Exposing Speciesism
View allAll Photos Tagged SPECIES
Musk Thistle (also known as Nodding Plumeless Thistle) is a striking flower. There is only one flower per stem, which is somewhat unique among thistles, and they have no ray flowers, which is unique among composite flowers.
Unfortunately Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans, Carduus macrocephalus) is deemed an invasive alien species in Colorado.
A. cygnoides is currently classified as Vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN Red List: it meets one of the 5 red list criteria and is therefore considered to be at high risk of unnatural (human-caused) extinction
Total population was estimated as 60–90,000 individuals in 2012.
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This species is one of the most widespread terns in all North America which is quite remarkable considering their numbers were almost wiped out entirely by hunters seeking feathers in the late 19th century. The protection they needed came in the form of the Migratory Bird Treaty in 1918 and their population increased steadily until human disturbance, habitat loss and pollution in recent decades has lead to their numbers receding again.
This migrant spends its winters in Central and South America and can be listed as a long distance migrator since one banded in Great Britain was recovered in Australia.
In the spring and fall they can be found patrolling the shorelines of lakes and rivers plunge diving for food.
This bird is shaking off the excess water from a dive while if flight.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Mollusca
Class:Gastropoda
Subclass:Heterobranchia
Order:Stylommatophora
Family:Helicidae
Subfamily:Helicinae
Tribe:Allognathini
Genus:Hemicycla
Specimens found in tree near a ravine.
Updated 20250712:
Species: H. guamartemes
Barranco de Azuaje, Firgas, Gran Canaria, Islas Canarias
Black Tailed Prairie Dog
Keystone species are those whose presence and role in an ecosystem is paramount to the point that they have a disproportionate effect on other organisms within the system. Ironically, though they have a lasting effect on the ecosystem, they are the least in count.
Who knew...they all matter!
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He's even cuter in Large!
There are 4 or 5 species of orange-colored globemallow flowers that can be found in Colorado. Based on the location, the overall appearance, and the shape of the leaves, I deduce that this is Small-leaf Globemallow (Sphaeralcea parvifolia).
There was a mass of grasses, vines and other plants on a slope at Colorado's Red Rock Park, but these spikes of bright orange flowers stood above the tangled greenery--a most delightful sight.
The Siamese crocodile is a small to medium-sized freshwater crocodile native to Indonesia (Borneo and possibly Java), Brunei, East Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The species is critically endangered and already extirpated from many regions.
Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea (M)
The species is always associated with running water when breeding, although they may use man-made structures near streams for the nest. Outside the breeding season, they may also be seen around lakes, coasts and other watery habitats. Like other wagtails, they frequently wag their tail and fly low with undulations and they have a sharp call that is often given in flight.
This slim wagtail has a narrow white supercilium and a broken eye ring. The upperparts are grey and the yellow vent contrasting with whitish underparts makes it distinctive. The breeding male has a black throat that is edged by whitish moustachial stripes. They forage singly or in pairs on meadows or on shallow water marshes. They also use rocks in water and will often perch on trees. They have a clear sharp call note and the song consists of trills.
The breeding season is April to July and the nest is placed near fast running streams or rivers on an embankment between stones and roots. The male in display, makes short flights up into the air and descends slowly with fluttering flight accompanied by a rapid series of chipping high notes. In Europe the nests are often made in holes in manmade structures. The clutch consists of 3–6 speckled eggs and multiple broods may be raised with declining numbers in the clutch in subsequent broods. The usual clutch size is five in Ireland and the breeding success is about 80% with predation of eggs or chicks being the main cause of breeding failure. The Canary Islands population typically have smaller clutches and the breeding season is not as short and well marked as in populations at higher latitudes. The incubation period is about two weeks with chicks fledging within a fortnight. They live for a maximum of 8 years in the wild.
In some parts of the its range the white-throated dipper nests in the same habitats as the grey wagtail and there are some records of interspecific feeding of dipper chicks by adult wagtails.
Population:
UK breeding:
38,000 pairs
The giant green anemone is a species of intertidal sea anemone of the family Actiniidae.
Generally, it is found along the low to mid intertidal zones of the Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to southern California and sometimes downwards to Panama, where cold water swells can occur. It prefers to inhabit sandy or rocky shorelines, where water remains for most of the day. They can generally be found in tide pools up to 15 m deep. Occasionally it can also be found in deep channels of more exposed rocky shores and concrete pilings in bays and harbors.
These anemones tend to live a solitary life, but can be occasionally seen as groups with no more than 14 individuals per square meter. They can move slowly using their basal disks, but usually stay sessile.
The anemone feeds on sea urchins, small fish, and crabs, but detached mussels seem to be the main food source. There are rare instances where the giant green anemone has consumed seabirds. It is not known whether the birds were alive or dead when engulfed by the anemone. (Wikipedia)
One evening we went to the tidal pools along the coast to look for fish, anemones and sea stars. It was adventure scrambling over the huge rocks, but we were rewarded with this anemone just under the surface of the water. No evidence of it having eaten a bird recently was found :-)
Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada. May 2022.
Eagle-Eye Tours - Ultimate British Columbia.
Species: Podiceps auritus.
Summer plumage.
North-east Scotland, UK.
Arguably the most attractive of the UK's breeding grebes, with its golden ear tufts and trilling calls. It looks similar to the black-necked grebe in winter but has whiter cheeks which almost meet at the back of the neck. Due to its small breeding population it is a Red List species. Info: RSPB.
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Species: Fringilla montifringilla.
Similar in size and shape to the chaffinch, the male brambling has a black head in summer, and an orange breast with white belly. In flight it shows a long white rump. Gregarious in winter, it may form flocks of many thousands and often joins with chaffinches. Numbers can vary between winters depending on food supplies. It is a Schedule 1 species. Info:RSPB.
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We were very lucky to spot this black rhino early in the morning in this part of Masai Mara. The guides mentioned that this is not their usual territory. Apparently there is only about 54 of them in Masai Mara and it is an endangered species.
The black rhino is the rarer and smaller of Africa’s two rhino species. We distinguish it from the larger white rhino by its shape, diet and temperament. It is no more ‘black’, however, than its relative is white. Both species acquire their colour from the mud in which they wallow, so vary from brown to grey.
The main distinguishing feature is the shape of the upper lip. The Black Rhino has a pointy tipped upper lip whereas the White Rhino has a squarish upper lip.
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HBW
The Sword-billed Hummingbird is a charismatic species from Andean South America. It is found from Venezuela and Colombia in the north to Bolivia in the south. The species belongs to a monotypic genus, Ensifera, and is quite different from all other hummingbirds; metallic green and bronzed overall, with a black bill that is slightly upcurved and longer than the body length. This is the only bird species with a bill length that exceeds the body length. When seen perched, the species usually holds its bill quite upright, presumably because of balance issues stemming from this long and relatively heavy structure.
doi.org/10.2173/bow.swbhum1.01
For me one of the most amazing hummingbirds of Ecuador! Taken at the amazing Zuro Loma Reserve.
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Species: Alauda arvensis.
The skylark is a small brown bird, somewhat larger than a sparrow but smaller than a starling. It is streaky brown with a small crest, which can be raised when the bird is excited or alarmed, and a white-sided tail. The wings also have a white rear edge, visible in flight. It is renowned for its display flight, vertically up in the air. Its recent and dramatic population declines make it a Red List species. Info: RSPB.
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This rather tame, active, crested little bird is common all year in eastern forests, where its whistled peter-peter-peter song may be heard even during mid-winter thaws. It is related to the chickadees, and like them it readily comes to bird feeders, often carrying away sunflower seeds one at a time. Feeders may be helping it to expand its range: in recent decades, Tufted Titmice have been steadily pushing north.
Diet consist mostly insects and seeds. Insects make up close to two-thirds of annual diet, with caterpillars the most important prey in summer; also eats wasps, bees, sawfly larvae, beetles, true bugs, scale insects, and many others, including many insect eggs and pupae. Also eats some spiders, snails. Seeds, nuts, berries, and small fruits are important in diet especially in winter.
Tufted Titmice and chickadees are ‘nuclear' species, often joined in winter flocks by a variety of ‘satellite' species. As a ‘nuclear' species, titmice influence the paths that flocks follow, are aggressive mobbers of potential predators, and often take the lead during mobbing events. The calls that titmice utter when mobbing provide information about the presence of predators for hetero specifics as well as con-specifics
In central Florida titmice are year round residents and do not migrate. They are common at most bird feeders throughout the year.
Their range is from two to five acres during breeding season which is from March to June.
I found this one in my backyard. Lake Wales, Florida.
Epistrophe eligans. Mainly seen in Springtime between April-June. Likes sunny woodland edges and Hedgerows made up of of Blackthorn and Hawthorn. Common throughout uk though more scarce in Northern regions.
Brassica oleracea is a plant species that includes many common cultivars, such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, Savoy cabbage, kohlrabi, and gai lan.
In its uncultivated form, it is called wild cabbage, and is native to coastal southern and western Europe. A hardy plant in its uncultivated form, its high tolerance for salt and lime, and its intolerance of competition from other plants, typically restrict its natural occurrence to limestone sea cliffs, like the chalk cliffs on both sides of the English Channel, and the windswept coast on the western side of the Isle of Wight. Genetic analysis of nine wild populations on the French Atlantic coast indicated their common feral origin, deriving from domesticated plants escaped from fields and gardens.
Species: Mergus merganser.
A chance encounter with a female Goosander on the river with her 10 chicks.
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Species: Buteo buteo.
Buzzards were once almost hunted out of existence but they've made a huge comeback, with numbers soaring in the past few years.
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Taken at Clyde Peeling's Reptiland. Another Poison Dart Frog species today. This one is more teal and brown than green and black but these guys tend to be pretty variable in color.
I hope everyone enjoys this image!
Species: Buteo buteo.
Buzzards were once almost hunted out of existence but they've made a huge comeback, with numbers soaring in the past few years.
Many thanks to people who view or comment on my photos.
Species: Chloris chloris.
Its twittering, wheezing song and flash of yellow and green as it flies, make this finch a truly colourful character. Nesting in a garden conifer, or feasting on black sunflower seeds, the greenfinch is a regular garden visitor, able to take advantage of food in rural and urban gardens. Although quite sociable, they may squabble among themselves or with other birds at the bird table.
Greenfinch populations declined during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but increased dramatically during the 1990s. A recent decline in numbers has been linked to an outbreak of trichomonosis, a parasite-induced disease which prevents the birds from feeding properly.
Info: RSPB.
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This species winters not too far south of my area, and is seen here occasionally during milder winter weather. But generally I spot them in spring and fall, along their migratory routes. They are farther north, now, heading toward their Arctic and sub-Arctic breeding grounds. A month ago, however, I was seeing them on almost every outing... and once in a while I would get one in range.
Photographed near Orkney, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2023 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Species: Coenagrion puella.
The Azure damselfly is a pale blue, small damselfly that is commonly found around most waterbodies from May to September. Info: The Wildlife Trusts.
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Sedum…l ist eine Pflanzengattung aus der Familie der Dickblattgewächse (Crassulaceae)
Mit etwa 420 Arten ist sie die umfangreichste Gattung dieser Familie.
Deutsche Trivialnamen sind Mauerpfeffer und Fetthennen.
Sedum ... l is a genus of flowering plants of the family (Crassulaceae)
With about 420 species, it is the largest genus of this family.
• Black bumblebee
• Mangangá negro / abejorro del páramo
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Hymenoptera
Family:Apidae
Genus:Bombus
Possibly Bombus pauloensis Friese, 1913 (= B. atratus)
Taxonomic revision: bit.ly/2lE4Asq
Santa Regina, Colonia, Uruguay
Species: Regulus regulus.
A king among birds, the goldcrest displays a beautiful golden crown. Our smallest bird, it can be spotted in conifer woodlands and parks across the UK. Info: Wildlife Trust,
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Species: Carduelis cardduelis.
The goldfinch is a highly coloured finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. Sociable, often breeding in loose colonies, they have a delightful liquid twittering song and call. Their long fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly they are visiting bird tables and feeders. In winter many UK goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain. Info: RSPB.
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Female.
Species: Oenanthe oenanthe.
These migratory birds are seasoned travellers, embarking on an epic journey from Africa to the UK each spring. They favour upland habitats and nest in cavities between rocks. Info: Woodland Trust.
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There are many Dragonflies in our area but few large species. This new one makes the 5th of the larger kind that i've seen.
Species: Regulus regulus.
The Goldcrest is the smallest bird in the UK, just 9cm in length, and weighs approximately 5.5g, which is the equivalent of a twenty pence coin. If not for the fiery orange stripe along its head, the Goldcrest would be a somewhat mute-looking bird, with nothing more than a dull greyish-green plumage with which to advertise its appearance.
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Female.
Species: Oenanthe oenanthe.
A Robin-sized chat, the wheatear is a summer visitor to the UK, arriving here in early March and leaving in September for its African wintering grounds. It frequents open, rocky country, pasture, moorland and heath. Mainly a ground-dwelling bird, it can be seen running or hopping along. It breeds mainly in western and northern UK. Info: The Wildlife Trusts.
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A teneral Damselfly I found today at Wollaton Park, not sure on species, thinking Ischnura elegans. This one was a great subject, almost looks like it was posing for a portrait.
This was a 13 image focus stack, I used my Canon 1000D and shot using JPEGS, ISO 200, aperture F/5.6 and a 1/160 shutter speed. I used a diffused flash in ETTL mode.
Zooooommmmm
Species: Turdus iliacus.
The redwing is a winter visitor, enjoying the feast of seasonal berries the UK's hedgerows, gardens and parks have to offer. Info:The Wildlife Trust.
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Species: Carduelis carduelis.
The striking red crown, golden back, and bright yellow wings of the goldfinch make it one of our prettiest garden birds. It happily visits birdtables and feeders across the UK. Info: The Wildlife Trusts
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Male.
Species: Lagopus lagopus.
The Red Grouse is an umistakeable bird - plump and round, with a gingery-red body as its name suggests. Found on upland heathlands, it is under threat from the nationwide, dramatic loss of these habitats.
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Taken in our garden at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex this Spring.
Crocus (plural: crocuses or croci) is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family comprising 90 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring. Crocuses are native to woodland, scrub, and meadows from sea level to alpine tundra in central and southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, on the islands of the Aegean, and across Central Asia to western China.
The name of the genus is derived from the Greek κρόκος (krokos). This, in turn, is probably a loan word from a Semitic language, related to Hebrew כרכום karkōm, Aramaic ܟܟܘܪܟܟܡܡܐ kurkama, and Arabic كركم kurkum, which mean "saffron" ( Crocus sativus), "saffron yellow" or turmeric (see Curcuma). The English name is a learned 16th-century adoption from the Latin, but Old English already had croh "saffron". The Classical Sanskrit कुङ्कुमं kunkumam "saffron" (Sushruta Samhita) is presumably also from the Semitic word.
Cultivation and harvesting of Crocus sativus for saffron was first documented in the Mediterranean, notably on the island of Crete. Frescos showing them are found at the Knossos site on Crete, as well as from the comparably aged Akrotiri site on Santorini.
The first crocus seen in the Netherlands, where crocus species are not native, were from corms brought back in the 1560s from Constantinople by the Holy Roman Emperor's ambassador to the Sublime Porte, Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq. A few corms were forwarded to Carolus Clusius at the botanical garden in Leiden. By 1620, the approximate date of Ambrosius Bosschaert's painting (illustration, below), new garden varieties had been developed, such as the cream-colored crocus feathered with bronze at the base of the bouquet, similar to varieties still on the market. Bosschaert, working from a preparatory drawing to paint his composed piece spanning the whole of spring, exaggerated the crocus so that it passes for a tulip, but its narrow, grass-like leaves give it away.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocus
Male,
Species: Carduelis chloris.
Its twittering, wheezing song and flash of yellow and green as it flies, make this finch a truly colourful character. Nesting in a garden conifer, or feasting on black sunflower seeds, the greenfinch is a regular garden visitor, able to take advantage of food in rural and urban gardens. Although quite sociable, they may squabble among themselves or with other birds at the bird table. Info: RSPB.
Many thanks to people who view or comment on my photos.
Species: Pyronia tithonus.
As its English names suggest, the Gatekeeper (also known as the Hedge Brown) is often encountered where clumps of flowers grow in gateways and along hedgerows and field edges. It is often seen together with the Meadow Brown and Ringlet, from which it is easily distinguished when basking or nectaring with open wings. Info: Butterfly Conservation.
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Species: Alauda arvensis.
As it performs its conspicuous flight above open fields and downs, giving voice loudly and constantly, it is a difficult bird to ignore. It is very much identified with the countryside rather than with towns, it breeds more widely than any other bird in Britain, so it is seen in all parts of the country that suit it - farmland, grassland, meadows, sand-dunes and commons. Info: Reader's Digest.
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This species has an interesting life history because of its association with Lasius ants. The larvae live inside the ants' nests and, according to various sources, they feed either on the larvae of ants or root aphids farmed by the ants. The males have a cute courtship flight, during which they look like they are bouncing up and down in the air.
Tufted Antshrike - Trilha dos Tucanos Lodge, Tapirai, São Paulo, Brazil
Bird Species # (606) that I photographed and placed on my Flickr Photostream. Overall goal is 1000.
eBird Report and listing details - macaulaylibrary.org/asset/625283413
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Stilpnia heinei
(Black-capped Tanager / Tangara capirotada)
Juvenile males show a kaleidoscope of colours: Yellow-green as the females and blue tones as adult males.
Black-capped Tanagers are vividly-colored tropical birds that occur in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. They often occur in pairs foraging in bushes and trees for insects and fruit.
It is one of the few species in the genus that shows obvious sexual dichromatism, with males primarily gray-blue in color with a distinctive black cap, and females yellow-green without a black cap.
neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/identificati...