Yes, there are several species of doves that can be found in Phoenix, Arizona. The most common species is the mourning dove, which is a year-round resident in the Phoenix area. Other dove species like the Inca dove and white-winged dove are also present but less abundant. Doves are a common sight in Phoenix neighborhoods, parks, and desert areas. Their cooing calls are a familiar sound during the day. Doves have adapted well to living in urban and suburban environments in Phoenix and other Southwestern cities. Common Species of Doves in Phoenix Mourning Dove The mourning dove is the most…
Author: Peter Knight
There are several species of birds in the UK that are known for being vocal at night. Owls are perhaps the most iconic nocturnal birds, known for their eerie hoots and screeches. But there are also other birds like woodcocks, nightjars, and snipe that are active after dark and make distinctive noises. Night birds play an important role in ecosystems by helping to control rodent and insect populations. Their calls can be mysterious and intriguing to hear in the darkness. In this article, we will explore some of the UK’s most common nocturnal birds and the sounds they make. Owls…
Quick Answer No, blue-footed boobies do not live on land. Blue-footed boobies are seabirds that live most of their lives out at sea, only coming to land to nest and breed. They nest on offshore islands and cliffs where there are no land predators. Outside of the breeding season, they are entirely pelagic. Do Blue-footed Boobies Live on Land? Blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii) are large seabirds in the Sulidae family. They are closely related to other booby species such as the masked booby, brown booby, red-footed booby, and Nazca booby. Of all the booby species, the blue-footed booby is the…
The mute swan gets its name from the fact that it does not make the loud trumpeting sounds that other swans are known for. Unlike the whooper swan and trumpeter swan, the mute swan is silent for much of its life, leading to its descriptive name. The Voice of the Mute Swan While mute swans do make some sounds, they are generally much quieter than other swan species. The most common sound made by mute swans is a soft hoarse whistle used to communicate between mates or between parents and cygnets (baby swans). The voice of the mute swan has…
The green woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker species that is found across much of Europe and parts of Asia. They are identifiable by their greenish plumage and bright yellow rump. As their name suggests, green woodpeckers spend much of their time in wooded areas, where they use their strong beaks to tap on tree trunks and dig for insects. Green woodpeckers play an important role in forest ecosystems by creating nesting cavities for other species and helping to control insect pest populations. However, due to habitat loss and other factors, green woodpecker populations have declined in parts of their range.…
Martins are a type of swallow that are found throughout North America. They are migratory birds, meaning they travel long distances between their summer breeding grounds and their wintering grounds. During the day in the summer breeding season, martins can be found busy tending to their nests and raising their young. But where exactly do they spend their days while not on the nest? Foraging for Food A major activity martins engage in during daylight hours in the summer is foraging for food. Swallows are aerial insectivores, meaning they catch and eat insects while in flight. Martins feed primarily on…
Chimney swifts are small birds that are known for their loud, high-pitched chattering sounds. These vocalizations are a key part of chimney swift behavior and serve several important purposes for the birds. Chimney swifts (Chaetura pelagica) are part of the swift family of birds found throughout North America. They get their name from their habit of nesting and roosting in old chimneys and other vertical structures. Though they resemble swallows in appearance, swifts are actually more closely related to hummingbirds. One of the most distinctive features of chimney swifts is their constant vocalizations. Swifts make a variety of chippering, twittering…
Widgeons, also known as Eurasian widgeons or just wigeons, are dabbling ducks that belong to the genus Mareca. There are three extant species of widgeons: the Eurasian widgeon (Mareca penelope), the American widgeon (Mareca americana), and the Chiloé widgeon (Mareca sibilatrix). Of these three species, the Eurasian widgeon has the largest range and is the most numerous, while the Chiloé widgeon has the smallest range and is quite rare. Overview of widgeons Widgeons are medium-sized ducks that frequent shallow wetlands and marshes. The males have distinctive plumage patterns during the breeding season, with white patches on their wings that are…
The emperor goose (Anser canagica) is a rare and distinctive goose species that breeds in Alaska and winters primarily in the Aleutian Islands. With a global population estimated at between 110,000 to 225,000 individuals, the emperor goose is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, but it faces threats from climate change, hunting, and changes to its limited breeding and wintering habitats. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the rarity of the emperor goose including its population numbers, geographic range, breeding and wintering habits, and conservation status. What is an emperor goose? The…
Hummingbirds are amazing creatures known for their ability to hover in midair and fly backwards, thanks to their unique wing structure and rapid wing-flapping. Their wings can beat up to an astonishing 200 flaps per second during forward flight. But do they really flap their wings so quickly all the time? Quick Answer The quick answer is no, hummingbirds do not flap their wings 200 times per second all the time. The average wingbeat frequency during hovering is typically around 55-80 flaps per second. During forward flight they can reach up to 200 flaps per second, but this depends on…