Pennsylvania Birds
There are over 300 different species of birds currently living in Pennsylvania. That’s a lot
of birds. From the ephemeral ruby-throated hummingbird to the awe-inspiring bald eagle, birds
are such a part of our lives we often take them for granted. Sometimes we are so unaware
of their seasonal needs or habits, we only notice them when they are singing or flocking to a
backyard feeder.
Most mammals are secretive; avoiding human activity.
Birds are easier for us to find and enjoy. Birds are generally more tolerant and their behavior, colors and songs
delight us. But most of us are unaware of the diversity
and richness of bird species living nearby. Did you know
that seven species of woodpeckers live in Pennsylvania?
How about eight different owls and over thirty different
warblers? And that’s just the start of it.
So what makes a bird a bird? Its not the ability to fly.
Not all birds can fly - the ostrich is flightless. And the bat,
which is a mammal, can fly. Birds, like mammals, have
specific characteristics that distinguish them from other
kinds of animals - providing birds with a unique place in
the animal kingdom.
These are the Basic Features Shared by Birds:
WARM-BLOODED - Like mammals, birds are warm-blooded. This means their body temperature stays the same no matter how hot or cold it is outside. This allows birds to maintain high
levels of energy needed for flight.
VERTEBRATES - All birds have a backbone or vertebrae.
FEATHERS - Birds use their feathers in many ways; such as flight, controlling their body temperature, protecting their body and attracting a mate.
HOLLOW BONES - Simply having feathers does not permit birds to be creatures of the sky. Extremely lightweight bones are also necessary for flight. Bird bones are strong but hollow, with
inside supports.
HARD-SHELLED EGGS - Birds lay hard-shelled eggs.
The hard shell keeps an egg from drying out and allows
parents to sit on the eggs during incubation. Even
though bird eggs are hard-shelled, they have microscopic pores which allow oxygen to pass into and
carbon dioxide to exit the shell – THEY BREATHE.
Eggs come in a variety of colors, patterns, shapes
and textures. Colors and patterns on eggs vary depending on the need for camouflage & safety. The shape of
the egg depends on where the bird nests. Most eggs are
oval. But birds that lay their eggs on ledges need eggs
with a pointed end so they will not roll off the ledge.
NESTS
Birds are not the only animals to make use of nests, but
the variety of materials they use and diversity of
structures they build are unique among animals. Those
amazing nests are where they incubate their eggs and
protect and care for their growing nestlings.
While the male bird normally does the singing to attract
a mate, it is the female who almost always chooses
the nest site and contructs the nest. Each species
buids a particular kind of nest, but nest-building materials
sometimes vary depending on what is available locally
to that particular female.
Different species of birds not only feed at different levels within their habitats, they nest at different levels
too. Canada geese nest on the ground, gray catbirds
nest in shrubs, screech owls nest in the hollow cavity of
a dead tree, while scarlet tanagers only nest in the tops
of mature trees.
What Kind of Bird is It?
Anyone who enjoys birds will seek out a book on birds
to learn one bird from another. As I mentioned in this
book’s introduction, this is not a field guide. But the
birds are arranged in Orders and Families much like
you would find in a field guide.
Each chapter heading lists common names, Orders,
Families and the Genus & species. If the chapter covers a large group of birds, some of this information is
found in the body of the chapter.
Keys to Bird Chapters
Below each chapter heading are Icon Boxes to aid in general identification. They are
meant to be used as a reference typical for that group of birds. They are not always species
specific.
Use the following KEYS to define each Icon Box.
Family Silhouettes
Silhouettes refer to the most common shape of most of the birds in a particular family.
Beak Shapes
Beak shapes show the general physical adaptations of birds in a particular Order or Family. Beak shapes indicate what birds eat. For example the sharp hooked beak of birds of
prey is designed for tearing prey (above far right)
Feet Shapes
Feet shape show the basic physical characteristics for that Order of birds. Feet shape indicate
not only how some birds find their food - the trunk-clutching toes of a woodpecker (above
right-center). But how they kill their prey (raptor - above center-left) or how they move through
water (coot’s lobed toes - far left above).
Keys to Bird Chapters, con’t.
Nest Preferences
Nest site preferences vary from bird family to bird family and even among individual species
within families. But most birds choose among ground sites, cavities, ledges or in trees. Some
birds, like the belted kingfisher, even burrow into sandy banks to nest. Birds that nest in trees
usually choose different heights depending on the species. Ring-necked pheasants nest on the
ground while American robins find small trees for their nests. But the Baltimore oriole prefers to
weave her nests from the highest branches of the tallest trees.
Peak Activity Levels
Diurnal
(active during day)
Nocturnal
(active at night)
Day & Night
(active any time)
Crepuscular
(active at dawn & dusk)