Common Moorhen

The bright red frontal shield certainly makes an impression~

This is a common moorhen, or Gallinula chloropus. It’s also known as “swamp chicken” and “waterhen”, though the latter of the two might cause some confusion when compared to the watercock. Watercocks are not the male versions of waterhens, but actually a completely different, albeit somewhat related, species.

Photo taken: Apr. 21, 2022

Common Kestrel

Its fanned-out tail looks huge compared to its legs~

This is a common kestrel, or Falco tinnunculus. When hunting, they prefer to hover in mid-air like this one is doing, allowing them to quickly swoop down if they spot prey — mostly small mammals like mice, voles, and shrews — in the distance.

Photo taken: Apr. 22, 2022

Common Tern

Flying in the water~

This is a common tern, or Sterna hirundo. As their name implies, they can be found on the coasts of all the continents, save Antarctica, and inland over the continents of the northern hemisphere. Like other terns, they are well-equipped to fly very long distances and so have occasionally been spotted well beyond their usual range. There have been sightings in Zambia, some 2,000 miles from the nearest residential site and 500 from the coast; the nominate (of North America and Eurasia) subspecies has been spotted in south-central Brazil and Australia; and the far-eastern subspecies has been seen in western Europe, 3,000 to 5,000 miles from their breeding range.

Photo taken: Jun. 19, 2021

Common Yellowthroat

Singing, tongue and all~

This is a common yellowthroat, or Geothlypis trichas. Contrary to my comment, songbirds don’t actually sing in a way that involves their tongue. Rather, they have a two-sided vocal organ called a syrinx that lets them produce two notes independent of each other and at the same time, resulting in the complex and varied songs we hear.

Photo taken: May 23, 2021

Common Watersnake

Why does your tongue have to move so fast??? (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

This is a common watersnake, or Nerodia sipedon. It goes by way too many other names (found in the link), including disagreement over whether to call it brown/black and a snake/adder, and then there’s just “watersnake” as if this is the only such species to exist…

Photo taken: May 2, 2021

Common Grackle

It’s a bit late for Valentine’s flowers, isn’t it?

This is a common grackle, or Quiscalus quiscula. They make good use of natural insect repellents, so maybe these flowers have repellent properties?

Photo taken: May 16, 2021