| Some
Species of Wild Birds that host the West Nile virus |
American
Crow
Corvus
brachyrhynchos |
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
16-18”
- Wingspan:
39”
- Weight:
1 lb
- Entirely
black plumage
- Squared-off
tail
- Short
tail, broad wings
- Very common
in urban and agricultural area
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Common
Raven
Corvus
corax |
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
24”
- Wingspan:
53”
- Weight:
2.6 lb
- Entirely
black plumage
- Long
narrow wings, wedged shaped tail, heavy bill
- Larger
than crows
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Blue
Jay
Cyanocitta cristata |
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
11”
- Wingspan:
16”
- Weight:
3 oz
- Black
sturdy bill
- Blue
crest and upperparts
- Black
eyeline and breastband
- Bright
blue wings with black bars and white patches
- Long
blue tail with black bars and white corners
- Migrates
during the day in small flocks
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Gray
Jay
Perisoreus
canadensis
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
11.5”
- Wingspan:
18”
- Weight:
2.5 oz
- Color:
Gray with white and black markings
- Short,
sturdy, dark bill
- Resembles
an oversized chickadee
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Black-billed
Magpie
Pica
pica
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
19”
- Wingspan:
25”
- Weight:
6 oz
- Colour:
White and black
- Long,
iridiscent tail
- Iridiscent
wings with white patches in flight
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Broad-winged
hawk
Buteo platypterus |
Identification
Tips:
- Length:
13"
- Wingspan:
33"
- Sexes
similar
- Short,
dark, hooked beak
- Medium-sized,
broad-winged, broad-tailed hawk
- Short,
broad wings somewhat pointed at the tip
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Red-tailed
hawk
Buteo jamaicensis |
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
18"
- Wingspan:
48"
- Short,
dark, hooked beak
- Large,
broad-winged, broad-tailed hawk
- Young
birds have notably narrower wings and tail, and appear
slimmer
- Tail appears
brick red above and pink below
- Breast
and back pattern vary, some birds being intermediate
between light and dark brown
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Red-winged
Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus |
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
8.75”
- Wingspan:
13”
- Weight:
1.8 oz
- Color:
All black except for red and white wing patches
- Sharply-pointed
bill
- Frequents
marshy habitats in summer, open habitats at other
times of year
- Often
flocks with other species of blackbirds
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Brown headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater |
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
7.5”
- Wingspan:
12”
- Weight:
1.5 oz
- Color:
Male-black body with brown head Female- all brown
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Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula |
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
11 - 13.5”
- Color:
All black with bluish sheen to feathers
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European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris |
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Identification
Tips:
- Length:
8.5”
- Wingspan:
16”
- Weight:
2.9 oz
- Color:
Black to brown body with white markings
- Pointed
bill-yellow for most of year, dark in fall
- Very common-frequently
seen in large flocks
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