Red-Shouldered Hawk

These photos are of a "Red-Shouldered Hawk" taken Florida in 2013.  They are found in Florida and California.  Summer in the upper-eastern parts they have become uncommon,  they stay close to the remaining forests.  They stay in the lower-eastern half year round.  There food are small mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds.

 

They usually hunts by watching from a perch.  They use hearing and sight for locating their

prey.  They usually have 3 to 4 eggs.  They may use their nest over again.  They are do not migrate in the west and south.  The northern birds do migrate but not far.

 

Windy day.  Enjoy the post.  Kitfoxgal

 

 

 

Coots-2 Babbies At Fish Lake Nevada

 These photos were taken at "Fish Lake Valley Hot Well".  They are of "Babies Coots" a few years ago.

Coots are tough, adaptable waterbirds.  They swim in the open, walk on shore  and even make their selves at home on a gulf course.  They usually are in flocks, noisy, with a good variety of calls day or night.  Often seen walking open ground.

They eat mostly plant material and much algae.  The also eat insects, tadpoles, fish, worms , also eggs of other birds.
There are some coots that migrates, mostly at night and others are permanent residents .
They may lay up to 12 eggs.    Both sexes care for the young.
Enjoy the info.  Kitfoxgal

"Lazuli Bunting" Seen At Near French Glen, Oregon

The "Lazuli Bunting" is a rare bird to DesertDale, as he took these at French Glen in Oregon.  They are found near thickets and streamside in the west.   They are common in the summer.  The females are brown .
The Lazuli and Indigo do interbreed , as their breeding range over in the Great Plains and parts of the southwest.  They have 3 to 5 eggs.  At times female does all the feeding of the young.  Sometimes the male does help in the chore of feeding the young. 
Their habitat is in open brush or streamside shrubs.  In migration and winter they are in weedy fields, open woods and brushy places.
They  diet mostly on seeds and insects.    

Enjoy the info.  Kitfoxgal

Northern Cardinal

  ********* Northern Cardinal*********The Cardinal is the state bird of at least 7 states.   They are common in the east and desert southwest.  They like woodland edges, thickets, gardens, towns and desert washes.  They eat seeds, insects and berries.  They diet mostly on vegetable matter.  The young feed mostly on insects.   The male picks their nesting territory.   Their nest are will hidden in shrubs, vines or low trees.
The females built the nest.  They are made of twigs, weeds, grass, bark strips and leaves.  They do line them with grass or hair.  The lay 2 to 5 eggs.  The young leave their nest any where from 9 to 11 after hatching.

DesertDale took these photos in Falcon State Park in Texas.

 Enjoy .  Kitfoxgal

Birding Events "Ruby-Crowed Kinglet"

This is a DesertDale's  photo of a "Ruby-Crowed Kinglet".  He is common in winter in the  woods, thickest of the south. Harder to spot in summer because the thickets are so bushy.  They flick their wings open and close, especially when they get over excited. 
The male's ruby crown patch raised only in excitement.  They eat mostly insects,  small beetles , flies, leafhoppers, true bugs and caterpillars.  They also eat spiders and pseudo scorpions, eggs of insects and spiders.   In the winter their diet may include berries and seeds. Then at times they may take oozing sap or visits flowers for the nectar.

Hope you enjoy this posting.  Another posting will follow in a few days.  Kitfoxgal