The Guide to Nonexistent Birds: an Ornithological Logic SECTION 1752885314.2073252: * * ** *** ***** ******** ************* YELLOW-BEAKED SWIFT The yellow-beaked swift has a white throat and a golden tail. Their striped necks are conspicuous. Yellow-beaked swifts may often be found in southern treetops searching for fruits and nuts. These flocking birds fly low. CALL: a squawking that starts low and ends high, which might be transcribed "per-ai per-aiCOO". - RED-SHOULDERED SWIFT The red-shouldered swift is slightly larger than the yellow-beaked swift and is notable for its black head and red throat. One can be told apart by its speckled tail and its' striped breast. Red-shouldered swifts sometimes inhabit northern bushes or estuaries where they most often subsist on seeds and some grubs. These birds live with many of their kind. CALL: a "ah-tee ah-teeAH". - SOUTHERN GULL The southern gull is conspicuous for its black beak and its golden throat. Southern gulls sometimes reside in southern mountain tops or conifers where they generally subsist on trout, salamander, and snails. A bird living singley, they thrive in cities. CALL: a singing that starts melodic and ends low, which might be transcribed "wee-kok". YELLOW-BEAKED SWIFT The yellow-beaked swift is smaller than the red-shouldered swift and is notable for its golden throat and white tail. You are most likely to discover yellow-beaked swifts in southern bushes. There, they can often be found eating seeds, grubs, and berries. They have speckled tails and tufted shoulders. These flocking birds fly low. CALL: a tuneful "oo-er kyik". - BLACK-NECKED HAWK The black-necked hawk is remarkable for its black beak and its golden shoulder. Their narrow breasts are remarkable. Black-necked hawks may often be observed in southern lakes or in reeds. Their diet consists primarily of rodents and lizards. Individually or in small groups, they are a brood parasite, leaving their eggs in nests of the brown-tailed hawk rather than raising their own young. CALL: a sort of "ka-chi-oo ka-chi-ooCHIP". BROWN-BEAKED SWIFT The brown-beaked swift is sometimes incorrectly identified as the yellow-beaked swift and is slightly larger than it. The brown-beaked swift has a red head and brown tail. Usually, one can be identified by its speckled throat and its' notable mottled crest. Brown-beaked swifts may often be spotted in northern tundra searching for roots and seeds. These birds live on human outskirts, sometimes venturing into ranches or lakesides, with many of their kind. CALL: a sort of chattering - first low then tuneful "pip-kok klip pip-kok". BROWN-HEADED GULL The brown-headed gull resembles the southern gull but is much smaller than it, possessing a black tail and brown head. Brown-headed gulls may often be found in southern cliffsides or in pine stands. Their diet consists primarily of freshwater fish. These semi-solitary birds have lost the capacity for flight. CALL: a groaning that starts abrasive and ends hoarse, which might be transcribed "per-chip". - YELLOW-BREASTED GROUSE A bird with a white throat and a violet crest is the yellow-breasted grouse. You are most likely to discover yellow-breasted grouses in eastern cliffsides. There, they can often be seen consuming seeds and spiders. A bird living in flocks, they make their homes in depressions in the ground covered over by branches. CALL: a low "AHer-ka AHer-kaPIP". COMMON TINAMOU The common tinamou is remarkable for its red breast and its brown head. Common tinamous often reside in western estuaries or beaches where they generally subsist on seeds and driftwood-feeding insects. Individually or in small groups, they mate at the correct times with great theatrics and zeal. CALL: a hoarse "rik-er-wee rik rik-er-wee". GRAY-SHOULDERED GULL We know nothing about the gray-shouldered gull. BROWN-NECKED SWIFT We know nothing about the brown-necked swift. TROPICAL HAWK The tropical hawk is much smaller than the black-necked hawk, and has a yellow breast and white crest. They have speckled tails and narrow crests. Tropical hawks can often be spotted around southern canopies or at times in southern rivers. In solitude, they thrive in towns. CALL: a sort of tweeting - first abrasive then abrasive "RIKrik-kraa-coo". - BROWN-BREASTED SWALLOW The brown-breasted swallow is a swallow with a yellow head and a red throat. Most often, one can be identified by its striped throat and its' notable narrow wing. Brown-breasted swallows may often be found in western estuaries searching for seeds and some grubs. With many of their kind, they make their homes in depressions in the ground covered over by branches. CALL: a abrasive singing which might be transcribed "CHIai-ka-pip". RIVER EAGLE A bird with a brown breast and a white throat is the river eagle. River eagles can often be seen around northern rivers or at times in northern reeds. These solitary birds seek cold currents of wind to fly zigzaggingly on. CALL: a high singing which sounds like "RIKtee-coo-chip oo". COMMON FLYCATCHER The common flycatcher is a flycatcher with a brown throat and a black neck. They can most often be told apart by their striped beaks and wings. Common flycatchers can often be seen eating nuts, seeds, and beetles in eastern conifers, or now and then in tundra. These birds live individually or in small groups. CALL: a high squawking which resembles "PIPkyik-pip-oo PIPkyik-pip-ooCHI". YELLOW-BREASTED HAWK The yellow-breasted hawk is slightly larger than the tropical hawk, possessing a black tail and yellow breast. Both birds have a violet throat and a yellow breast and a white crest. Yellow-breasted hawks often live in eastern undergrowth or beaches where they most often subsist on shorebirds. A bird living with many of their kind, they only survive far from human populations. CALL: a kind of singing - first high then tuneful "KLIPkraa-klip chi KLIPkraa-klip". COASTAL SWIFT We know nothing about the coastal swift. NORTHERN GULL The northern gull resembles the gray-shouldered gull but is slightly smaller than it, possessing a red shoulder and yellow crest. Its' conspicuous striped crest typically lets you identify one. Northern gulls can often be spotted around northern cliffsides or at times in northern pine stands. A bird living alone, they mate at the correct times with great theatrics and zeal. CALL: a squawking that starts tuneful and ends hoarse, which sounds like "PIPai-kraa per". BROWN-THROATED TINAMOU A relative of the common tinamou, the brown-throated tinamou is much larger than it, and has a crimson neck and brown breast. Both birds have a red beak. Brown-throated tinamous may often be observed in southern bushes searching for seeds, grubs, and berries. They are very shy birds, almost impossible to approach. CALL: a high "KLIPtee-tee KLIPtee-teeKLIP". RED-WINGED GROUSE The red-winged grouse resembles the yellow-breasted grouse but is much larger than it, and has a golden neck and black beak. Red-winged grouses often reside in southern tundra or conifers where they most often subsist on nuts, seeds, and beetles. These semi-solitary birds mate at the correct times with great theatrics and zeal. CALL: a kind of singing - first high then high "chip-kraa-chi oo chip-kraa-chi". - SINGING FLYCATCHER The singing flycatcher has a gray head and a gray throat. Singing flycatchers can sometimes be seen eating roots and seeds in eastern tundra, or now and then in conifers. These birds travel without rest accross continents and over oceans North in the fall, to withstand the weather, in flocks. CALL: a high "er-rik KAkraa-kraa er-rik KAkraa-kraaWEE". WHITE-HEADED GULL A bird with a crimson tail and a brown beak is the white-headed gull. One can be distinguished by its tufted neck and its' narrow throat. You are most likely to discover white-headed gulls in southern conifers. There, they can often be spotted consuming trout, salamander, and snails. With a few of their kind, they seek rising currents of wind to fly low on. CALL: a low "per-oo chip-ou-er oo per-oo chip-ou-er". VIOLET-SHOULDERED DUCK A duck with a brown beak is the violet-shouldered duck. Its' conspicuous narrow wing usually lets you identify one. Violet-shouldered ducks often live in eastern pine stands or cliffsides where they usually subsist on rockfish and skates. These birds live in large congregations. CALL: a sort of "kyik-ka er-oo-oo". GOLDEN-BREASTED DUCK The golden-breasted duck has a yellow tail and a red throat. Golden-breasted ducks may often be seen in southern pine stands or in cliffsides. Their diet consists primarily of rockfish and skates. A bird living in flocks, they make their homes in flat platforms composed of branches. CALL: a kind of "kyik-per er-ah-oo klip". YELLOW-CRESTED THRUSH The yellow-crested thrush is remarkable for its brown beak and its yellow crest. Yellow-crested thrushs sometimes live in southern undergrowth or bushes where they usually subsist on seeds, grubs, and berries. These birds live in flocks. CALL: a squawking that starts abrasive and ends high, which might be transcribed "kyik-er kok-wee-tee kyik-er kok-wee-teeRIK". RED-THROATED GROUSE With a red neck, the red-throated grouse is slightly larger than the red-winged grouse. Red-throated grouses can often be found eating seeds and nuts in northern mountain tops, or now and then in conifers. With many of their kind, they make their homes in natural cavities in trees filled out with branches. CALL: a singing that starts tuneful and ends abrasive, which resembles "ai-per coo-rik chip ai-per coo-rik". SOUTHERN TINAMOU We know nothing about the southern tinamou. RIVER GULL We know nothing about the river gull. YELLOW-SHOULDERED SWIFT A relative of the coastal swift, the yellow-shouldered swift is much smaller than it, with a brown beak and golden head. Both birds have a brown beak and a yellow throat and a brown neck. Yellow-shouldered swifts may sometimes be observed in eastern swamps searching for insects and tubers. A bird living in flocks, they often stand around groups of river swallows. CALL: a tuneful "klip-kraa kyik-wee klip-kraa kyik-weeKYIK". SCREECHING HAWK The screeching hawk is as large as the yellow-breasted hawk and is notable for its crimson crest and black beak. They can typically be distinguished by their speckled tails and crests. Screeching hawks may sometimes be observed in southern bushes or in estuaries. Their diet consists primarily of frogs and fish. These birds have begun to rebound due to conservation programs, with a few of their kind. CALL: a type of screeching - first abrasive then melodic "WEEkyik-er-ou er WEEkyik-er-ou". COMMON FLYCATCHER The common flycatcher resembles the common flycatcher but is somewhat smaller than it, possessing a blue breast and black shoulder. Both birds have a brown throat and a black neck. Common flycatchers may often be found in southern lakes or in rivers. Their diet consists primarily of seeds, berries, and snails. They can always find their way home. CALL: a hoarse squawking which might be transcribed "AIwee-rik-wee". NORTHERN EAGLE The northern eagle resembles the river eagle but is larger than it, possessing a golden breast and white throat. Northern eagles feed on rodents and wrens in northern conifers. Generally, one can be identified by its oversized head and its' remarkable narrow beak. These birds make their homes in natural cavities in trees filled out with dead twigs and leaves, individually or in small groups. CALL: a low "CHIpip-chip-ka pip". WESTERN SWALLOW The western swallow resembles the brown-breasted swallow but is slightly larger than it, with a white tail and red shoulder. Western swallows can often be seen eating seeds and some grubs in western estuaries, or now and then in bushes. They can usually be told apart by their striped throats and shoulders. These birds live in pairs. CALL: a sort of "PIPtee-ai-coo PIPtee-ai-cooKRAA".