Tag: american bird conservancy

The Greater Roadrunner belongs to a large avian family, the Cuculidae, which includes the Yellow-billed and Mangrove Cuckoos as well as larger, more terrestrial species such as the Rufous-Vented Ground-Cuckoo of Central and South America. The Greater Roadrunner’s scientific name, which translates to “Californian earth-cuckoo,” shows its affinity with this latter group. It’s the only ground cuckoo found in North America.

This charismatic cuckoo is also called Chaparral Cock, Snake Killer, Paisano, and Medicine Bird. It’s the basis for a popular Warner Brothers cartoon character, a frequent team mascot, … Continue

The Plain Chachalaca is a member of the Cracidae family, which includes large turkey or chicken-like tropical birds such as the Blue-Billed Curassow, Great Curassow, and Baudo Guan. Like many of its relatives, the Plain Chachalaca is highly social, living in flocks of up to 15 birds. However, this wary bird can be hard to spot amid its preferred habitat of thick, thorny scrub. It’s reluctant to fly, escaping threats by running or climbing through the underbrush.

When spotted, this chicken-like bird epitomizes the name “plain,” with drab, olive-brown … Continue

The Zone-Tailed Hawk is a large, dark raptor with a wide, but disjunct, range that barely reaches into the southwestern United States. It’s about the size of a Red-Tailed Hawk, but noticeably slimmer. Perched, this hawk appears blackish, but in flight, reveals finely-barred gray flight feathers that can appear silvery from a distance. Its tail has three light-colored bands, or zones, which give this bird its common name. Yellow legs and a yellow and gray bill round out the Zone-Tailed Hawk’s most noticeable ID features.

In flight, the Zone-Tailed … Continue