Friday, June 28, 2013

Prairie Spiderwort



Prairie (or Western) Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis)

Genus: Tradescantia
Family: Commelinaceae (Spiderwort
)

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Eared Grebe



Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

Order: Podicipediformes     Family: Grebes (Podicipedidae)

 The Eared Grebe is the most abundant grebe in the world. They range throughout most of central and western North America. It is 30-33 cm (12-13 in) long. And both sexes incubate the eggs.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

White-faced Ibis

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)

Order: Ciconiiformes             Family: Ibises (Threskiornithidae)

Closer shot of a White-faced Ibis

Indigo Bunting



Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinals and Grosbeaks (Cardinalidae)


While Indigo Bunting males may appear blue, they are actually black. It is the diffraction of light as is passes through their feathers that make them appear blue.
Range from the central plains states to the east coast of the United States.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Killdeer



Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Order: Charadriiformes     Family: Plovers (Charadriidae)

This small shorebird measures 23-27 cm (9-10.5 in) in length. Even though they are shorebirds they often do not nest or live near the water. They do not build ‘traditional nests’ and in fact use no nesting materials at all. Instead they lay their eggs among gravel and stones that are similar in color and size. Both sexes incubate the eggs. When predators threaten the eggs or the young, the parent will simulate a broken wing and lead the predator away. They live and breed throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. A flock is also known as a ‘season’ of Killdeers.

Wood Duck

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Order: Anseriformes              Family: Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae)

Saturday, June 1, 2013

American Avocet



American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

Order: Charadriiformes     Family: Avocets and Stilts (Recurvirostridae)

The American Avocet is a wading bird 46-51 cm long (18-20 in) that eats insects, crustaceans, and invertebrates.  It ranges throughout most of the western United States, into southern Canada, and south throughout most of Mexico. Both sexes incubate the eggs and the young leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching. In winter, the head and neck change to a gray coloration. 

Woe to the predator that come close to a nesting Avocet. They can be very aggressive when defending their nests, sometimes even physically striking the predator.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Great Egret



Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Order: Ciconiiformes     Family: Bitterns, Herons and Egrets (Ardeidae)

The Great Egret is also known as the Great White Egret or the Common Egret. It is a little smaller than the Great Blue Heron, 94-104 cm (37-41 in) compared to 117-132 cm (46-52 in) for the Great Blue Heron. The bill is normally yellow except during the breeding season it may appear orange, as this one does. Also note the feather plumes extending back beyond the tail. These are also found during the breeding season.

The Great Egret feeds on small fish of course, but also on frogs, crayfish, snakes, and insects. They generally nest in colonies and build their nests using sticks and twigs fairly high in the trees. Both sexes incubate the eggs.

The National Audubon Society uses the Great Egret as their symbol.