10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2020

But we’re not confined to a wasteland of resident breeders just yet, are we? His Best Bird of the Weekend was an Acadian Flycatcher in Forest Park on Sunday both because it’s a good bird for his home borough and because it was the final of the five Empidonax species that occur in Queens that he saw this year.

2020 158

2020 Breeders Birds Owls 158

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2014

In the mid-1970s, a local breeder was burglarized and a few of his birds escaped, after which the breeder released his remaining stock of about 50 birds 1. The northwestern spread of this non-native species made it to my yard a few years ago. I am always alarmed when I see rapid expansion of a non-native species of any kind.

Breeders 178

Breeders 2002 North America Bahamas 178

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2023

The official Ontario bird checklist, produced by Ontario Field Ornithologists , June 2022 listed 506 bird species**, putting it in the top tier of U.S. Small Species Accounts: Each species is allotted one page (with certain exceptions) offering basics–bird names and size, one or two photographs, and a one-paragraph description.

North America 211

North America Birds Owls Canada 211

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2022

So, the basic idea is to show 15 species of Australian birds in each post and give you the usual trivia about them. This species has also eliminated the need for childcare – the chicks emerge from this pile on their own and never even get to see their parents. Similarly, the Grey Shrikethrush is neither a shrike nor a thrush.

Australia 187

Australia Birds Koalas Parrots 187

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2022

we learn) that are home to coveted boreal species, breeding wood-warblers, and two species of Grouse. There are 461 species on the Maine checklist. This field guide covers 265 species, the ones most likely to be seen–residential and migratory, almost all nesting birds, many wintering birds.

Los Angeles 196

Los Angeles Birds District of Columbia Parrots 196

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2022

Not bad given that the 5 families in the inner circle of the laughingthrush family have a combined number of about 68 species. The Hainan version is sometimes considered a separate species, in which case it is classified as Near Threatened. 36, if my counting is right and there has been no very recent split or lump.

San Diego 206

San Diego Malaysia China Zoos 206

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2013

Although both species are widespread in North America as breeders in shrubby edge habitats, that is not the case in the southern half of the sunshine state (the more northerly race of Prairie Warbler is an uncommon breeder in the panhandle). Everyone, I would like you to meet the ‘Florida’ Prairie Warbler ( S.

Florida 186

Florida Breeders Miami Tampa 186

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2015

Midsummer birding can become boring if you focus solely on species counts. The general lack of longitudinal movement among birds limits most areas to the same restricted pool of resident breeders every year. Keep your eyes to the skies… maybe you’ll get lucky and see wild Scarlet Macaws !

2015 158

2015 Breeders Geese Canada 158

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2020

Just as your conationals up north are rejoicing over the return of hundreds of migratory species, you sadly say goodbye to the same. I have still seen each of these species out in the forest between two days and three weeks after they abandoned my yard. So go ahead and take your summer breeders back. That is a garden first!

Nashville 130

Nashville ALA Louisiana Mexico 130

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

We all have invasive species on our minds this week, which should serve as an inspiration to those of us interested in expanding our personal range. Being a resident in an ecosystem certainly has its advantages, as does being a breeder (sometimes), but, every once in a while, you should visit someplace where you’re considered an exotic!

Colombia 160

Colombia 2014 Breeders Birds 160

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2022

It is not particularly big but has a reported 430 bird species including migrants, though during my short stay it seems I missed most of the key attractions among them. Great White Pelican is not just the name of a non-existent glam-rock band but also of a bird species. Pel’s Fishing Owl, where were you?

South Africa 147

South Africa Africa Birds Research 147

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2012

The least common species of hummingbird I see here is the Calliope Hummingbird ( Stellula calliope ). She is the latest of our local breeders, not nesting usually until mid-May. The female is the earliest breeder of all these species, arriving on breeding grounds shortly after the males in November.

North America 210

North America Breeders America Breeding 210

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2018

During the final stages of the Pan-European bird-atlassing work last year, computer models of Serbian ranges for some 150 bird species were produced for the first time ever. New target species for the next spring field trip. The consequences were amusing.

Serbia 101

Serbia Breeders Breeding Woodpeckers 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2014

Traveling really rejuvenates the passion when local breeders become banal. It is the first record of this invasive species for New York City and it served as a nice contrast to the hordes of pigeons in the neighborhood. Most people don’t expect birding wisdom from Buffet, but he is, after all, the Chief Parrothead! How about you?

New York City 164

New York City 2014 Breeders Virginia 164

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2015

In fact, they are one of the few avian species that can survive on classic American lawns, perhaps explaining why their range is so large. Still, this leaves them more vulnerable to pesticides compared to many other species. Robins are prolific breeders, capable of producing not one, not two, but three broods in one summer season.

Connecticut 167

Connecticut Wisconsin Michigan Hawaii 167

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Westland Petrels are endemic breeders to New Zealand, and an attractive large black seabird. It is one of several species of Procellaria petrels found in New Zealand, and several more that are found in the southern hemisphere. Westland Petrel ( Procellaria westlandica ). Westland Petrel with Cape Petrel behind.

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Breeders Albatross Mammals 157

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2014

Sure, Miami and the Florida Keys do not boast any endemics ( ‘Cape Sable’ Seaside Sparrow is close) at the species level. Many visitors who come through Orlando or Tampa see maybe eight or ten species on a winter trip. However, few realize how unique and how good the birding can be here.

Florida 172

Florida Miami United States Stray 172

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Both the male and female of the species have a bright red crown. Most Acorn Woodpeckers are cooperative breeders and live in family groups of up to a dozen or more individuals. Within a group, 1–7 male co-breeders compete for matings with 1–3 joint-nesting females who lay their eggs in the same nest cavity.

Woodpeckers 184

Woodpeckers Breeders Groups North America 184

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2011

… leaving the remainder of the birds on the Cyprus Species List (over 380 species) are either migrants or accidentals. the first three found only in the Troodos and Paphos forests). That’s quite a lot! As it happens though, Blackcaps may provide a modern example of how this can occur.

Cyprus 157

Cyprus Breeders Protection 2000 157

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2022

Finally in 1799, the first visitors on this volcanic land were a group of French seal hunters who were after the fur seals that can be found hauled out on the beaches for fur and oil, which almost wiped out the local population of the species. Marion has a fascinating history with invasive species.

South Africa 263

South Africa Mice Albatross Africa 263

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2014

The next hour plus netted me a host of other species, including my two other targets, Virginia Rail and Common Gallinule. As always, the woods around the marsh were busy with breeders setting up shop. Who likes a declining species of shorebird that eschews the shore and has as its most impressive vocalization a wolf-whistle?

Breeding 153

Breeding New York Breeders Downers 153

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2011

Western New York might not boast a phenomenal diversity of resident breeders, but we have lots of fun species summering here. Share your plans in the comments below. Corey and I both plan to stay local and low key. I hope to run into some! Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday.

2011 162

2011 Breeders New York Game 162

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2013

It was for many years the last place you’d find Stitchbirds anywhere in the world, and to this day it still has the largest population of this species and arguably the only stable and secure one. Cook’s Petrel ( Pterodroma cookii ) is another range-restricted breeder that nests on Little Barrier Island.

New Zealand 142

New Zealand Rats Cooking 2003 142

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2011

Now how about those birds… Corey has really beaten the summertime birding blues by focusing on the best of what the season of resident breeders has to offer: baby birds!

2011 157

2011 Breeders Suffering Birds 157

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2011

The Buller’s Mollymawk is an endemic breeder to New Zealand, although it ranges widely away from the islands to feed, and regularly goes to South America’s Humboldt Current to feed. As albies go they seem to be doing better than most species, and are only listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. I hope you enjoy the photos.

Albatross 209

Albatross New Zealand South America Breeders 209

10,000 Birds

JUNE 14, 2013

His personal fieldwork, supplemented with research into records dating back to 1794, are melded here to create not merely an exhaustive list of recorded species with notes on their status, dates, and population trends, but a portrait of a patch.

Birds 194

Birds Breeders Wildlife Research 194

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2016

One of my ambitions for this year is to do more birding around New Zealand, and in particular try and knock off a few of the possible species here I haven’t seen yet, perhaps with a mind to breaking 100 species here in a year. Not bad when I’m just standing round with a gin and tonic waiting to go!

New Zealand 100

New Zealand Albatross Cooking Dolphins 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2011

The grasslands have been popping off with breeders for well over a month, but the snow is just now giving way to lush alpine meadows and rocky tundras. This is my time of year to explore thin air and look for unique Colorado breeders. Most REAL montane species like this finch are declining in overall population.

Colorado 169

Colorado Breeders Wyoming Breeding 169

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2014

This is similar to the fact that all birds, even first time breeders within a species build identical nests. In another experiment, other species of Darwin Finches were kept next to Woodpecker Finches that used tools. They only need to master the technique by practicing; they are born knowing what to do. Photo: Peter Wilton.

Fish 163

Fish Woodpeckers Ostriches Eggs 163

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

I am planning to have this post be the first in a (very) small series on Europe’s “large white-headed gulls” It will of course only be a small series since there aren’t that many large white-headed gull species in Europe and particularly because I don’t want to cause too harsh a drop in the blog’s visitor numbers.

Europe 122

Europe Spain Italy Ireland 122

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

Their habitats vary widely in both rural and urban landscapes; open habitats are preferred and the species generally shuns only extensively forested areas and wetlands 1. To show how adaptive this species is, the following photograph was sent to me by one of my readers and I use it with her permission.

Hunters 176

Hunters Hunting North America Game 176

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2013

The male and female of the species look very similar but they are easy to tell apart. Probably one of the most interesting things about these little birds is that they are cooperative breeders. It is camouflaged with local plant material, usually of the tree species the nest is built within.

North America 183

North America Breeders America Breeding 183

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

The species ranges widely across the Pacific, as its scientific name suggests, from the Revillagigedo Islands off Mexico to the Japanese Bonin Islands to New South Wales in Australia. In the air you can see the wedged tail that gives the species its name. I’ll do a post on this special little shearwater later on.

Albatross 170

Albatross Madagascar Breeders Mexico 170

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

I haven’t yet been birding in Europe but whenever I occasionally skim a field guide about the birds on the other side of the Atlantic, I’m always encouraged to find that I’m already familiar with many species found over there, even though most of my birding experience has been limited to eastern North America. I remember the talking (Song?)

2017 117

2017 Portugal Rabbits Europe 117

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2011

You can see the list of the more than 270 bird species observed throughout the year at the marsh, along with their frequency and time of year seen here. Among the several species we did see on the jetty however, is the Black Turnston e ( Arenaria melanocephala ). Click on photos for full sized images.

Sanctuary 200

Sanctuary North America Breeders Alaska 200

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2011

It is even more odd to be birding Central Park in June, when migration has essentially wrapped up and all that is left are breeders and stragglers. But that is what I did yesterday morning because Nate was in town, I had some time available, and we are birders!

Fish 178

Fish New York City North Carolina Breeders 178

10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2016

You might come across species you haven’t seen in years even though they are resident breeders, find seeding bamboo with species that won’t be encountered otherwise, or come across an unexpected antswarm that finally has that sneaky ground-cuckoo. How many species do you hope to see, where do you plan on going?

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica North Carolina Birds Breeders 100