1. Minnesota Terrestrial (Upland) Bird Identification Shawn P. Linder Wildlife Management Perham High School March 5 th, 2002

2. Problem Statement What are the various identifying features of terrestrial birds of Minnesota?

3. Learning Objectives Students will: 1. Identify and describe the characteristics of Minnesota game birds. 2. Identify and describe the characteristics of Minnesota game birds. 3. Compare and describe the difference of a game bird and non-game bird.

4. K.Q #1: What is a terrestrial (upland) game bird?

5. Upland Game Birds It’s a land thriving bird that is managed by the Minnesota DNR for the recreation of hunting. >Why do we as a hunter need to know what game birds are considered upland game birds and which game is waterfowl?

6. K.Q. #2: What are the various identifying characteristics of Minnesota Upland Game Birds?

7. Upland Game Bird I.D.

8. Ring-Necked Pheasant

9. Buffy brown head and underparts Dark brown back with paler edgings and centers Black spots and bars scattered about head, neck and flanks Long, buff-brown, pointed tail Lacks spurs

10. Ruffed Grouse

11. Sharp Tailed Grouse

12. Spruce Grouse

13. Gray-brown or reddish- brown plumage with dark-brown and white barring on underparts Black tail with brown terminal band Ruffed Grouse is browner and paler on the belly with a black subterminal band on the tail. Size (Spruce smaller!)

14. Hungarian Partridge Sexes similar Male has dark brown patch on center of belly, female has smaller or absent marking Chukar has red bill, black eyeline and necklace. Northern Bobwhite has different face pattern and is smaller with a grayish tail in flight.

15. Chuckar Partridge Sexes similar Black band above bill, through the eye and across upper neck. Hungarian Partridge has a rusty face without a black necklace, a duller bill and reddish bars on the flanks.

16. Wild Turkey Sexes Similar (Larger Head on Male) Very large, small-headed, round-winged, long- tailed, ground-dwelling bird Unfeathered bluish head and reddish throat Dark breast, belly and upper back

17. Bobwhite Quail White chin and supercilium Black cap, eyeline, nape and throat Reddish-brown body stippled with white and black spots Pale belly

18. Bobwhite Quail Buff throat and supercilium Dark cap, eyeline, nape and throat Reddish-brown body with darker back Black and white streaks on chest

19. Virginia Rail

20. Sexes Similar Long, slightly decurved bill Reddish bill Legs brown or orange Throat whitish Blue-gray cheeks Rust-colored breast and belly Dark crown and back, edged tawny brown Black and white barred flanks Chestnut wing

21. Sora Rail Sexes Similar Yellow bill Black lores and throat (paler in basic plumage) Blue-gray face, sides of neck, and breast Brownish cap, nape, hindneck, back and upperwings Whitish belly Dark brown and white barring on flanks

22. American Woodcock

23. Common Snipe

24. Woodcock vs. Snipe Woodcock the lines run across the head from ear-to-ear. Snipe the lines run down the head from eyes to wings. Woodcock wide, Snipe straight back. The bill separates themselves from other upland game.

25. Greater Prairie Chicken

26. K.Q. #3: What are the various identifying characteristics of Minnesota Terrestrial Non-game Birds?

27. Non-game Terrestrial Bird I.D. Hawk Family

28. Bald Eagle

29. Osprey Short hooked beak White cap Dark brown eyeline broadening behind eye Dark brown nape, back and upperwings Wings from below: flight feathers white barred with black, undersecondary coverts white and underprimary coverts black producing rectangular black mark at wrist

30. Sharp-Shinned Hawk White band on tail. Tail feathers squared. Same height as a clipboard on end.

31. Cooper’s Hawk White band on tail. Rounded tail feathers Same size as clipboard standing on end.

32. Broad Wing Hawk Sexes similar Short, dark, hooked beak Medium-sized, broad- winged, broad-tailed hawk Short, broad wings somewhat pointed at the tip

33. Redtailed Hawk Very large Hawk! Sexes similar Short, dark, hooked beek. Large red tail, tipped with white.

34. American Kestrel

35. Osprey Length: 22 inches Wingspan: 54 inches Large, narrow-winged hawk Flies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow Wings taper to a rounded tip Short hooked beak White cap

36. Great Horned Owl Length: 20 inches Very large owl with prominent ear tufts Yellow eyes and dark bill Reddish-brown facial disks bordered by black with a lower border of white White throat patch

37. Barred Owl Length: 17 inches Dark eyes and yellow bill Back brown, mottled with pale spots and dark bars Underparts pale with long, brown streaks Chest pale with brown barring Face pale with dark concentric rings surrounding eye

38. Screech Owl Length: 8 inches Large, rounded head with ear tufts Yellow eyes Dense streaking on underparts with finer barring Dark gray or brown upperparts Sexes similar

39. Snowy Owl Length: 20 inches Large, rounded head Yellow eyes Entirely white plumage with scattered dark spots Immatures are boldly barred with black Sexes similar

40. Other Common Terrestrial Birds

41. Sandhill Crane Length: 37 inches Wingspan: 80 inches Large, long-legged, long-necked bird Dark bill Unfeathered red crown and lores Entirely gray plumage,

42. Mourning Dove Sexes similar Pale buff-brown head, neck, breast, and belly Purple and green iridescence on neck Small black mark on lower neck

43. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Length: 3 inches Long, straight, thin bill Small hummingbird Bright green back and crown White underparts with greenish flanks Iridescent scarlet gorget Black face and chin Entirely dark forked tail

44. Belted Kingfisher Large, short-legged, big- headed, big-billed bird Hovers over water and dives headfirst into water in pursuit of fish Slate blue head, with white spot near lores White chin, throat and neck Slate blue breastband

45. Redheaded Woodpecker Bright red head and neck White breast, belly, rump, and vent

46. Blue Jay Black sturdy bill Blue crest and upperparts Black eyeline and breastband Grayish-white throat and underparts Bright blue wings with black bars and white patches Long blue tail with black bars and white corners Dark legs

47. American Crow Length: 17 inches Entirely black plumage Squared-off tail Very common in urban and agricultural areas

48. Purple Martin Dark purple plumage, usually appears black Forked tail Tiny bill

49. Eastern Bluebird Bright blue upperparts Orange-red throat, breast and sides White belly and undertail coverts

50. Common Grackle Very long tail Long bill Entirely black plumage Entirely purple or purple and greenish iridiscence to plumage Pale eye

51. Brown-headed Cowbird Short, conical bill Dark eyes Brown head Black body, wings and tail