Wild Birds

The Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus) is a species of raptor in the genus Buteo. Buteos are a large group of medium to large birds of prey that include about 28 species found on every continent except Antarctica. Members of this genus are generally broad-winged, broad-tailed, soaring birds. They have large feet with strong, long toes […]

Tap tap tap…tap tap tap. I turn my head at the distinctive sound of a woodpecker on a tree, hoping to glimpse it. I see a black-and-white body, with its head moving rhythmically as it searches for food, peck peck, peck peck. But is it a downy or a hairy woodpecker? Despite over 15 years

Growing up three months each year with the outlet delta of Maine’s Androscoggin Lake in full view and at the apex of its seasonal glory gave me a love of loons, hawks, ospreys, great blue herons, and eagles that has only evolved throughout my life. Dead River is the name, but it’s a teeming ecosystem

Introduction / Taxonomy When does a woodpecker not peck wood? When it’s a Flicker! Northern Flickers are a rather peculiar member of the woodpecker family with a very different foraging technique from their congeners. While most woodpeckers climb trees and peck away at the bark to find food, Flickers spend much time on the ground

Red-shouldered Hawks are a rather discreet denizen of woodland habitats, rarely particularly visible but often betraying their presence with loud vocalizations. They are a member of the Buteo genus, a group of about 30 species found almost worldwide, only excluding Australasia and far south-east Asia. These are typically medium-sized, stocky raptors with broad wings for

Do you love birds? Ah, I have a soft spot for these little flying creatures. They make such lovely music and are refreshing to watch. Idaho birds offer more than that. You feel you are in sync with Mother Nature. There is so much to see: you could see the sharp-tailed grouse birds performing their

Do you remember in school when your teacher told you “I before E except after C”? Telling the difference between eagles and falcons can be a lot like that. While there are some generally accepted rules, there are also a large number of exceptions. Just last week, I saw the impressive Black hawk-eagle perched on

I never get tired of sighting hawks! How could I? They’re gorgeous, fierce, intelligent, and humble. I am always in awe when in their presence. Whether they are sitting in an open field or perching atop a utility pole, pausing to watch them is a must for me. If this sentiment is foreign to you,

The collared forest falcon is one of the most dramatic-looking raptors that I have ever had the privilege to see in the wild. They are an extremely elusive species for birders because they hang out primarily in dense forest habitats. Despite their large size, they are also very agile and stealthy hunters. Hence the “ninja”

Look up…way, way up. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…either an osprey or a bald eagle. Actually, it could be a turkey vulture or a golden eagle too, but we’ll get to that. Large birds soaring high in the sky evoke feelings of freedom and power. After all, we’d all love to have an