Woodpeckers of Michigan (8 Species to Know)

November 3, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

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 eight species that can be found in the state of Michigan. Here is everything you need to know about these eight species.

Black-backed Woodpecker (Rare)

Black-backed Woodpecker – Photo by Matthew Thompson

Identification

True to their name, Black-backed Woodpeckers have a black back, wings, head, and tail. They have a light underside with black barring on their stomach and sides. Male Black-backed Woodpeckers have yellow on the front of their head which the females lack.

Range

Black-backed Woodpeckers are year-round residents of the boreal forests of Canada, Alaska, and parts of the Northern United States. In the continental US, the Northern forests of the Northeast, Midwest, and far west are all places that Black-backed Woodpeckers can be found in.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Black-backed Woodpeckers feed on wood-boring insects and the larva of wood-boring insects. They use their bills to peck holes into wood and then use their specialized tongues to pull out their prey.

Where to Find This Bird

Black-backed Woodpeckers are most easily found in Boreal forests. They are especially fond of areas that recently burned and can stay in recently burned forests for around a decade before moving on.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Birds by State and Region

Plovers of Minnesota (5 Species to Know)

November 2, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Plovers are a type of shorebird characterized by their round appearance and often look plump. They can be found near water or in open fields. While they are a sub-group of shorebirds, there are many species of plovers in the United States. In this post, you will be able to see all of the expected plovers in Minnesota.

American Golden-plover

Identification

The American Golden-plover is quite an impressive looking bird when in breeding plumage. They have a black underside, beautiful golden feathers on the back and wings, and a white marking that goes all the way from the bill to the shoulder. In nonbreeding plumage, American Golden-plovers are buffy colored with gold and brown speckled wings, back, and head. During certain times of the year these birds will be half way between breeding and nonbreeding plumage as they transition.

Range

Like many shorebird species, American Golden-plovers are long distance migrants. They winter in Southeastern South America and fly all the way to their breeding areas in Alaska and the northern most parts of Canada.

Diet and Foraging Habits

American Golden-plovers feed mostly on invertebrates including insect larva and worms. They have also been known to eat some plant-based foods as well, including berries. This species hunts by running along the ground, periodically stopping to scan for food.

Where to Find this Bird

American Golden-plovers are most often found in the continental United States during fall migration. Some common places to find them are in agricultural fields, along lake shores, and at sod farms.

Black-bellied Plover

Identification

Black-bellied Plovers are large as far as plovers go, similar in size to American Golden-plovers, but a little more stocky. They have black on their face, chest, and underside, but unlike American Golden-plovers they have a white under tail. They have white mottling on their back and wings as well as a white head and white stripe from the bill down to the shoulders.

In nonbreeding plumage, Black-bellied Plovers are much more sandy colored with darker shades on the wings, back, and head. In both breeding and nonbreeding plumage, this species shows black patches under the wing, visible in flight.

Range

The Black-bellied Plover is extremely widespread across the globe with numerous sightings in every continent except for Antarctica. In North America, they summer in the most Northern parts of Canada and migrate south to the coasts of both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. During migration, they can be found inland on an annual basis.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Black-bellied Plovers eat a wide variety of invertebrates including insects, worms, urchins, crabs and much more. They will forage in farm fields and on mud flats in both fresh and salt water.

Where to Find this Bird

The best time to find Black-bellied Plovers is during winter and during fall migration. In winter, both the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts of the United States play host to the species. Look for them on beaches, mudflats, and break walls where they will be sitting on large rocks. During migration, sod farms, agricultural fields, and the shores of inland lakes are good places to search for Black-bellied Plovers.

Killdeer

Identification

The Killdeer is a widespread and recognizable bird in the plover family. They have a brown head, back, and wings, with a white underside. They have several black markings on their chest and head with two bands on their chest and two on the head with one of the stripes on the forehead and another looking something like a mustache. They have a rusty colored tail and a noticeable red eye.

Range

Killdeer do not migrate as far as other plover species, and many of them live in the United States and parts of Western South America year round. The Killdeer that do migrate, go from Northern South America, Central America, and Southern Mexico, into the United States, and end up breeding in either the U.S. or Southern Canada.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Killdeer run along the ground as they forage for food. They consume mostly invertebrates such as grasshoppers, worms, snails, and insect larva. They will forage both near water as well as in drier open areas.

Where to Find this Bird

Killdeer are common throughout most of the United States in the summer and are one of the first birds to return north in spring. Look for them in open areas with a lot of flat land such as athletic fields, sod farms, plowed fields, and even gravel lots. Listen for their “kill-deer” call as the walk around or fly over.

Other Notes: Killdeer are known for doing a broken wing display to distract predators and eventually lead them away from their nests. This behavior can be seen often during the nesting season.

Piping Plover (Rare)

Piping Plover in breeding plumage (Derek Sallmann Photo)

Piping Plover in nonbreeding plumage (Ryan Sallmann Photo)

Identification

Piping Plovers are relatively small plovers with a brownish gray back and head, with a white underside, and white stripe over the eye. In breeding plumage, this species has black on the forehead and black around the neck. Nonbreeding adults and immature birds lack these black markings.

Range

Piping Plovers winter on the Southern Atlantic Coast as well as the Gulf Coast. In spring they move north to their breeding areas in the North-central United States, South-central Canada, the Northeastern United States, and some of the Great Lakes states.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Piping Plovers forage near the edge of the water searching for small invertebrates. They will forage in both marine and freshwater environments.

Where to Find this Bird

Piping Plovers breed in areas with sandy beaches and sparse vegetation. They show up along lake shores, ocean coastlines, and even rivers during migration.

Semipalmated Plover

Identification

Semipalmated Plovers are on the small side for shorebirds and have a brown back and wings, and a white underside. In breeding plumage they have a black band on their upper chest as well as a black mask. In nonbreeding plumage, the black on this species is much less visible or gone altogether.

Range

Semipalmated Plovers breed in the arctic and make their way south in fall. They winter along the ocean coasts of the United States, Mexico, and South America. They move through most regions of the United States in fall.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Semipalmated Plovers feed near the waters edge and occasionally wade in to very shallow water. They eat mostly aquatic invertebrates including worms and small crustaceans.

Where to Find this Bird

For people who live on the ocean coastlines, look for Semipalmated Plovers on beaches and mudflats in winter. For those that live in the interior of the country, the best time to see this species is during fall migration where they can be fund on inland lakes and sandbars.

Summary

Plovers are a fascinating and cute looking group of shorebirds that are certainly worth knowing more about. Getting acquainted with these five species can make it much easier to know what to expect in the field.

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

Birds by State and Region

Swallows of West Virginia (6 Species to know)

November 1, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Swallows are fast moving aerial insectivores that move quickly and catch prey on the fly. They have long wings and are characterized by their acrobatic movements. There are eight different swallow species that live across the United States and six of them can be found in West Virginia. Contained in this article is information on how to identify each one, along with additional information on their lifestyle and habits.

Bank Swallow

Identification

Bank Swallows have a grayish brown back, head, and wings. They have a white underside and throat separated by a grayish brown chest band and stripe going from this band to the underside.

Range

Bank Swallows winter in South America and Western Mexico. They migrate north in spring spreading across the United States and breeding in the Central and Northern United States and the majority of Canada and Alaska with the exception of the most Northern parts.

Diet and Feeding Behavior

Bank Swallows feed on flying insects and will occasionally scoop insects from the surface of the water. This species will forage solo or in groups.

Where to Find This Bird

Bank Swallows typically live in areas near water such as riverbanks, and coastlines. The easiest way to find this species is to locate a nesting colony that will sometimes consist of thousands of birds. They will build nests in natural places such as bluffs and cliffsides as well as manmade structures such as quarries.

Barn Swallow

Identification

Barn Swallows have a navy blue back and head with grayish blue tail and wings. They have Reddish orange faces, lighter orange undersides, and light orange undertails. They have longer feathers on the outside of their tails giving them a forked appearance.

Range

Barn Swallows winter in South America and Central America, then fly North into Mexico, the United and Southern Canada. Bran Swallows do make it as far North as Southern Alaska and generally extend more North in the Western portion of Canada than the Eastern.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Barn Swallows eat insects that they typically catch in flight. They also land on the ground and ingest small pebbles and other things that have vitamins and minerals in them such as calcium.

Where to Find This Bird

Barn Swallows are extremely widespread and can be found across pretty much the entire United States in summer, They are common over meadows and other open spaces in addition to places near water. Barn Swallows will often use structures such as barns and bridges to build there nests on. These types of structures are also good places to look for this species.

Cliff Swallow

Identification

Cliff Swallows have dark blue backs and heads with dark gray wings, and a dark gray tail. They have a reddish orange face, a light orange colored rump, a light underside, and a distinctive white marking just above the bill. These swallows have squared off tails which can be useful in differentiating them from the similarly colored Barn Swallow.

Range

Cliff Swallows spend the winter in South America. In spring, they travel north to Mexico, the United States, and Canada where they breed. In the United States, Cliff Swallows summer in most states with the exception of some states in the Southeast.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Cliff Swallows eat insects that they catch out of the air. Some types of insects they will consume are flying ants, bees, wasps, flies, and crickets, but they will eat many other types of flying invertebrates as well.

Where to Find This Bird

Cliff Swallows can be seen soaring and foraging over open areas in addition to places like canyons, rivers, and lakes. These swallows are usually found together but can sometimes be found in extremely large numbers.

Cliff Swallows can be easy to see during their breeding months provided you are aware of a nesting site. Some areas to keep an eye on are bridges, tall buildings, and cliff sides

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Identification

Northern Rough-winged Swallows have a brown, back, wings, head, and tail, They have a lighter colored underside with a brownish gray wash over the chest. They have a short squared off tail.

Range

Northern Rough-winged Swallows winter in Central America, parts of Mexico, and the Southern part of Florida. In summer they move into every state in the continental US and parts of Southern Canada.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Northern Rough-winged Swallows feed on flying insects and have been known to take insects out of the air or off of the waters surface. They tend to fly lower over the water than other swallow species.

Where to Find This Bird

Northern Rough-winged Swallows can be found in areas with water such as lakes, rivers, and streams. They often forage in groups and are quite noticeable as they fly over the water. They are common and widespread in the spring and summer throughout most of the United States.

Purple Martin

Identification

Purple Martins are large members of the swallow family. Adult males are a shiny bluish purple color with darker colored wings and tails. Female and immature birds have patches of the same bluish purple color on their head and backs, but their underside and parts of their neck and forehead are a light gray to tan color.

Range

Purple Martins winter in Central and Northern South America and make their way north in spring. They spend the spring and summer in the Eastern United States as well as some select parts of the Western United States including the Pacific Coast.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Purple Martins eat insects that they catch in mid air. This species will also eat pebbles to help grind up and digest food.

Where to Find This Bird

The easiest way to find Purple Martins is to go to places where Purple Martin houses have been put up. These nesting sites usually look something like an apartment complex. If Purple Martins have taken up residence in these nest boxes they can be seen flying around or perching just outside the openings.

Tree Swallow

Identification

Tree Swallows have a shiny blue colored back and head, with a white throat and underside. They have squared off tails and a slight black mask over their eyes. Juvenile Tree Swallows are grayish colored before their adult blue color comes in. Immature females will be mostly gray with a white underside and some hints of blueish color starting to come in on the wings.

Range

Tree Swallows winter in Central America, Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of the United States in addition to some of the most Southwestern portions of the US. In spring, they move north into th Northern half of the United States and Canada all the way up to and including Alaska. There are some parts of the Southern United States in which Tree Swallows don’t breed but do pass through.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Tree Swallows eat mostly insects but will occasionally eat other small invertebrate prey items as well in addition to plant matter on occasion. This species ingests egg shells, small bones, and other high calcium food items to get the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Where to Find This Bird

Tree Swallows are extremely common and widespread in their breeding ranges. They can be seen in meadows and edge habitat as well as near marshes and other bodies of water. In places where tree swallows are nesting, they will sometimes dive-bomb people who get too close.

Summary

Swallows are fun birds to have around as their aerial acrobatics make them quite entertaining to watch. Knowing which species are expected in your area can be instrumental in identifying which one you’re looking at. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some questions about the swallows of the West Virginia.

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

Birds by State and Region

Orioles of Minnesota (2 Species to Know)

October 31, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Orioles are beautiful birds well known for their bright coloration. There are many different oriole species that live in North America and two of them are regular visitors to Minnesota. Here is everything you need to know about these two species.

Baltimore Oriole

Identification

Male Baltimore Orioles have a bright orange chest, underside, tail, and patch on the shoulder. They have black wings with white wing bars and a black hood extending slightly into the upper chest. Females are slightly less colorful with a yellowish orange body and gray wings with white wing bars.

Range

Baltimore Orioles spend the winter in Northern South America, Central America, Southern Mexico and much of Florida. In spring they migrate north and summer throughout the Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Baltimore Orioles eat a variety of foods and their diet varies seasonally. In spring and fall they readily feed on fruit and nectar but during summer they feed primarily on protein rich food items such as insects and other invertebrates. Baltimore Orioles are known to come to bird feeders if jelly or orange slices are placed out and may even come to hummingbird feeders.

It’s worth noting that there is debate over whether or not jelly is good for birds due to the high sugar content.

Where to Find This Bird

Look for Baltimore Orioles high up in deciduous trees. They prefer more open areas such as edge habitat and small groves of trees to thick forests. Also keep an eye out for orioles at bird feeding stations. To attract them, orange slices are often enough to entice them in.

Orchard Oriole

Identification

Adult male Orchard Orioles are a deep burnt orange color with a black head, back, wings, and tail. They have white edging on some of their wing feathers. Female Orchard Orioles are yellow with dark gray wings and look vastly different than the adult males.

Range

Orchard Orioles winter in Northern South America, Central America, and Southern Mexico. In spring, they start their migration north with their range expanding into much of the Eastern United States and a small portion of South-central Canada. Some part of the population summers in North-central Mexico.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Orchard Orioles eat many different types of foods including insects, fruit, and nectar. They have been known to dip their heads into flowers, feed at hummingbird feeders, and even priece certain types of flowers to get a meal.

Where to Find This Bird

Orchard Orioles are at home in open areas such as oak savannas, forest edges, and woodlands near prairies. They typically reside in the tree tops where it is sometimes easier to hear them than it is to see them. Listen for this species’ melodic song that sounds somewhat similar to an American Robin or Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Summary

Orioles are bright and exciting birds to see while out birding or while watching your bird feeder. Knowing which species to expect in your region can be incredibly useful in identifying these charismatic birds. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some of your questions about the orioles of Minnesota.

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

Birds by State and Region

Flycatchers of Minnesota (13 Species to Know)

October 30, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Flycatchers are both intriguing and maddening to birders. Some of them are extremely vibrant and distinctive, while many others are drab and nearly indistinguishable from other species.

A nice variety of flycatcher species move through Minnesota with some breeding in the state. Here are the expected (and some rare) flycatcher species that can be found in Minnesota.

Acadian Flycatcher

Identification

Acadian Flycatchers are members of the Empidonax group. This group is particularly hard to identify as they all have a similar look. Acadian Flycatchers have a greenish back, yellowish undersides, two white wing bars, a white eye ring, and a bi-colored bill with half of it being orange and half being darker.

The easiest way to identify this species is by habitat and call. The call of the Acadian Flycatcher is “peet-sah!”

Range

Acadian Flycatchers winter in Northern South America and make their way north into the U.S. during spring migration. They summer and breed in most of the Southeastern United States and make it as far north as Wisconsin in the Midwest and New York in the Northeast.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Acadian Flycatchers hawk insects from the air as well as grabbing them from the undersides of leaves. They can be seen flying and returning to the same perch time and time again.

Where to Find this Bird

Acadian Flycatchers can be found in mature forests, typically those with a lot of undisturbed forest.

Alder Flycatcher

Identification

The Alder Flycatcher is a member of the Empidonax group. They have an olive green back and head, light yellowish underside, white wing bars and a fairly nondescript eye ring.

Alder Flycatchers are best differentiated from the nearly identical Willow Flycatcher based on song. Their song sounds like “free-beer!”

Range

Alder Flycatchers winter in the Western part of South America and make their way into the United States to breed. Their summering sites are mostly in Canada with their range going from Alaska all the way to the Southeastern coast. In the United States, Alder Flycatchers migrate through the Eastern half of the country and in the Northern parts of the Great Lakes.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Alder Flycatchers are insectivores and eat butterflies, wasps, and grasshoppers among other insects. They may even eat fruit during the winter months.

Where to Find this Bird

Alder Flycatchers can typically be found in habitats that are somewhat wet including marshes, meadows, and thickets.

Alder Flycatcher “Free Beer” Call – Jonathon Jongsma – CC By 4.0

Eastern Phoebe

Identification

The Eastern Phoebe can be identified by its brownish gray back and even darker brownish gray head. They have a yellowish colored underside and no eye ring.

Range

Eastern Phoebes are common in Canada and the Eastern United States in summer where they breed. In winter they reside in the Southeastern United States and Mexico. Eastern Pheobes can be found year round in some Southeastern States including North Carolina, Kentucky, and Texas among others.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Eastern Phoebes eat primarily flying insects including wasps, moths, flies, and beetles. They will also eat fruit and seeds occasionally.

Where to Find this Bird

Eastern Phoebes can be found in wooded areas and are common near water sources. They will nest in manmade structures such as eaves of buildings and on decks.

Eastern Phoebe Call – Jonathon Jongsma – CC By 4.0

Eastern Wood Peewee

Eastern Wood Pewee (Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren Photo – CC By 2.0)

Identification

Eastern Wood Peewees have grayish-green backs, wings, and heads with two white wing bars. Their underside is yellowish with a grayish wash. They have a peaked head with feathers that make them look somewhat crested. Eastern Wood Peewees have little to no eye ring and a bi-colored bill with part being dark and the other part being orange.

Range

Eastern Wood Peewees winter in Northwestern South America and migrate into the Eastern United States in spring to breed. Their summer range is as far west as the Dakotas and does go into Southern Canada. This is species migrates through Central America, Mexico, Florida, and the Gulf Coast.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Eastern Wood Peewees eat mostly insects. They will fly from their perch to take prey such as crickets, moths, flies, among other groups of insects. They will also eat seeds and berries.

Where to Find this Bird

Eastern Wood Peewees can be found in wooded habitats across their range. They like edge habitat, and can often be heard before they are seen with their long drawn out “pee wee” call.

Eastern Wood Pewee Call – Jonathon Jongsma – CC By 4.0

Great Crested Flycatcher

Identification

Great Crested Flycatchers have a brownish back and wings with rufous accents. They also have rufous on their tail, a gray face and neck, a brownish crest, and a yellow underside.

The call of the Great Crested Flycatcher is a loud “breep!”

Range

Great Crested Flycatchers winter in Northern South America and Central America. They migrate north to Eastern North America and Southeastern Canada where they breed.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Great Crested flycatchers eat a variety of different invertebrates including bees, wasps, grasshoppers, beetles, and more. They will take insects from perches or on the wing. Great Crested Flycatchers will also eat berries.

Where to Find this Bird

Great Crested Flycatchers can be found in woodlands and edge habitat. They typically prefer deciduous or mixed woodlands. Listen for their “breep” call to know that they are in the area.

Great Crested Flycatcher “Breep” Call – Phillip Vanbergen – CC By 4.0

Least Flycatcher

Identification

Least Flycatchers are small members of the Empidonax flycatcher group with greenish gray backs, light gray to yellow undersides, white wing bars, and a white eye ring. They have a bi-colored bill with the top being darker and the lower part being orange. Least Flycatchers can also be identified by call. They make a crisp “chebeck” sound.

Range

Least Flycatchers winter in Central America and Mexico. In spring, they are one of the earlier arriving flycatcher species in the United States, moving through much of the country and settling into the Northeastern United States and Southern Canada to breed. There are some locations in the Western United States where Least Flycatchers stay during the summer months.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Least Flycatchers eat mostly small insects such as leafhoppers, moths, ants, and grasshoppers. They will also eat certain types of grass seeds and berries.

Where to Find this Bird

Least Flycatchers can be found in or around wooded areas. They typically prefer deciduous or mixed forests. The easiest time to find the species is during migration when they are one of the first flycatcher species to move north and can be heard making their distinctive calls.

Least Flycatcher “Chebeck” Call – Jonathon Jongsma – CC By 4.0

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Identification

Olive-sided Flycatchers are rather large for flycatchers and are a brownish gray color with a somewhat peaked appearance to the head when its feathers are raised. The underside shows darker coloration on the sides with a yellow base color to the underside. This pattern is what gives this species its name. Olive-sided Flycatchers do not have a noticeable eye ring, and overall, look fairly distinctive among this group of bird species. The call of the Olive-sided Flycatcher is “three beers!”

Range

Olive-sided Flycatchers winter in Northern South America and migrate north through Mexico in spring. They breed in the Western United States north through Northern Alaska. This species also breeds in Southern Canada, the Eastern United States, and the Northern Great Lakes States.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Olive-sided Flycatchers eat insects, most of which are of the flying variety as this species typically catches prey out of the air. Some food items include wasps, grasshoppers, flies, and moths. Olive-sided Flycatchers also eat berries and other plant matter, but the majority of their diet is insects.

Where to Find this Bird

In many parts of the United States, Olive-sided Flycatchers are most easily found during the breeding season where they will typically be in conifer forests. In Canada and the Northern United States, boreal forests are a great place to find this species during summer. Olive-sided Flycatchers can also be found during migration in a wider variety of habitats.

Willow Flycatcher

Identification

Willow Flycatchers look pretty much identical to Alder Flycatchers with an olive colored back, a lighter underside, two white wing bars, and an eye ring. These two species used to be lumped together as a species known as the Trails Flycatcher, and can only reliably be differentiated by call. The Willow Flycatcher call sounds like “Fitz-bew!”

Range

Willow Flycatchers winter in the Northern most parts of South America as well as Central America and parts of Mexico. They move into the continental United States in spring and breed in the Northern half of the country and the Southern part of Canada.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Willow Flycatchers eat mostly insects which they catch out of the air or pick off of leaves and branches. They will also eat certain types of berries.

Where to Find this Bird

Willow Flycatchers are most often found in areas with shrubs and cover near standing or running water. Edge habitat of marshes, springs, and rivers are all places well suited for Willow Flycatchers.

Listen to the Willow Flycatcher call

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Identification

The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is one of the more distinctive looking Empidonax Flycatchers. They have a yellow wash over their entire body with even their wing bars and eye ring showing yellow. their back is darker than their underside but still shows a yellow tint. The call of the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is a sharp, pointed “Che-lunk!”

Range

Yellow-bellied Flycatchers winter in Central America and Mexico, They migrate through the Eastern half of the United States and breed in the Northern forests of the Great Lakes states and Eastern United States. The majority of the population breeds in Southern Canada.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Yellow-bellied Flycatchers eat primarily insects including flies, ants, beetles, and caterpillars. One interesting food item they have been known to eat are the berries of poison ivy.

Where to Find this Bird

Yellow-bellied Flycatchers are birds of the boreal forest. this habitat is the best place to find them during the breeding season in summer. They can also be found on the way up to their nesting sites in spring as well as their way back south in fall.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Call – Jonathon Jongsma – CC By 4.0

Eastern Kingbird

Identification

The Eastern kingbird has a blueish gray back, head, and wings, with a white underside, and white tip of their tail. They are a medium sized perching bird with a heavy looking bill compared to other types of flycatchers.

Range

Eastern Kingbirds winter in the Northwestern part of South America and move through Central America, Cuba, and Eastern Mexico on their way north to the United States and Canada. As their name would suggest, Eastern Kingbirds breed in the Eastern United States but can also be found in the Northwestern US, Southwestern Canada, and Southeastern Canada.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Eastern Kingbirds feed on insects which they catch in typical flycatcher fashion by flying from a perch, grabbing the insect in mid air or off of vegetation, and landing back on the same perch again. Typical fare includes wasps, grasshoppers, crickets, moths, beetles, and more.

Where to Find this Bird

Eastern Kingbirds can be found in a variety of different habitats including open savannas. marshy areas, and edge habitat. They can be seen perching relatively low in trees and bushes. Look for them flying from their perches for short periods of time and returning to the same place again.

Eastern Kingbird Call – Jonathon Jongsma – CC By 4.0

Western Kingbird (Uncommon)

Identification

Western Kingbirds can be identified by their brown wings, gray back and head, and bright yellow underside.

Range

Western Kingbirds winter in parts of Central America and Mexico. They move up north during migration and end up in the Western half of the United States and Southwestern Canada. Their breeding range goes as far east as Minnesota and Texas, but some individuals end up west of their expected range on an annual basis.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Western Kingbirds forage in the same way that other flycatchers do, feeding mostly on insects by catching them in mid air. In addition to many different insect species, they also eat some types of berries.

Where to Find this Bird

Western kingbirds can be found in open areas with few trees such as scrubland, farms, savannas, and grasslands.

Say’s Phoebe (Uncommon)

Identification

Say’s Phoebes are brownish gray with a distinctive peach colored underside. They have a slightly darker head, wingtips, and tail than the rest of their body.

Range

Say’s Phoebes winter in Northern Mexico and move into the Western United States, parts of Western Canada, and Alaska to breed. They live year round in some of the Southwestern states and in parts of Mexico. Their native breeding range typically doesn’t go east of Nebraska and the Dakotas.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Say’s Phoebes diets are comprised of insects ranging from beetles, to grasshoppers, to bees and wasps. They forage in mid air as well as on the ground where they will sometimes land to grab an insect.

Where to Find this Bird

Say’s Phoebes live in areas with few trees such as scrub land, canyons, fields of sagebrush, and even urban places. Typically, areas that are flat and open are ideal places to find Say’s Phoebes.

Say’s Phoebe Call – Diana Doyle – CC By 4.0

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Rare)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Alan Schmierer Photo)

Identification

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is quite possibly one of the most recognizable birds in the United States. They have brown wings, a blueish gray head and chest, orange sides, and salmon colored feathers under their wings. Of course, they also have an extremely long, forked tail. This tail can be varied in size with some individuals having a very long tail and some having a more modest one.

Juveniles have less extravagant colors and shorter tails.

Range

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers winter in Central America and Mexico. They then make the relatively short trip to states in the South-central part of the Country. The states Scissor Tailed Flycatchers typically breed in are Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, and Missouri among a few others. Although this range is more limited than other flycatcher species, they are known for their vagrancy as reports of this species appear in every state in the continental US.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are mostly insectivorous with grasshoppers, crickets, and other similar creatures making up the largest portion of their diet. These birds can be seen perching on wires, and other structures as they survey for insects. In addition, they will also eat berries on occasion.

Where to Find this Bird

Cruising country roads in the native range of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher will usually turn up multiple individuals of this species. They can also be found around farms as well as in more urban environments such as parks and around cities.

Summary

Flycatchers can certainly be a tough group of birds to differentiate from one another, but with a little bit of knowledge on their expected habitats and identification tips, it can be a lot less stressful. In the end, for how many of them look the same, others look extremely different and flycatchers as a group are quite fascinating.

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

Birds by State and Region

Nightjars of Minnesota (2 Species to Know)

October 29, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Nightjars are very interesting birds that are characterized by their superb camouflage and nocturnal lifestyle. Many of these species are familiar due to the sounds they make at night rather than what they look like and play an important role in the symphony of nighttime sounds that people hear.

In Minnesota, there are two nightjar species that can be found in the state. Knowing what these species look like, sound like, and some of their habits can be instrumental in knowing which one you have encountered.

Common Nighthawk

Identification

Common Nighthawks are compact looking birds with brown, gray, and tan mottled patterning on their back, head, and wings. They have brown stripes on their lighter colored underside, large eyes, and a small bill. Some characteristic markings of Common Nighthawks are white on the wings and under the chin.

Range

Common Nighthawks winter in South America and migrate north in spring. They are widespread across the United States and Canada but do not usually go as far north as Alaska. This species also summers in Western Mexico and lives year-round in Cuba and the surrounding islands.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Common Nighthawks feed on flying insects which they catch out of the air. They often feed near streetlights and other sources of light during the night that are attractors for insects. This species also feeds during the later parts of the daytime as well as the night.

Where to Find This Bird

Common Nighthawks can be found most easily by watching for them during migration when they can sometimes be seen in large numbers flying over during the late afternoon and early evening. Other ways to see these birds are to look out for them near large lights such as street lights and stadiums where they will be looking to feed on insects that are attracted to the lights. Even if it’s dark out, listen for the sharp “beer” call of these birds to know that they are around.

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Identification

Eastern Whip-poor-wills are a base brown color with lighter tan, gray, and darker brown mottling, making this species look like a log or tree branch. They have darker barring on a light underside, large eyes, and a small somewhat downturned bill.

Range

Eastern Whip-poor-wills winter in Central America, Eastern Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of the United States. In spring, they move north to their breeding areas in most of the Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada. There are some parts of the Eastern United States that Eastern Whip-poor-wills migrate through but do not spend the summer in.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Eastern Whip-poor-wills feed on insects. They will leave their perches to catch moths, beetles, and other flying insects out of the air and then return to the same perch. Since this species has a surprisingly large mouth, they can eat insects that are fairly sizable.

Where to Find This Bird

Eastern Whip-poor-wills can be found in forests close to more open areas such as fields. The best way to find them is to go out at night and listen for their namesake “whip-poor-will” call.

Summary

Nightjars are enigmatic and mysterious birds that aren’t often seen due to their nocturnal nature. Knowing the species that are expected in your state can be instrumental in identifying which one you are looking at or hearing. Hopefully, this article has helped in answering some questions about the nightjars of Minnesota.

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

Birds by State and Region

Egrets of Iowa (3 Species to Know)

October 28, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

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 Iowa.

Western 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

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

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 Iowa.

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

Birds by State and Region

Finches of Minnesota (10 Species to Know)

October 28, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

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 Minnesota, there are 10 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

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 more dull 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 Goldfinshes can be found throughout most of the United States with the species following a typical migratior 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

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 amount 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

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

Hoary Redpoll

Identification

The Hoary Redpoll is a small frosty looking finch species with a brownish gray back, a tiny yellow bill, a white underside with very faint streaking, and a a bright red patch of color on their head. Males have a faint red wash on their chest. This species is quite similar looking to the Common Redpoll and is expected to be lumped together with them in the near future.

If you’d like to know more about telling the Hoary and the Common Redpoll apart, click here to read about their difference or watch the video below.

In depth comparison of Common Redpoll and Hoary Redpoll

Range

Hoary Redpolls live extremely far north in North America, Europe and Eastern Asia. They breed in the Arctic tundra of Greenland, Russia, and Northern Canada. They do move south in the winter but don’t move too far into the United States most years with the exception of irruption years. Some of the Great Lakes sets get these birds annually.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Hoary Redpolls feed on small seeds from trees, grasses, and weeds. They also consume insects and buds. Like the Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpolls are very acrobatic while foraging, often hanging upside-down and voraciously picking seeds out of cones.

Where to Find This Bird

Hoary Redpolls can be found in tundra habitat in their breeding range. In their nonbreeding range, look for this specie mixed in with flocks of Common Redpolls in areas with plentiful food such as fields, conifer forests, and even backyard bird feeders.

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 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 Grosbeak

Identification

Male Pine Grosbeaks are a rosy reddish pink color with dark gray wings, two white wing bars, and a gray under tail. Females and immature males are mostly gray with yellow to orange coloration on the head, back, rump, and sometimes the chest. It’s worth noting that Pine Grosbeaks vary slightly in color based on region.

Range

Pine Grosbeaks live year round in the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. In North America, this species breeds in the forests of Canada along with some parts of the continental United States and Alaska. In winter, Pine Grosbeaks move south into states in the Midwest and Northeast.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Pine Grosbeaks primarily feed on fruits and seeds, but will also eat insects and other invertebrates when available.

Where to Find This Bird

To find Pine Grosbeaks, one must go to where their food source is. They show up at bird feeders as well as places with fruit trees. In winter, remaining crabapples and other ornamental trees are big draws for this species. Some places that often plant these types of trees are cemeteries and school campuses.

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 eye brow stripe. Pine Siskins ihave 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

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 eye brow 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

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 noticable 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 pine cones 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 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

White-winged Crossbill

Identification

Male White-winged Crossbills are bright red with black wings, white wing bars, a black tail, a light colored under tail, and dark markings on their cheeks. Females are yellowish with darker wings, streaking on the underside, and dark cheek marks. Both males and females have the same crossed mandibles, differentiating them from most other finch species.

Range

White-winged Crossbills are year round residents of Canada, parts of Alaska, and parts of the Western and Midwestern United States. In winter, they move south into the continental United States. How far south they go depends on how much food is available in their typical range.

Diet and Foraging Habits

White-winged Crossbills feed on the seeds of conifer trees, particularly those of tamaracks and spruces. They will also eat spiders, insects, and buds. White-winged Crossbills usually feed in flocks, arriving at conifer trees and quickly getting to work pulling out seeds with their specialized mandibles.

Where to Find This Bird

White-winged Crossbills can be found in stands of conifers with good cone crops. They will move around frequently, often chattering as they fly in a group. For people in the continental United States, fall and winter are the best times to see White-winged Crossbills.

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 Minnesota.

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Birds by State and Region

Nuthatches of Minnesota (2 Species to Know)

October 27, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Nuthatches are goofy birds that move along tree trunks and branches looking for food. There are four species of nuthatches that live in the United States and two of them can be found in Minnesota. Here is everything you need to know about these two species.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Identification

White-breasted Nuthatches have a blueish gray back and wings, white face and underside, and black back of the neck and top of the head. They have rust color on their underside near the tail.

Range

White-breasted Nuthatches are year-round residents of most states i the United States with only just a few regions such as South Texas not playing host to this species. They also live in southern Canada and much of Mexico with the exception of the coasts.

Diet and Foraging Habits

White-breasted Nuthatches eat primarily insects and other invertebrates. Much of the time they find such food items by climbing up and down branches and tree trunks and investigating each crevice in the bark. This species will also eat seeds, and even things such as suet and peanut butter. They are a common sight at bird feeders where they will take a seed and fly off to eat it or cache it for later.

Where to Find This Bird

White-breasted Nuthatches are a common species in deciduous forests. They also live in edge habitat and in parks and backyards. White-breasted Nuthatches are seen often at bird feeders and usually only stay for a short time to take food and leave, returning frequently to repeat this routine.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Identification

Red-breasted Nuthatches are personable and energetic birds with blueish gray backs, rusty orange undersides, and white heads with black stripes. Males have slightly more striking colors than females but both have the same general patterns and colors.

Range

Red-breasted Nuthatches live year-round in the northern forests of North America including the southwestern portion of Alaska, much of Canada, and parts of the Northern, Eastern, and Western United States. As early as July, Red-breasted Nuthatches start making their way south for the winter. They can end up as far south as Texas and Louisiana depending on the year.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Red-breasted Nuthatches eat insects and other invertebrates like spiders when they are available. In times of the year when insects are not around, these birds eat conifer seeds. They will also visit bird feeders and take seeds to either eat in a nearby tree or save for later.

Where to Find This Bird

Red-breasted Nuthatches are birds of conifer forests and can usually be found in locations with healthy cone crops. They will also visit bird feeders where they show up momentarily and are gone just as fast as they came in.

Badgerland Birding searches for Red-breasted Nuthatches

Summary

Nuthatches are goofy and entertaining species that are very fun to watch. They are commonly encountered birds due to their propensity for visiting bird feeders. They are certainly a species worth knowing since you are certain to run into them while out in the field.

We hope you enjoyed this post! Be sure to check out the Badgerland Birding YouTube channel for all different types of bird videos.

Birds by State and Region

Egrets of Minnesota (3 Species to Know)

October 26, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

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 Minnesota.

Cattle Egret (Uncommon)

Identification

Range

Diet and Foraging Habits

Where to Find This Bird

Great Egret

Identification

Range

Diet and Foraging Habits

Where to Find This Bird

Snowy Egret (Uncommon)

Identification

Range

Diet and Foraging Habits

Where to Find This Bird

Summary

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