P O C K E T BIRDS O F N O R T H A M E R I C A W E S T E R N R E G I O N CONSULTANT EDITORS STEPHEN KRESS, ELISSA WOLFSON US_001_Half_Title_Western.indd 1 25/08/16 11:57 am Consultant Editors Stephen Kress, Elissa Wolfson AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Consultant Jill Hamilton Global Business Development Sharon Stulberg, Elizabeth Hormann, Joanna Livingstone DK LONDON Senior Art Editor Project Editor Ina Stradins Miezan van Zyl Managing Art Editor US Editor Michael Duffy Jill Hamilton Jacket Design US Senior Editor Development Manager Shannon Beatty Sophia MTT Managing Editor Senior Jacket Designer Angeles Gavira Guerrero Mark Cavanagh Jacket Editor Pre-production Producer Claire Gell David Almond Associate Publishing Director Producer Liz Wheeler Mary Slater Publishing Director Art Director Jonathan Metcalf Karen Self DK DELHI Senior Art Editor Senior Editor Mahua Sharma Dharini Ganesh Art Editors Editors Simar Dhamija, Jomin Johny, Tina Jindal, Nisha Shaw Vaishali Kalra, Shanker Prasad Senior Editorial Manager Deputy Managing Art Editor Rohan Sinha Anjana Nair Managing Jackets Editor Jacket Designers Saloni Singh Suhita Dharamjit, Juhi Sheth, Pre-Production Manager Ira Sharma Balwant Singh DTP Designer Production Manager Anita Yadav Pankaj Sharma Senior DTP Designers Harish Aggarwal, Sachin Singh Content previously published in Birds of North America in 2016. This edition published in 2017 in the United States by DK Publishing 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 Copyright © 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017 Dorling Kindersley Limited DK, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC 17 18 19 20 21 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 001—299744—January 2017 All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited. A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN 978-1-4654-5630-4 DK books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use. For details, contact: DK Publishing Special Markets, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 [email protected] Printed in China A WORLD OF IDEAS: SEE ALL THERE IS TO KNOW www.dk.com US_002-003_Imprints_Contents_Western.indd 2 25/08/16 11:58 am CONTENTS How this book works 4 Swifts, Hummingbirds 153 Anatomy 6 Kingfishers, Identification 8 Woodpeckers 161 Falcons and Caracaras 175 Ducks, Geese, Flycatchers 180 and Swans 12 Vireos, Jays and Crows 188 Quails, Grouse, Pheasants, and Turkeys 33 Chickadees and Titmice, Swallows 197 Loons, Grebes 47 Nuthatches, Wrens 208 Tubenoses 54 Thrushes, Thrashers, Frigatebirds, Gannets, Pipits 219 Cormorants, and Anhingas 58 Pelicans, Ibises, Longspurs and Herons, and Egrets 61 Snow Buntings, Wood Warblers 234 Vultures, Hawks, and Eagles 70 American Sparrows, Cardinals and Relatives 247 Rails, Cranes 80 Blackbirds and Orioles 268 Plovers, Sandpipers, and Auks 87 Finches, Old World Sparrows 276 Gulls and Terns 119 Pigeons and Doves, Cuckoos 134 Index 286 Owls, Nightjars 141 Acknowledgments 295 GREEN HERON KING EIDER ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent exhibition halls, including the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. The Museum’s five active research divisions and three cross-disciplinary centers support approximately 200 scientists, whose work draws on a world-class permanent collection of more than 33 million specimens and artifacts, as well as specialized collections for frozen tissue and genomic and astrophysical data, and one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Annual attendance has grown to approximately 5 million, and the Museum’s exhibitions and Space Shows can be seen in venues on five continents. The Museum’s website and collection of apps for mobile devices extend its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to millions more beyond its walls. Visit amnh.org for more information. US_002-003_Imprints_Contents_Western.indd 3 26/08/16 4:29 pm 4 introduction How this book works This guide covers 428 North American bird species found in the Western region of the continent. It is organized into chapters of related birds, with a group introduction preceding the species profiles. Within each chapter, the birds are arranged broadly by family and genus, so that related species appear together for ease of comparison. The main index lists the common and scientific names of each featured bird. INTRODUCTION COMMON NAME Each chapter opens with an vultures, hawks, and eagles 73 introductory page, briefly Bald Eagle describing each family’s S shared characteristics. SCIENTIFIC NAME Haliaeetus leucocephalus The Bald Eagle, although an opportunist, prefers to scavenge whehaidte on carrion and steal prey from other birds, including Ospreys. Ducks, Geese, and DESCRIPTION The use of DDT causing reproductive failure, as well as Swans Conveys the main features and bounties, led to it being declared endangered in 1967. Now brown Gghrieagezhsileny ga s rooenc mi adolr,ry ae nl taednr mdre. soLtsritki aselp stewhcaaiennss ea, irgteeh meesrei gs pwraaatinor rsfo yo,r r fl ldiyfuein.c Tkghs s,oe oyuf ttaherne f oasrles eon espsseecnietsia; lm chaya riancctleurdiset iicnst eorfe tshtien g fersepqeuceianltlyin ogn l aEnadstf ialln sdit Wes,e sitts C nouamstbs.e rs have since rebounded, wtahilite body toabh onsewt lt Swaoawnnmiand sn,t,t esstrur hea tbierncmeyh leaeeasrsrrseg gei tieenns xf tglltiooar uencllpmkgy s t nel.oale yrhcg gkaerl ,tfa ol cio ternsef ubga-locn hoden ywc kawaesta deittr eg dpre.ol eWaesnseh .ts sUeo na.nt f gteaheiedn ilny g , facts or notable behaviors. yheololokwed bill dbovaroerkwra nll 3 gearot uDppluaecndkt ssb yaarn tehd m eoiotrh rfeee erv deaidrniiegbd lhe ta hmbaiantts t.se wDr aalinbkbse l osenrr sga,ie loesrs b epy,u audnpddel ena rddeui nlcogko sos,ne l y pwuitrhe -ywehlloitwe h eeyaeds the surface of shallow water. Diving ducks, by contrast, dive dark bill deep underwater for their food. starting to turn GGnonoAri eGwsgyGai nLfrliItoNoecurGk sf se GS edEnduEoiSrnwiEgn Ggg remoeusigenr dfaostr.imon l aanrgde , PIllHustOraTteO thGe bRirAd PinH dSiff erent views, sexes, dbarorkw cnh oovceorlaaltle- 51ST YEAR yaet lbloawse or plumage variations. Unless otherwise VOICE Surprisingly high-pitched voice, stated, the bird shown is an adult. 3–4 notes followed by a rapidly descending series. NESTING Huge stick nest, usually in tallest 3 tFrEeEeD; 1IN–3G e gCgasr;r i1o nb,r oeospde; cMiaallry– Sfieshp;. birds, lwoendgg, e- mHAamBImTAaTls ; Fsoteraelsst efids ha rferoams nOesapr rweya.ter while shaped breeding; along major rivers and coastal 2WSt7ur0nee llsba ltnaeecglkrebcntiar dMs aenda odrioolweslark S white tail yaenldlo fwee ltegs aLWrEeINNaGsG TinSHP wA i2nN8t e –r63. 18⁄2ifnt ((27m1–)96cm) Aesttnmehtaolenetsetrhtad iGeadloerevornun.ae wgcT iaclyhhltaoa bBteutro hklanle assest, iri eonmrngrave,gpn ae a nackrgnlroeueatd nm p,to hths,fhb pi tytseheibh cr seCrusepyi oeodeW ancufs ri et sbWeerls seyatb etel aefw srV rstfnoetaea mevrliMldnnoe e e tryMtnhiah todteeeeif o af t wtCiowdweipaodtloalhsw ib rfso lkboypaf ir oretrsnkchvdhisieeeare rirui,snlrs acb a. s potsrWoh emswn e whvgbh weei.ierdrnenyeese ltrtfdyeahe rrnwwene ci ti ateGtwhnh pro d etot ha hsutetas s Ptum aloaaralfeil lniy e ts ’ss, Northern Harrier S dptbbhuriaraetdlnetleed rri nn g ybaeneltdlwo eweye epwtnaa hibtl ciiftlhele a othuetswerhsrion rgts yt3herllooawt CTruhirmec upNs,o Vrc-tyshahenarpneeu Hds awrriniegrs i,s a mndo stti lotifntegn f lsiegehnt fmlyainkeg tlhoiws sinpe sceiaersc eha soifl yfo iodden. Ati fwiahbiltee. 3cbhoNudOnyNkByR EEDING bbsbetylreraoehipcwiknein ds h - lpboiolnlingt ed TTchhhaeen bbnliuredle -ihngar saso yau nmn oadwlse lfs-r laoikrmee sfptarrceieky,i. n wghlyic dhi fcfoenretnaitn frso smtif ft hfeea dtharekr-sb troo hwenlp fe males. bwtiplianscgk b“ycheVlale”lcos kotw n white ring MsEpNoeSrceTiIe NcRso aIGmEremSL goEivn-elPny A sae GfeunlEl - swtahiiodlret B3REEDINGyuenldloewrp absartnllttraoosedcnea kfsgkl ass p nooknst ss iadneds burpopwenrp artsaround face 1 dawrhk ibteil lr uwmitph 2bglruayis hh-e ad pmofa ogargee e ep,n hsteorxyto,, sao nfwtdei tnph l suvhamorwiaegtinieeg.s 1gwVNFHLWinEEr OiAE abtIENphSNBIirDnCiG TotIGoscITEoITNvN ShA daHe PG.TG;Snr A g Med 7N rOrI Dona–ig epw or1rss1e–ame0n 3nAsoci sen –euftg sd 1dgcsr(, 5 g.ea1ogieneism8rnssdac– py sls(2au 3ls.pe6nd 3xclcdia–,num i3nhgbp8) sau,b cybwwemfbieehel)tlilillndl eehgss i.,b,d rwgderheeunidsb itsinlne,g dat;a nanldllo s gtoger rasaas gsdsrseeihcssouc; ple3tpun–erd7ari nsle ;fgg iae g llssd;os bulpupisehr-pgarratys ybelullioswh bsaksine near VOICE Kek in rapid succession at nest, becoming more high-pitched in alarm. OTHER KEY INFORMATION NESTING Platform of sticks on ground in VOICE: a description of the bird’s calls and songs. open, wet field; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood; Apr–Sep. 2 NESTING: type of nest and its usual location; mFEuEsDkIrNatGs; aRlsood benirdtss ,s ufrcohg sa,s r empitcilee sa;n d wunhditeer parts number of eggs in a clutch; number of broods in a year; oHcAcBasITioAnTa l lOy plaerng ewr eptrlaeny dssu cwhh iales brarebebditisn.g; wbriothw rne ddish- breeding season. open habitats such as deserts, coastal sand markings hFHaEAbEBiDtaIITtNsA iGnT ::N aho ordtwehs, cAwrmihpeetirroeicn,a ao. nf dth we hbairtd t’hse p breirfde rfreeedd s upon. WdLEuINnNeGGsT,S HaPnA d1N 8g r–3a2s 10s⁄2il–na4 n(fd4t s6( 1–in.51 1wmci–nm1te).2r.m) gwurniatdhye ulritgpahpilte fretaatihl ers LENGTH AND WINGSPAN: length is tip of tail to tip of bill; measurements are averages or ranges. US_004-005_Introduction_Western.indd 4 26/08/16 2:39 pm how this book works 5 SPECIES ENTRIES The typical page describes two STATUS bird species. Each profile follows The conservation status of the species, based the same easy-to-access structure loosely on the US Fish and Wildlife Services and features photographs taken in Endangered Species list. Some species are given the bird’s natural setting. two statuses, referring to different populations. S Stable T Threatened vultures, hawks, and eagles 73 Bald Eagle D Declining E Endangered S Haliaeetus leucocephalus The Bald Eagle, although an opportunist, prefers to scavenge whehaidte on carrion and steal prey from other birds, including Ospreys. FLIGHT ILLUSTRATION The use of DDT causing reproductive failure, as well as Shows the bird in flight, from above bounties, led to it being declared endangered in 1967. Now brown or below—differences of season, age, frequenting landfill sites, its numbers have since rebounded, white body or sex are not always visible. especially on East and West Coasts. tail yheololokwed bill dbovaroerkwra nll 3 pure-white head with yellow eyes dark bill starting to turn dbarorkw cnh oovceorlaaltle- yaet lbloawse MAPS 51ST YEAR Each profile includes a map showing the range of the bird, with colors indicating V3–O4I CnEo te Ssu fropllroiswinegdl yb yh iag hr-appiitdclhye dde vsociecned, i ng seasonal movements. series. NESTING Huge stick nest, usually in tallest 3 tFrEeEeD; 1IN–3G e gCgasr;r i1o nb,r oeospde; cMiaallry– Sfieshp;. birds, lwoendgg, e- mHAamBImTAaTls ; Fsoteraelsst efids ha rferoams nOesapr rweya.ter while shaped breeding; along major rivers and coastal white tail yellow legs areas in winter. and feet LENGTH 28–38in (71–96cm) WINGSPAN 6 1⁄2ft (2m) Northern Harrier S Resident all year Circus cyaneus Summer distribution The Northern Harrier is most often seen flying low in search of food. A white Winter distribution rump, V-shaped wings, and tilting flight make this species easily identifiable. TThhee bbliurde -hgaras ya nm oawlels- laikree sftarciek,i nwghlyic dhi fcfoenretnaitn frso smtif ft hfeea dtharekr-sb troo hwenlp fe males. bwtiplianscgk Seen on migration channel in sounds from prey. white ring around face 2 1 white rump bluish- brown gray head upperparts dark bill with yellow skin near bluish base bluish-gray upperparts VOICE Kek in rapid succession at nest, SYMBOLS bNeEcSoTmINinGg m Polaretf ohrimgh o-pf istctihcekds oinn aglraorumn.d in Indicate sex, age, or season. If no symbols are open, wet field; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood; Apr–Sep. 2 present, it means that the species exhibits no FEEDING Rodents such as mice and white significant differences in these. muskrats; also birds, frogs, reptiles; underparts occasionally larger prey such as rabbits. with reddish- HABITAT Open wetlands while breeding; brown 1 Female 2 Male open habitats such as deserts, coastal sand markings dunes, and grasslands in winter. 3 Adult 4 Immature 5 Juvenile WLEINNGGTSHPA 1N8 –32 10⁄2i–n4 (f4t 6(1–.511mc–m1).2m) gwurniatdhye ulritgpahpilte fretaatihl ers 9 Spring 8 Summer 6 Fall 7 Winter US_004-005_Introduction_Western.indd 5 26/08/16 2:39 pm 6 introduction Anatomy In spite of their external diversity, birds are remarkably similar internally. For birds to be able to fly, they need light and rigid bones, a lightweight skull, and hollow wing and leg bones. In addition, pouchlike air sacs are connected to hollow bones, which reduce a bird’s weight. The breast muscles, crucial for flight, attach to the keeled sternum (breastbone). “forearm” bill neck vertebrae “hand” fused furcula tvaeirl t ebrae keeled sternum secondaries SKELETON Avian skeletal features include the furcula (wishbone), the keeled sternum (breastbone), and uppertail the fused tail vertebrae. coverts rump tail feathers tertials scapulars axillaries UNDERPARTS Underwing coverts breast have a regular pattern bill of overlapping rows. Short feathers cover the head, breast, belly, and primaries flanks. In most birds, the toes are unfeathered. undertail coverts belly toes US_006-007_Introduction.indd 6 22/08/16 3:50 pm anatomy 7 Feathers Feathers serve two main functions: primary insulation and flight. Small down coverts feathers form an insulating underlayer, and are also the first feathers that nestlings have after hatching. Contour feathers cover the head and body. The rigidity of the flight feathers helps secondary coverts create a supporting surface that birds use to generate thrust and lift. coverts neck nape crown FLIGHT CONTOUR DOWN FEATHER FEATHER FEATHER Feet and toes When we talk about a bird’s feet we chin really mean its toes. The structure of the foot can give clues to a bird’s throat characteristics and habits. mantle a(blualsat a rd WALKING CLIMBING wing) Ground-foraging birds Most climbers have usually have a long two toes forward hind claw. and two backward. UPPERPARTS The wing feathers from the “hand” of the bird are the primaries and those on the “forearm” are the secondaries. Each set has its accompanying SWIMMING HUNTING Water-loving birds Birds of prey have row of coverts. The tertials are have webbing powerful toes and adjacent to the secondaries. between their toes. strong, sharp claws. US_006-007_Introduction.indd 7 22/08/16 3:50 pm 8 introduction Identification Some species are easy to identify, but in many cases, identification is tricky. In North America, a notoriously difficult group are the wood warblers, especially in the fall, when most species have similar greenish or yellowish plumage. Geographic range Each bird species in North America lives in a particular area that is called its geographic range. Some species have a restricted range; others range from coast to coast and from northern Canada to Mexico. Species with a broad range usually breed in a variety of vegetation types, while species with narrow ranges often have a specialized habitat. BROAD RANGE RESTRICTED RANGE Red-tailed Hawks range from coast to coast in Whooping Cranes breed only in Wood North America and south down to Mexico, and Buffalo National Park in Alberta and the are found in a wide variety of habitats. Northwest Territories. Size The weight and size of North American birds range from hummingbirds, which weigh a fraction of an ounce and are only 4in (10cm) long, to Tundra Swans, which average more than 15lb (6.8kg) and are up to 5ft (1.5m) long. Size can be measured in several ways, including the length of a bird from bill-tip to tail-tip, or its wingspan. Comparing the sizes of two birds can also be helpful: for example, the less familiar Hermit Thrush can be compared to the well-known American Robin. SIZE MATTERS Smaller shorebirds with short legs and bills forage in shallow water, and larger ones with longer legs and bills can feed in deeper water. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER LONG-BILLED CURLEW US_008-009_Introduction.indd 8 22/08/16 3:50 pm