Category Archives: Wildlife

Interpretive Blogs about Wildlife and Plants

Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus Columba)

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This plump 13-inch, pigeon-shaped seabird is full of surprises. Let’s start with hanging upside down above the seafloor probing for prey.

Pigeon Guillemot during breeding season (photo courtesy of ODFW)

Is the Guillemot doing this just to impress us? Hardly. This guy is just a really strong swimmer and diver and dives to hunt for fish and invertebrates.

Diving Alone

The Guillemot often dives alone and sometimes in smaller groups. When diving, it prefers depths from 50 to 70 feet. Dives can last over two minutes with short intermissions between dives.

Unlike most other diving birds, this one uses both its feet and wings which beat at a rate of 2.1/s for propulsion. They have been recorded traveling 246 feet horizontally and as much as 150 feet below.

Big Eaters

This bird is known to forage before dawn and after sunset, particularly if they are feeding nestlings.   

The adult Guillemot requires about 20 percent of its weight in food each day (about 90 grams). They eat primarily fish, but will also consume seafloor creatures such as mollusks, crustaceans, crabs, shrimp, and worms.

Even the nestlings are big eaters.  Parents bring the young an average of 16 food loads each day (a load may be just a single fish).

Dressing for Love

During breeding season this bird gets dressed up with striking red feet, legs, and around the mouth (almost like lips). They also sport large white patches that contrast with their black iridescent feathers.

Non-breeding foliage mottled grey and black on top with white on the under areas. Non-breeding juveniles will look the same.

Bonding

These birds not only get dressed up for breeding season but they also know how to turn up the romance. Breeding pairs will play chase “water games” and trill in a romantic duet.

They form long-term breeding bonds that last over years, with a few that occasionally divorce. Kind of makes one wonder how this occurs and if there is an underwater divorce court.

Guillemots are very vocal even outside of the breeding season. They use several whistle-like calls. Some of which include head, wing, and tail waggling displays.

Unmated males will also call for females, pairs will also communicate, during nesting, and birds will scream when predators are near.   

Predators

Guillemots breed on rocky shore areas, islands, and cliffs typically close to shallower water common on the Oregon coast. This habitat provides some protection from predators.

The most common cause of egg loss is through other birds such as crows, gulls, eagles, owls. Raccoons and other mammalian predators can also be a problem.

In the water there have been reports that these birds have been taken by orca and giant Pacific Octopi.

Habitat

Pigeon Guillemots are found from California up through Siberia. They overwinter along the Pacific coast north.

In some areas they are considered indicator species and the populations are monitored. To learn more about this breeding survey in Washington see: Salish Sea Guillemot Network, Pigeon Guillemot Breeding Survey (http://www.pigeonguillemot.org/).

#2 photo free download https://pnommensen.com/

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/murres-auklets-and-puffins)
–California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=1825)
–Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/seabirds#resources)
–Ebird.org (https://ebird.org/species/piggui)
–Wikipedia, Pigeon guillemot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon_guillemot)

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

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The most common scoter, or ocean duck, along the Pacific coast is the Surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata). This salt water duck is found from Alaska south into north-central Canada, and all along the west and east coast of the U.S.

Surf scoter (courtesy of ODFW)

The Surf scoter overwinters by the thousands off the Oregon coast and are abundant here from fall through spring.

The bulk of this species overwinter in boreal forests in Alaska and Canada near freshwater lakes. Birds may also visit large lakes and reservoirs west of the Cascades in the fall.

Identification

Surf scoters are the smallest of three similar species (white-winged, black, and surf), which are often found in the same habitat.

Adult male Surf Scoters are around 19-inches in length and just over 2.3 lbs. Females come in just a bit shorter.

Adult male feathers are predominantly black with two white patches (forehead and nape). The colorful wedge-shaped bill is highly visible with white, yellow, red-orange, and black.

Adult females and subadults have a dark brown back, lighter brown belly, and light-colored patches on cheeks and nape.

Generally, compared to the other two species, the head profile is more flat, and bill heavier. The surf scoter has completely dark wings (visible in flight).  

Breeding

The species, however, does not breed in Oregon. Surf Scoters breed in Alaska and across north-central Canada.

Most form pairs before arriving at the breeding ground with males and females migrating together. Flight is strong and close to the waves.

Individuals appear to adjust their migration schedule so that they meet at the wintering and staging grounds at the same time. This helps the birds optimize reproduction.  

Females build nests that are bowl-shaped and lined with debris and down. Up to nine eggs in each nest are incubated for nearly a month by the female.

Nests are tucked into crowded breeding grounds and occasionally brood errors are made. The synchronous egg hatch must be a totally amazing event to witness.  

Food

Surf scoters forage in the surf, typically in open waters less than 33 feet deep. They dive in regularly flooded intertidal and subtidal zones.

While mussels are an important part of their diet these ducks will feed on any invertebrate found in or near the near shoreline sediments. This could include insects, crustaceans, herring spawn, coral, algae, shrimp, oysters, crabs, squid, clams, and more.

They generally capture and swallow their food whole under water. These birds will often form loose flocks to forage that move in irregular, wavy lines. They will often do this as a group, or loose flock.

Dive duration varies based on prey, water conditions, season, etc. This duck will also shift their diet as needed in winter and spring to more abundant prey.

The Matter of Molting

All waterfowl molt their feathers one or more times a year. For Surf scoters this process begins before migration in late July and lasts for about four weeks.

Surf scoter travels to a molting site (different than the wintering or nesting sites) in bays, inlets, or estuaries. These sites would most likely have easily available food and lower predation risk.

Sea ducks are vulnerable during the molt because they lose their flight feathers. Brightly-colored male plumage is also replaced by duller plumage.

Predators and Survival

These birds typically winter in marine habitats near rocky shores. Predators can include bald eagles, golden eagles, and carnivorous mammals.

Birds are particularly sensitive to oil spills. Spills impact food supplies and are known to kill many birds through starvation.

In the last 50 years, the population has somewhat declined but is not considered vulnerable.

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Swans, Ducks, and Geese (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/swans-ducks-and-geese)
–USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (https://www.fws.gov/r5gomp/gom/habitatstudy/metadata/scoter_models.htm and https://www.fws.gov/birds/bird-enthusiasts/bird-watching/waterfowl-identification/surf-scoter.php)
–Wikipedia, Surf Scoter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surf_scoter)

Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

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Red-tailed hawk (royalty free image courtesy Unsplash)
Sky Dancer

Sitting on a lonely fence post.
Staring down in silence.
Patient. Hunting.

Focus attack to prey.
Feet outstretched; talons sharp.
Killing. Surviving. 

Dangling legs and sharp talons.
The sky dance has begun.
Touching. Singing.

Climbing high to plunge.
Cartwheel dances in the air.
Thriving. Red-tailed hawk.

Red-tailed hawks are one of the most common raptors found across the U.S., northern Canada, and far south into Panama. Go for a ride and look for them hunting atop telephone poles, fence posts, trees—anywhere they can watch for prey and swoop silently.

Size

Adult female Red-tails are slightly larger than the males both in length (26 versus 24 inches), weight (just under four pounds versus under three), with a similar size difference in the over four-foot wingspans.

These are medium sized raptors are the largest in their genus (Buteu) with robust bodies; thick, broad wings; and relatively short, broad tails. The reddish, orange tail color is unique among North American hawks.  

Just for comparison, a similar-sized dog could
weigh 10 times what an average Red-tail might.

Color

Coloration will vary greatly but most adults have a dark brown upper head that almost looks like a hood. Feather coloration creates an imperfect “V” shape on its back. From below the bird is a light-buff orange.

Range and Habitat

Red-tail hawks are considered an American native based on fossil and current distribution studies. Some, but not all, of the birds will migrate, typically going north into Canada and Alaska for breeding.

This raptor is one of the most broadly distributed birds in the U.S. The large, year-around range for non-breeders covers the entire contiguous U.S. with no substantial gaps.

Red-tails have become habituated to almost any habitat in North and Central America. This could include tropical rainforests, to deserts and grasslands, to woodlands. Some are even found in urban areas.

In every case, they will be looking for high nesting and perching sites. Based on the area, ‘high’ may be a shrub or fence post, tall conifer, or telephone pole.

Red-tailed hawk (courtesy of ODFW)

Hunting

A high perch gives the birds an advantage when hunting. Not only are they able to get a great view, but they are able to jump into an easy soar or quickly swoop down on prey almost silently. Minimizing wing flaps help to conserve energy which may be needed to get their prey back to the nest.

These carnivorous hawks are highly opportunistic feeders. It is not hard to imagine them taking small mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds, and invertebrates.

Let your imagination run a little wild. They will also take (or try at least) much larger prey carrying up to about five pounds in a load. Larger prey would be dismantled, temporarily hidden, while pieces are taken to the nest.

Remains of larger prey (such as armadillos, lambs, pigs, deer, sheep, and horses) have been found in nest sites. There are also stories of juveniles unsuccessfully trying to take adult wild turkeys and overwintering pairs hunting together.  Amazing!

Courtship

This bird has a great courtship process that can include daring ‘sky dances’ for and with their mates. These dances occur on the edge of the pair’s territory suggesting that it is also a way to designate territory limits.

Human Interaction

Red-tailed hawks are more social than other raptors and can be tamed and trained for hunting. The sport of Falconry was used in 2000 B.C. and is still practiced today. For more information see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falconry.

Note all parts of this bird are protected and regulated like eagles.

The long-term interaction with humans has created a rich record of data and images for this bird. More than a single blog could ever hold. Consider taking a little time to learn more about this amazing bird—you will be glad you did!

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, raptors (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/raptors)
–All about birds, Red-tailed hawk  (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/)
–Ebird, Red-tailed hawk (https://ebird.org/species/rethaw)
–Wikipedia, Red-tailed hawk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_hawk