[Mallard]

Mallard

The Mallard is the most recognizable of ducks.  It is common throughout North America and Eurasia.  Where is does not occur naturally, it had likely been introduced.

Gayle

[Moorhen]

Moorhen

The Common Moorhen, or Gallinule, is found nearly world-wide except in polar regions and tropical rain forests.  It is a member of the rail family and is closely related to coots.  It is found around ponds and marshes.  A distinguishing feature is the red facial shield.  An interesting survival strategy is the pre-fledged chicks will cling to the parent’s body in the face of danger and the parent will then fly off.  They are plentiful in the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.  Photograph from Cornell.

Gayle

A progress report n the DAR chicks is found here:  http://www.savingcranes.org/migration-news-november-24-2010.html

Gayle

Hurray!  Those kids will be delighted!

I am impressed with your Photoshopping, Dale!

The predominant color on its breast is lilac!

[Lesser Scaup]

Lesser Scaup

The Lesser Scaup is one of the more common diving ducks with wide distribution.  It does migrate to Central America.  It prefers fresh water.  This is a drake in non-breeding plumage that I found in a pond in the San Francisco Baylands.

Gayle

[Lilac-breasted Roller]

Lilac-breasted Roller

This is another beautiful sub-Saharan bird.  It is about 14 inches tall.  It has an interesting feeding strategy.  It perches high on the outer exposed branches, showing off its brilliant coloration.  Insects think it is a flower and by the time they figure it out, it is too late!

Photograph is a screen capture from safari.tv.

Gayle

[One more Killdeer!]

One more Killdeer!

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has an aviary built right over the water where injured birds live.  Waves lap in giving the shore birds their normal food in a natural setting.  One can see eye-to-eye with the birds.

I am struck by the number of "K" birds there are in New Zealand.  The K sound must be predominate in the Maori language.

Gayle

[Woodland Kingfisher]

Woodland Kingfisher

The Woodland Kingfisher is another beautiful sub-Saharan kingfisher.  It does migrate to the equatorial zone in the dry season.  It hunts its food from a perch in a tree   Food includes insects as well as fish and small crustaceans.  On safaris, we frequently see this bird preening after dips in the water. Photograph is a screen capture from safari.tv.  It has a lovely trill call:  http://macaulaylibrary.org/search.do

Gayle

[Pied Kingfisher]

Pied Kingfisher

The Pied Kingfisher is thought to be the third most common kingfisher.  It is resident in sub-Saharan Africa and west Asia.  It does not migrate.  It hovers over water to catch fish and crustaceans.  Photograph is a screen shot from Pete's Pond in Botswana.

Gayle

this is one of my favorite backyard jay photos.

Patti, this is a wonderful photograph!  It illustrates to me that the only useful purpose for snow is to provide beautiful backdrops!

Gayle
A transplanted northerner

[Parasitic Jaeger]

Parasitic Jaeger

The Parasitic Jaeger, also known as the Arctic Skua. can be found in far northern latitudes in North America and Europe.  I have seen them several times, but they are mere black dots on my photographs!

Dale, they are also kleptoparasites!  But it does not involve regurgitation!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitic_Jaeger

It was the Smithsonian Bird of the month.  There is a fine description of it here:
 http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/featured_birds/default.cfm?bird=Parasitic_Jaeger

Gayle

[Red Jungle Fowl]

Red Jungle Fowl

I found this Red Jungle cock on the island of Kauai.  Jungle Fowl were brough to Hawaii by the first Polynesians.  It is thought to be the ancestor of the modern chicken apparently based on observations made by Darwin.  Indeed it reminded me of the Leghorns back home on the farm (physical shape and features, not coloration).  Pure bred jungle fowl are thought to be near extinction.   Examples remain in Asia...Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.  I even found a Jungle Fowl organization:  http://dqcleanchicken.com/junglefowl/

Gayle