Dark Eyed Junco

Dark Eyed Junco
[Junco hyemalis hyemalis]

I was so excited this morning to see a little slate-colored Dark Eyed Junco hopping by my fence! A sure sign winter is here, Dark Eyed Juncos are common throughout the Arctic and Canada in the summer, and migrate to much of North America during the winter.
Mark Catesby originally described these birds as snow-birds, and their scientific name "hyemalis" means "of the winter." There is no specific collective noun for them, but because they're snowbirds, let's call them a Flurry of Junco's!
At about 6 inches with a wingspan of 9 inches, these little specimens of the emberizidae are related to buntings and new world sparrows and look and act a lot like them from a distance. As there are many subspecies of Dark Eyed Junco's, with some confusing variation in plumage, you can spot the slate-colored ones by their overall gray coloring, and all Dark Eyed Junco's by their white beaks, white bellies, and white outer tail feathers, unmistakable when in flight.

Video : A Murmuration of Starlings

I want to apologize for having taken so long to post any new entries... I'm going to finish up with local birds & other wildlife soon, and then take a walk down memory lane and revisit all of the interesting and amazing creatures I've seen in Arizona!


For now, I want to share this amazing video of Starlings flocking in their native Ireland.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Virginia Opossum

Virginia Opossum
[Didelphis virginiana]

The Virginia Opossum is not just the only Opossum that is native to North America, it's the only Marsupial that is native to North America! A group of them is called a Posse of 'Possum! I usually see them late at night, as they are nocturnal animals.
Opossum are known for playing dead when being provoked, but with enough threatening, an Opossum can go into an almost coma-like state, with it's mouth open, tongue hanging out and all. This "playing possum" coma can last up to four hours!
Virginia Opossum can be as small as 21 inches or as large as 56 inches from their nose to their fur-less, prehensile tail! They have white faces, hairless ears, long snouts and grayish-brown coats. They have five "toes" on each very hand-like paw. Jacks and Jills (males and females) look alike.

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Eastern Gray Squirrel
[Sciurus carolinensis]


Native to the eastern and midwestern United States, these sturdy and adaptable squirrels have also been introduced to South Africa, Ireland, and England. In England and Ireland, they have overrun and displaced the Red Squirrel, a native species of both islands.
A group of Squirrels is called a Drey, and this is also the name given to the type of nests they build. I see Gray Squirrels at my bird feeders every morning... most likely trying to hoard as much as they can in their secret food caches!
They are about 16 to 22 inches from nose to fluffy tail. They are mostly gray, with some reddish fur, and a white underbelly. There are some variants, black tailed, white-furred, and black-furred (it's own melanistic subgroup, called the Black Squirrel). These variants are more usually seen in urban areas where they have less of a chance of predators spotting them.

Canada Goose

Canada Goose
[Branta canadensis]


Common throughout North America, the Canada Goose has migrated as far as northern Europe across the Atlantic Ocean, and Siberia, China, and Japan across the Pacific! Normally, though, they migrate south to the United States for winter, and spend their summers in Canada.
A group of them is called a Gaggle of Geese, from an Old Norse word for goslings, possibly mimicking the noise that geese make. Usually a Gaggle of Geese is seen flying overhead in standard V-formation, which allows Geese and other migratory birds to fly long distances by lowering wind drag.
The Canada Goose has a black beak, head, and neck, with a white "chinstrap", white chest, and gray to brown plumage over the rest of their bodies. They are 30 to 43 inches long with a 50 to 70 inch wingspan. Males and Females look alike.

Rock Dove

Rock Dove

[Columba livia]

What can I say about Pigeons? The most identifiable and one of the most common birds known to metropolitan and suburban areas, Pigeons are common in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and were introduced to North America in 1606.
Believe it or not, Pigeons descended from Rock Doves are raised as livestock, and have been for hundreds of years. Pigeon meat is called 'squab' and is still a part of the cuisine of many cultures, often it is considered a delicacy.
Rock Doves are about 13 inches long with a wingspan of about 26 inches. They are pale gray, with a dark gray head, green to purple iridescent neck, and two dark bands across their wings. Their feet and eyes are red. Pigeons also come in many colored variants, including white, brown, and pied (black and white dalmatian coloration).

House Sparrow

House Sparrow
[Passer domesticus]


The most widely distributed wild bird, House Sparrows are common throughout Europe and Asia, and, through accidental or intentional introduction, it is also found in Australia, Africa, and the Americas.
Not related to other North American sparrows, it is still one of the most common birds in North America... which is why these guys are sometimes easy to overlook. A group of them is called a Blight of House Sparrows... sadly, because they are so common, they're seen as a pest.
Slightly stocky, with a black mask and "bib" on the throat, white cheeks, reddish-brown necks, gray heads and underbellies, and brown wings with black and white streaks. Females and Juveniles are duller in plumage, and the girls lack the black mask and bib. They are about 6 inches with a wingspan of about 9 inches. 

Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove
[Zenaida macroura]

The Mourning Dove, or the Turtledove, is common throughout North America. A group of them is called a Pitying of Turtledoves. Their call is described as plaintive, and it does sound slightly sad.
Mourning Doves are considered to be the closest related dove to Passenger Pigeons, a bird that as of 1914 is an extinct species.
Mourning Doves are about 13 inches long with a wingspan of about 18 inches. They have the distinct round head and small beak that all doves share, and a long, thin tail. They are gray with a slight purplish-pink hue on the head and breast. They have black spots on their wings, with a tell-tale black mark on their cheek below their eyes. Males and Females look alike.

European Starling

European Starling
[Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris]


The European Starling, or the Common Starling, is a very interesting bird indeed! Common throughout Europe and Asia, seeing these guys at my feeder is an honor, that allegedly never would've been possible if it weren't for William Shakespeare.
In 1877 the American Acclimatization Society introduced several species of native European birds to New York City, with varying degrees of success. It is said that they hoped to introduce all of the birds in Shakespeare's writings to America, including House Sparrows, Pheasants, and Blackbirds. One of their most successful achievements, though, are these very adaptable Starlings.
A group of Starlings is called a murmuration... You can spot a murmuration by it's spots! Speckled all over in white with a dark beak, Starlings are about 7 - 9 inches long with a wingspan of about 14 - 16 inches. Juveniles are browner, but develop their dark glossy feathers quickly.

Common Grackle

Common Grackle
[Quiscalus quiscula]


The Common Grackle is very, well, common. :D They are found throughout North America, congregating in large groups. A group of Grackles is called a Plague, which should give you an idea of what most people think of this slim, dark bird.
At first glance, Grackles look like Ravens or Crows, because they are a sinister-looking, all black bird. Upon closer inspection, you can see the iridescence of a Grackle's feathers, which looks blue or purple in certain lights.
At about 13 inches with a wingspan of about 17 inches, Common Grackles have a dark beak and legs, a long, squared tail, and bright, intelligent yellow eyes. Females are slightly smaller, and black-brown with no purple or blue iridescence. Variants include a more bronze iridescence, single white feathers, or even pied (black and white 'dalmatian'-esque coloring). Can be distinguished from Crows, Ravens, and other Grackles by it's size, and the shape of it's tail.

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal
[Cardinalis cardinalis]


Northern Cardinals are one of my favorite sights to see, and one of the first birds I could identify on my own.  Usually in a pair, I'll spot the males before the females... I like to think the boys make little tours of my yard first to make sure it's safe for their girls! A group of them is called a Conclave, or a Vatican of Cardinals!
Northern Cardinals mate for life, stay by their mate's side year-round, and can be seen singing together before nesting. During courtship, the males will collect seeds to feed to their girls beak-to-beak.. breakfast in bed, anyone?
At about 9 inches with a wingspan of about 12 inches, Northern Cardinals are super easy to spot! The brilliant crimson of their feathers and thick beak is broken only by their black masks, and all Northern Cardinals have a large crest. Females are a dull, brownish-red, but still sport a crest and have a thick red beak.

American Robin

American Robin
[Turdus migratorius]

The American Robin is common throughout North America, but I've seen them in the highest concentration in New Jersey. American Robins in the suburbs tend to be well fed and robustly chubby, like our friend in the photo, but I've seen some leaner, streetwise little Robins, as well. A group is called a Worm of Robins!
Robins are a member of the Thrush family, unlike European Robins which are much smaller and are related to Flycatchers. Their nests are as easy to identify as they are, due to the bright blue eggs they hold, and the fact that Robins are one of the first birds to build nests and lay eggs. Seeing Robins is a sure sign that spring is here!
At about 11 inches long, with a wingspan of about 14, American Robins have a dark head with a white ring around their eyes, a gray body and wings, a small yellow beak, and a ruddy-orange-red chest that is always a dead giveaway.

Blue Jay

Blue Jay
[Cyanocitta cristata]


Another Corvid, Blue Jays are common throughout North America, and, most especially, at my birdfeeder. Although their beaks are made for cracking seeds and acorns, they like the suet feeder as much as the seed feeder... or maybe they just like being bullies to my sparrows and starlings!
Blue Jays are very intelligent, one of the few birds that has been observed using tools to get food and even to try and escape captivity! They are also known for being territorial and aggressive, and are protective of nests and quick to chase other birds, animals, and even humans away.
At 9 - 12 inches, with a wingspan of 13 - 17 inches, Blue Jays are one of the most easily identifiable birds in my backyard. Brilliantly blue, with a black collar that goes up to the crest, a white belly, dark legs and beak, and scaled wings will leave you no doubt that you've seen a Blue Jay.

American Crow

American Crow
[Corvus brachyrhynchos]

Common throughout North America, this very distinguished Corvid begins my foray into my next set of posts: birds and animals I see locally. I usually see these guys on early morning strolls, looking a little bit ominous in the pre-dawn fog. A group of them is called a Murder of Crows, one of the most well-known collective nouns of the animal world.
Corvids are considered the most intelligent of bird families, and, more intelligent than most other animals. They use tools! Many species of Corvid, including the American Crow, have been observed angling twigs into hooks to pull insects out of holes in trees!
At about 16 - 20 inches long, with a wingspan of about 22 - 28 inches, American Crows are an iridescent black, with squared tails and slightly curved beaks. These two features, and their smaller size, will help to differentiate them from Ravens.

White-cheeked Pintail

White-cheeked Pintail
[Anas bahamensis]

Also known as the Bahama Pintail or the Bahama Duck, they're common in South America, the Carribean, and the Galápagos Islands. I spotted this adorable guy preening in the water on St. Thomas! 
White-cheeked Pintails are dabbling ducks, which means they don't dive, but feed at the surface of the water.
They are 13 - 18 inches long, with a wingspan of about 22 - 28 inches (approximation from my own sightings) They are mostly brown speckled with black, with large white cheeks, a gray bill with a red base, and a metallic-green band on their secondaries.

Carribean Hermit Crab

Carribean Hermit Crab
[Coenobita clypeatus]

Native to southern Florida, The Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, The West Indies, Venezuela, and Belize. I even saw these guys a considerable distance inland, I was surprised at how far away from the shore they will venture!
Ranging in size from a quarter of an inch long to about three inches long, (maybe even bigger!) these hermit crabs will live in stolen seashells, usually sea snails, although some hermit crabs will use bivalve shells, or hollow pieces of stone or wood. This is where they got the name "hermit" crab. They can be identified by their one large pincer, usually slightly purplish in color.

Green Iguana

Green Iguana
[Iguana iguana]

Iguana are native to Central and South America, the Carribean Islands, and even in parts of Florida, Texas, and Hawaii. They are kept as domestic pets in many parts of the world, due to their herbivorous diet and calm demeanor. A group of them is called a Lounge of Iguana. :)
I saw wild Iguana all over in my travels off the mainland; in Puerto Rico, Aruba, Curacao, and St. Thomas. Whether begging for lettuce in open eateries, to sunning in trees near the beach, I couldn't tell you how many of these guys I spotted!
Despite their name, Green Iguana come in a variety of other colors, blue, black, orange, lavender, or pink. They can grow up to 6 feet long! Distinguishing features include a row of spines down the back, a large round scale on their cheek called a subtympanic shield which covers their eardrums, and a long tail with thick black stripes.

Vervet

Vervet
[Chlorocebus pygerythrus]


Vervets are a type of African monkey that have been introduced to Barbados and St. Kitts. They are small and very friendly, intelligent and easy to train, which is why when I came out of port on St. Kitts I was entreated by several locals to hold and pet the little guys, charging a nominal fee for a photograph with them.
They have a black face with a white fringe of fur, black hands and feet, and are a brownish-gray all over. They have a long, thin, prehensile tail-- the one I was holding grasped my wrist with his, as he was examining my fingers, most likely to see if I had any sugar cane for him.

Lesser Long-Nosed Bat

Lesser Long-Nosed Bat
[Leptonycteris curasoae]

Also known as the Southern Long-Nosed Bat, these guys were one of my favorite finds in the Carribean. They are found in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Columbia, Venezuela, and in some places in Mexico and Central America. I saw them on Curaçao, in the Hato Caves, and instantly fell in love! They're about 3 inches long, and are one of the few types of bats that can see. Because of this, they don't have sonar, and their eyes are very sensitive to light. The flash of your camera can blind them! They eat fruit and pollen, and huddle together for warmth in groups of ten or fifteen. Their most distinguishing characteristic is a leaf-like flap on their noses, the feature that gives these little guys their name.

Red-Eyed Coqui

Red-Eyed Coqui
[Eleutherodactylus antillensis]


The Red-Eyed Coqui, also known as the Antillian Coqui, or Coqui Churi, is one of the most common Coqui in Puerto Rico. The Coqui are one of the most recognized symbols of Puerto Rico, they adorn everything from towels and bags to brochures and advertisements, smiling green frogs on everything!
The Red-Eyed Coqui is more beige than green, and I saw this tiny guy hopping around my hotel room, probably trying to get away from the heat, or looking for some water. As he's a tree frog, his feet aren't webbed, and he's not cut out for swimming. He was about an inch long -- at a distance, I thought he was a cricket!

Great Egret

Great Egret
[Ardea alba]

Great Egrets are highly widespread and partially migratory, throughout most of the warmer temperate and more tropical regions of six continents. In North America they can be found as far north as some southern parts of Canada.
Great Egrets are 39 inches with a wingspan of about 51 inches. Distinguished by their long necks, yellow bills and dark legs. A group of egrets is called a 'heronry', but don't confuse them for Herons! Great White Herons look very similar: look for the buffy tan or yellowish legs on a Heron to make sure you're not confusing him for a Great Egret. 

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican
[Pelecanus occidentalis]

This approx. 50 inch long member of Pelicaniformes is actually the smallest of all Pelicans. Even so, he is an impressive sight to see! I recognized him instantly when I saw him fly off some rocks and past our ship in port at St. Kitts.
Common along both coasts and down into the Carribean, I'm surprised I hadn't seen this conspicuous fellow before my trip to the West Indies. Brown Pelicans  can be found as far south as the mouth of the Amazon river... looks like I need to plan a trip to South America!
Pelicans are one of the easiest birds to identify. The long bill with pouch below are obvious and unmistakable. They are distinguished from other Pelicans by their brown or silvery-gray body and wings. They have an enormous wingspan of about 80 inches, so you'll be sure not to miss a flock of these guys in their steady, graceful single file flight.

Black-Faced Grassquit

Black-Faced Grassquit
[Tiaris bicolor]

Common throughout the Carribean and along the coasts of Columbia and Venezuela. At first I thought these guys were House Sparrows, that's how common they were. Only when I noticed their finchlike bills and lack of telltale sparrow markings (wingbars and such) did I realize my mistake!
Their mannerisms are similar to Emberizidae, they hop around in low grass just like a House Sparrow, but are actually related to finches, and the family resemblance is certainly there!
They are about 4 inches long with a wingspan of about 6 to 7 inches. A drab olive-gray all over, the males have distinctly olive green backs and wings. They have dark, conical finchlike bills and dark eyes.

Troupial

Troupial
[Icterus icterus]

The Troupial is the national bird of Aruba, and that is where I met my brightly-coloured oriole friend. It is also the national bird of Venezuela -- one day I may have to go visit to meet his Venezuelan counterparts!
Common in northern South America, Troupials can also be found on Aruba, Curaçao, and Isla Margarita. They have also been introduced to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Bonaire. Troupials are nest pirates, chasing other birds away and eating the eggs! They are obligate nest pirates, which means they're one of the only kinds of birds that never make their own nests, much preferring a pre-warmed seat and an omelette.
They are 6-8 inches, with a wingspan of 11-13 inches (approximation from my own sightings) Several things make Troupials easy to identify. They have bright, bright orange bellies, black heads and black wings with a striking white stripe. Conical black beaks, yellow eyes, and, the most unique part of a Troupial: they have a patch of blue skin around the eye that has no feathers.

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird
[Fregata magnificens]


I was in awe when I first saw these giant seabirds circling high above me. Sinister and angular, they looked almost like Pterodactyls!
Common in the Carribean and Florida as well as along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Ecuador. Pictured left is a female, with distinctive white chest. Males are all black, and, during mating season have a bright red throat pouch that inflates. Also known as a Man O'War, Magnificent Frigatebirds are aerial pirates, often chasing down and attacking smaller seabirds in midair to steal their catch of fish!
These guys are enormous, 40 inches long with a 90 inch wingspan! Easily identified by their slow, ominous circling, angular wings, hooked but almost gull-like beak, and split tails.

Bananaquit

Bananaquit
[Coereba flaveola]


This hummingbird-esque passerine is the reason I started this blog, so it's only suitable that my inaugural entry features this adorable little guy.
Common in South America, Mexico, and the Carribean, I spotted my first bananaquit on Aruba. Nicknamed the "sugar bird" for their love of sweets; (in fact, a local guide told me they were called "sugarquits") I saw him at a bar on the beach, stealing sugar granules from a cup at the service station, and poking his little beak into a bottle of Bailey's!
They range in size from 3 to 5 inches depending on subspecies. Wingspan is 5 to 7 inches. Easy to identify due to their bright yellow bellies, curved dark beaks, white eyebrow and bright red or pink gape.