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EcoNews Vol. 51, No. 10 - November 2021
Lea Eider, Coastal Programs Intern
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Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo Jamaicensis)
The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most common hawks in North America and one of the largest birds on the continent. They have a highly variable diet, but they most often feed on rodents. They can live in a wide variety of habitats, such as deserts, forests, grasslands, and urban areas. They can be identified by their rusty red tail and white "V" on their back.
In most cases, when you hear the cry of an eagle or hawk in a movie, no matter the species, you are hearing the distinctive scream of the Red-tailed Hawk.
Sources: Audobon.org, allaboutbirds.org. Photos: Wendy Miller, Veit_Stan Lupo, and Henry T. McLin on Flickr.
CA Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) or hlkerrwers in the Yurok language.
This is a type of lungless salamander primarily found in Northern California. They are active on the ground during wet weather and can be found under logs and in other damp environments. They retreat underground in hot or dry weather.
When feeling threatened, they may coil up into a tight spiral or detach their tails, which will regrow within 1-3 years.
Sources: Batrachoseps attenuates (Amphibiaweb.org) and California slender salamander (Wikipedia) Photos: Marshall Hedin and Greg Schechter on Flickr
Black-Necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
Black-necked stilts are American shorebirds with long thin legs, slim wings, and a needle-like bill. They primarily feed on insects or crustaceans that they scoop out of the water or air.
They are social birds that nest together in colonies. When their nests are threatened, these birds participate in a “popcorn display,” grouping around a predator and jumping or flapping their wings at it in an attempt to drive it away. You can find them in environments with shallow water, like mudflats, salt pans, and salt marshes.
Sources: Black-necked Stilt–audobon.org, Black-necked Stilt Identification–All About Birds, and Black-necked Stilt–Wikipedia. Photos: _Veit_ on Flickr
