On February 28, 2023, an adult male lesser scaup presented to the Wildlife Medical Clinic. This is a type of duck, and they are sexually dimorphic, meaning the males and females do not look the same. Males have black and white feathers and a blue bill, whereas the females have more brownish colored feathering and […]
The great horned owl, Bubo virginianus, is a common patient seen at the Wildlife Medical Clinic. This species is found throughout most of North America and is easily identified by its “horns” which are actually tufts of feathers. Great horned owls are permanent residents of Illinois and can be found in a variety of habitats. […]
American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), one of the most intelligent bird species in North America. They are very social birds and sleep in a communal roost together in the winter! They thrive by working collectively and using their intelligence to catch or steal prey and other food items. Yet, this unique species has faced the threat […]
Many of you have found an injured or orphaned animal and brought it to us, but do you know what happens after you drop it off? Come with us as we walk you through everything that happens when wildlife visits the Wildlife Medical Clinic here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign! When you bring an […]
Every fall and spring, just like how thousands of students use the American highway system to return to home or school, hundreds of species of birds use a system of “flyways” to migrate according to the seasons. A flyway is an intricate pathway connecting all the regions birds use, including breeding, non-breeding, and staging areas. […]
Happy Independence Day! Our favorite American symbol at the Wildlife Medical Clinic is our bald eagle ambassador, River. Today’s Hawk Talk is all about bald eagles as a species and a little bit about River and her story. Bald eagles are mostly brown with bright yellow feet, beak, and irises. As young birds, their heads are covered in […]
The Wildlife Medical Clinic is celebrating July by showcasing our special bald eagle ambassadors River! Feel free to share your fully colored version of River with us on Facebook by tagging us at ‘Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois’.
Today, June 18th, marks Father’s Day for the year of 2023. To celebrate all the dads, grandpas, uncles, and father-figures out there, we’d love to tell you about the amazing fathers in our avian wildlife species! In fact, for avian species, about 90% of species have fathers participating in parental care. Whether it be helping […]
Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are one of the most common hawks in North America, with a range that spans from Alaska to the tropical rainforests of Central America. You can often find them perching on fences and telephone poles, surveying their territory. While you may not have heard their calls in real life, you’ve definitely […]
Where can we find different wildlife species? Print out this activity and place these animals in their homes! Feel free to share your fully colored masterpieces with us on Facebook by tagging us at ‘Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois’. Illustrations by Grey D’Andrea, Class of 2026