Birds of Minnesota Field Guide

by Stan Tekiela

Overview

• Contains 111 species--all Minnesota birds!
• No need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don't live in our state
• Easy to use color guide. See a yellow bird and you don't know what it is? Go to the yellow section!
• Fact-filled, containing the information you want to know.
• Compare feature: not sure which woodpecker you're seeing? This feature helps you decide!
• Contains range maps showing where in Minnesota you'll find the birds in summer, winter or all year.
• Full page photos with corresponding full-page descriptions
• Stan's Notes include naturalist information and interesting "gee-whiz" facts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591935322
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/24/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	210 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Naturalist, wildlife photographer and writer Stan Tekiela is the originator of the popular state-specific field guide series that includes Mammals of Minnesota Field Guide. Stan has authored more than 190 educational books, including field guides, quick guides, nature books, children’s books, playing cards and more, presenting many species of animals and plants.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 30 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers, and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations. Stan can be followed on Facebook and Twitter. He can be contacted via www.naturesmart.com.

Read an Excerpt

Common Loon
Gavia immer

• Size: 28–36" (71–91 cm)
• Male: Checkerboard back, black head, white necklace. Deep red eyes. Long, pointed black bill. Winter plumage has a gray body and bill.
• Female: same as male
• Juvenile: similar to winter plumage, but lacks red eyes
• Nest: ground, usually at the shoreline; female and male build; 1 brood per year
• Eggs: 2; olive-brown, occasionally brown markings
• Incubation: 26–31 days; female and male incubate
• Fledging: 75–80 days; female and male feed the young
• Migration: complete, to southern states, the Gulf Coast and Mexico
• Food: fish, aquatic insects, crayfish, salamanders
• Compare: The Double-crested Cormorant (pg. 41) has a black chest and gray bill with a hooked tip and yellow at the base. Look for the checkerboard back to identify the Common Loon.

Stan’s Notes: Hunts for fish by eyesight and prefers clear, clean lakes. A great swimmer, but its legs are set so far back that it has a hard time walking. “Loon” comes from the Scandinavian term lom, meaning “lame,” for the awkward way it walks on land. To take off, it faces into the wind and runs on the water while flapping. Its wailing call suggests wild laughter, which led to the phrase “crazy as a loon.” Also gives soft hoots. In the water, young ride on the backs of their parents for about 10 days. Adults perform distraction displays to protect the young. Very sensitive to disturbance during nesting and will abandon the nest.

Table of Contents

Introduction

• What’s New?
• Why Watch Birds in Minnesota?
• Observation Strategies: Tips to Identify Birds
• Bird Basics
• Bird Color Variables
• Bird Nests
• Who Builds the Nest?
• Fledging
• Why Birds Migrate
• How Do Birds Migrate?
• How to Use This Guide
• Range Maps

Sample Pages

The Birds

• Black
• Black and White
• Blue
• Brown
• Gray
• Green
• Orange
• Red
• White
• Yellow

Birding on the Internet

Checklist/Index by Species

Observation Notes

More for the Midwest by Stan Tekiela

About the Author