July 2015


The Common Tern was photographed at North Beach Park in Racine, Wisconsin.

The Common Tern was photographed at North Beach Park in Racine, Wisconsin.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Common Tern

The Common Tern is a small black-capped white gull-liked bird with a gray mantel, red-orange bill (bill with black tip) and legs, and with five outer dark wedge primaries. It has a range of the Northern Hemisphere, and is the most widespread of the terns. It has a habitat of lakes, ocean, bays, and beaches. It has a diet of mostly small fish, and forages mostly by flying over water, hovering, and plunging to catch prey below the water.

The Caspian Tern was photographed at Grant Park Beach in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Caspian Tern was photographed at Grant Park Beach in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Caspian Tern

The Caspian Tern is whitish-gray with a black cap and a large reddish bill with a touch of black tip, black legs, and blacker under the primaries. It is one of the larger terns as compared with the Common Tern. Size is compared to a Herring Gull. They have a range around the world, and breed and winter around the coastlines, and inland along lakes, rivers, and marshes. They have a habitat of large lakes, coastal waters, beaches, and bays. They feed on small fish, marine life, and large insects. It rarely swims and plunges from high to catch fish under the water surface. They usually nest in large densely packed colonies, but are not sociable. They are highly vocal.

 

The male Prothonotary Warbler was photographed at Wehr Nature Center in Franklin, Wisconsin.

The male Prothonotary Warbler was photographed at Wehr Nature Center in Franklin, Wisconsin.

The female Prothonotary Warbler is duller than the male and has a lighter bill, and more white below.

The female Prothonotary Warbler is duller than the male and has a lighter bill, and more white below.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Prothonotary Warbler

The male Prothonotary Warbler has a bright yellow head and breast with blue gray wings without bars, and a dark bill. The female Prothonotary Warbler is duller in coloring and a lighter bill. It can be difficult to tell from the female. It has a range from the Great Lakes Area to the southeast United States and Gulf Area. It has a habitat in wooded swamp areas. It has a diet of insects and snails. It nests in holes in trees and sometimes in birdhouses.