The Brown Headed Cowbird is not the sentimental favorite of many birders. It’s habit of not building a nest, rather laying it’s eggs in another birds’ nest, using those birds to hatch and raise their young, started eons ago. This bird was originally found in the great plains, following the vast herds of Bison. These…

The Common Nighthawk, a Nightjar, is perhaps the most easily seen and recognized of the various species that comprise the goatsucker family of birds. Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Nightjars are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief…

The Purple Martin is our largest and one of the friendliest of the swallow family. Hundreds of years ago the Plains Indians hung gourds around their encampments to attract these birds. One of the main reasons for having these birds nearby was they would become very excited when strangers approached. As for mosquito control its…

The Brown Thrasher is one of three birds that are common throughout much of the US belonging to the Mimidae family of birds. As you will note they are all good at mimicry. The Mockingbird is more common in the mid-south and on down to the gulf and Mexican border. The Catbird gives out single…

The American Kestrel, is our smallest and most common Falcon. It can be seen with regularity, during the winter months and throughout summer along the highways and county roads of the Midwest and Central Great Plaines. Traditionally this falcon would hover in mid-air over the open prairies using its keen eyesight to spot prey. However…