Jeff's Bird Page

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Nature Pages






Durham Christmas Bird Count Duke Forest Bird Surveys

Jeff's Special Birding Trip Reports


Mysteries...

Does anyone know more about the Mershon Medal for the Preservation of Birds depicting a Passenger Pigeon? How many were made and awarded? Were they awarded by W. B. Mershon or done in his honor?

This mystery night vocalization was heard and recorded by Dave Owen near the Eno River in Durham. He's been hearing the bird since June and made the recording in early October. Comments welcome. (Posted 6 Oct 2007)

This mystery gull was found in the Hooper Lane, NC area the day after the remnants of Hurricane Humberto blew through. Comments welcome. (Posted 18 Sep 2007)


North American Bird Photos

Most photos were taken with a Nikon CoolPix 4500. Many were "digiscoped" by holding the camera up to the eyepiece of a KOWA TSN-824 Spotting Scope. Some photos starting in 2006 were taken with a Canon EOS 20D with a 100mm macro lens.

Geese, Swans, & Ducks (Anseriformes: Anatidae)
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)
Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
Ross's Goose (Anser rossii)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Brant (Branta bernicla hrota)
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)
Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula)
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Redhead (Aythya americana)
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fulgula)
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra)
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
Masked Duck (Nomonyx dominicus)
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Exotic waterfowl--Barnacle Goose, Muscovy, Swangoose

Grouse, Chickens, Turkeys, & Quail (Galliformes: Phasianidae)
Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)
California Quail (Callipepla californica)
Chukar (Alectoris chukar)
Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix)
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis)
Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus)
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Flamingoes (Phoenicopteriformes: Phoenicopteridae)
American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

Grebes (Podicipediformes: Podicipedidae)
Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus)
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritis)
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
Eared Grebe (APodiceps nigricollis)
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)

Pigeons and Doves (Columbiformes: Columbidae)
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)
Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
White-winged Dove (Zanaida asiatica) NEW!! 5 Oct 2019

Nighthawks, Nightjars, Goatsuckers (Caprimulgiformes: Caprimulgidae)
Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

Swifts (Apodiformes: Apodidae)
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
Vaux's Swift (Chaetura vauxi) NEW!! 28 Apr 2016

Hummingbirds (Apodiformes: Trochilidae)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
Cuban Emerald (Chlorostilbon ricordii)
Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris)
Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis)

Rails, Coots, and Gallinules (Gruiformes: Rallidae)
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)
Sora (Porzana carolina)
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus)
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
American Coot (Fulica americana)

Limpkins (Gruiformes: Aramidae)
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)

Cranes (Gruiformes: Gruidae)
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

Stilts and Avocets (Charadriiformes: Recurvirostridae)
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)

Oystercatchers (Charadriiformes: Haematopodidae)
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)

Plovers (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae)
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Wilson's Plover (Charadrius wilsonia)
Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)

Sandpipers (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae)
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitus macularia)
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
Willet (Tringa semipalmata, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

Skuas & Jaegers (Charadriiformes: Stercorariidae)
Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus)

Alcids (Charadriiformes: Alcidae)
Dovekie (Alle alle)
Razorbill (Alca torda)

Gulls, Terns, & Skimmers (Charadriiformes: Laridae)
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia)
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
Little Gull (Larus minutus)
Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)
Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan)
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
California Gull (Larus californicus)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)
YELLOW-LEGGED HERRING-TYPE GULL
Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri)
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
Mystery Glaucous- or Iceland-type Gull in Lubec, Maine
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus)
Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)

Loons (Gaviiformes: Gaviidae)
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
Common Loon (Gavia immer)

Albatrosses (Procellariiformes: Diomedeidae)
Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos)
Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris)

Storm-Petrels (Procellariiformes: Hydrobatidae)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)

Fulmars, Petrels, Shearwaters, and Storm-Petrels (Procellariiformes: Procellariidae)
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Herald Petrel (Pterodroma arminjoniana)
Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata)
Fea's Petrel (Pterodroma feae)
Great Shearwater (Puffinis gravis)
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinis griseus)
Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinis iherminieri)

Storks (Ciconiiformes: Ciconiidae)
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)

Frigatebirds (Suliformes: Fregatidae)
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

Gannets and Boobies (Suliformes: Sulidae)
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)

Anhinga (Suliformes: Anhingidae)
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

Cormorants (Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritas)

Pelicans (Pelicaniformes: Pelicanidae)
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis)

Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets (Pelicaniformes: Ardeidae)
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosis)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Ibises & Spoonbills(Pelicaniformes: Threskiornithidae)
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
possible White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)
Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)

Vultures (Accipitriformes: Cathartidae)
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Ospreys (Accipitriformes: Pandionidae)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Kites, Eagles, Hawks (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae)
Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus))
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)

Owls (Strigiformes: Strigidae)
Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio)
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa)
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)

Trogons (Trogoniformes: Trogonidae)
Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus)

Motmots (Coraciiformes: Motmotidae)
Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa)

Kingfishers (Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae)
Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)

Woodpeckers (Piciformes: Picidae)
Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewisi)
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Williamson's Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis)
Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Falcons & Caracaras (Falconiformes: Falconidae)
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Parrots & Parakeets(Psittaciformes: Psittacidae)
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) NEW!! 20 Jan 2015
Olive-throated Parakeet (Eupsittula nana)
Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

Flycatchers (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae)
Great Crested Flycatchter (Myiarchus crinitus)
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Empidonax flycatcher
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)
Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) First North Carolina Record!
Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalis rubinus)
Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalis rubinus)

Shrikes (Passeriformes: Laniidae)
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor)

Vireos (Passeriformes: Vireonidae)
Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii)
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)
Yucatan Vireo (Vireo magister)
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
Cozumel Vireo (Vireo bairdi)

Jays, Crows, Ravens (Passeriformes: Corvidae)
Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) (formerly Gray Jay)
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristatta)
Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus)
Green Jay (Cyanocorax luxuosus)
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana)
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus)

Chickadees and Titmice (Passeriformes: Paridae)
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis, Parus carolinensis)
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus, Parus atricapillus)
Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli, Parus gambeli)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens, Parus rufescens)

Larks (Passeriformes: Alaudidae)
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

Martins and Swallows (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae)
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgideropteryx serripennis)
Purple Martin (Progne subis)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva)

Kinglets(Passeriformes: Reguliidae)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

Nuthatches (Passeriformes: Sittidae)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
White breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)
Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)

Gnatcatchers (Passeriformes: Polioptilidae)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

Wrens (Passeriformes: Troglodytidae)
House Wren (Troglodytes aegon)
Cozumel Wren (Troglodytes beani)
Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus)
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

Dippers (Passeriformes: Cinclidae)
American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)

Starlings (Passeriformes: Sturnidae)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Mimic-Thrushes (Passeriformes: Mimidae)
Black Catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris)
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottus)
Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)

Thrushes (Passeriformes: Turdidae)
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Waxwings (Passeriformes: Bombycillidae)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrora)


Old World Sparrows (Passeriformes: Passeridae)
House Sparrow

Pipits (Passeriformes: Motacillidae)
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)

Finches (Passeriformes: Fringillidae)
Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)
Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)
Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii)
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)
Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Longspurs (Passeriformes: Calcariidae)
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius ornatus)
Thick-billed Longspur, McCown's Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii)

New World Sparrows (Passeriformes: Emberizidae)
Black-faced Grassquit (Tiaris bicolor)
Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivales, Aimophila aestivales)
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)
Field Sparrow (Spizella pucilla)
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)
Field Sparrow (Spizella pucilla)
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Vesper Sparrow (Poocetes gramineus)
Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii)
Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii)
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodius)
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

Spindalises (Passeriformes: Spindalidae)
Western Spindalis (Spindalis zena)

Blackbirds and Orioles (Passeriformes: Icteridae)
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)
Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothros ater)
Bronzed Cowbird (Molothros aeneus)
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)

Warblers (Passeriformes: Parulidae)
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata, Vermivora celata)
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla, Vermivora ruficapilla)
MacGillivray's Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei)
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Hooded Warbler nest (Setophaga citrina, Woodsonia citrina)
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia, Dendroica petechia)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica, Dendroica pensylvanica)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens, Dendroica caerulescens)
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum, Dendroica palmarum)
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus, Dendroica pinus)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata, Dendroica coronata)
Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)

Bananaquits (Incertae Sedis)
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)

Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings (Passeriformes: Cardinalidae)
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheuticus melanocephalus)
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris): First confirmed Durham, NC Record! (found on the Durham Christmas Bird Count - 14 Dec 2003)


North American Zoo Birds

Nice selection of birds at my backyard feeders...March 24, 2009

Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Towhee, Pine Siskin, Pine Warbler, and Chipping Sparrow

Resources

Will Cook's Carolina Nature Site
Jordan Lake Water Levels
Falls Lake Water Levels


Back to Jeff's Nature Pages



Gannets, gulls, pelicans, cormorants, etc. off Cape Hatteras in March 2006
Seabird flock off Cape Hatteras

Created on ... Oct 11, 2005 | jspippen@duke.edu