Shorebirds Quiz

Ready for a challenge?  The shorebirds in the following quiz are commonly found across much of the Gulf Coast.  See how many of them you can identify.

1.  Although some features of this resting bird are hidden, the relevant field marks are still visible.

2.  This tiny shorebird has a larger relative that is abundant across much of North America.

3.  After the first two, this next shorebird should be a relatively easy ID!

4.  A black-and-white shorebird flying low...

1. This individual is chunky with drab, brownish upperparts, a white belly, grayish legs, and a semi-long bill that droops at the tip: all features of the Dunlin.  This species spends the winter on the coast before migrating to Alaska and northern Canada for the breeding season.

2.  Piping Plovers are related to the Killdeer, an abundant and widespread plover species.  Unlike Killdeer, though, Piping Plovers have incomplete breast-bands.  They also have orange legs, unlike the slightly larger Snowy Plover, which has grayish legs.  Like the Dunlin (but unlike the Snowy Plover), Piping Plovers do not remain on the Gulf Coast to breed.

3.  The moderately short, slightly decurved bill; short, yellow legs; and warm-brown upperparts help to distinguish the Least Sandpiper from other shorebirds.  Its small size is a useful field mark, as well.  Like the Piping Plover and the Dunlin, the Least Sandpiper migrates north in the spring.

4. The American Oystercatcher is a large shorebird with bold black-and-white-and-brown plumage.  Its almost clownish-looking red bill makes it unlikely to be confused with any other species!  Oystercatchers are year-round residents of the Gulf Coast, and they do indeed eat oysters.

Summer Bird Identification Quiz

Although many North American bird species completed their spring migration months ago, some are just now beginning to set up territories and nest on their breeding grounds.  With that in mind, I present another short identification quiz for the summer months!

1.  This species may be seen migrating late, and some individuals linger in areas outside of the breeding range.

2.  Look for this species in woodlands, especially near water.

3.  The species in this photo is also a bird of woodlands.

4.  In the photo, one of the clues to this bird's identity is hidden.

Answers:

1.  The American White Pelican is widespread across much of North America, and its winter range extends as far south as Central America.  It migrates across wide swaths of North America and breeds in several locations west of the Mississippi River.  Some nonbreeding individuals remain on lakes and other large bodies of water in the eastern portions of the U.S.  Unlike the coastal Brown Pelican, the American White Pelican does not dive for its prey, but instead forages for fish near the surface.  Groups will work together to more efficiently pursue their prey.

2.  Unsurprisingly, a significant clue here is the yellow throat!  Yellow-throated Warblers are far from the only wood warblers with this field mark, however.  For example, there is the widespread Common Yellowthroat, a species of thickets and marshes.  The western Grace's Warbler has even more similar features to the Yellow-throated Warbler: a gray back, white wing bars, black streaks on the sides, and a yellow throat.  The Yellow-throated Warbler's black mask and white eyebrows, though, are distinctive.  

Yellow-throated Warblers will sometimes conceal their nests in the Spanish moss that frequently grows in the wet, wooded habitats that they prefer.

3.  While the widespread and familiar Red-tailed Hawk is commonly found in more open environments, the Red-shouldered Hawk is adapted to woodlands.  The juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk in the photo lacks the rust-colored feathers of its parents, but its moderately slim build (compared to that of the stockier Red-tailed Hawk), banded tail, and streaked breast and belly help clinch the identification.  The Red-shouldered Hawk also lacks the pale "V" marking that can be seen on the back of a perched Red-tail.  

Because they tend to frequent swampy forests, Red-shouldered Hawks feed on a variety of animals, including frogs, snakes, and lizards.

4.  One clue may be hidden, but the white-spotted underside of the tail, the rust-colored wing feathers, and the pale underparts all point to this being a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  The yellow mandible would be another useful field mark in regions where the Black-billed Cuckoo also occurs.  Cuckoos use their thick bills to catch hairy caterpillars, among other prey items, and tent caterpillar outbreaks may provide excellent conditions for viewing these usually secretive birds.  Unlike the Common Cuckoo, which breeds in Europe and Asia, North American cuckoo species only rarely practice brood parasitism, preferring to build their own nests and raise their own young.  

September Bird Identification Quiz

As we move into the early fall, lots of birds will begin migrating.  Some have already started, and there are also many young-of-the-year individuals that are just now experiencing independence from their parents -- a double-edged sword, since large numbers of immature birds do not survive the hazards of their first year. 

With all of that in mind, let's look at some species that can be seen in the Southeast during the early fall!

1.  This species is a year-round resident across much of its range, but there are some areas where it is seen only during migration.

2.  This bird closely resembles another species that is often found in the same regions.

3.  Birds in flight sometimes present more of a challenge to observers!

4.  A similar species may cause some confusion.

5.  This bird has been expanding its range eastward in recent years.

Answers:

1.  Reddish Egrets are almost exclusively coastal.  In the central portions of the Gulf Coast, they can be found during the spring and fall months, and they are fairly common breeding birds in Mexico, Texas, and Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas.  Their active style of foraging involves running and wing-flapping.

The Reddish Egret occurs in both a dark morph and a white morph.  Although adult dark-morph Reddish Egrets have the signature rust-colored heads and necks, immature birds, like the one in the photo, are entirely a blotchy gray.  They also have dark bills, while their parents' beaks are half pink and half black.

2.  Although Cooper's Hawks are more likely to conceal themselves in dense foliage, they can sometimes be seen hunting right out in the open.  The adult hawk in the photo has gray upperparts and reddish barring on its breast; immature birds will be brown above and brown-streaked below.  

The Cooper's Hawk resembles the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk, but a number of field marks help to distinguish these two species.  For one thing, the Cooper's Hawk's tail is proportionally longer, and usually has a rounded tip with a broad, white edge.  The Sharp-shinned Hawk has a shorter tail with a squared or slightly notched tip.  Sharp-shinned Hawks also have more of a hooded appearance than their larger relatives, which have dark "caps."

3.  The Turkey Vulture is such a common bird that its easy to overlook them in favor of rarer and flashier species.  But this species is fascinating, in no small part because of its large olfactory bulb, which gives it the ability to locate carrion by the smell.

Turkey Vultures' V-shaped wing posture and silvery wing linings are useful field marks for distinguishing them from the shorter, stockier Black Vultures, which hold their wings flat and have pale outer primary feathers.  You may see both Turkey and Black Vultures soaring on thermal currents, although the Turkey Vulture is far more migratory than its smaller relative.

4.  When its polka-dotted tail is not in view, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (colloquially known as the rain crow) is a little trickier to identify.  However, the yellow mandible and reddish wing feathers are diagnostic.  The more northerly Black-billed Cuckoo has a bill that is either black or, in juveniles, grayish.  Both of these species are highly migratory, breeding in North America and wintering in South America.

You may find cuckoos in thickets and woodlands this autumn, especially if there are plenty of tent caterpillars—popular prey items—in the area!

5.  The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is declining across much of its range, so the range expansions aren't necessarily indicators of a strong population.  I have observed these birds on Dauphin Island during the fall migration, and they are still common across a sizable portion of the south-central United States throughout the breeding season.  The streamer-like tails and salmon-colored underparts of the adult birds are unmistakable.  Immature individuals have shorter tails and yellow underparts.

Several years ago, I was one of several birders who got to see a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher nest in north-central Mississippi!

Late Summer Bird Identification Quiz

For southeastern North America, this is basically late summer.  With that in mind, let's have a look at some birds that may be observed at this time of year!

1.  The plumage of this first bird might be confusing for some birders.

2.  Hint: This species was featured in an earlier quiz.  It is a bold and sometimes aggressive bird.

3.  Watch for these near water!

4.  A familiar species may seem unfamiliar if the environment doesn't provide enough clues.

Answers:

1.  I'm used to seeing Little Blue Herons with solid gray-blue adult plumage, white immature plumage, or an intermediate blue-and-white patchiness.  This individual was mostly blue, but the small patches of white on its belly and back were reminiscent of the plumage of the Tricolored Heron, a coastal species that occasionally strays inland.  This Little Blue Heron lacks the Tricolored Heron's white feathering on the front of the neck, and it doesn't show any yellow on the bill or in front of the eye, as Tricolored Herons would in the late summer.

For comparison, here's a Tricolored Heron in August:

2.  With its pugnacious attitude toward birds and other animals several times its size, the Eastern Kingbird lives up to its classification as one of the tyrant flycatchers.  It frequently perches high in snags and other vegetation, and its bright white underparts, dark upperparts, fairly thick bill, and moderate proportions are distinctive.

3.  The White Ibis is a wading bird that occurs over a wide range in southeastern North America and Central America.  The photo I used is tricky, as it doesn't really show the distinctive curvature of the birds' red bills!  The white plumage, black wing tips, and long legs help to clinch the identification, though.  White Ibises are experiencing population declines in Louisiana and a few other coastal areas, but they appear to be increasing farther north.  This probably bodes well for the birds' adaptability, but conservationists and birders should still keep an eye on those crucial, vulnerable wetland regions.

4.  Juvenile birds of all species may be seen in the late summer, and American Robins, which tend to nest around human dwellings, are some of the most frequently observed.  Unlike their parents, young American Robins have lots of speckling and barring on their plumage.  However, their "red" breasts and white facial markings are still noticeable.  This individual added to the potential confusion by flying down to a water source in a small woodland.

Coastal Birds Quiz

Let's have a look at some avian species from the coastal regions!  All of these birds are fairly commonly found on the U.S. Gulf Coast, but, with the exception of one species, they are also pretty common along the East Coast. 

1.  As always, I like to start with something slightly easier.  This species often lurks in marsh grasses during the day.

2.  This bird migrates through the area, but it isn't typically a resident.

3.  Marshes, beaches, and mudflats attract this species.

4.  This tiny bird is typically seen skittering over the beach or along the water's edge.

Answers:

1.  The signature yellow crown of the adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is not present in juvenile and immature birds, like this individual.  Young Yellow-crowned Night-Herons strongly resemble immature Black-crowned Night-Herons, but their longer legs, dark bills (unlike the mostly yellow bills of Black-crowneds), finer patterning, and slimmer builds help to distinguish them.  As I mentioned above, they usually skulk -- and roost -- in the marshes in the daytime.  At night, they will often hunt in more open areas for the invertebrates and fish that make up most of their diet.

Yellow-crowned Night-Herons commonly occur all year long in parts of the Gulf Coast, and in coastal areas in Central and South America.  Along the Atlantic seaboard, they are usually found only in the breeding season.

2.  The tail feathers on this immature individual can't compare with the ridiculously long streamers that adult birds have.  Nonetheless, this is a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher!  When it takes off from its perch, the deep fork in the tail is more noticeable, and the yellow-orange feathers (which would be a deeper peach color on an adult) on the belly may catch the light.  The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is more of a western species, but it can be found on the Gulf Coast (and occasionally the Eastern Coast, as well) during migration.  The open beaches and scrubby coastal vegetation of the region provide excellent substitutes for the fields and pastures that they use during the breeding season in the western-central U.S.

3.  This is one of the most commonly seen shorebirds in the Gulf and Atlantic Coast regions.  It also happens to be one of the larger ones, with long legs that enable it to wade in deeper water than most of its relatives.  In the spring and early summer, the Willet's plumage will be more heavily mottled, but plumage in the fall and winter is mostly gray.  Unlike the thin and lanky Greater Yellowlegs, the Willet has grayish legs and feet, as well as a moderately thick bill.  When it flies, the white stripes on its wings are visible, and it will usually give a shrill, piping call: willet!

4.  Named for the partial webbing between its toes, the Semipalmated Plover might be confusing at first glance, as there are several somewhat similar-looking plover species that inhabit coastal regions.  However, the Semipalmated Plover is darker than the Snowy Plover and the Piping Plover, and, unlike the Snowy Plover, it has a solid breast-band and yellowish legs.  The Wilson's Plover, another fairly common species, has gray legs and a thick, black bill.  Finally, the abundant and familiar Killdeer (also a plover!) has two breast bands and measures much larger than the Semipalmated Plover.  

Semipalmated Plovers breed in the far northern regions of North America and range widely in the winter on the coasts (both eastern and western) of North, Central, and South America.  During migration, they may be seen in a variety of wetland habitats.

Fall Bird Identification Quiz, Part III

With September starting and fall bird migration really picking up, it's time for another bird quiz.

1.  This first bird is probably fairly easy to guess: one of the fiercest avian species during the nesting season!

2.  These are usually found near large bodies of water.

3.  Unfortunately for birders, this common migrant's name isn't always very descriptive.

4.  The same is true of this next one!

5.  These birds are more common in open habitats than in woods.

6.  By mid-September, most of these birds will have migrated out of the southeastern United States.

Answers:

1.  A member of the tyrant flycatcher family, the Eastern Kingbird is known for its fierce defense of its territory and nest during the breeding season.  I have seen these birds chase Red-tailed Hawks on numerous occasions, and they seem to have little fear of people, as well.  Their monochromatic color scheme is striking and distinctive, with the dark gray back and wings, black hood, and white-tipped tail.

2.  These large and brightly colored ducks are Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, which expanded their range to portions of eastern Mississippi in the last decade.  The rest of their range includes western and southern Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Central America, and Florida.  They have a high, wheezy whistling call and bright black-and-white wings that stand out in the murky swamps and marshes that they call home.

3.  It's a worm-eating warbler!  Well, a caterpillar-eating warbler, anyway.  It isn't actually a Worm-eating Warbler (and that name refers to caterpillars, too), but a Black-throated Green Warbler.  The trouble with a lot of birds' common names is that they are appropriate only for certain times of year, or for certain sexes or ages.  Breeding adult male Black-throated Green Warblers have the signature solid black throats, but nonbreeding males, adult females, and all immature birds have far fewer black feathers in that area.  The olive-colored back is noticeable even during the fall, though, and the white wing bars, yellow cheek patches, and black streaks on the flanks should make identification fairly straightforward even in the fall.  

Black-throated Green Warblers usually nest in boreal forests, so the farthest south that they will go during the breeding season is the southern Appalachians, where that habitat type exists at high elevations.  In the fall, they are one of the most commonly seen migratory warblers in the Southeast.

4.  While the Black-throated Green Warbler can feel slightly misnamed at times, the Magnolia Warbler's name is downright weird.  Like the Black-throated Green Warbler, the Magnolia Warbler breeds in the boreal forests of Canada and the northeastern United States.  It usually doesn't have much to do with magnolia trees, but because it was discovered in magnolias by the ornithologist Alexander Wilson, the name has stuck.  To be fair to Wilson, this warbler is perhaps one of the least discriminating species during migration, showing up in a wide variety of wooded habitats.  The yellow breast, black streaks, white wing bars, and gray crown are all present in fall plumage, but one of the most obvious field marks is the two-toned tail.  When the tail feathers are spread, as they are in the photo, the white bars can be clearly seen.  When they are closed, the tail appears half white and half black from below.

5.  It may be unfair for me to use this photo, given that there are two species in it!  The birds on the left are male Brown-headed Cowbirds, which look about the same in the fall as they do in the breeding season.  Due to cowbirds' habit of parasitizing other songbirds' nests, most birders aren't particularly thrilled to see them.  Still, this isn't the cowbirds' fault: Human activity has been the driving factor behind their range expansion and population growth.  Cowbirds have a short, pleasant, liquid warble of a song, which can be heard in fields and thickets during the nesting season.

The bird on the right is another frequently reviled species: the European Starling.  Starlings were intentionally released in North America in the late nineteenth century, and they have had no trouble adapting to the environment here!  Depressingly, though, they are not holding on as well in their native range.  During the breeding season, starlings have dark, glossy, iridescent plumage and yellow bills.  In the fall and winter, they become slightly drab, with heavy white speckling and dark bills (as you can see in the photo).  They are known for forming enormous flocks for predator evasion, and for their variety of vocalizations.

6.  Although they nest in hardwood forests along streams and rivers, Mississippi Kites often forage in large flocks over fields and meadows during the late summer and early fall, just before they leave their breeding grounds in the southern and central U.S. for their wintering grounds in South America.  The long, slender wings; slightly forked tail; and overall grayish plumage are distinctive field marks.  This species often gives a two-note, whistled call as it flies.  

Fall Bird Identification Quiz, Part II

Fall bird migration is continuing steady, with communities changing slightly—or even drastically—on a daily basis.  Let’s continue studying possible migrants with another bird identification quiz! 

1.  As before, let’s begin with an easier one. 

2.  During the spring and summer, this species is commonly found in large shade trees. 

3.  Hint: You may spot this little sprite around bodies of water. 

4.  This species is part of a group that can be challenging to sort out. 

5.  One of the LBBs, or little brown birds: 

6.  Another fairly drab bird on a wire: 

Answers: 

1.  The Red-breasted Nuthatch is frequently seen during migration.  It is known as an irruptive species, since it moves farther south in larger numbers when food sources are scarce father north.   It has a nasal call that sounds like a toy trumpet.  Although it looks somewhat similar to the White-breasted Nuthatch, its smaller size, reddish breast, and black stripes on the sides of the head help to make it distinctive. 

2.  Great Crested Flycatchers have several close relatives in the Myiarchus genus.  Of these species, only the Great Crested Flycatcher is commonly found in most of eastern North America, so it's usually not a major challenge to identify it.  The yellow belly against the olive-green plumage; long, rust-tinged tail; and bushy crest are good field marks.

3.  This photo was taken in the late spring; the Spotted Sandpiper actually lacks spots in the fall and winter.  However, even if you see birds with drabber plumage, several features are helpful in clinching the identification, including continuous tail-bobbing behavior, shallow wingbeats, greenish-yellow legs, and piping calls.

4.  Eastern Wood-Pewees, like the Great Crested Flycatchers that we previously discussed, are in the tyrant flycatcher family, or Tyrannidae.  Many members of this family look similar to one another.  Fortunately, size, behavior, habitat, and vocalizations help to differentiate these birds!  For example, the Eastern Wood-Pewee, genus Contopus, commonly returns to the same perch over and over again when it is flycatching, which is different from most of the similar-looking flycatchers in the Empidonax genus (e.g., the Acadian Flycatcher, the Least Flycatcher, and many others).  Wood-Pewees are also bulkier and have duskier plumage than the Empidonax flycatchers.

5.  Sparrows are a notoriously tricky group.  In this case, the short tail, yellow-tinged lores, finely streaked breast, and pinkish bill point to an identification of Savannah Sparrow.  True to its name, this species forages in open fields and grasslands.  It has a thin, insect-like call.

6.  Yet another tyrant flycatcher!  This one is the familiar Eastern Phoebe, which is common in most of eastern North America.  Its dark head, gray back and wings, long tail, and yellowish flanks make it distinctive.  If this were a video, instead of a still image, you would undoubtedly be able to witness the bird repeatedly wagging its tail.  I will say that the phoebes in my region of the country seem to have recovered well from their local population crash in early 2021.

Fall Bird Identification Quiz

As autumn approaches, I feel like sharpening my bird identification skills in preparation for the variety of species that I may see: summer nesters on their way south, year-round resident birds, transients, and even winter residents arriving from farther north.  Do you feel the same way?  If so, then here is a short identification quiz for the coming months!

1.  Let’s start with something easy.

2.  This one was foraging in the leaf litter.

3.  This species is not uncommon around ponds, lakes, and swamps.

4.  Many individuals of this species can be found perching on wires, especially in the late summer and early fall.

5.  This should be another fairly easy one.

6.  It wouldn’t be a proper ID quiz without a half-hidden bird!

 

Answers:

1.  The Barn Swallow is a common and colorful summer resident throughout most of North America.  The blue upperparts, orange throat and forehead, and buffy underparts make the identification simple.  The forked tail is best seen when the bird is flying.

2.  Some warblers molt into drab plumage and are hard to identify in the fall, but the Pine Warbler tends to look pretty much the same at any time of year.  However, young birds and adult females with drabber plumage than usual may be confused with other warbler species.  In this individual, the yellow spectacle-like markings on the face, the white wing bars, the unstriped back, and the white undertail coverts clinch the identification.  It’s always a bit harder when there aren’t lots of pine trees around, though!

3.  Large, white herons often don’t pose any major identification challenges, but there are always exceptions to the rule.  Immature Little Blue Herons, like this one, have white plumage (except for the wingtips, which are gray), so they may resemble immature Snowy Egrets.  However, their two-toned gray-and-black bills are different from the largely black bills of Snowy Egrets, and the skin around their eyes is blue, unlike the yellow lores of Snowy Egrets.  The legs and feet of Little Blue Herons are generally a solid greenish-gray, while immature Snowy Egrets have contrasting yellow feet.  Little Blue Herons commonly nest throughout the southeastern part of North America.

4.  With its brown upperparts, dusky underparts, and blunt tail tip, the Northern Rough-winged Swallow is probably the least flashy of the North American swallows.  Juveniles, like the one in the photo, can have faint rust-colored bars on their wings.  These swallows are extremely widespread in North America.

5.  In some regions (such as the Gulf Coast), Ospreys occur as permanent residents.  In most of the lower 48 United States, you probably won’t see them unless they’re migrating.  Interestingly, the Osprey can be found on every continent but Antarctica.

6.  Even with the branches partly obscuring the bird, the yellow belly, brown head and neck, slate-colored back and uppertail, white wing edges, and overall sleek appearance make it clear that this is a Cedar Waxwing.  The pointed crest can barely be seen through the leaves.  In Mississippi, where I live, this species is a winter resident, but it occurs all year in many states.