Sandhill Crane

These first cranes were seen in a wildlife preserve.   To me they did not seem as tall as the ones we have seen out in fields.  They can grow from 41 to 46 inches tall.  

They are a tall, graceful, heronlike bird with long legs, long neck, and a long slender body.  They have a "bustle" at  the tail.  It is created by longer decurved inner secondary coverts and tertials that extend over the tail.

They are pale gray overall, and have a bright red to rosy skin from midcrown to base of bill. They eyes are yellowish. 

They may run to takeoff, and fly with neck and feet extended.

They like grasslands in summer, and marshes, agricultural fields in winter.

They have a loud call.  The bird book says it is a mellow, rolling,and fairly low-pitched . Every time I have heard it they have been very noisy.

Pileated Woodpecker

We saw the Pileated Woodpecker in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan  in September of 2011.  He was sitting on the ground by this old tree stump.  He would not move so I could get a good body shot.

These birds can grow as long as 16 inches. He is a large, long-necked, long-tailed  bird.  His bill is massive.  They have brownish-black back, wings, and tail. Bright crimson-red crest, thin white eyebrow;wide black eye-stripe, white line from above bill to down neck.  The male has pale eyes.

They like mature forests, or young forests with large dead and fallen trees.

Anhinga

We saw this bird in New Port Richey, Florida.  This is an adult female.  It is a large, slender, longtailed waterbird. He has a long snakelike neck and long, thin, sharply pointed bill.  He will hold out wings helping the feathers to dry.  

The bill is mostly orange. The tail, body and wings are blackish. 

Just before breeding, whitish plumes grow on head and neck of both sexes.

They live on lakes, ponds and slow-moving rivers, and brackish bays.

Wild Turkey

Here is a flock of wild turkey's in the Upper peninsula of Michigan.  This picture was taken  in September  of 2011.

Andy and I were driving in Joliet, Illinois in January of 2013 when we came upon  this scene.  Who would have thought we would see wild turkeys in a residential area.

The wild turkey is a large brown and bronze plump bird with striking blue and red bare head.  They have a fan  tail with long straight  black beard in the center of the chest. They have spurs on their legs

Definitely males.

The female is thinner and less striking, and do not have the breast beard.  They nest on the ground and only have one brood a year.  They have 10 to 12 eggs that are buff white with dull brown markings.  It takes 27 to 28 days to incubate the eggs.  The female leads the young to food.  They like insects, seeds and fruit. 

The turkey was eliminated from Illinois by the turn of the last century due to market hunting and loss of habitat.  They were reintroduced in the 1950's and 60's.  Males hold harems up to 20 females.  They are strong fliers and can get up to 60 mph.  They are able to fly straight up, then away. 

Their eyesight is 3 times better than humans.  Their hearing is excellent, and able to hear competing males up to one mile away.  They roost in trees at night.  It is the largest game bird in Illinois.

Baby rabbit

This baby came to visit in our back yard.

Magnolia in Atlanta

Pink magnolia, I saw in Atlanta, in March 2013

Eastern Towhee

These are the greatest pictures as they were taken through a window, but this is the Towhee  The female is a mostly light brown bird with rusty red brown sides and white belly.  Long brown tail with white tip.  Short stout pointed bill with rich red eye.  She has White wing patches that flash in flight.  I think this is what these pictures are of, the female.

The birds are seen hopping backwards with both feet to rake up the leaf litter, called bilateral scratching, in search of insects and seeds.  The female takes care of the brood, the male feeds the young.

They have 3 to 4 creamy white with brown marking eggs. 12 to 13 days incubation.

Looks like a small robin to me.