BIO 456/585 Fall 2015 Ornithology UNCW

ORDERS OF BIRDS (Part I)

In lab we have a variety of bird skins and mounts from different orders though some orders are better represented than others. As you examine the specimens, make note of key characteristics that distinguish one group of birds from another. Especially note the differences in the bills and feet for each order. Use your field guide to help identify important characters of each species throughout this lab. Also, as you examine the skins, try to imagine how living representatives of each species live and how their morphology may be adaptive to their way of life. You will be responsible for knowing the order, family, and complete common name for each specimen in lab. You do not need to know the scientific (Latin) names provided below. Where skins of both sexes, different age classes, or winter versus breeding plumage are provided, you will need to learn the plumage differences. Skins can be found in the drawers labeled by order and family, the numbered species found here correspond with drawer numbers. Mounts are labeled with TC-M## (Teaching Collection-Mount) that can also be found on this handout.

Superorder Palaeognathae (Ratites)

We have no skins of birds from these orders. Refer to your text for distinguishing features.

Order Struthioniformes Family Struthionidae - ostriches Order Rheiformes Family Rheidae – rheas

Lesser Rhea (Rhea americana) feathers and tarsometatarsus only. Note how the structure of these feathers differs from those of flying birds.

Order Casuariiformes Family Casuariidae - emus and cassowaries Order Apterygiformes (Dinornithiformes) Family Apterygidae - kiwis Order Tinamiformes Family Tinamidae - tinamous

Superorder Neognathae

Order Gaviiformes

Family Gaviidae - loons. Open-water swimming birds with dagger-like bills. Larger than most ducks; longer bodied, and thicker-necked than grebes. Can dive to 200 ft.; may dive or merely submerge; sometimes swim with only head above water; usually run along surface on take-off. Note the shape of the bill, the distinguishing characteristic between loon species.

Common Loon (Gavia immer) mount TC-M35. Breeding plumage: head and neck glossy black with broken white collar, back checkered with black and white. Winter: crown, nape, and back dark gray.

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Order Podicipediformes

Family Podicipedidae - grebes. Aquatic, expert divers but labored fliers (with drooping neck). Distinguished from ducks by thin neck, tailless look, pointed bill (except in Pied-billed Grebe). Feet lobed.

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) Compare length of neck with loons. Distinguish plumage from other grebes.

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) Winter plumage: note the sharp contrast in darker to lighter colors on the head. Also note the difference in bill shape and length with the Pied-billed Grebe.

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) Our largest North American grebe with long neck and yellowish bill. How do you distinguish this species from the closely related Clark’s Grebe?

Order Procellariiformes

Family Diomedeidae - Gliding birds of the open ocean. Bill large, hooked, covered with horny plates. Albatross, much larger than gulls or shearwaters. No specimens

Family Procellariidae - shearwaters, fulmars, and large petrels. Gull-sized birds of open sea. Bills thin (except fulmars) with tube-like external nostrils, fused together (fulmar) or separate (shearwaters). Wings narrower than a gull's, tail smaller, not as fan shaped.

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) mount TC-M82. What single character immediately separates this bird from gulls?

Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) skull only. Where are the salt glands on this specimen?

Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) mount. Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) mount, TC-M83. Both hanging mounts in the lab plus an isolated wing Why are these birds known as the tubenoses?

Family Hydrobatidae – storm-petrels. Little dark birds that flit erratically over the open sea, at times "running" or "dancing" briefly on the surface with slender legs, dangling webbed feet. No specimens in lab, look at pictures in your field guide.

Order Sphenisciformes

Family Spheniscidae – penguins, flightless seabirds with wings modified as flippers and used for underwater propulsion. Entirely Southern Hemisphere in distribution, but occur up to the Equator in the Galapagos Islands.

Penguin (Pygoscelis sp.) skull and wing examples. Can you find evidence for flightlessness in these bones? What diving adaptations do you see?

Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) skin.

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Order Pelecaniformes

Family Sulidae - Boobies. Large seabirds with large, pointed bills and tails; shaped somewhat like fat cigars. No external nares on bill. Larger than most gulls, with a "pointed at both ends" look in flight; neck longer. Fish by high plunges.

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) skin. Note the absence of external nares, an adaptation for plunge diving.

Family Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants. Large, black or black and white aquatic birds, long slender bill with hook at end; often perch upright on rocks or posts, sometimes with wings held out. Flocks fly in wedge or line formation, some species feed in flocks on water. How do these birds differ from loons?

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Skin and mount TC-M84. Note the two crests on the head. Has u-shaped neck in flight. This species is the most wide spread of the North American cormorants and is found on inland freshwater lakes as well as coastal regions. Note the dull, lighter plumage of the immature birds.

Family Pelecanidae - Huge water birds with long flat bills and great throat pouches (flat when deflated). Neck long, body robust. Sexes alike. Feed mostly on fish and crustaceans. No specimens available.

Family Anhingidae – Anhingas. No specimens, though the Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), the only species that occurs in North America, may be seen on lakes in and around Wilmington in summer and early fall.

Family Fregatidae – Frigatebirds

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) mount TC-M85. Note the characteristic bill and head shape; wings crooked in flight. Frequently follows ships; kleptoparasite; occasional vagrant to coast of North Carolina, especially after tropical storms and hurricanes.

Order Ciconiiformes

Family Ardeidae – Herons, egrets, and bitterns. Small to large wading birds with long necks, long legs, spearlike bills. In sustained flight, heads are tucked back in an “S” shape; legs trail behind; wing beats slow and labored. At rest, neck may be erect or "pulled in" (e.g., Black-crowned Night Heron)

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) mount TC-M86. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) skin. Note the large size, plumage characteristics.

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) skin. How would you distinguish this species from a Cattle Egret and a Great Egret?

Great Egret (Ardea alba) skin. Note the bill and leg colors compared to Snowy Egret.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) skin. Green Heron (Butorides striatus) skin Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), one adult and one juvenile skin.

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Family Threskiornithidae – Ibises, wading birds with long downward curved bills used for probling in mud and wet ground (often seen on athletic field on campus after rains to get worms). Fly in lines with neck extended.

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), adult and immature.

Family Ciconiidae – storks. No specimens. One species, the Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) occurs in the southeastern U. S. Does not breed in North Carolina, but may be seen in the southeastern portion of the state in summer; roosts by Twin Lakes at Sunset Beach until late fall each year.

Family Vulturidae (Cathartidae) – vultures.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) mounts TC-M86 and M91 (juvenile). How do you distinguish this species from the Black Vulture in flight?

Order Anseriformes

Family Anatidae - Swans, geese, and ducks. This order is well represented in our collections. Examine the specimens for differences in bill shape, coloration and sexual variations in plumage. Ducks can be very difficult to identify outside the breeding season when they lose their breeding plumage and obtain their “eclipse” plumage.

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) mount TC-M9. Note features, besides large size, that distinguish this species from a Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens). Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) mount TC-M28 & TC-M29. Cackling Goose (Branta nutchissi) mount TC-M6. Brant (Branta bernicula) mount TC-M5. How can you distinguish these last two species?

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) female specimen (see field guide for male characters).

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) male skin only. Probably the most common duck that you will see anywhere in the U.S. A surface feeding duck. American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) male skin plus mount TC-M36. American Wigeon (Anas americana) male and female skins plus mount TC-M16, 37,38. Gadwall (Anas strepera) male skin plus female mount TC-M8. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) male and female skins plus mount TC-M17, 41. Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) male skin. Note the unmistakable bill morphology. Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) adult male and molting male skins plus mount TC-M25. Our smallest North American Duck Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) female skin and male mount TC-M12.

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) male skin and mount TC-M27. Redhead (Aythya americana) male skin, male and female mounts TC-M13, 14. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) one male skin and female mount TC-M42. Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) one male skin All of the above are diving ducks. How do you distinguish the Canvasback from the Redhead? the Lesser from the Greater Scaup (see field guide)?

Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra) male and female skins and 3 mounts TC-M31, 32, 33. White-winged Scoter (M. fusca) female skin and female mount TC-M43. Surf Scoter (M. perspicillata) male skins and mount TC-M15. All of the above are sea ducks found along our coast in migration and winter.

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Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) male and female mounts TC-M20, 21 (formerly known as the Oldsquaw). Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) male and female skins and mounts TC-M3, 4. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) male mount TC-M19.

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) male and female skins and mounts TC-M10 and M11. Note the bill with false “teeth.” Common Merganser (M. merganser) male mount TC-M18. How do you distinguish these two species? Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male skin and male mount TC-M30. Note the small size and the typical merganser bill that is long and narrow.

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) winter plumage male plus male and female mounts TC- M1, 2. Note the sharp contrasts in head coloration.

Order Falconiformes (Accipitriformes)

Family Accipitridae--hawks and eagles. Diurnal birds of prey, with hooked beaks, strong hooked claws. Females larger than males.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) one skin.

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) female and juvenile mounts TC-M44, M45. Note the long tail and white rump patch. These birds fly low over open grasslands and wetlands.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) juvenile skin. Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) mount TC-M46. Note differences with Sharp-shinned hawk. How would you distinguish these species in flight?

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) skin and mount TC-M47, 48. Our most common hawk in all habitats, wide spread throughout North America. Note characters of immature versus adult.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) mount TC-M49. Common in our area, note the differences with the Red-tailed Hawk including the smaller size, red shoulders, and barred reddish chest in the adult.

Family Falconidae - falcons, characterized by long, pointed wings, longish tails. Note differences in the bill between hawks and falcons especially the presence of a "notch" in the latter.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) skin. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) male skin and mount TC-M50. Merlin (Falco columbarius) skin. Note the characters for distinguishing these small falcons in the wild.

Northern Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway) mount TC-M51. Found in south Florida and Texas, this falconid is widespread throughout central and the north part of South America. It is primarily a scavenger.

Order Galliformes

Family Phasianidae - Old World quail, grouse, turkeys, and partridges

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) mount TC-M52. 6

This species inhabits forests and woodlands in the mountains of western North Carolina.

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) feather mount TC-M53 on wall in collections room across hall. Also examine the tarsometatarus and the bony spur found only in the male. This is the only native spurred galliform in North America. Family Odontophoridae - New World quail Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) male skin and mounts TC-M54, M55. This species is common in the Carolinas, but has been declining in many regions from overhunting, habitat loss, and other factors.

Order Gruiformes

Family Rallidae - Rails are compact, hen-shaped marsh birds of secretive habits and mysterious voices; more often heard than seen. Wings short, rounded; tails short, often cocked. Flight brief and reluctant; legs dangle. Gallinules and coots swim (often "pumping" head) and are the most visible of the rails. How do they differ from ducks?

Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) skin. Sora (Porzana carolina) skin and mount TC-M56. Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris) skins and mount TC-M57. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) skin. American Coot (Fulica americana) skin and mount TC-M58. Note the features of the bills and feet that distinguish all of these species.

Order Charadriiformes

Family Charadriidae - plovers. In general, plovers have shorter bills and plumper appearance than other shorebirds.

Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) one skin in breeding plumage and one with winter plumage.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) skin. Our most common plover, even in open areas in cities. Note the double neck band, one of its most distinguishing features. What else is distinguishing about this bird?

Family Haematopodidae – oystercatchers

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) skin. Note the distinct, striking colors and characters of this bird compared to all other shorebirds. This species has been declining the the Carolinas, but is closely monitored and studied by NC Audubon in our area.

Family Scolopacidae - sandpipers. Have longer bills and legs than plovers.

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) skin. How would you distinguish this bird from the Lesser Yellowlegs? Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) skin plus mounts TC-M59, M60. A common species on our beaches in summer.

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) skin. Note that this is one of the few shorebirds whose bill curves slightly upward. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) two mounts TC-M61.

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) skin. Sanderling (Calidris alba) skin. Both also are common species on our beaches in summer. 7

Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) skin. How does this bird get its name? Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) skin.

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) skin. Note the slightly downcurved bill.

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) skin. Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) skin. These two small "peeps" are common mudflat birds. How do you distinguish these two species?

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) skin. Short-billed Dowitcher (L. griseus) skin. Compare the skins on these two species and note the subtle differences in bill length and plumage (especially on the belly and flanks). Despite their names, the bill length of each can overlap in size and they are difficult to distinguish in the field.

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) skin and mount TC-M90. How do you distinguish this species from the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)?

Family Recurvirostridae - stilts and avocets. No specimens.

Family Laridae – gulls and terns.

Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla), skin-in breeding plumage. This species is our most common gull on the beaches in spring, summer and fall. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) skin. This small gull is common on our beaches in winter, replacing the Laughing Gull.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) one juvenile and one adult skin. Note the light gray mantle (back feathers) compared to other gulls.

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) immature and adult specimens. We see juveniles of this species and the Herring Gull on our beaches in the winter. How do you tell them apart?

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) skin. Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) skin. Both these species of large terns can be found in our area. How do you distinguish them?

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) skin. Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) skin. Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) skin. Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) skin. All of the above are found breeding in our area in summer. How would you distinguish them in flight?

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) skin. A very characteristic bird, it uses its bill in flight to scoop up small fish and shrimp from the surface of the water in coastal areas. Note the longer lower mandible compared to the upper, plus its deep and thin shape for slicing through the water.

Family Alcidae - auks and puffins. These are robust small seabirds that, like penguins, are wing-propelled divers. However, alcids occur only in the northern Hemisphere while penguins are restricted to the southern Hemisphere. Alcids also can fly, except for one extinct species, the Great Auk. 8

Dovekie (Alle alle) mount TC-M62. This species occurs in colonies in the Arctic that often exceed half a million birds. Razorbill (Alca torda) skin. Note the bill, which gives this bird its name. What is its diet? Order Columbiformes

Family Columbidae - pigeons and doves

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) skin plus mounts TC-M63 and M64. Our most common dove. How did it receive its name?

Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina) skin and mount TC-M65.

Order Cuculiformes

Family Cuculidae – cuckoos

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) skin. Note the characteristic bill shape and color and white markings on underside of the tail. Not a brood parasite like other cuckoos, especially European species.

Order Strigiformes

Family Tytonidae - Barn owls. Barn Owl (Tyto alba) mount TC-M66.

Family Strigidae Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio) gray and red phase skins. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) skin and mount TC-M68. Barred Owl (Strix varia) skin and mount TC-M68. Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) mount TC-M69. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) mount TC-M70.

Order Caprimulgiformes

Family Caprimulgidae - nightjars and goatsuckers. Insectivorous birds that are most active at dusk or on rainy days.

Chuck-will’s-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis) skin. Note the characteristic bristles around the bill and the soft plumage.

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae – swifts. The ordinal name refers to the tiny feet of these birds.

Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) one skin in plastic tube. Note the bill and feet, plus the obvious bristle feathers on the face. This species is the most common swift in the eastern U.S. and frequents urban areas. How do you distinguish these birds from swallows in flight?

Family Trochilidae – hummingbirds.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) skin in tube. This is the only hummingbird that occurs in the eastern U.S. with regularity as a breeding bird. Other species, especially the Rufous Hummingbird, sometimes appear at feeders in the the Southeast. How do you tell them apart? 9

Order Coraciiformes – kingfishers, hoopoe, rollers, and hornbills This order is primarily tropical in distribution. Only one of ten families is represented in North America.

Family Alcedinidae - kingfishers

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) skin. How do you distinguish the sexes in this species?

Order Piciformes

Family Picidae – Woodpeckers. Numerous species occur in the eastern U. S. and are easily distinguished by plumage, size and bill size. Note these features on the specimens provided here.

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auritus) skin. Divided into "red-shafted" and "yellow-shafted" forms that once were considered to be separate species. Common in urban areas as well as in a variety of forest habitats.

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) skin. A common resident in our area.

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) skin and mount TC-M72. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) skin and mount TC-M73, 74. Note the belly and other markings. This species drills lines of holes in trees to obtain the sap. In our area only in winter.

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) skin. This species is very similar to the Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus), but can be distinguished by the relatively smaller bill length compared to head length and smaller body size.

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) skin and mount TC-M76. Unmistakable in size and characters from all other woodpeckers except the recently extinct (or is it?) Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis).

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ORDERS OF BIRDS (Part II)

The Passeriformes is the largest avian order consisting of about 5700 species, or 59% of all birds (total of 9600 species). Passerines are divided into two suborders, the Tyranni (or suboscines) and Passeres (or oscines). This division is based on the anatomy of the syringeal muscles. The suboscines have a simple muscle structure and in turn have simpler calls and songs. The true songbirds or oscines have complex muscle structures and produce a variety of complex songs and calls. Tyranni includes North American flycatchers (Tyrannidae) plus various other families in South America, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Passeres includes all other passerines in North America.

Order Passeriformes Suborder Tyranni – suboscines

Family Tyrannidae

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) mount TC-M77. Found mostly in central North Carolina, this species migrates to the tropics by mid- September.

Great-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) skin. Common in our area in summer, note the reddish brown primaries and tail and typical flycatcher bill shape.

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) skin.

Suborder Passeres- oscines

Family Lanidae-shrikes

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) mount TC-M88. Uses its hooked beak to kill insects, lizards, mice, and birds, then impales them on thorns for short-term storage or to hold them while it rips them apart. Occurs year-round in NC.

Family Vireonidae – vireos

Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) skin. Formerly known as the Solitary Vireo Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) skin. Common in our area in summer, how do you distinguish this species from Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos?

Family Corvidae – crows, ravens, jays, and magpies

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) skin. Common in urban and rural areas.

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) skin. Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) skin. How do you distinguish this species from American Crow? From Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)?

Family Hirundinidae – swallows and martins

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) skin. 11

Note the sharp contrast in dark and white colors from dorsal to ventral sides. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) skin. Distinguished from other swallows by its color and deeply forked tail.

Family Paridae – titmice and chickadees

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) skin. How do you distinguish this from the Mountain and Black-capped Chickadees?

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) skin. Common in our area year round.

Family Troglodytidae - wrens

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) skin. Note the large size compared to the House Wren and the presence of the eye line.

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) skin. Found more to the north during summer breeding, this species occurs in our area during winter and can be found on campus at that time. Look for them lurking on the ground in the shrubs by Dobo Hall.

Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) skin. Our smallest wren, may be seen only during migration in our area.

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) one skin. Formerly known as the Long-billed Marsh Wren, this species is common in coastal marshes in our area.

Family Regulidae - kinglets

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) skin. A common winter resident in our area.

Family Turdidae - thrushes

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) skin. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) male and female specimens. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) one skin. This forest species has a beautiful echoing song, actually two songs at once produced by each side of the syrinx.

Family Mimidae – mockingbirds and thrashers

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) skin. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) skin and mount TC-M78. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) skin. All of the above are common yard birds in summer.

Family Sturnidae – starlings

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) breeding and fall plumage Common in nearly every city and town in North America, this species was introduced from Europe to New York City’s Central Park in the late 1800s.

Family Motacillidae-pipits

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) mount TC-M89. 12

It is one of the very few species of ground-inhabiting songbirds that breed at high altitudes in albine meadows and on the artic tundra. Occurs in NC during non-breeding/winter seasons.

Family Bombycillidae - waxwings

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) skin. How do these birds get their name?

Family Parulidae - wood-warblers

Warblers are common insectivorous birds in forests and riparian zones. They produce some of the more melodious songs in the forest. Northern species migrate down our coast during the fall with some (e.g., Yellow-rumped Warbler) spending the winter in our area.

Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) mount TC-M79. Northern Parula (Parula americana) skin and molting mount TC-M80. Black-and-White Warber (Mniotilta varia) skin. What characters do each species have that easily distinguishes them in the field?

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata). Also known as “butter-butts”, the Myrtle Warbler is a variation where the throat is white instead of yellow in males and females.

Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus) skin. Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor) skin. Both these species are common in our area in summer and early fall. The Pine Warbler also occurs throughout the winter as a permanent resident.

Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum) a plain warbler with a rufous cap, but easily recognized by its constant tail flicking

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) male and female skins. Note the unmistakable tail colors in both sexes.

Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) skin. This bright yellow warbler is common in cypress swamps in summer and early fall.

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) skin.

Family Emberizidae – towhees and sparrows

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) skin. These sparrows perfer open pine forests and can be found on campus (e.g., the pines in front of Dobo Hall) in summer and early fall.

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) skin.

Seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) skin. A common permanent resident in our coastal salt marshes, note the yellow lores. Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus) skin. Breeding farther to the north (Virginia), these sparrows are common winter residents in our coastal salt marshes. Formerly known as Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow.

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) skin. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) skin. A common winter resident in North Carolina prefering freshwater marshes and stream sides. 13

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) skin. Our largest, brownest sparrow. White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) skin. A common winter resident in thickets, fields and shrubby areas.

Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) skin in tube. This species occurs in grassland areas. Note the fine streaking on the breast and the relatively short tail. It occurs in our area in the winter only. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) skin. This species breeds at higher elevations in the mountains of North Carolina, but can be found in our area in winter.

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) male and female skin. Note characteristics in the field guide. Common on our campus and in other areas with thick undergrowth, this species was once called the Rufous-sided Towhee. It was split into two species with the Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) found only in the western U.S.

Family Cardinalidae - cardinals

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) male and female skins. Probably the most common bird to see in nearly all habitats in North Carolina where it is a permanent resident. It is the offical State bird.

Family Icteridae - orioles and blackbirds

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) male and female skins. Especially common in marshes, the species forms large roosting flocks in winter.

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) mount TC-M81. A permanent resident in North Carolina, this species occurs in open fields, parks, and lawns, but not in forested areas.

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) one male skin. Does not have strong sexual dimorphism in plumage as in the Boat-tailed Grackle.

Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) skin. Common along our coast year round, it rarely leaves salt and brackish water habitats. Note the differences with the Common Grackle in the size, bill, and tail.

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) skin. This species was not recorded as a breeding bird in North Carolina until the 1930s. Urban expansion and clearing of forests for agricultural fields have helped this species to expand its populations northward.

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) juvenile male skin. Once lumped with Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) as the “Northern Oriole”, these species have been split again with the former found more in the eastern U.S. and the Bullock’s Oriole found more to the west. How do you tell the two species apart?

Family Fringillidae – finches

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) skin. This colorful bird is locally abundant along our coast in winter and breeds away from the coast in North Carolina in summer. It can be found in fields, thickets, and urban areas.

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Family Passeridae – house sparrow

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) skin. Introduced from Europe to New York City in the 1850s, this species has spread from coast to coast and is common in nearly every city and town in North America. It is rarely found outside of urban areas.