@anaturalist.bsky.social
Capturing wildlife moments both close to home and far afield. aneighborhoodnaturalist.com
Despite their large stature Great Blue Herons weigh approximately 5 to 6 pounds (2.3 to 2.7 kilograms).
(Great Blue Heron)
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There are no recognized subspecies of Eastern kingbird.
(Eastern kingbird)
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Many bird species have a nictitating membrane, a secondary eyelid which covers the eye during feeding.
(Common grackle)
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Canada geese prefer urban environments in winter as urban areas retain a greater amount of heat.
(Canada goose gosling)
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Turkey vultures lack a syrinx (a bird’s vocal organ), so their vocalizations consist of primarily of grunts.
(Turkey vulture)
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A group of grackles is called a ‘plague’.
(Common grackle)
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Male gray catbirds have a loud and quiet song. The loud song may last for as long as 10 minutes and is used to establish territory. The quiet is used mostly near the nest and hatchlings and the female may copy its tones back to the male.
(Gray catbird)
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House sparrows were first introduced to the US when 8 pairs were released in Brooklyn, NY in approximately 1851.
(House sparrow, male plumage)
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The American robin population in North America is estimated at over 370 million individuals, more than one bird for every human in America (based on 2019 census).
(American robin)
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Eastern kingbirds will aggressively mob predators and scavengers in the area of their nest.
(Eastern kingbird)
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When not breeding, bluebirds are very social and can associate in flocks of hundreds of individuals.
(Eastern bluebird)
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Red-tailed hawks display size related sexual dimorphism, with females being roughly 25% heavier than males.
(Red-tailed hawk)
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One of the 52 subspecies of song sparrow in North America is on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and is significantly larger than other species.
(Song sparrow)
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Northern mockingbirds can recall a repertoire of over 200 sounds during their lifespan.
(Northern mockingbird)
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Osprey have small spikes under each talon to help grip their primary prey, fish.
(Osprey)
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Mallard ducks are the ancestors of almost all domestic duck species.
(Mallard duck, duckling)
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Eastern bluebirds don’t have blue pigment in their feathers. Their blue coloration comes from tiny air pockets in their feather structure which scatter light.
(Eastern bluebird)
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There are 52 currently recognized subspecies of song sparrow in the US.
(Song sparrow)
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House sparrows have a digestive enzyme, amylase, which allows them to digest starches.
(House sparrow, male plumage)
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Common crows have been observed making multi-part tools to forage for food.
(Common crow)
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The two male color morphs of white-throated sparrows have different mating techniques. Tan morph males will guard their mates and invest in parental care, white morph males will try to secure multiple mates and do not participate in parental care.
(White-throated sparrow, tan morph)
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Common grackles have a saw-like ridge in their upper beak which helps them crack open nuts.
(Common grackle)
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European starlings were once highly valued among European nobility for their mimicry abilities.
(European starling)
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Blue jays are corvids, meaning they are more closely related to crows and ravens then robins and starlings.
(Blue jay)
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House sparrows prefer to nest in human-built structures when offered the choice between them and more naturally occurring ones.
(House sparrow, male plumage)
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Black-capped chickadees will often forage alongside other species of birds to maximize foraging efficiency and protections from predators.
(Black-capped chickadee)
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When Osprey catch a prey item (usually a fish as this makes up more than 90% of their diet) they will orient its head forward to reduce drag while flying.
(Osprey)
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House sparrows can digest starches like those in bread. It is theorized that this is due to their close association with humans.
(House sparrow, male plumage)
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When robins eat only honeysuckle berries (as fruit makes up a lot of their diet) they can become intoxicated.
(American robin)
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