Kingfisher, Belted***
Description: This medium-sized, fish-eating bird is often seen perched while searching for small fish, or heard giving a rattling call as it flies from on perch to another. It nests in tunnels it digs into stream or lake banks.
Kingbird, Western
Description: This is a rare western visitor.
Kingbird, Eastern***
Description: Spot this easily-recognized species in summer, close to the water's edge where it nests and feeds among widely scattered oaks and other trees.
Killdeer***
Description: This shorebird may be seen and heard throughout the Garden near bare ground, gravel areas, or on the rooftop garden of the Plant Conservation Science Center.
Kestrel, American***
Description: This bird is visible flying over the Garden on migration, hovering over the Dixon Prairie, or less frequently perched in a tree.
Junco, Dark-eyed
Description: The junco is a very common migrant and winter resident. It can be found in most habitats at the Garden.
Those of us who live in northerly climes refer to our family and friends who head south for the winter as snowbirds. A different kind of snowbird comes to northern Illinois for the winter. It's the dark-eyed junco, a chatty, active bird that brightens the woods, shrubby areas, and conifers at the Garden and in northern Illinois backyards.
Jay, Blue***
This attractive member of the crow family can be seen and heard around the Garden.
The blue jay is undisputably a handsome bird. With its deep blue plumage and matching crest contrasting with a white belly, a blue jay serves as a beacon of color on a cold, leafless winter day.
Though this species has a bad reputation for robbing eggs from other birds' nests, squirrels and crows, in turn, raid the nests of jays.
There's much to admire about the blue jay, which belongs to the Corvidae family, one of the most intelligent of bird families.
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated**
Description: This familiar bird hovers over tubular flowers while drinking nectar. It is sometimes confused with the similar-looking hawkmoth.
Heron, Yellow-crowned Night
Description: This state-endangered species is rarely seen at the Garden. It is distinct in its adult plumage, but difficult to identify as a juvenile. Look for it flying over or sitting on logs in the water.
Heron, Little Blue
Description: This state-endangered heron is rarely seen along the shoreline or wading in the water.