------"'. -~
YELLOW WARBLER GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER Passeriformes
FAMILY Emberizidae
GENUS Or SPECIES Dendroica petechia
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: 4 ~-5 in. Wingspan: 6-7 in. Weight: ~ oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: April to July. No. of broods: 1 . Eggs: 3-6, but usually 4-5; whitish, speckled with brown. Incubation: 11 days. Fledging period: 9-12 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Forms pair only for breeding. Diet: Small insects and spiders. Call: Ringing "sweet, sweet, sweet" and high-pitched whistled notes. Lifespan: Up to 7 years. RELATED SPECIES There are 27 warbler species in the genus Dendroica. Most live in North America, but 5 species occur only in the West Indies.
Breeding range of the yellow warbler. DISTRIBUTION Found in most of Canada and the United States, in western Mexico, on both coasts of Central America, in the Caribbean, and on South America's coast from Venezuela to Peru. Northern birds winter in Central and South America. CONSERVATION The yellow warbler is abundant, but habitat destruction in the tropics is causing a decline in birds that breed there.
FEATURES OF THE YELLOW WARBLER
Male: Mostly bright yellow with greenish upperparts and rusty streaks on his breast and sides.
The yellow warbler is one of the most common of the many wood warblers in North America. Its bright yellow plumage and loud, cheerful song make it very easy to identify.
Female: Looks similar to the male but greener. Largely lacks the rusty streaks.
Egg: Various colors of white, speckled and spotted with brown.
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~ BREEDING After he arrives at the breeding grounds in the spring, the male yellow warbler becomes highly aggressive and drives any other member of his species out of his territory. He accepts a female as his mate only after chasing her for three or four days and failing to drive her away. The female quickly begins to build a cup-shaped nest, using plant down, fine grass, and cob-
webs. She then lays three to six eggs. As soon as the full clutch has been laid, the 11-day incubation period begins. Although only the female incubates the eggs, both parents feed their chicks at first. Within 9 to 12 days of hatching, the young birds are ready to leave the nest. The young then fly away from the territory, and the parents separate.
Left: The yellow warbler's nest is always built in the fork of a small sapling or shrub.
Right: In the Galapagos Islands,
The yellow w arbler is common everywhere during m ig ration. It can easi ly be identified by its yellow color and its loud song of " sweet, sweet, sweet." Both males and females pre-
fer to forage in thickets, fairly cl ose to the ground, but the males tend to forage higher than fem ales. They may do this to avoid competing for food on the nesting grounds.
the yellow warbler has a rusty head oreap.
DID YOU KNOW?
The yellow warbler is often called a "wild canary. This /I
colorful bird regularly visits gardens and sometimes even
• When a brown-headed cowbird lays its egg in her nest, a female yellow warbler's favorite strategy is to install a new nest lining, burying the alien egg and even several of her own. She then begins a new clutch . A female yellow warbler may put down as many
• During the breeding season, the female yellow warbler frequently sneaks back and forth into her neighbors' territories to steal nesting material.
as six new linings, creating a tall, multistoried nest.
court another female, so there can be two nests in his territory.
• The male yellow warbler can be just as furtive as the female. While one female is busy incubating her eggs, the male may
nests there. But its favorite haunts are thickets bordering streams and swampy areas. During its migration in the spring and fall, this bird can be found almost anywhere.
~
~ HABITS The yellow warbler often lives in thickets. It particularly favors dense willows and alders growing in wet places, as well as cottonwoods beside rivers in the West. But it sometimes nests in garden shrubbery. After wintering in Central and South America, the yellow warbler usually arrives at its breeding grounds in the United States and Canada in March or April. The male's loud, ringing song
is then heard until the nesting season ends in midsummer. The yellow warbler is one of the major hosts of the brownheaded cowbird, which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds and then leaves its offspring to be raised by foster parents. After raising the young in its nest, the yellow warbler returns to the south in the fall. On the way it visits city parks and even shrubs on the seashore.
FOOD &: FEEDING
Like other warblers, the yellow warbler can be seen flitting rapidly through the foliage while it searches for food. It darts about, snapping up caterpillars, various other insects, small spiders hanging from their webs, and the eggs of both insects and spiders, if it can find them. The small and destructive catLeft: The male frequently brings food to the female while she is incubating the eggs.
erpillars of moths-such as cankerworms and "inchworms," as well as young gypsy moths and browntail moths-are the yellow warbler's favorite food. This bird is very useful in controlling these pests. The yellow warbler is adept at catching small flying insects. It also gleans insects from the bark of trees, and it occasionally flies to the ground to search for insects among fallen leaves.
KEY FACTS
GALAPAGOS FINCHES GROUP 2: BIRDS
--~
ORDER
FAMILY
GENERA
Passeriformes
Emberizidae
Geospiza, Camarhynchus, etc.
SIZES Lengt h: 4-6 in . Weight : ~-1 ~ oz. BREED IN G Breeding season: Variable; often depends on rains. Eggs: 2-6; pale, speckled brown . Incubat ion: 12 days. Fledging period: 13-15 days. LIF ESTY LE Habit: Territorial; feeds in daytime on the ground and in vegetation. Mixed species may feed in groups. Diet: Seeds, stems, leaves, buds, fruit, nectar, pollen, insects and t heir larvae. Call: Simple but varied. RELATED SPECI ES There are 14 species in 4 genera. Galapagos finches are probably related to New World sparrows, a large, varied group found in North and South America.
Range of Galapagos finches.
DI STRI BUTION The Galapagos Islands and Cocos Island off Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Some species have a very restricted range, but the warbler finch occurs on all 17 major islands in the Galapagos. CONSERVATION Habitat loss threatens some species. Two species are now endangered : the medium tree finch on Floreana Island and the mangrove finch on Isabela and Fernandina.
FOUR GALApAGOS FINCHES Woodpecker finch: Like the mangrove finch , it uses a twig to extract larvae and termites from crevices in branches. Because it feeds its young only on insects, it may not breed during years when drought reduces the insect supply.
Vampire finch: Large, sharp bill. Eats a mixed diet.
Warbler finch: Pointed, slim bill. Eats insects almost exclusively.
Galapagos finches strongly influenced Charles Darwin ~ theories about evolution. He wondered why the remote Galapagos Islands were home to so many closely related birds.
Medium ground finch: Large, powerful bill. Eats seeds.
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~ BREEDING
Galapagos finches often mate after it rains, when food is more plentiful. The male may build several display nests of twigs, grass, and bark that are lined with lichen, hair, and feathers. Each has a domed roof and a side entrance, perhaps to provide shade from the sun. Most ground finches build their nests low in a bush, tree, or cactus.
Tree finches often build them at the tip of a branch. After she chooses a mate, the female selects a display nest or constructs a new one with the male. She incubates the eggs alone while the male brings her food. After the offspring hatch, they are fed mostly soft food such as berries and insect larvae by both parents.
left: Among Galapagos finches, the ground finches most resemble other finch species.
Right: The small ground finch ob-
All 14 Galapagos finch species have similar body shapes,
DID YOU KNOW?
with short tails and short, rounded wings. But these birds
• Some Galapagos finch species are so similar that only experienced bird-watchers can tell them apart. • A male Galapagos finch displays to a passing female from his own nests and from those of other species.
have different diets, and, as a result, the sizes and shapes of their bills vary considerably. Although a few species
have become rare, other species are widespread and familiar birds throughout the Galapagos Islands.
tains a variety of plant food with its sturdy bill.
• Only after many years does a male ground finch become completely black. • The vampire finch on Wenman Island sometimes pecks at the wings and tails of molting seabirds until they bleed I and drinks the blood. ---1
~ CHARACTERISTICS
When Charles Darwin first visited the Galapagos in 1835, he was fascinated by these islands' unique finchlike birds. Some had large, thick bills; others had thin, sharp bills; but all were alike in size and build. Darwin's ideas on the birds' origin helped him develop his theory of evolution. Many thousands of years ago, a flock of finches was probably blown by a storm from South America to the Galapagos, 600 miles away. Few birds lived on the islands, so the finches had plenty of food. Some finches took advantage of food sources that, on the mainland, had belonged to other birds such as woodpeckers. These finches evolved bill shapes to suit their diets. Gradually they became
left: The tree finches have less powerful bills than their relatives on the ground. The small tree finch employs its medium-size bill to pluck insect larvae from branches.
~ FOOD & FEEDING new species. Today there are 13 species in the Galapagos. A 14th species lives on Cocos Island off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. There are two main groups of Galapagos finches: ground and tree finches. Ground finches like the drier, open habitats found on many small islands and near the coasts of the large islands. Tree finches tend to feed in vegetation, but they also settle on the ground and visit arid areas. They prefer the humid forests on the slopes of volcanoes and are found mainly on the larger islands. The warbler finch, which does not belong to either group, is widespread. Right: The vampire finch breaks open the egg of another species and eats its contents.
The diet of a Galapagos finch is indicated by the shape of its bill. Ground finches use their strong, conical bills to break seeds and chew stems and leaves. With its deep bill, the large ground finch can crack open nuts. The cactus ground finch has a shallower bill to feed on the seeds, fruit, and nectar of prickly pear cactus. Ground finches eat some insects. They may peck ticks from
woodpecker finch feeds on insects and grubs. This diet is like thatofa woodpecker.
an iguana or giant tortoise. A few species also break birds' eggs and drink the contents. Most tree finches grasp and crush food with the tips of their medium-size bills. They mostly eat insect larvae and often find prey by stripping away a tree's bark. The vegetarian tree finch eats fruit, leaves, and buds. Its bill combines base-crushing and tip-biting shapes. The warbler finch employs its thin bill to pick small insects from leaves and sip nectar. The woodpecker finch and mangrove finch use a thin twig or cactus spine to pry larvae as well as termites out of crevices in wood. left: The cactus finch's slate color provides good camouflage in its volcanic rock habitat.
'\l
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER
FAMILY
GENUS &: SPECIES
Passeriformes
Icteridae
Molothrus ater
f!ll
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: 6-8 in . Wingspan: 12-13 in . Weight: 1-2 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Mating season: April to May. Eggs: Up to 30 per season . Incubation: 10-12 days. Fledging period: 10 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, traveling in small flocks except when breeding. Diet: Insects and spiders; seeds and fruit during fall and winter. Call: Bubbly, whistled song; call of high-pitched clucks and whistles. Lifespan: Up to 13 years in the wild . RELATED SPECIES There are 6 cowbird species in the genus Molothrus. All but the South American bay-winged cowbird, M. badius, lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.
Range of the brown-headed cowbird.
DISTRIBUTION Found from southern Alaska and Canada, throughout most of the United States, to the Gulf of Mexico and Oaxaca in Mexico. In the northern part of its range, it is migratory. CONSERVATION The brown-headed cowbird has benefited from the clearing of forests and the spread of agriculture. This species is much more numerous now than it was in colonial times.
FEATURES O F THE BROWN-H EADED COWBIRD Bill: Stout and conical , it is very well adapted fo r crushing seeds .
Male: Easily identified by his glossy brown head and sleek black body.
Egg: Usually only 1 egg is laid in each host bird 's nest. It is whitish or faintly bluish , finely speckled with brown . In this song sparrow's nest, the cowbird egg is very easy to distinguish.
The brown-headed cowbird is a common bird throughout the United States and southern Canada. It is known as a brood parasite because it lays its eggs in the nests of other songbirds.
Female : Almost as large as the male. She differs from the male mainly in her uniform gray coloring .
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The brown-headed cowbird is often seen near cattle,
~
feeding on insects that are disturbed by the grazing
To obtain food, brown-headed cowbirds often gather close to grazing livestock. They can then catch the insects disturbed by these large animals and take seeds from cattle droppings. In the past flocks of cowbirds followed herds of bison, so they were known as "buffalo birds." The name cowbird is the result of the bird's more recent asso-
ciation with domestic cattle. The brown-headed cowbird has adapted well to changing conditions. During the warm months, it now often catches insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, flies, and caterpillars without any help from grazing animals. During the fall and winter, it switches to seeds as well as some fru it.
Left: The brown-headed cowbird feeds mostly on the ground, picking up seeds or insects.
Right: This California gnatcatcher is busily feeding the much bigger cowbird nestling.
livestock. It is usually found in open country, so it has benefited from the clearing of forests for agriculture. The expansion of this brood parasite's habitat has contributed to the decline of many songbird species.
FOOD &: FEEDING
~
~ B I R DWATC H
~ HABITS
Like other American blackbirds, the brown-headed cowbird is sociable. For most of the year, it travels in a small flock, frequently mingling with starlings, redwinged blackbirds, and grackles. It prefers open countryside and rarely lives in dense forests. The brown-headed cowbird is a threat to migratory songbirds, which already suffer from habitat destruction in their tropical winter homes and their North American nesting areas. Since the arrival of the early European settlers, vast forests have been cleared in the East, allowing this cowbird to spread into regions where songbirds had not been exposed to brood parasites before. These species are in danger because they have not yet developed defenses against a cow-
bird's habit of leaving its eggs to be hatched by a host. They have not learned, for example, to remove a cowbird's egg or cover it with a new nest lining. The brown-headed cowbird has thus helped cause a drastic decline in many songbird populations. In some small woodland areas, where the brown-headed Fowbird is able to easily find the nest of a suitable host, the production of young songbirds is now an eighth the normal rate. The threat from the brownheaded cowbird is not limited · to the eastern states. The least Bell's vireo of southern California, Kirtland's warbler of Michigan, and the black-capped vireo of Texas and Oklahoma have all been driven to the edge of extinction by this cowbird.
The brown-headed cowbird is easily distinguished from other blackbirds by its stubby, finchlike bill and the glossy brown head of the male. The female is entirely gray. The brown-headed cowbi rd is a regular visitor to bird feeders. However, it prefers to for-
age on the ground, where it picks up seeds that have been knocked off the feeder by other birds. In spring you may find it difficult to spot female cowbirds because they spend their time stealthily searching for other birds' nests.
From the end of April to early May, brown-headed cowbirds separate from their winter flocks and form pairs. The males perform elaborate courtship ceremonies before mating . Soon after mating, the female begins searching for the nests of other birds. She visits each nest in the early morning to lay one of her eggs among those of the host species. Over 75 bird species have hosted the young of the brown-headed cowbird. Left: By the time a young cowbird is ready to fledge, it may be almost too large for the host bird's nest.
A female cowbird can lay as many as 30 eggs in one season. The eggs may hatch in as little as 10 days-often before the eggs of the host species. The young cowbird develops rapidly. It usually succeeds in taking all the food that the host birds bring to the nest, so the nestlings of the rightful owner frequently die of starvation or are crowded out of the nest. Before it is two weeks old, the young cowbird can feed on its own. It is ready to join a winter flock and can mate the following spring.
D ID YOU KNOW? • The female brown-headed cowbird not only lays her egg in another bird's nest but may also remove the nest owner's egg. The host egg is often stolen a day before the cowbird deposits her own egg. • A cowbird usually places just one egg in any single nest, but she may lay more if host nests are scarce. In 1934 in Minnesota, a veery's nest was found
that contained eight cowbird eggs and two veery's eggs. • Occasionally a female cowbird shows some maternal instinct. She may make a secret visit to a host nest to feed the nestling cowbird there. • Aggressive birds like shrikes and kingbirds are rarely bothered by cowbirds. They recognize cowbirds and very quickly drive them away.
~RD254 1
,
ADELlE PENGUIN
,,~----------------------ORDER Sphenisciformes
FAMILY Spheniscidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Pygoscelis adeliae
KEY FACTS SIZES Height: 2;4 ft. Weight: 11 lb. Flipper length: 8-9 in. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, 3-4 years. Male, 4-6 years. Mating: Early November, which is the Antarctic spring. Eggs: 2; white. Incubation: 5 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Breeds and feeds in large
Range of the AdeHe penguin.
colonies. Diet: Krill, squid, mollusks, and
DISTRIBUTION
small fish. Lifespan: 15-20 years.
Found on most of the Antarctic coast and some of the southernmost Atlantic islands.
RELATED SPECIES The closest relatives of the Adelie
CONSERVATION Some Adelie colonies were given protection against the disrup-
are the gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis papua, and the chinstrap penguin, P. antarctica. There are 16 penguin species altogether.
tion caused by scientific expeditions. Recently, populations have increased, mainly because commercial whaling has reduced the competition for krill.
FEATURES OF THE ADEllE PENGUIN
Plumage: Both sexes have the same simple coloring , with black above and white below.The feathers form an insulating , waterproof barrier against the elements.
Eyes: Surrounded by characteristic ring of white skin.
Flippers: Useless on land except to push the penguin along slippery ice on its belly. In the water the flippers are powerful propellers.
Bill: Short and stubby, partly covered with feathers.
Feet: Large and webbed . Just as useful on land as in the water. On land the feet act like snowshaes.
Tail: Long black feathers trail behind the penguin and brush along the snow.
The Adelie penguin is the most abundant bird in Antarctica. Every year it walks up to SO miles across ice and snow to its breeding grounds, gathering in colonies of up to 700,000 birds.
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~ FOOD fit FEEDING
Adelie penguins make up two-thirds of the bird population
of Antarctica. In this environment of snow and ice, the Adelie is able to take advantage of an unusual way of traveling. It frequently slides on its belly, propelling itself forward with its flippers and its feet. This large bird is unaffected by the cold because it has an insulating layer of fat as well as waterproof feathers.
The Adelie penguin eats mainly krill, tiny shrimplike animals that live in the waters around Antarc-
tioned as wings, now propel the penguin through the water at speeds of more than 12 miles
tica. The penguin also feeds on mollusks and squid as well as small fish. Several body adaptations enable the Adelie penguin to eat up to four pounds of food a day. Its flippers, which long ago func-
per hour. Its large webbed feet act like rudders and steer the bird toward krill or fish, which it scoops up in its open mouth. Its swimming skills help the Adelie elude such predators as the leopard seal.
Left: The Adelie penguin is distinguished by its stumpy bill and its small white eye rings.
Right: At first the parents take turns catching fish, which they then feed to their chicks.
Left: The Adelie builds a nest of small stones, which are the only material available. Each parent takes a turn on the eggs while the other goes off to feed for as long as 10 days.
DID YOU KNOW? • A breeding colony of five million Adelie penguins eats 10,000 tons of food a day at the peak of the breeding season. That amount of food is enough to fill 70 trawlers. • The Adelie penguin's layer of fat and waterproof feathers are so effective as insulation that the bird may become
overheated . If this happens, it holds out its flippers to dissipate the excess heat. • A breeding Adelie penguin fasts for up to six weeks while it travels to the nesting site, builds its nest, and starts incubating the eggs. During this time it can lose up to half of its total body weight.
~ HABITS The Adelie penguin alternates between living offshore and on land. It spends much of its time on pack ice, since the water surrounding the ice keeps temperatures milder than on land. This penguin lives on shore during the Antarctic spring and summer, when thousands gather in breeding colonies. The Adelie is very well suited to Antarctica's harsh climate. The tips of the waterproof feathers that cover most of the penguin's body curve toward its skin to trap air and allow water to run off more easily. A layer of blubber, or fat, underneath its skin insulates the Adelie penguin against temperatures that may fall to -75°F.
Within the crowded breeding colony, each penguin generally respects another bird's nesting territory. The Adelie has developed a "slender walk" in which it holds its flippers back so that it is able to squeeze between other penguins. Fights rarely take place in an Adelie colony. However, they may arise during competition for the best nesting sites. Stealing stones for nest building can also trigger conflicts, usually between males. The antagonists flap their flippers angrily, grip each other's beaks, and bump chests until one gives way. Right: The gray Adelie chicks call to their parents for food, making the colony very noisy.
The Adelie penguin's breeding season starts in November, which is the Antarctic spring. The bird pairs for life and returns to the same breeding site every year. The sun's angle tells it when to begin its long trek to its breeding grounds. When it gets tired of walking, the bird slides over the snow on its belly, using its feet and flippers to propel itself. The male arrives at the nesting colony in early November and is followed by the female a week later. The breeding site is located on an exposed ridge, where strong winds keep snowdrifts from covering the nests. The male and the female take turns incubating the two eggs and feeding the chicks. After
four weeks the chicks gather in nurseries of about 200 while the parents search for food. The large groups help to protect the offspring from attacks by hunting birds like the parasitic jaeger. At nine weeks of age, the young penguin can feed on its own at sea. It gains weight and builds up fat for the winter. The Adelie colony leaves the breeding site in the beginning of April, at the first sign of winter. Any chicks that are too weak for the journey must be left behind because the fit birds cannot jeopardize their survival by helping weaklings. The Adelie spends its first two years on pack ice and then joins the breeding colony in its third year.
CARD 255 ]
EURASIAN WIGEON
SIZES
GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER Anseriformes
FAMILY Anatidae
_ _ _~ --=:...;;K;.=.. EY ~ FACTS
GENUS &: SPECIES Anas penelope
Length: About 1 ~ feet. Wingspan: About 2~ feet. Weight: 1-2 lb. BREEDING Mating season: April to June, depending on location. No. of broods: 1 . Eggs: 6-10, usually 7-8; creamcolored. Incubation: 22-25 days. Fledging period: 6 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: lives in groups on estuaries, shores, and marshes.
•
Resident range.
Winter range.
Breeding range.
Diet: Grasses, especially eelgrass;
DISTRIBUTION
also weeds, seeds, and algae.
The Eurasian wigeon breeds mainly in northern Europe and
Call: Male utters a loud, whistling
northern Asia. It winters in parts of Europe, North Africa, and
call when excited.
southern and southeastern Asia.
RELATED SPECIES
CONSERVATION
Close relatives include the Ameri-
With the development of coastal sites, the Eurasian wigeon has
can wigeon, Anas americana; the
adapted its feeding habits to exploit inland areas. As a result, it
green-winged teal, A. crecca; and
is under little threat at present.
the northern pintail, A. acuta.
FEATURES OF THE EURASIAN WIGEON Male: Chestnut head ; yellow forehead and crown . Gray up-
perparts and rump with white mark along flanks. Pinkish brown breast. Black tail coverts. In his eclipse plumage from June to 'October or November, he resembles the female. The white wing patch ~ ppears in his second year.
Suitable for grazing.
Flight (female shown): Reveals pointed tail and white belly. White shoulder patches are clearly visible on male.
Female: Barred brown upperparts and gray wings . Blotched brown head, neck, and breast. High forehead .
Instead of dabbling or diving like most ducks, the Eurasian wigeon usually feeds by grazing like a goose. It settles in tight flocks on mud flats to feed on eelgrass for hours at a time. © MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
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~ FOOD &: FEEDING The Eurasian wigeon generally feeds during most of the daylight hours, except where tides cover its grazing grounds for part of the day. In some areas, however, it eats at night in order to avoid contact with humans. Eelgrass, which grows on mud flats and in salt marshes, is this duck's favorite food. About one-third of its foraging time is spent in these tidal areas. The Eurasian wigeon also eats other grasses as well as algae, seeds, and roots. It does approximately half of its feeding in and around fresh water. In
shallow water it sometimes "upends" to pull up water plants, but it does this much less than most ducks. The Eurasian wigeon often grazes on grassland in a com-
Left: The male Eurasian wigeon
Right: Severe winters in its northern breeding grounds drive the Eurasian wigeon south.
looks like a small teal but can be distinguished by his yellow crown.
The Eurasian wigeon is one of Europe's most numerous ducks. This bird prefers to live in coastal areas and on estuaries, but many of these habitats are being destroyed or developed. As a result, this duck has learned to adapt to inland lakes and reservoirs in order to survive. Nowadays, it is not unusual to see flocks of Eurasian wigeon feeding in fields and grasslands quite some distance from the coast.
~ HABITS Outside the breeding season, the Eurasian wigeon is mainly a coastal duck, favoring muddy shores and estuaries. It lives in small parties or in flocks of several hundred. During the day, a flock may roost offshore, bobbing on the waves in a compact "raft." The birds take off from the water into a fairly fast flight, with large flocks flying in a close formation of irregular lines. Right: The Eurasian wigeon's stub-
by bill suits its grazing habits.
pact, fast-moving flock, pecking and walking rapidly. It is the only duck that feeds in this way, so it rarely feeds alongside other ducks. Occasionally, however, it can be seen in the company of mallards, eating grain from stubble fields. In the late winter and spring, the Eurasian wigeon also grazes on sprouting wheat.
DID YOU KNOW? • Regional names for the Eurasian wigeon include whistler, cock winder, shree duck, and half duck. The last name came into use during the 19th century because the wigeon, being smaller than the mallard, was worth only half its price at market. • In some locations, eelgrass
is also known as
wigeon grass
because the duck feeds on it so frequently. • The word wigeon was used in the mid-18th century to mean "simpleton" or "fooL" This may have been because the flocking wigeon was particularly easy game for the hunter's gun.
~I BIRDWATCH Between September and No-
ish brown breast of the male
vember, a few dozen Eurasian wigeons arrive on the coasts of North America, migrating from Europe and Siberia. Here they associate with their relative the American wigeon . The chestnut head and pink-
Eurasian wigeon distinguishes him from the American bird, but the females of the species are hard to differentiate. As a result, many female Eurasian wigeons go undetected in North America .
~ BREEDING The Eurasian wigeon often spends winter inland and may move south to seek lakes, rivers, marshes, and gravel pits. It even visits woods and fields to find food. It walks and runs well, with greater ease than many ducks.
The Eurasian wigeon breeds on
stalks, and also her own feather
lakes, rivers, and marshes. The male displays in April or May. He fluffs up his head feathers, shows
down. She usually lays seven or eight eggs, one a day over a period of about a week. The
his yellow crown, and utters a high-pitched, two-tone whistle while the female purrs softly. After mating, the female digs a shallow hollow in the ground among long grass or heather. She lines the hollow with leaves,
male stays nearby at least until she has finished laying. Then he wanders off, leaving her to incu-
Left: Courting wigeons head for
family, but it is the female that tends the young . They become independent after six weeks.
islands on lakes, where they are safe from predatory mammals.
bate the eggs for up to 25 days. When the chicks hatch, the mother leads them straight to water. The male may rejoin his
KEY FACTS
---------~~ ---~~-
SAGE GROUSE
'(~------------------------------~~ FAMILY GENUS &: SPECIES ORDER Galliformes
Tetraonidae
Centrocercus urophasianus
SIZES Length: 1)1,;-3 ft. Female smaller than male. Weight: 3-8 lb. Heaviest in summer. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Mating season: February to April. Eggs: 8-16. Incubation: Almost 1 month. Fledging period: 3 months. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable. Diet: Mainly plant matter. Call: Male utters groans and bubbling sounds during courtship. Both sexes hiss if attacked . Lifespan: 5 years.
Range of the sage grouse. DISTRIBUTION Found in western North America, including Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Reintroduced into New Mexico.
RELATED SPECIES The western sage grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus, and the eastern sage grouse, C u. phaios, are the 2 subspecies.
CONSERVATION Hunting restrictions in the 1940s and 1950s helped restore the sage grouse's numbers, but habitat destruction is still a threat.
FEATURES OF THE SAGE GROUSE Cock (male): Brown-striped upperparts, white breast ruff, black ( throat, yellow eye combs, long I black-and-white tail plumes. Larger than hen.
Hen (female): Smaller than the cock, without his black bib , wh ite ruff, and yellow eye combs. Flight: Powerful, often
reaching high altitudes. Reveals smoky black belly and creamy white wing undersides. Female takes off more easily than the male. Young can run very fast and fly only as a last resort.
Courtship display: The cock performs a ritual dance in which he raises his long tail, drops his stiffened wings, and puffs up his white ruff and yellow air sacs.
Eggs: Olive green with dark spots, like the eggs of other grouse.
The sage grouse is a beautiful but rare game bird of North America. It gets its name from its habit of roosting and nesting in dense sagebrush. It even feeds on the leaves of this plant. © MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
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~ FOOD & FEEDING
When air shoots out of the male sage grouse's inflated throat sacs, it gives a whiplike "crack" that can be heard 1,000 feet away. This is just one part of a spectacular courtship ritual in which the cocks (males) gather to win the hens (females). These displays take place in traditional arenas, where the dancing males transform the prairie into a pageant of fanned feathers and bubbling cries.
~ HAB ITAT The sage grouse inhabits plains and hills in western North America. In the winter 50 to 100 birds gather in a flock, but in very bad weather the flock may grow to 1,000. The birds migrate to lowlying areas where the sagebrush is large enough to stand above the snow. They rarely stray onto snow deeper than six feet. At night, they roost on rockyoutcrops or on the ground. In the breeding season, the birds fly to their leks (display areas), which may be 30 to 100 miles away. In the middle of the summer, the grouse may travel 75 miles from its lek, flying at an
altitude of close to 8,000 feet. The bird shares the sagebrush plains with many other wild animals such as antelope, deer, wild turkeys, and pheasants. There are also grazing sheep and cattle, but they do not actually disturb the bird. However, many areas are being developed for agriculture or industry. The sagebrush is dug up, destroying the bird's main source of food and shelter. Since the 1930s, the sage grouse's total range has been greatly reduced. Right: When the sage grouse chicks
forage for insects in the brush, they are closely guarded by the hen.
Sagebrush leaves are the sage grouse's main food in winter. In spring and summer it also eats a wide variety of other plants, including dandelions, prickly lettuce, salsify, grasses, some legumes, buckwheat, and weeds. During the fall the sage grouse's diet may include alfalfa, clover, and berries. Chicks and young birds often feed on insects, and in the first week of life, they eat practically
nothing else. In the spring the young feed on ants, beetles, and flies . In summer and early fall they catch grasshoppers, ladybugs, moths, and insect larvae. Adults, by contrast, eat very few insects. The sage grouse obtains all the water it requires from the food it eats. It is unusual in that it does not have a gizzard (special stomach). All other species of grouse have one.
Left: The sage grouse is one of several species of grouse that roam the western plains.
Right: The hen's muted coloring
provides camouflage while she rears her brood. Left: The courting cock groans loudly, flutters his wings, and fans out his neck and tail feathers. He then puffs out his chest, inflating his throat sacs until his head is barely visible.
DID YOU KNOW? • The sage grouse cleans itself by taking dust baths during its midday rest. • Because it lacks a gizzard to grind down tough foods, the sage grouse very rarely eats hard seeds. • The red flight muscles in the sage grouse's breast show that it is able to fly long distances.
Species with less stamina have paler flight muscles. • The hen leaves a very large dropping near the nest when she goes to feed. Often several inches long, it consists of all the waste she has produced while incubating. Finding one is a definite sign that there is a nest close by.
The sage grouse breeds in large groups like many other grouse. Young cocks gather at the lek in February, and the adults arrive up to six weeks later. The cock performs a courtship dance during which he pretends to ignore the hens. The hens seem to prefer the older, more aggressive males. About twothirds of them breed with just one or two dominant cocks. After mating, the hen may fly six miles from the lek to lay her eggs in a hollow among thick sagebrush. She rears her young alone but may nest close to other females . She leaves the nest
to feed for about 15 minutes at least twice a day during incubation. During this time the eggs fall prey to coyotes, badgers, ground squirrels, and magpies . . Once the hatchlings are old enough, the hen moves them to hay fields or meadows, where they can forage on their own. In summer the young may range 12 to 27 miles from the nest. The chicks can fly more than 10 feet at a week or two old, and their strength quickly improves. They leave the brood when they are three months old-after they have grown their juvenile plumage.
KEY FACTS
~----"'111 ---
LITTLE OWL GROUP 2: BIRDS ORDER Strigiformes
FAMILY Strigidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Athene noctua
SIZES Length: 8-9 in . Wingspan: Almost 2 ft. Weight: 5-7 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: Late March to early August. No. of broods: 1. Eggs: 2-5; white. Incubation: 4 weeks. Fledging period: 4-5 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Active by day and night. Solitary and nonmigratory. Diet: Invertebrates, small mammals, frogs, and occasionally birds. Call: Low, plaintive "kee-oo./1 Lifespan: Up to 9 years. RELATED SPECIES There are over 120 species in 27 genera in the family Strigidae. A close relative is the burrowing owl,
DISTRIBUTION Found in Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia and China. CONSERVATION The little owl is one of Europe's most common owls. But it has suffered from persecution by gamekeepers and the use of pesticides in agricultural areas. A cold winter with widespread frost and snow will also take a heavy toll on the population.
Speotyto cunicularia.
FEATURES OF THE LITTLE OWL Flight: Flaps, then closes its wings repeatedly and rapidly. This causes a bounding , undulating motion unlike that of any other owl. Large rounded wings make the bird seem larger in flight than when perched. Owlet: Born with white down that soon turns gray. Remains in the nest, which is often in a willow stump, for 4 or 5 weeks until its flight feathers have grown.
Eggs: White and rounded . Usually at least 3 in a clutch .
Head: Large, with bright yellow eyes and no ear tufts.
Body: Stocky and heavily built. Plumage: Various shades of graybrown, barred and mottled with white. Short tail. Sexes similar.
The well-named little owl is a versatile hunter that is common in most of Europe. Active by day as well as at night, this bird can often be seen perched on a fence post or boulder. © MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
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~ BREEDING
Earlier in this century, the little owl was persecuted in parts of its range because of its reputation for feeding on the
young of game birds such as pheasants. In fact however, this owl preys on birds only occasionally-the bulk of its diet consists of crop-damaging insects. As a result, the little owl is helpful to farmers throughout its range.
The little owl breeds between late March and early August but usually in April, May, or June. A bond between male and female may last for several years, but this is probably the result of an attachment to a home territory rather than to a partner.
unlined tree hole, an unused farm building, a birdhouse, or an abandoned rabbit hole. The female lays two to five white eggs. She then incubates them for four weeks while the male
The male bobs up and down to impress a fEmale. Both birds may sing to each other or offer gifts of food . The nest is in an
white down. They are fed by both parents and can fly after four or five weeks. But they often leave the nest a week earlier.
Left: The little owl is as small as a blue jay, but its wings make it look larger in flight.
Right: In the security of a birdhouse, the owlets grow quickly, fed by both parents.
hunts for food. The hatchlings are covered in
DID YOU KNOW? • The little owl is not the smallest bird in its family. The pygmy owl is two inches smaller. • In 1842 five little owls were released in England, but the experiment failed to produce a British population. More than 30 years later, 40 of these owls
were successfully introduced. • The little owl often falls prey to the tawny owl. • In one study a little owl ate 23 earthworms in just 45 minutes. This owl eats two to three ounces of food a day-almost half its body weight.
I
t!1
BIRDWATCH
The little owl is present yearround in much of Europe. The owl's low mewing call can be heard on spring even ings, especially on farmland that has plenty of farm buildings and hollow trees .
The little owl is seen during the day more often than any other owl. Small pellets often accumulate below a roost or nesting site. Beetle wing cases and other insect remains may mark a favorite perch. ---1
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
~ HAB ITS The little owl avoids forests and
too, bobbing its head and wag-
heavily wooded areas. It prefers open countryside that has plenty of prominent perches. Its ideal habitats are farmland, orchards,
ging its tail feathers when approached or agitated. Although up to 20 pairs may breed within an area of less than half a square mile, the little owl is a solitary bird. It is usually seen alone or occasionally in pairs. It
palm groves, hedgerows, and rocky steppes. It stays at low to middle elevations, rarely venturing far into mountains. The little owl is frequently seen by day, perched on a tree, fence post, or telephone wire. The owl may sit motionless for hours on such a perch. The little owl flies with an easily recognizable low, undulating motion. When it is hunting, it may hover a few feet above the ground, but it looks quite clum sy in the air. It walks awkwardly
lives within a specific territory, which it defends by calling or by chasing an intruder, although it avoids fights. This owl has a flexible lifestyle and never needs to stray far from its home range. If one of its food sources becomes depleted, it can take advantage of another. Right: An expert hunter, the little owl can snap up night-flying moths in the air.
The little owl's diet is dominated by beetles, moths, and earwigs, as well as earthworms, which it often snatches from birds such as the European blackbird. This owl also feeds on frogs and small mammals. Occasionally, it takes small birds from a nest, a practice that gave the owl its undeserved reputation for preying on the young of game birds. The little owl does most of its
hunting just before dawn and at dusk, but it also feeds during the day and night. It looks out for prey from a high perch, then it flies swiftly to drop onto its victim from above. It also hunts on the ground, searching through debris for earthworms and beetles. The bird may run after a small animal on the ground or chase flying insects in the air. When food is plentiful, the little owl stores extra supplies to see it through times of scarcity. The rotting food often attracts flies and beetles, which add to the owl's store. Left: When food is scarce, the little owl relies on its emergency store of rotting food.
CARD 258
KEY FACTS
INCA TERN
,,-------ORDER Charadriiformes
FAMILY Laridae
SIZE Length: Body, 16 in . Tail, about 6 in. Wings, 11 in .
GENUS &: SPECIES Larosterna inca
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3 years. Breeding season: September to November, the Southern Hemisphere's spring . Eggs: 1-3. Incubation: 3-4 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives and breeds in large, noisy colonies. Diet: Small fish as well as other marine animals. Call: Loud and rasping . Lifespan: 20 years . RELATED SPECIES Of the 43 tern species in its family, the Inca tern is most closely related to the oceanic noddies-genera Anous and Procelsterna.
Range of the Inca tern .
DISTRIBUTION Found along the western shoreline of South America from the Gulf of Guayaquil in Ecuador, south to Valdivia in Chile. Breeds offshore on guano islands. CONSERVATION Although the Inca tern is found only on the western coast of South America, the bird is numerous and not endangered in anyway.
FEATURES OF THE INCA TERN Head: Slightly darker than the body, with almost black plumage. A white plume that resembles a long, downwardcurling mustache runs from under each eye back along the cheeks . Bright yellow wattles.
Nest: Unlike most terns, the Inca tern nests under cover, ... often in a crevice " or hole. The bird 's breeding site is a guano island, where mounds of accumulated bird droppings rise above the water.
Bill: Bright red. Large and pointed for snatching fish.
Plumage: Slate gray. Edges of wings are tipped with white. Tail is forked . Sexes are similar.
The Inca tern is found only off the western coast of South America. With its slate gray plumage, large red bill, and white "mustache," this tern is one of the most beautiful of all seabirds. CO
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~ FOOD & FEEDING
The Inca tern is a slender, striking seabird that is highly sociable. It lives in large, often noisy, colonies on the high, inaccessible shorelines of western Peru and Chile. It shares the rocks and airspace around these food-rich waters with cormorants and brown pelicans. Each year, in the breeding season, the Inca tern moves offshore
to nest on this coast's famous guano islands.
~ HABITS
The Inca tern's large colonies may contain thousands of individuals, including other birds such as cormorants . The colonies can be quite noisy since the birds call loudly to each other, especially if threatened by intruders. Often the colonies become crowded, and fights are frequent, especially between terns and cormorants. The Inca tern is a graceful flier but is not a strong swimmer. Its webbed feet are too small to propel it through the water efficiently. However, it does float buoyantly on the surface. Right: A sociable bird, the Inca tern communicates noisily with the members of its colony.
The Inca tern eats mainly small fish and other marine animals like shrimp. It has an abundant supply of food, since the cold Humboldt current that runs up the coast of Peru brings waters rich with fish to the ocean's surface . The Inca tern fishes for its prey by hovering over the water at a height of less than 65 feet. The bird then splashes
down and emerges almost immediately with its catch. Inca terns also follow feeding whales to pick up scraps. In addition, the birds hover in a big flock when sea lions haul out onto rocks in order to eat. The Inca terns then plunge down onto the sea lions and actually take the chewed-up food from between their teeth.
Left: The Inca tern has a large, pointed bill that is ideal for snapping up fish.
Right: Although the Inca tern's feet are webbed, they are too small for efficient swimming. Left: When fishing, the Inca tern hovers over the waves, then plunges down and resurfaces quickly with its catch.
DID YOU KNOW? • Chileans call the Inca tern mofio, which means "nun." It was given this name because of its plumage's resemblance to a nun's dark habit. • Although terns and gulls are closely related, their flights are quite different. Gulls generally soar, while terns fly with very steady wing beats, frequently
with their heads and their bills pointing downward. • Terns are nicknamed "strikers" because of the way they hover above the water, then splash down and quickly resurface with their catch . • Terns are found worldwide, but the largest number of species inhabit the Pacific.
~ BREEDING
During September the Inca tern leaves its shoreline colony and gathers on offshore guano islands. These are small islands where seabirds have deposited their droppings for many years, forming mounds that rise to heights of hundreds of feet and extend above the waves . In a simple courtship ritual, the male Inca tern engages in skillful aerial displays to impress the female. He also pursues her in the air with gifts of fish until she finally accepts him. The pair then chooses a nest site. Unlike most terns, which tend to nest on open ground, Inca terns select sheltered nest sites. The male and female may
enlarge the ground burrow of a petrel or penguin, or they may use a crevice or a hole among the rocky outcrops. When necessary, they nest under a boulder or anywhere else that offers protection from turkey vultures, which steal their eggs. The birds often return to the same nest site for several years in a row. The female lays one to three eggs, which both sexes incubate for three to four weeks. The down-covered hatchlings are able to run around within a few days and soon enter the water to start swimming . Both parents feed the young, which remain dependent on them for several months.
CARD 259
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MARABOU STORK
,,-------------~
KEY FACTS
GROUP 2: BIRDS
ORDER
FAMILY
GENUS & SPECIES
Ciconiiformes
Ciconiidae
Leptoptilos crumeniferus
SIZES Length: 4 ~-5 ft. Wingspan: 10ft. Weight: 11 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3-4 years. Mating: End of rainy season. No. of broods: 1. Only a small fraction of the population breeds in any one year. Eggs:'2-3; white and grainy. Incubation: 1 month. Fledging period: 4 months. LIFESTYLE Habit: Mostly day-active. Often scavenges in small flocks. Diet: Carrion, frogs, snakes, rodents, and insects. Call: Grunts, croaks, and snorts. Lifespan: Up to 20 years. RELATED SPECIES One of 18 species in the family Ciconiidae, which also includes the white stork, Ciconia ciconia.
Range of the marabou stork.
DISTRIBUTION The marabou stork is found across much of tropical and subtropical Africa. CONSERVATION The marabou stork is common across its range, despite a relatively slow breeding rate. Some populations were depleted in the past by hunters who sold the birds' tail feathers for decorations on clotning .
FEATURES OF THE MARABOU STORK Head: Small and bare. No feathers to become soiled when the stork inserts its bill into a carcass .
Bill: Large, straight, and heavy for ripping the intestines of dead animals. Often rested on the throat sac.
Plumage: Slate-gray back, wings , and tail. White edges on long, broad wings . Mainly white underpa rts .
Throat sac: A large, bareskinned pouch hanging down from the neck. Can be irHlated or deflated by a system of ai r p,ockets oon-
Flight: Huge dark wings and short tail give a vulturelike appearance in the ai r. Contrast between white belly and black wings and tail makes the species easy tQidentify. Gray. legs trail out behind; long neck is held out in ffOnt.
oectecf to t~e
The marabou stork is one of the largest storks, with perhaps the greatest wingspan of all land birds. This enormous scavenger is one of Africa ~ most majestic birds.
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0160200881 PACKET 88
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Although it is a wading bird, the
Although the marabou stork belongs to a family of wading birds, it has much in common with the unrelated vultures. Like those scavengers, this stork soars high above the ground on rising currents of warm ai" searching for animal carcasses, which form a major part of its diet.
~ HABITS
The marabou stork is primarily sedentary. But birds from the northern and southern parts of the range may move to the central regions to breed.
Although it is sometimes seen alone, this stork is more often found in small parties. It flies in flocks when migrating within Africa and also congregates in groups at good feeding sites. These bold birds often feed at garbage dumps in villages. The marabou stork lives in Africa's open wetlands, lakes, and rivers. But it is also found in arid, open country and wooded savanna-wherever the tempera-
tures are high enough to provide the thermals (rising currents of warm air) on which it soars. This stork is most magnificent when soaring on a thermal, with its neck extended and long legs trailing behind . It can be identified in flight by its huge size and massive bill. Since it is so heavy, it has to soar for long periods, resting its wings to save energy. The bird's most unusual feature is its huge throat sac, which helps to support the heavy bill. The throat sac may also be used to store food. Or, since it is most prominent in the breeding season, it may be used in courtship.
are entirely bare, so there are no feathers to become matted
marabou stork's feeding habits are similar to those of vultures. Like vultures, it feeds largely on carrion (dead animal flesh) and
with blood. The marabou stork also eats almost any live animal it is able
soars to great heights to look for carcasses. It then descends at
to catch and often feeds while walking or wading . With a for-
great speed with a rush of air through its wings. The marabou stork competes
ward thrust of its bill, it seizes frogs and snakes from shallow swamps or small mammals and
with vultures for the carcasses of large mammals like deer, ante-
rodents from dry land. Grasshoppers and locusts are
lope, and buffalo. The stork uses its powerful bill to cut open the animal's abdominal wall. Then it
fairly easy prey, and the stork eats both in huge quantities. It also steals eggs and chicks from
inserts its bill deep inside the carcass. The bird's head and neck Left: The marabou stork's inflatable throat pouch can hong as much as 16 inches long.
the nests of birds like flamingos and red-billed queleas. Right: Usually a silent bird, the marabou stork may utter crooks and grunts to a portner.
DID YOU KNOW? • The marabou stork frequently soars at more than 15,000 feet. At such a height it can be
tremely fine lower tail feathers that were once used for trimming women's clothes. In Af-
a hazard to the pilot of a fairly
rica the hunting of this stork
light airplane.
for the fashion trade consider-
• The marabou stork has ex-
ably reduced its population.
Marabou storks are not sexually
The female lays two or three
mature until three or four years
eggs at the end of the rainy season . This ensures that the young will be reared in the dry season,
old, and only a fraction of the population breeds each season . The storks often breed in colonies near good feeding places, such as cattle-rearing districts or locations where deer abound. Breeding colonies may include other birds like pelicans. Before mating, the male and
when there is plenty of carrion because many large mammals die in the harsh conditions. Fish are also easy prey in the dry season, since they are concentrated in receding swamp waters. The male and the female take
female storks display and rattle their bills. Both sexes build the small nest out of sticks in a large
turns incubating the eggs for a month. Both parents feed the hatchlings, at first on a diet of
tree or among rocks.
regurgitated earthworms. The young are fully fledged in four months but stay in the nest for about two weeks longer.
Left: The young are born naked
and grow slowly, staying in the nest for about four months.
KEY FACTS
NORTHERN CARDINAL
\~--------------------------------------~ . . . ORDER ~ Passeriformes
FAMILY Emberizidae
GENUS & SPECIES Cardin a/is cardina/is
SIZES Length: 7)1-9 in . Wingspan: 8-10 in . Weight: 1~-2 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Breeding season: March to August. No. of broods: Up to 4 per year. Eggs: 3-4, sometimes 2-5; white or pale green with brown spots. Incubation: 11 -13 days. Fledging period: 9-11 days. LIFESTYLE Habit: Form pairs when breeding. Diet: Insects, berries, and seeds. Call: Ringing "cheer, cheer, cheer" and other whistled notes. Lifespan: Up to 15 years in the wild. RELATED SPECIES The genus Cardinrlis has 2 other species: pyrrhuloxia, C. sinuata, in southwestern deserts and the vermilion cardinal, C. phoenicea, in Colombia and Venezuela.
Range of the northern cardinal. DISTRIBUTION Found from Ontario and Nova Scotia through the eastern, central, and southwestern United States to parts of Mexico and along the Caribbean coast of Central America to Belize. CONSERVATION The northern cardinal is a common bird in all parts of its range and appears to be in no danger. It is even expanding its northern range in Canada and the Great Lakes region .
FEATURES OF THE NORTHERN CARDINAL
Bill: Strongly conical in shape and well adapted fOT crushing seeds.
Male: Has bright red plumage, a red crest, a black face, and a red bill.
Egg: White or greenish color, speckled and spotted with various shades of brown .
The bright red color of the male northern cardinal makes it an easy bird to recognize. In recent decades the northern cardinal has expanded its range from the United States into southern Canada.
Female: Similar in size and shape the male, but plumage is mainly a yellowish brown with touches of red on the crest, wings, and tail .
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The northern cardinal is one of the most colorful and popular birds in North America. It is the state bird of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia. Throughout the eastern United States, it is a frequent visitor to gardens and bird feeders.
~ BREEDING Northern cardinals begin their courtship in early spring, when a female moves into the territory of a nearby male. The two birds face each other with their crests erect. They sway slowly from side to side, singing softly. Soon after this ceremony, the female builds a nest using twigs, grass, bark fibers, and leaves. In it she usually lays three to four eggs. She incubates the eggs
for a little less than two weeks, while the male brings food to her on the nest. After the young hatch, they stay in the nest for about 10 days before they are ready to fly. As soon as the brood fledges, the male takes charge of them and the female begins her second clutch. In a good year, a pair of cardinals may raise as many as four broods.
Left: The northern cardinal has a conical bill that is perfect for crushing a variety of seeds.
Right: Unlike the bright red male, the female is softly colored in yel/ow and brown with reddish touches.
DID YOU KNOW? • A northern cardinal that was kept as a house pet in Atlanta, Georgia, lived for 28!1 years, surviving from 1933 to 1961. This is nearly twice the record lifespan of a wild bird. • The male northern cardinal is so fiercely territorial that he frequently attacks his own reflection in a window or a polished hubcap. Occasionally a bird beats against a glass pane
~ HABITS
The northern cardinal is found throughout the eastern half of the United States, in the Southwest, and in much of Mexico. It lives in thickets and shrubs, sometimes making its home in gardens and parks. The cardinal is strongly territorial and sings all year to proclaim its ownership of a certain area. During a severe winter, however, cardinals may gather
so savagely that he injures or even kills himself. • The northern cardinal gets its name from the bright red robes that are worn by the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. But it did not always have this name. In the 18th century, this bird was commonly referred to as the red-bird. It was also called the Virginia nightingale. The northern cardinal is often seen in suburban gardens and other areas where dense thickets or shrubs grow, including some city parks. It prefers fruitbearing shrubs, which provide food du ring the winter.
in flocks of as many as 60 birds. The cardinal usually remains in the same place and does not migrate. But after the breeding season there is often some shifting of territories. For several decades, the cardinal has been expanding its range northward into Ontario and Nova Scotia. One reason may be that more people are feeding the birds in winter.
Because of his bright color and loud song, the male cardinal is very easy to spot. Both males and females are regular visitors to bird feeders, where they are particularly fond of sunflower seeds.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING During the summer the northern cardinal feeds almost exclusively on insects such as beetles, ants, termites, dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. The adults also feed insects to their young. Over 50 kinds Left: The northern cardinal's nest is in an evergreen tree or a dense thicket, so it is hard to find.
of insects have been reported in this bird's diet. While foraging in thickets and on the ground for insects, the cardinal may eat some spiders, snails, or slugs. When fall arrives, this bird switches to seeds, berries, buds, grain, and flowers. Using its stout, conical bill, it can crush very tough seeds.
