bird of the day: lesser kestrel

the lesser kestrel is a small falcon native to europe and asia, wintering in africa.

lesser kestrels mainly feed off of insects, and tend to live where grasshopper and locust populations thrive. in the past, pesticides have impacted the kestrels due to their diet. they also feed on small birds, rodents, and reptiles.

lesser kestrels live in cliff faces, hollows, and other preexisting cavities. in suburban environments they frequently nest in dilapidated buildings.

one of the smallest kestrels, the lesser kestrel is frequently mistaken for the common kestrel. this could benefit the lesser kestrel, as it may cause predators to avoid the smaller bird out of association.

despite being affected by some habitat loss and pesticide use, the lesser kestrel is currently rated least concern by the iucn.

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bird of the day: little blue heron

the little blue heron is a small heron (only 24 inches in length) native to the united states and central america.

adult little blue herons have bluish-grey plumage. juveniles are white, and gradually gain their adult colors. juveniles are often found amongst the much bigger snowy egrets, and it’s theorized their coloration developed so they could blend in and be protected by the larger birds throughout their youth.

little blue herons mainly hunt in shallow water. they eat fish, shellfish, crustaceans, amphibians, small rodents and insects.

the little blue heron is currently rated least concern by the iucn, but their population numbers are decreasing.

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the bananaquit is a small bird native to mexico and south america. researchers aren’t exactly sure what family the bananaquit is a part of; for now, they have tentatively been placed with tanagers. bananaquits feed mainly off of nectar, as well as fruit and small insects.

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the rose robin is a small songbird native to australia. named for the male’s pink chest, the rose robin is not related closely to the american robin or european robin, but is actually closer to fairywrens.

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Today’s bird: West Mexican Chachalaca

two blue jays investigate a feeding station. native to north america, blue jays are a member of the corvid family, which also includes crows and ravens. the corvid family is known for thee intelligence and recorded tool use in several species.

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a ring-billed gull appears to swoop through a rainbow. these gulls are native to the americas. once found mostly by the sea, they have increasingly become adapted to urban environments where they can sustain themselves on human leftovers.

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a rainbow lorikeet, native to australia, feeds off a flower. unlike most parrots, a large portion of lorikeets’ diets consists of nectar.

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the hooded warbler is a migratory songbird, with a breeding range throughout the united states and parts of canada, and a winter range in central america. like other warblers, the hooded warbler feeds off of insects, either by finding them in foliage or catching them from the air. females are partially greenish and lack the black ‘hood’ of the male.

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the rose-breasted grosbeak is a member of the cardinal family found in north america (with a wintering range in central & south america).

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