Growing up I had always thought of bird watching to be silly… Yet, here I am now at the age of 25 hoping to go birding whenever I can!
I hope you enjoy observing each and every photo, as much as I enjoyed taking it!
Anhinga ~ Anhinga anhinga
L 35” WS 45”
Anhinga is the only American species of bird to represent the darters. Darters, are a Tropical family of freshwater diving birds. Like Darters, the Anhinga spear their prey with their bills typically while swimming with only their head and neck visible above water.
Fun Facts: They make bulky stick nests in trees, primarily over water. In courtship, an Anhingas eyes turn a shade of clear cerulean.
Spotted in Orlando, FL
Northern Pintail ~ Anas acuta
L 21” WS34”
The Northern Pintail is a beautiful dabbling duck, which I’m sad to say is declining in numbers. It breeds primarily in Alaska, Canada, and the Great Plains, and nests most around rivers, marshes or lakes.
Fun Fact: This species of duck is typically quite shy, though I must have been lucky this day, as she sat and posed for me.
Spotted in Orlando, FL
White Ibis ~ Eudocimus albus
L 25” WS 38”
The White Ibis is quite a common bird in the coastal southeast of America. Most often found in wetlands, marshes, riverbottom swamps, shallow lakes, or ponds. Using it’s long bill to dig and probe for small fish, crayfish and worms.
Fun Facts: Their voice is a very low-pitched, nasally, uhhhh or ehhhh sound.
Spotted in Orlando. Florida
The Taveta Weaver is a small bright yellow bird, which originates and is most commonly found in Eastern Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania. They prefer to live in woodland and swampy areas, and males typically weave their nests over water.
Fun Facts: Males build their nests upside down to mate. If a female like the way the nest is constructed, she will destroy the nest and choose to mate.
Spotted in Orlando, FL
Little Blue Heron ~ Egretta caerulea
L 24” WS 40”
Taveta Weaver ~ Ploceus castaneiceps
L 5.5” WS 5.5”
This small egret resides in the southeast region of North America. When born, they’re very white though as they age, they take on a slaty blue and violet-maroon of adulthood. Sometimes nicknamed, Calico Herons.
Fun Facts: They stalk their prey slowly, almost as if a cat would but in fresh shallow waters.
Spotted in Naples, FL
American Robin ~ Turdus migratorius
L 10” WS 17”
The American Robin is of the most widespread thrush bird in North America. It’s a common nester in suburbs, and forages on lawns conspicuously listening for earthworms. During the Winter, they form large flocks and scavenge for fruit.
Fun Fact: The American Robin has 2-3 songs, or different modulated whistles often broken by brief pauses.
Spotted in Philadelphia, PA
Limpkin ~ Aramus guarauna
L 26” WS 40”
Limpkins are another species of wading birds. You’ll find Limpkins strictly in Florida, where they find themselves at home in marshes, hammocks and wooded swamps. Their necks are quite long, and bills are decurved making them perfect for hunting their preferred prey, large snails.
Fun Fact: The voice of a Limpkin is really quite haunting. When it wails, the sound it makes is something like krreeeeeeeeeerrrr, sometimes a lower pitched krrrow.
Spotted in Naples, FL
Great Blue Heron ~ Ardea herodias
L 46” WS 73”
The Great Blue Heron is the biggest bird I’ve encountered and photographed thus far. Sometimes mistaken for a crane, The Great Blue Heron is actually the largest of wading birds in North America. They prey mostly on fish, though may also eat reptiles, amphibians, or other small birds (such as rails).
Fun Fact: The Great Blue Heron has very gutterall calls, that sound something like raaaak! or raaaaaank.
Spotted in Gatlinburg, TN
Hairy Woodpecker ~ Picoides villosus
L 9” WS 14 1/2”
Second in line, the Hairy Woodpecker is the the most common woodpecker in North America. They forage and nest in woodlands of all sorts, and are not very particular. Easily mistaken for the Downy Woodpecker, Hairy’s have a much longer beak than a Downy.
Fun Fact: The hearing of a Hairy Woodpecker is so good, that they can hear vibrations from insects under tree bark.
Spotted in Kaaterskill, NY