European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The European Starling was brought tp North America in 1890 and is now one of the most abundant species in North America.   They are found from from southeast Alaska, across southern Canada and south throughout the United States to Mexico.   

They are usually found in flocks when not nesting and may gather in big roosts that number in the tens of thousands.

Ken Kaufmann in his BIRDS of North America says Starlings nest in holes in trees, birdhouses, crevices in buildings, etc., competing with native birds for nest sites, even evicting woodpeckers from their own holes.

The Audubon Handbook of Eastern Birds says they are found almost everywhere, but especially in areas associated with man's activities.

Starlings are highly gregarious, their large flocks occurring in fields  and on lawns, often with cowbirds, grackles and blackbirds.

While their plumage is primarily black, they have a green and purple gloss in spring and summer.

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BarrytheBirder

                                                                     

                                                                       Photo by BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawk

A number of Swainson's Hawks are currently flying around Delmanor Retirement Residence  in Aurora, Ontario, 35 kms. north of Lake Ontario.   This is the third year in a row this species has been hereabouts.   They are normally found much further west in the central United States, particularly in Kansas.   They have been breeding here and are becoming a regular sighting by local birders.

They are similar in size to the Red-tailed Hawk, and are slim with a small head and long narrow wings.   When soaring, its wings are held above the horizontal, and wingtips are long and pointed.   Tips of feathers can be widespread in flight (note photo above).

They feed mostly on large insects like crickets and grasshoppers.

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BarrytheBirder

Still no warblerrs yet...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

......but lots of Goldfinches!

If I can't have warblers, I'll take Goldfinches any day.

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BarrytheBirder

Looking for warblers yesterday..

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

...had to settled for a Turkey Vulture

I keep hearing that warblers are back but I haven't seen any yet.   Yesterday produced only the Turkey Vulture seen above.   Maybe tomorrow.

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BarrytheBirder

First hummingbird up Ottawa way...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

My daughter Auralee who lives in Metcalfe, just south of Ottawa, Ontario, told me she saw her first hummingbird of the season at one of her feeders this morning, May 7th.   I have yet to see my first 'hummer' of the season, but have a couple of feeders ready to fill up and set out later today.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovisianus)...

 
Photo by BarrytheBirde

It's always a treat to welcome the first Red-breasted Grosbeaks in the spring migration.   They are black and white and red show-stoppers.   The adult male is unmistakable with its rosy triangle on its chest.   They are found in eastern forests as well as in thickets and suburbs with suitable cover, plus they are common in open, second growth woddlands and dense trees along water courses..

Males help to incubate eggs during the mating season, singing from the nest.

Their song is rich and clear, like a Robin's but faster. 

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BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks may have reproduced already...

 

Photosby BarrytheBirder

s

Swainson's Hawks have been circling over Aurora for several weeks now, and may have already raised a brood of young hawks.   Several birds, more than what should be the usual number, have been seen in the past few days, and I have the feeling that some may be new, first year birds.   Swainson's Hawks are normally found in the U.S. midwest, but have been showing up in southern Ontario in recent years.

Swainson's are about the same size as Red-tailed Hawks, but have a noticeable white belly (see photo above).

This is third consecutive year these birds, normally found in places like Kansas, have appeared hereabouts, just north of Lake Ontario.

Although this hawk can take rodents, reptiles and birds, it prefers large insects, which makes me wonder how much they have been getting to eat in the cold spring, before the insect advent.

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BarrytheBirder

Early warblers...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Yellow Warbler hits window

This migrating Yellow Warbler hit a window, knocking itself senseless momentarily, but did recover quickly and then moved on.

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BarrytheBirder

First Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrived last year in mid-May.

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The first mention of hummingbirds last year in this blogsite was May 18th, when I reported that the 'hummers' were arriving each morning at 5 a.m., here in Aurora, Ontario, north of Toronto.!

I said there were 100 to 200 visits each day lasting anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds, up to 60 or 70 seconds each time.

My partner Pat and I can hardly wait for this year's first arrivals on her balcony.

Male - photo by Brian Kulvete, Macauley Library

Female -  Photo by German Garcia (macauley Library)

Please comment if you wish.

Barry the Birder

Great Blue Reflectons by Phil Chadwick

by Phil Chadwick
Great Blue Reflections 

'Great Blue Reflections' is a work by former Canadian weatherman and resident of King Township, Ontario, Phil Chadwick.   Prints of this work are available at Fine Art America.

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BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks are around and about...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks ( Buteo swainsoni ) , more at home in the U.S.A. mid-west, such as Kansas, have been spotted over south-west Aurora in recent weeks.   This is the third year in a row that  this species has shown up hereabouts, nesting and reproducing.    Local birders will be keen to see them this spring and summer.  More photos to come hopefully.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

First Osprey of the season spotted...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I spotted my first Osprey of the season yesterday on the Ravenshoe Sideroad, just south-west of Keswick, Ontario.   It was perched on a piece of irrigation equipment located ion the northern-most reaches of the Holland Marsh, south of Lake Simcoe's Cooks Bay.   The irrigation equipment has the tattered remains of an Osprey nest sitting upon it, with the new Osprey perched close by (see photo below).   The larger photo below shows a close-up of the nest and appears the nest in an advanced state of disrepair.   I suppose the owner-operator of this marshlands growing site might decide to either dismantle this nest completely, or if it not impeding the operation of the irrigation function,, he may decide to let the osprey use the nest on an ongoing basis.   The nest would seem to need some rehabilitation however before reuse. 

Meanwhile, nearby other historical Osprey nests, atop lighting towers at a  Ravenshoe Sisderoad baseball park await the arrival of Ospreys to the new season.   The photos below shows activity at the site from the summer of 2025.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Cozumel birds revisited...

Cozumel is known as 'The Island of Swallows'

Cozumelis known as the "Island of the swallows" because its name is derived from the ancient Maya words Cuzum (swallow) and Lumil (land of), forming Cuzamil, which translates to "Land or Place of the Swallows".

 

The most common swallow in Cozumel is the Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea), which I was unfortunately unable to photograph.

Photo by Audubon Society

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Yellow Warbler momentarily stunned after hitting window.

Photo by BarrytheBirder

This Yellow Warbler hit a window and momentarily stunned itself, before quickly recovering and moving on.

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BarryutheBirder

120 species in the Wood Warbler family...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)

There are about 120 species of warblers in this new world family.   About half the numerous species occur in North America.   A few species, such as the Gray-crowned Yellowthroat and the Rufous-capped Warbler are tropical or Mexican species, occasionally found in Texas.

Common Yellowthroat

Yellow Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

American Redstart

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Red-winged Blackbird - early spring migrant

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Red-winged Blackbird

One of spring's earliest migrants in southern Ontario is the Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus).   They are currently showing up in early April.

Female

Fledgling

Red-winged Blackbirds are found in practically every marsh and weedy ditch in temperate North America.   The males orange shoulder patches can be obvious (especially in song display) or partially hidden in body feathers.    The patches are usually bordered yellow (see top photo).

Outside the nesting season, they wander through farmlands, marshes, and forest edges, and walking on the ground in open fields, and foraging in those fields.

They breed from central Alaska east to southern Newfoundland.   They winter from southern British Columbia and southern New England southward.

Their distinctive song is a loud forced 'konk-a-ree' and and calls include a low 'chuck' and a metallic 'kink'.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Early spring migrants...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Red-winged Blackbird

The spring migration of 2026 in well underway, and two of the early arrivals in York Region, here in southern Ontario, are Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles.

Grackle

Spring migration

One of my favourite times of the year

Let the feathers fly!

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder 

2,005,008 hits on this blogsite...

Photo by Judy Craig

As of April 14, 2026, I have received 2,005,008 hits on this blogsite, since I began it back on December 31, 2006.   I included a haiku in that first blog, which read as follows...

I walk and look up

counting a thousand blackbirds

I fall to the ground.

I'm not sure why I chose that particular haiku to use those 19 years ago, so I'll have to look for something new.   How about this...

Robins returning

Snow still in the deep woods

But spring prevails.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Brown Thrasher shows up in Aurora, Ontario

                                                               Photos by Lissa Dwyer

My partner, Pat Cromie's daughter, Lissa Dwyer photographed this Brown Thrasher, in her backyard in Aurora, Ontario, about 40 kilometeres of Toronto, Ontario, this past weekend. 

Brown Thrashers (Toxostoma rufum) are found along the southern Canadian border and throughout the eastern United States, as far south as Texas and Florida.   Easily recognized by their rufous brown colouring above, heavy stripes below, with long tail and yellow or orange eyes.   They can be secretive and solitary.

Although declining in numbers in recent years, in many areas, this foxy-brown bird lurks in eastern thickets where it usually feeds on the ground or in bushes, but may sing from treetops.   They are common in hedgerows, brush, and woodland edges, often close to human habitation.

They sing a long series of of various melodious phrases, each phrase usually given two or three times.

Brown Thrashers migrate to northern breeding grounds from late March through early May, with peak movement  occurring now, in April.

I have seen this Thrasher a few times over the years and find them particularly eye-catching, but sadly have never got a picture of one.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Black-throated Sparrow...

Photo by Johnathon Eckerson / Macaulery Library

Black-throated Sparrow (Amphiospiza bilineata)

I'm not sure why, but I have recently become attracted to the Black-throated Sparrow.  I have never seen one myself but its portrayed appearance is very appealing to me.  The black lores and triangular black patch on the throat and breast contrast distinctly with the white eyebrow, white whisker stripe and white underparts.

I have never seen one because I live in southern Ontario, just north of Toronto, and the White-throated Sparrow is native to the south-western U.S.A and Mexico.   It is fairly common in desert locales, especially on rocky slopes; and is casual to the eastern U.S.A. in fall and winter.

I am familiar with a few types of sparrows, but they are generally not  outstandingly noticeable creatures.   The White-throated Sparrow certainly seems to be quite noticeable to me.   I envy anyone who sees them regularly and would love to photograph them.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Photo by BarrytheBitrder

Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)

With temperatures at 17 and 18 degrees celsius for the next five days, local fields and streams and woodlands should be awash in warblers and other spring migrants this week.   They are so welcome.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder