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Mallard duck

Mallard ducks are very common. They are found throughout North America.

Habitats

Mallard ducks can be found in wetland habitats. For example marshes,bogs,beaver ponds,lakes,reservoirs, ponds,cities lakes and farms.

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Eating habits

Mallards ducks eat a variety of foods. They like to dabble on their food. They eat vegetation around the shore.During migration they like to eat seeds and grain.

 

Behavior

Mallard Ducks are very tame and approachable. Males tend to face off with a head-bob, threaten aggressors with an open bill, or push against each other breast to breast. Paired males defend their territories with chases. Males pursue females by shaking or flicking their head side to side, looking over their shoulder, raising up in the water and flapping their wings. Females encourage by nodding her head back and forth or paddling with their head.

 

Canadian Geese

Canadian Geese are throughout North America. During migration they only reach up to northern Europe.

 

Habitats

Canadian Geese live near water, grassy fields, and grain fields. They are go to lawns to feed and it gives them an advantage when looking for predators.

 

Eating Habits

During the spring and the summer, geese feed on grass. During the fall and winter they eat more berries, seeds and grains.

 

Behavior

Canadian Geese tend to stay in big flocks. They mate for life. They like to mate with others that are the same size as them. For example big geese like to mate with other big geese and the same with smaller geese. The male geese are always larger than the female geese. During the spring pairs begin leaving the flock and choosing their territory.When geese feel threatened they tend to display head pumping,bill opened with tongue raised,hissing, honking,and vibrate neck feathers. When fighting they grab each other at breast or throat and hitting each other with their wings. The females select the nesting site, they build the nests and incubate the eggs.Baby geese mostly do sleeping and feeding. They stay with their parents for their first year. When migrating they do a v formation.

Green Heron

Green Herons are found in North and Central America.Green Herons migrate north in the winter and the spring.

 

Habitats

Green Herons live around wooded ponds, marshes, rivers and reservoirs. During winters they like to reside in southern coastal areas.

 

Eating Habits

Green Heron eat small fish, for example minnows,sunfish,catfish and many more. They also eat insects, reptiles,rodents,spiders and snails.They hunt by standing still by the shore of the water. They hunt day and night.

 

Behavior

When courting Green Heron display affecting by stretching their necks,snapping their bills,flying with exaggerated flaps and calling loudly. Younglings only stay with their parents for only one month.They protect their nests by driving away other species or predators.
 

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron are in North and Central America.During the winters they travel to southern Canada and northern Central America.

Habitats

Blue Herons live in freshwater and saltwater habitats. Their habitats are located 2 to 4 miles from feeding areas. They are usually located in swamps or islands near lakes or ponds.

Eating Habits

Blue Herons eat fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects, and other birds.

Behavior

Great Blue Herons are usually alone. They like to stand still looking towards the water for prey. Breeding birds choose new partners every year. Great Blue Herons defend the nest area by approaching predators with their head thrown back, wings outstretched,and bill pointing skyward.

Herring Seagull

They migrate all the way from Western Europe. They’re often seen around Chicago.

Habitats

They like to go to open waters, landfills,beaches,parking lots,airport runways and garbage dumps.They breed around lakes.Colonies form in isolated islands and barrier beaches. They form there to keep safe from predators.

Eating Habits

They feed on fish, insects, smaller seabirds, and even on adults, young, and eggs of other gulls.Along rocky shores they prey on mussels,crabs, sea urchins, and crayfish.

Behavior

Herring Gulls often patrol shorelines and open oceans in scattered groups. They’re competitive birds.They seek invertebrates,gobbling small items,picking apart larger prey. In their breeding territories both females and males protect it with threatening postures, warning calls,and chase-attacks in the air and on the ground.Pairs return to their same breeding territories year after year.

Double Crested Cormorant

Double Crested Cormorants are found in North America.

Habitats

They are colonial waterbirds who seek aquatic habitats.They form breeding territories on smaller lagoons and ponds.They fly up to 40 miles to feeding areas.They need perching areas that they spend the rest of the day on.

Eating Habits

They eat mostly fish and some insects.They have impressive fishing skills. For example diving underwater.

Behavior

They’re almost always by the water. They have only 2 main  activities which are resting and fishing. In a face off cormorants will stretch their necks,open their mouths wide enough to show blue colors inside while shaking their heads and hissing at each other. To attracts mates males will choose a nesting site and stand with their breast down and bill and tail up, showing off crests on their heads and bright colors on their necks and eyes.

Rock Pigeon

Pigeons are found in North America.

Habitats

Rock pigeons like urban areas, farmlands,and rocky cliffs. They like to gather in large flocks in urban parks.

Eating Habits

They like to feed on seeds,fruits and other food that people toss at them.

Behavior

When threatening a rival they bow and coo,inflating their throats and walking in a circle.When courting males bow,coo inflating their throats and walking around the female.

Wood Duck

Wood Ducks are found in North and South America.

Habitats

They like bottomland forests,swamps,freshwater marshes, and beaver ponds.

Eating Habits

They eat seeds,fruits and insects. When they can’t find food they go on land and eat nuts and grains from fields.

Behavior

They are strong fliers.When courting males swim before a females with wings and tail elevated. Sometimes they tilt their heads backwards for a few seconds.Female wood ducks often go into other nesting areas and lay their eggs there when there’s too many eggs and  leave so another female can raise them.

Red Winged black bird

Red winged blackbirds can be found in most of North America and in Central America.

Habitats

During breeding seasons red winged blackbirds like to spend it in wet places. For example fresh or saltwater marshes and rice paddies.They nest in wooded areas.In the fall and winter they go to fields,pasture, and grassland.

Eating Habits

In the summer red winged blackbirds eat insects and in the winter they eat seeds,corn and wheat.

Behavior

During breeding seasons, males sit on high perch over their territories and sing their hearts out. Females spend their time looking for food and nest materials.Both males and females protect the nest from intruders and predators.

European Starling

They can be found in Europe and in North America.

Habitats

They live in cities streets, trees and buildings.

Eating Habits

They’ll eat anything. They eat mostly insects and other invertebrates.For example they eat grasshoppers,beetles,flies,caterpillars,snails,earthworms,millipedes and spiders.They also eat fruits for example wild cherries,holly berries,blackberries etc. They also eat grains, seeds,garbage etc.

Behavior

When Starlings show agitation they flick their wings,stare at their opponent while standing erect,fluffing their feathers,or raising the feathers of the head. The submissive birds crouch and move away with their feathers sleek. Violent confrontations often end with both birds charging at each other and stabbing each other with their bills.Males attract females by singing near a nest

site they claim and flapping their wings in a circle. After they mate the males follow the female everywhere to keep other males away. European Starlings are very aggressive birds.

 

Black-Crowned night heron

They are found in most of the world, mostly in Eurasia. They don’t like cold regions.

Habitats

They are found in wetlands including salt marshes,freshwater marshes, swamps,streams,rivers,ponds,lakes,lagoons etc.During the winter they spend it in southern and coastal regions.For example Mexico and Central America.

Eating Habits

They eat leeches,earthworms,insects,crayfish,clams,fish,lizards,snakes,turtles,rodents,birds and eggs.They eat during the evening and early morning.They feed extra during breeding season.

Behavior

Males and Females defend their nesting and feeding territories.When attracting mates males they display bowing, and showing their plume on their heads. Younglings leave the nest a month after they’re born.They learn to fly at 6 weeks old.

American Crow

They are found on North America mostly.

Habitats

They live in farmlands,pasture,landfills,city parks, golf courses, cemeteries,yards,vacant lots,highway turnarounds etc.They like open areas.

Eating Habits

They eat stuff like grains,seeds,nuts,berries,small animals like earthworms,mice. They also eat insects,aquatic animals like fish,young turtles,crayfish etc. They also eat eggs from other species.

Behavior

They are social birds. They stay in groups that consist of breeding pairs and younglings.

Red merganser

They are found in North America.

Habitats

They like to live in lakes and ponds.

Eating Habits

They eat mostly fish, but also tadpoles insects etc.

Behavior

They dive underwater to catch prey.