White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
This White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) thought it was completely hidden from my sight – nice try, my friend! It is an adult who, as you can also see, still had some crumbs on its mouth…or bits of seeds on its bill. Close enough. Go out and have a tremendously birdy Sunday with the many sparrows passing through our area right now. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreFeeder Finches
There are three kinds of finches in these photos, and the views afford a great perspective of their relative sizes. The American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin and Purple Finch were all visitors to Twan’s yard recently. The Purple has such an enormous bill!
Read MoreWilson’s Snipe
As the snow recedes and the marshes, rivers, wetlands and wet meadows thaw, birds like this Wilson’s Snipe can finally trickle back to the north. You can’t bury your bill in the frozen earth, but thankfully for them the end of the winter’s grip is here. This late afternoon bird is being heated by that warming sun, knowing its path back to its breeding grounds will soon be easier.
Read MorePileated Woodpecker Holes
These are some extra fresh Pileated Woodpecker holes! That wood looks like it has been cut very recently, and it certainly looks like a professional job. Whenever you see a dead or dying tree in your yard please try to leave it there if possible – if it is not infected with something such as Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, or a particularly dangerous falling hazard to people. It will end up serving a host of species that depend on these decaying plants for food, shelter and nesting. Cutting even these trees down solely for aesthetic purposes is robbing the environment of a vital component....
Read MoreAmerican Woodcock in March Snow
I was delighted to find this American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) feeding in the exposed leaf litter and mud thanks to the warm, flowing spring and expansive wetlands in my yard today after about six more inches of snow fell yesterday and early this morning. Note the muddy end of this shorebird’s bill showing it had been busy foraging throughout the day in this video… …and the photos below: This well-known spring species dances on the ground while foraging and in the sky while courting every March, though this year the displays may be a little later than usual. The sun is so...
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