Discover the Flyway from Home – Resources for Teachers, Parents & Students
Bird I.D. 101
The birds in this photo are year-round residents, who are also known to breed, in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. Can you identify them?
Take a closer look. Do you see any clues that can help you? When you’re ready, use the link below from TheCornellLab to confirm your identification and then answer the questions below.
What is the name of this bird?
How do these birds hunt?
Are the birds in the photograph male or female? How can you tell?
Where do these birds build their nests?
Click here to open TheCornellLab page!
Are you interested in learning more about how to identify birds? Regional wetlands, community parks, local open spaces, and your own yard can all provide birding opportunities. The link below from the National Audubon Society provides eight useful tips to help you identify birds no matter where you find them. Happy birding!
https://www.audubon.org/news/how-identify-birds
Answers: Bird I.D. 101
- The name of this bird is the Belted Kingfisher.
- These birds hunt primarily by diving into the water for aquatic prey, mostly fish. They also eat crayfish and other crustaceans, insects, amphibians, reptiles, young birds, and small mammals.
- The two birds in the photo posted yesterday are both female. Females have a rust-colored belly band below a blue-gray breast band and rust-colored flanks. Compare that to the photograph of the single, diving Kingfisher, posted today. That one, a male, has a blue-gray breast band only, without the rust-colored belly band and flanks.
- Belted Kingfishers build their nests by excavating burrows along earthen banks, usually near water.
Photo credits: Lewis Kemper