Common Yellowthroat
You can see me, but I can still see you, Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) male. Keep working on that hiding game…especially in nesting season! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreGray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Have you figured out the answer to our mystery woodland creature post yet? Do you give up? Well, that little mammal that was sitting behind all the brush is in fact a Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)! Although the Gray and Red Fox share the same family and some similar colorations, there are several distinct differences that separate these relatives. For starters, Gray Fox are called gray for a reason. Their coat is short and the fur down their back and tail are dark gray, ending with black at the tip of the tail. Compared to the Red Fox, and many other North American canids, Gray Fox are...
Read MoreYellow-breasted Chats in New York
Earlier today I uploaded this video of a notorious skulker, the Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), to our YouTube Channel. The bird was foraging for prey in dense brush and thickets. This behavior is typical of the often hidden species. While it is not necessarily shy – this individual feeling comfortable enough to feed as I filmed shows that much – it certainly knows how to stay out of sight for the most part. It made me ponder the current status of the species as a whole in Western New York and the surrounding region. Back in Connecticut I actually saw several...
Read MoreBird in the brush
Take a look at this bird hidden in some brush in Connecticut this week. Any clue as to what it may be? Let me assure you that it is in there! In the center you’ll find a bird that you should be able to get a relative sense of size for. Think of the season and time of year, mid-March. What could be lurking in Connecticut feeding on seeds on the ground? That narrows the field. You should be able to see it is white, brown, and black. There’s a chance you may see the orange-yellow bill obscured by some of the brush. I will add that this was one of well over one hundred individuals of...
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