[...]... the < /b> eider dives beneath the < /b> waves to grab shellfish in its powerful bill or, as the < /b> tide ebbs, it dabbles for them in the < /b> shallows The < /b> eider cracks open large shellfish with its bill, but swallows small ones whole The < /b> gizzard (part of < /b> the < /b> stomach) grinds down the < /b> shells of < /b> the < /b> food that it swallows whole, releasing the < /b> soft flesh inside Shellfish form the < /b> basis of < /b> the < /b> eider’s diet, but it also occasionally... speckled egg on bare rock on a cliff ledge (the < /b> egg’s pear shape helps keep it from rolling off the < /b> cliff ’s edge) Both parents take turns incubating the < /b> egg for about 33 days by holding it between their feet; they turn to face the < /b> cliff side for added protection from the < /b> wind .The < /b> hatchling resembles a gray ball of < /b> wool; the < /b> feathers become waterproof within about three weeks, about the < /b> time that the < /b> chick... birds < /b> use their large, webbed feet to propel down to the < /b> seabed It’s believed that the < /b> common eider inspired the < /b> first bird sanctuary St Cuthbert, a 7th-century hermit on the < /b> Farne Islands off the < /b> east coast of < /b> northern England, protected them In fact, the < /b> Farne Islands are still a bird sanctuary today • In the < /b> few hours between hatching and reaching the < /b> sea, half of < /b> a brood may be snatched by predators,... shallow banks, marine coasts and bays The < /b> guillemot can generally be found in boreal (northern) waters with some birds < /b> in the < /b> cool, subtropical zone Depending on the < /b> direction of < /b> fish schools, the < /b> guillemot winters offshore at sea within the < /b> breeding range In Newfoundland and Norway, the < /b> bird is relatively sedentary; in Great Britain and Iceland, birds < /b> move toward the < /b> North Sea ᮤ TIGHT FIT Rows of < /b> guillemots... obliged to The < /b> nighthawk’s booming allow bounty to be paid on call has been compared to the < /b> sound made by blowing in them simply because they were called hawks the < /b> mouth of < /b> a soda bottle Rooftop nests may fail in hot weather when eggs get stuck in sun-warmed tar • 230 Common Nighthawk 1 Take off… As the < /b> sun falls below the < /b> horizon, the < /b> nighthawk flies up from its daytime resting place 2 Zigzag… The < /b> nighthawk... it does so on the < /b> ground, in the < /b> water and in the < /b> trees It forages in the < /b> company of < /b> many birds < /b> in trees and bushes, looking for a variety of < /b> foods, including nuts, fruit, the < /b> eggs of < /b> small birds < /b> and even young birds < /b> .The < /b> common grackle has also been known to eat salamanders, acorns, chestnuts, ᮡ WET WADER weeds, seeds and grain The < /b> grackle carefully probes on the < /b> A grackle wades into the < /b> ground using... itself less buoyant, then plunges below the < /b> surface in pursuit 4 Snap 3 Paddle… Taking up the < /b> the chase, the < /b> loon paddles rapidly with its feet .The < /b> wings are sometimes opened to help with steering Once in range of < /b> its quarry, the < /b> loon lunges forward, snapping at a fish to catch it sideways between the < /b> mandibles of < /b> its bill ? • The < /b> common loon is called the < /b> “loon,” because of < /b> the < /b> “lunatic” sounds of < /b> its... the < /b> shelter of < /b> its woodland habitat BREEDING The < /b> common grackle is polygamous; each male often takes on multiple partners throughout the < /b> breeding season Just before this season begins in the < /b> early spring, the < /b> grackle forms very large, noisy roosts, often with thousands of < /b> other birds < /b> In a characteristic display performed during the < /b> mating ritual, the < /b> male lifts his head and drops his wings before breaking... northern Canada and northeastern U.S to Greenland, Great Britain, Scandinavia and eastern Siberia; birds < /b> in the < /b> High Arctic and Baltic areas migrate south in winter Common Eider 209 L IFECYCLE BEHAVIOR The < /b> common eider spends most of < /b> its time in the < /b> cold, storm-tossed waters of < /b> northern seas, buoyantly bobbing among rough wave crests or diving below the < /b> surface to feed Common eiders gather in large flocks... remarkable bright-orange “shield” eider duck eider duck outlined in black at the < /b> base of < /b> the < /b> red bill The < /b> common eider lacks the < /b> king eider’s colorful head and has a white back, making it appear cleaner cut than the < /b> king eider After breeding, both molt into a dark, drab “eclipse” plumage, looking quite different from their courtship dress 212 Common Eider RELATED SPECIES The < /b> common •member of < /b> theeider . its powerful bill or, as the tide ebbs, it dabbles for them in the shallows. The eider cracks open large shellfish with its bill, but swallows small ones whole. The gizzard (part of the stomach). water and in the trees. It forages in the company of many birds in trees and bushes, looking for a variety of foods, including nuts, fruit, the eggs of small birds and even young birds .The common. food will be plentiful for the chicks. During the rain, many of the birds will sit with their tails and wings outstretched to bathe. Males then make displays with their wings, and the females