Birds - Flora and Fauna PDF

Birds Class Aves, egg-laying endothermic vertebrates with un- toothed beaks, feathers, keeled sternum on flighted spp., very light skeletons - 35 orders, about 10,000 spp. - occupy virtually all terrestrial biomes, some semi- aquatic - tremendous radiation of form - fairly low natality...

Birds Class Aves, egg-laying endothermic vertebrates with un- toothed beaks, feathers, keeled sternum on flighted spp., very light skeletons - 35 orders, about 10,000 spp. - occupy virtually all terrestrial biomes, some semi- aquatic - tremendous radiation of form - fairly low natality, 1-15 - generally high parental care 20% body mass Taiwan Blue Magpie Urocissa caerule  d-tailed Hawk der: Accipitriformes (diurnal raptors) mily: Accipitridae Breeding uteo jamaicensis Albert’s squirrel Resident Large broad-winged raptor, brown over cream color, dark shoulder bar and red tail characteristic; to 65 cm (♀), ♀ 13% larger than Resident Non-breeding ♂; to 1.5 kg, to 30 yrs Resident Characteristic raspy scream Carnivore; primarily mammals, e.g., voles, rabbits, Vagrant squirrels, but also birds and snakes Maturity at 2 yrs, monogamous until one of the pair dies; both sexes build nest, to 1 m in width, in tall trees with clear view; 1-5 white to blotched eggs to 7 cm, 28-35 d incubation; fledging (feather development for flight) of altricial (helpless) young at about 6 wks Habitat generalist, given open structure with high perches Highly territorial towards other raptors Spectacular mating flights, “spiraling” ald Eagle rder: Accipitriformes amily: Accipitridae Breeding Resident aliaeetus leucocephalus Largest North American raptor, average 100 cm, 6.5 kg, often to 25 yrs; heavy body, white head Non-breeding and tail, yellow cere, powerful beak and talons, Resident ♀ 25% larger than ♂ Resident Carnivore/scavenger Maturity at 4-5 yrs, monogamous for life; large nest (up to 2.5 m diameter, 4 m deep) in old growth forest (trees are “superdominant”) reused annually; 2 eggs to 8 cm, 35-d incubation; fledging in 10-12 wks; dark color until maturity Prefer larger lakes, warmwater fishes (availability?); home range of 660 ha, 3 km between nesting territories Intolerant of anthropogenic disturbance Species crash in the mid-20th century from DDT (DDE) bioaccumulation and biomagnification (egg shells) DDT ban, re-introduction, endangered → least concern ald Eagle aliaeetus leucocephalus Osprey Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae Breeding Pandion haliaetus Resident Monotypic family, to 58 cm, wingspan 180 cm, 2 kg, 25 yrs; white head, chest, legs, powerful beak and Passage Resident talons; ♀ 25% larger than ♂ Migrant Vagrant Tremendous migrations; 250,000 km over 20 yr Non-breeding lifespan, some breeding in Canada, overwintering in Resident Argentina Piscivorous, only diving (to 1 m) raptor, 25% success rate, reversible outer toe (owls also), barbed pads on feet, stealing fish common Maturity at 4-5 yrs, usually mate for life; large nest on tall structures, reused annually; 1-4 spotted eggs to 7 cm, 36-42 d incubation; 1 brood/yr; fledging in 8 wks; serial hatching, latter siblings may starve if food scarce Prefer shallow systems; soaring and diving good, not maneuverable Species recovered from DDT; worldwide conservation success Mallard Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Anas platyrhynchos Breeding Resident Bright emerald head (♂), sexually dimorphic, both sexes with white-bordered blue speculum [often Resident distinctly colored patch on the inner remiges (wing flight feathers)]; to 65 cm, wingspan 95 cm, Non-breeding 1.3 kg, 27 yrs (banded in LA in ’81, shot in ’08); Resident Passage only ♀ quack Migrant Strong flyers, to 89 kph during migrations Omnivorous dabbling duck, invertivorous during breeding season, seeds and grain during migration Maturity at 6-10 mo.; generally monogamous with extra-pair ♂ matings; ground nest near water, lined with feathers (♀); ♀ incubation and care; 1- 15 cream to greenish eggs to 6.5 cm, 23-30 d incubation; 1-2 broods/yr; nestlings precocial, 1 d Anatidae one of few bird families with internal fertilization (ducks, geese, swans, ostriches, emus); mating “violent” but fascinating evolution of ♀ “choice” Most important species regarding hunter harvest Mallard Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Anas platyrhynchos 3,904,063 Mallards harvested in 2014 Wood Duck Breeding Resident Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Aix sponsa Sexually dimorphic, brightly colored ♂, ♀ with blue Resident on wings, white eye ring; to 54 cm, wingspan 73 cm, 0.86 kg, 22 yrs Non-breeding Shares genus with the Mandarin Duck A. Resident galericulata Omnivorous perching duck, seeds, plant material 80%, plus aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates Maturity at 1 yr; annually monogamous; cavity nest near water, lined with feathers (♀); ♀ incubation and care; 6-16 cream/tan eggs to 6.1 cm, 28-37 d incubation; egg-dumping common; 1-2 broods/yr; nestlings precocial, 1 d, 56-70 d w/♀ Wooded swamps, streams, vegetative cover (downed trees, willow, emergent vegetation) important for cover, foraging Decimated during 1800s for meat and feathers, rebound with management in 1900s, nest box program successful Canada Goose Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Branta canadensis Passage Migrant Breeding Resident Characteristic white chin strap, black head and neck, to 110 cm, wingspan 170 cm, 9 kg, 30 yrs; ♂ neck thicker Resident Flying obvious, vocalization, migration “V” Non-breeding Herbivorous, grasses and sedges in spring, berries Resident and seeds in fall (fat) Maturity at 2 yrs, most at 4; monogamous; assortative mate choice by size; elevated ground nest near water, lined with feathers; ♀ incubation, ♂guarding; < 8 white eggs to 8.5 cm, 25-28 d incubation; 1 clutch/yr, but re- nesting possible with clutch loss; nestling period 42-50 d Extended parental care common during first year Self-domesticated flocks throughout middle and southern range, becoming pest species in urban areas V-formation provides aerodynamic uplift from bird in next forward position; 1 m behind, 1-m out, taking advantage of upward vortex from wing, adjusting wing beat pattern to match forward bird – apparently Wood Stork Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae (storks) Vagrant Mycteria americana Breeding Large white non-dimorphic wading bird with naked Resident head and neck (?), thick decurved bill, black Resident remiges; to 115 cm, wingspan 175 cm, 2.6 kg, 20 Non-breeding yrs Resident Tropical, subtropical freshwater wetlands with seasonal drying Typical tactile feeding motion (ibis, spoonbill), bill closure in 25 msec Maturity at 3-4 yrs, annually monogamous; reproduction triggered by drying of waterbodies and concentration of fishes; eggs laid in a stick nest lined w/vegetation, colonial nester high in trees; bi-parental incubation of 2-5, 7-cm creamy blotched eggs for 27-32 d; 1 brood/yr; nestling period 60-65 d, high nestling mortality Upgraded to Threatened by USFWS as of 2014 Mourning Dove Breeding Order: Columbiformes Resident Family: Columbidae (pigeons, doves) Zenaida macroura Characteristic shape, color, small head, long tail, Resident to 35 cm, wingspan 45 cm, 170 g, 30 yrs maximum Wing “whistling” at takeoff; fast, straight flyers; soft, drawn-out call Herbivorous, 90% seeds, 12-20% body weight per Non-breeding Resident day Maturity at 85 d, annually monogamous, sometimes multi-year; simple unlined nest, anywhere, ♂ collecting, ♀ building; ♀, ♂ incubation of two 3-cm white eggs for 14 d; 1-6 broods/yr; nestling period 12-15 d Most hunted species in U.S., >20 million birds annually, high r St. Tammany Parish