Birds in Your Neighborhood By Andrew Forbes, photos by Jim Rathert Don't be a stranger to your feathery neighbors. Birds are everywhere. You see them in forests, near lakes and ponds, or in city parks. Missouri has many different "habitats" for birds, and many different kinds, or "species" of birds live in these habitats. You probably have many different species of birds in your neighbor-hood. To find them, all you need are your eyes and ears. Binoculars are also helpful to help you see distinguishing marks on birds. Many birdwatchers keep track of what birds they've seen. Some birders have seen thousands of species. The world's champion bird-watcher, Tom Gullick of Spain, has seen 8,195 different species of birds in his life. You can start your own birdwatching life list with 10 species that are fairly common in Missouri. You can easily find these birds whether you live in the country or the city. It may be easier to find some of them at a park or a nature center. Bird watching tips Birdfeeders attract lots of bird species. Watch birds at your birdfeeder through your window while you read about them in a field guide. Pay attention to a bird's size, profile, beak, feet, banding and color. These characteristics are helpful in identifying species. When you are outside, walk slowly, Pause often to watch. Listen carefully. You'll often hear birds before you see them. Early morning is one of the best times to listen for and see birds. Challenge yourself to see at least one new species a day. After watching a bird outside, read all about it in your field guide, or search for more information about it on the Internet. Click to Enlarge White-breasted Nuthatch (birds pictured from top to bottom) If you're in the woods or under a tree in your yard and you hear a scratching sound against the bark, look up. The sound is prob-ably being made by a white-breasted nuthatch. Nuthatches have a black cap, white throat and belly, and a dark blue back. Nuthatches scale the trunks and branches searching for tidbits to eat. You'll often find nuthatches in flocks with other species of birds, like chickadees. Mourning Dove Mourning doves are long and thin with a pointed tail. They are mostly brownish gray, with some pink mixed in on their belly and throat. Doves spend a lot of time on the ground, but they are extremely fast and agile in flight. When a dove flies, its powerful breast muscles compress hard against its lungs and force air through its nostrils, making a distinctive whistling sound. They make a soft cooing call. American Crow As with blue jays, you usually hear crows before you see them. Their "CAW, CAW!" call is unmistakable. The birds are easy to recognize. They are larger than most other birds, and their bodies are covered with black feathers. Crows are highly intelligent. They are better able to adapt to changes in their environments than most birds. Crows can live almost anywhere. Red-tailed Hawk The red-tailed hawk is a large, reddish-brown hawk with a speckled, cream-colored belly. They often perch on telephone poles or trees along a road to look for mice and other small animals. Chickadees There are two species of chicka-dees that live in Missouri. Black-capped chickadees are more common in northern Missouri, and Carolina chickadees are more common in southern Missouri. However, their ranges overlap in the middle part of the state. Both species look similar and are identified by their black cap, white cheeks, and black "bib" and throat. Chickadees are very curious and bold. They will often let you get really close to them without flying away. Downy Woodpecker Downy woodpeckers have a white back and belly, and black wings and tail. Woodpeckers cling to trees, pecking and pounding on trunks and branches to find insects that hide under the bark. They often visit bird feeders, especially ones that have suet. House Sparrow These birds are mostly dull brown. Males have a gray cap, black bib, and black beak. House sparrows in Missouri descended from birds brought from England that were released in St. Louis in 1875. Now, wherever you find people, you'll also find house sparrows. American Robin Robins have dark brown backs and heads and red bellies. In the spring and summer, you'll find them run-ning on mown grass, pulling up earthworms and other insects. During the winter, robins gather into flocks and move into the woods, where they eat fruits and berries. Northern Cardinal Male cardinals are mostly red with a thick beak that they use to crush seeds. Female cardinals are mostly brownish-green, with a little red on their wings, tail and crest. Cardinals have a tuft of feath-ers that looks like a crest on their head. Look for cardinals in shrubby areas, especially near water. Unlike most other birds, both male and female cardinals sing all year. Blue Jay Blue Jays are colored bluish gray on their back. Their wings are bright blue with heavy black bars and a single white bar. They also have a white belly and a black "necklace." Like cardinals, blue jays have a head crest. Blue Jays are noisy. You usually hear them before you see them. They are best known for their screaming, "JAY! JAY! JAY!" call, but they also make a variety of other noises, including a remarkable imitation of the scream of a red-shouldered hawk. Blue jays are very aggressive and sometimes chase other birds away from feeders. They usually gobble up several seeds and then fly off to hide them.