Bird Natural History Quizlet

What is typical breeding habitat for Red-winged Blackbirds?

Freshwater marsh, edges of salt marsh, brushy swamps

What does the diet of an adult Wood Duck mainly consist of?

Seeds

Where does the White-breasted Nuthatch spend the majority of its time foraging?

The trunk and limbs of trees

What is the behavior preformed by American Woodcocks to disrupt earthworms, making it easier to detect their food?

Rocking back and forth on its feet

What kind of forests do Ruffed Grouse prefer?

Deciduous or mixed forests with scattered clearing and dense overgrowth.

What food source will Carolina Wren forage for?

Insects

What is the typical habitat for the Summer Tanager?

Dry open, woods, especially oak forests

What is the feeding behavior of the American Goldfinch?

Foraging in flocks, except during breeding season

What does the Yellow-billed Cuckoo primarily feed on?

Caterpillars

What is the diet of the Red-tailed Hawk?

Small mammals, birds or reptiles. Sometimes includes insects or decaying flesh of dead animals (carrion).

What is a typical habitat for the Bald Eagle?

Along rivers, coasts, or large lakes; in forested areas with openings or edges

What sense does the Turkey Vulture use to find its food?

Smell

What makes up Yellow-breasted Chat's diet?

Omnivores - small invertebrates, insects, and fruit

What does the majority of a Mallard's diet consist of?

Plant material - stems, seeds, roots

Where do Red-bellied Woodpeckers nest?

May create cavities or use existing cavities in dead trees

Where are American Oystercatchers found?

Coastal beaches and tidal flats.

What type of habitat does the Prothonotary Warbler occupy?

Wooded swamps

How do Great Horned Owls build nests?

They don't - they use abandoned nests, man-made structures, and tree cavities.

What habitat do American Kestrels prefer?

Open grasslands, farmlands, and other clearings

What is the typical diet of the Indigo Bunting?

Seeds and Insects

What is the diet of the Northern Mockingbird?

Insects and berries

What is the Northern Cardinal's main diet?

Highly varied, but mainly seeds, berries, and insects.

What is the main diet of Cooper's Hawk?

small birds and mammals

What is a key social behavior of the Northern Bobwhite outside of the breeding season?

Forms coveys, or small groups, especially in fall and winter

What is the preferred breeding habitat of the Common Yellowthroat?

Moist or marshy thickets

How does the Great Blue Heron forage?

By standing still or walking slowly in shallow water, waiting for prey to swim nearby.

What makes up the vast majority of the Mourning Dove's diet?

Seeds

What is the typical habitat of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker?

Open pine woodlands

How does the Loggerhead Shrike store uneaten prey to eat later?

Impales it on a thorn or barbed wire

What is the diet of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird?

Flower nectar and small insects

What is the Northern Flicker's main food source?

Ants

How do Green Heron's forage?

they sit and wait for prey to approach

When does the Eastern Whip-poor-will forage?

At night, primarily during dawn and dusk.

Where do Sandhill Cranes commonly nest?

In bogs or marshes.

Where do Belted Kingfishers typically hunt?

Streams, lakes, and coasts.

How do Wood Storks locate prey?

Wading in shallow waters with an open beak

Where do Eastern Bluebirds prefer to nest?

In naturally hollow trees or old woodpecker holes

What does a Song Sparrow's diet consist of?

Insects and seeds

Where do Hooded Mergansers live?

 Swamps and wooded ponds 

How do Least Terns feed?

Plunge diving to catch fish and other organisms just below the surface

What is the Cedar Waxwing known for

Soft, silky plumage, crested head, black mask, and distinctive red wax like tips on wing feathers

How do Double-crested Cormorants feed?

Diving and swimming to catch fish

What environments are the Barred Owl's preferred habitat?

Woodlands and wooded swamps

What are some characteristics of a Wood Duck's preferred habitat?

Wooded swamps, rivers, ponds.

Does the Eastern Towhee forage on the ground or catch prey in the air?

The Eastern Towhee forages on the ground in leaf-litter.