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The meadowlark does not travel in flocks. It eats grains and is characterized by a dark band cross its yellowish chest.

Meadowlark

The meadowlark does not travel in flocks. It eats grains and is characterized by a dark band cross its…

"Mergus merganser. Merganser. Goosander. Nostrils near middle of bill. Frontal feathers extending acutely on culmen about half way from those on side of bill to nostrils; loral feathers sweeping in nearly vertical line across side of base of upper mandible, about opposite those on side of lower mandible. Head scarcely crested, merely a line of little lengthened feathers along occiput and nape, better developed, however, in female than in male. Adult male: Bill and feet vermilion-red in breeding season, with black hook; iris carmine. Head and neck splendid dark green. Under parts salmon-colored, the flanks and lower belly marbled or watered with dusky. Upper parts glossy-black, fading to ashy on rump and tail; surface of wing mostly pure white, crossed by a black bar formed by bases of greater coverts. Primaries and outer secondaries black, intermediate secondaries white, inner secondaries and scapulars black and white. Female: Bill red with dusky culmen, iris yellowish, feet chrome or orange with dusky webs, crest better developed than in male; still flimsy, however long. Head and neck reddish-brown; throat white; under parts less salmon-tinted. Black parts of the male ashy-gray; scapulars without white; white of wing restricted to secondaries and greater coverts, which are black at base; smaller coverts ashy." Elliot Coues, 1884

Merganser

"Mergus merganser. Merganser. Goosander. Nostrils near middle of bill. Frontal feathers extending acutely…

"Mergus serrator. Red-breasted Merganser. Nostrils near base of bill. Frontal feathers extending obtusely on culmen, and not beyond those on sides of upper mandible; the loral sweeping forward convex beyond those on side of lower mandible. A long, thin, pointed and nuchal crest in both sexes. Adult Male: Head and neck all around splendid dark green. A white ring round neck. Under parts white, more or less salmon-tinged, the fore-breast brownish-red streaked with dusky, the sides finely waved with dusky. A white black-bordered patch of broad feathers in front of the wing. Fore-back, interscapulars, and long inner scapulars, black; middle and lower back gray waved with whitish and dusky. Surface of wing mostly white, including outer scapulars; inner secondaries edged on outer web with black, and wing crossed by two black bars at bases and just beyond ends of greater coverts. Bill carmine-red, dusky along the top; eyes carmine; feet bright red. Female: Bill and feet duller color; head grayish-chestnut; throat and under parts white, shaded with ashy-gray along sides. Upper parts plumbeous-gray, the feathers with paler edges; white of wing restricted to a patch formed by the ends of the greater coverts, and much of the outer secondaries; not divided by a black bar." Elliot Coues, 1884

Red-breasted Merganser

"Mergus serrator. Red-breasted Merganser. Nostrils near base of bill. Frontal feathers extending obtusely…

The mesites (Mesitornithidae) are a family of birds of uncertain affinities. They are smallish, near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. Generally brownish with paler undersides, they are of somewhat pheasant-like appearance and were initially placed with the Galliformes. Most commonly, they are placed in the Gruiformes (cranes, rails and allies), but this has been disputed in more recent times. They are the only family with more than two species in which every species is threatened; all three are listed as vulnerable and are expected to decline greatly in the next 20 years.

Mesites

The mesites (Mesitornithidae) are a family of birds of uncertain affinities. They are smallish, near…

This toilet mirror is made out of silver and includes six branches of candle holders. The style is a Louis the 15th, with flowers, birds and squirrels.

Toilet Mirror

This toilet mirror is made out of silver and includes six branches of candle holders. The style is a…

The extinct moa and the modern kiwi.

Moa

The extinct moa and the modern kiwi.

Mockingbird, a singing bird of the thrush family closely related to the catbird.

Mockingbird

Mockingbird, a singing bird of the thrush family closely related to the catbird.

A singing-bird of North America remarkable for its exact imitations of the notes of other birds.

Mockingbird

A singing-bird of North America remarkable for its exact imitations of the notes of other birds.

"Mocking-Birds. Bill much shorter than head, scarcely curved as a whole, but with gently-curved commissure, notched near the end. Rictal vibrissae well developed. Tail rather longer than wings, rounded, the lateral feathers being considerably graduated. Wings rounded. (Tarsal scutella sometimes obsolete.) Tarsi longer than the middle toe and claw. Of this genus there are two well marked sections (represented by the mocking-bird and cat-bird respectively), which ay be distinguished by color:" Elliot Coues, 1884

Mockingbird

"Mocking-Birds. Bill much shorter than head, scarcely curved as a whole, but with gently-curved commissure,…

The Momots are birds still very imperfectly known. They are placed by systematists near the Toucans because of their tongue structure, (Figuier, 1869)

Momot

The Momots are birds still very imperfectly known. They are placed by systematists near the Toucans…

"Momotus brasiliensis, the Motmot, from Guiana to Northern Brazil, is somewhat similar in colour (to the Eumomota superciliaris), but has little red on the back; the head is cobalt-blue with black on the crown and sides; the under parts are green with rufous tinge. the long throat-feathers are black with light blue edges." A. H. Evans, 1900

Motmot

"Momotus brasiliensis, the Motmot, from Guiana to Northern Brazil, is somewhat similar in colour (to…

A scene in the mountains with trees and water running by.

Mountain

A scene in the mountains with trees and water running by.

"Synthliborhamphus antiquus. Nipper-nosed Murrelet. Bill somewhat as in Brachyrhamphus, but stouter and deeper for its length; greatly compressed throughout, its depth at base about half as much as length of culmen; culmen moderately convex, gonys ascending. Nostrils sub-basal, broadly oval or nearly circular; nasal fossae small and shallow, feathered to nostrils." Elliot Coues, 1884

Black-throated Murrelet

"Synthliborhamphus antiquus. Nipper-nosed Murrelet. Bill somewhat as in Brachyrhamphus, but stouter…

"Synthliborhamphus umizusume. Japanese Murrelet. Temminck's Auk. Bill more elongate and acute than in the type of the genus, less compressed, not so deep for its length. Bill yellow, with black ridge; feet livid-bluish, with dusky webs. A large crest, of a dozen (more or fewer) feathers springing from extreme forehead, not recurved, but drooping backward over the occiput." Elliot Coues, 1884

Japanese Murrelet Bill

"Synthliborhamphus umizusume. Japanese Murrelet. Temminck's Auk. Bill more elongate and acute than in…

"Brachyrhamphus craverii. Craveri's Murrelet. Entire upper parts unvararied cinereous, slightly darker on head; this color extending on head to include eyelids, and a little farther down on the nape; thence in a straight line along middle of side of neck to shoulders, thence along sides of body in a strip nearly an inch broad, the elongated flank-feathers being also of this color; other under parts pure white, under surface of wing dark. Primaries black, the greater part of their shafts and inner webs whitish. Bill black, the base of lower mandible pale; feet whitish-blue, black below." Elliot Coues, 1884

Craveri's Murrelet

"Brachyrhamphus craverii. Craveri's Murrelet. Entire upper parts unvararied cinereous, slightly darker…

"Lomvia troile. Common Guillemot, or Murre. Adult in summer: Head and neck all around rich dark maroon brown, changing on upper parts into dark slaty-brown, nearly uniform, but most of the feathers of the back and rump with slightly lighter, more grayish-brown, edges. Secondaries narrowly but distinctly tipped with white. Under parts from the throat pure white, the sides and flanks marked with dusky or slaty, the lining of the wings varied with white and dusky. Bill black; mouth yellow; eyes brown; feet blackish. In some cases, not in most, a white "eye-glass," consisting of a rim around eye and handle back of eye in the furrow of the plumage." Elliot Coues, 1884

Murres

"Lomvia troile. Common Guillemot, or Murre. Adult in summer: Head and neck all around rich dark maroon…

Nandu or "Rhea Americana, the so-called American Ostrich... is found from Bolivia Paraguay, and South Brazil to the Rio Negro, if not further; it is brownish-grey with blackish crown, nape, and breast, white thighs and abdomen, and yellowish neck. " - A. H. Evans, 1900

Nandu

Nandu or "Rhea Americana, the so-called American Ostrich... is found from Bolivia Paraguay, and South…

A decorative divider with birds, plants, and spiders.

Nature Divider

A decorative divider with birds, plants, and spiders.

"Chordediles poptue. Night-hawk. Bull-bat. Above, mottled with black, brown, gray and tawny, the former in excess; below from the breast transversely barred with blackish and white or pale fulvous; throat with a large white (male) or tawny (female cross-bars tail blackish, with distant pale marbled cross-bars and a large white spot (wanting in the female) on one or both webs of nearly all the feathers toward the end; primaries dusky, unmarked except by one large white spot on outer five, about midway between their base and tip; secondaries like primaries, bit with whitish tips and imperfect cross-bars. Sexes nearly alike: Female with the white spaces on the quills, but that on the tail replaced by tawny or not evident." Elliot Coues, 1884

Large Night-hawk

"Chordediles poptue. Night-hawk. Bull-bat. Above, mottled with black, brown, gray and tawny, the former…

"Chordediles poptue. Night-hawk. Bull-bat. Above, mottled with black, brown, gray and tawny, the former in excess; below from the breast transversely barred with blackish and white or pale fulvous; throat with a large white (male) or tawny (female cross-bars tail blackish, with distant pale marbled cross-bars and a large white spot (wanting in the female) on one or both webs of nearly all the feathers toward the end; primaries dusky, unmarked except by one large white spot on outer five, about midway between their base and tip; secondaries like primaries, bit with whitish tips and imperfect cross-bars. Sexes nearly alike: Female with the white spaces on the quills, but that on the tail replaced by tawny or not evident." Elliot Coues, 1884

Small Night-hawk

"Chordediles poptue. Night-hawk. Bull-bat. Above, mottled with black, brown, gray and tawny, the former…

"Trachea of the nightengale." Elliot Coues

Nightengale Trachea

"Trachea of the nightengale." Elliot Coues

An American insect-catching bird related to the whip-poor-will, a member of the goatsucker family.

Nighthawk

An American insect-catching bird related to the whip-poor-will, a member of the goatsucker family.

The nighthawk is fit for catching insects on the wing by their very wide mouth, the gape extended far along each cheek, (Colton, 1903).

Nighthawk

The nighthawk is fit for catching insects on the wing by their very wide mouth, the gape extended far…

A nighthawk on a branch

Nighthawk

A nighthawk on a branch

Nightingale, a bird famous on account of its brilliant song, which for quality and variety is not exceeded by that of any other bird.

Nightingale

Nightingale, a bird famous on account of its brilliant song, which for quality and variety is not exceeded…

Nightingale, a bird famous on account of its brilliant song, which for quality and variety is not exceeded by that of any other bird.

Nightingale

Nightingale, a bird famous on account of its brilliant song, which for quality and variety is not exceeded…

A small bird that sings at night. It is celebrated for its vocal powers.

Nightingale

A small bird that sings at night. It is celebrated for its vocal powers.

"In the first rank of the Warblers stands the Nightingale, celebrated all over the world for its song, which is superior, without any doubt, to that of any other bird."

Nightingales (Philomela Luscinia and Luscinia Philomela)

"In the first rank of the Warblers stands the Nightingale, celebrated all over the world for its song,…

"Picicorvus. American Nutcracker. General characteristics of the European Nucifraga. Bill slenderer, more acute, with more regularly curved culmen and commissure, and straight instead of convex and ascending gonys as a whole somewhat decurved. Nostrils circular, concealed by a full tuft of plumules. Wings long and pointed, folding to the end of the tail; 5th quill longest; 4th, 3d, 6th little less; 2d much shorter, 1st not half as long as 5th. Tail little over half as long as wing, little rounded. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw; the envelope divided into small plates on the sides behind the bottom. Claws very large, strong, acute and much curved, especially that of the hind toe; the lateral reaching beyond base of the middle claw. Coloration peculiar; gray, with black-and-white wings and tail. Habits much the same as those of Nucifraga; alpine and sub-boreal, pinicoline, and pinivorous. One species, confined to West Amer." Elliot Coues, 1884

American Nutcracker

"Picicorvus. American Nutcracker. General characteristics of the European Nucifraga. Bill slenderer,…

"The colours in Sitta caesia, (Nuthatch) which ranges over nearly all the Palaearctic and Indian Regions, and throughout North America to Mexico, are slaty-blue and rusty-red of various shades, relieved by black and white; the slaty tints shewing chiefly above, often in combination with black or brown cap." A. H. Evans, 1900

Nuthatch

"The colours in Sitta caesia, (Nuthatch) which ranges over nearly all the Palaearctic and Indian Regions,…

"No black cap or white stripe on head. Upper parts dull ashy-blue; under parts sordid or muddy whitish. Cap clear hair-brown. A decided spot white on the middle of the nape, in the brown cap, which on the sides of the head includes the eyes, and is bordered with dusky. Middle tail-feathers like back, without black, and with little or no white." Elliot Coues, 1884

Brown-headed Nuthatch

"No black cap or white stripe on head. Upper parts dull ashy-blue; under parts sordid or muddy whitish.…

"Crown clear hair-brown; a white spot on nape; middle tail-feathers plain." Elliot Coues, 1884.

European Nuthatch

"Crown clear hair-brown; a white spot on nape; middle tail-feathers plain." Elliot Coues, 1884.

"Upper parts leaden-blue the central tail-feathers the same; wings fuscous, with slight ashy edgings and concealed white bases of the primaries. Entire under parts rusty-brown, very variable in shade, from rich fulvous to brownish-white, usually palest on the throat, deepest on the sides and crissum; tail-feathers, except the middle pair, black, the lateral marked with white. Whole top and side of head and neck glossy black, that of the side appearing as a broad bar through the eye from bill to side of neck, cut off from that of the crown by a long white superciliary stripe, which meets its fellow across the forehead. Bill dark plumbeous, paler below; feet plumbeous-brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Red-breasted Nuthatch

"Upper parts leaden-blue the central tail-feathers the same; wings fuscous, with slight ashy edgings…

Nightingale, a small creeping bird seen running up and down the trunks of trees, getting its name from its habit of hatching open nuts it has previously wedged in the bark of trees, (Beach, 1909).

White-breasted Nuthatch

Nightingale, a small creeping bird seen running up and down the trunks of trees, getting its name from…

"Upper parts, central tail-feathers, and much edging of the wings, clear ashy-blue; whole crown, nape, and back of the neck, glossy black. Under parts, including sides of neck and head to above eyes, dull white, more or less marked on the flanks and crissum with rusty-brown. Wings and their coverts blackish, much edged as already said, and with an oblique bar of white on the outer webs of the primaries white; under wing-coverts mostly blackish; bold bluish and black variegation of the inner secondaries. Tail, excepting the two middle feathers, black, each feather marked with white in increasing amount, the outer web of the lateral feather being mostly white. Bill blackish-plumbeous, pale at the base below. Feet dark brown. Iris brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

White-Breasted Nuthatch

"Upper parts, central tail-feathers, and much edging of the wings, clear ashy-blue; whole crown, nape,…

"Uro-genital organs of female embryo bird; from Owen, after Muller. a, kidneys: b, wolffian bodies; c, genital glands, to become overies; d, adrenals; e, ureters f, wolffian ducts, to disappear; g, mullerian ducts, to become oviducts." Elliot Coues, 1884

Female Uro-genital Organ

"Uro-genital organs of female embryo bird; from Owen, after Muller. a, kidneys: b, wolffian bodies;…

"Uro-genital organs of male embryo bird; from Owen, after Muller. a, kidneys: b, ureters; c, wolffian bodies; d, their ducts, to be sperm-ducts; e, genital glands, to become testicles; f, adrenals." Elliot Coues, 1884

Male Uro-genital Organ

"Uro-genital organs of male embryo bird; from Owen, after Muller. a, kidneys: b, ureters; c, wolffian…

"Uro-genital organs of female embryo bird; from Owen, after Muller. a, testis; b, epididymis; c, sperm-duct or vas deferens; d, adrenal; k, cloaca; x, kidney; y, ureter." Elliot Coues, 1884

Female Uro-genital Organ

"Uro-genital organs of female embryo bird; from Owen, after Muller. a, testis; b, epididymis; c, sperm-duct…

"Female organs of domestic fowl, in activity; from Owen, after Carus. a, b, c, d, mass of ovarian ova, in all stages of development; b, a ripe one; c, its stigma, where the ovisac or calyx ruptures; d, a ruptured empty calyx, to be absorbed; e, infundibulum, or funnel-shaped orifice of the oviduct; f, next portion of oviduct; g, follicular art of oviduct; m, mesometry, membrane steadying the oviduct; the reference line, m, crosses the constricted part or isthmus of the oviduct; these parts secrete the white of the egg; k, shell-forming or uterine part of oviduct, in which is a completed egg, i; l, lowest or vaginal part of oviduct, opening into uro-genital sinus of the cloaca; n, anus." Elliot Coues, 1884

Female Fowl Organs

"Female organs of domestic fowl, in activity; from Owen, after Carus. a, b, c, d, mass of ovarian ova,…

"Resipratory and vocal organs of the Rook, Corvus frugilegusm an Oscine Passerine bird; 1 a, tongue; b, basi-branchial, commonly called uro-hyal; c, c, horns of hyoid bone; d, d, genio-hyoid muscles; e, e, stylo-hyoid muscles; f, f, cleido-hyoid muscles; g, h, i, aesophagus; j, proventriculus; or secretory stomach; k, gizzard, or gigerium, the muscular stomach; l, m, n, n, intestine, duodenum to rectum; o, p, trachea, or windpipe; q, inferior larynx, or syrinx; r, r, right and left bronchus; ss, ss, contractor muscles or trachea; t, t, lungs with u, u, apertures communicating with thoracic air-cells; v, v, v, three pairs of muscular slips answering to a rudimentary diaphragm; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, as many ribs. Elliot Coues, 1884

The Respiratory and Vocal Organs of a Rook

"Resipratory and vocal organs of the Rook, Corvus frugilegusm an Oscine Passerine bird; 1 a, tongue;…

This bird feeds primarily on insects and fruit, and both sexes care for the young.

Oriole

This bird feeds primarily on insects and fruit, and both sexes care for the young.

This bird feeds primarily on insects and fruit, and both sexes care for the young.

Oriole

This bird feeds primarily on insects and fruit, and both sexes care for the young.

This Oriole belongs to the hangnest group of New World birds.

Oriole

This Oriole belongs to the hangnest group of New World birds.

Orioles are perching birds related to the meadowlark and blackbird.

Baltimore Oriole

Orioles are perching birds related to the meadowlark and blackbird.

icterus baltimore, Baltimore Oriole, are glossy black, with yellow, bay, or orange patches-especially upon the rump and lower surface-and often some white on the wing." A. H. Evans, 1900

Baltimore Oriole

icterus baltimore, Baltimore Oriole, are glossy black, with yellow, bay, or orange patches-especially…

The nest of the oriole is cupshaped and hangs from branches.

Baltimore Oriole Nest

The nest of the oriole is cupshaped and hangs from branches.

"The Golden Oriole, Oriolus galbula, which breeds exceptionally in England, is orange-yellow, with black lores and mainly black wings and tail. The bill is crimson, pinkish, or bluish." A. H. Evans, 1900

Golden Oriole

"The Golden Oriole, Oriolus galbula, which breeds exceptionally in England, is orange-yellow, with black…

Ornate doodad with birds

Ornate doodad with birds

Ornate doodad with birds

An Osprey catching a fish. "Pandion haliaetus. Fish Hawk. Osprey. Adult. dark vandyke- brown, blackening on the quills, the feathers of the upper parts more or less completely edged with white - the older the bird, the more conspicuous the white markings. Tail dark brown with dusky bars, white tip and shafts, and inner webs of all but the middle pair of feathers regularly barred with white and dark. Head, neck, and under parts white, the crown more or less extensively streaked with blackish, and a heavy blackish postocular stripe to the nape; the breast more or less spotted with dusky brown; the white more or less tinged with tawny in some places, especially under the wings and on the head. Coloration very variable in the relative amounts of the dark and white colors; young darker, the upper parts without the white crescents. Bill blackish, bluing at base and on cere; feet grayish-blue; claws black; iris yellow or red." Elliot Coues, 1884

Osprey

An Osprey catching a fish. "Pandion haliaetus. Fish Hawk. Osprey. Adult. dark vandyke- brown, blackening…

A flightless bird, the ostrich can run rapidly with its wings outstretched.

Ostrich

A flightless bird, the ostrich can run rapidly with its wings outstretched.

A flightless bird, the ostrich can run rapidly with its wings outstretched.

Ostrich

A flightless bird, the ostrich can run rapidly with its wings outstretched.

This south American ostrich can not fly, the wings being small; but it is a swift runner, equaling a horse in speed.

Ostrich

This south American ostrich can not fly, the wings being small; but it is a swift runner, equaling a…

A large bird, nearly ten feet high, having a long neck, stout long legs, with only two toes, and short wings, with long soft plumes, in the place of feathers. It is remarkable for its speed, and swallowing bits of metal or stone.

Ostrich

A large bird, nearly ten feet high, having a long neck, stout long legs, with only two toes, and short…

"Struthio camelus, the Ostrich or "Camel-bird" of North Africa now extends from Barbary to Arabia, and even to Mesopotamia, though no longer found, as of old, in Egypt or Central Asia...". "It is black with white wings and tail, having a flesh coloured with brownish down, and practically bare tibiae of the same hue." "The Ostrich stands about eight feet high, being the largest of existing birds." - A. H. Evans, 1900

Ostrich

"Struthio camelus, the Ostrich or "Camel-bird" of North Africa now extends from Barbary to Arabia, and…

"Dromaeognathous skull of ostrich, nat. size specimen no. 16,629, U.S. Nat Museum, by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, U.S.A. RR, rostrum, beyond which the ossified nasal septum continues in the axis of the skull to the letters "Pmx." V, the short vomer, borne upon R, uniting laterally with Mxp, the broad maxillo-palatines; Pl, palatines, remote from rostrum, underrunning beyond Mxp, but not to Pmx. Pt, expanded scroll-like pterygoids, atriculating behind with Btp, the strong basipterygoid processes on the body (not rostum) of the sphenoid; they underlap R, but do not articulate there. Pmx, premaxillaries; Mx, maxillaries, whose ends run forward to opposite the letters "Pmx"; jugal; qj, quadrato-jugal; Qu, quadrate. (N.B. This is the most exceptional case of dromaeognathism. Each of the Ratite families - Struthionidae, Rheidae, Casuariidae, Dinornithidae, and Apterygidae, - as well as the Carinate family Tinamidae, offers a special case of such formation, as explained in the text.)." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Skull Structure of an Ostrich

"Dromaeognathous skull of ostrich, nat. size specimen no. 16,629, U.S. Nat Museum, by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt,…

A picture of two birds, with a waterfall in the background.

Outdoors

A picture of two birds, with a waterfall in the background.

"Golden-crowned Wagtail Warbler. Golden-crowned Accentor. Golden-crowned Thrush. Oven-bird. Seiurus aurocapillus. Entire upper parts, including the wings and tail, uniform bright olive-green, without markings. Top of head with black lateral stripes, bounding a golden-brown or dull orange space. A white ring round eye; no white superciliary stripe. Under parts white, thickly spotted with dusky on the breast, the spots lengthening into streaks on the sides; a narrow black maxillary line; under wing-coverts tinged with yellow. Legs flesh-colored." Elliot Coues, 1884

Ovenbird

"Golden-crowned Wagtail Warbler. Golden-crowned Accentor. Golden-crowned Thrush. Oven-bird. Seiurus…

"Meroblastic ovum (yelk) of domestic fowl, bat. size, in section; after haeckel. a, the thin yelk-skin, enclosing the yellowfood-yelk, which is deposited in concentric layers, c, d; b, the cicatricle or tread with its nuclues, whence passes a cord of white yelk (here represented in black) to the central cavity, d'" Elliot Coues, 1884

Fowl Ovum

"Meroblastic ovum (yelk) of domestic fowl, bat. size, in section; after haeckel. a, the thin yelk-skin,…

"The owl is one of the soberest -looking of animals", (Hooker, 1886).

Owl

"The owl is one of the soberest -looking of animals", (Hooker, 1886).

Owl, head only.

Owl

Owl, head only.