10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2022

” Funny how the difficulty of breeding a species can be illustrated in simple monetary terms. But that may have helped me to see them – the species is quite nomadic and settles wherever there is rain. Ok, back to the (presumably non-sacred, certainly non-mummified) Australian species. In a paper published in 1938 (!),

Australia 147

Australia Birds Sheep Zebras 147

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2020

The book is divided into three parts: “Introduction,” “Avifaunal Overview,” and “Species Accounts.” The authors’ detailed delineation of problems with the accuracy of NYC breeding bird surveys or with the limits of historical writings may test a reader’s patience. Most birders will go straight to the “Species Accounts.”

New York City 153

New York City New York Birds Breeding 153

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2015

The feature distinguishes birds from other species; All birds have them, no other species do. Beaks vary across different kinds of birds, and this great diversity in beaks is part of the great diversity of the 10,000+ species of birds that exist today; Beaks thus facilitated the diversification of birds. So how did beaks evolve?

Alligators 219

Alligators Chickens Research Reptiles 219

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

Described in the “Territoriality and aggression” chapter, this is a sublime example of behaviour from the “Understanding Animal Behaviour” by Rory Putman, an Emeritus Chair in Behavioural and Environmental Biology at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Cactus finch, Geospiza species. Galapagos cactus finch, Geospiza species.

Animal 115

Animal Bears Stray Dog Blackbirds 115

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2014

We can, of course, count wild, native, species. We can count vagrant species that made it to the area we are in under their own power. We can count introduced species that have met the criteria of the “Bird Police” for the area to which they are introduced. There are lots of birds we can’t count.

Chickens 204

Chickens Florida Feral Eating Eggs 204

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2015

Where predators are rare, turning more attention to feeding might produce a Darwinian benefit, for example. Most likely, all individuals of a given species have very similar genes guiding very similar developmental processes, but produce different results because the plasticity itself is selected for. Invasion of the birdie snatchers.

Birds 124

Birds Research Pets Hunters 124

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2012

But how birds use these different senses, like the diversity in bill size and shape, varies almost as much from species to species. Chickens come in at around 24, pigeons have around 40-50 and some duck species may have a whopping 400. Honeyguides, for example, are strongly attracted to the smell of wax.

Mammals 221

Mammals Mozambique Birds Colombia 221

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2011

Founded by Roberto Chavarro and his family in the early eighties, this little reserve has been dropped slap-bang into the birding spotlight by the recent claims of the rediscovery of the Bogota Sunangel Heliangelus zusii , a species that is known from one record – a skin from 1909! How much variation was there in this species?

Colombia 241

Colombia Family 2011 Species 241

10,000 Birds

JULY 26, 2015

I was still telling the truth when I mentioned the four subspecies, species, taxa, forms, you name it, of the Great Egret: modesta (Asia), alba (Europe, Asia), egretta (Americas) and melanorhynchos (Africa). Absolute field marks between two similar species describe a difference that can be judged definitely by looking at a single bird.

North America 172

North America Europe America Asia 172

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2018

Even more than warbler, shorebird, and sparrow identification, this is a field that tests our endurance (gull watching is too often done in bitter cold, windy conditions), patience (even getting one good photo can take hours as you try to separate the ‘interesting gull’ from the flock), observational skills (so many plumages!)

North America 205

North America El Salvador America Nicaragua 205

Animal Ethics

MARCH 11, 2008

Here is an AP story highlighting the impact these pharmaceutical substances are having on aquatic and avian species. For example, exposure to these substances is negatively impacting the reproductive abilities of some fish species, threatening their extinction. It's a problem for animals, particularly aquatic animals, as well.

Species 40

Species Dallas Phoenix Unwanted 40

10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2011

One big example of change this week was that as I was brushing my teeth at 4:35 am and it was the first time that a robin was not singing on territory outside my bathroom window, summer is on the downswing already. Each week a new species tried to test the patch for nesting territory. The first week it was a Sedge Wren.

Birds 162

Birds Cattle Blackbirds North America 162

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

The smellier the better, particularly as, unusually for birds, many species can boast a robust sense of smell. In any case, our hang-ups with vultures clearly stem from our own issues rather than any inherently bizarre trait of the species themselves. Vultures famously feed on carrion. Dead things. New World Vultures.

California Condor 186

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 186

4 The Love Of Animals

NOVEMBER 24, 2009

Understanding a pointed finger may seem easy, but consider this: while humans and canines can do it naturally, no other known species in the animal kingdom can. It’s no coincidence that the two species that pass Hare’s pointing test also share a profound cross-species bond.

Wolves 100

Wolves Fox Dogs Apes 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2018

For example, we might just enjoy the calls and antics of those White-throated Sparrows while searching for a Harris’s. Most of all, I love showing people birds, species both common and mysteriously evasive. Whether a birder is eager for eyefulls of common species or needs to test the birding Zen and.

Costa Rica 190

Costa Rica Species San Jose Birds 190

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2011

Even if you don’t live in the summer range of a particular species, you may have opportunities to observe it while it passes through, especailly if you live in an active flyway, like I happen to. Because the ancestor of this species of bird migrated, and the migratory adaptation and all that entails were passed on.

Compassion 197

Compassion Humane Research Egypt 197

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

The field site I am assigned to is located in one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and home to a particularly rich avifauna that numbers well over 500 species. Hundreds of riotously colored birds representing 14 species of macaws and parrots flock and frolic together in less than fifty meters of forest canopy.

Peru 255

Peru Parrots 2011 Deer 255

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2024

Phoebe Snetsinger was an American birder who first passed the 8,000 species mark. Before leaving the safety of the car I heeded the park’s advice and checked for animal tracks belonging to any biting, gnawing, mauling, trampling, stabbing or disembowelling species. She died in a car accident during a birding trip.

Mozambique 226

Mozambique Ghana Namibia Birds 226

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2023

The best female strategy seems to be to mate with as many of the males as possible, as this means more help in feeding the chicks by all the potential fathers (I guess the fathers do not have easy access to paternity tests). They found that the species is diurnal (well, using cameras, would they even have seen nightly activities?),

China 130

China Science Birds Mongolia 130

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 24, 2017

One of the nestlings decided to test its flight feathers during the photo shoot, to the dismay of its sibling. There are several species of birds whose eye color changes from birth to adulthood. One species, in which you may be familiar with this phenomenon, is the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

Bald Eagle 100

Bald Eagle Woodpeckers Eagles Species 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

It’s easy for West Coast birders to covet the variety of wood-warblers back east, while eastern birders may lament the dearth of hummingbird species on their side of the continent. There was also a certain appeal to bravado in testing one’s mettle by downing the latest “hop bomb”. Of course, reading field guides breeds jealousy.

Pelicans 113

Pelicans India Vermont San Diego 113

10,000 Birds

MAY 14, 2016

When we scuff our knees and test the resiliency of our joints to peer into a bush at a Swainson’s Warbler in an urban park? Ok, that last example might be more indicative of obsession than something from the world of Doug Henning but I bet you get the point. I hope I see a White-bellied Mountain-gem.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica 2001 2016 Battery 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2012

Bill Schmoker , Nikon Birding ProStaff member, and I spent a day in the field testing the new Nikon EDG VR Fieldscope. Ultimately, this species can look drastically different in their molting phases, but this bird should prove to be a male. So, how about this adult female Common Goldeneye for example.

Denver 166

Denver Ducks New Jersey United States 166

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2012

You’re a mammal, so you might be tempted to use yourself as an example mammal, but humans are actually kind of bad examples of mammals, so perhaps we’ll use a well studied hoofed animal instead. Think about the difference between birds and mammals. Prior to insemination, things are different as well.

Mammals 166

Mammals Eggs Abandon Abandoning 166

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

There is much to enjoy and appreciate here and I only wish I could have tested out some of these species accounts in pelagic waters before writing about them (sadly, the 10,000 Birds pelagic to Antarctica was canceled this year). SCOPE & SPECIES ORGANIZATION. It covers 434 species across 9 orders and 18 families of birds.

Albatross 279

Albatross Penguins Family Groups 279

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

Hunting sandhill cranes in Kentucky is a bad idea from a public relations standpoint, considering the growing cadre of birders and nature enthusiasts for whom cranes are a touchstone species. Initiating a hunting season on a large, charismatic species like a crane is no way to resuscitate hunting.

2011 251

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 251

10,000 Birds

APRIL 24, 2012

When it comes to breeding, Yellow-rumped Warblers are a good example of what many people regard as a “regular” bird. Greater White-fronted Geese are one of many species that mate for life. This is just a small slice of how birds get it done. Other infamous brood parasites include cowbirds and Old World cuckoos.

Albatross 198

Albatross Lifestyle Birds Raised 198

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2011

One of the most spectacular examples of communication among birds that is all about mating but involves no song is the bower and gifts assembled by the male bower bird, where just like in humans, a nice place to hang out, a pile of cool but useless presents, and excellent dancing often leads to a second date.

Zebras 259

Zebras Humane Birds Raised 259

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2023

The species name is cyanouroptera , meaning dark blue tailed and -winged. Of course, me writing about the meaning of “gorgeted” rather than providing bird-specific information indicates a lack of papers on the species. In fact, Spectacled Barwings wearing contact lenses are easily mistaken for this other species.

China 212

China Burma Afghanistan Taiwan 212

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2023

1 spot Sprintally: Not included in the top 10 (despite some rather broad “bird species” making into the list, e.g. “kingfisher”) Chipper Birds : This is a list of the top 30 but the Golden Pheasant is listed as No. ” Owlcation: Included at number 7 but species may not be listed in any particular order.

Pandas 130

Pandas Phoenix Research Science 130

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2011

But off the top of my head, I cannot think of any examples of non-exploratory people who are open to the unexpected at home. Researchers comparing these traits across groups of closely related species – parrots, tits, sparrows, darwins finches etc – find no general correlation between neophobia and exploration.

Cats 149

Cats Costa Rica 2011 Deer 149

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2022

For example, without this blog, would you know that the Barn Swallows of Nanhui are now having their own housing boom, ignorant of the overinvestment that has characterized China’s construction industry? Chestnut-winged Cuckoo: This could be your host species! Yes, you do, trust me. Arguments in favor: 1. It looks nice 2.

Birds 192

Birds Sparrows Mountain Goats Protection 192