Class:
aves
Order:
passeriformes
Family:
emberizidae
Common:
eastern towhee
Males are black and females are brown. Primarily a low-dwelling nester. There was no lab specimen of the towhee.
Class:
aves
Order:
passeriformes
Family:
mimidae
Common:
nothern mockingbird
One of the most common birds on the UCF campus and in Central Florida. The long tail long legs and gray white pattern will help distinguish this bird. The mockingbird is a superb mimic of other sounds.
Class:
aves
Order:
passeriformes
Family:
corvidae
Common:
fish crow
Most common crow in Central Florida. Large common crow with a deeper more distinct caw call occurs in north Florida. Crows are related to jays and are very intelligent birds.
Class:
aves
Order:
caprimulgiformes
Family:
caprimulgidae
Common:
chuck will's widow
The bird says its name when calling at night or during a summer evening. Note the large size, cryptic brownish pattern, and the large mouth to capture insects
Class:
aves
Order:
apodiformes
Family:
apodidae
Common:
ruby throated hummingbird
This species breeds throughout eastern North America, including Florida. This species is one of our smallest birds. Most of our hummingbirds occur in the southwest deserts. There are over 300 species of hummingbirds.
Class:
aves
Order:
piciformes
Family:
picidae
Common:
red bellied woodpecker
Our most common woodpecker. Note the white and black pattern on the dorsal area.
Class:
aves
Order:
passeriformes
Family:
tyrannidae
Common:
great crested flycatcher
This bird is a cavity nester. Birds of this family can be rather aggressive and often they are called Tyrant flycatchers. Most are found in central and south america
Class:
aves
Order:
passeriformes
Family:
emberizidae
Common:
northern cardinal
male
Note the large, stout reddish beak for crushing seeds. Many people call this finch a redbird.
Class:
aves
Order:
passeriformes
Family:
emberizidae
Common:
northern cardinal
female
Note the large, stout reddish beak for crushing seeds. Many people call this finch a redbird.
Class:
aves
Order:
pelecaniformes
Family:
anhigidae
Common:
anhinga or snakebird
Anhingas spear their pray underwater with their long sharp bills. Anhingas can often be seen with their wings held out to dry.
Class:
aves
Order:
ciconiiformes
Family:
ardeidae
Common:
cattle egret
Native to Africa, but now a common nester in Florida. The cattle egret us frequently observed foraging in yards and around cattle.
Class:
aves
Order:
ciconiiformes
Family:
cathartidae
Common:
turkey vulture
Carrion feeder. This vulture has a reddish head. The other species of vulture in florida is the black vulture, which has a black head and white patches on the wing that can be seen when the bird is in flight
Class:
aves
Order:
anseriformes
Family:
antidae
Common:
mottled duck or florida duck
This species resembles the mallard but lacks the green head. Male and female mottled ducks are similar
Class:
aves
Order:
falconiformes
Family:
accipitridae
Common:
red shouldered hawk
The adult has a red breast and reddish shoulder patches. This hawk breeds in central florida.
Class:
aves
Order:
galliformes
Family:
phasianidae
Common:
northern bobwhite
Bobwhites are game birds and have tasty flesh. Individuals not breeding live in coveys. The birds vocalization sounds like "bob white" Males have black on the head; females are brownish.
Class:
aves
Order:
gruiformes
Family:
aramidae
Common:
limpkin
This unique bird is found in Florida and the southern part of Georgia. The species is the only representative of the family Aramidae in North America. The Limpkin breeds in Florida.
Class:
aves
Order:
gruiformes
Family:
rallidae
Common:
american coot
Common marsh bird. Large gatherings of this species are called rafts and can be seen in the winter
Class:
aves
Order:
charadriiformes
Family:
scolopacidae
Common:
sanderling
This "peep" is one of the most common shorebirds seen on our beaches.
Class:
aves
Order:
charadriiformes
Common:
ring billed gull
An actual live one from my trip to Cocoa Beach
Class:
aves
Order:
strigiformes
Family:
strigidae
Common:
barred owl
This is the "hoot" owl. The dark bars on the ventral area and the size of this bird are good field marks. Note the lack of ear tufts.
Class:
aves
Order:
columbiformes
Family:
columbidae
Common:
mourning dove
Our most common dove. This species is hunted for food and sport. There are over 300 species of pigeons and doves in the world.
Phylum:
chordata
Class:
mammalia
Order:
marsupialia
Common:
virginia opossum
subclass Theria.
Only extant marsupial in North America.
Phylum:
chordata
Class:
mammalia
Order:
lagomorpha
Common:
eastern cottontail
subclass Theria.
Like rodents, have chisel like incisors. Typically have long hind legs adapted for jumping, many have long ears.
Phylum:
chordata
Class:
mammalia
Order:
sirenia
Common:
florida manatee skull
subclass Theria.
Herbivorous, eat up to 10% of body weight/day.
Constantly generating new teeth from theb ack and move forward as old ones are lost.
Solid bones which aid in neutral buoyancy.
Phylum:
chordata
Class:
mammalia
Order:
perissodactyla
Common:
horse skull
subclass Theria.
Herbivorous. Hoofed with an odd number of digits per foot; one or three toes. Teeth adapted for chewing. Usually large animals with long legs. (Hoofed mammals are refered to as ungulates)
Phylum:
chordata
Class:
mammalia
Order:
artiodactyla
Common:
pig skull
Includes swine, hippos, camels, giraffe and deer
Phylum:
chordata
Class:
mammalia
Order:
artiodactyla
Common:
cow skull
Hoofed with even number of digits per foot, most have 2 toes, some have 4. Most have antlers or horns. Herbivores; most are ruminants that chew a cud and have a series of stomachs in which bacteria that digest cellulose are incubated; this contributes to their success as herbivores.
Phylum:
chordata
Class:
mammalia
Order:
rodentia
Common:
pocket gopher
Gnawing animals with chisel like incisors. As they gnaw, teeth are worn down and so must grow continually.
Phylum:
chordata
Class:
mammalia
Order:
rodentia
Common:
flying squirrel
includes mice, rats, squirrels, gerbils, mole-rats, porcupines, etc...
Class:
mammalia
Order:
cetacea
Common:
bottle nose dolphin skull
note that the bottle nose dolphin is a homodont - all the teeth are the same size and shape. Note the large indentation in the front of the skull where the melon would be located. The melon is a lipid filled organ which aids cetaceans in echolocation
Class:
mammalia
Order:
carnivora
Common:
domestic dog skull
carnivora includes wolves, dogs, cats, foxes, bears, seals, walruses, hyena etc.
Class:
mammalia
Order:
carnivora
Family:
canidae
Common:
gray fox
carnivora includes wolves, dogs, cats, foxes, bears, seals, walruses, hyena etc.
Class:
mammalia
Order:
carnivora
Family:
procyonidae
Common:
raccoon
Primarily active at night, but can be seen in the day. Often carries rabies.
