10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

Do you know your raptors but wish that you had an easy reference for all the raptors of North America? Never fear, David Allen Sibley has done it again with the release by Scott & Nix of Sibley’s Raptors of North America poster.* But don’t take my word for it – check it out yourself! The price of $29.95

North America 231

North America America United States Eagles 231

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

I like observing them, reading about them, grappling with species and subspecies identification, and even—on a good day—talking about sparrow taxonomy. Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America covers 61 species of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae that breed in Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.

North America 148

North America Sparrows America United States 148

10,000 Birds

JULY 1, 2020

One of the reasons Mexico is such a great birding area is that, while it shares all sorts of bird groups with the United States and Canada, it also is home to some of the northernmost representatives of neotropical and genera that do not (or just barely) reach that far north, such as Woodcreepers, Tityras, and Trogons. Species seen?

South America 264

South America Mexico America United States 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2016

I want to alert you to a recent study (from April) that looks at the plight of bird populations under conditions of climate change in Europe and North America. The study looked at common birds, and used data divided by either state (in the US) or country (in Europe). Stephens et al. Let’s look at that first.

North America 116

North America Europe America United States 116

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2021

With two of North America’s major flyways, Mississippi and Central, overhead, and with almost 400 miles of coastline Louisiana is one of those states where you can see Eastern and Western birds and a hell of a lot of shorebirds and waterfowl. (The Adventures of a Louisiana Birder: One Year, Two Wings, Three Hundred Species.

Louisiana 264

Louisiana Species Mississippi Alabama 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2017

Raptors of Mexico and Central America by William S. This is the first identification guide that I know of that covers Mexico (technically North America but rarely included in North American raptor guides) and Central America. Clark and N. That’s a lot of visual information!

Mexico 164

Mexico America North America Falcons 164

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2014

Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the “Rufa” population of Red Knot ( Calidris canutus rufa ) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The other sub-species, Calidris canutus roselaari , migrates along the Pacific Coast and breeds in Alaska and the Wrangel Island in Russia.

Endangered Species 160

Endangered Species Protection Delaware Species 160

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2018

You can blame the nice people at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, who took it upon themselves to send me a review copy of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Southeastern North America by Seabrooke Leckie and David Beadle. Moth plates from Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Southeastern North America. Let that sink in.

North America 100

North America America Oklahoma Missouri 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Few places boast so many different bird species in such a small area — over 900 species (more than Europe, or all of the United States and Canada combined), including 75 different families, like 51 species of hummingbirds, 48 warblers, and 45 tanagers. It was close to 5 a.m., I was literally awake at 3 a.m.,

Costa Rica 244

Costa Rica San Jose Nepal Europe 244

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2023

It borders the Hudson Bay to the north and four Great Lakes to the south, accessible by car and sometimes feet from the United States over bridges with names like Rainbow, Ambassador, and Seaway Skyway. state and Canadian provinces. state and Canadian provinces. 2012), and (4) Waterfowl of Eastern North America, 2nd ed.

North America 212

North America Birds Owls Canada 212

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2022

American White Pelicans spend their winter months along the Gulf states, California, parts of Arizona, and Mexico down into Central America. They migrate north through the Western United States, breeding in pockets all the way up through Canada. Did I mention they’re huge?

Pelicans 229

Pelicans United States Canada Arizona 229

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2023

Had it not been for the Wild Turkey, for instance, the first Pilgrims to America, the English ones, would not, possibly, have survived, he says. They were barely mentioned in The Voyage of the Beagle and not at all in On the Origin of Species. Maybe Moss is right, and birds have changed history.

Bald Eagle 156

Bald Eagle Montenegro Campaign Turkey 156

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2015

Here are some things I’ve learned from the Peterson Reference Guide to Owls of North America and the Caribbean by Scott Weidensaul: The Burrowing Owl is the only North American owl species where the male is larger than the female, albeit, only slightly larger. The 39 owls include five endemic Caribbean species.

North America 222

North America Owls America Dominican Republic 222

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

Bufflehead ( Bucephala albeola ) Female at Cavity Entrance photos by Larry Jordan “Some 85 species of North American birds excavate nesting holes, use cavities resulting from decay (natural cavities), or use holes created by other species in dead or deteriorating trees. Notice the chick in the upper left corner.

North America 215

North America America Barn Owls Falcons 215

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

This added layer elevates Birding Under the Influence: Cycling Across America in Search of Birds and Recovery from a book of fun birding and travel adventures to a more complex memoir about the ways in which birding spurs self-reflection, motivates life change, feeds a need for wonder, and creates community.

Birds 215

Birds Los Angeles Massachusetts New York City 215

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2021

Simply put, wilderness areas are the most protected public lands in America. Of course, as places that are largely “untrammeled by man,” wilderness areas also have birds ( 591 species according to one study ) for birders willing to leave roads and infrastructure behind. The longer answer is below. The Wilderness Act ( 16 U.S.C.

Puerto Rico 254

Puerto Rico Alaska Protection Research 254

10,000 Birds

JULY 8, 2020

One of the ways I could describe the unique mix of birds I can see here in southwestern Mexico, would be to divide our species into five categories. The invasive species are few, but, unfortunately, very numerous. But there is a final group of species here, about which I have not written very much.

Mexico 194

Mexico Birds Honduras United States 194

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2023

Terns are too often considered the baby brothers and sisters of gulls, and if you don’t agree, take a look at the number of books written about gulls (at least four in recent years) and then try to remember the last book you read about terns of North America. Note that these are not all species accounts!

North America 204

North America America Species Groups 204

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2016

Baltimore Orioles spend their winters in Florida, Central, and South America, and migrate north to breed in much of the Eastern United States. It’s true that many know the bird because of Baltimore’s baseball team, but the species’ history with Maryland goes back much further.

Maryland 103

Maryland Baltimore United States South America 103

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2022

Or would be, had I encountered more of them – so far, I have seen only a very small share of the approximately 233 woodpecker species, and got decent photos of an even smaller number – not much more than 10% of all of them. So, writing a post about them is easy.

Woodpeckers 232

Woodpeckers South Africa China Singapore 232

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Birding in Mexico is not like birding in the United States… especially when it comes to interpreting unusual sightings. So if you are a retired birder, why drive your motor home only as far as McAllen or Yuma, when you could come spend the winter with Mexico’s wonderful endemics and migratory species?

Mexico 298

Mexico Science Breeders United States 298

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2022

But it wasn’t the day’s first FOY species. As it turned out, these were not the only bad photos to help me flesh out my 2022 year list that day (species 201-211, on February 12th). But previous experience with Ejido Triquillo taught me that another species might turn up during the spring.

Mexico 182

Mexico Guatemala South America United States 182

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

A hyphen in a bird’s “first” name can occur pretty much anywhere, which is why the United States has a good supply of birds like White-crowned Sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Among our bird groups with many such species are the Wood-Partridges, Quail-Doves, Ant-Tanagers, Forest-Falcons, and Tody-Flycatchers.

Sparrows 135

Sparrows Mexico United States Groups 135

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2019

Between our many residents and migratory species, birding in central Mexico is a joy. For example, Bluebird ID in the United States and Canada is a simple proposition: if you are in the West, they are Western, while in the East, they are Eastern. But in the winter, both species head for Mexico. Is there no justice?

Mexico 139

Mexico United States North America Ethics 139

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2012

Everyone probably knows the story of how the European Starling ( Sturnus vulgaris ) came to the shores of America during the 19th century, but for those who don’t, this is how it goes. He allegedly proposed to introduce every species of bird mentioned in the plays of William Shakespeare to the United States.

North America 192

North America United States New York City New York 192

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2020

(I think I do a pretty good imitation of several other species, but, unlike the Trogons, they never seem to think the same.). The family can be found from Mexico to South America, but even this species, while the northernmost of all, does not make it to the United States. Still, I can’t complain.

Mexico 171

Mexico South America United States Mammals 171

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2019

I like seeing as many species as possible on my life list, year list, state list, patch list, any kind of list. For my state of Michoacán in central Mexico, Lago de Cuitzeo is an unusually poor site for our specialty, which is west-Mexico-only endemics. I confess: I am a lister. The post Who cares for your ducks in the winter?

Ducks 115

Ducks Blackbirds United States Pelicans 115

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2024

The scope is worldwide; of the 24 birds depicted, five are from the Americas; five from Eurasia; three from New Zealand; two from Australasia; three from Africa; one from Africa and Asia; one from Antarctica; two worldwide, and two from Asia, introduced worldwide. Mark Hauber is currently (just appointed!) of Chicago Press, 2014).

Chicago 180

Chicago Barn Owls Penguins New Zealand 180

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

The recent hubbub in the northeastern United States in terms of rare birds has been all about the Whiskered Tern at Cape May, the third record of this species for North America. All three of those records are from Cape May. You can read more about this awesome bird here.

New Jersey 203

New Jersey United States North America America 203

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 26, 2012

White-winged Doves , usually denizens of the southwestern United States. Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, are rare but relatively regular visitors to the northeastern United States, though this is the first that I have connected with outside of their normal range. … a.

New York 168

New York New York City United States Mexico 168

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2018

A couple of the biggest of bird families are restricted to the Americas. Just about anywhere a birder ventures, the miniscule members of the latter family can be seen, and in most tropical locales, it’s not just one species. Costa Rica is no exception. The high mountains in southern Costa Rica are the realm of this sprite.

Costa Rica 216

Costa Rica Nicaragua Panama Honduras 216

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2021

The survey was commissioned by National Flyway Council (NFC), which implements the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), which, in turn, aims to maintain abundant waterfowl populations in North America. Thus, birders like natural areas close to home with rare species, and perhaps some ducks. This is not a surprising result.

Minnesota 264

Minnesota Research Pennsylvania Ohio 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2013

Ten species of these iridescent ebon irritants, most in the genus Quiscalus , are distributed throughout the New World. The banner blackbird of most of Mesoamerica as well as much of the southwestern United States is the Great-tailed Grackle. The grackle is the ultimate American bird, adaptable, intrepid, and obstreperous.

Coyotes 219

Coyotes United States Blackbirds 2009 219

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2020

Plus a few truly difficult species. Sure, it is an introduced species in Germany. So seeing this beautiful (though common) European species was a special treat. But the Great Swallow-tailed Swift is one of the largest Swifts in North America. Mandarin Ducks, Munich, Germany. But they were still Mandarin Ducks!

Austria 147

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 147

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 21, 2012

” The Cinnamon Teal ( Anas cyanoptera ) is one of the least abundant dabbling ducks in North America. These wildlife refuges are literally essential for the survival of many migratory species of the Pacific Flyway. It was established in 1986 by Canada and the United States, and expanded to include Mexico in 1994.

Sacramento 170

Sacramento Wildlife United States North America 170

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2015

Though it took you until 1970 to designate your state bird – the last in the United States to do so – the Eastern Bluebird is beautiful, has a distinctive song, and is a great example of an environmental success story. It’s true, there was some push-back when naming the bluebird.

New York 160

New York New York City United States Birds 160

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

And with it the existence of the northernmost species of parrot in the world, the only native parrot in the United States whose provenance is not questioned, and a piece of American natural history that is so bizarre that its existence seems impossible to people living today. It was called Incas.

Parrots 226

Parrots Hunters United States North America 226