Color is Life: Pencil thin, delicate; green and brown scales conceal these snakes in the bushes along the banks of tidal rivers in brackish mangrove swamps.

TAXONOMY

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae (Colubrids)

Genus/species: Ahaetulla fronticincta

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Pencil thin, delicate; green and brown scales. Bulbous wide-set raised eyes. Length to 60 cm (23.5 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT Myanmar (formerly Burma) Mostly arboreal. They are abundant on bushes along the banks of tidal rivers in brackish mangrove swamps. Diurnal hunter of small fish: gobies, and rice fish. Prey immobilized with mild venom.

DIET IN THE WILD Diurnal hunter of small fish: gobies, and rice fish. Prey immobilized with mild venom

from enlarged rear fangs. Visually-oriented hunter.

REPRODUCTION Fertilization internal. Viviparous. Newborn snakes are a subtle shade of brown. Polymorphic: some adults turn green, brown, or more rarely two-toned.

The Steinhart Aquarium was the first to display this species. Academy field research on this little-known species continues. An arboreally-adapted species that consumes fishes is an oddity. In the Steinhart, feed on guppies and goldfish. Steinhart’s vine shakes have bred and reproduced in captivity, a first for this species.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least Concern (LC)

References

California Academy of Sciences Water is Life Exhibit

California Academy of Sciences video.calacademy.org/details/285

IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/192058/0

Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/1057253/details

flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608449603666/

Wordpress Shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-OM

Water Planet, Feeding Cluster

3-1-13, 09-09-15

Hojas nuevas rojizas, lustrosas y con pubescencia dispersa estrellada.

Arbustos caducifolios y rizomatosos de hasta 1,5 m de alto. Corteza gris clara, con escamas papiráceas. Yemas pardo rojizas oscuras, subglobosas, de unos 2 mm. Hojasverdes, a menudo tornándose parduscas con la edad, polimorfas, oblongas, elíptica y a veces lanceoladas, ovadas u oblanceoladas, de 3-10 cm de largo x 1-5 cm de ancho, bastante gruesas y duras, base de redondeada a cuneada, margen plano o revoluto, con 2-3 dientes redondeados a cada lado, ápice anchamente redondeado, haz lustroso y dispersamente pubescente o glabrescente, envés densamente pubescente, peciolo de unos 7 mm. Bellotas solitarias o en parejas, subsésiles o con pedúnculo de 10-18 mm, con cúpula de 10-12 mm de alto x 15-25 mm de ancho, nuez ovoide, marrón, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Especie nativa de Texas, Nuevo México y Oklahoma, en Estados Unidos. En Iturraran se encuentra en la zona 1.

Zuhaixka hosto erorkorrak eta errizomadunak, 1,5 m garai gehienez. Azala gris argia, ezkata papirazeoekin. Begiak arre gorrixka ilunak, ia esferikoak, 2 mm ingurukoak. Hostoak berdeak, adinarekin askotan arrexka bihurtzen dira, polimorfoak, luzangak, eliptikoak eta, batzuetan, lantzeolatuak, obatuak eta oblantzeolatuak, 3-10 cm luze x 1-5 cm zabal, aski lodiak eta gogorrak, oinaldea biribila, falka itxurakoa edo tartekoa, ertza laua edo kanpora kiribildua, 2-3 hortz biribilekin alde bakoitzean, punta biribil zabala, gainaldea distiratsua eta han-hemen ilaunduna edo ia glabroa, azpialdea ile-janzki trinkoduna, 7 mm inguruko pezioloa. Ezkurrak banaka edo binaka agertzen dira, ia eseriak edo 10-18 mm-ko pedunkuluarekin, kupula 10-12 mm garai x 15-25 mm zabal da, hurra arrautza formakoa da, marroia, 12-25 x 14-18 mm-koa. Espeziearen jatorria: Amerikako Estatu Batuetako Texas, Mexiko Berria eta Oklahoma. Iturraranen 1. gunean dago.

Arbustes à feuillage caduc et à rhizomes de jusqu’à 1,5 m de hauteur. Écorce gris clair, avec écailles papyracées. Bourgeons brun rougeâtre foncés, sous-globuleux, de quelques 2 mm. Feuilles vertes, souvent brunâtres avec l’âge, polymorphes, oblongues, elliptique et parfois lancéolées, ovales ou oblancéolées, de 3-10 cm de longueur x 1-5 cm de largeur, assez épaisses et dures, base d’arrondie à cunée, bord plat ou retourné, avec 2-3 dents arrondies de chaque côté, sommet largement arrondi, adaxial lustré et rarement pubescent ou glabrescent, abaxial densément pubescent, pétiole de quelques 7 mm. Glands solitaires ou en couples, sous-sessiles ou avec pédoncule de 10-18 mm, avec coupole de 10-12 mm de hauteur x 15-25 mm de largeur, noix ovoïde, marron, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Espèce originaire du Texas, du Nouveau Mexique et de l’Oklahoma, aux États-Unis. À Iturraran elle se trouve dans la zone 1.

Rhizome and deciduous bushes up to 1.5 m tall. Light grey bark, with papyraceous scales. Dark reddish brown buds, subglobose, around 2 mm. Green leaves, often turning brown with age, polymorphic, oblong, elliptic and sometimes lanceolate, ovate or oblanceolate, 3-10 cm long x 1-5 cm wide, rather thick and hard, round to cuneate base, rolled or flat edge, with 2-3 rounded teeth on each side, broadly rounded tip, shiny upper face and pubescent or glabrescent in place, underneath densely pubescent, petiole of around 7 mm. Single acorns or in pairs, subsessiles or with 10-18 mm peduncle, with 10-12 mm high x 15-25 mm wide cupule, ovoid nut, brown, 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Species native to Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma in the United States. Located in zone 1 in Iturraran.

s100computers.com/Hardware%20Folder/PolyMorphic/Video%20B...

The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a bird of prey that breeds throughout most of North America, from the interior of Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies. It is one of the most common members within the genus of Buteo in North America or worldwide. The red-tailed hawk is one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk", though it rarely preys on standard-sized chickens. The bird is sometimes also referred to as the red-tail for short, when the meaning is clear in context. Red-tailed hawks can acclimate to all the biomes within their range, occurring on the edges of non-ideal habitats such as dense forests and sandy deserts. The red-tailed hawk occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands (from small meadows to the treed fringes of more extensive prairies), coniferous and deciduous forests, agricultural fields, and urban areas. Its latitudinal limits fall around the tree line in the subarctic and it is absent from the high Arctic. Generally it favors varied habitats with open woodland, woodland edge and open terrain. It is legally protected in Canada, Mexico, and the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The 14 recognized subspecies vary in appearance and range, varying most often in color, and in the west of North America, red-tails are particularly often strongly polymorphic, with individuals ranging from almost white to nearly all black. The subspecies Harlan's hawk (B. j. harlani) is sometimes considered a separate species (B. harlani). The red-tailed hawk is one of the largest members of the genus Buteo, typically weighing from 690 to 1,600 g (1.5 to 3.5 lb) and measuring 45–65 cm (18–26 in) in length, with a wingspan from 110–141 cm (3 ft 7 in – 4 ft 8 in). This species displays sexual dimorphism in size, with females averaging about 25% heavier than males.

The diet of red-tailed hawks is highly variable and reflects their status as opportunistic generalists, but in North America, they are most often predators of small mammals such as rodents of an immense diversity of families and species. Prey that is terrestrial and at least partially diurnal is preferred, so types such as ground squirrels are preferred where they naturally occur. Over much of the range, smallish rodents such as voles alternated with larger rabbits and hares often collectively form the bulk of the diet. Large numbers of birds and reptiles can occur in the diet in several areas, and can even be the primary foods. Meanwhile, amphibians, fish and invertebrates can seem rare in the hawk's regular diet, but they are not infrequently taken by immature hawks. Red-tailed hawks may survive on islands absent of native mammals on diets variously including invertebrates such as crabs, as well as lizards or birds. Like many Buteo species, they hunt from a perch most often, but can vary their hunting techniques where prey and habitat demand it. Because they are so common and easily trained as capable hunters, in the United States they are the most commonly captured hawks for falconry. Falconers are permitted to take only passage hawks (which have left the nest, are on their own, but are less than a year old) so as to not affect the breeding population. Passage red-tailed hawks are also preferred by falconers because they have not yet developed the adult behaviors that would make them more difficult to train.

Taxonomy

The red-tailed hawk was formally described in 1788 by German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin under the binomial name Falco jamaicensis. Gmelin based his description on the "cream-coloured buzzard" described in 1781 by John Latham in his A General Synopsis of Birds. The type locality is Jamaica. The red-tailed hawk is now placed in the genus Buteo that was erected by French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799.

The red-tailed hawk is a member of the subfamily Buteoninae, which includes about 55 currently recognized species. Unlike many lineages of accipitrids, which seemed to have radiated out of Africa or south Asia, the Buteoninae clearly originated in the Americas based on fossil records and current species distributions (more than 75% of the extant hawks from this lineage are found in the Americas). As a subfamily, the Buteoninae seem to be rather old based on genetic materials, with monophyletic genera bearing several million years of individual evolution. Diverse in plumage appearance, habitat, prey, and nesting preferences, buteonine hawks are nonetheless typically medium- to large-sized hawks with ample wings (while some fossil forms are very large, larger than any eagle alive today). The red-tailed hawk is a member of the genus Buteo, a group of medium-sized raptors with robust bodies and broad wings. Members of this genus are known as "buzzards" in Eurasia, but "hawks" in North America. Under current classification, the genus includes about 29 species, the second-most diverse of all extant accipitrid genera behind only Accipiter. The buzzards of Eurasia and Africa are mostly part of the genus Buteo, although two other small genera within the subfamily Buteoninae occur in Africa.

At one time, the rufous-tailed hawk (B. ventralis), distributed in Patagonia and some other areas of southern South America, was considered part of the red-tailed hawk species. With a massive distributional gap consisting of most of South America, the rufous-tailed hawk is considered a separate species now, but the two hawks still compromise a "species pair" or superspecies, as they are clearly closely related. The rufous-tailed hawk, while comparatively little studied, is very similar to the red-tailed hawk, being about the same size and possessing the same wing structure, and having more or less parallel nesting and hunting habits. Physically, however, rufous-tailed hawk adults do not attain a bright brick-red tail as do red-tailed hawks, instead retaining a dark brownish-cinnamon tail with many blackish crossbars similar to juvenile red-tailed hawks. Another, more well-known, close relative to the red-tailed hawk is the common buzzard (B. buteo), which has been considered as its Eurasian "broad ecological counterpart" and may also be within a species complex with red-tailed hawks. The common buzzard, in turn, is also part of a species complex with other Old World buzzards, namely the mountain buzzard (B. oreophilus), the forest buzzard (B. trizonatus ), and the Madagascar buzzard (B. brachypterus). All six species, although varying notably in size and plumage characteristics, in the alleged species complex that contains the red-tailed hawk share with it the feature of the blackish patagium marking, which is missing in most other Buteo spp.

Subspecies

At least 14 recognized subspecies of B. jamaicensis are described, which vary in range and in coloration. Not all authors accept every subspecies, though, particularly some of the insular races of the tropics (which differ only slightly in some cases from the nearest mainland forms) and particularly Krider's hawk, by far the most controversial red-tailed hawk race, as few authors agree on its suitability as a full-fledged subspecies.

ImageSubspeciesDistribution

Jamaican red-tailed hawk (B. j. jamaicensis)occurs throughout the West Indies (including Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles) except for the Bahamas and Cuba.

Alaska red-tailed hawk (B. j. alascensis)breeds (probably resident) from southeastern coastal Alaska to Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

Eastern red-tailed hawk (B. j. borealis)breeds from southeast Canada and Maine south through Texas and east to northern Florida.

Western red-tailed hawk (B. j. calurus)greatest longitudinal breeding distribution of any race of red-tailed hawk.

Central American red-tailed hawk (B. j. costaricensis)from Nicaragua to Panama.

Southwestern red-tailed hawk (B. j. fuertesi)breeds from northern Chihuahua to South Texas.

Tres Marias red-tailed hawk (B. j. fumosus)endemic to Islas Marías, Mexico.

Mexican Highlands red-tailed hawk (B. j. hadropus)native to the Mexican Highlands.

Harlan's hawk (B. j. harlani)breeds from central Alaska to northwestern Canada, with the largest number of birds breeding in the Yukon or western Alaska, reaching their southern limit in north-central British Columbia.

Red-tailed hawk (kemsiesi) (B. j. kemsiesi)a dark subspecies resident from Chiapas, Mexico, to Nicaragua.

Krider's hawk (B. j. kriderii)breeds from southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, and extreme western Ontario south to south-central Montana, Wyoming, western Nebraska, and western Minnesota.

Socorro red-tailed hawk (B. j. socorroensis)endemic to Socorro Island, Mexico.

Cuban red-tailed hawk (B. j. solitudinis)native to the Bahamas and Cuba.

Florida red-tailed hawk (B. j. umbrinus)occurs year-round in peninsular Florida north to as far Tampa Bay and the Kissimmee Prairie south throughout the rest of peninsular Florida south to the Florida Keys.

Description

Red-tailed hawk plumage can be variable, depending on the subspecies and the region. These color variations are morphs, and are not related to molting. The western North American population, B. j. calurus, is the most variable subspecies and has three main color morphs: light, dark, and intermediate or rufous. The dark and intermediate morphs constitute 10–20% of the population in the Western United States, but seem to constitute only 1–2% of B. j. calurus in western Canada. A whitish underbelly with a dark brown band across the belly, formed by horizontal streaks in feather patterning, is present in most color variations. This feature is variable in eastern hawks and generally absent in some light subspecies (i.e. B. j. fuertesi). Most adult red-tails have a dark-brown nape and upper head, which gives them a somewhat hooded appearance, while the throat can variably present a lighter brown "necklace". Especially in younger birds, the underside may be otherwise covered with dark-brown spotting, and some adults may too manifest this stippling. The back is usually a slightly darker brown than elsewhere with paler scapular feathers, ranging from tawny to white, forming a variable imperfect "V" on the back. The tail of most adults, which gives this species its name, is rufous brick-red above with a variably sized, black subterminal band and generally appears light buff-orange from below. In comparison, the typical pale immatures (i.e. less than two years old) typically have a mildly paler headed and tend to show a darker back than adults with more apparent pale wing-feather edges above (for descriptions of dark morph juveniles from B. j. calurus, which is also generally apt for description of rare dark morphs of other races, see under that subspecies description). In immature red-tailed hawks of all morphs, the tail is a light brown above with numerous small dark brown bars of roughly equal width, but these tend to be much broader on dark morph birds. Even in young red-tails, the tail may be a somewhat rufous tinge of brown. The bill is relatively short and dark, in the hooked shape characteristic of raptors, and the head can sometimes appear small in size against the thick body frame. The cere, the legs, and the feet of the red-tailed hawk are all yellow, as is the color of bare parts in many accipitrids of different lineages. Immature birds can be readily identified at close range by their yellowish irises. As the bird attains full maturity over the course of 3–4 years, the iris slowly darkens into a reddish-brown, which is the adult eye-color in all races. Seen in flight, adults usually have dark brown along the lower edge of the wings, against a mostly pale wing, which bares light brownish barring. Individually, the underwing coverts can range from all dark to off-whitish (most often more heavily streaked with brown) which contrasts with a distinctive black patagium marking. The wing coloring of adults and immatures is similar but for typical pale morph immatures having somewhat heavier brownish markings.

Though the markings and color vary across the subspecies, the basic appearance of the red-tailed hawk is relatively consistent.

Overall, this species is blocky and broad in shape, often appearing (and being) heavier than other Buteos of similar length. They are the heaviest Buteos on average in eastern North America, albeit scarcely ahead of the larger winged rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus), and second only in size in the west to the ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis). Red-tailed hawks may be anywhere from the fifth to the ninth heaviest Buteo in the world depending on what figures are used. However, in the northwestern United States, ferruginous hawk females are 35% heavier than female red-tails from the same area.[2] On average, western red-tailed hawks are relatively longer winged and lankier proportioned but are slightly less stocky, compact and heavy than eastern red-tailed hawks in North America. Eastern hawks may also have mildly larger talons and bills than western ones. Based on comparisons of morphology and function amongst all accipitrids, these features imply that western red-tails may need to vary their hunting more frequently to on the wing as the habitat diversifies to more open situations and presumably would hunt more variable and faster prey, whereas the birds of the east, which was historically well-wooded, are more dedicated perch hunters and can take somewhat larger prey but are likely more dedicated mammal hunters. In terms of size variation, red-tailed hawks run almost contrary to Bergmann's rule (i.e. that northern animals should be larger in relation than those closer to the Equator within a species) as one of the northernmost subspecies, B. j. alascensis, is the second smallest race based on linear dimensions and that two of the most southerly occurring races in the United States, B. j. fuertesi and B. j. umbrinus, respectively, are the largest proportioned of all red-tailed hawks. Red-tailed hawks tend have a relatively short but broad tails and thick, chunky wings. Although often described as long-winged, the proportional size of the wings is quite small and red-tails have high wing loading for a buteonine hawk. For comparison, two other widespread Buteo hawks in North America were found to weigh: 30 g (1.1 oz) for every square centimeter of wing area in the rough-legged buzzard (B. lagopus) and 44 g (1.6 oz)/cm2 in the red-shouldered hawk (B. lineatus). In contrast, the red-tailed hawk weighed considerably more for their wing area: 199 g (7.0 oz) per square cm.

As is the case with many raptors, the red-tailed hawk displays sexual dimorphism in size, as females are on average 25% larger than males. As is typical in large raptors, frequently reported mean body mass for red-tailed hawks is somewhat higher than expansive research reveals. Part of this weight variation is seasonal fluctuations; hawks tend to be heavier in winter than during migration or especially during the trying summer breeding season, and also due to clinal variation. Furthermore, immature hawks are usually lighter in mass than their adult counterparts despite having somewhat longer wings and tails. Male red-tailed hawks may weigh from 690 to 1,300 g (1.52 to 2.87 lb) and females may weigh 801 to 1,723 g (1.766 to 3.799 lb) (the lowest figure from a migrating female immature from Goshute Mountains, Nevada, the highest from a wintering female in Wisconsin). Some sources claim the largest females can weigh up to 2,000 g (4.4 lb), but whether this is in reference to wild hawks (as opposed to those in captivity or used for falconry) is not clear. The largest known survey of body mass in red-tailed hawks is still credited to Craighead and Craighead (1956), who found 100 males to average 1,028 g (2.266 lb) and 108 females to average 1,244 g (2.743 lb). However, these figures were apparently taken from labels on museum specimens, from natural history collections in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, without note to the region, age, or subspecies of the specimens. However, 16 sources ranging in sample size from the aforementioned 208 specimens to only four hawks in Puerto Rico (with 9 of the 16 studies of migrating red-tails), showed that males weigh a mean of 860.2 g (1.896 lb) and females weigh a mean of 1,036.2 g (2.284 lb), about 15% lighter than prior species-wide published weights. Within the continental United States, typical weights of males can range from 840.8 g (1.854 lb) (for migrating males in Chelan County, Washington) to 1,031 g (2.273 lb) (for male hawks found dead in Massachusetts), and females ranged from 1,057.9 g (2.332 lb) (migrants in the Goshutes) to 1,373 g (3.027 lb) (for females diagnosed as B. j. borealis in western Kansas). Size variation in body mass reveals that the red-tailed hawk typically varies only a modest amount and that size differences are geographically inconsistent.[9][40]

Male red-tailed hawks can measure 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in) in total length, females measuring 48 to 65 cm (19 to 26 in) long. Their wingspan typically can range from 105 to 141 cm (3 ft 5 in to 4 ft 8 in), although the largest females may possible span up to 147 cm (4 ft 10 in). In the standard scientific method of measuring wing size, the wing chord is 325.1–444.5 mm (12.80–17.50 in) long. The tail measures 188 to 258.7 mm (7.40 to 10.19 in) in length. The exposed culmen was reported to range from 21.7 to 30.2 mm (0.85 to 1.19 in) and the tarsus averaged 74.7–95.8 mm (2.94–3.77 in) across the races. The middle toe (excluding talon) can range from 38.3 to 53.8 mm (1.51 to 2.12 in), with the hallux-claw (the talon of the rear toe, which has evolved to be the largest in accipitrids) measuring from 24.1 to 33.6 mm (0.95 to 1.32 in) in length.

Identification

Although they overlap in range with most other American diurnal raptors, identifying most mature red-tailed hawks to species is relatively straightforward, particularly if viewing a typical adult at a reasonable distance. The red-tailed hawk is the only North American hawk with a rufous tail and a blackish patagium marking on the leading edge of its wing (which is obscured only on dark morph adults and Harlan's hawks by similarly dark-colored feathers). Other larger adult Buteo spp. in North America usually have obvious distinct markings that are absent in red-tails, whether the rufous-brown "beard" of Swainson's hawks (B. swainsonii) or the colorful rufous belly and shoulder markings and striking black-and-white mantle of red-shouldered hawks (also the small "windows" seen at the end of their primaries).[ In perched individuals, even as silhouettes, the shape of large Buteo spp. may be distinctive, such as the wingtips overhanging the tail in several other species, but not in red-tails. North American Buteo spp. range from the dainty, compact builds of much smaller ones, such as broad-winged hawk (B. platypterus) to the heavyset, neckless look of ferruginous hawks or the rough-legged buzzards, which have a compact, smaller appearance than a red-tail in perched birds due to its small bill, short neck, and much shorter tarsi, while the opposite effect occurs in flying rough-legs with their much bigger wing area. In flight, most other large North American Buteo spp. are distinctly longer and more slender-winged than red-tailed hawks, with the much paler ferruginous hawk having peculiarly slender wings in relation to its massive, chunky body. Swainson's hawks are distinctly darker on the wing and ferruginous hawks are much paler-winged than typical red-tailed hawks. Pale morph adult ferruginous hawk can show mildly tawny-pink (but never truly rufous) upper tail, and like red-tails tend to have dark markings on underwing-coverts and can have a dark belly band, but compared to red-tailed hawks have a distinctly broader head, their remiges are much whiter looking with very small, dark primary tips, they lack the red-tail's diagnostic patagial marks and usually also lack the dark subterminal tail-band, and ferruginous hawks have totally feathered tarsi. With its whitish head, the ferruginous hawk is most similar to Krider's red-tailed hawks, especially in immature plumage, but the larger hawk has broader head and narrower wing shape, and the ferruginous immatures are paler underneath and on their legs. Several species share a belly band with the typical red-tailed hawk, but they vary from subtle (as in the ferruginous hawk) to solid blackish, the latter in most light-morph rough-legged buzzards. More difficult to identify among adult red-tails are their darkest variations, as most species of Buteo in North America also have dark morphs. Western dark morph red-tails (i.e. B. j. calurus) adults, however, retain the typical distinctive brick-red tail, which other species lack, and may stand out even more against the otherwise all chocolate-brown to black bird. Standard pale juveniles when perched show a whitish patch in the outer half of the upper surface of the wing, which other juvenile Buteo spp. lack.[ The most difficult to identify stages and plumage types are dark morph juveniles, Harlan's hawk and some Krider's hawks (the latter mainly with typical ferruginous hawks as mentioned). Some darker juveniles are similar enough to other Buteo juveniles that they "cannot be identified to species with any confidence under various field conditions." However, field identification techniques have advanced in the last few decades and most experienced hawk-watchers can distinguish even the most vexingly plumaged immature hawks, especially as the wing shapes of each species becomes apparent after seeing many. Harlan's hawks are most similar to dark morph rough-legged buzzards and dark morph ferruginous hawks. Wing shape is the most reliable identification tool for distinguishing Harlan's hawks from these, but also the pale streaking on the breast of Harlan's, which tends to be conspicuous in most individuals, and is lacking in the other hawks. Also, dark morph ferruginous hawks do not have the dark subterminal band of a Harlan's hawk, but do bear a black undertail covert lacking in Harlan's.

Vocalization

The cry of the red-tailed hawk is a 2- to 3-second, hoarse, rasping scream, variously transcribed as kree-eee-ar, tsee-eeee-arrr or sheeeeee, that begins at a high pitch and slurs downward. This cry is often described as sounding similar to a steam whistle. The red-tailed hawk frequently vocalizes while hunting or soaring, but vocalizes loudest and most persistently in defiance or anger, in response to a predator or a rival hawk's intrusion into its territory. At close range, it makes a croaking guh-runk, possibly as a warning sound. Nestlings may give peeping notes with a "soft, sleepy quality" that give way to occasional screams as they develop, but those are more likely to be a soft whistle rather than the harsh screams of the adults. Their latter hunger call, given from 11 days (as recorded in Alaska) to after fledgling (in California), is different, a two-syllabled, wailing klee-uk food cry exerted by the young when parents leave the nest or enter their field of vision. A strange mechanical sound "not very unlike the rush of distant water" has been reported as uttered in the midst of a sky-dance. A modified call of chirp-chwirk is given during courtship, while a low key, duck-like nasal gank may be given by pairs when they are relaxed.

The fierce, screaming cry of the adult red-tailed hawk is frequently used as a generic raptor sound effect in television shows and other media, even if the bird featured is not a red-tailed hawk. It is especially used in depictions of the bald eagle, which contributes to the common misconception that it is a bald eagle cry; actual bald eagle vocalizations are far softer and more chirpy than those of a red-tailed hawk.

Distribution and habitat

The red-tailed hawk is one of the most widely distributed of all raptors in the Americas. It occupies the largest breeding range of any diurnal raptor north of the Mexican border, just ahead of the American kestrel (Falco sparverius). While the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) has a greater latitudinal distribution as a nester in North America, its range as a breeding species is far more sporadic and sparse than that of red-tailed hawks. The red-tailed hawk breeds from nearly north-central Alaska, the Yukon, and a considerable portion of the Northwest Territories, there reaching as far as a breeder as Inuvik, Mackenzie River Delta and skirting the southern shores of Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake. Thereafter in northern Canada, breeding red-tails continue to northern Saskatchewan and across to north-central Ontario east to central Quebec and the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and south continuously to Florida. No substantial gaps occur throughout the entire contiguous United States where breeding red-tailed hawks do not occur. Along the Pacific, their range includes all of Baja California, including Islas Marías, and Socorro Island in the Revillagigedo Islands. On the mainland, breeding red-tails are found continuously to Oaxaca, then experience a brief gap at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec thereafter subsequently continuing from Chiapas through central Guatemala on to northern Nicaragua. To the south, the population in highlands from Costa Rica to central Panama is isolated from breeding birds in Nicaragua. Further east, breeding red-tailed hawks occur in the West Indies in north Bahamas (i.e. Grand Bahama, Abaco and Andros) and all larger islands (such as Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico) and into the northern Lesser Antilles (Virgin Islands, Saint Barthélemy, Saba, Saint Kitts, and Nevis, being rare as a resident on Saint Eustatius and are probably extinct on Saint Martin). Their typical winter range stretches from southern Canada south throughout the remainder of the breeding range.

Red-tailed hawks have shown the ability to become habituated to almost any habitat present in North and Central America. Their preferred habitat is mixed forest and field, largely woodland edge with tall trees or alternately high bluffs that may be used as nesting and perching sites. They occupy a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, nearly any coastal or wetland habitat, mountains, foothills, coniferous and deciduous woodlands, and tropical rainforests. Agricultural fields and pastures, which are more often than not varied with groves, ridges, or streamside trees in most parts of America, may make nearly ideal habitat for breeding or wintering red-tails. They also adapt well to suburban areas especially ones with tall trees or any kind of parkland. Some red-tails may survive or even flourish in urban areas, usually hunting and roosting in available urban parks, cemeteries, road verges, and so on, and nesting freely either in trees or virtually any tall man-made structures. One famous urban red-tailed hawk, known as "Pale Male", became the subject of a nonfiction book, Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park, and is the first known red-tail in decades to successfully nest and raise young in the crowded New York City borough of Manhattan. As studied in Syracuse, New York, the highway system has been very beneficial to red-tails as it juxtaposed trees and open areas and blocks human encroachment with fences, with the red-tailed hawks easily becoming acclimated to car traffic. The only practice that has a negative effect on the highway-occupying red-tails is the planting of exotic Phragmites, which may occasionally obscure otherwise ideal highway habitat.

In the northern Great Plains, the widespread practices of wildfire suppression and planting of exotic trees by humans has allowed groves of aspen and various other trees to invade what was once vast, almost continuous prairie grasslands, causing grassland obligates such as ferruginous hawks to decline and allowing parkland-favoring red-tails to flourish. To the contrary, clear-cutting of mature woodlands in New England, resulting in only fragmented and isolated stands of trees or low second growth remaining, was recorded to also benefit red-tailed hawks, despite being to the determent of breeding red-shouldered hawks. The red-tailed hawk, as a whole, rivals the peregrine falcon and the great horned owl among raptorial birds in the use of diverse habitats in North America. Beyond the high Arctic (as they discontinue as a breeder at the tree line), few other areas exist where red-tailed hawks are absent or rare in North and Central America. Some areas of unbroken forest, especially lowland tropical forests, rarely host red-tailed hawks, although they can occupy forested tropical highlands surprisingly well. In deserts, they can only occur where some variety of arborescent growth or ample rocky bluffs or canyons occur.

Behavior

The red-tailed hawk is highly conspicuous to humans in much of its daily behavior. Most birds in resident populations, which are well more than half of all red-tailed hawks, usually split nonbreeding-season activity between territorial soaring flight and sitting on a perch. Often, perching is for hunting purposes, but many sit on a tree branch for hours, occasionally stretching on a single wing or leg to keep limber, with no signs of hunting intent. Wintering typical pale-morph hawks in Arkansas were found to perch in open areas near the top of tall, isolated trees, whereas dark morphs more frequently perched in dense groups of trees. For many, and perhaps most, red-tailed hawks being mobbed by various birds is a daily concern and can effectively disrupt many of their daily behaviors. Mostly larger passerines, of multiple families from tyrant flycatchers to icterids, mob red-tails, despite other raptors, such as Accipiter hawks and falcons, being a notably greater danger to them. The most aggressive and dangerous attacker as such is likely to be various crows or other corvids, i.e. American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), because a mobbing group (or "murder") of them can number up to as many as 75 crows, which may cause grievous physical harm to a solitary hawk, and if the hawks are nesting, separate the parent hawks and endanger the eggs or nestlings within their nest to predation by crows. Birds that mob red-tailed hawks can tell how distended the hawk's crop is (i.e. the upper chest and throat area being puffy versus flat-feathered and sleek), thus mob more often when the hawk is presumably about to hunt.

Flight

In flight, this hawk soars with wings often in a slight dihedral, flapping as little as possible to conserve energy. Soaring is by far the most efficient method of flight for red-tailed hawks, so is used more often than not. Active flight is slow and deliberate, with deep wing beats. Wing beats are somewhat less rapid in active flight than in most other Buteo hawks, even heavier species such as ferruginous hawks tend to flap more swiftly, due to the morphology of the wings. In wind, it occasionally hovers on beating wings and remains stationary above the ground, but this flight method is rarely employed by this species. When soaring or flapping its wings, it typically travels from 32 to 64 km/h (20 to 40 mph), but when diving may exceed 190 km/h (120 mph). Although North American red-tailed hawks will occasionally hunt from flight, a great majority of flight by red-tails in this area is for non-hunting purpose. During nest defense, red-tailed hawks may be capable of surprisingly swift, vigorous flight, while repeatedly diving at perceived threats.

Migration

Red-tailed hawks are considered partial migrants, as in about the northern third of their distribution, which is most of their range in Canada and Alaska, they almost entirely vacate their breeding grounds. In coastal areas of the north, however, such as in the Pacific Northwest to southern Alaska and in Nova Scotia on the Atlantic, red-tailed hawks do not usually migrate. More or less, any area where snow cover is nearly continuous during the winter shows an extended absence of most red-tailed hawks, so some areas as far south as Montana may show strong seasonal vacancies of red-tails. In southern Michigan, immature red-tailed hawks tended to remain in winter only when voles were abundant. During relatively long, harsh winters in Michigan, many more young ones were reported in northeastern Mexico. To the opposite extreme, hawks residing as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska, may persevere through the winter on their home territory, as was recorded with one male over three consecutive years. Birds of any age tend to be territorial during winter but may shift ranges whenever food requirements demand it. Wintering birds tend to perch on inconspicuous tree perches, seeking shelter especially if they have a full crop or are in the midst of poor or overly windy weather. Adult wintering red-tails tend to perch more prominently than immatures do, which select lower or more secluded perches. Immatures are often missed in winter bird counts, unless they are being displaced by dominant adults. Generally, though, immatures can seem to recognize that they are less likely to be attacked by adults during winter and can perch surprisingly close to them. Age is the most significant consideration of wintering hawks' hierarchy, but size does factor in, as larger immatures (presumably usually females) are less likely to displaced than smaller ones. Dark adult red-tailed hawks appear to be harder to locate when perched than other red-tails. In Oklahoma, for example, wintering adult Harlan's hawks were rarely engaged in fights or chased by other red-tails. These hawks tended to gather in regional pockets and frequently the same ones occurred year-to-year. In general, migratory behavior is complex and reliant on each individual hawk's decision-making (i.e. whether prey populations are sufficient to entice the hawk to endure prolonged snow cover). During fall migration, departure may occur as soon as late September, but peak movements occur in late October and all of November in the United States, with migration ceasing after mid-December. The northernmost migrants may pass over resident red-tailed hawks in the contiguous United States, while the latter are still in the midst of brooding fledglings. Not infrequently, several autumn hawk watches in Ontario, Quebec, and the northern United States record 4,500–8,900 red-tailed hawks migrating through each fall, with records of up to 15,000 in a season at Hawk Ridge hawk watch in Duluth, Minnesota. Unlike some other Buteo spp., such as Swainson's hawks and broad-winged hawks, red-tailed hawks do not usually migrate in groups, instead passing by one-by-one, and only migrate on days when winds are favorable. Most migrants do not move past southern Mexico in late autumn, but a few North American migrants may annually move as far south as breeding red-tailed hawks happen to occur, i.e. in Central America to as far south Panama. However, a few records were reported of wintering migrant red-tails turning up in Colombia, the first records of them anywhere in South America. Spring northward movements may commence as early as late February, with peak numbers usually occurring in late March and early April. Seasonal counts may include up to 19,000 red-tails in spring at Derby Hill hawk watch, in Oswego, New York, sometimes more than 5,000 are recorded in a day there. The most northerly migratory individuals may not reach breeding grounds until June, even adults.

Immature hawks migrate later than adults in spring on average, but not, generally speaking, in autumn. In the northern Great Lakes, immatures return in late May to early June, when adults are already well into their nesting season and must find unoccupied ranges. In Alaska, adults tend to migrate before immatures in early to mid-September, to the contrary of other areas, probably as heavy snowfall begins. Yearlings that were banded in southwestern Idaho stayed for about 2 months after fledging, and then traveled long distances with a strong directional bias, with 9 of 12 recovered southeast of the study area- six of these moved south to coastal lowlands in Mexico] and as far as Guatemala, 4,205 km (2,613 mi) from their initial banding. In California, 35 hawks were banded as nestlings; 26 were recovered at less than 50 miles away, with multidirectional juvenile dispersals. Nestlings banded in Southern California sometimes actually traveled north as far as 1,190 km (740 mi) to Oregon, ranging to the opposite extreme as far as a banded bird from the Sierra Nevadas that moved 1,700 km (1,100 mi) south to Sinaloa. Nestlings banded in Green County, Wisconsin, did not travel very far comparatively by October–November, but by December, recoveries were found in states including Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

Diet

The red-tailed hawk is carnivorous, and a highly opportunistic feeder. Nearly any small animal they encounter may be viewed as potential food. Their most common prey are small mammals such as rodents and lagomorphs, but they also consume birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. Prey varies considerably with regional and seasonal availability, but usually centers on rodents, accounting for up to 85% of a hawk's diet. In total, nearly 500 prey species have been recorded in their diet, almost as many as great horned owls have been recorded as taking. When 27 North American studies are reviewed, mammals make up 65.3% of the diet by frequency, 20.9% by birds, 10.8% by reptiles, 2.8% by invertebrates, and 0.2% by amphibians and fish. The geometric mean body mass of prey taken by red-tailed hawks in North America is about 187 g (6.6 oz) based on a pair of compilation studies from across the continent, regionally varying at least from 43.4 to 361.4 g (1.53 to 12.75 oz). Staple prey (excluding invertebrates) has been claimed to weigh from 15 to 2,114 g (0.033 to 4.661 lb), ranging roughly from the size of a small mouse or lizard to the size of a black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus). The daily food requirements range from 7 to 11.2% of their own body weight, so that about three voles or the equivalent weight are required daily for a typical range adult.

The talons and feet of red-tailed hawks are relatively large for a Buteo hawk; in an average-sized adult red-tail, the "hallux-claw" or rear talon, the largest claw on all accipitrids, averages about 29.7 mm (1.17 in). In fact, the talons of red-tails in some areas averaged of similar size to those of ferruginous hawks which can be considerably heavier and notably larger than those of the only slightly lighter Swainson's hawk. This species may exert an average of about 91 kg/cm2 (1,290 lbf/in2) of pressure through its feet. Owing to its morphology, red-tailed hawks generally can attack larger prey than other Buteo hawks typically can, and are capable of selecting the largest prey of up to their own size available at the time of hunting, though in all likelihood numerically most prey probably weighs on average about 20% of the hawk's own weight (as is typical of many birds of prey). Red-tailed hawks usually hunt by watching for prey activity from a high perch, also known as still hunting. Upon being spotted, prey is dropped down upon by the hawk. Red-tails often select the highest available perches within a given environment, since the greater the height they are at, the less flapping is required and the faster the downward glide they can attain toward nearby prey. If prey is closer than average, the hawk may glide at a steep downward angle with few flaps, if farther than average, it may flap a few swift wingbeats alternating with glides. Perch hunting is the most successful hunting method generally speaking for red-tailed hawks and can account for up to 83% of their daily activities (i.e. in winter). Wintering pairs may join and aseasonally may join forces to group hunt agile prey that they may have trouble catching by themselves, such as tree squirrels. This may consist of stalking opposites sides of a tree, to surround the squirrel and almost inevitably drive the rodent to be captured by one after being flushed by the other hawk.

The most common flighted hunting method for red-tail is to cruise around 10 to 50 m (33 to 164 ft) over the ground with flap-and-glide type flight, interspersed occasionally with harrier-like quarters over the ground. This method is less successful than perch hunting, but seems relatively useful for capturing small birds and may show the best results while hunting in hilly country. Hunting red-tailed hawks readily use trees, bushes, or rocks for concealment before making a surprise attack, even showing a partial ability to dodge among trees in an Accipiter-like fashion. Among thick stands of spruce in Alaska, a dodging hunting flight was thought to be unusually important to red-tails living in extensive areas of conifers, with hawks even coming to the ground and walking hurriedly in prey pursuit especially if the prey was large, a similar behavior to goshawks. Additional surprisingly swift aerial hunting has reported in red-tails that habitually hunt bats in Texas. Here, the bat-hunting specialists stooped with half-closed wings, quite falcon-like, plowing through the huge stream of bats exiting their cave roosts, then zooming upwards with a bat in its talons. These hawks also flew parallel closely to the stream, then veer sharply into it and seize a bat. In the neotropics, red-tails have shown the ability to dodge amongst forest canopy whilst hunting. In Kansas, red-tailed hawks were recorded sailing to catch flying insects, a hunting method more typical of a Swainson's hawk. Alternately, they may drop to the ground to forage for insects like grasshoppers and beetles as well as other invertebrates and probably amphibians and fish (except by water in the latter cases). Hunting afoot seems to be particularly prevalent among immatures. Young red-tailed hawks in northeastern Florida were recorded often extracting earthworms from near the surface of the ground and some had a crop full of earthworms after rains. Ground hunting is also quite common on Socorro Island, where no native land mammals occur, and invertebrates are more significant to their overall diet. A red-tailed hawk was observed to incorporate an unconventional killing method, which was drowning a heron immediately after capture. One red-tailed hawk was seen to try to grab a young ground squirrel and, upon missing it, screamed loudly, which in turn caused another young squirrel to break into a run, wherein it was captured. Whether this was an intentional hunting technique needs investigation. Upon capture, smaller prey is taken to a feeding perch, which is almost always lower than a hunting perch. Among small prey, rodents are often swallowed whole, as are shrews and small snakes, while birds are plucked and beheaded. Even prey as small as chipmunks may take two or three bites to consume. Larger mammals of transportable size are at times beheaded and have part of their fur discarded, then leftovers are either stored in a tree or fall to the ground. Large prey, especially if too heavy to transport on the wing, is often dragged to a secluded spot and dismantled in various ways. If they can successfully carry what remains to a low perch, they tend to feed until full and then discard the rest.

Mammals

Rodents are certainly the type of prey taken most often by frequency, but their contribution to prey biomass at nests can be regionally low, and the type, variety, and importance of rodent prey can be highly variable. In total, well over 100 rodent species have turned up the diet of red-tailed hawks. Rodents of extremely varied sizes may be hunted by red-tails, with species ranging in size from the 8.2 g (0.29 oz) eastern harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis) to full grown muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus). At times, the red-tailed hawk is thought of as a semi-specialized vole-catcher, but voles are a subsistence food that is more or less taken until larger prey such as rabbits and squirrels can be captured. In an area of Michigan, immature hawks took almost entirely voles but adults were diversified feeders. Indeed, the 44.1 g (1.56 oz) meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) was the highest frequency prey species in 27 dietary studies across North America, accounting for up to 54% of the food at nests by frequency. It is quite rare for any one species to make up more than half of the food in any dietary study for red-tailed hawks. In total about 9 Microtus species are known in the overall diet, with 5 other voles and lemmings known to be included in their prey spectrum. Another well-represented species was the 27.9 g (0.98 oz) prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), which were the primary food, making up 26.4% of a sample of 1322, in eastern Kansas. While crepuscular in primary feeding activity, voles are known to be active both day and night, and so are reliable food for hawks than most non-squirrel rodents, which generally are nocturnal in activity. Indeed, most other microtine rodents are largely inaccessible to red-tailed hawks due to their strongly nocturnal foraging patterns, even though 24 species outside of voles and lemmings are known to be hunted. Woodrats are taken as important supplemental prey in some regions, being considerably larger than most other crictetid rodents, and some numbers of North American deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) may turn up. The largest representation of the latter species was contributing 11.9% of the diet in the Great Basin of Utah, making them the second best-represented prey species there. Considering this limited association with nocturnal rodents, the high importance of pocket gophers in the diet of red-tailed hawks is puzzling to many biologists, as these tend to be highly nocturnal and elusive by day, rarely leaving the confines of their burrow. At least 8 species of pocket gopher are included in the prey spectrum (not to mention 5 species of pocket mice). The 110 g (3.9 oz) northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides) is particularly often reported and, by frequency, even turns up as the third most often recorded prey species in 27 American dietary studies. Presumably, hunting of pocket gophers by red-tails, which has possibly never been witnessed, occurs in dim light at first dawn and last light of dusk when they luck upon a gopher out foraging.

By far, the most important prey among rodents is squirrels, as they are almost fully diurnal. All told, nearly 50 species from the squirrel family have turned up as food. In particular, where they are distributed, ground squirrels are doubly attractive as a primary food source due to their ground-dwelling habits, as red-tails prefer to attack prey that is terrestrial. There are also many disadvantages to ground squirrels as prey: they can escape quickly to the security of their burrows, they tend to be highly social and they are very effective and fast in response to alarm calls, and a good deal of species enter hibernation that in the coldest climates can range up to a 6 to 9-month period (although those in warmer climates with little to no snowy weather often have brief dormancy and no true hibernation). Nonetheless, red-tailed hawks are devoted predators of ground squirrels, especially catching incautious ones as they go out foraging (which are often younger animals). A multi-year study conducted on San Joaquin Experimental Range in California, seemingly still the largest food study to date done for red-tailed hawks with 4031 items examined, showed that throughout the seasons the 722 g (1.592 lb) California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) was the most significant prey, accounting for 60.8% of the breeding season diet and about 27.2% of the diet for hawks year-around. Because of the extremely high density of red-tailed hawks on this range, some pairs came to specialize in diverse alternate prey, which consisted variously of kangaroo rats, lizards, snakes or chipmunks. One pair apparently lessened competition by focusing on pocket gophers instead despite being near the center of ground squirrel activity. In Snake River NCA, the primary food of red-tailed hawks was the 203.5 g (7.18 oz) Townsend's ground squirrel (Urocitellus townsendii), which made up nearly 21% of the food in 382 prey items across several years despite sharp spikes and crashes of the ground squirrel population there. The same species was the main food of red-tailed hawks in southeastern Washington, making up 31.2% of 170 items. An even closer predatory relationship was reported in the Centennial valley of Montana and south-central Montana, where 45.4% of 194 prey items and 40.2% of 261 items, respectively, of the food of red-tails consisted of the 455.7 g (1.005 lb) Richardson's ground squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii). Locally in Rochester, Alberta, Richardson's ground squirrel, estimated to average 444 g (15.7 oz), were secondary in number to unidentified small rodents but red-tails in the region killed an estimated 22–60% of the area's ground squirrel, a large dent in the squirrel's population. Further east, ground squirrels are not so reliably distributed, but one study in southern Wisconsin, in one of several quite different dietary studies in that state, the 172.7 g (6.09 oz) thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) was the main prey species, making up 29.7% of the diet (from a sample of 165).

In Kluane Lake, Yukon, 750 g (1.65 lb) Arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) were the main overall food for Harlan's red-tailed hawks, making up 30.8% of a sample of 1074 prey items. When these ground squirrels enter their long hibernation, the breeding Harlan's hawks migrate south for the winter. Nearly as important in Kluane Lake was the 200 g (7.1 oz) American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), which constituted 29.8% of the above sample. Red squirrels are highly agile dwellers on dense spruce stands, which has caused biologists to ponder how the red-tailed hawks are able to routinely catch them. It is possible that the hawks catch them on the ground such as when squirrels are digging their caches, but theoretically, the dark color of the Harlan's hawks may allow them to ambush the squirrels within the forests locally more effectively. While American red squirrels turn up not infrequently as supplementary prey elsewhere in North America, other tree squirrels seem to be comparatively infrequently caught, at least during the summer breeding season. It is known that pairs of red-tailed hawks will cooperatively hunt tree squirrels at times, probably mostly between late fall and early spring. Fox squirrels (Sciurus niger), the largest of North America's tree squirrels at 800 g (1.8 lb), are relatively common supplemental prey but the lighter, presumably more agile 533 g (1.175 lb) eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) appears to be seldom caught based on dietary studies. While adult marmot may be difficult for red-tailed hawks to catch, young marmots are readily taken in numbers after weaning, such as a high frequency of yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) in Boulder, Colorado. Another grouping of squirrels but at the opposite end of the size spectrum for squirrels, the chipmunks are also mostly supplemental prey but are considered more easily caught than tree squirrels, considering that they are more habitual terrestrial foragers In central Ohio, eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus), the largest species of chipmunk at an average weight of 96 g (3.4 oz), were actually the leading prey by number, making up 12.3% of a sample of 179 items.

Outside of rodents, the most important prey for North American red-tailed hawks is rabbits and hares, of which at least 13 species are included in their prey spectrum. By biomass and reproductive success within populations, these are certain to be their most significant food source (at least in North America). Adult Sylvilagus rabbits known to be hunted by red-tails can range from the 700 g (1.5 lb) brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani) to the Tres Marias rabbit (Sylvilagus graysoni) at 1,470 g (3.24 lb) while all leporids hunted may range the 421.3 g (14.86 oz) pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) to hares and jackrabbits potentially up twice the hawk's own weight. While primarily crepuscular in peak activity, rabbits and hares often foraging both during day and night and so face almost constant predatory pressure from a diverse range of predators. Male red-tailed hawks or pairs which are talented rabbit hunters are likely to have higher than average productivity due to the size and nutrition of the meal ensuring healthy, fast-growing offspring. Most widely reported are the cottontails, which the three most common North America varieties softly grading into mostly allopatric ranges, being largely segregated by habitat preferences where they overlap in distribution. Namely, in descending order of reportage were: the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), the second most widely reported prey species overall in North America and with maximum percentage known in a given study was 26.4% in Oklahoma (out of 958 prey items), the mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii), maximum representation being 17.6% out of a sample of 478 in Kaibab Plateau, Arizona and the desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), maximum representation being 22.4% out of a sample of 326 in west-central Arizona. Black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) are even more intensely focused upon as a food source by the hawks found in the west, particularly the Great Basin. With the weight around 2,114 g (4.661 lb), adults of this species is the largest prey routinely hunted by red-tailed hawks. When jackrabbit numbers crash, red-tailed hawk productivity tends to decline as well. In northern Utah, black-tailed jackrabbits made up 55.3% of a sample of 329. Elsewhere, they are usually somewhat secondary by number.

In the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska, red-tails are fairly dependent on the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), falling somewhere behind the great horned owl and ahead of the Anerican goshawk in their regional reliance on this food source. The hunting preferences of red-tails who rely on snowshoe hares are variable. In Rochester, Alberta, 52% of snowshoe hares caught were adults, such prey estimated to average 1,287 g (2.837 lb), and adults, in some years, were six times more often taken than juvenile hares, which averaged an estimated 560 g (1.23 lb). 1.9–7.1% of adults in the regional population of Rochester were taken by red-tails, while only 0.3–0.8 of juvenile hares were taken by them. Despite their reliance on it, only 4% (against 53.4% of the biomass) of the food by frequency here was made up of hares. On the other hand, in Kluane Lake, Yukon, juvenile hares were taken roughly 11 times more often than adults, despite the larger size of adults here, averaging 1,406.6 g (3.101 lb), and that the overall prey base was less diverse at this more northerly clime. In both Rochester and Kluane Lake, the number of snowshoe hares taken was considerably lower than the number of ground squirrels taken. The differences in average characteristics of snowshoe hares that were hunted may be partially due to habitat (extent of bog openings to dense forest) or topography. Another member of the Lagomorpha order has been found in the diet include juvenile white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) and the much smaller American pika (Ochotona princeps), at 150 g (5.3 oz).

A diversity of mammals may be consumed opportunistically outside of the main food groups of rodents and leporids, but usually occur in low numbers. At least five species each are taken of shrews and moles, ranging in size from their smallest mammalian prey, the cinereus (Sorex cinereus) and least shrews (Cryptotis parva), which both weigh about 4.4 g (0.16 oz), to Townsend's mole (Scapanus townsendii), which weighs about 126 g (4.4 oz). A respectable number of the 90 g (3.2 oz) eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) were recorded in studies from Oklahoma and Kansas. Four species of bat have been recorded in their foods. The red-tailed hawks local to the large cave colonies of 12.3 g (0.43 oz) Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) in Texas can show surprising agility, some of the same hawks spending their early evening and early morning hours in flight patrolling the cave entrances in order to stoop suddenly on these flighted mammals. Larger miscellaneous mammalian prey are either usually taken as juveniles, like the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), or largely as carrion, like the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Small carnivorans may be taken, usually consisting of much smaller mustelids, like the least weasels (Mustela nivalis), stoats (Mustela erminea), and long-tailed weasels (Neogale frenata). slightly larger carnivores, such as small Indian mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus), ringtails (Bassariscus astutus), small American minks (Neovison vison) and even adult striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), which can be much larger than a fully grown hawk, was reportedly taken by red-tailed hawks. Additionally, red-tailed hawks are considered as potential predators of white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) and kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) Remains of exceptionally large carnivoran species, such as domestic cats (Felis catus), red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and common raccoon (Procyon lotor) are sometimes found amongst their foods, but most are likely taken as juveniles or consumed only as carrion. Many of these medium-sized carnivorans are probably visited as roadkill, especially during the sparser winter months, but carrion has turned up more widely than previously thought. Some nests have been found (to the occasional "shock" of researchers) with body parts from large domestic stock like sheep (Ovis aries), pigs (Sus domesticus), horses (Equus caballus ) and cattle (Bos taurus) (not to mention wild varieties like deer), which red-tails must visit when freshly dead out on pastures and take a couple of talonfuls of meat. In one instance, a red-tailed hawk was observed to kill a small but seemingly healthy lamb. These are born heavier than most red-tails at 1,500 g (3.3 lb) but in this case, the hawk was scared away before it could consume its kill by the rifle fire of the shepherd who witnessed the instance.

Birds

Like most (but not all) Buteo hawks, red-tailed hawks do not primarily hunt birds in most areas, but can take them fairly often whenever they opportune upon some that are vulnerable. Birds are, by far, the most diverse class in the red-tailed hawk's prey spectrum, with well over 200 species known in their foods In most circumstances where birds become the main food of red-tailed hawks, it is in response to ample local populations of galliforms. As these are meaty, mostly terrestrial birds which usually run rather than fly from danger (although all wild species in North America are capable of flight), galliforms are ideal avian prey for red-tails. Some 23 species of galliforms are known to be taken by red-tailed hawks, about a third of these being species introduced by humans. Native quails of all five North American species may expect occasional losses. All 12 species of grouse native to North America are also occasionally included in their prey spectrum. In the state of Wisconsin, two large studies, from Waupun and Green County, found the main prey species to be the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), making up 22.7% of a sample of 176 and 33.8% of a sample of 139, respectively. With a body mass averaging 1,135 g (2.502 lb), adult pheasants are among the largest meals that male red-tails are likely to deliver short of adult rabbits and hares and therefore these nests tend to be relatively productive. Despite being not native to North America, pheasants usually live in a wild state. Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) are also taken throughout North America, with all Wisconsin studies also found large numbers of them, making up as much as 14.4% of the diet. Many studies reflect that free-ranging chickens are vulnerable to red-tailed hawks although somewhat lesser numbers are taken by them overall in comparison to nocturnal predators (i.e. owls and foxes) and goshawks. In Rochester, Alberta, fairly large numbers of ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) were taken but relatively more juveniles were taken of this species than the two other main contributors to biomass here, snowshoe hare and Townsend's ground squirrel, as they are fairly independent early on and more readily available. Here the adult grouse was estimated to average 550 g (1.21 lb) against the average juvenile which in mid-summer averaged 170 g (6.0 oz).

Beyond galliforms, three other quite different families of birds make the most significant contributions to the red-tailed hawk's avian diet. None of these three families are known as particularly skilled or swift fliers, but are generally small enough that they would generally easily be more nimble in flight. One of these are the woodpeckers, if only for one species, the 131.6 g (4.64 oz) northern flicker (Colaptes auratus), which was the best represented bird species in the diet in 27 North American studies and was even the fourth most often detected prey species of all. Woodpeckers are often a favorite in the diet of large raptors as their relatively slow, undulating flight makes these relatively easy targets. The flicker in particular is a highly numerous species that has similar habitat preferences to red-tailed hawks, preferring fragmented landscapes with trees and openings or parkland-type wooded mosaics, and often forage on the ground for ants, which may make them even more susceptible. Varied other woodpecker species may turn up in their foods, from the smallest to the largest extant in North America, but are much more infrequently detected in dietary studies. Another family relatively often selected prey family are corvids, which despite their relatively large size, formidable mobbing abilities and intelligence are also slower than average fliers for passerines. 14 species of corvid are known to fall prey to red-tailed hawks. In the Kaibab Plateau, the 128 g (4.5 oz) Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) were the fourth most identified prey species (10.3% of the diet). 453 g (0.999 lb) American crows are also regularly detected supplemental prey in several areas. Even the huge common raven (Corvus corax), at 1,050 g (2.31 lb) at least as large as red-tailed hawk itself, may fall prey to red-tails, albeit very infrequently and only in a well-staged ambush. One of the most surprising heavy contributors are the icterids, despite their slightly smaller size and tendency to travel in large, wary flocks, 12 species are known to be hunted. One species pair, the meadowlarks, are most often selected as they do not flock in the same ways as many other icterids and often come to the ground, throughout their life history, rarely leaving about shrub-height. The 100.7 g (3.55 oz) western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), in particular, was the third most often detected bird prey species in North America. Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) which are probably too small, at an average weight of 52.4 g (1.85 oz), and fast for a red-tailed hawk to ever chase on the wing (and do travel in huge flocks, especially in winter) are nonetheless also quite often found in their diet, representing up to 8% of the local diet for red-tails. It is possible that males, which are generally bold and often select lofty perches from which to display, are most regularly ambushed. One bird species that often flocks with red-winged blackbirds in winter is even better represented in the red-tail's diet, the non-native 78 g (2.8 oz) European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), being the second most numerous avian prey species and seventh overall in North America. Although perhaps most vulnerable when caught unaware while calling atonally on a perch, a few starlings (or various blackbirds) may be caught by red-tails which test the agile, twisting murmurations of birds by flying conspicuously towards the flock, to intentionally disturb them and possibly detect lagging, injured individual birds that can be caught unlike healthy birds. However, this behavior has been implied rather than verified.

Over 50 passerine species from various other families beyond corvids, icterids and starlings are included in the red-tailed hawks' prey spectrum but are caught so infrequently as to generally not warrant individual mention. Non-passerine prey taken infrequently may include but are not limited to pigeons and doves, cuckoos, nightjars, kingfishers and parrots. However, of some interest, is the extreme size range of birds that may be preyed upon. Red-tailed hawks in Caribbean islands seem to catch small birds more frequently due to the paucity of vertebrate prey diversity here.

The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), also spelled Gyr Falcon, sometimes Gerfalcon, is the largest of all falcon species. The Gyrfalcon breeds on Arctic coasts and islands of North America, Europe and Asia. It is mainly resident, but some Gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter[1].

The bird's common name comes from French gerfaucon, and in mediaeval Latin is rendered as gyrofalco. The first part of the word may come from Old High German gîr (cf. modern German Geier), "vulture", referring to its size compared to other falcons, or the Latin gȳrus ("circle", "curved path") from the species' circling as it searches for prey, unlike the other falcons in its range[2]. The male gyrfalcon is called a gyrkin in falconry.

Its scientific name is composed of the Latin terms for a falcon, Falco, and for someone who lives in the countryside, rusticolus.

Plumage is very variable in this highly polymorphic species: the archetypal morphs are called "white", "silver", "brown" and "black" though coloration spans a continuous spectrum from nearly all-white birds to very dark ones.

The Gyrfalcon is a bird of tundra and mountains, with cliffs or a few patches of trees. It feeds only on birds and mammals. Like other hierofalcons, it usually hunts in a horizontal pursuit, rather than the Peregrine's speedy stoop from a height. Most prey is killed on the ground, whether they are captured there or, if the victim is a flying bird, forced to the ground. The diet is to some extent opportunistic, but a majority of breeding birds mostly rely on Lagopus grouse. Avian prey can range in size from redpolls to geese and can include gulls, corvids, smaller passerines, waders and other raptors (up to the size of Buteos). Mammalian prey can range in size from shrews to marmots (sometimes 3 times heavier than the assaulting falcon), and often includes include lemmings, voles, ground squirrels and hares. They only rarely eat carrion.

The Gyrfalcon is the official bird of Canada's Northwest Territories.

God - Polymorphic, unpredictable, unaccountable; omnipotent yet negligent, kind yet vicious. A character you can immerse yourself in, forever.

Raptors. Gabar Goshawk. Kruger National Park. South Africa. Jul-Aug/2021

Gabar Goshawk

The gabar goshawk (Micronisus gabar) is a small species of African and Arabian bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.

The gabar goshawk is polymorphic and occurs in two distinct forms which fluctuate in relative abundance across the geographic range of the species. The more frequent, paler form has mostly grey upperparts with a conspicuous, white rump and white and grey barring on the chest, thighs and underwings, and a dark grey, barred tail. In contrast, the less frequent form, which accounts on average for approximately 25 percent of the overall population, is almost completely black. In both forms of adult the eyes are dark, and the legs are long and the cere is red. The cere and the legs are yellow in immatures and the plumage is generally browner, with the pale birds having untidier barring on the chest than the adult. The females are significantly larger than the males, the male's weigh 90 - 173g and the females 167 - 240g The body length is 28–36 cm and the wingspan 63 cm.

Source: Wikipedia

Gavião-Palrador

O Gavião-Palrador (Micronisus gabar) é uma pequena espécie de ave de rapina africana e árabe da família Accipitridae.

O Gavião-Palrador é polimórfico e ocorre em duas formas distintas que flutuam em abundância relativa ao longo da distribuição geográfica da espécie. A forma mais freqüente e mais pálida tem a parte superior principalmente cinza com uma nádega branca conspícua e uma barra branca e cinza no peito, coxas e asas, e uma cauda cinza escura com barras. Em contraste, a forma menos frequente, que representa em média aproximadamente 25% da população geral, é quase totalmente negra. Em ambas as formas de adulto, os olhos são escuros, as pernas são longas e o bico é vermelho. O bico e as patas são amarelas nos imaturos e a plumagem é geralmente mais marrom, com as aves pálidas apresentando barras mais desordenadas no peito do que as dos adultos. As fêmeas são significativamente maiores do que os machos, os machos pesam 90 - 173g e as fêmeas 167 - 240g. O comprimento do corpo é de 28-36 cm e a envergadura de 63 cm.

Fonte: Wikipedia (tradução livre)

Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of around 20,000 square kilometres in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 kilometres (220 mi) from north to south and 65 kilometres (40 mi) from east to west.

Source: Wikipedia

Parque Nacional Kruger

O Parque Nacional Kruger é a maior área protegida de fauna bravia da África do Sul, cobrindo cerca de 20 000 km2. Está localizado no nordeste do país, nas províncias de Mpumalanga e Limpopo e tem uma extensão de cerca de 360 km de norte a sul e 65 km de leste a oeste.

Os parques nacionais africanos, nas regiões da savana africana são importantes pelo turismo com safári de observação e fotográfico.

O seu nome foi dado em homenagem a Stephanus Johannes Paul Kruger, último presidente da República Sul-Africana bôere. Foi criado em 31 de Maio de 1926

Fonte: Wikipedia

Raptors. Gabar Goshawk. Kruger National Park. South Africa. Jul-Aug/2021

Gabar Goshawk

The gabar goshawk (Micronisus gabar) is a small species of African and Arabian bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.

The gabar goshawk is polymorphic and occurs in two distinct forms which fluctuate in relative abundance across the geographic range of the species. The more frequent, paler form has mostly grey upperparts with a conspicuous, white rump and white and grey barring on the chest, thighs and underwings, and a dark grey, barred tail. In contrast, the less frequent form, which accounts on average for approximately 25 percent of the overall population, is almost completely black. In both forms of adult the eyes are dark, and the legs are long and the cere is red. The cere and the legs are yellow in immatures and the plumage is generally browner, with the pale birds having untidier barring on the chest than the adult. The females are significantly larger than the males, the male's weigh 90 - 173g and the females 167 - 240g The body length is 28–36 cm and the wingspan 63 cm.

Source: Wikipedia

Gavião-Palrador

O Gavião-Palrador (Micronisus gabar) é uma pequena espécie de ave de rapina africana e árabe da família Accipitridae.

O Gavião-Palrador é polimórfico e ocorre em duas formas distintas que flutuam em abundância relativa ao longo da distribuição geográfica da espécie. A forma mais freqüente e mais pálida tem a parte superior principalmente cinza com uma nádega branca conspícua e uma barra branca e cinza no peito, coxas e asas, e uma cauda cinza escura com barras. Em contraste, a forma menos frequente, que representa em média aproximadamente 25% da população geral, é quase totalmente negra. Em ambas as formas de adulto, os olhos são escuros, as pernas são longas e o bico é vermelho. O bico e as patas são amarelas nos imaturos e a plumagem é geralmente mais marrom, com as aves pálidas apresentando barras mais desordenadas no peito do que as dos adultos. As fêmeas são significativamente maiores do que os machos, os machos pesam 90 - 173g e as fêmeas 167 - 240g. O comprimento do corpo é de 28-36 cm e a envergadura de 63 cm.

Fonte: Wikipedia (tradução livre)

Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of around 20,000 square kilometres in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 kilometres (220 mi) from north to south and 65 kilometres (40 mi) from east to west.

Source: Wikipedia

Parque Nacional Kruger

O Parque Nacional Kruger é a maior área protegida de fauna bravia da África do Sul, cobrindo cerca de 20 000 km2. Está localizado no nordeste do país, nas províncias de Mpumalanga e Limpopo e tem uma extensão de cerca de 360 km de norte a sul e 65 km de leste a oeste.

Os parques nacionais africanos, nas regiões da savana africana são importantes pelo turismo com safári de observação e fotográfico.

O seu nome foi dado em homenagem a Stephanus Johannes Paul Kruger, último presidente da República Sul-Africana bôere. Foi criado em 31 de Maio de 1926

Fonte: Wikipedia

Sassafras albidum Lauraceae family common name is Sassafras. Native Florida is the end of its range southern. Grows in upland fields. 90 feet tall. Mature bark has deep fissures. Color of bark is red-brown.. Simple, alternate. polymorphic shape- could be unlobe- 3lobe-2 lobe. Leaf venation is thick leathery leaves. Fruit is a drupe.

The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), also spelled Gyr Falcon, sometimes Gerfalcon, is the largest of all falcon species. The Gyrfalcon breeds on Arctic coasts and islands of North America, Europe and Asia. It is mainly resident, but some Gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter[1].

The bird's common name comes from French gerfaucon, and in mediaeval Latin is rendered as gyrofalco. The first part of the word may come from Old High German gîr (cf. modern German Geier), "vulture", referring to its size compared to other falcons, or the Latin gȳrus ("circle", "curved path") from the species' circling as it searches for prey, unlike the other falcons in its range[2]. The male gyrfalcon is called a gyrkin in falconry.

Its scientific name is composed of the Latin terms for a falcon, Falco, and for someone who lives in the countryside, rusticolus.

Plumage is very variable in this highly polymorphic species: the archetypal morphs are called "white", "silver", "brown" and "black" though coloration spans a continuous spectrum from nearly all-white birds to very dark ones.

The Gyrfalcon is a bird of tundra and mountains, with cliffs or a few patches of trees. It feeds only on birds and mammals. Like other hierofalcons, it usually hunts in a horizontal pursuit, rather than the Peregrine's speedy stoop from a height. Most prey is killed on the ground, whether they are captured there or, if the victim is a flying bird, forced to the ground. The diet is to some extent opportunistic, but a majority of breeding birds mostly rely on Lagopus grouse. Avian prey can range in size from redpolls to geese and can include gulls, corvids, smaller passerines, waders and other raptors (up to the size of Buteos). Mammalian prey can range in size from shrews to marmots (sometimes 3 times heavier than the assaulting falcon), and often includes include lemmings, voles, ground squirrels and hares. They only rarely eat carrion.

The Gyrfalcon is the official bird of Canada's Northwest Territories.

Leaf-cutter ants have powerful jaws which vibrate a thousand times a second to slice off pieces of leaf. Size for size, their bodies are amazingly powerful, able to carry pieces of leaf that weigh at least 20 times their own body weight - that's the same as a human carrying a one ton load. Like bees, their colonies contain different sorts of workers. Soldier leaf-cutters have huge jaws, strong enough to cut through leather and gardener leaf-cutters work beneath ground and process the pieces of the leaf that the harvesters bring back. The nest also contains a queen and she lays all the eggs needed to keep the colony supplied with new workers. Leaf-cutting ants cannot eat leaves. Instead, they carry the cut pieces back to the nest and use it as compost to cultivate the fungus. The fungus cannot survive outside the nest or reproduce without the ants help. Amazingly, if the ants collect plant material that is toxic to the fungus, the fungus seems to release a chemical signal which stops the ants collecting that particularly plant material. There can be three to eight million ants in a single colony, which can measure 15 m across and 5 m deep. The ants forage for leaves some distance from their nest. They find their way home by producing and laying down pheromone (scent) trails as they move away from the nest. These pheromones are so powerful that each ant produces only one billionth of a gram. One gram of this pheromone would easily be enough to make an ant trail all around the world. Leaf-cutting ants harvest more greenery in South American forests than any other animal. In fact, within the rain forest, leaf-cutter ants consume almost 20% of the annual vegetation growth! In its lifetime, a colony of these ants may move over 20 tons of soil.

Dat.: March 21. 2017

Lat.: 46.36016 Long.: 13.70263

Code: Bot_1040/2017_DSC00414

Habitat: recently clear cut light mixed wood, slightly inclined mountain slope, south aspect; colluvial, skeletal, calcareous ground with some rock boulders; dry, sunny, open place; elevation 600 m (1.970 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region.

Substratum: soil among stones and rocks.

Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soča and Trenta, right bank of river Soča, west of Trenta 2b cottage, East Julian Alps, Posočje, Slovenia EC.

Comment: Helleborus niger is another plant, which fuels my admiration year after year. Its large, up to 10 cm in diameter, snow-white flowers (when young) with their unusual structure (large white 'petals' are actually sepals!) are very beautifully shaped. But they are not only white! Many other shades from yellow, greenish, vividly pink, wine-red, to purple can be found during their growth. The first flowers already appear in earl winter, sometimes even in late November, if the weather allows and bloom well in April, even in May on cool places with lot of snow during the winter. The plant is a floral element of south and east Alps It is widely exploited in horticulture. Helleborus niger is especially valued in Japan, where Helleborus societies are establish, which organize trips to European places where displays of wild growing plants can be admired.

In west Slovenian in Upper Soča river valley and elsewhere Helleborus niger is too common plant to be truly admired. In February and March there are zillions of plants flowering everywhere, in forests, on grassland and especially along wood edges. On many places they represent the most dominant flowering plant not only during late winter but also in early spring.

How many species genus Helleborus comprise is still an open question. The number varies from 5 to 20, depending on to whom you trust. Many of them are extremely polymorphic and any kind of intermediate forms can be found.

Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoživečih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, št. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004). However, protected are only underground parts and seeds (Oo category). Protected also in some other EU states.

Ref.:

(1) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 122.

(2) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 100.

(3) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 276.

(4) A. Martinči et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnična Založba Slovenije (2007), p 127.

(5) P. Skoberne, Zavarovane rastline Slovenije (Protected Plants of Slovenia), Mladinska Kniga (2007) (in Slovenian), p 103.

Tenerife.

Icod, the Butterfly Garden.

Mariposario del Drago.

www.mariposario.com/English/index.html

MY VIDEO ON YOU TUBE

The Great Mormon (Papilio memnon) is a large butterfly that belongs to the swallowtail family and is found in southern Asia. It is widely distributed and has thirteen subspecies. The female is polymorphic and with mimetic forms.

Building façade that provides light and media information where and when it needs it, while providing privacy, comfort, and energy generation. Emerging materials of the 21st century such as Smart Glass, Transparent PV, OLED display provides a new opportunity for building facades to function where previously un-imagined. When combined and optimized, all the systematic, mechanical, and electrical functions of the building can be provided trough the façade, leaving broader opportunity for interior space.

Las nuevas hojas son de color rojizo pardusco al principio, volviéndose verdes con el tiempo.

Arbustos caducifolios y rizomatosos de hasta 1,5 m de alto. Corteza gris clara, con escamas papiráceas. Yemas pardo rojizas oscuras, subglobosas, de unos 2 mm. Hojasverdes, a menudo tornándose parduscas con la edad, polimorfas, oblongas, elíptica y a veces lanceoladas, ovadas u oblanceoladas, de 3-10 cm de largo x 1-5 cm de ancho, bastante gruesas y duras, base de redondeada a cuneada, margen plano o revoluto, con 2-3 dientes redondeados a cada lado, ápice anchamente redondeado, haz lustroso y dispersamente pubescente o glabrescente, envés densamente pubescente, peciolo de unos 7 mm. Bellotas solitarias o en parejas, subsésiles o con pedúnculo de 10-18 mm, con cúpula de 10-12 mm de alto x 15-25 mm de ancho, nuez ovoide, marrón, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Especie nativa de Texas, Nuevo México y Oklahoma, en Estados Unidos. En Iturraran se encuentra en la zona 1.

Zuhaixka hosto erorkorrak eta errizomadunak, 1,5 m garai gehienez. Azala gris argia, ezkata papirazeoekin. Begiak arre gorrixka ilunak, ia esferikoak, 2 mm ingurukoak. Hostoak berdeak, adinarekin askotan arrexka bihurtzen dira, polimorfoak, luzangak, eliptikoak eta, batzuetan, lantzeolatuak, obatuak eta oblantzeolatuak, 3-10 cm luze x 1-5 cm zabal, aski lodiak eta gogorrak, oinaldea biribila, falka itxurakoa edo tartekoa, ertza laua edo kanpora kiribildua, 2-3 hortz biribilekin alde bakoitzean, punta biribil zabala, gainaldea distiratsua eta han-hemen ilaunduna edo ia glabroa, azpialdea ile-janzki trinkoduna, 7 mm inguruko pezioloa. Ezkurrak banaka edo binaka agertzen dira, ia eseriak edo 10-18 mm-ko pedunkuluarekin, kupula 10-12 mm garai x 15-25 mm zabal da, hurra arrautza formakoa da, marroia, 12-25 x 14-18 mm-koa. Espeziearen jatorria: Amerikako Estatu Batuetako Texas, Mexiko Berria eta Oklahoma. Iturraranen 1. gunean dago.

Arbustes à feuillage caduc et à rhizomes de jusqu’à 1,5 m de hauteur. Écorce gris clair, avec écailles papyracées. Bourgeons brun rougeâtre foncés, sous-globuleux, de quelques 2 mm. Feuilles vertes, souvent brunâtres avec l’âge, polymorphes, oblongues, elliptique et parfois lancéolées, ovales ou oblancéolées, de 3-10 cm de longueur x 1-5 cm de largeur, assez épaisses et dures, base d’arrondie à cunée, bord plat ou retourné, avec 2-3 dents arrondies de chaque côté, sommet largement arrondi, adaxial lustré et rarement pubescent ou glabrescent, abaxial densément pubescent, pétiole de quelques 7 mm. Glands solitaires ou en couples, sous-sessiles ou avec pédoncule de 10-18 mm, avec coupole de 10-12 mm de hauteur x 15-25 mm de largeur, noix ovoïde, marron, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Espèce originaire du Texas, du Nouveau Mexique et de l’Oklahoma, aux États-Unis. À Iturraran elle se trouve dans la zone 1.

Rhizome and deciduous bushes up to 1.5 m tall. Light grey bark, with papyraceous scales. Dark reddish brown buds, subglobose, around 2 mm. Green leaves, often turning brown with age, polymorphic, oblong, elliptic and sometimes lanceolate, ovate or oblanceolate, 3-10 cm long x 1-5 cm wide, rather thick and hard, round to cuneate base, rolled or flat edge, with 2-3 rounded teeth on each side, broadly rounded tip, shiny upper face and pubescent or glabrescent in place, underneath densely pubescent, petiole of around 7 mm. Single acorns or in pairs, subsessiles or with 10-18 mm peduncle, with 10-12 mm high x 15-25 mm wide cupule, ovoid nut, brown, 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Species native to Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma in the United States. Located in zone 1 in Iturraran.

Es una especie muy polimorfa, que se extiende desde el Himalaya hasta Japón, Assam, centro norte de China, Himalaya occidental y oriental, Japón, Corea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya. los ejemplares representados aquí fueron recolectados en Yunna en 1998 por Allen Coombes como Quercus pentacycla (CMBS 516). En iturraran se encuentran en la zona 3.

t is a highly polymorphic species, ranging from the Himalayas to Japan, Assam, North-Central China, Western and Eastern Himalayas, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalayas. the specimens represented here were collected in Yunna in 1998 by Allen Coombes as Quercus pentacycla (CMBS 516). In iturraran they are in area 3.

Polymorphic race from cemetery, Isla Bastimentos, Bocas del Toro, Panama. August 2012.

This striking swallowtail actually has no tails at all, however like other similar mormon butterflies they originated in Southern Asia and Australia. Caterpillar host plants are most likely Rutaceae.

The origins of giving common English names to organisms, particularly butterflies for tropical species started in India around the mid 19th century ... The naming of Mormons evolved slowly. I think the first to get such a name was the Common Mormon (Papilio polytes), because it had three different females, a fact that could only have been observed in the field, and this they did in India. The name obviously reflected the ... Mormon sect in America, which as we know, practiced polygamy. Another school of thought as to why these 3 species are dubbed “Mormon”: The Scarlet Mormon (Papilio rumanzovia), Great Mormon (Papilio memnon) and Common Mormon (Papilio polytes) are all beautifully colored in black and white, often with red markings. The high contrast patterns along with their relatively large size cause members of these species to standout to visitors of the butterfly exhibit. Furthermore, Butterfly Wing visitors will think they are seeing more species than they actually are, because each of the Mormons is sexually dimorphic (males and females differ) as well as polymorphic (more than one wing pattern). These polymorphisms were first described nearly a century and a half ago.

Source: davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/5058/

Arbustos caducifolios y rizomatosos de hasta 1,5 m de alto. Corteza gris clara, con escamas papiráceas. Yemas pardo rojizas oscuras, subglobosas, de unos 2 mm. Hojasverdes, a menudo tornándose parduscas con la edad, polimorfas, oblongas, elíptica y a veces lanceoladas, ovadas u oblanceoladas, de 3-10 cm de largo x 1-5 cm de ancho, bastante gruesas y duras, base de redondeada a cuneada, margen plano o revoluto, con 2-3 dientes redondeados a cada lado, ápice anchamente redondeado, haz lustroso y dispersamente pubescente o glabrescente, envés densamente pubescente, peciolo de unos 7 mm. Bellotas solitarias o en parejas, subsésiles o con pedúnculo de 10-18 mm, con cúpula de 10-12 mm de alto x 15-25 mm de ancho, nuez ovoide, marrón, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Especie nativa de Texas, Nuevo México y Oklahoma, en Estados Unidos. En Iturraran se encuentra en la zona 1.

Zuhaixka hosto erorkorrak eta errizomadunak, 1,5 m garai gehienez. Azala gris argia, ezkata papirazeoekin. Begiak arre gorrixka ilunak, ia esferikoak, 2 mm ingurukoak. Hostoak berdeak, adinarekin askotan arrexka bihurtzen dira, polimorfoak, luzangak, eliptikoak eta, batzuetan, lantzeolatuak, obatuak eta oblantzeolatuak, 3-10 cm luze x 1-5 cm zabal, aski lodiak eta gogorrak, oinaldea biribila, falka itxurakoa edo tartekoa, ertza laua edo kanpora kiribildua, 2-3 hortz biribilekin alde bakoitzean, punta biribil zabala, gainaldea distiratsua eta han-hemen ilaunduna edo ia glabroa, azpialdea ile-janzki trinkoduna, 7 mm inguruko pezioloa. Ezkurrak banaka edo binaka agertzen dira, ia eseriak edo 10-18 mm-ko pedunkuluarekin, kupula 10-12 mm garai x 15-25 mm zabal da, hurra arrautza formakoa da, marroia, 12-25 x 14-18 mm-koa. Espeziearen jatorria: Amerikako Estatu Batuetako Texas, Mexiko Berria eta Oklahoma. Iturraranen 1. gunean dago.

Arbustes à feuillage caduc et à rhizomes de jusqu’à 1,5 m de hauteur. Écorce gris clair, avec écailles papyracées. Bourgeons brun rougeâtre foncés, sous-globuleux, de quelques 2 mm. Feuilles vertes, souvent brunâtres avec l’âge, polymorphes, oblongues, elliptique et parfois lancéolées, ovales ou oblancéolées, de 3-10 cm de longueur x 1-5 cm de largeur, assez épaisses et dures, base d’arrondie à cunée, bord plat ou retourné, avec 2-3 dents arrondies de chaque côté, sommet largement arrondi, adaxial lustré et rarement pubescent ou glabrescent, abaxial densément pubescent, pétiole de quelques 7 mm. Glands solitaires ou en couples, sous-sessiles ou avec pédoncule de 10-18 mm, avec coupole de 10-12 mm de hauteur x 15-25 mm de largeur, noix ovoïde, marron, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Espèce originaire du Texas, du Nouveau Mexique et de l’Oklahoma, aux États-Unis. À Iturraran elle se trouve dans la zone 1.

Rhizome and deciduous bushes up to 1.5 m tall. Light grey bark, with papyraceous scales. Dark reddish brown buds, subglobose, around 2 mm. Green leaves, often turning brown with age, polymorphic, oblong, elliptic and sometimes lanceolate, ovate or oblanceolate, 3-10 cm long x 1-5 cm wide, rather thick and hard, round to cuneate base, rolled or flat edge, with 2-3 rounded teeth on each side, broadly rounded tip, shiny upper face and pubescent or glabrescent in place, underneath densely pubescent, petiole of around 7 mm. Single acorns or in pairs, subsessiles or with 10-18 mm peduncle, with 10-12 mm high x 15-25 mm wide cupule, ovoid nut, brown, 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Species native to Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma in the United States. Located in zone 1 in Iturraran.

first test using polymorphic resin for fixing a broken handle

In Fairchild butterfly conservatory

Insecta: Lepidoptera

Tortricidae, Tortricinae

Homona species indeterminate

(a male)

this species has been recorded several times at Mai Po. but remains to be formally identified. It may be polymorphic, which is hindering attempts to i.d. based on external morphology.

Mai Po Nature Reserve

New Territories

Hong Kong

A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. The have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.

Polymorphic race from cemetery, Isla Bastimentos, Bocas del Toro, Panama. August 2012.

47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER. ACTIVIDAD PARA FAMILIAS CON PALOMA CALLE

Este invierno Paloma Calle nos invitó a ampliar todas las posibilidades creativas de la acción. En dos sesiones, niños y adultos inventaron una performance múltiple y polimórfica compuesta de 47 microacciones. Durante la primera sesión todos los participantes idearon las acciones que quisieron realizar (desde cantar su canción favorita hasta llegar a la luna) y las posibilidades de realización de este proyecto. En la segunda sesión lo llevaron a cabo de manera conjunta en una intervención en el CA2M abierta al público que deseó verlo o participar.

This winter Paloma Calle invited us to expand all the creative possibilities of the action. In two sessions, children and adults invented a multiple and polymorphic performance composed of 47 microactions. During the first session all the participants devised the actions they wanted to do (from singing their favorite song to the moon) and the possibilities of realizing this project. In the second session they carried out it jointly in an intervention in CA2M open to the public that wanted to see or participate.

Fotografías/ photographs: Andrea Ayala

CA2M - 47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER

Enlaces: WEB CA2M | FACEBOOK CA2M | YOUTUBE CA2M | TWITTER CA2M

Polymorphic race from cemetery, Isla Bastimentos, Bocas del Toro, Panama. August 2012.

ERIC analysis of MIP, other tubercle bacilli and NTMs.A. ERIC based fingerprinting. B. Phylogenetic analysis. Polymorphic ERIC fragments were subjected to allele calling in Quantity 1 software (Biorad, USA) and scoring was recorded in a binary format. These binary data were used to construct a phylogenetic tree developed using bootstrapping methods in MEGA software. Bootstrap values for the internal branch topology are clearly marked near each branch. Values above 50 were assumed as significant to convey acceptable topology of the internal branches.

What is the organism?

The little black ant.

How does it disperse?

When a colony becomes crowded the winged individuals can fly off and establish new colonies.

What is its global range?

According to antweb, nearctic, neotropical, USA, Paraguay, and Mexico.

How does it reproduce?

Ants rely on queens to reproduce. There are few ants in a colony that are able to reproduce. There can be multiple queens and they mate with drones to produce all of the offspring for a colony.

How many reproductive units does it create?

A queen can live up to 30 years laying 800-1500 eggs per day.

Does it have any particular adaptations of note?

Ants create large colonies that are well organized. Even though each ant comes from the same queen they are polymorphic and each morph has a specific job that contributes to the group as a whole.

Resources:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant#Behaviour_and_ecology

www.antweb.org/description.do?name=minimum&genus=mono...

Is it a single or multiple population(s)?

There are multiple populations

Where are the nearest mating members?

There are many queens all underground being protected by workers.

How is it distributed (random, clumped, uniform) at each location or over the entire range

of your site?

I would say clumped in some areas (eg areas better for digging) such as trails, but they are dispersed all over my location.

Do you think the population you are observing is a source or sink?

This population is a source.

Where do the offspring of the population you are observing go?

The offspring that are workers an not reproducers will stay in the colony for life. Since the ants that create more colonies are highly mobile they can go pretty much anywhere.

Where do immigrants come from?

Immigrants are not really an important factor for ants since they have such a small breeding population. Immigrants would establish their own colony. They could come from the surrounding area, or really anywhere since ants are so widely dispersed.

Plug the average number of offspring created by an individual during one time period, as

well as the number of individuals you estimated, into the geometric population growth

equation. There are countless ant colonies in such a large area. I picked a small portion of a sand track and counted them there.

What should the population be in 5 cycles?

18(1100)(5)= 99,000

In 20 cycles? 3,960,000

This model is a hypothesis of sorts.

Do you think your population is experiencing this type of growth? Explain why you think this.

No, there are more factors than this. Some will die, or not hatch. Although with such a large population growth the population will definitely still grow much larger quickly.

Phylogenies and population structures of B. burgdorferi s.s. and B. garinii.Neighbor-Net networks based on chromosomal data reveal the phylogenetic relationships among sampled and reference strains of (A) B. burgdorferi s.s. and (C) B. garinii. Networks were constructed with SplitsTree 4 software and were based on a distance matrix calculated in Paup* 4.0 b10 using a GTR+I+G model. Strain names are surrounded in function of the main population they were assigned to using Structure; the results of the best run of Structure v2.3.4 are shown for (B) B. burgdorferi s.s. (K = 7) and (D) B. garinii (K = 13). Analyses were based on all polymorphic sites present in at least 90% of strains identified using multiple alignments of chromosomal data, assuming correlations among linked loci and allowing admixture among potential populations.

first test using polymorphic resin for fixing a broken handle

47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER. ACTIVIDAD PARA FAMILIAS CON PALOMA CALLE

Este invierno Paloma Calle nos invitó a ampliar todas las posibilidades creativas de la acción. En dos sesiones, niños y adultos inventaron una performance múltiple y polimórfica compuesta de 47 microacciones. Durante la primera sesión todos los participantes idearon las acciones que quisieron realizar (desde cantar su canción favorita hasta llegar a la luna) y las posibilidades de realización de este proyecto. En la segunda sesión lo llevaron a cabo de manera conjunta en una intervención en el CA2M abierta al público que deseó verlo o participar.

This winter Paloma Calle invited us to expand all the creative possibilities of the action. In two sessions, children and adults invented a multiple and polymorphic performance composed of 47 microactions. During the first session all the participants devised the actions they wanted to do (from singing their favorite song to the moon) and the possibilities of realizing this project. In the second session they carried out it jointly in an intervention in CA2M open to the public that wanted to see or participate.

Fotografías/ photographs: Andrea Ayala

CA2M - 47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER

Enlaces: WEB CA2M | FACEBOOK CA2M | YOUTUBE CA2M | TWITTER CA2M

A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.

ID by John Slapcinsky

This unique tree snail is only found on the easternmost

Province of Oriente of the island of Cuba. Though widespread

throughout the province, the species, subspecies, varieties and forms

are found in discrete populations endemic to specific geographical areas.

Acleris celiana. Photographed at Portage Lake, Parry Sound, Ontario on 10 May 2015. Rather a pretty version of this polymorphic Acleris...

Consensus Bayesian phylogeny of the Daphnia species complex based on the mitochondrial COX1 gene.The alignment contains 52 sequences of length 552 nt with 151 polymorphic positions of which 112 are phylogenetically informative. Nine of the 12 lineages in the Daphnia pulex species complex, including all three South American lineages, are represented. The tree is rooted through the midpoint. Numbers at the nodes are Bayesian posterior probabilities and are not shown if less than 0.80. Branch colors correspond to continents as follows: green = Europe, blue = North America, red = South America. Individual CT-18 was collected from Connecticut, USA.

Scops owls are typical owls in family Strigidae belonging to the genus Otus and are restricted to the Old World. Otus is the largest genus of owls with 57 species. Scops owls are colored in various brownish hues, sometimes with a lighter underside and/or face, which helps to camouflage them against the bark of trees. Some are polymorphic, occurring in a greyish- and a reddish-brown morph. They are small and agile, with both sexes being compact in size and shape. Female scops owls are usually larger than males.

sand dunes.

monahan's sand dunes, west tx.

Envés densamente pubescente, grisáceo o pardusco.

Arbustos caducifolios y rizomatosos de hasta 1,5 m de alto. Corteza gris clara, con escamas papiráceas. Yemas pardo rojizas oscuras, subglobosas, de unos 2 mm. Hojasverdes, a menudo tornándose parduscas con la edad, polimorfas, oblongas, elíptica y a veces lanceoladas, ovadas u oblanceoladas, de 3-10 cm de largo x 1-5 cm de ancho, bastante gruesas y duras, base de redondeada a cuneada, margen plano o revoluto, con 2-3 dientes redondeados a cada lado, ápice anchamente redondeado, haz lustroso y dispersamente pubescente o glabrescente, envés densamente pubescente, peciolo de unos 7 mm. Bellotas solitarias o en parejas, subsésiles o con pedúnculo de 10-18 mm, con cúpula de 10-12 mm de alto x 15-25 mm de ancho, nuez ovoide, marrón, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Especie nativa de Texas, Nuevo México y Oklahoma, en Estados Unidos. En Iturraran se encuentra en la zona 1.

Zuhaixka hosto erorkorrak eta errizomadunak, 1,5 m garai gehienez. Azala gris argia, ezkata papirazeoekin. Begiak arre gorrixka ilunak, ia esferikoak, 2 mm ingurukoak. Hostoak berdeak, adinarekin askotan arrexka bihurtzen dira, polimorfoak, luzangak, eliptikoak eta, batzuetan, lantzeolatuak, obatuak eta oblantzeolatuak, 3-10 cm luze x 1-5 cm zabal, aski lodiak eta gogorrak, oinaldea biribila, falka itxurakoa edo tartekoa, ertza laua edo kanpora kiribildua, 2-3 hortz biribilekin alde bakoitzean, punta biribil zabala, gainaldea distiratsua eta han-hemen ilaunduna edo ia glabroa, azpialdea ile-janzki trinkoduna, 7 mm inguruko pezioloa. Ezkurrak banaka edo binaka agertzen dira, ia eseriak edo 10-18 mm-ko pedunkuluarekin, kupula 10-12 mm garai x 15-25 mm zabal da, hurra arrautza formakoa da, marroia, 12-25 x 14-18 mm-koa. Espeziearen jatorria: Amerikako Estatu Batuetako Texas, Mexiko Berria eta Oklahoma. Iturraranen 1. gunean dago.

Arbustes à feuillage caduc et à rhizomes de jusqu’à 1,5 m de hauteur. Écorce gris clair, avec écailles papyracées. Bourgeons brun rougeâtre foncés, sous-globuleux, de quelques 2 mm. Feuilles vertes, souvent brunâtres avec l’âge, polymorphes, oblongues, elliptique et parfois lancéolées, ovales ou oblancéolées, de 3-10 cm de longueur x 1-5 cm de largeur, assez épaisses et dures, base d’arrondie à cunée, bord plat ou retourné, avec 2-3 dents arrondies de chaque côté, sommet largement arrondi, adaxial lustré et rarement pubescent ou glabrescent, abaxial densément pubescent, pétiole de quelques 7 mm. Glands solitaires ou en couples, sous-sessiles ou avec pédoncule de 10-18 mm, avec coupole de 10-12 mm de hauteur x 15-25 mm de largeur, noix ovoïde, marron, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Espèce originaire du Texas, du Nouveau Mexique et de l’Oklahoma, aux États-Unis. À Iturraran elle se trouve dans la zone 1.

Rhizome and deciduous bushes up to 1.5 m tall. Light grey bark, with papyraceous scales. Dark reddish brown buds, subglobose, around 2 mm. Green leaves, often turning brown with age, polymorphic, oblong, elliptic and sometimes lanceolate, ovate or oblanceolate, 3-10 cm long x 1-5 cm wide, rather thick and hard, round to cuneate base, rolled or flat edge, with 2-3 rounded teeth on each side, broadly rounded tip, shiny upper face and pubescent or glabrescent in place, underneath densely pubescent, petiole of around 7 mm. Single acorns or in pairs, subsessiles or with 10-18 mm peduncle, with 10-12 mm high x 15-25 mm wide cupule, ovoid nut, brown, 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Species native to Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma in the United States. Located in zone 1 in Iturraran.

The "Polymorphic Plastic Parade" teaches passersby how to build a tipi in the Sioux style using sustainable and waste materials. More at www.plasticparade.org/basecamp1/

47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER. ACTIVIDAD PARA FAMILIAS CON PALOMA CALLE

Este invierno Paloma Calle nos invitó a ampliar todas las posibilidades creativas de la acción. En dos sesiones, niños y adultos inventaron una performance múltiple y polimórfica compuesta de 47 microacciones. Durante la primera sesión todos los participantes idearon las acciones que quisieron realizar (desde cantar su canción favorita hasta llegar a la luna) y las posibilidades de realización de este proyecto. En la segunda sesión lo llevaron a cabo de manera conjunta en una intervención en el CA2M abierta al público que deseó verlo o participar.

This winter Paloma Calle invited us to expand all the creative possibilities of the action. In two sessions, children and adults invented a multiple and polymorphic performance composed of 47 microactions. During the first session all the participants devised the actions they wanted to do (from singing their favorite song to the moon) and the possibilities of realizing this project. In the second session they carried out it jointly in an intervention in CA2M open to the public that wanted to see or participate.

Fotografías/ photographs: Andrea Ayala

CA2M - 47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER

Enlaces: WEB CA2M | FACEBOOK CA2M | YOUTUBE CA2M | TWITTER CA2M

first test using polymorphic resin for fixing a broken handle

Insecta: Lepidoptera

Pyralidae, Phycitinae

Ptyomaxia syntaractis

Hong Kong

47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER. ACTIVIDAD PARA FAMILIAS CON PALOMA CALLE

Este invierno Paloma Calle nos invitó a ampliar todas las posibilidades creativas de la acción. En dos sesiones, niños y adultos inventaron una performance múltiple y polimórfica compuesta de 47 microacciones. Durante la primera sesión todos los participantes idearon las acciones que quisieron realizar (desde cantar su canción favorita hasta llegar a la luna) y las posibilidades de realización de este proyecto. En la segunda sesión lo llevaron a cabo de manera conjunta en una intervención en el CA2M abierta al público que deseó verlo o participar.

This winter Paloma Calle invited us to expand all the creative possibilities of the action. In two sessions, children and adults invented a multiple and polymorphic performance composed of 47 microactions. During the first session all the participants devised the actions they wanted to do (from singing their favorite song to the moon) and the possibilities of realizing this project. In the second session they carried out it jointly in an intervention in CA2M open to the public that wanted to see or participate.

Fotografías/ photographs: Andrea Ayala

CA2M - 47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER

Enlaces: WEB CA2M | FACEBOOK CA2M | YOUTUBE CA2M | TWITTER CA2M

47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER. ACTIVIDAD PARA FAMILIAS CON PALOMA CALLE

Este invierno Paloma Calle nos invitó a ampliar todas las posibilidades creativas de la acción. En dos sesiones, niños y adultos inventaron una performance múltiple y polimórfica compuesta de 47 microacciones. Durante la primera sesión todos los participantes idearon las acciones que quisieron realizar (desde cantar su canción favorita hasta llegar a la luna) y las posibilidades de realización de este proyecto. En la segunda sesión lo llevaron a cabo de manera conjunta en una intervención en el CA2M abierta al público que deseó verlo o participar.

This winter Paloma Calle invited us to expand all the creative possibilities of the action. In two sessions, children and adults invented a multiple and polymorphic performance composed of 47 microactions. During the first session all the participants devised the actions they wanted to do (from singing their favorite song to the moon) and the possibilities of realizing this project. In the second session they carried out it jointly in an intervention in CA2M open to the public that wanted to see or participate.

Fotografías/ photographs: Andrea Ayala

CA2M - 47 COSAS QUE HACER EN ESTE TALLER

Enlaces: WEB CA2M | FACEBOOK CA2M | YOUTUBE CA2M | TWITTER CA2M

The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), also spelled Gyr Falcon, sometimes Gerfalcon, is the largest of all falcon species. The Gyrfalcon breeds on Arctic coasts and islands of North America, Europe and Asia. It is mainly resident, but some Gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter[1].

The bird's common name comes from French gerfaucon, and in mediaeval Latin is rendered as gyrofalco. The first part of the word may come from Old High German gîr (cf. modern German Geier), "vulture", referring to its size compared to other falcons, or the Latin gȳrus ("circle", "curved path") from the species' circling as it searches for prey, unlike the other falcons in its range[2]. The male gyrfalcon is called a gyrkin in falconry.

Its scientific name is composed of the Latin terms for a falcon, Falco, and for someone who lives in the countryside, rusticolus.

Plumage is very variable in this highly polymorphic species: the archetypal morphs are called "white", "silver", "brown" and "black" though coloration spans a continuous spectrum from nearly all-white birds to very dark ones.

The Gyrfalcon is a bird of tundra and mountains, with cliffs or a few patches of trees. It feeds only on birds and mammals. Like other hierofalcons, it usually hunts in a horizontal pursuit, rather than the Peregrine's speedy stoop from a height. Most prey is killed on the ground, whether they are captured there or, if the victim is a flying bird, forced to the ground. The diet is to some extent opportunistic, but a majority of breeding birds mostly rely on Lagopus grouse. Avian prey can range in size from redpolls to geese and can include gulls, corvids, smaller passerines, waders and other raptors (up to the size of Buteos). Mammalian prey can range in size from shrews to marmots (sometimes 3 times heavier than the assaulting falcon), and often includes include lemmings, voles, ground squirrels and hares. They only rarely eat carrion.

The Gyrfalcon is the official bird of Canada's Northwest Territories.

Endemic plant from Madeira.It forms a fascinating leaf rosette.The red outer leaves are the oldest.The plant dies after flowering.

Arbustos caducifolios y rizomatosos de hasta 1,5 m de alto. Corteza gris clara, con escamas papiráceas. Yemas pardo rojizas oscuras, subglobosas, de unos 2 mm. Hojasverdes, a menudo tornándose parduscas con la edad, polimorfas, oblongas, elíptica y a veces lanceoladas, ovadas u oblanceoladas, de 3-10 cm de largo x 1-5 cm de ancho, bastante gruesas y duras, base de redondeada a cuneada, margen plano o revoluto, con 2-3 dientes redondeados a cada lado, ápice anchamente redondeado, haz lustroso y dispersamente pubescente o glabrescente, envés densamente pubescente, peciolo de unos 7 mm. Bellotas solitarias o en parejas, subsésiles o con pedúnculo de 10-18 mm, con cúpula de 10-12 mm de alto x 15-25 mm de ancho, nuez ovoide, marrón, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Especie nativa de Texas, Nuevo México y Oklahoma, en Estados Unidos. En Iturraran se encuentra en la zona 1.

Zuhaixka hosto erorkorrak eta errizomadunak, 1,5 m garai gehienez. Azala gris argia, ezkata papirazeoekin. Begiak arre gorrixka ilunak, ia esferikoak, 2 mm ingurukoak. Hostoak berdeak, adinarekin askotan arrexka bihurtzen dira, polimorfoak, luzangak, eliptikoak eta, batzuetan, lantzeolatuak, obatuak eta oblantzeolatuak, 3-10 cm luze x 1-5 cm zabal, aski lodiak eta gogorrak, oinaldea biribila, falka itxurakoa edo tartekoa, ertza laua edo kanpora kiribildua, 2-3 hortz biribilekin alde bakoitzean, punta biribil zabala, gainaldea distiratsua eta han-hemen ilaunduna edo ia glabroa, azpialdea ile-janzki trinkoduna, 7 mm inguruko pezioloa. Ezkurrak banaka edo binaka agertzen dira, ia eseriak edo 10-18 mm-ko pedunkuluarekin, kupula 10-12 mm garai x 15-25 mm zabal da, hurra arrautza formakoa da, marroia, 12-25 x 14-18 mm-koa. Espeziearen jatorria: Amerikako Estatu Batuetako Texas, Mexiko Berria eta Oklahoma. Iturraranen 1. gunean dago.

Arbustes à feuillage caduc et à rhizomes de jusqu’à 1,5 m de hauteur. Écorce gris clair, avec écailles papyracées. Bourgeons brun rougeâtre foncés, sous-globuleux, de quelques 2 mm. Feuilles vertes, souvent brunâtres avec l’âge, polymorphes, oblongues, elliptique et parfois lancéolées, ovales ou oblancéolées, de 3-10 cm de longueur x 1-5 cm de largeur, assez épaisses et dures, base d’arrondie à cunée, bord plat ou retourné, avec 2-3 dents arrondies de chaque côté, sommet largement arrondi, adaxial lustré et rarement pubescent ou glabrescent, abaxial densément pubescent, pétiole de quelques 7 mm. Glands solitaires ou en couples, sous-sessiles ou avec pédoncule de 10-18 mm, avec coupole de 10-12 mm de hauteur x 15-25 mm de largeur, noix ovoïde, marron, de 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Espèce originaire du Texas, du Nouveau Mexique et de l’Oklahoma, aux États-Unis. À Iturraran elle se trouve dans la zone 1.

Rhizome and deciduous bushes up to 1.5 m tall. Light grey bark, with papyraceous scales. Dark reddish brown buds, subglobose, around 2 mm. Green leaves, often turning brown with age, polymorphic, oblong, elliptic and sometimes lanceolate, ovate or oblanceolate, 3-10 cm long x 1-5 cm wide, rather thick and hard, round to cuneate base, rolled or flat edge, with 2-3 rounded teeth on each side, broadly rounded tip, shiny upper face and pubescent or glabrescent in place, underneath densely pubescent, petiole of around 7 mm. Single acorns or in pairs, subsessiles or with 10-18 mm peduncle, with 10-12 mm high x 15-25 mm wide cupule, ovoid nut, brown, 12-25 x 14-18 mm. Species native to Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma in the United States. Located in zone 1 in Iturraran.