There are a few potential reasons why your bird may be losing feathers, which is known as feather plucking or picking. The most common causes include stress, poor diet, medical issues like skin infections, and boredom. By understanding the underlying issue, you can take steps to help your bird regrow healthy feathers. Common Causes of Feather Loss in Birds Here are some of the most frequent explanations for feather plucking and loss in pet birds: Stress – Birds may pick out their feathers when they feel anxious, frightened or insecure in their environment. Stress can be caused by a new…
Author: Alan Hernbroth
Southern California is home to a diverse array of scavengers that play an important role in the local ecosystem. Scavengers are animals that feed on dead plant or animal matter, known as carrion. By consuming and breaking down organic waste, scavengers help recycle nutrients back into the environment. Some of the most notable scavenger species found in Southern California are vultures, coyotes, rats, flies, beetles, and crabs. Vultures Vultures are probably the most iconic scavenger species in Southern California. Two species found in the region are the turkey vulture and the California condor. Turkey vultures are the most common type…
The Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) is a large, conspicuous blackbird found in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Its scientific name comes from Latin: Quiscalus meaning “quiscal bird” and mexicanus meaning “Mexican”. This grackle gets its common name from its extremely long, keel-shaped tail. The Great-tailed Grackle is well-known for its adaptability and tendency to thrive around humans. But exactly where is the natural range and habitat of this opportunistic bird? Natural Range The Great-tailed Grackle naturally occurs across a wide swath of the Americas. Its breeding range extends from the west coast of California…
The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is considered an invasive species in Ohio and throughout much of North America. Native to Europe, Asia and North Africa, starlings were introduced to New York City’s Central Park in the 1890s and have since spread across the continent, competing with native bird species for food and nesting sites. What is the status of starlings in Ohio? Starlings are now extremely common and widespread across Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), starlings are “one of Ohio’s most common birds” and the state’s population likely numbers in the millions. The large and…
Turkeys are large birds that are native to North America. There are two species of wild turkey – the Eastern Wild Turkey and the Rio Grande Wild Turkey. Wild turkeys inhabited a large range that spanned across the continent before the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. Today, wild turkeys have a more limited range within North America due to hunting and habitat loss. However, they remain an important game bird and have been widely reintroduced to areas where they were previously extirpated. Original Range of Wild Turkeys in North America Prior to European colonization of North America, wild turkeys…
No, buzzards and vultures are not the same bird. While they may look similar and fill similar ecological niches, buzzards and vultures belong to different taxonomic families. Buzzards are members of the Accipitridae family while vultures belong to the Cathartidae family. However, there is some confusion between the terms because in North America, the bird known as a “turkey vulture” is actually a type of buzzard. But turkey vultures aside, true buzzards and true vultures have distinct differences when it comes to their physical characteristics, geographic ranges, diets, and behaviors. Key Differences Between Buzzards and Vultures Here is a quick…
Zebra finches are small, energetic songbirds that originally come from Australia. They are popular as pets because they are relatively easy to care for and breed. Here are some key things to know about zebra finches: Appearance Zebra finches get their name from the black and white stripes on the males. Females lack this striking pattern and have more subdued gray and brown plumage. These small birds grow to about 4-6 inches in length. Their tails are short and their beaks are orange. Temperament These birds are very social and active. They travel together in large flocks of up to…
Blue jays and Steller’s jays are two species of jays found in North America. Both are intelligent, vocal birds in the Corvidae family, which includes crows, ravens, and magpies. However, there are some key differences between these two jay species when it comes to their appearance, habitat, behavior, diet, and more. Appearance The most noticeable difference between blue jays and Steller’s jays is their plumage. Blue jays have bright blue upperparts, a white underside, and black markings on their wings and tail. The blue color comes from light refracting through their feathers. Male and female blue jays have identical plumage.…
There are several bird species that are known to nest in large colonies along sea cliffs and rock faces. Based on the question, we can infer that the bird in question likely breeds in dense aggregations on coastal cliffs rather than in trees or on the ground. With this in mind, the most likely candidates are seabirds from the families Sulidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Laridae, Alcidae, and Procellariidae. To definitively answer the question, we need to examine which seabirds from these families form the largest cliffside colonies. Sulidae The Sulidae family contains gannets and boobies. There are six species of gannets and…
The burrowing owl is a small, long-legged owl found throughout Florida. They get their name because they nest and roost in burrows in the ground. Burrowing owls were once common throughout Florida but have experienced significant population declines in recent decades. Though they can still be found statewide, some areas of Florida host larger populations of burrowing owls than others. Why do burrowing owls live in Florida? There are several reasons why burrowing owls thrive in Florida: The sandy, well-drained soils found across much of the state allow the owls to easily dig burrows. The mild winters and warm weather…