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Bermuda Grass (Cynodon)

A humble but crucial part of our lawn.

Bermuda Grass

common name Bermuda Grass
domain Eukaryota
kingdom Plantae; subkingdom Tracheobionta
phylum Spermatophyta; subphylum Magnoliaphyta
class Liliopsida
order Poales
family Poaceae
genus Cynodon
species ?
location Central Texas
IUCN status Not evaluated
Extremely local species are itemized species seen at our homes: on the actual property, or in the air above it. (Across the street doesn’t count!) I began by itemizing species seen at our house in Copperas Cove, Texas, and later expanded the project to include our home in Renton, Washington.

Great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

I love the brilliant iridescence of this bird’s black plumage. As corvids, grackles are cousins to the crows and jays we came to love in Washington.

Great-tailed Grackle

common name Great-tailed Grackle
domain Eukaryota
kingdom Animalia
phylum Chordata; subphylum Vertebrata
class Aves
order Passiformes
family Icteridae
genus Quiscalus
species mexicanus
location Central Texas
IUCN status Least concern
Extremely local species are itemized species seen at our homes: on the actual property, or in the air above it. (Across the street doesn’t count!) I began by itemizing species seen at our house in Copperas Cove, Texas, and later expanded the project to include our home in Renton, Washington.

Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)

The brown and black birds in this photo are cowbirds. The female of the species can lay up to three dozen eggs in a season—in other birds’ nests.

Cowbirds at the bird feeder

common name Brown-headed Cowbird
domain Eukaryota
kingdom Animalia
phylum Chordata; subphylum Vertebrata
class Aves
order Passiformes
family Icteridae
genus Molothrus
species ater
location Central Texas
IUCN status Least concern
Extremely local species are itemized species seen at our homes: on the actual property, or in the air above it. (Across the street doesn’t count!) I began by itemizing species seen at our house in Copperas Cove, Texas, and later expanded the project to include our home in Renton, Washington.

Yellow-throated vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

Yellow-throated vireo
common name Yellow-throated vireo
domain Eukaryota
kingdom Animalia
phylum Chordata; subphylum Vertebrata
class Aves
order Passiformes
family Vereonidae
genus Vireo
species flavifrons
location Central Texas
IUCN status Least concern
Extremely local species are itemized species seen at our homes: on the actual property, or in the air above it. (Across the street doesn’t count!) I began by itemizing species seen at our house in Copperas Cove, Texas, and later expanded the project to include our home in Renton, Washington.

Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina)

Chipping Sparrow
common name Chipping sparrow
domain Eukaryota
kingdom Animalia
phylum Chordata; subphylum Vertebrata
class Aves
order Passiformes
family Emberizidae
genus Spizella
species passerina
location Central Texas
IUCN status Least concern
Extremely local species are itemized species seen at our homes: on the actual property, or in the air above it. (Across the street doesn’t count!) I began by itemizing species seen at our house in Copperas Cove, Texas, and later expanded the project to include our home in Renton, Washington.

Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)

We were completely stunned to discover these in the front yard under our feeder. They’re a flock started by a domestic group that got loose in the mid-eighties, and typically live about a mile away, on the other side of a mesa. They only stayed for the weekend. When they ventured into the backyard while she was there, our dog Ruffian loved chasing them up into the trees and onto the fence. The cats crowded to the windows, fascinated.

Guinea Fowl

Guinea Fowl under bird feeder
common name Guinea Fowl
domain Eukaryota
kingdom Animalia
phylum Chordata; subphylum Vertebrata
class Aves
order Galliformes
family Numididae
genus Numida
species meleagris
location Central Texas
IUCN status Least concern
Extremely local species are itemized species seen at our homes: on the actual property, or in the air above it. (Across the street doesn’t count!) I began by itemizing species seen at our house in Copperas Cove, Texas, and later expanded the project to include our home in Renton, Washington.