Everyone knows most birds love to sing, and the pleasant sounds of birds chirping or chattering in nearby trees is a welcome sound. Some bird species sing more than others, though, and one of the most vocal birds of them all is the northern mockingbird.
Some people are afraid of bats. There is really no reason to fear these small creatures, though. Bats are beneficial and they are actually quite interesting. Bats are the only mammals in the world that can truly fly, and they eat thousands upon thousands of insects (including hordes of mosquitoes) every summer.
Most people have never seen a copperbelly water snake. The reason is simple: these snakes are very uncommon and they are becoming downright rare. The northern population of the copperbelly water snake (living in southern Michigan, northern Indiana and northwest Ohio) is even listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.
Tree swallows are a common sight from spring throughout the summer in many areas as they expertly flit and fly over ponds, lakes, marshes and fields. These small, streamlined birds migrate back northward throughout the U.S. from their overwintering areas in Central America and Mexico to nest and feed here throughout the warm weather months.
American bullfrogs are the largest frog in North America, and they are one of the symbols of spring and summer around our lakes, ponds and marshes. Their distinctive croaking calls blend with the crickets and other night-time sounds.
One very popular fish in much of the United States is the yellow perch (Perca flavescens). They are easily recognized by their pale golden-yellow body color and the dark vertical stripes on their sides. Also called lake perch, striped perch and ringed perch, these tasty freshwater fish have been a favorite dinner entrée in local restaurants for decades.
Sparrows are often called “little brown birds”, and for good reason. There are lots of different species of sparrows in North America, and many of them are small and brown! If can be very difficult to tell them apart, at least until you know what you are looking for.
Have you ever caught a warmouth while fishing for bluegills or other panfish? Warmouth are found in the Great Lakes states and the Mississippi River basin, and they are common throughout most of the southeastern United States from central Texas east to Florida and the Carolinas.
One of the most common visitors to back yard bird feeders in the northern half of the United States (and much of Canada) is the Black-Capped Chickadee. They do not migrate south for the winter, and for a very small bird they can withstand some extremely frigid temperatures.
Everyone has seen a mouse at one time or another, right? Mice are very common rodents, but did you see a deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) or a house mouse (Mus musculus)? A deer mouse has a brown back and a white belly, with white legs and feet.
The Wilson’s Snipe is a strange-looking bird that is about the size of an American robin. It is a chubby, medium-sized shorebird with feathers that are a mottled mixture of brown, tan, cream and white. It’s got a round head and a very short tail, but the weirdest thing about it is its beak.
When people see a water snake, they frequently exclaim “Water Moccasin!” This often happens even in northern states like Wisconsin and Michigan that are way out of the snake’s native range. Water Moccasins (or Cottonmouths) are venomous, and although they do venture as far north as Indiana and Illinois, they are typically only found in the extreme southern parts of those states.
