Birds of Arkansas Field Guide

by Stan Tekiela

Overview

This field guide, organized by color, features full-color photographs and information to help readers quickly and easily identify the Arkansas birds they see.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591932611
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/24/2011
Series:	Bird Identification Guides
Pages:	328
Sales rank:	471,692
Product dimensions:	4.30(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Naturalist, wildlife photographer, and writer Stan Tekiela is the author of more than 190 field guides, nature books, children’s books, and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers, and cacti in the United States. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 30 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations.

Read an Excerpt

American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis

Size: 5" (13 cm)

Male: Canary-yellow finch with a black forehead and tail. Black wings with white wing bars. White rump. No markings on the chest. Winter male is similar to the female.

Female: dull olive-yellow plumage with brown wings; lacks a black forehead

Juvenile: same as female

Nest: cup; female builds; 1 brood per year

Eggs: 4–6; pale blue without markings

Incubation: 10–12 days; female incubates

Fledging: 11–17 days; female and male feed the young

Migration: non-migrator to partial; small flocks of up to 20 birds move around to find food

Food: seeds, insects; will come to seed feeders

Compare: The Pine Siskin (p. 105) has a streaked chest and belly and yellow wing bars. The female House Finch (p. 107) and female Purple Finch (p. 125) have heavily streaked chests.

Stan’s Notes: A common backyard resident. Most often found in open fields, scrubby areas, and woodlands. Enjoys Nyjer seed in feeders. Breeds in late summer. Lines its nest with the silky down from wild thistle. Almost always in small flocks. Twitters while it flies. Flight is roller coaster-like. Moves around to find adequate food during winter. Often called Wild Canary due to the male’s canary-colored plumage. Male sings a pleasant, high-pitched song.

Table of Contents

Introduction

• Why Watch Birds in Arkansas?
• Observe with a Strategy; Tips for Identifying Birds
• Bird Basics
• Bird Color Variables
• Bird Nests
• Who Builds the Nest?
• Fledging
• Why Birds Migrate
• How Do Birds Migrate?
• How to Use This Guide
• Range Maps

Sample Page

The Birds

• Black
• Black and White
• Blue
• Brown
• Gray
• Green
• Orange
• Red
• White
• Yellow

Helpful Resources

Checklist/Index by Species

About the Author