On The Road – Albatrossity – Bird Butts Before Breakfast #2

Here’s a bird that is on the want-to-see list for lots of North American birders, since it tends to most common in places where humans and human habitations are less common. You won’t often see them perched in a tree, however. Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus).

This bird, Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is named (twice!) for its bright yellow head, which is indeed an obvious and helpful field mark. But a better name might be the Yellow-vented Blackbird!

This Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) paused on its annual migration from our North American prairies to the pampas of South America, and gave me a chance to admire its better side.

‘Tis the season for consumption of Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), but you will have to wait until spring to see this fan-dancing display for the ladies.

Second-year male Summer Tanagers (Piranga rubra) have interesting blotchy plumages, with red and yellow patches distributed seemingly randomly. This one has a very attractive look from the rear, however.

A flock of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) pretending to be the Rockettes.

Most birds do not have a particularly distinctive rear end, but the rufous undertail of the Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) is familiar to most North American birders.

Upland Sandpipers (Bartramia longicauda) usually land in a wings-up display, then primly fold their wings into a more normal position. One of the iconic birds of our local prairies.

This slim profile of a Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is not a typical angle; usually we see the more elongated side-view. But they are handsome from any angle, including this one. That genus name, by the way, means Earth-cuckoo, and they are indeed mostly ground-dwelling members of the cuckoo family, although they can fly quite well.

And finally, here is your Bird Butt Before Breakfast quiz bird for the day! The correct answer will appear in the comments later.