Birds

The evolutionary origin of birds has always been a subject of considerable debate. Birds and flying reptiles have delicate, lightweight skeletons which do not fossilize well - hindering studies on how the birds evolved. The first bird fossil to be found was a feather, which was discovered in 1860 in a limestone quarry in Bavaria. The feather was given the name Archaeopteryx, which is Greek for 'ancient feather'. A year later an almost complete skeleton of Archaeopteryx was discovered in the same quarry, with the feathers and other fine structures preserved in minute detail.

The skeleton showed several features which are intermediate between reptiles and birds, suggesting that Archaeopteryx and the other birds evolved from a dinosaur similar to the Velociraptor featured in the film 'Jurassic Park'. Seven partial or complete Archaeopteryx skeletons have now been found, and they are still among the most famous, and scientifically valuable, fossils.

Feathers make the bird

Alabama Birds

Checklist of Alabama Birds - Geographical & Seasonal Distribution

Alabama Ornithological Society

Order Gaviiformes

LoonsSpecialized for swimming and diving. Come ashore

only to breed. In flight, head lower than body. Wingbeats fast. Eat fish, crustaceans, some water

plants.

Common loon – Gavia immer

Order Podicipediformes

GrebesSwimming and diving birds, smaller than loons. Flat

lobes on toes. Short legs far back on body. Flight weak and hurried. Taxi before becoming airborne. Dive and

pursue aquatic animals.

Pied-billed grebe – Podilymbus podiceps

Order Pelecaniformes

Pelicans and their AlliesLarge, aquatic fish-eating birds with all four toes webbed. Most nest in large colonies and are silent

outside breeding grounds.

American white pelican – Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

White pelicans in flight.

Brown pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown pelican diving

For fish.

Double-crested cormorant – Phalacrocorax auritus

Double-crested cormorant

Anghinga (snake bird) – Anhinga anhinga

Order Anseriformes

WaterfowlAquatic, with webs between the three front toes. Long necks and narrow pointed wings. Flattened bills with

tooth-like edges that serve as strainers.

Geese

Subfamily Anserinae

Tribe Anserini

Canada goose – Branta canadensis

Snow goose – Chen caerulescens

Surface-feeding Ducks (Dabblers)

Subfamily Anserinae

Tribe Anatini

Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos

Summer Distribution

Winter Distribution

Pintail – Anas acuta

Blue-winged teal

Anas discors

Blue-winged teal

Green-winged teal – Anas crecca

Perching or Wood Ducks

Subfamily Anserinae

Tribe Carinini

Wood duck (drake) – Aix sponsa

Female wood duck

Wood duck

distribution

Bay Ducks (Divers)

Subfamily Anatinae

Tribe Aythyini

Redhead – Aythya americana

Redhead distribution

Canvasback – Aythya valisneria

Ring-necked duck – Aythya collaris

Ring-necked duck

distribution

Lesser scaup – Aythya affinis

Lesser scaup

distribution

Sea Ducks

Subfamily Anatinae

Tribe Mergini

Common goldeneye – Bucephala clangula

Common goldeneye

distribution

Canvasback distribution

Bufflehead – Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead distribution

Hooded merganser – Lophodytes cucullatus

Hooded merganser distribution

Order Falconiformes

Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Vultures

Diurnal birds of prey. Strong beaks and talons.

Turkey vulture – Cathartes aura

Turkey vulture in flight

Black vulture – Coragyps atratus

Vultures (two black, one turkey) feeding on carrion.

Mississippi kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Swallow-tailed kit

Elanoides forficatus

Cooper’s hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Cooper’s hawk in flight

Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks

Sharp-shinned hawk

Accipiter striatus

Northern harrier – Circus cyaneus

Red-tailed hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Red-tailed hawk in flight

Red-shouldered hawk

Buteo lineatus

Red-shouldered hawk in flight

Golden eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Bald eagle

Haliaetus leucocephalus

Osprey – Pandion haliaetus

American kestrel – Falco sparverius

Peregrine falcon- Falco peregrinus

Order Galliformes

Gallinaceous BirdsHeavy-bodied, chicken-like land birds. Short, heavy

bill. Wings short and rounded. Legs rather long. Flight not fast, but can burst into full flight from a

sitting position. Capable runners that forage on the ground. Males of many species have elaborate

courtship displays.

Northern bobwhite – Colinus virginianus

Male bobwhite

Wild turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

Order Ciconiiformes

Herons and their alliesWading birds with long legs, neck and bill. Most feed

on aquatic animal life in shallow water. Some have long plumes in the breeding season. Wings are broad

and rounded, tail short.

Great blue heron

Ardea herodius

Great egret

Casmerodius albus

Snowy egret – Egretta thula

Cattle egret – Bubuculus ibis

Little blue heron – Egretta caerulea

Louisiana heron – Egretta tricolor

Green heron

Butorides striatus

White ibis – Eudocimus albus

Wood stork

Mycteria americana

Order Gruiformes

Cranes and their AlliesHighly diverse group of wading birds with long legs.

Other features such as size, body outline, bill shape and neck length are highly variable.

Sandhill crane

Grus canadensis

Sandhill crane

Whooping crane

Grus americana

Clapper rail Rallus longirostris

King rail – Rallus elegans

Common moorhen – Gallinula chloropus

Purple gallinule – Porphyrula martinica

American coot – Fulica americana

Order Charadriiformes

Shorebirds and GullsDiverse group of wading or swimming birds. mOst are

white, gray or brown, with long pointed wings and webbed feet. Highly migratory. Most feed along

shores, a few inland.

Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus

American woodcock – Scolopax minor

Common snipe – Gallinago gallinago

Sanderling – Calidris alba

Herring gull

Larus argentatus

Laughing gull – Larus atricilla

Forster’s Tern

Sterna forsteri

Caspian tern – Sterna caspia

Common tern – Sterna hirundo

Order Columbiformes

Pigeons and DovesSmall-headed, short-legged, swift-flying birds with

pointed wings and fanned or tapered tails. All species coo, bob heads when walking. Eat grains, small seeds,

acorns and fruit.

Mourning dove – Zenaida macroura

Rock dove – Columba livia

Order Strigiformes

OwlsLarge-headed, short-necked birds of prey. Mostly

nocturnal. Large eyes are fixed in sockets, so the entire head moves as the bird shifts its gaze. Flat, round or heart-shaped “facial disk” conceals the large external

ear flaps. All fly silently, hunting for rodents and other mammals. Calls are distinctive hoots, wails, or

whistles.

Eastern screech owl – Otus asio

Great horned owl

Bubo virginianus

Barn owl – Tyto alba

Barn owl

Barred owl

Strix varia

Order Caprimulgiformes

GoatsuckersNocturnal insect-eaters with large, flat heads, small

bills, enormous mouths, and distinctive white patches in the wings and tail. Many are named for their call.

Chuck-will’s-widow – Caprimulgus carolinensis

Whip-poor-will – Caprilmulgus vociferus

Common nighthawk – Chordeiles minor

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Order Apodiformes

Swifts and Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated hummingbird – Archilochus colubris

Order Coraciiformes

KingfishersLarge-headed, short-tailed birds that dive for fish,

which they catch with their long sharp beaks. Perch motionless in the open, over water. Short legs.

Belted kingfisher – Ceryle alcyon

Order Piciformes

WoodpeckersHave a strong bill, sharply pointed for chipping and digging into tree trunks or branches for wood-boring insects. Still tail used as a prop. Most species “drum”

on resonant limbs, poles, or drainpipes. Flight is usually undulating, with wings folded against the body

after each series of flaps. Usually nest in a cavity chiseled into a large branch or trunk.

Yellow-shafted flicker

Colaptes auratus

Pileated woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

Red-bellied woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Red-headed woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Red-cockaded woodpecker

Picoides borealis

Downy woodpecker

Picoides pubescens

Hairy woodpecker

Picoides villosus

Yellow-bellied sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Order Passeriformes

Perching BirdsSmall to medium land birds. All have feet well adapted

for perching: 3 toes in front and 1 long toe behind. Most are singers. Bill shape, feather colors, and habits

are most useful for family identification. Most insectivorous species and some seed and fruit eaters are

highly migratory.

Eastern kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

The eastern kingbird spends the summer months in North America, and winters in Amazonia.

Barn swallow

Hirudo rustica

Purple martin – Progne subis

Blue jay

Cyanocitta cristata

American crow – Corvus brachyrhyncos

Carolina wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus

Northern mockingbird – Mimus polyglottus

Brown thrasher – Toxostoma rufum

American robin - Turdus migratorius

Eastern bluebird Siala sialis

Cedar waxwing – Bombycilla cedrorum

Loggerhead shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Red-winged blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus

Brown-headed cowbird – Molothrus ater

Northern cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Black-capped chickadee – Poecile carolinensis

House finch

Carpodacus mexicanus

Indigo bunting – Passerina cyanea

Eastern towhee – Pipilo erythrophtalmus

Sparrows