Birds in my backyard...

White-breasted Nuthatch

2009-04-22T18:31:00.003-04:00

Sitta Carolinensis
Cornell Link

5.1-5.5 "

White-breasted Nuthatches are one of five similar species found in North America. They are all known for facing downward while gripping the trunks of trees. They are found mostly in deciduous woodlands. All of these stood true for this nuthatch. They flock in large groups of chickadees and titmouses.

I have grown up listening to the little chirps these birds make. They are really common where I live. I love putting out suet in the winter and seeing these birds hang there and peck away at it. I once was walking through Tower Hill Botanical Garden and overheard a women... obviously from the city, reading her daughter an inscription on a plaque that described the potential birds available for viewing from that paricular post. When she got to Nuthatch, she pronounced it "New Thatch". I like that :)

American Kestrel

2009-04-22T18:16:00.004-04:00

Falco sparverious

Cornell Link

8.7-12.2"
Kestrels range throughout North America. They are the most common falcon in the US. That doesn't stop the fact that they are beautiful however. They are the most colorful falcon as well.

This Kestrel was far away and content to stay that way. I barely got this photo. It had caught a snake and flew away with it a second after this picture was taken. It was really pretty. It flew all around me but didn't sound at all. I was happy to get this picture. I have seen this kestrel around the same area for a couple of days... maybe I will try to go back for a better picture.

Pine Warbler

2009-04-21T15:40:00.002-04:00

Dendroica pinus

5"-5 3/4"
As its name implies, the Pine Warbler is usually found in amougnst pines. It is one of the few types of warblers that inhabits its breeding ground all year long. It is found all throughout eastern North America. It has a nice quiet song (a soft lisping chip).

There were two of these flying around. I originally thought they were yellow warblers, but upon further observance, they had a olive face mask. I thought it would be too early to see yellow warblers anyway. It was so nice to see some yellow in amoung the bare branches of the trees. Daffodills and pine warblers.... thank God for Spring.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

2008-12-06T19:39:00.006-05:00

Melanerpes carolinus

9 in. This woodpecker is the most common woodpecker in the southeast. The male has a red cap that extends all the way down his head and the female not so much.

I saw this one in my front yard. It is the first time I have ever seen one of these. I guess that I am at the top of their range. It was pretty... it kind of reminds of a paraquete.

Bobolink

2008-07-05T08:21:00.004-04:00

BOBOLINK
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Cornell link

Bobolinks are common to the northern half of the United States and small parts of southern Canada. They inhabit fields with dominant alfalfa, clover, and grain crops. They have seen smaller numbers in the northeast because of the lessening of agriculture. They get their name from thier call, "bobolink, bobolink, bobolink, bobolink." Their migration route sometimes takes them as far away as Argentina!!

This is the first Bobolink that I have seen. It was fairly shy, and was coupling with a female. It flew away pretty quickly. I didn't het to hear it call, unfortunately.

Red-eyed Vireo

2008-06-01T14:07:00.004-04:00

RED-EYED VIREO

Vireo Olivaceus 5.5-6.5"

Cornell Link

Red-eyed Vireos are most easily detected by their song. They are easly confused with Black-whiskered Vireos. Among the more subtle differences is the red eye. They range all throughout most of the United Sates and southern Canada.

One of my favorite things is taking a picture of an unknown bird and then a while later stumbling upon a dead-on match in my Audubon's guide. This is one of those times. This little vireo's eye shows up nicely if you click on the picture.

Wild Turkey

2008-06-01T07:12:00.005-04:00

WILD TURKEY

Meleagris gallapavo 48-50

Wild turkeys range from the southern United States an along the eastern coast to New England. Males have irredecent feathers. Both sexes have naked heads that are vaguely blue.

I was looking for a nesting goose that I was told was in this field when this old girl flew up in front of me. She had five chicks that hid until she called them to her. She clucked her warning call from a few feet away and made herself menacing as you can see from the pictures.

Bicknell's Thrush

2008-05-26T08:33:00.002-04:00

BICKNELL'S THRUSH
Catharus bicknelli: 6-7"
Cornell link

Bickell's Thrushs are very similar to Grey Cheeked Thrushes, and were in fact only distinguished recently.

Well.... the debate goes on. This very-well may be a Gray Cheeked Thrush. I thought it was a Wood Thrush which spawned major debate between me and my father. He won. This bird isn't even found in my Audubon's guides. If in fact this is a Bicknell's Thrush, it must have thought that Rutland State Park was similar enough to a mountain top to pull it from its normal breeding ground, which consists of mountain tops from northern New England to southern Quebec.

Cedar Waxwing

2008-05-26T08:14:00.006-04:00

CEDAR WAXWING

Bombycilla cedrorum: 6.5-8

Cornell link

Cedar Waxwings range throughout most of the United States. They generally are berry eaters, but will catch flyes in off season. They have a very sleek appearance and are very colorful, with red spotes on their wings, a yellow tail stripe, and a black mask.

These Cedar Waxwings were eating the blooms on this crabapple tree (as you can see in picture 2). They seemed very intent on doing this and didn't mind too much that I came right up to them to take pictures. I remember canoeing a while ago and seeing a bunch of them pass berries to eachother while sitting lined up on a branch. It is always nice to see them.

Prairie Warbler

2008-05-25T14:15:00.005-04:00

PRAIRIE WARBLER

Dendroica discolor 4.5 - 5"

Cornell link

Similar in size and coloration to a Yellow Warbler, but lacking in the vertical frontal bars and having black side stripes and 2 distinctive facial stripes, the Prairie Warbler is a beautiful bird. They have a very distinctive call: an ascending thin buzzy sizzle of 5 to 16 "zee zee zee zee zees". Prairie Warblers prefer land with a lot of scrubrush along side pine forests.

We heard these far before we saw them. They have a really fun call. We searched and searched and I thought that I had taken pictures of Yellow Warblers. However, upon closer inspection, and especially alongside that amazing call, I am sure that the picture above is a Praire Warbler!!

Got em Dad!!!

Eastern Wood-Pewee

2008-05-25T13:58:00.003-04:00

EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE
Contopus virens5-6"
Cornell Link
Eastern Wood-Pewees are virtually indestinguishable from their Western Wood cousins. Their song and range are really the only big difference. Ther are to be distinguished from other pewees fly catchers by their two white wing bands, and the lack of a distinguishable eye ring.

Alright.... this is my best shot at categorizing this little guy. It very strongly fits both the Audubon guide's picture and description as well as matches the typical habitat and range. However, I am open to correction if anyone would like to make it.

The Elusive Wood Thrush

2008-05-24T19:57:00.014-04:00

Some say that they don't really exist. Their song you hear is nothing more than the wind blowing through the trees. I even know of someone who thought that he had captured the pictorial proof only to realize that it was nothing more than a spotted sparrow. Finally, although it is somewhat out of focus, the proof we have been searching for.

Alright.... even though at first reaction, I didn't believe it (see comment below) upon looking it up, I do believe that that is certainly a wood thrush.

So,

WOOD THRUSH
Hylocichla mustelina 7.5 - 8.5"
Cornell Link
Wood Thurshes make a habit of nesting near suburban woodlands. Flte-like and haunting, their song is among the most beautiful of the north-eastern american birds.

This is my favorite bird. While they are somewhat plain in color, their song captures something of the mystery of the woods. I clearly remember its echoing notes finding their way through the deep pine forest of my childhood. I woke up many times to its song sneaking through my summer windows.

Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird

2008-05-23T16:51:00.003-04:00

Cornell Link

Great Blue Heron

2008-05-23T16:38:00.010-04:00

GREAT BLUE HERON

Ardea herodias 50-54"

Cornell Link

Canada Goose and Goslings

2008-05-23T16:15:00.005-04:00

CANADA GOOSE
Cornell link

Scarlet Tanager

2008-05-23T15:45:00.004-04:00

SCARLET TANAGER
Piranga Rubra:7-7.75"

Cornell link
Scarlet Tanagers are part of a tropical species of birds that migrate north to breed in the dense wooded pine forests. The Scarlet tanager travels further north than the restof its species. They are not as energetic as other migrating species such as the various warblers. Scarlet Tanagers are fairly dificult to observe because they generally perch at the top of the canopy and stay still for long periods of time. When Scarlet Tanagers come north before the onset of the heavy insect season, they sometimes can be seen landing on lawns in suburban areas. Their range is western US and very southern Canada.

My mom saw this Scarlet Tanager sitting in their front yard and thought at first it was a cardinal. Then she saw the black wings and went and got my Dad.... GO MOM!! I haven't seen one of these in years and years.

Scarlet Tanager in our front yard

Grey Catbird

2008-05-23T14:33:00.002-04:00

GRAY CATBIRD

Dumetella carolinensis

Cornell link

Catbirds are fairly common and great immitators of other birdsongs. They generally inhabit low dense undergrowth. They sometimes flick their tales as they give their own native cat-like call.

I have seen these may times. Still, they are somewhat charming in their ability to immitate other birds. I thought them the harbringers of doom for a while in that they nested at our sterling house .... and all that that entailed...

Eastern Bluebird

2008-05-18T16:15:00.003-04:00

EASTERN BLUEBIRD
Sialia sialis: 6-6.5"
Cornell link
Easter bluebirds range from the mid-west to the eastern coast of America. They have a wonderful call "chur lee." The males have a reddish-brown throat and a brilliant blue back. When they fly, their blue becomes very evident.

I really like bluebirds. They can hover in flight... they are very pretty and they are somewhat shy. I kind of cheated for this picture. I saw that a couple had inhabitted a bird house set up in a field in Rutland State Park... and waited for one of them to perch on a nearby tree. It did, and I took the picture. This was at full zoom and then cropped in... I was probably over 100 feet away.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

2008-05-18T15:58:00.001-04:00

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
Pheucticus ludovicianus: 7-8.5"
Cornell link
All Grosebeaks have a very pronounced beak. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have a triangular red bib and shite spotted wings when in flight. They have a very beautiful and fluid call. They need a very specific habitat. Thye only occupy areas that have large trees seperating open fields. They have a smaller range than any of the other birds I have listed. They range from the midwest, up through cental and eastern Canada and New England.

I first saw one of these a few years back at the monestary that I buy my jelly at. For years, Evening Grosbeaks would come to my parents house in December (we called them the Christmas birds) These were the only grossbeaks that I was award of. I went out birding with my father yesterday and we saw a few of these fly by but couldn't get a decent picture. I kept hearing a low "choop choop" call but coudn't see the bird that was making it. I went back with my son Henry today and as I was leaving, I heard that same "choop choop" from out of my window. I looked over and there was the culprit. They supposedly have a wonderful voice, but I only heard that little low "choop."

Black-capped Chickadee

2008-05-10T10:06:00.001-04:00

BLACK-CAPPED CHIACKADEE
Parus atricapillus: 5.75"
Cornell link
Very prevalent bird-feeder birds. Very similar to a Carolina Chickadee.

In fact.... even in the Audubon's guide, I can't tell the difference. The outdoors would not be the same without the chickadee's distinct "chick-a-dee dee dee dee.

Red-tailed Hawk

2008-05-10T09:40:00.001-04:00

RED-TAILED HAWK

Buteo-jamaicensis 19-25"

Cornell link

Red-tailed Hawks are large broad-winged and dark-headed. They range from woodlands to deserts. Their diets generally consist of rodents and rabbits, although they do also feed on birds, (such as this one is doing) snakes and reptiles.

My father and I watched for probably half-an-hour as this redtailed plucked and ate a red-winged blackbird. Other red-winged blackbird's tried to attack the hawk as it ate but they didn't seem to bother it much. This was taken at Wachusett Meadow.

Mallard

2008-05-10T09:16:00.001-04:00

MALLARD
Anas platyrhynchos:20-28"
Cornell link
Mallards are the most common duck in the US. They have been domesticated for centuries. They congregate by the thousands in the mid-west forming "rafts".

Bright green heads :)

Belted Kingfisher

2008-05-10T08:43:00.001-04:00

BELTED KINGFISHER
Ceryle alcyon: 12-14"
Cornell link
Belted Kingfishers are common throughout the entire US and most of Canada. They live and hunt near streams, ponds, and even the coast. They have the ability to hover in search of prey and dive straight down into the water to spear unsuspecting prey with their long bills.

There is something about Kingfishers that is special. I see them often when I am canoeing. They fly like they mean buisness, in diving patterns. Their call is a rattling harsh cry.

Northern "Baltimore" Oriole

2008-05-10T08:33:00.005-04:00

NORTHERN "BALTIMORE" ORIOLE
Icterus galbula galbula: 7-8"
Cornell link
Baltimore Orioles inhabit shade trees and populate backyards. They are brilliant orange with black hoods.I love these. I used to live in an inlaw apartment that had a well established orcahrd and garden with substantial landscaping. The owner would put out orange halves and the orioles would come and peck at them. The fiery flash of their bright orange feathers always thrills me when I see it.

Common Yellowthroat

2008-05-10T08:15:00.003-04:00

COMON YELLOWTHROAT
Geothlyips trichas: 4.5-5.5"
Cornell link

Common Yellowthroats are very active, and have a call sounding "witchity witchity witchity"
They range across the entire US and southern Canada.

Disimlar to its name, this is the first Common Yellowthroat I have ever seen. And, I had to hunt pretty severly to get a picture of it. It seemed to peek out at me from inside of the shrubbery over and over again (see picture 1). Its a pretty little guy.

Yellow Warbler

2008-05-10T07:57:00.002-04:00

YELOW WARBLER

Dendroica petechia:4-5"

Cornell link

There seems to be many species of these guys. They populate areas by streams and wetlands and appriciate shrubbery. They also migrate south very early, in July.

In the early spring, these stand out so strongly against the still greyish trees. Ther are like comets flying around.

Blue Jay

2008-04-21T20:19:00.001-04:00

BLUE JAY
Cyanocitta cristata11-12''
Cornell link
These are very common in the central and eastern US. I have always thought that despite their number, they really aren't very common. They are really a very beautiful bird, and they're big. I even like one of their more common calls and have always thought it to be icy.
It was difficult to find a decent picture of a bluejay, they always seem to be in the top of the trees alerting everyone that I am there.

Mourning Dove

2008-04-21T20:11:00.001-04:00

MOURNING DOVE
Zenaida macroura: 11-13"
Cornell link
Very common all through the united States. These are often the first birds active in the early morning.
That, does not however, lend the dove its name. I read a reference in "The education of Little Tree" that stated that the Mourning Dove's gentle call mourned the death of a loved one.

Red-winged Blackbird

2008-04-21T08:59:00.001-04:00

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius Pheniceus: 7.5-9.5"

Cornell link

These are found everywhere I guess... They have a bright red patch on their shoulder, bordered on the bottom by a buff white stripe. The females are brown and black with a buff eyebrow.

The best part about these is their call, a very liquid conk-a-reee. They ruffle up their frathers when they sound also. They come in huge flocks and fill the air with their call.

American Goldfinch

2008-04-21T08:52:00.001-04:00

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

Carduelis tristis 4.5 -5.5:

Cornell link

These have a little black cap that looks like it is tipped forward. Bright yellow and dark black, but they mellow out in the winter, bearing olive green and dull yellow colors instead.

I love these, they are so cheery and prevalent. I took this picture in Rutland State Park by a stream.

Swamp Sparrow

2008-04-21T08:37:00.000-04:00

SWAMP SPARROW
Melospiza geogiana:5-5 3/4:
Rusty colored with a grey face and that eyebrow stripe.

I may be wrong about this identification.... If I am, let me know. The were incredibly prevalent in the bog I was walking through.

Turkey Vulture

2008-04-20T16:40:00.000-04:00

TURKEY VULTURE
Cathartes aura: 26-32" This guy has a 6 foot wingspan!! It is smilar to a black vulture, but black vultures are smaller and have grey heads.

I have never seen one of these perched. It was really big. It was sitting at head level, perched on a tree above a river.

American Robin

2008-04-12T10:00:00.000-04:00

AMERICAN ROBIN: (9-11") Its call is a rich "cheer-up, cheerily."
These guys are found everywhere... They hung around all winter this year, which I guess is actualy normal for them... at least according to Audubon, but I don't think I have ever seen more of them in the winter than this year.

Barred Owl

2008-04-12T08:02:00.001-04:00

BARRED OWL: (17-24'')Its also called a "Hoot Owl." Its call is a very clear nine note call (who-cooks-for-you--who-cooks-for-you-all). Barred owls prefer wooded swamps and deep forests and typically eat frogs and very small rodents.
I took this picture with a pretty serious zoom out of my back window this past February. It has been "haunting" the woods by our house for a while and I am pretty happy to have snapped a picture.