Nutcracker — The nutcrackers (Nucifraga) are a genus of two species of passerine bird, in the family Corvidae, related to the jays and crows. One, the Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), occurs in Europe and Asia, the other, Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), in western North America. The most important food resources for both these species are the seeds (pine nuts) of …

Mynah — The myna is a bird of the starling family (Sturnidae). This is a group of passerine birds which occur naturally only in southern and eastern Asia. Several species have been introduced to areas like North America, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, especially the Common Myna which is often regarded as an invasive species. Mynas are not a …

Mockingbird — Mockingbirds are a group of New World passerine birds from the Mimidae family. They are best known for the habit of some species mimicking the songs of other birds and the sounds of insects and amphibians, often loudly and in rapid succession. Mockingbirds also have a reputation of being fierce defenders of their nests. Both male and female …

Meadowlark — Meadowlarks are birds belonging to the genus Sturnella in the New World family Icteridae. This genus includes seven species of largely insectivorous grassland birds. In all species the male at least has a black or brown back and extensively red or yellow underparts. The genus Sturnella comprises: Red-breasted Blackbird, Sturnella militaris White-browed Blackbird, Sturnella superciliaris Peruvian Meadowlark, Sturnella …

Magpie — Magpies are passerine birds of the crow family, Corvidae. In Europe, “magpie” is often used by English speakers as a synonym for the European Magpie, as there are no other magpies in Europe outside Iberia. That bird was referred to as a “pie” until the late 16th century when the feminine name “mag” was added to the beginning. …

Loons — The loons (North America) or divers (UK/Ireland) are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia (Europe, Asia and debatably Africa). All living species of loons are members of the genus (Gavia), family (Gaviidae) and order (Gaviiformes). A loon is the size of a large duck or small goose, which it …

Longspur — The Longspurs, genus Calcarius, are a group of birds in the family Calcariidae. The name refers to the long claw on the hind toe of each foot. The genus formerly included the McCown’s Longspur, Rhyncophanes mccownii, which is now placed in a separate genus. These are chunky ground-feeding birds with long wings which are usually seen in open …

Kiwi — Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, in the genus Apteryx and family Apterygidae. At around the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world. There are five recognised species, all of which …

Kite — Kites are raptors with long wings and weak legs which spend a great deal of time soaring. Most feed mainly on carrion but some take various amounts of live prey. They are birds of prey which, along with hawks and eagles, are from the family Accipitridae. Together with less closely related groups such as New World vultures and …

Kingfisher — Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia. The group is treated either as a single family, Alcedinidae, or as a suborder Alcedines containing three families, Alcedinidae (river kingfishers), Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae …