Woodpecker

Characteristics:

• 6 - 8 inches
• Very in color
• sharp beak

History:

• 22 species that breed in North America
• Male drums to mark territory which is 150 - 200 acres
• Also during courtship they can drum on metal surfaces
• Search for carpenter ants and carpenter bees
• Damage can occur on wood structures, telephone poles, signs,
• Parts of a structure that can be damaged are siding, eaves, and shutters

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House Sparrow

Characteristics:

• 6 inches long
• Males have black patch under beak, on cheeks, and on the rump
• Females and young are dull brown with dirty white breast and brow
• Type of finch

History:

• 5- 6 eggs
• Require
• One of two species in North America
• Usually nest in man-made structures
• They live in urban areas in winter and rural areas in spring
• They nest in bathroom, kitchen, and dryer vents

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Euopean Starling

Characteristics:

• 7.5 - 8.5 inches long
• Color varies with season
• • In summer, purpish black with bright yellow bill
  • In winter, Tips of feathers are marked with white and gold with a darker bill
• Stocky body
• Very short tail
• They produce harsh rasping, squawking, and squeaking calls

History:

• Come to the US  in late 1800's
• Average 2 broods per year
• Can produce as many as 16 young per year
• Can nest in dryer vents, kitchens, bathrooms, and over ovens

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Canadian Geese

Characteristics:

• 22 - 45 inches long
• Brownish gray with black head, neck and tail
• White triangular patch on its underbelly

History:

• 1 of 40 species of swans, geese, and ducks in the US
• Can foul areas with large and numerous droppings
• Can eat and wear grass to the ground
• Can become aggressive to humans
• Becoming a threat with aircraft

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Gulls

Characteristics:

• 15 - 26 inches long depending on species
• Herring gull: 23- 26 inches
• Ring-billed gull: 18- 20 inches
• Laughing gull: 15- 17 inches
• Greater black-backed gull
• Colors among gulls vary from species and also the season

History:

• Nest in colonies on the ground
• Feed on a wide variety of materials
• Ring billed gull usually found around fast food restaurants
• Herring gull is usually found by landfills
• They usually roost by the thousands during breeding season and winter
• Several species can roost togeather
• They can foul areas with smelly droppings
• They are noisy and can become aggressive when begging for food
• They are responsible for striking aircraft
• Peck holes in flat roofs

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Pigeons

Characteristics:

• 13 inches long
• Varies in color from white - black
• Dark grey head

History:

• Introduced to North America in early 1600's
• 11 species in North America
• 2 - 5 broods per year with 1 -2 eggs laid each brood
• As many as 10 young per year
• Feed on seed, grain and fruit near viable sources
• They also feed on handouts, garbage, vegetables, and insect

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