Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron

By Ethan Brady

The Great Blue Heron 

Its scientific name is called Ardea Herodias. They both mean heron but in two different languages. Ardea is the Latin name for Heron and Herodias is the Greek work for Heron. To know the difference between a male and a female great blue heron you have to look at the size because they are not sexually dimorphic, which means that they both look the same. The male weighs around 6 to 8 ibs and the female weighs 4 1/2 to 6 lbs. Their necks are really long and they kind of look similar to a crane and a swan. When flying they curl their necks to an 's' shape. They also have a shaggy chest, head, and wing plumes. About its shaggy chest, they have specialized feathers on their chest that grow continuously. That's why its chest is so shaggy. These birds create mating colonies in may and June. During breeding season in every colony they form breeding groups that will stay together. The males put on a show for the females to fall in love with them. Thy either fly in a 360 degree angle, call loudly, and fight with other males to get a girl. When it feels the need to scratch its head it stands on one foot to scratch it and by lifting one leg over a closed wing, erecting its crest feathers, and lowering and twisting its head into a position it can be reached. Whenever it preens it does it by using its bill on the feathers. They sunbathe by opening its wings to get the inside part to radiate body heat on sunny days and absorb solar radiation on cool days. At night they sleep in trees with dense foliage, which is the leaves of a plant and tree. In winter time most of them move to somewhere that has nice weather, such as Florida, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Northwest. They are around areas that have fresh and saltwater, grasslands, and agricultural fields. They live in these areas for easy access for food. Their favorite food is frogs, which is why most of them live in fresh and saltwater areas mainly. They eat a whole lot of things like fish, insects, mammals, amphibians, crustaceans, and other birds as well. They only eat the small types of birds. Frogs are their favorite amphibians to eat. Its population in North America is very stable. Due to its wide distribution, varied diet, and flexibility in nesting near both fresh and saltwater environments. In New Jersey, it is classified as a species of special concern, which means it is not yet endangered or threatened. Their wingspan is 6 ft which explains why they look so big. They hunt in shallow water and eats whatever it can catch. Some people refer to them as cranes but they are wrong. It may look like one because of its size and long neck but cranes have shorter beaks and hold their necks straight. Finally, they are the biggest herons in North America.

The Canada Goose

 The Canada Goose is a very territorial bird. It stands at 75 - 110 cm in length ( 30 - 43 in.). The wingspan is around 127 - 185 cm ( 50 - 73 in.). The bird weighs around on average 26.4 pounds.The majority of its body is brown with its neck being black and the majority of its face is black as well accompanied with some white. It usually finds its mate threw the females preference of the male and how he behaves. If she believes he can protect the two may enter courtship and proceed with their bonding. Mutually they dip their necks in the water repeatedly until they mate which is also usually in the water. The two will enter a monogamous relationship shortly after.

    Being migratory birds, the rely on their formation which is a "V" in the sky. This is done to reduce wind reduction and to keep everyone in formation. At a leisurely rate the birds include rest stops along their route and keep together the whole time.

    As previously stated these birds are very protective, so they come equipped with some defense. They will honk if they feel they are being attacked so they can call reinforcements. But these oversized birds don't only have defense. They hiss offensively, primarily towards other organisms if they feel threatened and expand their wings and sometimes nick the predator and/or hit him.

    The bird's diet consists grass, beans, corn, and domesticated seeds. While they are mostly herbivore, they do eat insects such as grasshoppers. And in greater news their extinction status is least concerning. They mainly reside in places that have bodies of water like lakes and rivers.

    Being these birds are territorial they will form gangs to steal nest sites and/or other goslings. Just a warning though do not get close to their feces, it is extremely toxic.

    

 The American Robin

By: Tinashe Maphosa

The American Robin 

The Latin or scientific name is “Turdus migratorius”.They were named after the European Robins because of their reddish orange breast.The American Robins are migratory songbirds and They also belong to the Turdidae family. This family is comprised of Robins,Thrushes,Bluebirds, and over 100 different species. American Robins are 23 to 28 cm which is 9.1  to 11.0 inches and have a wingspan of 12 to 16 inches and weigh 77 grams. American Robins are Omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. They serve as predators to insects and worms but, They also eat small snakes and small reptiles and amphibians but they prefer eat fruits and berries and when they don't find anymore fruits and berries sometimes they will leave and find a new area.There are about about 320 million american Robins all over the world, And make their nest on the ground, in gutters, on outdoor lights,  in a group of bushes or trees, On top of buildings,and on cliffs so just about anywhere.During the breeding season, The male robins grow black feathers on the back of their heads to attract females and aftering mating the female robin will stay in the nest until after the eggs have hatched. Once they have hatched  the newborn robins  will join the roosts and that is also when the female will leave and join the roosts.Are they aggressive?, They can be aggressive but it's unlikely that they will attack you doing research i saw that they are at ease around humans. They are very territorial and will protect their nest.The predators of the American robin are snakes, cats, and hawks. And when it comes to owning an American robin, you can't own an American Robin and it is illegal in most places to have or kill an american robin.

The Mallard Duck

    The Mallard Duck (Latin name: Anas Platyrhynchos) is a slightly large waterfowl. It is very clearly sexually dimorphic. Males have pronounced green head and bright yellow bills. Females are drab with orange-yellow bills. They live in almost any wetland environment (Ex. marshes, ponds, lakes, city parks). The Mallard is on low conservation status, in 2014 their population was about 11.6 million. 

    Mallards form pairs in the fall and winter and they migrate in early spring. The males follow the females to the breeding area. The breeding area is usually on the ground and no more than 1 mile from water. 

    The female Mallard builds the nest in a shallow depression in the ground near water. The nest is built close to the water and is usually concealed with vegetation or an overhang. During Egg-laying the female lines the nest with grasses, twigs, and leaves; and pulls vegetation over themselves and the nest. Typically a female Mallard lays between 1-13 eggs per clutch. After incubation, the Mallard plucks her own down feathers from her breast and lines the nest and covers the eggs with them.

    The Mallard is omnivorous, but primarily eats seeds, grass, and other vegetation. Their diet shifts during different parts of the year. During the breeding season, they primarily eat aquatic insect larvae, earthworms, snails, and freshwater shrimp. During Migration, they mainly eat seeds and grains.

The Wild Turkey

Fernando Recalde 

           Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, or "large gallinaceous bird with fan-shaped tail," can weigh anywhere from 5.5 to 24 pounds. It has a length of 2.5 to 4.1 feet with a lifespan of 3 to 5 years in the wild. Wild Turkey is sexually dimorphic, with males being more colorful, and females being more camouflaged better with dull colors. They're located in a total of 49 states across the United States and Hawaii, this number including the other 6 subspecies of Wild Turkey. The Eastern, Merriam, Rio Grande, Florida, Gloud, and Ocellated are all counted as Wild Turkey. They all have different plumage and unique habitats but are part of the same species. Wild Turkey chooses to live a nomadic life, they wander around and don't migrate. Wild Turkey is opportunistic, they usually get around by walking and not by flying or running. Male Wild Turkey, Gobblers, attract female Wild Turkey, Hens, by displaying their tail and humming at females. The Diet of a Wild Turkey includes Nuts, Snails, acorns, fruit, berries, grain, plant parts, insects, and more. Wild Turkey chooses to nest at the ground in dead leaves near trees but may choose to nest in open hay fields. Wild Turkey has a population of around 6 million, with a 7 out of 20 on the concern scale and are not on a bird watch list. 

 

European Starling

      Harrison Holloway

                The European Starling or Sturnus Vulgaris is a medium sized passerine bird. These birds are 8.6 inches in height and can they weight about 2- 3.6 oz. They belong to the sturnidae bird family, and they can live to be fifteen years old. These birds can be found in North America, Northern Africa, Europe, and Southern Australia. European Starlings are not native to the Untied States, they were brought by a man named Eugene Schieffelin in the 1890s.  European starlings are tenacious, energetic and can be aggressive during mating season. In the fall and winter months they would form large roosting flocks that can number up to one million birds. Their diet consists of millipedes, spiders, mollusks, and a few crustaceans. Male starlings build nest to attract the females. They build their nests out of grass, pine needles, feathers, trash, and clothing. Females can lay between three or six eggs, and the incubation period can last from twenty-one to twenty- three days. European Starlings live in man-made areas like cities or towns. These birds can also live in coastal areas, open forests, and mountain ranges. These birds adaptability is the primary reason they are labeled has an invasive species.  The European Starling is not an endangered their population is about two-hundred million just in North America.

The American Crow

The American Crow


The American Crow or in Latin called the "Corvus Brachyrhynchos" meaning "short beaked crow."
it is a medium sized bird but nearly twice the size of a Blue Jay it has beautiful glossy feather. Weigh from 11.2-21.9oz and are 15.8-20.9 inches.Both female and male help to make the nest and the older offspring's help as well. The hatch size is between 3-8 eggs.They are not like other birds they sing softly at close range during courtship,with a rich mix of soft cooing,rattles,growls,bowing movements, and mutual nuzzling.And they are socially monogamous meaning that they stick to one partner at a time. They are also very highly sociable so very often they are seen  in groups and this is also because the old offspring's help to raise the family as the family can grow to be 15 members.They adapt quick to any environment that gives them reliable food and tall trees to perch on.You can find them in just about anywhere like city parks, golf courses, and cemeteries and by seeing one many say its bad luck because they were used in witch craft. They are very common in the United States but can also be found in Canada during the breeding season. They are very smart birds and have a huge memory capacity of  thirty one million and counting.

The Herring Gull

Andrew D'Arcy

The Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, or commonly known as “seagulls,” is found across most of Eurasia and North America, especially in coastal areas. The name Larus argentatus Translates to large silver seabird in english. Herring gulls usually live and breed in coastal areas, and are migratory birds. As said before, herring gulls tend to live and breed in coastal areas. Herring gulls breed on flat ground on offshore islands, or on the mainland on cliffs, where there is less risk of exposure to predators. Their heads and bodies are white, and they have light gray backs with yellow bills with a red spot on the bottom of it. Though the males are bigger, the sexes have similar plumage. The diet of the herring gull varies with place and season, as they are opportunistic predators. It includes fish, crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins, marine worms, other birds, eggs, insects. When at sea, they follow foraging whales that force fish to swim to the top of the ocean. They are also scavengers, meaning they feed on remains of garbage and are not afraid to swoop down and take food right out of your hands when you're on the beach. Herring gulls breed during spring, pairing around the middle of March and laying eggs by the middle to end of May. They nest in colonies often with other species of gulls and are protective of their colony. The female usually approaches the male with a begging call and the male feeds the female. If the female eats his food, they will mate. Nests are found on the ground behind rocks to protect from prevailing winds. 

Grey Cat Bird

The Grey Cat Bird but in latin it is referred as “Dumetella carolinensis”. The grey cat bird has short rounded wings , short black bills with black eyes and a black head, They range from 8.27 inches(21 to 24 cm) in length and tend to weigh 23 to 56 grams. This bird is very bold and loves to show off its back tail. The grey cat bird is also not afraid of predators and respond to them very aggressively by flashing their wings and making the “meow” sound to scare away their predators.The grey cat bird mostly feeds off Insects and berries. But in the summer it eats beetles,ants.caterpillars,grasshoppers, crickets, “true bugs”, rare occasions such as spiders and millipedes..The status of the bird is The gray catbird is “Least Concern” and its population is stable.Their population has been increasing over the decades. The global breeding population of 27 million with 87% of them being in the us 13% in Canada  They rated over all 8 out of 20 on the concern score and are not on the watch list

Northern MockingBird

A different name for the NothernMockingBird is Mimus polyglottos Socorro. Northern Mockingbirds are medium-sized, grey-backed slim birds with pale breasts and light bellies. Males average slightly larger than females. They are between 22 to 25.5 centimeters long and 51 grams in weight. Females, while similarly plumed, average between 20.8 to 23.5 centimeters in length and approximately 47 grams in weight. Male and female Northern Mockingbird looks the same. The only way to tell the difference is the size of the male being slightly bigger. The Northern Mockingbird breeds in southeastern Canada, the United States, northern Mexico, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Greater Antilles. Female mockingbirds do not sing as much as the males do, and they are much quieter as well. A male mockingbird can learn up to 200 different songs.

Mourning Dove

The Mourning Dove, a bird that is very similar to pigeons and was once called and known as the Carolina pigeon. This bird can be seen in many grasslands, farms, forests, and even your everyday park. This bird has a very unique tail that helps it fly at a very fast rate. This bird also has a very recognizable call. Some even it say it has the exact same call as an owl. It is very hard to tell these birds apart. When doing my research I also realized that these birds sadly are game birds. 20 million Mourning Doves a year die from being hunted. 

The Common Grackle

The common grackle is a very common bird in the area of NJ if you know where to look. they are long birds compared to other species of black bird such as crows which they can be mistake for(most notably) the females. the males have quite a larger color pallet of greens, blues and a mixture of both. while the females are all black with a glossy outer coat. 

The American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch or Spinus tristis/sad finch (when translated) is about 4.3 to 5.1 inches.During mating season male goldfinches has a bright yellow body, black wings with white stripes, a black cap on its head, and a white rump. Females and winter males have duller feathers that are an olive-yellow color. The male's black cap may disappear in the winter or turn a dull black. Females don't have the black cap on their heads. Both males and females have a small cone-shaped bill.

They mainly eat seeds, weeds, grass, and sometimes insects. They live in weedy fields and floodplains where weeds are abundant. They also could be found in cultivated Areas, roadsides, orchards and backyards. The American Goldfinch nest in open areas, and the nest itself is made up of rootlets, plant fibers, and lined with plant down. But mating finches do not actually nest until mid summer.

The Goldfinch's population has been stable and the only sign of a decrease in their population was during 1966 and 2014. Partners and flight had estimated their global breeding population of 42 million, 91%  in some parts of the US, 33%in Canada, and 6% in Mexico during the winter.They are in low concern on Bird Watch.

House Sparrow

House Sparrow (Male Left / Female Right)

The Latin name of the House Sparrow is Passer  Domesticus. House sparrows have a thicker bill and shorter legs than the indigenous American Sparrow. It is a stout, stocky sparrow. Both males and female house sparrows are brown with black streaks along their backs. Its underside is pale buff. A male's color is based on whether it is breeding or not. Non-breeding house sparrows have a yellowish bill. They are streaked brown, black, and buff and have a dingy underbelly. Breeding house sparrows are known for their gray crowns and chestnut necks. White cheeks are also a characteristic attributed to breeding house sparrows. House sparrows are non-migratory birds. They usually stay within a mile of their birthplace. Male house sparrows look for a potential nesting area and hover around the spot chirping hoping to attract a mate. The male sparrow chirps louder and quicker when a female is near. The male may follow the female hopping around and quivering his wings. House sparrows are most commonly seen around human developments. They are absent from uninhabited forests and grasslands.  House sparrow nests are usually built in an enclosed niche. House sparrows adapt to the environment and eat a large variety of things. Although the majority of their diet is seeds, they also eat some insects, fruits, and vegetables. House sparrows have a global breeding population of 540 million.

The Red Tailed Hawk

The Red Tailed Hawk

by: Jordan 

 The red tailed hawk is almost always seen peached up in a tree in open fields or in any other open areas. The latin name is buteo jamaicensis. Red-tailed Hawks are large hawks with typical Buteo proportions: very broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Large females seen from a distance might fool you into thinking you’re seeing an eagle.Red-tailed hawks hunt from perches and from the air. When a red-tailed hawk spots a rodent, rabbit, lizard, or other prey scurrying, it swoops down and grabs its meal in its talons.They make stick nests high above the ground.Most Red-tailed Hawks are rich brown above and pale below, with a streaked belly and, on the wing underside, a dark bar between shoulder and wrist and the tail is usually pale below and cinnamon-red above, though in young birds it’s brown and banded. Overall the red tailed hawk is a cool and very intriguing bird in many aspects.

The Ruby-throated hummingbird

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The Ruby-throated humming bird can be up to 3- 3.5 inches in length, and 0.11 oz in mass. They can come in a variety of colors including, bright emerald or golden-green with gray underparts. Their necks are an iridescent shade of red. The Ruby- throated hummingbird has only showed an increase in the population, and there are no signs of slowing down or dropping. These birds will use nectar from tube shaped flowers as their primary food source. They will also eat a number of insects including gnats, mosquitoes, spiders, and fruit-flies. These birds are incredibly talented flyers due to them being able to move at fast speeds, and easily being able to change their direction. This bird spends it’s time In Central America and Southern Mexico during the winter. When the weather warms up they will take their northern trip to the United States. These birds can be found in grasslands, gardens, backyards, open woodlands, meadows, and parks.

The Turkey Vulture

        Turkey vultures in Latin are called Cathartes aura, meaning golden purifier. Turkey vultures have dark brown feathers with a red featherless head. During flight it creates a v-shape in the air. They stay pretty low while flying to search for food, which are dead animals. They can be mammals, reptiles, and even other birds. Most of these animals have something in common and that would be carrion. Carrion is decaying animal flesh, which is what turkey vultures like to eat. Turkey vultures can be seen almost anywhere in the US, from the west coast to the east coast. But during mating season they prefer places like the forest for nest locations, so they can use caves, logs and tree stumps. Turkey vultures nests are not usually in trees. That's ironic because they like to roost in high places like dead trees, buildings, and poles. As of right now turkey vultures have nothing to worry about since their population is very stable being on the least concerned spectrum.Usually on a regular day turkey vultures travel in groups, these groups can be very big or very small.

The Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal

The northern cardinal can be found in the eastern and central regions of America. The Northern Cardinal whose Latin name is Cardinalis Cardinalis is territorial songbirds. These birds are dimorphic species which means they have two different/distinct forms. That is why male and female cardinals are different colors. The male cardinals are bright red while the females are olive or brown colored. The northern cardinal does not migrate and molt or shed feathers but they protect its territory and they attack anything near its territory. In the process of protecting their territory, they mistake their reflection for rivals. This tendency sometimes leads to cardinals to fly into glass windows, when they charge an intruding bird. Cardinals are nesting birds that make open cup nests using twigs, branches, grass, weed, and etc. They build their nest about 3-15' above the ground and this process nesting takes about 11-13 days. According to the Migratory Treaty Act, it is illegal to own, harm, or kill this species. If you want to find these birds you should look in residential areas, bushes or shrubs, trees and etc.