"Hawks at a Distance" - Book Review

Hawks at a Distance”

Identification of Migrant Raptors

Written by Jerry Liguori

Book review:

“Mr. Liguori’s gargantuan task of identifying and describing to the maximum detail on the 29 species of raptors, as well as the pictorial at close visual and shape-distant identifying puts the perspective to a higher level, no pun intended. Complementing are proper uses of Terminology plus comprehensive Glossary, Migration Timetable and code of Ethics to be aware while birding.

This book “Hawks at a Distance” is an advanced study written by an authority in raptors. Mr. Liguori’s book is great to be read with attention and what you learn you will treasure  greatly if you are an active birder.”

_H. J. Ruiz -”My Backyard Visitors” & “My Winged Pals” Web Blogs

Book Publisher: Princeton Press

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird, sp. name: “Mimus Polyglottos”

Northern Mockingbirds are medium-sized songbirds, slender and with long tail. They have small heads with long thin bills with a hint of downward curve and long legs.

Their wings are short, rounded and broad.

Overall gray brown, paler on the breast and belly with two white wing-bars on each wing.

The white on the wings and tail become flashy in flight.

Their habitat: Towns, suburbs,backyards, parks, forest edges and open land. They love to sit conspicuously on high vegetation, fences, poles and other high points to observe from there. They are very aggressive when guarding their territory. Also are excellent imitators of other bird’s songs.

By my own observations on these birds y have noticed that once they pick a territory to set their nests they also become very possessive and zealous of what’s going on at the surroundings. They become the guardians of all the other nests and their inhabitants against birds not from the area. 

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird - Spec. Name: Agelaius Phoeniceus

The Red-Winged Blackbird is one of the most abundant birds across North Amarica.

Red-winged Blackbird (M)

Stocky broad -shouldered blackbird with a conical bill and a medium size tail slightly flared.

Males are hard to mistake, they are glossy black body with red and yellow shoulder badges.

Females are streaked and dark brownish overall, pale on the breast and whitish eyebrows.

Their habitat: They live in salt water marshes, watercourses and wet roadsides as well as dry meadows. Practically live everywhere. Urban or rural areas.They love to stand on high places to observe and hang out.

These are parasitic blackbirds, laying their eggs in other birds nests to be cared and hatched. Many species destroy the eggs that are not their own.

Red-winged Blackbird (F)