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Mallard Ducks  
Mallard ducks are very common in the Adirondacks and occasionally, a pair can be seen in the Up Yonda Farm pond. Males have bright green heads, which draw the attention of predators, while females like the ones in the picture are duller and often brown in color. This allows the females to be camouflaged while they are sitting on their nest. Mallards like to eat many types of small fish and insects.

Red-Tailed Hawk   
The Red-tailed hawk belongs to a family of birds known as buteos and they are the most common member of that group. These birds are mostly brown above and white below, with some white on the wings. They get their name however, from their tail feathers, which are usually some shade of red. These birds have broad, rounded wings and are very strong fliers. Hawks love to eat small rodents, such as mice and rabbits.

Wild Turkey   
Turkeys are the largest game birds in North America and are common in the Adirondacks. These birds can fly like the one in the picture and can be spotted roosting in trees, but are more often seen walking about, pecking for insects. Turkeys are mostly brown in color and males can be hard to distinguish from females. The best way is to look for a beard and/or spurs on the male turkeys. Males will have a long tuft of feathers that hang down from their chests called a beard and they will also have pointy spurs on their legs. Females won’t have either.

Eastern Bluebird   
The Eastern Bluebird is a small songbird and recognized as the state bird of New York. However, it is sometimes confused with the much larger Blue Jay. Male bluebirds are dark blue, while the females are paler and both have red on their chest. These birds are cavity nesters so can be easily attracted to nest boxes. Bluebirds eat insects like moths, grasshoppers and crickets.