Steller's Jay At Flagstaff

The Steller's Jay are very aggressive.  They visit campgrounds, picnic areas and feeding stations in the West looking for food.

 The Steller's Jay is very easy to ID.  They are dark blue, with a black-crested jay with variable white or blue markings on the head.  They are the only North American jays with crests.

They are found from Alaska to Nicaragua.  But they are more limited north   and clinal among the 8 subspecies north of Mexico.  The most distinctive subspecies is in North America.  They have a longer crest, paler back and white streaks on their forehead.

They were discovered on a  Alaskan island in 1741 by Georg Steller,

This "Little Guy" is eating on a block of feed for  quail.

Hope you enjoy the posting as much as DesertDale and Kitfoxgal did having them visit our campsite  every day ,near Flagstaff.

Northern Harriers

The "Northern Harrier" is  long-winged, long-tailed hawk that hunts flying over open fields and marshes  looking for their meal.

They perche on the ground. They seldom are perch on tall poles or trees.

They were formerly call "Marsh Hawks".  They are a medium-sized raptors.

This map was copied from Goggle.

Northern Harriers breed in wide-open habitats ranging from Arctic tundra to prairie  ending up in open habitats.

Enjoy the post.  Kitfoxgal

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.