Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey at Mesa Verde.
Benjamin Franklin would have preferred to have the "wild turkey"to be the national symbol of the Untied States.

The "wild turkey" usually get around by walking or running.  They roost  overnight in tall trees.
There are only 2 species, The North American or the Ocellated Turkey of Central America.

They live in the woods , mountains,forest or wooded swamps.  They eat in the morning or evenings.  The he usually lays 10 to 15 eggs.    It takes them several months to be fully growen.

DesertDale took these photos at Mesa Verde.  Kitfoxgal

American Robin

 The Robin is a very common bird.  They are known for their dark  back and brick-red breast.  Dark stripes on a white throat.  Their head and tail of the males are blackish.  The females are grayer.

The young robin has a speckled breast but has a rusty wash to it..

Four little ones chirping for their food from Mommy Robin. 

Robins at Midge's in Wyoming

 The American Robin is a very common bird.  There was many at our site in Centennial.  This Mommie Robin was out looking for food for her 3 babies.
DesertDale was able to take these, with a lot of patience, at our last site in Wyoming.

They are sometimes seen walking  erect    Young birds has a speckled breast, but the rusty wash identifies it.

This robin was spotted at the Organ Trail Ruts in June.
They are seen from Alaska, Canada to southern Mexico.
You can find them in the city, towns, farmland, forests, and winter berry-bearing tees.

What a thrill it was to see Mom Robin feeding her young.

Kitfoxgal

Rufous-Crowned Sparrow

 The Rufous-Crowned Sparrow was photo at Yellowstone.
They are in long-tailed skulker of rocky, bushy hillsides and canyons areas.  More often heard then seen.

They have a rusty crown, white eye-ring, heavy dark whisker marks.  Their twit are a short jumble of notes.  They are found in the south-west part of U.S.
Kitfoxgal

Dark-Eyed Junco (Oregon)

 The Dark-Eyed Junco  was called the Oregon Junco,  now are called the Dark-Eyed Junco.    They are widespread in the west.

 They rarely seen in the east.  The males has a solid black or slaty hood.  Chestnut back,  rusty sides.

The females are paler, with gray hood.Their nest is almost always on the ground.  There usully 3 to 5, rarly are there 6.  Bothe parents feed their young.  They do come to bird feeders.

Marsh Wrewn

 The Marsh Wren is one of those birds that is heard more then see. They are found in cattails, bulrushes of the very dense marshes.

 They sing in the open.  They pop up just to investigate odd noises.

Their nest is a globe-shaped mass attached to stems above the water.  The males defends the nesting area.  The males may have 2 or more mates.   The adult often puncture the eggs of other birds nesting near by.  The male also builds several incomplete nests in their territory, made by cattails , bulrushes or bushes in marsh, usually just above the water.  Both parents feed their young.

Red-Winged Blackbird

Sorry folks, been on vacation.

This Red-Winged Black Bird found his dinner.  The males are black , with bright red epaulets.  Most of the time the red is concealed and only the yellow will show.  The immature males are a sooty brown ,mottle, but with red shoulders.

This is a female Yellow-headed Blackbird.  They are smaller and browner: with the yellow in the throat and chest,

They are found from Canada to West Indies, Costa Rica.  They breed in marshes, brushy swamps, hay fields, also in cultivate land and a long edges of water.

Enjoy Kitfoxgal