Birds Encyclopedia

Cowbird — Cowbirds are birds belonging to the genus Molothrus in the family Icteridae. They are brood parasitic New World birds which are unrelated to the Old World cuckoos, one of which, the Common Cuckoo is the best-known brood parasitic bird. This family includes five species of cowbirds that form the natural genus Molothrus. This has been determined by phylogenetic …

Cormorant — The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed. Cormorants and shags are medium-to-large seabirds. They range in size from the Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus), at as little as 45 cm (18 in) and 340 g …

Coot — The Eurasian Coot Fulica atra, or known as Coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. The Coot breeds across much of the Old World on freshwater lakes and ponds. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, but migrates further south and west from much of Asia in winter as …

Condor — Condor is the name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere. Both condors are very large broad-winged soaring birds, the Andean Condor being 5 cm shorter (beak to tail) on average than the northern species, but larger in wingspan. California Condors are …

Cockatoos — A cockatoo is any of the 21 bird species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. Along with the Psittacidae family (the true parrots), they make up the order Psittaciformes. The name cockatoo originated from the Malay name for these birds, kaka(k)tua. Cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyls foot, with …

Chickadee — Chickadee Small North American bird from the titmouse family. A permanent resident over most of its range in the east. Both the sexes have black caps, gray backs and wings, with fluffy white to buff under parts. They often swing a upside down on branches, looking for insects which is their main diet. There call note gives the …

Chat — Chats are a group of small Old World insectivorous birds formerly classed as members of the thrush family Turdidae. This name is normally applied to the robust ground feeding species found in Europe and Asia in the subfamily Saxicolini. They come from a large number of genera. Most northern species are strong migrants. Species are: Family: Muscicapidae Subfamily: …

Catbird — Several perching birds in unrelated families are called “catbirds” because of their calls. Catbirds proper in the bowerbird family (Ptilonorhynchidae). The catbirds are a group of passerine birds in the family Mimidae which also includes mockingbirds and thrashers. These birds produce a wide variety of sounds including cat-like barks. They are generally found in brushy habitats. Catbird is …

Cardinal — The Cardinals or Cardinalidae are a family of passerine birds found in North and South America. The South American cardinals in the genus Paroaria are placed in another family, the Thraupidae (previously placed in Emberizidae). These are robust, seed-eating birds, with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinctive appearances; the family …

Chachalacas — Chachalacas, genus Ortalis, are ground-feeding turkey like birds so named because of their loud, harsh calls, which sound like cha-cha-la-ca. They are commonly found in wooded areas throughout South and Central America. The Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula is a large bird in the Cracidae family. It breeds in tropical and subtropical environments from the chaparral thickets along the …