Mallard
May 2012 – Eugene, Oregon
By far our most common and visible duck… I wonder if they were more rare, would they be more beautiful? The males are kind of neat with their shiny green heads. As for this pair, I have to wonder… are they a couple? or just good buddies?
Mallard
This is why we have so many Mallards… they’re prolific breeders, and good parents.
Mallard
I couldn’t resist adding the action shot…
Common Crow
May 2012 – Eugene, Oregon
Ok, I see crows all the time… there is one hanging out in the neighbors tree with a sore voice; he’s been trying to caw for a couple years, but it just comes out as a soft burp. Poor guy. The one photographed here was along a suburban driveway in Eugene, Oregon. Exotic location, eh?
House Wren
May 2012 – Sauvie Island, OR
I don’t usually include 3 similar photos like this, but had a really hard time picking a favorite from this bunch. This bird was particularly focused on signing, along the Oak Island Trail on Sauvie Island.
House Wren
House Wren
Turkey Vulture
April 2012 – Catherine Creek, WA
A number of these Turkey Vultures were riding the updrafts caused by the wind smacking into a nearby cliff. They might be ugly to look at, but they are expert fliers.
Canyon Wren
April 2012 – Catherine Creek, WA
This guy was very territorial, and a bit agitated that some interlopers were on his turf.
Canyon Wren
June 2008 – Smith Rock State Park, OR
Sometimes you only get a second for a shot… like this one. Right after I snapped this shot of a Canyon Wren in Smith Rock State Park, OR, it ducked behind the rock, never to be seen again.
Spotted Towhee
April 2012 – Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
Spotted Towhees are common lowland birds in this area.
White-breasted Nuthatch
April 2012 – Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
This White-breasted Nuthatch was gathering nesting materials (mostly bits of lichen it seems) just above the Tualatin River.
American Three-Toed Woodpecker
February 2012 – Sand Lake, WA
I was pretty excited to see this Three-Toed Woodpecker. But, he didn’t even seem to notice me. He was far more interested in ripping the bark off an old snag in search of grubs. As the name would indicate, these woodpeckers have only 3 toes per foot (other woodpeckers have 4). While these birds are widespread around the northern forests of the world, this sighting is near the southern part of their range in the western US – not a common sighting for the area. In recent years, it’s been determined that the American birds are genetically distinct from their Eurasian cousins, so the addition of “American” to the species name.
Gray Jay
February 2012 – Sand Lake, WA
Gray Jays are fairly common in alpine forests of this area. They among the tamest of birds – the boldest of them have little hesitation landing on people if there is a chance for a tasty treat. They’re also pretty smart birds; leave your food unattended for just a few moments, and they’ll figure out a way in. This explains why they have the nickname “Camp Robber”.
Common Raven
January 2011 – Grand Canyon Rim, Arizona
These intelligent birds love open spaces with lots of updrafts to soar upon… and it doesn’t hurt if there is easy food available from messy tourists.