Title: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Patti from Kentucky on 16-Nov-10, 10:24:33 PM
I pity the letter I, if my personal stash of bird photos is representative. I've only got: I is for Ibis.
Below are two samples, both from Florida:
1) Scarlet Ibis
2) White Ibis
Below are two samples, both from Florida:
1) Scarlet Ibis
2) White Ibis
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Donna on 16-Nov-10, 10:34:15 PM
Indigo Bunting I think this is one. My sis took this pics in her yard but I didn't caption the pic.
The Indigo Bunting is a small bird, with a length of 11.5–13 cm (4.5–5 in). It displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration; the male is a vibrant blue in the summer and a brown color during the winter months, while the female is brown year-round. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate. Nest-building and incubation are done solely by the female. The diet of the Indigo Bunting consists primarily of insects during the summer months and seeds during the winter months.
(WIKI)
The Indigo Bunting is a small bird, with a length of 11.5–13 cm (4.5–5 in). It displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration; the male is a vibrant blue in the summer and a brown color during the winter months, while the female is brown year-round. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate. Nest-building and incubation are done solely by the female. The diet of the Indigo Bunting consists primarily of insects during the summer months and seeds during the winter months.
(WIKI)
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: dale on 16-Nov-10, 10:51:57 PM
Donna, that looks totally indigo!
all blue birds are OK by me. INDIGO. 'nuf said.
photo from here: http://thundafunda.com/33/animals-pictures-nature/indigo-bunting-pictures.php
all blue birds are OK by me. INDIGO. 'nuf said.
photo from here: http://thundafunda.com/33/animals-pictures-nature/indigo-bunting-pictures.php
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: dale on 16-Nov-10, 10:55:55 PM
here, by the way, is the female. A no-indigo indigo. You go girl.
I got this photo from this site, a nice site.
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek030515.html
I got this photo from this site, a nice site.
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek030515.html
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: dale on 16-Nov-10, 10:56:38 PM
shoot. I just canNOT seem to remember to sign these posts.
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: dale on 16-Nov-10, 11:07:56 PM
Patti, that scarlet ibis is...well...scarlet. At least "I" is highly pigmented.
Dale (hey I did it)
Dale (hey I did it)
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: gayle on 16-Nov-10, 11:41:02 PM
I is for Ivory-billed Woodpecker
The last confirmed sighting of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker was in 1948. This largest American woodpecker was spectacular! The birding and non- birding world alike were caught up in the excitement of a possible sighting in 2005 in the Big Woods area of Arkansas. A few seconds of video tape blurred images renewed hope that the bird had escaped extinction. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and two universities mounted lengthy explorations, but no confirmed sightings were made.
While not related, the Ivory-billed woodpecker resembled the Pileated Woodpecker.
The story of the search can be found here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ivory-billed_Woodpecker/id
Wikipedia has interesting information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_billed_woodpecker
Illustration is a painting by Audubon published by Wikipedia.
Gayle
The last confirmed sighting of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker was in 1948. This largest American woodpecker was spectacular! The birding and non- birding world alike were caught up in the excitement of a possible sighting in 2005 in the Big Woods area of Arkansas. A few seconds of video tape blurred images renewed hope that the bird had escaped extinction. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and two universities mounted lengthy explorations, but no confirmed sightings were made.
While not related, the Ivory-billed woodpecker resembled the Pileated Woodpecker.
The story of the search can be found here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ivory-billed_Woodpecker/id
Wikipedia has interesting information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_billed_woodpecker
Illustration is a painting by Audubon published by Wikipedia.
Gayle
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: dale on 17-Nov-10, 12:20:54 AM
two Imperial Eagles -
Eastern Imperial Eagle and
Iberian (Spanish) Imperial Eagle
wikipedia
There's also an Indian Spotted Eagle
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Indian_Spotted_Eagle
http://naturechronicles.com/gallery/v/Feather/Eagle_IndianSpotted+4076_fcw.jpg.html
Eastern Imperial Eagle and
Iberian (Spanish) Imperial Eagle
wikipedia
There's also an Indian Spotted Eagle
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Indian_Spotted_Eagle
http://naturechronicles.com/gallery/v/Feather/Eagle_IndianSpotted+4076_fcw.jpg.html
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: anneintoronto on 17-Nov-10, 12:30:53 AM
I is for Inca Dove
Inca Dove: Small dove with scaled, pale gray-brown upperparts, white throat, and scaled, pale buff (often with pink wash) underparts. The tail is long and squared with a black-bordered gray center and edged in white. Black bill, pink legs and feet. Direct flight with rapid wing beats. [Whatbird.com]
Apparently found in the South-West United States. Has anyone ever seen one?
Anne in Toronto
Photo by Jeff Mohamed: SE Texas Birding & Wildlife Watching
Inca Dove: Small dove with scaled, pale gray-brown upperparts, white throat, and scaled, pale buff (often with pink wash) underparts. The tail is long and squared with a black-bordered gray center and edged in white. Black bill, pink legs and feet. Direct flight with rapid wing beats. [Whatbird.com]
Apparently found in the South-West United States. Has anyone ever seen one?
Anne in Toronto
Photo by Jeff Mohamed: SE Texas Birding & Wildlife Watching Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: anneintoronto on 17-Nov-10, 12:43:46 AM
I is for Iceland Gull
Overview
Iceland Gull: Large, white gull, pale, pearl-gray back and upper wings. Bill is yellow, red spot at tip of lower mandible. Wing tips sometimes marked with pale to dark gray. White tail; legs and feet are pink. Direct flight with strong deep wing beats. Soars on thermals and updrafts. [Whatbird.com]
Range and Habitat
Iceland Gull: Breeds in southern Greenland, southern Baffin Island, northwestern Quebec, and on islands in northern Hudson Bay. Spends winters in Europe, Iceland, and eastern North America south to New Jersey. Nests on rocky coasts, on tall cliffs; prefers coastal habitats in harbors, large reservoirs, and nearby landfills. [Whatbird.com]
I have only seen this gull once, when in Cape Breton, during a family camping trip...
Had forgotten all about it, until I went in search of I Birds.
It's nice to find an old memory!!
Anne in Toronto
Photo by Marcel Gauthier www.notason.com
Overview
Iceland Gull: Large, white gull, pale, pearl-gray back and upper wings. Bill is yellow, red spot at tip of lower mandible. Wing tips sometimes marked with pale to dark gray. White tail; legs and feet are pink. Direct flight with strong deep wing beats. Soars on thermals and updrafts. [Whatbird.com]
Range and Habitat
Iceland Gull: Breeds in southern Greenland, southern Baffin Island, northwestern Quebec, and on islands in northern Hudson Bay. Spends winters in Europe, Iceland, and eastern North America south to New Jersey. Nests on rocky coasts, on tall cliffs; prefers coastal habitats in harbors, large reservoirs, and nearby landfills. [Whatbird.com]
I have only seen this gull once, when in Cape Breton, during a family camping trip...
Had forgotten all about it, until I went in search of I Birds.
It's nice to find an old memory!!
Anne in Toronto
Photo by Marcel Gauthier www.notason.comTitle: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Annette on 17-Nov-10, 01:50:30 AM
Ibisbill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibisbill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibisbill)
Picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/mohanram_rk/2395711107/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibisbill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibisbill)
Picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/mohanram_rk/2395711107/
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: anneintoronto on 17-Nov-10, 03:37:09 AM
There's also an Indian Spotted Eagle
Will you look at those HUGE, EXTRAORDINARILY YELLOW FEET on this Indian Spotted Eagle!!! Wow!!!
A very impressed Anne in Toronto :penguinspin:
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: anneintoronto on 17-Nov-10, 04:00:44 AM
I is for Ivory Gull
Overview
Ivory Gull: A pure white gull whose entire life is restricted to the edge of the floating pack ice. Legs dark, bill dusky with yellow tip. It eats fish, insects, lemmings and crustaceans, and is also an active scavenger. Buoyant, graceful flight. Often flies with feet trailing and dangling below. [Whatbird.com]
Range and Habitat
Ivory Gull: Nearly always associated with drifting pack ice in the very northern reaches of the arctic. Circumpolar and found in Siberia, Canada, Greenland, and other Arctic land masses. [Whatbird.com]
Did you know that a group of gulls can be labelled with many collective nouns, including a "flotilla", "gullery", "screech", "scavenging", and "squabble" of gulls. Yeah, I didn't either! :rofl:
Anne in Toronto
Photo by Shirley Gallant 2008 http://www.sonnys.ca/
Overview
Ivory Gull: A pure white gull whose entire life is restricted to the edge of the floating pack ice. Legs dark, bill dusky with yellow tip. It eats fish, insects, lemmings and crustaceans, and is also an active scavenger. Buoyant, graceful flight. Often flies with feet trailing and dangling below. [Whatbird.com]
Range and Habitat
Ivory Gull: Nearly always associated with drifting pack ice in the very northern reaches of the arctic. Circumpolar and found in Siberia, Canada, Greenland, and other Arctic land masses. [Whatbird.com]
Did you know that a group of gulls can be labelled with many collective nouns, including a "flotilla", "gullery", "screech", "scavenging", and "squabble" of gulls. Yeah, I didn't either! :rofl:
Anne in Toronto
Photo by Shirley Gallant 2008 http://www.sonnys.ca/ Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Annette on 17-Nov-10, 05:42:32 AM
Iiwi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBI%CA%BBiwi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBI%CA%BBiwi)
Pictures http://tinyurl.com/2aqm5gc (http://tinyurl.com/2aqm5gc)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBI%CA%BBiwi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBI%CA%BBiwi)
Pictures http://tinyurl.com/2aqm5gc (http://tinyurl.com/2aqm5gc)
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: annieinelkhart on 17-Nov-10, 08:07:55 AM
Ibis was my first and only one for the letter I guess I didn't get up early enough! Love those birds and can't wait to see more in Florida!!
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Donna on 17-Nov-10, 08:18:48 AM
Iiwi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBI%CA%BBiwi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBI%CA%BBiwi)
Pictures http://tinyurl.com/2aqm5gc (http://tinyurl.com/2aqm5gc)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBI%CA%BBiwi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBI%CA%BBiwi)
Pictures http://tinyurl.com/2aqm5gc (http://tinyurl.com/2aqm5gc)
Never heard of this bird but wow so pretty. Thanks Annette! I'iwi....who knew. How do you even say that? EYE-E-WE? ???
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Annette on 17-Nov-10, 08:32:38 AM
Never heard of this bird but wow so pretty. Thanks Annette! I'iwi....who knew. How do you even say that? EYE-E-WE? ???
I do not know. :(Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: dale on 17-Nov-10, 08:38:28 AM
Never heard of this bird but wow so pretty. Thanks Annette! I'iwi....who knew. How do you even say that? EYE-E-WE? ???
dictionary.com says ee-EE-we.
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Donna on 17-Nov-10, 08:42:37 AM
Never heard of this bird but wow so pretty. Thanks Annette! I'iwi....who knew. How do you even say that? EYE-E-WE? ???
dictionary.com says ee-EE-we.
:devil: alrighty then! :clap:
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: MAK on 17-Nov-10, 08:49:31 AM
:clap: Wow the Indian Spotted Eagle is a gorgeous bird! So is the Iiwi! There's so much beauty in the natural world that it often times gets me all choked up! Great job everyone!!! :yes:
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Kris G. on 17-Nov-10, 11:51:49 AM
Indian Cuckoo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8225770@N06/2388102175/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8225770@N06/2388102175/)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8225770@N06/2388102175/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8225770@N06/2388102175/)
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: anneintoronto on 17-Nov-10, 01:39:13 PM
I is for Icteria virens or the Yellow-breasted Chat.
Despite its bright yellow chest, loud song, and conspicuous display flights, the Yellow-breasted Chat is easily overlooked because of its skulking nature and the denseness of its brushy haunts. Long considered the largest of the wood-warblers, genetic data suggest that it is not a warbler at all.
Adult Description:
•Medium-sized songbird.
•Bright yellow chest and throat.
•Olive-green back.
•White spectacles.
•White belly and undertail.
•Long tail.
The above information from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds
One can see these birds right across the USA and southern Canada, during the Summer Breeding Season...
Anne in Toronto
Photo by Arthur Morris, Birds as Art
Despite its bright yellow chest, loud song, and conspicuous display flights, the Yellow-breasted Chat is easily overlooked because of its skulking nature and the denseness of its brushy haunts. Long considered the largest of the wood-warblers, genetic data suggest that it is not a warbler at all.
Adult Description:
•Medium-sized songbird.
•Bright yellow chest and throat.
•Olive-green back.
•White spectacles.
•White belly and undertail.
•Long tail.
The above information from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds
One can see these birds right across the USA and southern Canada, during the Summer Breeding Season...
Anne in Toronto
Photo by Arthur Morris, Birds as ArtTitle: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: anneintoronto on 17-Nov-10, 02:09:40 PM
I is for Island Scrub-Jay
Island Scrub-Jay: Medium-sized, crestless jay with gray-brown back and blue wings. Upper breast, throat, and chin are white with streaks. Head is blue with gray mask and narrow white eyebrow. Tail and undertail coverts are blue. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is grayer overall with breast streaks and dark gray tail. [whatbirdwbu.com]
Range and Habitat:
Island Scrub-Jay: Restricted to Santa Cruz Island, about 20 miles off the coast of California. [whatbirdwbu.com]
A group of jays can be called a "band", "cast", "party", and "scold" of jays.
Anne in Toronto
Photo taken on Santa Cruz island by Callie Bowdish -
the photo on the right is the Island Scrub-Jay. On the left is a Western Scrub-Jay
Island Scrub-Jay: Medium-sized, crestless jay with gray-brown back and blue wings. Upper breast, throat, and chin are white with streaks. Head is blue with gray mask and narrow white eyebrow. Tail and undertail coverts are blue. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is grayer overall with breast streaks and dark gray tail. [whatbirdwbu.com]
Range and Habitat:
Island Scrub-Jay: Restricted to Santa Cruz Island, about 20 miles off the coast of California. [whatbirdwbu.com]
A group of jays can be called a "band", "cast", "party", and "scold" of jays.
Anne in Toronto
Photo taken on Santa Cruz island by Callie Bowdish -the photo on the right is the Island Scrub-Jay. On the left is a Western Scrub-Jay
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Patti from Kentucky on 17-Nov-10, 06:47:12 PM
Ibis was my first and only one for the letter I guess I didn't get up early enough! Love those birds and can't wait to see more in Florida!!
Hey Annie, I bet none of us minds either extra pictures or extra information about any bird species, so please don't feel like you can't post something if somebody's already done it. Dale and I have done dueling Harris's Hawks, I believe to no detriment to the fun!
Patti
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: dale on 17-Nov-10, 08:21:30 PM
Yeah, this isn't a competition!!!
There are LOTS of birds that have had multiple posts, and lucky birds they are!
dale
There are LOTS of birds that have had multiple posts, and lucky birds they are!
dale
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Paul Hamilton on 17-Nov-10, 09:00:26 PM
I is for White Ibis
One can never have too many Ibis, so here are a few from Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. I like to watch them root around with their big, curved beaks. The juveniles are brown.
Paul
One can never have too many Ibis, so here are a few from Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. I like to watch them root around with their big, curved beaks. The juveniles are brown.
Paul
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Dumpsterkitty on 17-Nov-10, 09:46:22 PM
Wile browsing on the Daily Squee (an I can haz ceezburger subsidiary) I found this one appropriate to today...
With the ID found in the comments...
Kim says:
November 17, 2010 at 1:10 pm
‘Tis an “Inca Tern”. I knew it had to be some sort of tern, and just googled “black tern white curls on eyes”, haha.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_tern
Xylia says:
November 17, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I don’t know what species this is, but I recognize the place it was taken, weirdly enough. I visited the National Aviary in Pittsburgh last weekend and I have photos of these exact birds on the same rail. Kind of weird to see this!
Reply
Dionna M Gregory says:
November 17, 2010 at 1:13 pm
The bird is an Inca Tern. Beautiful bird found in Chile and Peru!
Ei
With the ID found in the comments...
Kim says:
November 17, 2010 at 1:10 pm
‘Tis an “Inca Tern”. I knew it had to be some sort of tern, and just googled “black tern white curls on eyes”, haha.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_tern
Xylia says:
November 17, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I don’t know what species this is, but I recognize the place it was taken, weirdly enough. I visited the National Aviary in Pittsburgh last weekend and I have photos of these exact birds on the same rail. Kind of weird to see this!
Reply
Dionna M Gregory says:
November 17, 2010 at 1:13 pm
The bird is an Inca Tern. Beautiful bird found in Chile and Peru!
Ei
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Aafke on 18-Nov-10, 02:16:44 PM
Wile browsing on the Daily Squee (an I can haz ceezburger subsidiary) I found this one appropriate to today...
With the ID found in the comments...
Kim says:
November 17, 2010 at 1:10 pm
‘Tis an “Inca Tern”. I knew it had to be some sort of tern, and just googled “black tern white curls on eyes”, haha.
With the ID found in the comments...
Kim says:
November 17, 2010 at 1:10 pm
‘Tis an “Inca Tern”. I knew it had to be some sort of tern, and just googled “black tern white curls on eyes”, haha.
Thanks Ei, what a beautiful bird, I never heard of it.
greetings Aafke
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Aafke on 18-Nov-10, 03:43:40 PM
I is for Indian Goose or Bar-headed Goose
The Bar-headed Goose is one of the world's highest flying birds, having been seen at up to 10,175 m (33,382 feet). The Bar-headed Goose migrates over the Himalayas to spend the winter in parts of India. The bird can fly the 1000-mile migration route in just one day as it is able to fly in the jet stream.
The bird is pale grey and is easily distinguished from any of the other grey geese of the genus Anser by the black bars on its head.
greetings Aafke
The Bar-headed Goose is one of the world's highest flying birds, having been seen at up to 10,175 m (33,382 feet). The Bar-headed Goose migrates over the Himalayas to spend the winter in parts of India. The bird can fly the 1000-mile migration route in just one day as it is able to fly in the jet stream.
The bird is pale grey and is easily distinguished from any of the other grey geese of the genus Anser by the black bars on its head.
greetings Aafke
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Aafke on 18-Nov-10, 04:22:33 PM
After reading about the Ibis, (great pictures Patti and Paul) I remembered that I saw a group of them one day.
the I is for Ibis, the African Sacred Ibis
from Wikipedia:
The African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is a species of wading bird of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae, which breeds in sub-Saharan Africa, southeastern Iraq, and formerly in Egypt, where it was venerated and often mummified as a symbol of the god Thoth. the Ibis was according to Herodotus and Pliny the Elder also invoked against incursions of serpents. It was also said that the flies that brought pestilence died immediately upon propitiatory sacrifices of this bird.
Years ago we heard that there was a group of Sacred Ibisses in our neighborhood, they came from Iraq. We found them and I could take this blurry picture, it's my only proof that I saw them.
Here a better picture of the Sacred Ibis
http://www.vogeldagboek.nl/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=18933
http://www.vogeldagboek.nl/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=6046
greetings Aafke
the I is for Ibis, the African Sacred Ibis
from Wikipedia:
The African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is a species of wading bird of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae, which breeds in sub-Saharan Africa, southeastern Iraq, and formerly in Egypt, where it was venerated and often mummified as a symbol of the god Thoth. the Ibis was according to Herodotus and Pliny the Elder also invoked against incursions of serpents. It was also said that the flies that brought pestilence died immediately upon propitiatory sacrifices of this bird.
Years ago we heard that there was a group of Sacred Ibisses in our neighborhood, they came from Iraq. We found them and I could take this blurry picture, it's my only proof that I saw them.
Here a better picture of the Sacred Ibis
http://www.vogeldagboek.nl/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=18933
http://www.vogeldagboek.nl/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=6046
greetings Aafke
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: anneintoronto on 18-Nov-10, 10:59:59 PM
Aafke! Those African Sacred Ibis, are some of the most astonishing looking birds I've ever seen!! Wow! No wonder it was venerated and often mummified [it looks half mummified when it's still alive!!] as a symbol of the god Thoth. That's quite a compliment, as Thoth is one of the most venerated deities of Egypt, were he was associated with the system of writing, the development of science and the arts of magic!! [basic info from Wikipedia]
Anne in Toronto
Here is a depiction of the Egyptian god Thoth -- in one of his forms as an ibis headed man. [also from Wikipedia]
Anne in Toronto
Here is a depiction of the Egyptian god Thoth -- in one of his forms as an ibis headed man. [also from Wikipedia]
Title: Re: The ABCs of Birds - Letter I
Post by: Donna on 18-Nov-10, 11:17:51 PM
They are absolutely cool looking birds. Just curious what they are doing on that Sheep? Picking bugs, I hope. Very very nice pics Aafke. :thumbsup: