The genus name Cathartes (kath-ARE-tis) is from the Greek, meaning cleanser, hence scavenger. The species name aura (OW-rah) is a South American or Mexican name from the Latinized name aurum for gold.
Black-crowned Night Heron
Caspian Tern
Bonaparte's Gull
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Mountain Bluebird
The Mountain Bluebird, sometimes called the “prairie bluebird” (Dunne), is a bird of open grasslands. It is seen most frequently in Central and Eastern Washington. It enjoys a wide range of habitats including an altitudinal range from grasslands to open areas in forests, to alpine tundra (Alderfer).
Sage Thrasher
American Golden Plover and Pacific Golden Plover
Willet
Red-throated Loon
Steller's Jay
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Siskin
The genus name Carduelis (Card-dyou-EE-liss) is from the Latin carduus, thistle (eats seeds of thistle). The species name pinus (PINE-us) is Latin for pine which is its common name apparently from the siskin of Europe, a yellow-green finch. Siskin apparently is derived from Danish sidsken or Swedish siska, a “chirper.”
