MINNESOTA PRAIRIE
advertisement
MINNESOTA PRAIRIE ANIMALS WOODCHUCK • • • • Brown Prominent bushy tail Small ears Short legs STRIPED SKUNK • Black with two broad white stripes on back meeting in cap on head and shoulders • Thin white stripe down center of face • Bushy black tail, often with white tip or fringe SPOTTED SKUNK • Black with horizontal white stripes on neck and shoulders • Irregular vertical stripes and elongated spots on sides • Black tail with white tip COTTONTAIL RABBIT • Grayish brown above interspersed with some black • Forehead often has white spot • Distinct rust colored nape • Short tail, cottony white below MOUNTAIN LION • Yellowish to tawny above, white overlaid with buff below • Long tail with black tip RED FOX • Rusty reddish above, white underparts, chin and throat • Long, bushy tail with white tip • Back of ears, lower legs, and feet are black MINNESOTA PRAIRIE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS PLAINS GARTER SNAKE • Dark in color • Back and side stripes well defined GREEN SNAKE • Bright, grass-green with long, tapering tail • Belly white, tinged with pale yellow LEOPARD FROG • Slender brown or green frog with large, light-edged dark spots between light colored dorsolateral ridges • Light stripe on upper jaw • Eardrum without light center WESTERN CHORUS FROG • Greenish to gray-brown • Three dark stripes down back • Dark stripe through eye and white stripe along upper lid • Sounds like fingernail running over the teeth of a comb MINNESOTA PRAIRIE BIRDS MEADOWLARK • Streaked brown above, bright yellow below with bold black “V” on breast • Voice - rich, flute-like jumble of gurgling notes KILLDEER • Brown above with white below with two black bands across breast • Long legs • Voice - a shrill “killdeee, kil-deee,” also “dee-dee-dee” SONG SPARROW • A common sparrow with heavily streaked underparts and large central spot on breast • Voice - “madgemadge-madge, put-onyour-tea-kettle-ettleettle” AMERICAN KESTREL • A jay sized falcon often seen hovering • Rusty tail and back, slate blue wings • Two black stripes on face • Voice - shrill “killykilly-killy” RED-TAILED HAWK • A large, stocky hawk • Whitish breast and rust colored tail • Voice - high-pitched descending scream with a hoarse quality “keeeeer” INDIGO BUNTING • Brilliant turquoise blue, wings and tail darker • Voice - rapid, excited warble; each note or phrase given twice AMERICAN GOLDFINCH • Bright yellow with white rump; black forehead; white edges on black wings and tail • In winter, changes to a dull gray • Voice - bright “perchick-o-ree” also rendered as “potato chips” EASTERN BLUEBIRD • Bright blue above and on wings and tail • Rusty throat and breast • White belly • Voice - a liquid and musical “turee” or “queedle” BALTIMORE (NORTHERN) ORIOLE • Black head, back, wings, and tail; orange breast, rump, and shoulder patch; two dull white wing bars • Voice - clear and flutelike whistled single or double notes in short distinct phrases WHITE CROWNED SPARROW • Crown has bold black and white stripes • Underparts pearly gray • Pink bill • Voice - a short series of clear whistles followed by buzzy notes AMERICAN ROBIN • Gray above, brick red below • Head and tail black • Voice - a series of rich caroling notes “cheerup, cheerily, cheer-up, cheerily” MOURNING DOVE • A soft, sandy buff color with long pointed tail bordered with white • Black spots on wings • Voice - a low, mournful “coo-ah, coo, coo, coo” BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD • Black with glossy brown head • Voice - a squeaky gurgle; call is “check” or a rattle EUROPEAN STARLING • A short-tailed chunky iridescent black bird • Long, pointed bill is yellow • Plumage is flecked with spots • Voice - often imitates other birds; call a descending “whee-ee” COMMON GRACKLE • Long wedge-shaped tail • Appears all black, but is actually highly iridescent • Bright yellow eyes • Voice - clucks; high pitched, rising screech like a rusty hinge HOUSE WREN • A tiny bird with a short tail that is often held cocked over the back • Dusky brown above, paler below • Voice - a gurgling, bubbling, exuberant song, first rising then falling BARN SWALLOW • Deeply forked tail • Upper parts dark steel blue, underparts buff • Throat and forehead rusty • Voice - constant liquid twittering and chattering TREE SWALLOW • Metallic blue or bluegreen • Clear, white underparts • Voice - cheerful series of liquid twitters AMERICAN CROW • A stocky black bird with stout bill and fanshaped tail • Voice - familiar “cawcaw” EASTERN KINGBIRD • Blackish head • Blue-black mantle and wings • Black tail with white terminal band • White below • Voice - a sharp “dzee” or “dzeet”
