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I and the Bird: What is a Vulture?

10,000 Birds

I’m focusing on Turkey Vultures here because they are undoubtedly the species most birders in North America (the home of 10kB) are most familiar with, but the name vulture applies to birds found around the globe. Old World Vultures are nestled within the family Acciptridae along with the hawks and eagles.

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I and the Bird: What is a Grebe?

10,000 Birds

And now we enter into a family of birds more or less unknown to non-birders. And truth told, over the years they’ve been something of a square peg for ornithologists too, not fitting precisely into any of the known families of birds. Pied-billed Grebe Pair Build a Nest – Larry Jordan, The Birder’s Report.

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I and the Bird: What is a Wren?

10,000 Birds

That family name Troglodytidae has now come to mean a barbarian, but way back when it just meant “cave-dweller” This is another reference to their more or less reclusive nature and tendency for the birds to forage in dark places and crevices. But for those of us in the Americas, the cup runs over with species of Troglodytes.

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Lewis's Woodpecker in New York State

10,000 Birds

The homeowner, Fred Jordan, has been hosting visiting birders who heard of the bird through word-of-mouth since November. Many thanks to Fred Jordan for being a wonderful host with great enthusiasm for his awesome avian visitor. It made it through the rough winter and is still coming around to the feeders.

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