Wild About Birds - Illinois Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, Creepers and Wrens!

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Kingdom: Animalia - Animals are multicellular organisms that rely on other organisms for nourishment. There cells do not have cell walls. Most animals are capable of movement at least in some portion of their life cycle. Reproduction is generally sexual, but in some animals asexual reproduction may be utilized at certain times.
Phylum: Chordata - The Phylum Chordata contains the vertebrate animals. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes are included in this phylum. These animals have a notochord at some point in their development. They have a tubular nerve cord along the back. Gill slits and a tail are present at some point in their life cycle. They have an internal skeleton.
Class: Aves - Birds are the only organisms with feathers. They are endotherms, maintaining a nearly constant body temperature. They have a hard bill but no teeth. A gizzard, which functions to grind food, is present in the digestive tract. Fertilization is internal. A nest is built in which the hard-shelled eggs are deposited and incubated.
Order: Passeriformes - These are birds with adaptations for holding on to thin twigs or stems. Three of the toes on each foot face forward and one backward to help it grasp and balance on small branches.
Family: Paridae (Chickadees and Titmice) - Titmice and chickadees are small, plump birds. The top of the head and neck are often black. Both sexes are similar in appearance, and the young look like small adults. The bill is tiny.
     Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
     black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
     tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Family: Sittidae (Nuthatches) - Nuthatches are small birds with stout beaks. They climb headfirst both up and down a tree.
     red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
     white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Family: Certhiidae (Creepers) - Creepers are tiny birds with a curved bill and stiff tail feathers.
     brown creeper (Certhia americana)

Family: Troglodytidae (Wrens) - Wrens are generally small birds, and their tail is often held pointed skyward above the back. The bill is thin and sightly curved downward. Most of them have brown or red-brown feathers. They eat insects and spiders.
     Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
     Bewick’s wren (Thryomanes bewickii) [state endangered]
     house wren (Troglodytes aedon)
     winter wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)
     sedge wren (Cistothorus platensis)
     marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris)