The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is a New World vulture. When Europeans arrived in North America, condors could be found all throughout the mountain regions along the Pacific Coast. Due in large part to habitat loss, illegal shootings, and lead poisoning, by 1985 the entire wild known population had been reduced to just nine birds. … Read more
Steller’s sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) is a large and beautiful bird of prey. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. These eagles lives in coastal northeastern Asia. Steller’s sea eagles breed only in eastern Russia, around the Sea of Okhotsk and on the Kamchatka Peninsula. A small number of birds remain in Kamchatka … Read more
The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) belongs to a group of flightless running birds known as ratites, the most primitive of the modern bird families. The Emu is found only in Australia. It lives throughout most of the continent, ranging from coastal regions to high in the Snowy Mountains. However, they are most common in areas of … Read more
The secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a very large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Secretary birds are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Secretary birds prefer open grasslands and savannas, although they also live in semi-deserts and lightly wooded or scrub areas. These birds are found at a variety of elevations, from sea-level to around 3,000 meters … Read more
Albatrosses are large seabirds which belong to the biological family Diomedeidae. There are 22 species of albatross around the world. Most albatrosses are found in the Southern Hemisphere: Antarctica, Australia, South Africa, South America. Only three albatross species are found exclusively in the North Pacific (Hawaii, Japan, California and Alaska). Albatrosses spend over 80% of their … Read more
The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is a songbird that belongs to the family Turdidae. They are native to the Nearctic region. American robin are found year-round in southern Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia, throughout most of the United States and along the Sierra Madre into southern Mexico. They migrate south for the winter, going … Read more
The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a songbird that belongs to the family Corvidae. They are native to forests of the eastern United States. Blue jays live in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests throughout the eastern and central areas of the United States, and southern Canada. They also can be found in parks and suburban … Read more
Swallows belong to the family Hirundininae which also includes martins. There are around 83 species of swallows worldwide. They are found around the world on all continents except Antarctica. Swallows live in a wide range of habitats. They are dependent on flying insects and as these are common over waterways and lakes they will frequently … Read more
The barn owl (Tyto alba), is a species of owl in the genus Tito. It is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as the common barn owl, to distinguish it from other species in its family, Tytonidae. There is approximately … Read more