Birds of Mores Mountain
Mores Mountain is home to a great variety of wildlife. The habitat on the mountain ranges from high desert sage steppe to areas of lush, wooded forest. Old-growth forest is surrounded by meandering, feathered forest edges that support species that thrive in all stages of forest succession. Out of the many bird species that live there, the following is a small sample of iconic and interesting birds you can keep an eye (and an ear) out for.
Raptors
Raptors, also referred to as birds of prey, are carnivorous birds that eat mammals, carrion, and even other birds! Sleek builds and keen eyes define these species, which range from small falcons like the American Kestrel to the giant California Condor. Forested areas like Mores Mountain are favored homes for Falcons (genus Falco) and a genus of Hawk called Accipiters, which primarily prey on birds. You may also spot a Red-tailed Hawk, a Buteo that likes to eat mammals like rabbits.
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
The American Kestrel is a small Falcon (sometimes the size of a Robin) with bright, beautiful coloration. It has long, pointed wings and a long, square-tipped tail, and a bold, black stripe running vertically below its eyes. It is common in many parts of America, and usually migrates south in the winter. Its favorite foods are dragonflies, grasshoppers, mice, voles, and small birds. When they're not perched on a post or branch, they love to hover; watching closely for prey.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Red-tailed Hawks are the most common hawk in Idaho. They are very large, with broad wings and a broad tail - perfect for their soaring flight patterns. They have a distinct red or rust-colored tail, but their overall coloring is quite variable. They can also be identified by four notched primary feathers that separate at the wing tips. These hawks favor rabbits, ground squirrels, and mice, but are opportunistic and will take snakes, birds, and insects when available. Their cries in flight are often dubbed over Bald Eagles, which actually have more of a chirping call. Few sounds are more majestic and iconic than the Red-tail's cries in flight.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
Sharp-shinned Hawks have short, rounded wings and a squared tail. They are compact but powerful fliers that are built perfectly for navigating the forests in pursuit of smaller birds - their favorite food source. They are common throughout Idaho and sometimes even spend the winter here! You can sometimes find them hunting in urban areas, hunting songbirds at bird feeders.
Songbirds
Songbirds are some of the most beautiful residents of the Mores Mountain forest. Not only do they have vibrant coloration, they also produce exquisite melodies that are the soundtrack to an enjoyable nature hike. They are omnivores - meaning they eat a varied diet - but their favorite foods are insects! Songbirds help keep mosquitos, flies, and other annoying bugs in check. They are members of the Order Passeriformes, which is one of the largest orders of vertebrates on Earth.
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
The Mountain Bluebird is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada. These gorgeous birds are of average size for a Passerine, and eat insects, spiders, and small fruits when they can find them. The males are bright blue with lighter underbellies, the females have teal blue wings with light reddish-brown colored bodies. They migrate south for the winter, where they forage in flocks primarily for grasshoppers. They like to hover near the ground and pounce on prey, or hunt from low perches.
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
Western Tanagers are members of the cardinal family. Adults have stout, pointed bills, males have bright orange heads and yellow nape, shoulders, underbellies, and rump. Their upper wings and tail are black. They winter in a wide area from Mexico to Costa Rica, but are the northern-most breeding tanager in the Spring. They typically forage in forest canopies, so if you think you hear one, look up!
Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
Mountain Chickadees are small Passerines in the family Paridae. They have black caps that meet with a black postocular stripe behind their white eyebrows. They also have a black bib, but are otherwise grey in color. They are not thought to be migratory, but may make small, local "migrations" up into the mountains during the summer and into the valleys in the winter. Their primary diet is insects during the summer, spring, and fall, and seeds in the winter. They are monogamous, which is very rare in the animal kingdom!
Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers belong to the Family Picidae, and are a very important group of birds in the forest. As you would guess from their name, they use their beaks to peck and drill into trees to find food or to build a nesting cavity to raise their chicks in. These cavities left in the trees become homes for many different animals, including other birds, and even flying squirrels!
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
Hairy Woodpeckers are medium sized woodpeckers, common in the Pacific Northwest. They have black and white striped heads with a little red flash at the back, white bodies, and black wings with thin white bars. They spend their time hunting for insects in trees, but also eat fruits, berries, and even tree sap! One of their favorite foods is the European Corn Borer, a moth that is devastating to human crops. The audio I've included below isn't their vocal call, but is a clip of them drilling into wood. Listen for the short bursts of pecking as you explore the forest.
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
This woodpecker breaks the common misconception (probably borne from Woody the Woodpecker cartoons) that all woodpeckers have red heads. It is a somewhat large woodpecker with a body closely resembling a Dove in shape and color. They have black spots all over, and red, yellow, and black highlights on the nape of their neck, chin, and above the eye. These highlights vary by region, the Western (Red-Shafted) have red malars (mustaches), and red flashes under the wings and tail. The Eastern (Yellow-Shafted) morph has red on the back of the neck and yellow flashing under the wings and tail. These beautiful woodpeckers will search out food in trees and in the ground, and can make great tree cavities for raising a family.
Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)
Lewis's Woodpecker is one of the largest woodpeckers in North America. They have red faces with a black head, a white chest that fades into a red body, and black wings. They are named after Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Unlike most other woodpeckers, Lewis's likes to spend more time sitting out in the open, rather than in heavy tree covoer. They are also unique in that they like to feed gregariously (in a group), and will hunt and catch insects in flight, as well as digging them out of trees; a hunting technique called hawking.