Author Archives: birdsinmyviewfinder

Red-tailed Hawks are likely the most common hawk in North America. It is a large raptor with a stocky build. Females can be up to 26 inches (65 cm) long with a wingspan of 52 inches (133 cm). Most are a rich brown on the back with pale undersides that have a specked “cummerbund” patternContinue reading “Dark Morph Red-tailed Hawk”

I found this photograph while looking through some folders from 2019. An Altamira Oriole and a Golden-fronted Woodpecker were peacefully sharing oranges on a feeder station at the Santa Ana NWR in Texas. Luckily there were multiple oranges. Both species are residents of Mexico and Guatemala whose range extends into southern Texas.

Courtship displays by male Buffleheads include a run across the water much like a takeoff run, followed by a low short flight over the female of interest. The splashing is just part of showing off. Photographed at the Parker River NWR, Massachusetts.

Pied-billed Grebes, so named because of the black ring on their bill, are a small, chunky aquatic bird with almost no tail. They have the interesting ability to adjust their buoyancy and sink until only their head appears or even quietly submerge without diving. Photographed at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico.

This photo of a Northern Shoveler preparing to land shows the colorful speculum (secondary wing feathers) that is common in ducks with each species having its own distinctive pattern. The Shoveler has a powder blue, white and green speculum that is quite striking. The photo was taken at Bosque del Apache in New Mexico.

The Javelina, or Collared Peccary, resides in South and Central America. It is also found in the southwestern US. This pig-like mammal lives in desert and grassland environments. It stands about 2 feet (60 cm) high and weighs up to 55 pounds (25 kg). They are herbivores that will also eat lizards and rodents givenContinue reading “Non-avian Guest – Javelina”

There are two Bluebirds that are year-round residents of New Mexico. The first is this Western Bluebird photographed at the Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe. The other is this Mountain Bluebird photographed against a nearly matching clear sky at Santa Fe Community College.

Continuing on with photos from a trip to New Mexico, these shots of an American Kestrel were taken at the Bernardo Wildlife Area in Bosque, south of Albuquerque. The Kestrel is the smallest North American falcon at about 8-12 inches (22-30 cm) in length. They hunt insects and small prey in open fields from aContinue reading “American Kestrel”

A single genetic mutation produces this uncommon color variant in the normally white Snow Goose. Some far more common all white geese are sleeping inn the background. Photograph taken at Bosque Del Apache NWR, New Mexico.

Coots are a plump duck-like bird that feeds on aquatic vegetation. They look more chicken-like when they are on land. They are poor flyers and are require a long running takeoff to get airborne. This one was swimming close to a boardwalk at Bosque del Apache NWR. It was close enough to see the smallContinue reading “Snapshot – American Coot”