Lab 4: Raptors & Gamebirds

Parts of the wing

Long-eared Owl

Order: Strigiformes

• ear tufts (not in flight)

• heavy streaking on underparts

• big yellow eyes

• brown sides of face

• tall/thin

Short-eared Owl

Order: Strigiformes

• white x on face

• shorter, bulkier

• black around eyes

• less streaking

Great Horned Owl

Order: Strigiformes

• large ear tufts

• white bib

• angry eyebrows

Snowy Owl

Order: Strigiformes

Eastern Screech-Owl

Order: Strigiformes

• dark grey or bright red

• white spots along shoulder

Barred Owl

Order: Strigiformes

• big black eyes

• yellow beak

• vertical streaks on belly

• circles on face around eyes

Great Gray Owl

Order: Strigiformes

• yellow eyes

• big, long tail, large head

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Order: Strigiformes

• smallest

• White Y between eyes

• Brown/black border around eyes

• large head compared to body

Northern Hawk Owl

Order: Strigiformes

• Looks like its wearing a helmet

American Barn Owl

Order: Strigiformes

• white face and belly

• long legs

• light brown colouration

• black eyes

Northern Harrier - Male

Order: Accipitriformes

• grey head and back

• white underparts

• black primary and tertiary wing tips

Northern Harrier - Female

Order: Accipitriformes

• White rump

• White ring around neck

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Order: Accipitriformes

• blue-grey back and wings

• reddish underbelly

• square tail

• round top of head

• dark on top of head to back → hood

Cooper’s Hawk

Order: Accipitriformes

• more red underbelly

• rounded tail

• flat top of head

• dark on head → cap

Red-shouldered Hawk

Order: Accipitriformes

• rusty red

• lighter orange on belly

• tail dark with white stripes

Broad-winged Hawk

Order: Accipitriformes

• brown/red breast

• dark border around wings

• tail dark with prominent white stripe

Rough-legged Hawk

Order: Accipitriformes

• more white than most other hawks

• white tail with black band at end

• big black blotch where primaries attach on wings

• lots of feathers on legs

Red-tailed Hawk

Order: Accipitriformes

• tiny yellow feet

• reddish tail

• dark belly band on a white belly

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes

• white head

• large black cheek patch/eye stripe

• not much spotting

Bald Eagle

Order: Accipitriformes

• yellow beak

• white head

Golden Eagle

Order: Accipitriformes

• golden brown feathers around head and neck

• dark brown

American Kestrel - Male

Order: Falconiformes

• rust brown tail and back

• slate blue wings

• black spots

• black vertical face stripes under eyes

American Kestrel

Order: Falconiformes

• dark band at end of tail

American Kestrel - Female

Order: Falconiformes

• rest red wings, back, belly

• streaked underparts

Merlin

Order: Falconiformes

• single dark stripe on face under eye

• little white line above eye

• brown with very dense checkering underwing and streaking on chest

• sqaure tail

Peregrine Falcon

Order: Falconiformes

• yellow eye ring

• speckled white legs, belly, wings

• black mask

Turkey Vulture

Order: Cathartiformes

• bald red head

• v in flight

Ring-necked Pheasant

Order: Galliformes

• green head

• long tail

Spruce Grouse

Order: Galliformes

• big red eyebrow

• really dark with touches of white

• mini turkey

Ruffed Grouse

Order: Galliformes

• black tail band

• crest at top of head

• sometimes males have black ruff around neck

Willow Ptarmigan - breeding male

Order: Galliformes

• reddish head and neck

• bright red eyebrow

Willow Ptarmigan - breeding female

Order: Galliformes

• mottled brown colour

• white wings

Willow Ptarmigan - winter

Order: Galliformes

Rock Ptarmigan - breeding male

Order: Galliformes

• brown - less red

• red eyebrow

Rock Ptarmigan - breeding female

Order: Galliformes

• brown

Rock Ptarmigan - winter

Order: Galliformes

• red eyebrow

Wild Turkey

Order: Galliformes

Rock Pigeon

Order: Columbiformes

Mourning Dove

Order: Columbiformes

• Grey brown

• Black spots on black

Mourning Dove

Order: Columbiformes

Passenger Pigeon

Order: Columbiformes

• long pointed tail

• red underbelly