Birds
Birds, more than any other vertebrate (an animal with a backbone), dominate Georgia's landscapes. The state's diversity of habitats and physical features, from the northern mountains to the swamps and coastal islands, provides habitats for approximately 347 species of birds that live in Georgia at some point during their lifetimes. Between 90 and 110 species breed and nest in south Georgia. This number increases in north Georgia to almost 130 nesting birds. The study of birds, also called ornithology, began as early as 1723 in Georgia. Georgia's birds are divided into four groups based on their seasonal activity in the state. Some are permanent residents of Georgia, such as the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), while others, such as the indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea), are summer-breeding birds that migrate from Central and South America (neotropics) and the Caribbean in the spring. Summer-breeding birds nest in Georgia but return south to the neotropics in the fall. Others migrate from the north in late fall. The birds in this second migratory group are called winter residents, and they return north to nest in the spring. Neotropical migrants also pass through Georgia in the spring and fall while traveling to and from their summer nesting grounds in the northern states and Canada. These migrants are called visitors or spring/fall migrants.Taxonomy is the science of grouping together related animals based on their natural relationships. About sixty taxonomic bird families are found in Georgia. Birds from different families range in size and shape, from the larger loons and hawks to the smaller finches and sparrows. Scientists, hunters, and birders also put birds into groups based on their common habits or on their usefulness to humans. For example, waterbirds are birds that nest and feed near water, but waterfowl are birds that are watched or hunted as game and are also called gamebirds. Small perching birds, sometimes called songbirds because they sing during the nesting season, may or may not be related taxonomically to each other but are grouped together for convenience. Georgia even has political birds. The brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) is the state songbird, and the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), or quail, is the state gamebird.
Birds, more than any other vertebrate (an animal with a backbone), dominate Georgia's landscapes. The state's diversity of habitats and physical features, from the northern mountains to the swamps and coastal islands, provides habitats for approximately 347 species of birds that live in Georgia at some point during their lifetimes. Between 90 and 110 species breed and nest in south Georgia. This number increases in north Georgia to almost 130 nesting birds. The study of birds, also called ornithology, began as early as 1723 in Georgia. Georgia's birds are divided into four groups based on their seasonal activity in the state. Some are permanent residents of Georgia, such as the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), while others, such as the indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea), are summer-breeding birds that migrate from Central and South America (neotropics) and the Caribbean in the spring. Summer-breeding birds nest in Georgia but return south to the neotropics in the fall. Others migrate from the north in late fall. The birds in this second migratory group are called winter residents, and they return north to nest in the spring. Neotropical migrants also pass through Georgia in the spring and fall while traveling to and from their summer nesting grounds in the northern states and Canada. These migrants are called visitors or spring/fall migrants.Taxonomy is the science of grouping together related animals based on their natural relationships. About sixty taxonomic bird families are found in Georgia. Birds from different families range in size and shape, from the larger loons and hawks to the smaller finches and sparrows. Scientists, hunters, and birders also put birds into groups based on their common habits or on their usefulness to humans. For example, waterbirds are birds that nest and feed near water, but waterfowl are birds that are watched or hunted as game and are also called gamebirds. Small perching birds, sometimes called songbirds because they sing during the nesting season, may or may not be related taxonomically to each other but are grouped together for convenience. Georgia even has political birds. The brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) is the state songbird, and the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), or quail, is the state gamebird.
