American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Crows and many other corvids hold "funerals" for their dead. Current research suggests the purpose of crow funerals is for them to learn about potential threats and danger.
birds!
i like birds so here are some pictures i've taken of them!
(yes, i am aware of the abysmal quality of some of these images. just trust me bro)
btw some birds have multiple images, scroll horizontally to see them all
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
They molt twice a year, once in spring and once in fall. This one is has the nonbreeding male plumage.
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
The proverb "the early bird gets the word" is actually true in this case, because they eat more earthworms in the morning and more fruit later in the day.
Azure-winged Magpie
Cyanopica cyanus
Gorgeous bird with a tail as long as its body.
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
Like all magpies, very noisy and social. This photo also doesn't do justice to their beautiful iridescent plumage.
Black-collared Starling
Gracupica nigricollis
Very vocal bird with... you guessed it, a black collar.
Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
A black swan event is when something unpredictable with extreme consequences occurs. This term came about when Europeans, who believed swans were only white, discovered black swans in Australia.
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Even though they're common, it took awhile before I actually saw one in person. They're so noisy and their bright blue feathers demand attention (even though they don't actually have blue feathers, it's an optical illusion). They have so many different calls, the first time I heard the squeaky gate call I was so confused as to what was making that sound.
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
My favorite bird!!! They sound like rubber duckies!!! They're so small and full of energy and their squeaks are so cute! They're found mostly in pine forests in the Southeastern US. Nuthatches in general have extremely strong claws, making them super fun to watch as they dart across branches and around tree trunks. They are the only bird that can walk head first down a tree and can even walk upside down on branches, which allows them to find insects they may have missed on their way up. They also have strong beaks that helps with getting to their food - they will jam a nut or seed into tree bark, and hack away at it with their beak until it cracks open, earning them the name "nuthatch". Brown-headed ones in particular are one of the rare bird species that use tools: they use a piece of bark as a lever to pry up bark on trees to get to food hidden underneath. And, if the piece of bark is good, they will carry it around to use it again. And as an added bonus, they don't migrate!
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
HONK! The geese at my local park always make nice subjects to photograph.
Canada Jay
Perisoreus canadensis
Also known as "whiskey jack" and "camp robber", they have a very varied diet and will eat human food. This one had a hankering for shredded cheese.
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
Their song is a four note whistle: "fee-bee-fee-bay".
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
"Tea kettle tea kettle tea kettle!" A small bird with a loud voice.
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
I always see huge flocks of them flying around from tree to tree, whistling their hearts out and feeding on berries. Waxwings get their name from the waxy, bright red tips on their feathers. They are also one of the only birds in North America that specialize in eating fruit, and they can become intoxicated or die if they eat overripe berries that have started to ferment and produce alcohol. They are also just soo gorgeous. A group of them is also called a museum or an earful of waxwings.
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
I don't think anything I say here can top how ornithologist Edward Forbush described them in 1929: "the little brown-capped pensioner of the dooryard and lawn, that comes about farmhouse doors to glean crumbs shaken from the tablecloth by thrifty housewives.”
Collared Finchbill
Spizixos semitorques
Their main diet is fruit, but they also eat insects and seeds.
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
You know it's winter when these guys are around, and they're nicknamed "snowbirds". Their white tail feathers forming a V-shape that they flash when they take flight make them not too hard to identify. They're also one of the most common birds in North America.
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
The smallest woodpecker in North America, they're so energetic and interesting to watch. Only males have the red patch on the back of their head.
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
The males are so vividly blue, even when they're flying they're like a blue blur.
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Their tail wags are so cute (and makes them easy to identify). As the name suggests, males sing "fee-bee".
Eurasian Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
They are also known as "swamp chickens" or "marsh hens".
Fish Crow
Corvus ossifragus
Their calls are shorter and more nasal than American Crows.
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
The biggest heron in North America, they are able to hunt both during the day and night.
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Also known as the Mexican grackle. I went to Texas for the first time and these guys were everywhere. I can't blame them though, cause Bucee's is pretty fire.
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
They are capable of using fishing lures, such as bread or insects, to attract fish in the water.
The streaks on its neck indicate this is a juvenile. And yes this was taken through binoculars.
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
I think this is the most borb birb I've ever seen in real life.
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
They were originally birds of the western US and Mexico, but they were illegally sold on the East Coast as "Hollywood Finches". When word got out that the feds were onto them, the shops released all of them in 1940. They quickly started breeding and now they're one of the most common birds in the US.
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
To keep their feathers clean, they roll around in dirt, a behavior known as dust bathing.
Javan Myna
Acridotheres javanicus
Their vocal mimicry abilities made them popular pets to be kept in cages, which led to a dwindling population in Java and Bali, where they are native. However, they are one of the most common birds in Singapore, so much so that they are considered an urban pest.
Large-billed Crow
Corvus macrorhynchos
Wow, that is one large bill.
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
During the breeding season, they have 2 plumes on their head. These plumes were so valuable during the 19th century that they were hunted extensively and went locally extinct in some parts of Europe. Luckily, with the help of conservation laws, their population grew back and continues to do so today.
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Male mallards (called drakes) don't quack, only females do.
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
In addition to their "nostalgic" cooing, they also produce a sound with their wings when they take off. It's called a "wing whistle" and it's a way for them to announce danger.
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
The males are the largest ducks in North America.
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
They are able to mimic around 200 songs of other birds, as well as cats, dogs, frogs, car alarms, and various sounds they hear in their environment. Their scientific name translates to "many-tongued mimic", which is a very apt name.
Probably the most common bird I see on a daily basis, as evidenced by the number of photos I have taken of them.
Oriental Magpie
Pica serica
Their calls are described as being comparable to an old camera: "chachacha!"
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
An example of great naming conventions: they are found in pine forests and you're likely to hear their song before you see them. Good job ornithologists.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
The name Red-headed woodpeckers was already taken. However, their bellies are a very pale red.
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
This raptor bagged its dinner in the form of a grey squirrel.
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
Don't let him drive the bus!
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
This lil guy was darting around on the ground while flicking its wings. I actually couldn't believe my eyes when I saw how small it was - they are one of the smallest birds in North America at about 3.5-4.5 inches in length (yet they can lay up to 12 eggs in a single nest). Males have a ruby crown patch on the top of their head, which stays hidden until they're excited and singing. Sadly, I live outside the breeding range for them (update: I actually saw not one but TWO of them with their ruby crowns out!!!). They also can hover like hummingbirds to take bugs from the surface of leaves. Yet despite their constant frantic movements, they only burn about 10 calories per day. Ok I think they're one of my favorite birds now they're SO CUTE.
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Caught this fella in the middle of singing. This was one of the first bird songs I was able to remember!
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
They will pluck the hair and fur off of animals to use as lining in their nests, from raccoons, opossums, mice, woodchucks, squirrels, rabbits, and even humans.
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
The most common vulture in North America, they have an extremely strong sense of smell which they use to locate carrion (decaying animal flesh). In addition, the chemical found in carrion (mercaptan) is the same chemical that is put in natural gas to make it smell bad. So turkey vultures are also attracted to gas leaks!
More (gross) turkey vulture facts because they are one of my favorite birds:
to cool themselves down, they will urinate and/or defecate on their legs. If they feel threatened, they can also projectile vomit up to 10 feet away.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
I love nuthatches!!! The only downside is that they are constantly moving and my pictures of them are crappy zoomed in screenshots from already blurry videos (see Brown-headed Nuthatch). White-breasteds have a pretty distinctive "yank yank" song that kind of sounds like an old-timey car honking. Their call is also pretty distinctive, and sounds almost like bleating.
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
"Oh, sweet Canada!" A beautiful winter bird with a beautiful song.
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
They have extremely strong claws that allow them to climb trees.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
They are affectionately known as the "butterbutt".