Eagle — Eagles are large birds of prey which mainly inhabit Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species (the Bald and Golden Eagles) are found in North America north of Mexico, with a few more species in Central and South America, and three in Australia. They are members of the bird order Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, according to alternative …

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: …

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 …

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 …

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, …

Sidewinder — Crotalus (Sidewinder) cerastes is a venomous pitviper species found in the desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the typical form described here. A small species, with adult specimens measuring between 43 cm and 76 cm in length. According to Campbell and Lamar (2004), most adults are 50-80 cm …

Ridley Turtle — Two species of sea turtles in the family Cheloniidae are called ridley turtles. Both may attain a length of about 700 mm (27.5 in) and commonly weigh between 30 and 36 kg (65 and 80 lb). The Indo-Pacific ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea, occurs in parts of the Indian, the Pacific, and possibly the Atlantic oceans. It is almost …

Race Runner — The Six-lined Racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) is a species of lizard found in the United States, from Wyoming across the Great Plains east to Rhode Island, south to Florida and west to southern Texas, and in northern Mexico, in Tamaulipas. The Six-lined Racerunner is typically dark green, brown or black in color, with six yellow or green-yellow stripes …

Painted Turtle — The Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) is a reptile that is common in North America,southern Canada, and northern Mexico and is a water turtle related to other water turtles such as sliders and cooters. This turtle lives in ponds, lakes, marshes, and in slow-moving rivers that have soft, muddy bottoms. The maximum carapace size, or shell length, for …