The Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla. Gulls are not to be dismissed as just annoying picnic intruders. Some say they are actually “noble.” “Gull” from old Norse, means unhatched or new bird. Leucophaeus, from ancient Greek, means “dusky white.” From the Latin, atricilla means “black tail.” The adult Laughing Gull is easily identified by its contrasting …
This is the time of the year when shorebirds start making their way from their breeding grounds in the tundra to more southern climes. It’s an arduous journey to say the least. So today’s blog is about one of these birds, the very attractive Ruddy Turnstone. “Ruddy” refers to the reddish color on the back …
Data show that up to 65 million birds in the U.S. are killed by flying into powerlines, or perching on them and being electrocuted, each year. Worldwide, the mortality might be as high as 175 million birds. Some areas are installing powerlines with insulators so the birds do not make contact with power and putting …
I thought it would be nice to visit a bird that we don’t hear much about: Lear’s Macaw. Of 380 species of parrots worldwide, 19 are classified as macaws, a distinctive group of large, colorful birds. Inhabiting the tropical forests of South America, macaws differ from other parrots with their relatively larger beaks, long tails …
