The Guide to Nonexistent Birds: an Ornithological Logic SECTION 1793166379.745167: * * ** *** ***** ******** ************* COASTAL THRUSH One kind of thrush is the coastal thrush, a bird remarkable for its brown head and yellow breast. One can be identified by its narrow throat and its' speckled wing. Coastal thrushs can occasionally be observed eating seeds, grubs, and berries in northern bushes, or now and then in estuaries. They travel around a pond, across a field, or to the other side of a mountain to the South in the fall, to perish. CALL: a kind of "oo-wee oo-weeWEE". - GOLDEN-THROATED THRUSH A relative of the coastal thrush, the golden-throated thrush is much larger than it, possessing a yellow crest and white tail. Both birds have a yellow crest. Golden-throated thrushs feed on seeds, grubs, and berries in southern bushes. With many of their kind, they will steal sandwiches. CALL: a squawking that starts high and ends hoarse, which sounds like "er-oo er-ooRIK". - FOREST COOT The forest coot has a yellow breast and a yellow head. They have narrow throats and narrow beaks. Forest coots often reside in northern bushes or treetops where they generally subsist on freshwater fish. These birds make their homes in depressions in the ground covered over by dead twigs and leaves, alone. CALL: a whistling that starts melodic and ends tuneful, which sounds like "kraa-klip". ARCTIC THRUSH The arctic thrush resembles the golden-throated thrush but is slightly smaller than it, and has a black throat and brown neck. Their striped crests are conspicuous. Arctic thrushs may often be observed in eastern conifers searching for nuts, seeds, and beetles. These solitary birds have lost the capacity for flight. CALL: a sort of chattering - first melodic then melodic "ah-tee chi". - RED-SHOULDERED EGRET The red-shouldered egret has a yellow wing and a yellow beak. Red-shouldered egrets may often be found in eastern lakes searching for berries and aquatic insects. A bird living in large congregations, they travel long distances annualy to the same sites in the East in the winter, to raise their young. CALL: a singing that starts high and ends low, which might be transcribed "oo-kraa-tee oo-kraa-teeWEE". ARCTIC THRUSH The arctic thrush is slightly larger than the arctic thrush, and has a brown neck and white throat. Arctic thrushs can often be found eating roots and seeds in northern tundra, or now and then in conifers. Their striped breasts are conspicuous. These solitary birds have lost the capacity for flight. CALL: a kind of "klip-kyik coo klip-kyik". BROWN-THROATED COOT A relative of the forest coot, the brown-throated coot is larger than it, possessing a red tail and red head. They have striped necks and oversized beaks. Brown-throated coots may often be found in southern pine stands searching for freshwater fish. They are a brood parasite, leaving their eggs in nests of the golden-breasted vulture rather than raising their own young. CALL: a sort of groaning - first hoarse then high "klip-chi". - BLACK-NECKED GREBE One kind of grebe is the black-necked grebe, a bird remarkable for its yellow crest and yellow beak. Black-necked grebes can often be spotted around southern treetops or at times in southern lakes. These flocking birds collect bright trinkets found in the dirt. CALL: a "AHrik-ah AHrik-ahCOO". CRIMSON-NECKED VULTURE A bird with a golden shoulder and a white beak is the crimson-necked vulture. Its' conspicuous narrow head most often lets you identify one. You are most likely to discover crimson-necked vultures in southern conifers. There, they can sometimes be found eating rodents and wrens. They seek rising currents of wind to fly zigzaggingly on. CALL: a screeching that starts melodic and ends melodic, which sounds like "er-per-oo per er-per-oo". GOLDEN-BREASTED COOT A relative of the brown-throated coot, the golden-breasted coot is much smaller than it, with a white throat and red beak. Golden-breasted coots sometimes reside in southern beaches or undergrowth where they typically subsist on freshwater fish. With many of their kind, they make their homes in tall and loosely built nests of dead twigs and leaves. CALL: a chattering that starts melodic and ends low, which resembles "kok-er-kyik". COMMON THRUSH The common thrush is slightly smaller than the arctic thrush and is notable for its blue throat and crimson shoulder. Their colors are completely different. Common thrushs can often be found around southern lakes or at times in southern shrubbery. These solitary birds are found around the homes of the yellow-throated oriole. CALL: a abrasive squawking which might be transcribed "er-pip-tee tee". WESTERN EGRET With a red neck, the western egret is slightly larger than the red-shouldered egret. Western egrets often occupy western rivers or ponds where they most often subsist on catfish, bass, and carp. They collect bright trinkets found in the dirt. CALL: a high tweeting which resembles "oo-rik-er oo-rik-erKOK". - NORTHERN TINAMOU The northern tinamou is a tinamou with a blue head and a yellow throat. Northern tinamous sometimes inhabit northern estuaries or undergrowth where they usually subsist on seeds, worms, and berries. A bird living with a few of their kind, they mate at the correct times with great theatrics and zeal. CALL: a kind of "COOchi-klip-tee". SOUTHERN FLYCATCHER A flycatcher with a golden shoulder is the southern flycatcher. One can be distinguished by its striped crest and its' narrow shoulder. Southern flycatchers feed on seeds, worms, and berries in southern undergrowth. In flocks, they are found around the homes of the golden-breasted swift. CALL: a squawking that starts low and ends melodic, which resembles "OUkyik-rik-ou kyik". RED-BEAKED WOODPECKER The red-beaked woodpecker has a red head and a gray neck. Usually, one can be identified by its striped shoulder and its' conspicuous speckled wing. Red-beaked woodpeckers may occasionally be spotted in southern cliffsides or in bushes. Their diet consists primarily of seeds, grubs, and berries. In large congregations, they will steal sandwiches. CALL: a "ERou-chi-oo ERou-chi-ooCHI". RED-WINGED EGRET We know nothing about the red-winged egret. NORTHERN THRUSH The northern thrush is sometimes confused with the common thrush and is slightly smaller than it. The northern thrush has a crimson shoulder and blue neck. Northern thrushs may often be found in northern canopies or in swamps. Their diet consists primarily of insects and tubers. A bird living with a few of their kind, they are found around the homes of the western oriole. CALL: a "KLIPchi-chip". WHITE-HEADED COOT A relative of the golden-breasted coot, the white-headed coot is somewhat larger than it, and has a violet wing and brown crest. They can most often be identified by their oversized necks and beaks. White-headed coots may often be found in western tundra or in conifers. Their diet consists primarily of trout, salamander, and snails. A bird living individually or in small groups, they travel reasonable distances East in the winter, to raise their young. CALL: a sort of groaning - first tuneful then high "KYIKklip-rik klip". SCREECHING VULTURE The screeching vulture resembles the crimson-necked vulture but is larger than it, possessing a yellow shoulder and red wing. You are most likely to discover screeching vultures in western swamps. There, they can sometimes be spotted feeding on amphibians and fish. A bird living with many of their kind, they live on human outskirts, sometimes venturing into ranches or roofs. CALL: a hoarse "OOou-chi OOou-chiCOO". GOLDEN-BEAKED GREBE The golden-beaked grebe is sometimes confused with the black-necked grebe and is smaller than it. The golden-beaked grebe has a golden throat and golden beak. Their oversized crests are notable. Golden-beaked grebes may sometimes be seen in southern cliffsides searching for rockfish and skates. A bird living with many of their kind, they mate at the correct times with great theatrics and zeal. CALL: a type of singing - first melodic then tuneful "kyik-er-klip ah kyik-er-klip". - GOLDEN-CRESTED DUCK The golden-crested duck has a yellow beak and a brown neck. Their narrow throats are conspicuous. Golden-crested ducks feed on trout, salamander, and snails in eastern conifers. A bird living with many of their kind, they travel without rest accross continents and over oceans West in the spring, to mate. CALL: a kind of tweeting - first tuneful then hoarse "oo-coo TEEtee-kyik oo-coo TEEtee-kyikCHIP". COMMON HAWK A hawk with a red throat is the common hawk. Their tufted tails are notable. You are most likely to discover common hawks in southern lakes. There, they can often be seen consuming fish and frugs. These birds live alone. CALL: a hoarse singing which might be transcribed "kok-chi tee-chip-pip ou kok-chi tee-chip-pip". COMMON FLYCATCHER The common flycatcher is remarkable for its white wing and its white breast. Common flycatchers may often be spotted in western mountain tops or in tundra. Their diet consists primarily of roots and seeds. In pairs, they can always find their way home. CALL: a melodic "er-klip rik-coo-er". COMMON SWIFT The common swift is a swift with a gray shoulder and a crimson breast. They can usually be distinguished by their striped necks and wings. Common swifts may often be found in northern ponds searching for insects. In solitude, they can always find their way home. CALL: a whistling that starts hoarse and ends abrasive, which might be transcribed "rik-kok chip-kraa-pip kok". TROPICAL SWIFT The tropical swift has a golden crest and a white head. Tropical swifts often occupy eastern swamps or undergrowth where they typically subsist on seeds, worms, and berries. These birds seek vorticial currents of wind to fly low on, with a few of their kind. CALL: a kind of squawking - first high then tuneful "oo-coo kok-ai-kok oo-coo kok-ai-kokTEE". BLACK-CRESTED GREBE We know nothing about the black-crested grebe. WESTERN VULTURE A relative of the screeching vulture, the western vulture is slightly smaller than it, and has a crimson head and blue tail. Western vultures may often be observed in western pine stands or in cliffsides. Their diet consists primarily of other birds. They have speckled throats and speckled beaks. They travel without rest accross continents and over oceans West in the winter, to find food. CALL: a screeching that starts low and ends hoarse, which might be transcribed "kraa-oo oo-pip". BROWN-SHOULDERED COOT The brown-shouldered coot is somewhat smaller than the white-headed coot and is notable for its black throat and black neck. Brown-shouldered coots feed on freshwater fish in southern bushes. One can be distinguished by its tufted breast and its' striped crest. They fly rapidly. CALL: a squawking that starts low and ends high, which resembles "ah-chi chi-wee kraa". BROWN-TAILED THRUSH With a golden shoulder, the brown-tailed thrush is slightly smaller than the northern thrush. Both birds have a golden head. Brown-tailed thrushs can often be spotted eating seeds, berries, and snails in southern rivers, or now and then in swamps. These birds make their homes in suspended structures woven from dead twigs and leaves, in flocks. CALL: a type of "kyik-ai ai-per kyik-ai ai-perCOO". FOREST EGRET We know nothing about the forest egret. EASTERN WOODPECKER We know nothing about the eastern woodpecker. RIVER FLYCATCHER The river flycatcher is sometimes confused with the southern flycatcher and is larger than it. The river flycatcher has a brown wing and red neck. Its' conspicuous narrow breast typically lets you identify one. River flycatchers can often be observed eating insects in northern ponds, or now and then in rivers. These semi-solitary birds are found around the homes of the yellow-tailed duck. CALL: a tuneful "RIKcoo-ah-ou oo". COASTAL TINAMOU A relative of the northern tinamou, the coastal tinamou is much smaller than it, and has a white neck and brown shoulder. They can typically be identified by their narrow breasts and heads. You are most likely to discover coastal tinamous in southern bushes. There, they can often be seen eating seeds, grubs, and berries. These birds are found around the homes of the white-tailed gull, individually or in small groups. CALL: a kind of tweeting - first tuneful then hoarse "WEEkyik-chi-kraa WEEkyik-chi-kraaKA".