Georgia birds field guide

Authors: Students from Ms. Peacock and Mrs. Cantrell’s third grade classes.

Editors: Ms. Peacock, Mrs. Cantrell, and Mrs. Schager

Big Shanty Intermediate School, Kennesaw, GA

2017

Cover art: Wall chart, local cage birds, 1908. Photo. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.

quest.eb.com/search/109_233346/1/109_233346/cite. Accessed 20 Mar 2017.

We hope you enjoy our field guide and

Watching birds as much as we have.

http://quest.eb.com/search/109_233346/1/109_233346/cite

Table of Contents

American Crow ............................................................................................................................... 1

Baltimore Oriole .............................................................................................................................. 2

Barn Swallow ................................................................................................................................... 3

Black Skimmer ................................................................................................................................. 4

Blue Jay ............................................................................................................................................. 5

Bluebird ............................................................................................................................................ 6

Brown Thrasher ............................................................................................................................... 7

Canadian Goose .............................................................................................................................. 8

Cedar Waxwing ............................................................................................................................... 9

Chimney Swift ................................................................................................................................. 10

Chuck-Will-Widow ......................................................................................................................... 11

Cooper’s Hawk ................................................................................................................................ 12

Cowbird ............................................................................................................................................ 13

Double-crested Cormorant ............................................................................................................ 14

Eastern Meadowlark ....................................................................................................................... 15

Eastern Screech Owl ....................................................................................................................... 16

Eastern Starling ............................................................................................................................... 17

Eastern Whippor-will ..................................................................................................................... 18

Goldfinch .......................................................................................................................................... 19

House Finch ..................................................................................................................................... 20

Killdeer ............................................................................................................................................. 21

Laughing Gull .................................................................................................................................. 22

Mallard ............................................................................................................................................. 23

Mockingbird .................................................................................................................................... 24

Mourning Dove ............................................................................................................................... 25

Night Hawk ..................................................................................................................................... 26

Northern Cardinal .......................................................................................................................... 27

Peregrine Falcon .............................................................................................................................. 28

Pileated Woodpecker ...................................................................................................................... 29

Pine Warbler .................................................................................................................................... 30

Piper Plover...................................................................................................................................... 31

Purple Martin .................................................................................................................................. 32

Ruby-throated Hummingbird ....................................................................................................... 33

Song Sparrow................................................................................................................................... 34

Wood Thrush ................................................................................................................................... 35

1

Name of Bird: American Crow

Size: 17-21”

Description: All black. Beak is long and thick.

Habitat: Woodlands and preferably pine trees.

Range: Lives everywhere in Georgia.

Food/Diet: Eats almost everything.

Nest (size, shape, location): Cup-shaped.6-19” across.4-15”deep. High in trees.

Eggs: 4-6 eggs in clutch.3 days to lay.

Incubation: 18 days by female.

Fledging: 28-35 days. Only in May, June, and July.

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: Takes care of young a little after fledging.

Migrate: Yes ☐ No☒ To:

Threats/Predators: Owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles.

Author: Lena

I found my information at:

"Online Bird Guide, Bird ID Help, Life History, Bird Sounds from Cornell." All About

Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo Credit: American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos).2017/02/14/ Encyclopædia

Britannica ImageQuest. http://quest.eb.com/search/139_1924390/1/139_1924390/cite.

2

Name of Bird: Baltimore Oriole

Size: 6.6-7.8i in. long, males are larger 12 to 16 in.

Description: A black head and a black beak, and black with white wings, and orange

belly

Habitat: forests with hard wood trees

Range: Georgia piedmont and mountain regions

Food/Diet: bugs, seeds, and fruit (omnivore)

Nest (size, shape, location): They build nests in elms, maples or apples. 25 to 30 above

ground built with plant and animal fibers.

Eggs: they lay 3 to7 eggs, mainly 4

Incubation: 12 to 14 days.

Fledging: 2 weeks after hatching

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: they often damage crops of peas and fruits

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Eastern United States to Mexico and southern

coast of United States

Threats/Predators: squirrels, cats, owls, crows, blue jays

Author: Brandon E.

I found my information at: Biokids.umicn.edu

Photo credit: Baltimore Oriole. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



3

Name of Bird: Barn Swallow

Size: 6- 7.5 inches long and wing span of 12.6-13.6 and about .56-.78 oz.

Habitat: they live in farmlands and suburbs

Range: they can be found in North America

Food/Diet: Flies of all types, along with beetles, bees, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, and other

flying insects.

Nest (size, shape, location): Nests built on top of a beam or other horizontal surface. Shape is a

complete cup about 3 inches across and 2 inches deep. It has a layer of grass and then feathers.

Eggs: 4-6 eggs

Incubation: 12-17 days

Fledging: 18-23 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: they can fly 600 miles a day

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: they migrate from North American to South

America

Threats/Predators: hawks, gulls, or grackles

Author: Izaiah

I found my information at: “Online Bird Guide, Bird ID Help, Life History, Bird Sounds from

Cornell.” All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo credit: Barn Swallow. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



4

Name of Bird: Black Skimmer

Size: 18 inches.

Description: Most upper portions of body are black and lower portions are white, with

orange feet and bill with black tip.

Habitat: Beaches and sandy islands.

Range: Georgia coastal plain

Food/Diet: Eats fish, aquatic invertebrates, and crustaceans.

Nest (size, shape, location): Nest on beaches and sandy islands. Nest scrape created by

both adults.

Eggs: Female lays 3-5 eggs



Adaptations/Interesting Facts: Hangs lower mandible in water to forage while in flight

and wingspan is 44 inches.


Threats/Predators: People polluting water and littering on beaches.

Author: Grace

I found my information at: National Geographic Society. "Backyard Birds A-Z." National

Geographic. National Geographic Society, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo credit: Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) with fish 2017/02/14. Encyclopædia Britannica

ImageQuest. http://quest.eb.com/search/132_1342915/1/132_1342915/cite

5

Name of Bird: Blue Jay

Size: Blue jays are 9.8-11.8 inches and weight 2.3-3.8 oz.

Description: the Blue Jay has blue on its tail, head, and wings. Its black on its beak and

tail, gray one its stomach and by the beak

Habitat: Oak and pine woods in suburbs. Blue jays love to build their nest in evergreen

trees.

Range: Blue Jays live all over Georgia

Food/Diet: eat nuts, insects, fruit, and its pointy bill help them peck up food.

Nest (size, shape, Location): Blue Jays use twigs and mud to make a cup shaped nests.

Eggs: Blue Jays lay 3-6 eggs per season.

Incubation: sit on eggs 16-18 day, both the mother and the father sit on the eggs.

Fledging: Blue Jays start flying at 17-21 days old.

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: Blue Jays are becoming endangered. Blue Jays can copy

other bird’s sounds.


Threats/Predators: Blue Jays threats are hawks, falcons, raccoons, cats, snakes, and

squirrels

Author: Megan

I found my information at: "Online Bird Guide, Bird ID Help, Life History, Bird Sounds from

Cornell." All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo credit: Blue Jay On Branch. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia

Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/149_2078982/1/149_2078982/cite. Accessed 15 Feb

2017.

6

Name of Bird: Bluebird

Size: 6.3-8.3 in.

Description: Blue body, a tan chest, and a white belly

Habitat: Open spaces, forest edges

Range: Georgia piedmont and mountains

Food/Diet: Fruits and insects, it uses its sharp beak for foraging.

Nest (size, shape, location): Cup-shaped, and lined with soft grass. Sometimes they use old

woodpecker holes for their nest. They build their nest several feet above ground.

Eggs: 1-4 per season


Fledging: 15-20 days after hatching

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: When something is trying to eat it, male eastern bluebirds

make a song-like warning cry, a female will begin to sing, to attract a male back. Both flick their

wings and warble when predators are nearby.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: They go from higher to lower elevations

Threats/Predators: Owls, Woodpeckers, and Humans

Author: Isaac S.


"NestWatch." NestWatch. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo credit: Blue Jay On Branch. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia

Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/149_2078982/1/149_2078982/cite. Accessed

15 Feb 2017.

7

Name of Bird: Brown Thrasher

Size: 29cm (11.5in) long

Description: brown and buffy under parts with streaking black / brown specks

Habitat: pine trees in towns and neighborhoods

Range: Piedmont region of Georgia

Food/Diet: insects, worms, small frogs, fruits, nuts, sharp beak for foraging

Nest (size, shape, location): cup shape in pine trees

Eggs: 4-5 eggs in a clutch


Fledging: 13 days after hatching

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: repeats song 2-3 times foraging through leaves


Threats/Predators: hawks, eagles, falcons, owls

Author: Rrianah


National Geographic Society. "Backyard Birds A-Z." National Geographic. National

Geographic Society, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo credit: Photo credit; Brown Thrasher. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica,

25 May 2016.



8

Name of Bird: Canadian Goose

Size: 2-4 feet tall 1-2 feet wide

Description: top part pure black, bottom tan brown, black webbed feet, white line on

head, vary bottom white, tall black neck

Habitat: USA and Canada

Range: mountains to piedmont in Georgia never near beach

Food/Diet: Plants, insects, small mammals and fish

Nest (size, shape, location): 1-3 feet wide on ground near water

Eggs: 2-3 inches tall white oval shaped 7-10 in clutch

Incubation: 28-35 days done by female only

Fledging: yellowish up to 1 foot tall, take 75 days to fly, usally2-5 survive

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: before turkey became preferred thanksgiving bird.

Hisses at humans.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: High Arctic to southern United States

Threats/Predators: falcons, eagles, big fish, people, hunters, cats, raccoons, foxes,

coyotes

Author: Jonathan S.



Picture credits: Picture credits: canada goose marching in field. Photo. Britannica ImageQuest,

Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/167_4012084/1/167_4012084/cite. Accessed 17 Mar

2017.


9

Name of Bird: Cedar waxwing

Size: The cedar waxwing is eighteen centimeters in length.

Description: It has a brownish head with a black color coming from it’s bill right behind

the eyes. It has a yellow color on it’s belly. On the bottom of the bird it is pale. It has

dark colored wings. The tip of the feathers are red. Cedar waxwings have a crest.

Habitat: Live in the mountains with scattered trees and in open woodlands.

Range: Throughout North America. In the mountains and piedmont of Georgia.

Food/Diet: mainly eat fruit, but also eat flowers, tree sap, and insects, which are fed to babies.

Nest (size, shape, location): Their nest is cup shaped. It usually is 18-15 centimeters

above ground. It’s made out of twigs, weeds, moss, and grass.

Eggs: The female bird will lay 3-5 eggs.

Incubation: She sits on the eggs for twelve days.

Fledging: The baby birds leave the nest after sixteen days.

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: a wide but short beak. They are year round birds.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Southeastern US to Costa Rica and Panama

Threats/Predators: Mammals that eat birds and want eggs.

Author: Cassidy

I found my information at: "Online Bird Guide, Bird ID Help, Life History, Bird Sounds

from Cornell." All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo Credit: Cedar Waxwing. Photo. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



10

Name of Bird: Chimney Swift

Size: 13 cm (5.25) in length

Description: it is dark gray brown all over its body and it has curved wings

Habitat: cities and towns, open sky.

Range: Chimney Swift lives in the Eastern half of the United States

Food/Diet: Chimney Swift eats any insect. It eats worms, butterflies, ants and more

insects.

Nest (size, shape, location: Chimney Swift makes its nest in peoples chimneys, in

hallow trees or in caves. Its nest is shaped like a circle.

Eggs: It lays 3-6 at a time it usually lays 4-5.

Incubation: Both parents take turns incubating for 19-21 days

Fledging: It flies away in 15 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: They can appear really high in the sky in black.

Chimney Swift has a small bill.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: In the winter to Brazil, in the summer to North

America

Threats/Predators: Hawks and Falcons

Author: Mayra




Photo credit: Chimney Swift. Euan Reid.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chimney_Swift/id

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chimney_Swift/id

11

Name of bird: Chuck-will’s-widow

Size: 14-15.4 inches

Description: they have a brown throat, small white or buffy neck band outer tail feather

of males have larger white patches with the tips.

Habitat: in woods or open country

Range: Southeastern United States

Food/Diet: eats insects, amphibians like frogs, and other smaller birds

Nest (size, shape, location): no nest, on ground in leaves or pine needles

Eggs: it lays 3-4 eggs

Incubation: the mom stay there for 20-21 days

Fledging: they fly out of the nest in 16-17 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: has very long wings. Can lay more than four or three

eggs

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: They go to southern Florida

Threats/Predators: Predators are mammals like fox, larger rats and wolves

Author: Bryanna




Photo credit: Chuck Will Widow. By Peter Burke.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chuck-wills-widow/id

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chuck-wills-widow/id

12

Name of Bird: Cooper’s Hawk

Size: 14-20 inches tall with wingspan 29-37 inches wide.

Description: They have a curved beak and adults have a dark gray to black crown on

their heads.

Habitat: forest with tall trees (pine and hardwood trees) near rivers or lakes.

Range: Most all of North America except most north parts of Canada. They are

uncommon in Georgia but can somehow be seen in most all the regions.

Food/Diet: They are meat-eaters eating smaller birds and small mammals.

Nest (size, shape, location): Their nest is about 35-45 feet above ground and made out

of sticks and softer things.

Eggs: They lay 3-6 (usually 4-5) eggs.

Incubation: The females sit on the eggs for 32-36 days.

Fledging: The baby’s leave the nest 27-32 days after hatching.

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: The hawks are listed as endangered due to pesticide

use.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Not all migrate, but those living farther North

will go South

Threats/Predators: Their predators are bigger birds and bid animals.

Author: Brendan W


"Online Bird Guide, Bird ID Help, Life History, Bird Sounds from Cornell." All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2017. Web.

13 Feb. 2017.

Photo Credit: Cooper's Hawk. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



13

Name of bird: Cowbird

Size 7 and one half inches long

Description sharp bill and black eyes and legs, female is brown, male is shiny black

with a brown head, short, sharp bill.

Habitat: lives in fields and most anywhere else

Range: mountain piedmonts, coastal plains

Food/Diet: seeds, grasshoppers, leafhoppers and beetle

Nest (size, shape, location): No nest, uses other birds’ nests

Eggs: It can lay 1 to 2 eggs at a time in other birds nest

Incubation: 10-13 days with other birds doing the incubation

Fledging: -right after they are born in a day or two

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: Cowbirds blend in with trees some other birds will

hatch the cowbirds eggs. Able to copy other birds sounds. holds tail up when feeding.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: south Florida in the winter

Threats/Predators: They are eaten by hawks, owls, and squirrels

Author: Logan



Photo credit: Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia

Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/139_2013834/1/139_2013834/cite. Accessed 20 Mar 2017.


14

Name of Bird: Double Crested Cormorant

Size: 27-35 inches tall and 45-45 inch wing span

Description: Black tuft behind their eyes, black with orange throat patches

Habitat: Lakes, rivers, swamps, and coasts

Range: Throughout US and parts of Canada. Coastal plains of Georgia

Food/Diet: Main food fish chases through water

Nest (size, shape, location): Stick twig, & seaweed

Eggs: 3-4 Clutches at a time


Fledging: Stay with parent 21-28 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: Endangered in Kentucky and Missouri, Tennessee

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: From Northern North America to Southeast Coast

Threats/Predators: Crow, Coyotes, Foxes, Eagles, Raccoons

Author Zamyiah B.


“NestWatch.” NestWatch. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo credit: Double-Crested Cormorant. 2017/02/14, Encyclopædia Britannica

ImageQuest http://quest.eb.com/search/139_1960657/1/139_1960657/cite

15

Name of Bird: Eastern Meadowlark

Size: 29 cm (9.5 inches)

Description a bright yellow underside on the breast. The head is stripped brown and

white horizontally. The tail is short and white, a quarter tail.

Habitat: mostly found in fields grasslands, and prairies

Range: found in United States, southwest US, Central America, and southern Canada

Food/Diet: young are fed insects by female. Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, larvae, and

ants.

Nest (size, shape, and location): V shaped bird, grasslands, fields, and prabes, 29 inches

(9.5 inches.

Eggs: the female lays 4 to 5 eggs.

Incubation: incubates eggs for 14 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: one adaptation is that the nest is highly camouflaged


Threats/Predators: cats, dogs, foxes, skunks, hawks, falcons, some owls, coyotes.

Author: Tyron S.




Photo credit: Eastern Meadowlark. 2017/02/14. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest.

http://quest.eb.com/search/139_2004077/1/139_2004077.

16

Name of Bird: Eastern Screech Owl

Description: flat face, large eyes, mostly gray feathers, sharp talons

Size: 16-25 cm. long, weighs 121-244 grams

Habitat: in holes in trees, forests

Range: Central and eastern United States. In eastern Georgia in the piedmont

Food/Diet: eats mice and fish that it catches with its talons

Nest (size, shape, location): build nests high up -50 to 100 feet in cavities, or holes in

trees

Eggs: 2-6 eggs in a clutch

Incubation: 19- 25 days

Fledging: 26- 30 days after hatching

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: they do not screech


Threats/Predators: hunters

Author: Camden F.



Photo credit: Young Eastern Screech Owls (Otus asio). Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia

Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/132_1346891/1/132_1346891/cite. Accessed 17 Mar 2017.


17

Name of Bird: Eastern Starling

Size: length 7.9- 9.1 “, weight 2.1-3.4 oz., 60-96 grams

Description: dark glossy in summer, white speckled tail feathers, orange legs, and a

yellow bill, brown eyes

Habitat: cities, towns farm land and suburbs

Range: Georgia piedmont, mountains, and in coastal plain

Food/Diet: berries, insects, fruits, grains, seeds, and garbage

Nest (size, shape, location): low to the ground, buildings, nest boxes and holes in trees

Eggs: female lays 4-8 or4-6

Incubation: male and female sit on eggs for 12-14 days

Fledging: takes 18-21 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: copies other birds’ sounds, has 10 different

communications


Threats/Predators: cats, dogs, and foxes

Author: Rosa Maria




Photo credit: COMMON STARLING. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May

2016. quest.eb.com/search/138_1156383/1/138_1156383/cite. Accessed 17 Mar 2017.


18

Name of Bird: Eastern Whip-Poor-Will

Size: 22-27 cm.

Description: Short black pointy mottled gray, black, white, brown throat male. Buff

female neck band.

Habitat: The Whip-Poor-Will’s nesting habitat is commonly woodland on open ground

or under a shrub.

Range: Northern America or Southern America.

Food/Diet: Moths, Mosquitos, and flying Beetles

Nest (size, shape, location): no nest, just on the ground on dead leaves.

Eggs: Cared 19-21 days by both parents.

Incubation: 19-21 days.

Fledging: 3-8 days.

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: Named after its sound and eats things whole.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Mexico and Central America

Threats/Predators: Skunks, raccoons, coyotes, red fox, and snakes eat eggs.

Author: Olyvia

I found my information at: "Online Bird Guide, Bird ID Help, Life History, Bird Sounds from Cornell." All

About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Society, National Geographic. “Backyard Birds A-Z.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017. “Celebrate Urban Birds.” CUBS Quick Guide to Our Birds Comments. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2017. “NestWatch.” NestWatch. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2017. Photo Credit: http://d2fbmjy3x0sdua.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/Eastern_Whip-poor-will_m17-65-324_l_1.jpg

http://d2fbmjy3x0sdua.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/Eastern_Whip-poor-will_m17-65-324_l_1.jpg

http://d2fbmjy3x0sdua.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/Eastern_Whip-poor-will_m17-65-324_l_1.jpg

19

Name of Bird: Goldfinch

Size: 5”

Description: Goldfinches are black and gold. Sometimes dull usually not

Habitat: High trees

Range: Georgia Piedmont

Food/Diet: seeds, thistle, and seeded flowers and grasses

Nest (size, shape, location): 1-30 feet high, cup shaped, and in a pine tree

Eggs: small, incubated 12-14 days

Incubation: mother incubates for 12-14 days

Fledging: about 15 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: winter male duller than summer male but winter female

is same as summer female


Threats/Predators: snakes, cats, squirrels, and other birds

Author: Gavin T.




Photo Credit: Goldfinch - 2017/02/14 - Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest -



20

Name of Bird: House Finch

Size: 6 inches

Description: it has red on the top head and on the chin with black on the tip of the

wings also white on the middle wings

Habitat: is grassy areas near trees, and homes, bushy areas

Range: Georgia piedmont

Food/Diet: seeds, buds, and fruit

Nest (size, shape, location): the shape of the nest is a circle in high trees

Eggs: the clutch is 4-5 eggs

Incubation: 11 to 19 days to hatch

Fledging: 11 to 19 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: it has a long beak to peak hard seeds


Threats/Predators: are fox, raccoons, and other animals that steal their eggs

Author: Nana E.



Photo credit: House Finch. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.

quest.eb.com/search/139_2004464/1/139_2004464/cite. Accessed 15 Feb 2017.


21

Name of Bird: Killdeer

Size: 10.5” long and a wingspan of 18 – 19”

Description: a tan back and a white chest with two black breast bands

Habitat: sandbars , mudflats , and shortgrass fields

Range: all over Georgia all year round

Food/Diet: small insects and seed

Nest (size, shape, location): 3.5” across and is low to the ground in shrubs

Eggs: 4-6 in a clutch eggs are tan with black spots


Fledging: after plumage has dried fledgling leaves the nest

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: it can swim, after fledgling leaves the nest the mother

jumps out of the nest and pretends to have a broken wing


Threats/Predators: foxes, cats, and bigger birds that want its eggs

Author: Ryleigh T.




Photo Credit: Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus). Photo. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May

2016. quest.eb.com/search/167_4024330/1/167_4024330/cite. Accessed 15 Feb 2017.


22

Name of Bird: Laughing Gull

Size: 15.4-18.1 inches

Description: Adult Laughing gulls have black heads while the babies have white heads.

All Laughing gulls have white bodies. Adult Laughing gulls heads turn white in winter.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Range: Laughing gulls are known to live in Georgia Florida or other coastal states

Food/Diet : Fish or garbage

Nest (size, shape, location): on the ground, scraped out cup with sticks and grass.

Eggs: 2-4 eggs

Incubation: 21 days

Fledging: 35 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: laughing gulls may force another bird to drop its food.

They may eat another birds eggs.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Warmer places in winter.

Threats/Predators: Sharks or bigger birds

Author: Micah

I found my information at: Georgia Wildlife Web.

http://fishesofgeorgia.uga.edu/gawildlife/index.php?page=speciespages/list_species&class=Aves

Photo credit: Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi.. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25

May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/137_3143371/1/137_3143371/cite. Accessed 17 Mar 2017.

http://fishesofgeorgia.uga.edu/gawildlife/index.php?page=speciespages/list_species&class=Aves


23

Name of Bird: Mallard

Size: 25 inches long

Description: males: green head dotted belly long feathers for rump. Habitat: on land near lakes and rivers. Mallards live in water.

Range: Throughout North America. live in coastal Georgia plain mostly

Food/Diet: seeds, nuts, grains and corn pieces.

Nest (size, shape, and location): 2feet wide 5inch tall. It lives in water.

Eggs: 7-10 eggs.


Fledging: 13-16 hours

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: it can hold 1 gallon of water, stay alive for 20 years

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ to: Those in Canada migrate south to warmer places.

Threats/Predators: cats, foxes, dogs, and human hunters

Author: Daniel P


National Geographic Society. "Backyard Birds A-Z." National Geographic. National

Geographic Society, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo credit: Mallard. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



24

Name of Bird: Mocking bird

Size: 10 inches long.

Description: Mocking birds are overall gray brown, their breast is paler. Each wing has

two white wing bars. The tail feathers are also white.

Habitat: Mocking birds live in natural forests and also human buildings.

Range: The Mocking bird lives all over Georgia.

Food/Diet: Mocking birds eat insects, berries, worms, and small lizards.

Nest (size, shape, location): Mocking bird nests are built 3 to 10 feet above the ground

in shrubs and trees.

Eggs: The female Mocking bird lays 3 to 5 greenish blue eggs.

Incubation: The female Mocking bird sits on the eggs for 12 days.

Fledging: After the baby Mocking birds hatch they fledge in 12 days.

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: The Mocking bird has a short sharp beak to catch

food. The Mocking bird can sing different songs.


Threats/Predators: The Mocking bird can mimic other animals and birds to scare away

predators.

Author: Anthony




Photo credit: MOCKINGBIRD. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



25

Name of Bird: Mourning Dove

Size: 10’’

Description: small bill grayish-brown plumage on side of the side of head, pinkish-

beige plumage on breast of stomach

Habitat: lives by grass land and woodland edges

Range: all around Georgia Piedmont

Food/Diet: eats seeds, short, strong, sharp bill

Nest (size, shape, location): 15 feet above ground on top of building

Eggs: 2 plain white eggs

Incubation: 14 days

Fledging: 15 days after eggs hatch

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: the male picks where female should nest

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☒ To: north to south

Threats/Predators: hunters

Author: Keating

I found my information

National Geographic Society. "Backyard Birds A-Z." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo Credit: Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May

2016. quest.eb.com/search/132_1342442/1/132_1342442/cite. Accessed 17 Mar 2017.


26

Name of Bird: Night Hawk

Size: 9.5 in in length wingspan is 20.9-22.4 in

Description: camouflaged with gray, white, buff and black, dark wings have a white

streak and a v shape of white on its throat

Habitat: It’s primarily on roof tops.

Range: The species of the night hawk is common throughout the United States during

the breeding.

Food/Diet: They eat beetles, mayflies, caddisflies, flies, crickets and grasshoppers

Nest (size, shape, location): coastal and beaches, wood clearing grassland savannas.

Eggs: The female lays 1-3 (usually2) eggs.



Adaptations/Interesting Facts: night hawks are expected to live 4 to 5 years

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: to South America

Threats/Predators: crow, ravens, owls, snakes, foxes, & cats and dogs

Author: Alex

I found my information at: UGA. Museum Biokids.umich.edu

Photo credit: A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) eastern adult sits in a tree while it lightly snows in Presqu'ile

Provincial Park. Photo. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



27

Name of Bird: Northern Cardinal

Size: 8.5 in.

Description: Male: Red body black wing tips and tail Female: Brown with red wing tips

and tail

Habitat: Cardinals live in forest edges, parks, thickets, and brushy swamps

Range: Mountains and Piedmont

Food/Diet: They have sharp beaks to peck open seeds, and eats insects, fruit, and buds

Nest (size, shape, location): size is 1-15 feet shape circle location is 3-10 feet up in a tree

Eggs: the clutch size is 3-4 eggs


Fledging: 7-13 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: makes more than 25 sounds and grows up to be 15


Threats/Predators: Owls, hawks, foxes, cats, raccoons, skunks, and possums

Author: Jacob M.



Photo credit: CARDINAL. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



28

Name of Bird: Peregrine Falcon

Description: A falcon’s head is dark black or brown, it has a dark wedge of feathers

bellows its eyes, buff on its throat, neck and belly, yellow legs, and dark wings.

Size: 16-20 inches long and a wing span of 35-44 inches

Habitat: They live on the sides of cliffs and very tall trees

Range: live on all continents except Antarctica. They like wide-open spaces, and near

coasts where shorebirds are common, but they can also live in tundra and deserts.

Falcons sometimes live in cities on bridges and skyscrapers.

Food/Diet: other smaller live birds, small reptiles and bats

Nest (size, shape, location): They do not build nests, they create a scrape, a small hole

in thesoil.

Eggs: 3-4 eggs

Incubation: for 29-32 month

Fledging: they leave at 32-44 days

Adaptations/Interesting Facts:

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Coastal areas of where it is warmer.

Threats/Predators: they can live 17 years and fly 25-55 mph when flying downward

they can go as fast as 270 mph

Author: Aaron B.

I found my information at: "Online Bird Guide, Bird ID Help, Life History, Bird Sounds from

Cornell." All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Picture:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=yG0XfxKc&id=9CAFBC0ACBB287C0F4CF836

5BB15AF453C6FE9BB&q=falcon&simid=608016093130064334&selectedIndex=25&adlt=strict&ajaxhist=0

29

Name of Bird: Pileated Woodpecker

Size: 16.5 inches long

Description: mostly black and red crest on its head with white on face and shoulders

Habitat: in forests and suburbs

Range: mountains and piedmont Georgia

Food/Diet: Pileated Woodpeckers eat insects, fruit, and seeds

Nest (size, shape, location): builds nest in holes in dead trees

Eggs: the female lays 3 to 5 eggs

Incubation: 15-18 days, the male helps the female by sitting on the eggs

Fledging: it takes 24-31 days for the chicks to fledge

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: the Pileated Woodpecker has a long, thick beak to peck

trees


Threats/Predators: the only threats are people cutting down trees

Author: Brandon E.




Photo credit: Pileated Woodpecker. Photo. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May

2016. quest.eb.com/search/167_4010450/1/167_4010450/cite. Accessed 15 Feb 2017.


30

Name of Bird: Pine Warbler

Size: 5.3”Weighs 9-15 grams

Description: Olive brown head and back with a yellow stomach with black and white

wings (male) olive yellow, black & white wings with yellow stomach (female).

Habitat: Lives in woodlands with mixed pines but prefers pine trees.

Range: Found in Piedmont, Coastal Plains and Appalachian Mountains.

Food/Diet: main diet is insects and fruit.

Nest (size, shape, location): Nests at the tips of pine trees. Nest is cupped shaped.

Eggs: Lays 3-5 (usually 4) in a clutch. Eggs are speckled with brown spots

Incubation: Both parents incubate for 10 days.

Fledging: Fledglings leave their nest at 10 days of age

Adaptation/Interesting Fact: Pine Warblers form flocks of 50-100+

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Mexico, Caribbean

Threats/Predators: Foxes, Larger birds (who take their eggs)

Author: Saige



Photo credit: : Pine Warbler. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



31

Name of Bird: Piping Plover

Size: 7.4 inches

Description: orange bill with a black tip and a gray breast and black tall feathers

Habitat: The plover lives near beaches

Range: It only lives in Georgia’s coastal plain next to the Atlantic Ocean

Food/Diet: worms and insects

Nest (size, shape, location): The nest is near beaches and it is a circle and near the

ground

Eggs: 3-5



Adaptations/Interesting Facts: the young leave 15-26 days

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Gulf of Mexico – coastal areas

Threats/Predators: hunters have made this bird’s population go down

Author: Asa




Photo credit: PIPING PLOVER. 2017/02/14. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest.

http://quest.eb.com/search/138_1076386/1/138_1076386.

32

Name of Bird: Purple Martin

Size: 8’’

Description: glossy blue-purple pointed wings with a little black and black legs and

beak

Habitat: towns, farms, and open country near water.

Range: Central and Eastern U.S. and Canada. All around Piedmont region of Georgia

Food/Diet: flying insects

Nest (size, shape, location): nest height: 10-15 feet facing southwest 10 feet of space

Eggs: 3-8 usually 4-5 eggs



Adaptations/Interesting Facts: attracted to white enemies of the European Starlings

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☒ To: Gulf of Mexico and Central America

Threats/Predators: cats foxes

Author: Shannon .G.



Photo credit: PURPLE MARTIN . Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



33

Name of Bird: Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Size: 3.9 inches in length, Wingspan is 3.1-4.3 inches, and its weight is 2-6 g.

Description: The male has a ruby throat and a black chin with metallic green color

above and its stomach is white. Its bill is long and thin and it has black eyes. The female

is the same but has a white throat and is duller.

Habitat: They live in trees 10-20 feet above the ground, usually next to a nectar source.

Range: During breeding season, they are common in the eastern and southeastern US.

Food/Diet: Nectar is their main food but the diet also includes insects and tree sap.

Nest (size, shape, location): They usually build the nest in a tree 10-20 feet above the

ground. The nest is cup-shaped and made out of lichen and spider webs.

Eggs: Clutch is 2 eggs.

Incubation: The female incubates the eggs for 11-14 days.

Fledging: They fledge 14-18 days after hatching.

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: They have a long thin bill that helps them reach into

flowers to get nectar. They can fly very fast and stop in midair without falling.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic coast, and the tip of Florida.

Threats/Predators: Loggerhead shrikes, Hawks, Blue Jays, and cats.

Author: Megan

I found my information at: National Geographic Society. "Backyard Birds A-Z." National Geographic.

National Geographic Society, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

“Online Bird Guide, Bird ID Help, Life History, Bird Sounds from Cornell.” All About Birds. Cornell Lab

of Ornithology, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017

Photo Credit: Ruby-throated Hummingbird. 2017/02/14/SO - Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest

http://quest.eb.com/search/139_1912204/1/139_1912204/cite.

34

Name of Bird: Song Sparrow

Size: length 6.25” wing span 7.1-9.4”

Description: it has a white belly with brown spots, grayish eye brows, has pinkish feet,

white throat, bordered with dark stripes, pale gray to white crown stripes. It has black

eyes

Habitat: Thickets, brush, shrubs, and fields.

Range: North America, Canada to the southern part of U.S.A.

Food/Diet: insects, seeds sometimes fruit

Nest (size, shape, location): in dens, stream sides, deep grass, weed stems, its nest is

formed into a cup, in bushes, and western deserts nest for five to ten days

Eggs: a female song sparrow lays two-six usually three to five eggs

Incubation: it incubates for twelve-fourteen days

Fledging: nine-twelve days after hatching

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: very territorial and has aggressive behavior

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: southern part of the U.S.A. and northern Mexico

Threats/Predators: birds of prey, raccoons, skunks, cats, weasels, babies are eaten by

snakes

Author: Sara



“Online Bird Guide, Bird ID Help, Life History, Bird Sounds from Cornell.” All About Birds.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2017. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

Photo credit: Song Sparrow. 2017/02/14. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest


35

Name of Bird: Wood Thrush

Size: 20 cm long

Description: A white eye ring, pink legs, brown wings and top, black white spots on

breast.

Habitat: Woodlands near streams, a city bird.

Range: Eastern United States

Food/Diet: Worms, insects.

Nest (size, shape, location): In forest edges, 10 to 50 feet off ground.

Eggs: lays 3 to 4 eggs a day.

Incubation: about 13 days.

Fledging: Babies leave in 12 days.

Adaptations/Interesting Facts: It makes a flute song, Can hurt others using its beak.

Migrate: Yes ☒ No☐ To: Georgia, Florida.

Threats/Predators: foxes, cats, Cowbirds are its threats.

Author: Erek D.

I found my information at: UGA, museum of natural history (web).

Photo Credit: WOODTHRUSH . Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.



Education

Georgia birds field guide