Blue-winged Warbler
This was one chatty Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)! You can practically hear the beeeeee bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz in these pictures. What have you been hearing lately?
Read MoreOrchard Oriole
This adult male Orchard Oriole finally gave me a decent couple of poses on a recent morning! My guy was foraging, singing, and defending his territory against various avian intruders when he paused to let me shoot him for a few seconds. His chestnut-like tones look fantastic against the green leaves and blue sky. Someday I want to get a photo of an Orchard Oriole and a Baltimore Oriole for a better visual comparison of their sizes. Orchards are noticeably smaller than their cousins, just a bit larger than our vireos and warblers. It is hard to believe this fella will be heading south for the...
Read MorePine Swamp Warbler
To answer yesterday’s quiz by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser, the Pine Swamp Warbler (Sylvia pusilla) was a bird Audubon originally painted as a new species of warbler. However, you may have figured out that it was the female Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens). This was an interesting mistake that highlighted the dimorphism between the male and female. It is one of the most drastic sexually dimorphic species of North American warblers.
Read MoreBaltimore Oriole
Those Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) do love to stay high in the canopy of trees, and often enough all you can do is catch a quick glance of orange and black zipping by. If you know their call you probably end up hearing them far more than seeing them. This adult male did give me a minute to snap his shot as he came down to the mid-levels. He and his mate were busy feeding, and I presume they have a nest and eggs already on the way. If you have a pair in your neighborhood and would like an even better viewing opportunity then I suggest putting out half of an orange or two in your yard....
Read MoreNorthern 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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