Leighton Photography & Imaging

Anhingas have a number of nicknames including snakebird and water turkey, and are found all around the world in shallow warm water where fish are plentiful. They are known collectively as the darter family - Anhingidae.

Icterids are a group of medium-sized songbirds in the family Icteridae, that include New World orioles, meadowlarks, New World blackbirds, cowbirds and grackles.

Chickadees, Nuthatches and their Allies - This group of passerine families (Aegithalidae, Certhiidae, Paridae, Remizidae, Sittidae) collectively make up the large group of small songbirds often seen at bird feeders and flying together in mixed flocks around the world.

Cormorants (family Phalacrocoracidae) are medium to large fish-eating waterbirds found throughout most of the world. Because their feathers do not repel water or aid in buoyancy as in most other kinds of birds, cormorants use this to their advantage by being able to swim swiftly and adeptly underwater to catch fish. Once above the water, cormorants must "dry out" - meaning their wings must air-dry in order for them to fly again.

Corvids (crows, ravens, magpies & jays) are known to be not only the smartest of birds, but are also known to be among the most intelligent of animals, even expressing self-awareness. These large songbirds (family Corvidae) tend to be very social and while being omnivorous, they tend to favor a particular type of seed(s) unique to their species.

Found primarily in the Western Half of North and Central America, Dippers are found in Mountain or coastal streams with rocky bottoms, sometimes dipping under ice in search of aquatic larvae. Wrentits prefer the more arid coastal scrub and chaparral.

This gallery is dedicated to the smallest of the passerine or songbird family. These often tiny, fast insectivorous forest-dwellers can be found all through the Americas.

Woodpeckers photographed in their natural environment in the wild beauty of North America.