Camoflauge

This is one of the best examples of protective Camouflage in birds. The Common Paureque, a nightjar,  hunts at night and sleeps in the daytime. He looks just like the forest floor.

The topic today is camouflage. Have you given much thought to how birds stay hidden from their enemies? One of the things that birds do that really present the challenge to birders, is that they constantly move around. But when they are not moving, they take advantage of several things that keep them from being seen. Here is a list.

Color

Markings

Posture

Birds are in constant danger of being lunch for many mammals and birds of prey so they take advantage of camouflage as their number one protection when they are not on the move and even when they are moving, the camouflage works.

Daytime Roosting Birds: Birds that roost during the day and are more active at night often have heavily camouflaged plumage to protect them from the day's active predators. Owls, nighthawks and nightjars are all primarily nocturnal and have developed strongly camouflaged plumage for daytime protection when they are less alert.

Nesting Females: In bird species where the female does most of the incubation and care of young chicks, she is often far more heavily camouflaged than the male. This is true of many types of ducks, as well as for warblers and other songbirds. The female's camouflage helps her blend in with the nest surroundings so she can stay protected without abandoning her young.

Juveniles: When first hatched and before they are fully mature, most juvenile birds have camouflaged plumage that may resemble the look of an adult female. Because juvenile birds are vulnerable in the nest and do not initially fly well, this camouflage gives them a slight edge over predators until they are grown enough to avoid danger more successfully.

Ground Foragers: Birds that regularly forage on the ground where they may be more susceptible to predators often have more camouflaged plumage. This includes many shorebirds, game birds, sparrows, thrashers and brown thrushes that have evolved different colors and markings for protection in their preferred habitat.

Here are a few of the pictures I have taken recently that illustrate some of the camoflague used by birds. 

This little Marsh Wren is colored just like the reeds that it lives in with markings that look like shadows and grasses.

The Clapper Rail, just like the Marsh Wren, is colored like the reeds and shadows of the marsh and just blends in which is why you seldom see them out in the open.

This eastern Blue Jay, is an example of how pretty colors help because when he is in this tree, the blue and white blend with the sky and he sort of disappears.

 

February 1, 2015, we are camped next to one of the best bird spots in Texas, Bentsen State Park which is one of the designated World Birding Centers.  So I found three more examples of bird camouflage to share:

Most sparrows are ground feeders so you can see why they are "Little Brown Jobbies"  all their brown streaks and spot blend in very well with the dead grass, dirt and other ground debris

It is of course winter down here even if it is currently 80 degrees but when these guys are in a tree without leaves, they really stand out.  However You can see that the yellow color of the Great Kiskadee blends right in with the yellow-green leaves

This Eastern Screech Owl is another classic example of night hunters sleeping in the daytime blending right in with their surroundings. 

And here's one more, I'm sure you can see the Savannah Sparrow here but look who well he blends in. 

Here are the next 21 birds for the list.

310 Vesper Sparrow, Williamson County, Texas

311 Harris's Sparrow, Williamson County, Texas

Striped Sparrow, Williamson County, Texas Note: this is a first record for North America, a really rare bird sighting. I must be approved by the American Birding Association as a bird that arrived here on it's own power so at this point it is not counted as an official wild bird. (it's complicated)

312 Glossy Ibis, Guadeloupe National Wildlife Management Area

313 Couches Kingbird, Guadeloupe National Wildlife Management Area

314 Le Conte's Sparrow, Guadeloupe National Wildlife Management Area

315 Whooping Crane, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

316 Boat-tailed Grackle, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

317 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mustang Island, Texas

318 Snowy Plover, Mustang Island, Texas

319 Northern Bob White, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

320 Least Grebe, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

321 White-tipped Dove, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

322 Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

323 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

324 Long-billed Thrasher, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

325 Wilson's Warbler, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

326 Hooded Oriole, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

327 Plain Chachalaca, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

328 Inca Dove, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

329 Green Kingfisher, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas

330 Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Paul's RV Park, Cameron, County Texas

331 Tropical Kingbird, Paul's RV Park, Cameron, County Texas