Long, round-tipped tail is edged with white. It feeds on insects and insect larvae, mollusks, crustaceans and marine worms. Head crest is black, facial skin is red, and large bill is blue-gray and hooked. Black bill is long and stout. Nape is ringed with half-black collar that does not extend to throat. The wings are white-edged and white tipped; the legs and feet are pink. Gadwall. Legs and feet are gray. Strong flight, alternates shallow wing beats with brief periods of wings pulled to sides. Wings are dark with large white patches visible in flight. Head has buff face with dark brown cap, eye patches. Black bill is very short; legs, feet are orange-red.
Anytime, anywhere. Legs are long and yellow.
Sexes are similar.Red-necked Phalarope: This medium-sized sandpiper has a brown-striped dark gray back, mottled gray breast, white throat and belly, gray head, nape, and flanks, rust-brown neck and upper breast and a thin black bill.
Swift flight with shallow wing beats. Fold in the middle to place the image on one side and the description and range map on the other. Tail is forked; legs and feet are dark gray. White-tipped wings, held horizontal in flight. Eats invertebrates, vertebrates, insects, carrion, refuse, eggs and young of other birds, and rodents. Rump is pale gray or white with few or no streaks. Strong steady flight with deep wing beats.
Short black tail.Greater Prairie-Chicke: Medium grouse, barred with brown and buff (or white). It has a short, dark, slightly upturned bill, a white tail with a black terminal band, and orange legs and feet.
Curved neck is often stained with pigments from iron or algae. Gray morph is a mix. Wings are black with large white patches visible in flight. Face is dark red, collar is gray, belly is pale red.
Legs and feet are gray.Lewis's Woodpecker: Medium woodpecker with dark green-black upperparts and hood. Direct flight; slow downward wing beat and a powerful flick on the upbeat. Strong direct flight with rapid wing beats.Acorn Woodpecker: Medium-sized, clown-faced woodpecker. Flash cards are a great tool for learning about birds, and can be utilized in numerous ways.
Wings are black with white and orange bars. Feeds on pine seeds, grain, fruit, berries, insects and eggs and young of other birds.
Sexes are similar.Pomarine Jaeger: The dar morph of this large jaeger is dark brown except for white patches near underwing tips and sides of under tail. Head has a conspicuous white cheek mark and yellow crown. photo by Stephen Dinsmore Taken for granted by most Iowa birders, the Dickcissel is often a targeted grassland species for out-of-state visitors. It feeds on marine invertebrates, plankton and fish. Visit the All new FeederWatch participants receive a full-size poster of birds commonly seen in winter, depicted in their winter plumage. Upper neck and head are featherless and dark gray. Powerful flight alternates flaps with short glides. Wings have two white bars. Legs are bright orange. Eyes are orange-red and bill is long and decurved.
Sexes are similar.Sabine's Gull: Small gull with gray back and white nape, rump, and underparts. Forages on ground, low in trees and bushes. Rapid direct flight with strong wing beats. Tail is short. Bulky appearance when perching due to dense, fluffy plumage, long wings extending past body, and relatively long tail.Boreal Owl: Medium owl, white-spotted, brown upperparts and thick brown-streaked, white underparts.
It is an active predator of seabird nesting colonies. This site contains photos and information about birds I have photographed in Iowa and other places.
Slightly decurved bill is black. Crown is rufous, throat is white with black stripes, and bill is gray.