The great northern diver or common loon is a large member of the family, Gaviidae.

Great Northern Diver

The great northern diver or common loon is a large member of the family, Gaviidae.

The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is a seabird with the largest wingspan of any living bird.

Wandering Albatross

The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is a seabird with the largest wingspan of any living bird.

An illustration with a man and a child watching birds fly overhead while standing on a rock.

Man and child

An illustration with a man and a child watching birds fly overhead while standing on a rock.

An image of a man using rope to hunt birds.

Hunting Birds

An image of a man using rope to hunt birds.

Vultures are the scavengers of the Amazon, and are never killed by the people. They are quite tame, and if they were not so disgusting we might easily catch them and pet them.

Vulture

Vultures are the scavengers of the Amazon, and are never killed by the people. They are quite tame,…

"Monotropa Hypopithys. 2. a flower; 3. a pistil; 4. the same divided perpendicularly; 5. a seed; 6. seed of Pterospora andromedea; 7. section of it." -Lindley, 1853

Dutchman's Pipe

"Monotropa Hypopithys. 2. a flower; 3. a pistil; 4. the same divided perpendicularly; 5. a seed; 6.…

An illustration of a duck floating on water.

Duck

An illustration of a duck floating on water.

An illustration of a bird.

Bird

An illustration of a bird.

An illustration of a bird perched on the side of a nest with eggs.

Bird and nest

An illustration of a bird perched on the side of a nest with eggs.

A tailpiece or page footer with two mirrored birds.

Bird Tailpiece

A tailpiece or page footer with two mirrored birds.

The White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus also known as the Eastern White Pelican or Great White Pelican is a bird in the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and in Africa in swamps and shallow lakes. The tree nest is a crude heap of vegetation.

White Pelican

The White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus also known as the Eastern White Pelican or Great White Pelican…

An illustration of a brown pelican with a fish in it's mouth and a sea gull resting on his back. The brown pelican is the smallest of the eight species of pelican, although it is a large bird in nearly every other regard. It lives strictly on coasts from Washington and Virginia south to northern Chile and the mouth of the Amazon River, as well as the island of Saut d'Eau in Trinidad and Tobago. Some immature birds may stray to inland freshwater lakes. After nesting, North American birds move in flocks further north along the coasts, returning to warmer waters for winter. Their young are hatched in broods of about 3, and eat around 150 lbs. of fish in the 8-10 month period they are cared for. Gulls (often informally Seagulls) are birds in the family Laridae. They are typically medium to large birds, usually gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They typically have harsh wailing or squawking calls. They have stout, longish bills, and webbed feet.

Brown Pelican and Sea Gull

An illustration of a brown pelican with a fish in it's mouth and a sea gull resting on his back. The…

An illustration of an owl guarding her eggs from a wolf.

Owl and Wolf

An illustration of an owl guarding her eggs from a wolf.

A decorative divider containing several birds and flowers.

Divider

A decorative divider containing several birds and flowers.

An illustration of a man on one knee preparing to shoot a geese that is flying overhead.

Geese Hunting

An illustration of a man on one knee preparing to shoot a geese that is flying overhead.

An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets. The distinction between a heron and an egret is rather vague, and depends more on appearance than biology. The word "egret" comes from the French word "aigrette", referring to the long filamentous feathers that seem to cascade down an egret's back during the breeding season.

Egrets

An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine…

The Saltator magnus is an American songbird in the cardinal family.

Saltator

The Saltator magnus is an American songbird in the cardinal family.

"Sanderling (Calidris arenaria), in breeding plumage." -Whitney, 1911

Sanderling

"Sanderling (Calidris arenaria), in breeding plumage." -Whitney, 1911

Common in Florida, the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) is a large bird with a wingspan of up to seven feet. As an adult, it has a distinct red spot on its head and face.

Sandhill Crane

Common in Florida, the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) is a large bird with a wingspan of up to seven…

The pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (or Actodromas maculata) is a small wading bird of the Scolopacidae family.

Pectoral Sandpiper

The pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (or Actodromas maculata) is a small wading bird of the Scolopacidae…

Archaeopteryx, sometimes referred to by its German name Urvogel ("original bird" or "first bird"), is the earliest and most primitive bird known. Archaeopteryx lived in the late Jurassic Period around 155–150 million years ago, in what is now southern Germany during a time when Europe was an archipelago of islands in a shallow warm tropical sea, much closer to the equator than it is now.

Archaeopteryx

Archaeopteryx, sometimes referred to by its German name Urvogel ("original bird" or "first bird"), is…

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the family Bombycillidae or waxwing family of passerine birds. It breeds in open wooded areas in North America, principally southern Canada and the northern United States.

Cedar Waxwing Hatchling

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the family Bombycillidae or waxwing family of…

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the family Bombycillidae or waxwing family of passerine birds. It breeds in open wooded areas in North America, principally southern Canada and the northern United States.

Cedar Waxwing (3 Weeks)

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the family Bombycillidae or waxwing family of…

Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. Often considered a family Tetraonidae, the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae. Grouse inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere, from pine forests to moorland and mountainside. Most species are year-round residents, and do not migrate. These birds feed mainly on vegetation, but also on insects, especially when feeding young. Several of the forest-living species are notable for eating large quantities of conifer needles, which most other vertebrates refuse

Young Grouse

Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. Often considered a family Tetraonidae, the American…

The woodcocks are a group of seven extant very similar wading bird species in the genus Scolopax, characterised by a long slender bill and cryptic brown and blackish plumage. Only two woodcocks are widespread, the others being localised island species. Their closest relatives are the typical snipes of the genus Gallinago (Thomas et al., 2004). These are woodland birds which feed at night or in the evenings, searching for invertebrates in soft ground with their long bills. Unlike in most birds the tip of the upper mandible is flexible. This habit and their unobtrusive plumage makes it difficult to see them when they are resting in the day. The tiny feathers that are located at the first joint of the woodcock's wings are referred to as "pin feathers" and these are much sought after by artists for fine painting work.

Young Woodcock

The woodcocks are a group of seven extant very similar wading bird species in the genus Scolopax, characterised…

The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. It is named after the European Robin because of the male's bright red breast, though the two species are not related. The American Robin is widely distributed throughout North America, wintering south of Canada from Florida to central Mexico and along the Pacific Coast. It is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin. It has seven subspecies, but only T. m. confinis in the southwest is particularly distinctive, with pale gray-brown underparts.

Young American Robins

The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. It is named after…

The true crows are large passerine birds that comprise the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-sized jackdaws (Eurasian and Daurian) to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents (except South America) and several offshore and oceanic islands (including Hawaii).

Crows

The true crows are large passerine birds that comprise the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging…

The Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, is a small American songbird. Adults are mainly olive on the head and upperparts with a yellow throat and white belly; they have dark eyes with yellow "spectacles". The tail and wings are dark with white wing bars. They have thick blue-grey legs and a stout bill. Their breeding habitat is open deciduous woods in southern Canada and the eastern United States

Yellow-throated Vireo

The Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, is a small American songbird. Adults are mainly olive on…

An illustration of warblers eating plant lice in a tree.

Warblers Eating Plant Lice

An illustration of warblers eating plant lice in a tree.

The Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a passerine bird, and a member of the family Corvidae native to North America. It belongs to the "blue" or American jays, which are, among the Corvidae, not closely related to other jays. It is adaptable, aggressive and omnivorous, and has been colonizing new habitat for many decades

Blue Jay

The Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a passerine bird, and a member of the family Corvidae native to…

The Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, is a medium-sized grouse occurring in forests from the Appalachian Mountains across Canada to Alaska. It is non-migratory. The Ruffed Grouse is frequently referred to as the "partridge". This is technically wrong - partridges are unrelated phasianids, and in hunting may lead to confusion with the Grey Partridge. That species was introduced to North America from Europe; it is a bird of open areas, not woodlands.

Ruffed Grouse

The Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, is a medium-sized grouse occurring in forests from the Appalachian…

The woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks are a family, Picidae, of near-passerine birds . Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia and New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions. Most species live in forests or woodland habitats, although a few species are known to live in desert areas.

Woodpecker

The woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks are a family, Picidae, of near-passerine birds . Members of this…

The Nashville Warbler, Vermivora ruficapilla, is a small songbird in the New World warbler family. They have olive-brown upperparts, a white belly and a yellow throat and breast; they have a white eye ring, no wing bars and a thin pointed bill. Adult males have a grey head with a rusty crown patch (often not visible); females and immature birds have a duller olive-grey head

Nashville Warbler

The Nashville Warbler, Vermivora ruficapilla, is a small songbird in the New World warbler family. They…

The Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina, is a North American passerine bird. It is closely related to other thrushes such as the American Robin and is widely distributed across North America, wintering in Central America and southern Mexico. The Wood Thrush is the official bird of the District of Columbia.

Wood Thrush

The Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina, is a North American passerine bird. It is closely related to…

The Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa, is a very small songbird. Adults are olive-gray on the upperparts with white underparts, with thin bills and short tails. They have white wing bars, a black stripe through the eyes and a yellow crown surrounded by black. The adult male has an orange patch in the middle of the yellow crown.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

The Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa, is a very small songbird. Adults are olive-gray on the…

The tits, chickadees, and titmice comprise Paridae, a large family of small passerine birds which occur in the northern hemisphere and Africa. Most were formerly classified in the genus Parus. These birds are called "chickadees" (onomatopoeic, derived from their distinctive "chick-a dee dee dee" communication or alarm call) or "titmice" in North America, and just "tits" in the rest of the English speaking world. The name titmouse is attested from the 14th century, composed of the Old English name for the bird, mase (Proto-Germanic *maison, German Meise) and tit, denoting something small. The spelling was influenced by mouse in the 16th century.

Tit Bird

The tits, chickadees, and titmice comprise Paridae, a large family of small passerine birds which occur…

The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small songbird of the nuthatch family which breeds in old-growth woodland across much of temperate North America. It is a stocky bird, with a large head, short tail, powerful bill and strong feet. The upperparts are pale blue-gray, and the face and underparts are white. It has a black cap and a chestnut lower belly. The nine subspecies differ mainly in the color of the body plumage.

White-breasted Nuthatch

The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small songbird of the nuthatch family which breeds…

The nuthatches are a genus, Sitta, of small passerine birds belonging to the family Sittidae. Characterised by large heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet, nuthatches advertise their territory using loud, simple songs. Most species exhibit grey or bluish upperparts and a black eye stripe. Most nuthatches breed in the temperate or montane woodlands of the Northern Hemisphere, although two species have adapted to rocky habitats in the warmer and drier regions of Eurasia. However, the greatest diversity is in Southern Asia, and similarities between the species have made it difficult to identify distinct species. All members of this genus nest in holes or crevices. Most species are non-migratory and live in their habitat year-round, although the North American Red-breasted Nuthatch migrates to warmer regions during the winter. A few nuthatch species have restricted ranges and face threats from deforestation.

Nuthatches

The nuthatches are a genus, Sitta, of small passerine birds belonging to the family Sittidae. Characterised…

The Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, is a small songbird. Adults have blue-grey upperparts with reddish underparts; they have a white face with a black stripe through the eyes, a white throat, a straight grey bill and a black crown. This bird is smaller than the White-breasted Nuthatch.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

The Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, is a small songbird. Adults have blue-grey upperparts with…

The Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) is a medium-sized northern American perching bird of the mimid family. It is the only member of New World catbird genus Dumetella. Like the Black Catbird, it is among the basal lineages of the Mimidae. Adults are dark gray with a slim, black bill and dark eyes. They have a long dark tail, dark legs and a dark cap; they are rust-colored underneath their tail.

Gray Catbird

The Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) is a medium-sized northern American perching bird of the mimid…

The Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, is a small American songbird. Adults are mainly olive on the head and upperparts with a yellow throat and white belly; they have dark eyes with yellow "spectacles". The tail and wings are dark with white wing bars. They have thick blue-grey legs and a stout bill. Their breeding habitat is open deciduous woods in southern Canada and the eastern United States

Yellow-throat Vireo

The Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, is a small American songbird. Adults are mainly olive on…

The Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. Ovenbirds are 14 cm long and weigh 18 g. They have white underparts streaked with black, and olive-brown upperparts. They have white eye rings, pinkish legs and thin pointed bills. They have orange lines on the top of their crowns, which are bordered on each side with dark brown.

Ovenbird

The Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. Ovenbirds are…

The Black-and-white Warbler, Mniotilta varia, is a small New World warbler. It breeds in northern and eastern North America from southern Canada to Florida. This species is migratory, wintering in Florida, Central America and the West Indies down to Peru. This species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe, mainly to Ireland and Great Britain. This species is 13 cm long and weighs 11 g. The summer male Black-and-white Warbler is boldly streaked in black and white, and the bird has been described as a flying humbug. There are two white wing bars. Female and juvenile plumages are similar, but duller and less streaked.

Black and White Warbler

The Black-and-white Warbler, Mniotilta varia, is a small New World warbler. It breeds in northern and…

The Pine Warbler, Dendroica pinus, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. These birds have white bellies, white wing bars, dark legs and thin, relatively long pointed bills; they have yellowish lines over their eyes. Adult males have olive upperparts and bright yellow throats and breasts; females and immatures display upperparts which are olive-brown. Their throats and breasts are paler. The song of this bird is a musical trill. Their calls are slurred chips.

Pine Warbler

The Pine Warbler, Dendroica pinus, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. These birds…

The Myrtle Warbler, Dendroica coronata coronata, is a small New World warbler. This passerine bird was long known to be closely related to its western counterpart, Audubon's Warbler, and at various times the two forms have been classed as separate species or grouped as Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dendroica coronata. The two forms most likely diverged when the eastern and western populations were separated in the last ice age.

Myrtle Warbler

The Myrtle Warbler, Dendroica coronata coronata, is a small New World warbler. This passerine bird was…

The Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus, is a small American songbird, 13-14 cm in length. It is somewhat warbler-like but not closely related to the New World warblers. Adults are mainly olive-green on the upperparts with white underparts; they have a red iris and a grey crown edged with black. There is a dark blackish line through the eyes and a wide white stripe just above that line. They have thick blue-grey legs and a stout bill. They are yellowish on the flanks and under their tail. This bird, not always seen, may sing for long periods of time; it appears to be endlessly repeating the same question and answer. It holds the record for most songs given in a single day among bird species

Red-eyed Vireo

The Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus, is a small American songbird, 13-14 cm in length. It is somewhat…

The Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus, is a small songbird. Adults are 12 cm long and weigh 12 g. They are mainly olive-grey on the head and upperparts with white underparts; they have brown eyes and the front of the face is light. There is a white supercilium. They have thick blue-grey legs and a stout bill. Western birds are generally smaller.

Warbling Vireo

The Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus, is a small songbird. Adults are 12 cm long and weigh 12 g. They are…

The Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, is a small American songbird. Adults are mainly olive on the head and upperparts with a yellow throat and white belly; they have dark eyes with yellow "spectacles". The tail and wings are dark with white wing bars. They have thick blue-grey legs and a stout bill. Their breeding habitat is open deciduous woods in southern Canada and the eastern United States

Yellow-throated Vireo

The Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, is a small American songbird. Adults are mainly olive on…

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus, is a large seed-eating bird in the cardinal family. The adult is 19 cm long and weighs 47 g. It has dark upperparts, white underparts and a large pale bill. The adult male has a black head, wings and upperparts and a bright rose-red patch on its breast; the wings have white patches and rose red linings. The adult female has dark grey upperparts, a white stripe over the eye, streaked underparts and yellowish wing linings. The song resembles a more refined version of the American Robin's. The call is a sharp pink.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Male)

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus, is a large seed-eating bird in the cardinal family.…

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus, is a large seed-eating bird in the cardinal family. The adult is 19 cm long and weighs 47 g. It has dark upperparts, white underparts and a large pale bill. The adult male has a black head, wings and upperparts and a bright rose-red patch on its breast; the wings have white patches and rose red linings. The adult female has dark grey upperparts, a white stripe over the eye, streaked underparts and yellowish wing linings. The song resembles a more refined version of the American Robin's. The call is a sharp pink.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Female)

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus, is a large seed-eating bird in the cardinal family.…

A Towhee is any one of a number of species of birds in the genus Pipilo within the family Emberizidae (which also includes the buntings, American sparrows, and juncos). Towhees typically have longer tails than other emberizids. Most species tend to avoid humans, so they are not well known, though the Eastern Towhee P. erythrophthalamus is bolder as well as more colorful. This species, and some others, may be seen in urban parks and gardens.

Towhee (Male)

A Towhee is any one of a number of species of birds in the genus Pipilo within the family Emberizidae…

The American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary, is a North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory, ranging from southern Canada to North Carolina during the breeding season, and from just south of the Canadian border to Mexico during the winter. The only finch in its subfamily which undergoes a complete molt, the American Goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration; the male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter months, while the female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate.

American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary, is…

The Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, is a small icterid blackbird which is on average 18 cm long and weighs 34 g. This bird received its name from the fact that the male's colors resemble those on the coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore. The Baltimore Orioles, a Major League Baseball team in Baltimore, Maryland, were named after this bird. It is also the state bird of Maryland.

Baltimore Oriole

The Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, is a small icterid blackbird which is on average 18 cm long and…

The Western Wood-Pewee, Contopus sordidulus, is a small tyrant flycatcher. Adults are gray-olive on the upperparts with light underparts, washed with olive on the breast. They have two wing bars and a dark bill with yellow at the base of the lower mandible. This bird is very similar in appearance to the Eastern Wood-Pewee; the two birds were formerly considered to be one species.

Western Wood Pewee

The Western Wood-Pewee, Contopus sordidulus, is a small tyrant flycatcher. Adults are gray-olive on…

The genus Tyrannus is a group of large insect-eating birds in the Tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. The majority are named as Kingbirds. They prefer semi-open or open areas. These birds wait on an exposed perch and then catch insects in flight. They have long pointed wings and large broad bills. These birds tend to defend their breeding territories aggressively, often chasing away much larger birds. The genus name means "tyrant".

Kingbird

The genus Tyrannus is a group of large insect-eating birds in the Tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae.…

An illustration of a hummingbird nest with two week old hummingbirds.

Hummingbird Nest

An illustration of a hummingbird nest with two week old hummingbirds.

An illustration of a mother bird feeding her hatchlings.

Bird Feeding Hatchlings

An illustration of a mother bird feeding her hatchlings.

The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a medium-sized member of the woodpecker family. It is native to most of North America, parts of Central America, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, is one of the few woodpecker species that migrates, and is the only woodpecker that commonly feeds on the ground. There are over 100 common names for the Northern Flicker. Among them are: Clape, gaffer woodpecker, harry-wicket, heigh-ho, wake-up, walk-up, wick-up, yarrup, and gawker bird. Many of these names are attempts at imitating some of its calls.

Northern Flicker

The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a medium-sized member of the woodpecker family. It is native…

The Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus, is a cuckoo. Adults have a long brown tail and a black bill. The head and upper parts are brown and the underparts are white. There is a red ring around the eye. Juveniles are drabber, and the eye ring is greenish. Their breeding habitat is edges of wooded areas across North America east of the Rockies. They nest in a low tree or shrub, sometimes on the ground. They sometimes lay eggs in the nests of other birds.

Black-billed Cuckoo

The Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus, is a cuckoo. Adults have a long brown tail and a…

The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. It is named after the European Robin because of the male's bright red breast, though the two species are not related. The American Robin is widely distributed throughout North America, wintering south of Canada from Florida to central Mexico and along the Pacific Coast. It is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin. It has seven subspecies, but only T. m. confinis in the southwest is particularly distinctive, with pale gray-brown underparts.

American Robin

The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. It is named after…