Hobbies And Interests
Swallows
Swallows are characterized by their ability to eat in midair. These small, drab-colored birds are known for their in-flight acrobatics and forked tails. They prefer flying insects, especially flies, and will happily eat horseflies. Swallows live in every continent except for Antarctica. The purple martin is an especially adept fly hunter and is among the few swallow species that are not brown. The largest swallow in North America, the purple martin can be recognized by its dark, glossy, bluish-black feathers.
Sparrows
Sparrows are small, brown or gray birds with cone-shaped beaks and rounded bodies. Males' heads frequently have elaborate patterns or stripes. These birds primarily eat seeds and in-ground vegetation, but can also catch flying insects. They prefer insects that fly low to the ground like horse flies. White-crowned and white-throated sparrows, named for their distinctive color patterns, are particularly adept North American horse fly hunters.
Black-Headed Grosbeak
The black-headed grosbeak is related to red cardinals. Males can be identified by their orange bodies, black heads and black wings with white stripes. Their bills are cone-shaped and are frequently multicolored. These birds live in the western United States and prey on a variety of insects, including caterpillars, wasps and horse flies.
Warblers
About 50 species of warblers exist, all of which are insectivores. Most warblers are small and many lay large clutches of six to 10 eggs. Some warblers have bright color patterns, and all warblers have monochromatic bills. They spend most of their time in trees and catch insects while in flight. The Tennessee warbler is a common North American bird with a terse, high-pitched call that sounds like it is saying, "sit."