Tag Archives: Photography

To Avoid Hunger, Don’t Be a Picky Eater

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To Avoid Hunger, Don’t Be a Picky Eater ! – Dr. James J. S. Johnson

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.   (Luke 10:8)

GreatBlueHeron-RockportTX.GreatEscapes

GREAT BLUE HERON ( photo: GreatEscapes.com )

Earlier today I was reviewing some pages in Peter Alden’s handy guidebook, NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY FIELD GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND (Alfred A. Knopf, 2016), and I noticed info (on page 283) on the Great Blue Heron, whose range was described as:

“Apr.-Oct: mainly inland south to MA; nests early, disperses widely by July.  Oct.-Apr.: coast of s n. Eng.” [referring to its range in the New England states].

Alden also noted the habitat of the Great Blue Heron:  “Marshes, watersides” [and you usually find Great Blues near water — see  Lee Dusing’s “Gatorland’s Taxi Service”, posted at https://leesbird.com/tag/great-blue-heron/ ].  This makes sense — herons are wading birds, frequenting the margins of lakes, ponds, and other well-watered wetlands.

However, don’t be shocked when you find them not-so-close to bodies of freshwater, because Great Blue Herons are good at flying — and they are opportunistic eaters (e.g., crayfish, finfish, frogs, small birds, bugs, small rodents, snakes, etc.), so they are not limited to pondshores (or seashores) for their dietary opportunities.  [See, accord, “Great Blue Heron Couples, Contented with Stereotypical Domestic Roles” , posted at  https://leesbird.com/2018/05/31/great-blue-heron-couples-contented-with-stereotypical-domestic-roles/ ].

Why am I not surprised, today, when I think about the opportunistic travels undertaken by Great Blue Herons?  Because this morning, during my morning commute along Interstate 635  (a major highway in Dallas, with the eastbound and westbound lanes divided by an expansive grassy median)  I witnessed a Great Blue Heron picking around in the median’s weedy grasses, hunting for something to eat  —  with no body of water anywhere in sight!   Picky eaters, like Florida Kites (which focus their diet on Everglade apple snails) often go hungry  —  but not Great Blue Herons, because their diet is anything but “picky”.    (Seems like Great Blue Herons don’t like to go hungry.)

GreatBlueHeron-AudubonSociety-Portland

GREAT BLUE HERON (photo: Audubon Society of Portland)

Avian And Attributes – Sapphire

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Sapphire Flycatcher (Ficedula sapphira) ©WikiC

“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;” (Revelation 21:19 KJV)

Avian and Attributes – Sapphire

Sapphire Gem ©WikiC

SAP’PHIRE, n. [L. sapphirus; Gr. to scrape, to shine, to be fair, open, beautiful.]

A species of silicious gems or minerals, of several varieties. In hardness it is inferior to the diamond only. Its colors are blue, red, violet, yellow, green, white, or limpid, and one variety is chatoyant, and another asteriated or radiated.

Sapphire is a subspecies of rhomboidal corundum.

The oriental ruby and topaz are sapphires.

Sapphire is employed in jewelry and the arts.

Sapphire Birds

Sapphire Flycatcher

Sapphire Flycatcher (Ficedula sapphira) ©WikiC

Sapphire Quail-Dove

Sapphire Quail-Dove (Geotrygon saphirina) ©Drawing WikiC

Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird

Sapphire-bellied-hummingbird-perched-on-branch ©ARKive

Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet

Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet ©Drawing WikiC

Sapphire-spangled Emerald

Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Amazilia lactea) by Dario Sanches

Sapphire-throated Hummingbird

Sapphire-throated Hummingbird (Lepidopyga coeruleogularis) ©WikiC

Sapphire-vented Puffleg

Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) by Michael Woodruff

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Avian And Attributes – Sand

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Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi) ©WikiC

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” (Psalms 139:17-18 KJV)

“He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:” (Psalms 78:27 KJV)

Avian and Attributes – Sand

SAND, n.
1. Any mass or collection of fine particles of stone, particularly of fine particles of silicious stone, but not strictly reduced to powder or dust.
That finer matter called sand, is no other than very small pebbles.
2. Sands, in the plural, tracts of land consisting of sand, like the deserts of Arabia and Africa; as the Lybian sands.
SAND, v.t.
1. To sprinkle with sand. It is customary among the common people in America, to sand their floors with white sand.
2. To drive upon the sand.

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)and young (4) by Dan's Pix

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)and young by Dan’s Pix

Sand Birds

Sand Lark

Sand Lark (Calandrella raytal) by Nikhil Devasar

Sand Martin

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) ©WikiC

Sand Partridge

Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi) ©WikiC

Sand-colored Nighthawk

Sand-colored Nighthawk (Chordeiles rupestris) by ©AGrosset

Sanderling

Sanderling (Calidris alba) by Robert Scanlon

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Youngster in Yard 3-26-16

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 KJV)

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Avian And Attributes – Sad

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Sad Flycatcher (Myiarchus barbirostris) ©WikiC

“And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
(Luke 24:15-27 KJV)

Avian and Attributes – Sad

SAD, a. [It is probable this word is from the root of set. I have not found the word is from the root of set. I have not found the word in the English sense, in any other language.]
1. Sorrowful; affected with grief; cast down with affliction.
Th’ angelic guards ascended, mute and sad.
Sad for their loss, but joyful of our life.
2. Habitually melancholy; gloomy; not gay or cheerful.
3. Downcast; gloomy; having the external appearance of sorrow; as a sad countenance. Mat 6.
4. Serious; grave; not gay, light or volatile.
5. Afflictive; calamitous; causing sorrow; as a sad accident; a sad misfortune.
8. Heavy; weighty; ponderous.

Sad Flycatcher (Myiarchus barbirostris) ©WikiC

“The Sad Flycatcher (Myiarchus barbirostris) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is endemic to Jamaica. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and heavily degraded former forest.” [Wikipedia]

“The Sad Flycatcher is endemic to the island of Jamaica, where it is known colloquially as the Little Tom Fool, but it is apparently most closely related to the very widely distributed Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer).” [Neotropical Birds]

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV)

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Avian And Attributes – Sacred

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Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) by Ian

“Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD.” (Joel 1:14 NKJV)

Avian and Attributes – Sacred

SA’CRED, a. [L. sacer, sacred, holy, cursed, damnable. We here see the connection between sacredness and secrecy. The sense is removed or separated from that which is common, vulgar, polluted, or open, public; and accursed is separated from society or the privileges of citizens, rejected, banished.]
1. Holy; pertaining to God or to his worship; separated from common secular uses and consecrated to God and his service; as a sacred place; a sacred day; a sacred feast; sacred service; sacred orders.
2. Proceeding from God and containing religious precepts; as the sacred books of the Old and New Testament.
3. Narrating or writing facts respecting God and holy things; as a sacred historian.
4. Relating to religion or the worship of God; used for religious purposes; as sacred songs; sacred music; sacred history.
5. Consecrated; dedicated; devoted; with to.
A temple sacred to the queen of love.
6. Entitled to reverence; venerable.
Poet and saint to thee alone were given, the two most sacred names of earth and heav’n.
7. Inviolable, as if appropriated to a superior being; as sacred honor or promise.
Secrets of marriage still are sacred held.
Sacred majesty. In this title, sacred has no definite meaning, or it is blasphemy.
Sacred place, in the civil law, is that where a deceased person is buried.

“and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17 NASB)

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) ©WikiC

The Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) is a medium-sized woodland kingfisher that occurs in mangroves, woodlands, forests, and river valleys in Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the western Pacific. In New Zealand the species is also known by its Māori name kōtare.

The sacred kingfisher is a medium-sized kingfisher. They are mostly turquoise, with white underparts and collar feathers. Both sexes are similar, but females are usually more dull-colored. Juveniles have rusty-brown edges on the collar and underparts.

It is called “sacred” for it was said to be a holy bird for Polynesians, who believed it to have control over the waves. Likewise, the local subspecies of collared kingfisher and other kingfishers in the southwestern Pacific were ascribed venerable power over the ocean.

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) by Ian

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Sharing The Gospel

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Avian And Attributes – Ruby

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Ruby Throated Hummingbird by Africaddict

“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” (Proverbs 8:11 KJV)

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5 KJV)

Avian and Attributes – Ruby

RU’BY, n. [L. rubeo, to be red.]
1. A precious stone; a mineral of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between carmine and hyacinth red; but its parts vary in color, and hence it is called sapphire ruby or orange red, and by some vermeille or rubicel.
There are two kinds of ruby, the oriental or corundum, and the spinelle. The latter is distinguishable from the former by its color and crystallization.
The ruby is next in hardness and value to the diamond, and highly esteemed in jewelry.
2. Redness; red color.
3. Any thing red.
4. A blain; a blotch; a carbuncle. [The ruby is said to be the stone called by Pliny a carbuncle.]
Ruby of arsenic or sulphur, is the realgar, or red combination of arsenic and sulphur.
Ruby of zink, is the red blend.
Rock ruby, the amethystizontes of the ancients, is the most value species of garnet.
RU’BY, v.t. To make red.
RU’BY, a. Of the color of the ruby; red; as ruby lips.

Ruby- Birds

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis) by Ian

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird – It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) by BirdingPix

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) by BirdingPix

Ruby-crowned Kinglet – It is found throughout North America.

Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus) M-black F-ruby ©WikiC

Ruby-crowned Tanager – It is found in the southern areas of Brazil and the Atlantic Forest.

Ruby-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus dispar) ©WikiC

Ruby-throated Bulbul –  It is found on Sumatra, Java, and Bali.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird by Ray’s Wildlfie

Ruby-throated Hummingbird – It spends the winter in Central America, Mexico, and Florida, and migrates to Eastern North America for the summer to breed. It is by far the most common hummingbird seen east of the Mississippi River in North America.

ruby-throated myzomela/red-throated myzomela

Ruby-throated Myzomela [from Flickr] –  It is found in New Guinea

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus) ©WikiC

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird – It  breeds in the Lesser Antilles and tropical northern South America from Colombia, Venezuela and the Guyanas, south to central Brazil and northern Bolivia; also from Colombia into southern Panama.

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Avian and Attributes – Royal

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Royal Terns by Dan MacDill Shore

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV)

Avian and Attributes – Royal

ROY’AL, a. [L. regalis, from rex, king.]
1. Kingly; pertaining to a king; regal; as royal power or prerogative; a royal garden; royal domains; the royal family.
2. Becoming a king; magnificent; as royal state.
3. Noble; illustrious.
How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio?
ROY’AL, n.
1. A large kind of paper. It is used as a noun or an adjective.
2. Among seamen, a small sail spread immediately above the top-gallant-sail; sometimes termed the top-gallant-royal.
3. One of the shoots of a stag’s head.
4. In artillery, a small mortar.
5. In England, one of the soldiers of the first regiment of foot, called the royals, and supposed to be the oldest regular corps in Europe.

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:” (James 2:8 KJV)

Royal Birds

Stout-billed Cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae) ©WikiC

Royal Cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae) is a passerine bird which breeds in the Andes of south-east Peru and adjacent Bolivia. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the stout-billed cinclodes C. excelsior. It is 20 cm long and weighs 50 g with a heavy bill and dark chocolate-brown on the body, face and crown with whitish mottling and streaking on the breast.

This bird has a population of less than 250, and is classified as Critically Endangered. It is confined to tiny, humid patches of Polylepis woodland and montane scrub, and the major threat to its survival is the use of fire and heavy grazing which restrict the regeneration of Polylepis.

Royal Parrotfinch ©Arkive

Royal Parrotfinch (Erythrura regia) is a species of estrildid finch endemic to Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean. It is found commonly at mid-altitudes on the larger islands such as Espiritu Santo, above 300 m., but it also can be found at small sea-level islands in fruiting figs in forest edge in Emae and Tongoa. This species is usually found in singles, pairs or small groups feeding on figs in the forest canopy.

Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) ©WikiC

Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) ©WikiC

Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) is a species of penguin, which can be found on the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island and adjacent islands. The scientific name commemorates the German zoologist Hermann Schlegel.

They inhabit the waters surrounding Antarctica. Royals look very much like macaroni penguins, but have a white face and chin instead of the macaronis’ black visage. Males are larger than females. Royal penguins breed only on Macquarie Island and, like other penguins, spend much of their time at sea, where they are assumed to be pelagic.

Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) ©WikiC

Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) also known as the black-billed spoonbill, occurs in intertidal flats and shallows of fresh and saltwater wetlands in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It has also been recorded as a vagrant in New Caledonia. The royal spoonbill lives in wetlands and feeds on crustaceans, fish and small insects by sweeping its bill from side to side. It always flies with its head extended.

Royal Sunangel (Heliangelus regalis)©Flickr DCook

Royal Sunangel (Heliangelus regalis) is a species of hummingbird. It is endemic to subtropical elfin forests and shrubs in the Andes of northern Peru and adjacent south-eastern Ecuador. It is endangered due to habitat loss. It is strongly sexually dichromatic, and while females resemble other female sunangels, males are unique with their iridescent dark blue plumage.

Royal Terns by Dan MacDill AFB Shore

Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) is a tern in the family Laridae. The genus name is from Ancient Greek Thalasseus, “fisherman”, from thalassa, “sea”. The specific maximus is Latin for ‘”greatest”.

This bird has two distinctive subspecies: T. m. maximus which lives on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the North and South America, and the slightly smaller T. m. albididorsalis lives on the coast of West Africa. The royal tern has a red-orange bill and a black cap during the breeding season, but in the winter the cap becomes patchy. The royal tern is found in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean islands. The royal tern lives on the coast and is only found near salt water. They tend to feed near the shore, close to the beach or in backwater bays.

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Birds whose first name starts with “R”

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Survey – God’s Recipe

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Brown-throated Wattle-eye (Platysteira cyanea) Male ©Flickr Isidro Vila Verde

“To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;” (Proverbs 1:2 KJV)

Would this make a good series for the Birds of the Bible for Kids blog or even this blog?

God’s Recipe for the Brown-throated Wattle Eye

Looking for some comments. Either here or over on the other blog.

 

Ian’s Bird of the Moment – Night Birds

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If you can remember that far back, the last bird of the moment was Eastern Grass Owl. [http://www.birdway.com.au/botw/botw_584.php] found during a spot-lighting trip to the Townsville Town Common led by local night-bird expert and pillar of BirdLife Townsville Ian Boyd.
At the time, Ian Boyd was refusing to be discouraged by pancreatic cancer, an attitude that we all admired until his death on 23rd of February. Typically undaunted he gave a presentation on his favourite topic, Night Birds at the BirdLife Townsville AGM on the 10th of February although he had less than a couple of weeks to live. Isolated by flood waters in Bluewater, I couldn’t attend the funeral on 1st March so here is a photographic tribute to him instead.
I got to know him well during his last year or and am left with some precious memories of searching for night birds with him. So let’s go birding together while I share three special occasions with you.
The first was when a birding friend and photographer from Mt Isa was visiting Townsville and wanted to photograph a Rufous Owl. I contacted Ian Boyd and he took us to an active nesting site on a hot afternoon at the end of October. There he showed us the two adults which we photographed (one of them is in the first photo) and our visitor from Mt Isa returned to the site later and got a photo of a fledgling peering out of the tree hollow.
The second was the occasion when we found the female Eastern Grass Owl at the Townsville Town Common which featured as the last Bird of the Moment. At the time our goal was to search for Spotted Nightjars which are supposed to occur occasionally along the Freshwater Track that goes across the grassy, saltbush flats between Bald Rock and the Freshwater hide (see this map: https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/townsville/pdf/townsville-town-common-map.pdf). We drove across the Town Common arriving at Shelley Beach on the northern side at sunset and then drove slowly back in darkness checking for night birds as we went along.
The first stretch of riverine forest on the Shelley Beach Trail produced a remarkable five Owlet Nightjars (second photo) and a single male Tawny Frogmouth (third photo). Male Tawny Frogmouths have silvery grey, strongly marbled plumage. We had only just started along the Freshwater Track when the cry went up ‘Barn Owl’ but we quickly realised that the Tyto Owl beside the track was a female Eastern Grass Owl (fourth photo).
There was no sign of any Spotted Nightjars – we suspect that they are more like to be found in the dry winter months – but at the start of the Freshwater Lagoon Road south of the Freshwater hide, we found a Large-tailed Nightjar (fifth photo). This species is the commonest Nightjar around Townsville and is well known for its persistent, loud ‘chop chop’ call that gives it the colloquial name of Carpenter or Axe Bird.
Finally, along the track between Payet’s Tower and the Forest Walk, a Barking Owl (sixth photo) represented the only remaining Australian night bird family for the evening – Aegothelidae (Owlet NIghtjars), Podargidae (Frogmouths), Tytonidae (Barn Owls), Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) and Strigidae (Hawk Owls). I’m following the IOC and BirdLife International in lumping the Nightjars and Eared-Nightjars into a single family.
We repeated the spotlighting at the Town Common a week later. This time we found one or two Owlet Nightjars along the Shelley Beach Trail, but Tawny Frogmouths were out in force. The seventh photo shows a female; females are often rufous like this one but always have plainer less marked plumage than the males. The eight photo shows a remarkably approachable male Tawny Frogmouth.
This time there was no sign of the Eastern Grass Owl (or Spotted NIghtjars) and the surprise of the night was a Barn Owl perched in a tree along the stretch where we’d found the Barking Owl the previous week (ninth photo). This bird seemed unbothered by our spot- and flash-lights and when it did leave it did so to plunge into the undergrowth after some prey.
That was the last time I went birding with Ian Boyd. He is greatly missed by his wife Robyn, the rest of his family and all us bird watchers who appreciated his generosity, warmth, leadership and enthusiasm. I’ll treasure these great memories of birding with him during his last few months with us. Thank you, Ian Boyd.
Ian Montgomery

Lee’s Addition:

“And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,” (Leviticus 11:16 KJV)

Fantastic photos of Night Birds. Also, sorry to hear about the death of Ian’s friend, Ian Boyd.

We have missed Ian’s newsletters. We have gone from Ian’s Bird of the Week, to Ian’s Bird of the Month, to Ian’s Bird of the Moment [whenever he can find time]. I think many of us have reasons why our previously vigorously produced posts slow down. I believe Ian has been dealing with some eye issues. Not good for a photographer. I can relate, as my back issues have slowed our birdwatching adventures down to a trickle.

At any rate, these are some very great photos. Enjoy!

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Ian’s Bird of the Week

Ian’s Bird of the Moment – Eastern Grass Owl

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Avian And Attributes – River

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Riverbank Warbler (Myiothlypis rivularis) ©WikiC

“Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.” (Psalms 65:9-10 KJV)

“He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” (Psalms 72:8 KJV)

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-2 KJV)

Avian and Attributes – River

RIV’ER, n. [L. rivus, rivulus, rips.]
1. A large stream of water flowing in a channel on land towards the ocean, a lake or another river. It is larger than a rivulet or brook; but is applied to any stream from the size of a mill-stream to that of the Danube, Maranon and Mississippi. We give this name to large streams which admit the tide and mingle salt water with fresh, as the rivers Hudson, Delaware and St. Lawrence.
2. A large stream; copious flow; abundance; as rivers of blood; rivers of oil
RI’VER, n. One who rives or splits.

River Birds

River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) ©WikiC

River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) is a lapwing species which breeds from the Indian Subcontinent eastwards to Southeast Asia. Its range includes much of northern and northeastern India, stretching towards Bangladesh, Myanmar, to Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. It appears to be entirely sedentary

River Prinia (Prinia fluviatilis) ©WikiC

River Prinia (Prinia fluviatilis) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in northwestern Senegal, along the Niger River (near the border between Mali and Niger) in the Lake Chad region and nonwestern Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland and swamps.

River Tern (Sterna aurantia) by Nikhil Devasar

River Tern (Sterna aurantia) is a tern in the family Laridae. It is a resident breeder along inland rivers from Iran east into the Indian Subcontinent and further to Myanmar to Thailand, where it is uncommon. Unlike most Sterna terns, it is almost exclusively found on freshwater, rarely venturing even to tidal creeks.

River Tyrannulet (Serpophaga hypoleuca) ©Pinterest

River Tyrannulet (Serpophaga hypoleuca) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Peru, Venezuela and Brazil; also river extensions into Ecuador, Colombia-(border) and Bolivia.

River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis) ©WikiC

River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis) is an Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds in east and central Europe into western Asia. It is migratory, wintering in east Africa. The genus name Locustella is from Latin and is a diminutive of locusta, “grasshopper”. This refers to the song of the common grasshopper warbler and some others in this genus. The specific fluviatilis is Latin for “of a river”.

Riverbank Warbler (Myiothlypis rivularis) ©WikiC

Riverbank Warbler (Myiothlypis rivularis), sometimes known as the Neotropical river warbler or just river warbler (leading to confusion with Locustella fluviatilis), is a species of bird in the Parulidae family.

Riverside Tyrant (Knipolegus orenocensis) ©Drawing WikiC

Riverside Tyrant (Knipolegus orenocensis) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.

Riverside Wren (Cantorchilus semibadius) ©Drawing WikiC

Riverside Wren (Cantorchilus semibadius) is a species of bird in the Troglodytidae family. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

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Birds whose first name starts with “R”

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Bible Birds – Swift Introduction

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Bible Birds – Swift Introduction

Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) ©WikiC
Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) ©WikiC

“Even the stork in the sky Knows her seasons; And the turtledove and the swift and the thrush Observe the time of their migration; But My people do not know The ordinance of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 8:7 NASB)

The different versions of the Bible, translate this verse with different birds named. Many use either the Swift or the Swallow. They are similar but are in different bird families. The Swifts are in the Apodidae family and Swallows are in the Hirundinidae Family. Mainly, the verse is saying that the birds have more wisdom than some people.

Resemblances between swifts and swallows are similar because of their lifestyles based on catching insects in flight. They were both created with that ability. Both of them migrate or fly to other areas during the seasons. They need warmer weather to have an abundance of flying insects to feast on. [eat]

Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta) by Nikhil Devasar
Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta) by Nikhil Devasar

The family name, Apodidae, is derived from the Greek ἄπους (ápous), meaning “footless”, a reference to the small, weak legs of these most aerial of birds. The tradition of depicting swifts without feet continued into the Middle Ages, as seen in the heraldic martlet.

Some species of swifts are among the fastest animals on the planet, with some of the fastest measured flight speeds of any bird. “Swifts are the fastest of birds. Larger species are amongst the fastest fliers in the animal kingdom, with the white-throated needletail having been reported flying at up to 169 km/h (105 mph). Even the common swift can cruise at a maximum speed of 31 metres per second (112 km/h; 70 mph). In a single year the common swift can cover at least 200,000 km.” [Wikipedia]

See Swift – Creationwiki

Bible Birds – Swift

Bible Birds

Avian And Attributes – Ring

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Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) ©WikiC

“But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” ” It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:22-24, 32 KJV) [Refers to salvation]

Avian and Attributes – Ring

RING, n.
1. A circle, or a circular line, or any thing in the form of a circular line or hoop. Thus we say of men, they formed themselves into a ring, to see a wrestling match. Rings of gold were made for the ark. Exodus 25. Rings of gold or other material are worn on the fingers and sometimes in the ears, as ornaments.
2. A circular course.
RING, n. [from the verb.]
1. A sound; particularly, the sound of metals; as the ring of a bell.
2. Any loud sound, or the sounds of numerous voices; or sound continued, repeated or reverberated; as the ring of acclamations.
3. A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned.
RING, v.t. [from the noun.
1. To encircle.
2. To fit with rings, as the fingers, or as a swine’s snout.

Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) ©WikiC

The Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) is a European member of the thrush family, Turdidae. It is the mountain equivalent of the closely related common blackbird, and breeds in gullies, rocky areas or scree slopes.

“Ouzel” (or “ousel”) is an old name for common blackbird from Old English osle. “Ouzel” may also be applied to a group of superficially similar but unrelated birds, the dippers, the European representative of which is sometimes known as the water ouzel.

As with the English name, the scientific name also refers to the male’s obvious white neck crescent, being derived from the Latin words turdus, “thrush”, and torquatus, “collared”.

The adult male is all black except for a white crescent on the breast and a yellowish bill. The wings have a silvery appearance due to white feather edgings. The male sings its loud and mournful song from trees or rocks.

Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) Femaile ©WikiC Rainbirder

The female is similar but duller, and younger birds often lack the breast crescent. The juvenile has brown plumage.

This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 under its current scientific name.

It breeds in the higher regions of western and central Europe and also in the Caucasus and in the Scandinavian mountains. Most populations are migratory, wintering in the Mediterranean region. It is declining in parts of its range, particularly in Ireland.

It is territorial and normally seen alone or in pairs, although loose flocks may form on migration. When not breeding, several birds may also be loosely associated in good feeding areas, such as a fruiting tree, often with other thrushes.

There are other “Ring” named birds, but not just plain “Ring”:

Ring-billed Gull
Ringed Antpipit
Ringed Kingfisher
Ringed Teal
Ringed Warbling Finch
Ringed Woodpecker
Ring-necked Dove
Ring-necked Duck
Ring-necked Francolin
Ring-tailed Pigeon

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Birds whose first name starts with “R”

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus. With Editing]