May 14 2023
Ptarmigan are among the most remarkable birds of the far north and high mountains. These compact members of the grouse family survive in environments where winter can bring deep snow, bitter winds, scarce food, and months of freezing temperatures. Their most famous adaptation is their seasonally changing plumage. Many ptarmigan are mottled brown, gray, and …
May 14 2023
Few birds capture the mystery of the night quite like the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). With its piercing yellow eyes, prominent feather tufts, deep hooting voice, and powerful build, this remarkable bird of prey is one of the most recognizable owls in the Americas. Great Horned Owls are also extraordinarily adaptable. They live in …
May 14 2023
With its jaunty topknot, rounded body, and habit of scurrying through desert brush, the Gambel’s Quail is one of the most recognizable birds of the American Southwest. These charismatic ground birds are especially associated with the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan deserts, where groups of quail move between mesquite thickets, cactus-covered slopes, dry washes, and suburban …
May 14 2023
Few birds are as closely associated with the deserts of the American Southwest as the Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus). Large for a wren, boldly patterned, and anything but shy, this desert songbird can often be seen perched conspicuously on a cholla cactus, mesquite branch, or other elevated lookout. Its scratchy, mechanical song is one of …
May 13 2023
Few North American birds are as instantly recognizable as the Bald Eagle. With its enormous wings, powerful yellow bill, dark brown body, and brilliant white head and tail, an adult Bald Eagle is an unforgettable sight whether it is perched above a river or soaring across an open sky. The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is …
May 13 2023
The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the most impressive birds of prey in the world. Powerful, fast, and remarkably agile for its size, this enormous raptor can be found soaring above mountains, grasslands, deserts, and other open landscapes across much of the Northern Hemisphere. Its name comes from the warm golden-brown feathers covering …
May 13 2023
Few birds of prey are as familiar across North America as the Red-tailed Hawk. Whether it is soaring in wide circles above a field, watching the ground from a roadside utility pole, or letting out its unmistakable raspy cry, this powerful raptor has become one of the defining birds of the North American landscape. Red-tailed …
May 13 2023
The American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) is a small, slender songbird of wide-open landscapes. It breeds in some of North America’s most dramatic environments—from Arctic tundra to windswept alpine meadows—and then appears much farther south during migration and winter, when flocks may gather in farm fields, along muddy shorelines, and beside reservoirs. At first glance, the …
May 13 2023
The Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) is a small songbird of wide-open landscapes, equally at home on windswept prairie, Arctic tundra, coastal dunes, agricultural fields, and mountain slopes above the trees. Although its sandy brown plumage often blends into the ground, a closer look reveals a surprisingly distinctive bird with a dark facial mask, a black …
May 07 2023
Few North American birds combine size, personality, and ecological importance quite like the Wild Turkey. With its iridescent feathers, powerful legs, expressive calls, and elaborate courtship displays, this remarkable species is far more than a familiar symbol of Thanksgiving. Wild Turkeys are adaptable woodland birds that spend their days searching for food, communicating with their …
