Birds of a Feather

<h1>Hello, friend of Audubon!</h1> <h3>Welcome to "Birds of a Feather," the interactive hypertext that allows you to test your birdwatching skills before you dedicate an early morning to filling up your bird log. Your knowledge of birdwatching will be measured by how many birds you see throughout your watch. There is a total of (INSERT NUMBER HERE) species. In order to spot an avian, you will need to make field decisions that will either lead you to or away from your greatest birding adventure. These choices are real and practical, as the habitats, bird call sounds, species variants, diet, and behaviors mentioned throughout this birdwatch reflect those of West-Central PA and have been triangulated with <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a>. Drawings and additional information have been borrowed for educational purposes from David Sibley's Guide: <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/sibleyguide.jpg"/> Utilize this hypertext in order to advance your birding know-how, and you'll be a regular Sibley in no time.</h3> <h2>Begin by selecting the weather [[It is freezing! The world outside is snow-covered. I don't even want to get out of bed...]] [[It's a beautiful day outside with a comfortable temperature. Just really windy!]] [[It's thunderstorming.]] [[It's dreary and grey with rain showers.]] [[It's sunny and warm! I feel like I should go swimming instead of birding...]] Don't forget your binoculars!</h2> <h1>Anytime you want to return to this page, just come back to the "Bird House."

<h1>How dedicated you must be. Though you may not want to leave the comfort of your own birdhouse, it is a perfect day for birding!</h2> <h3>Even though you can bundle up and dress in layers, the birds can't. Therefore, they will be flying around trying to speed up their heart rate in order to stay warm. Additionally, they will be out and about hunting for food more so than they would be on a finer-weathered day in order to keep energy levels high to also increase their body temperature.</h3> <h1>Where would you like to bird?</h1> <h2>[[Winter Backyard Birding]] [[Winter Road Birding]] [[Winter Water Birding]]</h2>

<h1>It's like golfing. Thunder = lightening. Grab your thunder buddy, head for cover, and don't hold a conductor. Birds also "duck" and cover during storms.</h1>

<h1>While it may be raining, it's still winter. However, don't be afraid to get a little wet, as birds don't cover from rain. Check back in March 2015 for a new hypertext of Spring migratory birds. Spring and Fall (Fall Migration updates in September 2015) provide us with some of the best and most uncommon birding sights, as many species stop and rest throughout their thousands of miles journey.</h1>

<h1>Come on, now. Who are you trying to kid? Nobody wants to swim in this weather. Check back in June 2015 to birdwatch the seasonal avians of our area!</h1>

<h1>What a feeding frenzy!</h1> <h3>Since it's colder out, the birds are flying and moving around more, trying to work up a higher heart rate. They are also hunting and eating more than they typically would on a warmer day in order to sustain a normal body temperature.<h3> <h1>Which feeder would you like to take a closer look at?</h1> [[Sunflower Seed House Feeder]] [[Suet Feeder]] <h1>[[Bird House]]</h1>

<h3>Winter Road Birding may be the best option if it is an extremely cold day. While it seems like the birding cop-out, road birding has its hawk-eye advantages. Since hawks perch in trees, on telephone poles, and sometimes, electrical wires over an open area, the road is the best place to catch view of some hawks. Also, you can see many of them flying overhead in these open areas between wood lines, hunting for food. Winter is also an excellent time for hawk-spotting, as their dark variant colors stick out against a white landscape or snow-covered branches. Just remember to put your four-ways on and remain cautious of the road and other cars around you. Always stop the car and make sure you are off of the road before picking up your binoculars in a fit of excitement to spot one of these birds of prey.</h3> [[Hawk 1]] [[Hawk 2]] [[Bird House]]

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<h1>It always helps to remember what season it is.</h1> <h3>The body of water that you wish to birdwatch near is likely frozen this time of year. Unfortunately, the birds aren't interested, either, and have re-located their winter homes to somewhere that is more habitable...like the tropics.</h3> <h1>You may want to choose another location for today<h1> [[Winter Backyard Birding]] [[Winter Road Birding]]

<h1>Visions of red, black, and white!</h1> <h3>What a color combination. The two birds at the suet feeder are definitely woodpeckers. Unfortunately, the woodpeckers common to West-Central PA during this time of year look incredibly similar. Which would you like to take a closer look at first? [[Woodpecker 1]] [[Woodpecker 2]] Or, check out other [[Winter Backyard Birding]].

<h3>This woodpecker has black wings with white coverts, giving the wings and back a checkered or spotted effect. There is a small red spot on the back of its neck. This little guy looks to be about the size of your hand. Its short beak looks to be somewhat smaller than other woodpeckers that you've seen. Based on this description, which woodpecker could it be?</h3> [[Hairy Woodpecker]] [[Downy Woodpecker]]

<h3>This woodpecker has bright red on its head. It is about the same size as the [[Hairy Woodpecker]], but with a smoother and more round appearance. Its back is barred with black and white. With that red head, it can only be one of two woodpeckers in this area:</h3> [[Red-headed Woodpecker]] [[Red-bellied Woodpecker]]

<h1>This is not the bird you're looking at...or is it?</h1> <h3>This woodpecker is larger than the size of your hand. In fact, it is nearly twice its size. The hairy woodpecker's beak is also almost equal in size to its head. Not only is the beak large, it is chisel- or thorn-like. There are also two definitive white stripes across its head, which help to distinguish it from the downy woodpecker. While these two woodpeckers look similar, the hairy woodpecker's size, beak shape, and facial stripes are its defining features in comparison to the downy. Check out the [[Downy Woodpecker]] to compare the visual differences.</h3> <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/hairywoodpecker.jpg"/> Check out [[Woodpecker 2]]?

<h1>While it may be beautiful outside, there is a silent deterrent that will make your birdwatching adventure a poor one: the wind. Imagine flying a kite in 20mph+ winds. Now imagine a bird trying to fly against 20mph+ winds. It's the same effect without a string. Watch some online birding videos and study your bird books instead, and wait for a less-windy day.</h1>

<h3>This woodpecker's red defining feature covers its entire head. This woodpecker's wings are more solid rather than barred with black and white. It is commonly known as the "flying checkerboard," due the black and white patches on the wings. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/redheadedwoody.jpg"/> Check out the [[Red-bellied Woodpecker]] to note the visual differences.</h3>

<h1>This is the bird!</h1> <h3>This woodpecker is more common than the red-headed woodpecker. The defining feature of the red-bellied woodpecker is that the bright red on its head only appears from the back of its head to the nape of its neck. Whereas, the red-headed woodpecker has an entire head of red. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/redbelliedwoody.jpg"/> Check out the [[Red-headed Woodpecker]] to note the visual differences and other characteristics, [[Woodpecker 1]] to identify the other woodpecker, or back to [[Winter Backyard Birding]] to look at a different feeder.</h3>

<h3>Sunflower seeds are an excellent choice for bird feeders. Instead of weighing down feed selections with "filler seed," black oil sunflower seeds attract many of the largely sought-after feeder birds that tend to cast the filler aside when looking for a meal. The bird feeder is in a craze! You see flashes of grey, black, white, and blue. Pick one to focus on and start identifying: [[Seed House Feeder 1]] [[Seed House Feeder 2]] [[Seed House Feeder 3]] [[Winter Backyard Birding]]

<h3>This bird is larger than other backyard birds. It is bright blue with a white underbelly with a variety of blue, black, and white on its wings and wing coverts. It also seems to be making the same calls that other present species are making. In addition, it is chasing away other birds from the feeder. With that sort of mimicking behavior and territorial behavior, you know that it has to be a jay. Maybe it's a: [[Scrub Jay]] or a</h3> [[Blue Jay]]

<h3>This bird is small with white puffy cheeks and a black head. Its underside is an off-white, while its wings are different hues of grey. It is very active and fidgety. There are also quite a few of them at the feeder. You hear two different calls, one that sounds like someone is saying "fee bee," and the other one, "hey sweetie." Friendly birds, I guess. Who's Phoebe, though? Possibilities: [[Black-capped Chickadee]] [[White-breasted Nuthatch]]

<h3>There is quite a handful of these birds at the feeder--both in the feeder and on the ground. There must be about 15 of them. This bird looks like it could sit in the palm of your hand and is solid grey-black over its entire body, with the exception of the underside, which is white. Choose one of the following that matches this description: [[Dark-eyed Junco]] [[Eastern Phoebe]]

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<h3>Based on the descriptions of this bird, everything fits but the excessively territorial attitude. While scrub jays are assertive, they tend to mind their own business. There is also no definitive crest on its head, and most important of all, it isn't a bird of PA. Western scrub jays (and similar species, the Florida scrub jay) are located in the mid-southwest of the United States. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/scrubjay.jpg"/> View the [[Blue Jay]] to note visual differences.

<h1>This is the bird!</h1> <h3>Blue jays are territorial feeders during the winter time and "bully" other birds to show dominance. Additionally, while they have their own call, they also mimic the calls of other birds, especially hawk calls. This scares other birds and the blue jay sustains its dominance as the "faux hawk." <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/bluejay.jpg"/> Its tuft is also a definitive characteristic in comparison to the scrub jay. Take a closer look at the [[Scrub Jay]] to note other differences or check out another bird at the [[Sunflower Seed House Feeder]].

<h1>This is the bird!</h1> <h3>The call of the chickadee, its appearance, and associative behaviors make this an easily identified bird. While "fee bee" and "hey sweetie" are some of its calls, the most famous would be the one that sounds like its name: "chicka-a-dee-dee-dee." The black-capped chickadee also has a short, round body and a round head that seems large in comparison to its body. Its highly active and fidgety behaviors are similar to the white-breasted nuthatch, but black-capped chickadees are more open-air birds, displaying nearly acrobatic movements. It almost looks as thought they are having fun. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/blackcappedchick.jpg"/> View the [[White-breasted Nuthatch]] to note visual differences or go back to the [[Sunflower Seed House Feeder]] and ID another bird there.

<h3>While the color patterns are similar, the behavior and call do not match your mystery bird. It has a 2-3 second duration of a series of "wha wha wha wha"s. Largest of the nuthatches, this bird is also sleek with a sharp, pointed beak. This bird's behavior, while fidgety, seems to creep along the trunks of trees instead of flying in open air to get to its destination. Additionally, you are more likely to see this bird at the suet feeder than at the sunflower seed feeder. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/nuthatch.jpg"/> Check out the [[Black-capped Chickadee]] to verify your identification.

<h1>This is the bird!</h1> <h3>These birds are extremely common in North America during the winter. Known as "snowbirds," these avians spend the winters with us and migrate northward when the temperature rises. Some juncos that live in the higher elevations of the Appalachias will stay year-round. The fact that they were ground feeding and in a large group are two of the defining characteristics of this bird, in comparison to other backyard birds. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/slatejunco.jpg"/> View the [[Eastern Phoebe]] to note visual and habitual differences or ID another bird at the [[Sunflower Seed House Feeder]].

<h3>This bird fits the visual description of the birds at the feeder, but not the behavior, diet, or habitat characteristics. Eastern Phoebes are migratory birds, so they are only with us during the summer months. It would be impossible to see an Eastern Phoebe during this time of year, especially at a feeder. Phoebes are flycatchers and tend to live near water, for that same reason. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/phoebe.jpg"/> Check out the [[Dark-eyed Junco]] to learn more identifying characteristics of that ground feeder.

<h3>This hawk seems to be extremely large. Its body is broad and has a short, wide tail that has a burnt-orange to reddish tint to it. Its body and wings are a medium brown and white interspersed. Its breast is white, with some brown spots. With that hue of a tail, it can only be one of these two birds:</h3> [[American Kestrel]] [[Red-tailed Hawk]]

<h3>This hawk is medium-sized, with a brownish body, barred wings, and a light underside. The tail is black and white striped, and fans out so that it looks like a perfect slice of pizza. Possible species: [[Red-shouldered Hawk]] [[Cooper's Hawk]]

<h3>This is North America's smallest falcon. When "large" and "broad" are identifiable features of a bird, the kestrel should never be one of the possibilities. American Kestrels have a unique color pattern, as evidenced in the photograph below. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/amkestrel.jpg"/> Visit the [[Red-tailed Hawk]] to learn more of its distinguishing features.</h3>

<h1>This is the bird!</h1> <h3>Extremely large and broad with a short reddish tail should be your key identifiable features. The largest and most common hawk of North America, the red-tailed hawk should be one of the birds in your frequent fly zone. Also, it is helpful to remember that many hawks have body color variations, called "morphs": dark, light, and rufous (red). So, the defining feature for these birds is the tail. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/redtailedhawk.jpg"/> Check out to see why, even with the red tail, the [[American Kestrel]] doesn't fit the description on the previous page or head back on the road for more [[Winter Road Birding]].</h3>

<h3>This bird has some similarities to the bird that you're trying to identify. However, three characteristics are important in recognizing why this is not a red-shouldered hawk. Firstly, red-shouldered hawks are migratory in our area and only appear during summer breeding season. Secondly, the red-shouldered hawk has cinnamon-reddish bars along the chest and patches of cinnamon on their wings (hence red-shouldered). Thirdly, the tail, which is the most identical, is shorter and gives the impression of a fan or half-circle in comparison to a large slice of pizza. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/redshoulderedhawk.jpg"/> Check out the [[Cooper's Hawk]] for more identifiable features.

<h1>This is the bird!</h1> <h3>This hawk, often confused with the sharp-shinned hawk, is our bird. It can be seen year-round, unlike the red-shouldered hawk, that has similarities in size, shape, and tail pattern. <img src="http://www.people.iup.edu/xcdp/coopershawk.jpg"/> Check out the [[Red-shouldered Hawk]] to see why it can't be that species or head back out on the road for more [[Winter Road Birding]].</h3>