14-4-2017 GIBRALTAR - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (JUVENILE) (Larus michahellis)

The Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) is a large, robust seabird with a commanding presence. Its size can be quite variable, with the smallest females being scarcely larger than a Common Gull, and the largest males approaching the heft of a Great Black-backed Gull. Adults typically exhibit a grey back, a shade lighter than that of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, and their heads are notably whiter in the autumn months. A distinctive feature is their yellow legs, which give this species its common name.

When observing the Yellow-legged Gull, look for the yellow legs that contrast with the grey back and the white head, which becomes even whiter during the autumn. The wing tips are black with limited white spots, and adults have a red spot on the bill. The eye is surrounded by a red ring. Juveniles can be identified by their paler head, rump, and underparts, dark bill and eyes, and a black band on the tail.

This gull favors a variety of coastal environments, often nesting on sea cliffs, islands, and occasionally on buildings within urban settings. It is also known to breed on trees in some regions.

The Yellow-legged Gull has a breeding range centered around the Mediterranean Sea, extending to the Atlantic islands and coasts as far north as Brittany and west to the Azores. Its presence is also noted on the western side of the Black Sea.

The species is known for its adaptability, with many individuals remaining in the same area year-round, while others migrate to milder regions of western Europe or head south to areas such as Senegal and the Red Sea. Post-breeding dispersal can lead to increased numbers in regions like southern England from July to October.

The vocalizations of the Yellow-legged Gull are characterized by a loud, laughing call that is deeper and more nasal than that of the Herring Gull.

Breeding typically occurs in colonies, with nests constructed on the ground or cliff ledges. The nests are mounds of vegetation, and the species is known for its vigorous defense of its eggs, usually numbering three. Incubation lasts for 27–31 days, and fledging occurs after 35–40 days.

An opportunistic forager, the Yellow-legged Gull is omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of items from rubbish tips to field prey, coastal offerings, and even other seabirds' catches. Remarkably, during periods of food scarcity, such as the lockdown in Italy in 2020, these gulls have been observed preying on larger animals like rats and rock doves.

The Yellow-legged Gull is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it does not face any immediate threat of extinction.

14-4-2017 GIBRALTAR - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis)

The Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) is a large, robust seabird with a commanding presence. Its size can be quite variable, with the smallest females being scarcely larger than a Common Gull, and the largest males approaching the heft of a Great Black-backed Gull. Adults typically exhibit a grey back, a shade lighter than that of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, and their heads are notably whiter in the autumn months. A distinctive feature is their yellow legs, which give this species its common name.

When observing the Yellow-legged Gull, look for the yellow legs that contrast with the grey back and the white head, which becomes even whiter during the autumn. The wing tips are black with limited white spots, and adults have a red spot on the bill. The eye is surrounded by a red ring. Juveniles can be identified by their paler head, rump, and underparts, dark bill and eyes, and a black band on the tail.

This gull favors a variety of coastal environments, often nesting on sea cliffs, islands, and occasionally on buildings within urban settings. It is also known to breed on trees in some regions.

The Yellow-legged Gull has a breeding range centered around the Mediterranean Sea, extending to the Atlantic islands and coasts as far north as Brittany and west to the Azores. Its presence is also noted on the western side of the Black Sea.

The species is known for its adaptability, with many individuals remaining in the same area year-round, while others migrate to milder regions of western Europe or head south to areas such as Senegal and the Red Sea. Post-breeding dispersal can lead to increased numbers in regions like southern England from July to October.

The vocalizations of the Yellow-legged Gull are characterized by a loud, laughing call that is deeper and more nasal than that of the Herring Gull.

Breeding typically occurs in colonies, with nests constructed on the ground or cliff ledges. The nests are mounds of vegetation, and the species is known for its vigorous defense of its eggs, usually numbering three. Incubation lasts for 27–31 days, and fledging occurs after 35–40 days.

An opportunistic forager, the Yellow-legged Gull is omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of items from rubbish tips to field prey, coastal offerings, and even other seabirds' catches. Remarkably, during periods of food scarcity, such as the lockdown in Italy in 2020, these gulls have been observed preying on larger animals like rats and rock doves.

The Yellow-legged Gull is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it does not face any immediate threat of extinction.

15-4-2017 TANGIER, MOROCCO - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (JUVENILE) (Larus michahellis)

The Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) is a large, robust seabird with a commanding presence. Its size can be quite variable, with the smallest females being scarcely larger than a Common Gull, and the largest males approaching the heft of a Great Black-backed Gull. Adults typically exhibit a grey back, a shade lighter than that of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, and their heads are notably whiter in the autumn months. A distinctive feature is their yellow legs, which give this species its common name.

When observing the Yellow-legged Gull, look for the yellow legs that contrast with the grey back and the white head, which becomes even whiter during the autumn. The wing tips are black with limited white spots, and adults have a red spot on the bill. The eye is surrounded by a red ring. Juveniles can be identified by their paler head, rump, and underparts, dark bill and eyes, and a black band on the tail.

This gull favors a variety of coastal environments, often nesting on sea cliffs, islands, and occasionally on buildings within urban settings. It is also known to breed on trees in some regions.

The Yellow-legged Gull has a breeding range centered around the Mediterranean Sea, extending to the Atlantic islands and coasts as far north as Brittany and west to the Azores. Its presence is also noted on the western side of the Black Sea.

The species is known for its adaptability, with many individuals remaining in the same area year-round, while others migrate to milder regions of western Europe or head south to areas such as Senegal and the Red Sea. Post-breeding dispersal can lead to increased numbers in regions like southern England from July to October.

The vocalizations of the Yellow-legged Gull are characterized by a loud, laughing call that is deeper and more nasal than that of the Herring Gull.

Breeding typically occurs in colonies, with nests constructed on the ground or cliff ledges. The nests are mounds of vegetation, and the species is known for its vigorous defense of its eggs, usually numbering three. Incubation lasts for 27–31 days, and fledging occurs after 35–40 days.

An opportunistic forager, the Yellow-legged Gull is omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of items from rubbish tips to field prey, coastal offerings, and even other seabirds' catches. Remarkably, during periods of food scarcity, such as the lockdown in Italy in 2020, these gulls have been observed preying on larger animals like rats and rock doves.

10-4-2017 PUNTA DEL GARDO, THE AZORES - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis)

The Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) is a large, robust seabird with a commanding presence. Its size can be quite variable, with the smallest females being scarcely larger than a Common Gull, and the largest males approaching the heft of a Great Black-backed Gull. Adults typically exhibit a grey back, a shade lighter than that of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, and their heads are notably whiter in the autumn months. A distinctive feature is their yellow legs, which give this species its common name.

When observing the Yellow-legged Gull, look for the yellow legs that contrast with the grey back and the white head, which becomes even whiter during the autumn. The wing tips are black with limited white spots, and adults have a red spot on the bill. The eye is surrounded by a red ring. Juveniles can be identified by their paler head, rump, and underparts, dark bill and eyes, and a black band on the tail.

This gull favors a variety of coastal environments, often nesting on sea cliffs, islands, and occasionally on buildings within urban settings. It is also known to breed on trees in some regions.

The Yellow-legged Gull has a breeding range centered around the Mediterranean Sea, extending to the Atlantic islands and coasts as far north as Brittany and west to the Azores. Its presence is also noted on the western side of the Black Sea.

The species is known for its adaptability, with many individuals remaining in the same area year-round, while others migrate to milder regions of western Europe or head south to areas such as Senegal and the Red Sea. Post-breeding dispersal can lead to increased numbers in regions like southern England from July to October.

The vocalizations of the Yellow-legged Gull are characterized by a loud, laughing call that is deeper and more nasal than that of the Herring Gull.

Breeding typically occurs in colonies, with nests constructed on the ground or cliff ledges. The nests are mounds of vegetation, and the species is known for its vigorous defense of its eggs, usually numbering three. Incubation lasts for 27–31 days, and fledging occurs after 35–40 days.

An opportunistic forager, the Yellow-legged Gull is omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of items from rubbish tips to field prey, coastal offerings, and even other seabirds' catches. Remarkably, during periods of food scarcity, such as the lockdown in Italy in 2020, these gulls have been observed preying on larger animals like rats and rock doves.

The Yellow-legged Gull is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it does not face any immediate threat of extinction.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - BROWN PELICAN (MALE) (Pelecanus occidentalis)

The back, rump, and tail are streaked with gray and dark brown, sometimes with a rusty hue. The male and female are similar, but the female is slightly smaller. The nonbreeding adult has a white head and neck, and the pre-breeding adult has a creamy yellow head. The pink skin around the eyes becomes dull and gray in the non-breeding season. It lacks any red hue, and the pouch is strongly olivaceous ochre-tinged and the legs are olivaceous gray to blackish-gray. It has pale blue to yellowish-white irides which become brown during the breeding season. During courtship, the bill becomes pinkish red to pale orange, redder at the tip, and the pouch is blackish. Later in the breeding season, the bill becomes pale ash-gray over most of the upper jaw and the basal third of the mandible. The Brown pelican is exceptionally buoyant due to the internal air sacks beneath its skin and in its bones. It is as graceful in the air as it is clumsy on land.

The Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) has been described as a comically elegant bird. Groups of these seabirds glide above surf along western and southern coasts, gracefully echoing the waves with their rise and fall. They plunge-dive from high up to feed, the force of impact serving to stun small fish, which they then scoop up. Today this species is fairly common - a good example of recovery from the pesticide pollution that once threatened them with extinction.

The Brown pelican is the smallest of the eight extant pelican species but is often one of the larger seabirds in their range nonetheless. Like all pelicans, it has a very long bill, measuring 280 to 348 mm (11.0 to 13.7 in) in length. The nominate subspecies in its breeding plumage has a white head with a yellowish wash on the crown. The nape and neck are dark maroon–brown. The upper sides of the neck have white lines along the base of the gular pouch, and the lower foreneck has a pale yellowish patch. The feathers at the center of the nape are elongated, forming short, deep chestnut crest feathers. It has a silvery gray mantle, scapulars, and upperwing coverts (feathers on the upper side of the wings), with a brownish tinge. The lesser coverts have dark bases, which gives the leading edge of the wing a streaky appearance. 

The uppertail coverts (feathers above the tail) are silvery white at the center, forming pale streaks. The median (between the greater and the lesser coverts), primary (connected to the distal forelimb), secondary (connected to the ulna), and greater coverts (feathers of the outermost, largest, row of upperwing coverts) are blackish, with the primaries having white shafts and the secondaries having variable silver-gray fringes. The tertials (feathers arising in the brachial region) are silver-gray with a brownish tinge. The underwing has grayish-brown remiges with white shafts to the outer primary feathers. The axillaries and covert feathers are dark, with a broad, silver–gray central area. The tail is dark gray with a variable silvery cast. The lower mandible is blackish, with a greenish-black gular pouch at the bottom for draining water when it scoops out prey. The breast and belly are dark, and the legs and feet are black. It has a grayish-white bill tinged with brown and intermixed with pale carmine spots. The crest is short and pale reddish-brown in color. 

The Brown pelican occurs throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf Coasts of the Americas. Most brown pelican populations are resident (nonmigratory) and dispersive (moving from their birth site to their breeding site, or their breeding site to another breeding site); however, some populations migrate, depending on local conditions. Brown pelicans are strictly marine and coastal birds but occasionally follow large rivers during storms. They avoid the open sea and rarely occur far offshore, usually frequenting shallow waters along coasts, as well as estuaries and bays. They breed on the arid coasts of flat, bare, remote islands, or occasionally in mangroves. Brown pelicans can often be seen around fishing ports.

Brown pelicans, after bathing, use their beaks to spread oil from the uropygial gland over their feathers.

Courtship displays by Brown pelicans usually last 2-4 days, but sometimes as long as three weeks.

Brown pelicans incubate their eggs by means of their webbed feet, turning the eggs from time to time.

Brown pelicans are the only type of pelican that dive in order to catch prey. They glide low above the water and when they see a fish they fly to a height of 10 m (30 ft), fold their wings back, and plunge down into the sea.

Brown pelicans do exercises, including stretching and turning their pouch inside out to maintain its flexibility.

Brown pelicans are very gregarious and live throughout the year in flocks. They are diurnal but sometimes forage at night during a full moon. They sleep on land either while standing on both their feet or resting on their breast and belly, their head sideways on their shoulder with their beak tilted towards the side. This is the only pelican species that dives from height as the main method of obtaining food. Their air sacs enable buoyancy for them in the water. They do not swim under the water but plunge their head below the surface when catching prey. Brown pelicans are territorial during the nesting period. Threat displays, often carried out when another pelican is too close to an individual’s nest involve head swaying, indicating readiness to interact, and bowing and a "hrraa-hrraa" sound. Young pelicans who approach a nest too closely are often killed.

Brown pelicans do not have many natural enemies. Although nests on the ground are sometimes destroyed by flooding, hurricane, or other natural disasters, people pose the biggest threat to pelicans. In the early 20th and late 19th centuries, pelicans’ feathers were sought after to adorn women’s clothing, especially hats. Today tourists and fishermen threaten them by disturbing their colonies, especially in Mexico.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - BROWN PELICAN (FEMALE) (Pelecanus occidentalis)

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a member of the pelican family, Pelecanidae. It is one of the smaller pelican species, yet remains a large seabird with a distinctive long bill and large throat pouch. The adult pelican is noted for its brown and gray plumage, with a white head and neck during the nonbreeding season and a yellowish wash on the crown during breeding. The nape and neck are dark maroon-brown, and the legs range from olivaceous gray to blackish-gray.

Adult Brown Pelicans are identified by their white and yellowish heads with a dark brown nape during breeding season, transitioning to a white head and neck in nonbreeding adults. Juveniles are overall grayish-brown with paler underparts. In flight, they are graceful with a steady wingbeat and can be seen gliding low over the water's surface.

This species is strictly marine, favoring shallow waters near coasts, estuaries, and beaches. It is also found in mangrove swamps and occasionally inland freshwater lakes.

The Brown Pelican is found along the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. It is a resident species with some populations showing migratory behavior, particularly in the northern parts of its range.

The Brown Pelican is a sociable bird, often seen in flocks. It has a unique feeding behavior among pelicans, diving from the air into the water to catch fish. It is also known for its buoyancy due to internal air sacks.

This species is relatively quiet, but during displays, it may produce a variety of grunts and low-pitched sounds.

Breeding occurs in colonies, often on secluded islands. Both sexes share in incubation duties, with a typical clutch consisting of two to three chalky white eggs. Chicks are initially pink, turning gray or black within a few weeks, and fledge after about 63 days.

The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is similar but has white plumage and feeds from the water's surface rather than diving.

The Brown Pelican mainly feeds on fish, such as menhaden and anchovies, and occasionally consumes crustaceans, amphibians, and even the eggs and young of other birds. It dives from heights of up to 21 meters to capture prey.

The Brown Pelican is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its populations have recovered significantly since the ban of DDT in the United States, where it was previously endangered due to pesticide exposure affecting breeding success.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus)

The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), also known as the tiger owl or the hoot owl, is a formidable avian predator native to the Americas. This species is highly adaptable, with a vast range, and is recognized as the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas. Its plumage is generally mottled brown with barring, aiding in camouflage, and it possesses a distinctive white throat patch. The Great Horned Owl is one of the earliest nesting birds in North America.

This large owl has prominent ear tufts, known as plumicorns, which are thought to play a role in visual communication. Its eyes are among the largest of terrestrial vertebrates, and its face is framed by a facial disc, which can vary in color. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females typically larger than males.

Great Horned Owls can be found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, tropical rainforests, prairies, deserts, tundra, and even urban areas. They prefer areas where open habitats and woods are juxtaposed.

Their breeding habitat extends high into the subarctic of North America and down into South America to upland regions of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.

Great Horned Owls are primarily nocturnal, with activity peaking at night. They are known for their silent flight, facilitated by specialized feather structure. These owls are territorial and may use the same territory throughout their lives. They are also known for their aggressive defense of their nests.

The call of the Great Horned Owl is a series of deep hoots, often transcribed as "ho-ho-hoo hoo hoo." The female's call is higher in pitch. Vocalizations can vary from hoots to screeches and barks, especially when disturbed or during courtship.

Great Horned Owls are early breeders, with courtship beginning in late fall. They do not build their own nests but instead take over those made by other large birds. Clutch size ranges from 1 to 6 eggs, with incubation primarily by the female.

Their diet is diverse, primarily consisting of mammals and birds, including other raptors. They are capable hunters, taking prey ranging from small rodents to other birds of prey and even skunks.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus crinitus)

The Great Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus, is a robust bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. It is distinguished by its brownish upperparts and vibrant yellow underparts, complemented by a long, rusty brown tail and a pronounced bushy crest. This species exhibits no sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females are visually similar.

Adults typically range from 17 to 21 cm in length, with a wingspan of about 34 cm. They weigh between 27 and 40 grams. The throat and breast are a muted grey, contrasting with the more vivid colours of the body. Observers should look for the bird's characteristic crest and listen for its distinctive calls when identifying this species.

The Great Crested Flycatcher is most commonly found in deciduous forests and at the edges of clearings and mixed woodlands. It shows a preference for areas with an open canopy, such as second-growth forests or woodlands that have been selectively cut.

This bird is widespread across eastern and mid-western North America, with its breeding range extending from the southern parts of Canada down through the eastern United States. It winters in southern Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula, and along the coasts of Central America. Some populations are resident year-round in southern peninsular Florida.

The Great Crested Flycatcher dwells mostly in the treetops and is rarely found on the ground. It employs a sit-and-wait hunting strategy from high perches, often accompanied by head bobbing. It may also hover or crash into foliage to catch prey.

The male's dawn song is a three-part whistle, starting with a "wheerreep," followed by a higher-pitched "whee," and ending with a soft low "churr." This song is typically heard just before dawn. The species also produces various calls, including a series of fast ascending "huit" sounds when stressed or excited, and a loud "whee-eep" for communication between mates or parents and offspring. Alarm or stress is indicated by a rapid succession of harsh rasps.

Great Crested Flycatchers are socially monogamous, with some pairs reforming in subsequent years. Nest building is primarily the female's responsibility, with the male guarding closely. They prefer large cavities for nesting, whether natural or excavated by other species, and will also use man-made structures. The nest is composed of vegetation, plant fibres, and sometimes artificial materials. They lay a single clutch of 4-8 eggs, incubated solely by the female. After hatching, both parents feed the insect-dominated diet to the nestlings.

Insects and other invertebrates constitute the majority of this bird's diet, although it will also consume small fruits and berries. It prefers butterflies, moths, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, bees, and wasps over flies and spiders.

27-11-2015 SINGAPORE ZOO - GIANT PANDA (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), sometimes called a panda bear or simply panda, is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its bold black-and-white coat and rotund body. The name "giant panda" is sometimes used to distinguish it from the red panda, a neighboring musteloid. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the giant panda is a folivore, with bamboo shoots and leaves making up more than 99% of its diet. Giant pandas in the wild occasionally eat other grasses, wild tubers, or even meat in the form of birds, rodents, or carrion. In captivity, they may receive honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges, or bananas along with specially prepared food.

The giant panda lives in a few mountain ranges in central China, mainly in Sichuan, and also in neighbouring Shaanxi and Gansu. As a result of farming, deforestation, and other development, the giant panda has been driven out of the lowland areas where it once lived, and it is a conservation-reliant vulnerable species.

A 2007 report showed 239 pandas living in captivity inside China and another 27 outside the country. By December 2014, 49 giant pandas lived in captivity outside China, living in 18 zoos in 13 countries. Wild population estimates vary; one estimate shows that there are about 1,590 individuals living in the wild, while a 2006 study via DNA analysis estimated that this figure could be as high as 2,000 to 3,000. Some reports also show that the number of giant pandas in the wild is on the rise. By March 2015, the wild giant panda population had increased to 1,864 individuals. In 2016, it was reclassified on the IUCN Red List from "endangered" to "vulnerable", affirming decade-long efforts to save the panda. In July 2021, Chinese authorities also reclassified the giant panda as vulnerable.

The giant panda has often served as China's national symbol, appeared on Chinese Gold Panda coins since 1982 and as one of the five Fuwa mascots of the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - AMERICAN WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus)

The American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) is a striking wader of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is a medium-sized bird with a predominantly white plumage, which contrasts with its bright red-orange down-curved bill and long legs. The tips of its wings are black, a detail most apparent when the bird is in flight. Sexual dimorphism is present, with males being larger and possessing longer bills than females.

Adult American white ibises have distinctive pink facial skin and black wingtips visible in flight. In non-breeding condition, their bill and legs are a vivid red-orange. During breeding, the bill darkens at the tip and the legs take on a purple hue. Juveniles are brown and white, with the white becoming more prevalent as they mature. The species is relatively short-legged and bulky for its size, with a wingspan ranging from 90 to 105 cm.

The American white ibis frequents a variety of wetland habitats, including shallow coastal marshes, mangrove swamps, and inland wetlands such as marshes, ponds, and flooded fields. It adapts well to both natural and man-made water bodies.

This ibis is found from Virginia through the Gulf Coast of the United States, extending south through the coastal New World tropics. Its breeding range includes the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, as well as the coasts of Mexico and Central America. The non-breeding range extends further inland and includes the Caribbean and parts of South America.

The American white ibis is a sociable bird, often seen in large flocks. It is territorial during the breeding season, with pairs forming monogamous bonds. Males may engage in extra-pair copulation to increase reproductive success. The species is known for its undulating flight pattern and honking calls.

31-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a tree squirrel native to eastern North America; there it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the Eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.

The Eastern gray squirrel is a squirrel of medium size, and both males and females are of the same size and color. Its fur is mainly black or gray, the gray color being grizzled and often banded with gray and black guard hairs, tinged white, with the underside being white. Its tail is quite bushy and sometimes reddish in color and is used for maintaining balance while it leaps between branches. The overall fur color may change with different seasons, with the grayish fur being tawnier during summer, and the tail whiter.

Eastern gray squirrels are native to the eastern and mid-western parts of America, and to the south of the eastern parts of Canada. They range from Manitoba to New Brunswick, and south to Florida and East Texas. They inhabit large areas of mature, dense woodland ecosystems. These forests usually contain large mast-producing trees such as oaks and hickories, providing ample food sources. Close to human settlements, Eastern gray squirrels are found in parks and backyards of houses within urban environments and in the farmlands of rural environments.

30-1-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small, elegant passerine bird, a member of the family Motacillidae, which includes pipits and longclaws. This slender bird measures between 16.5 to 19 cm in length, with East Asian subspecies reaching up to 21 cm. It is characterized by its long, constantly wagging tail, a behavior that has become synonymous with the genus. Weighing an average of 25 g, the White Wagtail can live up to 12 years in the wild.

Adult White Wagtails exhibit a distinctive plumage with a combination of grey, black, and white. The bird's upper parts are generally grey, with a white face, belly, and breast. Males during the breeding season may show a darker back, and the species is known for its sharp, brisk call and more melodious song during courtship.

The White Wagtail is commonly found in open country, often in close proximity to human habitation and water sources. It shows a preference for bare areas which facilitate the sighting and pursuit of prey. This bird has adapted well to urban environments, utilizing paved areas such as parking lots for foraging.

This species has a vast breeding range across Europe, the Asian Palearctic, parts of North Africa, and has a presence in Alaska. It is a migratory bird, with populations moving to Africa and parts of Asia during the winter. In Great Britain and Ireland, the darker subspecies known as the Pied Wagtail is more prevalent.

The White Wagtail is known for its perpetual tail wagging, a behavior that remains somewhat enigmatic but is thought to be a signal of vigilance to predators. It is a monogamous bird that defends its breeding territory with determination.

The call of the White Wagtail is a sharp "chisick," softer than that of the Pied Wagtail. Its song is more structured and is used by males to attract females rather than to mark territory.

White Wagtails are monogamous breeders, with both sexes contributing to nest building. The nest is often placed in crevices or holes near water or in human-made structures. The species lays three to eight cream-colored, speckled eggs, which both parents incubate. Chicks fledge after 12 to 15 days and continue to be fed for a week thereafter.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - BROAD WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus)

The Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a medium-sized bird of prey found in the Americas. It has six recognised subspecies and each is named for its distribution. Some Broad-winged hawks have acclimatized themselves to living near humans, however, even those birds try to avoid human settlements and interactions.

Broad-winged hawks have relatively short and broad wings, pointed at the end, which have a tapered appearance unique to the species. An adult's body is a dark brown with a white belly and chest containing horizontal barring. Its tail can be a dark grey-black with white lines along the middle, base, and tip. The young hawks have a slightly different coloring with more white and longitudinal barring instead of horizontal barring. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall. The light morph of this bird is most likely to be confused with the red-shouldered hawk, which has a longer, more heavily barred tail and wings with a solid rufous color in the adult, which are usually distinctive. Rare dark morphs are a darker brown on both upperparts and underparts. Dark-morph short-tailed hawks are similar, but are whitish under the tail with a single subterminal band. As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males.

Broad-winged hawks have a wide range in North America and South America, from southern Canada to southern Brazil. They breed in the northern and eastern parts of North America, and some migrate in the winter to Florida, southern Mexico, and northern South America. Some subspecies are native to the Caribbean and do not migrate. Broad-winged hawks breed in deciduous forests good for nesting and forage primarily in wetlands and meadows. In the winter, they settle in similar habitats staying in deciduous and mixed forests as well as cloud forests, and arid tropical scrub.

Broad-winged hawks are generally solitary and territorial birds; however, during migration, they become highly gregarious and migrating flocks can contain thousands of individuals. Broad-winged hawks are active during the day. To catch their prey, they watch from low branches, hiding in the foliage, until a target is spotted. From their roost, they do a short, fast glide to capture the prey. These birds give special attention to preparing their food for consumption, skinning frogs and snakes and plucking prey birds' feathers. Most small mammals, though, are eaten whole. They rarely drink water and are able to survive solely with the water present in their prey. Broad-winged hawks use vocalizations for communication with their mates and offspring, and in territorial displays towards intruders. Their call sounds like a very high-pitched kee-ee, almost like a whistle. When confronted with a threat, Broad-winged hawks emit an alarm call consisting of stuttered and squealing whistles.

Broad-winged hawks are monogamous and pairs usually stay together more than one breeding season. They breed between April and August. To attract and court females, the males perform a courtship display flight including cartwheels, dives, and other aerial acrobatics. Birds meet in the air, hook their feet together and spiral down together. The males also compete and fight with each other for the chance to mate with a female. Both the male and female build the nest out of sticks and twigs in a deciduous tree. The female lays 1 to 4 brown-spotted eggs that weigh about 42 g (1.5 oz). The female then develops a brood patch and incubates the eggs for 28 days or longer before they hatch. 

The chicks hatch semialtricial; they are not able to move on their own or leave the nest but have open eyes and are covered in down feathers. While in the nest, the female gives most of the parental care, protecting and providing food for the chicks. The male may provide some food for the female and offspring, but his visits are short-lived. The chicks need around 5-6 weeks before they are able to leave the nest; however, some young, even after that time, remain in the area of the nest for several weeks more. They usually reach reproductive maturity at about two years of age.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - GREEN IGUANA (Iguana iguana)

The green iguana (Iguana iguana ), also known as the American iguana or the common green iguana, is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area; it is native from southern Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico, and has been introduced from South America to Puerto Rico and is very common throughout the island, where it is colloquially known as gallina de palo ("bamboo chicken" or "chicken of the tree") and considered an invasive species; in the United States, feral populations also exist in South Florida (including the Florida Keys), Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Green iguanas have also successfully colonised the island of Anguilla, arriving on the island in 1995 after rafting across the Caribbean from Guadeloupe, where they were introduced.

A herbivore, it has adapted significantly with regard to locomotion and osmoregulation as a result of its diet. It grows to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than 2 m (6.6 ft) with bodyweights upward of 20 lb (9.1 kg).

Commonly found in captivity as a pet due to its calm disposition and bright colors, it can be very demanding to care for properly. Space requirements and the need for special lighting and heat can prove challenging to the hobbyist.

Green iguanas are large beautiful looking lizards found in the Americas. Despite their name, Green iguanas can come in different colors and types. Their color may range from green to lavender, red, orange, black, and even reddish brown. They can also be bluish in color with bold blue markings. Green iguanas have a row of spines along their backs and along their tails, which helps to protect them from predators. Their whip-like tails can be used to deliver painful strikes and like many other lizards, when grabbed by the tail, the iguana can allow it to break, so it can escape and eventually regenerate a new one. In addition, iguanas have a well-developed dewlap, which helps regulate their body temperature. This dewlap is used in courtships and territorial displays.

The native range of Green iguanas extends from southern Mexico to central Brazil, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Bolivia and the Caribbean; specifically Grenada, Aruba, Curaçao, Trinidad, and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Útila. They have been introduced to Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These lizards inhabit tropical rain forests and are often found near water. They also can be found in other types of habitat including dry forest, gallery forest, and mangroves.

Green iguanas are diurnal, arboreal lizards. They are very agile climbers, and if the lizards fall up to 50 feet (15 m) they can land unhurt (iguanas use their hind leg claws to clasp leaves and branches to break a fall). During cold, wet weather, Green iguanas prefer to stay on the ground for greater warmth. These solitary lizards usually live near water and are excellent swimmers. When swimming, an iguana remains submerged, letting its four legs hang limply against its side. They propel through the water with powerful tail strokes. When iguanas sense danger, they will usually freeze or hide.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - BROWN PELICAN (MALE & FEMALE) (Pelecanus occidentalis)

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a member of the pelican family, Pelecanidae. It is one of the smaller pelican species, yet remains a large seabird with a distinctive long bill and large throat pouch. The adult pelican is noted for its brown and gray plumage, with a white head and neck during the nonbreeding season and a yellowish wash on the crown during breeding. The nape and neck are dark maroon-brown, and the legs range from olivaceous gray to blackish-gray.

Adult Brown Pelicans are identified by their white and yellowish heads with a dark brown nape during breeding season, transitioning to a white head and neck in nonbreeding adults. Juveniles are overall grayish-brown with paler underparts. In flight, they are graceful with a steady wingbeat and can be seen gliding low over the water's surface.

This species is strictly marine, favoring shallow waters near coasts, estuaries, and beaches. It is also found in mangrove swamps and occasionally inland freshwater lakes.

The Brown Pelican is found along the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. It is a resident species with some populations showing migratory behavior, particularly in the northern parts of its range.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)

The Great egret (Ardea alba) is a large, widely distributed wading bird. Like all egrets, it is a member of the heron family, Ardeidae, and its close relatieves are pelicans. The Great egret is sometimes confused with the Great white heron of the Caribbean, which is a white morph of the closely related Great blue heron.

This elegant heron is completely white with its magnificent plumage, reminding lace. The bill of the Great egret is sharp, long and yellow in color. The bird has long, black feet and legs. During the breeding season, the bill becomes a bit darker while the legs get lighter. This bird possesses a very long neck, exceeding the length of its body. The bird has a notable kink of its neck, curving the necks into a "S" shape when flying. Male and female egrets generally look similar, though females are a bit smaller than males. Young egrets usually look like non-breeding adults. During the breeding season, these birds grow long, lacy shaped feathers known as "aigrettes”, stretching them in an impressive display.

These birds are widely distributed throughout the world including North and South Americas, Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. In Africa, they can be found only outside the breeding season. Great egrets prefer living near any water body, occurring along streams, lakes, in saltwater and freshwater marshes, muddy areas, and ponds. Just like other heron species, these birds are most frequently found in wetlands and wooded swamps.

Great egrets are diurnal feeders. They can feed both in flocks of their own kind and these of other heron species. At sunset, egrets of surrounding areas usually come together, roosting in colonies. They feed in shallow water, walking slowly and looking for prey. And when the prey is spotted, they abruptly thrust the bill into the water, catching it. They will also steal a great part of their food from smaller heron species. After breeding, these birds usually disperse. Egrets, living in mild climates, remain in their breeding areas throughout the winter while those, breeding in northern regions where water freezes during the winter, have to migrate. As with many bird species, Great egrets become rather aggressive when it comes to feeding, even if there's an abundance of food. Occasionally, even parents can fight for food with their young.

Great egrets are carnivores (piscivores). Their usual diet consists primarily of fish. However, they can feed upon a wide variety of aquatic animals, including frogs and crustaceans. They will also consume terrestrial species such as rodents and grasshoppers.

Great egrets are seasonally monogamous, mating once in a mating season and staying with their mates until the end of the season. Usually, males give a number of displays in order to attract the female. Then they select the territory. The breeding season starts in the middle of April when the birds construct nests. They build their nests in wetlands or wooded swamps with these of other herons, usually nesting in colonies. They try to construct their nests as high as possible. Great egrets' nests are typically unstable platforms, made of stems, sticks, and twigs. Great egrets rear one brood of chicks a year. The female lays the eggs, after which both parents take part in the incubation for 23-24 days. An average egret clutch contains 3 to 4 eggs. After 3 weeks, the chicks start to climb about the nest. Then, after another 3-4 weeks, the young fledge. At the age of 2 years, the egrets are able to yield offspring.