Ryan Sallmann has been involved with tennis for nine years as a player, coach, and writer. Ryan starting playing tennis at the age of 16 in high school in Wisconsin. He then went on to play for Wisconsin Lutheran College in route to helping them win their conference and secure a bid to the NCAA tournament. Ryan coached at Waukesha West High School, Waukesha Tennis Association, Milwaukee Tennis and Education Foundation, and Wisconsin Lutheran College. Ryan also writes for Stripe Hype and Brew Sports.
Bluebirds are affable members of the thrush family named for their coloration. There are three species of bluebirds native to North America, and two species that can be found in Maryland with one being common and the other being a rare visitor. Here is everything you need to know about the bluebirds of Maryland.
Eastern Bluebird
Male Eastern Bluebird
Identification
Male Eastern Bluebirds have a sky blue back, wings, tail, and head. They have a reddish orange chest and underside as well as a very faint eye ring. Females have a grayish colored head with blue wings and a darker orange underside with a more noticeable eye ring. Both males and females have white on their underside near their legs.
Range
Eastern Bluebirds live year-round in parts of Mexico, Central America, and the Southeastern United States. In summer, many of them move north into the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Habits
The diet of Eastern Bluebird varies depending on the time of the year. When insects are available, they make up an extremely large part of their diet. Other times of the year this species eats an array of fruits.
Where to Find This Bird
Eastern Bluebirds can be found around open spaces near edge habitat. Prairies, fields, and pastures are all places where this species can be found regularly in addition to more forested areas as well as around ponds.
Badgerland Birding searches for Eastern Bluebirds
Mountain Bluebird (Rare)
Mountain Bluebird
Identification
Male Mountain Bluebirds are bright blue with a white under-tail, and lighter coloration on their lower underside. Females are blueish gray with brighter blue on their tail and wings. Both males and females have a light eye ring.
Range
Mountain Bluebirds are a species of Western North America with a wintering range that dips into Mexico, and a summertime range that reaches into the heart of Alaska. They can be found year round in states such as California, Utah, and Nevada, among others.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Mountain Bluebirds are mostly insectivorous and eat a variety of small invertebrates including grasshoppers, caterpillars, and spiders. They will also eat berries and other fruits including those of sumac and mistletoe.
Where to Find This Bird
Mountain Bluebirds can be found in open spaces such as the edges of prairies and fields. They can also be found in higher elevation places such as mountainsides and coniferous woodlands.
Badgerland Birding searches for a female Mountain Bluebird outside of its normal range
Summary
Bluebirds are typically birds that people are happy to see. Knowing more about the species that are expected in your area can be instrumental in finding and identifying them. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some questions about the bluebirds of Maryland.
Egrets are elegant looking wading birds in the same family as herons. There are a four different species of egrets that live in the United States and 3 species that can be found in New Jersey.
Western Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
Identification
Cattle egrets are medium sized white birds with a yellow bill, yellow legs and feet, and yellowish green coloration behind their eye. Breeding adults have peach coloration on their head, wings, and underside while nonbreeding adults are pure white.
Range
Cattle Egrets are actually native to Africa but at some point made their way over to South America and then eventually spread north into Central America, Mexico, and the United States. In the US, they can be found year round in the Gulf Coast and some of the Southwestern states. In spring, they migrate north and breed in the Southeastern United States as well as seemingly random other parts of the country. Some of these more strange breeding locations are parts of the Dakotas, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, Wisconsin, and even parts of Southern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Cattle Egrets have a widely varied diet which includes small mammals, amphibians, lizards, and even other birds. The majority of their diet however, is comprised of insects. Cattle Egrets have a habit of spending time near heards of cattle that kick up insects such as crickets and grasshoppers as they graze. The Egrets will also forage near heavy machinery in farm fields for the same reason. This species will feed alone or in large groups.
Where to Find This Bird
Cattle Egrets can be found in open fields, typically near grazing cattle. They can also be found on the edges of marshes and swamps. Sometimes, extremely large numbers of Cattle Egrets gather together to forage or roost.
Great Egret
Great Egret
Identification
Great egrets are large heron-shaped birds with a long neck. They are pure white with black legs. a yellow bill, and green coloration from the bill to the eye. They can also have more of a yellowish color behind their eye. Out of all of the egret species that live in the state, the aptly named Great Egret is the largest.
Range
Great Egrets live in South and Central America year round. They are also year long residents of the coasts of Mexico, both the Gulf Coast and the East Coast of the United States, and parts of California. In spring, they migrate north and breed in parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri along with other states in the region in addition to parts of Oregon.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Great Egrets are wading birds which means they will walk in shallow water and search for food. Their preferred food sources are small fish, frogs, small mammals, aquatic invertebrates, and essentially any living creature that they can get down their throat.
Where to Find This Bird
Great Egrets can be found in places with slow moving or even standing water. They can be readily spotted standing on the edges of ponds, in shallow marshes, and in coastal estuaries. They are also common in man-made canals and in lakes.
Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret
Identification
Snowy Egrets are relatively small wading birds that are clean white with a black bill and black legs. They have yellow behind the bill and also have distinctive and noticeable yellow feet. They are significantly smaller than Great Egrets, so if the two are in the same vicinity, they are easy to tell apart based on size.
Range
Snowy Egrets are year round residents of South America, the Carribean Islands, Cuba, the coasts of Mexico, the Southwestern United States, The Gulf Coast, and the Southeastern Coast of the United States. Some of the population migrates north into the United States, most notably farther up the Atlantic Coast, and the Southwestern states. During migration, Snowy Egrets can be found in a wide variety of places in the United States including the Midwest.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Snowy Egrets feed primarily on aquatic creatures such as fish, frogs, and crustaceans among others. They will feed in both marine and freshwater environments, and typically catch prey by wading into the water and stirring up small creatures with their feet.
Where to Find This Bird
The best places to find Snowy Egrets are along ocean coastlines with shallow water. These birds can typically be seen wading into the water and searching for food. They can also be found inland in marshes and other places with shallow water and mudflats.
Summary
Egrets are quite beautiful birds that can be fun to observe as they go about their daily lives. Knowing the species that are expected in your state can be instrumental in identifying which one you’re looking at. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some questions about the egrets of New Jersey.
Loons are beautiful and majestic birds that spend almost their entire lives on the water. There are five species of loons in North America and three of them that can be found in Connecticut with one being very common and the other two being quite rare. Knowing where to find them and what to look for in terms of identification can be incredibly helpful in knowing which of the three species you are looking at in the field.
Common Loon
Common Loon – Photo by Alan SChmierer
Identification
In breeding plumage, Common Loons have a black back, wings, neck, and head with white checkerboard markings on the wings, and a white “necklace” marking. The black on the head and neck is iridescent and can show a green sheen in the right lighting. Common Loons have a white underside and some thin black striping on the neck going down the sides. In nonbreeding plumage, this species is dark gray brown on the back, wings, and top of the head. They also have white on the throat and underside. The species still displays the white necklace marking even in nonbreeding plumage.
Range
Common Loons are extremely wide spread throughout North America. In winter, they can be found wintering along the ocean coastlines of both the Atlantic and the Pacific. They winter as far south as Mexico and as far north as the Aleutian Islands. In spring, the birds wintering in the Southern parts of the continent move north into the Northern United States and most of Canada where they spend the summer.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Common Loons feed primarily on fish but will also eat crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates. They are extremely good at diving for food and can stay underwater for considerable amounts of time. While some species are ambush predators such as herons, Loons are active hunters as they are very agile swimmers.
Where to Find This Bird
As their name would suggest, Common Loons are in fact common in most parts of the United States and Canada at least for some portion of the year. During winter, this species can be seen on the ocean coastlines, while in spring they tend to appear on inland lakes and ponds. During their breeding season, look for Common Loons in deep, clear lakes in the boreal forests where they prefer plenty of plant cover along the shores.
Pacific Loon (Rare)
Pacific Loon – Photo by Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Identification
Pacific Loons are chunky birds with rather complex patterning when in breeding plumage. They have brownish black backs and wings with large white square-shaped markings along with white spots. They have a grayish head with a purplish front of the neck and white and black vertical stripes on the side of the neck. The underside of this species is white. In nonbreeding plumage, Pacific Loons are brownish gray with a white underside.
Range
The aptly named Pacific Loon winters all along the Pacific coast of the United States from Mexico to Alaska. In spring, they move to their breeding grounds in Northern Canada, Alaska, and Eastern Asia.
Diet and Foraging Habits
The vast majority of the Pacific Loon’s diet is comprised of fish. They will also eat crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates.
Where to Find This Bird
Look for Pacific Loons on the coastlines of the Pacific Ocean where they prefer areas with sandy bottoms as opposed to rocky bottoms. During breeding season, this species can be found in tundra ponds and lakes.
Red-throated Loon
Red-throated Loon – Photo by Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Identification
In breeding plumage, Red-throated Loons have a grayish brown back and wings. Most of their head and neck is gray with white striping on the back of the neck going up to the top of the head. They have a deep red colored throat which is where they get their name from. In nonbreeding plumage, Red-throated Loons have a white throat and underside. They also have a dark brownish gray back and head with white speckles.
Range
Red-throated Loons winter on the coasts of the United States and Canada. They don’t typically make it too far into Mexico or the Gulf Coast but will winter as far north as Southern Alaska. In spring, they move north across the continent making appearances in large bodies of water such as the Great Lakes. They breed in Northern and Western Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and Eastern Asia.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Red-throated Loons eat a wide variety of fish and invertebrates including squid, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and marine worms. Like other loon species, these birds dive for their food and actively hunt small creatures below the surface.
Where to Find This Bird
Red-throated Loons can be found in open waters along the coasts of oceans as well as larger bodies of water such as the Great Lakes. During migration, they can also be found on inland lakes.
Summary
Loons are fascinating divers that provide nice variety among other water-dwelling birds. Knowing the species that are expected in your state and region can be instrumental in identifying which one you’re looking at in the field. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some questions about the loons of Connecticut
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 Missouri. 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 Missouri, 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 Missouri.
Warblers are vibrant, small, colorful birds that are a major highlight of spring migration. Missouri is home to a wide variety of Warbler species. Some of them breed in Missouri while others just pass through. Here is everything you need to know about the warblers of Missouri.
American Redstart
Male American Redstart – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Female American Redstart – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Male American Redstarts have a black head, wings, back, and tail. They also have black on their chest and an otherwise white underside. While the black color on these birds is certainly spiffy, their most defining feature is their orange color on their sides, wings, and tail. Females look quite different having a gray head, light underside, brownish back, wings, and tail, and the orange of the male is exchanged with yellow in the same places. Females also have a white eye ring.
Range
American Redstarts winter in northern South America, Central America, the Caribbean, southern Mexico, Baja California, and Southern California. In spring, they not only spread out through the eastern United States but also much of the western United States. They breed in most of the eastern United States and much of Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
American Redstarts are very active foragers and will catch prey in flight more than most other warbler species. They feed mostly on insects but will also eat fruits such as berries.
Where to Find this Bird
American Redstarts can be found mostly in deciduous forests during their breeding season. They tend to live and forage in the middle to high parts of the canopy. During spring migration it’s more common to see them lower down, especially around streams actively searching for food.
Bay-breasted Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Male Bay-breasted Warblers are extremely unique looking warblers with a reddish-brown (bay) colored cap, chin, and sides, a cream colored back of the neck, gray and black striped back, and white wing bars. Males also have a dark black mask over their eyes. Females look nothing like the males, having mostly gray backs and wings with lighter colored undersides. They do still have the white wing bars and show light striping on their back.
Range
Bay-breasted Warblers winter in northern South America, some countries in Central America, and the Caribbean. In spring, they move up into the eastern United States, eventually ending up in Canada and some of the most northern states in the continental U.S. such as Maine and northern Minnesota.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Bay-breasted Warblers primarily feed on insects (particularly the larvae and pupae of spruce budworm) but will also feed on some fruits as well.
Where to Find this Bird
For people in the United States, Bay-breasted Warblers are easiest to see during migration. They tend to forage in the middle parts of trees but during migration will drop down a bit lower than when they’re on their breeding grounds.
Black-and-white Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler – Photo by Wayne National Forest
Identification
Black-and-white Warblers are white with complex black striping. They have the most black on their wings and tail along with stripes on their head and underside. Males have a darker black patch on the side of their face than females as well as a black chin which females lack. Both males and females have white eye rings.
Range
Black-and-white Warblers winter in northern South America, Central America, Mexico, and some of the southern states in the US. In spring they move north, breeding in many of the eastern states and much of Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Black-and-white Warblers feed mostly on insects and other small invertebrates. They forage in a fashion similar to that of nuthatches, clinging to trees and inspecting crevices in branches. Unlike Brown Creepers which at first glance can look similar to Black-and-white Warblers, these birds move any and all directions as they forage whereas Brown Creepers only go up the tree.
Where to Find this Bird
Black-and-white Warblers can be found in mixed forest throughout the year. In some parts of their wintering areas they will be in more tropical forests, but they also winter in areas like South Texas. The best way to spot them is to look for a bird working tree trunks and branches.
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Rare)
Male Black-throated Blue Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Female Black-throated Blue
Identification
Male Black-throated Blue Warblers are very distinctive with a deep blue back, dark gray to black wings, black on the face, chin, and sides, and a clean white underside. They also have a noticeable patch of white on each wing. Females are drastically different with buff-y coloration on the body and darker gray to brown on the head and wings. They also have a pale eye stripe and a hint of blue on their wings and head.
Range
Black-throated Blue Warblers winter in Central America, parts of eastern Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands. In spring they move north through the eastern United States ending up in their breeding locations in southeastern Canada, New England, parts of the northern Midwest, and the Appalachian Mountains.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Black-throated Blue Warblers feed mostly on insects but will also eat some fruits. Like all warblers they are active foragers.
Where to Find this Bird
During their time in North America, Black-throated Blue Warblers can be found in deciduous or mixed coniferous forests. They are often seen foraging lower in the canopy but not usually on the ground.
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler – Alan Schmierer
Identification
Black-throated Green Warblers have a yellowish green back with the same color on the top of the head and the cheeks. The rest of their face is a brighter yellow. These birds have gray wings with white wing bars. Males have a dark black throat with black streaking on their sides. Females have less black on their throat. Both males and females have white undersides and yellow near their undertail.
Range
Black-throated Green Warblers winter in northern South America, Central America, parts of Mexico, the Carribean, and the most southern parts of Florida. In spring, they move north into the northeastern United States, southeastern Canada, and the Appalachian Mountain states.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Black-throated Green Warblers feed on insects and other small invertebrates. During nonbreeding season, they will also eat buds and fruits.
Where to Find this Bird
Black-throated Green Warblers reside in a variety of different types of forests where they are usually found higher up in the treetops. Fortunately, these birds have a very distinctive song, sounding like “zee zee zee zu zee.”
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler – Photo by Kevin Bolton
Identification
Blackburnian Warblers are among the most beautiful warblers. Males have a black back and wings with white markings on the wings and just behind the neck. Their underside is white with some black streaks, but its their face that really stands out. In addition to a black pattern that goes over the eye and on the forehead, these birds have a gradient mix of yellow and orange. Female and immature males have a grayer back and show duller colored facial patterns as well as duller yellow on the face and chest.
Range
Blackburnian Warblers winter in northern and northeastern South America. During spring they move into the United States and Canada to breed, ending up in the northeastern states, midwestern states, and states around the Appalachian Mountains.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Blackburnian Warblers eat various insects (particularly spruce budworms) as well as other invertebrates that they actively search for.
Where to Find this Bird
Blackburnian Warblers are generally found high up in the canopy where the males orangey-yellow throat is visible. They breed in coniferous and mixed coniferous forests. Oftentimes, to get a good look at one, the best time is during migration when they will occasionally come down lower in the branches to feed.
Blackpoll Warbler
Male Blackpoll Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Male Blackpoll Warblers have have a black cap, gray, black, and white striped back, and hints of yellow on their wings. They have a white underside with black streaking, and a white cheek. Females look extremely different, sporting a mostly gray body with a darker colored head, back, and wings. They also have a tinge of yellow on their wings and head. Both males and females have distinctive orange legs, unique among warblers.
Range
Blackpoll Warblers winter in northern South America and migrate all the way into Canada and Alaska to breed, making their way through the eastern United States in the spring and fall.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Blackpoll Warblers eat mostly insects and other small invertebrates, but will also eat fruit, particularly during fall. These birds usually feed around five feet or more off the ground.
Where to Find this Bird
Blackpoll Warblers breed extremely far north in Canada and Alaska, so the best time to find them is during migration. Look for them in the middle to high parts of trees in usual places where warblers turn up such as streams, parks, and woodlands.
Blue-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Blue-winged Warblers are yellow with a thin, black stripe over their eyes. They have two white wing bars on their wings that are grayer than they are blue. The same color on their wings is also on their tail and their undertail is significantly paler than their underside.
Range
Blue-winged Warblers winter in Central America, the Carribean, and eastern Mexico. in spring they move into the eastern United States, spending the summer in the more northern part of the eastern U.S.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Blue-winged Warblers are very active foragers, moving in a way similar to chickadees. They feed on insects as well as other small invertebrates.
Where to Find this Bird
Blue-winged Warblers breed along forest edges, in thickets and scrub, along with more open wooded areas. They can be located by listening for their distinctive “bee-buzz” call.
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Canada Warblers have a slate gray head, back, wings, and tail. Their underside is bright yellow, and they have a black “necklace” on their chest. They have black coloring on their face as well and sport a bold, white eye ring. Females look very similar to the males but don’t have nearly much black on their chest.
Range
Canada Warblers winter in northwestern South America and southern Central America. In spring, they move north, breeding in southern Canada, the northeastern United States, and some of the Appalachian Mountain states.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Canada Warblers feed on insects and other small invertebrates which they actively hunt for. They will take flying insects on the wing.
Where to Find this Bird
Canada Warblers are most easy to find during migration when they show up along with other small migratory birds in typical warbler habitats such as forests and along rivers and streams. In the breeding season, these birds tend to gravitate toward forests with a lot of moss and ground cover such as ferns. They can be seen moving around lower in the trees but not usually on the ground.
Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler – Photo by Susan Young
Identification
Cape May Warblers have a yellowish gray back and wings, white wing bars, and a yellow underside with dark streaking. The most distinctive feature of these birds is their head and face. They have a dark cap, yellow chin and nape of the neck, and reddish cheeks. Females look similar but are duller in coloration.
Range
Cape May Warblers winter in Central America, parts of eastern Mexico, and the Carribean. In spring, they move north into the eastern United States. They end up breeding in Canada and some of the most northern states in the Midwest.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Cape May Warblers feed on insects and other small invertebrates, especially spruce budworm. They will also eat nectar from flowers and hummingbird feeders in addition to berries.
Where to Find this Bird
Cape May Warblers breed in conifer forests, particularly spruce and fir. During migration they show up in a wide variety of locations. Search for them in places other warblers and migratory species frequent.
Cerulean Warbler
Male Cerulean Warbler
Identification
Male Cerulean Warblers are incredibly beautiful with a brilliant blue back and wings, white underside, and blue “necklace.” They have a white chin, blue striping on the flanks, and some black mixed in on their wings and tail. An additional feature to note are their two white wing bars. Females look something like a male that was washed in yellow. They have a greenish blue head, back, and rump. Females have wing bars too, but they are more yellowish than the clean white of the males.
Range
Cerulean Warblers winer in the northern and northeastern parts of South America. In spring, they migrate north to their breeding areas in the eastern United States. They do not breed as far north as many other warbler species, only just barely making it into Canada in the Great Lakes region.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Cerulean Warblers primarily feed on insects which they pick from leaves and branches in the treetops.
Where to Find this Bird
Cerulean Warblers breed in deciduous forests and live high up in the canopy. They can often be heard before they are seen as they make their buzzy calls. Due to their pension for living in the treetops, these birds can be difficult to see especially if the leaves have already grown in.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Chestnut-sided Warblers have a gray and black mottled back, a black marking from their mouth to the back of their head, and a yellow cap. They have a white underside, white cheeks, and a namesake chestnut-colored stripe down their side. Females look similar but their colors aren’t quite as bright.
Range
Chestnut-sided Warblers winter in northern South America, Central America, parts of Mexico, and the Carribean. In spring they move north, breeding in the northeastern United States as well as Canada, parts of the northern Midwest, and the Appalachian Mountains.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Chestnut-sided Warblers feed on insects and other small invertebrates. In particular, they eat caterpillars and other larvae which they pick from leaves and branches.
Where to Find this Bird
Chestnut-sided Warblers breed in areas altered in some way (usually deciduous forest). Typically, these areas have been previously burned or logged and are in the process of regrowing. During migration, they can be found in a wide variety of habitats.
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Common Yellowthroats have an olive-colored back, wings, and tail, and a yellow underside. They have a black mask with white above the black. Females lack the black mask and are grayer overall but still have a bright yellow throat.
Range
Common yellowthroats winter in Central America, Mexico, the Carribean, and parts of the southern United States. In spring, they move north into almost every part of the continental United States with the exception of some of the southwestern states. They also breed in southern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Common Yellowthroats feed on a variety of different insects as well as other small invertebrates.
Where to Find this Bird
Common Yellowthroats can be found in open areas such as brushy fields, marshes, oak savannas, and edge habitat. Since they stay hidden much of the time, listening for their rapid songs can be the best way to locate them. They sound like “wichity-wichity-wichity-wichity.”
Connecticut Warbler (Rare)
Connecticut Warbler – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Connecticut Warblers have a brown back, gray head, and yellow underside. They have black where their gray hood meets their chest but the amount of black varies depending on the individual. Females look similar but are slightly paler.
Range
Connecticut Warblers winter in northern South America and have a very limited range as they migrate north in spring, not encompassing nearly as much of the eastern U.S. as most other warbler species. They breed in the conifer forests of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Connecticut Warblers primarily feed on insects but will also eat fruits from time to time. These birds have a unique foraging habit as they walk along the ground looking for food as opposed to hopping. They may also forage higher in trees as well if that’s where the insects are.
Where to Find this Bird
Connecticut Warblers are notoriously difficult to get a look at due to their sulky nature. People living in the northern Midwest can take a trip to the boreal forests where they nest and listen for their songs. Otherwise, the best time to see them is during migration when they move through and get reported for a week or two. Look for a bird staying low to the ground, and you may get lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these skulky birds.
Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Golden-winged Warblers have a gray back, a yellow cap, and a light underside. They also have a yellow wingbar on each wing, a black throat, and a black marking on their otherwise white colored face. Females look extremely similar but display a bit more yellow on their back.
Range
Golden-winged Warblers winter in the northwestern part of South America, Central America, and the southern part of Mexico. In spring they move north and breed in the northeastern part of the continental United States, the Midwest, and some parts of southeastern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Golden-winged Warblers feed on insects and other small invertebrates that they search for amongst leaves and branches.
Where to Find this Bird
For many people in the United States, the best time to find Golden-winged Warblers is during migration. For people living in their breeding range, looking for semi open damp shrubby habitats and thickets can be a good way to find them. Listen for their songs that sound like “Bee buzz buzz buzz,” very similar to a Blue-winged Warbler but with extra buzzes at the end.
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Identification
Hooded Warblers have an olive-colored back, grayish wings, and a gray tail with lighter colored feathers on the outside of the tail. Their underside is bright yellow as well as their face, and they have a namesake black hood around their head to their chin. Females do not have a full hood but still show partial black coloration on the top of their head. These warblers have lighter colored feathers on the outsides of their tails that are visible in flight.
Range
Hooded Warblers winter in northern South America, Central America, eastern Mexico, and the Carribean. In spring they move north and breed in the southeastern United States. In terms of eastern warblers, Hooded Warblers do not move as far north to breed as many others do.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Hooded Warblers feed on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates either picking them from leaves or picking them from the ground.
Where to Find this Bird
Hooded Warblers breed in deciduous forests or mixed conifer forests. Look for them in the middle to lower parts of the dense forest. keep in mind however that they do spend some time high in the canopy as well.
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Kentucky Warblers have a yellow-olive colored back and tail. Their underside is bright yellow, and they have distinctive black “teardrop” markings under their eyes. Males have a dark black cap while females have a dark gray cap.
Range
Kentucky Warblers winter in northern South America, Central America, eastern Mexico and the Caribbean. In spring they move north into the eastern United States, but their breeding range does not include some of the more northern states in the region such as Michigan and Maine.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Kentucky Warblers eat insects and other small invertebrates such as spiders. They feed low to the ground and often times even on the ground, searching the substrate for prey. They will also eat some fruits.
Where to Find this Bird
Kentucky Warblers can be found in dense forests with thick bushes and understory. Due to their habitat, they can often be heard easier than they are seen. Their song actually sounds quite similar to that of the Carolina Wren.
Louisiana Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Louisiana Waterthrushes have a brown back, head, and wings along with a light cream-colored underside. They have dark streaking on their underside and a cream-colored eyebrow stripe. Another feature to note are their bubblegum pink legs.
Range
Louisiana Waterthrushes winter in northern South America, Central America, the Carribean, and parts of Mexico. In spring they move north, inhabiting much of the eastern United States during the breeding season.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
As their name would suggest, Louisiana Waterthrushes spend a lot of time foraging along the water. They feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects and invertebrates.
Where to Find this Bird
Louisiana Waterthrushes can be found along the edges of clear streams, especially in mature forests. Keep an eye out for a bird along the water’s edge bobbing its tail. They usually prefer quicker moving water than Northern Waterthrushes do.
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Magnolia Warblers have a black back, black mask on their face, and a bright yellow underside with black streaking. They have white markings on their wings, a white lower eye crescent, a white eye-brow stripe, and a gray head. Female and immature birds have less black and show a white eye ring.
Range
Magnolia Warblers winter in Central America, southern Mexico, and the Carribean. In spring they move north into the eastern United States and breed in southern Canada, the most northern states in the Midwest, and the Northeast.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Magnolia Warblers feed on insects and other small invertebrates. In their breeding range, spruce budworm is a major food source.
Where to Find this Bird
During migration Magnolia Warblers can be found in forests, near streams, and in other areas frequented by migratory bird species. During the breeding season, these birds can be found in conifer and mixed conifer forests.
Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Mourning Warblers have a bluish-gray head, olive-colored backs and wings, and yellow undersides. They have darker coloration by the base of their bill and eye. Males do not have an eye ring or eye crescents which helps to separate them from other species such as Nashville Warblers and Connecticut Warblers. Males also have a black bib on their chest. Female and immature birds lack the black bib and can show an eye ring which can be confusing when trying to make a correct identification.
Range
Mourning Warblers winter in northwestern South America and Central America. In spring, they move north into the northeastern United States and Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Mourning Warblers feed on insects and other small invertebrates. They forage lower in shrubs and bushes than many other warbler species and can also be seen along the ground searching for food as well.
Where to Find this Bird
Mourning Warblers can be found in forests that have a lot of understory growth. A lot of places they inhabit include areas that have been burned, logged, or otherwise disturbed by humans.
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warber – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Nashville Warblers have a gray head, greenish-brown colored back, and yellow underside. Their chin is also yellow, and some other features of note are their bold white eye rings, and orangey color barely visible on the top of the males head. Females look very similar to the males but with colors that are slightly more muted. From beneath, these birds can be identified by their yellow chest, lighter almost white color near their legs, and their yellow undertail.
Range
Nashville Warblers winter in southern Mexico, western California, and some countries in Central America. In spring they spread far and wide across the United States ending up in their breeding areas in the northwestern, northeastern, and midwestern part of the state. They also breed in the southern parts of Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Nashville Warblers primarily feed on insects which they usually find high in the treetops. Some have also been known to eat suet.
Where to Find this Bird
Nashville Warblers are said to forage in the middle parts of trees, but in my experience, they are one of the birds that usually spends most of their time fairly high up in the canopy.
Northern Parula
Northern Parula – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Northern Parulas have a blueish gray head, wings, and rump. They have a yellow back, white wing bars, and white eye crescents. They have a yellow throat and chest with males having dark red on their chest as well. The rest of their underside is white. Females look similar but are not quite as colorful and do not have red on their chest.
Range
Northern Parulas winter in parts of eastern Central America, southeastern Mexico, the Carribean, and parts of the southern United States such as Florida and South Texas. In spring, they move north into most of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Most of the Northern Parulas diet consists of insects and spiders but they also eat fruits, and nectar.
Where to Find this Bird
Northern Parulas tend to spend most of their time in the canopy in forested areas. Sometimes the best way to find them is to listen for their “zipper” songs.
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Northern Waterthrushes have a brown back, wings, head, and tail. They have a yellowish cream-colored underside with brown streaking and a yellowish cream-colored eyebrow stripe. Northern Waterthrushes generally have more underside streaking and are more yellowish in color than Louisiana Waterthrushes, but the two species can pose identification issues.
Range
Northern Waterthrushes winter in northern South America, Central America, much of Mexico, and the Carribean. In spring they move north inhabiting an impressive number of areas including the northeastern and midwestern United States, Canada, Alaska, and even parts of the northwestern U.S.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Northern Waterthrushes eat a variety of insects and invertebrates both aquatic and terrestrial. They wade into the water and will eat larval insects such as caddisflies. They have also been known to eat small vertebrates such as fish.
Where to Find this Bird
During migration, Northern Waterthrushes can be found along a variety of different water sources including rivers, streams, and wetlands. During their breeding season, they spend most of their time in places with standing water such as damp forests. Look for a bird near the water’s edge or in thick underbrush bobbing its tail.
Orange-crowned Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Orange-crowned Warblers can vary in coloration depending on region and maturity. Most of the time, they are a dull yellowish color with yellow undertail coverts and a rarely noticeable orange spot on the top of their head. However, in some regions and in immature birds, they can be grayer overall and look fairly similar to Tennessee Warblers. Orange-crowned Warblers have an eye ring that can be paler or more yellow which also depends on region and maturity.
Range
Orange-crowned Warblers winter in northern Central America, Mexico, and the southern United States, making them one of the more northern wintering warbler species. They also winter along the pacific coast of the continental United States. In spring, they move north, breeding in Canada, Alaska, and the western U.S.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Orange-crowned Warblers have one of the most varied diets of any warbler species. They eat insects and other small invertebrates, sap, berries, seeds, suet, and even nectar from flowers. They forage in all levels of vegetation from near the forest floor to the canopy.
Where to Find this Bird
Orange-crowned Warblers will be in slightly different habitats depending on the time of the year and region. In the east, they are most easily found during migration in usual migrant stopovers. In winter, look for them in areas with thick vegetation such as woods and scrubby thickets.
Ovenbird
Ovenbird – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Ovenbirds have a reddish-brown back, wings, tail, and head, a white underside with black streaking, and a bold white eye ring. They have two black stripes on their crown with a thicker orange stripe in between.
Range
Ovenbirds winter in northern South America, Central America, Mexico, the Carribean, and Florida. In spring, the move north, breeding in the northeastern, and midwestern United States, as well as parts of eastern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Ovenbirds feed primarily on insects and other invertebrates. They are known for being adaptable with their food sources and will alter their feeding style and food sources to match with what is most abundant at the time. They will even sometimes eat seeds. Most of the time they tend to forage along the ground but will also feed in bushes and trees.
Where to Find this Bird
In their breeding areas, Ovenbirds are very vocal and can be tracked down by their loud songs. Look for a bird moving along the ground when in large forests but do note that they may also be up higher in the canopy as well.
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Palm Warblers have a rufous colored cap, a yellow eyebrow stripe, brown wings, and a brown tail. Their throat is yellow, and their underside is varying degrees of yellow depending on the subspecies. Some other notable features are their yellow rump and yellow undertail. It’s not just the look of this species that can help identify it but also the behavior. Palm Warblers are known for bobbing their tail similar to waterthrushes, this can be a useful diagnostic clue in the field.
Range
Palm Warblers winter in Central America, western Mexico, the Caribbean, the southeastern United States, and oddly enough, western California. In spring they move north into the eastern United States and Canada. Some of the states in the continental U.S. that these birds breed in include Maine, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Palm Warblers feed primarily on insects, but will also eat seeds and some fruits including berries.
Where to Find this Bird
Palm Warblers are different than many other warblers as they are not relegated to trees and thick vegetation. They will often forage along the ground and oftentimes associate more with sparrows than with other warblers.
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Pine Warblers have an olive-yellow colored head and back along with a bright yellow throat. They have gray wings with white wing bars, and a white back part of their underside. Another feature to note is their yellow eye ring. Females look very similar but are slightly paler.
Range
Pine Warblers winter in the southeastern United States and some of the islands in the Carribean. In spring, some stay in these areas to breed, but others move north, inhabiting most of the eastern United States and just barely reaching into southeastern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Pine Warblers feed on insects and other small invertebrates. They will also eat berries and seeds, making them one of the handful of warblers that will actually over winter in colder climates and visit bird feeders.
Where to Find this Bird
During migration, Pine Warblers can be seen along with other warblers in a variety of different habitats. When in their breeding areas, they live in pine and mixed pine forests where they can be heard making a trilling call that sounds very similar to a Chipping Sparrow.
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Identification
Prairie Warblers have an olive-yellow colored head, dark gray wings, and a chestnut-colored patch on their back. Their throat and underside are bright yellow with black streaking. On their face they have a black and yellow pattern distinctive to the species. Female and immature birds look similar but with a grayer head and face along with more muted colors.
Range
Prairie Warblers winter in parts of Central America, the Carribean, and Florida. In spring they move north into much of the eastern United States but don’t end up nearly as far north as other eastern warbler species with only small pockets of their range being in the Midwest and Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Prairie Warblers feed on insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. They will also consume some fruits and other plants.
Where to Find this Bird
Look for Prairie Warblers in shrubby areas without dense canopy. These may include burned forests, recently logged forests or simply more scrubby areas with few large trees. Listen for their song that sounds like an ascending buzz.
Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Identification
Prothonotary Warblers have an olive-colored back, gray wings, and a bright glowing yellow head and body.
Range
Prothonotary Warblers winter in northern South America, Central America, eastern Mexico, parts of the Carribean, and some states in the southeastern U.S. In spring they move into the eastern United States where they do not make it as far north as many other eastern warblers.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Prothonotary Warblers have diets that vary depending on the time of the year. During breeding season, they eat insects, and other invertebrates. During the nonbreeding season fruits and seeds make up a larger portion of their diet.
Where to Find this Bird
Prothonotary Warblers are sometimes known as “Swamp Warblers” because of the habitats they typically reside in. Look for these birds in swamps, flooded forests, and sometimes even marshes.
Swainson’s Warbler (Rare)
Swainson’s Warbler – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Swainson’s Warblers have a brown back, wings, tail, and cap on their head. Their underside is lighter in color raining from light gray to cream in color. These birds also have a light colored stripe just above their eye.
Range
Swainson’s Warblers winter in the Caribbean as well as some of the northern countries in Central America. In spring they move north breeding throughout the southeastern United States.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Swainson’s Warblers feed on insects and other small invertebrates (typically those that live along the ground and in the leaf litter.) They will sometimes hawk flying insects from out of the air as well.
Where to Find this Bird
Swainson’s Warblers can be found in forests with thick understory and a lot of leaf litter. They prefer damp forests that are not flooded but still wet. Since they often reside in dense vegetation, hearing them can oftentimes be the best way to locate them.
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler – Photo by USFWS Mountain-Prairie
Identification
Male Yellow Warblers are bright yellow with grayish-yellow wings and reddish-brown streaking on their chest and underside. Females look similar but aren’t quite as brightly colored and lack the streaking on their underside.
Range
Yellow Warblers winter in northern South America, Central America, parts of Mexico, the Carribean, and even a few states in the southern United States. In spring, they move north and inhabit just about every part of North America including almost all of Canada and even Alaska.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Yellow Warblers are insectivores and actively hunt for prey, searching through leaves and branches to find a meal.
Where to Find this Bird
Yellow Warblers can be found in open areas. Some habitats to look for them in are marshes, shrubby fields, forest edges, and oak savannas.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler
Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Also called “butterbutts,” the Yellow-rumped Warbler is known for a patch of yellow that can be seen right above its tail. They also have yellow patches right below their wings on their sides. Males will have a black mask, white throat and overall gray and black coloration. Females look similar to males with more brown on the top of their head and back.
In the western part of North America, Yellow-rumped Warblers are slightly different looking and have a yellow throat. This subspecies is known as the “Audubon’s” subspecies. The eastern subspecies is known as the “Myrtle” subspecies.
Range
The Yellow-rumped Warbler is one of the most common warblers in North America. Their wintering range covers many of the southern and western states and their migratory path goes through the central and eastern U.S. In Summer, they spend most of their time in Canada, some of the northern U.S. and parts of the west.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
The Yellow-rumped Warblers diet consists mostly of insects during the summer, including caterpillars, ants, grasshoppers, and spiders. During winter, their diet consists mostly of fruits. They have also been known to eat seeds. When foraging, they can be seen in any part of a tree, on the ground, or picking off bugs and returning to the same branch, much like a flycatcher. In winter, they form large flocks of almost exclusively other Yellow-rumped Warblers, but during the spring and winter, they can be found in mixed foraging groups.
Where to Find this Bird
In most states in the U.S., Yellow-rumped Warblers are common in the spring and fall while migrating through and are often seen near water.
Yellow-throated Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Yellow-throated Warblers have a grayish-blue back, head, and tail. They have dark wings with two wing bars. They have white markings above their eye and black by their eye going down the sides of their bright yellow namesake throat. These birds have a white underside with some black streaking and a white eye crescent on the lower part of their eye.
Range
Yellow-throated Warblers winter in Central America, parts of Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of the southern United States. In spring they head north, breeding in the southeastern United States and as far north as Ohio and southern Wisconsin.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Yellow-throated Warblers are insectivorous and will scour branches and conifer cones. They will also stake out flowers to pick off the insects that are attracted.
Where to Find this Bird
Yellow-throated Warblers operate in a similar way to Black-and-white Warblers climbing around tree branches. they tend to stick to the high canopy of trees however so seeing them can be a challenging task. In my personal experience, during migration this species can be seen lower to the ground while they forage.
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Tennessee Warblers have a grayish-blue head, a greenish-yellow back and wings, and a light-colored underside. Females have a more yellow colored head, and both males and females have a light-colored stripe above their eye and white undertail coverts (an important feature to differentiate them from Orange-crowned Warblers).
Range
Tennessee Warblers winter in northeastern South America, Central America, southern Mexico, and the Carribean. In spring, they move north into some of the most northern states in the continental U.S. and much of Canada.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Tennessee Warblers feed on insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. During summer, caterpillars make up a massive part of their diet as well as spruce budworms. During the nonbreeding season they also feed on fruit and nectar from flowers.
Where to Find this Bird
Since Tennessee Warblers breed relatively far north in the continent, the best time for many people to see them is during migration. Whether during migration or on their breeding grounds, look for these birds foraging high up in the canopy flitting around the ends of branches.
Wilson’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Wilson’s Warblers have an olive-colored back, grayish wings, and a yellow body. Males have a black cap on the top of their head which female and immature birds lack.
Range
Wilson’s Warblers winter in Central America, parts of Mexico, Baja California, and some states in the southern U.S. In spring, they move north, breeding in Canada, Alaska, the northwestern United States, and the most northeastern parts of New England.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Wilson’s Warblers feed primarily on insects and other small invertebrates. They will also lap up honeydew which is a sugary substance secreted by some types of insects.
Where to Find this Bird
Wilson’s Warblers tend to reside in areas with thick understory. They will occupy forest edges as well, particularly near streams or other water sources.
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler – Photo by Susan Young
Identification
Worm-eating Warblers have an olive-brown back, tan underside, and stripes on their head. They have a very long distinctive looking bill. In all, there aren’t any other warbler species in eastern North America that at all resemble this species.
Range
Worm-eating Warblers winter in Central America, southeastern Mexico, and the Carribean. In spring, they move north into the southeastern United States. Out of all eastern warbler species, Worm-eating Warblers are among some of the most southern nesting, not typically making it very high into the Midwest or the Northeast.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Worm-eating Warblers do not actually readily consume worms, but do eat caterpillars, insects, spiders, and slugs. The name may come from their preference for caterpillars that are sometimes colloquially called “worms.”
Where to Find this Bird
Worm-eating Warblers reside in thick, dense forests and stay low near the forest floor which make them challenging to see. Listen for their trill-y calls that sound very similar to Pine Warblers and Chipping Sparrows.
Summary
Warblers are always a major highlight during migration and serve as something to look forward to every year. We hope this post has helped answer some questions about these beautiful and energetic birds.
Geese can be loud, but also beautiful birds that can be found throughout North America. Since there are only a handful of species that call the United States home, geese can be a good group to start with if you’re just beginning to learn bird identification. Both males and females of these species look the same as far as plumage, and they do not have different colorations in different seasons.
New Jersey has 8 different goose species that can be found in the state. Here is everything you need to know about these species.
Canada Goose
Canada Goose
Identification
Adult Canada Geese are large birds with a black head and neck, white cheek, brown back and sides, black feet and legs, with a white stomach and rump. They are larger, have a longer neck, and a longer bill than the closely related Cackling Goose. It’s worth noting that there are many different subspecies of Canada Geese that can vary slightly in size and appearance.
Range
Common year-round throughout much of North America, the Canada Goose migrates south in the winter and north throughout the Northern U.S., Canada and Alaska in the summer. Once seen as a majestic migratory bird, many Canada Geese have spread to urban environments and can be seen hissing at those that get too close to them or their young.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
During spring, Canada Geese feed mostly on grasses, and during the fall and winter, they eat mostly seeds and berries.
Where to Find this Bird
Look for Canada Geese near water, in open or grassy fields often in large flocks. They can also be found in and near urban ponds. Look for them flying overhead making the classic goose “honk” and flying in a “V” formation.
Listen to the Canada Goose Call – Jonathan Jongsma (CC by 3.0)
A flock of birds illustrating the “V” formation flight pattern (Mussi Katz photo)
Cackling Goose
Cackling Goose (front) with Canada Goose (behind)
Identification
Adult Cackling Geese look very similar to Canada Geese, but with some key identification differences. They have similar color patterns with a black head and neck, white cheek, brown back and sides, black feet and legs, with a white stomach and rump, however they are smaller (about Mallard duck sized) with a stubbier neck, steep forehead, and smaller, more triangular shaped bill. They will often flock with Canada Geese, along with other geese species. These flocks can be extremely large during migration.
The Cackling Goose spends winter in the central U.S. and Central America, with some populations near the East and West coasts. Their migratory route spans the central U.S. and west coast, and they migrate to northern North America to breed.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Cackling Geese feed mostly on plants and plant material such as grasses, sedges, seeds, and berries.
Where to Find this Bird
Look for Cackling Geese near water, in open or grassy fields, and in mixed flocks. Also look for them flying overhead with other goose species, and keep an eye out for noticeable smaller birds, compared to Canada Geese.
Snow Goose
Snow Geese (2 blue morph left and 1 white morph, right) (Bill Grossmeyer photo)
Blue morph Snow Goose (Bill Grossmeyer photo)
Identification
Snow Geese are majestic birds that come in different color morphs. The adult white morph Snow Goose has an all white body, black wingtips, and a pinkish-orange bill with a black “grin patch”. A “grin patch” is a visible space between the upper and lower mandible of the bird seen when the bird’s bill is closed. A “blue morph” Snow Goose is the same size as the white morph with the same bill color, however the body is dark in coloration with variable amounts of white and darker colors along with a white head.
Range
Snow Geese breed in northern North America and migrate through much of North America. They winter in select areas of the United States and Central America, often in large flocks.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Snow Geese are vegetarians that feed on grasses, shrubs, seeds, berries and more. Sometimes they will eat entire plants.
Where to Find this Bird
Snow Geese can be found in large flocks, mixed in with Ross’s Geese, Canada geese, and Cackling Geese. They are often seen in or near water, or in fields. Keep an eye out for mixed flocks flying overhead in a “V” formation.
Ross’s Goose
Ross’s Goose (Bill Grossmeyer photo)
Identification
Along with Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese also have multiple color morphs. Adult white morph Ross’s Geese have an all white body, black wingtips, and a pinkish-orange bill with a small or absent “grin patch”. A blue morph Ross’s Goose will be the same size as the white morph with the same bill color, however the body will be dark in coloration with variable amounts of white and darker colors along with a white head. A true blue morph Ross’s Goose is very rare, and many are actually hybrid Snow and Ross’s Geese. Keep on the lookout for signs of hybridization such as a bird with a small, triangular bill but a large, dark grin patch. Overall, Ross’s Geese will be smaller than Snow Geese with a smaller, triangular bill that has a gray-blue base, and a stubbier neck.
Range
Ross’s Geese breed in northern North America in colonies and migrate through much of central and western North America. They winter in select areas of the United States and Central America, often in large flocks.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Ross’s Geese are vegetarians that feed on grasses, shrubs, seeds, berries and more. Sometimes they will eat entire plants.
Where to Find this Bird
Ross’s Geese can be found in large flocks, mixed in with Snow Geese, Canada, and Cackling Geese. They are often seen in or near water, or in fields. Keep an eye out for mixed flocks flying overhead in a “V” formation.
Adult Greater White-fronted Geese (sometimes called Speckled Geese, or Speckle-belly Geese) are brown in color with a white rump, white stripe on their side, white forehead, black spots on their stomach and a bright pinkish-orange bill and legs. They can look similar to Greylag Geese, which are a domesticated species that can sometimes be seen in urban parks, but Greylag Geese will have a thicker bill, be larger and more stout, and have a striped neck.
Range
Greater White-fronted Geese breed in northern North America in colonies, and on the Alaskan tundra, and migrate through much of central and western North America. They winter in select areas of the western and southern United States and central America, often in large, mixed flocks.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Greater White-fronted Geese feed mostly on plant material such as grasses, berries, sedges, emergent vegetation, and tubers.
Where to Find this Bird
Greater White-fronted Geese can be found in large flocks, mixed in with Ross’s, Snow, Canada, and Cackling Geese. They are often seen in or near water, or in fields. Keep an eye out for mixed flocks flying overhead in a “V” formation.
Brant
Brant
Identification
The Brant is a medium-sized goose that is smaller than a Canada Goose, but larger than a Mallard duck. They have a black head, stubby black bill, black neck and upper chest, with a brown and white body, white rump, and black wingtips. They have a characteristic white mark on their neck that can be variable in size and shape.
Range
Brants normally migrate through parts of the western and northeastern United States and parts of Canada, with some wintering populations on the east coast and in Alaska. They nest in the arctic wetlands of northern North America.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Brants feed mostly on vegetation such as grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants. In the winter, they eat mainly eelgrass and algae, although in some areas they will also eat other grasses if eelgrass is not available.
Where to Find this Bird
The Brant is rare in most midwestern states. Keep an eye out for this bird in flocks of other goose species, normally found near water or in open grassy areas or farm fields.
Barnacle Goose (Rare)
Barnacle Goose (Photo by Caleb Putnam)
Identification
The Barnacle Goose can be identified by its white face, black top of the head and neck, gray stomach, and gray, white, and black back.
Range
Barnacle Geese breed in the arctic North Atlantic islands. They are not native to the United States but sometimes they show up as vagrants, especially in the northeastern U.S. and parts of Canada. Additionally, sometimes domesticated birds escape and are seen, therefore there should be some deliberation in considering whether the bird is wild or not.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Barnacle Geese feed mostly on vegetation such as grasses and aquatic plants.
Find this Bird
Barnacle Geese are extremely rare in North America. Keep an eye out for this bird in flocks of other goose species, normally found near water or in open grassy areas and farm fields.
Pink-footed Goose (Rare)
Pink-footed Goose (Alan Shearman photo, CC by 2.0)
Identification
The Pink-footed Goose can be identified by its brown head and tan neck, gray-brown back, white side stripe, buff and white chest, white rump, pink feet, and stubby bill.
Range
Pink-footed Geese are not native to the United States but they sometimes stray into Eastern North America. When they do, they are an extreme rarity.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Pink-footed Geese feed mostly on vegetation such as grasses and sedges.
Find this Bird
Pink-footed Geese are extremely rare in North America. Keep an eye out for this bird in flocks of other goose species, normally found near water or in open grassy areas and farm fields.
Which of these species have you seen? Leave a comment below and thanks for reading!
Hummingbirds are captivating creatures that buzz around backyards and flowers at a frenetic pace. While they are quite small, they sometimes travel extreme distances during migration, leading to many species showing up in places outside of their normal range.
While Connecticut has records of many different rare hummingbirds showing up in the state over the years, there are really only two species that can be found in the state on a regular basis. Here is everything you need to know about those two species.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Male – Photo by USFWS Midwest Region
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Female – Photo by Susan Young
Identification
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds look different depending on the lighting. Sometimes they can appear dark olive color, but when the sun hits them, they shine with a bright emerald green on the back, wings, head, and tail. Female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have a white throat and underside while males have a bright shining red throat. Again, if the lighting is dark, the throat will be dark red to black looking in color.
Range
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird spends the winter in Central America and Southern Mexico. In spring, they head north and breed throughout the Eastern United States as well as some parts of Southern Canada. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only naturally occurring hummingbird species that breeds in the Eastern US.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds consume nectar from flowers, particularly from red or orange flowers. They will also eat small insects that they find near flowers or even catch them out of mid air.
Where to Find This Bird
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can be found in forested areas, around fields, and in backyards. They frequent ornamental flowers as well as hummingbird feeders and are common in their normal range. To find them, either stake out flower beds, or keep your eyes peeled for something that looks like a very large insect buzzing through the air.
Rufous Hummingbird (Rare)
Rufous Hummingbird Adult Male – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Rufous Hummingbird – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Adult male Rufous Hummingbirds have a golden orange color on their head, back, and tail with darker colored wings. They have dark tips of the tail feathers with the exception of the outer tail feathers that are white-tipped. Adult males have a reddish pink iridescent throat and a white bib. Females and immature males are much more pale overall with a light underside and a green back, head, and tail. They still have hints of the rusty orange coloration that adult males possess but it looks like more of a light wash.
Range
Rufous Hummingbirds live in the Western half of North America. They winter in Southwestern Mexico and have a fairly lengthy migration to the Pacific Northwest and Southwestern Canada where they spend the breeding months.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Rufous Hummingbirds feed from flowers where they use their long bills to get nectar. They also eat small insects such as flies and aphids. They will catch them on the wing or pick them off of flowers and vegetation.
Where to Find This Bird
Rufous Hummingbirds live in a wide variety of habitats including forests, meadows, and backyards. This species is known to visit hummingbird feeders and can sometimes be a bully to other hummingbirds trying to get nectar.
In Iowa, Rufous Hummingbirds are rare visitors but do make an appearance. They are typically found during fall migration as well as winter and usually by a homeowner who notices them at their hummingbird feeder. Look for a large hummingbird from August to November and leave feeders up well into late fall if you’d like to attract one.
Summary
Hummingbirds are beloved by many birders and backyard bird watchers alike. 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. Keep in mind, Connecticut has had an assortment of rare hummingbirds that show up very occasionally, so it’s possible that a bird you are trying to identify could be a vagrant species, so do not rule any of them out if your bird doesn’t fit with either of the two expected species.
Woodpeckers are unique birds that specialize in using their bills to bore holes in wood for the purpose of finding insects and other invertebrates to eat. There are many different species of woodpeckers that live in North America and seven species that can be found in the state of New Jersey. Here is everything you need to know about these seven species.
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Identification
Downy Woodpeckers are among the most recognizable woodpecker species in the United States due to their propensity for visiting bird feeders and widespread range. They are on the small side for a woodpecker, have a white underside, a white back, and black wings with checkered white mixed in. Downy Woodpeckers have a white head with black stripe on the top of the head, through the eye, and along what can best be described as the jawline. Males have a noticeable red spot on the back of their head that females lack. It’s also worth noting that the bill of the Downy Woodpecker is relatively small compared to the similar looking Hairy Woodpecker.
Range
Downy Woodpeckers do not migrate and live year round throughout most of the continental United States and Southern Canada. Their range even stretches as far as Southern Alaska but it does not extend into the Southeastern US or Mexico.
Diet and Foraging Habits
downy Woodpeckers feed primarily on insects and other invertebrates that they find inside of trees and underneath bark. They also occasionally eat berries and seeds,
Where to Find This Bird
Downy Woodpeckers can typically be found in deciduous forests as well as in more urban areas such as backyards and parks. This species comes to bird feeding stations regularly where they will eat suet as well as black oil sunflower seeds.
Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Identification
Hairy Woodpeckers are medium sized birds with a white underside, black wings, and a black tail. Male Hairy Woodpeckers have a red marking on the back of their black and white striped head. while females lack this red coloration. Hairy Woodpeckers have a longer bill than the comparable Downy Woodpecker which is helpful to note when distinguishing between the two.
Range
Hairy Woodpeckers are nonmigratory and live throughout much of North America including most of Canada and even parts of Mexico. There are some isolated areas where the normal range of the Hairy Woodpecker does not extend to such as parts of Oregon, Washington, and Southern Texas.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Hairy Woodpeckers are primarily insect eaters. They are especially fond of wood-boring insects and will congregate in areas where trees have recently been burned as more wood-boring insects are often present in these areas.
Where to Find This Bird
Hairy Woodpeckers can be found pretty much anywhere there are large trees. Deciduous and coniferous woods, backyards, edge habitats, and even swamps are all areas that can play host to this species. Hairy Woodpeckers will also visit backyards where they will feed on suet.
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) – Photo by Alan Schmierer
Identification
Northern Flickers come in two different varieties, the Yellow-shafted and the Red-shafted. Both subspecies have a lighter underside, darker wings, and large black spots. Male Yellow-shafted Flickers have a black “whisker” marking by the bill, gray on the top of their head and a red patch on the head as well. Male Red-shafted Flickers have a red whisker marking. Females of both of these subspecies lack any whisker marking.
One of the biggest differences between these two subspecies is the tail and wing feathers. Yellow-shafted Flickers show yellow on these feathers while Red-shafted Flickers show an orangey red color. These color differences are incredibly noticeable in flight.
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) – Photo by Susan Young
Range
Northern Flickers are year-round residents of much of the continental United States, parts of Mexico, and some countries in Central America. Many of these birds migrate north in spring and spread into Canada to breed. Their numbers are at their highest in the continental United States in spring.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Northern Flickers eat many different species of insects as well as fruits, seeds, and nuts. These birds forage differently than other woodpeckers species as they spend a lot of time on the ground in addition to searching for insects up in trees. Another interesting thing about Northern Flickers is that they are particularly known for eating ants.
Where to Find This Bird
Northern Flickers can be found in pretty much any area with trees. Forest edges, deciduous woods, parks, and backyards are all places Northern Flickers frequent. Keep an eye out for flashes of yellow or red (depending on the subspecies) visible in flight.
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Identification
Pileated Woodpeckers are absolutely massive birds that are somewhat shocking to see as they fly through. They have a black back and underside with a bright red head crest. Both males and females have black stripes from their neck and through their eye. Males have red behind their bill whereas females just have black.
Range
Pileated Woodpeckers live year round in most of the Eastern United States. They also inhabit Southern Canada and some parts of the western Coast of the United States. In the West, California, Oregon, and Washington among other states that play host to these impressive birds.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Pileated Woodpeckers eat a variety of different insects, but they specialize in eating ants. In particular, carpenter ants make up quite a large portion of this birds diet.
Where to Find This Bird
Pileated Woodpeckers can be found in old growth forests with plenty of large trees. They live in deciduous and mixed coniferous woods. Listen for the laughing call of these birds that can be heard from miles away.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Identification
Red-bellied Woodpeckers have a tannish gray face and underside, black and white striped back, and red on the head. Males have more red on the head than females do. The name Red-bellied Woodpecker comes from a small bit of red that can sometimes be seen on the underside of the bird but is not always visible.
Range
Red-bellied Woodpeckers can be found throughout most of the Eastern United States year-round. Their range expands slightly west of the Mississippi River but dos not typically extend north into Canada or south into Mexico.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Red-bellied Woodpeckers eat a wide variety of food items including insects, fruits, seeds, and small animals. They have been known to visit bird feeders where they will take seeds, nuts, and pieces of suet.
Where to Find This Bird
Red-bellied Woodpeckers can be found pretty much anywhere with large trees including deciduous forests, swamps, backyards, and parks.
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
The extremely aptly named Red-headed Woodpecker can be identified by its white underside, black back, white “backpack” markings on the wings, and of course, its bright red head. Juveniles look similar but with a dark colored head.
Range
Red-headed Woodpeckers are birds of the Eastern United States. They can be found year-round from Florida and Mississippi all the way up through Southern Michigan and New York. In winter, this species moves slightly farther southwest in Texas and in summer they move northwest to the Dakotas and even into south-central Canada and further north in the Midwest and northeast.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Red-headed Woodpeckers eat a wide variety of different food items including insects, fruit, and seeds. They are among the most actively foraging woodpecker species and are known to catch insects out of the air.
Where to Find This Bird
Red-headed Woodpeckers reside in deciduous woods as well as more open areas with more sparse tree cover such as areas that have recently been burned. Forest edges are also another great place to find this species.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Photo by Bill Grossmeyer
Identification
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are quite dapper birds with black wings, and black stripes on their white faces. They also have a large white marking on each of their wings, black and white blurring on the back, and some barring on their flanks. This species also has some splashes of color as well, including a namesake pale yellow on their chest, and a red crown. Males also have a red throat which differentiates them from the females.
Range
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are migratory and spend the winter from the Southeastern United States all the way through Mexico and Central America. In Spring, these woodpeckers move north and occupy the Northeastern United States and Southern Canada. It’s worth noting that while not indicated by range maps, some individuals have been known to spend the winter fairly far north in the Eastern US.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers eat insects, fruit, and as their name suggests, sap. They eat tree sap by drilling holes in the trees and then eating the sap that fills them, They will usually make these holes in rows that look something like a grid. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are particularly fond of trees with high sugar contents in the sap such as certain types of birches and maples.
Where to Find This Bird
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers can be found in forested areas and edge habitats. They spend a lot of time attending to and drilling their sap wells, so areas that have been tapped before by these birds will most likely be revisited again.
Summary
Woodpeckers are indeed interesting birds with unique habits but a general look that spans across the different birds that make up the group. Knowing the specific details of how to identify them and what habitats to find them in can be of great help while out in the field.
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 Delaware, there are seven 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.
Common Redpoll (Uncommon)
Common Redpoll
Identification
The Common Redpoll is a compact finch species with a small, stubby, pointed yellow bill. They have a brown back streaked with cream, black above and below their bill, and a red patch on their head. Males have a rosy wash on their chest and flanks along with some streaking on their sides. Females and immature birds do not have noticeable red wash but do have dark streaking on their underside and flanks.
Range
Common Redpolls breed in the extreme Northern parts of Canada and Alaska as well as Southern Greenland. In winter, they migrate south into Southern Canada and the Northern United States. This species is irruptive and on years when food is scarce in the North, they expand farther into the United States and in greater numbers. The number of Redpolls in the United States as well as the locations they spread to vary depending on the year.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Common Redpolls eat small seeds from trees such as birches, alders, and conifers. They will also eat berries and seeds from wildflowers. Common Redpolls are very acrobatic feeders, often foraging in large groups and hanging upside down as they pry seeds out of cones.
Where to Find This Bird
Common Redpolls follow the food and will show up wherever there are plentiful seeds to eat. When they are around, their buzzy calls can be heard in flight, and keeping an eye out for flocks of them in and around conifer trees will typically yield results. During irruption years, swarms of these birds will descend on bird feeders creating quite the spectacle. Thistle, nyjer, and sunflower seeds are all common bird feeder fill that will attract Common Redpolls.
Common Redpolls during an irruption year
Evening Grosbeak (Uncommon)
Male Evening Grosbeak
Identification
Evening Grosbeaks are an extremely bright looking species. Males have electric yellow undersides, backs, and markings on their head just above the eye. They have black wings, a black tail, clean white wing patches, and an extremely thick bill. Females and immature birds are mostly gray with a yellow nape, black wings, and a black tail with white patches on them.
Range
The Evening Grosbeak’s range is somewhat misleading. They are year-round residents of Southern Canada and some parts of the Western United States. Most maps show their wintering range covering most of Michigan, Wisconsin, and New England, but through my experience, most winters Evening Grosbeaks only inhabit the most northern parts of these areas. Evening Grosbeaks do have years in which they fly farther South during winter but in recent years they have not irrupted in the same way that records from the past show. Additionally, the range of this species seems to be receding farther north into Canada each year.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Evening Grosbeaks have different diets depending on the time of year. During summer, they feed primarily on insects and other invertebrates, most notably spruce budworm larva. Other times of the year, Evening Grosbeaks eat various types of seeds including seeds from fruits.
Where to Find This Bird
Evening Grosbeaks can be found in conifer forests. They also can be found near bird feeders in their native range.
Badgerland Birding searches for an Evening Grosbeak in Milwaukee, WI
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 Delaware.
Chickadees are small, likable birds known for their friendliness and curiousness. In Georgia, 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.
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee – Photo by Shenandoah National Park
Identification
Carolina Chickadees have a gray back and wings, buffy sides, and a light colored underside. They have a black cap, black chin, and white cheeks. They look incredibly identical to Black-capped Chickadees and in places where their ranges overlap are best identified by song.
Range
Carolina Chickadees are year-round residents of the southeastern United States. Their range also extends into some of the northeastern and midwestern states as far up as Ohio and Delaware.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Carolina Chickadees inhabit a wide variety of different places including edge habitat, parks, backyards, and deciduous forests. They can often be heard before they are seen, making a cheerful chickadee call (which is more rapid than the Black-capped Chickadee) along with other sounds.
Where to Find this Bird
True to their name, Boreal Chickadees can be found in Boreal forests, typically consisting of mostly coniferous trees. Often times, the best way to find them is to listen for their calls and try to triangulate their position from there.
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 Georgia.
