Birds of North America, Western Region

298 Pages·2017·47.72 MB·English

by  Stephen Kress

P O C K E T
BIRDS
O F N O R T H A M E R I C A
W E S T E R N R E G I O N
CONSULTANT EDITORS
STEPHEN KRESS, ELISSA WOLFSON
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Consultant Editors
Stephen Kress, Elissa Wolfson
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Consultant
Jill Hamilton
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Content previously published in Birds of North America in 2016.
This edition published in 2017 in the United States by DK Publishing
345 Hudson Street, New York,
New York 10014
Copyright © 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017 Dorling Kindersley Limited
DK, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC
17 18 19 20 21 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
001—299744—January 2017
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of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited.
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-1-4654-5630-4
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CONTENTS
How this book works 4 Swifts,
Hummingbirds 153
Anatomy 6
Kingfishers,
Identification 8
Woodpeckers 161
Falcons and Caracaras 175
Ducks, Geese,
Flycatchers 180
and Swans 12
Vireos, Jays and Crows 188
Quails, Grouse,
Pheasants, and Turkeys 33 Chickadees and Titmice,
Swallows 197
Loons, Grebes 47
Nuthatches, Wrens 208
Tubenoses 54
Thrushes, Thrashers,
Frigatebirds, Gannets,
Pipits 219
Cormorants, and Anhingas 58
Pelicans, Ibises, Longspurs and
Herons, and Egrets 61 Snow Buntings,
Wood Warblers 234
Vultures, Hawks,
and Eagles 70 American Sparrows,
Cardinals and Relatives 247
Rails, Cranes 80
Blackbirds and Orioles 268
Plovers, Sandpipers,
and Auks 87 Finches, Old World
Sparrows 276
Gulls and Terns 119
Pigeons and Doves,
Cuckoos 134 Index 286
Owls, Nightjars 141 Acknowledgments 295
GREEN HERON KING EIDER ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, is one of the world’s preeminent
scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent
exhibition halls, including the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium,
as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. The Museum’s five active research divisions
and three cross-disciplinary centers support approximately 200 scientists, whose work draws
on a world-class permanent collection of more than 33 million specimens and artifacts, as
well as specialized collections for frozen tissue and genomic and astrophysical data, and one
of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Annual attendance has grown to
approximately 5 million, and the Museum’s exhibitions and Space Shows can be seen in
venues on five continents. The Museum’s website and collection of apps for mobile devices
extend its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to millions more beyond its
walls. Visit amnh.org for more information.
US_002-003_Imprints_Contents_Western.indd 3 26/08/16 4:29 pm
4 introduction
How this book works
This guide covers 428 North American bird species found in the Western
region of the continent. It is organized into chapters of related birds, with
a group introduction preceding the species profiles. Within each chapter,
the birds are arranged broadly by family and genus, so that related species
appear together for ease of comparison. The main index lists the common
and scientific names of each featured bird.
INTRODUCTION COMMON NAME
Each chapter opens with an vultures, hawks, and eagles 73
introductory page, briefly Bald Eagle
describing each family’s S
shared characteristics. SCIENTIFIC NAME Haliaeetus leucocephalus
The Bald Eagle, although an opportunist, prefers to scavenge whehaidte
on carrion and steal prey from other birds, including Ospreys.
Ducks, Geese, and DESCRIPTION The use of DDT causing reproductive failure, as well as
Swans Conveys the main features and bounties, led to it being declared endangered in 1967. Now brown
Gghrieagezhsileny ga s rooenc mi adolr,ry ae nl taednr mdre. soLtsritki aselp stewhcaaiennss ea, irgteeh meesrei gs pwraaatinor rsfo yo,r r fl ldiyfuein.c Tkghs s,oe oyuf ttaherne f oasrles eon espsseecnietsia; lm chaya riancctleurdiset iicnst eorfe tshtien g fersepqeuceianltlyin ogn l aEnadstf ialln sdit Wes,e sitts C nouamstbs.e rs have since rebounded, wtahilite body
toabh onsewt lt Swaoawnnmiand sn,t,t esstrur hea tbierncmeyh leaeeasrsrrseg gei tieenns xf tglltiooar uencllpmkgy s t nel.oale yrhcg gkaerl ,tfa ol cio ternsef ubga-locn hoden ywc kawaesta deittr eg dpre.ol eWaesnseh .ts sUeo na.nt f gteaheiedn ilny g , facts or notable behaviors. yheololokwed bill dbovaroerkwra nll 3
gearot uDppluaecndkt ssb yaarn tehd m eoiotrh rfeee erv deaidrniiegbd lhe ta hmbaiantts t.se wDr aalinbkbse l osenrr sga,ie loesrs b epy,u audnpddel ena rddeui nlcogko sos,ne l y pwuitrhe -ywehlloitwe h eeyaeds
the surface of shallow water. Diving ducks, by contrast, dive dark bill
deep underwater for their food. starting
to turn
GGnonoAri eGwsgyGai nLfrliItoNoecurGk sf se GS edEnduEoiSrnwiEgn Ggg remoeusigenr dfaostr.imon l aanrgde , PIllHustOraTteO thGe bRirAd PinH dSiff erent views, sexes, dbarorkw cnh oovceorlaaltle- 51ST YEAR yaet lbloawse
or plumage variations. Unless otherwise VOICE Surprisingly high-pitched voice,
stated, the bird shown is an adult. 3–4 notes followed by a rapidly descending
series.
NESTING Huge stick nest, usually in tallest
3 tFrEeEeD; 1IN–3G e gCgasr;r i1o nb,r oeospde; cMiaallry– Sfieshp;. birds,
lwoendgg, e- mHAamBImTAaTls ; Fsoteraelsst efids ha rferoams nOesapr rweya.ter while
shaped breeding; along major rivers and coastal
2WSt7ur0nee llsba ltnaeecglkrebcntiar dMs aenda odrioolweslark S white tail yaenldlo fwee ltegs aLWrEeINNaGsG TinSHP wA i2nN8t e –r63. 18⁄2ifnt ((27m1–)96cm)
Aesttnmehtaolenetsetrhtad iGeadloerevornun.ae wgcT iaclyhhltaoa bBteutro hklanle assest, iri eonmrngrave,gpn ae a nackrgnlroeueatd nm p,to hths,fhb pi tytseheibh cr seCrusepyi oeodeW ancufs ri et sbWeerls seyatb etel aefw srV rstfnoetaea mevrliMldnnoe e e tryMtnhiah todteeeeif o af t wtCiowdweipaodtloalhsw ib rfso lkboypaf ir oretrsnkchvdhisieeeare rirui,snlrs acb a. s potsrWoh emswn e whvgbh weei.ierdrnenyeese ltrtfdyeahe rrnwwene ci ti ateGtwhnh pro d etot ha hsutetas s Ptum aloaaralfeil lniy e ts ’ss, Northern Harrier S
dptbbhuriaraetdlnetleed rri nn g ybaeneltdlwo eweye epwtnaa hibtl ciiftlhele a othuetswerhsrion rgts yt3herllooawt CTruhirmec upNs,o Vrc-tyshahenarpneeu Hds awrriniegrs i,s a mndo stti lotifntegn f lsiegehnt fmlyainkeg tlhoiws sinpe sceiaersc eha soifl yfo iodden. Ati fwiahbiltee.
3cbhoNudOnyNkByR EEDING bbsbetylreraoehipcwiknein ds h - lpboiolnlingt ed TTchhhaeen bbnliuredle -ihngar saso yau nmn oadwlse lfs-r laoikrmee sfptarrceieky,i. n wghlyic dhi fcfoenretnaitn frso smtif ft hfeea dtharekr-sb troo hwenlp fe males. bwtiplianscgk
b“ycheVlale”lcos kotw n white ring
MsEpNoeSrceTiIe NcRso aIGmEremSL goEivn-elPny A sae GfeunlEl - swtahiiodlret B3REEDINGyuenldloewrp absartnllttraoosedcnea kfsgkl ass p nooknst ss iadneds burpopwenrp artsaround face 1 dawrhk ibteil lr uwmitph 2bglruayis hh-e ad
pmofa ogargee e ep,n hsteorxyto,, sao nfwtdei tnph l suvhamorwiaegtinieeg.s 1gwVNFHLWinEEr OiAE abtIENphSNBIirDnCiG TotIGoscITEoITNvN ShA daHe PG.TG;Snr A g Med 7N rOrI Dona–ig epw or1rss1e–ame0n 3nAsoci sen –euftg sd 1dgcsr(, 5 g.ea1ogieneism8rnssdac– py sls(2au 3ls.pe6nd 3xclcdia–,num i3nhgbp8) sau,b cybwwemfbieehel)tlilillndl eehgss i.,b,d rwgderheeunidsb itsinlne,g dat;a nanldllo s gtoger rasaas gsdsrseeihcssouc; ple3tpun–erd7ari nsle ;fgg iae g llssd;os bulpupisehr-pgarratys ybelullioswh bsaksine near
VOICE Kek in rapid succession at nest,
becoming more high-pitched in alarm.
OTHER KEY INFORMATION NESTING Platform of sticks on ground in
VOICE: a description of the bird’s calls and songs. open, wet field; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood; Apr–Sep. 2
NESTING: type of nest and its usual location; mFEuEsDkIrNatGs; aRlsood benirdtss ,s ufrcohg sa,s r empitcilee sa;n d wunhditeer parts
number of eggs in a clutch; number of broods in a year; oHcAcBasITioAnTa l lOy plaerng ewr eptrlaeny dssu cwhh iales brarebebditisn.g; wbriothw rne ddish-
breeding season. open habitats such as deserts, coastal sand markings
hFHaEAbEBiDtaIITtNsA iGnT ::N aho ordtwehs, cAwrmihpeetirroeicn,a ao. nf dth we hbairtd t’hse p breirfde rfreeedd s upon. WdLEuINnNeGGsT,S HaPnA d1N 8g r–3a2s 10s⁄2il–na4 n(fd4t s6( 1–in.51 1wmci–nm1te).2r.m) gwurniatdhye ulritgpahpilte fretaatihl ers
LENGTH AND WINGSPAN: length is tip of tail
to tip of bill; measurements are averages or ranges.
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how this book works 5
SPECIES ENTRIES
The typical page describes two STATUS
bird species. Each profile follows The conservation status of the species, based
the same easy-to-access structure loosely on the US Fish and Wildlife Services
and features photographs taken in Endangered Species list. Some species are given
the bird’s natural setting. two statuses, referring to different populations.
S Stable T Threatened
vultures, hawks, and eagles 73
Bald Eagle D Declining E Endangered
S
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
The Bald Eagle, although an opportunist, prefers to scavenge whehaidte
on carrion and steal prey from other birds, including Ospreys. FLIGHT ILLUSTRATION
The use of DDT causing reproductive failure, as well as Shows the bird in flight, from above
bounties, led to it being declared endangered in 1967. Now brown or below—differences of season, age,
frequenting landfill sites, its numbers have since rebounded, white body or sex are not always visible.
especially on East and West Coasts. tail
yheololokwed bill dbovaroerkwra nll 3
pure-white head
with yellow eyes
dark bill
starting
to turn
dbarorkw cnh oovceorlaaltle- yaet lbloawse MAPS
51ST YEAR Each profile includes a map showing the
range of the bird, with colors indicating
V3–O4I CnEo te Ssu fropllroiswinegdl yb yh iag hr-appiitdclhye dde vsociecned, i ng seasonal movements.
series.
NESTING Huge stick nest, usually in tallest
3 tFrEeEeD; 1IN–3G e gCgasr;r i1o nb,r oeospde; cMiaallry– Sfieshp;. birds,
lwoendgg, e- mHAamBImTAaTls ; Fsoteraelsst efids ha rferoams nOesapr rweya.ter while
shaped breeding; along major rivers and coastal
white tail yellow legs areas in winter.
and feet LENGTH 28–38in (71–96cm)
WINGSPAN 6 1⁄2ft (2m)
Northern Harrier S Resident all year
Circus cyaneus Summer distribution
The Northern Harrier is most often seen flying low in search of food. A white
Winter distribution
rump, V-shaped wings, and tilting flight make this species easily identifiable.
TThhee bbliurde -hgaras ya nm oawlels- laikree sftarciek,i nwghlyic dhi fcfoenretnaitn frso smtif ft hfeea dtharekr-sb troo hwenlp fe males. bwtiplianscgk Seen on migration
channel in sounds from prey.
white ring
around face 2
1
white rump bluish-
brown gray head
upperparts
dark bill with
yellow skin near
bluish base
bluish-gray
upperparts
VOICE Kek in rapid succession at nest, SYMBOLS
bNeEcSoTmINinGg m Polaretf ohrimgh o-pf istctihcekds oinn aglraorumn.d in Indicate sex, age, or season. If no symbols are
open, wet field; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood; Apr–Sep. 2 present, it means that the species exhibits no
FEEDING Rodents such as mice and white significant differences in these.
muskrats; also birds, frogs, reptiles; underparts
occasionally larger prey such as rabbits. with reddish-
HABITAT Open wetlands while breeding; brown 1 Female 2 Male
open habitats such as deserts, coastal sand markings
dunes, and grasslands in winter. 3 Adult 4 Immature 5 Juvenile
WLEINNGGTSHPA 1N8 –32 10⁄2i–n4 (f4t 6(1–.511mc–m1).2m) gwurniatdhye ulritgpahpilte fretaatihl ers 9 Spring 8 Summer 6 Fall
7 Winter
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6 introduction
Anatomy
In spite of their external diversity, birds are remarkably similar internally.
For birds to be able to fly, they need light and rigid bones, a lightweight
skull, and hollow wing and leg bones. In addition, pouchlike air sacs are
connected to hollow bones, which reduce a bird’s weight. The breast
muscles, crucial for flight, attach to the keeled sternum (breastbone).
“forearm”
bill neck
vertebrae “hand”
fused
furcula tvaeirl t ebrae
keeled
sternum secondaries
SKELETON
Avian skeletal features
include the furcula
(wishbone), the keeled
sternum (breastbone), and
uppertail
the fused tail vertebrae. coverts rump
tail
feathers
tertials
scapulars
axillaries
UNDERPARTS
Underwing coverts
breast
have a regular pattern bill
of overlapping rows.
Short feathers cover the
head, breast, belly, and primaries
flanks. In most birds,
the toes are unfeathered.
undertail
coverts belly
toes
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anatomy 7
Feathers
Feathers serve two main functions:
primary insulation and flight. Small down
coverts feathers form an insulating underlayer,
and are also the first feathers that
nestlings have after hatching. Contour
feathers cover the head and body. The
rigidity of the flight feathers helps
secondary
coverts create a supporting surface that birds
use to generate thrust and lift.
coverts
neck
nape
crown
FLIGHT CONTOUR DOWN
FEATHER FEATHER FEATHER
Feet and toes
When we talk about a bird’s feet we
chin
really mean its toes. The structure of
the foot can give clues to a bird’s
throat characteristics and habits.
mantle
a(blualsat a rd WALKING CLIMBING
wing) Ground-foraging birds Most climbers have
usually have a long two toes forward
hind claw. and two backward.
UPPERPARTS
The wing feathers from the
“hand” of the bird are the
primaries and those on the
“forearm” are the secondaries.
Each set has its accompanying SWIMMING HUNTING
Water-loving birds Birds of prey have
row of coverts. The tertials are have webbing powerful toes and
adjacent to the secondaries. between their toes. strong, sharp claws.
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8 introduction
Identification
Some species are easy to identify, but in many cases, identification is
tricky. In North America, a notoriously difficult group are the wood
warblers, especially in the fall, when most species have similar
greenish or yellowish plumage.
Geographic range
Each bird species in North America lives in a particular area that is called
its geographic range. Some species have a restricted range; others range
from coast to coast and from northern Canada to Mexico. Species with
a broad range usually breed in a variety of vegetation types, while species
with narrow ranges often have a specialized habitat.
BROAD RANGE RESTRICTED RANGE
Red-tailed Hawks range from coast to coast in Whooping Cranes breed only in Wood
North America and south down to Mexico, and Buffalo National Park in Alberta and the
are found in a wide variety of habitats. Northwest Territories.
Size
The weight and size of North American birds range from hummingbirds, which
weigh a fraction of an ounce and are only 4in (10cm) long, to Tundra Swans, which
average more than 15lb (6.8kg) and are up to 5ft (1.5m) long. Size can be measured
in several ways, including the length of a bird from bill-tip to tail-tip, or its wingspan.
Comparing the sizes of two birds can also be helpful: for example, the less familiar
Hermit Thrush can be compared to the well-known American Robin.
SIZE MATTERS
Smaller shorebirds with short legs and
bills forage in shallow water, and larger
ones with longer legs and bills can feed
in deeper water.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER LONG-BILLED CURLEW
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