Gruiformes (cranes, limpkins, rails

1
Gruiformes (cranes, limpkins, rails coots)
Whooping Cranes

• 5 families, 33 species in NA

Limpkin

• most are aquatic (cranes upland in open
  habitats)

• diverse diet vertebrate invertebrate

2
Gruiformes (cranes, rails, limpkins coots)
Purple Gallinule
American Coot

• rails coots lobed and/or long slender toes

• solitary nesters

3
Passeriformes (perching birds or passerines,
songbirds)

• gt 40 families, hundreds of species in NA

• perching birds, song birds, passerines

• most diverse group of birds

• characterized by perching foot structure

Western Kingbird
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch
4
Pelecaniformes
(pelicans, anhingas and cormorants)

• 6 families, 22 species in NA

• large-bodied aquatic birds
• feed on fish
• gregarious, colonial nesters

• pelicans dive from height
• use expandable pouch to catch fish

Brown Pelican
5
Pelecaniformes (pelicans,
anhingas and cormorants)

• cormorants dive from surface swim
• underwater
• eat fish regurgitate pellets

Double-crested Cormorant

• anhingas swim spear fish
• spread wings to dry

Anhinga
6
Piciformes (woodpeckers toucans)

• 1 family, 22 species in NA

• aboreal climbers strong claws, stiff tail

• zygodactyl feet for climbing

• strong bill uncover insects, excavate nest
  cavities drum for communication

• retractile tongue

• wooded habitats

Acorn Woodpecker
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Podicipediformes (grebes)

• 1 family, 7 species in NA

• small to medium-sized aquatic birds

• lobed-toes, strong swimmers, cannot take-off
  from land

Western Grebe
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Podicipediformes (grebes)

• shallow divers aquatic inverts fish (sharp
  bills)
• denser bones sleek bodies for diving

• nest on floating platform
• carry young on back

Eared Grebe
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Procellariiformes (albatrosses, fulmars,
shearwaters petrels)

• 3 families, 52 species in NA

• sea birds mostly black, white gray

• known as tube noses salt excretion, scent
  and/or sense air pressure
• never drink fresh water
• colonial nesters

Northern Fulmar
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Procellariiformes (albatrosses, fulmars, etc.)

• Shearwaters petrels
• medium-sized sea birds

• many nest in burrows active at night
• mate for life

• Albatrosses
• large sea birds w/ long narrow wings

• require strong winds to fly

Greater Shearwater

• rarely return to land, except to nest

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Strigiformes (owls)
Barn Owl

• 2 families, 19 species in NA

Burrowing Owl

• nocturnal birds of prey

• divided into 2 groups (barn owls typical owls)

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Strigiformes (owls)

• avoid competition with hawks by hunting at night

• soundless flight, excellent hearing and night
  vision

• outer toe pivots zygodactyl feet

Great Horned Owl
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Trogoniformes (trogons quetzals)

• 1 family, 2 species in NA

• colorful tropical birds rare in NA
• usually solitary

Elegant Trogon

• squared-off tail strong bill

• diet berries insects

• unique feet 2 toes back 2 forward, but inner
  toe rotated