spotted in daylight at the entrance to its home in a tree cavity. Trees define the Eastern Screech-Owl's habitat. This owl is fairly common in most types of woods (evergreen or deciduous; urban or rural), particularly near water. It shuns treeless expanses of mountains or plains. The "McCall's" Eastern Screech-Owl (Asio otus mccallii), inhabits south-central Texas and parts of northern Mexico. It may prove to be a separate species, as it is always gray and never gives the "whinny" call. The two common color morphs, gray and rufous, represent individual variation and don't vary consistently by region or subspecies.

Ruddy Turnstone Charadriiformes Scolopacidae Arenaria interpres Low concern

The Ruddy Turnstone is a short, stocky, and oval-shaped shorebird. They have a stout and slightly upturned bill. Breeding males have unique black-and-white markings on the head and throat and a chestnut and black variegated (calico catlike) pattern on the back. Breeding females are paler than males. Nonbreeding adults have brown ghosting of the breeding plumage pattern. Juveniles look similar to nonbreeding birds, but have rusty edges to the feathers. All Ruddy Turnstones have orange legs, but they are brighter during the breeding season. In flight, Ruddy Turnstones show a unique color pattern: white stripe down the back, black tail stripe, white rump, and white stripe down the wings. Ruddy Turnstones flip rocks, pebbles, and seaweed along shorelines in search of food. They rarely wade in waters more than a few inches deep, generally foraging out of the water where the surf deposits shells, rocks, and seaweed. During migration and on the wintering grounds they gather in groups of 10 to over 1,000. Ruddy Turnstones breed in the tundra of northern North America. But many nonbreeding birds also hang around the coastal shores in the lower 48 even in the summer. During migration they use freshwater shorelines, mudflats, rocky shorelines, and sandy beaches. On the wintering grounds they occur along coastal areas with mudflats, sandy beaches, and rocky shores.

Northern Shoveler Anseriformes Anatidae Spatula clypeata

The aptly named Northern Shoveler has a shovel-shaped bill that quickly sets it apart from other dabbling ducks. It is a medium-sized duck that tends to sit with its rear a bit higher out of the water almost like its bill is pulling its front half down. Breeding male shovelers are bold white, blue, green, and rust, but their most notable feature is their white chest and white lower sides. In flight, males flash blue on the upper wing and green on the secondaries (the speculum). Female and immature shovelers are mottled in brown and have powdery-blue on the wings that is sometimes visible on resting birds. Their very large orange bill is their most notable field mark. Northern Shovelers often have their heads down in shallow wetlands, busily sweeping their bills side to side, filtering out aquatic invertebrates and seeds from the water. Northern Shovelers forage in shallow wetlands, coastal marshes, rice fields, flooded fields, lakes, and sewage lagoons. They nest along the margins of wetlands or in neighboring grassy areas.

Barn Owl Strigiformes Tytonidae Tyto alba Low concern

These medium-sized owls have long, rounded wings and short tails, which combine with a buoyant, loping flight to give them a distinctive flight style. The legs are long and the head is smoothly rounded, without ear tufts. Barn Owls are pale overall with dark eyes. They have a mix of buff and gray on the head, back, and upperwings, and are white on the face, body, and underwings. When seen at night they can appear all white. Barn Owls nest and roost in cavities, abandoned barns and other buildings, and dense trees. At night, Barn Owls hunt by flying low, back and forth over open habitats, searching for small rodents primarily by sound. Barn Owls require large areas of open land over which to hunt. This can either be marsh, grasslands, or mixed agricultural fields. For nesting and roosting, they prefer quiet cavities, either in trees or man-made structures such as barns or silos.

Warbling Vireo Passeriformes Vireonidae Vireo gilvus Low Concern

Warbling Vireos are small, chunky songbirds with thick, straight, slightly hooked bills. They are medium-sized for vireos, with a fairly round head and medium-length bill and tail. Warbling Vireos are gray-olive above and whitish below, washed on the sides and vent with yellow. They have a dark line through the eye and a white line over the eye. The lores (the area between the eye and bill) are white in most individuals. Typically, the brightest plumage on Warbling Vireos is on vent or flanks. Worn midsummer birds can be nearly entirely gray above and whitish below. Warbling Vireos forage sluggishly, intently peering at leaf surfaces from a single perch before pouncing or moving on. They eat mostly caterpillars. They give their loud, rollicking, finch-like song frequently on summer territories. Deciduous forest is the favored habitat of Warbling Vireos throughout the year, though they also use some mixed coniferous and deciduous habitats. Even on migration they typically occur in areas with taller trees. Western birds tend to be a bit drabber than eastern birds, though plumage color varies more with season than from east to west. Western birds also have slightly longer bills, but this difference is only rarely useable in the field. The two forms have similar, but diagnosably different songs, western birds having higher-pitched, less "sing-songy," less caroling, and slightly longer songs than those of eastern birds. The two forms meet near the western edge of the Great Plains, and both forms breed in, at least, Colorado.

Wood Stork Ciconiiformes Ciconiidae Mycteria americana Low concern

Wood Storks are hefty wading birds with football-shaped bodies perched atop long legs. They have a long neck and a long, thick bill that is curved at the tip. They fly with their neck and legs outstretched but tend to perch with the neck drawn in, giving them a humpbacked appearance. Wood Storks are entirely white save for their black flight feathers and tail. The head is unfeathered and scaly-looking. Wood Storks frequently feed in groups with their heads down feeling for prey in open wetlands. Within the group, they often feed in lines—one after the other. They fly with head and legs outstretched, soaring on thermals high into the sky like a raptor or vulture. Wood Storks breed in fresh and brackish forested wetlands. They forage in wetlands, swamps, ponds, and marshes, especially those with an open canopy.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Piciformes Picidae Sphyrapicus varius Low concern

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are fairly small woodpeckers with stout, straight bills. The long wings extend about halfway to the tip of the stiff, pointed tail at rest. Often, sapsuckers hold their crown feathers up to form a peak at the back of the head. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are mostly black and white with boldly patterned faces. Both sexes have red foreheads, and males also have red throats. Look for a long white stripe along the folded wing. Bold black-and-white stripes curve from the face toward a black chest shield and white or yellowish underparts. Yellow-belled Sapsuckers perch upright on trees, leaning on their tails like other woodpeckers. They feed at sapwells—neat rows of shallow holes they drill in tree bark. They lap up the sugary sap along with any insects that may get caught there. Sapsuckers drum on trees and metal objects in a distinctive stuttering pattern. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers live in both hardwood and conifer forests up to about 6,500 feet elevation. They often nest in groves of small trees such as aspens, and spend winters in open woodlands. Occasionally, sapsuckers visit bird feeders for suet.