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Mauritius was the home of the now extinct dodo bird. The last bird was killed in 1681.

Dodo

Mauritius was the home of the now extinct dodo bird. The last bird was killed in 1681.

"Alle. Sea Dove. Size small. Bill very short, stout, and obtuse, as well as high at base, the sides of both mandibles turgid, the edge of the upper much infected; culmen very convex; rictus ample, decurved at end; gonys straight, very short, the mandibular rami correspondingly long, and widely divaricated; nasal fossae short, wide, deep, partly, patly feathered. Nostrils sub basal, more nearly circular than in any other genus excepting the next." Elliot Coues, 1884

Sea Dove Bill

"Alle. Sea Dove. Size small. Bill very short, stout, and obtuse, as well as high at base, the sides…

"Starnaenas cyanocephala. Blue-headed Quail Dove. Crown rich blue bounded by black; a white stripe under the eye, meeting its fellow on the chin; throat black, bordered with white. General color olivaceous-chocolate above, purplish-red below, lighter centrally." Elliot Coues, 1884

Blue-headed Quail Dove

"Starnaenas cyanocephala. Blue-headed Quail Dove. Crown rich blue bounded by black; a white stripe under…

"Zenaidura carolinensis. Carolina Dove. Mourning Dove. Wild Dove. Upper parts, including middle tail-feathers, grayish-blue shaded with brownish-olive, the head and neck ochrey-brown overlaid with glaucous-blue, the sides of the neck glittering with golden and ruby iridescence; a violet-black spot under the ear-coverts. Under parts glaucous-purplish, changing gradually to ochraceous on the belly and crissum, to bluish on the sides and under the wings, to whitish on the chin; the purplish tint spreading up on the sides and front of the head to blend with the glaucous-blue. Black spots on some of the scapulars and wing-coverts, most of which are colored to correspond with the back, the larger ones being rather bluish-plumbeous. Lateral tail-feathers plumbeous-bluish, crossed with a black bar, the outer four on each side broadly ended with white. Bill black; angle of mouth carmine; iris brown; bare skin around eye livid bluish; feet lake-red, drying dull yellowish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Carolina Dove

"Zenaidura carolinensis. Carolina Dove. Mourning Dove. Wild Dove. Upper parts, including middle tail-feathers,…

Columba palumbus. European Ring Dove. Wood Pigeon. Plumage is gray with a pinkish-purplish breast and white on wing and neck.

European Ring Dove

Columba palumbus. European Ring Dove. Wood Pigeon. Plumage is gray with a pinkish-purplish breast and…

An illustration of two species of doves. On the left is a crested dove and on the right hand side is a common Australian bronze-winged dove.

Doves

An illustration of two species of doves. On the left is a crested dove and on the right hand side is…

A drake and duck

Drake and Duck

A drake and duck

"Dissemurus paradiseus, the Drongo, both sexes are typically black, with metallic gloss of blue, purple, or green, though a few are greyer or browner, or have a little white below. The variable bill is usually large and more or less curved, with a hooked tip, a notched maxilla, and fairly strong rictal bristles. The bill and feet are black; eyes red, white, or brown." A. H. Evans, 1900

Drongo

"Dissemurus paradiseus, the Drongo, both sexes are typically black, with metallic gloss of blue, purple,…

The head and throat of the male duck can be emerald green with shots of violet. The female is brown and russet gray.

Duck

The head and throat of the male duck can be emerald green with shots of violet. The female is brown…

This duck is generally found in sandy, marshy land and moist meadows near the sea.

Duck

This duck is generally found in sandy, marshy land and moist meadows near the sea.

This duck is beautifully colored and resembles a mallard.

Duck

This duck is beautifully colored and resembles a mallard.

A well-known water fowl.

Duck

A well-known water fowl.

"Dafila. Pin-tail Ducks. Tail (in adult male) narrow, cuneate, when fully developed nearly as long as wing, the 2 central feathers long-exserted, linear-acute: in female and young the tail merely tapering, with acute feathers; tail-feathers 16, including the long middle pair. Bill shorter than head, longer than tarsus, nearly parallel sided, widening a little to the end, the nail small, the narrow nostrils high up in basal third of bill. Feathers of cheeks sweeping in strongly convex outline along side of upper mandible, beyond those on side of lower mandible. Wing acute, the 1st and 2d primaries subequal and longest, rest rapidly graduated. Neck unusually long and slender, and form less "stocky" than that of most ducks. Sexes and young very unlike in color, even to the wing-markings, as well as in shape of tail. Bill and feet dark. Under parts white or whitish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Pin-tail Duck Head

"Dafila. Pin-tail Ducks. Tail (in adult male) narrow, cuneate, when fully developed nearly as long as…

"Fig 27. - Bones of the right wing of a duck, Clangula islandica, A, shoulder, omos; B, elbow, ancon; C, wrist, carpus; D, end of principal finger; E, end of hand proper, metacarpus. AB, upper arm, brachium; BC, fore-arm, antibrachium; CD, whole hand or pinion, manus; composed of CE, hand proper or metacarpus, excepting d2; ED, or d2, d3, d4, fingers, digits, digiti, h, humerus; rd, radius; ul, ulna; sc, outer carpal, scapholunare or radiale; cu, inner carpal, cuneiforme or ulnare; these two composing wrist or carpus. mc, the compound hand-bone or metcarpus, composed of three metacarpal bones, bearing as many digits - the outer digit seated upon a protuberance at the head of the metacarpal, the other two situated at the end of the bone. d2, the outer or radial digit, commonly called the thumb or pollex, composed or two phalanges; d3, the middle digit, of two phalanges; d4, the inner or ulnar digit, of one phalanx d2 is the seat of the feathers of the bastard wing or alula. D to C (whole pinion), seat of the flight feathers called primaries; C to B (fore-arm), seat of the secondaries; at B and above it in direction of A, seat of tertiaries proper; below A, in direction of B, seat of scapularies (upon pteryla humeralis), often called tertiaries. The wing shown half-spread: complete extension would bring A B C D into a right line; in complete folding C goes to A, and D to B; all these motions nearly in the plane of the paper. The elbow-joint and wrist are such perfect hinges, that, in opening or closing the wing, C cannot sink below the paper, nor D fly up above the paper, as would otherwise be the effect of the pressure of the air upon the flight-feathers. Observe also rd and ul are two rods connecting B and C; the construction of their joining at B and C, and with each other, is such, that they can slide lengthwise a little upon each other. Now when the point C, revolving about B, approaches A in the arc of a circle, rd pushes on sc, while ul pulls back cu; the motion is transmitted to D, and makes this point approach B. conversely, in opening the wing, rd pulls back sc, and ul pushes on cu, making D recede from B. In other words, the angle A B C cannot be increased or diminished without similarly increasing or diminishing the angle B C D; so that no part of the wing can be opened or shut without automatically opening or shutting the rest..." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Bones of the Right Wing of a Duck

"Fig 27. - Bones of the right wing of a duck, Clangula islandica, A, shoulder, omos; B, elbow, ancon;…

"Camptolaemus labradorius. Labrador Duck. Pied Duck. Adult male: Bill black with orange at base and along edges, and grayish-blue along the ridge; iris reddish-brown; feet grayish-blue, with dusky webs and claws. Head and upper neck white, with a longitudinal black stripe on the crown and nape. Neck below ringed with black continuous with that of upper parts, then half-collared with white continuous with that of scapulars. Below, from this white, entirely black, excepting white axillars and lining of wings. Above, black, except as said; the wing-coverts and secondaries white, some of the latter margined with black; some of the long scapulars pearly-gray; primaries and their coverts and tail-feathers brownish-black. Female: Bill, eyes, and tail-feathers brownish-black. Bill, eyes, and feet as in male; several secondaries white, forming a speculum, but no white on wing-coverts or scapulars; axillars and lining of wings mostly white; inner secondaries edged with black; general color dappled brownish-gray, paler and more ashy or plumbeous on wing-coverts and inner secondaries." Elliot Coues, 1884

Labrador Duck

"Camptolaemus labradorius. Labrador Duck. Pied Duck. Adult male: Bill black with orange at base and…

Biziura lobata, (Musk Duck) of Tasmania and Australia -except the north-is brown with buff mottlings, the bill and its leathery appendage being greenish-black and the feet dusky. The smaller female has less chin lobe." A. H. Evans

Two Musk Ducks Swimming between the Tall Grass in a Lake

Biziura lobata, (Musk Duck) of Tasmania and Australia -except the north-is brown with buff mottlings,…

"Oidemia perspicillata. Surf Duck. Sea Coot. Adult male: Bill as above, singularly variegated in color, mostly white in pinkish, and orange, with a great round or squarish black spot on side near base; iris pale yellow; feet orange, with dusky webs. Plumage glossy black, duller below; no white on wings, but a triangular white patch on forehead, pointing forward, reaching to or beyond opposite eye, and another on nape, pointing downward. Young male resembles female, before the bill acquires distinctive shape and color. Female blackish, not tumid, feathers of culmen restricted, not reaching opposite nostrils; feet dark, tinged with reddish, the webs blackish. Plumage sooty-brown, below silvery-gray; side of head with much whitish, chiefly in two patches, loral and auricular; no frontal or nuchal white." Elliot Coues, 1884

Surf Duck

"Oidemia perspicillata. Surf Duck. Sea Coot. Adult male: Bill as above, singularly variegated in color,…

"Oidemia perspicillata trowbridgii. Trowbridge's Surf Duck, With the bill longer, exceeding the head, and o slightly different shape; feathers falling short of nostrils; gape 2.75; white frontal patch small, its posterior border anterior to a line between eyes, instead of reaching or passing beyond this." Elliot Coues, 1884

Trowbridge's Surf Duck

"Oidemia perspicillata trowbridgii. Trowbridge's Surf Duck, With the bill longer, exceeding the head,…

"Anus boscas. Mallard. Wild or Domestic Duck. Green-head. Bill greenish-yellow. Feet orange-red. Iris brown. Head and upper neck glossy-green, succeeded by a white ring. Breast purplish-chestnut. Lower back, rump, and tail-coverts glossy-black. Tail-feathers mostly whitish. Under parts from the breast, and scapulars, silvery-gray, finely undulated with dusky; crissum black. Speculum violet, purplish and greenish, framed in black and white tips of the greater coverts, and black terminal border. Feet and wings in the male, Bill blackish, blotched with orange, especially at base, tip and along edges. Entire body-colors with dusky-brown and tawny-brown; the tone paler and in finer pattern on the head, neck, and under parts than on the back." Elliot Coues, 1884

Wild Duck

"Anus boscas. Mallard. Wild or Domestic Duck. Green-head. Bill greenish-yellow. Feet orange-red. Iris…

These birds have webbed-feet, with heavy, oily plumage. the body is flattened, and all are fine swimmers.

Wood Duck

These birds have webbed-feet, with heavy, oily plumage. the body is flattened, and all are fine swimmers.

"Aix sponsa. Wood Duck. Summer Duck. "The Bride." Adult Male: Bill pinkish-white, with lake-red base, black ridge, tip, and under mandible; iris and edges of eyelids red; feet orange, with black claws. Upper part of the head, including crest, glistening green and purple; a narrow white line over eye from bill to occiput, and another behind eye to nape, these white lines mixing in the crest. A broad white patch on the throat, forking behind, one branch mounting head behind eye, the other passing to side of neck. Sides and front of lower neck and fore breast rich purplish-chestnut, prettily marked with several chain of angular white spots. A large white black-edged crescent of enlarged feathers in front of the wing. Under parts pure white, the sides yellowish-gray vermiculated with black and white wavy bars; the enlarged flank-feathers broadly rayed with black and white; the lining of the wings white barred with grayish-brown, of which color is the crissum. Upper parts generally lustrous with bronzy-green and purple; scapulars and inner secondaries velvet-black, glassed with purple and green; a green speculum, succeeded by white tips of the secondaries; primaries frosted on outer webs near end. Adult female: Little or no crest, but lengthened feathers on nape; no enlargement or special colorings of feathers about the wings. Bill dusky: feet yellowish-dusky. Head and neck gray, darker on crown, the chin and parts about bill and eyes white. Fore neck, breast and sides of body yellowish-brown, mottled with dark gray, the breast spotted with brown, the belly white. Upper parts dark brown with considerable gloss; wings as in the male, but the velvety-black reduced." Elliot Coues, 1884

Wood Duck

"Aix sponsa. Wood Duck. Summer Duck. "The Bride." Adult Male: Bill pinkish-white, with lake-red base,…

"Dafila acuta. Pin-tail Duck. Sprig-tail. Bill black, with grayish-blue edge of upper mandible; feet grayish-blue; claws black; iris brown. Head and neck above rich dark brown, glossed with green and purple; side of neck with a long white stripe running up from the white under parts; back of neck with a black stripe passing below into the gray color of the back; the lower fore-neck, breast, and under parts usually, white, the sides finely waved with black, the crissum black, white-bordered. Fore back finely waved with narrow bars of black and white or whitish; the scapulars and long tertiaries firmly striped lengthwise with velvety-black and silvery-gray. Lesser wing-coverts plain gray; greater tipped with reddish-buff, framing the speculum anteriorly; this is of coppery-or purplish-violet iridescence, framed posteriorly with black sub-tips and white tips of the secondaries, internally with silvery and black stripes. Tail-feathers gray, the long central ones blackish; sides and roots of tail varied with blackish and buff. It is thus a very handsome duck in full plumage, aside from the trim and clipper-like build." Elliot Coues, 1884

Pin-tail Ducks

"Dafila acuta. Pin-tail Duck. Sprig-tail. Bill black, with grayish-blue edge of upper mandible; feet…

"Cochlea, X3. a, external, b, internal, cartilaginous prism; c, membranous zone; d, saccular extremity of the cochlea, or lagena; e, vascular membrane; f, auditory nerve, its middle fascicle penetrating the internal cartilaginous prism, to reach the membranous zone by its terminal filaments; g, auditory nerve, its posterior fascicle, running to the most posterior part of the lagena; h, filament to ampulla of posterior or inferior vertical semicircular canal." Elliot Coues, 1884

Eagle Cochlea

"Cochlea, X3. a, external, b, internal, cartilaginous prism; c, membranous zone; d, saccular extremity…

"Section of the cochlea, X3. a, vestibular surface of external cartilaginous prism, extending into d, the lagena; c, section of the membranous zone; e, Huschke's process of the fenestra, which, with the margins of the cartilaginous prisms, affords attachment Treviranus; i, canals in posterior wall of the lagena, by which the nervous filaments enter its cavity." Elliot Coues, 1884

A Section of an Eagle's Cochlea

"Section of the cochlea, X3. a, vestibular surface of external cartilaginous prism, extending into d,…

"Membranous labyrinth of Haliaetus albicilla (White-tailed Eagle), X2. a,b, cochlea; b, its saccular extremity (or lagena); c, vestibule; g, its utricle; d, anterior of superior vertical semicircular canal; e, external or horizontal semicircular canal; f, posterior of inferior vertical semicircular canal; h, membranous canal leading into aqueduct of the vestibule; k, vascular membrane covering the scala vestibuli; opposite this, at i, are seen the edges of the cartilaginous prisms in the fenestra rotunda; from the edges of these cartilages proceeds the delicate membrane closing the opening of the cochlea (not shown in the fi.)" Elliot Coues, 1884

The Inner Ear of a White-tailed Eagle

"Membranous labyrinth of Haliaetus albicilla (White-tailed Eagle), X2. a,b, cochlea; b, its saccular…

"Part of the superior vertical semicircular canal, showing its ampulla (which is the dilatation of the base of any semicircular canal), nerve of ampulla, artery connective tissue of the perilymph, X3, a, that part of the vestibule (alveus) next to the ampulla; b, the idlatation of the ampulla at its vestibular opening; c, where it passes into the canal proper; d, the canal, furnished with connective of the perilymph along its concave border and sides, as appears clearly at the sections e and f; g, nerve of the ampulla; h, artery of the connective tissue, running beneath it, remote from the wall of the duct." Elliot Coues, 1884

Eagle's Ampulal

"Part of the superior vertical semicircular canal, showing its ampulla (which is the dilatation of the…

"Membranous labyrinth of Haliaetus albicilla (White-tailed Eagle), X2. a,b, cochlea; b, its saccular extremity (or lagena); c, vestibule; g, its utricle; d, anterior of superior vertical semicircular canal; e, external or horizontal semicircular canal; f, posterior of inferior vertical semicircular canal; h, membranous canal leading into aqueduct of the vestibule; k, vascular membrane covering the scala vestibuli; opposite this, at i, are seen the edges of the cartilaginous prisms in the fenestra rotunda; from the edges of these cartilages proceeds the delicate membrane closing the opening of the cochlea (not shown in the fi.)" Elliot Coues, 1884

The Inner Ear of an Eagle

"Membranous labyrinth of Haliaetus albicilla (White-tailed Eagle), X2. a,b, cochlea; b, its saccular…

"Its flight is as powerful as that of the golden eagle, and its adroitness and strength are even greater. This eagle is the chosen emblem of the United States."

Bald or White-headed Eagle (Haliaetus Leucocephalus)

"Its flight is as powerful as that of the golden eagle, and its adroitness and strength are even greater.…

"Haliaetus leucocephalus. White-headed Sea Eagle. "Bald Eagle." "Bird of Washington". Adult: Dark brown; quills black; head and tail white; bill, eyes, and feet yellow. Three years are required for the perfection of the white head tail of the "bald" eagle. The first year, the young are "black" eagle; very dark colored, with fleecy white bases of the feathers showing here and there; bill black; iris brown feet yellow. The next year, they are "gray" eagles, and usually larger than the old birds, the largest known specimens being of this kind." Elliot Coues, 1884

Bald Eagle

"Haliaetus leucocephalus. White-headed Sea Eagle. "Bald Eagle." "Bird of Washington". Adult: Dark brown;…

"Fig. 6- scissors, knives, and forceps, 1/2 natural size." Elliot Coues, 1884 These items may be used to seize and draw out a membrane or embryo from the egg.

Scissors, Knives, and Forceps Used for Egg Blowing

"Fig. 6- scissors, knives, and forceps, 1/2 natural size." Elliot Coues, 1884 These items may be used…

"Figure 7-hooks for extracting embryos, natural size; a,b,c, plain hooks; d, bill-hook, having cutting edge along the concavity." Elliot Coues, 1884

Hooks Used in the Process of Egg Blowing for the Purpose of Extracting Embryos

"Figure 7-hooks for extracting embryos, natural size; a,b,c, plain hooks; d, bill-hook, having cutting…

"Figure 5-Instruments for blowing eggs; a,b, blow-pipes, 1/2 natural size; c, wire for cleansing them; d, syringe, 1/2 natural size (the ring of the handle must be large enough to insert the thumb); e, bulbous insufflator, for sucking eggs." Elliot Coues, 1884

Several Special Instruments Used in the Process of Egg Blowing

"Figure 5-Instruments for blowing eggs; a,b, blow-pipes, 1/2 natural size; c, wire for cleansing them;…

"Figure 4 - egg-drills, different sizes. Steel implements with a sharp-pointed conical head of rasping surface, and a slender shaft; several such, of different sizes, are needed" Elliot Coues, 1884

Egg Drills are Special Tools Used for Preparing and Blowing Eggs

"Figure 4 - egg-drills, different sizes. Steel implements with a sharp-pointed conical head of rasping…

A man is gathering Murre's eggs from their nesting cliff. Birds lay single eggs and eggs are elongated and cone shaped.

Murre's Eggs

A man is gathering Murre's eggs from their nesting cliff. Birds lay single eggs and eggs are elongated…

"Herodias. Great Egret Heron. Character of Ardea proper, excepting in plumage; color white; no crest; a long depending train of still-shafted loose-webbed scapular feathers in the breeding season. Size large, only exceeded by the species of Ardea." Elliot Coues, 1884

European Great White Egret

"Herodias. Great Egret Heron. Character of Ardea proper, excepting in plumage; color white; no crest;…

"Garzetta. Small Egret Herons. Color white; and occipital crest, and short recurved train of stiff-shafted loose-webbed feathers in the breeding season; lower neck-feathers lengthened, depending.

European Little White Egret

"Garzetta. Small Egret Herons. Color white; and occipital crest, and short recurved train of stiff-shafted…

"Egyptian noble hunting waterfowl on the Nile with the "throwstick' (a boomerang). The birds rise from a group of papyrus reeds, -- Egyptian relief; after Maspero." -West 1904

Egyptian Noble Hunting Waterfowl

"Egyptian noble hunting waterfowl on the Nile with the "throwstick' (a boomerang). The birds rise from…

"Somateri mollissima. Somateri dresseri. Common Eider. Bill gibbous at base of upper mandible; outline of culmen variously curved; with long, acute or clubbed, tumid process extending in line with culmen variously curved; with long, acute or clubbed tumid process extending in line with culmen on each side of forehead, divided by extension of feathers on culmen. feathers of side of bill advancing to about under nostrils, far beyond those on culmen. No speculum. Male no black marks on chin. (mollissima - Frontal processes short, narrow, acute, parallel. Smaller.). (dresseri - Frontal processes long, broad, clubbed, divergent. Larger.)." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Bill of an Eider

"Somateri mollissima. Somateri dresseri. Common Eider. Bill gibbous at base of upper mandible; outline…

"Somateria mollissima. European Eider Duck. Bill with lateral frontal process extending on each side of the forehead, between the short pointed extension of the feathers on the culmen and the much greater extension of those on the sides of the bill, which reach to below the nostril, about opposite those on the chin. The general upper outline of the bill nearly straight, and the frontal processes narrow, acute, and nearly parallel. Adult male: Plumage almost entirely black and white. Top of head glossy blue-black, including eyes, and forking behind to receive the white of the hind-head. Occiput more or less washed with sea-green. Neck all around, fore breast, most of the back, most of the wing-coverts above and below, the curly tertials, and sides of rump, white, on the breast tinged with pale creamy-brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Eider Ducks

"Somateria mollissima. European Eider Duck. Bill with lateral frontal process extending on each side…

"Somateria fischeri. Spectacled Eider. Bill (in both sexes) peculiar in the extension upon it of dense velvety feathers which reach to a point on the culmen beyond the nostrils, thence sweeping past the nostrils obliquely downward and backward to the commissure, the nostrils opening just beneath the line of feathers. Feathers of chin extending in a point nearly as far as those on culmen. A peculiarly dense and puffy patch of velvety feathers about the eye, suggesting spectacles; frontal feathers erect, pious, in the male somewhat stiffened; occipital feathers lengthened into a crest; these characters of the head-feathering best marked in the male, but indicated also in the female. Nail of bill distinct. Adult male: General color grayish-black, the neck and most of the back white; lesser and median wing-coverts, the curved tertials, the lining of the wings and axillars, white; flanks white. On the head, the white of the neck gives way to rich sea-green, especially on the occipital crest; the frontal feathers are also tinged with greenish; but the 'spectacles' are pure silvery white, framed in black. Bill, in the dried state, dingy yellowish; feet the same, with dusky webs." Elliot Coues, 1884

Spectacled Eider

"Somateria fischeri. Spectacled Eider. Bill (in both sexes) peculiar in the extension upon it of dense…

"Fig. 28. - Mechanism of elbow-joint. ..., where rc and uc show respectively the size, shape, and position of the radial condyle and ulnar condyle of the humerus. It is evident that in the flexed state of the elbow, as shown in the middle figure, the radius, rd, is do pushed upon that its end projects beyond ul, the ulna; while in the opposite condition of extension, shown in the lower figure, rd is pulled back to a corresponding extent." Elliot Coues, 1884

Mechanism of the Elbow-Joint

"Fig. 28. - Mechanism of elbow-joint. ..., where rc and uc show respectively the size, shape, and position…

An Emeu "Dromaeus novae-hollandiae, of the interior Eastern Australia, which extended in times past to Tasmania and the islands in Bass's Straits, is blackish grey, with black tips to the plumage." - A. H. Evans, 1900

Emeu

An Emeu "Dromaeus novae-hollandiae, of the interior Eastern Australia, which extended in times past…

The Emu, a native of Australia, is nearly as large as the Ostrich, but has shorter legs and neck and a thicker body. The wings are rudimentary and hidden beneath feathers of the body. It cannot fly but runs quickly.

Emu

The Emu, a native of Australia, is nearly as large as the Ostrich, but has shorter legs and neck and…

The Emu, a native of Australia, is nearly as large as the Ostrich, but has shorter legs and neck and a thicker body. The wings are rudimentary and hidden beneath feathers of the body. It cannot fly but runs quickly.

Emu

The Emu, a native of Australia, is nearly as large as the Ostrich, but has shorter legs and neck and…

Scene from "The Skylark's Spurs."

Fairy and Skylark

Scene from "The Skylark's Spurs."

Falcons are a group of birds of prey that vary in size from the falconet to the gyrefalcon. They can fly at 200 mph in order to catch their prey.

Falcon

Falcons are a group of birds of prey that vary in size from the falconet to the gyrefalcon. They can…

"Falco mexicanus. American Lanner Falcon. Prairie Flacon. A medium-sized species, distinguished from any gyrfalcon by the smaller size, different feathering of the tarsus etc., from the duck hawk by the general much lighter color, which is dull brownish above instead of dark slate, etc. Adult: Upper parts brownish-drab, each feather with a paler border of brown, grayish, or whitish; the top of the head more uniform, the occiput and nape showing more whitish. Under parts white, everywhere excepting on the throat marked with firm spots of dark brown, most linear on the breast, then more broadly oval on the belly, enlarging and tending to merge into bars on the flanks, very sparse or obsolete on the crissum, on the maxiliary region forming a broad firm moustache; these marking corresponding with the ground color of the upper parts. Primaries ashy-brown, with narrow but firm pale edging of outer webs and ends, the inner webs regularly marked with white in form of barred indents or circumscribed spots, most numerous and regular on the outer primaries; the white tinged with fulvous, next to the shafts; the outer web of the first primary either plain, or with whitish indents as in F. lanarius; outer webs of secondaries more or less marked with fulvous; axillars plain dark brown; lining of wings otherwise white, spotted with dark brown. Tail pale brownish-gray, nearly uniform, but with white tip, and more or less distinct barring or indenting with whitish, especially on the lateral feathers, producing a pattern not unlike that of the primaries. Bill mostly dark bluish horn-color, but its base, and much of under mandible, yellow; feet yellow." Elliot Coues, 1884

Prairie Falcon Head

"Falco mexicanus. American Lanner Falcon. Prairie Flacon. A medium-sized species, distinguished from…

"The falcons, it may be said, realize the ideal of a bird of prey. They feed only on living animals, birds or small mammals. They always hunt on the wing."

Red-Necked Falcon, or Turumdi (Falco Chiquera)

"The falcons, it may be said, realize the ideal of a bird of prey. They feed only on living animals,…

"Falcons. Bill furnished with a sharp tooth and notch near the end of the cutting edge of the upper mandible (sometimes two such teeth), and the end of under mandible truncated, with notch near the tip. Nostrils circular, high in the cere, with a prominent central tubercle. Inter-nasal septum extensively ossified. Palate with a median keel anteriorly. Superciliary shied prominent, in one large piece. Shoulder-joint strengthened by union of scapular process of the coracoid with the clavicle as in Micrastur, Herpetothers, and the Polyborinae alone of Flaconidae. Wings strong, long, and pointed, with rigid and usually straight and tapering flight-feathers; the tip formed by the 2d and 3d quills, supported nearly to their ends by the 1st and the 4th, both of which are longer then the 5th; only one or two outer primaries emarginate on inner webs near the end. Tail short and stiff, with more or less tapering rectrices. Feet strong, rather short, the tarsus of less length than the tibia, feathered more or less extensively, elsewhere irregularly reculate in small pattern varying with the genera or subgenera; never scutellate in single series before or behind. Middle toe very long; talons very short." Elliot Coues, 1884

Falcons

"Falcons. Bill furnished with a sharp tooth and notch near the end of the cutting edge of the upper…

"Falco mexicanus. American Lanner Falcon. Prairie Flacon. A medium-sized species, distinguished from any gyrfalcon by the smaller size, different feathering of the tarsus etc., from the duck hawk by the general much lighter color, which is dull brownish above instead of dark slate, etc. Adult: Upper parts brownish-drab, each feather with a paler border of brown, grayish, or whitish; the top of the head more uniform, the occiput and nape showing more whitish. Under parts white, everywhere excepting on the throat marked with firm spots of dark brown, most linear on the breast, then more broadly oval on the belly, enlarging and tending to merge into bars on the flanks, very sparse or obsolete on the crissum, on the maxiliary region forming a broad firm moustache; these marking corresponding with the ground color of the upper parts. Primaries ashy-brown, with narrow but firm pale edging of outer webs and ends, the inner webs regularly marked with white in form of barred indents or circumscribed spots, most numerous and regular on the outer primaries; the white tinged with fulvous, next to the shafts; the outer web of the first primary either plain, or with whitish indents as in F. lanarius; outer webs of secondaries more or less marked with fulvous; axillars plain dark brown; lining of wings otherwise white, spotted with dark brown. Tail pale brownish-gray, nearly uniform, but with white tip, and more or less distinct barring or indenting with whitish, especially on the lateral feathers, producing a pattern not unlike that of the primaries. Bill mostly dark bluish horn-color, but its base, and much of under mandible, yellow; feet yellow." Elliot Coues, 1884

Two Lanner Falcon

"Falco mexicanus. American Lanner Falcon. Prairie Flacon. A medium-sized species, distinguished from…

"Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. Duck Hawk. Great-footed Hawk. A medium-sized falcon, about as large as the foregoing, but known at a glance from any bird of N. Am. by the slaty-plumbeous or dark bluish-ash of the upper parts, the black "moustache," and other marks, taken with its particular size and shape. Wings stiff, long, thin, pointed by the 2d quill, supported nearly to its tip by 1st and 3d; 1st quill alone abruptly emarginate on inner web, this about 2 inches from its tip; none cut on outer webs. Tomium of upper mandible strongly toothed, of under mandible deeply notched. Tarsus feathered but a little way down in front, otherwise entirely reticulate; toes very long, giving great grasp to the talons. Adult: Above rich dark bluish-ash or slate-color, very variable, sometimes quite slaty-blackish, again much lighter bluish-slate; the tint pretty uniform, whatever it may be, over all the upper parts, but all the feathers with somewhat paler edges, and the larger ones for the most part obscurely barred with lighter and darker hues. Under parts at large varying from nearly pure white to a peculiar muddy buff color of different degrees of intensity; the throat and breast usually free from markings (or only with a few sharp shaft pencillings), and this white or light color mounting on the auriculars, so that it partly isolates a blackish moustache from the blackish of the side of the head; the under parts, except as said, and including the under wing- and tail-coverts closely and regularly barred, or less closely and more irregularly spotted, with blackish; the bars best pronounced on the flanks, tibiae, and crissum, other parts tending to spotting, which may extend forward to invade the breast (this is the rule in European birds, the exception, though not a rare one, in American birds). Tail and its upper coverts regularly and closely barred with blackish and ashy-gray, the interspacing best marked on the inner webs, and all the feathers narrowly tipped with white or whitish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Two Peregrine Falcons

"Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. Duck Hawk. Great-footed Hawk. A medium-sized falcon, about as large…

"Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. Duck Hawk. Great-footed Hawk. A medium-sized falcon, about as large as the foregoing, but known at a glance from any bird of N. Am. by the slaty-plumbeous or dark bluish-ash of the upper parts, the black "moustache," and other marks, taken with its particular size and shape. Wings stiff, long, thin, pointed by the 2d quill, supported nearly to its tip by 1st and 3d; 1st quill alone abruptly emarginate on inner web, this about 2 inches from its tip; none cut on outer webs. Tomium of upper mandible strongly toothed, of under mandible deeply notched. Tarsus feathered but a little way down in front, otherwise entirely reticulate; toes very long, giving great grasp to the talons. Adult: Above rich dark bluish-ash or slate-color, very variable, sometimes quite slaty-blackish, again much lighter bluish-slate; the tint pretty uniform, whatever it may be, over all the upper parts, but all the feathers with somewhat paler edges, and the larger ones for the most part obscurely barred with lighter and darker hues. Under parts at large varying from nearly pure white to a peculiar muddy buff color of different degrees of intensity; the throat and breast usually free from markings (or only with a few sharp shaft pencillings), and this white or light color mounting on the auriculars, so that it partly isolates a blackish moustache from the blackish of the side of the head; the under parts, except as said, and including the under wing- and tail-coverts closely and regularly barred, or less closely and more irregularly spotted, with blackish; the bars best pronounced on the flanks, tibiae, and crissum, other parts tending to spotting, which may extend forward to invade the breast (this is the rule in European birds, the exception, though not a rare one, in American birds). Tail and its upper coverts regularly and closely barred with blackish and ashy-gray, the interspacing best marked on the inner webs, and all the feathers narrowly tipped with white or whitish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Peregrine Falcon Small

"Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. Duck Hawk. Great-footed Hawk. A medium-sized falcon, about as large…

Farm animals from a nursery rhyme

Farm Animals

Farm animals from a nursery rhyme

"Fig. - 20 - Two barbs, a, a, of a vane, bearing anterior, b, b, and posterior, c, barbules; enlarged; after Nitzsch." Elliot Coues, 1884

Structure of a Feather

"Fig. - 20 - Two barbs, a, a, of a vane, bearing anterior, b, b, and posterior, c, barbules; enlarged;…

"Carpodacus. Purple Bullfinch. Bill smaller and less turgid than in Pinicol or Pyrrhula, more regularly conic and more acute; sides convex in all directions, but with distinct ridge prolonged in a point on forehead where not concealed by the antiae, its outline moderately curved; commissure decidedly angulated, about straight before and behind the bend; gonys quite straight. Nasal ruff little developed, barely cocealing the slight nasal fossae, thence falling over sides of bill, but discontinuous across culmen." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Bill of a Purple Finch

"Carpodacus. Purple Bullfinch. Bill smaller and less turgid than in Pinicol or Pyrrhula, more regularly…

"Leucosticte griseinucha. Brandt's Rosy Finch. Like the littoral variety of tephrocotis, in having the ashy extending over the sides of the head; this color settled in a definite hood, said to never invade the chin. The resident form of the N.W. coast and islands, from Kadiak W. and N." Elliot Coues, 1884

Brandt's Rosy Finch

"Leucosticte griseinucha. Brandt's Rosy Finch. Like the littoral variety of tephrocotis, in having the…

A well known English bird, known as the coal-hood, the hoop, or the tony hoop, the alp, and the hope.

Bull Finch

A well known English bird, known as the coal-hood, the hoop, or the tony hoop, the alp, and the hope.

"Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch (better Crimson Finch). Rose-red, paler below, insensibly whitening on belly and crissum, brightest anteriorly, intensified to crimson on crown, darker and more brownish-red on back, where also streaked with brown. Wings and tail dusky, the quills edged and coverts tipped with browninsh-red. Lores and feathers about base of bill hoary-whitish. Bill and feet brown, the under mandible rather paler." Elliot Coues, 1884

Purple Finch

"Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch (better Crimson Finch). Rose-red, paler below, insensibly whitening…

"Ammodramus maritimus. Seaside Finch. Olive-gray, obscurely streaked on back and crown with darker and paler; below, whitish, often washed with brownish, shaded on sides with color of back, and with ill-defined dark streaks on breast and sides; maxillary stripes on the same; wings and tail plain dusky, with slight olivaceous edgings; wing-coverts and inner quills somewhat margined with brown; edge of wing bright yellow; a bright yellow spot on lore, and often often some vague brownish and dusky markings on side of head; bill plumbeous, or dark horn-blue; feet dark." Elliot Coues, 1884

Seaside Finch

"Ammodramus maritimus. Seaside Finch. Olive-gray, obscurely streaked on back and crown with darker and…

"Leucosticte tephrocotis. Swainson's Rosy Finch. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. Sexes similar. Adult in breeding plumage or nearly so: Bill and feet black. Nasal plumules white. Frontlet black; rest of pileum hoary-ash, not descending below level of eyes and upper border of auriculars (for when the ash invades the sides of head to any extent, the bird takes the first step toward litoralis, in which the head is extensively hooded in ash). General color, sides of head included, chocolate or liver-brown of varying intensity, many feathers skirted with gray or whitish, especially the interscapulars, which also have dusky centres, and inclining to blackish on chin and throat. Hinder parts of the body above and below, including tail-coverts, rich rosy or carmine red, this color due to broad edgings of the dusky feathers of these parts. Wings and tail blackish, the wing-coverts and primaries edged with rosy, showing nearly continuous in the closed wing; edgings of inner secondaries rosy-white or white." Elliot Coues, 1884

Swainson's Rosy Finch

"Leucosticte tephrocotis. Swainson's Rosy Finch. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. Sexes similar. Adult in breeding…