Bird Call

I took this in Portland and Mt. Tabor Park.  It's not field-guide perfect of the bird, but I liked the photo as a whole. [Click in photo to enlarge]

Bird-Nerd-Word of the day: Brood Parasite

A bird that lays its egg in the nests of other species.  One of the most notable, the Brown-headed Cowbird, often chooses the American Goldfinch as target, but the hatchlings frequently don't survive. Most sources think this is because the Goldfinch diet consists almost exclusively of seeds.

American Goldfinch

This was taken when I was supposed to be picking blueberries near the Columbia river. (Double-Click to enlarge).

Distinguishing Marks: Males such as this one are bright yellow with a black crown. The wings are black with distinctive white markings.

Boring Fact: The average weight of Goldfinches is .5 oz.

Read more about Goldfinches at: All About Birds

Bird-Nerd-Word of the Day:  Nape

The back of a birds head below the crown--what we would think of as the back of the neck.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

This bird pulled over at a rest stop near Stockton CA long enough for me to snap this.  I thought it was nice he stuck his neck out for me. : )

Distinguishing Marks: The black collar of course, plus large size and dark primaries.

Boring Fact: This illegal immigrant entered the country from the Caribbean, received amnesty in the 80's, and has since spread across the US as the location of this one would suggest.

Learn about this bird at:  All About Birds

Bird-nerd-word of the day

Orbital Ring: a colored ring circling the eye on some birds (e.g. Ring-billed Gull).

Ring-billed Gull

This gull sat for his (or her) portrait near Klamath Falls in Northern California. [Double-click to enlarge]

Distinguishing Marks: Although many young birds have one the ring these birds are named for is distinctive in mature birds. Legs and bill (otherwise) are yellow.  Oh yeah, if you can get close enough to one or get lucky enough to hook one on your fishing line, you'll see they have a red orbital red (see Bird-Nerd-Word of the Day).

See this bird in flight at: All About Birds

Boring Facts: While common on beaches, this gull is even more abundant inland around fresh water like sewer ponds and food supplies like Jack-in-the-Box.  So if you should see a flotilla of these gulls pedal-to-the-metal, all in the same direction in the morning, it's a good bet they're heading to the local landfill for breakfast.

Bird-nerd-word of the day: Speculum [SPEK-yuh-luhm]

A patch of color on some ducks formed by a rectangular wing panel on the trailing edge.

Photo at:  All About Birds

 

Mallard

This bird held still for my camera like a sitting duck. Good thing; this young Male was one of my first victims.

Distinguishing Marks: dark tail, white border on speculum (see Bird-nerd-word).

Boring Fact: most ducks molt in late summer.  The process leaves them nearly flightless so they adapt a less conspicuous plumage.  They look much like this one but since this photo was taken in June I'm guessing young male.  That's my story. : )

Bird-nerd-words of the day: Sexual dimorphism

This term refers to situations where the sexes of one species show radically different plumage.

House Finch

All the way to Stockton for a photo op with this bird? 

These are among the most common birds in america.  When you take time to notice them though, their color and their song are remarkable. (Listen at enature)

Distinguishing Marks: Red breast and head of course, plus large beak and blurry lines on the breast and flanks.

Double-click for full size

Boring Fact: The redder the plumage the more attractive males like this one are to the opposite sex.  Guys, remember that. : )

Bird-nerd-word of the day: Syrinx [SIR-ingks]

A box in the throat of birds (but not vocal chords) that produces song through a vibrating membrane.

If you like this stuff, there's lots at: Wikipedia.org

It also means Panpipe. : ) Cool.

Black Phoebe

I took this in Southern California not far from the Cardiff Kook.  Double click for enlarged view.

Distinguishing Marks: white belly with a peak under the breast, a little brown overall in spite of its name, and even some brown markings on its wings.

 Boring fact:  this bird's related to the Eastern Phoebe whose call--"feee-beee"--has inspired the family name. This species, however, mostly says "peep!"  : )

Read all about it at: All About Birds

Cardiff Kook

 

Bird-nerd-words of the day: Tyrant flycatcher

A bird in the Tyrannus Genus so named for their aggressive protection of their territory.  They will attack birds as large as hawks or crows that they may see as a threat.

Western Kingbird

One of these photos was taken near Sacramento and the other on the Klamath River near Yreka. 

Distinguishing Marks: black tail with white outer tail feathers.

 

 

Boring fact: This bird's call is a little like a chipmunk doing a rubber ducky impression.  Listen at enature.com

 

Bird-nerd-words of the day: Plunge dive

Among other birds like gannets and kingfishers, some terns (Forster's among them) plunge vertically into the water from high above (often hovering just beforehand).  I love to watch lone Forster's Terns quietly going about their business of making a living this way.

Forster's Tern

I photographed this free spirit recently at Ponto Beach in Carlsbad CA.

Distinguishing Marks: orange bill with black tip, silvery primaries and white belly.

For life history and identification see: All About Birds

Boring fact: a flock of these terns is called a "U."  No kidding.