Category Archives: 2022 Birding Blog

2022 Birding Blog, Birds by State and Region

Egrets of Wisconsin (3 Species to Know)

October 3, 2022 rmsallmanngmailcom 2 Comments

Egrets are elegant looking wading birds. There are a few different species of Egrets that live in the United States and 3 species that can be found in Wisconsin

Cattle Egret (Uncommon)

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.

In Wisconsin, Cattle Egrets are somewhat rare but can be found in some select places on an annual basis. Farms around Lake Winnebago are good places to find Cattle Egrets where they will most likely be in the fields. They also sometimes show up around Horicon Marsh but not every year.

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 (Rare)

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.

In Wisconsin, Snowy Egrets are rare but annual visitors. They sometimes show up at Horicon Marsh, but can also sometimes be found along rivers and the coasts of the Great Lakes.

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 Wisconsin.

If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and a comment. Also be sure to check out the Badgerland Birding Youtube Channel

2022 Birding Blog, Editorials

5 Weird places birders go to find birds

September 13, 2022 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Birding is a past time that can take you to some of the most amazing and beautiful places on planet earth. Between state parks, national wildlife refuges, and pristine wilderness, there is no end to the breathtaking habitats that birds call home. However, birds don’t always turn up in the most secluded places, and instead flock to where they can find food and shelter. For this reason, the quest for birds can take those who seek them out to some extremely strange places. Here are the top 5 weird places birders go to find birds.

5. Roadsides

Horned Lark along the side of a country road

Every birder has had the experience of spotting a bird from their car. Birds frequently hang out along the sides of roads taking advantage of edge habitat and high perches making it easy to spot prey. In many instances, the actual side of the road is a great place for birds to find insects and seeds. In winter, plows clear snow and churn up the substrate, allowing birds that forage along the ground access to an easy meal. Sparrows, finches, grouse, longspurs, Horned Larks and more can all be found along roadsides as they forage. Not only are road sides great places for birds, but the option to go birding by car makes it easy to cover a lot of ground and see a lot of different habitats, even though it’s not a place many non birders would expect to find birds.

4. Sod Farms

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Photo by Bill Grossmeyer)

Farms in general are a great place to find birds. With an abundance of food, flooded fields, and a lot of open space, it’s no wonder birds frequent these areas. Of the different types of farms, the most specific and strange place to find birds is the sod farm. During fall, these farms play host to shorebirds migrating down from the north including black-bellied plovers, American golden plovers, and buff breasted sandpipers. In addition to these species, other birds that frequent agricultural fields and open spaces can also be found roaming the turf, making it a fun and ecclectic place to go birding..

3. Cemeteries

At first glance a cemetery may not seem like a place that birds would frequent, but it’s not about the cemetery itself, rather what’s planted there. Many cemeteries have decorative fruit trees or small groves of pines. The fruit trees can draw in birds like robins and waxwings, as well as winter migrants like Pine Grosbeaks looking for a meal. Pines can bring in species like Red-breasted Nuthatches, crossbills and other cone feeders. Although it may sound a bit odd to spend your free time lurking around a cemetery, if the right trees are planted there, they can be havens for some fascinating birds.

2. Stranger’s Houses

Rufous Hummingbird visiting a bird feeder

Most people that have been birding for a while have been involved in a home feeder stake out situation. The event usually plays out like this: A homeowner reports a rarity visiting their feeder, word gets out that the homeowner is allowing visitors, and birders from all over the region come to see the rare bird. Many times, homeowners are extremely welcoming and enjoy meeting the birders that come to visit. Even so, when you think about sitting in your car and spying on a strangers bird feeder, the idea is pretty weird.

1. Landfills

Gulls gathering just outside of a landfill

Out of all the strange places to find birds, there is none more out of left field than the dump. As it turns out, a lot of opportunistic bird species find the food scraps in the garbage to be a convenient food source. These species include crows, ravens, eagles, and most of all gulls. In fact, landfills are one of the best places to find large groups of gulls including some that are considered regionally rare. While it’s certainly not an appealing or beautiful place to bird, the dump can serve as an important spot to find a variety of species.

Did you agree with our list? Is there another strange place to bird that we left off? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to check out the Badgerland Birding YouTube channel.

2022 Birding Blog, Birds by State and Region, Top 5 Birds

Top 5 birds to find in Wisconsin

September 3, 2022 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Each state in the US has its own unique set of habitats and animals that live within their borders. Among these animals are many bird species that only live in particular regions of the country and can sometimes not be easily found anywhere else in the world. One state that harbors a surprising array of bird species is Wisconsin. With a great lake to the east, boreal forest to the north, and migratory flyways overhead, Wisconsin is home to some rare species that can only be seen in a handful of places around the country. While there are plenty of birds to see in Wisconsin, there are 5 that stand out as signature species of the state that are extremely hard to find in most other regions of the United States. Here are the top five birds to find in the Wisconsin

5. Greater Prairie Chicken

At number five on our list is a species that can usually only be found on the Great Plains, the Greater Prairie Chicken. These stout, plump looking birds reside in grasslands and prairies where they feed on seeds, grains, fruits, and insects. Greater prairie chickens are listed as vulnerable after experiencing a massive decline in their population between 1966 and 2015. The reason this species is at number five on a list of birds to find in Wisconsin is that the dairy state is one of the only place to find greater prairie chickens east of the Mississippi river as a breeding population lives in the middle of the state. The most reliable place to see them is at the Buena Vista Grasslands where a management area is set aside for these birds. The easiest time to locate Greater Prairie Chickens is in winter when they can be found roosting in trees in the early morning or foraging in fields as they stand out better against the snow. The other time of year they can be found is during spring when they lek and males put on displays for females. The University of Wisconsin Stevens point allows people to rent blinds during this time to get a close up view of the Prairie Chickens lekking.

4. Snowy Owl

Badgerland Birding searches for Snowy Owls along Lake Michigan

Coming in at number four is a majestic bird species extremely recognizable to the general public, the Snowy Owl. Although they are thought of as a bird exclusive to the high arctic, some of them migrate south into the northern United States in winter, allowing people in many of the states bordering Canada a chance to see them on an annual basis. Some years, few snowy owls can be found in the US while other years many of them end up crossing the Canada border and occasionally even turn up as far south as the Carolinas. Even though there are a handful of states to find Snowy Owls in, they typically show up in relatively good numbers in Wisconsin and in places accessible to birders. Some spots to look for them are the rocks along the Lake Michigan coastline and in open farm fields, both of which can be found in copious amounts in Wisconsin.

3. Connecticut Warbler

Badgerland Birding searches for an elusive Connecticut Warbler

The first warbler on the list is a species that breeds in the most northern recesses of the state, the Connecticut Warbler. Connecticut Warblers are skulky, ground foraging, migratory birds with a yellow underside, a gray head, and a white eye ring. These secretive birds are notoriously difficult to find and are normally only seen or heard during migration. Speaking of migration, the Connecticut Warbler’s path from its wintering areas in South America through Florida, and then spreading out over the Great Lakes states and into Canada. The Connecticut warbler finds itself at number 3 on our list for a variety of reasons. First, the species as a whole has declined significantly since 1966 making it harder to find in general. Additionally, the range of this uncommon species is rather small compared to that of most warblers. Lastly, the majority of Connecticut warblers breed in Canada with the only states in the US harboring Connecticut Warblers during the breeding season being Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

2. Kirtland’s Warbler

Landing at number 2 in our countdown is the once federally endangered Kirtland’s Warbler. Identified by their gray backs with black streaks, yellow throat and underside, and white eye crescents, this species (which some consider to be the holy grail of Eastern United States warblers) is still a very rare sight in most parts of the country. While they are off the endangered list, there are still only about 4,800 individuals in the global breeding population. One of the reason’s the Kirtland’s Warbler is so rare, is because they are so picky about the habitat they breed in. This species only nests in Jack Pines generally between 5 and 15 feet tall. Any shorter or taller and they find the habitat to be unsuitable. Kirtland’s Warblers do migrate, spending most of the winter in the Bahamas, and can be seen occasionally along their migratory route, but the best place to see them is in their summer breeding grounds. The selectiveness of the Kirtland’s Warbler means there are only a few areas where they can be reliably found including some parts of Southern Canada, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

1. Whooping Crane

Check this video out to learn more about Whooping Cranes

The top bird in our contdown is one that’s hard to miss if it’s around: the whooping crane. This massive bird has a wing span of 229 cm and is certainly one of the largest bird species in North America. They can be identified by their all white coloration with black wing tips and red on their head and face. What makes the Whooping Crane such a coveted bird to find is the fact that there are so few of them in the wild. Back in 1941, there were only an estimated 21 Whooping cranes in existence. Fast forward to now and there are around 600 of them between the wild populations and those kept in captivity. While there are certainly more of them around today, and the species has been trending in a slightly better direction, they are still not all that easy to locate. In fact, there are 4 populations of Whooping Cranes in the United States. One that lives in Texas and migrates to Canada, one that lives in Louisiana year round, one that lives in Florida year round, and one that migrates from Florida to Wisconsin. Considering the conservation status of the Whooping Crane and their overall rarity in the world, makes them an extremely sought after bird to find not only in the state, but throughout the continent. This fact elevates the Whooping Crane to the top of the list of the five best birds to find in Wisconsin

Did you enjoy this post? Let us know in the comments below. If you’re interested in a guided tour of some of the best places to bird in Wisconsin, click here. And as always, thanks for reading, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.

2022 Birding Blog

What is World Shorebirds Day?

August 15, 2022 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Each year, fall migration brings a specific group of birds into the continental United States. These birds skitter around beaches and flooded fields, providing entertainment for birders who love them for their incredible variety along with the challenges that come with identifying them. What group is this? Shorebirds.

Shorebirds are sometimes thought of as any bird that frequents the coastlines of oceans and large lakes, but this isn’t quite accurate. In reality, the term “shorebird” describes a member of (a particular taxonomical group) the order Charadriiformes which includes birds such as sandpipers, plovers, snipe, and avocets among others. While the term “shorebird” is a somewhat colloquial term, it has gained popularity to describe these species.

Why was World Shorebirds Day created?

While some shorebird species are common, others are in significant trouble as their numbers drop and their habitats continue to disappear. As a result of the perilous future of shorebird species, World Shorebirds Day was born. World Shorebirds Day aims to bring awareness to these often overlooked species and create a fun event to help gather data on them.

When is World Shorebirds Day?

World Shorebirds Day is on September 6 each year and is surrounded by a shorebird count week. In recent years, this count week has been from September 1 through September 7.

How can I participate in World Shorebirds Day?

How to use eBird: A Beginner’s Guide

World Shorebirds Day is very easy to participate in. All you need is an eBird account. During the count week, go birding in locations where shorebirds could potentially be. Record your sightings on eBird, and then share your checklists with the username worldshorebirdsday. It’s also worth noting that the eBird mobile app can be a quick and easy way to count shorebirds.

How to use the eBird Mobile App: A Beginner’s Guide

Conclusion

World Shorebirds Day is a fun event that can add some excitement to the late summer and early fall. As migration begins, some amazing species will be moving through the continental United States, and what better way to celebrate than to go out and find them?

If you liked this post, please like, comment, and subscribe to our blog. If you’re interested in bird and birding related videos, please check out our YouTube channel by clicking here.

2022 Birding Blog

5 Beginner Birding Mistakes You Should Stop Making

August 7, 2022 Dereksallmann Leave a comment

Birding has a bit of a learning curve. Here are 5 beginner birding mistakes and how to prevent them. In the about 7 years I’ve been birding I’ve done all of these things and I’m sure I will do some of them again. This post is aimed for people going out and looking for specific species but can also apply to other aspects of birding.

1. Forgetting Equipment

Number one, You forgot an important piece of equipment. There’s nothing worse than getting to your birding location only to realize you left your SD card in your laptop. Make sure that before your next trip, your camera batteries are charged, your SD cards are cleared and formatted, and you have your necessary gear such as a lens cleaning cloth, or other accessories. It’s also important that you have this gear ready at a moment’s notice because you never know when that next rare bird might show up.

2. Not Doing Your Research

Number two, you didn’t do your research. If you’re going after a rare bird it’s a good idea to get as much information about where it has been as possible. Check the eBird and list serve reports and reach out to people and ask. You’ll know more people over time and it will become much easier to do this. One of the worst things is showing up to a location and realizing it’s actually private property or only accessible by boat or something. The more you know beforehand the better. This can also help you build relationships with other birders and gather information you wouldn’t have known otherwise. Recently I went to look for a Couch’s Kingbird, and the eBird location turned out to not be the actual location the bird was being seen. I texted a friend and she gave me coordinates to the actual location nearby. Without this information, it would have been much harder to find the bird.

Check out the video below to see some examples of times we had to do a lot of prior research in order to find our target birds.

3. Jumping to ID Conclusions

Number three, concluding something you found is rare before looking at other options. This is something that happens when you’re normally not familiar with the birds in the area. You see something and look in the field guide or on the Merlin app and think you have the right species, but then you report it and it says it’s really rare. Sometimes spending a little more time with your field guide or searching online can prevent this, but also feel free to ask other birders or post on an ID page online. I will say however, sometimes new birders do find extremely rare birds and they’re correct on their ID. This happened to Ryan and I with a Red-shouldered Hawk, which is a relatively rare bird in Wisconsin. We took pictures of it and had our local naturalist help us with the ID. When we posted it to eBird, the reviewer asked for more information, and we had the photo to back up our sighting. Taking pictures of species you can’t immediately identify in the field also helps when you’re starting out because then they can be reviewed later.

4. Starting With Expensive Gear

Number four, starting out with really expensive gear, In certain cases I’ve seen new birders get really excited and buy huge lenses and expensive equipment only to be frustrated that they’re not taking the kinds of photos or videos that they want to be taking. For beginners I’d suggest not worrying about having the newest, most high tech gear, and spend more time enjoying nature and learning about new species. I think a more versatile point and shoot camera is great, such as the Panasonic Lumix FZ-80.

Learn more about the Panasonic Lumix FZ-80

If you’re interested in purchasing the FZ-80 please consider using our Amazon Affiliate link by clicking here. We receive a small percentage from qualifying purchases.

5. Waiting to Go See Rare Birds

Number five, Waiting to go see rare birds. This one is tough because most people have work, school, and other commitments they can’t change, but if you want to see the newest rarity that was reported, my advice is to go as soon as possible. Many species can be one day wonders and the sooner you get to the site to try and see it, the better. Now of course, be safe, don’t speed, be reckless, or break any laws, but generally, this is true with most rarities. I remember one time there was a Barrow’s Goldeneye reported a few hours away from Ryan and I waited to go because I wanted to eat something before leaving. I finished my bowl of cereal and we left. Turns out we missed it by about 5 minutes. If I hadn’t eaten that bowl of cereal, we probably would have seen the bird.

All five of these mistakes are understandable and go along with the territory of being a beginner birder. That being said, any of these can still happen to skilled birders as well. Making mistakes is part of the learning process and these five have probably happened to most birders at one point or another.

2022 Birding Blog, ID Tips

Cooper’s Hawk vs. Sharp-shinned Hawk

August 7, 2022 Dereksallmann Leave a comment

Cooper’s vs. Sharp-shinned Hawk is one of the most common identification questions for backyard birders. Adults both have a gray/blue back, long legs, and a banded tail, and juveniles also look similar to each other. However, if you know the identification points to look for, it can be much easier to differentiate the two.

When deciding between a Cooper’s or Sharp-shinned Hawk one of the first things to consider is range. The range of the Cooper’s Hawk spans over more of the United States year round, with Sharp-shinned Hawks spreading out more in the winter. Depending on the time of year, this could narrow down your choices.

Range

Size

First, let’s start with features that apply to adult and juvenile birds. In general, Sharp-shinned Hawks will be smaller than Cooper’s Hawks with the average individual measuring about 12.5 inches, and the average Cooper’s Hawk measuring about 16.5 inches. However, females are larger than males in both species and a large female Sharp-shinned Hawk can be about the same size as a small male Cooper’s Hawk. In general, if the bird seems very small (about Blue-jay size or smaller for Sharp-shinned) or very large (about crow sized or larger for Cooper’s) then then size can be used fairly reliably.

Shape

Another field mark present in both adults and juveniles is body shape and head size. Sharp-shinned Hawks will appear to not have much of a neck, with a small head. Cooper’s Hawks will appear to have normal proportions compared to other hawks. This feature can also be noticed in flight. The general body shape of a Sharp-shinned Hawk will also appear barrel chested with smaller hips, making the bird look top heavy, almost like the Hawk version of Gaston from beauty and the beast. The Cooper’s hawk body shape will be much more tubular with a center of gravity more near the middle of the body.

Legs

In adults and juveniles Sharp-shinned Hawks will appear to have longer thinner legs than Cooper’s Hawks and the eye on the Sharp-shinned may appear closer to the middle of the back and front of the head where in the Cooper’s they may appear closer to the front of the head, although this field mark can be subjective.

Tail

If you get a clear view of the tail this can also assist with ID, although I wouldn’t rely on this as your only field mark. In general, Cooper’s Hawks will have tail feathers that appear more rounded at this tips, while they are more squared off in the Sharp-shinned Hawk. This can be deceiving depending on how spread out the feathers are, and if there are missing feathers. There can also be differences in the amount of white on the tail tip (Cooper’s Hawks will have a broader white tip of the tailfeathers while Sharp-shinned may show a thinner white band) but this can be worn off the feathers which makes it a difficult feature to use reliably.

Flight Pattern

In flight, the Cooper’s Hawk will often fly with slower wingbeats before gliding. Sharp-shinned Hawks may have a more erratic-looking flight with faster wingbeats before gliding.

Hood vs. Cap

Now let’s move on to characteristics of only adult birds. Both Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks will have gray-blue backs with rufous and white barring on their chests, and red eyes. One of the more distinctive differences in adults is that the Sharp-shinned Hawk will often appear hooded with a dark nape while the Cooper’s Hawk will appear capped, white a light nape.

Neck

Sharp-shinned Hawks may also appear as though they don’t have a neck, while Cooper’s Hawks will normally show a more pronounced neck.

Chest Streaking

Now let’s move on to the juveniles. Juveniles of both species have brown backs with white spots, brown streaks on the chest, and yellow eyes. The most reliable color field mark is that the streaking on the chest is bold and larger in Sharp-shinned Hawks (it may also appear more blurry) and is thinner and more defined in Cooper’s Hawks. The streaking may also not go down as far on the lower stomach in Cooper’s Hawks.

Behavior

There are also some more anecdotal behaviors that have been noted between the species that may be true some of the time but not always. It’s been suggested that Sharp-shinned Hawks prefer to perch in trees and shrubs while Cooper’s Hawks may be found more often on fences or poles. Additionally, Cooper’s Hawks may target larger prey such as does while Sharp-shinned Hawks might go after smaller birds.

Summary

In summary, an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk will normally appear smaller with almost no neck, a broad chest, a hooded head, long thin legs, eyes closer to the middle of the head, and a squared off tail with a thin white tip. In flight they may also appear more erratic. Cooper’s Hawks will generally be larger with a capped head, normal neck, tubular appearance, thicker legs, eyes closer to the beak, and rounded tail feathers with a thicker white band at the end. Their wingbeats in flight may also appear slower. Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawks will have more streaking on the chest that appears almost blurry, while Cooper’s Hawks will have finer, more defined streaking with possible less on the lower stomach. While you’re out in the field try to note as many ID features as you can and get photos when in doubt. In the end, it’s always okay to mark the bird down as a Cooper’s/Sharp-shinned Hawk. This is a tricky ID, but hopefully with these tips, you’ll be armed with the best knowledge about differentiating these two species.

If you prefer to watch our video on the topic, check out the link below!

2022 Birding Blog, ID Tips

Eastern Towhee vs. Spotted Towhee

August 5, 2022 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

The Eastern Towhee and the Spotted Towhee are two extremely similar looking birds both native to the United States. While at a quick glance they may seem difficult to distinguish from one another, there are actually a few simple ways to tell them apart.

Fun Fact: The Eastern Towhee and the Spotted Towhee used to be lumped together as a single species called the Rufous-sided Towhee. To learn more about the Eastern Towhee check out this article.

Range

While range can’t always be used to correctly determine between Eastern and Spotted Towhees, much of the time it can be. These species have ranges that typically don’t overlap, but both have been known to end up in places they aren’t normally found in.

The Eastern Towhee resides in the Eastern United States, living year round in the Southeastern states such as Florida and Georgia. During summer, many of them migrate north ending up in places like New York, Southeastern Canada, and Michigan.

Click here to see a video of Badgerland Birding searching for an Eastern Towhee in its normal range.

Eastern Towhee Range Map by sdakotabirds.com

The Spotted Towhee is a bird of the Western United States and Mexico. They winter in the south-central U.S. in states such as Texas and Oklahoma and move into the Northwestern states and Southwestern Canada to breed. Many Spotted Towhees live in Western states such as California and Oregon year round.

Click here to see a video of Badgerland Birding finding a Spotted Towhee outside of its normal range.

Spotted Towhee Range Map by sdakotabirds.com

Most of the time, range is going to be a significant factor determining which of these two species is in the area, but they do sometimes cross over to the opposite side of the country, making location a fairly reliable, but not iron clad way of telling the Spotted and Eastern Towhee apart.

Coloration

Male Eastern and Spotted Towhees both look very much alike. Both have a black back, black head, white underside, and rufous color on their sides. However, there is one major diagnostic difference; the Spotted Towhee lives up to it’s name and has white spots on its back and wings. The Eastern Towhee does have white markings on it’s back and wings but not nearly to the same degree as the Spotted Towhee.

The females of these two species look fairly different. The female Eastern Towhee has brown on its back, wings, and head, with the same rufous sides and white underside as the male. The female Spotted Towhee looks just like the male Spotted Towhee complete with white markings on the wings and back, but has more of a charcoal gray color, making it look quite different from the female Eastern Towhee.

Song

The Eastern and the Spotted Towhee have very similar calls. but with subtle differences. The Eastern Towhee sounds something akin to “drink your tea” with the first note being sharp and the rest of the call being a trill. They also make other sounds as well including a “chew-wee” or”tow-hee” call.

Eastern Towhee Call

The Spotted Towhee’s call is a lot like that of the Eastern Towhee but it can have several sharp notes before a more accentuated and somewhat faster sounding trill.

Spotted Towhee Call

Eastern Towhee summary

An adult Eastern Towhee will have the following characteristics that can be used to separate them from Spotted Towhees:

Range in the Eastern half of the United States

A mostly black back and wings with some white markings but no true “spots”

Overall brown color on the head, back, and wings of the female

A song that sounds like “drink your tea,”

Spotted Towhee summary

An adult Sotted Towhee will have the following characteristics that can be used to separate it from an Eastern Towhee:

Range in the Western half of the United States

A black back and wings with numerous white spots

Gray color on wings, back, and head of female that looks otherwise the same as the male

A song that sounds faster and more buzzy than the Eastern Towhee with more notes at the beginning of the call

Eastern Towhee x Spotted Towhee hybrid

It’s worth noting that these two species do hybridize and can often create offspring that confuse birders. Hybrid Eastern and Spotted Towhees can be identified by the markings on the back and wings. They will have a combination of white lines, blotches, and spots. To see what one of these hybrid birds looks like you can click here.

Conclusion

At first, the Eastern Towhee and the Spotted Towhee look like very similar species. However, with a bit of knowledge on how to distinguish them, it can be a lot easier to make a positive identification.

2022 Birding Blog

Common Questions About the Gila Woodpecker Answered

August 3, 2022 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Where do Gila Woodpeckers live?

Gila Woodpeckers can be found in some of the southwestern states in hte U.S. including Arizona, California, and New Mexico. They also live throughout most of Mexico. This woodpecker species lives in a variety of habitats including urban areas and riparian zones but is most known for its ability to survive in arid places such as deserts.

How does the Gila Woodpecker survive in the desert?

The Gila Woodpecker is well suited for life in a hot and arid environment. They get most of the liquid they need from the food they eat so they don’t need s consistent supply of water. Additionally, they are able to use the Saguaro Cacti in the desert as a nesting site as well as a shady and cooler place to spend the hottest times of the day.

What does the Gila Woodpecker eat?

Gila Woodpeckers eat a very wide variety of food items including spiders, worms, insects, berries, cactus fruit, nuts, other birds eggs, and much more. They will even feed from bird feeders taking things such as suet and corn. Much like other woodpecker species, Gila Woodpeckers find insects and other invertebrates by tapping on dead trees and triangulating the position of anything living below the surface of the tree.

Why is the Gila Woodpecker endangered?

Although the Gila Woodpecker has just a small range in the United States, it is NOT federally endangered and is a currently a species of low conservation concern.

What does a Gila Woodpecker do in a cactus?

Gila Woodpeckers use cacti (specifically the Saguaro Cactus) as a nest site. The adult pair will excavate a cavity and often wait for the newly created nesting site to dry before using it. It’s worth noting that Gila Woodpeckers don’t only nest in cacti but actually use a wide variety of trees. However, here is something quaint about this particular species nesting in a cacti.

Is the Gila Woodpecker a flicker?

The Gila Woodpecker is not a species of flicker and is distinctly different from both Northern Flickers and Gilded Flickers. Some of the behavioral differences between flickers and woodpeckers is that flickers perch horizontally more often and spend more time on teh ground than woodpeckers do.

How does the Gila Woodpecker help the Saguaro Cactus?

The Gila Woodpecker has something of a symbiotic relationship with the Saguaro Cactus. The woodpecker helps the cactus by eating its fruit and spreading its seeds to new areas of the desert. It’s also possible that Gila Woodpeckers eat insect pests that could pose a problem to the cacti if left unchecked. In return, the woodpeckers get a place to nest as well as an ampersand’s supply of fruit.

Do Gila Woodpeckers mate for life?

Many sources indicate that Gila Woodpeckers mate for life but the majority of these sources use anecdotal evidence as data. It does seem that during a particular breeding season, Gila Woodpeckers are monogamous, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they keep the same pair for the duration of their life.

Do Gila Woodpeckers have a yellow belly?

Gila Woodpeckers do not have yellow bellies. Their underside is actually tan with their back having black and white patterned feathers and adult males having red on the top of their head.

What is special about Gila Woodpeckers

The Gila Woodpecker is a hardy bird that manages to not only survive but thrive in a hostile environment. If you ever get the chance to travel to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, make sure to take some time and track down this interesting species.

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2022 Birding Blog, Top 5 Birds

5 Common Backyard Birds you DON’T want at your bird feeder

August 3, 2022 rmsallmanngmailcom 2 Comments

Bird feeding is an absolutely massive industry in the United States, and why wouldn’t it be? The hobby of feeding birds offers people the chance to get up close looks at a wide variety of species ranging from cute to extremely bright. While there are plenty of amazing birds to play host to, there are also some that you really don’t want making themselves at home at your bird feeder. Whther it’s due to their gregarious nature, or the way they bully other birds, here are 5 birds you don’t want visiting your bird feeder.

Before we get started, keep in mind that this is a subjective list and some people may adore these particular species and welcome them to their yard and at their bird feeders. We aren’t saying any of these birds are necessarily bad, but rather that they may be problematic for other species in the yard.

Common Grackle

Kicking off the countdown is a large blackbird species wide spread across much of the United States: the Common Grackle. Common Grackles live in Eastern North America with their summer range expanding north into Canada and west as far as Idaho. They are actually quite sleek in appearance with a long tail, jet black body, iridescent head, and bright yellow eye. While they are a native species and therefor not a huge problem from an invasive standpoint, they can still pose problems due to the way they behave around the feeders. With a larger size than most other backyard birds, Common Grackles tend to take over and can become bullies. Additionally, they tend to flock with other black bird species, meaning there will probably be an all out onslaught of activity at the feeder when they are around, thus preventing other birds from getting seeds.

European Starling

The first invasive species on our list; European Starlings are native to Europe and Asia but were released into the united states, eventually spreading across the country. To be fair, starlings are actually quite beautiful birds with many different colors shining from their feathers, but the problem is that where there is one, many are sure to follow as these flocking birds gather together in large groups. If starlings find a bird feeder, they often dominate the space, and prevent other more timid bird species from approaching. Additionally, European Starlings are cavity nesters, and will occupy bird houses and other suitable nesting sites, preventing native species from using them. In sum, European Starlings can have a negative impact on the biodiversity of a yard, but they aren’t nearly as destructive as other species on this list.

Cooper’s Hawk

Where there is an abundance of prey items, there are sure to be predators. One of the biggest natural threats to backyard birds are raptors such as Cooper’s Hawks. Other species that could occupy a spot on the list for a similar reason are Sharp-shinned Hawks and Merlins. Out of these birds, the Cooper’s Hawks gets the nod due to the fact that their range encompasses most of North America, and because they seem to often be found loitering around bird feeders. These large yet streamlined raptors feed mostly on medium sized birds such as Robins, Mourning Doves, and Woodpeckers, but have been known to catch smaller birds as well. Cooper’s Hawks are native to North America and are an important part of the ecosystem, but it’s understandable why feeder watches don’t want the birds they care for and become familiar with killed by anything, even another bird. These predators are extremely good at what they do, landing them a spot at number three on the list, but keep in mind that their presence could actually be a sign of a healthy ecosystem.

Brown-headed Cowbird

Although Brown-headed Cowbirds are native to North America and are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, most people dislike them because they are brood parasites. This means that rather than raising their own young, they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. The young often outcompete or kill the other nestlings and can sometimes be seen being fed by their different species parents. Cowbirds often flock with other blackbirds and can show up in very large numbers, not only preventing other species from getting food but most likely also parasatizing their nests. It’s also worth noting that the Brown-headed Cowbird is extremely wide spread in the United States, meaning that people in almost every state have most likely encountered them at some point. The fact that Brown-headed Cowbirds being in a yard means that other species have less of a chance to raise young makes them one of the most despised species by backyard bird lovers, and puts them at number two on our list.

House Sparrow

Coming in at number one is a species that anyone living in a city is probably familiar with: the House Sparrow. Some people enjoy having House Sparrows at their feeders, and they are pretty humorous to watch with their constant bickering. However, there are even more people who completely detest them. The reason for this is because much like the European Starling, House Sparrows are not originally native to North America and spread like wildfire across the country upon their release into the New World. Not only are they numerous, but they are also extremely territorial and aggressive, often outcompeting other species. In addition to their antics at bird feeders, House Sparrows have been known to kill cavity nesting birds such as Eastern Bluebirds, and anyone who has ever had to deal with them invading a bird house knows the horror that they can inflict on more passive species. If House Sparrows take up residence near a bird feeder, they are hard to get rid of and have posed major problems ever since they were first introduced to North America, earning them the title of the number one common backyard bird, that you don’t want visiting your bird feeder.

Do you agree with our list? Are there species you would add or remove? Let us know in the comments below. Also, if you enjoyed this post, please like and subscribe as it helps our channel continue to grow. Thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.

2022 Birding Blog, Bird Facts

Gila Woodpeckers: 5 Fascinating Facts

July 24, 2022 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

The Gila Woodpecker is an extremely interesting species at home in places inhospitable to other birds. This medium sized, boisterous woodpecker is most often thought of as a habitat specialist living amongst the cacti of America’s deserts. In reality, that is in fact a completely accurate depiction. However, there is even more to this species than meets the eye. Here are five fascinating facts about the Gila Woodpecker.

They only live in a few States

The Gila Woodpecker is an extremely specialized species that only resides in the American southwest and Mexico. The population in the United States is concentrated in just three states; California, Arizona, and New Mexico, with the vast majority of that population residing in Arizona. Additionally, Gila Woodpeckers rarely stray from their normal range and simply don’t show up away from their expected habitats.

They thrive in places with no trees

While Gila Woodpeckers will certainly forage and nest in trees, they do not need them to survive or breed. A large part of this is because they utilize giant Saguaro Cacti as nurseries. During their breeding season, Gila Woodpeckers excavate cavities in living cacti, and then use them to raise their young. It’s worth noting that these woodpeckers typically wait a few months after creating the nest cavity to use it in order for any liquids in the cactus to dry.

They create homes for many other species

The cavities created by Gila Woodpeckers are not only used by the woodpeckers themselves. After the woodpeckers are done nesting, several other bird species may take up residence in the shelter including Elf Owls, flycatchers, thrashers, and Cactus Wrens among others.

They become aggressive during breeding season

After creating a nest cavity and taking up residence in their new cactus home, male Gila Woodpeckers actively defend their territory. They will do this by chasing off any birds that gets too close, even if that bird is a larger size such as White-winged Doves. They will also call loudly to warn other birds not to cross their boundaries.

They eat almost anything

Gila Woodpeckers are omnivorous and eat an extremely wide variety of food items. Much of their diet consists of insects and other invertebrates including spiders, grubs, worms, grasshoppers, and cicadas, but they also eat fruits, eggs of other birds, and even hatchlings of other birds. One very important thing that Gila Woodpeckers eat is the fruit of the Saguaro cactus. During the months when this fruit is available, these woodpeckers will eat copious amounts of it and inadvertently spread the seeds to new locations, thus proliferating the spread of Saguaro cacti. Gila Woodpeckers will also visit bird feeders and eat suet, nuts, and corn.

Conclusion

The Gila Woodpecker is an extremely unique species of Woodpecker only found in a very specific part of North America. They are extremely tough and have found a way to survive in one of the most harsh environments in the continent. They are an important part of the ecosystem where they live, and bring a lot of energy into what can sometimes at first glance seem to be a lifeless desert.

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