Officehoursbyappointment(T,Th,Fmornings).docVIP

ESRM 452, Lab 5 DESCRIPTION OF ORDERS PASSERIFORMES: Songbirds (Continued) Family Mimidae (Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Thrashers) Significant features: Diverse vocalizations including imitations of other species Generally solitary Often run to escape predators rather then fly Distribution: New World Habitat: varies by species, including forest, scrub, grasslands, and desert Size: 19-30 cm, 36-56 g Plumage: similar year-round and between sexes Food: arthropods and fruit Foraging Behavior: forage on ground by raking through leaf litter or soil with bills Breeding Behavior: Mating system: monogamous Nest shape: cup of coarse twigs, on or near the ground Clutch size: 2-6 Incubation: 11-15 days, usually by both sexes Chicks: altricial Fledgling: 12-15 days Conservation: Habitat loss Family Sturnidae (Starlings) Significant features: Introduced old world species, New York 1890-91. Mimick other species Intra-specific nest parasitism Distribution: Old world, Africa and Asia Habitat: Forested Habitat Plumage: Winter ( Summer Food: Omnivorous (berries and insects) Foraging Behavior: Foliage gleaning Breeding Behavior: Mating system: Monogamous/polygynous Nest shape: Cavity nesters Clutch size: 4 - 8 eggs, female Incubation: 12 - 14 days, female and male Fledgling: 18 - 21 days, both sexes feed nestlings Conservation: Displace other cavity nesters Family Motacillidae (Pipits and Wagtails) Significant features: Often detected by high pitched flight call Ground dwelling Distribution: Worldwide, except Antarctica Habitat: open ground, fields, beaches Size: 14-21 cm Plumage: similar between sexes in pipits, dimorphic in wagtails Food: terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates Foraging Behavior: pick from the ground or low vegetation Breeding Behavior: Mating system: monogamous Nest shape: open cup, on ground Clutch size: 2-9, usually 4-6 Incubation: 11-15 days, usually by female Chicks: altricial Fledgling: 10-16 days Conservation: Habitat loss