Look at the photos below for each category and then fill out the Google Form linked at the bottom of this page. You can pick one photo per category and each person can fill out the Google form only once. Please keep the authors of the photos anonymous until voting is complete. Voting will end at midnight CST on August 13, 2023.
Finches are a group of relatively small passerine birds that travel in flocks. Many finch species visit bird feeders and are very familiar to people while others are a bit rarer to see.
In South Carolina, there are five finch species that show up on an annual basis that are certainly worth getting to know in order to maximize your experience with them at your bird feeder or out in the field.
American Goldfinch
Male breeding plumage American Goldfinch
Nonbreeding plumage American Goldfinch
Identification
During the breeding months, American Goldfinches are extremely colorful with males having bright yellow covering most of their bodies, a black cap on their head, black wings, and a black partially forked tail. In nonbreeding plumage, these birds are duller with brownish bodies, a yellowish head, and black wings with white wing bars. Females in breeding plumage are still bright yellow but not to the same degree as the males. Females also have less black on the top of their head.
Range
American Goldfinches can be found throughout most of the United States with the species following a typical migration path of traveling south in winter and north into Canada to breed in summer. They are also found year-round in many of the Midwestern, Northeastern, and Northwestern states.
Diet and Foraging Habits
American Goldfinches have a diet consisting of seeds. Some of their preferred seeds are sunflower and nyjer. American Goldfinches typically feed in flocks (with some flocks becoming quite large) and will also feed alongside other finch species such as Common Redpolls, and Pine Siskins.
Where to Find This Bird
In their native range, American Goldfinches are plentiful and easy to find. Search for this species in fields with tall weeds and grass, both deciduous and coniferous forests, parks, and of course backyards. Finch feeders with nyjer, thistle, or sunflower seeds are great attractants for this species.
House Finch
Male House Finch
Identification
Male House Finches have brown backs and wings with a bright red head, throat, and chest. They have streaking on their sides and a brown stripe on their face. Female House Finches look the same as the males but without the bright red.
House Finches look very similar to Purple Finches. For tips on differentiating between the two, click here to read about it or watch the video below.Learn the differences between the House Finch and the Purple Finch
Range
House Finches have a very interesting range. They were originally native to the Western half of the United States and Mexico, but were brought over to the Eastern half of the US and now inhabit both the East and the West, but not parts of the Central US. House Finches are generally nonmigratory and stick to the same areas year-round.
Diet and Foraging Habits
House Finches eat seeds and other plant materials such as buds and fruits. They are common around urban backyard bird feeders where they will consume millet and sunflower seeds among other things.
Where to Find This Bird
House Finches are accustomed to spending time near humans, often being found in parks and backyards with bird feeders. This species can also be found in many different natural habitats as well including but not limited to oak and conifer forests.
Pine Siskin
Pine Siskin
Identification
Pine Siskins are an overall brownish tan color with cream colored wing bars and a lighter colored underside. They have heavy streaking on the sides and a lighter colored eyebrow stripe. Pine Siskins have bright yellow edging on their wing and tail feathers.
Range
Pine Siskins have an extremely expansive range across the US and Canada. They live year-round in Southern Canada, the Northern United States, and parts of the Western United States and Mexico. In summer, the breeding range of Pine Siskins extends up into Canada and Southwestern Alaska. In winter, Pine Siskins southern movements vary wildly from year to year with the species sometimes making it well into Mexico and the Southeastern US.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Pine Siskins eat a wide variety of food items including insects, buds, and seeds. The majority of their diet during the colder months is seeds ranging from seeds of deciduous trees to those of conifers. As their name would suggest, they are particularly fond of the seeds of pine trees. Pine Siskins are often found feeding in flocks flying from tree to tree and making their distinctive, buzzy call.
Where to Find This Bird
Pine Siskins live in a variety of habitats including deciduous and coniferous woods, parks, and backyards. If it’s the right time of year for them, exploring pine and other conifer forests will often times lead to an encounter. Another great place to find these lively birds is at home bird feeders where they will eat alongside other finch species such as American Goldfinches and House Finches.
Finding Pine Siskins during an irruption year
Purple Finch
Purple Finch
Identification
Male Purple Finches are stunning birds with a rosy-pink wine-stained color on their back, head, and chest. They have dark brown wings and a brown colored tail. Male Purple Finches also have lighter and darker variations of pink on their face giving them the look of having an eye stripe. Females completely lack the rosy-pink color of the males and have brown wings with cream-colored undersides and a noticeable cream-colored eyebrow stripe. They also have streaking on their chest and sides.
Sometime Purple Finches can be hard to tell apart from House Finches. To find out how to differentiate between the two, click here to read our article about it or check out the video below.Learn the differences between the House Finch and the Purple Finch
Range
Purple Finches live year-round in the Northeastern states, Northern Great Lakes states, and West Coast states of the US as well as Southeastern Canada. Their summer range expands farther north into Canada, and they move south in the winter (mostly in the Eastern United States).
Diet and Foraging Habits
Purple Finches eat many different types of seeds and berries. They will also eat soft buds from plants and feed on nectar from flowers.
Where to Find This Bird
Purple Finches can be found in forested areas with conifer forests seeming to be the preferred habitat. In winter, look for these birds near feeding stations where the males will stand out.Badgerland Birding searches for Purple Finches
Red Crossbill (Uncommon)
Male Red Crossbill – Photo by U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region
Identification
Male Red Crossbills are orangish red with brownish black wings and a brownish black tail. They have a marking that goes over their eye and is not terribly noticeable unless seen at close range. Females are yellowish in color with brownish gray wings. Red Crossbills get their name for their interesting bill structure. The mandibles are crossed, making it easy for this species to open up pinecones to extract seeds.
Range
The range of Red Crossbills is complicated. They are extremely nomadic and will simply travel to where the food is. In general, this species is a year-round resident of Western and Southern Canada, the Western and Northern forests of the United States, and parts of Mexico. During winter, they move into the rest of the United States in search of fruitful cone crops. In any given year they may stay relatively far north or make it as far south as Texas and Mexico.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Red Crossbills are specialized to feed on conifer cones and do so by placing their crossed mandibles in-between the scales of the cones. They then open up the cone and eat the seed out of it. These birds typically feed in flocks and will descend on a tree together, feasting in what looks and sounds like a frenzy.
Where to Find This Bird
Red Crossbills can certainly be a tough species to get a read on. The best time to find them is to during an irruption year when many of them flood into the continental US. During these times, keep an eye out for conifer trees with healthy cone crops. Another good way to find this species is by listening for their “jip jip” flight call.
It’s worth noting that Red Crossbills have several different “types.” Each of these types has a slightly different call and habitat preference. It’s possible that at some point these birds could be split into multiple species.
Summary
Finches are energetic and exciting birds to be able to find or have around your yard. Knowing more about the species that are expected in your area can be instrumental in finding and identifying them, especially since they have such irregular migratory patterns. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some questions about the finches of South Carolina.
Cormorants are slender diving waterbirds with a distinctive shape and set of habits. While there are many cormorant species that live in North America, there are only two that can typically be found in Iowa, with one being extremely abundant and the other being quite rare. Here is everything you need to know about these two species.
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Identification
Adult Double-crested Cormorants have a dark brown to black head, neck, back, underside and wings. Juveniles will be lighter brown in color with a lighter throat and underside. Both adults and juveniles have orange by the eyes and base of the bill as well as a turquoise colored eye. Breeding adult birds have two tufts on their head that can sometimes be hard to see, but these crests are what this species is named for.
Range
Double-crested Cormorants live year round along the Pacific Coast of North America from Northwestern Mexico all the way up to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. They also live year round in parts of Florida. This species winters in in the Southeastern United States and Northeastern Mexico. In spring, they move into the Northern United States and Southern Canada where they can be seen migrating in large flocks.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Double-crested Cormorants primarily eat fish which they catch by hunting them underwater. They will also eat other aquatic creature such as crustaceans and amphibians.
Where to Find This Bird
Double-crested Cormorants can be found in a variety of places with all of them usually being near bodies of water. Look for this species in trees lining lakes and ponds as well as in marshes. Often times, Double-crested Cormorants will congregate in large groups on islands or other places with adequate perches as they dry their wings and survey for prey.
Neotropic Cormorant (Rare)
Neotropic Cormorant – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Neotropic Cormorants are small members of the cormorant family. Adult birds are a shiny black color with white feathers on their head, back, and wings. They have a white triangle on the base of the bill known as a gular. Neotropic Cormorants have yellowish orange on the base of the bill and a turquoise colored eye. Juveniles are lighter in color overall, sporting brown coloration instead of black.
Range
Neotropic Cormorants live year-round in South America, Central America, much of Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of the United States. While much of the population is not migratory, some birds move north in spring and have a habit of turning up north of their normal range.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Neotropic Cormorants eat mostly fish, but will also consume insects, crustaceans, and amphibians. These birds are sight feeders and search for prey underwater where their streamlined bodies make them adept swimmers.
Where to Find This Bird
Neotropic Cormorants live in a wide variety of places including inland lakes, saltmarshes, and along ocean coastlines. They can often be seen perched in branches and other structures near water keeping watch for food.
For information on how to differentiate a Double-crested Cormorant from a Neotropic Cormorant click here to read an article on the subject or check out the video below.Neotropic vs. Double-crested Cormorant
Birds that are Similar to Cormorants
There is one North American bird species that technically is not a cormorant, but is similar enough to include it on the list.
Anhinga (Rare)
Anhinga
Identification
Anhingas look extremely similar to cormorants with a long snake-like neck and a long pointed bill. They have longer tails than most cormorant species and show white on their wings. Overall, Anhingas are dark colored with dark brown to black bodies and lighter colored necks.
Range
Anhingas are year-round residents of the northern half of South America, the coasts of Central America and Mexico, and the southeastern coast of the continental United States. In summer, they move farther north and have a tendency to move pretty far north into the eastern United States.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Anhingas primarily feed on fish which they actively hunt for underwater and spear with their sharp, pointed bill. They will also eat crustaceans and other small invertebrates.
Where to Find This Bird
Anhingas can be found in areas with slow moving freshwater such as marshes, bayous, and general wetlands. Look for them drying their wings on perches or swimming in the water, sitting low mostly with just their head and neck above the waters surface.
Summary
Cormorants are unique, lanky birds that are a common sight near the water. Knowing the habits, range, and key identification features of each of these species can be incredibly useful in knowing what to look for in the field.
Grosbeaks are birds that are known for their sturdy looking build and thick bill. While they all share a similar appearance, grosbeaks are actually comprised of birds from two separate groupings. Out of five species of grosbeaks that live in the continental United States, three of them are technically in the cardinal family along with birds like tanagers, and the other two are in the finch family.
In South Carolina there are two species that can be found on an annual basis. Here is everything you need to know about them.
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
As their name suggests, male Blue Grosbeaks are a deep blue color. They have a gray bill, small black mask, and two rusty wing bars. Females and immature males are orangey brown with faint wing bars still visible.
Range
Blue Grosbeaks spend the winter in Central America and Mexico. Some of them stay in Mexico year-round while others move north into the United States where they can be found in the southern states as well as the Great Plains States for the duration of the summer.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Blue Grosbeaks eat a combination of insects and seeds. They will also eat other invertebrates such as spiders and snails.
Where to Find This Bird
Blue Grosbeaks are most at home in open areas such as scrub and desert. They are also fond of edge habitats where they can hide in trees and thickets while singing.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Identification
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are dapper looking birds with a thick bill. Males have a black head, back, tail and wings with white markings also appearing on the wings. They have a white underside with their most noticeable feature appearing on their chest: A namesake bright red marking. Females have a mottled brown back with a yellowish underside and a white eyebrow stripe.
Range
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks migrate annually from Northern South America, Central America, and Southern Mexico into the Eastern United States. In summer, they end up in the Northeastern U.S. and parts of Southern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks feed on different food items depending on the time of the year. During spring and summer, insects make up a large portion of their diet. While in fall, berries and other fruits become more of a staple. They will also eat seeds and other plant matter.
Where to Find This Bird
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks live in a variety of habitats including deciduous and mixed conifer woods, forest edges, areas with streams and other water sources, and in backyards. They will also visit both seed and fruit bird feeders, so this is a species that can be attracted to parks, backyards, and nature centers.
Summary
Grosbeaks are beautiful and popular birds to both birders and backyard bird lovers. Knowing more about the species that are expected in your area can be instrumental in finding and identifying them, especially since they have such irregular migratory patterns. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some questions about the grosbeaks of South Carolina.
In the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas lives one of the most beautiful and charismatic bird species in the entire continent: the Green Jay. Green Jays are extremely distinctive in their appearance. They have a dark green back with a light green underside. Their tail starts out greenish at the base and fades to blue at the end of the feathers. The most striking feature of this species is the royal blue and black patterning on their face. The black stretches from the top of the chest, up the neck and near the eyes while the blue starts at the back of the neck and comes around to the front of the face, curling around to the cheeks. Green Jays also gave a small blue spot on each side of their head where their eyebrows would be. It’s worth noting that there are actually two different populations of green jays with one living in South America and the other living in central America, Mexico and the United States. The population in South America is known as the Inca subspecies and looks slightly different with a whitish to yellow top of their head.
When looking at the green Jays range map, it’s clear to see these two different populations of green jays with the more southern population forming something of “c” shape around the northwestern part of South America. The more northern population resides in some of the Central American countries such as Honduras and Guatemala all the way north through the southwestern and complete eastern coast of Mexico. In the United States, the only state to find this species in is Texas where they inhabit the most southern tip of the state.
Part of the appeal of the green jay as a species is certainly partially due to its coloration and rarity in the United States, but another thing about them that people love is their charismatic personality. The word charismatic is thrown out a lot with animals. Essentially it means the creature in question is endearing in some way due to intelligence or goofiness or sometimes because they display qualities that make them easy to anthropomorphize such as living in family groups. Green Jays certainly display a lot of intelligence and are actually one of the few North American bird species that have been observed using tools. Oftentimes this action comes in the form of a bird using sticks to pry open crevices in tree bark to search for insects. They will also imitate the sounds of birds of prey in an attempt to scare away other birds from food sources they wish to gain access to.
Speaking of food, Green Jays have an incredibly varied diet. They eat insects, nuts, seeds, fruit, eggs of other birds, and small vertebrates. When foraging, Green Jays are very systematic in their approach. They will move together in groups and scour every inch of plants and trees. They will also dig through the leaf litter as they investigate the ground for anything tasty Video version of the article
Another interesting thing about these birds is the way that they flock together. Green Jays form family groupings consisting of a breeding pair of birds, that pairs nonbreeding nestlings from the prior year and the chicks of the current year. The nonbreeding birds that were hatched the prior year assist in defending the territory and assisting the breeding pair, something like older siblings looking after the younger ones.
Green Jays live in different habitats depending on the continent they inhabit. In South America they live in woodlands in both high and low elevation areas as well as rainforests and plantations. In North America, this species also inhabits woodlands, but they can also be found in scrub and dry forests.
Seeing Green Jays in the wild they are certainly entertaining and intelligent. They move like I imagine small dinosaurs moved with a lot of calculated motions and looking naturally inquisitive. Sometimes when you look at bird species you can tell how intelligent they are simply by how they move, and act and green jays certainly fall into that category. Much like other jay species such as Blue Jays, the green jays we encountered made a lot of different calls as they went about their business of foraging and communicating with each other. As I mentioned they are mimics and can copy the sounds of other birds, so it wasn’t uncommon to hear them make new noises.
In South Texas, Green Jays are common if you know where to look and I would highly recommend taking a trip to see this amazing bird species at least once. Did you enjoy this video? Let us know in the comments below and as always, thanks for reading, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.
Orioles are beautiful birds well known for their bright coloration. There are many different oriole species that live in North America and three of them are visitors to South Dakota. Here is everything you need to know about these three species.
Baltimore Oriole
Male Baltimore Oriole – Photo by USFWS Midwest Region
Female Baltimore Oriole – Photo by Judith Jackson
Identification
Male Baltimore Orioles have a bright orange chest, underside, tail, and patch on the shoulder. They have black wings with white wing bars and a black hood extending slightly into the upper chest. Females are slightly less colorful with a yellowish orange body and gray wings with white wing bars.
Range
Baltimore Orioles spend the winter in Northern South America, Central America, Southern Mexico and much of Florida. In spring they migrate north and summer throughout the Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Baltimore Orioles eat a variety of foods and their diet varies seasonally. In spring and fall they readily feed on fruit and nectar but during summer they feed primarily on protein rich food items such as insects and other invertebrates. Baltimore Orioles are known to come to bird feeders if jelly or orange slices are placed out and may even come to hummingbird feeders.
It’s worth noting that there is debate over whether or not jelly is good for birds due to the high sugar content.
Where to Find This Bird
Look for Baltimore Orioles high up in deciduous trees. They prefer more open areas such as edge habitat and small groves of trees to thick forests. Also keep an eye out for orioles at bird feeding stations. To attract them, orange slices are often enough to entice them in.
Bullock’s Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Adult Male Bullock’s Orioles are a yellowish orange with black markings under the bill to the chin, a black stripe through the eye, and a black stripe on the head. They have black wings with a large white patch on them and black on the tail. Females have orange on the head, chest, and tail with gray wings and a light underside.
Range
Bullock’s Orioles winter throughout most of Mexico, moving north during migration. In summer, this specie scan be found throughout the western half of the United States from Montana, and Colorado, all the way to California and Washington. Bullock’s Orioles can also be found in Southwestern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Bullock’s Orioles feed on Insects, spiders, nectar, and fruit. They readily forage for insects on trees such as caterpillars and other invertebrates. They have also been known to pierce fruits and flowers with their bills and then drink the juice and nectar that spill out.
Where to Find This Bird
Bullock’s Orioles can be found in thin woodlands near open areas as well as riparian habitats. They often live and nest in tall trees such as cottonwoods. This species is generally found in the more arid parts of the Western United States.
Orchard Oriole
Male Orchard Oriole
Female Orchard Oriole – Photo by Andrew Weitzel
Identification
Adult male Orchard Orioles are a deep burnt orange color with a black head, back, wings, and tail. They have white edging on some of their wing feathers. Female Orchard Orioles are yellow with dark gray wings and look vastly different than the adult males.
Range
Orchard Orioles winter in Northern South America, Central America, and Southern Mexico. In spring, they start their migration north with their range expanding into much of the Eastern United States and a small portion of South-central Canada. Some part of the population summers in North-central Mexico.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Orchard Orioles eat many different types of foods including insects, fruit, and nectar. They have been known to dip their heads into flowers, feed at hummingbird feeders, and even priece certain types of flowers to get a meal.
Where to Find This Bird
Orchard Orioles are at home in open areas such as oak savannas, forest edges, and woodlands near prairies. They typically reside in the tree tops where it is sometimes easier to hear them than it is to see them. Listen for this species’ melodic song that sounds somewhat similar to an American Robin or Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Summary
Orioles are bright and exciting birds to see while out birding or while watching your bird feeder. Knowing which species to expect in your region can be incredibly useful in identifying these charismatic birds. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some of your questions about the orioles of South Dakota.
Kingfishers are fascinating birds that specialize in catching and eating fish. There are a handful of different kingfisher species in North America, but only one species that can be found in Pennsylvania. Here is everything you need to know about that species.
Belted Kingfisher
Male Belted Kingfisher (Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Southwest Region)
Female Belted Kingfisher (Photo by USFWS Midwest Region)
Identification
Belted Kingfishers are short, compact birds with large pointed bills. Males are grayish blue with a large crest, a white underside, and a grayish blue band across their chest. Females look similar to the males but have rust on their sides and a second band (rust colored) underneath the blue chest band. Both males and females have a white spot near their eye on each side of the head.
Range
Belted Kingfishers winter in Northern South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Southern United States. In spring they migrate north throughout most on the United States, Canada, and Alaska where they spend the summer. Some Belted Kingfishers stay in the Northern United States year round provided there is open water.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Belted Kingfishers are primarily fish-eaters, choosing to eat fish that are on the medium to small side such as sticklebacks and various minnows. They find and catch prey by sitting high on a perch and scanning for fish by sight. Once they spot something they want, they dive in head first and use their bill to grab onto the food item. In addition to fish, Belted Kingfishers will also eat amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, and small mammals.
Where to Find This Bird
Belted Kingfishers can be found near water including rivers, ponds, streams, and lakes. Clear water is most optimal for kingfishers as they need to be able to see prey in order to catch it. Listen for this species rattling call and look for them swooping low as they fly from perch to perch.
Summary
Kingfishers are unique birds that occupy a very specific niche in the ecosystem. With just one species living in Pennsylvania any encounter with one of these vibrant and energetic birds is sure to be a Belted Kingfisher. Hopefully this post has helped answer some of your questions about the Kingfishers of Pennsylvania.
Cormorants are slender diving waterbirds with a distinctive shape and set of habits. While there are many cormorant species that live in North America, there are only two that can typically be found in South Carolina, Here is everything you need to know about these two species, plus one more bird that is not a cormorant but looks a lot like one.
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Identification
Adult Double-crested Cormorants have a dark brown to black head, neck, back, underside and wings. Juveniles will be lighter brown in color with a lighter throat and underside. Both adults and juveniles have orange by the eyes and base of the bill as well as a turquoise colored eye. Breeding adult birds have two tufts on their head that can sometimes be hard to see, but these crests are what this species is named for.
Range
Double-crested Cormorants live year round along the Pacific Coast of North America from Northwestern Mexico all the way up to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. They also live year round in parts of Florida. This species winters in in the Southeastern United States and Northeastern Mexico. In spring, they move into the Northern United States and Southern Canada where they can be seen migrating in large flocks.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Double-crested Cormorants primarily eat fish which they catch by hunting them underwater. They will also eat other aquatic creature such as crustaceans and amphibians.
Where to Find This Bird
Double-crested Cormorants can be found in a variety of places with all of them usually being near bodies of water. Look for this species in trees lining lakes and ponds as well as in marshes. Often times, Double-crested Cormorants will congregate in large groups on islands or other places with adequate perches as they dry their wings and survey for prey.
Great Cormorant
Great Cormorant – Caroline Jones Photo
Identification
Great Cormorants are larger than other Eastern Cormorant species. They look different depending on the region with some subspecies having more white on their head and neck. The birds in Eastern North America are glossy dark brown to black with white on their flanks and throat. They also have an orangey colored gular patch. Birds in nonbreeding plumage are a chocolatey brown color.
Range
Great Cormorants are extremely wide spread with the species being found in North America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia. In North America they reside on the East Coast from Southeastern Canada all the way south to Florida and even the Gulf Coast.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Great Cormorants are specialists at hunting for and eating fish. They are known to specialize in bottom dwelling fish that they pull from crevices in rocks. They typically forage in shallower water under 50 feet in depth.
Where to Find This Bird
In the United States, look for Great Cormorants on rocky coasts in the states along the Atlantic Ocean. In particular, the more Northern States in New England are some of the places this species is most common.
Birds that are Similar to Cormorants
There is one North American bird species that technically is not a cormorant, but is similar enough to include it on the list.
Anhinga (Uncommon)
Anhinga
Identification
Anhingas look extremely similar to cormorants with a long snake-like neck and a long pointed bill. They have longer tails than most cormorant species and show white on their wings. Overall, Anhingas are dark colored with dark brown to black bodies and lighter colored necks.
Range
Anhingas are year-round residents of the northern half of South America, the coasts of Central America and Mexico, and the southeastern coast of the continental United States. In summer, they move farther north and have a tendency to move pretty far north into the eastern United States.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Anhingas primarily feed on fish which they actively hunt for underwater and spear with their sharp, pointed bill. They will also eat crustaceans and other small invertebrates.
Where to Find This Bird
Anhingas can be found in areas with slow moving freshwater such as marshes, bayous, and general wetlands. Look for them drying their wings on perches or swimming in the water, sitting low mostly with just their head and neck above the waters surface.
Summary
Cormorants are unique, lanky birds that are a common sight near the water. Knowing the habits, range, and key identification features of each of these species can be incredibly useful in knowing what to look for in the field.
European Starlings are extremely recognizable birds. Known for their glossy iridescent sheen, undulating flocks, and ability to imitate sounds, these birds are common and widespread across the globe. While Starlings inhabit many different continents, in North America, they are considered by many to be an invasive pest. Much of the ill will toward starlings comes from the fact that they are an introduced species originally from Europe. In fact, the story behind the European Starlings introduction is one of the most iconic in a long history of people meddling in nature. Involving societies devoted to the importation of nonnative species, misinformation about a notorious pharmacist, and even William Shakespeare, the starling’s journey from beloved European species to American antagonist is one you’ll want to stay tuned for.
Before getting too deep into the story of the European Starlings’ cross continental trip to the new world, let’s take a moment to understand it as a species. The European Starling is a fascinating bird with a glossy black base-color, iridescent green and purple sheen, and a bright yellow bill. An interesting fact about the appearance of these birds is that when they molt, the new feathers are white tipped, giving the starling a speckled appearance. As these feathers wear out, they lose these spots in exchange for an inky black look. Not only are these birds quite pretty, but also quite interesting. European Starlings travel in large flocks that look mesmerizing in the sky. These massive groups are called murmurations and are quite the spectacle to see. Starlings have impressive vocal abilities and imitate a wide array of sounds. They can even mimic human speech.
European Starlings are common in cities, agricultural areas, and other places inhabited by people. They feed on an extremely wide variety of food items including insects, fruits, seeds, and discarded scraps, making the species highly adaptable.
Now for the story of the starling’s trip across the ocean and westward incursion. The fascinating thing about this story is that there are multiple versions. The most well-known goes something like this: in the 1800s an eclectic pharmacist named Eugene Scheifflein had a mission: to introduce every bird ever mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare. This would mean somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 species would need to be let loose in America. The European Starling is only mentioned once in any of Shakespeare’s writings, but it still counts. To complete his life’s work, Schieffelin brought Starlings along with many other species of European birds to North America. On a snowy day in March, Scheifflein released starlings in Central Park New York. From there, they proliferated and eventually spread out far and wide across the continent. Video version of this article
However, this may not be entirely accurate.
For the true story of the European Starling, we do have to first look at our story’s hero, or perhaps villain depending on how you look at it, Eugene Sheiflein who did play a major role in the introduction of European Starlings. However, some of the things most people believe about him may not be true at all. We do know that on March 6, 1890, Scheifflin released 30 pairs of European Starlings that he brought from England into Central Park New York. A year later he repeated the same actions with 20 pairs. Where the questionable parts of the story come in are the motives behind the release. There is little mention of Sheifflins driving force behind these introductions having anything to do with William Shakespear. He was the chairman of the American Acclimatization Society, an organization focused on bringing flora and fauna from the old world to the new. Not only did societies such as this one import starlings, but also several other European bird species including skylarks, song thrushes, and the infamous House Sparrow. The first mention of Scheiffelin being associated with Shakespeare in any way was from an essay by Edwin Way Teale published in 1948 that stated Scheifflins hobby was bringing “all of the birds mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare” to North America. This may not be a literal statement however, but rather a figure of speech as this is the only time in any work of writing that any connection between Shakespeare and schieffelin has been mentioned. Either way, this one essay propelled people for years to come to believe that the reason European Starlings are in North America is all because of a Shakespeare fan.
Another point to note is that Scheiffelin and the American Acclimatization Society were not the first to release starlings into the new world. Records indicate European Starlings were set loose in North America as early as 1872 in multiple locations in the United States. Some people believe starlings from these earlier introductions failed to gain a foothold in America, but records exist of wild European Starlings being caught in Massachusetts in 1876 as well as in New Jersey in 1884. This would suggest that starlings had already begun breeding in the new world before Scheffelin ever even made it onto the scene.
Nonetheless, once released into North America, European Starlings quickly proliferated and became a problem for both native wildlife and humans. So, what is it that European Starlings do to be considered a pest? First of all, they are cavity nesters, and significantly more aggressive than many native species that seek out the same lodging such as bluebirds. This often leads to starlings occupying cavities and evicting more peaceful residents. Additionally, starlings are extremely messy nesters, often completely trashing nest sites.
Other ways starlings make a negative impact have to do with economics. These birds travel and forage in extremely large flocks that happen to be fond of the fare they can find around farms. Starlings are known to destroy crops, eating food intended for cattle, and spreading a plethora of diseases to livestock. Shockingly, it’s estimated that European Starlings cause over a billion dollars in damage to the agricultural industry each year. Starlings also become a nuisance when they nest inside infrastructure such as bridges and buildings.
A scarier impact starlings have comes in the form of airplane collisions. Large flocks of starlings get sucked into the jet engines causing damage to the plane and risking the lives of the passengers and crew on board. It’s worth noting that there has been at least one recorded instance of starlings being the cause of a plane crash.
So, what’s being done to alleviate the problems people and native wildlife are having with this perceived invasive pest? Right now, the measures are mostly preventative. In places where starlings cause problems such as farms and airports, scaring devices, traps, and bird netting are all used to try and dissuade them from sticking around. On a smaller scale, removing nests from buildings, blocking openings in roofs and awnings, and shooing away flocks can deter starlings from being in the area.
While European Starling numbers have actually declined over the last 50 years, their populations in North America remain extremely healthy and it certainly looks like this species won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Is there anything positive about having starlings alive and well in North America? Not really, but they have managed to assimilate fairly well with flocks of native blackbird species, so at least they seem to be playing nice with at least a few other types of birds.
At the end of the day, European Starlings are here to stay, and their story is one that we can take lessons from. In their native range, starlings are beautiful and captivating to watch, but in North America they are an unwanted nuisance. It’s possible these sentiments aren’t only because of what the starling does as a species but also because in the years following their introduction, anti-immigrant rhetoric was at a high. These feelings may have been passed onto the Starling which some people saw as a representation of immigration continuing in America.
Either way, the starling’s emergence as a successful species in a land they aren’t originally from is not only a reflection of those that came to America from overseas, but also represent the lore and misinformation often accompanying the things that we know but may not fully understand. Sure, many people detest them, but that hasn’t stopped the European Starling from carving out a niche in North America. Thanks for reading, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.
Chickadees are small, likable birds known for their friendliness and curiousness. In Iowa, there is one species that can be found in the state on an annual basis. Here is everything you need to know about that species.
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Identification
Black-capped Chickadees have a gray back and wings, tan wash on their sides, and black cap and throat. They have a light colored underside and white cheeks. In addition to visual identification clues, these birds make a variety of songs and notable calls including their springtime “cheeseburger” call and namesake “chickadee” call.
Range
Black-capped Chickadees are year-round residents of the Northern continental United States, southern Canada, and even parts of Alaska.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Black-capped Chickadees are fairly active feeders and eat different foods depending on the time of the year. During the warmer months when insects are more abundant, small invertebrates make up a larger part of their diet. In the winter, seeds, berries, and other plant matter make up a significantly larger portion of their diet.
Where to Find this Bird
Black-capped Chickadees are extremely common in areas with moderate to thick vegetation. This includes both deciduous and coniferous woods, parks, edge habitat, and backyards. They regularly visit bird feeders and are typically among the first species to find new feeders.
Summary
Chickadees are always fun birds to see due to their cuteness and big personalities. We hope that this post has helped answer some questions about the chickadees of Iowa.
Hopping up and down tree trunks and branches across North America is a goofy bird species that’s hard not to like: The White-breasted Nuthatch. White-breasted Nuthatches are compact looking with a short tail, essentially no visible neck, and a slightly upturned bill. This stocky appearance along with their dark colored eyes make them look like little flying sharks. In terms of coloration, White-breasted Nuthatches have a grayish-blue back and wings with darker gray to black on the wing feathers. They have a black cap, white cheeks, and a white underside. Females have slightly lighter colored caps and both males and females have rusty colored markings on their underside behind their legs, and sometimes even the flanks. While they may look and even behave similar to woodpeckers, nuthatches are actually a separate grouping of birds with four different species being found in the continental United States.
White-breasted Nuthatches are extremely widespread in North America, residing year-round in Central Mexico, parts of southern Canada, and in most U.S. states with the highest concentrations of the species occurring east of the Mississippi River. According to range maps, there is some migratory movement of White-breasted Nuthatches, particularly in winter, but for the most part it seems like populations stay in the same place throughout all seasons. It’s also worth noting that there are some places where white-breasted Nuthatches are not terribly common such as Nevada, Texas, and western Oklahoma.
White-breasted Nuthatches are fond of deciduous forests, particularly those with large trees and old growth. They can also be found along forest edges and in places with large spread-out trees such as parks and backyards. For this reason, these birds are extremely common at bird feeders where they typically fly in quickly and grab seeds to take away. After grabbing a larger seed, they will use their bill to open them by jamming them into tight spaces and hammering away.
What they do with these seeds once they’ve taken and opened them can vary depending on the day. Sometimes they will take and eat them right away, and other times they will take them and cache them in tree crevices to save for later. Watching White-breasted Nuthatches can be pretty amusing as they store food in sometimes obvious places, including putting seeds under loose bark and lichens.
Video version of this article
To attract White-breasted Nuthatches to your feeders, try putting out peanuts, sunflower seeds and suet. They will also feed on other seeds and nuts, peanut butter, and corn. While White-breasted Nuthatches will eat a healthy number of seeds, a large portion of their diet in the summer actually consists of insects which they forage for in very acrobatic ways. Watching this species actively search for food is extremely entertaining. They are adept at clinging to trees, often going upside down and nimbly moving around branches and checking under bark for something to eat. Insects on the menu include various larvae such as caterpillars and those of wood boring insects along with adult insects like leafhoppers, stink bugs, and beetles among others.
While going about their daily lives, you will often see these silly birds in the typical “nuthatch pose” with their body facing toward the ground and their head held up looking out over the landscape. They also frequently make a variety of different noises including a nasaly laughing noise that will often be heard coming from large trees before ever even getting eyes on these adorable birds.
White-breasted Nuthatches are cavity nesters and will use a wide variety of different types of trees for nesting sites. They will occasionally use nest boxes but not nearly as much as other species do. Inside the cavity, the female lines the nest site and builds a cup shaped nest to incubate and raise the young. These birds are known to reuse the same nest site in following years. After the nesting season, male and female pairs normally stay together throughout the year and are monogamous. They will sometimes stay with the same mate for a longer period of time, sometimes up until they pass away, so if you see one nuthatch, keep an eye out for its mate, which is likely not far behind. Also look for these birds in mixed flocks of other species such as chickadees and titmice. The oldest known, White-breasted Nuthatch was around 10 years old, and they are currently considered a species of low conservation concern, with an estimated population of about 10 million birds.
Overall, White-breasted Nuthatches are a common and expected bird species around feeding stations in many parts of North America. Their goofy antics and energetic personalities make them extremely fun to watch and a general pleasure to have around a backyard. Do you have White-breasted Nuthatches where you live? Do they do any goofy things we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.
