Birds of our

World

Zoe & Sam KaltenbachFall 2017

Birds of Our World

By Zoe and Sam Kaltenbach

This fall, we observed birds in Union Bay, the Arboretum, our backyard feeder, and on our trip to the Vancouver, WA area. We also studied the life of John Audubon, and were inspired by the way he got to know the habits of birds. Two naturalists also inspired us, one at Audubon in Seward Park, and one at the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. This book is a collection of all the birds we have seen (or heard!) this fall. We hope you are inspired to learn more about the birds of your world.

Double-Crested Cormorant

Latin name: Phalacrocorax AurtiusTall and black with yellow base of beak and black feet.Habitat: near waterDiet: fish and other aquatic lifeCall: rhythmic hollow clicks and deep croaksPlace seen: Union Bay

American Coot

Latin name: Fulica AmericanaAll black with white beak.Habitat: shallow fresh waterDiet: plants and invertebratesCall: clucking and cacklingPlace seen: Union Bay

Great Blue Heron

Latin name: Ardea HerodiasLong-necked, long-legged with white and black crest, long feathers on neck, blue on wingsHabitat: shallow or slow-moving waterDiet: fish and small animalsCall: hoarse, insistent croakPlace seen: Union Bay

Harlequin DuckLatin name: Histrionicus histrionicusColor-blocked body of rust, grey, black, white; clown-like markings on faceHabitat: rocky streams in summer; coastal waters in winterDiet: Aquatic plants and animalsCall: Squeaky chirpsPlace seen: Union Bay

MallardLatin name: Anas PlatyrhynchosM: shiny green head, white neck ring, yellow bill; F: brown and greyHabitat: near water salt or freshDiet: grass and insectsCall: familiar quacksPlace seen: everywhere

Cinnamon TealLatin name: Anas Cyanoptera

Cinnamon head and breast; black/gray wings with green stripe; white underwings

Habitat: fresh water Diet: seeds, plants, bugs, and crustaceans

Call: repeated honkPlace seen: Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

Tundra SwanLatin name: Signus ColumbianusWhite body, black beak and under tailHabitat: marshes and lakesDiet: seeds, plants, and insectsCall: mellow hoots

Place seen: Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

Sandhill CraneLatin name: Grus CanadensisLong-legged gray with rust crest, white mask, and long thin neckHabitat: marshes and shallow lakesDiet: insects, plants, small animalsCall: Repeating trillPlace seen: Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

OspreyLatin name: Pandion haliaetusWhite head and chest, dark mask and wings, white talonsHabitat: near water—in NW Mar through OctDiet: live fishCall: noisy shrill whistlePlace seen: long Columbia River

Bald EagleLatin name: Haliaeetus leucocephalusDark brown with white head at age 4 and yellow beak.Habitat: usually near waterDiet: fish, eggs, other birdsCall: chirping whistles Place seen: everywhere!

Red-tailed HawkLatin name: Buteo jamaicensisDark line at edge of wing; red body and tailHabitat: very common; seen soaring and perched, often in pairsDiet: variety of small preyCall: high-pitched cryPlace seen: everywhere!

Northern HarrierLatin name: Circus cyaneusBrown with white rump; hunts in low swoops over fieldsHabitat: marshes, fields, other open areasDiet: small mammals and birdsCall: rapid chatter and whistlesPlace seen: Union Bay

American KestrelLatin name: Falco sparveriusRust and black wings with gray edges; vertical stripes on face; black tail feathersHabitat: open country and forest edgesDiet: large insects and small animalsCall: Killy Killy or Klee kleePlace seen: Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

Ring-Necked PheasantLatin name: Phanianus colchicusLong-tail, spotted wings, black and white neck rings, red faceHabitat: open fieldsDiet: grain, seeds, insects, fruitCall: karaoke-ookPlace seen: Vancouver

Ruffed GrouseLatin name: Bonasa umbellusSpeckled grey, white, brown, black with small crestHabitat: mountain forestsDiet: plant materialCall: clucking and cooingPlace seen: Mt. St. Helens

Northern FlickerLatin name: Colaptes AuratusMottled body, gray/brown head. Red stripe on head and wings, tail.Habitat: gardens and open woodsDiet: mostly insectsCall: squeaky wicka-wickaPlace seen: Seattle and Vancouver

Cedar WaxwingLatin name: Bombycilla cedrorumBlack mask, yellow breast and tail tip, grey-blue back, tan headHabitat: open woodlands and orchardsDiet: berries and insectsCall: thin trill and high seeeePlace seen: The Dalles

Red-winged BlackbirdLatin name: Agelaius phoeniceusBlack with red and yellow stripe at base of wingHabitat: marshes and fieldsDiet: insects, seeds, and berriesCall: chirps and whistlesPlace seen: Mt. St. Helens

Steller’s JayLatin name: Cyanocitta stelleriShiny black and blue with pointed crestHabitat: forests and neighborhoodsDiet: berries, seeds, insects, scrapsCall: harsh crack! with rapid repeat. Will imitate hawk.Place seen: Everywhere

California Scrub JayLatin name: Aphelocoma californicaBlue cap, back and wings; black mask, white breastHabitat: woods and suburbsDiet: omnivoreCall: loud, throaty jay-y-y check-check-checkPlace seen: Ridgefield and Vancouver

Red-Breasted NuthatchLatin name: Sita canadensisBlue-grey back and wings; black and white striped head, copper breast. Climbs down trees headfirst!Habitat: forests. Diet: seeds and insectsCall: nasal yank yankPlace seen: Everywhere

Black-Capped ChickadeeLatin name: Poecile atricapillusBlack hood with white mask. Reddish brown chest, brown wings.Habitat: forests and neighborhoodsDiet: insects and seedsCall: chick-a-dee-dee-deePlace seen: Everywhere

Dark-eyed JuncoLatin name: Junco heymalisBlack head, brown body, lighter breastHabitat: suburbs, edges of forestDiet: seeds and insectsCall: high trill followed by three chirps

Place seen: everywhere

American GoldfinchLatin name: Spinus tristisMale yellow body with black wing; female yellow-gray (male is too in winter)Habitat: semi-open areas with weedy groundDiet: seeds and insectsCall: perchickoreePlace seen: Vancouver, WA

House FinchLatin name: Haemorhous mexicanusMale reddish head and brown body; female brownish gray.Habitat: urban areas and woodsDiet: seeds and berries, especially sunflowersCall: loud warbling chirpPlace seen: Everywhere!

Anna’s HummingbirdLatin name: Calupte anaGreen head, back, wings. Ruby throat. White under tail.Habitat: gardens, open woodsDiet: nectar and insectsCall: sharp Chee Chee with bright chirpPlace seen: Everywhere

Rufous HummingbirdLatin name: Selasphorus RufusCopper body with iridescent green/red throat, black wing stripesHabitat: forest edges and meadowsDiet: insects and nectarCall: high-pitched chirps and trillsPlace seen: Vancouver

Brewer’s BlackbirdLatin name: Euphagus cyanocephalusMale shiny green-black with bright yellow eye; female dull greyHabitat: urban areasDiet: insects, seeds, and crumbsCall: gurgles, squawks, and whistlesPlace seen: Everywhere

Mourning DoveLatin name: Zenaida MacrouraGrey-brown with darker wing with black spots. Dark grey primary feathers.Habitat: open areas and townsDiet: seedsCall: woo hoo woo woo wooPlace seen: Everywhere

Credits-Pencil drawings by Zoe.-Kestrel and red-tailed hawk photos by Sam-Other images from audubon.com-Information from audubon.com and Morse, Aversa, and Opperman; Birds of the Puget Sound Region