Kids Encyclopedia

Chat — Chats are a group of small Old World insectivorous birds formerly classed as members of the thrush family Turdidae. This name is normally applied to the robust ground feeding species found in Europe and Asia in the subfamily Saxicolini. They come from a large number of genera. Most northern species are strong migrants. Species are: Family: Muscicapidae Subfamily: …

Catbird — Several perching birds in unrelated families are called “catbirds” because of their calls. Catbirds proper in the bowerbird family (Ptilonorhynchidae). The catbirds are a group of passerine birds in the family Mimidae which also includes mockingbirds and thrashers. These birds produce a wide variety of sounds including cat-like barks. They are generally found in brushy habitats. Catbird is …

Cardinal — The Cardinals or Cardinalidae are a family of passerine birds found in North and South America. The South American cardinals in the genus Paroaria are placed in another family, the Thraupidae (previously placed in Emberizidae). These are robust, seed-eating birds, with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinctive appearances; the family …

Chachalacas — Chachalacas, genus Ortalis, are ground-feeding turkey like birds so named because of their loud, harsh calls, which sound like cha-cha-la-ca. They are commonly found in wooded areas throughout South and Central America. The Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula is a large bird in the Cracidae family. It breeds in tropical and subtropical environments from the chaparral thickets along the …

Caracara — Caracaras are birds of prey in the family Falconidae. They are principally birds of South and Central America, just reaching the southern USA. Unlike the Falco falcons in the same family, the birds in the five relevant genera are not fast-flying aerial hunters, but are comparably sluggish and often scavengers (a notable exception being the Red-throated Caracara). The …

Canary — The Canary (Serinus canaria) sometimes called the Island Canary, Wild Canary or Atlantic Canary, is a small bird in the finch family. It is native to the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. It is 12.5 cm long, with a wingspan of 20-23 cm and a weight of 15-20 g. It is yellow-green, with brownish streaking on its …

Buzzard — The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a bird of prey, whose range covers most of Europe and extends into Asia. It is typically between 51-57 cm in length with a 110 to 130 cm wingspan, making it a medium-sized raptor. It is usually resident all year except in the coldest parts of its range, and in the case …

Bushtit — The Bushtit is a long-tailed tit found in North America. It is the only species in the family found in the New World, and the only member of the genus Psaltriparus. The Bushtit inhabits mixed open woodlands, often containing oaks and a scrubby under story. It is a year-round resident of the western United States and highland parts …

Bunting — Buntings are a group of mainly European passerine birds of the family Emberizidae. They are seed-eating birds with stubby, conical bills, and are the Old World equivalents of the species known in North America as (American) sparrows. (However, these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae.) Their habits are …

Bobwhite — The Bobwhite Quail, Northern Bobwhite, or Virginia Quail, Colinus virginianus, is a ground-dwelling bird native to North America. The name derives from its characteristic call. The Bobwhite Quail is a member of the group of species known as New World quail. This quail primarily inhabits areas of early successional growth dominated by various species of pine, hardwood, woody, …