Hummingbirds are delightful little birds that add beauty and wonder to any environment. Their tiny size and incredible flying skills make them a joy to watch. Many people put up hummingbird feeders in their yards or gardens to attract these special birds. However, attracting hummingbirds also means attracting ants. Ants love the sweet nectar in hummingbird feeders and will invade them given the chance. This can frighten away hummingbirds and prevent them from feeding. An AntGuard is a simple device that allows hummingbirds to access a feeder while keeping ants out. Making an effective AntGuard is easy with some basic…
Author: Alan Hernbroth
Birds are a diverse group of vertebrates that are characterized by features such as feathers, toothless beaked jaws, laying hard-shelled eggs, and having high metabolic rates. There are over 10,000 recognized living species of birds worldwide, making them the most varied class of tetrapods. Birds inhabit all continents and all major land masses across the world. Birds show enormous diversity in their morphology, physiology, behavior, ecology, and life histories. Ornithologists, or scientists who study birds, traditionally group birds into three major classifications based on key anatomical and physiological traits. These three major groups are: Non-passerines Non-passerines are birds that are…
Orioles are brightly colored songbirds found in many parts of North America. They are striking birds with contrasting colors of orange, black, white, and sometimes yellow. This leads to some confusion over whether these birds should be described as orange or yellow. In this article, we will examine the plumage of different oriole species and subspecies to help determine whether “orange” or “yellow” is the more accurate term for these birds’ vibrant feathers. What are orioles? Orioles belong to the genus Icterus in the bird family Icteridae. There are about 30 recognized species of orioles found in the Americas. Some…
Semipalmated Plovers are small shorebirds that breed in the Arctic tundra and winter along coastlines from the southern United States to northern South America. Their diet consists primarily of small invertebrates that live on sandy beaches and mudflats. What do Semipalmated Plovers eat? Semipalmated Plovers are opportunistic feeders that eat a variety of small invertebrates. Their main prey items include: Insects: flies, beetles, moths, butterflies, mayflies, grasshoppers, crickets Worms: polychaete worms, nematodes, nemerteans Mollusks: snails, limpets, mussels Crustaceans: sand fleas, amphipods, shrimp, isopods, crab larvae Other invertebrates: spiders, millipedes, marine worms They usually feed by picking invertebrates off the mud…
The gray hawk is a medium-sized raptor found in open and semi-open regions of the Americas. Determining the size of gray hawks allows us to understand their feeding habits, habitat requirements, and how they fit into ecosystems. In this article, we will look at the key size parameters of gray hawks including their wingspan, body length, weight, and foot size. We’ll examine how their size compares to related hawk species and what their size tells us about how they hunt and live. Read on to learn all about the impressive dimensions of these powerful birds of prey. Wingspan The wingspan…
Dovekies, also known as little auks, are small seabirds that breed in the Arctic and subarctic regions. During the breeding season, Dovekies are found in colonies in northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, and the northern islands of Russia. In the winter, they migrate south to open waters across the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Breeding Range Dovekies breed in colonies on rocky cliffs and slopes along coastlines and islands in the high Arctic. Their breeding range extends from northern Baffin Island, Devon Island, and Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic, across Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, and the northern islands of the…
Bird scarers are devices used by farmers, airport managers, and property owners to scare away nuisance birds that can cause damage to crops, airplanes, or infrastructure. Flying bird scarers are a popular type of bird scarer that takes to the air to deter birds from an area. They work by mimicking predatory birds or emitting sounds, lights, or movements that frighten pest bird species away. With many options on the market, it can be difficult to determine the best flying bird scarer for your needs. This article will compare the top products and highlight the factors to consider when choosing…
Ostriches are large, flightless birds that are found in Africa. They are the largest living birds in the world and can grow up to 9 feet tall and weigh over 300 pounds. Ostriches have long legs, long necks, and compact bodies with large wings that are used mainly for balance and courtship displays. Their diet consists mainly of plants, though they may also eat insects or small animals. Some key facts about ostriches include: Ostriches are ratites, a group of flightless birds that also includes emus, rheas, cassowaries, and kiwis. They are the fastest running birds, capable of sprinting up…
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) is a very small songbird, measuring only 4-5 inches in length and weighing 5-10 grams. This tiny bird can be identified by several key characteristics: Appearance The Ruby-crowned Kinglet has olive-green plumage on its upperparts and white underparts. As the name suggests, adult males have a distinctive reddish-orange crown patch on the top of their heads. This bright crest is usually concealed, but males will raise it when excited or aggressive. Females lack the colored crown patch. Both sexes have two white wing bars visible during flight. Their eyes are black and they have a…
Yes, cinnamon teal can be found in Texas during certain times of the year. The cinnamon teal is a small dabbling duck that breeds in the western United States and Canada. During the summer breeding season, cinnamon teal are found primarily in the northwestern part of Texas in the Panhandle region. However, cinnamon teal will migrate through much of the state in the spring and fall as they move between their summer breeding grounds and wintering areas farther south. Where are cinnamon teal found in Texas? During the spring and summer breeding season, cinnamon teal are most commonly found in…