Fulvous Whistling Duck – Swimmers – 12/25/2013

The Fulvous Whistling Duck was photographed at the San Antonio, Texas Zoo

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

The Fulvous Whistling Duck is tan with a dark bill and legs, a dark back, a pale side stripe, and a white rump. It is a tawny goose-like duck that is found grazing in open fields or tipping up in shallow ponds. It has a range from Southern United States (Texas to Florida coasts) to Central America. It has a habitat in marshes, mostly coastal. It feeds on mostly seeds and aquatic plants.

 

Black Swan Bird – Swimmers – 12/25/2013

The Black Swan is an exotic bird in the United States that is native to Australia. It was photographed in San Antonio, Texas.

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

The Black Swan is black feathered with a red bill and gray black legs and feet. It is exotic to North America and is native to Australia. The habitat extends over fresh, brackish, and salt-water lakes, swamps, and rivers. The diet is generally aquatic and marshland plants.

 

American White Pelican Bird – Aerilaists – 12/25/2013

The American White Pelican during breeding was photographed in San Antonio, Texas Zoo.

The American White Pelican not in breeding plumage, without centerboard on the ridge of the bill.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the American White Pelican

The American White Pelican is a huge white bird with black primaries and a great orange-yellow bill. Adults in breeding plumage have a centerboard on the ridge of the bill. It has a 9 foot wingspan. It has a range in western and central North America. It winters along the west and gulf, and east Florida coats. It has a habitat on lakes, marshes, salt bays, and beaches. It feeds mostly on fish and crayfish by dipping the bill into water and scooping them up.

 

Bar Headed Goose Bird – Swimmers – 12/25/2013

This Bar-Headed Goose was photographed in the San Antonio, Texas Zoo

The Bar-Headed Goose is a tan and white goose with black bars on the head and neck, and orange legs and bill. It is an exotic native to Central Asia that is occasionally seen in North America and Zoos. The habitat is lakes, ponds, bays, marshes, and fields. It feeds mostly on plant material and seeds.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Bar Headed Goose

 

American and Greater Flamingo Bird – Long legged waders – 5/27/2011

Flamingos are among the most distinctive birds in the world being pink, long-necked, and long-legged.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the American Flamingo

The American Greater Flamingo bird is pink, long-necked and long legged. Note the thick sharply bent nose. When the Flamingo is in flight or when they open their wings, black in the wings can be seen. Most Flamingos are in aviaries except maybe those in southern Florida that come from the Bahamas. The Flamingo lives naturally in the West Indies, Yucatan, or the Galapagos Islands.

 

American Oystercatcher Bird – small waders 1/2/2011

 

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the American Oystercatcher

The American Oystercatcher ranges on the coasts of the world. In the US it is on the Atlantic, Florida and Gulf coasts. It will be found on coastal beaches and tidal flats. The outstanding features are the red flattened bill, pink flesh legs, and black head with dark back. The Oystercatcher uses it’s bill to catch oysters and other shellfish by surprise.

 

Trumpeter Swan Bird – swimmers – 10/29/2010

This is America’s common native Swan. It known as a Trumpeter Swan, and is normally in the Northwest.

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

This is America’s common native swan. All-white wings and body, and very long neck marks them as Swans. Bill and feet are black. Breeds from Arctic coast on barren ground south to Alaska and Canada. May winter on the Great Lakes and east and west coasts, but rarely to the Gulf coast. Can be found on lakes, large rivers, bays, and flooded fields.

The above Swan was photographed at the Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Select this link to see panorama photos of the outdoor birds at the Milwaukee County Zoo in the winter

 

Herring Gull Bird – aerialists 12/29/2010

The common large Gull, often called “seagull”, since it is seen around large bodies of water.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Herring Gull

Select this link to see information on the Milwaukee County Zoo where the above photo was taken.

The Herring Gull is the most common of the Gulls. I had taken photos of the immature Herring Gull one year earlier, and had not been able to find a mature one until I was taking some pictures at the Milwaukee County Zoo, and noticed a large Gull eying the food of a polar bear. I still did not know which Gull it was until I reviewed the picture and was pleasantly surprised that is a Herring Gull. The immature Herring Gulls were found at the Little Muskego Lake in Muskego, Wisconsin. They appeared to be on their second winter from the coloring.

Select this link to see panoramic photos of the Milwaukee County Zoo when the Herring Gull photos were taken

 

Barn Owl Bird – birds of prey 8/12/2010

Photo taken at the Wisconsin State Fair WE Energies Birds of Prey Show

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Barn Owl

Owls are one of the oddest birds to photograph-their appearance photographed appears so smooth that the look is unreal. I have never seen a Barn Owl in its natural habitat, so I took the opportunity to see the WE Energies Birds of Prey show. Barn Owls can be found in woodlands, farms, barns, towns, belfries, and cliffs. It preys mostly on rodents.

 

Bald Eagle Bird – birds of prey 8/12/2010

Photo taken at the Wisconsin State fair WE Engeries Birds of Prey Show

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Bald Eagle

I have seen about 3 Bald Eagles in the natural environment, but have never been able to photograph one. My chances are slim. The Bald Eagle habitats around coasts, rivers, and lakes. I have seen them in trees near lakes while driving.