Jackson’s Birds of America and the World

June 12, 2020 Jim Jackson 0 Comment

Categories :

Wildlife

Tags: American Bald Eagle, birds of America, Birds of Prey, Carolina Paroquet, duck, Effie Yeaw, falcon, Hawk, John James Audubon, Kite, Lake Titicaca, ornithologist, ornithology, Passenger Pigeon, Peru, Rainbow Mountains, Solnhofen, Vic Fazio

If you ask almost anyone to name a famous ornithologist they would probably say John James Audubon. In fact, even those birders with the slightest interest in birds would not have any hesitation to name Mr. Audubon. Unfortunately, there are those who would hesitate to name him as an ornithologist, instead, putting him in the category of wildlife artist, of which he was a great one.

American Bald Eagle

This post is not about Mr. Audubon, but rather about a quest to document, as much as possible, the birds of America and the World. Of course, since the lifetime of Audubon’s quest to document the birds of America, many have disappeared, not just from their natural habitat to some other place, but in this case, to extinction. The Carolina Paroquet, was fairly common during Audubon’s time as was the Passenger Pigeon whose great numbers blackened the skies. Both are now extinct and many more birds are on the verge of extinction.

So what is the cause of the decline of so many bird species? Is it hunting? Not really, as this is being more and more regulated, but it is also becoming less favorable as a hobby. I recall during my hunting days, long gone in the past, when I had shot a magnificent ring-necked pheasant. I showed a photo of the dead bird to a co-worker who was very proficient at making custom knives. He just looked at the photo and said, “How does it feel to destroy such a beautiful bird with a high-powered shotgun?” I was stunned, but it made me realize how right he was. From then on, I concentrated on hunting with my camera.

Above, is an Archaeopteryx fossil found in Solnhofen, Germany in the famous Solnhofen plattenkalk (limestone) formation. It is one of the earliest feathered theropod dinosaurs. We can say that evolution has caused the decline of many species, however, in more recent times, man has played a large part in this evolutionary process.

The goal of this post is not to focus so much on the negativity of the ways of mankind’s adverse effect on the wildlife of the world, but rather to show the beauty and diversity of birdlife on this planet. The mission is also to show how complex Mother Nature is, and how she can plant a Speckled Teal, above, on Lake Titicaca in Peru and have such a very similar species halfway around to the other side of the planet.

Wood Duck

Is this a complete listing of every bird species in the World? No, of course not, but it is ongoing and a goal that may never be reached. In fact, in its present state, it is merely a personal checklist of birds that I have seen.

In this listing, I have tried to maintain the standard convention for grouping bird species, although some countries use slightly different groupings. I have purposely omitted three items that may be standard for most bird identification guides: 1.) no scientific names, 2.) no in-depth descriptions, and 3.) no migrant or residency information. It is felt that if the reader would like more information on a particular bird, the internet would have a wealth of that specific data.

Turkey Vulture

In this post, you might see the occasional bird in a rather unnatural setting, like on a manmade fence post, or telephone wire. It seems that this is the new natural environment for many birds and I wonder how Audubon would have drawn his subjects were he to do it today.

Collared Kingfisher

The listing and photographs below begin with Birds of Prey and continue alphabetically to Wrens and include nearly all bird groupings in between.

Birds of Prey:

American Kestrel, Staten Island Road, San Joaquin County, California

Aplomado Falcon, Peru

Bald Eagle, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens, Portland, Oregon

Bald Eagle, Snowberry Way Parkway, Orangevale, California

Bald Eagle, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Bald Eagle (juvenile), Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Brahminy Kite, Subic Bay, Philippines

Cooper’s Hawk, Carmichael, California

Crested Caracara, Aransas, Texas

Crested Serpent Eagle, Subic Bay, Philippines

Golden Eagle, Tracy Aviary, SLC, Utah

Merlin, Merced National Wildlife Refuge

Mountain Caracara Hawk, Rainbow Mountains, Peru

Mountain Caracara Hawk (juvenile), Rainbow Mountains, Peru

Northern Harrier, Mather Lake Recreation Area, Rancho Cordova, California

Northern Harrier (male), Riego Road, Sutter County, California

Osprey, Staten Island Road, San Joaquin County, California

Osprey (note nictitating eye membrane), Staten Island Road, San Joaquin County, California

Peregrine Falcon, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Peregrine Falcon (note nictitating eye membrane), Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Peregrine Falcon, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Carmichael, California

Philippine Eagle (named Girlie), Aquino Park, Quezon City, Philippines

Philippine Falconet, Subic Bay, Philippines

Red Kite, or German Rotmilan, Ormesheim, Germany

Red-Shouldered Hawk, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Red-Shouldered Hawk (note nictitating eye membrane), Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Red-Tailed Hawk, Woodbridge Wildlife Refuge, San Joaquin County, California

Red-Tailed Hawk, Coyote Hills, Fremont, California

Red-Tailed Hawk, Aransas, Texas

Saker Falcon, Dubai, UAE

Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Meiss Road, Sloughhouse, California

Swainson’s Hawk, Woodland, California

Swainson’s Hawk (note nictitating eye membrane), Woodland, California

White-bellied Sea-eagle, Aquino Park, Quezon City, Philippines

White-Tailed Kite, Carmichael, California

Blackbirds, Drongos, and Grackles:

Balicassiao, or Black Drongo, Subic Bay, Philippines

Brewers Blackbird, San Simeon, California

Brewers Blackbird (female), Gibson Ranch, Sacramento County, California

Brown-Headed Cowbird (male), SNWR, Willows, California

Brown-Headed Cowbird (female), Corteva Wetlands Preserve, Antioch, California

Eurasian Blackbird, Delphi, Greece

Great-tailed Grackle, Cozumel, Mexico

Great-Tailed Grackle, Mather Lake Recreation Area, Rancho Cordova, California

Red-Winged Blackbird, Vic Fazio Wildlife Area, Yolo County, California

Red-Winged Blackbird, SNWR, Willows, California

Red-Winged Blackbird (female), Cosumnes River Preserve, Sacramento County, California

Tricolored Blackbird (female), Vic Fazio Wildlife Area, Yolo County, California

Tricolored Blackbird (male), Vic Fazio Wildlife Area, Yolo County, California

Yellow-headed Blackbird (male), Bear River Refuge, Utah

Yellow-headed Blackbird (female), Bear River Refuge, Utah

Bluebirds:

Mountain Bluebird, Long Beach, California

Mountain Bluebird (juvenile), Long Beach, California

Western Bluebird, near William B. Pond Recreation Area, Carmichael, California

Western Bluebird, William B. Pond Recreation Area, Carmichael, California

Bulbuls:

Philippine Bulbul, Pias, La Union, Philippines

Yellow-vented Bulbul, Sunset Bay, La Union, Philippines

Chickadees:

Chestnut-Backed Chickadee, Angel Island, California

Mountain Chickadee, Soda Springs, California

Condors:

Andean Condor (named Andy N. Condor), Tracy Aviary, SLC, Utah

California Condor, Number 90, (named the Redwood Queen), Pinnacles National Park

Coots, Moorhens, and Jacanas:

American Coot, Merced National Wildlife Refuge

Andean Moorhen, Lake Titicaca, Peru

Andean Red Fronted Coot, Lake Titicaca, Peru

Common Gallinule (formerly Common Moorhen), Sankey Road, North of Sacramento Airport

Common Gallinule (formerly Common Moorhen), Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Northern Jacana, Cozumel, Mexico

Sora, Cosumnes River Preserve

Cormorants and Anhingas:

Anhinga, Cozumel, Mexico

Brandt’s Cormorant, Point Lobos, California

Double-Crested Cormorant, Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, San Joaquin County, California

Double-Crested Cormorant, Elkhorn Slough, California

Neotropic Cormorant, Balboa Lake, Van Nuys, California

Pelagic Cormorant, Point Lobos, California

Pelagic Cormorant, Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay, California

Cranes:

Demoiselle Crane, Ceronix, Auburn Bird Sanctuary

Grey-crowned Crane, Ceronix, Auburn Bird Sanctuary

Sandhill Crane (Lesser), Merced National Wildlife Refuge

Sandhill Crane (Greater), Isenberg Crane Reserve, Lodi, California

Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes, Isenberg Refuge, Lodi, California

Whooping Crane, Aransas, Texas

Whooping Crane (juvenile), Aransas Texas

Crows and Ravens:

American Crow, Carmichael, California

Common Raven, Yellowstone National Park

Hooded Crow (hybrid), Auschwitz, Poland

Hooded Crow, Tallinn, Estonia

Large-billed Crow, Subic Bay, Philippines

Cuckoos and Roadrunners:

Greater Roadrunner, near North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park

Groove-billed Ani, Cozumel, Mexico

Philippine Coucal, Pias, La Union, Philippines

Divers and Skimmers:

Black Skimmer, Shoreline, Mountain View, California

Domesticated Game Fowl:

Bantam Chicken, William Land Park, Sacramento, California

Philippine Fighting Cock, Pias, La Union, Philippines

Doves and Pigeons:

Band-tailed Pigeon, Angel Island, California

Green Imperial Pigeon, Subic Bay, Philippines

Eurasian Collared-Dove, Bacon Island, Holt, California

Eurasian Collared-Dove, Athens, Greece

Inca Dove, Aransas, Texas

Mourning Dove, Carmichael, California

Palm Dove (Laughing Dove), Dubai, UAE

Rock Dove, Martinez, California

Ruddy Ground Dove, Cozumel, Mexico

White-crowned Pigeon, Cozumel, Mexico

White Pigeon (or Release Dove), Long Beach, California

White-winged Dove, Cozumel, Mexico

Zebra Dove, Puerto De San Juan, La Union, Philippines

Ducks:

American Peking Duck, McKinley Park, Sacramento, California

American Wigeon, Cosumnes River Preserve, Sacramento County, California

Baer’s Pochard (female), Tracy Aviary, SLC, Utah

Barrows Goldeneye, Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, California

Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Ceronix, Auburn Bird Sanctuary

Black Wool Red Head Duck, Beijing, China

Blue-winged Teal, Aransas, Texas

Buff Duck, Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, California

Bufflehead Duck (male), Bass Lake, California

Bufflehead Duck, Watt Avenue Regional Park, Sacramento, California

Cayuga Duck, Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, California

Cayuga Duck, Clearlake, California

Cinnamon Teal, Merced National Wildlife Refuge

Common Goldeneye (Male), Tracy Aviary, SLC, Utah

Common Goldeneye (female), Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, California

Crested Duck, William Land Park, Sacramento, California

East Indie Duck, William Land Park, Sacramento, California

Eurasian Wigeon, Richmond Marina, California

Gadwall Duck (male and female), Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Greater Scaup, Richmond Marina, California

Green-Winged Teal (female), Colusa NWR

Green-Winged Teal (male), Colusa NWR

Lesser Scaup (female), Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, California

Lesser Scaup (male), Arrowhead Marsh, Oakland, California

Long-tailed Duck (formerly called Oldsquaw) Nimbus Fish Hatchery, California

Long-tailed Duck (formerly called Oldsquaw), Elkhorn Slough, California

Mallard Duck (male), Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, California

Mallard Duck (female), Clearlake, California

Mallard hybrid, Sugar House Park, SLC, Utah

Mandarin Duck, Ceronix, Auburn Bird Sanctuary

Mottled Duck, Aransas, Texas

Muscovy Duck, Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, California

Northern Pintail, Colusa NWR

Northern Pintail, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Northern Shoveler, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Ogar Duck, Beijing, China

Red-crested Pochard, Ceronix, Auburn Bird Sanctuary

Ring-Necked Duck (male), Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Ring-Necked Duck (female), Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Ringed Teal, Ceronix, Auburn Bird Sanctuary

Ruddy Duck (female), Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Ruddy Duck (male), Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Ruddy Duck (male), Lake Titicaca, Peru

Ruddy Shelduck, Ceronix, Auburn Bird Sanctuary

Saxony Duck, Hagan Community Park, Rancho Cordova, California

Speckled Teal, Lake Titicaca, Peru

Surf Scoter, Elkhorn Slough, California

Surf Scoter, Bodega Bay, California

Wood Duck, Elk Grove Park, California

Wood Duck (female), Portland, Oregon

Egrets:

Cattle Egret, Aringay, La Union, Philippines

Cattle Egret, Stockton, California

Cattle Egret, Pias, La Union, Philippines

Great Egret, Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, San Joaquin County, California

Great Egret, Carmichael, California

Great Egret, Isenberg Crane Reserve, Lodi, California

Great Egret, Raqchi, Peru

Pacific Reef Egret, Sunset Bay, La Union, Philippines

Reddish Egret, Aransas, Texas

Reddish Egret (white morph), Aransas, Texas

Snowy Egret, Watt Avenue Regional Park, Sacramento, California

Snowy Egret, near Lincoln, California

Snowy Egret, Ueno, Japan

Finches:

American Goldfinch, Carmichael, California

American Goldfinch, American River, Carmichael, California

Cassin’s Finch, Carmichael, California

Chestnut Munia, Puerto De San Juan, La Union, Philippines

Finch, Hong Kong Bird Market

House Finch, Capay Open Space Park, Esparto, California

House Finch (Yellow phase), Balboa Lake, Van Nuys, California

Lesser Goldfinch, Carmichael, California

Pine Siskin, Carmichael, California

Scaly-Breasted Munia, Puerto De San Juan, La Union, Philippines

Flamingoes:

American Flamingo, Sacramento Zoo

Caribbean Flamingo, Cozumel, Mexico

Chilean Flamingo, Salt Pond, San Francisco Bay Tidal Flat, Newark, California

Chilean Flamingo, Tracy Aviary, SLC, Utah

Greater Flamingo, African Safari Park, San Diego, California

Above, courtesy of Tracy Aviary, SLC, Utah

Flycatchers and Bee Eaters:

American Redstart, Cozumel, Mexico

Ash-throated Flycatcher, Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, California

Black Phoebe, Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, California

Black Phoebe, William B. Pond Recreation Area, Carmichael, California

Black Redstart, Auschwitz, Poland