2. Birds

5. The evolutionary origin of birds has always been a subject of considerable debate. Birds and flying reptiles have delicate, lightweight skeletons which do not fossilize well - hindering studies on how the birds evolved. The first bird fossil to be found was a feather, which was discovered in 1860 in a limestone quarry in Bavaria. The feather was given the name Archaeopteryx, which is Greek for 'ancient feather'. A year later an almost complete skeleton of Archaeopteryx was discovered in the same quarry, with the feathers and other fine structures preserved in minute detail.

6. The skeleton showed several features which are intermediate between reptiles and birds, suggesting that Archaeopteryx and the other birds evolved from a dinosaur similar to the Velociraptor featured in the film 'Jurassic Park'. Seven partial or complete Archaeopteryx skeletons have now been found, and they are still among the most famous, and scientifically valuable, fossils.

10. Feathers make the bird

20. Alabama Birds Checklist of Alabama Birds - Geographical & Seasonal Distribution Alabama Ornithological Society

21. Order Gaviiformes Loons Specialized for swimming and diving. Come ashore only to breed. In flight, head lower than body. Wingbeats fast. Eat fish, crustaceans, some water plants.

22. Common loon – Gavia immer

23. Order Podicipediformes Grebes Swimming and diving birds, smaller than loons. Flat lobes on toes. Short legs far back on body. Flight weak and hurried. Taxi before becoming airborne. Dive and pursue aquatic animals.

24. Pied-billed grebe – Podilymbus podiceps

25. Order Pelecaniformes Pelicans and their Allies Large, aquatic fish-eating birds with all four toes webbed. Most nest in large colonies and are silent outside breeding grounds.

26. American white pelican – Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

28. White pelicans in flight.

30. Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

31. Brown pelican diving For fish.

32. Double-crested cormorant – Phalacrocorax auritus

33. Double-crested cormorant

34. Anghinga (snake bird) – Anhinga anhinga

35. Order Anseriformes Waterfowl Aquatic, with webs between the three front toes. Long necks and narrow pointed wings. Flattened bills with tooth-like edges that serve as strainers.

36. Geese Subfamily Anserinae Tribe Anserini

37. Canada goose – Branta canadensis

41. Snow goose – Chen caerulescens

42. Surface-feeding Ducks (Dabblers) Subfamily Anserinae Tribe Anatini

43. Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos

44. Summer Distribution Winter Distribution

45. Pintail – Anas acuta

47. Blue-winged teal Anas discors

48. Blue-winged teal

50. Green-winged teal – Anas crecca

53. Perching or Wood Ducks Subfamily Anserinae Tribe Carinini

54. Wood duck (drake) – Aix sponsa

55. Female wood duck

56. Wood duck distribution

57. Bay Ducks (Divers) Subfamily Anatinae Tribe Aythyini

58. Redhead – Aythya americana

59. Redhead distribution

60. Canvasback – Aythya valisneria

61. Ring-necked duck – Aythya collaris

63. Ring-necked duck distribution

64. Lesser scaup – Aythya affinis

65. Lesser scaup distribution

67. Sea Ducks Subfamily Anatinae Tribe Mergini

68. Common goldeneye – Bucephala clangula

69. Common goldeneye distribution

70. Canvasback distribution

71. Bufflehead – Bucephala albeola

73. Bufflehead distribution

74. Hooded merganser – Lophodytes cucullatus

76. Hooded merganser distribution

77. Order Falconiformes Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Vultures Diurnal birds of prey. Strong beaks and talons.

78. Turkey vulture – Cathartes aura

79. Turkey vulture in flight

80. Black vulture – Coragyps atratus

81. Vultures (two black, one turkey) feeding on carrion.

82. Mississippi kite Ictinia mississippiensis

83. Swallow-tailed kit Elanoides forficatus

84. Cooper’s hawk Accipiter cooperii

85. Cooper’s hawk in flight

86. Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks

87. Sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus

88. Northern harrier – Circus cyaneus

89. Red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis

90. Red-tailed hawk in flight

91. Red-shouldered hawk Buteo lineatus

92. Red-shouldered hawk in flight

95. Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos

96. Bald eagle Haliaetus leucocephalus

97. Osprey – Pandion haliaetus

98. American kestrel – Falco sparverius

99. Peregrine falcon- Falco peregrinus

100. Order Galliformes Gallinaceous Birds Heavy-bodied, chicken-like land birds. Short, heavy bill. Wings short and rounded. Legs rather long. Flight not fast, but can burst into full flight from a sitting position. Capable runners that forage on the ground. Males of many species have elaborate courtship displays.

101. Northern bobwhite – Colinus virginianus

102. Male bobwhite

103. Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo

104. Order Ciconiiformes Herons and their allies Wading birds with long legs, neck and bill. Most feed on aquatic animal life in shallow water. Some have long plumes in the breeding season. Wings are broad and rounded, tail short.

105. Great blue heron Ardea herodius

107. Great egret Casmerodius albus

109. Snowy egret – Egretta thula

110. Cattle egret – Bubuculus ibis

112. Little blue heron – Egretta caerulea

113. Louisiana heron – Egretta tricolor

115. Green heron Butorides striatus

117. White ibis – Eudocimus albus

120. Wood stork Mycteria americana

122. Order Gruiformes Cranes and their Allies Highly diverse group of wading birds with long legs. Other features such as size, body outline, bill shape and neck length are highly variable.

123. Sandhill crane Grus canadensis

124. Sandhill crane

125. Whooping crane Grus americana

126. Clapper rail Rallus longirostris

127. King rail – Rallus elegans

128. Common moorhen – Gallinula chloropus

129. Purple gallinule – Porphyrula martinica

130. American coot – Fulica americana

133. Order Charadriiformes Shorebirds and Gulls Diverse group of wading or swimming birds. mOst are white, gray or brown, with long pointed wings and webbed feet. Highly migratory. Most feed along shores, a few inland.

134. Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus

135. American woodcock – Scolopax minor

136. Common snipe – Gallinago gallinago

138. Sanderling – Calidris alba

139. Herring gull Larus argentatus

140. Laughing gull – Larus atricilla

141. Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri

142. Caspian tern – Sterna caspia

143. Common tern – Sterna hirundo

144. Order Columbiformes Pigeons and Doves Small-headed, short-legged, swift-flying birds with pointed wings and fanned or tapered tails. All species coo, bob heads when walking. Eat grains, small seeds, acorns and fruit.

145. Mourning dove – Zenaida macroura

146. Rock dove – Columba livia

149. Order Strigiformes Owls Large-headed, short-necked birds of prey. Mostly nocturnal. Large eyes are fixed in sockets, so the entire head moves as the bird shifts its gaze. Flat, round or heart-shaped “facial disk” conceals the large external ear flaps. All fly silently, hunting for rodents and other mammals. Calls are distinctive hoots, wails, or whistles.

150. Eastern screech owl – Otus asio

151. Great horned owl Bubo virginianus

152. Barn owl – Tyto alba

153. Barn owl

154. Barred owl Strix varia

155. Order Caprimulgiformes Goatsuckers Nocturnal insect-eaters with large, flat heads, small bills, enormous mouths, and distinctive white patches in the wings and tail. Many are named for their call.

156. Chuck-will’s-widow – Caprimulgus carolinensis

158. Whip-poor-will – Caprilmulgus vociferus

160. Common nighthawk – Chordeiles minor

162. Order Apodiformes Swifts and Hummingbirds

163. Ruby-throated hummingbird – Archilochus colubris

164. Order Coraciiformes Kingfishers Large-headed, short-tailed birds that dive for fish, which they catch with their long sharp beaks. Perch motionless in the open, over water. Short legs.

165. Belted kingfisher – Ceryle alcyon

169. Order Piciformes Woodpeckers Have a strong bill, sharply pointed for chipping and digging into tree trunks or branches for wood-boring insects. Still tail used as a prop. Most species “drum” on resonant limbs, poles, or drainpipes. Flight is usually undulating, with wings folded against the body after each series of flaps. Usually nest in a cavity chiseled into a large branch or trunk.

170. Yellow-shafted flicker Colaptes auratus

172. Pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

173. Red-bellied woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus

174. Red-headed woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus

175. Red-cockaded woodpecker Picoides borealis

176. Downy woodpecker Picoides pubescens

177. Hairy woodpecker Picoides villosus

178. Yellow-bellied sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius

179. Order Passeriformes Perching Birds Small to medium land birds. All have feet well adapted for perching: 3 toes in front and 1 long toe behind. Most are singers. Bill shape, feather colors, and habits are most useful for family identification. Most insectivorous species and some seed and fruit eaters are highly migratory.

180. Eastern kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus

181. The eastern kingbird spends the summer months in North America, and winters in Amazonia.

182. Barn swallow Hirudo rustica

183. Purple martin – Progne subis

184. Blue jay Cyanocitta cristata

185. American crow – Corvus brachyrhyncos

186. Carolina wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus

187. Northern mockingbird – Mimus polyglottus

189. Brown thrasher – Toxostoma rufum

190. American robin - Turdus migratorius

191. Eastern bluebird Siala sialis

192. Cedar waxwing – Bombycilla cedrorum

193. Loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus

195. Red-winged blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus

197. Brown-headed cowbird – Molothrus ater

198. Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

199. Black-capped chickadee – Poecile carolinensis

201. House finch Carpodacus mexicanus

210. Indigo bunting – Passerina cyanea

211. Eastern towhee – Pipilo erythrophtalmus

212. Sparrows