Pectoral Sandpiper Bird – Small Waders – 7/30/2012

The Pectoral Sandpiper was photographed at the Vernon Marsh in Mukwonago, Wisconsin

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Pectoral Sandpiper

The Pectoral Sandpiper has a dark back lined in white with heavy breast streaks that end abruptly to white. The legs and bill are a dull yellowish green. Pectoral refers to an inflatable air sac on the male’s chest that can be puffed out. The range is the Siberian and American Artic and winters in South America. Its habitat is green grassy marshes, prairie pools, muddy shores, and fresh and tidal marshes. The diet is mostly insects.

 

Yellow Headed Blackbird Bird – Passerines – 7/31/2012

This Yellow-Headed Blackbird was photographed at Vernon Marsh in Muwonago, Wisconsin.

The female Yellow-Headed Blackbird was photographed with the male and baby a they were feeding.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of theYellow-Headed Blackbird

The male Yellow-Headed Blackbird is a marsh blackbird with an orange-yellow head and breast, and a white wing patch that can be seen in flight. The female Yellow-Headed Blackbird is browner with a light brown head and breast, and with the lower breast streaked with white. They are gregarious Blackbirds. The male is impressive to see as it darts around. There range is Southern Canada, western United States, and upper Mississippi Valley, to northwestern Mexico. They winter in southwestern United States and Mexico. They habitat in fresh marshes, forage in fields, and open country. They diet on mostly insects and seeds.

 

 

Mute Swan Bird – Swimmers – 2/22/2012

Mute Swans are found around the Great lakes and the northeastern coast of the United States.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Mute Swan

The Mute Swan is a white graceful swan with a black-knobbed orange bill tilting to the ground. It often swims with an S-curve in the neck. The immature young birds have black at the base of a pinkish bill. It was introduced from Europe. It has a range around the Great Lakes and is expanding to the Northeast coast of the United States. It has a habitat at fresh and salt-water ponds, coastal lagoons, and salt bays. The diet is mostly plant material consisting of seeds, stems, leaves, pondweeds, and algae.

One of the areas where the Mute Swan was photographed was at the Vernon Marsh Wildlife Area near Mukwonago, Wisconsin.

Select this link to see panorama photos of the Vernon Marsh Wildlife Area