In partly open terrain of the west, from valley farms and orchards to clearings in mountain pine forest, the Western Bluebird is often common. In summer it is often seen perching alone on fence wires ...

The Surf Scoter is common in winter on both coasts; on Pacific Coast, often seen around fishing piers and harbors. The male's strong head pattern earns the species the hunters' nickname of 'skunk-head ...

A large, dark forest grouse of inland regions of the western U.S. and Canada. Until recently, the Dusky Grouse and the Sooty Grouse were considered to make up one species under the name Blue Grouse.

Many of North Americas migratory warblers seem to lead double lives, and the Cape May Warbler is a good example. It summers in northern spruce woods, but winters in the Caribbean, where it is often ...

A big boreal finch, uncommon but widespread in spruce and fir forests of the North and the high mountains. It is often absurdly tame, allowing very close approach; ironically, this sometimes makes it ...

This rather plain and pale little sparrow is a typical summer bird of the northern prairies, where the males perch in the tops of low thickets to sing their flat, monotonous buzzes. It is sometimes a ...

Often the most common and widespread gull in North America, especially inland, and numbers are probably still increasing. Sociable at all seasons; concentrations at nesting colonies or at winter ...

A big, pale, ghostly gull of the far north. The only large gull common in the high Arctic, although a couple of small gulls are successful there as well. At various times the Glaucous Gull may fill ...

A common seabird off the Atlantic Coast, seldom coming close to shore except during storms. The Great Shearwater often forages in flocks. Commonly feeds around fishing boats, fighting over scraps and ...

With its ghostly appearance, rasping shrieks, and habit of roosting in such places as church belfries, the American Barn Owl has attracted much superstition. However, it is really a good omen for ...

A widespread towhee of the West, sometimes abundant in chaparral and on brushy mountain slopes. For many years it was considered to belong to the same species as the unspotted Eastern Towhees found ...