What are the most commonly caught birds in your nets?

Learn all about the birds that we catch in our Palomarin Field Station mist-nets.

Where do birds build their nests?
Birds build there nests everywhere from directly on the ground to the tops of trees. The Belted Kingfisher builds its nest in the bank of a river or a creek, digging it 4 ft. deep into the bank. Grebes build a floating nest on water. Understanding that birds place their nests everywhere is an important concept for protecting birds during the nesting season.

When do birds build their nests?
For most birds, the breeding season begins as early as mid-March and lasts until August.

Do all birds build nests?
Yes, all birds build nests, no matter how undeveloped some of the places may appear to humans. Many species of shorebirds have nests that consist of a rock or two placed next to their eggs on the sand. Be careful when walking on the beaches or along rivers or streams, as birds with this type of nest often have camouflaged eggs!

Do all birds build their own nests?
No. There are some bids referred to as brood parasites that put their eggs in the nest of other "host" bird species. The effect is usually detrimental to the host bird as the brood parasite chick is usually larger and hatches earlier, out-competing the host parents young. Examples of such species in North America are the Brown-headed cowbird and members of the cuckoo family.

What is the largest/smallest bird in the world?
The largest bird in the world is the Ostrich, native to Africa. It weighs up to 300 lbs. The bird with the largest wingspan is the Wandering Albatross with a wingspan of 11 ft. 10 inches. Next in line are the Marabou Stork with 11 ft. 6 inches, the Condor with 9 ft. and the Mute Swan with 8ft wing spans. The smallest bird in the world is the Cuban Bee hummingbird, also known as the Helena's hummingbird. It measures 2 ¼ inches in length from bill tip to tail. The largest egg laid is by the Ostrich measuring 6-8 inches long and the smallest egg laid is from the bee hummingbird, which is under ½ inch long.

What is the largest/smallest bird in North America?
The largest bird in North America is the Trumpeter Swan, averaging about 28 pounds. However the Whooping Crane is the tallest standing almost five feet. The Heloise's hummingbird is the smallest measuring 2 ¾ inches in length from bill tip to tail.

What is the fastest bird in the world?
The Peregrine falcon is the fastest bird in the world flying at speeds up to 220 mph. However, some species of swifts have been documented to fly at speeds close to 200 mph.