Bird Profile: 

Wingspan: Up to 7.5 ft

Weight:  Up to 14 lbs

The Bald Eagle is perhaps the most recognizable bird in North America. As a bird of prey that lives near water bodies, Bald Eagles get most of their food by hunting fish; however, they are an opportunistic hunter that will feed on mammals and birds as well.

College Basketball Player Comparison:

Cooper Flagg - Duke

6’9” / Forward / Freshman

It is hard to miss this comparison: the face of college basketball and the face of the county. Cooper Flagg has dominated college basketball this year with his size, athleticism, and shooting ability, all traits he shares with America's symbol. Bald Eagles mirror Flagg’s elite shooting as they dive down into the water with pinpoint 

Bird Profile:

Wingspan: Up to 3.5 ft

Weight:  Up to 4.8 lbs

Red-tailed Hawks are an iconic aerial predator known for their loud piercing calls and astonishing speeds. The Red-tailed is an opportunistic hunter that will eat mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects.

College Basketball Player Comparison: Juju Watkins - USC

6’2” / Guard / Sophomore

While Red-tailed hawks may have red on their tail, this sophomore superstar wears it on her jersey. Juju Watkins has taken the basketball world by storm, and her elite game is eerily similar to that of the Red-tailed hawk. Just as the Red-tail is an opportunistic hunter, Watkins is an opportunistic scorer, taking whatever the defense gives her and scoring at all three levels. While both are known for their offensive skills, Watkins and the Red-tail are also elite defenders. Red-tails must defend their nest from corvids like crows looking to steal their eggs.

Wingspan: Up to 3.2 ft

Weight:  Up to 3.5 lbs

The Mallard is an iconic species of waterfowl. As a dabbling duck, the Mallard rarely dives under the water when looking for food but instead feeds on plants at the surface of the water.

College Basketball Player Comparison: VJ Edgecombe - Baylor

6’5” / Guard / Freshman

The comparison for the Mallard is the high-flying freshman from Baylor, VJ Edgecomb. While Edgecombe has wowed viewers this year with his incredible vertical jump and powerful athleticism, Mallards will similarly wow the keen viewer with their powerful wings that allow them to fly nearly straight up off the surface of ponds. The Mallard uses these powerful wings to fly at speeds of up to 70 MPH at heights of up to 20,000 ft! Talk about a vertical!

Player Profile:

Wingspan: Up to 7.7 ft

Weight:  Up to 15 lbs

While the Golden Eagle is more common out west, individuals may have been seen flying over Severson Dells. Golden Eagles subsist mostly on small grassland mammals, but they can occasionally be seen preying on much larger animals such as ungulates, coyotes, and cranes.

College Basketball Player Comparison: Lauren Betts - UCLA

6’7” / Center / Junior

The imposing presence of the Golden Eagle is only matched on the college court by UCLA’s Lauren Betts. Betts has used her incredible height and wingspan to block nearly three shots per game this year for the Bruins. Betts has also contributed on offense in the post where her sure hands bring to mind the vice-like talons of the Golden Eagle.

Wingspan: Up to 6.5 ft

Weight:  Up to 5.3 lbs

Player Profile:

The Turkey Vulture is a well known scavenger. In contrast to most birds that hunt by sight or hearing, the Turkey Vulture hunts by smell. They fly low to detect the scent of chemicals produced in the early stages of decomposition.

College Basketball Player Comparison: Johni Broome - Auburn

6’10” / Center / Senior

While the Turkey Vulture cleans up animal carcasses, Auburn’s Johni Broome cleans the glass. Broome is an elite rebounder. He uses his great strength to box out opposing players and incredible athleticism to jump up and grab the ball. Broome is also a great passer which mimics how Turkey Vultures feed their young by regurgitating food.

Player Profile: 

Wingspan: Up to 2.5 ft

Weight:  Up to 14 oz

Pileateds are the largest woodpecker in North America; they’re about the size of a crow. The Pileated had a striking red crest and feeds on insects living in dead trees. Pileated make large distinctive rectangle holes in trees as they look for food.

College Basketball Player Comparison: Madison Booker - Texas

6’1” / Guard / Sophomore

Last season Madison Booker played forward for the Longhorns, but this year she transitioned to play guard. Booker is tall and powerful for a guard in the women’s game, similar to how the Pileated is big for a woodpecker, but she still has all the skills of a great guard. Booker is also a relentless defender, similar to how the Pileated relentlessly pecks as wood looking for food.

Player Profile:

Wingspan: Up to 16 in

Weight:  2.6 oz

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is one of the most common species of woodpecker in our area. They mostly feed on arthropods living in the bark of trees, but will also feed on fruits, nuts, and insects. The Red Bellied nests in tree cavities.

College Basketball Player Comparison: Walter Clayton Jr.  - Florida

6’3” / Guard / Senior

Walter Clayton Jr. is one of the best on ball defenders in college basketball. While it may initially seem odd to compare a smaller woodpecker to an elite defender, the Red-bellied actually has to ruthlessly defend their nests against invasive Starlings looking to take it for their own.

Player Profile:

Wingspan: Up to 11 in

Weight:  0.11 oz

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is our only hummingbird in Northern Illinois. The Ruby-throated is well known for eating nectar from flowers and their role in pollination, but they also eat arthropods for protein in their diet. Hummingbirds are incredibly agile, with many adaptations unique among birds that allow them to zip up, down, side to side, and even down.

College Basketball Player Comparison: Paige Bueckers - UCONN

6’0” / Guard / Senior

Just like the Ruby-throated, Paige Beuckers is truly one of a kind. Beuckers is incredibly efficient. This season she achieved a coveted 50 / 40 / 90 season, meaning she hit 50% of her shots overall, 40% of her threes, and 90% of her free throws. She also led the nation in assist to turnover ratio this year. Bueckers efficiency is similar to how hummingbirds are able to maximize the amount of the lift they generate per wingstroke by using a figure-eight pattern that generates lift on the upstroke and downstroke. Hummingbirds also mimic Bueckers signature step-back shot with their unique ability to fly backwards.

Player Profile:

Wingspan: 4 ft

Weight:  up to 26 oz

The Northern Harrier is the only bird of prey that is endangered in Illinois. They eat small grassland mammals, and their population had declined as prairie habitat has been lost. 

College Basketball Player Comparison: LJ Cryer - Houston 

6’1” / Guard / Senior

LJ Cryer is the leader of one of the best teams in the nation, the Houston Cougars. Cryer’s elite shooting ability conjures up images of the harrier shooting out of the sky to catch prey in the grassland. Harriers are also very vocal birds, letting out high pitched screeches as they scan grassland for prey. These vocalizations are similar to how Cryer communicates assignments to his teammates on the court.

Player Profile: 

Wingspan: 24 in

Weight:  4.1 oz

The American Kestrel is the smallest and most common falcon in North America. The Kestrel has a diverse diet, eating mainly large insects, small mammals, and small birds. They hunt by perching and picking out their prey before swooping down to grab them.

College Basketball Player Comparison: Olivia Miles - Notre Dame

5’10” / Guard / Senior

Olivia Miles of Notre Dame has developed into one of the nation's best three point shooters this year. Miles picks her shots carefully, similarly to how Kestrels wait to make sure their prey is in the right position before shooting down to grab them. When Kestrels aren’t perched, they are usually flying fast low over fields trying to pick out prey, reminiscent of how Miles runs the break looking to pick out open teammates with her elite passing. 

Player Profile:

Wingspan: 4.5 ft

Weight:  Up to 24 lbs

Wild Turkeys are ubiquitous across the Eastern US. As a large game bird, the Turkey may appear clumsy at first sight; however, they are actually incredibly strong flyers for their size. As omnivores, Turkeys have a varied diet, foraging for seeds, nuts, berries, insects, and even small reptiles and amphibians.

College Basketball Player Comparison: JT Topin - Texas Tech

6’9” / Forward / Sophomore

JT Topin has starred for Texas Tech this season, and his combination of size and athleticism is a perfect comparison for the Wild Turkey. Topin has been nearly unstoppable on the fast break this year, with his combination of speed, athleticism, and size. Wild Turkeys also have exceptional speed when flying in short bursts; they can reach speeds of up to 55 mph!

Player Profile:

Wingspan: 16 in

Weight:  3 oz

The Red-winged Blackbird is an incredibly territorial icterid found all over North America. Red-wing blackbirds build nests on the ground in grassy areas, especially wetlands. The male perches on trees or shrubs above the nest and defends their territory. 

College Basketball Player Comparison: Hannah Hidalgo - Notre Dame

5’6” / Guard / Sophomore

Despite her small stature, Hannah Hidalgo has been one of the best defenders in the nation this season. Hidalgo is averaging an incredible 3.7 steals per game this year. Hidalgo’s quick swipes at the ball on defense resemble how Red-winged blackbirds quickly dive down at any animal that dares enter their territory. Hidalgo has also averaged over five rebounds per game, an incredible feat for someone her height. To grab these rebounds Hidalgo has to go up against much larger players; similarly, Red-winged black birds defend their territory against much larger animals such as humans, cows, and horses. 

Player Profile: 

 The Great Blue Heron wades along open waters and in wetlands across North America. The Great Blue primarily hunts for fish and amphibians in shallow waters, where they use their sharp eyesight to spot prey and their long sharp beak to spear them.

Wingspan: 7 ft

Weight: 5.5 lbs 

College Basketball Player Comparison: Jase Richardson - Michigan St.

6’3” / Guard / Freshman

Jase Richardson has been key to the Spartans’ success this year. Richardson picks his shots carefully, like a Great Blue Heron, then he hits his target with pinpoint accuracy. This resembles the way Herons scout their surroundings and wait to strike at the perfect moment, using both their sharp eyes and beak to secure any fish coming their way. 

Player Profile:

Wingspan: 19 in

Weight:  6.9 oz

The American Woodcock is one of the first birds to migrate back to the midwest in spring. It nests in leaf litter in forests, where it is superbly camouflaged, The Woodcock spends its time probing the ground with its long beak for insects and worms.

College Basketball Player Comparison: PJ Haggerty - Memphis

6’3” / Guard / Sophomore

PJ Haggerty has been great for the Tigers in 2025. Haggerty drives to the basket with determination to get to the rim. He changes his speed just like a Woodcock, which can fly up to 30 mph in short bursts. When he gets in the paint, Haggerty isn’t afraid to do a little acting to draw a call,  just like a Woodcock’s acting displays during mating season.

Player Profile:

Wingspan: 3.3 ft

Weight:  1.4 lbs

Crows are the most common corvid species in our region. Crows are highly social, living in families of around 15 individuals. They are highly intelligent, work together to find food, and have even been known to use tools.

College Basketball Comparison: Coach Dawn Staley - South Carolina

Here’s a curveball: the player comparison for the crow isn’t a player at all; it’s Dawn Staley, head coach of the South Carolina women’s basketball team. Staley played college basketball herself from 1988 to 1992 with Virginia. She then played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2006, making the all-star team six consecutive times. When she was playing in the WNBA, she simultaneously served as the head women’s basketball coach for Temple University. In 2008, Staley became the head coach of the South Carolina Women's basketball team and transformed the program into one of the best in the country. South Carolina has won eight SEC championships and three national championships, including a perfect season in 2024. 

Just like how Staley has one of the smartest minds in basketball, the crow is the genius of the avian world. Crows are social creatures that rely on teamwork to succeed, just like the Gamecocks.

Player Profile:

Wingspan: 7 ft

Weight:  11lbs

The Sandhill Crane breeds in the wetlands of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

College Basketball Player Comparison: John Tonje - Wisconsin

6’5” / Guard / Senior

John Tonje is one of the oldest players in college basketball. He is playing in his sixth season, two more than a normal four season career because of the covid year and a  medical redshirt he got due to an ankle injury last season. The veteran guard  is compared to a veteran of the skies, the Sandhill Crane. Sandhills are one of the longest lived birds in North America with the oldest individual recorded in the wild being at least thirty-seven years old.