Blue Jay

The Blue Jay (Scientific name - Cyanocitta crostata) is a noisy songbird that is found in the Eastern part of North America. They range from the Mid-west to the Eastern Seaboard in the United States and from the Gulf of Mexico and North into Central Canada and the Maritimes. Some can be found as far West in Canada as Alberta. They are very distinctive with a blue crest and white underbelly and blue, white and black plumage. These photos were taken in March 2015 in New Brunswick. 

Red-breasted Merganser

The Red-breasted Merganser (Scientific name - Mergus serrator) is a diving duck found in many parts of North America. They range as far north as the Arctic and as far south as Texas and the Baja Penninsula. They are slightly smaller than the Common Merganser and have a long ragged looking double crest.  The males have a long orangish bill, dark head, white collar and reddish chest. The back is dark with white patches on the wings. In flight there are two noticeable dark wing bars. The female is mostly rusty brown and grey.  Photos were taken in Saint John, New Brunswick in December 2014. Unfortunately I did not get any photos of the females.

Anna's Hummingbird

The Anna's Hummingbird (Scientific name: Calypte anna) is a common hummingbird along the Pacific Coast of North America. They range from Northern British Columbia and the Alaskan panhandle down to the Northern part of Mexico.  They are mostly green (back) and grey with the males displaying iridescent colours (reddish pink to orange) on the throat (gorget) and head. Photos were taken in November 2014 at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, Chilliwack, British Columbia.

  

Belted Kingfisher

The Belted Kingfisher (Scientific name: Megaceryle alcyon) is found near streams and shorelines throughout North America.  It is distinctive with a large head with a shaggy crest and thick straight bill. They are light blue above with a white underside and a broad blue band on the breast. Females have a rust coloured band on their belly and are more brightly coloured than the males. There is also a distinctive white spot between the eye and bill. They range from Alaska and as far south as northern South America.  Photos taken in Richmond, B.C. (in flight), Langley, B.C. (on wire) and Chilliwack, B.C. in September (Richmond) and October 2014.

Brown Creeper

The Brown Creeper (Scientific name: Certhia americana) is a small bird found in the woodlands across North America. They particularly like large trees and can be seen moving up the trunk of a tree in a spiral pattern. They are small birds with spine tipped tails and slim bodies and decurved bills. They are streaked brown and buff on top with white underparts. They have a noticeable stripe over the eye.  The photo was taken in September 2014 in Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C.

Vesper Sparrow

The Vesper Sparrow (Scientific name: Pooecetes gramineus) is a medium sized sparrow that is found mainly in grasslands across the north central U.S. and Canada. They summer as far north as the north of Alberta and Saskatchewan and occasionally into the territories. They are mostly greyish brown with a streaked chest and back. They have a noticeable white eyeing.  Photo was taken in September 2014 at Crescent Beach, Surrey, B.C.

Gray Jay

The Gray Jay (Scientific name: Perisoreus canadensis) is also commonly known as the Canada Jay or Whiskey Jack. They are found in the boreal forests of North America and in sub alpine forests in the Rocky Mountains as far south as New Mexico and Arizona.  They nest in late winter sometimes in temperatures well below freezing. They are always looking for food and can often be found near campsites and picnic sites scavenging. They will if offered often take food from human's hands.  They are stocky birds with black bills. They are light gray below and darker gray on the back. They have a black patch on the back of their heads. These photos taken at Manning Park, British Columbia in October 2014.

Black-legged Kittiwake

The Black-legged Kittiwake (scientific name - Rissa tridactyla) is a gull that is found in the N orth Pacific and North Atlantic oceans.  It breeds in large colonies on rocky cliffs. The bird has black legs, a small unmarked yellow bill, black wingtips  and a medium grey back. Photos were taken in July 2014 at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve in Newfoundland.

Nesting

Common Murre

The Common Murre (scientific name - Uria aalge) is a fairly large seabird found on both coasts of North America in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. This bird spends most of its time out at sea and only comes to land to breed. They do not build nests, but lay their eggs on rocky cliffs and rock ledges. They have a brown-black back and white underside. The Common Murre found in the Atlantic sometimes has a thin white stripe from the eye. These photos were taken in July 2014 at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve in Newfoundland.

Atlantic Puffin

The Atlantic Puffin (scientific name - Fratercula arctica) is a seabird native to the North Atlantic Ocean. It is found from the north coast of North America to Northern Europe and also up to Greenland.  It is easily identified with a black back and white underside and a l large multicoloured bill. These photos were taken in July 2014 at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve in Newfoundland which hosts the largest colony of these birds in the Western Atlantic (over 250,000). The Atlantic Puffin is also the Provincial Bird of the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.