Kinglets

Two Kinglets are found in the US, though the Golden-crowned is much rarer in Arizona. The Ruby-crowned, on the other hand is abundant. It forages much like many of the warblers, titmouse, and chickadees, making it harder to identify without a good look.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet showing the Ruby crown

Gnatcatchers

Three of the four US gnatcatchers can be found in Arizona: the Black-capped, Black-tailed, and Blue-gray.

The Black-capped is rare to the United States, only found in the Santa Rita Mountains.

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

 The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher range is Southwest Texas, and the southern parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and California. This little gnatcatcher nests here at The Azure Gate and with some persistence can usually be found, often in pairs:

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

 The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher's range is more widespread, the only gnatcatcher found outside the Southwest. It too nests here at The Azure Gate, though a little less often seen than the Black-tailed:

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Geese, Swans, Pelicans, and Cormorants: Part IV

There are seven species of Cormorants in the US. Here I have three: Pelagic, Neotropic, and Double-crested.

The Pelagic Cormorant can be found along the rocky cliffs along the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Mexico. Nests on sheer cliffs and forages in ocean near those rocky shores. More often solitary than other cormorants.

Pelagic Cormorant taken near Leadbetter State Park, Washington Coast

The Neotropic Cormorant has a very small range which includes the Gulf Coast of Texas and Mexico as well as the Gulf of California. It is occasionally found in Southeast Arizona.

Neotropic Cormorant taken at Reid Park, Arizona

Neotropic Cormorant taken at Sweetwater Wetlands, Arizona

The most widespread of the Cormorants is the Double-crested which can be found throughout must of the US, including the interior:

Double-crested Cormorant taken at Lakeside Park, Arizona

Double-crested Cormorant taken at Kennedy Park, Arizona

Double-crested Cormorant taken at Fort Lowell Park, Arizona

Double-crested Cormorant taken at Sweetwater Wetlands, Arizona

Double-crested Cormorant taken at Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, California

Geese, Swans, Pelicans, and Cormorants: Part III

One of my favorite Limericks is about the Pelican:

A curious bird is the Pelican,
His beak can hold more than his Beli-can.
He can take in his beak
Enough food for a weak;
And I'm darned if I know how the Heli-can

There are two Pelicans in the United States, the American White Pelican, and the Brown Pelican. The Brown is more often found on the Atlantic, Southern Pacific, and Gulf Coasts. Its preferred habitat is salt bays, beaches, and ocean, mostly over shallow waters.

Taken from Imperial Beach, Pacific Coast near San Diego

Taken at Lakeside Park in Tucson

Taken at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Taken at Lakeside Park in Tucson

Taken at Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, California

The American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in the US with a wingspan of over 9 feet. It also can weigh over 16 pounds. Unlike the Brown Pelican, it breeds in the interior of North America and winters along the Gulf and Southern Pacific Coasts. Its preferred habitat is lakes, marshes, and salt bays. 

Take in Yellowstone National Park

Taken at Fig Lagoon, California

Taken at Amado Water Treatment Plant, Arizona

Take at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming

Geese, Swans, Pelicans, and Cormorants: Part II

On to the Swans. The only two swans in the Western US and Canada are the Trumpeter and Tundra. Very similar in plumage, the Tundra is the smaller and with a smaller neck. The Trumpeter breeds in Alaska while the Tundra breeds in Alaska and the northernmost parts of Canada.

Tundra Swan

Tundra Swan

Trumpeter Swan

Trumpeter Swan

Geese, Swans, Pelicans, and Cormorants: Part I

The next few posts will cover geese, swans, pelicans, and cormorants. First up, Geese:

Brant over the Puget Sound in Washington

Canada Goose on Lake Washington, Washington

Canada Goose Nesting in British Columbia

Canada Goose on Campbell Lake, British Columbia

Ross's Goose at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Washington

Snow Goose at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico

Snow Goose on Fir Island, Washington (Mount Baker in Background)

Snow Goose in Arizona

White-fronted Goose with Tundra Swans on Tule Lake, Northern California

White-fronted Goose with Snow Goose, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon

White-fronted Goose in Arizona

White-fronted Goose, again Arizona

Flycatchers: Part VIII

Lastly, a few somewhat easier to identify flycatchers.

Greater Peewee

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet

Olive Sided Flycatcher

Western Wood Peewee