About Our Birds: House Finch

Order:      Passeriformes
Family:     Fringillidae
Genus:     Haemorhous
Species:   Haemorhous mexicanus
Class:       Aves

House Finch on a Beautiful Day

House Finch on a Beautiful Day

Description:  
Moderate sized bird between 4.9 to 9.8 inches in length. The males have brightly colored red breasts which can vary in coloring due to the amount of berries and fruit in its diet.

Diet:  Mostly grains, seeds and berries and small insects such as aphids. They also eat a large amount of weed seeds such as dandelion and nettle. They frequent bird feeders and particularly enjoy sunflower or nyjer seeds.

All photographs were taken by Patricia S. Clyne, owner of Patsy Clyne Photography.

About Our Birds: Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle In Flight

Order:      Accipitriformes                    
Family:   Accipitridae
Genus:     Haliaeetus
Species:   Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Class:       Aves

Description:  
Large bird of prey found in North America, most of Canada and also Alaska. It is also known as American Eagle. It is mostly brown with a white head and tail. The female is larger than the male and it builds the largest nest of any North American bird. It has been named the national bird and national animal of the United States.

Diet:  Mostly fish that is generally snatched from large bodies of water or other wetlands such as seacoasts, rivers, swamps and marshes. It also feeds on birds, mammals and other prey such as turtles, snakes, crayfish and crabs.

All photographs were taken by Patricia S. Clyne, owner of Patsy Clyne Photography.

About Our Birds: Great Egret

Order:       Ciconiiformes                
Family:    Ardeidae
Genus:      Ardea
Species:   Ardea alba
Class:       Aves
Description:  Large white wading bird with black legs and yellow bill. It has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. The long, sharp bill is used to spear its prey.
Diet:  Mostly fish, frogs, but also small mammals, small birds and reptiles.

White Egret in Flight, Soaring on a Beautiful Day

All photographs were taken by Patricia S. Clyne, owner of Patsy Clyne Photography.

About Our Birds: Great Blue Heron

Order:       Ciconiiformes                               
Family:    Ardeidae
Genus:     Ardea
Species:   Ardea herodias
Class:       Aves
Description:  Largest North American heron.. It is a wading bird in the heron  family seen  along the shores, lake edges, fresh and salt water marshes and wetlands.
Diet:  Consists of small fish, shrimps, crabs, aquatic insects, rodents, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and small birds

Great Blue Heron

All photographs were taken by Patricia S. Clyne, owner of Patsy Clyne Photography.

About Our Birds: Osprey

Order:      Accipitriformes
Family:   Pandionidae               
Genus:     Pandion
Species:   Pandion haliaetus
Class:       Aves
Description:  Large brown and white bird of prey equipped with hooked bills and strong talons.  Alias: sea hawk; fish eagle; white eagle    
Diet:  Mostly fish, but also rabbits, hares, rodents, small birds, amphibians and small reptiles

Osprey in Flight

All photographs were taken by Patricia S. Clyne, owner of Patsy Clyne Photography.