greekstifado - Yanni's photostream  

Photographed in my backyard perched on my apple tree. Fired a few shots and as soon as he spotted me off he went.

This bold and dashing little hawk, the terror of all small birds and the audacious murderer of young chickens, is widely distributed in North America, very common at some season in practically all the United States and Canada. Although it breeds throughout most of its range, more or less rarely, its center of abundance during the nesting season is in the eastern Provinces of Canada.

It is best known to most of us as a migrant, coming along with the migrations of small birds and frequenting the open country, the edges of the woods, clearings, hedgerows, bushy pastures, and shore lines, where migrating birds may be found. It is not a forest-loving species and is seldom seen in heavily wooded regions. It has been well called a bushwhacker from its habit of beating stealthily about the shrubbery to the fatal surprise of many a little songster.

The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - New Jersey

American black ducks are among the larger of the dabbling ducks, or those that feed by tipping their bodies to access underwater vegetation in shallow water. In winter they can be found throughout eastern North America east of the Mississippi River from northern Florida to southern Quebec, in both freshwater and coastal marine habitats.
Black ducks eat a wide variety of vegetation including roots, seeds, tubers, leaves of aquatic plants, and even corn or other grains when they are available. When nesting, females will often eat aquatic insects and invertebrates such as isopods, snails, and clams. In winter they will feed on available vegetation but will also eat bivalves, snails, benthic invertebrates, and even small fish.
American black duck take readily to land and run and walk with ease. They re-form pair bonds each year on their wintering grounds. They begin nesting as early as February in the southern part of their breeding range, but often not until late May in their northern Canada nesting locations. Nests are often located near wetlands; particularly near beaver ponds or near lakes, ponds, and bogs.

The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - New Jersey

Although male ring-necked ducks superficially resemble their counterparts in greater and lesser scaup, their peaked, angular head profile, distinctive white bill markings and uniformly dark upper wings distinguish them. Female ring-necked ducks most closely resemble female redheads, but are distinguished by their smaller size; peaked, angular head profile; and pale region around the face. Male ring-necked ducks have an iridescent black head, neck, breast and upperparts. The belly and flanks are whitish to grayish, with a distinctive triangular white wedge extending upward in the area in front of the folded wing. The bill is slate with a white border around the base and nares, and a pale white band behind the black tip.

The "ring-neck" name is derived from a faint brownish ring around the base of the neck, which is visible only upon close inspection. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is yellow. Ring-necked ducks are silent except in display, when a low whistling note is uttered. Female ring-necked ducks have a brown head with a black crown, light brown cheeks and chin and a white eye ring. A narrow white line extends from the eye to the back of the head. The bill is slate with a faint white band near the tip. The neck, back, sides and flanks are brown and the belly is white. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is brown. Female vocalizes a soft, rolling "trrr."

Although male ring-necked ducks superficially resemble their counterparts in greater and lesser scaup, their peaked, angular head profile, distinctive white bill markings and uniformly dark upper wings distinguish them. Female ring-necked ducks most closely resemble female redheads, but are distinguished by their smaller size; peaked, angular head profile; and pale region around the face. Male ring-necked ducks have an iridescent black head, neck, breast and upperparts. The belly and flanks are whitish to grayish, with a distinctive triangular white wedge extending upward in the area in front of the folded wing. The bill is slate with a white border around the base and nares, and a pale white band behind the black tip.

The "ringneck" name is derived from a faint brownish ring around the base of the neck, which is visible only upon close inspection. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is yellow. Ring-necked ducks are silent except in display, when a low whistling note is uttered. Female ring-necked ducks have a brown head with a black crown, light brown cheeks and chin and a white eye ring. A narrow white line extends from the eye to the back of the head. The bill is slate with a faint white band near the tip. The neck, back, sides and flanks are brown and the belly is white. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is brown. Female vocalizes a soft, rolling "trrr."

Common grackles use physical displays and vocalizations to communicate. Common grackles produce one song type, which is individually distinctive and is probably used as identification. The harsh song is said to sound much like a squeaking, rusty gate. The male song is most often heard around the date of the first copulation, and its frequency decreases over the course of incubation. Females sing much less frequently than males, and appear to sing most often when song-answering with their mate.