The Wood Duck (WODU) is about 18.5” long with a wingspan of 30” and weight of 1.3 lb. (600g). The genus name Aix (AIKS) is from Greek, aix, a water bird.
Varied Thrust
Vaux's Swift
Wandering Tattler
The genus name Heteroscelus (heh-teh-ROSS-keh-lus) is from the Greek heteros, meaning “other” or “different”, and skelos, for “leg” which alludes to legs of this species being different from other sandpipers. The tarsus is scutellated instead of reticulated at the back. “Scutellated” is when the bare skin of the tarsus is a horny skin cut up into overlapping scales like shingles on a roof.
Peregrine Falcon
Black-Capped Chickadee
Barrow's Goldeneye
American Robin
Cheerily cheery cheerily cheery. Cheerily cheer-up cheerily cheerio. The morning song of the Robin is our avian alarm clock that begins just before dawn. Now that we may be leaving our windows open a bit at night we become more aware of our neighborhood robin which typically sings from the same perch every morning.
Cliff Swallow
Whimbrel
The genus name Numenius (new-MEAN-ih-us) is Latin from the Greek noumenios, of the new moon; curve of bill is likened to new crescent moon. The species name phaeopus (FEE-oh-pus) is from the Greek phaios, gray, and pous, foot, gray-foot. It was named Whimbrel in England from uttered note which sounded like whim. It is a member of the curlew family.
Band-tailed Pigeon
White Wagtail
Mountain Chickadee
Harlequin Duck
The Pacific Harlequin is the only duck in the world that divides its time between oceans and mountains. It spends summers in turbulent mountain streams and winters in rocky coastal waters. Weighing only 1 ½ pounds, a harlequin, 16-18” in length, is about half the size of a wild mallard. The four letter code is HARL.
