Acorn Woodpecker
The Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) is a medium-sized woodpecker and is one of 24 species now placed in the genus Melanerpes that was introduced by William John Swainson in 1832. Within Melanerpes the Acorn Woodpecker is sister to a clade containing two South American species: the White Woodpecker (Melanerpes candidus) and the White-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cactorum).
The adult Acorn Woodpecker has a brownish-black head, back, wings and tail, white forehead, throat, belly, and rump. The eyes are initially dark in fledglings, turning to white within a few months. There is a small part on the small of their backs where there are some greenish feathers. In most subspecies, adult males have a red cap starting at the forehead, whereas females have a black area between the forehead and the cap. The white neck, throat, and forehead patches are distinctive identifiers. When flying, they take a few flaps of their wings and drop a foot or so. White circles on their wings are visible when in flight. Acorn Woodpeckers have a call that sounds almost like they are laughing.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_woodpecker
eBird: ebird.org/species/acowoo
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Reddish Egret
The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a medium-sized heron. It is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and Mexico. There is post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range. In the past, this bird was a victim of the plume trade.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, there are only 1,500 to 2,000 nesting pairs of reddish egrets in the United States — and most of these are in Texas. They are classified as "Threatened" in Texas and receive special protection.
Egrets are herons which have white or buff plumage and develop fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons and have the same build.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reddish_egret
From The Cornell Lab: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Reddish_Egret/overview
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Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) with its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
For more info: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/id
The Cornell Lab: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl
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Reddish Egret
The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a medium-sized heron. It is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and Mexico. There is post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range. In the past, this bird was a victim of the plume trade.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, there are only 1,500 to 2,000 nesting pairs of reddish egrets in the United States — and most of these are in Texas. They are classified as "Threatened" in Texas and receive special protection.
Egrets are herons which have white or buff plumage and develop fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons and have the same build.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reddish_egret
From The Cornell Lab: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Reddish_Egret/overview
Tags: Animal Avian Bird Birding Birdwatching Conservation Egret Egretta rufescens Environment Environmental Florida Habitat Heron Mother Nature Nature Nikon AF-S 600mm F4G ED VR Nikon Z9 Ornithology Reddish Egret USA United States Wild Wildlife © 2022 RGL Photography Breeding Plumage
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Elk of the Canadian Rockies
Elk, also known as Wapiti or Red Deer, enjoy large populations in North America, primarily in western parts of the United States and Canada. These large relatives of deer are also found in smaller populations in other parts of the world, in protected native groups or introduced populations. Their preference for open woodlands and a range of elevations make many states habitable for elk, though their current range is much smaller than their historical range.
The Elk Range is a mountain range of the Canadian Rockies, located on the southern edge of Kananaskis on the Alberta-British Columbia border. The range was named for Elk found on the mountain slopes and in the nearby Elk River valley. Originally known as the Elk Mountains in 1917, the name was formally changed to the Elk Range in 1951.
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