Bird ABCs - D

[dale]

dark-backed wood quail
a lovely, nearly spherical being.

the picture is from mangoverde, http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/picpages/pic37-19-1.html

their song:
http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/EGHCOFEENE/Dark-backed_Wood-quail1.mp3

[dale]

Dwarf Cassowary

The Karam of the New Guinea Highlands identify
bats and flying birds
as one classification (yaket), and the Dwarf Cassowary,
an extremely large wingless,
flightless
bird
as another classification (kobtiy). Whereas yaket are bony
with wings and fly in the air, kobtiy are bony without wings
and are terrestrial, of the forest. Kobtiy are different from other bony
wingless animals in that kobtiy are not
quadrupedal, like dogs and lizards,
and
are not
limbless, like
snakes.


(text from wikipedia; line breaks mine)

[anneintoronto]

D is for Downey Woodpecker

This is the smallest woodpecker in North America. It has a white back, black nape and black wings with white spotting. Its undersides are white. Its face is white with black stripes, with a black, stubby beak and the back of its head has a red patch. Its tail is black with black-spotted or barred white outer tail feathers.

I have been awakened by this little woodpecker, which can rival larger woodpeckers for loudness!! 

[Annette]

Dickcissel

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

[Patti from Kentucky]

D is for Dipper (American Dipper).  We took this photo in Yellowstone in fall, but we've seen dippers diving under rushing water in many western mountainous national parks.  They feed mostly on aquatic insects but will also eat fish eggs and even small fish.

[dale]

but, Patti...his feet are all wet!

[Patti from Kentucky]

but, Patti...his feet are all wet!

Yes, I could have posted the photo with his entire head underwater, but then you wouldn't have been able to see much of him.

[Patti from Kentucky]

D is also for Dark-eyed Junco.  Here are two samples:

1)  The first is the "slate-colored" variety, which we took in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where they nest once the elevation gets over about 5000 feet.  They usually don't summer this far south, but make an exception for the higher elevations of the Appalachians.

2) The second is the Oregon variety, which we took in the Bighorn Mountains of central Wyoming.

[gayle]

Dark-eyed Junco

Here is a Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon race from my feeder.

Gayle

[gayle]

Dowitcher

Mostly, I love the name!  It has a vaguely sinister ring to it!  Can be noticed by sewing macine approach to eating!  The long-billed dowitcher has a wide range and can by found near fresh water.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-billed_Dowitcher/id

The short-billed breeds in the far north and winters on southern coasts.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Short-billed_Dowitcher/lifehistory

The short-billed has an engaging song.

http://macaulaylibrary.org/search.do

Gayle

[MAK]

The Dunlin is a familiar shorebird around the world, where its bright reddish back and black belly, and long, drooping bill distinguish it from nearly all other shorebirds. It breeds across the top of both North America and Eurasia, and winters along coasts around the northern hemisphere.


Mourning Dove..
(Zenaida macroura)
Cool fact: Mourning Doves feed their nestlings crop milk or "pigeon milk," which is secreted by the crop lining. This is an extremely nutritious food with more protein and fat than is found in either cow or human milk. Crop milk, which is regurgitated by both adults, is the exclusive food of hatchlings for three days, after which it is gradually replaced by a diet of seeds. 

[Donna]

D is for Donald Duck:

C'mon, we all grew up with him! He counts right?  

Donald Fauntleroy Duck is an American cartoon character from The Walt Disney Company. Donald is a white anthropomorphic duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He usually wears a sailor shirt, cap, and a red bow tie, but no trousers (except when he goes swimming). Donald's most famous personality trait is his easily provoked and explosive temper. Donald Duck has been officially honored as the third most popular cartoon character of all time.

Daisy Duck too! 

[MAK]

 

[Bird Crazy]

 

[Patti from Kentucky]

but, Patti...his feet are all wet!

Yes, I could have posted the photo with his entire head underwater, but then you wouldn't have been able to see much of him.

OK...having had another burst of motivation, I decided to post the picture of the American Dipper in fishing mode: