American Coot
Fulica americana
MIGRATION
SUMMER
| Size: | 13-16" (33-40 cm) |
| Male: | Slate gray to black all over. White bill with a dark band near the tip. Green legs and feet. A small white patch near the base of the tail. Prominent red eyes. A small red patch above the bill between the eyes. |
| Female: | same as male |
| Juvenile: | much paler than adult, with a gray bill and same white rump patch |
| Nest: | cup; female and male build; 1 brood per year |
| Eggs: | 9-12; pinkish buff with brown markings |
| Incubation: | 21-25 days; female and male incubate |
| Fledging: | 49-52 days; female and male feed young |
| Migration: | complete, to southern states, Mexico and Central America |
| Food: | insects, aquatic plants |
| Compare: | Smaller than most other waterfowl. This is the only black water bird or duck-like bird with a white bill. |
Stan’s Notes: An excellent diver and swimmer, typically seen in large flocks on open water. Not a duck, as it doesn’t have webbed feet, but instead has large lobed toes. When taking off, scrambles across the surface of water with wings flapping. Bobs head while swimming. Anchors its floating nest to plants. Huge flocks of up to 1,000 birds gather for migration. The unusual common name “Coot” is of unknown origin, but in Middle English, the word coote was used to describe various waterfowl–perhaps it stuck. Also called Mud Hen. A favorite food of Bald Eagles.
Fish Crow
in flight
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
YEAR-ROUND
SUMMER
| Size: | 18" (45 cm) |
| Male: | All-black bird with black bill, legs and feet. Can have a purple sheen in direct sunlight. |
| Female: | same as male |
| Juvenile: | same as adult |
| Nest: | platform; female builds; 1 brood per year |
| Eggs: | 4-6; bluish to olive green with brown marks |
| Incubation: | 18 days; female incubates |
| Fledging: | 28-35 days; female and male feed young |
| Migration: | non-migrator to partial |
| Food: | fruit, insects, mammals, fish, carrion; will come to seed and suet feeders |
| Compare: | The Common Raven has a larger bill, shaggy throat feathers and a deep, raspy call. Raven has a wedge-shaped tail, apparent in flight; American Crow has a squared tail. Fish Crow (see inset) is strikingly similar, but the American is larger, has a shorter tail, larger head and bill, and a lower-pitched call. |
Stan’s Notes: A familiar bird. Often reuses its nest every year if not taken over by a Great Horned Owl. Collects and stores bright, shiny objects in the nest. Mimics other birds and human voices. One of the smartest of all birds and very social, often entertaining itself by provoking chases with other birds. Eats roadkill but rarely hit by vehicles. May live up to 20 years. Unmated birds, called helpers, help raise the young. Large extended families roost together at night, dispersing daily to hunt. American and Fish Crows are best distinguished by their remarkably different calls. The American gives a harsh “caw”; the Fish gives a nasal, high-pitched “cah.”
in flight
Common Raven
Corvus corax
YEAR-ROUND
| Size: | 22-27" (56-69 cm) |
| Male: | Large all-black bird with a large black bill, a shaggy beard of feathers on the throat and chin, and a large wedge-shaped tail, as seen in flight. |
| Female: | same as male |
| Juvenile: | same as adult |
| Nest: | platform; female and male construct; 1 brood per year |
| Eggs: | 4-6; pale green with brown markings |
| Incubation: | 18-21 days; female incubates |
| Fledging: | 38-44 days; female and male feed young |
| Migration: | non-migrator; moves around to find food |
| Food: | insects, fruit, small animals, carrion |
| Compare: | Larger than its cousin, the American Crow, which lacks shaggy throat feathers. Glides on flat, outstretched wings unlike the slight V-shaped wing pattern of the American Crow. Listen for the Raven’s deep, low raspy call to distinguish it from the higher-pitched American Crow. |
Stan’s Notes: Considered by some people to be the smartest of all birds. Known for its aerial acrobatics and long swooping dives. Sometimes scavenges with crows and gulls. A cooperative hunter that often communicates the location of a good source of food to other ravens. Complex courtship includes grabbing bills, preening each other and cooing. Most begin to breed at 3-4 years. Mates for life. Uses the same nest site for many years.
soaring
juvenile
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
SUMMER
| Size: | 26-32" (66-80 cm); up to 6-foot wingspan |
| Male: | Large bird with an obvious red head and legs. In flight, the wings appear two-toned: black leading edge with gray on the trailing edge and tip. The tips of wings end in finger-like projections. Long squared tail. Ivory bill. |
| Female: | same as male |
| Juvenile: | similar to adult, with a gray-to-blackish head and bill |
| Nest: | no nest, or minimal nest on a cliff or in a cave; 1 brood per year |
| Eggs: | 1-3; white with brown markings |
| Incubation: | 38-41
|
