Of the estimated 9,000 species of birds in the world, over 400 can be seen in Missouri at one time of the year or other, and approximately 150 regularly nest there.  The paragraphs below describe birds that are permanent residents of Missouri and that are commonly seen in the North Fork Basin.

Eastern Meadowlark [Sturnella magna]:  Length, 8.5 inches.   Sharply-pointed bill, buff and black head stripes, yellow underparts with black "v" on breast, white flanks with black streaks, brown upperparts with black streaks, brown tail with white outer tail feathers.   Juvenile and winter plumages somewhat duller.   Frequents open habitats.

Northern Cardinal [Cardinalis cardinalis]:  Length, 7.75 inches.   Large, conical bill, crest, long tail.  Adult male, bright red plumage, dullest on back and wings, black around base of bill, red bill.  Adult female, reddish crest, wings and tail, brownish-gray upperparts, buffy underparts, red bill.   Juveniles like adult females but dark bill and crest.

Red-tailed Hawk [Buteo jamaicensis]:  Length, 18 inches, wingspan, 48 inches, sexes similar.  Short, dark, hooked beak.  Large, broad-winged, broad-tailed hawk.  Immatures have notably narrower wings and tail, and appear slimmer, dark patagial mark on underwing, present on all ages and races, is unique.  Blocky translucent area in outer primaries, flies with a dihedral extraordinary geographic variation, light morph.  Adult, brown head, nape, back, and upperwings, white chin, throat, breast, and belly, dark belly band formed by vertical streaks in band across belly.  White underwings have dark carpal bar on leading edge, dark outer primary tips and a dark trailing edge and are otherwise pale with dark bars on the flight feathers on all but the outermost primaries.  Tail appears brick red above and pink below.   Breast and back pattern vary with geography, with some birds being intermediate between light and dark.

Red-winged Blackbird [Agelaius phoeniceus]:  Length, 7.25 inches.   Sharply-pointed bill.  Frequents marshy habitats in summer, open habitats at other times of year.  Often flocks with other species of blackbirds.  Adult male, bright red patch on wings bordered by yellow (border missing in some races), black plumage, immature male similar to adult male but has pale supercilium and brown edges to black feathers.   Adult female, pale supercilium, heavily streaked underparts, upperparts brown and white.  Sometimes has yellow tinge to face and throat.  Females very dark in some races.  Juveniles similar to adult females.

Wild Turkey [Meleagris gallopavo]:  Wild turkeys are the largest of the North American game birds with an adult male weighing 17 to 30 pounds. An adult hen will weigh from 8 to 12 pounds.  Gobblers (or toms) can be identified by a reddish-blue head and neck, a long hair like appendage known as a beard, a sharp bony spur on the lower part of each leg, and black tipped breast feathers. Hens tend to be slimmer in appearance; have a less colorful head; have breast feathers with light-colored tips; and lack spurs. A few hens have beards, but other characteristics help to distinguish male from female.

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Missouri Department
of Natural Resources

Missouri Watershed Information Network (MoWIN)
Send comments to: mowin1@missouri.edu
205 Agricultural Engineering
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (573) 882-0085
Toll Free: (MO only): 1-877-H20-shed (426-7433)
Fax: (573) 884-5650

Page last updated August 26, 2008