Unit V Winter Birds
in Kansas Information
How to identify birds
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How to identify birds
Here is a general outline for how to identify birds and
what to look for.
First, become familiar with the field guide you are
using so that you know how it is organized, and where
different kinds of birds are likely to be found. I strongly
recommend the Kaufman Guide to North American Birds,
especially for beginning/intermediate birders. This book,
unlike other bird guides, is organized by the type of bird
and bird colors and is very helpful for ID. (Other bird
guides are organized taxonomically).
How to identify birds, cont.
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Use a state checklist to narrow down your choices in the field
guide. This will list all the birds that have been found in the state.
These are organized taxonomically (by bird family) so you will also
need to know what general kind of bird you are looking at. The
Kansas Ornithological Society has a checklist of birds you can print
out at: http://www.ksbirds.org/kos/kos_pubs.html
Be familiar with the general types of birds out there:
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Swimmers—ducks and duck-like birds
Aerialists—gulls and gull-like birds
Long-legged waders—herons, cranes, etc.
Smaller waders—shorebirds
Fowl-like birds—quail, prairie chickens, etc.
Birds of prey—hawks, eagles, owls
Nonpasserine land birds
Passerine (perching) birds
How to identify birds, cont.
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When you see an unknown bird, first compare its size to something
you do know, like is it the size of a robin? A sparrow? A pigeon? A
hawk? Note that in field guides, they measure a birds size from the
tip of the beak to the tip of the tail, so it may ‘sound’ larger than
what you are looking at. Comparing it to a known bird is more
reliable and trying to judge length in inches.
What is the birds body shape? Is it plump, thin, cigar-shaped,
round, stream-lined?
What shape are the wings? Are they long and pointed, rounded,
thick/deep?
What shape is the bill? Is it fine and pointed, thick, hook-tipped?
Is it as long as the head or shorter or longer?
How to identify birds, cont.
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What shape is the tail? Is it forked, rounded, squared-off,
notched, pointed?
How does the bird behave? Does it move around a lot? Does it sit
still? Does it bob and dip when it walks? Does it run? Does it bob
it’s tail? Does it fly out from a branch and then return again?
Does it climb trees? If so, does it climb up or down the trunks?
How does it fly? Does it dip up and down, fly in a straight line,
glide and soar, hover?
Does it swim? If so, does it sit low in the water or can you see
most of its body? Does it dive completely under or does it upend
with only the head under water?
Does it wade? If so, is it large like a heron or small like a
sandpiper? If the latter, does it probe the mud or pick at things?
Does it teeter or bob?
How to identify birds, cont.
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What are its field marks? What colors are on it and in
what pattern?
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Tail patterns: does it have white patches on the outer tail
feathers or on the corners, or none at all? Does it have a band
near or at the end of the tail?
Rump patches: does it have a different color where the tail
meets the back?
Eye stripes and eye rings: does it have a different color above,
below or through the eye? Does it have a ring around it’s eye?
Does it have a ‘mustache’ stripe?
Wing bars: do the wings have light stripes across them or not?
Wing patterns: very important on ducks and shorebirds. Are
they solid color or have a stripe or contrasting black tips?
Note that colors can sometimes be deceiving in different light.
How to identify birds, cont.
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Bird topography: what the parts of the
body and kinds of feathers are called.
This vocabulary is often used in field
guides. See this link:
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http://www.birds.cornell.edu/schoolyard/all_a
bout_birds/bird_id/bird_topography.html
Resources for learning more
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Birds have both songs and calls.
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Songs are what birds sing during courtship and territory defense,
usually before and after their mating season, but typically not all
year long.
Calls are the other sounds birds make, in the “off-season”,
during winter and before territory/mating season. They are
usually shorter “chip” notes and such.
To hear and practice bird songs and calls, try:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/songlist.html
To get a checklist of the Birds in Kansas, go to:
http://www.ksbirds.org/kos/koslist10.pdf
Some Major Groups of Winter Birds
in Kansas
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Birds of Prey
Medium-sized Land Birds
Typical Songbirds
Tanagers, Blackbirds
Sparrows
Finches, Buntings
Birds of Prey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
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Family: Accipitridae, the hawks, kites, and
eagles
More common in winter than the summer,
but are most common throughout the
state in April and October
May be found wherever there are trees
and small birds, therefore often hunts at
bird feeders
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
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Family: Accipitridae, the hawks, kites, and
eagles
Juveniles are dark brown, with small white
patches. Takes four to five years to have white
head and tail.
Typically found along rivers and near reservoirs.
Most often seen in winter in NE Kansas, but a
few breeding pairs can be found at some of the
larger reservoirs.
Primarily eat dead/injured waterfowl, fish, and
carrion.
Red-tailed Hawk (lower bird)
Red-tailed Hawk (lower bird)
Red-tailed Hawk scavenges on
White-tailed Deer carcass
(Video compliments of Ken
Highfill)
Red-tailed Hawk
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Family: Accipitridae, the hawks, kites, and
eagles
Most common and widespread large hawk
throughout the eastern half of the state.
Uses utility poles along highways and roads as
hunting perches.
Feeds on small mammals and reptiles along
roadsides, but also scavenge roadkills
Eastern
ScreechOwl
Taxidermy mount from KU Natural History Museum
Eastern
ScreechOwl
Taxidermy mount from KU Natural History Museum
Eastern Screech-Owl
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Family: Strigidae, the Typical Owls
Year-round resident
Our smallest residential owl (there are
smaller migratory owls though)
Only about 8 ½ inches high!
Call is a descending whinny and/or a
monotone trill.
Great Horned
Owl
Taxidermy mount from KU Natural History Museum
Great
Horned
Owl
Great Horned Owl
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Family: Strigidae, the Typical Owls
Year-round resident
Our largest owl in Kansas
Our earliest breeding bird in Kansas—calls
for mates during November and
December, and is usually incubating eggs
in January.
Call sounds like: “Whose awake? Me, too”
Barn Owl
Taxidermy mount from KU Natural History Museum
Barn Owl
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Family: Tytonidae, the Barn Owls
Common, permanent resident in eastern Kansas.
Occur frequently in suburban areas, parks, and
cemeteries but are more often heard than seen.
Lays eggs from mid-March to mid-May.
Eats insects and other arthropods in summer;
small mammals, chiefly mice, and small birds are
eaten in winter.
Barred Owl
Barred Owl
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Family: Strigidae, the Typical Owls
Smaller than Great Horned Owl, but chunky
without ear-tufts
Much more likely than other owls to be heard
during daytime.
Common in woods, river bottoms and wetlands.
Call sounds like, “Who cooks for you? Who
cooks for you all…?”
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
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Family: Falconidae, the falcons
Smallest falcon species
Hunts grasshoppers in summer and small
rodents in winter (typically).
Can wind-hover—stays in one place while
hovering over a field
Can see infrared urine trails in the grass
left by mice.
Medium-sized Land Birds
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
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Family: Picidae, the woodpeckers
Smallest woodpecker in Kansas
Males have red crown patch. Females don’t have any
red on head.
Eats sunflower seeds from feeders, but prefers suet from
suet feeders.
Shy birds, often hide on opposite side of tree trunk
Use their tail as a brace when they climb up a tree.
In winter can be found in mixed flocks of chickadees,
kinglets and titmice.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
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Family: Picidae, the woodpeckers
About the size of a blue jay.
Readily eats suet from a suet feeder and
also likes orange halves.
Females have red on the back of head and
nape of neck, but not on top of head or
forehead, like the males do.
Northern
Flicker
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker
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Family: Picidae, the woodpeckers
Common year-round
Found in open woodland, parks and areas
with shorter grass.
Can be seen foraging on the ground.
Generally the “yellow-shafted” race is
found here.
Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove
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Family: Columbidae, the pigeons and
doves
Mates for life
Resident in Kansas year-round.
Mostly feeds on ground, but will sit on a
platform feeder also.
Eats sunflower seed, corn, grains.
There is a hunting season on this bird.
Typical Songbirds
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse
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Family: Paridae, the chickadees and
titmice
Size of a chickadee
Often associates with chickadees
Year-round resident
If you have a good wooded habitat, they
will come to feeders for seed.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
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Family: Sittidae, the nuthatches
Occurs mainly in winter, in areas with
extensive conifers (pine trees)
Found most winters in appropriate habitat
Very inquisitive and can easily be lured
into a couple of feet of the observer.
Prefers sunflower seeds and shelled
peanuts at feeders.
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
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Family: Sittidae, the nuthatches
Present all year, numbers increase in winter from
northern birds moving down here.
Climbs up and down and around tree trunks and
limbs. Moves down tree head first (most birds
do not).
Very vocal.
Readily comes to feeders, especially suet, also
eats insects.
Blue Jay
Blue Jay
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Family: Corvidae, the Corvids, crows and jays
Common resident in Kansas
Readily eats seed from feeders and also likes
acorns and other nuts.
Territorial and very aggressive, especially when
nesting.
Migrates farther south in the fall, and our winter
birds may be northern breeders, or our numbers
may simply be augmented by northern birds.
American Crow
American Crow
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Family: Corvidae, the crows and jays
Common, year-round resident
Our largest crow
Like all corvids, is extremely intelligent.
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
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Family: Paridae, chickadees and titmice
Small, gregarious birds
Year-round residents
Readily eats sunflower seeds at feeders
Often found in mixed flocks with downy
woodpeckers, kinglets and titmice in winter.
This species has been hit hard by West Nile
Virus, and their numbers have declined in recent
years.
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
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Family: Bombycillidae, the waxwings
A few nest here in summer, typically found in
groups in the winter.
Found in open habitats where berries are
available (what they eat), also insects, sap,
flower petals.
Have been known to eat fermented berries until
they are too “drunk” to fly.
Habit of passing food from one to another along
a line until someone finally eats it.
American Robin
American Robin
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Family: Turdidae, the thrushes
Often called the “harbinger of spring”, although
it is found in Kansas during most winters. May
move farther south when it is really cold and
back again when it is a moderate winter.
Does not eat at feeders, but a common yard
bird.
Eats earthworms. Hunts for them by listening
for their movements under the soil and then
digging them up with their sharp beak.
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
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Family: Turdidae, the thrushes
Summer breeder, winter resident.
Cavity nesters, often out-competed for
nest space by non-native birds.
Population was in serious decline until
people started putting up bluebird houses
all over the country.
Finches, Buntings
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal
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Family: Cardinalidae, the cardinals
Males are bright red while females are a dull
brown with red tinges.
Seed eaters
Must eat at platform feeders or on the ground—
their beak is too big to fit in most feeder holes.
Extremely strong beak to crack open tough
seeds.
Year-round resident.
House Finch
House Finch
House Finch
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Family: Fringillidae, the finches
Males have red wash on face, head and
chest. Females are brown and white
streaked.
Readily eat sunflower seed from feeders.
They occur where humans live.
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
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Family: Fringillidae, the finches
Will eat sunflower seed or thistle (nyger) seed
from feeder.
They are a duller, greenish-yellow in winter, and
in late April, the males molt to the very bright
yellow.
Latest nesting bird in Kansas—they nest in July
and August when the thistles have gone to seed.
They use the fluff from the seed to line their
nests and the seed is their main food source.
Tanagers, Blackbirds
European Starling
European Starling
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Family: Sturnidae, the starlings
Non-native bird, introduced from Europe.
Introduced in New York City because a group of people
there thought every bird ever mentioned in
Shakespeare’s writings should be released in America.
Starlings spread across the continent and are very
aggressive, opportunistic birds that will literally eat
anything.
Common wherever people are found.
Also a cavity-nester and out-competes our native cavity
nesting birds.
Very destructive for native populations of birds.
Sparrows
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
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Family: Passeridae, the passerines
Not really a sparrow. Rather they are a
weaver finch from Europe. Colonial nester.
Not native. They out-compete our native
cavity nesting birds and have been the
main culprit for the decline of bluebirds
and purple martins (which now nest
mainly in man-made nest boxes).
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco
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Family: Emberizidae, the towhees,
sparrows, longspurs and Emberiza
buntings.
Winter resident. Found from October-April
in Kansas. Feeds primarily on the ground.
Seed eater—readily eats sunflower seed,
and generally eats on the ground below
feeders.
American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
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Family: Emberizidae, a large family that
includes the sparrows
Winter resident
Typically has the dark spot on breast
White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
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Family: Emberizidae, a large family that
includes the sparrows
Winter resident
Large, long-tailed sparrow with striking
black and white stripes on the crown.
KEY MARK: Has yellow lores (between
beak and eyes)
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
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Family: Emberizidae, a large family that
includes the sparrows
Winter resident
Large, long-tailed sparrow with striking
black and white stripes on the crown.
References
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Birds in Kansas, Volumes I and II, by Max
Thompson and Charles Ely.
National Geographic Field Guide to North
American Birds.
Kauffman Focus Guide to North American
Birds.
References, cont.
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Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds, Fourth Edition,
1980, by Roger Tory Peterson
Peterson Field Guide to Advanced Birding, 1990, by Kenn
Kaufman
“Educators Guide to Bird Study”, Cornell Laboratory of
Ornithology, accessed May 3, 2007, online at
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/schoolyard/index.html
Kansas Ornithological Society Checklist of Birds, 10th
edition, 2003, accessed May 3, 2007, online at
http://www.ksbirds.org/kos/kos_pubs.html