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    Birds of New Jersey Field Guide
    Birds of New Jersey Field Guide
    Birds of New Jersey Field Guide
    Ebook858 pages2 hours

    Birds of New Jersey Field Guide

    By Stan Tekiela

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    About this ebook

    Identify New Jersey birds with this easy-to-use field guide, organized by color and featuring full-color photographs and helpful information.

    Make bird-watching in New Jersey even more enjoyable. With Stan Tekiela’s famous bird guide, field identification is simple and informative. There’s no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don’t live in your area. This handy book features 128 species of New Jersey birds organized by color for ease of use. Full-page photographs present the species as you’ll see them in nature, and a “compare” feature helps you to decide between look-alikes.

    Inside you’ll find:

    • 128 species: Only New Jersey birds!
    • Simple color guide: See a yellow bird? Go to the yellow section
    • Stan’s Notes: Naturalist tidbits and facts
    • Professional photos: Crisp, stunning images

    This second edition includes new species, updated photographs and range maps, expanded information, and even more of Stan’s expert insights. So grab the Birds of New Jersey Field Guide for your next birding adventure—to help ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAdventure Publications
    Release dateMay 9, 2023
    ISBN9781647553753
    Birds of New Jersey Field Guide

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      Book preview

      Birds of New Jersey Field Guide - Stan Tekiela

      Birds that are mostly black

      Birds that are mostly black and white

      Birds that are mostly blue

      Birds that are mostly brown

      Birds that are mostly gray

      Birds that have prominent green

      Birds that have prominent orange

      Birds that have prominent red

      Birds that are mostly white

      Birds that have prominent yellow

      Edited by Sandy Livoti, Brett Ortler and Jenna Barron

      Cover, book design and illustrations by Jonathan Norberg

      Range maps produced by Anthony Hertzel

      Cover photo: Eastern Bluebird by Stan Tekiela

      All photos by Stan Tekiela except p. 308 (juvenile) by Rick & Nora Bowers; p. 252 (displaying) by cliff collings/shutterstock.com; p. 212 (chick-feeding adult & juvenile) by Dudley Edmondson; p. 232 (winter) by FotoRequest/shutterstock.com; p. 42 (drying) by JayPierstorff/shutterstock.com; pp. 42 (soaring), 80 (juvenile), 216 (female), 330 (female) by Kevin T. Karlson; pp. 60 (breeding), 146 (breeding), 240 (breeding), 254 (breeding) by Ivan Kuzmin/shutterstock.com; p. 72 (in flight) by Brian Lasenby/shutterstock.com; pp. 48 (female), 296 (female), 336 (female) by Maslowski Wildlife Productions; pp. 68 (female), 184 (female) by Paul Reeves Photography/shutterstock.com; pp. 68 (male), 184 (male) by Colin Seddon/shutterstock.com; pp. 148 (breeding), 242 (breeding) by Brian E. Small; pp. 42 (juvenile), 44 (juvenile), 156 (both juveniles), 262 (juvenile), 264 (in-flight juvenile) by Brian K. Wheeler; pp. 192 (female), 260 (main), 266 (female), 326 (female) by Jim Zipp.

      To the best of the publisher’s knowledge, all photos were of live birds. Some were photographed in a controlled condition.

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Birds of New Jersey Field Guide

      First Edition 2000

      Second Edition 2023

      Copyright © 2000 and 2023 by Stan Tekiela

      Published by Adventure Publications

      An imprint of AdventureKEEN

      310 Garfield Street South

      Cambridge, Minnesota 55008

      (800) 678-7006

      www.adventurepublications.net

      All rights reserved

      Printed in China

      Cataloging-in-Publication data is available from the Library of Congress

      ISBN 978-1-64755-374-6 (pbk.); ISBN 978-1-64755-375-3 (ebook)

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Introduction

      What’s New?

      Why Watch Birds in New Jersey?

      Observation Strategies: Tips for Identifying Birds

      Bird Basics

      Bird Color Variables

      Bird Nests

      Who Builds the Nest?

      Fledging

      Why Birds Migrate

      How 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

      More for New Jersey by Stan Tekiela

      About the Author

      WHAT’S NEW?

      It is hard to believe that it’s been more than 20 years since the debut of Birds of New Jersey Field Guide. This critically acclaimed field guide has helped countless people identify and enjoy the birds that we love. Now, in this expanded third edition, Birds of New Jersey Field Guide has many new and exciting changes and a fresh look, while retaining the same familiar, easy-to-use format.

      To help you identify even more birds in New Jersey, I have added 10 new species and more than 150 new color photographs. All of the range maps have been meticulously reviewed, and many updates have been made to reflect the ever-changing movements of the birds.

      Everyone’s favorite section, Stan’s Notes, has been expanded to include even more natural history information. Compare sections have been updated to help ensure that you correctly identify your bird, and additional feeder information has been added to help with bird feeding. I hope you will enjoy this great new edition as you continue to learn about and appreciate our New Jersey birds!

      WHY WATCH BIRDS IN NEW JERSEY?

      Millions of people have discovered bird feeding. It’s a simple and enjoyable way to bring the beauty of birds closer to your home. Watching birds at your feeder and listening to them often leads to a lifetime pursuit of bird identification. The Birds of New Jersey Field Guide is for those who want to identify common birds of New Jersey.

      There are more than 1,100 species of birds found in North America. In New Jersey alone there have been over 490 different kinds of birds recorded over the years. These bird sightings were diligently recorded by hundreds of bird watchers and became part of the official state record. From these valuable records, I have chosen 132 of the most common birds of New Jersey to include in this field guide.

      Bird watching, often called birding, is one of the most popular activities in America. Its outstanding appeal in New Jersey is due, in part, to an unusually rich and abundant birdlife. Why are there so many birds? One reason is open space. New Jersey is more than 8,000 square miles (21,000 sq. km), making it the forty-sixth largest state. Despite its small size, more than 9 million people call New Jersey home. That is about 1,125 people per square mile (434 per sq. km), half of whom are concentrated in and around 6 major cities. In fact, New Jersey is one of the most urban states since nearly 90 percent of its residents live in an urban setting. The concentrated urbanization in this state leaves plenty of room for a vast variety of birds.

      The geography of New Jersey also plays a major role in migration. Each spring and autumn, tens of thousands of shorebirds, ducks, geese, and swans use the extensive marshes found along the Delaware River, Delaware Bay, and Atlantic coast for feeding and resting. The freshwater lakes, bays, and wetlands of northern New Jersey are also birding hot spots. Thousands of hawks pass over Montclair Hawkwatch, while a wide range of warblers can be seen passing through Cape May.

      The state offers distinctly different habitats, each of which supports a different group of birds. The forested northern highlands and Kittatinny Mountains are home to birds such as the Great Crested Flycatcher. Long-legged shorebirds, such as the Sanderling, gravitate to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, while tiny bright-colored warblers, such as the American Redstart and Magnolia Warbler, flit amongst the pines in central New Jersey.

      Whether witnessing a migration of hawks in the fall or welcoming back the hummingbirds in the spring, there is variety and excitement in birding in New Jersey.

      OBSERVATION STRATEGIES: TIPS FOR IDENTIFYING BIRDS

      Identifying birds isn’t as difficult as you might think. By simply following a few basic strategies, you can increase your chances of successfully identifying most birds that you see. One of the first and easiest things to do when you see a new bird is to note its color. This field guide is organized by color, so simply turn to the right color section to find it.

      Next, note the size of the bird. A strategy to quickly estimate size is to compare different birds. Pick a small, a medium and a large bird. Select an American Robin as the medium bird. Measured from bill tip to tail tip, a robin is 10 inches (25 cm). Now select two other birds, one smaller and one larger. Good choices are a House Sparrow, at about 6 inches (15 cm), and an American Crow, around 18 inches (45 cm). When you see a species you don’t know, you can now quickly ask yourself, Is it larger than a sparrow but smaller than a robin? When you look in your field guide to identify your bird, you would check the species that are roughly 6–10 inches (15–25 cm). This will help to narrow your choices.

      Next, note the size, shape, and color of the bill. Is it long or short, thick or thin, pointed or blunt, curved or straight? Seed-eating birds, such as Northern Cardinals, have bills that are thick and strong enough to crack even the toughest seeds. Birds that sip nectar, such as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, need long, thin bills to reach deep into flowers. Hawks and owls tear their prey with very sharp, curving bills. Sometimes, just noting the bill shape can help you decide whether the bird is a woodpecker, finch, grosbeak, blackbird, or bird of prey.

      Next, take a look around and note the habitat in which you see the bird. Is it wading in a marsh? Walking along a riverbank? Soaring in the sky? Is it perched high in the trees or hopping along the forest floor? Because of diet and habitat preferences, you’ll often see robins hopping on the ground but not usually eating seeds at a feeder. Or you’ll see a Rose-breasted Grosbeak sitting on a tree branch but not climbing headfirst down the trunk, like a White-breasted Nuthatch would.

      Noticing what the bird is eating will give you another clue to help you identify the species. Feeding is a big part of any bird’s life. Fully one-third of all bird activity revolves around searching for food, catching prey, and eating. While birds don’t always follow all the rules of their diet, you can make some general assumptions. Northern Flickers, for instance, feed on ants and other insects, so you wouldn’t expect to see them visiting a seed feeder. Other birds, such as Barn and Tree Swallows, eat flying insects and spend hours swooping and diving to catch a meal.

      Sometimes you can identify a bird by the way it perches. Body posture can help you differentiate between an American Crow and a Red-tailed Hawk, for example. Crows lean forward over their feet on a branch, while hawks perch in a vertical position. Consider posture the next time you see an unidentified large bird in a tree.

      Birds in flight are harder to identify, but noting the wing size and shape will help. Wing size is in direct proportion to body size, weight, and type of flight. Wing shape determines whether the bird flies fast and with precision, or slowly and less precisely. Barn Swallows, for instance, have short, pointed wings that slice through the air, enabling swift, accurate flight. Turkey Vultures have long, broad wings for soaring on warm updrafts. House Finches have short, rounded wings, helping them to flit through thick tangles of branches.

      Some bird species have a unique pattern of flight that can help in identification. American Goldfinches fly in a distinctive undulating pattern that makes it look like they’re riding a roller coaster.

      While it’s not easy to make all of these observations in the short time you often have to watch a mystery bird, practicing these identification methods will greatly expand your birding skills. To further improve your skills, seek the guidance of a more experienced birder who can answer your questions on the spot.

      BIRD BASICS

      It’s easier to identify birds and communicate about them if you know the names of the different parts of a bird. For instance, it’s more effective to use the word crest to indicate the set of extra-long feathers on top of a Northern Cardinal’s head than to try to describe it.

      The following illustration points out the basic parts of a bird. Because it is a composite of many birds, it shouldn’t be confused with any actual bird.

      Bird Color Variables

      No other animal has a color palette like a bird’s. Brilliant blues, lemon yellows, showy reds, and iridescent greens are common in the bird world. In general, male birds are more colorful than their female counterparts. This helps males attract a mate, essentially saying, Hey, look at me! Color calls attention to a male’s health as well. The better the condition of his feathers, the better his food source, territory, and potential for mating.

      When male and female birds of the same species don’t look like each other, they are called sexually dimorphic, meaning two forms. Dimorphic females often have a nondescript, dull color, as seen in Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Muted tones not only help females hide during the weeks of motionless incubation but also draw less attention to them when they’re out feeding or taking a break from the rigors of raising the young.

      The males and females of some species, such as the Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, and Bald Eagle, look nearly identical. In woodpeckers, they are differentiated by only a red (sometimes yellow or black) mark; this mark may be on top of the head, on the face or nape, or just behind the bill.

      During the first year, juvenile birds often look like their mothers. Since brightly colored feathers are used mainly for attracting a mate, young non-breeding males don’t have a need for colorful plumage. It’s not until the first spring molt (or several years later, depending on the species) that young males obtain their breeding colors.

      Both breeding and winter plumages are the result of molting. Molting is the process of dropping old, worn feathers and replacing them with new ones. All birds molt, typically twice a year, with the spring molt usually occurring in late winter. At this time, most birds produce their brighter breeding plumage, which lasts throughout the summer.

      Winter plumage is the result of the late-summer molt, which serves a couple of important functions. First, it adds feathers for warmth in the coming winter season. Second, in some species it produces feathers that tend to be drab in color, which helps to camouflage the birds and hide them from predators. The winter plumage of the male American Goldfinch, for example, is olive-brown, unlike its canary-yellow breeding color during summer. Luckily for us, some birds, such as the male Northern Cardinal, retain their bright summer colors all year long.

      Bird Nests

      Bird nests are a true feat of engineering. Imagine constructing a home that’s strong enough to weather storms, large enough to hold your entire family, insulated enough to shelter them from cold and heat, and waterproof enough to keep out rain. Think about building it without blueprints or directions and using mainly your feet. Birds do this!

      Before building, birds must select an appropriate site. In some species, such as the House Wren, the male picks out several potential sites and assembles small twigs in each. The extra nests, called dummy nests, discourage other birds from using any nearby cavities for their nests. The male takes the female around and shows her the choices. After choosing her favorite, she finishes the construction.

      In other species, such as the Baltimore Oriole, the female selects the site and builds the nest, while the male offers an occasional suggestion. Each bird species has its own nest-building routine that is strictly followed.

      As you can see in these illustrations, birds build a wide variety of nest types.

      ground nest

      platform nest

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