Birds

North America Robin - Passeriformes Turdidae Turdus migratorius Identification & Description: • Large thrush. • Back and wings gray. • Underparts red. • Dark head with white eye crescents. • Throat white with black streaks. • Lower belly and under tail white. • Gray tail moderately long with white spots at corners of outer [...]

Mallard - Anseriformes Anatidae Anas platyrhynchos Identification & Description: • Large dabbling duck • Male with iridescent green head, rusty chest, and gray body. • Female mottled brown. • Blue speculum with white bar along both leading and trailing edges • Silvery-white wing linings • Juvenile similar to adult female • In the southwestern [...]

House Finch - Passeriformes Fringillidae Carpodacus mexicanus Identification & Description: • Medium-sized finch. • Conical bill • Long tail • Distinctive call note often given in flight • Male bright red on head, chest, and rump; female brown and striped. • Bill short and thick, with rounded top edge. • Two thin white wingbars. [...]

Great Blue Heron - Ciconiiformes Ardeidae Ardea herodias Identification & Description: • Large, gray bird. • Long legs • White crown stripe. • Sexes similar • Huge long-legged long-necked wader • Usually holds neck in an "S" curve at rest and in flight • White morph all white with pale legs, long, thick yellow [...]

Downy Woodpecker - Piciformes Picidae Picoides pubescens Identification & Description: • Very small black and white woodpecker • Very short pointed bill • Mostly black head set off by broad white supercilium and lower border to auriculars • Black nape • Plain white back • Black wings with white spotting on coverts and flight [...]

Canada Goose - Anseriformes Anatidae Branta canadensis Identification & Description: • Large waterbird. • Sexes similar • Large long-necked goose • Black bill • Black head and long neck • White throat patch extends up to cheek • Brown back, upper wing and flanks • Brownish-white breast and belly • White upper tail coverts [...]

Bufflehead - Anseriformes Anatidae Bucephala albeola Identification & Description: • Very small compact diving duck • Very small dark gray bill • Immature female similar to adult female, but immature male has a larger white cheek patch • Black-and-white. • White patch on side of head. • Size: 32-40 cm (13-16 in) • Wingspan: [...]

Black-Capped Chickadee - Passeriformes Paridae Poecile atricapillus Identification & Description: • Small, short-billed bird. • Black cap. • Black bib. • Black crown and throat • White cheeks. • Pale gray upperparts • White edges to wing coverts • Grayish-white underparts • Rusty flanks • Sexes similar • Often found in small flocks • [...]

Bewick's Wren - Passeriformes Troglodytidae Thryomanes bewickii Identification & Description: • Small gray and brown songbird. • Long, thin, slightly decurved bill • Bold white supercilium • Gray-brown upperparts • Grayish-white underparts • Wings and tail barred with black • Long tail has white corners and is frequently held upright • Dark legs • [...]

Barn Swallow - Passeriformes Hirundinidae Hirundo rustica Identification & Description: • Small slender songbird. • Tiny bill • Dark orange forehead and throat • Pale orange underparts • Dark, iridiscent upperparts • Long, deeply forked tail • Juvenile similar to adult but paler underneath with a shorter tail • Most often seen flying • [...]

Bald Eagle - Falconiformes Accipitridae Haliaeetus leucocephalus Identification & Description: • Very large raptor. • Adults unmistakable with brown body and white head and tail. • Sexes similar • Very large, broad-winged, broad-tailed hawk • Rounded long broad wings held flat while soaring. • Bill large and hooked. • Plucks fish from water with [...]