American Robin

The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. The American Robin is a common occupant of residential areas during the breeding season. In Fall and Winter, it can be found in large, somewhat nomadic flocks in areas with lots of fruiting trees. The length of the full grown Robin is approximately 8.5-9.5 inches from its beak to its tail. The male has a brownish orange-red breast, brownish gray upper parts, blackish head, and a broken eye ring around the eyeball. The female Robin is usually smaller then the male and has a more paler color. Robins live in North America from Georgia to Alaska and in the winter some fly as far south as Mexico. When the Robin migrates to the south in the winter it is one of the first birds to migrate to the north in the spring. The Robin often sings very early in the morning. The Robin is one of the first bird species to lay eggs, and begins to breed shortly after returning to its summer home from its winter home. Robins like to return to the same nesting places each year. Its nest consists of long strands of grass, stems, paper, and feathers, and is smeared with mud and often cushioned with grass or other soft materials. The female usually lays three to six blue eggs and sits on the nest while the male helps feed them once they are hatched. Robins like to eat fruit, berries, and insects. The Robin is from the Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Passeriformes, Family: Turdidae, Genus: Turdus, Species: T. migratorius. To hear the Robins song go to: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Robin.html#sound. And then click on sounds.

Bluebird

The above picture is of an Eastern Bluebird. The bluebird is one of the best loved songbirds of North America. The bluebird is approximately 7-8 inches long from the tip of it's beak to the end of it's tail. Bluebirds are attractive birds with blue, or blue and red, plumage. The female of the species is paler in color. Bluebirds migrate to the south in the winter and migrate back north in early spring. The bluebird usually builds it's nest in farmyards, gardens, and open grassland areas with scattered trees. But bluebirds also like to leave near human dwellings. The male bluebird attracts the female by singing and flapping it's wings. The female bluebird is the nest builder while the male at times will bring her insects while she is sitting on the eggs or caring for the young. The female usually lays approximately three to six pale blue or white eggs. The bluebird lives on insects and wild berries. The bluebird belongs to the Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Passeriformes, Family: Turdidae, Genus: Sialia. To hear the bluebird singing go to:http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Bluebird.html#sound and click on listen to songs of this species.

Cardinal (bird)

The Cardinal is sometimes called the redbird. The Cardinal is found in both North America and South America. The Cardinal in North America lives mostly in the eastern United States from South Dakota, southern Minnesota, and Connecticut southward to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The Cardinal can also be seen in certain parts of the western states. The cardinal grows to about 8.5 inches long. The head of the cardinal has a crest of feathers that stick up. The male cardinal is mostly red with a grayish tinge on their back side. The female cardinal is more of an olive grayish brown with red highlights in their tails, wings, and crests. Male and female cardinals have reddish orange or bright red bills. Cardinals mate in early spring. Cardinals like to make their nests in the lower branches of trees. the nests are built with grass, dead leaves, and stems. They usually lay from two to five eggs which are white with colored speckles. Cardinals usually feed on seeds, wild berries, and insects. The classification of the cardinal is: Kingdom:Animalia;
Phylum:Chordata; Class:Aves; Order:Passeriformes; Family: Cardinalidae
To hear the song of this bird go to: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Cardinal.html click on listen to songs of this species.

Brown Creeper

The common brown creeper lives in North America. Their breeding habitat is mature forests, especially conifers, in Canada, Alaska and the northeastern and western United States. They are frequently observed in the southern part of the United States in the winter. They forage on tree trunks and branches, typically the bird moves around the tree upwards from the bottom of a tree trunk up, and then flying down to the bottom of another tree. They creep slowly with their body flattened against the bark, probing with their beak for insects and spider eggs. The brown creeper is smaller then a sparrow. The brown creeper has brown plummage with white streaks. The female usually lays four to seven white eggs with spots of brown on them and incubation lasts about two weeks. The creeper belongs to the family Certhidae. The brown creeper to genus Certhia, species americana. To hear the song of this bird go to: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Brown_Creeper.html
click on listen to songs of this species.

Parakeet

The parakeet is a small member of the parrot family. Parakeets belong to the family Psittacidae. They are brightly colored, with yellow, orange, blue, red, green or purple feathers. You can distinguish the sexuality of the grownup parakeet by the color of the skin at the nostrils. In the male the skin is purplish-blue, while in the female it is brownish. Parakeets are clever and affectionate pets. They are able to do many acrobatic and interesting tricks on seesaws and toy ladders. A parakeet can be trained to talk and it is best to start training when they are a few weeks old. When training the parakeet to talk you should repeat the word or words over and over again until the parakeet also repeats the word or words.
Quite a few people enjoy the hobby of breeding parakeets for fun and for profit. The best breeding time for parakeets is in the spring because birds hatched in the spring will benefit from the warmth of the summer. The eggs from the female usually hatch in about 18 to 20 days. The female parakeet usually lays about five eggs. Fruit and seeds are the main parakeet's foods.

Caring For Parakeets

Caring For Parakeets
By Nancy Richards

Caring for parakeets is the most important step in keeping
parakeets as pets. Remember their immune systems can be touchy.
This means that at the first sign of illness, you should contact
your veterinarian immediately. Even a simple virus can turn
deadly overnight. A regular care and checkup of your parakeet
can keep you away from visiting the vet too frequently. Caring
for parakeets means

A regular checkup of their plumage - birds keep their plumage
in peak condition by preening. You can encourage this by
occasionally misting it with warm water.
Selecting the right cage for your parakeet - choose a cage that
is large enough to allow it plenty of exercise. Most cages come
with 2 perches. For more specialized caring for parakeets, you
can attach a cuttlebone to the side of the cage. It will help
keep the bird's beak in good condition and will serve as a
source of calcium and other minerals.
A proper and adequate diet – this is the single most notable
aspect in shaping the health, vitality, and permanence of your
parakeet. Give them leafy green vegetables, rice, tofu, some
seeds and fruits like orange and papaya. These would give them
all the required nutrients to keep them healthy.
Regular bathing of your parakeet – give your parakeet a regular
shower of 5-7 times a week in the summer and 3-5 times a week
during the winter. This routine will help you keep your parakeet
clean and avoid skin related diseases.
Proper grooming of your parakeet – proper and regular trimming
of the toenails is very essential. Consult a veterinarian if you
wish to clip its wings.
Lack of parakeet care can result in feather plucking, moody and
ill-trained parakeets at home. It is always a good idea to know
what injuries and what diseases can affect your parakeet, what
is the ideal diet for a parakeet, how many times a week should
you give it a bath. These would help you undertake foolproof
caring for your pet parakeets.

A healthy parakeet is more likely to be immune to diseases and
can stay around for a long time to make you laugh, make you
entertained and give you a moment to smile…

About the Author: The author is a parrot lover for the last 12
years and is the owner of the website http://www.pet-parrots.com
Source: www.isnare.com


Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=838&ca=Pets

Considering a Pet Bird?

Considering a Pet Bird? Ask Yourself These 7 Critical Questions
| by Simon Blake | September 22, 2005
Birds can make wonderful pets and companions and there are many different birds to choose from. Two of the most popular are cockatiels and parakeets. Cockatiels and parakeets make wonderful pets that only require simple daily care. They don't take up a lot of space, they eat small amounts of food, and they don't require a daily walk outside. They love being around people and often want out of their cages just so they can be closer to you. Some even learn to talk.

You're not alone in considering a pet bird. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), birds are the 3rd most popular pet behind cats and dogs.

It all sounds great doesn't it? Slow down a little bit, before you rush out to buy a cockatiel or a parakeet, take some time to think about whether or not you are ready for a bird companion. There are a few things for you to consider before you decide if you're ready for the responsibilities that comes with parakeets and cockatiels.

Do yourself a favor and don't buy a parakeet or cockatiel until you ask yourself the following questions:

Do I have enough patience for a bird? Cockatiels and parakeets are social animals and they like attention. You should give them at least a half an hour of attention a day to keep them happy.

Am I a neat freak? All birds (not just cockatiels and parakeets) can be fairly messy. You're probably going to have some feathers and bird seed to pick up around the cage.

Can I care for my bird properly? You're taking the right first step by looking for information about birds. It's important for you to know all of your cockatiel's or parakeet's needs before you bring him or her home.

Don't make the mistake of assuming that since you already have a dog, cat or some other pet, that you know how to take care of a bird. Birds have very different needs than other pets. I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than sticking your bird in a cage and giving it water and birdseed.

Do I have room in my house for a bird cage and other 'bird accessories"? You need to think about where you're going to place the cage in your house before you walk in the door with it. And remember, the bigger the bird, the bigger the cage. (Be sure to study the do's and don't of cage placement. There are places in your house that are very dangerous for your bird.)

Do I have the time to give my bird what it needs? In addition to the time you should spend with your bird giving him or her attention, you should spend some time preparing meals for your bird. A proper diet for a healthy cockatiel or parakeet includes fresh vegetables and fruits - not just seeds.

Exactly what type of bird (and how many) do I want? Decide whether you want a female or a male bird. Maybe you would like to have a pair of birds so that you can breed them. It's easier to think through these types of questions now instead of waiting until you're talking to a breeder.

Am I ready for a long-term commitment? As I said above, it's not unusual for cockatiels to live 15-20 years and parakeets can live 12-14 years. Getting a pet bird is a long-term commitment. Please don't get a cockatiel or a parakeet thinking that you're going to "try it for a while". There are already too many birds in rescue and adoption centers.

Pet birds can bring a lot of fun and happiness into your home. If you don't know what to expect before you bring one home, you may be in for a surprise. However, if you've gone through the checklist above and decided that you're ready for a new feathered family member, then congratulations! Get ready for a long, loving and happy relationship.
Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

About the Author

Simon Blake is a bird lover and the author of Cockatiel Secrets and Parakeet Secrets. Discover how you can have a happy, healthy and well behaved pet bird. http://www.CockatielSecrets.com/ http://www.ParakeetSecrets.com/

» Read more articles by Simon Blake