Spectacular Warbler

I took my biogeography class to the Louisiana Purchase State Park in the Little Cypress Creek Swamp. Just as I was telling the class to be on the look out for the Prothonotary Warbler because this was prime habitat for them, I heard this fellow sing out. However, the wind was blowing so hard I felt I had little chance of actually spotting this guy, let alone get some good pics, but here he is in all his glory. What a beautiful bird. The Prothonotary Warblers are only one of two warblers that nest in cavities and are named after the Roman Catholic prothonotaries (clerks) who all wore bright yellow robes.

Bird on Stilts

My wife spotted and photographed these black-necked stilts while on a field trip to the Texas coast. While these birds may be a common salt- and fresh- water resident in Texas, they were a treat for us to see. One interesting fact about these birds is their leg length to body length ratio, which is only surpassed by the flamingo.

Albino Grackle

I spotted this albino common grackle in Texas at a gas station. He was in with a flock of other common grackles, so you can imagine how he stood out in the crowd.

Tis the Season

While on a field trip with my biogeography class this pair of tufted titmice came crashing down to the ground close to where my students were standing. It didn't take long to convince my students that the pair were not injured (as they first suspected), but merely doing what birds do this time of year.

woodpeckers attack!

A downy and red-bellied woodpecker came for a visit today. Both seemed especially hungery, making several return visits to the feeder and the downy was stashing his find in the same tree as the feeder. I wonder how long it will take other visitors to find his goodies?

Exotics

Blue-crowned Pigeon

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Sarus Crane

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Spoonbills

Fulvous Whistling duck

Here are a few more pic from the Little Rock Zoo. Some of the birds I recognized and some I did not. There were not many signs up identifying the animals; that was one of the things I emailed the zoo about in their comment section online, along with a compliment on their many improvements to the park.

A Non-native Resident

A good preening and cool feet soaking

Nice crown

While waiting for migratory birds to make their way into Arkansas, here is an exotic bird who is with us all year. This Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) from the Savannah of Africa is a permanent resident of the Little Rock Zoo.