BI 160 Bird Identification
J. Bown
LECTURE SUMMARY
1.
Order – Anseriformes (ducks, geese, swans, mergansers)
Family – Anatidae
Subfamily Anserinae (swans)
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6.
large birds
all white plumage
necks very long
flight – straight; uniform wingbeat
young – brownish white
two species in west: Tundra, Trumpeter
Subfamily Anserinae (geese)
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heavy, stout body
longer neck than ducks, shorter than swans
bill thick at base
noisy in flight
mostly terrestrial; grazing on land
exceptions: Black Brant – feed on eelgrass
Emperor Goose – feed on shellfish
large waterfowl
very gregarious
7 species in west: Canada, Cackling, Brant,
Greater White-fronted, Snow (white,blue morph),
Ross’s, Emperor (accidental)
Subfamily Anatinae (Dabbler/puddle ducks)
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feed by dabbling and upending
feed in shallow water – reached by surface
seldom dive
spring directly into the air from water
iridescent speculum on wing
swim with tail held off of water
no lobe on hind toe
usually with colorful plumage
sexes unlike during breeding and nesting
eclipse molt by male during summer
10 species: Mallard, Gadwall, Wood
Teal (cinnamon, green-wing, blue-winged)
Wigeon (American, Eurasion), N. Shoveler, N. Pintail
1
Subfamily Anatinae (Mergansers)
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fish-eating ducks
long, narrow, spike-like bill
saw-edged mandibles
most species with crests on heads
flight – swift, rapid wing beat, direct
bill, head, neck and body held horizontal in flight
slender build
3 species in west:
Hooded – winters on coast; summers on mountain lakes
Red-breasted – bays and estuaries
Common – rivers
Subfamily Anatinae (Diving ducks)
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2.
prefer deep water – open lakes, bays, ocean
dive for food or escape
fast flying; rapid wing beat
do not turn in flight as fast as puddle ducks
large lobe on hind toe
drab speculum on wing
patter on surface when taking off (cannot lift directly off water)
plumage not as colorful as puddle ducks
winter in bays and estuaries
14 species: Ruddy, Redhead, Canvasback,
Ring-necked, Scaup (Greater, Lesser)
Goldeneye (Common, Barrow’s) Bufflehead,
Long-tailed, Harlequin, Scoter (White-winged, Black, Surf)
Order Procellariformes (albatros, shearwaters, petrels)
Family Diomedeidae (Albatross), Family Procelariidae (Fulmars,
Shearwaters), Family Hydrobatidae (Storm petrels)
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tube nosed birds
pelagic – live on the oceans
long-narrow wings
have nasal glands for salt secretion
exceptional olfactory sense
low soaring birds
9 pelagic species:
Black-footed Albatross
Laysan Albatross
Northern Fulmar
Pink-footed Shearwater
Forked-tailed Storm petrel
Leach’s Storm Petrel
2
Buller’s Shear water
Sooty Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
3.
Order - Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae
A.
EAGLES
1.
large size
2.
proportionately longer wings than buteos
(length – 2 ½ W)
3.
wings slotted (primaries separate in flight)
4.
large head
5.
wings held flat when soaring
6.
examples: Golden Eagle & Bald Eagle
B.
BUTEO HAWKS
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9.
C.
OSPREY
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6.
D.
fish-eating hawk
nest on top of dead tree
resembles small white-breasted eagle
flies with crook in wings
shows black carpal patches on whitish undersides
HARRIER
10.
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16.
E.
soaring hawks
broad wings (L=2W)
short-round tails
sexes alike
soar in wide circles
hunt rodents
some with black or melanistic phase
(Red-tailed, Rough-legged, Ferruginous, Swainson’s)
young birds streaked lengthwise
fly with wings flat
slim hawks
slightly angled wings
long tails, long bodies
flight low
wings in shallow v
sexes unlike
example: Northern Harrier
ACCIPITERS (Bird Hawks)
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2.
3.
long tails
short, round wings
woodland habitat
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4.
5.
6.
F.
sexes alike, female larger
flight – several short quick wing-beats followed by a glide
examples: Northern Goshawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
KITES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
similar to falcons in shape
pointed wings
hovers in place
soars and glides
example: White-tailed Kite
Family – Falconidae
E. FALCONS
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b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
streamlined birds
long, pointed wings
long, narrow tails
rapid wingbeat
seldom soar
sexes alike
hunts in open country
typically hunt birds
examples:
Gyrfalcon
Prairie Falcon
Peregrine Falcone
Kestrel
Merlin
Family – Cathartidae
F. VULTURES
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
dark color
soar in high, wide circles
head small
wings held in dihedral (v) pattern
“tippy” soar pattern
carrion feeders
sexes similar
examples:
Turkey Vulture
California Condor
4
4.
Order – Strigiformes (owls)
A.
FEATURES:
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B.
IDENTIFICATION:
1.
2.
3.
C.
largely nocturnal
birds of prey
large heads
flattened faces forming “facial disks”
hooked bills; hooked claws
feet usually feathered
sexes similar; females larger
noiseless flight – modified primaries and secondaries
eyes immoble – turn heads instead (> 180°)
19 species in North America
134 species worldwide
size
smallest: Elf Owl @ 5 ½ inches
Great Horned @ 22 inches
largest:
Great Gray @ 27 inches
use of recordings:
a.
to identify calls you hear
b.
to generate a response by owls
nesting sites and territories often know by local
birders or residents
look for “owl pellets”
CLASSIFICATION:
Family Tytonidae
Barn Owl – “monkey faced owl”
Family Strigidae
Yellow eyed
Western Screech Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Burrowing Owl
Northern Pygmy Owl
Great-horned Owl
Great Gray Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Snowy Owl
Boreal Owl
5
Brown eyed
Flammulated Owl
Barred Owl
Spotted Owl
5.
Order Podicipediformes (grebes)
Family Podicipedidae
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2.
3.
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6.
swimming and diving birds
lobed toes – flat lobes
legs far back on body
tail short; wings short
head low in flight; taxi on take off
7 species:
Western
Horned
Clark’s
Eared
Red-necked
Least (accidental)
Pied-billed
Order Pelecaniformes (pelicans and cormorants)
Family Pelecanidae
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7.
large, heavy aquatic, fish-eating
fly with head tucked back
feet; 4 toes with three webs
nest in large colonies
usually silent outside of breeding colonies
large gular pouch for capturing & transporting food
2 species: White
Brown
Family Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants)
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dark birds, medium build, aquatic, fish-eating, long hooked bills
legs set back on body,
feet; 4 toes with three webs
nest in large colonies
usually silent outside of breeding colonies
small gular pouch for storing & transporting food
often colored for display
4 species: Double-crested
Brandt’s
Pelagic
Red-faced (rare)
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7.
Order Ciconiiformes (herons bittern, ibis and egrets)
Family Ardeidae
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(herons, egrets, & bitterns)
wading birds, long legs, neck, bill
wings broad, rounded; tail short
fly with “s” look in neck
many have graceful crests & long plumes
in breading season
feed in shallow water
8 species: American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Cattle Egret (occasional)
Least Bittern (rare)
Family Threskiornithidae
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4.
8.
(Ibis & spoonbills)
heron-like birds, long-legged waders
specialized bills: slender & de-curved in ibis
highly gregarious
1 species:
White-faced Ibis
Order Gruiformes (cranes, rails, coots)
- wading birds with sharp, pointed bills that live in wetland habitats
Family Rallidae (rails and coots)
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2.
3.
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5.
compact body, legs and tail short
wings – short, rounded
secretive habits: often heard, seldom seen
wetland, marsh habitat
5 species:
American coot
Virginia rail
Sora
Yellow rail (accidental)
Black rail (rare)
Family Gruidae (cranes)
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2.
3.
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large birds, long necked & long legs, straight in flight
meadow, upland habitat
bare red skin on head
stately birds
sexes alike
1 species:
Sandhill crane
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9.
Order Gaviiformes (loons)
Family Gaviidae
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open water swimming birds
bills – straight, dagger-like
larger than ducks, necks thicker than grebes
may dive or submerge (dive to 200’)
thrash surface on take-off
lake habitat in summer; bays/estuaries in winter
legs far back on body; seldom walk on land
wing-beat – fast; uninterrupted by gliding
4 species:
Common
Red-throated
Pacific
Yellow-billed (occasional)
Order - Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae (plovers, turnstones, surfbirds)
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stocky build, small to medium size
long, pointed wings
bill – short, pigeon-like, swollen near tip
bold color patterns
shorter necked than sandpipers
habit of running then stopping to peck
9 species:
Surfbird
Ruddy Turnstone
Killdeer
Black Turnstone
Snowy Plover Semipalmated Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Pacific Golden Plover (uncommon)
American Golden Plover (rare)
Family Hematopodidae (oystercatchers)
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2.
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6.
medium sized – chunky birds, black body/brown back
bright red bill, laterally flattened
feed on shellfish, mussels in either
stabber/hammer strategy
young are less precocial
coastal rocky habitat
1 species:
Black Oystercatcher
Family Recurvisostridae (avocets and slilts)
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2.
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5.
medium size (14”-18”)
slender, long-legged waders
bill – long, thin, straight or upcurved
shallow water habitat
2 species:
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
8
Family Scolopacidae
Subfamily Scolopacinae (sandpipers, snipe)
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bill – longer than plover’s, pointed
varied sizes – 5” – 23”
plumage – dull gray, buff, or brown
mottled or streaked
sexes are alike or nearly so
often seen in large flocks
varied flocks of shore and wading birds
habit – ocean shore, fresh water, upland
21 species:
Large Sandpipers:
Long-billed curlew, Marbled Godwit,
Whimbrel
Long-legged waders:
Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs,
Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper,
Willet, Upland Sandpiper (casual)
Medium Sandpipers:
Wilson’s Snipe, Wandering tattler,
Red Knot, Long-billed dowitcher,
Short-billed dowitcher, Rock sandpiper
Large Peeps:
Pectoral sandpiper, Baird’s sandpiper,
Dunlin, Sanderling
Small Peeps:
Western sandpiper, Least sandpiper,
Semipalmated sandpiper
Family Scolopacidae
Subfamily Phalaropodidae (phalaropdes)
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2.
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4.
small – sandpiper-like birds
toes lobed (“coot-footed”)
feed with circular swimming motion
males with duller plumage than females
= reverse sexual dimorphism
3 species (2 species are pelagic):
Wilson’s phalarope
Red-necked phalarope
Red phalarope
Family Laridae
Subfamily Larinae (gulls)
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long, pointed wings
robust body (compared to terns)
legs – longer than terns
bill – slightly hooked
tail – square to rounded
never dive, feed on water surface
primarily scavengers
identify using leg color, bill color/marks, eye color, markings
9
9.
14 species:
Western
Glaucous
Glaucous-winged
Herring
Thayer’s
Mew
California
Bonaparte’s
Ring-billed
Sabine’s
Heermann’s
Black-legged Kittiwake
Red-legged Kittiwake
Family Laridae
Subfamily Sterninae (terns)
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2.
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long, pointed wings
slender body
tails – forked
bill – pointed (no hook), often colored
flight – buoyant, bill pointed downward
dive into water for prey
young stay w/ parents for several months
4 species:
Forster’s
Black
Caspian
Common (migrant)
Family Stercorariidae (jaegers, skuas)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
predatory relatives to gull, eat lemmings, small birds/rodents
gull-like appearance (robust 15-19”); wings bent at wrist
elongate central tail feathers
wing-beat powerful and rapid
pelagic during winter months, breeding season nest robbers
3 species (pelagic):
Parasitic jaeger
Pomarine jaeger
Long-tailed jaeger
Family Alcidae (puffins, auks, guillemonts, murres)
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2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
gaudy-beaked seabirds, pelagic
short stubby wings, rapid wingbeat
swim – “fly” underwater with wings, steer with feet
more graceful under water than in air
nests in large colonies on coastal cliffs
“pear” shaped eggs (pyriform)
quiet except in breeding colonies
9 species: Common murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled murrelet
Ancient murrelet
Tufted puffin
Horned puffin
Parakeet Auklet
Cassin’s Auklet
Rhinoceros Auklet
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11.
Order Caprimulgiformes (nighthawks and poor wills)
Family Caprimulgidae
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12.
nocturnal; insect feeders
large tails, large eyes, short legs
bill – tiny with huge gape surrounded by bristles
rest horizontal on limb or ground
heads large flat
cryptic coloration (camouflage)
3 species:
Common Nighthawk
Lesser Nighthawk (rare)
Common Poor-will
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae (swifts)
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6.
most aerial birds in the world, aerial foragers
fast flying-needle swift clocked at 200 mph
spend most of the time in the air
sleep, mate, gather nest material, etc.
wings: long, narrow, swept back
appear to vibrate, shallow wing-beat
3 species:
Black Swift
Vaux’s Swift
White-throated Swift
Family Trochilidae (hummingbirds)
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11.
320 species with 15 in western U.S.
small: average 3 ½ inches with short tails
bills long for nectar feeding – variable
iridescent colors for display and territory
aggressive territorial defenders
gorgets-jewel like throat feathers of males
flight: up, down, sidewise, reverse, hover motionless,
80-100 wing-beats per second
mostly tropical, migratory
insects provide protein in diet
average 15 bouts of nectar feeding per hour
6 species:
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
11
13.
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae (kingfishers)
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7.
14.
stocky, short legged body
fish eating
nest-burrows into stream banks
hover over water or watches from perch
crest on head
dives into water head first
1 species:
Belted Kingfisher
Order Piciformes
Family Picidae (woodpeckers)
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2.
3.
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6.
15.
bill – strong, sharply pointed, chisel tip
tail stiff- used as prop
flight – undulating (wings folded against body
after each series of flaps)
most species “drum” on resonant limbs, poles, etc.
zygodactyle feet (2 toes front, 2 rear)
most males with red on head
12 species: Northern Flicker
Lewis' Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Williamson's Sapsucker Black-backed Woodpecker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Three-toed Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker White-headed Woodpecker
Order Columbiformes (pigeons and doves)
Family Columbidae
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2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
16.
wings – pointed; tails – fanned or tapered
all species bob head when walking
swift-flying birds
heads small, legs short
females duller than males
low, cooing voices
3 species:
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Order Galliformes (grouse, quail, ptarmigan)
Family Phasianidae (grouse, turkey, pheasant )
1.
2.
3.
heavy bodies, chicken-like birds
bill – short, straight, heavy; upper mandible
strongly decurved
wings – short, rounded
12
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legs – rather long; capable runners
wing-beat – rapid; full flight from sitting position;
flight short
seed eaters, some insects
ground nesters
often gregarious
males with elaborate courtship displays
mostly non-migratory
not very bright
10 species: Sooty Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
Spruce Grouse
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Greater Sage Grouse
Chukar
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Turkey
Ring-necked Pheasant
Gray Partridge
Family Odontophoridae (quail, partridge)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
17.
medium sized chicken-like
ground-dwelling foragers of plant material & insects
usually quite secretive
often found in small flocks called coveys
3 species: Northern Bobwhite
California Quail
Mountain Quail
Order Passeriformes (perching birds/song birds)
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2.
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7.
largest and most diverse order of birds
small to medium sized
varied habitats
feet adapted for perching; 3 toes in front and one long toe behind
most are good singers
bill shape, color habitat and habits are most useful for family
identification – see families
27 Families in Oregon include:
Emberizidae (towhee, sparrows, junco, longspurs)
Passeridae (weaver finches)
Cardinalidae (grosbeaks, buntings)
Icteridae (meadowlarks, blackbirds, orioles)
Fringillidae (finches, goldfinches, crossbills)
Turdidae (thrushes, bluebirds, solitaires)
Timaliidae (wrentits)
Corvidae (jays, crows, magpie, nutcracker, raven)
13
Parulidae (wood warblers)
Thraupidae (tanagers)
Troglodytidae (wrens)
Tyrannidae (new world flycatchers)
Hirundinidae (swallows, martins)
Laniidae (shrikes)
Sturnidae (starlings)
Sittidae (nuthatches)
Paridae (chickadee, titmice)
Aegithalidae (bushtit)
Certhiidae (creepers)
Regulidae (kinglets)
Sylviidae (gnatcatchers)
Vireonidae (vireos)
Bombycillidae (waxwings)
Mimidae (mockingbirds, thrashers)
Aluadidae (larks)
Cinclidae (dippers)
Passeridae (house sparrow)
14