10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2011

Eagle Lake, Lake Almanor and Clear Lake have all been identified as Audubon California Important Bird Areas (IBA), meaning that they provide essential habitat for breeding, wintering, and migrating birds. Like the breeding activity of many species this spring, the grebes were late, probably due to the unseasonable weather.

California 251

California Eagles North America Blackbirds 251

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2013

Pink-throated Twinspot’s scientific name is Hypargos margaritatus , the generic name means “possessing 100 eyes below” – “ hypo ” referring to “under” and “ argus ” to Argus, the 100-eyed guardian of Io. Both these names as well as it’s English name refer to the overlapping spots that are a feature of the underside of all the twinspots.

Africa 244

Africa Somalia Mozambique Pelicans 244

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

” The fact that they are monogamous and pair up by November, 4 to 5 months before breeding, probably endears them to some. References: Dunne, Pete (2006), Pete Dunne’s Essential Field Guide Companion. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcgOFQtcyAo. v=HcgOFQtcyAo. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

2006 247

2006 Ducks Wildlife New York 247

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2014

Green-tailed Towhee s breed in species-rich shrub communities within shrub-steppe habitats, and disturbed and open areas of montane forest, often created by forest fires 1. References: 1 Birds of North America Online. Click on photos for full sized images. Up in Ashland we found them on the outskirts of Howard Prairie Lake.

Oregon 234

Oregon North America Birds Owls 234

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2024

It’s a bird that rarely occurs inland, and outside the breeding season it spends its time far out to sea. In March, as the days start to lengthen, so the wandering birds return to their breeding cliffs. Adult pairs are very site faithful, and if their breeding is successful, they will return to the same colony year after year.

Russia 244

Russia Breeding Alaska Wildlife 244

10,000 Birds

JULY 17, 2012

You don’t really know a bird until you’ve studied it on its breeding grounds. Getting intimate with a species over the course of the breeding cycle is one of the more rewarding aspects of birding, and field research too. Available from SORA: [link] Waltman, JR, and SR Beissinger (1992) Breeding behavior of the Green-rumped Parrotlet.

Eggs 269

Eggs Venezuela Porcupines 2008 269

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2012

Most of the Osprey breeding in North America are migratory, only Florida, the Caribbean and Baja California host non-migratory breeders 1. In migratory populations males usually arrive to breeding grounds a few days before the females and look for nest sites. This pair copulated several times while I was observing.

California 236

California North America Sacramento Breeders 236

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2013

Formerly known as Jackass Penguins , a reference to their strange braying calls, African Penguins have become the unofficial mascots of marine conservation in the region. The only other significant mainland breeding colony is based about an hour out of Cape Town on the east coast at a place called Betty’s Bay.

Penguins 245

Penguins South Africa Leopards Sharks 245

10,000 Birds

APRIL 24, 2013

The Surfbird outside of the breeding season can be found along almost the entire Pacific Coast of the Americas, from southeastern Alaska all the way to Tierra del Fuego in southern Chile. In breeding season, Surfbird is found in mountain ranges scattered throughout Alaska and the Yukon Territory 1.

Alaska 183

Alaska Chile 2013 Breeding 183

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2020

In this area, floodwaters from the rising Iron Gates Dam have submerged the Karas River mouth (below) creating a spacious shallow lagoon (sometimes wrongly referred to as “bara Djurica”). When to visit: best during winter and migration season, but also breeding season. Spotting scope is recommended. The turn-off is about 1 km / 0.6

Mali 264

Mali Serbia Eagles Turtles 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 27, 2020

The text deals with Related Families, Similar Birds, Description, Habitat, Food, Breeding, Conservation and Relationships. Most families are depicted in two pages of text and illustrations. The illustrations usually include several photos and field guide paintings (from HBW) of a sample member of each genus.

Family 299

Family Birds South America Breeding 299

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 14, 2015

The distribution of color morphs is unequal in the Snow Goose population, with the maximum number of blue-morph geese occurring in mid-continent breeding and wintering areas 1. References: 1 Birds of North America Online. Color morphs are controlled by a single gene locus where the dark allele is incompletely dominant to the light.

Sacramento 215

Sacramento Geese North America Wildlife 215

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

The goal of Around the World For Penguins is simple: Describe the 18 species of penguin and their breeding grounds “from the perspective of a traveller.” When we come to Gentoo Penguin again in the South Georgia chapter, for example, we’re referred back to its first appearance in Antarctica, utilizing the outline numbers.).

Penguins 279

Penguins Georgia Albatross New Zealand 279

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2021

Species formerly referred to as P. Citrine Wagtails are rare in Shanghai but apparently quite common around Chaka, though unfortunately most of the ones we saw were not in breeding plumage. ” According to the HBW, the diet of the Pine Bunting during breeding season is mainly invertebrates. I blame this on covid-19.

China 264

China Austria Birds ALA 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 12, 2024

That trip was fun, as it reminded me of the delights of watching birds like Golden Plover and even Meadow Pipit on their breeding grounds. I see lots of Golden Plovers in the winter, but (like so many waders) they are birds transformed when in their breeding finery. Crakes are difficult to see on their breeding grounds.

Cyprus 243

Cyprus Greece Spain Europe 243

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2012

They may also breed outside their normal breeding range following major winter irruptions 1. A small flock arrived in mid-March not quite in full breeding plumage. The grosbeaks were gone for a couple of months and returned at the end of May in full breeding plumage. References: 1 Birds of North America Online a.

Jordan 180

Jordan North America Breeding Birds 180

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2011

I found these beauties at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, one of the many locations the Black-necked Stilt breeds in the California Central Valley (map courtesy of Terry Sohl at South Dakota Birds ). References: 1 Birds of North America Online a.

South Dakota 219

South Dakota Sacramento Jordan North America 219

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2021

Breeding in Northern Japan and wintering in the Phillippines, some seem to take a migratory rest stop (and slight deviation) at the Shanghai coast. It certainly does not refer to the status of Nanhui. At least, I managed to get a The National reference into the blog eventually. ” Hm. .

LACS 262

LACS Birds France Japan 262

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2013

“Out West” to most Floridians might mean California or Arizona or might even refer to the Gulf Coast of Florida. But to us locals from the El Dub (Lake Worth, FL) it refers to anywhere east of the Everglades and west of Congress Avenue. And this is where magic happens from time to time.

Factory 248

Factory North America Alligators Trafficking 248

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2013

Unlike the more common American Goldfinch, the Lesser Goldfinch’s ( Spinus psaltria ) plumage does not change color during breeding season. The female Lesser Goldfinch can sometimes be confused with the female American Goldfinch in breeding plumage. References: 1 Birds of North America Online.

California 184

California Species Oregon North America 184

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2013

Its genus name refers to supposed similarities between it and the African mousebirds , and its species name refers to waxwings. The Hypocolius (sometimes styled as Grey Hypocolius , Hypocolius ampelinus ) is a fruit-eating, migratory bird of southwest Asia. Spellman et al.

Saudi Arabia 248

Saudi Arabia 2008 Indonesia Colombia 248

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2023

The Latin species name alphonsiana refers to Prof. And its eBird description as a “large and spectacular pheasant”, which – you guessed it – probably refers to the male. But then, would a lady pheasant be pleased to be described as “large”?

Italy 233

Italy China France Eggs 233

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

I have asked some of the long time birders in Shasta County if they know where the Lewis’s Woodpeckers go to breed locally in the summer. The feeling is that they go to higher elevations in the summer to breed. References: 1 Birds of North America Online a.

Woodpeckers 237

Woodpeckers South Dakota Jordan United States 237

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2024

A section in the Appendix, “Rare Shorebird Vagrants,” lists 16 additional species that do not show up annually in North America but who have more than ten records; the list notes where the species breed and where their vagrant paths have taken them within North American borders.

North America 264

North America America 2006 Delaware 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

A study examining this relationship was recently published in the Wildlife Society Bulletin (full reference below). The relationship between duck breeding populations and duck stamp sales changed between 1955–1994 (r 1?4 4 0.81) and 1995–2008 (r 1?4

Ducks 247

Ducks Hunters Hunting Wildlife 247

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2011

All New World Quail are highly gregarious, typically found in coveys or flocks except during breeding season. These could be the beginning of the formation of coveys, post breeding season flocks that form when the chicks become independent at about three months old. References: 1 Baicich, Paul J. and Harrison, Colin J.

California 254

California Gophers Rattlesnake Eggs 254

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2012

And much of that time is spend loafing around the breeding colonies trying to pair off and engaging in silly-looking behaviours referred to as dancing by scientists. The sooty albatrosses ( Phoebetria ) and the mollymawks ( Thalassarche ) tend to breed in tighter colonies and have more restrained courtship behaviour.

Albatross 243

Albatross Raised Breeding Rights 243

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2022

Readers with a pornographic mindset will enjoy the following information about the Dusky Moorhen: “Simultaneously promiscuous, forming breeding groups of 2–7 apparently unrelated birds; individuals sometimes switch groups between seasons. If you are thinking of having kids, let this photo be a warning to you. ” (HBW).

Australia 242

Australia Birds Feral Cats Kangaroos 242

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

Heermann’s Gulls form large breeding colonies on arid islands in the Gulf of California, Mexico, from March through July. The largest colony exists on Isla Raza, where an estimated 90–95% of the total world population breeds 1. This photo by Basar from Wikipedia Commons shows the adult in breeding plumage. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUBX_tlHySc.

San Francisco 161

San Francisco North America Seals Sanctuary 161

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2013

They are one of the few cooperatively breeding passerines in North America and a third of the breeding pairs have 1–3 male helpers, usually progeny or other relatives. References: 1 Birds of North America Online. Click on photos for full sized images. What a nice, close knit family! Birds nuthatches Pygmy Nuthatch West Coast'

North America 167

North America America California Collecting 167

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2012

In one document, I was referred to as a “self-taught ornithologist.” As the company has been introducing me to the rest of the staff and clients, a description of my talents caught my attention. ” I am not an ornithologist. I’ve never claimed to be one. Count me as one of the many who signed up for that.

Arkansas 218

Arkansas Science Farming Research 218

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Yellow-billed Stork portrait (note the pink flush indicating breeding status), Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania by Adam Riley The Yellow-billed Stork has a closely-related sister species in Asia known as Painted Stork. During breeding season, their white plumage turns a delicate pink color, a lovely sight indeed.

Africa 250

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 250

10,000 Birds

MAY 13, 2022

The Asian Koel is a cuckoo species and thus freed from the obligation to raise its own chicks (though the birds like to refer to themselves as brood parasites, which sounds a bit less obviously selfish). Would it worry you to sit next to me on a plane or train and listen to this kind of information for several hours?

Singapore 259

Singapore Birds Zebras Feral 259

10,000 Birds

JULY 30, 2015

Many literary references are based on the Barn Swallow’s migration as a symbol of a change in seasons. Another cool fact was learning that the Barn Swallows has started to breed in South America since the 80s. What is known is that the colony in South America continues to grow as birds hatched there stay and breed there.

South Dakota 178

South Dakota South America North America Wyoming 178

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2012

Mergansers are sometimes referred to sawbills because of their long, serrated bills. While this merganser does maintain a strong presence in China throughout the year, it may breed as far north as Russia and winter as far south as Thailand. This comes from a combination of the Latin words mergus (diver) and anser (goose).

North America 247

North America Thailand Russia Ducks 247

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Groups may also contain up to 10 male and female non-breeding helpers, usually offspring of the group produced in prior years 1. The result of this cooperative breeding strategy is that fledging success increases with group size and survivorship is also significantly higher for all birds living in these larger groups 1.

Woodpeckers 194

Woodpeckers Breeders North America Groups 194

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2011

One obvious reason is that most have plumage variations between their breeding plumage and non-breeding plumage. And, just in case you were curious about the breeding plumage of the Greater Yellowlegs , I have a photo from last April taken at Clover Creek Preserve in Redding, California. References: 1 O’Brien, M.,

San Francisco 165

San Francisco Delaware Jordan New York 165