Red Bellied Woodpecker
Zelkova serrata is a medium-sized deciduous tree usually growing to 98 ft tall. It is characterized by a short trunk dividing into many upright and erect spreading stems that form a broad, round-topped head. It is highly resistant to Dutch elm disease, which makes it a good replacement tree for the American elm.
The member species are evergreen or deciduousshrubs or (in a few cases) small trees native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. In prehistory, the long, straight shoots of some viburnums were used for arrow-shafts, as those found with Ötzi the Iceman. The fruit of some species are edible and can be eaten either raw or for making jam, while other species are mildly toxic and can cause vomiting if eaten in quantity.
Black willow roots are very bitter, and have been used as a substitute for quinine in the past. Ethnobotanical uses of black willow by various Native American tribes include basketry, and treatment of fever, headache, and cough. The bark of the tree contains salicylic acid, a chemical compound similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).
An American sycamore tree can often be easily distinguished from other trees by its mottled bark which flakes off in great irregular masses, leaving the surface mottled and gray, greenish-white and brown. The American sycamore is able to endure a big city environment and was formerly extensively planted as a shade tree.
Spicebush is a deciduous shrub growing to 6–12 feet tall. The yellow flowers grow in showy clusters which appear in early spring, before the leaves begin to grow. The ripe fruit is a red, elipsoidal, berrylike drupe, rich in lipids, about 1 cm (1⁄2 in) long and is eaten by several bird species.
The eastern redbud typically grows to 20–30 ft tall with a 26–33 ft spread. The flowers are showy, light to dark magenta pink in color, 1⁄2 in long, appearing in clusters from Spring to early Summer, on bare stems before the leaves, sometimes on the trunk itself.
This is the tallest eastern hardwood. The flowers are pale green or yellow (rarely white), with an orange band on the tepals; they yield large quantities of nectar. This tree species is a major honey plant in the eastern United States, yielding a dark reddish, fairly strong honey which gets mixed reviews as a table honey but is favorably regarded by bakers.
Pyrus calleryana is deciduous, growing to 16 to 26 ft tall. The inedible fruits of the Callery pear are small (less than one cm in diameter), and hard, almost woody, until softened by frost, after which they are readily taken by birds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings.
Northern red oak, botanical name Quercus Rubra, is easy to recognize by its bark, which features bark ridges that appear to have shiny stripes down the center. The Northern red oak has been planted in many cities, due to its toleration of pollution and compacted soil. Northern red oak is the most common species of oak in the northeastern US. The northern red oak is one of the most important oaks for timber production in North America.
The ripe fruit is edible and is widely used in pies, tarts, wines, cordials, and herbal teas. The fruit and leaves are sold in various forms as nutritional supplements. The mature plant contains significant amounts of resveratrol, particularly in stem bark. Unripe fruit and green parts of the plant have a white sap that may be toxic, stimulating, or mildly hallucinogenic.
Crimson king maples are a cultivar of the Norway Maple. Its leaves remain dark purple throughout the Spring and the Summer before falling off in the Autumn
The Japanese Honeysuckle is considered a shrub. The flowers are double-tongued, opening white and fading to yellow, and sweetly vanilla scented. Japanese honeysuckle flowers are edible to humans and a significant source of food for deer, rabbits, hummingbirds, and other wildlife.
A medium-sized broadleaved evergreen tree growing on average 33–66 ft tall, with its leaves and berries often used as a symbol for the winter holiday season. A ratio of three female plants to one male plant is required for ideal fruit production.
This is a common, but not abundant species of hickory in the oak-hickory forest association in the Eastern United States and Canada. The pear-shaped nut ripens in September and October and is an important part of the diet of many wild animals. The wood is used for a variety of products, including fuel for home heating.
The most abundant of the hickories, common in the eastern half of the US, it is long lived, sometimes reaching the age of 500 years. A straight-growing hickory, a high percentage of its wood is used for products where strength, hardness, and flexibility are needed. The wood makes an excellent fuelwood, as well. Mockernuts are preferred mast for wildlife. Mockernut hickories also provide cavities for animals to live in, such as woodpeckers, black rat snakes, raccoons, Carolina chickadees, and more. They are also good nesting trees, providing cover for birds with their thick foliage
The common hackberry, botanical name is Celtis Occidentalis, is easily distinguished by its cork-like bark with wart-like protuberances. The Common Hackberry is able to withstand a wide verity of temperatures, as it is found from Southern Canada to Florida. The tree’s pea-sized berries are edible, ripening in early September. Unlike most fruits, the berries are remarkably high in calories from fat, carbohydrate and protein, and these calories are easily digestible without any cooking or preparation.
This tree was introduced from Asia to America in 1763, and has become a popular landscape tree worldwide. The flowers are yellow, and the fruit is a three-part inflated bladderlike pod. Fruit are 3–6 cm long and 2–4 cm broad, green in color, then orange to pink when ripened in autumn.
Douglas-firs are medium to extremely large sized evergreen trees, ranging from 70–330 ft tall. Douglas-firs prefer acidic or neutral soils. The species is extensively used in forestry as a plantation tree for softwood timber. The timber is used for joinery, veneer, flooring and construction due to its strength, hardness and durability.
The Japanese cherry is a small deciduous tree with a short single trunk, with a dense crown reaching a height of 33 feet. It was bred for its flowers and not its fruit; therefore, the fruits don’t ripen and are incomplete, not producing more flesh surrounding the seed.
It is a medium-sized, deciduoustree growing to 15–30 meters tall and 12 meters wide. It has a trunk up to 1 m diameter, with brown to gray bark maturing into hard plates or ridges. The fruit is a long, thin legume-like capsule, 20–40 cm long and 10–12 mm diameter; it often stays attached to tree during winter (and can be mistaken for brown icicles).
The Boxelder Maple is also known as the ash-leaf maple, or in its botanical name “Acer Negundo”. Its distinguishing feature is its compound leaves.
The American basswood is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree reaching a height of 60 to 120 ft. They are often confused with the closely related European basswood, which is often used in landscaping. The flowers are used in colds, cough, fever, infections, inflammation, high blood pressure, headache (particularly migraine), as a diuretic (increases urine production), antispasmodic (reduces smooth muscle spasm along the digestive tract), and sedative.
The American hornbeam is also known as the Blue Beech tree, or in its botanical name “Carpinus Caroliniana”. It is apart of the birch family. It is distinguished by its blue-gray bark that lasts all year.
North American native ash tree species are used by North American frogs as a critical food source, as the leaves that fall from the trees are particularly suitable for tadpoles to feed upon in ponds (both temporary and permanent), large puddles, and other water sources. It is used in making electric guitars because it has a bright sound with long sustain, plus the wood grain is aesthetically desirable to many guitar players.
American robin page
Bird’s song (courtesy of TheCornellLab)
Chlamydomonas.
Spirogyra.
Phacus.
Metopus.
Loxophyllum
Euplotes
Euglena.
Diatom.
Desmid Algae
Cyclops.
Closterium.
Bursaria.
Bacteria.
The blue jay is a songbird typically known for its loud and noisy calls. Other identifiers of this bird are fairly obvious. Such as the blue feathers, the spikey crown, and the black streaks along the sides of its head. A common fact is that these birds are very aggressive when protecting their territory, and will alert the entire surrounding to predators such as hawks or owls.
Bird’s song (courtesy of TheCornellLab)
Finding these will be tricky, for in the area it’s borderline for their breeding grounds in the summer months, to being here all year round. You’ll know it’s this bird, however, when you see the rusted colored feathers on its breast and blue elsewhere. In the photo provided, we are depicting a female Eastern Bluebird. The males tend to look brown-grayish from a distance. The beak of this bird is straight, and dons an alert posture most of the time.
Bird’s song (courtesy of TheCornellLab)
To find this bird on campus, you’ll have to be here during the right time. For the Grey catbird only is around during the summer months for breeding. Key identifiers for this bird are the slate gray coloring of its feathers and the black cap that it bears. Another includes the patch of brown color underneath the bird’s tail. The bird is medium sized and is actually a songbird. Again, good luck finding these guys for they are very secretive, but energetic. You’ll most likely hear one before you see one.
Bird’s song (courtesy of TheCornellLab)
Need I really go into this bird? The American Crow is one that even children can identify. The bird is purely black, from its beak to its feet. They are very common birds with long legs, and rarely are alone. These birds typically fly in a flock (or a murder if you want to be technical). But these birds are intelligent and are quite mischievous from time to time.
Bird’s song (courtesy of TheCornellLab)
The Mourning Dove is a very plump bird. Some identifiers are its short, yet stubby legs and its long tail. The cries that originate from this bird are drawn out and can be loud. It’s a very common bird to be found, and is known for perching on telephone wires and scavenging the ground for seeds. The colors of their feathers tend to match the surroundings in which they frequent.
The key identifiers in this beauty are the red coloring around the face and the breast of the bird. However, only the males have the red coloring, the females tend to be a plain brown, grayish color with a marked face and blurry streaks. Like many finches, their flight tends to be a bit bouncy.
(Melospiza melodia), Song Sparrow
If you ever think to yourself, what kind of Sparrow is it? Well, chances are this is the kind you’re looking at. It’s common across North America to find this bird. Typically brown with streaks across its breast. The Song Sparrow is found in any nearly open habitat. Marsh edges, overgrown fields, backyards are some areas where you might find these birds.
One of the most common hawks you’ll see in North America. As do most predatory bird, they circle around their prey when hunting. You’ll most likely see one on a car ride as they like to perch on lampposts and telephone wires. As the name suggests, the key identifier is the red feathers in its tail.
The males have black shiny bodies and brown heads, while the females tend to have more brown to them. They are similar to your common blackbird otherwise, with finch like beaks. Males will land on the ground and strut for mates, to impress the ladies. These birds are also fairly noisy, making multiple clicks and chatter noises.
Red-winged Blackbird, (Agelaius phoenicieus)
The key identifier of the Red winged blackbird is (obviously) the red streaks on its wings. However, this does only apply to the males; the females look more like a large brown sparrow. These birds love to perch on cattails, as seen in the provided picture. They are some of the most common birds in North America. You can typically find this bird around water. Marshes, golf courses with water traps, you name it. Towards the winter, however, they like to be in pastures and crop fields.
A common insect in the homes of many Americans, the earwig was once believed to intentionally crawl into ears and up into the brain. This is an old wive’s tale. They are omnivorous insects that can be found hiding underneath bark, stones or anything else that’s dark and moist. It’d be easier to find out scavenging at night than in the day.
The flowering plum tree grows to about 25 feet in length. Plum leaves have a pointed tip with serrated edges. Each leaf ranges in size from two to four inches. The color of the leaves differ between tree types but most are green or purple during the spring and yellow, red, and orange in the fall.
Crab apples can be identified by their clustered, five-pedaled blossoms with 15 to 20 yellow stamens in the center. Most of these trees are between 15 to 25 feet. Crabapple fruit can be found as green, red, orange, or pink. Crabapples have earned the name “jewels of the landscape” because of how many different colors it can turn during all four seasons.
The staghorn sumac in some areas will grow more like a shrub than a tree. Its leaves are compound with 11 to 30 lance-shaped leaflets. The twigs have little hairs on them. The Bark is dark brown and smooth or scaly.
The honey locust tree is known for its thorns that are usually 4 to 8 inches long. It can grow from 60 to 100 feet tall. This tree has long compound leaves with small leaflets. In the fall, the bright green tree turns yellow. The flowers are yellow and have a very strong scent.
These magnificent forest trees have dark green leaves that are simple and opposite. The lobes of these leaves are widely spaced with coarse teeth. They can grow to be 100 feet tall. In the fall you will recognize this tree as a fluorescent orange color. The fruits are winged samaras, which grow in a pair and make a twirling motion when they fall to the ground.
Pin oak grows to be up to 75 feet tall, with a spread of about 40 feet. Pin oak produces shiny, dark green, lobed leaves that are 3 to 6 inches long. These leaves turn bronze or a rusty color in the fall. Pin oak produces small acorns that squirrels love, particularly the Eastern Grey Squirrels that call Northampton Community College home.
The average height of an American elm is between 60 and 90 feet. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaves have small teeth on the outside. At maturity this tree looks fan shaped because of its spreading branches. Small yellow flowers will appear during springtime.
The habitat for this fungi, of the basidiomycota phylum, is beneath hardwoods and conifers. It is poisonous and should be avoided, although its’ psychoactive properties have caused some to avoid warnings of toxicity. The color is usually straw yellow, orange to bright red, usually darkest in the center. It is adorned with whitish warts or small patches. The stem will be 8-15 cm tall. The cap will be 8-24 cm broad.
Japanese maples are small trees that rarely grow to be more than 20 feet tall. The branches are smooth and grow in horizontal layers. The leaves have many lobes which are pointy and have toothed edges. In the spring the leaves turn a bright orange reddish color.
The leaf has five lobes, 4 sinuses. The leaves are green on the top and on the bottom, it is frosty/silver white. The bark is gray, long scaly strips.
The leaf has no lobes and is pear shaped with jagged edges and inward curved tips that resembles a birds beak. The bark is dark, reddish, brown to black in color with large obvious curving scales (like potato chips).
The sweetgum leaves have five lobes with five veins and four deep sinuses. “Star shaped”. The sweetgum tree has a spiky looking fruit. The bark is a grayish color that is narrow at the bottom.
The mitten shaped leaf has lobes that varies from 1-3. The leaf is green above, paler below and often hairy. The bark is brown with deep grooves. The tree grows north of Ontario, Canada, all the way down to Florida and Texas. It is one of the more fragrant trees.
Perhaps the most famous butterfly in the United States, this beautiful insect travels from the high north in Canada down into Mexico (and back) in a trip that takes three generations to complete. They are found in different parts of the country as their travels continue.
Ginkgo biloba is the oldest living tree species in terms of the evolutionary tree. This tree can live as long as 1,000 years and grow to a height of 120 feet. It has short branches with fan-shaped leaves and fruits that produce a strong odor. You will never forget the ginkgo tree after smelling one for the first time.
A cherry tree ranges in size from six to thirty feet. This tree has distinct reddish brown bark. The leaves are two to six inches long, and have a finely toothed edge. In the autumn months, the leaves of a cherry tree will turn beautiful colors such as pink and orange. The fruit of a cherry tree will be found in the springtime.
The Kousa dogwood is a small deciduous tree about 35 feet tall. It has opposite, simple green leaves. Pointed 4-petaled white flowers will appear during late spring giving this tree a unique appearance. During the summer you will find round berries appearing on this tree.
The Eastern Grey Squirrel is perhaps the most common mammal in the area besides humans. Their distinctive grey, stout bodies with long, bushy tails are seen running around in any area where there are trees that they spend much of their time climbing around in. Their diet consists mainly of nuts and berries but have been known to eat just about anything they can get their paws on.
The Bald Faced Hornet is all black with white features, primarily on the head. They are known for their hanging nests and their aggression. Females are known to sting repeatedly, without provocation, when anyone comes near their nest.
The photo shows the pupa stage of this insect. It goes through complete metamorphosis to become a butterfly. Its habitat can be open areas like fields, gardens, waste areas and marshes. The length of this caterpillar is 79- 113 mm. The wingspan of the butterfly is 8-11 cm. Abdomen has rows of yellow dots. Near the hind wing, a black pupil is centered in a larger red-orange eyespot. Females have rows of yellow spots and males have bands of yellow.
This species of ant grows to no more than 1/4″-1/2″ in length, and yet still is one of the larger species of ants. Their colonies can contain well over 10,000 ants and forage as far as 100 yards away from the nest. Highly adaptable, these ants are known to eat anything and everything, though preferring sweet things like nectar, sugar and fruit juice.
Of the many living species of mosquito, this is not one of them, though it quite resembles it! They are known as Mosquito Hawks, for their primary food source is actual mosquitoes. These insects can grow to well over an inch in length from head to tail. For feeding, they have an equally long proboscis (feeding structure) and antenna.
This is one of roughly 500 known species of Carpenter Bee. Its genus name, Xylocopa, means “wood cutter” in Greek. As far as bees are concerned, they are docile, causing no threat of sting to other creatures. They nest in wood, where their larvae feed and grow. They’re very common in most locations around the world in either natural or man-made environments.
Named for their short, heavy antennae that are generally much shorter than their body. They can range from brown to yellow-green in color, and grow anywhere from 5mm to to over 10cm. Most species are green or light-brown in color, helping them hide against predictors. A female short-horned grasshopper can lay about 100 eggs at a time.
This butterfly has a distinct pattern of eyespots and white bars on the upper wing surface that are meant to distract potential predators. Interestlingly, they changes colors with seasons.
Small tree. The bark is dark rose brown and the bark has a rough texture, leaves are opposite with no lobes and have veins that do not intersect.
Also known as a Scarlet Maple or Swamp Maple, the red maple gets its name from the bright-red color of the fall leaves. The tree is 40 to 60 feet tall. The leaves turn red during fall and the tree’s twigs are glossy-red in the spring. Fruits and flowers are also red. When the leaves are not red their color is a light green on top and pale green on the underside. The red maple also produces red flowers and fruit, which is called samara just like the sugar maple.
Medium to large tree type with short trunk. Bark is grey with shallow brown canyons, extending throughout the trunk of the tree, leaves are opposite, have five lobes with two smaller ones near the base of the leaf.
Pinus resinosa, large tree, bark is reddish brown and scaly with deep grooves throughout, needles form in clusters of two.
The Norway spruce is one of the most widely planted spruces, both in and outside of its native range. The tree is the source of spruce beer, which was once used to prevent and even cure scurvy. This high vitamin C content can be consumed as a tea from the shoot tips or even eaten straight from the tree when light green and new in spring.
Red spruce is used for Christmas trees and is an important wood used in making paper pulp. It is also an excellent tonewood, and is used in many higher-end acoustic guitars and violins, as well as musical soundboard. The sap can be used to make spruce gu
Large tree with soft long needles
