AMERICAN BIRDS

ROBINS
THE AMERICAN ROBIN IS A MIGRATORY SONGBIRD OF THE THRUSH FAMILY. IT IS NAMED AFTER THE EUROPEAN ROBIN BECAUSE OF THE MALES BRIGHT RED BREAST, BUT THE SPECIES ARE NOT RELATED. THE AMERICAN ROBIN IS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA. ITS NESTS CONSIST OF LONG COARSE GRASS TWIGS, PAPER, AND FEATHERS, AND IT SMEARED WITH MUD, AND THEN CUSHIONED WITH SOFT GRASS, AND OTHER SOFT MATERIALS. THEY EAT FRUIT, AND HUNT SMALL INSECTS, AND SPIDERS. FEMALES LAY 4 TO 5 EGGS. THE YOUNG ARE CARED FOR BY BOTH PARENTS.


THE PURPLE MARTIN................ IS THE LARGEST NORTH AMERICAN SWALLOW. ADULTS HAVE A SLIGHTLY FORKED TAIL. IT TAKES 2 YEARS FOR SPECIES TO REACH THEIR FULL ADULT BREEDING PLUMAGE. ADULT MALES ARE ENTIRELY BLACK WITH A GLOSSY STEEL BLUE SHEEN, AND ADULT FEMALES ARE DARK ON TOP WITH SOME STEEL BLUE SHEEN, AND LIGHTER UNDER PARTS. THE EASTERN MARTINS NESTS IN MAN MADE HOUSES, OF WHICH ABOUT A MILLION ARE PROVIDED. IT IS THE ONLY BIRD WHO TOTALLY DEPEND ON HUMANS FOR NESTS SITES. THEY USUALLY FLY VERY HIGH, THEY CATCH INSECTS FROM THE AIR. THEY ARE VERY AGILE HUNTERS AND EAT GROUND INSECTS TOO.





RED BELLIED WOODPECKER
IS A MEDIUM SIZE BIRD. IT BREEDS IN SOUTHERN CANADA AND THE NORTH EASTERN, UNITED STATES, RANGING AS FAR SOUTH AS FLORIDA, AND AS FAR WEST AS TEXAS. THEY ARE VERY NOISY, MALES TEND TO DRUM ON ROOFS, AND TREES TO COMMUNICATE WITH POTENTIAL PARTNERS. THEY EAT FLYING INSECTS, GROUND INSECTS, FRUITS, NUTS, AND SEEDS. THEY NEST IN CAVITIES IN DEAD TREES.