Great Black-Backed Gull Bird – Aerialists – 11/29/2015

The adult Great Black-Backed Gull was photographed at McKinley Marina in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The 3rd winter juvenile Great Black-Backed Gull was photographed at Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Select this link to see photos of the Great Black-Backed Gull

The Greater Black-Backed Gull has black back and wings, and white underparts with pink legs and is the largest gull Young gulls have contrast brown, paler on the head, tail, and under parts.. This 3rd winter immature Gull still has a black tip on the beak. It is larger than a Herring Gull and the smaller Lesser Black-Backed Gull. It has a range of mainly northern North Atlantic United States. It has a habitat of mainly coastal waters, estuaries: a few on large lakes. The diet includes carrion, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, marine worms, insects, rodents, berries, and the adults young and eggs of other birds. It is primarily a bird of the Atlantic coast and seldom seen inland except on the Great Lakes.

 

 

Common Grackle Bird – Passerines – 5/9/2011-2015

The male Common Grackle was photographed at Wehr Nature Center in Franklin, Wisconsin

The female Common Grackle was photographed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The juvenile Common Grackle was photographed at Myrtle Beach, in South Carolina

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

The Common Grackle is an iridescent blackbird larger than a Robin with a long wedge-shaped tail and a long heavy bill. The male has an iridescent purple head and a deep bronze or dull purple on the back. The female Common Grackle has a duller purple head and a browner, less iridescent on the back. The juvenile Common Grackle is a dull brown with various spotting depending on whether it is male or female. Depending on how the light hits the bird it may look almost black. It has a range of Canada and the United States east of the Rockies. It has a habitat of farmland, towns, groves, and streamsides. It feeds on insects of all types, worms, crayfish, other birds, and vegetable matter, such as berries and seeds. They are often seen nesting in small colonies and perching together in treetops.

 

Muscovy Duck Bird – Swimmers – 11/27/2013

These Muscovy Ducks were photographed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Muscovy Duck

The Muscovy Duck is a large domesticated duck that is predominantly black and white with pink or red wattles around the bill. They have claws on their feet and a flat tail. It is native to Mexico, Central and South America. The true wild Muscovy Duck is blackish with white wing patches. They have a habitat of urban and suburban lakes, and on farms, nesting in trees or on the ground under shrubs.  In the US it is an invasive species, an owner may raise them for food production only. They feed on roots, stems, leaves, and seeds of aquatic plants. They also eat small fish, crustaceans, and insects.

 

Royal Tern Bird – Aerialists – 11/28/2013

The Royal Tern was photographed on Myrtle Beach in South Carolina

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

The Royal Tern is a medium sized seabird with a large orange bill, a deeply forked tail, a gray back, white under primaries, and a black or white forehead with black feathers forming a crest. The Royal Tern is one of the larger terns. It has a range strictly on the United States east, southeast, and Gulf, and northwest Mexico coasts. The habitats are coasts, sandy beaches, and salt bays. It is almost never seen inland. It feeds on small fish and crustaceans.