YELLOW WARBLER

ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Emberizidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS Or SPECIES
Dendroica petechia
The yellow warbler is one of the most common of the many
wood warblers in North America. Its bright yellow plumage
and loud, cheerful song make it very easy to identify.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - " ' . - ~
SIZES
Length: 4 ~ - 5 in.
Wingspan: 6-7 in.
Weight: ~ oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: April to July.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 3-6, but usually 4-5; whitish,
speckled with brown.
Incubation: 11 days.
Fledging period: 9-12 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Forms pair only for breeding.
Diet: Small insects and spiders.
Call: Ringing "sweet, sweet, sweet"
and high-pitched whistled notes.
Lifespan: Up to 7 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 27 warbler species in the
genus Dendroica. Most live in North
America, but 5 species occur only in
the West Indies.
Breeding range of the yellow warbler.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in most of Canada and the United States, in western Mex-
ico, on both coasts of Central America, in the Caribbean, and on
South America's coast from Venezuela to Peru. Northern birds
winter in Central and South America.
CONSERVATION
The yellow warbler is abundant, but habitat destruction in the
tropics is causing a decline in birds that breed there.
FEATURES OF THE YELLOW WARBLER
Male: Mostly bright yellow
with greenish upperparts and
rusty streaks on his breast
and sides.
Egg: Various colors
of white, speckled
and spotted with
brown.
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Female: Looks
similar to the
male but green-
er. Largely lacks
the rusty streaks.
0160200921 PACKET 92
The yellow warbler is often called a "wild canary. /I This
colorful bird regularly visits gardens and sometimes even
nests there. But its favorite haunts are thickets bordering
streams and swampy areas. During its migration in the
spring and fall, this bird can be found almost anywhere.
~ HABITS
The yellow warbler often lives
in thickets. It particularly favors
dense willows and alders grow-
ing in wet places, as well as cot-
tonwoods beside rivers in the
West. But it sometimes nests in
garden shrubbery.
After wintering in Central and
South America, the yellow war-
bler usually arrives at its breed-
ing grounds in the United States
and Canada in March or April.
The male's loud, ringing song
is then heard until the nesting
season ends in midsummer.
The yellow warbler is one of
the major hosts of the brown-
headed cowbird, which lays its
eggs in the nests of other birds
and then leaves its offspring to
be raised by foster parents.
After raising the young in its
nest, the yellow warbler returns
to the south in the fall. On the
way it visits city parks and even
shrubs on the seashore.
~ BREEDING
After he arrives at the breeding
grounds in the spring, the male
yellow warbler becomes highly
aggressive and drives any other
member of his species out of his
territory. He accepts a female as
his mate only after chasing her
for three or four days and failing
to drive her away.
The female quickly begins to
build a cup-shaped nest, using
plant down, fine grass, and cob-
Left: The yellow warbler's nest is
always built in the fork of a small
sapling or shrub.
DID YOU KNOW?
When a brown-headed cow-
bird lays its egg in her nest, a
female yellow warbler's favor-
ite strategy is to install a new
nest lining, burying the alien
egg and even several of her
own. She then begins a new
clutch. A female yellow war-
bler may put down as many
as six new linings, creating a
tall, multistoried nest.
webs. She then lays three to six
eggs. As soon as the full clutch
has been laid, the 11-day incu-
bation period begins.
Although only the female in-
cubates the eggs, both parents
feed their chicks at first. Within
9 to 12 days of hatching, the
young birds are ready to leave
the nest. The young then fly
away from the territory, and
the parents separate.
Right: In the Galapagos Islands,
the yellow warbler has a rusty
head oreap.
During the breeding season,
the female yellow warbler fre-
quently sneaks back and forth
into her neighbors' territories
to steal nesting material.
The male yellow warbler can
be just as furtive as the female.
While one female is busy incu-
bating her eggs, the male may
court another female, so there
can be two nests in his territory.
The yell ow warbl er is common
everywhere during mig ration.
It can easi ly be identified by its
yel low color and its loud song
of " sweet, sweet, sweet."
Both males and femal es pre-
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Like other warblers, the yellow
warbler can be seen flitting rap-
idly through the foliage while it
searches for food. It darts about,
snapping up caterpillars, vari-
ous other insects, small spiders
hanging from their webs, and
the eggs of both insects and
spiders, if it can find them.
The small and destructive cat-
Left: The male frequently brings
food to the female while she is
incubating the eggs.
fer to forage in thickets, fairly
cl ose to the ground, but the
males tend to forage higher
than females. They may do
this to avoid competing for
food on the nesting grounds.
erpillars of moths-such as can-
kerworms and "inchworms,"
as well as young gypsy moths
and browntail moths-are the
yellow warbler's favorite food.
This bird is very useful in con-
trolling these pests.
The yellow warbler is adept
at catching small flying insects.
It also gleans insects from the
bark of trees, and it occasional-
ly flies to the ground to search
for insects among fallen leaves.
GALAPAGOS FINCHES
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Emberizidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
- - ~
GENERA
Geospiza, Camarhynchus, etc.
Galapagos finches strongly influenced Charles Darwin ~ theories
about evolution. He wondered why the remote Galapagos
Islands were home to so many closely related birds.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Lengt h: 4-6 in.
Weight : ~ - 1 ~ oz.
BREEDING
Breeding season: Variable; often
depends on rains.
Eggs: 2-6; pale, speckled brown.
Incubat ion: 12 days.
Fl edging period: 13-15 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Territorial; feeds in daytime
on the ground and in vegetation.
Mixed species may feed in groups.
Diet: Seeds, stems, leaves, buds,
fruit, nectar, pollen, insects and
t heir larvae.
Call : Simple but varied.
RELATED SPECI ES
There are 14 species in 4 genera.
Galapagos finches are probably
related to New World sparrows, a
large, varied group found in North
and South America.
FOUR GALApAGOS FINCHES
Range of Galapagos finches.
DI STRI BUTION
The Galapagos Islands and Cocos Island off Costa Rica's Pacific
coast. Some species have a very restricted range, but the war-
bler finch occurs on all 17 major islands in the Galapagos.
CONSERVATION
Habitat loss threatens some species. Two species are now en-
dangered: the medium tree finch on Floreana Island and the
mangrove finch on Isabela and Fernandina.
Woodpecker finch: Like the mangrove finch, it
uses a twig to extract larvae and termites
from crevices in branches. Because it
feeds its young only on insects, it
may not breed during years
when drought reduces
the insect supply.
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Vampire finch: Large, sharp bill.
Eats a mixed diet.
Warbler finch: Pointed, slim bill.
Eats insects almost exclusively.
Medium ground finch: Large,
powerful bill . Eats seeds.
0160200801 PACKET 80
All 14 Galapagos finch species have similar body shapes,
with short tails and short, rounded wings. But these birds
have different diets, and, as a result, the sizes and shapes
of their bills vary considerably. Although a few species
have become rare, other species are widespread and
familiar birds throughout the Galapagos Islands.
~ CHARACTERISTICS
When Charles Darwin first vis-
ited the Galapagos in 1835, he
was fascinated by these islands'
unique finchlike birds. Some had
large, thick bills; others had thin,
sharp bills; but all were alike in
size and build. Darwin's ideas
on the birds' origin helped him
develop his theory of evolution.
Many thousands of years ago,
a flock of finches was probably
blown by a storm from South
America to the Galapagos, 600
miles away. Few birds lived on
the islands, so the finches had
plenty of food. Some finches
took advantage of food sources
that, on the mainland, had be-
longed to other birds such as
woodpeckers. These finches
evolved bill shapes to suit their
diets. Gradually they became
new species. Today there are 13
species in the Galapagos. A 14th
species lives on Cocos Island off
the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
There are two main groups of
Galapagos finches: ground and
tree finches. Ground finches like
the drier, open habitats found
on many small islands and near
the coasts of the large islands.
Tree finches tend to feed in veg-
etation, but they also settle on
the ground and visit arid areas.
They prefer the humid forests
on the slopes of volcanoes and
are found mainly on the larger
islands. The warbler finch, which
does not belong to either group,
is widespread.
Right: The vampire finch breaks
open the egg of another species
and eats its contents.
~ BREEDING
Galapagos finches often mate
after it rains, when food is more
plentiful. The male may build
several display nests of twigs,
grass, and bark that are lined
with lichen, hair, and feathers.
Each has a domed roof and a
side entrance, perhaps to pro-
vide shade from the sun. Most
ground finches build their nests
low in a bush, tree, or cactus.
left: Among Galapagos finches,
the ground finches most resemble
other finch species.
DID YOU KNOW?
Some Galapagos finch spe-
cies are so similar that only
experienced bird-watchers
can tell them apart.
A male Galapagos finch dis-
plays to a passing female from
his own nests and from those
of other species.
Tree finches often build them
at the tip of a branch.
After she chooses a mate, the
female selects a display nest or
constructs a new one with the
male. She incubates the eggs
alone while the male brings her
food. After the offspring hatch,
they are fed mostly soft food
such as berries and insect lar-
vae by both parents.
Right: The small ground finch ob-
tains a variety of plant food with
its sturdy bill.
Only after many years does
a male ground finch become
completely black.
The vampire finch on Wen-
man Island sometimes pecks
at the wings and tails of molt-
ing seabirds until they bleed I
and drinks the blood. ---1
woodpecker
finch feeds on
insects and
grubs. This
diet is like
thatofa
woodpecker.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The diet of a Galapagos finch is
indicated by the shape of its bill.
Ground finches use their strong,
conical bills to break seeds and
chew stems and leaves. With its
deep bill, the large ground finch
can crack open nuts. The cactus
ground finch has a shallower bill
to feed on the seeds, fruit, and
nectar of prickly pear cactus.
Ground finches eat some in-
sects. They may peck ticks from
left: The tree
finches have
less powerful
bills than their
relatives on the
ground. The
small tree finch
employs its
medium-size
bill to pluck
insect larvae
from branches.
an iguana or giant tortoise. A
few species also break birds'
eggs and drink the contents.
Most tree finches grasp and
crush food with the tips of their
medium-size bills. They mostly
eat insect larvae and often find
prey by stripping away a tree's
bark. The vegetarian tree finch
eats fruit, leaves, and buds. Its
bill combines base-crushing and
tip-biting shapes. The warbler
finch employs its thin bill to pick
small insects from leaves and sip
nectar. The woodpecker finch
and mangrove finch use a thin
twig or cactus spine to pry lar-
vae as well as termites out of
crevices in wood.
left: The cactus finch's slate color
provides good camouflage in its
volcanic rock habitat.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Icteridae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Molothrus ater
The brown-headed cowbird is a common bird throughout the
United States and southern Canada. It is known as a brood
parasite because it lays its eggs in the nests of other songbirds.
'\l KEY FACTS
f!ll SIZES
Length: 6-8 in.
Wingspan: 12-13 in.
Weight: 1-2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating season: April to May.
Eggs: Up to 30 per season.
Incubation: 10-12 days.
Fledging period: 10 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, traveling in small
flocks except when breeding.
Diet: Insects and spiders; seeds and
fruit during fall and winter.
Call: Bubbly, whistled song; call of
high-pitched clucks and whistles.
Lifespan: Up to 13 years in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 6 cowbird species in the
genus Molothrus. All but the South
American bay-winged cowbird, M.
badius, lay their eggs in the nests of
other birds.
Range of the brown-headed cowbird.
DISTRIBUTION
Found from southern Alaska and Canada, throughout most of
the United States, to the Gulf of Mexico and Oaxaca in Mexico.
In the northern part of its range, it is migratory.
CONSERVATION
The brown-headed cowbird has benefited from the clearing of
forests and the spread of agriculture. This species is much more
numerous now than it was in colonial times.
FEATURES OF THE BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD
Bill : Stout and
conical , it is very
well adapted for
crushing seeds.
Female: Almost
as large as the
male. She dif-
fers from the
male mainly
in her uniform
gray coloring.
,; MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FI LE' M
Male: Easily identified by his glossy
brown head and sleek black body.
PRINTED IN U.S.A
Egg: Usually only 1 egg is
laid in each host bird's nest.
It is whitish or faintly bluish,
finely speckled with brown.
In this song sparrow' s nest,
the cowbird egg is very easy
to distinguish.
0160200971 PACKET 97
The brown-headed cowbird is often seen near cattle,
feeding on insects that are disturbed by the grazing
livestock. It is usually found in open country, so it has
benefited from the clearing of forests for agriculture.
The expansion of this brood parasite's habitat has
contributed to the decline of many songbird species.
HABITS
Like other American blackbirds,
the brown-headed cowbird is
sociable. For most of the year, it
travels in a small flock, frequent-
ly mingling with starlings, red-
winged blackbirds, and grackles.
It prefers open countryside and
rarely lives in dense forests.
The brown-headed cowbird is
a threat to migratory songbirds,
which already suffer from habi-
tat destruction in their tropical
winter homes and their North
American nesting areas. Since
the arrival of the early European
settlers, vast forests have been
cleared in the East, allowing this
cowbird to spread into regions
where songbirds had not been
exposed to brood parasites be-
fore. These species are in danger
because they have not yet de-
veloped defenses against a cow-
bird's habit of leaving its eggs to
be hatched by a host. They have
not learned, for example, to re-
move a cowbird's egg or cover
it with a new nest lining.
The brown-headed cowbird
has thus helped cause a drastic
decline in many songbird popu-
lations. In some small woodland
areas, where the brown-headed
Fowbird is able to easily find the
nest of a suitable host, the pro-
duction of young songbirds is
now an eighth the normal rate.
The threat from the brown-
headed cowbird is not limited
to the eastern states. The least
Bell's vireo of southern Califor-
nia, Kirtland's warbler of Mich-
igan, and the black-capped
vireo of Texas and Oklahoma
have all been driven to the edge
of extinction by this cowbird.
FOOD &: FEEDING
To obtain food, brown-headed
cowbirds often gather close to
grazing livestock. They can then
catch the insects disturbed by
these large animals and take
seeds from cattle droppings. In
the past flocks of cowbirds fol-
lowed herds of bison, so they
were known as "buffalo birds."
The name cowbird is the result
of the bird's more recent asso-
Left: The brown-headed cowbird
feeds mostly on the ground, pick-
ing up seeds or insects.


The brown-headed cowbird is
easily distinguished from other
blackbirds by its stubby, finch-
like bill and the glossy brown
head of the male. The female
is entirely gray.
The brown-headed cowbi rd
is a regular visitor to bird feed-
ers. However, it prefers to for-
ciation with domestic cattle.
The brown-headed cowbird
has adapted well to changing
conditions. During the warm
months, it now often catches
insects such as grasshoppers,
beetles, flies, and caterpillars
without any help from grazing
animals. During the fall and
winter, it switches to seeds as
well as some fru it.
Right: This California gnatcatcher
is busily feeding the much bigger
cowbird nestling.
age on the ground, where it
picks up seeds that have been
knocked off the feeder by oth-
er bi rds.
In spri ng you may find it dif-
ficult to spot female cowbi rds
because they spend thei r ti me
stealthily searching for other
birds' nests.
From the end of April to early
May, brown-headed cowbirds
separate from their winter flocks
and form pairs. The males per-
form elaborate courtship cere-
monies before mating.
Soon after mating, the female
begins searching for the nests of
other birds. She visits each nest
in the early morning to lay one
of her eggs among those of the
host species. Over 75 bird spe-
cies have hosted the young of
the brown-headed cowbird.
Left: By the time a young cowbird
is ready to fledge, it may be almost
too large for the host bird's nest.
DID YOU KNOW?
The female brown-headed
cowbird not only lays her egg
in another bird's nest but may
also remove the nest owner's
egg. The host egg is often sto-
len a day before the cowbird
deposits her own egg.
A cowbird usually places just
one egg in any single nest, but
she may lay more if host nests
are scarce. In 1934 in Minne-
sota, a veery's nest was found
A female cowbird can lay as
many as 30 eggs in one season.
The eggs may hatch in as little
as 10 days-often before the
eggs of the host species. The
young cowbird develops rapid-
ly. It usually succeeds in taking
all the food that the host birds
bring to the nest, so the nest-
lings of the rightful owner fre-
quently die of starvation or are
crowded out of the nest.
Before it is two weeks old, the
young cowbird can feed on its
own. It is ready to join a winter
flock and can mate the follow-
ing spring.
that contained eight cowbird
eggs and two veery's eggs.
Occasionally a female cow-
bird shows some maternal in-
stinct. She may make a secret
visit to a host nest to feed the
nestling cowbird there.
Aggressive birds like shrikes
and ki ngbirds are rarely both-
ered by cowbirds. They recog-
nize cowbirds and very quickly
drive them away.
,
ADELlE PENGUIN

ORDER
Sphenisciformes
FAMILY
Spheniscidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Pygoscelis adeliae

The Adelie penguin is the most abundant bird in Antarctica. Every
year it walks up to SO miles across ice and snow to its breeding
grounds, gathering in colonies of up to 700,000 birds.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 2;4 ft.
Weight: 11 lb.
Flipper length: 8-9 in.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 3-4
years. Male, 4-6 years.
Mating: Early November, which is
the Antarctic spring.
Eggs: 2; white.
Incubation: 5 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Breeds and feeds in large
colonies.
Diet: Krill, squid, mollusks, and
small fish.
Lifespan: 15-20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The closest relatives of the Adelie
are the gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis
papua, and the chinstrap penguin,
P. antarctica. There are 16 penguin
species altogether.
Range of the AdeHe penguin.
DISTRIBUTION
Found on most of the Antarctic coast and some of the south-
ernmost Atlantic islands.
CONSERVATION
Some Adelie colonies were given protection against the disrup-
tion caused by scientific expeditions. Recently, populations have
increased, mainly because commercial whaling has reduced the
competition for krill.
FEATURES OF THE ADEllE PENGUIN
Eyes: Surrounded by
characteristic ring
of white skin.
Bill: Short and
stubby, partly
covered with
feathers.
Feet: Large and webbed. Just as
useful on land as in the water. On
land the feet act like snowshaes.
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Plumage: Both sexes have
the same simple coloring,
with black above and white
below.The feathers form
an insulating, water-
proof barrier against
the elements.
Flippers: Useless on
land except to push the
penguin along slippery
ice on its belly. In the
water the flippers are
powerful propellers.
Tail : Long black feathers trail
behind the penguin and
brush along the snow.
Nest: A pile of
small rocks
and stones.
0160200821 PACKET 82
Adelie penguins make up two-thirds of the bird population
of Antarctica. In this environment of snow and ice, the
Adelie is able to take advantage of an unusual way of
traveling. It frequently slides on its belly, propelling itself
forward with its flippers and its feet. This large bird is
unaffected by the cold because it has an insulating
layer of fat as well as waterproof feathers.
~ HABITS
The Adelie penguin alternates
between living offshore and on
land. It spends much of its time
on pack ice, since the water sur-
rounding the ice keeps temper-
atures milder than on land. This
penguin lives on shore during
the Antarctic spring and sum-
mer, when thousands gather in
breeding colonies.
The Adelie is very well suited
to Antarctica's harsh climate.
The tips of the waterproof feath-
ers that cover most of the pen-
guin's body curve toward its
skin to trap air and allow water
to run off more easily. A layer
of blubber, or fat, underneath
its skin insulates the Adelie pen-
guin against temperatures that
may fall to -75F.
Within the crowded breeding
colony, each penguin generally
respects another bird's nesting
territory. The Adelie has devel-
oped a "slender walk" in which
it holds its flippers back so that
it is able to squeeze between
other penguins.
Fights rarely take place in an
Adelie colony. However, they
may arise during competition
for the best nesting sites. Steal-
ing stones for nest building can
also trigger conflicts, usually be-
tween males. The antagonists
flap their flippers angrily, grip
each other's beaks, and bump
chests until one gives way.
Right: The gray Adelie chicks call
to their parents for food, making
the colony very noisy.
~ FOOD fit FEEDING
The Adelie penguin eats mainly
krill, tiny shrimplike animals that
live in the waters around Antarc-
tica. The penguin also feeds on
mollusks and squid as well as
small fish.
Several body adaptations en-
able the Adelie penguin to eat
up to four pounds of food a day.
Its flippers, which long ago func-
Left: The Adelie penguin is distin-
guished by its stumpy bill and its
small white eye rings.
DID YOU KNOW?
A breeding colony of five
million Adelie penguins eats
10,000 tons of food a day at
the peak of the breeding sea-
son. That amount of food is
enough to fill 70 trawlers.
The Adelie penguin's layer
of fat and waterproof feathers
are so effective as insulation
that the bird may become
tioned as wings, now propel
the penguin through the water
at speeds of more than 12 miles
per hour. Its large webbed feet
act like rudders and steer the
bird toward krill or fish, which
it scoops up in its open mouth.
Its swimming skills help the Ade-
lie elude such predators as the
leopard seal.
Right: At first the parents take turns
catching fish, which they then feed
to their chicks.
overheated. If this happens,
it holds out its flippers to dis-
sipate the excess heat.
A breeding Adelie penguin
fasts for up to six weeks while
it travels to the nesting site,
builds its nest, and starts incu-
bating the eggs. During this
time it can lose up to half of
its total body weight.
The Adelie penguin's breeding
season starts in November, which
is the Antarctic spring. The bird
pairs for life and returns to the
same breeding site every year.
The sun's angle tells it when to
begin its long trek to its breed-
ing grounds. When it gets tired
of walking, the bird slides over
the snow on its belly, using its
feet and flippers to propel itself.
The male arrives at the nest-
ing colony in early November
and is followed by the female a
week later. The breeding site is
located on an exposed ridge,
where strong winds keep snow-
drifts from covering the nests.
The male and the female take
turns incubating the two eggs
and feeding the chicks. After
Left: The Adelie
builds a nest of
small stones,
which are the
only material
available. Each
parent takes a
turn on the eggs
while the other
goes off to feed
for as long as
10 days.
four weeks the chicks gather in
nurseries of about 200 while the
parents search for food. The large
groups help to protect the off-
spring from attacks by hunting
birds like the parasitic jaeger. At
nine weeks of age, the young
penguin can feed on its own at
sea. It gains weight and builds
up fat for the winter.
The Adelie colony leaves the
breeding site in the beginning
of April, at the first sign of win-
ter. Any chicks that are too weak
for the journey must be left be-
hind because the fit birds can-
not jeopardize their survival by
helping weaklings. The Adelie
spends its first two years on pack
ice and then joins the breeding
colony in its third year.
EURASIAN WIGEON
ORDER
Anseriformes
FAMILY
Anatidae
CARD 255 ]
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Anas penelope
Instead of dabbling or diving like most ducks, the Eurasian wigeon
usually feeds by grazing like a goose. It settles in tight flocks
on mud flats to feed on eelgrass for hours at a time.
___ FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 1 feet.
Wingspan: About feet.
Weight: 1-2 lb.
BREEDING
Mating season: April to June, de-
pending on location.
No. of broods: 1 .
Eggs: 6-10, usually 7-8; cream-
colored.
Incubation: 22-25 days.
Fledging period: 6 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: lives in groups on estuaries,
shores, and marshes.
Diet: Grasses, especially eelgrass;
also weeds, seeds, and algae.
Call: Male utters a loud, whistling
call when excited.
RELATED SPECIES
Close relatives include the Ameri-
can wigeon, Anas americana; the
green-winged teal, A. crecca; and
the northern pintail, A. acuta.
Resident range.
DISTRIBUTION
Winter range.
Breeding
range.
The Eurasian wigeon breeds mainly in northern Europe and
northern Asia. It winters in parts of Europe, North Africa, and
southern and southeastern Asia.
CONSERVATION
With the development of coastal sites, the Eurasian wigeon has
adapted its feeding habits to exploit inland areas. As a result, it
is under little threat at present.
FEATURES OF THE EURASIAN WIGEON
Male: Chestnut head; yellow forehead and crown. Gray up-
perparts and rump with white mark along flanks. Pinkish
brown breast. Black tail coverts. In his eclipse plumage
from June to'October or November, he resembles the fe-
male. The white wing patch ppears in his second year.
Suitable for grazing.
Flight (female shown): Re-
veals pointed tail and white bel-
ly. White shoulder patches are
clearly visible on male.
-
Female: Barred brown upperparts and
gray wings. Blotched brown head, neck,
and breast. High forehead.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200851 PACKET 85
The Eurasian wigeon is one of Europe's most numerous
ducks. This bird prefers to live in coastal areas and on
estuaries, but many of these habitats are being destroyed
or developed. As a result, this duck has learned to adapt to
inland lakes and reservoirs in order to survive. Nowadays, it
is not unusual to see flocks of Eurasian wigeon feeding in
fields and grasslands quite some distance from the coast.
~ HABITS
Outside the breeding season,
the Eurasian wigeon is mainly a
coastal duck, favoring muddy
shores and estuaries. It lives in
small parties or in flocks of sev-
eral hundred. During the day, a
flock may roost offshore, bob-
bing on the waves in a compact
"raft." The birds take off from
the water into a fairly fast flight,
with large flocks flying in a close
formation of irregular lines.
Right: The Eurasian wigeon's stub-
by bill suits its grazing habits.
The Eurasian wigeon often
spends winter inland and may
move south to seek lakes, rivers,
marshes, and gravel pits. It even
visits woods and fields to find
food. It walks and runs well, with
greater ease than many ducks.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The Eurasian wigeon generally
feeds during most of the day-
light hours, except where tides
cover its grazing grounds for
part of the day. In some areas,
however, it eats at night in or-
der to avoid contact with hu-
mans. Eelgrass, which grows on
mud flats and in salt marshes, is
this duck's favorite food. About
one-third of its foraging time is
spent in these tidal areas.
The Eurasian wigeon also eats
other grasses as well as algae,
seeds, and roots. It does ap-
proximately half of its feeding
in and around fresh water. In
Left: The male Eurasian wigeon
looks like a small teal but can be
distinguished by his yellow crown.
DID YOU KNOW?
Regional names for the Eur-
asian wigeon include whistler,
cock winder, shree duck, and
half duck. The last name came
into use during the 19th cen-
tury because the wigeon, be-
ing smaller than the mallard,
was worth only half its price
at market.
In some locations, eelgrass
shallow water it sometimes "up-
ends" to pull up water plants,
but it does this much less than
most ducks.
The Eurasian wigeon often
grazes on grassland in a com-
pact, fast-moving flock, peck-
ing and walking rapidly. It is
the only duck that feeds in this
way, so it rarely feeds alongside
other ducks. Occasionally, how-
ever, it can be seen in the com-
pany of mallards, eating grain
from stubble fields. In the late
winter and spring, the Eurasian
wigeon also grazes on sprout-
ing wheat.
Right: Severe winters in its north-
ern breeding grounds drive the
Eurasian wigeon south.
is also known as wigeon grass
because the duck feeds on it
so frequently.
The word wigeon was used
in the mid-18th century to
mean "simpleton" or "fooL"
This may have been because
the flocking wigeon was par-
ticularly easy game for the
hunter's gun.
~ I BIRDWATCH
Between September and No-
vember, a few dozen Eurasian
wigeons arrive on the coasts
of North America, migrating
from Europe and Siberia. Here
they associate with their rela-
tive the American wigeon.
The chestnut head and pink-
~ BREEDING
The Eurasian wigeon breeds on
lakes, rivers, and marshes. The
male displays in April or May. He
fluffs up his head feathers, shows
his yellow crown, and utters a
high-pitched, two-tone whistle
while the female purrs softly.
After mating, the female digs
a shallow hollow in the ground
among long grass or heather.
She lines the hollow with leaves,
Left: Courting wigeons head for
islands on lakes, where they are
safe from predatory mammals.
ish brown breast of the male
Eurasian wigeon distinguishes
him from the American bird,
but the females of the species
are hard to differentiate. As a
result, many female Eurasian
wigeons go undetected in
North America.
stalks, and also her own feather
down. She usually lays seven or
eight eggs, one a day over a
period of about a week. The
male stays nearby at least until
she has finished laying. Then he
wanders off, leaving her to incu-
bate the eggs for up to 25 days.
When the chicks hatch, the
mother leads them straight to
water. The male may rejoin his
family, but it is the female that
tends the young. They become
independent after six weeks.
SAGE GROUSE
' ( ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~
ORDER
Galliformes
FAMILY
Tetraonidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Centrocercus urophasianus
The sage grouse is a beautiful but rare game bird of North
America. It gets its name from its habit of roosting and nesting
in dense sagebrush. It even feeds on the leaves of this plant.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - - ~ ~ -
SIZES
Length: 1 )1,; -3 ft. Female smaller
than male.
Weight: 3-8 lb. Heaviest in summer.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating season: February to April.
Eggs: 8-16.
Incubation: Almost 1 month.
Fledging period: 3 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable.
Diet: Mainly plant matter.
Call: Male utters groans and bub-
bling sounds during courtship. Both
sexes hiss if attacked.
Lifespan: 5 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The western sage grouse, Centrocer-
cus urophasianus urophasianus, and
the eastern sage grouse, C u. phaios,
are the 2 subspecies.
Range of the sage grouse.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in western North America, including Colorado, Wyo-
ming, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho,
Montana, North and South Dakota, Alberta, and Saskatche-
wan. Reintroduced into New Mexico.
CONSERVATION
Hunting restrictions in the 1940s and 1950s helped restore the
sage grouse's numbers, but habitat destruction is still a threat.
FEATURES OF THE SAGE GROUSE
Cock (male): Brown-striped up-
(
perparts, white breast ruff, black
throat, yellow eye combs, long
I black-and-white tail plumes.
Larger than hen.
Hen (female): Smaller than the
cock, without his black bib, white
ruff, and yellow eye combs.
Flight: Powerful , often
reaching high altitudes.
Reveals smoky black belly and
creamy white wing undersides.
Female takes off more easily than
the male. Young can run very fast
and fly only as a last resort.
Courtship display: The cock per-
forms a ritual dance in which he
raises his long tail , drops his stiff-
ened wings, and puffs up his white
ruff and yellow air sacs.
Eggs: Olive green
with dark spots,
like the eggs of
other grouse.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200831 PACKET 83
When air shoots out of the male sage grouse's inflated
throat sacs, it gives a whiplike "crack" that can be heard
1,000 feet away. This is just one part of a spectacular
courtship ritual in which the cocks (males) gather to win
the hens (females). These displays take place in traditional
arenas, where the dancing males transform the prairie
into a pageant of fanned feathers and bubbling cries.
~ HABITAT
The sage grouse inhabits plains
and hills in western North Amer-
ica. In the winter 50 to 100 birds
gather in a flock, but in very bad
weather the flock may grow to
1,000. The birds migrate to low-
lying areas where the sagebrush
is large enough to stand above
the snow. They rarely stray on-
to snow deeper than six feet. At
night, they roost on rockyout-
crops or on the ground.
In the breeding season, the
birds fly to their leks (display ar-
eas), which may be 30 to 100
miles away. In the middle of the
summer, the grouse may travel
75 miles from its lek, flying at an
altitude of close to 8,000 feet.
The bird shares the sagebrush
plains with many other wild ani-
mals such as antelope, deer, wild
turkeys, and pheasants. There
are also grazing sheep and cat-
tle, but they do not actually dis-
turb the bird. However, many
areas are being developed for
agriculture or industry. The sage-
brush is dug up, destroying the
bird's main source of food and
shelter. Since the 1930s, the
sage grouse's total range has
been greatly reduced.
Right: When the sage grouse chicks
forage for insects in the brush, they
are closely guarded by the hen.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Sagebrush leaves are the sage
grouse's main food in winter. In
spring and summer it also eats
a wide variety of other plants,
including dandelions, prickly
lettuce, salsify, grasses, some le-
gumes, buckwheat, and weeds.
During the fall the sage grouse's
diet may include alfalfa, clover,
and berries.
Chicks and young birds often
feed on insects, and in the first
week of life, they eat practically
Left: The sage grouse is one of sev-
eral species of grouse that roam the
western plains.
DID YOU KNOW?
The sage grouse cleans itself
by taking dust baths during its
midday rest.
Because it lacks a gizzard to
grind down tough foods, the
sage grouse very rarely eats
hard seeds.
The red flight muscles in the
sage grouse's breast show that
it is able to fly long distances.
nothing else. In the spring the
young feed on ants, beetles,
and flies. In summer and early
fall they catch grasshoppers, la-
dybugs, moths, and insect lar-
vae. Adults, by contrast, eat
very few insects.
The sage grouse obtains all
the water it requires from the
food it eats. It is unusual in that
it does not have a gizzard (spe-
cial stomach). All other species
of grouse have one.
Right: The hen's muted coloring
provides camouflage while she
rears her brood.
Species with less stamina have
paler flight muscles.
The hen leaves a very large
dropping near the nest when
she goes to feed. Often sever-
al inches long, it consists of all
the waste she has produced
while incubating. Finding one
is a definite sign that there is
a nest close by.
The sage grouse breeds in large
groups like many other grouse.
Young cocks gather at the lek in
February, and the adults arrive
up to six weeks later.
The cock performs a courtship
dance during which he pretends
to ignore the hens. The hens
seem to prefer the older, more
aggressive males. About two-
thirds of them breed with just
one or two dominant cocks.
After mating, the hen may fly
six miles from the lek to lay her
eggs in a hollow among thick
sagebrush. She rears her young
alone but may nest close to oth-
er females. She leaves the nest
Left: The court-
ing cock groans
loudly, flutters
his wings, and
fans out his
neck and tail
feathers. He
then puffs
out his chest,
inflating his
throat sacs
until his head
is barely visible.
to feed for about 15 minutes at
least twice a day during incuba-
tion. During this time the eggs
fall prey to coyotes, badgers,
ground squirrels, and magpies . .
Once the hatchlings are old
enough, the hen moves them
to hay fields or meadows, where
they can forage on their own. In
summer the young may range
12 to 27 miles from the nest.
The chicks can fly more than
1 0 feet at a week or two old,
and their strength quickly im-
proves. They leave the brood
when they are three months
old-after they have grown
their juvenile plumage.
LITTLE OWL
ORDER
Strigiformes
FAMILY
Strigidae
GROUP 2: BIRDS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Athene noctua
The well-named little owl is a versatile hunter that is common in
most of Europe. Active by day as well as at night, this bird can
often be seen perched on a fence post or boulder.
KEY FACTS
~ - - - - " ' 1 1 1 - - -
SIZES
Length: 8-9 in.
Wingspan: Almost 2 ft.
Weight: 5-7 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: Late March to
early August.
No. of broods: 1.
Eggs: 2-5; white.
Incubation: 4 weeks.
Fledging period: 4-5 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active by day and night.
Solitary and nonmigratory.
Diet: Invertebrates, small mam-
mals, frogs, and occasionally birds.
Call: Low, plaintive "kee-oo./1
Lifespan: Up to 9 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are over 120 species in 27
genera in the family Strigidae. A
close relative is the burrowing owl,
Speotyto cunicularia.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia and China.
CONSERVATION
The little owl is one of Europe's most common owls. But it has
suffered from persecution by gamekeepers and the use of pes-
ticides in agricultural areas. A cold winter with widespread frost
and snow will also take a heavy toll on the population.
FEATURES OF THE LITTLE OWL
Flight: Flaps, then closes
its wings repeatedly and
rapidly. This causes a bounding,
undulating motion unlike that of any
other owl. Large rounded wings make the
bird seem larger in flight than when perched.
Owlet: Born with
white down that soon
turns gray. Remains
in the nest, which is
often in a willow
stump, for 4 or 5
weeks until its flight
feathers have grown.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Head: Large, with
bright yellow eyes
and no ear tufts.
Eggs: White
and rounded.
Usually at least
3 in a clutch.
Body: Stocky and
heavily built.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Plumage: Various
shades of gray-
brown, barred and
mottled with
white. Short tail.
Sexes similar.
0160200831 PACKET 83
Earlier in this century, the little owl was persecuted in parts
of its range because of its reputation for feeding on the
young of game birds such as pheasants. In fact however,
this owl preys on birds only occasionally-the bulk of its
diet consists of crop-damaging insects. As a result, the
little owl is helpful to farmers throughout its range.
~ HABITS
The little owl avoids forests and
heavily wooded areas. It prefers
open countryside that has plenty
of prominent perches. Its ideal
habitats are farmland, orchards,
palm groves, hedgerows, and
rocky steppes. It stays at low to
middle elevations, rarely ventur-
ing far into mountains.
The little owl is frequently seen
by day, perched on a tree, fence
post, or telephone wire. The owl
may sit motionless for hours on
such a perch.
The little owl flies with an easi -
ly recognizable low, undulating
motion. When it is hunting, it
may hover a few feet above the
ground, but it looks quite clum-
sy in the air. It walks awkwardly
too, bobbing its head and wag-
ging its tail feathers when ap-
proached or agitated.
Although up to 20 pairs may
breed within an area of less than
half a square mile, the little owl
is a solitary bird. It is usually seen
alone or occasionally in pairs. It
lives within a specific territory,
which it defends by calling or by
chasing an intruder, although it
avoids fights. This owl has a flex-
ible lifestyle and never needs to
stray far from its home range. If
one of its food sources becomes
depleted, it can take advantage
of another.
Right: An expert hunter, the little
owl can snap up night-flying moths
in the air.
~ BREEDING
The little owl breeds between
late March and early August but
usually in April, May, or June. A
bond between male and female
may last for several years, but
this is probably the result of an
attachment to a home territory
rather than to a partner.
The male bobs up and down
to impress a fEmale. Both birds
may sing to each other or offer
gifts of food. The nest is in an
Left: The little owl is as small as a
blue jay, but its wings make it look
larger in flight.
DID YOU KNOW?
The little owl is not the small-
est bird in its family. The pyg-
my owl is two inches smaller.
In 1842 five little owls were
released in England, but the
experiment failed to produce
a British population. More than
30 years later, 40 of these owls
unlined tree hole, an unused
farm building, a birdhouse, or
an abandoned rabbit hole. The
female lays two to five white
eggs. She then incubates them
for four weeks while the male
hunts for food.
The hatchlings are covered in
white down. They are fed by
both parents and can fly after
four or five weeks. But they of-
ten leave the nest a week earlier.
Right: In the security of a bird-
house, the owlets grow quickly,
fed by both parents.
were successfully introduced. I t!1 BIRDWATCH
The little owl often falls prey The little owl is present year-
to the tawny owl. round in much of Europe. The
In one study a little owl ate owl's low mewing call can be
23 earthworms in just 45 min- heard on spring evenings, es-
utes. This owl eats two to three pecially on farmland that has
ounces of food a day-almost plenty of farm buildings and
half its body weight. hollow trees.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The little owl's diet is dominated
by beetles, moths, and earwigs,
as well as earthworms, which it
often snatches from birds such
as the European blackbird. This
owl also feeds on frogs and small
mammals. Occasionally, it takes
small birds from a nest, a prac-
tice that gave the owl its unde-
served reputation for preying
on the young of game birds.
The little owl does most of its
The little owl is seen during
the day more often than any
other owl. Small pellets often
accumulate below a roost or
nesting site. Beetle wing cases
and other insect remains may
mark a favorite perch.
---1
hunting just before dawn and at
dusk, but it also feeds during the
day and night. It looks out for
prey from a high perch, then it
flies swiftly to drop onto its vic-
tim from above. It also hunts on
the ground, searching through
debris for earthworms and bee-
tles. The bird may run after a
small animal on the ground or
chase flying insects in the air.
When food is plentiful, the lit-
tle owl stores extra supplies to
see it through times of scarcity.
The rotting food often attracts
flies and beetles, which add to
the owl's store.
Left: When food is scarce, the little
owl relies on its emergency store of
rotting food.
INCA TERN
,,--------
ORDER
Charadriiformes
FAMILY
Laridae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Larosterna inca
CARD 258
The Inca tern is found only off the western coast of South America.
With its slate gray plumage, large red bill, and white "mustache,"
this tern is one of the most beautiful of all seabirds.
KEY FACTS
SIZE
Length: Body, 16 in. Tail, about 6
in. Wings, 11 in.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3 years.
Breeding season: September to
November, the Southern Hemi-
sphere's spring.
Eggs: 1-3.
Incubation: 3-4 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives and breeds in large,
noisy colonies.
Diet: Small fish as well as other
marine animals.
Call: Loud and rasping.
Lifespan: 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Of the 43 tern species in its family,
the Inca tern is most closely related
to the oceanic noddies-genera
Anous and Procelsterna.
FEATURES OF THE INCA TERN
Bill: Bright red.
Large and pointed
for snatching fish.
Head: Slightly darker than
the body, with almost black
plumage. A white plume that
resembles a long, downward-
curling mustache runs from
under each eye back along the
cheeks. Bright yellow wattles.
Plumage: Slate
gray. Edges of
wings are tipped
with white. Tail
is forked. Sexes
are similar.
CO MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the Inca tern.
DISTRIBUTION
Found along the western shoreline of South America from the
Gulf of Guayaquil in Ecuador, south to Valdivia in Chile. Breeds
offshore on guano islands.
CONSERVATION
Although the Inca tern is found only on the western coast of
South America, the bird is numerous and not endangered in
anyway.
Nest: Unlike most
terns, the Inca tern
nests under cover, ...
often in a crevice "
or hole. The bird's
breeding site is
a guano island,
where mounds of
accumulated bird
droppings rise
above the water.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200871 PACKET 87
The Inca tern is a slender, striking seabird that is highly
sociable. It lives in large, often noisy, colonies on the high,
inaccessible shorelines of western Peru and Chile. It shares
the rocks and airspace around these food-rich waters
with cormorants and brown pelicans. Each year, in
the breeding season, the Inca tern moves offshore
to nest on this coast's famous guano islands.
~ H A B I T S
The Inca tern's large colonies
may contain thousands of indi-
viduals, including other birds
such as cormorants. The colo-
nies can be quite noisy since the
birds call loudly to each other,
especially if threatened by in-
truders. Often the colonies be-
come crowded, and fights are
frequent, especially between
terns and cormorants.
The Inca tern is a graceful fli-
er but is not a strong swimmer.
Its webbed feet are too small to
propel it through the water effi-
ciently. However, it does float
buoyantly on the surface.
Right: A sociable bird, the Inca tern
communicates noisily with the mem-
bers of its colony.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The Inca tern eats mainly small
fish and other marine animals
like shrimp. It has an abundant
supply of food, since the cold
Humboldt current that runs up
the coast of Peru brings waters
rich with fish to the ocean's sur-
face. The Inca tern fishes for its
prey by hovering over the wa-
ter at a height of less than 65
feet. The bird then splashes
Left: The Inca tern has a large,
pointed bill that is ideal for snap-
ping up fish.
DID YOU KNOW?
Chileans call the Inca tern
mofio, which means "nun." It
was given this name because
of its plumage's resemblance
to a nun's dark habit.
Although terns and gulls are
closely related, their flights are
quite different. Gulls generally
soar, while terns fly with very
steady wing beats, frequently
down and emerges almost im-
mediately with its catch.
Inca terns also follow feeding
whales to pick up scraps. In ad-
dition, the birds hover in a big
flock when sea lions haul out
onto rocks in order to eat. The
Inca terns then plunge down
onto the sea lions and actually
take the chewed-up food from
between their teeth.
Right: Although the Inca tern's feet
are webbed, they are too small for
efficient swimming.
with their heads and their bills
pointing downward.
Terns are nicknamed "strik-
ers" because of the way they
hover above the water, then
splash down and quickly re-
surface with their catch.
Terns are found worldwide,
but the largest number of spe-
cies inhabit the Pacific.
~ BREEDING
During September the Inca tern
leaves its shoreline colony and
gathers on offshore guano is-
lands. These are small islands
where seabirds have deposited
their droppings for many years,
forming mounds that rise to
heights of hundreds of feet and
extend above the waves.
In a simple courtship ritual,
the male Inca tern engages in
skillful aerial displays to impress
the female. He also pursues her
in the air with gifts of fish until
she finally accepts him.
The pair then chooses a nest
site. Unlike most terns, which
tend to nest on open ground,
Inca terns select sheltered nest
sites. The male and female may
Left: When
fishing, the
Inca tern hov-
ers over the
waves, then
plunges down
and resurfaces
quickly with
its catch.
enlarge the ground burrow of
a petrel or penguin, or they may
use a crevice or a hole among
the rocky outcrops. When nec-
essary, they nest under a boul-
der or anywhere else that offers
protection from turkey vultures,
which steal their eggs. The birds
often return to the same nest
site for several years in a row.
The female lays one to three
eggs, which both sexes incu-
bate for three to four weeks.
The down-covered hatchlings
are able to run around within a
few days and soon enter the
water to start swimming. Both
parents feed the young, which
remain dependent on them for
several months.
CARD 259
MARABOU STORK
,,--------------
GROUP 2: BIRDS

ORDER
Ciconiiformes
FAMILY
Ciconiidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Leptoptilos crumeniferus
The marabou stork is one of the largest storks, with perhaps
the greatest wingspan of all land birds. This enormous
scavenger is one of Africa most majestic birds.
KEY FACTS

SIZES
Length: ft.
Wingspan: 10ft.
Weight: 11 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years.
Mating: End of rainy season.
No. of broods: 1. Only a small frac-
tion of the population breeds in any
one year.
Eggs:'2-3; white and grainy.
Incubation: 1 month.
Fledging period: 4 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Mostly day-active. Often
scavenges in small flocks.
Diet: Carrion, frogs, snakes, ro-
dents, and insects.
Call: Grunts, croaks, and snorts.
Lifespan: Up to 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
One of 18 species in the family Ci-
coniidae, which also includes the
white stork, Ciconia ciconia.
Range of the marabou stork.
DISTRIBUTION
The marabou stork is found across much of tropical and sub-
tropical Africa.
CONSERVATION
The marabou stork is common across its range, despite a rela-
tively slow breeding rate. Some populations were depleted in
the past by hunters who sold the birds' tail feathers for decora-
tions on clotning.
FEATURES OF THE MARABOU STORK
Flight: Huge dark wings and short tail
give a vulturelike appearance in the ai r.
Contrast between white belly and black
wings and tail makes the species easy
tQ identify. Gray. legs trail out behind;
long neck is held out in ffOnt.
Head: Small and bare. No feathers
to become soiled when the stork
inserts its bill into a carcass.
Plumage: Slate-gray back,
wings, and tail. White
edges on long, broad
wings. Mainly white
underparts.
Bill: Large,
straight, and
heavy for rip-
ping the intes-
tines of dead
animals. Of-
ten rested
on the
throat
sac.
Throat sac:
A large, bare-
skinned pouch
hanging down
from the neck.
Can be irHlated
or deflated by a
system of ai r
p,ockets oon-
oectecf to
....t.I..-u... ____ ___ b_jr_d'..;;.. s,/ _nOsJrlls
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Although the marabou stork belongs to a family of wading
birds, it has much in common with the unrelated vultures.
Like those scavengers, this stork soars high above the
ground on rising currents of warm ai" searching for
animal carcasses, which form a major part of its diet.
~ HABITS
The marabou stork is primarily
sedentary. But birds from the
northern and southern parts of
the range may move to the cen-
tral regions to breed.
Although it is sometimes seen
alone, this stork is more often
found in small parties. It flies in
flocks when migrating within
Africa and also congregates in
groups at good feeding sites.
These bold birds often feed at
garbage dumps in villages.
The marabou stork lives in Af-
rica's open wetlands, lakes, and
rivers. But it is also found in arid,
open country and wooded sa-
vanna-wherever the tempera-
tures are high enough to pro-
vide the thermals (rising currents
of warm air) on which it soars.
This stork is most magnificent
when soaring on a thermal, with
its neck extended and long legs
trailing behind. It can be identi-
fied in flight by its huge size and
massive bill. Since it is so heavy,
it has to soar for long periods,
resting its wings to save energy.
The bird's most unusual fea-
ture is its huge throat sac, which
helps to support the heavy bill.
The throat sac may also be used
to store food. Or, since it is most
prominent in the breeding sea-
son, it may be used in courtship.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Although it is a wading bird, the
marabou stork's feeding habits
are similar to those of vultures.
Like vultures, it feeds largely on
carrion (dead animal flesh) and
soars to great heights to look for
carcasses. It then descends at
great speed with a rush of air
through its wings.
The marabou stork competes
with vultures for the carcasses of
large mammals like deer, ante-
lope, and buffalo. The stork uses
its powerful bill to cut open the
animal's abdominal wall. Then it
inserts its bill deep inside the car-
cass. The bird's head and neck
Left: The marabou stork's inflat-
able throat pouch can hong as
much as 16 inches long.
DID YOU KNOW?
The marabou stork frequent-
ly soars at more than 15,000
feet. At such a height it can be
a hazard to the pilot of a fairly
light airplane.
The marabou stork has ex-
are entirely bare, so there are
no feathers to become matted
with blood.
The marabou stork also eats
almost any live animal it is able
to catch and often feeds while
walking or wading. With a for-
ward thrust of its bill, it seizes
frogs and snakes from shallow
swamps or small mammals and
rodents from dry land.
Grasshoppers and locusts are
fairly easy prey, and the stork
eats both in huge quantities. It
also steals eggs and chicks from
the nests of birds like flamingos
and red-billed queleas.
Right: Usually a silent bird, the
marabou stork may utter crooks
and grunts to a portner.
tremely fine lower tail feathers
that were once used for trim-
ming women's clothes. In Af-
rica the hunting of this stork
for the fashion trade consider-
ably reduced its population.
Marabou storks are not sexually
mature until three or four years
old, and only a fraction of the
population breeds each season.
The storks often breed in colo-
nies near good feeding places,
such as cattle-rearing districts or
locations where deer abound.
Breeding colonies may include
other birds like pelicans.
Before mating, the male and
female storks display and rattle
their bills. Both sexes build the
small nest out of sticks in a large
tree or among rocks.
Left: The young are born naked
and grow slowly, staying in the
nest for about four months.
The female lays two or three
eggs at the end of the rainy sea-
son. This ensures that the young
will be reared in the dry season,
when there is plenty of carrion
because many large mammals
die in the harsh conditions. Fish
are also easy prey in the dry sea-
son, since they are concentrated
in receding swamp waters.
The male and the female take
turns incubating the eggs for a
month. Both parents feed the
hatchlings, at first on a diet of
regurgitated earthworms. The
young are fully fledged in four
months but stay in the nest for
about two weeks longer.
NORTHERN CARDINAL
\ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
... ORDER
~ Passeriformes
FAMILY
Emberizidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Cardin a/is cardina/is
The bright red color of the male northern cardinal makes it an easy
bird to recognize. In recent decades the northern cardinal has
expanded its range from the United States into southern Canada.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 7)1-9 in.
Wingspan: 8-10 in .
Weight: 1 ~ - 2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: March to August.
No. of broods: Up to 4 per year.
Eggs: 3-4, sometimes 2-5; white or
pale green with brown spots.
Incubation: 11 -13 days.
Fledging period: 9-11 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Form pairs when breeding.
Diet: Insects, berries, and seeds.
Call: Ringing "cheer, cheer, cheer"
and other whistled notes.
Lifespan: Up to 15 years in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
The genus Cardinrlis has 2 other spe-
cies: pyrrhuloxia, C. sinuata, in south-
western deserts and the vermilion
cardinal, C. phoenicea, in Colombia
and Venezuela.
Range of the northern cardinal.
DISTRIBUTION
Found from Ontario and Nova Scotia through the eastern, cen-
tral, and southwestern United States to parts of Mexico and
along the Caribbean coast of Central America to Belize.
CONSERVATION
The northern cardinal is a common bird in all parts of its range
and appears to be in no danger. It is even expanding its north-
ern range in Canada and the Great Lakes region.
FEATURES OF THE NORTHERN CARDINAL
Male: Has bright red
plumage, a red crest,
a black face, and a
red bill.
Bill: Strongly coni-
cal in shape and
well adapted fOT
crushing seeds.
Female: Similar in size and shape
the male, but plumage is mainly a
yellowish brown with touches of red
on the crest, wings, and tail .
MCMXCII IMP BVII MP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Egg: White or
greenish color,
speckled and
spotted with
various shades
of brown.
0160200961 PACKET 96
The northern cardinal is one of the most colorful and
popular birds in North America. It is the state bird of
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, West
Virginia, and Virginia. Throughout the eastern United
States, it is a frequent visitor to gardens and bird feeders.
~ HABITS
The northern cardinal is found
throughout the eastern half of
the United States, in the South-
west, and in much of Mexico.
It lives in thickets and shrubs,
sometimes making its home in
gardens and parks.
The cardinal is strongly terri-
torial and sings all year to pro-
claim its ownership of a certain
area. During a severe winter,
however, cardinals may gather
in flocks of as many as 60 birds.
The cardinal usually remains
in the same place and does not
migrate. But after the breeding
season there is often some shift-
ing of territories.
For several decades, the car-
dinal has been expanding its
range northward into Ontario
and Nova Scotia. One reason
may be that more people are
feeding the birds in winter.
~ BREEDING
Northern cardinals begin their
courtship in early spring, when
a female moves into the territo-
ry of a nearby male. The two
birds face each other with their
crests erect. They sway slowly
from side to side, singing softly.
Soon after this ceremony, the
female builds a nest using twigs,
grass, bark fibers, and leaves. In
it she usually lays three to four
eggs. She incubates the eggs
Left: The northern cardinal has a
conical bill that is perfect for crush-
ing a variety of seeds.
DID YOU KNOW?
A northern cardinal that was
kept as a house pet in Atlanta,
Georgia, lived for 28!1 years,
surviving from 1933 to 1961.
This is nearly twice the record
lifespan of a wild bird.
The male northern cardinal
is so fiercely territorial that he
frequently attacks his own re-
flection in a window or a pol-
ished hubcap. Occasionally a
bird beats against a glass pane
for a little less than two weeks,
while the male brings food to
her on the nest. After the young
hatch, they stay in the nest for
about 10 days before they are
ready to fly.
As soon as the brood fledges,
the male takes charge of them
and the female begins her sec-
ond clutch. In a good year, a
pair of cardinals may raise as
many as four broods.
Right: Unlike the bright red male,
the female is softly colored in yel/ow
and brown with reddish touches.
so savagely that he injures or
even kills himself.
The northern cardinal gets
its name from the bright red
robes that are worn by the
cardinals of the Roman Cath-
olic Church. But it did not al-
ways have this name. In the
18th century, this bird was
commonly referred to as the
red-bird. It was also called the
Virginia nightingale.
The northern cardinal is often
seen in suburban gardens and
other areas where dense thick-
ets or shrubs grow, including
some city parks. It prefers fruit-
bearing shrubs, which provide
food duri ng the winter.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
During the summer the north-
ern cardinal feeds almost exclu-
sively on insects such as beetles,
ants, termites, dragonflies, crick-
ets, grasshoppers, and caterpil-
lars. The adults also feed insects
to their young. Over 50 kinds
Left: The northern cardinal's nest
is in an evergreen tree or a dense
thicket, so it is hard to find.
Because of his bright color
and loud song, the male car-
dinal is very easy to spot. Both
males and females are regular
visitors to bird feeders, where
they are particularly fond of
sunflower seeds.
of insects have been reported
in this bird's diet.
While foraging in thickets and
on the ground for insects, the
cardinal may eat some spiders,
snails, or slugs. When fall arrives,
this bird switches to seeds, ber-
ries, buds, grain, and flowers.
Using its stout, conical bill, it
can crush very tough seeds.