Warbler Quiz
Here’s some work for you via RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser…while setting across North America to write his The Birds of America, John James Audubon discovered 25 species of birds unknown to science at the time. One such discovery was this nondescript warbler that he deemed a different species, and it would become plate 148 in his book. However, it wouldn’t remain a species for long. This bird is in fact a female of one of our more showy North American warblers. What is it? And what did Audubon originally call it?
Read MoreDowntown birds
Can you identify this “urban” bird? It was blasting its song over the main site for the New York State “Special Concern” Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles in downtown Jamestown this past Sunday! It is not obscured and it is close but this is a difficult angle. Yep, that is actually a Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)! There was a surprising bunch of migrants at the site and I noted the following: Eastern Kingbird 1 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Swainson’s Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 2 Tennessee Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 1 Cape May...
Read MoreUnidentified flying objects
Maybe it’s more precise to say “unidentified flying bird”. Do you have any idea what these brilliant but difficult to discern birds are? They’re flying away from the observer and photographer, RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser. These photos were taken less than a week ago and that is a clue in itself with all of that green in the background as Sean was in Panama. I always find it amusing that this species has a name that does not reflect the most vivid aspect of its physical appearance. It is accurate, certainly, but the part – or color – that stands out the...
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...
Read MoreWaterfowl identification quiz
In this very cold winter season we have been finding a lot of waterfowl concentrated in any areas with open water. As ice takes over nearly every pond, creek, river or lake – even much of the Great Lakes – these birds have to find a hole in these blocks or move to the south. This bird was one of thousands of gulls, ducks, loons, grebes, scoters and more in an unfrozen patch of Lake Erie. Can you identify it? You can barely see the bird’s eye as it rests with bill tucked in. Examine the color patterns on the head, neck, breast, wings and body while looking at the overall...
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