Birdzilla – Enjoyin' Birds https://www.birdzilla.com/ Birdzilla.com is your free resource for wild birds, their information, identification, facts and lots more. Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:52:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.birdzilla.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cropped-BirdZilla-Favicon-32x32.png Birdzilla – Enjoyin' Birds https://www.birdzilla.com/ 32 32 217195672 10 Ohio Ducks – Most Common Species [Based on eBird Data] https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/ohio-ducks/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/ohio-ducks/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:30:42 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=28556 Ducks have beautiful and exotic plumage. They are also easy and fun to watch! In North America, we have a lot of duck species. As …

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Ducks have beautiful and exotic plumage. They are also easy and fun to watch!

In North America, we have a lot of duck species. As with most states and provinces, Ohio is a great place to watch them! Ohio’s Lake Erie shore, marshes, lakes, and other wetlands are excellent habitat for thousands of ducks!

Have you seen ducks in Ohio? We bet you’ve seen a lot of those beautiful birds but how many were you able to identify?

This list of the most common duck species in Ohio will help!

 

Most Common Duck Species in Ohio

Based on eBird data, we made a list showing the most common ducks in Ohio.

Related: What is the state bird of Ohio (& other state symbols)?

We arranged the birds from most common to least common and also included information about their behavior and habitats. To help you identify them, we also included key field marks!

 

Mallard

Mallard pair

Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos
Length: 23 inches
Wingspan: 35 inches

Mallards are the most familiar duck species. For lots of folks, this is “the duck”. They have been domesticated for centuries and lots of them are fed at urban ponds and lakes.

However, make no doubt about it, Mallards are wild birds that also live in lots of wild and remote areas in most of North America. The males have a dark green head, narrow white collar, yellowish beak, and dark brown chest.

Female Mallards, though, can be trickier to identify. They are brown with some paler brown and dark markings, and have a gray-brown neck and head with a dark cap, and a dark line through their eyes.

In flight, we can also recognize female Mallards by their pale tail, and two white wing bards bordering a green-blue wing patch.

In addition to eating bird food and vegetables, Mallards dabble in shallow water for plant matter and small creatures.

Key identifications:

  • Big duck with a glossy green head and yellowish beak.
  • The female has a dark center mark on her orange beak.
  • Short, pale, or white tail.

 

Wood Duck

wood-duck - Bill Horn

Scientific name: Aix sponsa
Length: 18.5 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

Wood Ducks are seriously ornamental birds. The males can seem so exotic, it might be hard to believe they are a wild, native species! However, Wood Ducks are indeed native and fairly common in many parts of southern Canada and the USA.

These cute, slender, long-tailed ducks prefer wooded swamps and other wetlands in forested habitats. The males have a rounded head with a dark green crest, black and white face, short red beak, and jade green back. They also have bright buff flanks and a chestnut chest and undertail.

Female Wood Ducks grayish-brown birds that aren’t nearly as fancy but can still be recognized by their blocky head, white spectacles, slender shape, and mostly dark wings.

Wood Ducks usually occur in pairs but can also form small flocks that forage for acorns, plant matter, and small creatures in and near water. We often hear these ducks give their odd, squealing whistle vocalization before we see them.

Key identifications:

  • Slender duck with a longish tail and a blocky head.
  • Ornate plumage a short, reddish beak.
  • Dark wings with a narrow white line on the base of the trailing edge.

 

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Scientific name: Bucephala albeola
Length: 13.5 inches
Wingspan: 21 inches

Buffleheads are small, cute ducks with rounded heads and stout little beaks. Males are bold, black and white birds with a big white patch on their head. In good light, their head also has green and purple iridescence.

Female Buffleheads are more gray-brown with a white belly, and have a smaller white head patch.

During their fast flight, Buffleheads show a white patch in their wings although the female’s white patch is smaller. These ducks breed on northern, forested lakes in Alaska, Canada, and parts of the northwestern USA.

Like some other small ducks, they need tree cavities for nesting and often use holes made by Northern Flickers.

For the winter, they migrate to coastal waters and lakes, big rivers, and reservoirs in parts of southern Canada and most of the USA. During the winter, they usually occur in flocks, sometimes with other duck species.

Key identifications:

  • Small chunky duck with stout gray beak.
  • Rounded head with a bold white patch.
  • Mostly black and white or grayish with a white belly and small white wing patch.

 

Hooded Merganser

hooded merganser

Scientific name: Lophodytes cucullatus
Length: 18 inches
Wingspan: 24 inches

The Hooded Merganser is one of the prettiest little ducks in North America. Breeding males are handsome ducks with a rounded black and white head, and black neck and back. Their jet black upperparts combine nicely with two black marks on a white chest, and rich, pumpkin-colored flanks.

Females aren’t as colorful but are still pretty in their own way. These brown-gray birds have a slender, yellowish beak, and a deep, caramel-colored, rounded crest.

Both sexes also have a longish, somewhat pointed tail, and small white markings on the base of their slender dark wings.

Hooded Mergansers dive for crayfish, small fish, and other small creatures in wooded swamps and marshes. We don’t see them flock together as much as other ducks do, and they usually occur as pairs.

They mostly breed in forests of southern and western Canada, and the northeastern USA, and winter in wooded wetlands along the Pacific coast and in the eastern USA.

Key identifications:

  • Small duck with a small, slender beak.
  • Blocky or rounded head.
  • White belly and a bit of white on the base of narrow wings.

 

Gadwall

Gadwall pair

Scientific name: Mareca strepera
Length: 20 inches
Wingspan: 33 inches

Gadwalls are medium-sized ducks with a small white patch on the base of each wing. Males are gray ducks with a paler grayish head, some brown feathers on their wings, and a black rump, tail, and undertail.

Female Gadwalls look a lot like female Mallards and have gray-brown plumage with buff markings, and a paler grayish head. Like hen Mallards, they also have an orange and black beak but it is mostly gray on the upper part of the bill.

In flight, both sexes show white bellies, the small white mark on their wing, and much white on their underwings.

Gadwalls forage for seeds and other plant matter in and near shallow water.

These ducks breed in shallow wetlands in central and western Canada, and in various parts of the northern and western USA, but Ohio serves as their wintering ground.

Key identifications:

  • Male is mostly gray with black rear end.
  • Female has grayish head and gray and orange beak.
  • Small white patch on base of wing.

 

Ring-necked Duck

Male Ring-necked Duck

Scientific name: Aythya collaris
Length: 17 inches
Wingspan: 25 inches

Ring-necked Ducks are one of those birds that don’t have the best of names. While males do have a brown ring on their necks, it blends in with their black neck and can be really hard to see.

Ring-necked Ducks should really be called, “Ring-billed Ducks”! The males are best recognized by the white ring near the black tip of their dark gray beak, and their combination of a black back, head, neck, and chest. They also have gray sides and a white mark near their black chest.

Female Ring-necked Ducks are plain, brownish birds with pale bellies and narrow white spectacles on a grayish face. They also show a bit of white on their face, near the base of their bill.

Ring-necked Ducks dabble and make shallow dives for a variety of food items. They like to eat plant matter, insects, and other small aquatic creatures. We find them in a variety of shallow wetlands in much of North America.

Key identifications:

  • Male has black back, head, and chest.
  • Gray sides with white near the black chest.
  • Female has narrow white spectacles on gray face.

 

Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Scientific name: Spatula discors
Length: 15.5 inches
Wingspan: 23 inches

Blue-winged Teals are small ducks with brownish plumage and fairly big, dark beaks. In a lot of places, these little ducks are the commonest waterfowl species. They are also highly migratory and thousands can spend the winter as far south as Panama and northern Colombia!

Male Blue-winged Teals have dark gray heads and a bold white, crescent-shaped patch on their face. They also have a small white patch near their dark tail and a black undertail. Females are duller brown with buff and dark mottling to help hide them during the nesting season.

In flight, just like their name says, both sexes reveal big blue patches on their wings. Blue-winged Teals usually occur in flocks, and in some places, they can number in the thousands!

They like to dabble for plants and small creatures in rice fields, marshes, and other shallow water wetlands. We can see them in most of Canada and the USA and Ohio is no exception. They breed in and migrate through Ohio.

Key identifications:

  • Small duck with a dark beak and white crescent mark on its face.
  • Female has a dark line through her dark eyes.
  • Blue or blue-gray shoulders on its wings.

 

Lesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Scientific name: Aythya affinis
Length: 16.5 inches
Wingspan: 25 inches

Lesser Scaups are smallish or medium-sized diving ducks with a blue-gray beak. Males have a black head with dark green highlights, black chest, and black rear end, pale gray back, and white sides and belly.

Female Lesser Scaups are dark brown with a pale belly, and a white mark on their face. Both sexes have the back part of the head more pointed than the front part. That field mark might not sound like much but it’s one of the best ways to tell them from the extremely similar Greater Scaup!

Lesser Scaups dive to forage in lakes, reservoirs, and coastal bays for mollusks, crustaceans, and other aquatic creatures. In migration and winter, they often occur in flocks that can number in the hundreds!

These smart looking ducks breed on remote lakes and marshes in Alaska, Canada, and in mountains of the western USA. They are common winterers in Ohio.

Key identifications:

  • Bluish beak.
  • Slightly peaked on the back part of its head.
  • Male has black chest, gray body, and dark head, female has a white mark on the front of her face.

 

Ruddy Duck

Stiff-Tailed Ducks

Scientific name: Oxyura jamaicensis
Length: 15 inches
Wingspan: 18.5 inches

Ruddy Ducks are small diving ducks with a unique, big-headed look, and a stiff tail that they often hold upright. Breeding males are a beautiful chestnut bird with a black cap, and a white throat and cheeks. They also have a big and pretty, blue beak that contrasts with the other colors on their head.

Female Ruddy Ducks are grayish birds with darker, more uniform upperparts, and a thick black line on their pale face. They have a duller, darker, more grayish beak than the male. In flight, Ruddy Ducks have mostly dark, rather short and narrow wings.

Ruddy Ducks dive underwater to forage for small aquatic creatures.

This small duck species breeds in shallow marshes and lakes in many parts of central and western North America. They migrate to eastern Canada and the USA, but in some cases, you can see them breeding in Ohio too. Otherwise, Ruddy Ducks are more common during winter, when they spend their time on lakes and other wetlands.

Key identifications:

  • Small duck with big bluish beak and a dark cap.
  • White cheeks or a dark line on pale cheeks.
  • Longish, stiff tail often held upright.

 

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Scientific name: Spatula clypeata
Length: 19 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

Northern Shovelers are a distinctive duck species with a big, prominent beak. Males have striking plumage with a dark green head, and white and chestnut underparts. They are also white and gray on their back, have orange legs, and show blue shoulders in flight.

Female Northern Shovelers are tawny-brown ducks with lots of buff markings, and an orange and gray beak. Both sexes also have a pale tail.

These pretty ducks like to float in marshes and other shallow wetland habitats. They often form flocks and we can see them foraging with Blue-winged Teals and other dabbling ducks. Like many other duck species, Northern Shovelers feed on a combination of plant matter and small aquatic creatures.

Northern Shovelers usually migrate to their breeding grounds to central Canada, reaching some northern parts. These ducks are common during the non-breeding season and are at their highest numbers during migration.

Key identifications:

  • Over-sized, flat beak.
  • Male has a white breast, red-brown sides and belly, and dark green head.
  • Female has a pale tail and orange and gray beak.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common duck in Ohio?

The most common duck in Ohio is the Mallard. According to eBird data, birders in Ohio see this familiar duck more than any other duck species in the state.

Are there teal ducks in Ohio?

Yes, there are teal ducks in Ohio. Three species occur; the Blue-winged Teal, the Green-winged Teal, and the pretty Cinnamon Teal.

Do ducks migrate in Ohio?

Yes, thousands of ducks migrate in Ohio. Several species move through Ohio and also winter in some parts of the state.

Are black ducks rare in Ohio?

No, American Black Ducks are not rare in Ohio. However, they are uncommon and not as easy to see as many other duck species.

Are Mallard ducks in Ohio?

Yes, Mallard ducks are in Ohio. Mallards are the most common duck species in the state.

What is the black and white diving duck in Ohio?

The Black and white diving duck in Ohio could be the Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, or Common Goldeneye.

The post 10 Ohio Ducks – Most Common Species [Based on eBird Data] appeared first on Birdzilla - Enjoyin' Birds.

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Ducks In Texas – 15 Commonly Seen Species https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/texas-ducks/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/texas-ducks/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:38:48 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=28509 Ducks are beautiful birds, and more importantly, they are also some of the easiest birds to watch! We can see ducks all over Canada and …

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Ducks are beautiful birds, and more importantly, they are also some of the easiest birds to watch!

We can see ducks all over Canada and the USA, including in the state of Texas. In Texas, thousands of ducks spend the winter in this state’s coastal lagoons, marshes, and lakes!

How many ducks have you seen in Texas? We bet you’ve seen a lot of ducks but how many could you identify?

This list of the most common ducks in Texas will help!

 

Most Common Duck Species in Texas

According to eBird data, our list shows the most common ducks in Texas.

We arranged these ducks from most common to least common, and also included information about their habitats and behavior.

Since there are lots of different ducks in Texas, this list features 15 of them – the most common ones.

 

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Scientific name: Dendrocygna autumnalis
Length: 21 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are big waterfowl with long pink legs and a dark pink beak. If that sounds fancy, it’s true, they are bold and eye-catching birds!

Adults look similar and are chestnut-brown with a black belly and undertail, gray head, and bold white wing stripes. Juveniles have gray beaks and legs.

These ducks are very social birds that flock together in shallow wetlands and rice fields. On account of their tendency to perch in trees, this species and other whistling-ducks used to be known as “tree-ducks”.

However, since they are also very vocal and often make sharp, whistle-like calls, they are known as “whistling-ducks”.

This species likes to eat grains and other plant matter, and sometimes occurs in big groups. They are also active at night and nest in tree cavities as well as on the ground. In the USA, we can find Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in southern Arizona, southern Texas, Florida, and parts of the southeastern USA.

Key identifications:

  • Big, goose-like duck with a big pink beak.
  • Gray-brown bird with a black belly.
  • Long legs, and dark wings with a bold white wing stripe.

 

Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Scientific name: Spatula discors
Length: 15.5 inches
Wingspan: 23 inches

Blue-winged Teals are small ducks with brownish plumage and fairly big, dark beaks. In a lot of places, these little ducks are the commonest waterfowl species. They are also highly migratory and thousands can spend the winter as far south as Panama and northern Colombia!

Male Blue-winged Teals have dark gray heads and a bold white, crescent-shaped patch on their face. They also have a small white patch near their dark tail and a black undertail. Females are duller brown with buff and dark mottling to help hide them during the nesting season.

Related: What is the state bird of Texas?

In flight, just like their name says, both sexes reveal big blue patches on their wings. Blue-winged Teals usually occur in flocks, and in some places, they can number in the thousands!

They like to dabble for plants and small creatures in rice fields, marshes, and other shallow water wetlands. We can see them in most of Canada and the USA.

Key identifications:

  • Small duck with a dark beak and white crescent mark on its face.
  • Female has a dark line through her dark eyes.
  • Blue or blue-gray shoulders on its wings.

 

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Scientific name: Spatula clypeata
Length: 19 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

Northern Shovelers are a distinctive duck species with a big, prominent beak. Males have striking plumage with a dark green head, and white and chestnut underparts. They are also white and gray on their back, have orange legs, and show blue shoulders in flight.

Female Northern Shovelers are tawny-brown ducks with lots of buff markings, and an orange and gray beak. Both sexes also have a pale tail.

These pretty ducks like to float in marshes and other shallow wetland habitats. They often form flocks, and we can see them foraging with Blue-winged Teals and other dabbling ducks. Like many other duck species, Northern Shovelers feed on a combination of plant matter and small aquatic creatures.

This species breeds in shallow wetlands in Alaska, western and central Canada, and in parts of the northern and western USA. They migrate to coastal marshes and much of the southern USA for the winter.

Key identifications:

  • Over-sized, flat beak.
  • Male has a white breast, red-brown sides and belly, and dark green head.
  • Female has a pale tail and orange and gray beak.

 

Mallard

Mallard pair

Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos
Length: 23 inches
Wingspan: 35 inches

Mallards are the most familiar duck species. For lots of folks, this is “the duck”. They have been domesticated for centuries and lots of them are fed at urban ponds and lakes.

However, make no doubt about it, Mallards are wild birds that also live in lots of wild and remote areas in most of North America. The males have a dark green head, narrow white collar, yellowish beak, and dark brown chest.

Female Mallards, though, can be trickier to identify. They are brown with some paler brown and dark markings, and have a gray-brown neck and head with a dark cap, and a dark line through their eyes.

In flight, we can also recognize female Mallards by their pale tail, and two white wing bards bordering a green-blue wing patch.

In addition to eating bird food and vegetables, Mallards dabble in shallow water for plant matter and small creatures.

Key identifications:

  • Big duck with a glossy green head and yellowish beak.
  • The female has a dark center mark on her orange beak.
  • Short, pale, or white tail.

 

Mottled Duck

Mottled Duck Pair

Scientific name: Anas fluvigula
Length: 22 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

Mottled Ducks are hefty, dark brown ducks with a much paler, buff neck and head. They also have a dark line through each of their dark eyes, buff and dark brown markings on their body, and orange legs. Both sexes look pretty similar except that males have a brighter yellow beak, and females are sometimes paler.

In brief, they are one of the plainer looking duck species in North America. However, although they might not look as pretty as some other birds, the Mottled Duck is pretty special! This waterfowl species has a very small range and only occurs in Florida, on parts of the Gulf of Mexico, and in a few other areas of the southeastern USA.

These cool birds dabble for plants and small creatures in coastal marshes and other shallow wetlands. We usually see them in pairs but, after breeding, they can flock together and feed in farm fields.

Key identifications:

  • Hefty brown duck with a plan buff throat.
  • Plain olive or orange-yellow beak.
  • Orange legs and wings that are mostly dark above, mostly white below.

 

Green-winged Teal

Green-winged Teal

Scientific name: Anas crecca
Length: 14 inches
Wingspan: 23 inches

Green-winged Teals are small waterfowl with a smallish, dark beak, and a dark green patch at the base of each wing. Males of these cute little ducks are mostly gray and have a chestnut head with a dark green patch, speckled, buff chest, and narrow white bar near their chest.

Females are mostly mottled brown with a dark line through each eye. Both sexes have a buff mark on the edge of their tail, and show a white belly in flight. Green-winged Teal like to forage for plants and small creatures in the shallow water of marshes and other wetland habitats.

They breed in Alaska, Canada, and the northern USA, and winter in a variety of wetland habitats in some parts of southern Canada, and most of the USA.

Although this small duck species can form flocks, we often see them in pairs or only in small groups. They also migrate north later than other duck species.

Key identifications:

  • Very small duck.
  • Buffy mark along the edge of each side of its tail.
  • Small dark beak and dark green patch edged with buff on its wings.

 

Lesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Scientific name: Aythya affinis
Length: 16.5 inches
Wingspan: 25 inches

Lesser Scaups are smallish or medium-sized diving ducks with a blue-gray beak. Males have a black head with dark green highlights, black chest, and black rear end, pale gray back, and white sides and belly.

Female Lesser Scaups are dark brown with a pale belly, and a white mark on their face. Both sexes have the back part of the head more pointed than the front part. That field mark might not sound like much but it’s one of the best ways to tell them from the extremely similar Greater Scaup!

Lesser Scaups dive to forage in lakes, reservoirs, and coastal bays for mollusks, crustaceans, and other aquatic creatures. In migration and winter, they often occur in flocks that can number in the hundreds!

These smart looking ducks breed on remote lakes and marshes in Alaska, Canada, and in mountains of the western USA. They winter in many parts of the USA south to northern South America.

Key identifications:

  • Bluish beak.
  • Slightly peaked on the back part of its head.
  • Male has black chest, gray body, and dark head, female has a white mark on the front of her face.

 

American Wigeon

American Wigeon

Scientific name: Mareca americana
Length: 20 inches
Wingspan: 32 inches

American Wigeons are medium-sized ducks with a smallish gray beak. Males are gray with a white crown, some dark green near their eyes, and peach-brown colors on their chest and sides.

They also have a black undertail and show white shoulders in flights. Females look like males but lack white and green on their heads and are a bit duller in general. Both sexes have pointed tails and a white belly especially visible in flight.

American Wigeons like to graze grass and eat grain while walking at the edge of wetlands and in wet fields. They can also pick plant matter and small creatures from the surface of the water and even steal food from other ducks!

This waterfowl species breeds in cold, shallow marshes in Alaska, Canada, and parts of the northern USA. They migrate through much of the USA and winter in coastal waters, and on lakes and other wetlands in southern states.

Key identifications:

  • Rather small pale gray beak.
  • Peach or gray-orange chest and flanks.
  • Male has a white crown and white shoulders, female has grayish head with a dark area around her eyes.

 

Ring-necked Duck

Male Ring-necked Duck

Scientific name: Aythya collaris
Length: 17 inches
Wingspan: 25 inches

Ring-necked Ducks are one of those birds that don’t have the best of names. While males do have a brown ring on their necks, it blends in with their black neck and can be really hard to see.

Ring-necked Ducks should really be called, “Ring-billed Ducks”! The males are best recognized by the white ring near the black tip of their dark gray beak, and their combination of a black back, head, neck, and chest. They also have gray sides and a white mark near their black chest.

Female Ring-necked Ducks are plain, brownish birds with pale bellies and narrow white spectacles on a grayish face. They also show a bit of white on their face, near the base of their bill.

Ring-necked Ducks dabble and make shallow dives for a variety of food items. They like to eat plant matter, insects, and other small aquatic creatures. We find them in a variety of shallow wetlands in much of North America.

Key identifications:

  • Male has black back, head, and chest.
  • Gray sides with white near the black chest.
  • Female has narrow white spectacles on gray face.

 

Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

Photograph © Sam Crowe.

Scientific name: Anas acuta
Length: 21 inches
Wingspan: 34 inches

Northern Pintails are fairly large and slender, gray and creamy white ducks with long necks, and long tails. Breeding males are handsome birds with dark, chocolate-brown on their head and neck, a black undertail, and a long pointed tail feather.

Females and nonbreeding males are gray and tawny birds with a plain, pale tawny head and neck, and a gray beak. In flight, Northern Pintails also show long, pale gray wings, and the males have a dark green patch on the base of each wing.

We see these neat ducks in shallow marshes, and on lakes and other wetlands. They often form small groups that can flock with other waterfowl species.

They forage for grains and small aquatic creatures by dabbling in very shallow water and picking food from the wet ground while walking at the edge of the water, and in wet fields.

We see these pretty ducks in shallow wetland habitats in most of North America.

Key identifications:

  • Fairly large duck with a long, slender neck.
  • Pointed tail.
  • Dark brown or tawny head and a gray beak.

 

Ruddy Duck

Stiff-Tailed Ducks

Scientific name: Oxyura jamaicensis
Length: 15 inches
Wingspan: 18.5 inches

Ruddy Ducks are small diving ducks with a unique, big-headed look, and a stiff tail that they often hold upright. Breeding males are a beautiful chestnut bird with a black cap, and a white throat and cheeks. They also have a big and pretty, blue beak that contrasts with the other colors on their head.

Female Ruddy Ducks are grayish birds with darker, more uniform upperparts, and a thick black line on their pale face. They have a duller, darker, more grayish beak than the male. In flight, Ruddy Ducks have mostly dark, rather short and narrow wings.

Ruddy Ducks dive underwater to forage for small aquatic creatures.

This small duck species breeds in shallow marshes and lakes in many parts of central and western North America. They migrate to eastern Canada and the USA and winter on lakes, in coastal waters, and other wetlands in the western and southern USA.

Key identifications:

  • Small duck with big bluish beak and a dark cap.
  • White cheeks or a dark line on pale cheeks.
  • Longish, stiff tail often held upright.

 

Wood Duck

wood-duck - Bill Horn

Scientific name: Aix sponsa
Length: 18.5 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

Wood Ducks are seriously ornamental birds. The males can seem so exotic, it might be hard to believe they are a wild, native species! However, Wood Ducks are indeed native and fairly common in many parts of southern Canada and the USA.

These cute, slender, long-tailed ducks prefer wooded swamps and other wetlands in forested habitats. The males have a rounded head with a dark green crest, black and white face, short red beak, and jade green back. They also have bright buff flanks and a chestnut chest and undertail.

Female Wood Ducks grayish-brown birds that aren’t nearly as fancy but can still be recognized by their blocky head, white spectacles, slender shape, and mostly dark wings.

Wood Ducks usually occur in pairs but can also form small flocks that forage for acorns, plant matter, and small creatures in and near water. We often hear these ducks give their odd, squealing whistle vocalization before we see them.

Key identifications:

  • Slender duck with a longish tail and a blocky head.
  • Ornate plumage a short, reddish beak.
  • Dark wings with a narrow white line on the base of the trailing edge.

 

Redhead

Redhead

Scientific name: Aythya americana
Length: 19 inches
Wingspan: 29 inches

Redheads are medium-sized ducks that dive in lakes, reservoirs, and bays to catch mollusks and other aquatic animals. Males are eye-catching birds with a bright chestnut head, yellow eyes, pale blue-gray beak with a black tip, black chest and undertail, and gray body.

Females are gray-brown birds that look very different from their male counterparts. Hen Redheads are gray-brown with a paler belly, dark gray beak with a black tip, and plain buffy face.

In flight, both sexes show gray upperwings and much white on their underwings.

Redheads breed in shallow marshes and lakes in Alaska, and central and western North America. In winter, we see these handsome birds on bigger bodies of water in much of the southern USA as well as many coastal waters and parts of the Great Lakes.

After breeding, they can occur in large flocks, especially in the coastal lagoons of South Texas. In that area, wintering Redheads can number in the thousands!

Key identifications:

  • Blue-gray beak with a black tip.
  • Male has dark gray body, black chest, and bright red-brown head.
  • Female mostly tawny-brown with a buff throat.

 

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Scientific name: Bucephala albeola
Length: 13.5 inches
Wingspan: 21 inches

Buffleheads are small, cute ducks with rounded heads and stout little beaks. Males are bold, black and white birds with a big white patch on their head. In good light, their head also has green and purple iridescence.

Female Buffleheads are more gray-brown with a white belly, and have a smaller white head patch.

During their fast flight, Buffleheads show a white patch in their wings although the female’s white patch is smaller. These ducks breed on northern, forested lakes in Alaska, Canada, and parts of the northwestern USA.

Related: Fastest birds in the world

Like some other small ducks, they need tree cavities for nesting and often use holes made by Northern Flickers.

For the winter, they migrate to coastal waters and lakes, big rivers, and reservoirs in parts of southern Canada and most of the USA.

Buffleheads dive to forage for mollusks and other small creatures. They also occur in flocks, sometimes with goldeneyes and other diving birds, especially in winter.

Key identifications:

  • Small chunky duck with stout gray beak.
  • Rounded head with a bold white patch.
  • Mostly black and white or grayish with a white belly and small white wing patch.

 

Canvasback

Canvasback

Scientific name: Aythya valisineria
Length: 21 inches
Wingspan: 29 inches

Canvasbacks are distinctive, medium-sized ducks with a long, gently sloping, black beak. No other duck in North America has a beak like the Canvasback, maybe nowhere else either!

Males have a beautiful, dark chestnut head, dark eyes, black chest, and a pale gray and white body. They also have a black rump, tail, and undertail.

Female Canvasbacks have the same shape as male birds but look quite different. They are pale gray with a sandy brown chest, neck, and head. In flight, both sexes show a lot of white on their underwings.

This duck species dives underwater to forage for mollusks and other aquatic creatures.

Canvasbacks breed in shallow marshes in Alaska, western Canada, and parts of the western USA. Flocks migrate through most parts of the USA. In winter, we can see large flocks of these pretty ducks in coastal bays and on lakes and reservoirs in the southern and eastern USA.

Key identifications:

  • Big, long, blackish, sloped beak.
  • Male has black chest, pale gray body, and dark chestnut head.
  • Female has brownish-gray body, and pale brown head and chest.

 

Ducks In Texas: FAQ’s

What is the most common duck species in Texas?

The most common duck species in Texas is the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. According to eBird, this species is seen more often than any other duck in the state.

How many duck species does Texas have?

Texas has a lot of duck species. The official bird list for Texas has 38 duck species although several are rare vagrants.

How many duck species are native to Texas?

38 duck species are native to Texas but 9 are very rare or vagrants.

 

See more topics: Hawks in Texas | Owls in Texas

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Fastest Flying Bird Countdown: 10 Fastest Fliers (Worldwide) https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/fastest-flying-birds/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/fastest-flying-birds/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 06:45:22 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=27549 Birds can fly really fast! Hawks dive out of the sky at impressive speeds and even small birds are quick. For a challenge, try to …

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Birds can fly really fast! Hawks dive out of the sky at impressive speeds and even small birds are quick. For a challenge, try to keep your binoculars on a small bird in flight!

Most birds that fly are pretty quick, but some species are built for speed. How fast do the quickest birds fly? Why do they fly so fast?

See this article for answers and more about fast-flying birds!

 

How Fast Do Birds Fly?

Some birds fly faster than others but, in general, most bird species have an average flight speed of 15 to 20 miles per hour. That’s how fast cardinals, sparrows, and many other familiar garden birds tend to fly.

However, if those same small birds get chased by a predator or catch a tail wind during migration, they can move at 30 or even 40 miles per hour!

There are also birds that fly slower, species with rounded wings like the Winter Wren, and Ruffed Grouse. These birds don’t fly as fast because they don’t need to. Their rounded, less aerodynamic bodies and short wings are adaptations for living in and flying through dense vegetation. Even so, they can still fly quick but only briefly and for a short distance.

The fast-flying birds are species that usually live in open habitats, migrate long distances, or forage in the air. These are birds like falcons, sandpipers, and swifts. All of them have long, pointed wings and aerodynamic bodies that help them zip through the air with ease.

These birds can have average flight speeds of 40 or even 50 mph but fly faster when chasing prey and being chased by raptors.

 

The Fastest Fliers

#10 Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Mergansers are fast fliers

Max speed: 81 mph
Length: 23 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

Red-breasted Mergansers are one of the fastest ducks. In general, waterfowl fly pretty quickly, but they won’t catch up to this sleek bird!

This duck might be able to fly fast because it’s also a quick swimmer.

Red-breasted Mergansers have aerodynamic, slender bodies that aid in pursuing fish underwater. Those same attributes also work for rapid flight through the air, and they show it by steadily flying at 60 mph.

To see Red-breasted Mergansers on the move, watch coastal areas or the Great Lakes during migration and winter. Hundreds of these ducks zip low over the water in direct, fast-moving flight.

 

#9 Spur-winged Goose

Max speed: 88 mph
Length: 30 to 40 inches
Wingspan: 59 to 79 inches

The Spur-winged Goose is a big waterfowl species that lives in sub-Saharan Africa. Flocks concentrate at wetland habitats and if a crocodile or other predator gets too close, they quickly take to the skies.

When moving short distances, these goose-like birds might not fly so fast. However, while migrating between dry and wet areas, they can reach pretty high speeds. Spur-winged Geese use their long, broad wings to gain altitude and once they reach a certain height, they pick up velocity.

In direct flight, they probably fly 50 mph on average, but if they catch a tailwind or want to move faster, these waterfowl can exceed 80 mph!

 

#8 Magnificent Frigatebird

despite their size, Magnificent Frigatebirds are some of the fastest flying birds

Max speed: 35 mph
Length: 40 inches
Wingspan: 7.5 feet

Magnificent Frigatebirds are huge seabirds that stalk tropical coastal areas. With their long pointed wings, beak, and slender, forked tail, they almost look like modern pterodactyls!

These birds are extremely aerodynamic and spend most of their time on the wing. Although they don’t actually fly extremely fast, Magnificent Frigatebirds are true masters of flight.

Usually, they soar high above beaches until they see a fishing boat, schooling fish, or another smaller seabird carrying a fish.

The frigatebirds then swoop down to snatch fish from the surface or can chase terns and gulls to steal their catch. They are experts at pursuing these smaller birds and stay right on their tails!

 

#7 Eurasian Hobby

Max speed: 99 mph
Length: 11 to 14 inches
Wingspan: 29 to 33 inches

Eurasian Hobbies are small falcons that most live in Europe and Asia. Rarely, one shows up in North America. Perhaps those lost birds flew a bit too far? Or, maybe they just felt like exploring?

Eurasian Hobbies can certainly fly fast enough to reach new and exciting places! These small falcons love to be on the wing. They soar over semi-open areas and watch for swallows, swifts, and other small birds.

If the falcon sees one it thinks it can catch, like a bullet, it flies right at the bird! The Hobby pursues until it can catch up to the unlucky bird and grasp its prey with sharp talons.

 

#6 Common Swift

Max speed: 103 mph
Length: 6.5 inches
Wingspan: 16 inches

Common Swifts are complete aerialists. The cigar-shaped birds with long, pointed wings are so adapted to flying, they even sleep while in the air!

Like other swift species, Common Swifts soar and zip through the skies to catch small insects with their wide, open mouths. While foraging and courting with each other, Common Swifts can rocket through the skies.

Amazingly, these masters of flight can reach speeds of 100 mph! That comes in handy when they are attacked by falcons that cam move even faster. To escape falcons, swifts keep an eye out for the quick raptors and stay out of their hunting range.

 

#5 White-throated Needletail

Max speed: 105 mph
Length: 7.8 inches
Wingspan: 11 inches

The White-throated Needletail is another swift species that flies at incredible speeds. All swifts are fast but this species can go faster than 100 mph! Like other members of its aerialist family, the White-throated Swift has a tapered, tube or cigar-shaped body that helps them slice through the air with ease.

They also have long, slender, pointed wings that they can use for soaring as well as quickly beating them for fast, direct flight. Like the Common Swift, White-throated Needletails fly fast so they can forage over larger areas.

They also need to fly quickly so they can escape from predators, and to migrate long distances.

 

#4 Gyrfalcon

gyrfalcons are fast fliers

Max speed: 130 mph
Length: 22 inches
Wingspan: 47 inches

Gyrfalcons are the biggest falcons on the planet. They also fly as fast as a runaway train! These hefty falcons are deadly Arctic predators with long, pointed wings and a tapered shape that help them reach speeds of 130 mph.

They live in open places where they watch for birds and other prey from a cliff or other elevated perch. When a Gyrfalcon spots a ptarmigan or other animal, it takes to the air and then picks up speed as it flies directly towards its prey.

The falcon usually courses low, hugging the ground and flying faster so it can catch the animal by surprise.

 

#3 Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

Max speed: 200 mph
Length: 30 inches
Wingspan: 6.5 feet

Golden Eagles are one of the most powerful raptors. These impressive birds are top predators because of their large size, fierce hooked beaks, and strong feet tipped with long, sharp talons. However, Golden Eagles also sit at the top of the avian food chain because they are fantastic fliers.

We usually see these large raptors using their long, broad wings to soar high overhead and lazily flap from one hunting area to the next. However, when they pursue prey, Golden Eagles turn up the speed.

The eagles swoop down on prey at high speed, and can even reach diving speeds of 200 mph!

 

#2 Saker Falcon

Max speed: 200 mph
Length: 18-22 inches
Wingspan: 38 to 50 inches

The Saker Falcon is a true contender for the title of fastest flying bird. These falcons have long been prized by falconers for their power and speed. Closely related to the Gyrfalcon, this big and bulky falcon is a powerful bird that flies down ducks, partridges, rodents, and other prey.

Like the Gyrfalcon, it flaps its long, pointed wings to fly fast and direct at its prey. In straight flight, they probably reach speeds of an incredible 93 mph!

However, when Saker Falcons dive on prey, they can go as fast as 200 mph! This rare falcon hunts in the open plains of central Asia and winters in parts of southern Asia and Africa.

 

#1 Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcons are the fastest birds in the world

Max speed: 242 mph
Length: 16 inches
Wingspan: 41 inches

Peregrine Falcons are well known for being the fastest bird in the world.

Truly built for speed, these sleek and powerful raptors have a tapered, aerodynamic shape, and long, pointed wings that slice through the air.

Peregrine Falcons hunt for their avian prey by watching from a cliff, building, or other high perch, and then flying out to catch it. They can also soar or fly around while hunting and often chase down sandpipers, ducks, pigeons, and other quick birds.

Peregrines can catch prey in direct flight, but they usually fly high above and then dive down on the hapless bird at speeds that can exceed 200 mph!

 

Fastest Flying Birds – Frequently Asked Questions

What bird is the fastest bird in the world?

The fastest bird in the world is the Peregrine Falcon. This powerful raptor can dive as fast as 242 miles per hour!

What bird has the fastest-moving wings?

In flight, hummingbirds are the birds that have the fastest-moving wings. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird can beat its 50 times a second, and possibly even 200 times per second during courtship!

Which bird runs fastest?

The Ostrich is the bird that runs fastest. Ostriches can reach running speeds of 43 mph.

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Divorce Rates & Possible Cheating: Do Cardinals Mate For Life? https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/do-cardinals-mate-for-life/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/do-cardinals-mate-for-life/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:56:45 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=28255 Cardinals are such gorgeous backyard birds! Their red colors lend a touch of cheer to the yard, especially on dreary winter days. Even better, if …

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Cardinals are such gorgeous backyard birds! Their red colors lend a touch of cheer to the yard, especially on dreary winter days.

Even better, if your backyard has shrubbery, Northern Cardinals might nest in it. It’s hard to tell cardinals apart, but when they nest in the backyard year after year, I can’t help but wonder if I’m watching the same pair of birds.

Do cardinals mate for life? How strong of a bond do cardinal pairs form?

 

The Bonds Between Cardinals

It’s often said that cardinals mate for life. However, the reality of the situation is a bit more complicated. While Northern Cardinals do form long-term pair bonds, they can also get a divorce!

It is widely believed that 20% of Northern Cardinals pairs break up. This usually happens usually when is nest is unsuccessful. However, once in a while, cardinals also break up for unknown reasons.

Cardinal pairs can also “cheat” on their mates! It’s not that common, but according to an old study, biologists found that 13% of baby cardinals have fathers who are not their mother’s primary mate.

To prevent such cheating, male Northern Cardinals are very protective of their mates and will drive off and fight other male cardinals in their territory. However, despite these facts, Northern Cardinals do typically form long term pair bonds.

Northern Cardinals have strong binds and usually mate for life

Once a female chooses a male, in most cases, she stays with that same mate for the rest of her life. The two birds may defend the same territory all year long, or, they might flock with other cardinals in the winter and then nest together again in spring and summer.

Northern Cardinals might get divorces and be eager to find new mates because most don’t live longer than a few years.

 

How do cardinals find their mates?

Northern Cardinals find their mates the same way many other songbirds do. First and foremost, males have to look and sound impressive enough for a female to pick them.

To make this happen, in spring, male Northern Cardinals sing from a prominent perch over and over. At this time of year, they have fresh, bright plumage and louder voices than other months.

Although we aren’t exactly sure what female cardinals look for in a mate, they probably prefer males with bright and healthy plumage and a loud voice. Since the females are searching for a mate who can help them raise healthy offspring, a strong and healthy male is a basic requisite.

If a male is lucky enough to attract an interested female cardinal, the birds continue with courtship displays. These include male birds twisting and rotating their bodies while showing their chest, holding their crest down, and spreading their wings. They can also sing while giving a similar display.

Their fanciest display is when male cardinals fly into the air, raise their crest, and sing as they slowly descend toward the female!

To strengthen their pair bond, female cardinals also give simple displays where they hold their wings partially open.

 

Do Males Stay With The Family?

Female Northern Cardinals carry out a lot of the nesting duties but male Northern Cardinals definitely help too. The female builds the nest but her mate often helps her choose the place to build it.

During the 11 to 13 day incubation period, female cardinals incubate and take care of the eggs. However, her mate brings her food throughout the day, maybe a couple of times per hour. When bringing food, the birds communicate by singing.

Cardinals stay together for long periods

Thankfully, male cardinals do stay with their mates and even help them care for the young ones.

The female usually sings a quiet song or a just a few notes, and the male responds. He might feed her as she sits on the eggs, or bring her food away from their nest. Either way, the pair probably work together to try and avoid predators as much as possible.

If a predator like a crow or raccoon sees the nest, they’ll eventually get to the eggs and might even kill the adults too!

Related: How to attract cardinals to your garden?

When the eggs hatch, the father cardinal continues to bring food to his mate as well as the babies. For the first two days, she and the baby birds are entirely dependent on him.

By the third day, both parents bring food and keep feeding nestlings for 25 to 50 days after they leave the nest.

 

Relations Between Cardinals: Some Fun Facts

  • Northern Cardinals build cup nests made of twigs and grass, and lined with leaves, grass, fur, or hair.
  • Cardinals can raise one to three broods of young each nesting season.
  • Male cardinals are very territorial during the breeding season but can join flocks of other cardinals in the winter months.
  • Northern Cardinals have a wide variety of songs and more than 20 different types have been recognized. The best known cardinal songs are ones that sounds like, “What cheer! What cheer!” and “chew chew chew chew chew”.
  • To help their babies grow, male and female Northern Cardinals can feed them eight times per hour!
  • If a cardinal loses its mate, the bird quickly finds a new one. The new mate is often another cardinal that has lost a mate or one that couldn’t find a mate at the start of the breeding season.
  • Cardinal families can stay together for two months. After this time, young cardinals strike out on their own.
  • Male Northern Cardinals feed their female counterparts during courtship. When feeding them, it can look like the birds are kissing!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cardinals lifelong partners?

Yes, cardinals are usually lifelong partners. However, they do have a 20% divorce rate.

Why do male cardinals feed females?

Male cardinals feed females to show that they are good at finding food, and to form a strong pair bond.

Do cardinals love each other?

It’s hard to say if cardinals actually love each other. However, they certainly form strong pair bonds where they show affection and devotion to each other.

Do cardinals mourn the loss of a mate?

Cardinals don’t usually mourn the loss of a mate. Since they might only live for a few years, cardinals can’t afford to waste any time in finding a new mate.

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Owls In South Carolina – 6 Species (Incl. The Snowy Owl) https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/owls-in-south-carolina/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/owls-in-south-carolina/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:49:28 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=28473 Do owls live in South Carolina? Yes, and three owl species are common birds in the state! In South Carolina, we hear and see Barred …

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Do owls live in South Carolina? Yes, and three owl species are common birds in the state!

In South Carolina, we hear and see Barred Owls just about everywhere. The powerful Great Horned Owl is also fairly common and we can listen to the whinnying calls of Eastern Screech-Owls throughout the state.

How many owls live in South Carolina? Which are the common owl species and which ones are rare?

See this article to learn all about the owls of South Carolina!

 

The Rundown: Owls in South Carolina

Based on eBird data, there are six different owl species in South Carolina. Although hard to find, owls inhabit most wooded areas – from open farmlands and fields to thicker forests.

Related: What is the state bird of South Carolina?

Since South Carolina is located in the southeast, most of its owls are winterers, but others stay year-round.

 

Barred Owl

Barred Owl

Photograph © Greg Lavaty.

  • Range: A permanent resident in most forested areas in Canada, parts of some Pacific Northwestern states, and most of the eastern USA.
  • Length: 21 inches
  • Wingspan: 42 inches
  • Call: Makes loud hooting and caterwalling sounds, “Who cooks for you?! Who cooks for youaaaal!”

The Barred Owl is a medium to large owl with a round head and a narrow black border on its pale gray face. It has dark brown upperparts with white markings, and dark brown streaks on its belly.

This species also has a yellowish beak and dark eyes. Both sexes look the same except that females are a bit larger than males.

The Barred Owl flaps and glides on big, broad wings. It also has a medium-length, broad tail with a few dark brown bands.

Barred Owls live in deciduous and coniferous forests and woodlands. They nest in the abandoned nests of raptors and in tree cavities

Key Identifications:

  • Big owl with a round head that has white marks on dark brown upperparts, and dark brown streaks on pale underparts.
  • Perches and swoops through wooded areas at night but can also be active in the day.
  • Nests in tree cavities and in abandoned nests of crows and hawks.
  • Catches a wide variety of small animals.

 

Great Horned Owl

Great-Horned Owl
  • Range: Permanent resident in much of Alaska, Canada, and the USA.
  • Length: 22 inches
  • Wingspan: 44 inches
  • Call: Makes a low, gruff, “hooo, hoo hoo hoo hoooo”.

The Great Horned Owl is a big, bulky owl with big ear tufts and a black beak. It is mottled gray and brown, has a rufous or gray face, and fine black barring on its underparts. This owl also has a white throat and some dark marks on its breast.

Males and female Great Horned Owls look the same but females are larger. They also have a medium-length tail with dark bands, and long, broad wings.

This nocturnal owl species lives in every possible habitat, including urban areas.

Key Identifications:

  • Big, bulky brown or gray owl with ear tufts and fine barring on its underparts.
  • Nests in old stick nests of other large birds, on ledges, and in other situations.
  • Watches from a perch or glides over open habitats at night, to catch mammals and some birds on the ground.

 

Eastern Screech-Owl

Eastern screech owl
  • Range: Permanent resident in parts of southeastern Canada, and in much of the eastern USA.
  • Length: 8.5 inches
  • Wingspan: 20 inches
  • Call: Makes a rather high-pitched, descending whinny call, and a tremulous, vibrating call on the same pitch, “wududududududududududu”.

The Eastern Screech Owl is a small owl with ear tufts. It can be reddish, brown, or mostly gray, has “V”-shaped pale eyebrows, and some black on the edge of its face. It is also mottled above with some white spotting, and has pale underparts with dark barring and streaks.

Males and females look alike but females are a bit larger. This species also has yellow eyes, a pale yellow-gray beak, and some white bands on its broad tail.

Eastern Screech Owls live in wooded and park-like habitats; during the day, they hide in holes, or in dense vegetation.

Key Identifications:

  • Small owl with ear tufts and mottled brown or gray plumage that lives east of the Rocky Mountains.
  • Lives in a variety of wooded and park-like habitats.
  • Nests in tree cavities and nest boxes.
  • Swoops down to the ground catch a variety of small animals at night.

 

Barn Owl

Barn Owl
  • Range: In Canada, occurs mostly in southwestern British Columbia. In the USA, they live in many areas but are absent from mountains and cold, northern regions. They range north to Washington, Nebraska, Iowa, and New York.
  • Length: 16 inches
  • Wingspan: 42 inches
  • Call: A shrill, loud, hissing “shriiiiii!”

The Barn Owl is a medium to large, pale owl with golden tan and gray upperparts, and white underparts. It has a distinctive, white, heart-shaped face.

Both sexes are alike but females are a bit larger than males and have buff on their chest.

In flight, Barn Owls look like a large, pale, moth-like bird with a big, rounded head.

This owl hunts in grasslands, farms, and other open habitats. They live in South Carolina year-round but are still pretty rare.

Key Identifications:

  • Large pale owl with a heart-shaped face.
  • Glides and flutters over fields and other open areas at night.
  • Nests in tree cavities, crevices in church steeples and other structures, and next boxes.
  • Preys on rats and other small animals.

 

Short-eared Owl (rare)

Short-eared Owl
  • Range: Summer resident in Alaska, Canada, and the western and central USA. Northern birds migrate to the USA, south to California and Texas.
  • Length: 15 inches
  • Wingspan: 38 inches
  • Call: Makes a hoarse, raspy, cat-like call, “rehw”.

The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized, pale brown owl with dark eye patches on a pale face. They have a dark breast and streaks on pale underparts. This species has long wings with buff wing patches.

Both sexes look similar but females are a bit larger and usually darker and buffier.

This owl is active day and night in open fields. Even though South Carolina is part of this bird’s wintering range, they are pretty rare.

Key Identifications:

  • Medium-sized pale brown and buffy owl with very short ear tufts.
  • Dark eye patches on a pale face and long wings with buff patches near the wingtips.
  • Nests on the ground in dense vegetation.
  • Glides over open fields to catch small animals on the ground.

 

Snowy Owl (vagrant)

Snowy Owl
  • Range: Summer resident in northern Alaska and northern Canada. It winters in Canada and the northern USA.
  • Length: 23 inches
  • Wingspan: 52 inches
  • Call: Usually quiet but occasionally makes a low, gruff call, “whew…whuh”.

The Snowy Owl is a big, mostly white owl with a round head and yellow eyes. Some males are mostly white but most have some small dark marks. Females and young birds have white faces and varying degrees of black barring.

Females are a bit larger than males and have more black markings than males. Snowy Owls also have long, broad wings and a broad tail.

Snowy owls are rare vagrants to South Carolina, they usually inhabit northern parts of the United States. However, over the years, there have been more and more reports of them being seen in more southern areas, such as Illinois and even Missouri.

Key Identifications:

  • Big white owl with a round head, and varying degrees of black or dark gray barring and spots.
  • Lives in tundra and winters in wide open habitats.
  • Nests on the ground, on elevated spots in Arctic tundra.
  • Watches from a perch and glides low to catch small animals on the ground.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there owls on Hilton Head Island?

Yes, there are owls on Hilton Head Island. The Great Horned Owl is the most common owl species seen on Hilton Head.

What type of owls live in SC?

Several types of owls live in SC including the Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, and the Eastern Screech-Owl.

What is the rarest owl to see in SC?

The rarest owl to see in SC is the Burrowing Owl. This small owl species is a rare vagrant to South Carolina.

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From Charms To Shimmers: Collective Names of Hummingbirds https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/what-is-a-group-of-hummingbirds-called/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/what-is-a-group-of-hummingbirds-called/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:45:57 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=27599 Hummingbirds are surreal little creatures! Like feathered fairies, these tiny birds entertain with metallic, shining colors and fearless attitudes. Hummingbirds forage on their own, but …

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Hummingbirds are surreal little creatures! Like feathered fairies, these tiny birds entertain with metallic, shining colors and fearless attitudes.

Hummingbirds forage on their own, but several can gather at feeders and flowering bushes. They don’t exactly flock together but lucky birders can see several at the same time.

What do we call a group of hummingbirds? Why do groups of hummingbirds have those names?

 

What Is A Group Of Hummingbirds Called?

When birders see hummingbirds, they usually refer to them by the names we give to each species. A lot of people also call them by shortened names or nicknames. For example, if you live in the eastern USA and Canada, you might hear people referring to Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as “Ruby-throats” or even “Rubies.”

Out west, there will be “Anna’s,” “Black-chinneds,” and other species. Many folks also name the hummingbirds that come to their yards! Like pets, they might call them names like “Zippy,” “Ruby,” or even “Jimmy.”

It's rare to see hummingbirds together in groups

Although we can see several hummingbirds together, since they don’t exactly interact with each other like other birds do, we don’t refer to them as “a flock”.

However, there is an official term for a group of hummingbirds. A group of these small birds is known as “a charm.”

This is a fitting term for lovely little birds that are fun to watch and have jewel-like plumage.

 

Why Is It Called A Charm?

Names for groups of birds can date back hundreds of years. Some of these terms for birds can even be seen in printed books that date back to the 15th century.

In general, the most frequently used collective nouns for birds are for common flocking species like crows and geese. Those terms are usually associated with the bird’s appearance and/or behavior.

For example, the term for a flock of crows is known as “a murder” because crows in Europe often feed on carrion. As for hummingbirds, it’s hard to say when “a charm” was first used. It doesn’t appear in many books and may have been invented and locally used before becoming accepted as the main term for a group of hummingbirds.

However, it’s no surprise that “a charm” has become the most accepted name for a group of these beautiful little birds.

The term basically comes from attributes related to their colors and how we feel about them.

Given their beauty and adorable nature, it’s hard not to like hummingbirds! Or, we could also say that it’s hard not to feel charmed by these lovely birds. Since a charm also refers to a small piece of jewelry, this is a perfect term for a group of shining, beautiful hummingbirds.

 

Other Names For A Group Of Hummingbirds

There have been several terms used for a group of hummingbirds. Three of the most common are “a bouquet,” “a chattering,” and “a glittering.”

A bouquet of hummingbirds came about because the bright pinks, reds, and other colors on hummingbirds can remind us of flowers. Since hummingbirds also feed on flowers, “a bouquet” is a nice term for these lovely birds.

Looking at their plumage, it is easy to see why a group of hummingbirds is called a shimmer or a charm

A chattering of hummingbirds refers to the sputtering sounds that hummingbirds make. Although hummingbirds don’t usually sing like other birds, they do make lots of chattering sounds.

They are also especially vocal around other hummingbirds, even if most of the sounds seem to be related to bickering with each other!

Glittering is one of the better terms for a group of hummingbirds. Most hummingbird species do have glittering plumage, even the duller females. Although they might seem dull in the shade, just wait until that hummingbird flies into sunlight!

When the sun hits the gorget of a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the right angle, it really does look like it has a glowing ruby on its throat! The same goes for Anna’s Hummingbirds and so many other species.

A few other terms for a group of hummingbirds include “a hover”, “a trouble”, and “a shimmering”.

 

How Often Do Hummingbirds Gather In Groups?

Hummingbirds can be seen together but these birds are actually loners. All hummingbird species forage on their own and none form long-term pair bonds. This solitary nature has everything to do with their constant feeding needs.

While other birds might flock together to feed on seeds and for protection, hummingbirds have to eat so often, they can’t afford to share their food. When a hummingbird finds a bunch of flowers to feed from, it has to feed ASAP and as much as possible.

Hummingbirds do not gather in groups often

If not, since the hummingbird has to eat every 15 minutes or so, if it doesn’t get enough food, the small bird can become weak and quickly die!

Even so, hummingbirds can occur in groups. Although they don’t flock together, they will gather at a good food source. It’s why we see so many at feeders and at spots with lots of flowering bushes.

If few other flowers are available and those food sources are the only ones around, lots of hummingbirds can appear. The same thing can happen during migration. While hummingbirds are moving through an area, lots can gather at a feeder. If you have that happen, be happy that you are helping those little birds with vital food!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hummingbirds social creatures?

No, hummingbirds are not social creatures. However, hummingbirds can gather at the same food source.

When do hummingbirds form groups?

Hummingbirds form groups when they gather at a feeder or other food source.

Do hummingbirds migrate in groups?

No, hummingbirds do not migrate in groups. They migrate on their own but can occur in the same general area.

 

Conclusion

A group of hummingbirds is known as “A Charm”. They can also be known as “A Glittering”, “A Chattering”, “A Shimmering”, and other terms. However, although we can see a bunch of hummingbirds at feeders and other food sources, they don’t flock together on purpose.

If you see A Charm of hummingbirds at your feeders, consider yourself lucky and know that you are helping those beautiful little birds!

The post From Charms To Shimmers: Collective Names of Hummingbirds appeared first on Birdzilla - Enjoyin' Birds.

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The Diet Of Hummingbirds: What Do They Eat? https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/what-do-hummingbirds-eat/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/what-do-hummingbirds-eat/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:58:04 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=27126 Hummingbirds are always hungry! At least, it seems that way when I watch them at feeders. The little feathered sprites are always feeding or trying to …

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Hummingbirds are always hungry! At least, it seems that way when I watch them at feeders. The little feathered sprites are always feeding or trying to chase the other hummingbirds away from their food!

Hummingbirds need to eat a lot, and they love nectar, but do they eat anything else? Is sugar water really the only item on their menu?

 

Key takeaways:

  • Although small, hummingbirds have hyper-fast metabolisms; they usually eat several times their body weight in nectar per day!
  • Hummingbirds’ diets are not only nectar-based; they also eat several kinds of insects for protein.
  • Although hummingbirds get their fill from flowers, it’s important to keep the feeders up as long as they are around. Sometimes, they just need an extra boost of energy!

 

The Diet of Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are some of the most distinctive birds on the planet. In addition to being the smallest members of the avian realm, they specialize in flower nectar. They don’t just eat a little bit of nectar either but feed on it constantly.

Fortunately, the hummingbird species that live in North America have a wide variety of flowers to choose from. Even so, they won’t take nectar from any old flower. They prefer to forage at plants with tubular-shaped flowers and other blossoms adapted to hummingbird beaks.

Costa's Hummingbird feeding

Hummingbirds love tubular flowers; they are long enough, so hummingbirds pop their bills in and have a go at the nectar.

That’s no coincidence; when hummingbirds feed from plants, they also help pollinate them. In Central and South America, the shapes of hummingbird beaks are even more specialized. Some species have curved beaks for curved flowers and one, the Sword-billed Hummingbird has an extremely long bill adapted for feeding from Angel Trumpet flowers!

Related: Attracting hummingbirds with plants (tips for gardeners)

As anyone with hummingbird feeders knows, the feisty little birds also love sugar water. In the right proportions (and without red dye), it acts as a good substitute for nectar. Don’t worry, though; as much as they like sugar water, hummingbirds still drink wild nectar.

However, it’s still not the only thing hummingbirds eat. They also pick tiny bugs from spider webs and catch small insects in the air.

 

What Do Baby Hummingbirds Eat?

Baby hummingbirds are born helpless and spend most of their time waiting for food, feeding, and growing. Their mother takes care of all nesting duties, including bringing them food.

Usually, she starts feeding her babies shortly after they hatch. Sometimes, the babies have to wait for a while, even up to 11 hours, but she usually feeds them within the first few hours.

Baby hummingbirds waiting for their meal

The baby hummingbirds eat a blend of regurgitated nectar and small insects and spiders. This is their sole diet for the first two weeks of their lives, all of it regurgitated by their mother!

She feeds her babies by inserting her beak directly into their mouths. After two weeks, she changes this feeding method and, instead of regurgitating the food, the mother bird brings small insects. She gives these tiny meals to them or places the bugs near the young birds so they can pick it up with their own beaks.

 

What Should You Keep In Mind When Feeding Hummingbirds?

Feeding hummingbirds is fun and can help them, especially during migration. However, to feed the little birds safely, there are a few, very important things to keep in mind.

To keep hummingbirds out of reach of cats and other predators, place feeders in open areas far enough away from bushes where predators can hide. It’s also a good idea to hang them at least 5 feet above the ground.

Where possible, we should also put up hummingbird feeders in semi-shaded areas. That way, the sugar water doesn’t get cooked under bright sun, and is less likely to have problems with fungus.

Regarding sugar water, it’s very important to provide birds with the right proportions. Too much sugar can cause problems, and too little sugar doesn’t provide hummingbirds with enough energy.

Fortunately, making hummingbird nectar is easy and only requires one part sugar to four parts water.

You don’t need red dye either, and in fact, you should never use it. This substance can cause health issues for hummingbirds!

The last vital thing to keep in mind is to keep your feeders clean. Wash them with hot water once or twice a week. If not, fungus and bacteria can grow that harms the birds.

Hummingbirds often come to feeders, they really enjoy sugar water

 

The Feeding Habits of Hummingbirds

  • Hummingbirds catch small insects by snapping them out of the air, and picking them from spider webs and vegetation.
  • These small birds sometimes follow sapsuckers around. When a sapsucker makes new holes or “sap wells,” the hummingbird can fly in to look for insects and drink some fresh sap.
  • To quickly feed on nectar and sugar water, hummingbirds lap their tongue in and out, 15 to 20 times per second!
  • The high number of hummingbird feeders in eastern states has resulted in some western species migrating through or even wintering in Louisiana and some other places.
  • Hummingbirds are very protective of their food sources. To ensure that they have enough to eat, they are always ready and willing to chase other hummingbirds away.
  • Being capable of hovering in place and flying in every direction helps hummingbirds forage at various types of flowers.
  • Hummingbirds have such high levels of metabolism that they need to feed every ten or fifteen minutes!
  • The first hummingbird feeders for sale were made by the Audubon Novelty Company and became available in 1950.

Learn more: Fun Facts About Hummingbirds & Their Habits

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What do hummingbirds like to eat the most?

Hummingbirds like to eat nectar, sugar water, and small insects the most.

How much do hummingbirds eat per day?

Hummingbirds can eat eight times their own body weight in nectar per day!

Do hummingbirds need protein?

Yes, hummingbirds need protein. They eat small insects just about every day.

What type of flowers do hummingbirds like best?

The type of flowers that hummingbirds like best are small, tubular-shaped blossoms and red flowers such as Sage species, Honeysuckle, Bee Balm, and Cardinal Flower.

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Know Your Ducks: Minnesota Duck Species (Top 15) https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/minnesota-ducks/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/minnesota-ducks/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:27:40 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=27075 Ducks are fancy and fun birds to watch. Mallards aren’t the only species, either! Lots of ducks live in Canada and the USA and most …

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Ducks are fancy and fun birds to watch. Mallards aren’t the only species, either!

Lots of ducks live in Canada and the USA and most are pretty easy to see. One great place to watch ducks is Minnesota. The state’s hundreds of lakes, ponds, and marshes are ideal and important habitat for large numbers of waterfowl.

Have you watched ducks in Minnesota? We bet you’ve seen a lot, but how many were you able to identify?

This list of the most common ducks in Minnesota will help!

 

Most Common Ducks in Minnesota

Based on eBird data, our list shows the most common ducks in Minnesota.

We arranged these duck species from most common to least common. We also included information about the habitats they use and their behavior. To help with identification, we mention key field marks!

 

Mallard

Mallard pair

Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos
Length: 23 inches
Wingspan: 35 inches

Mallards are the most familiar duck species. For lots of folks, this is “the duck”. They have been domesticated for centuries and lots of them are fed at urban ponds and lakes.

However, make no doubt about it, Mallards are wild birds that also live in lots of wild and remote areas in most of North America. The males have a dark green head, narrow white collar, yellowish beak, and dark brown chest.

Female Mallards, though, can be trickier to identify. They are brown with some paler brown and dark markings, and have a gray-brown neck and head with a dark cap, and a dark line through their eyes.

In flight, we can also recognize female Mallards by their pale tail, and two white wing bards bordering a green-blue wing patch.

Mallards are incredibly common in Minnesota and can be found year-round.

Key identifications:

  • Big duck with a glossy green head and yellowish beak.
  • The female has a dark center mark on her orange beak.
  • Short, pale, or white tail.

 

Wood Duck

wood-duck - Bill Horn

Scientific name: Aix sponsa
Length: 18.5 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

Wood Ducks are seriously ornamental birds. The males can seem so exotic, it might be hard to believe they are a wild, native species! However, Wood Ducks are indeed native and fairly common in many parts of southern Canada and the USA.

These cute, slender, long-tailed ducks prefer wooded swamps and other wetlands in forested habitats. The males have a rounded head with a dark green crest, black and white face, short red beak, and jade green back. They also have bright buff flanks and a chestnut chest and undertail.

Female Wood Ducks grayish-brown birds that aren’t nearly as fancy but can still be recognized by their blocky head, white spectacles, slender shape, and mostly dark wings.

Wood Ducks usually occur in pairs but can also form small flocks that forage for acorns, plant matter, and small creatures in and near water. We often hear these ducks give their odd, squealing whistle vocalization before we see them.

Key identifications:

  • Slender duck with a longish tail and a blocky head.
  • Ornate plumage a short, reddish beak.
  • Dark wings with a narrow white line on the base of the trailing edge.

 

Hooded Merganser

hooded merganser

Scientific name: Lophodytes cucullatus
Length: 18 inches
Wingspan: 24 inches

The Hooded Merganser is one of the prettiest little ducks in North America. Breeding males are handsome ducks with rounded black and white heads and black necks and backs. Their jet black upperparts combine nicely with two black marks on a white chest, and rich, pumpkin-colored flanks.

Females aren’t as colorful but are still pretty in their own way. These brown-gray birds have a slender, yellowish beak, and a deep, caramel-colored, rounded crest.

Both sexes also have a longish, somewhat pointed tail, and small white markings on the base of their slender dark wings.

Hooded Mergansers dive for crayfish, small fish, and other small creatures in wooded swamps and marshes. We don’t see them flock together as much as other ducks do, and they usually occur as pairs.

They mostly breed in forests of southern and western Canada, and the northeastern USA, and winter in wooded wetlands along the Pacific coast and in the eastern USA.

Key identifications:

  • Small duck with a small, slender beak.
  • Blocky or rounded head.
  • White belly and a bit of white on the base of narrow wings.

 

Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Scientific name: Spatula discors
Length: 15.5 inches
Wingspan: 23 inches

Blue-winged Teals are small ducks with brownish plumage and fairly big, dark beaks. In a lot of places, these little ducks are the commonest waterfowl species. They are also highly migratory and thousands can spend the winter as far south as Panama and northern Colombia!

Male Blue-winged Teals have dark gray heads and a bold white, crescent-shaped patch on their face. They also have a small white patch near their dark tail and a black undertail. Females are duller brown with buff and dark mottling to help hide them during the nesting season.

In flight, just like their name says, both sexes reveal big blue patches on their wings. Blue-winged Teals usually occur in flocks, and in some places, they can number in the thousands!

They like to dabble for plants and small creatures in rice fields, marshes, and other shallow water wetlands. We can see them in most of Canada and the USA.

Key identifications:

  • Small duck with a dark beak and white crescent mark on its face.
  • Female has a dark line through her dark eyes.
  • Blue or blue-gray shoulders on its wings.

 

Ring-necked Duck

Male Ring-necked Duck

Scientific name: Aythya collaris
Length: 17 inches
Wingspan: 25 inches

Ring-necked Ducks are one of those birds that don’t have the best of names. While males do have a brown ring on their necks, it blends in with their black neck and can be really hard to see.

Ring-necked Ducks should really be called, “Ring-billed Ducks”! The males are best recognized by the white ring near the black tip of their dark gray beak, and their combination of a black back, head, neck, and chest. They also have gray sides and a white mark near their black chest.

Female Ring-necked Ducks are plain, brownish birds with pale bellies and narrow white spectacles on a grayish face. They also show a bit of white on their face, near the base of their bill.

Ring-necked Ducks dabble and make shallow dives for a variety of food items. They like to eat plant matter, insects, and other small aquatic creatures. We find them in a variety of shallow wetlands in much of North America.

Key identifications:

  • Male has black back, head, and chest.
  • Gray sides with white near the black chest.
  • Female has narrow white spectacles on gray face.

 

Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye pair

Scientific name: Bucephala clangula
Length: 18.5 inches
Wingspan: 26 inches

Common Goldeneyes are small ducks with a stout, triangular beak. Males are mostly white with some black markings and have green iridescence on their black heads. They also have a round white patch on their face.

Female Common Goldeneyes have gray bodies with a white belly, a pale collar, and a dark, gray-brown head. They also usually have a pale tip on their beaks.

Both sexes of this pretty little duck have pale eyes, and, in flight, show big white patches on the base of their wings.

Common Goldeneyes nest in tree cavities near lakes and other wetlands in forest from Alaska and Canada to parts of the northern USA.

After breeding, they form flocks that migrate to coastal areas, lakes, and other bodies of water in most of the USA.

These cute ducks dive underwater to forage for small mollusks and other aquatic creatures.

Key identifications:

  • Small duck with a fairly large, stout blackish beak, and pale eyes.
  • Male is black and white with a round white mark on his green-black face.
  • Female has mostly gray body with a dark brown head.

 

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Scientific name: Mergus merganser
Length: 25 inches
Wingspan: 34 inches

Common Mergansers are big and slender ducks with pointed red beaks. Based on their size, the English name of “Goosander” for this bird seems fitting!

Breeding males are white with a dark green head and some black on their back and wings.

Female and nonbreeding male Common Mergansers are gray with a brown head, small white throat, and white on their belly. When flying, this species shows a lot of white on the base of their wings.

They have fast, direct flight and, after the breeding season, usually occur in small flocks.

These highly aquatic ducks catch fish and crustaceans after pursuing them underwater. They nest on cold lakes and rivers in Alaska, Canada, and in the northern and western USA. For the winter, Common Mergansers migrate to reservoirs and big lakes in much of the nation.

However, they tend to be rare in the southeastern part of the country.

Key identifications:

  • Red, pointed beak.
  • Distinct brown head with a white throat.
  • Males have all white underparts.

 

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Scientific name: Bucephala albeola
Length: 13.5 inches
Wingspan: 21 inches

Buffleheads are small, cute ducks with rounded heads and stout little beaks. Males are bold, black and white birds with a big white patch on their head. In good light, their head also has green and purple iridescence.

Female Buffleheads are more gray-brown with a white belly, and have a smaller white head patch.

During their fast flight, Buffleheads show a white patch in their wings although the female’s white patch is smaller. These ducks breed on northern, forested lakes in Alaska, Canada, and parts of the northwestern USA.

Like some other small ducks, they need tree cavities for nesting and often use holes made by Northern Flickers.

Buffleheads usually travel through Minnesota, their populations are highest in spring and fall, but if you’re lucky, you can see them year-round too!

Key identifications:

  • Small chunky duck with stout gray beak.
  • Rounded head with a bold white patch.
  • Mostly black and white or grayish with a white belly and small white wing patch.

 

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Scientific name: Spatula clypeata
Length: 19 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

Northern Shovelers are a distinctive duck species with a big, prominent beak. Males have striking plumage with a dark green head, and white and chestnut underparts. They are also white and gray on their back, have orange legs, and show blue shoulders in flight.

Female Northern Shovelers are tawny-brown ducks with lots of buff markings, and an orange and gray beak. Both sexes also have a pale tail.

These pretty ducks like to float in marshes and other shallow wetland habitats. They often form flocks and we can see them foraging with Blue-winged Teals and other dabbling ducks. Like many other duck species, Northern Shovelers feed on a combination of plant matter and small aquatic creatures.

This species breeds in shallow wetlands in Alaska, western and central Canada, and in parts of the northern and western USA. They migrate to coastal marshes and much of the southern USA for the winter.

Key identifications:

  • Over-sized, flat beak.
  • Male has a white breast, red-brown sides and belly, and dark green head.
  • Female has a pale tail and orange and gray beak.

 

Lesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Scientific name: Aythya affinis
Length: 16.5 inches
Wingspan: 25 inches

Lesser Scaups are smallish or medium-sized diving ducks with a blue-gray beak. Males have a black head with dark green highlights, black chest, and black rear end, pale gray back, and white sides and belly.

Female Lesser Scaups are dark brown with a pale belly, and a white mark on their face. Both sexes have the back part of the head more pointed than the front part. That field mark might not sound like much but it’s one of the best ways to tell them from the extremely similar Greater Scaup!

Lesser Scaups dive to forage in lakes, reservoirs, and coastal bays for mollusks, crustaceans, and other aquatic creatures. In migration and winter, they often occur in flocks that can number in the hundreds!

These smart looking ducks breed on remote lakes and marshes in Alaska, Canada, and in mountains of the western USA. They winter in many parts of the USA south to northern South America.

Key identifications:

  • Bluish beak.
  • Slightly peaked on the back part of its head.
  • Male has black chest, gray body, and dark head, female has a white mark on the front of her face.

 

Green-winged Teal

Green-winged Teal

Scientific name: Anas crecca
Length: 14 inches
Wingspan: 23 inches

Green-winged Teals are small waterfowl with a smallish, dark beak, and a dark green patch at the base of each wing. Males of these cute little ducks are mostly gray and have a chestnut head with a dark green patch, speckled, buff chest, and narrow white bar near their chest.

Females are mostly mottled brown with a dark line through each eye. Both sexes have a buff mark on the edge of their tail, and show a white belly in flight. Green-winged Teal like to forage for plants and small creatures in the shallow water of marshes and other wetland habitats.

They breed in Alaska, Canada, and the northern USA, and winter in a variety of wetland habitats in some parts of southern Canada, and most of the USA.

Although this small duck species can form flocks, we often see them in pairs or only in small groups. They also migrate north later than other duck species.

Key identifications:

  • Very small duck.
  • Buffy mark along the edge of each side of its tail.
  • Small dark beak and dark green patch edged with buff on its wings.

 

Gadwall

Gadwall pair

Scientific name: Mareca strepera
Length: 20 inches
Wingspan: 33 inches

Gadwalls are medium-sized ducks with a small white patch on the base of each wing. Males are gray ducks with a paler grayish head, some brown feathers on their wings, and a black rump, tail, and undertail.

Female Gadwalls look a lot like female Mallards and have gray-brown plumage with buff markings, and a paler grayish head. Like hen Mallards, they also have an orange and black beak but it is mostly gray on the upper part of the bill.

In flight, both sexes show white bellies, the small white mark on their wing, and much white on their underwings.

Gadwalls forage for seeds and other plant matter in and near shallow water.

These ducks breed in shallow wetlands in central and western Canada, and in various parts of the northern and western USA. They migrate through much of the USA and winter in coastal areas from Alaska to California, and in many western and southern states.

Key identifications:

  • Male is mostly gray with black rear end.
  • Female has grayish head and gray and orange beak.
  • Small white patch on base of wing.

 

Redhead

Redhead

Scientific name: Aythya americana
Length: 19 inches
Wingspan: 29 inches

Redheads are medium-sized ducks that dive in lakes, reservoirs, and bays to catch mollusks and other aquatic animals. Males are eye-catching birds with a bright chestnut head, yellow eyes, pale blue-gray beak with a black tip, black chest and undertail, and gray body.

Females are gray-brown birds that look very different from their male counterparts. Hen Redheads are gray-brown with a paler belly, dark gray beak with a black tip, and plain buffy face.

In flight, both sexes show gray upperwings and much white on their underwings.

Redheads breed in shallow marshes and lakes in Alaska, and central and western North America. In winter, we see these handsome birds on bigger bodies of water in much of the southern USA as well as many coastal waters and parts of the Great Lakes.

After breeding, they can occur in large flocks, especially in the coastal lagoons of South Texas. In that area, wintering Redheads can number in the thousands!

Key identifications:

  • Blue-gray beak with a black tip.
  • Male has dark gray body, black chest, and bright red-brown head.
  • Female mostly tawny-brown with a buff throat.

 

Ruddy Duck

Stiff-Tailed Ducks

Scientific name: Oxyura jamaicensis
Length: 15 inches
Wingspan: 18.5 inches

Ruddy Ducks are small diving ducks with a unique, big-headed look, and a stiff tail that they often hold upright. Breeding males are a beautiful chestnut bird with a black cap, and a white throat and cheeks. They also have a big and pretty, blue beak that contrasts with the other colors on their head.

Female Ruddy Ducks are grayish birds with darker, more uniform upperparts, and a thick black line on their pale face. They have a duller, darker, more grayish beak than the male. In flight, Ruddy Ducks have mostly dark, rather short and narrow wings.

Ruddy Ducks dive underwater to forage for small aquatic creatures.

This small duck species breeds in shallow marshes and lakes in many parts of central and western North America. They migrate to eastern Canada and the USA and winter on lakes, in coastal waters, and other wetlands in the western and southern USA.

Key identifications:

  • Small duck with big bluish beak and a dark cap.
  • White cheeks or a dark line on pale cheeks.
  • Longish, stiff tail often held upright.

 

American Wigeon

American Wigeon

Scientific name: Mareca americana
Length: 20 inches
Wingspan: 32 inches

American Wigeons are medium-sized ducks with a smallish gray beak. Males are gray with a white crown, some dark green near their eyes, and peach-brown colors on their chest and sides.

They also have a black undertail and show white shoulders in flights. Females look like males but lack white and green on their heads and are a bit duller in general. Both sexes have pointed tails and a white belly especially visible in flight.

American Wigeons like to graze grass and eat grain while walking at the edge of wetlands and in wet fields. They can also pick plant matter and small creatures from the surface of the water and even steal food from other ducks!

This waterfowl species breeds in cold, shallow marshes in Alaska, Canada, and parts of the northern USA. They migrate through much of the USA and winter in coastal waters, and on lakes and other wetlands in southern states.

Key identifications:

  • Rather small pale gray beak.
  • Peach or gray-orange chest and flanks.
  • Male has a white crown and white shoulders, female has grayish head with a dark area around her eyes.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many duck species are there in MN?

35 duck species have been seen in MN. Many of those are common species but some, like the Tufted Duck, are rare vagrants.

Do ducks stay in Minnesota in the winter?

Yes, some ducks stay in Minnesota during the winter. However, most species leave when the water freezes over.

Do Minnesota ducks migrate?

Yes, most Minnesota ducks migrate. When open water freezes, ducks migrate to other areas.

Do Mallards stay in MN in winter?

Most Mallards do not stay in MN in winter. However, some stay in areas with open water in the southern part of the state.

What are the rarest ducks in MN?

The rarest ducks in MN are the Garganey, Tufted Duck, Common Eider, and Smew. All of these species are rare vagrants to the state.

The post Know Your Ducks: Minnesota Duck Species (Top 15) appeared first on Birdzilla - Enjoyin' Birds.

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Best Birdhouses To Attract Birds: 11 Nest Boxes You Should Consider https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/best-birdhouses/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/best-birdhouses/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:25:24 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=26705 A birdhouse is a nice addition to any backyard. For a birding household, they are absolute must-have décor! Birdhouses look quaint, but they also provide …

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A birdhouse is a nice addition to any backyard. For a birding household, they are absolute must-have décor!

Birdhouses look quaint, but they also provide birds with vital places to nest. By putting up the right ones, you can help bluebirds, wrens, and other small birds a great deal.

The reward is watching those feathered friends grow and knowing that you are helping them.

There’s a lot available, but which birdhouses are best? Which ones are easier to clean, and which birdhouses are more suited for bluebirds?

 

Oceek Cedar Blue Bird Box House

Oceek Cedar Blue Bird Box House Wood Bird House Bluebird Box House Cedar Wren and Chickadee Wren Home Outdoor Hanging Wood Birdhouse Assembled OceeK Hummingbird House (1Pack 3115 Assembled)

Size: 4.9 inches by 4.9 inches and 11.8 inches high
Entry size: 2.3 inches
Suitable for: Bluebirds, wrens

This rectangular birdhouse has a sloped roof and an entrance hole on a front panel that can be easily pushed open. It’s a simple design but works well both for the birds and people who install it.

In particular, it could be a good choice for bluebird species, wrens, and other small birds.

The moveable front panel makes this birdhouse fairly easy to clean after the birds have left, and it’s crafted with sturdy, long-lasting cedar.

If there’s a downside, it’s that the birdhouse doesn’t come assembled. Yes, you’ll need to screw it together, but once that’s done, it should last for a long time.

To make sure it lasts even longer, some owners of this birdhouse have treated the wood further with paint or varnish.

It’s also fairly easy to install on a pole or against a tree. However, you’ll need a power drill because it doesn’t have any pre-installed mounts.

 

NETVUE Birdfy Nest – Smart Bird House with Camera

NETVUE Birdfy Nest - Smart Bird House with Camera, 1080P Dual-Cam Bird Nest Solar Powered, Watch Bird Nesting & Hatching in Real Time, AI Identify Bird Behavior & Create Bird Story, DIY Ideal Gift

Size: 11 inches by 11 inches by 12 inches
Entry size: .9 inches, 1.5 inches, or 2 inches
Suitable for: Bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, House Finches and other species

The Birdfly Nest is one of the more technologically advanced bird houses available. While other bird houses are simple yet suitable wooden boxes, this bird house incorporates everything from cameras to AI notifications!

Like many other birdhouses, it has a rectangular design but comes attached to a weatherproofed roofed mount that can be easily attached to a tree or pole. Inside, there is a mesh floor where bluebirds, wrens, titmouse, and other species can build their nests, as well as notches where fledglings can practice climbing.

Related: How can we help bluebirds?

Similar to other birdhouses that lack a perch, this one may be especially good for bluebirds. The entrance hole can be adjusted for those small thrushes or other birds, and it opens for easy cleaning.

Most of all, you can watch nesting action with adjustable cameras inside and outside the nest! You can also get AI nesting notifications and create a video of the nesting experience.

 

Wood Bird Houses for Outside with Pole

Wood Bird Houses for Outside with Pole Wooden Bird House for Finch Bluebird Cardinals Hanging Birdhouse Clearance Garden Country Cottages

Size: 5.9 inches by 5.9 inches by 8.6 inches
Entry size: 1.57 inches
Suitable for: Wrens, nuthatches, swallows, Tufted Titmouse

This bird house follows a basic yet well-tested design that works for a variety of cavity-nesting birds. It is made of sturdy wood, has a rather squared shape, sloped roof to shed rain and snow, and has a flat wooden back.

This birdhouse can be mounted on a pole or against a tree or other flat surface, and also has a door that can be opened for easy cleaning. Although it doesn’t have any pre-installed mounts, it can be easily nailed or screwed into place.

Although bluebirds are mentioned as a possible species for this birdhouse, since it has a small wooden perch, it might work better for House and Bewick’s Wrens, House Sparrows, and other small birds.

One of the things that folks like the most about this birdhouse is its wooden, rustic appearance. This also lends itself to being painted and decorated by crafty and DIY-minded folks.

 

Woodlink Audubon Traditional Wren House

Woodlink Audubon Traditional Wren House Model NAWREN

Size: 6 inches by 7 inches by 5 inches
Entry size: 1.18 inches
Suitable for: Wrens, chickadees

This small rhombus or diamond-shaped bird house is made of wood, and has a simple design that works perfectly for small birds. True to its name, it’s especially good for House Wrens, and Bewick’s Wrens should use it too.

Although it lacks a perch, the entrance hole is probably too small for bluebirds.

The double-sloped roof helps shed water and snow all year long, and the bottom part of the feeder opens for easy cleaning. For the most part, this small feeder is meant to be hung by sturdy string or cords from a branch but creative birders can probably find other ways to install it too.

Although it’s made of sturdy wood, to make it last for decades, you might want to stain the wood or treat it in other ways. This little bird house is also a perfect canvas for crafty bird lovers who can decorate in various ways!

 

MIXUMON Bird Houses

Set of 2 MIXUMON Bird Houses for Outside, Outdoor 2 Bird House Room for 2 Bird Families Bluebird Finch Cardinals Hanging Birdhouse for Garden

Size: 7.5 inches by 7.5 inches by 7.5 inches
Entry size: 1.57 inches
Suitable for: Wrens, other small birds, maybe bluebirds

This aesthetic, round birdhouse is crafted with pine and lends a cute, rustic touch to any backyard. It has a double-sloped roof to shed rain and snow, and a small perch that also acts as a feeding tray.

It is meant to be hung from a metal pole or branch but I’m pretty sure I could also find ways to mount it on top of a pole or to a tree. There is a small door on the back to clean the feeder, but since it’s so small, it doesn’t look as accessible for cleaning as some other feeders.

This cute bird house will work well for wrens and other small birds, but I’m hesitant to say if it will work for bluebirds. The entrance hole is the right size but since they hover in front of it, they might not like the small feeding tray. However, if you put mealworms in it, perhaps that could attract them!

 

CARTMAN Cedar Blue Bird Box House

CARTMAN Cedar Blue Bird Box House, Wood Bird Houses for Outside, Hummingbird House for Outside Clearance Garden Country Cottages

Size: 5.5 inches by 5.5 inches by 11.8 inches
Entry size: 1.5 inches
Suitable for: Wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, House Finch, bluebirds

The Cartman Cedar Blue Bird Box House is a rectangular bird house crafted with pretty cedar hardwood. It has a simple yet good design that includes a sloped roof and a front panel that is kept shut with a small magnet. It’s also simple to open for easy cleaning.

Inside the bird house, wrens, titmice, and other small birds will enjoy the elevated mesh floor (to reduce humidity in the nest), and there are small indentations where fledglings can climb. A ventilated roof also helps to partly regulate temperature inside the bird house.

Bluebirds can use this sturdy box, but the perch below the entrance hole may attract House Sparrows and starlings. Since these two birds drive bluebird species away, it might be worth it to remove the perch.

The back of this cedar birdhouse can be easily mounted to a tree trunk, post, or other flat surface.

 

LOPANNY Bird House Pole

LOPANNY Bird House Pole, 1 Pack 109 Inch Heavy Duty Bird Feeder Pole Mount Kit with 5 Prongs Base for Outdoors, Adjustable Bird Feeder Stand for Wild Birds Watching (Bird House Not Included)

Size: 17 inches by 11 inches by 2 inches, 109 inches high
Entry size: Not applicable
Suitable for: Mounting birdhouses for bluebirds, wrens, woodpeckers, and many other species

This product isn’t a birdhouse, but it does play an essential role in mounting them. Birdhouses can be placed on tree trunks or wooden posts and hung from branches, but one of the best places to install them is on a sturdy metal pole.

Birdhouses mounted on a tall metal pole keep them out of reach of cats, snakes, and other potential predators that would love to climb to the nest box. Installing the nest four to five feet high will work but with this this steel, weather treated pole, you can install it as high as nine feet up!

It can also be adjusted for other heights and has five long, sharp prongs to keep it stuck deep in the ground. Although this metal pole doesn’t come with a birdhouse, it does have a mounting platform where they can be installed on the top or on the side.

 

Kingsyard Wooden Bluebird House

Kingsyard Wooden Bluebird House, Bird House with Predator Guard, Nesting Box Birdhouse for Outside Wild Bird Watching, Royal Blue

Size:  7 inches by 11 inches by 11 inches
Entry size: 1.5 inches
Suitable for: Bluebirds, swallows

The Kingsyard Wooden Bluebird House is a square or house-shaped bird house with a double-sloped roof. It is made from durable New Zealand Pine and unlike most other bird houses, has a beautiful, blue roof and entrance hole.

I’m not sure if this color does anything extra to attract bluebirds, but who knows? It certainly looks nice!

This is a well-constructed birdhouse with rustproof screws, a hinged door for easy cleaning, and an entrance hole that offers some predator deterrence. Inside, it also has an elevated mesh floor, good ventilation, and indentations where fledglings can climb.

If you want to see what’s happening inside the nest, you can also look through a small back window!

True to its name, this birdhouse is especially suited for bluebirds and works very well for these feathered beauties. It can be easily mounted on top of a hole or against a post or other flat surface.

 

Smilkeep Small Bird House

Smilkeep Bird House for Outside,Bluebird House,Outdoor Wooden Hanging Birdhouses Finch Wren Cardinals Garden Nesting Box

Size: 5.7 inches by 3.9 inches by 3.9 inches
Entry size: 1.5 inches
Suitable for: Chickadees, nuthatches, swallows, wrens, sparrows

This is a basic wooden birdhouse that will work for chickadees, titmice, wrens, and other small birds. The entrance hole is small enough to keep starlings away and will work for bluebirds but they might not like the perch.

However, to keep House Sparrows from taking over the nest, you could probably remove that perch.

Although it is advertised as a birdhouse for hummingbirds, these tiny birds won’t use it for nesting. There might be one or two species that could, but for the most part, hummingbirds build their nests on open branches.

Even so, this birdhouse should work well for other small cavity-nesting species. It has a gently sloped roof to shed rain and snow, a hinged door for easy cleaning and can be mounted on top of a pole or against a post or other flat surface.

Craft-minded folks might also enjoy decorating its wooden exterior.

 

CEED4U Bird Houses for Outside 5 Hole Wooden Natural Birdhouse

CEED4U Bird Houses for Outside 5 Hole Wooden Natural Birdhouse with Metal Guard Finch Cardinals Handmade Hanging Birdhouse for Garden Backyard Courtyard (Brown)

Size: 10.6 inches by 6.7 inches by 8.2 inches
Entry size: 1.57 inches
Suitable for: Tree Swallows, bluebirds, wrens

This interesting birdhouse is like a miniature bird condo. It has five little birdhouses, each with its own, separate entrance holes. To keep the birds fed, there is also an area where you can place birdseed.

Crafted with Sycamore wood, it’s also fairly durable, although some people have complained about mold and that it becomes easily unglued. To make this bird apartment last, it would probably be best to treat the wood and use extra strong glue during the assembly process.

Each little birdhouse has a small back door for cleaning, but it might not be as easy to clean as other birdhouses with much larger doors.

Several types of birds can use this birdhouse condo, but I’m not sure if they would want to nest near each other at the same time or close to feeding birds. With that in mind, it might work best for colonial nesting Tree and Violet-green Swallows.

 

2-Pack Bird House

2-Pack Bird House - Outdoor- Bluebird, Finch, Wren, Chickadee, Tree Swallow Bird, Wild Birds, Woodpecker House Easy-to-Open Birdhouse Nesting Box (Brown)

Size: 5.5 inches by 5 inches by 9.38 inches
Entry size: 1.75 inches
Suitable for: Bluebirds, wrens, swallows

These are a pair of basic, rectangular birdhouses crafted with unfinished yet durable wood, perfect for decorating. They have a simple, time-tested design that works very well for a wide variety of bird species.

Since the quality wood used for these birdhouses is meant to last, if you treat it, they could endure for decades. To keep nesting birds cool, it has good ventilation along with a predator guard, and a front door for easy cleaning.

The two mounting spots on the back of the birdhouse make it easy to install on a post or tree trunk, and it can also be installed on top of a metal pole.

Although this birdhouse will work for bluebirds, since the entrance hole has a diameter bigger than 1.5 inches, it could potentially attract starlings. However, the lack of a perch might keep those birds and House Sparrows away.

 

What To Keep In Mind?

There are all sorts of birdhouses; which one works best? That all depends on which birds you want to attract as well as the quality of the bird house. The first thing to look at is the diameter of the entrance hole.

This determines which birds can use the birdhouse and can invite or exclude unwanted species like starlings.

In general, small entrance holes of 1.25 inches in diameter will work for really small cavity-nesting birds like wrens and chickadees.

To attract bluebirds, an ideal entrance hole diameter is 1.5 inches. They like this size and it’s too small for starlings. Using nest boxes that lack perches is another good way to keep starlings and House Sparrows away.

Read more: Nest box sizing (by species)

Sure, you could provide nesting areas for those birds, too, but this is generally discouraged. These abundant, non-native species can kill native birds and use up their nesting spots.

To attract larger birds like owls and kestrels, you’ll need bigger nest boxes with entrance holes that are 3 and even 4 inches in diameter.

Another main consideration is how easy it is to clean the nest box. The easiest ones to clean are birdhouses that have a big, easily opened panel or door.

 

Birdhouses – Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the point of a birdhouse?

Bird houses provide certain bird species with a place to nest and sleep.

What’s the difference between a birdhouse and a nesting box?

There’s not much difference between a birdhouse and nesting box. Most bird houses are used for nesting. However, some birdhouses are suited more as garden decorations than nesting.

Can a birdhouse have a window?

Yes, a birdhouse can have a window, but only when the birdhouse is installed right against your window. This way, you can watch the birds inside the nest from your window. Otherwise, too much light enters the nest and the birds don’t like it.

What is the best place for a bird house?

The best location for a birdhouse is in an open area. Poles are a good option; this way, the nest is out of reach of predators that could jump to it from a tree or bush. The nest should be installed with the entrance hole facing away from prevailing winds and close enough to vegetation.

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8 Owls In Massachusetts – The Rare & Not So Rare Species https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/owls-in-massachusetts/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/owls-in-massachusetts/#respond Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:22:55 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=28388 Massachusetts is a great place for birding! Go birding in Massachusetts, and you can even see owls! In Massachusetts, at least three owl species are …

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Massachusetts is a great place for birding! Go birding in Massachusetts, and you can even see owls!

In Massachusetts, at least three owl species are common, and the magnificent Snowy Owl is a regular wintering species. Plus, other rarer owls can also occur.

How many owls can you see in Massachusetts? Which species are common, and which ones are rare?

See this article and learn all about the owls of Massachusetts!

 

Which Owls Live In Massachusetts?

Based on eBird data, there are eight different owl species you can see in Massachusetts. Some of them are rarer than others, but that’s the fun of it!

 

Barred Owl

Barred Owl

Photograph © Greg Lavaty.

  • Range: A permanent resident in most forested areas in Canada, parts of some Pacific Northwestern states, and most of the eastern USA.
  • Length: 21 inches
  • Wingspan: 42 inches
  • Call: Makes loud hooting and caterwalling sounds, “Who cooks for you?! Who cooks for youaaaal!”

The Barred Owl is a medium to large owl with a round head and a narrow black border on its pale gray face. It has dark brown upperparts with white markings, and dark brown streaks on its belly.

This species also has a yellowish beak and dark eyes. Both sexes look the same except that females are a bit larger than males.

Barred Owls carry the title of being the most common owls in Massachusetts, but they are not always easy to spot!

Key Identifications:

  • Big owl with a round head that has white marks on dark brown upperparts, and dark brown streaks on pale underparts.
  • Perches and swoops through wooded areas at night but can also be active in the day.
  • Nests in tree cavities and in abandoned nests of crows and hawks.
  • Catches a wide variety of small animals.

 

Great Horned Owl

Great-Horned Owl
  • Range: Permanent resident in much of Alaska, Canada, and the USA.
  • Length: 22 inches
  • Wingspan: 44 inches
  • Call: Makes a low, gruff, “hooo, hoo hoo hoo hoooo”.

The Great Horned Owl is a big, bulky owl with big ear tufts and a black beak. It is mottled gray and brown, has a rufous or gray face, and fine black barring on its underparts. This owl also has a white throat and some dark marks on its breast.

Males and female Great Horned Owls look the same but females are larger. They also have a medium-length tail with dark bands, and long, broad wings.

This nocturnal owl species lives in every possible habitat, including urban areas. Great Horned Owls are known to nest in old stick nests of hawks and other birds, or on ledges, and other situations.

Key Identifications:

  • Big, bulky brown or gray owl with ear tufts and fine barring on its underparts.
  • Nests in old stick nests of other large birds, on ledges, and in other situations.
  • Watches from a perch or glides over open habitats at night, to catch mammals and some birds on the ground.

 

Eastern Screech-Owl

Eastern screech owl
  • Range: Permanent resident in parts of southeastern Canada, and in much of the eastern USA.
  • Length: 8.5 inches
  • Wingspan: 20 inches
  • Call: Makes a rather high-pitched, descending whinny call, and a tremulous, vibrating call on the same pitch, “wududududududududududu”.

The Eastern Screech Owl is a small owl with ear tufts. It can be reddish, brown, or mostly gray, has “V”-shaped pale eyebrows, and some black on the edge of its face. It is also mottled above with some white spotting, and has pale underparts with dark barring and streaks.

Males and females look alike but females are a bit larger. This species also has yellow eyes, a pale yellow-gray beak, and some white bands on its broad tail.

Eastern Screech-Owls flap and glide on long, broad wings.

During the day, this owl hides in holes, or in dense vegetation. Eastern Screech Owls are common owls of Massachusetts.

Key Identifications:

  • Small owl with ear tufts and mottled brown or gray plumage that lives east of the Rocky Mountains.
  • Lives in a variety of wooded and park-like habitats.
  • Nests in tree cavities and nest boxes.
  • Swoops down to the ground catch a variety of small animals at night.

 

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl
  • Range: Summer resident in northern Alaska and northern Canada. It winters in Canada and the northern USA.
  • Length: 23 inches
  • Wingspan: 52 inches
  • Call: Usually quiet but occasionally makes a low, gruff call, “whew…whuh”.

The Snowy Owl is a big, mostly white owl with a round head and yellow eyes. Some males are mostly white but most have some small dark marks. Females and young birds have white faces and varying degrees of black barring.

Females are a bit larger than males and have more black markings than males. Snowy Owls also have long, broad wings and a broad tail.

This owl species is active during the day and lives in wide-open habitats. Snowy Owls sometimes make their way to Massachusetts and are much more common than you’d think!

Key Identifications:

  • Big white owl with a round head, and varying degrees of black or dark gray barring and spots.
  • Lives in tundra and winters in wide open habitats.
  • Nests on the ground, on elevated spots in Arctic tundra.
  • Watches from a perch and glides low to catch small animals on the ground.

 

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl
  • Range: Lives in coniferous and mixed hardwood forests of Alaska, a large area of Canada, and parts of the northern and western USA.
  • Length: 8 inches
  • Wingspan: 17 inches
  • Call: Makes a repeated tooting whistle call, over and over, “tu, tu, tu, tu, tu, tu, tu, tu, tu”.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a small, dark brown owl with a round head and brown streaks on white underparts. It also has some pale streaks on its head, a brown and white face, and some white spotting on its back.

Both sexes look the same but females are a bit larger. This species also has yellow eyes, a dark beak, longish, rounded wings, and a short, broad tail.

This nocturnal owl lives in forested habitats. They have a small year-round population, breeding in mixed forests.

Key Identifications:

  • Small, dark brown owl with a round head, broad white eyebrows, and thick dark streaks on pale underparts.
  • Occurs in dense coniferous and mixed forest.
  • Nests in old woodpecker holes and can use nest boxes.
  • Swoops down to catch insects and small animals at night.

 

Barn Owl (rare)

Barn Owl
  • Range: In Canada, occurs mostly in southwestern British Columbia. In the USA, they live in many areas but are absent from mountains and cold, northern regions. They range north to Washington, Nebraska, Iowa, and New York.
  • Length: 16 inches
  • Wingspan: 42 inches
  • Call: A shrill, loud, hissing “shriiiiii!”

The Barn Owl is a medium to large, pale owl with golden tan and gray upperparts, and white underparts. It has a distinctive, white, heart-shaped face.

Both sexes are alike but females are a bit larger than males and have buff on their chest.

In flight, Barn Owls look like a large, pale, moth-like bird with a big, rounded head.

This owl hunts in grasslands, farms, and other open habitats. Massachusetts is on the outside of their range, but if you’re lucky, you might see them around old buildings.

Key Identifications:

  • Large pale owl with a heart-shaped face.
  • Glides and flutters over fields and other open areas at night.
  • Nests in tree cavities, crevices in church steeples and other structures, and next boxes.
  • Preys on rats and other small animals.

 

Short-eared Owl (rare)

Short-eared Owl
  • Range: Summer resident in Alaska, Canada, and the western and central USA. Northern birds migrate to the USA, south to California and Texas.
  • Length: 15 inches
  • Wingspan: 38 inches
  • Call: Makes a hoarse, raspy, cat-like call, “rehw”.

The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized, pale brown owl with dark eye patches on a pale face. They have a dark breast and streaks on pale underparts. This species has long wings with buff wing patches.

Both sexes look similar but females are a bit larger and usually darker and buffier.

This owl is active day and night in open fields. Short-eared Owls do not breed in Massachusetts, but if you’re lucky, you might see one in the winter!

Key Identifications:

  • Medium-sized pale brown and buffy owl with very short ear tufts.
  • Dark eye patches on a pale face and long wings with buff patches near the wingtips.
  • Nests on the ground in dense vegetation.
  • Glides over open fields to catch small animals on the ground.

 

Long-eared Owl (rare)

Long-eared Owl
  • Range: Migrant in southern Canada, resident and winters in much of the USA. Absent from parts of the Pacific Northwest and southeastern states.
  • Length: 15 inches
  • Wingspan: 36 inches
  • Call: Makes a single, one second long “Hooo!” call at regular intervals.

The Long-eared Owl is a medium-sized, slender owl with long ear tufts. It has an orange face, is mottled gray above, and has dark brown streaks and marks on pale underparts. This owl also has long wings with a rufous patch in its primaries.

Male and female Long-eared Owls look similar but females are larger. This owl species also has yellow eyes, and some pale markings between its eyes and around its dark beak.

This nocturnal owl frequents coniferous woodlands near meadows. Long-eared Owls are really rare here, even though Massachussets is thought to be one of their wintering states. In the last year alone, there were only a few sightings.

Key Identifications:

  • Medium-sized, slender owl species with long ear tufts, orange on its face, and long wings with an orange-brown patch near the wingtips.
  • Occurs in coniferous and mixed forests near meadows, bogs, and other open areas.
  • Nests in old crow, magpie, and hawk nests.
  • Glides over open habitats near forest at night to catch small animals on the ground.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of owls are there in Massachusetts?

Kinds of owls in Massachusetts include common species like Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, Eastern Screech-Owls, and uncommon species like Snowy Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl.

Do Barred Owls live in Massachusetts?

Yes, Barred Owls live in Massachusetts. This is the most common owl species in the state.

What is the largest owl in New England?

The largest Owl in New England is the Great Gray Owl, a very rare winter visitor to the region.

What is the most common owl in the Northeast?

The most common owl in the Northeast is the Barred Owl.

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What Is Bluebirding? How We Can Help Our Little Friends https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/importance-of-bluebirding/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/importance-of-bluebirding/#respond Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:48:30 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=27169 Bluebirds are among the best backyard birds. There are many beautiful birds to choose from, but it’s hard to compete with pastel blue and peach …

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Bluebirds are among the best backyard birds. There are many beautiful birds to choose from, but it’s hard to compete with pastel blue and peach plumage!

You might ask what bluebirding is – it’s the act of supporting our backyard bluebirds by creating sustainable habitats for them – even just by putting up nest boxes.

But why is bluebirding important? And why has it gained traction in recent decades?

 

The Hardships of Bluebirds

Bluebirds are fairly common, but these small thrushes have gone through some ups and downs. Historically, these meadow specialists were probably restricted to open Longleaf Pine forests and occasional gaps in deciduous forest. As the vast eastern forests were cut down, Eastern Bluebirds actually benefited from the higher number of open areas.

Related: What do bluebirds symbolize?

Their populations jumped during the 1800s, and they became a common farmland bird. However, during the late 1800s, a couple of events happened that seriously impacted Eastern Bluebirds. These two events were the introductions of House Sparrows and European Starlings to North America.

Over the years bluebird have faced many setbacks, starting with losing their nest boxes to other species.

Over the years bluebird have faced many setbacks, starting with losing their nest boxes to other species.

Like the Eastern Bluebird, this pair of invasive species also use tree cavities for nesting. They are also aggressive, and when they compete with the bluebird for nesting sites, they always win.

As the sparrows and starlings spread, Eastern Bluebirds were pushed out and began to seriously decline.

This decline continued into the 20th century and although Eastern Bluebirds still persisted in many places, they ceased to be an abundant farmland bird. If that basic problem wasn’t bad enough, Eastern Bluebirds took another big hit in the middle of the 20th century.

Along with any other birds, these insectivores were seriously affected by DDT and other pesticides.

 

The Benefits of Bluebirds

Bluebirds are certainly nice birds to have in the neighborhood. I like all birds, I enjoy watching all of them. However, it’s hard to take my eyes off a gorgeous Eastern Bluebird! The same goes for Western Bluebirds and Mountains Bluebirds, the other pair of eye-catching western bluebird species.

There is something to be said about watching visually appealing birds, especially when they have a unique appearance. Sure, the details in sparrow plumage have their own brand of beauty but a male Eastern Bluebird looks like turquoise, blue sky, and a hint of a sunset come to life!

Avian eye candy is important not just because those jewel birds look nice. These beauties remind us that the natural world is full of wonders, free and natural treasures we can even find in our own backyards. Eastern Bluebirds have that star bird quality, but they also help in other ways.

These small thrushes are one of many birds that act as natural pest control. They don’t just eat a few insects now and then, either. No, bluebirds go above and beyond by devouring huge numbers of bugs.

In spring and summer, as bluebirds constantly catch grasshoppers, larvae, and other insects, they eliminate insects that damage all sorts of crops.

 

How Can We Help Bluebirds?

It’s worth it to help bluebirds. Bluebirding highlights meadows and big backyards with natural beauty while also helping our gardens and crops.

Mountain Bluebird With a snack

To give bluebirds a hand, first and foremost, we have to make sure they have proper habitat. These small thrushes need big meadows or large, open lawns near scattered trees.

The other vital considerations are the three main factors that can harm bluebirds: invasive species, predators, and pesticides.

House Sparrows and Starlings are common, but we can exclude them by providing Eastern Bluebirds with a nest box that has a 1.5-inch diameter hole. This is too small for the invasive birds.

Read more: Nest box sizes

Leaving off a perch below the nesting hole will also discourage them. Don’t worry about the bluebirds; they don’t need that perch. They hover in front of and perch right on the nest hole!

To keep predators from finding the nest box, don’t visit it when the nest is in use! Walking to the nest box leaves a scent trail for predators to follow. You also want to install the nest box out of reach of cats that can leap up to it.

Finally, don’t use chemical pesticides that can make the bird sick as well as kill off insects the bluebirds need.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we need bluebirds?

Bluebirds are crucial to us – as native birds, they eat lots of harmful insects. Besides, they look absolutely beautiful!

How can we save bluebirds?

We can save bluebirds by providing them with pesticide-free meadows and nest boxes especially designed for them.

Are bluebirds good luck?

Yes, bluebirds are good luck. Watching these beautiful birds can raise your spirits!

What are bluebird house dimensions?

Bluebird house dimensions are nest boxes that are around 10 inches tall and have a 1.5-diameter nest hole that is 5 to 8 inches above the nest box floor.

Do bluebirds return to the same place?

Bluebirds do usually return to the same place where they nested the previous year.

The post What Is Bluebirding? How We Can Help Our Little Friends appeared first on Birdzilla - Enjoyin' Birds.

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6 Ways To Get Rid Of Geese – Humane & Natural Solutions https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/getting-rid-of-geese/ https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/getting-rid-of-geese/#respond Fri, 08 Mar 2024 09:34:59 +0000 https://www.birdzilla.com/?p=27166 Geese are hard to ignore. The big birds can saunter around golf courses and parks like they own the place. They also make loud calls …

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Geese are hard to ignore. The big birds can saunter around golf courses and parks like they own the place.

They also make loud calls and, when protecting their young, can hiss and be ready to bite! Even if we don’t run into geese, their many droppings remind us that the big birds are somewhere in the neighborhood.

Geese can be a pain but can they help us too? Should we try to get rid of geese from parks and backyards, or keep them around?

See this article to learn about geese and some tips to move them out of your life!

 

Nasty Pests Or Little Helpers?

Canada Geese are one of the most common waterfowl species in North America. Although they decreased in the 1800s and early 1900s, conservation measures have helped the birds bounce back.

In some areas, some people feel they have bounced back a bit too much! Although migrant Canada Geese from wild areas are wary, the big Canada Geese that live on golf courses and parks are much accustomed to living near people.

Canada Geese in flight

These geese are beautiful wild birds and are fun and relaxing to watch. They can also help lawns by grazing grass and eliminating weeds. However, by living near people, they can also cause some problems.

Canada Geese usually become a nuisance when they become “overpopulated” on golf courses, parks, and similar places with big lawns. While the birds forage on the grass, they also “decorate” the lawn with large amounts of droppings. No one wants any degree of animal droppings left in the grass, especially because those droppings are unsanitary.

If you have a vegetable garden, Canada Geese that get into backyards might also raid them. However, as awful as losing lettuce and other veggies may be, that doesn’t compare to plane collision problems geese can cause when they live at airports.

 

How To Get Rid Of Unwanted Geese?

Reduce the Size of Your Lawn

One of the best ways to keep geese away is by removing or limiting their favorite habitat. Canada Geese don’t just love big lawns, they need them! This bird species is adapted to foraging in open grassy areas near water.

Geese prefer such places not only because it’s where they look for food. They also like the open places so they can watch for predators trying to sneak up on them. With that in mind, a big, open lawn is also a big, open invitation for geese.

Geese family looking for food

To retract the invitation, plant shrubs and let parts of the lawn grow. Eventually, geese will pass over your place for more welcoming habitat. As a bonus, by making your yard less attractive to geese, you can also create a habitat for other birds.

Lots of native plants that keep geese away act as excellent, much needed habitat for grosbeaks, buntings, sparrows, and many other birds.

 

Use Loud Noises and Dogs

In some ways, geese are like people. They are very social, like to communicate, and are protective of their young. Geese also appreciate peace and quiet. It’s true, geese hate loud noises!

Whether they prefer the quiet to listen for predators, or would rather hear themselves honk, geese definitely have a strong dislike for sudden, loud sounds.

We can take advantage of this fact by playing loud music or other noises to scare geese away. Although we can’t yell at them all day, making noise while waving your arms a few times should keep them out of the yard.

Or, just get a dog! They love to bark at and chase geese. Although it’s against the law to let your dog hunt geese down, you can always walk towards the geese with the dog on a leash. In any case, once a dog starts barking, it doesn’t take long for the birds to fly off.

 

Don’t Feed Geese, Scare Them with Scents and Repellents

Geese also end up in yards when people feed them. While geese don’t usually come to bird feeders, they will feed on corn and other types of grain. If you are feeding these items to ducks and deer, and have a big lawn, geese won’t be far behind!

Geese come in pairs or groups, so getting rid of them isn't always too easy

Stop putting out grain, and you’ll uninvite the geese. Even so, although limiting their food can help, it probably won’t keep them away.

However, if you also install things that geese can’t stand, that should do the trick. Naturally, the things that Canada Geese dislike the most are animals that prey on them. The Coyote is right at the top of the list.

This wild canine is one of the main reasons why geese prefer foraging in open areas with a big, clear view. Put Coyote and Fox scents on your lawn and geese won’t linger. Add some non-toxic goose repellent to the lawn, and they might never come back!

 

Scarecrows and Other Decoys

A good, old-fashioned scarecrow is another option to limit Canada Geese in the yard. Install one of these classic bird-scaring devices, and geese will think twice before flying down to land. You can buy a scarecrow, but they are also easy to make and are a nice DIY project.

Scarecrows might last for a while, but most birds eventually become used to them. Birds are pretty smart, geese included, and once they realize a scarecrow is just part of the landscape, they’ll just ignore it.

However, if your scarecrow has lasers or makes noise, that will probably be too much for geese to handle. There actually are scarecrows with lasers meant to scare geese away! The geese don’t like the sudden green light beam.

If you can’t find one with a laser, a scarecrow with a small Bluetooth speaker can also work. Other decoys might work, too, including ones of Coyotes and eagles.

 

Remove Water Sources

Geese love open lawns, but they also need water. While they can come and go from a big open lawn, if there’s a pond or lake next to it, they’ll want to move in for good!

If you live next to a big lake, there’s not much you can do about removing it. In that situation, you’ll have to resort to decoys, repellents, and other strategies.

However, if you have a small, installed pond that geese are using, filling it in might be an option.

Geese are attracted to water

Geese are attracted to water, but obviously, it is not possible to keep them away from larger lakes.

Even so, since frog ponds attract other birds and wildlife, it might not be worth it. Instead, you could be better off scaring the geese away with other methods and accept that a goose may occasionally grace your yard. If that’s just once in a while, it might not be so bad after all!

 

Motion Activated Options

Geese might not always be a nuisance. They might not visit your yard at all. Or, a flock might occasionally fly in to graze. However, if that flock leaves tons of droppings and pulls up the turf, even those rare visits can be a problem.

One solution is installing motion activated devices. This can be as simple as a motion-activated sprinkler or lights. While geese do like water, they prefer floating on their H2O, not being suddenly doused with it!

When that sprinkler comes on again and again, there’s a fair chance it will drive them away. Lights might also work, especially if you can have flashing or different colored lights. Just like the laser, lights are just a little too much for the peace-oriented geese to handle.

If you literally see geese fly to your lawn, try waving (or flapping) your arms up and down like their eagle predators.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any benefits to having geese around?

Yes, there are some benefits of having geese around. Geese can be fun to watch, can warn you of an eagle in the neighborhood, and help fertilize waterways. However, in residential areas, geese tend to cause more problems than benefits.

What scares away geese?

Loud noises, dogs, and goose repellents scare away geese.

How do I permanently get rid of geese?

To permanently get rid of geese, let your lawn grow and plant shrubs and other native plants. Geese only like wide open lawns.

Does noise scare away geese?

Yes, loud noises scare away geese. The birds much prefer peace and quiet.

Why do geese come to backyards?

Geese come to backyards to graze on big, open lawns and look for other types of food.

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