[Length 4.5 in. Wingspan 7 in.]

The Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet (whose name may be larger than the bird itself!) is a tropical flycatcher which occurs in North America primarily along the eastern and western coasts of Mexico. It can only be found in the US in southeastern Arizona and the extreme southeastern Rio Grande Valley in Texas. It is usually found near streams in groves of sycamore, mesquite, or cottonwood trees. This Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet was photographed at Sonoita Creek Sanctuary in Patagonia, Arizona. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Ektachrome 400 film pushed to 800. This photo is on file with the Academy of Natural Sciences' Visual Resources for Ornithology (VIREO B22/1/008). (Date: May 1985)

[Length 4.5 in. Wingspan 7 in.]

This Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet was photographed at Anzalduas County Park, Mission, TX. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: January 15, 2010)

[Length 4.5 in. Wingspan 7 in.]

This Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet was photographed at Anzalduas County Park, Mission, TX. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: January 15, 2010)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 12 in.]

This Rose-throated Becard was photographed at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Texas. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: February 9, 2010)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 12 in.]

This Rose-throated Becard was photographed at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Texas. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: February 9, 2010)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 12 in.]

This Rose-throated Becard was photographed at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Texas. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: February 9, 2010)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

American Bitterns are common, but secretive, breeding in marshes throughout the US and southern Canada. When surprised they will point their head and bill straight up, exposing their streaked underside, which blends in amazingly well to the reeds and grasses they usually frequent. In the spring they can be heard giving their "ga-goonk" calls, which sound like an old-fashioned hand water pump. This American Bittern was photographed at Anahuac NWR, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S f4 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: April 14, 2005)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 42 in.]

When surprised Bitterns will point their head and bill straight up, exposing their streaked underside, which blends in amazingly well to the reeds and grasses they usually frequent. This tactic does not work well, however, when the bird leaves the reeds to hunt frogs and mice in fields (as can be seen in this photo), although at a distance the bird can be mistaken for a stump or fencepost. This American Bittern was photographed while hunting in an open field at La Creek NWR, South Dakota. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1992)