Page numbers in italics indicate illustrations.
A
aflatoxins, 18
albatrosses, 273–74, 288, 320, 351, 352
albino birds, 338–39
antbirds, 194
ants and formic acid, 23, 244, 322
Apapane, 137
attracting birds, 6
city balconies, 9
orioles, 8
Auk, Great, 355
avian flu, 110
B
bacon fat, 7
balloons, danger to wildlife, 125–26
barometric pressure, affect on birds, 325–26
beaks. See bills bee-eating birds, 22–23
behavior
feeding, 156–59
feigning injury, 163–64
Florida Scrub-Jay, 164–66
imprinting, 150–55
intelligence, 160–61
learned vs. instinctive, 170–73
memory, 147–49
moonwalk, 162
playful, 168–69
plunge diving, 166–68
bills
adaptations, 156
brightly colored mouths on babies, 288–89
deformities, 114–15
handling and prepping food, 289–90
types of bills, 287
binoculars, 45–53
care and cleaning, 52–53
comfort and ease of use, 51
diagram of parts, 51
expense, 45
how to use, 46–48
magnification and brightness, 49–50
types of prisms, 49
what to do with old ones, 53
biodiversity, 134–35
bird brain size and structure, 146–47
bird’s nest soup, 290–92
bird-watching, 64–79
appropriate clothing, 67–68
how to spot birds in nature, 64–65
life list, 69
pishing, 65
solo vs. with other birders, 66–67
birdbaths, 7
cleaning and removing algae, 39
heated, 40
birdhouse. See nest boxes
birding ethics, 77–79
birds in trouble, 104–15
communicable diseases, 108–12
lost homing pigeons, 105–6
sick birds, 41–42, 108, 110–12, 114
trapped indoors, 104–5
when to shut down the feeder, 5, 41–42, 108, 112
birds that imitate human speech, 161
birds-of-paradise, 249
birdseed. See also sunflower seeds, thistle feed
millet, milo, and mixes, 11
Nyger (or niger) seeds, 11, 13
bittern, American, 298
Red-winged, 62, 67, 126, 194, 242, 244, 266
feeding them mealworms, 19
Western, 62
Bobwhites, 117
boobies, Blue-footed, 237
botulism, 42
bowerbirds, 249
Bramblings, 225
breeding grounds, 3
buckthorn trees, 135–36
buntings
Painted, 63
C
calcium
in bird’s nest soup, 291
in birds’ diets, 5, 16–17, 115
needs for egg production, 275
canaries, 146
in the coal mine, 122–23
cardinals, 2, 12, 81, 181, 188, 242
fighting their own reflection, 87–89
incubating eggs, 267–68
molting, 341–42
career options for bird lovers, 75
chickadees, 2, 5, 146, 181, 284
Black-capped, 2–3, 28, 201, 253
Boreal, 207–8
deformed bills, 114–15
leading other birds to food, 10, 64, 214
mating behavior, 264–65
resistance to cold weather, 305–6, 308
chickens, dark vs. white meat, 284–86
Choughs, Alpine, 283
climate change, affect on birds, 126–31
cloacae, 234
Cockatiel, 275
cocks-of-the-rock, 249
color patterns in birds, 62
Condors, California, 117, 128, 294, 352
coots, 61
Double-crested, 128
counting migrating flocks, 71–72, 74
courtship rituals, 234–40
amazing displays, 238–39
cowbirds
brood parasite behavior, 151–55
imprinting on humans, 150–51, 213
migration, 212–13
Sandhill, 117, 128, 266, 301, 340–41
Whooping, 62, 140–41, 150–51, 213, 234–35, 246
crossbills, 176
memory, 148–49
New Caledonian, 160
playful behavior, 168–69
cuckoos, European, 155
curlews, Eskimo, 138
D
DDT, affect on birds, 122–23, 139
dead birds, disposing of, 110–111
digestion, 292–93
bird poop particulars, 297–98
intestine length and function, 296
Dipper, American, 256–57
distraction display, 163–64
dodo, 138
doves, 11
Eurasian Collared, 133–34
Mourning, 34, 40, 204, 270, 327
ducks, 16, 61, 128, 168, 242, 250, 261, 300, 325, 337
Black-headed, 155
dark meat muscle fibers, 284–85
egg-laying, 274
mating behavior, 264–65
E
eagles, 20, 242, 244, 263, 294
eagles, Bald, 117, 122, 158, 217, 287, 299
endangered status, 139
nesting behavior, 21–22, 251, 257, 274
eggs, 273–76
blue, 240
formation, 234–35
indeterminate layers, 274
number of eggs laid, 273–75
egrets, 339
electronic gadgets for bird-watching, 57–58
endangered species, 139–42
EPA registration of pesticides, 124–25
ethics, birding, 77–79
Euphonia, Thick-billed, 192
eutrophication, 130–31
extinct species, 138
eyesight, 310–15
seeing color, 311–13
F
falcons, Peregrine, 36, 117, 119, 122, 218, 313
endangered status, 139
fastest flight, 357
wing shape, 351
feathers, 330–47. See also wings
attracting a mate, 334
colors, 337–41
contour, 331
drying out, 345–46
evolution of, 330
FBI database, 336
flight, designed for, 332
identifying, 335–37
making sounds with, 204–5
number of feathers on a bird, 331
parasite prevention, 344
preening, 343–44
protection, designed for, 332
size, 331
special functions, 334
tail, 347
types of, 333
wet, 342
white, 338–39
feeders
bacteria and diseases, 41–42
cleaning, 38–39
deterring rats and mice, 42–43
platform, 34
seed catchers, 43
when to shut down the feeder, 5, 41–42, 108, 112
feeding birds. See also sunflower seeds and suet
affect on migration, 3–4
bacon fat, 14
bread, 16
during nesting season, 4, 12, 16, 18
peanuts or peanut butter, 15, 18–19
uncooked rice, 17
feet
circulation in cold feet, 307
fertilizers, affect on birds, 124–25
field notebook, 59
Purple, 176
Firefinch, Red-billed, 192
Gilded, 335
flight, 349–62
fastest flyers, 357
silent, 352
skeletons, lightweight, 353
sleeping in flight, 355–56
slowest flyers, 357–58
wing shapes, 350–52
flightless birds, 354–55
Ash-throated, 262
European Pied, 153
Fork-tailed, 225
Great Crested, 262
food choices in nature, 156–59
fulmars, 319
G
gannets, 280–81
geese, 61, 81, 242, 250, 263, 266, 298, 325
Bar-headed, 356
dark meat muscle fibers, 284–85
taking over lawns, 96–97
V-formation flight, 361
gnatcatchers, 7
Blue-gray, 152
Godwit, Bar-tailed, 358
goldeneyes, Common, 204
goldfinches, 10–12, 176, 195, 210
American, 242–43
diet and nesting habits, 24
feeding behavior, 25
molting, 242–43
Nyjer seed vs. thistle feed, 13
Common, 247
Great-tailed, 35
grassland birds, 117
grebes, 229
grosbeaks, 287
Pine, 176–78
Rose-breasted, 12, 186, 201, 225, 240, 242, 265–66
grouse, 238–39, 250, 274, 294, 317
Sooty, 208
Great Black-backed, 62
Ring-billed, 179
H
Hawaii
Aubudon, 60
extinction of native birds, 117, 138
introduction of invasive species, 137
hawks, 71, 103, 220, 265, 273, 289, 314, 324, 351
Cooper’s, 103, 173, 219, 247, 276
digestion, 295–96
Harris’s, 95
Red-shouldered, 193
Red-tailed, 16, 48, 193, 218, 234, 347
riding thermal air currents, 359–61
Sharp-shinned, 71–72
hearing, 316–19
sonar or echolocation, 318–19
Black-crowned Night, 298
deterring from goldfish ponds, 98
fishing and nesting habits, 20–21, 156–57, 245–46
Great Blue, 20, 89, 128–29, 245, 266, 290, 301
honeyguides, 155
House Finch Eye Disease, 112
hummingbirds, 7, 67, 103–5, 121, 284, 298, 329, 338
aerial displays, 196–97
Anna’s, 204
Bee, 331
Calliope, 238–39
flight, 351
memory of humans, 147
migration, 31–33, 212, 219, 223
Ruby-throated, 32, 103–4, 216, 223, 242, 248–49, 264, 274, 331, 358
Rufous, 33
territorial behavior, 32, 216–17, 219, 248–49
I
ibises
White, 62
Iiwis, 137
imprinting, 150–51
Indigobird, Village, 192
insecticides, 45
insectivores, 10
integrated pest management system, 125
intelligent behaviors in birds, 160–61
introduced and invasive species, 133–37
J
jays, 5, 11, 160, 168–69, 242, 265, 287, 300
Blue, 17, 75, 85–86, 157, 322–23, 341–42, 348
blue feathers, 337–38
Florida Scrub, 164–66, 208, 263, 265
molting, 341–42
pecking at house paint, 17, 85–86
vocalizations, 193
juncos, 347
kestrels, American, 71, 262, 313
feigning injury, 163–64
kingfishers, 23
kites, Snail, 236
L
Lammergeier, 296
lead poisoning from bullets, 129– 30,293–94
lifespan of various birds, 302–4
loons, 61, 130, 229, 265, 351, 355
fishing habits, 20–21
migration, 212
processing swallowed saltwater, 286, 288
lyrebirds, 192
M
magnetic fields, 212–13, 220–21, 326–27
Mallards, 131, 234, 325, 338, 356
Club-winged, 205
Orange-and White-collared, 239
martins, Purple, 131, 134–35, 227
mating behavior
courtship displays, 238–39
extra pair copulations, 235, 265
male and female differences, 240–42
mating for life, 263–265
sexual dimorphism, 242
mayfly nymphs, 130–31
meadowlarks
Eastern, 132
how to prepare and feed to birds, 19–20
where to purchase, 19
mergansers, Common, 158
Merlins, 103
migration, 206–32
austral migrants, 231
behavior and sightings, 64
dangers of, 228–29
distances traveled, 208–9, 358
Emlen cage, 211
high-rise fatalities, 222, 228–29
hormonal changes, 214
insect populations, 224–25
isotherm, 210
magnetic fields, 212–13, 220–21, 326–27
nocturnal, 220–22
songbirds in Gulf of Mexico, 72–73, 131
star navigation, 213, 220, 222
storms, 225
trade winds and tailwinds, 212
winter behavior, 30–32
year-round residents, 224
Zugunruhe, 209–11
Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 111, 271
mimics, 190–93
mobbing owls and other predators, 198
song repertoire, 190–91
molting, 215, 242–43, 341–42, 347
controlling pond populations, 9
malaria and DDT, 122–23
N
native plants
for attracting birds, 7
replacing lawn, 121
nectar-producing plants, 9
Neotropical
year-round residents, 26
nest boxes, 7
birdhouse guidelines, 261–62
parasites, 113
predator dangers, 100
reasons why birds may die in, 113
nesting behavior, general. See also eggs caring for abandoned baby birds, 271
collecting animal fur, 251
collecting feathers, 258
helpful foods, 4–5, 12, 16, 18
incubation of eggs, 265–68
materials and locations, 252–57
returning a baby bird to its nest, 271
reusing the same nest, 250
sleeping in nests, 250–51
startle response, 270
types of nests, 257
when babies leave the nest, 272–73
Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD), 227
nighthawks, 252
eating on the wing, 159
singing in flight, 196–97
nutcrackers, Clark’s, 86
nuthatches, 115
Brown-headed, 160
O
oak trees, planting, 120–21
Oilbird, 319
attracting to feeders, 8
Ospreys, 117, 122, 139, 262, 299
owls, 128, 220, 265, 299, 300, 314, 337
Barn, feathers, 333
ear tufts, 316
Elf, 117
mobbed by other birds, 198
regurgitating pellets, 295
silent flight, 352
P
parakeets, 288
Carolina, 138
parasitic birds, 151–55
African Gray, 161
peafowl, 333
Indian, 334
peanut butter, 18–19
peanuts
harmful fungi, 18
in suet, 15
sold as bird feed, 18
pelicans, 61, 125, 237, 300, 345, 351, 356, 361
Brown, diving behavior, 166–68
Emperor, 245–46
pesticides, affect on birds, 122–24
Wilson’s Storm, 320
Red-necked, 356
pheasants, 294, 333 phoebes, 92, 202
Black, 28
pigeons, 2, 5, 11, 16, 269, 323
good things about, 36
homing, 105–6, 221, 320, 326–27
Passenger, 138
Rock, 105
pishing, 65
platform
feeder, 34
for nesting, 7
playback of bird sounds, 58
playful behavior in birds, 168–69
plovers, 118–120
Pacific Golden, 209
Piping, 118–119
Snowy, 118–119
plunge diving, 166–68
power lines and guy wires, 94–95
prairie-chickens, 249, 258, 264
Greater and Lesser, 238
preening, 343–44
Project FeederWatch, 27
protein in birds’ diets, 5, 12, 14
ptarmigans, 339
puffins, 355
Atlantic, 141–42
fishing and nesting, 20–21
Q
Quetzal, Resplendent, 334
Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD), 227
rails, 229
Common, 168
recording bird sounds, 58
Red Knot, 132
respiratory system, 281–83
breathing rates, 284
getting oxygen at high altitudes, 283
lung capacity and function, 281–82
ricebirds, 17
robins, American, 25, 89, 126, 132, 135, 264
albino, 338–39
attaching window reflections, 87–88
danger from pesticides, 122–25
diet sources, 121
eyesight, 315
gender differences, 241
instinctive behavior, 170–73
nesting behavior, 240–41, 248, 250, 262, 304
vocalization, 184–85, 189, 202–3, 241
roosting, 250–51
S
sage-grouse, 117
sapsuckers, Yellow-bellied, 10, 200, 248–49
seagulls. See gulls sense of smell, 319–22
sexual dimorphism, 242
Sooty, 209
shrikes, 194
Loggerhead, 244
Northern, 296
sick birds, 41–42, 108, 110–12, 114
sighting records, 63
skeletons, lightweight, 353
Skinner, B. F., 36
snipes, 324
Wilson’s, 205
social-weavers, African, 251
sonar or echolocation, 318–19
songbirds, 273–74, 317, 320, 324, 351
migration, 72–73, 131, 214, 220, 225
territorial needs, 243
thick flock formation, 362
Chipping, 185–186, 189, 202, 251
House, 34, 113, 134–35, 258–61, 339
Savannah, 184
Song Sparrows and cowbirds, 151–54
Swamp, 202
Vesper, 193
White-throated, 25, 184, 186– 87, 221, 225,331
spoonbill, 287
spotting scope, 54–57
zoom eyepiece, 55–56
keeping them out of birdfeeders, 37, 89
star navigation, 213, 220, 222
Wood, 325
suet
containing peanuts, 15
contamination, 15
during migration, 10
pros and cons, 14–15
spring feeding, 4
sugar water feeders
for orioles, 8
solution for hummingbirds, 30
black oil sunflower seeds, 11
budgeting cost, 5
striped sunflower seeds, 11, 34, 102
Tree, 112–13, 126, 254, 258, 262
Violet-green, 262
swans, 61, 130, 242, 263, 339, 353
Tundra, 331
swiflets, 290–91
Asian, 290
Black-nest, 290–91
Edible-nest, 290–91
swifts, 334
Black, 292
Chimney, 185
North American, 291
White-throated, 357
T
feeding them mealworms, 19
Scarlet, 120, 225, 242, 244, 338
Summer, 22–23
taste, ability to, 323
terns, 168
Arctic, 208–9
territorial behavior, 230–31, 243–49
non-territorial birds, 245–46
territory size for different birds, 243–44
thermal air currents, 359–61
thistle feed, 13
thrashers, Brown, 185
eggs, 240
Hermit, 203
Lawrence’s, 192
titmice
Oak, 262
touch receptors in tongues, 324–25
turkeys
Australian Brush, 260
dark vs. white meat, 284–86
respiratory system, 281–82
Wild, 286
V
V-formation flight, 361
vision. See eyesight vocalizations, 181–205
countersinging, 188
drumming, 199–200
duetting, 194
females who sing, 186–87
identifying bird sounds, 184–85, 201
making sounds with feathers, 204–5
mimics, 190–93
physiology that affects sound, 183, 286
singing in flight, 196–97
why birds sing, 188–90
vultures, 294, 319, 321–22, 345–46, 351, 353
Black, 322
King, 321–22
Yellow-headed, 321
W
Black-throated Blue, 229
Blackburnian, 318
Chestnut-sided, 193
Common Yellowthroat, 193
Garden, 221–22
Kirtland’s, 140
Marsh, 192
Worm-eating, 202
Yellow, 152–53
water supply, 7
backyard ponds, 9
Cedar, 135–36, 176, 296, 318, 320, 337
weather conditions, affect on birds
droughts and floods, 129–30
harsh winters and cold temperatures, 3, 305–6, 308, 332
hurricanes, 228
rising temperatures, 130–31
Wheatears, 225
widowbirds, 155
wildlife rehabilitator, 107–9, 153, 229, 271
window collisions, 6, 8, 94, 106–7
high-rise, 228–29
preventing, 90–91
wings, 350–56. See also feathers
wintering grounds, 3
woodcocks
American, 196–97, 204, 287, 315, 324, 332, 357–58
Eurasian, 357
woodpeckers, 34, 128, 194, 250–51, 287, 324
Downy, 253–54
drumming on trees or objects, 200
feathers, 334–35
hammering on a house, 81–84
nesting behavior, 252, 265, 273
Red-headed, 134
duetting, 194
House, 193, 202, 254, 262, 264, 274
nesting behavior, 244–45, 249, 261–62
Sedge, 203
Y
Yellowthroat, Common, 193
Z
Zugunruhe, 209–11