Backyard Birds (class Aves, subphylum Vertebrata, phylum Chordata, kingdom Animalia, domain Eukarya)

  Select common name of backyard bird: Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty Bluebird, Eastern Bunting, Indigo Bunting, Painted Cardinal, Northern Catbird, Gray Chickadee, Carolina Cowbird, Brown-headed Chacalaca, Plain Cockatiel, White-faced Creeper, Brown Crow, American Crow, Fish Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Dove, Common Ground Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Inca Dove, Mourning Dove, Rock Dove, White-winged Eagle, Bald Finch, House Finch, Purple Flicker, Northern Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Vermilion Flycatcher, Willow Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray Goldfinch, American Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Common Grackle, Greater Antillean Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Jay, Blue Jay, Green Jay, Western Scrub Junco, Dark-eyed Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Eastern Kingfisher, Belted Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Great Kiskadee Martin, Purple Mockingbird, Northern Nuthatch, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Oriole, Altamira Osprey Ovenbird Parakeet, Black-hooded Phoebe, Eastern Quail, California Raven, Common Robin, American Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied Shrike, Loggerhead Siskin, Pine Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, House Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Starling, European Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Tanager, Summer Thrasher, Brown Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Wood Titmouse, Tufted Towhee, Eastern Turkey, Wild Veery Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed Vulture, Black Vulture, Turkey Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Waxwing, Cedar Wood-pewee, Eastern Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-cockaded Wren, Carolina Wren, Marsh Wren, Winter Yellowthroat, Common          Select type of bird, e.g., woodpecker: Songbirds (Passiformes) Cuckoos (Cuculiformes) Woodpeckers (Piciformes) Vultures (Ciconiiformes) Parrots (Psittaciformes) Doves (Columbiformes) Hummingbirds (Apodiformes) Hawks, Ospreys, Eagles (Falciformes) Owls (Strigiformes) Kingfishers (Coraciiformes)         Songbird families: Mimidae (Mockingbirds, Brown Thrashers, Catbirds) Parulidae (Warblers) Troglodytidae (Wrens) Emberizidae (Sparrows and Juncos) Turdidae (Thrushes, including Bluebirds and Robins) Fringillidae (Finches) Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Buntings) Thraupidae (Tanagers) Paridae (Chickadees and Titmice) Certhiidae (Creepers) Tyrannidae (Phoebes and Flycatchers) Passeridae (European Sparrows) Regulidae (Kinglets) Vireonidae (Vireos) Laniidae (Shrikes) Corvidae (Crows and Jays) Sylviidae (Gnatcatchers) Hirundinidae (Martins and Swallows) Icteridae (Blackbirds, Cowbirds, Grackles) Strigidae (Owls) Sturnidae (Starlings) Bombycillidae (Waxwings) Sittidae (Nuthatches)

This page is an aid to bird identification. To see birds that live near water, go to Shore Birds. To see birds in captivity, visit Zoo Birds.  Or see the wild birds in the Audubon Swamp Garden, Charleston County, SC.

Mockingbirds and Allies (Mimidae family, Oscines suborder, Passeriformes order)

These birds each have a large repertoire of songs, not all borrowed from other birds. 

Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)

Curve-billed Thrasher, McAllen Nature Center, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/14/19	Curve-billed Thrasher, National Butterfly Center, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/17/19

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

It has the most attention-getting song, somewhat more high-pitched than the Northern Mockingbird. It has 1100 mostly original varieties of song. 

Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 10/18/24	Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 1/10/22	Same Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 1/10/22	Brown Thrasher on Chinese Privet, Durham, NC, 12/22/20	Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 11/09/20	Same Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 9/12/20	Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), Durham, NC, 3/23/05.	Brown Thrasher, American Tobacco Trail (Miles 0-2), Durham, NC, 6/27/18	Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 4/26/18	Brown Thrasher, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 3/12/16	Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 2/16/16

Juvie Brown Thrasher with prey, Durham, NC, 7/29/21	Juvie Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 7/25/20	Same juvie Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 7/25/20	Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 8/29/20	Fledgling Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 6/23/12	Young Brown Thrasher, Durham, NC, 8/30/17

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Gray Catbird, Durham, NC, 9/1/21	Gray Catbird, Museum of Life & Science, Durham, NC, 6/18/17	Gray Catbird, Shipley Trail, Bailey Homestead, Sanibel, Lee County, FL, 2/22/19	Gray Catbird, Peaks of Otter, Bedford County, VA, 6/11/16	Gray Catbird, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/21/18	Gray Catbird, Durham, 4/25/06.  This bird's song, with all its squealing and smacking sounds, was quite an attention-getter.

Fledgling Gray Catbird, Durham, NC, 9/14/19

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

It's interesting that the Northern Mockingbird, the bird with the most popular song among humans, is also the most abundant -- and fearless -- species in this group.  This may be because mockingbirds stay with their parent(s) as long as the latter will let them, insisting on their lessons about what (not) to fear.  Even after they fledge, they continue to follow around a long-suffering parent, making baby bird peeping sounds.  As adults, they are tough, independent and tend to attack fiercely those they deem to be encroaching on turf or threatening their families.  Mockingbirds in my neighborhood don't do a lot of singing, but stake out the same places year after year.  They are more abundant farther south.

Fledgling Northern Mockingbird, Durham, NC, 7/28/22	Fledgling Northern Mockingbird, after flying onto a fence, Durham, NC, 5/5/21	Fledgling Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), Durham, 5/23/05.	Another fledgling Northern Mockingbird, Pine Knoll Shores, Carteret County, NC, 7/23/08	Fledgling Northern Mockingbird, Pine Knoll Shores, Carteret County, NC, 7/23/08	Fledgling Northern Mockingbird, Durham, 8/22/04.  Note the speckled breast and relatively large head.

Northern Mockingbird, Durham, NC, 1/17/22

Northern Mockingbird, American Tobacco Trail (Miles 0-1.25), Durham, NC, 3/30/23

Same Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird, creating accidental camouflage, Durham, NC, 9/28/21

Northern Mockingbird, Durham, NC, 2/1/21

Northern Mockingbird, Durham, NC, 2/1/21

Northern Mockingbird, Durham, NC, 1/29/21

Northern Mockingbird, Durham, NC, 11/13/20

Northern Mockingbird, Durham, NC, 5/21/19

Northern Mockingbird, Durham, NC, 12/15/14

Northern Mockingbird, Fort Myers, Lee County, FL, 2/24/19

Northern Mockingbird, Durham, NC, 3/1/19

Northern Mockingbird, Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/2/17	Northern Mockingbird, Ft. Fisher Basin Trail, New Hanover County, NC, 1/20/12	Adult Northern Mockingbird, Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 3/17/06.  A very curious bird.	Northern Mockingbird landing on tree.  Battery Buchanan (Federal Point), Ft. Fisher Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 3/13/11	Northern Mockingbird in flight, Harkers Island, NC, 3/21/05.

New World Warblers (Parulidae family, Oscines suborder, Passeriformes order)

Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)

Prairie Warbler, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 8/6/18

Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)

Migrating Palm Warbler, Durham, NC, 10/14/19	Palm Warbler, Fort Myers, Lee County, FL, 2/24/19	Palm Warbler, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, FL, 1/25/17	Palm Warbler, South Lido Park, Sarasota County, FL, 1/26/17	Palm Warbler, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 2/2/22	Migrating Palm Warbler, at the edge of the woods at the far end of some Jordan Lake mudflats, Chatham County, NC, 10/9/11.	Another migrating Palm Warbler at the Jordan Lake mudflats, Chatham County, NC, 10/9/11

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Durham, NC, 1/5/23	Breeding Yellow-rumped Warbler, Durham, NC, 3/5/23	Yellow-rumped Warbler, Durham, NC, 2/20/22	Yellow-rumped Warbler, Durham, NC, 12/10/20	Yellow-rumped Warbler, Durham, NC, 1/15/21	Yellow-rumped Warbler with inchworm prey, Durham, NC, 2/5/16	Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ocracoke, 10/25/16	Breeding Yellow-rumped Warbler, Springer's Point, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 4/22/16	Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 10/24/16	Yellow-rumped Warbler, Selby Botanical Garden, Sarasota, FL, 2/28/18

Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)

Pine Warbler, Durham, NC, 10/29/13	Pine Warbler, Durham, NC, 3/22/22	Pine Warbler, Durham, NC, 3/10/19	Pine Warbler, Durham, 3/12/05.  These used to be rare visitors, but at least one is coming regularly now.	Pine Warbler, Durham, NC, 11/29/08.  Pine Warblers seem to prefer to show up on gloomy days.	Pine Warbler, near bird feeder behind the Visitor Center, 3/22/09.  Note the banded leg.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)

Black-throated Blue Warbler, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC  9/27/17

Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)

Possibly a first-year female Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata), Washington, Beaufort County, NC, 10/20/21	Same first-year female Blackpoll Warbler

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

First-year American Redstart, Durham, NC, 9/5/22

Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)

Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica), White Pines Nature Preserve, Chatham County, NC, 4/16/06

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Common Yellowthroat, transitioning to adult plumage Durham, NC, 8/11/21	Same Common Yellowthroat, Durham, NC, 8/11/21

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)

Ovenbird, the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, Wake County, NC on 5/8/05.  It gets its funny name from the shape of its nest, which looks like a Dutch oven.	Ovenbird, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access, 4/24/09.  Here the yellow head stripe that gives this bird its species name (literally, "golden hair") is clearly visible.

Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)

Nashville Warbler, Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/14/19

Black and White Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

Black and White Warbler, River Park North, Greenville, Pitt County, NC, 10/22/21	Black-and-white Warbler, Sarasota, FL, 2/16/23

Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)

Prothonotary Warbler on a Bald Cypress knee in Congaree National Park, Richland County, SC, 4/30/11

Wrens (Troglodytidae Family, Oscines suborder, Passeriformes order)

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

Carolina Wrens  are the most curious birds, sometimes coming within a few feet of this photographer, but rapidly disappear when they figure out what's going on.

Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 5/21/22	Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 12/5/20	Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 5/21/22	Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 2/24/21	Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 1/18/22	Same Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 1/18/22	Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 3/15/20, with nesting material	Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 12/21/16	Carolina Wren, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 3/1/17	Carolina Wren singing, Durham, NC, 5/6/18	Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 11/20/16

 

Juvie Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 6/9/20, in constant motion	Fledgling Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 8/28/16	Fledgling Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 3/29/16	Same fledgling Carolina Wren singing	Fledgling Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 5/20/06.	Fledgling Carolina Wren, Durham, NC, 8/18/16

Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)

Winter Wren, Durham, NC, 2/13/19

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)

Marsh Wren, Buccaneer State Park, Hancock County, MS, 10/20/19

American Sparrows (Emberizidae family, Oscines suborder, Passeriformes order)

Dark-eyed Juncos, the most common birds in my neighborhood in the winter, prefer to eat seed that has been dropped on the ground.  White-throated Sparrows, also extremely common, have a special tendency to go after seeds dropped on the ground under the deck, and can gather there by the dozens.  But the only bird in this group to visit our bird feeders is the Chipping Sparrow, a summer resident.

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

Female Eastern Towhee, Durham, NC, 2/18/20	Male Eastern Towhee, Durham, NC, 4/9/22	Male Eastern Towhee, Durham, NC, 1/2/19	Same male Eastern Towhee	Male Eastern Towhee, Durham, NC, 12/29/20	Male Eastern Towhee, Durham, NC, 11/16/20	Male Eastern Towhee, Durham, NC, 5/16/20	Male Eastern Towhee, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 3/11/20	Male Eastern Towhee, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 3/12/16	Male Eastern Towhee, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 1/16/16

 

Male Eastern Towhee, Duke Gardens, Durham, 2/22/05, presumably scratching for seeds since no insects were around on this date.  It's unusual to see one of these birds out in the open; I typically see them hiding inside bushes or in heavy brush.

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco with caterpillar and fly prey, Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 7/12/24

Female Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco, Durham, NC, 1/8/24

Male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco, Durham, NC, 1/20/23

Male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco, Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 6/6/17

Male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco, Durham, NC, 3/14/22

Male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco, Durham, NC, 2/5/16

Male Dark-eyed Junco, Durham, NC, 12/4/20

Male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored sub-species), Durham, 3/11/16

Male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco, Durham, NC, 1/15/19

Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco, (slate-colored sub-species), Durham, NC, 2/20/09.  Click on the thumbnail to see an especially large, detailed picture.

Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored sup-species) with caterpillar prey, Siler's Bald, Macon County, NC, 5/30/13

Male Slate-colored male Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored sub-species), Craggy Gardens parking lot (5500 feet elevation), Macon County, NC, 7/20/03.  This place is near the southern extreme of this bird's breeding range.

Male Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon sub-species), Larkspur, Marin County, NC, 5/6/16	Male Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon sub-species), Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/28/17

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

White-throated Sparrow, Durham, NC, 2/26/22	White-throated Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/30/22	White-throated Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/8/25	White-throated Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/29/22	White-throated Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/15/21	White-throated Sparrow, Durham, NC, 12/2/06.  This is a "white-striped" type.	White-throated Sparrow, Durham, NC, 11/09/20	White-throated Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/5/17	White-throated Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/13/17

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

White-crowned Sparrow, running, at Abbotts Lagoon, Port Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, CA, 5/31/19	Another White-crowned Sparrow, at Abbotts Lagoon, Port Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, CA, 5/31/19	White-Crowned Sparrow singing, Abbotts Lagoon, Port Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, CA, 5/10/15	Another White-Crowned Sparrow foraging, same location and date	Same White-Crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Song Sparrow, Durham, NC, 5/8/22

Song Sparrow, Durham, NC, 5/16/24

Song Sparrow, American Tobacco Trail (Miles 0-1.25), Durham, NC, 3/30/23

Song Sparrow, Durham, NC, Durham, NC, 1/15/22

Another Song Sparrow, Durham, NC, Durham, NC, 1/15/22

Song Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/22/29

Song Sparrow, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 6/8/17

Song Sparrow, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 2/2/19

Song Sparrow, Durham, NC, 2/2/16

Song Sparrow, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/25/18

Song Sparrow, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/21/17

Well-camouflaged Song Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/15/16

Song Sparrow, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/30/17

 

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

Swamp Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/3/16	Same Swamp Sparrow, Durham, NC, 1/25/16	Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana), Audubon Swamp Garden, Charleston County, SC, 3/28/06	Swamp Sparrow, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, MS, 1/9/09

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Field Sparrow ("rufous" type), Durham, NC, 1/18/22	Field Sparrow ("rufous" type), Durham, NC, 11/26/19	Field Sparrow, Durham, NC, 12/14/21	Same Field Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow (Spizzella passerina)

Chipping Sparrow, with prey, Durham, NC, 5/1/22

Chipping Sparrow, Durham, NC, 4/15/21

Chipping Sparrow pair, Durham, NC, 4/1/16

Same Chipping Sparrow, Durham, NC, 11/19/17

Chipping Sparrow with insect prey

Chipping Sparrow, Durham, NC, 4/3/05

Chipping Sparrow, Durham, NC, 11/17/08.

Chipping Sparrows engaged in a territorial battle, Durham, NC, 3/24/09

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus), Battery Buchanan Tour Stop, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 11/10/12

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Savannah Sparrows, Battle Acre rocks on Atlantic Ocean coast, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 2/3/22	Savannah Sparrow, Swan Quarter, Hyde County, NC, 4/14/19	Savannah Sparrow, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/26/15	Savannah Sparrow, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 3/6/17	Savannah Sparrow, another part of Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 3/6/17	Savannah Sparrow, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 10/21/14	Savannah Sparrow, one of many hopping around large rocks at the beach at Ft. Fisher (beach rocks near Battle Acre), 3/10/10	Savannah Sparrow, at Battle Acre beach rocks, Ft. Fisher Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 3/13/11

New World Buntings and Sparrows (Passerellidae, Passeriformes order)

California Towhee (Melozone crissalis), Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/27/18

Thrushes and Robins (Turdidae family, Oscines suborder, Passeriformes order)

This is a very varied group.   Although they can get along nicely without people, some have had trouble coping with destruction of their habitat.  Putting out birdhouses for Eastern Bluebirds has helped, however.  Thrushes have some trouble with conventional birdfeeders (although a few Eastern Bluebirds have proved to be exceptions on suet feeders) because of their inability to figure out how to land on them.  Although they can perch on branches and similar structures at least 10 mm thick, they have trouble landing on the smaller ones typically used on tube feeders or suet holders.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts of Grayson County, VA has discovered how to enable a Hermit Thrush to eat from a feeder.  He keeps "one tube feeder hanging from (his) porch, with an adjacent water pan, more often than not void of water.  He/she uses the water pan as a perch, and reaches into the tube feeder holes."  However, he says, this thrush only comes "during snow, wind, cold."

Jeff Lewis of Manteo, NC reported that his neighbor had Hermit Thrush success with a "suet log."

Veery (Catharus fuscescens)

Veery, Tanawha Trail (Mileposts 299-300), NC, 5/6/11. Thanks to Simon Thompson and Dave Lenat for ID.	Same Veery

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Hermit Thrush, Durham, NC, 4/7/22	Hermit Thrush, Durham, NC, 1/12/22	Hermit Thrush, Durham, NC, 2/14/15.  Perhaps a female about to lay eggs?	Hermit Thrush, Durham, NC, 3/6/21	Hermit Thrush, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 3/6/17	Hermit Thrush, Durham, NC, 1/13/16	Hermit Thrush, Durham, NC, 3/13/08.	Hermit Thrush, Durham, NC, 12/7/16

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), Durham, 7/4/05.   This bird got my attention during a walk through the woods with its beautiful gurgling song.

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

American Robin, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC, 5/3/13	American Robin, American Tobacco Trail (Miles 0-1.25), Durham, NC, 3/30/23	American Robin, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC, 3/21/11	American Robin Durham, NC, 1/18/17	Male American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Durham, 1/30/09.	Male American Robin ,  Durham, 3/18/06.

 

Young American Robin, Boone, Watauga County, 6/27/14	Young American Robin,Durham, NC, 7/18/05	Young American Robin, Durham, NC, 8/29/09	American Robins (adult and juvie), Durham, NC, 8/27/21

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Male Eastern Bluebird, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 3/26/16	Male Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 3/22/22	Male Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 12/15/16	Male Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 12/23/16	Male Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 11/19/20	Same Male Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 11/19/20	Apparently rather wet male Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 11/25/16	Male Eastern Bluebird with worm, Durham, NC, 4/21/12	Same male Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 12/12/16	Male and female Eastern Bluebirds, Durham, NC, 1/19/08

 

Female Eastern Bluebird with nesting material, Durham, NC, 3/15/20

Female Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 12/18/23

Female Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 3/22/22

Female Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 3/6/20

Female Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 9/15/20

Young female Eastern Bluebird

Female Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 12/3/19

Female Eastern Bluebird, preening

Female Eastern Female Bluebird, Durham, 1/18/16

Female Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 12/15/16

Female Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 12/15/16

Female Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 1/8/17

 

Juvie male Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC, 8/2/20	Fledgling female Eastern Bluebird, Durham, NC,  8/30/17	Fledgling male Eastern Bluebird, with inchworm prey. Durham, NC, 5/21/19	Young male  Eastern Bluebird,Durham, 9/19/05.	Juvenile (perhaps female) Eastern Bluebird, Durham, 7/2/05.	Juvie Eastern Bluebird and father, Durham, NC, 7/21/21

Blackbirds and Allies (Icteridae family, Oscines suborder, Passeriformes order)

Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis)

Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis), Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, TX, 12/3/17

Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)

This is another varied group, with only their long bills and tails in common.   The ones I've seen seem very adaptable, taking advantage of people and other birds alike.  Boat-tailed Grackles hang out wherever people are fishing, hoping a scrap will come their way.  Cowbirds, of course, are notorious for taking advantage, but people have successfully fended them off in most places; Cedar Island, NC, is a notable exception, however.

Half-grown Boat-tailed Grackle, New Hanover County, NC, 11/19/04.	Very young Boat-tailed Grackle Kure Beach, NC, 12/14/04.	Female Boat-tailed Grackle, Fort Myers, Lee County, FL, 2/24/19	Boat-tailed Grackle adult female, Kure Beach, NC, 12/14/04.	Adult female Boat-tailed Grackle, Kure Beach, NC, 4/29/05

 

Male Boat-tailed Grackle, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 3/7/17	Male Boat-tailed Grackle, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 11/11/13	Male Boat-tailed Grackle, Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 11/11/12	Male Boat-tailed Grackle, Lake Park, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, 3/8/09	Adult male Boat-tailed Grackle, Kure Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/12/05.

Boat-tailed Grackles: four females, one male at the Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 3/13/11

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Great-tailed Grackle males displaying territorial aggressive bluffing. San Antonio Botanical Garden, Bexar County, TX, 5/26/10	Great-tailed Grackle in downtown San Antonio, Bexar County, TX, 5/25/10	Great-tailed Grackle pair, National Butterfly Center, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/30/17

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscala)

Male Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 4/2/05	Common Grackle, illustrating iridescence characteristic of this species

Greater Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger)

Male Greater Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger), Isla Verde, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1/9/05.  Identified by Prof. Christopher E. Hill, Carolina Coastal University, Conway, SC.  Prof. Hill says that this is a smaller species than the Boat-tailed Grackle, with a shorter tail.

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Male Red-winged Blackbird, Boone, NC, 7/11/24	Male Red-winged Blackbird, Abbott's Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, CA, 5/8/16	Male Red-winged Blackbird, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 6/28/18	Male Red-winged Blackbird, Corte Madera Marsh Ecological Preserve, Marin County, CA, 5/9/16	Male Red-winged Blackbird, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, CA, 5/31/19	Same Red-winged Blackbird, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 7/9/16	Male Red-winged Blackbird, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 6/6/17	Red-winged Blackbird, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/9/13/	Red-winged Blackbird, Pea Island, NC, 6/27/13	Male Red-winged Blackbird, Pine Knoll Shores, Carteret County, NC, 7/22/08	Male Red-winged Blackbird , Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, NC, 5/13/04.

 

Female Red-winged Blackbird, Durham, NC, 7/14/21	Female Red-winged Blackbird, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 4/10/17	Juvie female and male Red-winged Blackbirds, Durham, NC, 11/8/20	Subadult female Red-winged Blackbird, Ocracoke, South Point Road, Hyde County, NC, 5/13/09	Female Red-winged Blackbird, Durham, NC, 11/16/17

 

Fledgling Red-winged Blackbird, Peaks of Otter, Bedford County, VA, 6/11/16	Subadult female Red-winged Blackbird, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 8/10/17	Red-winged Blackbird stopping by to deliver a grasshopper to her fledgling offspring, Abbott Lake, Peaks of Otter, Bedford County, VA, 6/8/16	Subadult male Red-winged Blackbird, Lake Park, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, 5/22/11	Adolescent male Red-winged Blackbird in transitional plumage, Durham, NC, 1/23/18	Adolescent male Red-winged Blackbird, Durham, NC, 3/5/21	Juvie Red-winged Blackbird, sliding down a soccer goal and returning to the top to slide down again, apparently for fun. Durham, NC, 7/14/21

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)

Adult male Rusty Blackbird, Durham, NC, 1/16/17	Same Rusty Blackbird, Durham, NC, 1/16/17	Adult nonbreeding female Rusty Blackbird.  Sandy Creek Park, Durham, NC, 11/18/16	Nonbreeding adult male Rusty Blackbird. Sandy Creek Park, Durham, NC, 11/18/16	Another photo of the same bird	Several Rusty Blackbirds; sorting out which are males and females is made even murkier by this being the transition time from nonbreeding to breeding plumage. Durham, NC, 1/16/17

Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)

Female Tricolored Blackbird, San Rafael, CA, 10/5/12	Male Tricolored Blackbird, Bear Valley Visitors Center, Marin County, CA, 10/1/12

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Male Brown-headed Cowbird, Durham, NC, 4/25/17	Brown-headed Cowbirds, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, on 5/23/12	Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), town of Ocracoke, NC, 5/10/04.  These parasitic birds invade the Triangle in late spring, alas.	Young Brown-headed Cowbird. It was light brown; the blue color is apparently an artifact of flash photography.  ID thanks to Harry LeGrand and Bill Hilton.

Cardinals and Allies (Cardinalidae family, Passeriformes order)

Northern Cardinals are among the most common birds where I live in Durham, NC, but are not always the easiest to photograph.  They are quick to flee when spotted in the woods.   Indigo Buntings, on the other hand, are always a pleasant surprise in my area.

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Male near-adult Northern Cardinal, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 4/4/23	Male Northern Cardinal, Museum of Life & Science, Durham, NC, 10/7/22	Male Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 4/7/22	Male Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 1/5/22	Male Northern Cardinal w/ Chinese Privet berries, Durham, NC, 12/22/20	Male near-adult Northern Cardinal, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, Orange County, NC, 2/22/22	Male Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 12/7/20	Male Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 11/8/19	Male Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 1/5/20	Male Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 12/17/17

Molting male Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 5/26/19	Male Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 6/30/16	Male Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 12/31/06.	Male Northern Cardinal, northern Durham, NC, 6/8/04. This bird, which apparently lives at least partly on handouts at a public place, has lost nearly all of the feathers on his head, revealing gray skin.  Cornell Ornithology's Bald-headed Bird Page ponders the phenomenon of birds' (abnormal) loss of all head feathers at once (while staggered molting is the rule), but says that this hasn't been researched well enough for anyone to draw any conclusions.	Male Northern Cardinal, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 11/30/05

Female Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 9/1/24

Female Northern Cardinals, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 19/5/19

Female Northern Cardinal at Springer's Point Nature Preserve, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 4/18/16

Female Northern Cardinal, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 4/13/16

Juvie female Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 12/14/21

Female Northern Cardinal, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 2/11/17

Female Northern Cardinal, Durham, 12/27/16

Female Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 1/15/17

Female Northern Cardinal, North Carolina Botanical Garden, NC, 10/29/15

Molting female Northern Cardinal, North Carolina Botanical Garden, NC, 8/26/14

Molting female Northern Cardinal, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, 8/2/15

Juvie female Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 8/29/20

Juvie Northern Cardinal, Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 5/17/22	Juvie Northern Cardinal, Durham, NC, 7/19/20	Baby Northern Cardinal in nest out front, Durham, NC, 6/1/12	Baby Northern Cardinal, 6/4/12	Northern Cardinal babies early on 6/5/12	Somewhat later on 6/5/12	One bird has disappeared, 6/5/12	Perhaps one the little Northern Cardinals, 6/9/12

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

Breeding male Indigo Bunting, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh, Wake County, NC,  8/10/17	Breeding male Indigo Bunting, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 8/7/18

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Female Painted Bunting, a summer resident near the northern extreme of its range, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach, NC, 9/27/17.  ID thanks to Harry LeGrand.

Tanagers (Thraupidae family, Passeriformes order)

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)

Female Summer Tanager, Eno River State Park, Bobbitt's Hole trail, 8/27/10.  ID thanks to Kent Fiala.	Male Summer Tanager, Durham, NC, 9/9/22

Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae Family, Passeriformes order)

Birds in this group come to our birdfeeders more often than all others put together.  They painstakingly carry each seed to a nearby tree branch, peck the shell open, eat the seed and return for another over and over again.  They are bold but alert and I suspect they work hard sizing us up.

These birds balance their curiosity and wariness nicely. 

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 10/1/24	Tufted Titmouse, on the way to nest, Durham, NC, 12/14/21	Tufted Titmouse, calling, Durham, NC, 3/8/24	Same Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 3/8/24	Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 3/1/19	Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 3/11/21	One of the same two Tufted Titmice, one chasing the other, Durham, NC, 1/30/23	Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 1/18/22	Same Tufted Titmouse, on a manhole cover, Durham, NC, 1/18/22

Tufted Titmouse holding winged ant prey with its feet. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 2/15/18

Same Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 2/27/17

Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 1/8/17

Another Tufted Titmouse, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC, 12/28/16

Tufted Titmouse, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 2/2/19

Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 5/18/19

Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 12/18/18

Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse, Durham, NC, 1/20/09

Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)

Black-crested Titmouse, Mission, National Butterfly Center, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/17/19	Black-crested Titmouse with moth prey, Quinta-Mazatlan, McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/1/17	Black-crested Titmouse, seen at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/3/17

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile Carolinensis)

Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 4/2/23	Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 2/21/21	Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 1/16/21	Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 1/16/21	Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 12/11/20	Carolina Chickadee feeding on a cattail, Durham, NC, 7/29/21

Another Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 12/11/20	Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 1/12/22	Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 11/16/20	Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 2/14/20	Carolina Chickadee, Durham, NC, 12/12/16	Carolina chickadee, Durham, NC, 1/12/17	Carolina Chickadee, Durham, 2/16/05

Creepers (Certhiidae family, Passeriformes order)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)

Brown Creeper, Durham, NC, 12/18/18	Same Brown Creeper	Brown Creeper, Durham, NC, 1/7/22	Same Brown Creeper	Brown Creeper, Durham, NC, 1/31/09.	Same Brown Creeper

Flycatchers and Phoebes (Tyrannidae family, Passeriformes order)

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

Great Kiskadee with stick insect, Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/2/17	Same Great Kiskadee with same stick insect	Great Kiskadee, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/3/17	Great Kiskadee, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/15/19

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myarchus crinitus)

Great Crested Flycatcher, singing. Durham, NC, 5/13/18	Great Crested Flycatcher, Springer's Point Nature Preserve, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 4/17/15		Great Crested Flycatcher (Myarchus crinitus), Durham, NC, 6/23/08.  Seen in a tree in the marsh fronting my neighborhood swamp.

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)

Willow Flycatcher, species in doubt); ID thanks to Harry LeGrand.  Boone Greenway, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 7/6/11	Willow Flycatcher, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 6/30/18

Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)

Acadian Flycatcher, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/4/21

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

Male Vermilion Flycatcher, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/15/19

Eastern Wood-pewee (Contopus virens)

Eastern Wood-Pewee, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 8/10/17	Eastern Wood-Pewee, Peaks of Otter, Bedford County, VA, 8/22/18	Eastern Wood-Pewee, Durham, NC, 12/16/19	Eastern Wood-Pewee, Durham, NC, 9/28/21

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Eastern Phoebe, Durham, NC, 10/3/22	Eastern Phoebe, Durham, NC, 10/4/19	Eastern Phoebe, Durham, 9/8/06	Eastern Phoebe, Jordan Lake, 3/20/17	Eastern Phoebe, Durham, NC, 12/15/16	Eastern Phoebe, Durham, NC, 2/26/17	Eastern Phoebe, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 10/25/16	Juvie Eastern Phoebe, Durham, NC, 3/22/21	Eastern Phoebe, Durham, 1/19/09.  Photo by Karl D. Gottschalk.

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus), Pea Island NWR, 5/7/06.	Eastern Kingbird, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 6/28/18

Couch's Kingbird (Tyrannus couchii)

Couch's Kingbird, Port Aransas, Nueces County, TX, 2/5/13

Finches (Fringillidae family, Passeriformes order)

Contrary to popular belief, goldfinches can get interested in black sunflower seeds, but it's not a predictable occurrence.

Finches are very efficient eaters.  They break seeds open in their beaks, drop their hulls, and proceed without leaving their perches.

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 7/9/08  Male American Goldfinch, in breeding plumage, at the Enter the Wild" exhibit, Museum of Life & Science, Durham, NC, 7/9/08

	Male American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 3/30/22	American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 11/16/21	Male American Goldfinch, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC  9/7/17	Male American Goldfinch, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 6/6/17	Male American Goldfinch, Boone, 7/7/16	Male American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 9/4/22	Female and male American Goldfinches, Durham, NC, 8/7/13	American Goldfinch, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC, 9/20/17	American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 3/25/06

 

Female American Goldfinch, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC, 10/31/24	Another female American Goldfinch, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC, 10/31/24	Female American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 2/10/22	Female American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 10/12/15	Female American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 8/13/14	Female American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 8/13/14	Female American Goldfinch, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC, 9/20/17	Female American Goldfinch, Durham, NC, 11/17/15

Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)

Pine Siskin on Beefsteak Plant, Durham, NC, 10/19/20	Pine Siskin, Durham, NC, 3/18/09	Pine Siskin, Durham, NC, 1/4/09

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Male Purple Finch, Durham, NC, 3/3/09	Male Purple Finch, Durham, NC, 1/15/08.  Purple Finches were very common this winter, always appearing in dim light.	Female Purple Finch, Durham, NC, 1/10/11	Female Purple Finch, Durham, NC, 12/19/07

House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

Female House Finch, downtown Southern Pines, Moore County, NC, 4/6/18	Female (probably juvie) House Finch, Durham, NC, 8/12/24	Male House Finch, Durham, NC, 2/26/22	Male House Finch, singing, downtown Southern Pines, Moore County, NC, 4/6/18	Male House Finch, Durham, NC, 11/16/21	Male House Finch, Durham, NC, 3/23/17	Male House Finch, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/29/17	Male House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus), Durham, NC, 4/24/07	Female House Finch, Durham, NC, 12/25/07.

Juvie House Finches, Durham, NC, 8/29/20	Juvie male House Finch, Durham, NC, 11/18/20

European Sparrows (Passeridae family, Passeriformes order)

These birds originally came from Europe, and like the finches are real survivors.  They're the ultimate rat race birds: the heck with the scenery, let's get down to business!   Why go to the trouble of building a nest when you can stay in the big letters on the front of a grocery store, or take over a birdhouse intended for Eastern Bluebirds?  They may be domesticated, but they are not especially nice to others!  The family name implies that they are "true" songbirds.  It's worth noting, however, that they've never made it to our bird feeders.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Male House Sparrow eating a seed, Washington, Beaufort County, NC, 1/30/16	Female House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Durham, 4/3/05	Male House Sparrow, San Francisco, CA, 8/6/07	Male House Sparrow, Cedar Island, NC, 3/21/05	Fledgling House Sparrow, Washington, Beaufort County, NC, 1/30/16	Juvie House Sparrow, Cedar Island, Carteret County, 5/22/12	Fledgling House Sparrow, Raleigh, NC, 9/14/12

Starlings (Sturnidae family, Passeriformes order)

Common Starling, formerly known as the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

These birds are another European import.

Common Starlings, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 10/27/16	Common Starling, Pitt County Arboretum, Greenville, NC, 1/31/16	Male Common Starling in breeding plumage, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC,	Adult breeding Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), 3/8/09, downtown Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC about 3 blocks from Lake Park.	Common Starlings, non-breeding adults, Ft. Fisher State Recreational Area, New Hanover County, NC, 1/7/08

Fledgling Common Starling, San Francisco, CA, 8/6/07

Kinglets (Regulidae family, Passeriformes order)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 3/16/23

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 1/29/20

Same Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 1/29/21

Same Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 1/24/22

Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 12/20/21

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 1/15/21

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 2/21/21

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 1/8/19

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 3/23/17

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 2/5/17

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 3/17/17

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, eating Red Maple flower buds, Durham, NC, 2/1/18

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 1/31/16

 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula), Durham, NC, 12/15/13	Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula), Durham, NC, 1/21/14	Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula), Southern Village, Chapel Hill, Orange County, NC, 11/30/12

Golden-crowned Kinglets (Regulus satrapa)

Golden-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 1/5/23	Golden-crowned Kinglet with a Red Maple male flower, Durham, NC, 2/19/22	Male Golden-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 12/12/16	Golden-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 12/19/20	Golden-crowned Kinglet, Durham, NC, 1/29/22	Same Golden-crowned Kinglet	Same Golden-crowned Kinglet

Vireos (Vireonidae family, Passeriformes order)

White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)

White-eyed Vireo, in Carpetweed. Durham, NC, 10/7/19	White-eyed Vireo, Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment, Durham County, NC, 4/7/22	Same White-eyed Vireo, Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment, Durham County, NC, 4/7/22	Same White-eyed Vireo, Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment, Durham County, NC, 4/7/22

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

Warbling Vireo, National Butterfly Center, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/17/19

Shrikes (Laniidae family, Passeriformes order)

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), McAllen Nature Center, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/14/19	Loggerhead Shrike, Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie's Pasture, Nueces County, TX, 2/7/13

Crows, Ravens, and Jays (Corvidae family, Passeriformes order)

Not all Passeriformes are songbirds!   These birds are reputed to be the most intelligent of this order, and at any rate they manage to get along without having to deal with people at all in my neighborhood.  The crows in my neighborhood fly around in large vocal groups which I can't resist calling "caw-cuses," although I understand the official term is "murders."

Green Jays (Cyanocorax yncas)

Green Jay, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/3/17	Green Jay, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/3/17	Green Jays, National Butterfly Center, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/30/17

Western Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica)

Western Scrub Jay, Angel Island, Marin County, CA, 10/4/12

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Blue Jay pair, Durham, NC, 12/8/20	Blue Jay, Durham, NC, 5/23/21	Blue Jay, American Tobacco Trail (near Mile 0), Durham, NC, 1/12/20	Blue Jay, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 4/21/16	Blue Jay, Southpoint Swamp, Durham, NC, 11/10/07	Blue Jay, Durham, NC, 7/7/09

Fledgling Blue Jay, Durham, NC, 5/18/08.  Was seen wandering on the edge of a wooded area.	Fledgling Blue Jay, Durham, NC, 6/15/09.  It flew away shortly after this photo was taken.

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchus) and Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus)

Crow, South Lido Park, Sarasota, FL, 3/30/12	Fish Crow, Durham, NC, 4/24/15	American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchus), Asheboro, Randolph County, NC, 4/6/05.  The wide beak, large body and long wings give it a rather grand presence. This very tame crow was hanging around the NC Zoo picnic area, near a pond.	American Crow, Durham, NC, 2/6/16	Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus), Myrtle Beach, SC, 3/18/08.  This species has a narrower beak and shorter wings.  Note the stray feather.	Fish Crow, Ocracoke, 5/9/06.

Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Common Raven, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, CA, 5/31/19	Common Raven, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/27/18

Gnatcatchers (Sylviidae family, Passeriformes order)

These birds mostly hang out in trees near the swamp in my neighborhood in small groups.  They engage in dust-bathing to rid themselves of parasites.  And that's about all I know about them except from books!

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptera caerulea)

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Sarasota, FL, 1/24/17	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Durham, NC, 8/31/21	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bowditch Point Park, Fort Myers Beach, Lee County, FL, 2/21/19	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 5/18/17	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Jordan Lake, Chatham County, NC, 9/1/16	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptera caerulea), Durham, 7/16/05.	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eno River State Park, Cox Mountain, Orange County, NC, 4/12/06.

Swallows and Martins (Hirundinidae family, Passeriformes order)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Montreat, Buncombe County, NC, 4/28/14	Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Montreat, Buncombe County, NC, 5/3/12	Juvenile Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Montreat, Buncombe County, NC, 5/3/12

Barn Swallow (Hirunda rustica)

Barn Swallows are in flight nearly all the time during the day, so it's always a treat to catch them taking a break.

Barn Swallow, Peaks of Otter (lodge), Bedford County, VA, 6/10/16	Barn Swallow on American Lotus seedhead, Washington, Beaufort County, NC, 7/13/18	Barn Swallow, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/22/17	Barn Swallow, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/19/05	Barn Swallow, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/14/07

Barn Swallows about to fly under the Pasquotank River Bridge between Pasquotank and Camden Counties, NC, 4/27/09		Barn Swallows in nest under walkway at NC Zoo, Asheboro, NC, 6/21/09.

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Cliff Swallow, Jordan Lake, Chatham County, NC, 7/3/21	Cliff Swallow, Jordan Lake, Chatham County, NC, 6/30/21

Purple Martin (Progne subis)

Purple Martins are thoroughly dependent on people for housing, although they are quite capable of collecting materials and stuffing them into these units to build nests.  They have no problems living in apartments.  So far, they sound kind of like most people!  Other swallows are less specific in their expectations of human-made housing provisions, but still quite dependent on us.

The Purple Martins in my neighborhood seemed to be social, getting together and making a rapid series of widely varying sounds that are tempting to read as conversation.   They also seemed to have learned not to be afraid of me, patiently and with apparent curiosity letting me take their pictures at fairly close range.  However, they have not returned here since 2007.

Purple Martin in flight, Durham, NC, 5/10/24	Juvie male Purple Martin, Durham, NC, 5/27/16	Purple Martins, Durham, NC, 5/27/16	Young Purple Martin, Durham, 7/5/05	Young Purple Martin, Durham, 6/26/05.  To order products with this photo, visit our store.	Young Purple Martin, manifesting no fear (but perhaps disapproval!) at close range.  Durham, 4/28/06.	Purple Martins, Pocosin Lakes NWR, Columbia, NC, 6/26/13

Waxwings(Bombycillidae family, Passeriformes order)

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Cedar Waxwings are supposed to move in groups nearly all the time, but exceptions obviously exist. 

	Cedar Waxwing, Lake Crabtree County Park, Wake County, NC, 2/28/16	Cedar Waxwing, Durham, NC, 1/25/22	Cedar Waxwing, Durham, NC, 1/25/22	Cedar Waxwing, Durham, NC, 1/25/22	Cedar Waxwings, Durham, NC, 11/16/21	This Cedar Waxwing was on its own, and one of two such loners I saw on 12/16/02 in Durham.	Cedar Waxwing, NC Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 3/3/06, eating a berry.	Cedar Waxwing, NC Botanical Garden, 3/3/06, moving to another branch.  You can see some yellow tail feathers.	Cedar Waxwings, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 12/20/06

Nuthatches (Sittidae Family, Passeriformes order)

Nuthatches were the first birds to come to our new birdfeeder; in fact, the White-breasted Nuthatch was the only one for awhile.  Their agility may be a factor, since they have no trouble walking up and down tree trunks.

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), Durham, 2/23/08.	Red-breasted Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 3/16/05

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

White-breasted Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 2/23/20	White-breasted Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 1/8/25	White-breasted Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 12/14/21	White-breasted Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 1/10/20	White-breasted Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 3/7/19	White-breasted Nuthatch, Durham, 1/17/08.  This was the first species of bird that I photographed, the first to appear on the deck.  But it didn't come to the feeder nearly as often as Northern Cardinals, American Goldfinches, Tufted Titmice or Carolina Chickadees.

Brown-headed Nuthatch(Sitta pusilla)

Brown-headed Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 3/7/22	Another Brown-headed Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 3/7/22	Brown-headed Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 3/11/16	Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 3/ 6 /17	Brown-headed Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 1/12/17	Same Brown-headed Nuthatch, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC, 1/28/17	Brown-headed Nuthatch, Durham, NC, 3/2/09

Mystery Bird, Passeriformes order?

Durham, 8/7/02.  This is probably a Common Grackle.

Cuckoos (Cuculidae family, Cuculiformes order)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus, Phaenicophaeinae subfamily), Durham, NC, 9/7/06. This bird arrived in the wake of Tropical Storm Ernesto.	Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Durham, NC, 10/5/21	Same Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Durham, NC, 10/5/21	Same Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Durham, NC, 10/5/21

Woodpeckers (Picidae family, Piciformes order)

These are what Edward O. Wilson calls "true woodpeckers" (as opposed to the honeycreepers of Hawaii) in The Diversity of Life (1999, p. 100) because of their sheer numbers, variety of natural habitats, and "élan and precision," i.e., they can really go to town on that tree (or your house).

Woodpeckers prefer "mature forest," i.e., they seek out dead trees, because 1) they build their nests in tree holes (which they often create themselves) and 2) that's where the wood-munching insects are.  So Downy Woodpeckers especially look for hollow-sounding wooden surfaces.  That's bad news for anyone who lives in a wooden house with any empty space, as well as for the woodpecker that enters through a hole in a thin wall and can't find its way out.

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

These woodpeckers produce slow, hesitant tapping sounds.  I've never heard their cry.

Red-headed Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 9/7/22	Red-headed Woodpecker, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 3/8/09	Side view of same woodpecker	Juvie Red-headed Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 11/30/18	Red-headed Woodpecker in transitional plumage to adult, Durham, NC, 2/21/22

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

These common woodpeckers have a short, distinctive cry.

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 11/30/18	Male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 1/24/18	Red-bellied Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 11/14/21	Male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 12/7/24	Male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 2/19/21	Male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 12/2/19	Male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 11/30/12	Male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Durham, 2/22/08	Female Red-bellied Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 1/29/22

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons)

Golden-fronted Woodpecker, National Butterfly Center, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/17/19	Female Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/3/17

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Though seldom seen, these woodpeckers are regularly heard in deep woods: they have a loud, squawking cry with many repetitions.  They peck slowly and hesistantly.

Pileated Woodpecker, Sarasota, FL, 1/24/17	Male Pileated Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 10/26/17	Female Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), one of four of this species seen	Female Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 12/24/06.  our online store.

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

Downies are the most common woodpeckers where I live.  Their pecking is often rapid and loud. Downy Woodpeckers are similar to Hairy Woodpeckers, but lack their long, sharpened-pencil-like beaks.

Male Downy Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 9/20/24	Male Downy Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 12/7/24	Female Downy Woodpecker, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 2/2/19	Male Downy Woodpecker, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 2/2/19	Female Downy Woodpecker	Female Downy Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 12/16/17

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)

Juvie Hairy Woodpecker, Durham, NC, 5/28/15

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris)

Male Ladder-backed Woodpecker, McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/8/22	Female Ladder-backed Woodpecker, McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/8/22

Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis)

Female Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis), Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines, Moore County, NC, 10/23/12

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auraptus)

Flickers used to be more common in Durham and Chapel Hill than they are today.

Northern Flicker, Durham, NC, 1/15/16	Northern Flicker, Durham, NC, 12/25/16	Northern Flicker, Durham, NC, 2/9/16	Northern Flicker, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 3/16/18	Northern Flicker, Durham, NC, 1/4/13	Male Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus), NC Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 3/18/05	Northern Flicker couple, Durham, 3/30/05.  The male is on the upper branch.	Female Northern Flicker, showing a rear view of the head.  Durham, NC, 3/19/09

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

These are fast-moving and rarely photographed, but they might not be as uncommon as they seem.

Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Durham, NC, 11/30/19	Same male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC, 1/16/15	Adult male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Durham, NC, 2/26/24	Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Durham, NC, 2/9/21	Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Durham, NC, 12/18/23	Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 1/21/15	Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Durham, NC, 1/27/16	Juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,Southern Village, Orange County, NC, 1/18/10.  A few patches of red are coming in on the head.  Note the three holes it has pecked.

 

True Parrots (Psittacidae family, Psittaciformes order)

Black-hooded Parakeets (Aratinga nenday)

Black-hooded Parakeets, South Lido Park, Sarasota County, FL, 1/26/17

Cockatoos (Cacatuidae family, Psittaciformes order)

White-faced Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

White-faced Cockatiel; the cockatiel species is native to Australia.  Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, MS, 10/13/10

Doves (Columbidae family, Columbiformes order)

Rock Dove (Columba livia)

Rock Doves (Columba livia), Plaza de las Palomas, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.  And all this time you didn't know pigeons were cuddly?  This is a favorite spot for both tourists and locals, including the doves.	Rock Dove, Myrtle Beach, Horry County, SC, 3/19/08	Rock Dove, Lake Park, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 6/25/08.  This is the classic form of this bird species.	Leucistic Rock Dove, San Francisco, CA, 8/6/07	A Rock Dove with anomalous white tail feathers.  Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 3/11/11

Inca Dove (Columbina inca)

Inca Doves, Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/1/17	Another Inca Dove, National Butterfly Center, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/1/17

Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)

Common Ground Dove, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, Lee County, FL, 12/5/15

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroaura)

Mourning Dove pair, Durham, NC, 4/4/16	Mourning Dove, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 4/18/16	Mourning Dove, Durham, NC, 11/1/06	Mourning Dove, Durham, NC, 1/1/25

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

White-winged Dove, San Antonio Botanical Garden, Bexar County, TX, 5/26/10	White-winged Dove, Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX, 12/2/17

Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Eurasian Collared Dove, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/21/18	Another Eurasian Collared Dove, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 4/20/16	Eurasian Collared Dove, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 5/23/11	Eurasian Collared Dove in flight, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/13/09

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae family, Apodiformes order)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Juvie Ruby-throated Hummingbird, in tree near a patch of Cardinal Flowers, at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 9/7/17	Ruby-throated Hummingbird, in tree, Durham, NC, 8/10/21	Juvie Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Durham, NC, 9/1/24	Juvie Ruby-throated Hummingbird, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 8/29/19	Juvie Ruby-throated Hummingbird, at Cardinal Flower in the North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 9/7/17

Juvie Ruby-throated Hummingbird, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 9/16/16	Juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbird, NC Arboretum, Asheville, NC, Buncombe County, NC, 7/8/05.	Juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Cardinal Flower, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 9/9/15	Juvie Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Durham, NC, 8/19/24	Mystery hummingbird, Durham, NC, 8/19/24	Juvie Ruby-throated Hummingbird approaching me, Durham, NC, 9/1/24

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Juvie Anna's Hummingbird, on Japanese Honeysuckle, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 9/12/14

Vultures (Cathartidae family, Falconiformes order)

Believe it or not, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System classified (as of 12/19/10) this species in the Ciconiidae Family, Ciconiiformes order, but I'm putting them on this page because they're land birds..

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

Black Vultures, Durham, NC, 1/6/23	Black Vulture, Durham, NC, 3/31/19	Black Vulture, Durham, NC, 12/19/18	Black Vulture, Durham, NC, 1/16/16	Black Vulture on a wireless tower, Durham, NC, 3/5/16	Black Vulture, Durham, NC, 4/4/16	Black Vultures, this time on my street! Durham, NC, 12/25/11	My very first sighting of Black Vultures, Santee State Park, Orangeburg County, SC, 10/10/07.  These were sitting on top of a cabin.  The leftmost vulture might be a young bird.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Turkey Vulture, Durham, NC, 1/14/23

Turkey Vulture, Durham, NC, 9/28/21

Turkey Vulture, Durham, NC, 5/23/21

Turkey Vulture, Durham, NC, 1/5/17

Turkey Vulture emerging from bath, River Park North, Greenville, NC, 2/1/17

Turkey Vulture, South Lido Park, Sarasota County, FL, 1/26/17

Turkey Vulture, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 1/5/10.  This bird came low to take a close look.  Since a severe cold spell began (highs in the 30s) around the beginning of that year, Turkey Vultures had been doing this often.

Birds of a feather flock together, but sometimes they just sit around waiting for an opportunity on dam gate control areas. Turkey Vultures at the Jordan Lake Dam, Moncure, Chatham County, NC, 9/20/10.

Hawks (Accipitridae family, Falconiformes order)

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

This is reputed to be the most common North Carolina hawk species.  However, in my neighborhood, they are greatly outnumbered by Red-shouldered Hawks.

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, Durham, NC, 2/19/22	Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk	Red-tailed Hawk, which was trying to avoid running into me as a big fog swirling up from the west brought it to the top of the hill.	Red-tailed Hawk, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 3/20/09	Same Red-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

This hawk species dominates my neighborhood and is regularly seen there. Sightings of other species of hawks are very rare. 

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 2/4/19

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 3/19/23

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 12/31/22

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 2/9/21

Same Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 1/29/20

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 12/18/19

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 12/8/19

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 3/7/19

Same hawk, on the ground

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 2/5/18

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 2/18/16

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 11/23/15

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 12/14/16

Red-shouldered Hawk, Durham, NC, 12/26/16

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), Durham, NC, 12/24/16

 

First-year Red-shouldered Hawk calling, Durham, NC, 6/10/19	Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk calling, Durham, NC, 7/5/07

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Juvie Cooper's Hawk, Durham, NC, 12/21/20	Cooper's Hawk? Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area Basin Trail, 3/11/11	Same hawk.  It was chasing a songbird over a sandy stretch near the marsh.  Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area Basin Trail, 3/11/11

Fish Eagles (Haliaeetus genus, Accipitrinae subfamily, Accipitridae family, Falciformes order)

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), seen flying back and forth (once) over Cypress Pond, Carolina Beach State Park, Hew Hanover County, NC, 1/6/08	Second-year Bald Eagle with fish prey, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County, FL, 1/25/17	Immature Bald Eagle, Lake Crabtree County Park, Wake County, NC, 12/28/08

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus, Pandionidae family, Falciformes order

Osprey, South Lido Park, Sarasota County, 1/6/17.	Osprey, Maria Sanchez Lake, St. Augustine, FL, 3/13/13	Osprey in nest, Sarasota, FL, 2/25/18	Osprey, Sarasota, FL, 12/2/14	Osprey, South Lido Park, Sarasota County, FL, 12/4/14	Osprey landing, with eye visible, Sarasota, FL, 12/2/14	Osprey, Sarasota, FL, 1/24/17	Another Osprey, Sarasota, FL, 1/24/17	Osprey, flying over a dock on Bogue Sound, Pine Knoll Shores, Carteret County, NC, 7/23/08

Owls (Strigidae family, Strigiformes order)

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Barred Owl with Eastern Gray Squirrel prey, Durham, NC, 12/5/22	Barred Owl, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 6/2/17	Barred Ow, Durham, NC, 9/30/16	Owlet (probably Barred Owl), Durham, NC, 4/26/19

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae family, Coraciiformes order)

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)

Belted Kingfisher, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/22/18	Belted Kingfisher, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 3/11/19	Belted Kingfisher, Southern Pines, Moore County, NC, 4/6/18	Belted Kingfisher in flight, Lake Crabtree County Park, Wake County, NC, 10/31/12	Belted Kingfisher, Museum of Life & Science, Durham, NC, 6/7/12

Turkeys (Phasianidae family, Galliformes order)

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

One Wild Turkey, at one edge of the flock near Abbott Lake, Peaks of Otter, Bedford County, VA, 7/18/12	Another Wild Turkey at the other end, trading sentinel duty	A part of the Wild Turkey flock

Chachalacas (Penelopinae subfamily, Cracidae family, Galliformes order)

Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)

Plain Chachalaca, Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/16/23	Plain Chacalaca, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, TX  12/3/17	Another Plain Chacalaca, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, TX  12/3/17	Plain Chachalacas, National Butterfly Center, Mission, Hidalgo County, TX, 11/17/19

New World Quails (Odontophoridae family, Galliformes order)

California Quail (Callipepla californica)

Male California Quail	California Quail, San Anselmo, Marin County, CA, 4/29/17	Male California Quail, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, 5/8/16	Another male California Quail, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, 5/8/16

Domestic Fowl

African Guinea Fowl, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC, 7/31/06, appeared in a backyard in Old Salem. Thanks to Amy Barbe of Athens-Clarke County, GA for ID: she says they are "very handy for eating ticks in your yard and as a watch 'dog.' "

Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Chickens, Ocracoke, NC.  Yes, they're domesticated, but who could resist this scene?	Rooster, Quebradillas, Puerto Rico, 1/31/02.  I guess we don't normally think of chickens as wildlife, but in Puerto Rico some feral roosters run around loose.	Rooster, town of Ocracoke, NC, 6/10/02.  This one was domesticated.