American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The American Tree Sparrow is a cold-weather sparrow that nests at the edge of the arctic tundra, in open areas with scattered trees and brush..   It is seen south of Canada in winter only, when flocks roam forest edges, brushy fields, groves of small trees and gardens, often with other sparrows and juncos.

They have a gray head and nape crowned with a  rusty cap, two-toned bill, dark chest spot and two white wing-bars.   Its song is musical clear whistles and warbles. 

They are high northern nesters, breeding from northern Alaska east to northern Labrador, but winter from southern Canada to nortern California, central Texas, and South Carolina.

Their song is a noticeably syncopated series of clear, whistled notes, often doubled or tripled and high-pitched at the beginning.

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BarrytheBirder

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

A big sparrow that is usually found on the ground under dense thickets, scratching in leaf-litter with its feet.   It is usually seen only in small numbers, but is distinctive because of its rusty-brown overall colouring, especially in the east of North America.

They winter from southern California, and from southern Kansa east to New Jersey and south to the Gulf Coast. 

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BarrytheBirder

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Photos by Barry the Birder

Very common in the east - scarce in the west

White-throated Sparrows have a conspicuous and distinctive white throat, dark bill and a yellow spot before the eyes.   Upper parts are rusty-brown (see photo)   They haunt the undergrowth of parks, woods, undergrowth and gardens in winter, foraging on the ground, frequently with other sparrows or juncos.   They usually summer in northern forests.

Their song is a clear whistled 'Oh, sweet, canada-canada-canada'.

Adults have two colour morphs; white-striped birds usually mate with tan-stiped ones.

Their hunched short-necked posture (again see photo above) is unlike the the erect stance of White-crowned Sparrows (see photo below).

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Barrythe Birder

Champion migrator...SWAINSON'S HAWK

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks are renowned for having one of the longest migrations of any North American bird of prey.   They travel a total round-trip distance of about 12,000 to 14,000 miles (roughly 20,000 to 24,000 kilometres) every year.

Their annual journey takes them between their summer breeding grounds in western North America (stretching as far north as Canada and the top of Alaska) and their wintering grounds in the grasslands and pampas of southern Argentina.

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BarrytheBirder

Trumpeter Swans...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

Hummingbirds are native exclusively to the western hemisphere!

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Tiny hummingbirds,

drawn to the sunrise's nectar

then flying backward

                                        

                                        - Mark Tulin

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BarrytheBirder

Hummingbirds ... June jewels

Photos by BarrytheBirder

A vibrant green flash in the sun

Determined never to be done

 Flew backwards and fast,

A blur going past,

For him, every sip is just fun.

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BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks taking over Delmanor rooftop...

 ...a hawk a long way from Kansas

                                                                      Photos by Barry the Birder

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BarrytheBirder

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

                                                                            Photo by BarrytheBirder

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird's wings beat between 50 to 75 times per second (roughly 3,000 to 4,500 flaps per minute) during normal flight and hovering.  However, during courtship dives, males can reach an astonishing 200 beats per second!

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BarrytheBirder

More Swainson's Hawk photos...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks are found all over North America and are particularly noted for their consistent presence in the U.S. midwest, especially in the state of Kansas.   They have been consistent visitors for the last three years in the town of Aurora, north of Toronto, Ontario, as seen here.

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BarrytheBirder   

Father's Day sighting of Swainson's Hawk...

                                                                        Photos by BarrythBirder

               Photos taken atop Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora, Ontario.

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BarrytheBirder

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Photo by Jim Wilgar

Thanks to Jim Wilgar for this photo of a Barred Owl which he took recently on Beausoleil Island in Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Barred Owls are large (21") chunky owls with dark eyes, dark barring on upper breast with dark streaking below.   They are common in dense coniferous or mixed woods of river bottoms and swamps, and also in upland woods.   They are chiefly nocturnal, with daytime roosts well hidden.   They do not generally tolerate close approach, so get a photo while you can.  Usually found in the eastern half North America, but the northwestern portion of their range is expanding rapidly.   They feed mostly at night, taking crayfish, frogs, and small rodents.

Photos above and below by BarrytheBirder

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Barry the Birder   

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are charmers...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Some Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fly across the Caribbean Sea during migration.   They are famous for spectacular non-stop flights between Central America, the West Indies, and North America, frequently completing journeys of up to 500 to 900 miles across the Caribbean or the adjacent Gulf of Mexico.

Many of these 3 1/4" 'hummers' use a coastal or shoreline route (flying over land through Mexico and Texas), others take direct over-water routes.   Because of these grueling 18 t0 24-hour non-stop flights, a hummingbird can double its body weight by storing fat before setting off!

"The hummingbird competes with the stillness of the air."

                                                  -Chogyam Trungpa

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BarrytheBirder

Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)

Drawing by Barry the Birder

Pictured above is a drawing of a Saw-whet owl which I drew 31 years ago.

I photographed the bird near to where I lived north of Toronto, Ontario, and did the drawing from the photograph.

This small owl, discovered in its daytime roost, often acts remarkably tame allowing for close photographs.

Saw-whets have no ear tuffs and are overall a warm brown, with reddish streaks on their chests.

they winter as far south as the Carolinas and to Mexico.

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BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks continue to thrive in Aurora...

                                                                                              Photos by BarrytheBirder

Normally found all over North America, and particularly in Kansas, in the U.S., Swainson's Hawks are now see regularly over Aurora, Ontario, north of Toronto.

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BarrytheBirder