11/18/2023 0 Comments Drake wood duck sounds![]() ![]() Gentle and timid compared to the pigeon, it gets it name from its mournful call. Our native mourning dove is smaller and more slender with a long, pointed tail. Their plumage displays a great variety of subdued colors. They have since spread throughout the U.S. Terns can be distinguished from gulls by their forked tail, more pointed bill and pointed wings.įamiliar to even the most urban dweller, pigeons were introduced to North America by early European settlers. While gulls may be found inland, terns in our region are more exclusively coastal. Meanwhile, juvenile plumage can be variable and confusing. It takes 2 to 4 years for a gull to attain the characteristic adult white and gray plumage. Gulls, Terns Gulls are a very successful group of species that have adapted well to human habitation, taking advantage of fishing industry waste and landfill waste. And the woodcock, that prefers moist humus-rich forests with a good supply of earthworms. Like the solitary sandpiper which is more, well… solitary. They are often seen in flocks, moving in unison in flight. Most have long legs, long slender bills and earth-tone plumage making the differences between them subtle and sometimes difficult to distinguish. Sandpipers Sandpipers as a family cover many species beyond those with the word 'sandpiper' in their name. Plovers inhabit open areas like fields, prairies and shores and flats. ![]() Their nests are typically shallow scrapes in bare soil, sand or among rocks. Plovers Seemingly never lacking in energy, plovers are strong runners that dart rapidly over the ground stopping abruptly when they find small invertebrates or bits of plants to eat. Most Rails are very thin, which helps them slip through cattails and reeds, and gives us the expression "thin as a rail." With short, rounded wings, they are generally weak flyers but are also able to cover long distances. Most have long toes, which are good for walking and running on soft, uneven ground. Most family members live in marshland or dense forest. When alarmed, some species fly straight up into the air and then fly away from the threat. ![]() Most walk more than they fly, where they are known for powerful, short bursts of energy as they take flight. Stoutly built with small heads and short wings, these birds have short thick bills that are good for foraging. Falcons are built for speed not soaring, they can reach speeds up to 200 mpg when diving. They have long, pointed wings and long tails. Powerful predators, falcons have keen eyesight that can spot a mouse a mile away. Those that soar to great heights have long, broad wings and broad tails. Hawks with short wings and long tails are good at flying through the woods. ![]() All are carnivorous and eat only freshly caught prey. Humans have long used members of this family for food.įound on all continents except Antarctica and in every kind of land habitat - from tundra to deserts, wetlands, mountains, and cities. They have long, sometimes very long, necks, short strong legs and webbing between three toes. They do not build a nest, eggs are placed in a hollow tree or log, crevice in rocks or on the ground.īirds in this family are found from the Arctic Circle to the equatorial rainforests, where they live in lakes, ocean, bays, marshes and ponds. When captured or frightened, American Vultures vomit the contents of their stomach. Large birds with naked heads and hooked bills, they feed almost exclusively on carrion. Sociable birds, Ibises usually roost, breed and feed in large groups. In flight, they hold their necks and legs extend straight out. These long-legged birds live in wetlands or wooded areas near water where temperatures are warm. Most feed in shallow water, where they wade in search of prey to capture with their long, sharp bills. Bitterns, egrets and herons are carnivorous. Lacking the water repellant oils of other water birds, Cormorants spend considerable time drying their wings.įound on all continents except Antartica, these birds prefer wetlands, damp meadow and forest stream habitats. Grebes can sink slowly into the water, sometimes leaving only their head and neck above like a periscope.Ī family of fisheaters that lives along the shorelines of freshwater and saltwater worldwide. They are expert divers that catch fish and other aquatic animals. Sometimes mistaken for ducks, grebes have lobed not webbed feet. They glide across the waters surface, then abruptly plunge into the water to catch fish with spear-shaped bills. Loons Aquatic birds with a haunting, yodeling call, loons are seldom found on land. To use or purchase images by Julia Flanagan, email For all photographers, email request for contact information to Lists - Merrimac Farm Featherstone NWR Occoquan Bay NWR Rte 234 Wetland Mitigation Area Backyard Other Northern Virginia sites Photos - Julia Flanagan, Judy Gallagher, Tony Coomer, Kim Hosen, Eli Hosen ![]()
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