FEMALE BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, ACKERMAN PARK, SARASOTA, FL

   We can ID this bird as a female Brown-headed Cowbird as follows:

• Dull brownish-grey with darker wings and tail and pale throat.
• Stout, conical and pointed finch-like bill.
• Black eyes and legs.
• Faint pale eyestripe.
• Color of bill is dark and sometimes bluish.
• Short tail.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, CELERY FIELDS, SARASOTA, FL

   We can ID this sandpiper as a Greater Yellowlegs, rather than a Lesser Yellowlegs by the length of its bill, which is considerably longer than the head length.

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK ON POST & IN FLIGHT, CELERY FIELD, SARASOTA, FL

PURPLE MARTINS, CELERY FIELDS, SARASOTA, FL

   The first two photos show a pair of Purple Martins; the male is on the left and the female on the right.  They are at a Purple Martin house.  The third and fourth photos are closeups of male Purple Martins and the fifth and sixth photos are closeups of female Purple Martins.  The seventh photo shows a Purple Martin house with six Purple Martins, including one which is about to fly off.

MOTTLED DUCK, ACKERMAN PARK, SARASOTA, FL

BREEDING SNOWY EGRET, ACKERMAN PARK, SARASOTA, FL

   This Snowy Egret has the plume from the head of its breeding plumage.

GREAT BLUE HERON, ACKERMAN PARK, SARASOTA, FL