10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2014

But they don’t live in North America. I find it astonishing that people argue of whether feral cats are bad for birds in North America. In North America, you’ve got Bears at the large end, Cats in the middle, and at the smaller end, the Mustilids. This means that they eat a lot of rodents and birds.

Feral Cats 256

Feral Cats North America Feral Cats 256

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2024

Few areas in North America support such dense concentrations of waterfowl; more than half the mallards in the Pacific Flyway overwinter at some time in this portion of the Columbia River Basin. The refuge has more than 10,000 eBird checklists and 286 species have been observed by approximately 1,100 eBirders.

Washington 228

Washington Oregon Birds Wildlife 228

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2017

The point is, the field guide I grabbed without hesitation was the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 7th Edition by Jon L. No other field guide to North American birds does rarities so comprehensively and so well. (To The answer takes one click (after you read this review).

North America 187

North America America 2017 Birds 187

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. Stephens, Philip, et al.

North America 122

North America Europe America United States 122

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2023

What a bountiful year it’s been for birding books! For more on best bird books of 2023, the ABA Podcast will have its annual discussion, including our own Donna Schulman, available for listening in early December. There are plenty more book reviews, as well, on the 10000 Birds blogsite.) Howell and Dale Dyer.

North America 257

North America Birds Europe America 257

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2023

It is home to four diverse forest ecosystems (deciduous, mixed, boreal, and lowlands), experiences seasonal weather systems ranging from cold dry Arctic winters to humid, thunder-storm filled summers, and, according to the latest official checklist, hosts four professional sports teams with bird names.* state and Canadian provinces.

North America 224

North America Birds Owls America 224

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 157

North America Sparrows America United States 157

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 29, 2018

Maybe it’s because the American Coot ( Fulica americana ) is the most abundant and widely distributed species of rail in North America that it gets no respect? But I think the adult Coot is a cool bird in its own right. Just look at that cool red iris… and the very cool lobed green feet!

North America 113

North America America Ducks Industry 113

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.* The price of $29.95

North America 240

North America America United States Eagles 240

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2016

I started out my birding life sitting on Benches 2 and 7 at the Jamaica Bay NWR West Pond, my Peterson’s in my lap, studying Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, and the occasional Pintail. The publicity material says 84 species, but I counted and recounted, and I only see 83. (The Plate 37, Eurasian, Green-winged, and Baikal Teal.

North America 161

North America Asia Europe America 161

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2014

The second edition of the National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 2nd Edition has one of the longest book names in bird bookdom: National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 2nd Edition: Now Covering More Than 1,000 Species With the Most-Detailed Information Found in a Single Volume.

North America 178

North America America Birds Family 178

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2024

So Eduardo set aside the afternoon to show me some of the city, and take me birding in two city parks. Being a westerner — raised in California, and now living in western Mexico — I was perhaps most excited about the migratory birds that breed in eastern North America. Then, around 4:00 p.m.,

Mexico 210

Mexico Birds Raccoons Baltimore 210

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2018

To celebrate spring migration, I usually review an exciting new bird book. 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. Moths are more than bird food.

North America 100

North America America Oklahoma Missouri 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2017

The Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Eastern North America by Nathan Pieplow is innovative, fascinating, and challenging. The guide covers 520 species of birds regularly found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, including, interestingly, a number of exotic species.

North America 178

North America America Birds New York 178

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2020

I was soooo excited about getting to know the Middle East, as well as some of its exotic species. The Streak-backed Oriole shown at the head of this post is far from an uncommon species in Paso Ancho. This female Rose-throated Becard also gave me my best photo so far of its species. All in all, it was a very satisfying day.

Species 164

Species Mexico Jordan Turkey 164

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

The more data about bird migration we gather from professional and citizen science efforts, the more each one of us can learn about the comings and goings of our favorite species. Obviously, when Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology collaborate on a Bird Migration Forecast tool, the result is going to be pretty spectacular.

North America 167

North America America Science Birds 167

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. Talk about cute! www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWDXIhy9oJA

North America 225

North America America Barn Owls Falcons 225

10,000 Birds

MAY 23, 2023

I recently asked ChatGPT some questions about the best birding locations in the United States and the results were decidedly mixed. Here are the queries and the ChatGPT responses are below: What is birding? What is a “nemesis bird” in birding? What is a “big year” in birding?

United States 147

United States North America Birds America 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2024

Maybe the latter is because the bird is so plump, or maybe it is because (at least to me) the head looks like it has been created by a somewhat amateurish wood carver. The species is listed as Vulnerable – the estimated number of individuals is 4600-5100 (HBW), of which about 2000 winter on Hokkaido. Back to the eagle.

Eagles 131

Eagles Sea Lions Bears Russia 131

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 233

North America Owls America Dominican Republic 233

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

Birds of Belize by Steve N. Howell and Dale Dyer and Birds of Costa Rica by Dale Dyer and Steve N. An associated issue is that the Belize and Costa Rica guides share many of the same descriptions of species, written by Howell. Two books, two authors, two countries bursting with neotropical avian diversity. © 2023 by Steve N.

Costa Rica 227

Costa Rica Belize El Salvador Birds 227

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2016

As the subtitle implies, this appreciation drives the bulk of A Chorus of Cranes: The Cranes of North America and the World. Johnsgard blends a scientific and a poetic regard for these birds and the habitats they depend on in a way that’s reminiscent of Aldo Leopold — a higher compliment than which I cannot think to bestow.

North America 132

North America America Nebraska Neglecting 132

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2024

The next volume in this three-book series is now out: Field Guide to North American Flycatchers: Kingbirds and Myiarchus by Cin-Ty Lee, illustrated by Andrew Birch, and it is as informative and well-organized and lovely to look at as the Empid/Pewee volume. Introductory Material Sixteen species, 190 pages.

Los Angeles 190

Los Angeles North America Species America 190

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2021

Louisiana is a magical place to bird. At the same time I was ogling Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Upland Sandpipers, Marybeth Lima was also birding Louisiana. Chapter Two is a potpourri of stories about nemesis birds, birding by ear, birding for science, under the rubric of birding ‘for the love of it.’

Louisiana 264

Louisiana Species Mississippi Alabama 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2017

As far back as the late ’70s he’s been entertaining and enlightening birders with his essays and books on the hows and why of birding. The latest from his pen is Birds of Prey , a hybrid between an identification guide and an essay collection, a book of lore that provides a comprehensive overview of the raptors of North America.

North America 103

North America Falcons America Eagles 103

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2021

I am a fan of all birding but I particularly like urban birding. Urban areas offer the bird watcher those species that have survived and thrived in artificial environments; often when they had no real right to. Urban birds are therefore bold, adaptable generalists. Pied Butcherbird – a common urban species.

Parrots 264

Parrots Birds Ducks Australia 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2012

I’ve sea-watched with some very experienced birders whose ability to identify species almost at the edge of visibility has left me questioning my optics, my eyesight, my ability and quite often my sanity. The quality of images used in the species accounts is generally very good.

North America 163

North America Albatross America Species 163

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2021

There was a time when I thought each bird species had its own individual song. Then I found out that there was this vocalization called a ‘call,’ so I thought each bird species had its own individual song (but just the males) and individual call. Bird communication is a complex and evolving science.

North America 279

North America Research Birds Groups 279

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2015

Here are birds that peck at wood. When it comes to individual North American species, the old reliable trick of naming them after physical traits is in full effect. As a woodpecker, he was associated in Italian myth with the god Mars, with agricultural fertility, and with bird-related divination. Black-backed.

North America 156

North America Woodpeckers America Family 156

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2023

Everyone loves baby birds; 10,000 Birds even had a Baby Bird Week once upon a time! Baby birds are cuteness personified, possibly even more so than other baby animals, including human babies, and pose interesting questions of survival and development. Aren’t they usually in their nest with their parents?”

Wildlife Rehabilitation 270

Wildlife Rehabilitation Birds Family Collecting 270

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2012

So, you will be reading two reviews of this book in 10,000 Birds. To be fair, Howell has also written about hummingbirds and finding birds in Mexico, which to my mind are a little easier to comprehend. This is the first field identification guide on tubenoses in North America. Here’s Alan’s review. )

North America 159

North America Albatross America Species 159

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2021

10,000 Birds is running a series of articles by and about tour guides, tour companies, eco-lodges, and other birding travel organizations. We want to help the birding tourism industry come back strong from the COVID pandemic. On a typical day we bird from grasslands to the canyons, a second day we go up to the pine forests.

Arizona 207

Arizona Birds Owls North America 207

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2020

North America is home to many amazing bird species, including several which require a special effort to see and appreciate. In the summer, they are the highest altitude breeding songbird in North America. South Texas Birding & Nature. So let’s look at this sampler, shall we?

America 264

America Arizona North America United States 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2011

My birding adventures this week, while Western, were far from Interior (three words for you: Black-bellied Whistling Duck ). As the title implies, it is the casual to very casual birder, and by extension the gardener, walker-in-parks, or general noticer-of-things who is curious about the birds s/he encounters in everyday life.

North America 160

North America America Dissection Birds 160

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2013

Their taxonomic status long has been unclear due to their overall similarity and the fact that in eastern North America and Cuba, they hybridize. But some recent work by James Maley and others is shedding more light on these secretive and fascinating birds. The photo above, one of mine, shows a Clapper Rail in Louisiana.

Species 230

Species North America Cuba Louisiana 230

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2014

Here at 10,000 Birds we are going to dedicate the coming week, from today until Saturday, to invasive species. Of course, most of the species we will cover will fit the more traditional definition of invasive species, which usually only covers introduced species that are doing harm to species in the areas to which they are introduced.

Species 191

Species New Zealand North America Mammals 191

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

Of course, it is hard to justify such an obsession in a blog post ostensibly all about birds. But now I do, courtesy of Phoebe Bridgers: “ Nothing else matters “ I have not figured out a link to birding yet). Fortunately, the lack of eBird lists does not mean there is a lack of birds. Neither had the wife.

China 242

China Birds Nevada North America 242