Yellow Bellied Marmot

Scientific Classification

Quick Information

Yellow Bellied Marmots

Yellow Belly Marmot

Behavior

The diurnal animal stays in colonies comprising 10 to 20 individuals with one alpha male. It spends most of the time in burrows where it hibernates for about eight months, usually occurring from September to May. It gains weight in autumn to attain the threshold limit since 50% of its body weight is lost while hibernating. Although it can climb trees, the animal is mostly terrestrial by nature.

Male marmots are territorial that mark their burrows with secretions from anal glands. They are hostile towards other male yearlings and adults, which is one of the causes of dispersal of yearlings.

Baby Yellow Bellied Marmot

Yellow Bellied Marmot Baby

Mating and Reproduction

After emerging from hibernation, each male digs burrows and then searches for its mating partner. Males can mate with 2-3 females at the same time. A female can give birth to 3-5 offspring, out of which only half of the pups can survive to maturity.

Yellow Bellied Marmot Images

Yellow Bellied Marmot Pictures

Life Cycle

Newborn pups weigh about 34 g and measure 110 mm in length. They reach sexual maturity at around two years of age. The female offspring tend to stay in the area near their home while the male offspring leave the area of their birth when they are yearlings and will guard one or more females.

Marmota Flaviventris

Rock Chuck

Interesting Facts

• Since the yellow-bellied marmot does not possess excellent eyesight, it uses its exceptional sense of smell and hearing capability to search for food and evade predators.
• It may act as hosts for fleas or tick responsible for transmitting sylvatic plague, or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

References

1. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42457/115189809
2. https://eol.org/pages/327985
3. http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Marmota_flaviventris/
4. http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/yellow-bellied_marmot_712.html
5. https://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/yellow_bellied_marmot_facts/124/

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Jeffrey Pine

Scientific Classification

Jeffrey Pines

Jeffrey Pine Tree

Quick Information

Other Names	Jeffrey’s Pine, Yellow Pine, Black Pine
Size	Height: 82 to 131 ft, seldom up to 174 ft Trunk Diameter: 7.5 ft
Identification	Leaves: Stout, needle-shaped, glaucous gray-green, occurring in bundles of three, 12-23 cm long Cones: Dark purple turning into pale brown, 12-24 cm long, thin woody scales
Tree Type	Evergreen
Shape at Maturity	Straight, crown is conical or rounded
Distribution/Range	South West Oregon, California including Sierra Nevada (United States); northern Baja California ( Mexico)
Hardiness Zones	6 to 8
Growth Rate	Rapid; 2-3 feet per year
Lifespan	Approximately, 400 to 500 years
Growing Conditions	Soil range: Sandy to clay loam, dry to moist Water requirement: Tolerates drought, can grow in places with little annual rainfall Sunlight: Requires full sun or partial shade Summer Condition: Warm summers with significant difference in day-night temperatures Winter Condition: Cold winters; cannot survive temperature below -38°F
Diseases	Vulnerable to fungal diseases, limb canker, rusts, western dwarf mistletoe, heart rots, medusa needle blight, elytroderma needle cast
Flowering/Fruiting	June or July
Seed Production	Bears seed at around 20 years of age
Dispersal of Seeds	Seeds are dispersed by the wind and small animals
Wildlife Value	Food and shelter for different bird and animal species; black bears, insects, birds, small mammals like mice, chipmunks, and tree squirrels consume the seeds
Uses	For lumber, pulpwood, and veneers; as an ornamental tree; its resin is used to treat various diseases
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

Pinus Jeffreyi

Jeffrey Pine Bark

Interesting Facts

• Jeffrey pine tree has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
• Its cones have inward-pointing barbs whereas ponderosa pine cones have outward-pointing barbs that feel prickly when rubbed down on the palm.
• Its resin has a distinctive scent similar to butterscotch, vanilla, lemon, or pineapple.

Jeffrey Pine Cones

Jeffrey Pine Needles

References

1. https://eol.org/pages/999712
2. https://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pinus-jeffreyi-jeffrey-pine/
3. https://www.gardenguides.com/105379-pine-trees-grow-fast.html
4. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/pinjef/all.html
5. https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/pinus/jeffreyi.htm

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Mexican Spotted Owls

Scientific Classification

Mexican Spotted Owl

Quick Information

Mexican Spotted Owl Images

Mexican Spotted Owl Pictures

Behavior

The nocturnal subspecies is known as “perch and pounce” predator since it locates its prey from a high perch, then pounces on it and holds its prey with its talons. It is solitary except for interactions with its mate and young ones. Adult males and females use a signal call to mark and defend their territories. Mated pairs use a whistling sound to stay in contact while four hooted notes are used when the male delivers food to his partner. Roosting members often preen themselves and each other.

Breeding and Nesting

Mexican spotted owl is monogamous, forming long-term bonds and remaining in the same home range year-round. Mating pairs start roosting and interacting 4 to 6 weeks before eggs are laid. The female incubates her eggs while the male gathers food for her.

The male selects the nest site usually in old forests covered by dense tree canopy. He may choose a broken treetop or hollow tree-trunk, a mistletoe tangle, or an abandoned nest of a squirrel or a bird of prey.

Mexican Spotted Owl Baby

Mexican Spotted Owl Nest

Life-cycle

After hatching, the young ones remain in the nest for the first 4 to 5 weeks. When out of the nest, the young ones stay close to their parents for another 2 to 3 months, becoming independent by late summer. On reaching adult weight, it leaves its natal area in September and October.

Mexican Spotted Owl Flying

Strix Occidentalis Lucida

Interesting Facts

• An individual may not breed every year while some do not breed for five to six years.
• When food is abundant, it may cache prey in places like moss-covered tree limbs, under fallen logs, broken stumps, or among moss-covered rocks.
• Scientists study the spotted owls to have an idea about the health of their native ecosystem.

Mexican Spotted Owl Food Chain

Mexican Spotted Owl Habitat

References:

1. https://www.fws.gov/species/mexican-spotted-owl-strix-occidentalis-lucida
2. https://www.nps.gov/articles/mexican-spotted-owl.htm
3. https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/mexowl/
4. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/spotted_owl/lifehistory

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Alpine Ibex

Scientific Classification

Quick Information

Alpine Ibex Climbing Dam

Alpine Ibex Goats

Behavior

Alpine ibexes are social species living in adult male groups, female-offspring groups, mixed sex groups, or young individual groups. They separate sexually depending on the season.

Hierarchy exists in groups among the males which are based on horn size and winners or losers of past conflicts with strangers. Males exhibit antagonistic attitude in the form of direct and indirect aggression. Direct aggression results in one charging another with its horns while the indirect form is a mere display of intimidation.

Alpine Ibexes

Alpine Ibex Hunting

Mating and Reproduction

The male herds break up into smaller groups searching for females during the breeding season, which lasts for about six weeks. The rut occurs in two stages, during which the males interact with females in estrus. Access to a female depends on the male’s rank in the hierarchy.

In the second stage, one male member leaves his group to follow an individual female. The male displays courtship and protects his mating partner from rivals while the female moves her tail to intensify the courtship. After copulation, the male rejoins his group and reverts to the first stage.

Baby Alpine Ibex

Male Alpine Ibex

Life Cycle

Shortly after birth, the young ones adapt themselves to the difficult terrain and follow their mother. The male offspring leave their mother’s herd to join bachelor ibexes while the females stay with their mother. The species reach sexual maturity at around eighteen months of age.

Interesting Facts

• In Switzerland, alpine ibex feature on the coat of arms of several communes including the Canton of Grisons, as well as on the logo of Pro Natura.
• By the 18th century, the alpine ibex became extinct in Switzerland and Germany while it became extinct in Austria and northeastern Italy by the 19th century. It remained confined to only in the then Kingdom of Sardinia. Rapid conservative and protective measures helped increase the population of the animal to over 20,000 from 104 in 1976.
• The species is an excellent climber and has been spotted ascending the vertical walls of a dam in northern Italy.

Alpine Ibex Images

Alpine Ibex Pictures

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_ibex
2. https://animallist.weebly.com/alpine-ibex.html
3. https://animalcorner.org/animals/alpine-ibex/
4. https://eol.org/pages/328692
5. https://animalia.bio/alpine-ibex

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Tundra Wolf

Scientific Classification

Quick Information

Arctic Tundra Wolf

Canis Lupus Albus

Behavior

They live in packs of up to 20 animals and are socially organized. At the helm of the social order are one dominant male and female.The species hunts cooperatively to succeed in killing preys much larger in size than an individual member. They remain confined in one place during the spring and summer as they take care of their pups. During the fall and winter, they travel at night sometimes covering more than hundred miles.Tundra Wolf has great stamina which immensely helps the animal in hunting.

Mating and Reproduction

The alpha male and alpha female are the only two members allowed to mate in a pack. They are lifelong mating-partners and if one of them dies or is injured, the member next in the hierarchy takes over.

Tundra Wolf Pups

Tundra Wolf Pics

Life-cycle

All the members of the pack take part in nursing the pups. The pups are taken care of up to six months, and they stay with the pack for another two years after which they form their own packs.

Interesting Facts

• According to the International Wolf Center, the tundra wolf possesses a territory covering more than 1000 square miles. This is mainly due to scarcity of prey.
• The subspecies was totally eliminated from a number of the Arctic Islands north of Siberia, but it has been recently spotted in the Wrangel Island. In Russia and in some former Soviet States, wolf hunting is allowed without a permit yet the animal has been classified as “Least Concern”.
• An adult tundra wolf can consume around nine kilograms of meat in one feeding.

Tundra Wolves

Tundra Wolf Pictures

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tundra_wolf
2. https://animalcorner.org/animals/tundra-wolf/
3. https://animals.mom.com/facts-about-tundra-wolves-4662622.html
4. https://animalia.bio/tundra-wolf
5. http://www.cosmosmith.com/tundra_wolves.asp

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Deodar Cedar

Deodar Cedar Tree

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Pinophyta
Class	Pinopsida
Order	Pinales
Family	Pinaceae
Genus	Cedrus
Scientific Name	Cedrus deodara

Feelin Blue Deodar Cedar

Golden Deodar Cedar

Quick Information

Other Names	Himalayan Cedar, Deodar, Devadar, Devdar, Devadaru
Size	40 – 50 m in height, rarely 60 m; trunk diameter up to 3 m
Leaves	Slender, needle-shaped, 2.5–5 cm long, rarely up to 7 cm; appears singly on long shoots and in clusters of 20 to 30 on short shoots;bright green to glaucous blue-green in color
Cones	Female cones: Barrel-shaped, 7 – 13 cm long, 5 – 9 cm broad Male cones: 4 – 6 cm long
Tree Type	Evergreen
Shape at Maturity	Pyramidal, conical crown
Distribution/Range	Eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, India (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Darjeeling in West Bengal), south westernmost Tibet, western Nepal
Hardiness Zones	7 – 9
Lifespan	Can live 1000 years
Growth Rate	Medium; annual height increase is 13 – 24 in
Growing Conditions	Temperature: Trees tend to die in temperatures below−25 °C (−13 °F) Water Requirement: Tolerates drought well Sunlight:Requires full sun Soil Requirement: Prefers moist, acidic, loamy, sandy, clay  and well-drained soils
Flowering/Fruiting	October – November; monoecious; produces flowers less frequently in comparison  to other cedars; pollens are shed in Autumn
Seed Production	Commercial seed bearing starts from 30 to 45 years of age; female cones mature in 12 months and disintegrate on attaining maturity to shed the  seeds
Problems/Diseases/Pests	Vulnerable to honey fungi, root rot, tip blight
Wildlife Value	Provides nesting sites, food, and cover for mammals and birds
Cultivars/Varieties	There are numerous cultivars including Argentea, Golden Deodar Cedar,Karl Fuchs, Feelin Blue, Sanders Blue,Feelin Sunny, Weeping Deodar Cedar, Kashmir,AureaPendula, Blue Dwarf, Blue Mountain Broom, Pygmy
Uses	Inner wood is used in making incense and essential oils;good source of timber especially as a building material; earlier used for construction of barracks, bridges, public buildings, railway cars, and canals; used as an ornamental tree, living Christmas trees, and bonsai
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

Dwarf Deodar Cedar

Karl Fuchs Deodar Cedar

Weeping Deodar Cedar

Kashmir Deodar Cedar

Interesting Facts

• The tree has a unique branching pattern, with its wood being stronger than most other conifers.
• Cedar oil has aromatic properties and is used in aromatherapy while its antifungal properties are beneficial for storing food in rooms built with cedar wood. The stem and outer bark of the tree has astringent properties.
• The essential oil from deodar cedar is used as an insect repellent on the feet of horses, camels, and cattle.The crude oil, on the other hand,is used in making floor polishes, soap perfumes, household sprays and insecticides.
• The tree has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
• It is Pakistan’s national tree.
• In ancient Indian culture, the deodar forests were regarded as a sacred place where sages used to meditate. InHimachal Pradesh, people with asthma and other respiratory trouble are now recommended to sit under this tree early in the morning.

Sanders Blue Deodar Cedar

Deodar Cedar Cones

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedrus_deodara
2. https://sites.redlands.edu/trees/species-accounts/deodar-cedar/
3. https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=807
4. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:676701-1
5. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cedrus+deodara

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Siberian Chipmunk Range

Scientific Classification

Quick Information

Siberian Chipmunk Images

Siberian Chipmunk Pet

Behavior

Siberian Chipmunks generally lead solitary lives, but during the winter they dig burrows which they share with another member. They do not live in fixed colonies, but each individual has its own territory which is marked by urine and oral glands. They hibernate during the winter, storing 3 to 4 kg of food to survive underground till April or May.

Siberian Chipmunk Pictures

Siberian Chipmunks

Mating and Reproduction

They give birth to live young and tend to reproduce once or twice a year.

Lifecycle

The newborns are blind and naked and open their eyes in around 20 to 25 days after birth. The females take care of the babies and teach them how to forage in around six weeks. By seven weeks, the weaning period is over, and the young ones become independent by eight weeks. Both male and female reach sexual maturity at nine months of age.

Baby Siberian Chipmunk

Siberian Chipmunk Tail

Interesting Facts

• Siberian Chipmunk, the only living member of its genus, is the only chipmunk occurring outside North America.
• The species aids forests grow and regenerate by dispersing seeds and fungal spores.
• It helps in controlling pests in its environment, thus helping in species diversity.
• The species is kept as pets and commonly sold for fur or other body parts.
• It poses threat to humans as the animal is known to eat crops. Another potential threat lies in the animal’s ability to carry diseases, like Lyme disease which can cause harm to humans.

Siberian Chipmunk Teeth

Siberian Chipmunk

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_chipmunk
2. http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Tamias_sibiricus/
3. https://www.borealforest.org/siberian-chipmunk/
4. https://eol.org/pages/313026

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Scots Pine

Scientific Classification

Scottish Pine

Scots Pine Tree

Quick Information

Other Names	Riga Pine, Mongolian pine, Scotch pine
Size	Height: 35 m Trunk Diameter: 1m Tallest recorded specimen measures 46.6 m
Identification	Leaves (Needles): Glaucous blue-green on mature trees, dark green to dark yellow-green in winter, 2.5–5 cm long and 1-2 mm broad, occur in bundles with a gray basal sheath Seed Cones: Red during pollination, turning gray-green to yellow-brown at maturity, 3-7.5 cm long Pollen Cones: Yellow, sometimes pink, 8–12 mm long; pollens are released during middle-late spring Bark: Thick, scaly, dark gray-brown on the lower trunk while on the upper trunk it is thin, flaky and orange
Tree Type	Evergreen
Shape at Maturity	Oval, pyramidal
Distribution/Range	Western and Northern Europe, eastern Siberia, Anatolia
Hardiness Zones	3–7
Growth Rate	Slow to medium, yearly increase being 12 to 24 in
Lifespan	Generally 150 to 300 years; oldest recorded specimen is more than 760 years
Growing Conditions	Soil Requirement: Acidic, loamy, sandy, moist, well-drained and dry soilsLight Requirement: Direct sunlight Temperature: Tolerates high temperatures Water Requirement: Tolerant to drought
Diseases	Host to pine wilt caused by the pinewood nematode, vulnerable to fungal diseases like  Lophodermium and Diplodia Tip Blight
Flowering	May-June
Dispersal of Seeds	Seeds are mainly dispersed by wind
Seedling Development	Adequate moisture and some shade helps in seedlings establishment; seedlings grow very fast in their early years
Wildlife value	Insects and lichens thrive in and around the cracks of the trunk; branches are good nesting sites for birds like golden eagle, goshawk, osprey; cones and seeds are a favorite for red squirrels
Uses	Good source of timber, construction lumber, pulpwood; extensively used as Christmas trees; popular as a bonsai
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

Scots Pine Pictures

Scotch Pine Leaf

Pinus Sylvestris

Scots Pine Christmas Tree

Interesting Facts

• Scots pine is Scotland’s national tree.
• The species was one of the first trees to colonize Ireland after the melting of ice sheets of the last glaciations around 12000 years ago. The tree, in spite of being initially abundant, disappeared from the country until the 17th century when it was reintroduced from Scotland through planting.

Scots Pine Needles

Scots Pine Cone

Scots Pine Bonsai

Scots Pine Bark

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_pine
2. https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=902
3. https://www.waldwissen.net/en/forest-ecology/forest-plants/conifers/the-scots-pine
4. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/tree-plant-care/plant-care-resources/pine-diseases/
5. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2007/mar/070901.htm

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Olive Sided Flycatcher Range Map

Scientific Classification

Olive Sided Flycatcher Bird

Olive Sided Flycatcher

Quick Information

Other Names	Moucherolle à côtés olive (French), Pibí boreal (Spanish)
Size	18 – 20 cm
Wingspan	Approximately 33 cm
Weight	1.1–1.3 oz
Color	Face, upperparts, and flanks are dark olive; under parts are light, throat is white with dark bill; juveniles have  brownish upperparts while the margins of the shoulders and the wing bars are buff
Distribution	Canada, Alaska, western and northeastern United States; migratory population is found in  Central America and in South America’s Andes region
Habitat	Coniferous forests, openings and edges of forests like ponds and meadows
Nesting	Middle of May to mid-June
Sounds	Call: Fast pip pip pip Song: Whistled quick-three beers
Lifespan	Up to 11.1 years in the wild
Diet	Feed on flying insects like bees, wasps, ants, flies, grasshoppers, moths, beetles, dragonflies
Clutch size	3 eggs
Number of Broods	1 per year
Incubation Period	About 2 weeks
IUCN Conservation Status	Near Threatened

Olive Sided Flycatcher Pictures

Olive Sided Flycatcher Juvenile

Behavior

These birds hunt by waiting from a high exposed perch often at the top of the tree. They fly out to catch the flying insects and return to the same perch. The flycatchers usually catch insects in mid-air and consume them whereas larger preys are carried back to the perch.

Breeding and Nesting

Nests in the shape of a flat open cup, made up of twigs, lichens, rootlets, grass, weeds are built by the female on horizontal branches away from the trunk. These monogamous birds display courtship behavior involving brisk chasing through the branches. They have a large breeding territory that can extend to 40-45 hectares around the nest, with the male aggressively defending the territory.

Olive Sided Flycatcher Nest

Olive Sided Flycatcher Eggs

Lifecycle

Female incubates her eggs while the male gathers food for her. After hatching, both male and the female feed the young. The young ones are ready for their first flight at about 21-23 days. After leaving the nest, the young ones continue to depend on the parents for about a week. The family stays together till the migration in fall.

Olive Sided Flycatcher Images

Olive Sided Flycatcher Photos

Interesting Fact

• They undertake one of the longest migrations among the North American flycatchers.

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive-sided_flycatcher
2. https://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/plans/rs_olive-sided%20flycatcher_e_proposed.pdf
3. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Olive-sided_Flycatcher/lifehistory
4. https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/olive-sided-flycatcher
5. http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/olive-sided-flycatcher

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Common Loon Range

Common Loon

Scientific Classification

Common Loon Bird

Common Loon Images

Quick Information

Common Loon Flight

Common Loon on Land

Behavior

Common loons swim underwater to catch their prey and can remain there for as long as three minutes. While in water, they use their feet for propulsion. They prefer large waterways as they need a vast stretch for take-off.

Common Loon call

They make four types of sounds, namely the Tremolo, the Yodel, the Wail, and the Hoot. Tremolo is of short and wavering nature used to signal alarm or to notify their arrival at a lake. They use it during flights only. The yodel is male loon’s claim of a territory, and it changes when the bird travels to a new area. The wail is a long call given back and forth to locate each other’s position whereas hoots are short, soft calls used for making contact with each other.

Common Loon Photos

Common Loon Pictures

Breeding and Nesting

Common loons are monogamous birds that mate annually. They start breeding at two years of age, their breeding territory ranging between 60 and 200 acres. Breeding takes place ashore in nest sites, which are generally reused annually. They defend the territories physically as well as vocally, and both, male and female, take part in nest building. The nests are built with dead marsh grasses, twigs, reeds and other plants along the vegetated coasts of lakes.

Baby Common Loon

Life Cycle

Both, male and female incubate the eggs. Chicks leave the nest after few days from hatching and sometimes ride on their parent’s back in the water. Both the parents feed and nurture the babies. In the next 2 to 3 days, the chicks are capable of swimming and diving underwater and can fly when they are 10 to 11 weeks old.

Common Loons

Common Loon Winter

Interesting Facts

• Common loons can dive more than 200 ft (61m) underneath the surface of the water in search of food.
• They can fly at a speed of more than seventy miles per hour especially when they are migrating.
• They are known to be awkward as their legs are placed far back on the body. They are clumsy when on their feet and are more comfortable in water than in land.
• When they are below the surface of water, their heart slows down to preserve oxygen.
• During migration, they sometimes land in wet highways, parking lots, or small ponds, mistaking them to be large water bodies and getting stranded since they require large areas to lift themselves.
• Their plumage exhibits seasonal changes – black and white pattern in summer while it is plain gray above and white below in winter.

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_loon
2. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Loon/lifehistory
3. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/common-loon
4. https://www.desertusa.com/animals/loon.html
5. https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/resource-centre/featured-species/birds/common-loon.html

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Big Brown Bat Range

Big Brown Bat

Scientific Classification

Big Brown Bats

Quick Information

Big Brown Bat Teeth

Big Brown Bat Pictures

Behavior

They are nocturnal creatures like other bats and start foraging in early evening. The big brown bats hibernate during winter. At the end of the period of inactivity, they forage during warm nights but.

Mating and reproduction

The mating takes place during autumn or winter and sometimes in early spring with fertilization occurring in spring. The female usually gives birth to one or two pups between May and July.

Big Brown Bat Pup

Baby Big Brown Bat

Life Cycle

The pups are born blind and have no fur, with their eyes opening on the second day. The females take care of the babies. By the end of three to five weeks, the young ones are able to fly and by the end of two and a half months, they become adult. Many juvenile big brown bats do not survive the first winter due to their inability to store enough fat for hibernation.

Big Brown Bat Images

Big Brown Bat Flying

Interesting Facts

• They can fly at a speed of 40 miles per hour, migrating large distances. (#8)
• Their eyesight is poor but, that does not deter them from searching for food as they make use of echolocation.
• By feeding on insects, they contribute to a large extent in checking the balance of the ecosystem through pest control.

References:

1. http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Eptesicus_fuscus/
2. https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/nature/big-brown-bat.htm
3. https://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/bats/Big%20Brown%20Bat.php
4. https://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/er/er0707.pdf

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Pine Grosbeak Range

Pine Grosbeak Pictures

Scientific Classification

Pine Grosbeak Bird

Quick Information

Pine Grosbeak Images

Behavior

They travel from one place to another in search of food, foraging in shrubs and trees. During the breeding season, they usually remain in pairs; however, they remain in larger flocks the rest of the year.

Pine Grosbeak

Pine Grosbeak Male and Female

Breeding and nesting

Pine grosbeaks are monogamous. They typically build their nest in dense foliage on horizontal branches close to the trunk of the tree. Females usually build the nest, which is made up of twig lined with grass, moss, and lichen.

Pine Grosbeak Egg

Lifecycle

During incubation, the male brings food for the female. After hatching, both male and female feed the young. Fledging takes place after about 2 weeks from hatching. Sometimes the young ones depend on their parents for food even after fledging.

Pine Grosbeak Female

Interesting Facts

• They are quite vocal and are known to mimic the songs and calls of other species.

Pine Grosbeaks

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_grosbeak
2. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Grosbeak/id
3. http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/pine-grosbeak
4. https://abcbirds.org/pine-grosbeak
5. https://nhpbs.org/wild/pinegrosbeak.asp

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