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CHIMNEY SWIFT Chaetura pelagica Common
5-51/2" (12-14 cm) Like a cigar with wings. A blackish
swallowlike bird with long, slightly curved, stiff wings and stubby tail. It
appears to beat its wings not in unison but alternately (actually
this is an illusion); effect is more batlike, unlike skimming of
swallows. They seem to fairly twinkle, gliding between spurts,
holding wings bowed in a crescent. Voice: Loud, rapid, ticking or
twittering notes. Range: S. Canada to Gulf of Mexico. Winters in
Peru. Habitat: Open sky, especially over cities, towns; nests and
roosts in chimneys (originally in large hollow trees and cliff
crevices).
Text copyright c 2002 by the Marital Trust B u/a Roger Tory Peterson
and the Estate of Virginia Peterson. Reprinted by permission of
Houghton Mifflin Company.
View Table of Contents
Map of Area Covered by This Book ii
Foreword xi
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xix
Introduction
Life List
Loons: Gaviidae
Grebes: Podicipedidae
Shearwaters: Procellariidae
Storm-Petrels: Hydrobatidae
Casual or Accidental Seabirds and Coastal Species
Pelicans: Pelecanidae
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae
Gannets, Boobies: Sulidae
Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae
Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae
Anhingas: Anhingidae
Loons in Flight
Cormorants in Flight
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns: Ardeidae
Limpkins: Aramidae
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae
Flamingoes: Phoenicopteridae
Storks: Ciconiidae
Cranes: Gruidae
Accidental Long-legged Wading Birds
Swans, Geese, Ducks: Anatidae
Swans: Anserinae
Geese: Anserinae
Geese and Swans in Flight
Whistling-Ducks: Dendrocygninae
Dabbling Ducks: Anatinae
Diving Ducks: Aythyinae
Stiff-tailed Ducks: Oxyurinae
Merganser: Merginae
Flight Patterns of Ducks
Accidentals from Eurasia
Accidentals from the Tropics
New World Vultures: Cathartidae
Caracaras and Falcons: Falconidae
Caracaras: Caracarinae
Hawks, Kites, Accipiters, Harriers, and Eagles: Accipitridae
Kites: Elaninae and Milvinae
Accipiters (Bird Hawks): Accipitrinae
Buteos (Buzzard Hawks): Buteoninae (in part)
Buteos Overhead
Harriers: Circinae
Blackish Birds of Prey Overhead
Eagles: Buteoninae (in part)
Ospreys: Pandionidae
Eagles, Osprey, and Vultures Overhead
Falcons: Falconidae
Accipiters and Falcons Overhead
Pheasant, Grouse, Turkey, and Allies: Phasianidae
Grouse, etc.: Tetraoninae
New World Quails: Odontophoridae
Ducklike Swimmers (Coots, Gallinules): Rallidae (in part)
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae
Plovers: Charadriidae
Plovers and Turnstone in Flight
Large Shorebirds in Flight
Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae
Avocets and Stilts: Recurvirostridae
Sandpipers and Phalaropes: Scolopacidae
"Peeps"
Snipe, Sandpipers, etc., in Flight
Sandpipers, Phalaropes in Flight
Phalaropes: Phalaropodinae
Accidental Shorebirds from Eurasia
Jaegers: Stercorariidae
Gulls: Laridae
Small Hooded Gulls: Adults
Immature Gulls: Larger Species
Immature Gulls: Smaller Species
Terns: Sterninae
Skimmers: Rynchopinae
Auks, etc.: Alcidae
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae
Parrots, Parakeets: Psittacidae
Cuckoos: Cuculidae
Owls: Strigidae and Tytonidae
Nighthawks, Nightjars: Caprimulgidae
Nighthawks: Caprimulgidae
Hummingbirds: Trochilidae
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae
Woodpeckers: Picidae
Tyrant Flycatchers: Tyrannidae
Accidental Flycatchers
Larks: Alaudidae
Pipits: Motacillidae
Swallows: Hirundinidae
Swifts: Apodidae
Chickadees and Titmice: Paridae
Nuthatches: Sittidae
Creepers: Certhiidae
Wrens: Troglodytidae
Gnatcatchers (Polioptilinae) and Kinglets (Regulidae)
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae
Thrushes: Turdidae
Mockingbirds and Thrashers: Mimidae
Crows, Jays, etc.: Corvidae
Shrikes: Laniidae
Waxwings: Bombycillidae
Vireos: Vireonidae
Wood-Warblers: Parulidae
Confusing Fall Warblers
Tanagers: Thraupidae
Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows, Buntings: Fringillidae, Emberizidae, Cardinalidae
Blackbirds, Orioles, etc.: Icteridae
Starlings: Sturnidae
Orioles
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae
Miscellaneous Finchlike Birds
South Texas Specialties
More South Texas Specialties
Accidentals from the Tropics
Accidentals and Escapes from Eurasia
Exotics
Range Maps
Index of Scientific Names
Index of Common Names
