January122007

Andrew Griswold, Director of EcoTravel
35 Pratt Street, Suite 201
Essex 06426
860-767-0660
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Nature Photos of the Week

December 14, 2007

Texas Specialties!

Join Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel in

"The Number One Bird State (Roger Tory Peterson)"

from April 14 - 23 for a grand loop tour that will take you from the coast, to the Rio Grand Valley, and to the "Hill Country" west of San Antonio. This is clearly the best domestic bird trip with over 275 species in 10 days. This tour is not to be missed by the serious birder or anyone who would like to get their feet wet on North American birds.

Check the itinerary here!

Note the greenish-yellow back distinguishing this bird from Scott's Oriole.

Audubon’s Oriole (fmr. Black-Headed Oriole), is a New World passerine inhabiting the forests and thickets of southeastern Texas and the Mexican coast. It is the only species to have a black hood and yellow body. It is divided into four subspecies and two allopatric breeding ranges. The westernmost range extends from Nayarit south to southern Oaxaca, whereas the eastern range stretches from the lower Rio Grande valley to northern Queratano.

The Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula is a large bird in the Cracidae family. It breeds in tropical and subtropical environments from the chaparral thickets along the Rio Grande River in southernmost Texas (named locally the 'Rio Grand Valley'), to northernmost Costa Rica. This species frequents tropical dry and moist forest, especially where interspersed with scrub and savanna. Usually found in groups of up to 15 birds, the Plain Chachalaca is furtive and wary and prefers to escape from danger by running swiftly on the ground or leaping and gliding through brushy tangles.

One of two species in this genus found in the USA, the other being Northern Pygmy-Owl.

The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl is small, typically 15 cm (6 in), and stocky with disproportionately large talons. The upperparts are brown, heavily spotted and/or streaked with white on the crown and wing coverts. The underparts are white, streaked with brown. There are prominent white supercilia above the facial disc. There are two eyespots on the nape. The tail is barred brown and black. Sexes are similar with females slightly larger and more reddish, especially on the brown in the tail. The flight is low to the ground and rapid with long swoops.

This species is crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), and often hunts by day. It can be readily located by the small birds that mob it while it is perched in a tree (up to 40 birds of 11 species have been recorded mobbing one owl). It hunts a variety of birds, lizards, mammals, and insects. The call is a whistled hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, usually in E flat. It is easily imitated, and is used by birders to attract small birds intent on mobbing and other pygmy owls.