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Posts Tagged "appearance"

Willow Flycatcher

Posted on Jun 1, 2016

Willow Flycatcher

One of our later arriving neotropical migrants, the Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) seen here was belting out its song on top of a pine. One of the Empidonax flycatchers, they are basically indistinguishable from the Alder Flycatcher by sight, though the other “Empid” species usually have brighter eyerings. Regardless, you should always use your ears first when it comes to these birds! Far too many people attempt to pin down an identification just by staring at photos later on when birds besides the Empidonax flycatchers, like the Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested...

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Yellow-throated Vireo

Posted on May 31, 2016

Yellow-throated Vireo

The Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) seen here did plenty of singing and foraging for me on a recent spring morning while his mate tended to their new nest. They were located, as always, on the edge of a large forest, and while they love the cuts they do need sizable, unbroken woodlands. If you take a look at them from afar you may wonder why they have such a plumage…but if you look at some of my photos you may not have to ponder that anymore. What a perfect camouflage, especially in the spring! I have no doubt those looks help the species coax their insect prey into easy...

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Northern Cardinal

Posted on May 29, 2016

Northern Cardinal

As we often focus on our gorgeous neotropical migrant visitors we can neglect the residents that are still looking wonderful at this time of year. This male Northern Cardinal is looking great against the green!

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Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Posted on May 27, 2016

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

There is nothing like seeing the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) fly near you, turning ever so slightly to reveal a flash of light under its throat. When this bird caught the right light on its gorget it was almost a blinding beam of red. Photographed for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Connecticut while on assignment for The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. Sean Graesser RTPI Affiliate

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Cardinal Portrait

Posted on May 23, 2016

Cardinal Portrait

Sean was originally only going to photograph neotropical migrants on the black background for portraits, but that changed once he netted this male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). He thought the red and black contrast would look very cool. It was clearly worth it, and Sean said this guy was a really good model with his bright red mohawk.

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