Beak of the Week – Herring Gull

February 7, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)Family: Laridae Distinguished from other local gulls by its larger size and generally bulky shape, the Herring Gull can be found in our area during the cooler months. While wintering in the Gulf Houston Area, Herring Gulls will scavenge for food along coastlines and in mudflats – as well as in agricultural […]

Beak of the Week – Sharp-shinned Hawk

January 31, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)Family: Accipitridae The Sharp-shinned Hawk gets its name from the thin ridge on its lower legs. They are the smallest hawk in North America. At maturity, these hawks have small dark grey head, nape, wing, and backside, light rufous barring on the cheeks, throat, and underside, and fine horizontal black and white […]

Beak of the Week – Buff-bellied Hummingbird

January 24, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis)Family: Trochilidae Like most hummingbirds, the Buff-bellied Hummingbird is primarily green, especially around the head and back. It has a rufous-colored tail and a buffy wash to its light underside, and its bill is distinctively reddish or orangey-red with a black tip. Weighing just under 5 grams (about as much as two […]