Osprey photograph in a recent Macauley Library email...

Photo by Matt Gillfedder

Is there anything as intense as an Osprey's stare?

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The photo at top, taken by Matt Gillfadder, appeared recently in a Macauley Library email which I received.   It immediately caught my eye because of the intent and penetrating look of the Osprey.  To my mind, no other raptor has the look of the Osprey's orange piercing eyes.   It's also the black, arching eyebrows that give it that inimitable fierce gaze. 

I have dozens of Osprey photos that I have taken over the years, in my photo files.  The one pictured below, of Osprey nest at the top of a light standard, was taken at a baseball diamond on the Ravenshoe Sideroad, southwest of Keswick, Ontario, , near the northern reaches of the Holland Marsh, just south of Lake Simcoe.

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Barry the Birder

American Goldfinch (Carduelis Tristis)

 
Photo: Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust

A recent e-mail to me from the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust included the American Goldfinch photo seen above and a brief description of this bird's fall and winter behaviours.

The e-mail commented that American Goldfinches undergo a fall molt staring in September, lasting 6 to 8 weeks.   This seasonal feather makeover replaces their vibrant breeding plumage with a more muted palette.   Males trade their sunny yellow and black caps for olive or brown tones, while females shift to a softer olive yellow.   The subtle winter looks help them to blend into bare bare trees and open fields.

Their habits change also.   In Ontario's colder months, goldfinches feast mainly on thistle seeds, along with aster, sunflower, and coneflower seeds, especially at feeders  Unlike summer, when insects are on the menu, winter is all about seeds - critical fuel for surviving the chill.   

Come spring, goldfinches go through another molt to regain their dazzling yellow plumage, signaling the start of the breeding season (see photos below).

Male

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Female

Goldfinches breed from north-central British Columbia east to Nova Scotia, south to the Great Lakes region  and northern New England, in mountains to central United States.   In winter thy can migrate south to all of the United States and a small part of northeast Mexico.

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BarrytheBirder 

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Male

Females

The Northern Harrier, formerly called the Marsh Hawk, is a long-winged and long-tailed hawks that hunts by flying low over open fields and marshes, looking and listening for prey.

They take many rodents and also some birds.   They perch low or on open ground, seldom on tall poles or trees; usually flying low except when migrating.   

They are best known by their shape and by their slow, low flight, with wings angled up in a shallow V. Contrasting white rump (see top two photos) is conspicuous.

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BarrytheBirder

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

At just 4 3/4" the Common Wren is a shy but curious and hyperactive little wren of brushy undergrowth, found in a variety of habitats, from deep woods to backyards..  They frequent tickets and brush piles, especially around fallen logs; while in suburban areas they frequently use nest boxes.

Energetic and spry, they breed from central British Columbia New Brunswick in Canada, south to southeast Arizona to northern Georgia.   

In winter, they can be found in the Southwest, along the Gulf Coast, and north to Virginia, but they rarely winter north into their summer range.

The House Wren is so slightly larger than the Winter Wren and Sedge Wren.

Its song is a very fast, musical or jumbled series of sounds.

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BarrytheBirder

Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)

                                                                     Photo by BarrytheBirder

Varied Thrush

The Varied Thrush, about the same size as the American Robin, is a shy, elusive, but common inhabitant of the wet forests of the Canadian and American west coast.   It may wander widely, even reaching the east coast, where I took the photo, above, in southern Ontario.

This attractive thrush shows colours of orange, light orange, medium blue and dark blue, plus black.

It breeds in western coniferous forests and is found usually in trees or undergrowth, but sometimes comes out on lawns and roadsides.   It is very rare in winter as far east as Atlantic Canada and south to Virginia, especially at feeders during harsh winter weather.   They do not typically associate with American Robins.

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BarrytheBirder

European Starling (Sturnus vulgari)

                                                                     Photos by BarrytheBirder

The European Starling was a species introduced into New York in 1890-91 and it soon spread across the North American continent and is today found in a wide variety of human-altered habitats.

It is abundant, aggressive, bold and often competes very successfully  with native species for nest holes.   Apart from nesting season, it is usually seen in large flocks, sometimes mixed with blackbirds.

The adult in breeding plumage is iridescent black, with a yellow bill with a blue base in males and pink in females.   In fresh fall plumage, feathers are tipped with white and buff, giving a speckled appearance; bills are brownish.

In flight, its short, square tail, stocky body and short broad-based, pointed wings are to be noted.

The highly gregarious Starling's call notes include gurgles, squeaks, burbles, chirps, warbles and twittering.   It can also mimic songs of other bird species.

Kenn Kaufman, in his Birds of North America says "Starlings nest in holes in trees, birdhouses, crevices in buildings, etc.; very aggressive, they may compete with native birds for nest sites, even evicting woodpeckers from their own holes."

They range from south-east Alaska to Newfoundland and south throughout the U.S.A.

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comment 

if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor)

 
                                                                    (Photos by BarrytheBirder)

The Northern Shrike summers in the far north, in spruces or thickets on the edge of the tundra, while it winters on farmland and open countryside farther south as far as the northern United States.   The southern range limit and numbers on the wintering grounds very unpredictably from year to year.   It breeds from Alaska east to Labrador, 

The adult Northern Shrike is like the Loggerhead Shrike but larger, with its narrower mask quite reduced in front of its eye and does not extend above the eye.   It has faint grey barring on underparts and the base of of its lower mandible is often paler. Its bill is long with a distinct hook.

This bird's song is unexpectedly musical, and can include imitations of other birds.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

How many warbler species in Canada and the U.S.A.?

                                                                         Canada Warbler

                                                                   (Photos by BarrytheBirder)

There are approximately 50 to 56 species of wood-warblers (family Parulidae) that regularly inhabit or breed in Canada and the United States.   While there are over 115 species of warblers in the Americas, the smaller estimated numbers represent those that regularly  migrate to or reside in North America during the breeding season.

                                                            Yellow Warbler

                                                                            Wilson's Warbler

                                                       Orange-crowned Warbler

                                                              Tennessee Warbler

                                                           Common Yellowthroat

A more dashing bird you won't find

than the Warbler, the Yellow-rumped kind

He's so lively and quick

He could pass for St. Nick

If it weren't for his buttery behind.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Top 10 'Feederwatch' birds in Canada...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Black-capped Chickadee

The top 10 'Feederwatch' birds in Canada, by percentage of sections,  in December 2024 / January2025 season were...

Last winter, the only bird species that showed up at Feederwatch sites in every region across Canada was the Black-capped Chickadee (at 91% of stations).

Dark-eyed Junco - 84%

Downy Woodpecker 81%

Northern Cardinal - 73%

Blue Jay - 73%

American Goldfinch - 64%

White-breasted Nuthatch - 63%

Mourning Dove - 57%

Red-breasted Nuthatch - 55%

Hairy Woodpecker - 54%

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

     Photos by BarrytheBirder

The Mute Swan is an Old World species introduced and breeding along the Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts to Virginia and the Great Lakes Region.  The Audubon Handbook of Eastern Birds states that the Mute Swan is: "A very large, long-necked swan of freshwater or brackish areas; easily recognized by its 'sailing' posture on water".   It goes on to say: "now commonly seen in ponds of public parks and gardens as well as in the wild...can be aggressive, especially in defence of its nest". 

Mute Swans have a prominent black knob at base of orange bill.   They hold their necks in a graceful S-curve, with bill pointed down.   They also often swim with wings arched over their back.   

The Mute Swan's voice is usually silent, while occasionally grunting or hissing, while its wingbeats are noisy in flight.

                                                                      

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

Photo: British Wildlife Federation

Barnacle Geese nest in Greenland and winter in Europe, but they may very rarely stray to northeastern North America.   However most seen on the North America continent are likely aviary escapees and these are likely to associate with wild Canada Geese or other waterfowl.

The Barnacle Goose is the 4th largest wild goose in Canada after the Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose and the Bean Goose.

Barnacle Geese have a very distinctive white pattern face and stubby bill.

Please comment if you will.

BarrytheBirder 

How many woodpecker species in the world?

 
Photo - Ttomasz Cofta

The woodpecker pictured above is the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.   Its existence in the natural world is now extremely questionable.  Last thought to have been seen in Cuba in the 1980s.

1. Woodpecker species in North America - 22 to 23 ... depending on existence  of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (pictured above).

2. Woodpecker species in South America - estimates of 70 to over 80.

3. Woodpecker species in the world - 200 to 250 (roughly)

Woodpeckers inhabit most continents, but are not found in Australia, New guinea or New Zealand.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

                                                                          Photos by Barry Wallace

The Downy Woodpecker (L 6 1/4" -17 cm.) is the smallest of the 16 woodpeckers found in North America (the number of 16 woodpeckers includes what may be the possibly extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which would be the largest of North America's woodpeckers at (L 19 1/2' or 50 cm!)  .   It is found to be abundant and widespread across the southern half of Canada and most of the U.S.A.   It is found everywhere there are trees (except in the dry southwest of the U.S), even suburbs and city parks.   They are generally somewhat unwary. 

They have a white back, striped face, and very short bill.   The male has a red nape spot.

They forage on dried weed stalks and tree trunks, and come to feeders for suet.  Ornithologist Kenn Kaufman says the Downy: "Drums with bill on resounding dead branches like other woodpeckers".

Northern birds move south in winter. 

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BarrytheBirder

Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)

 

Photo: Henry E. Hooper

This large woodpecker (10 3/4" / 27 cm.) is one of 18 woodpeckers (including 4 sapsucker species) in North America.   It is the 2nd largest woodpecker on the continent.

It is quite different in appearance than other North American woodpeckers because of its overall green colouring.   Its head and back and wings are greenish-black, with grey collar and breast, a dark red face and pinkish belly.

My National Geographic Field Guide (2nd edition) says this about the Lewis's: "In flight, its darkness, large size, and slow, steady wingbeats give it a crow-like appearance".  

It inhabits the western side of North America and is common in open woodlands of interior foothills and valleys, less common on coast.   It sometimes forms large flocks in fall and winter.

Its main food is insects, mostly caught in the air; but also eats fruit, acorns and other nuts.   It stores acorns, which it first shells, in tree bark crevices.

The Lewis's woodpecker is generally silent.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Clark's Nutcrcker (Nucifraga columbiana)

Wikipedia photos

Clark's Nutcracker, a.k.a. Clark's Crow, is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to the mountains of western North America. 

The 'Nutcracker' is an omnivore, buts subsists mainly on pine nuts, burying thousands of seeds in the ground in summer and then incredibly retrieving them in the winter by memory.

This bird was described by the Lewis & Clark Exhibition, with William Clark first seeing it in 1805 along the banks of Oregon's Salmon River, a tributary of the  Columbia River.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Trumpeter Swans - Vancouver Island

Photos by Dave Kemp

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

                                                                             Photo by Ina Rodina

This photo of nor just one, but two, Harlequin Ducks was taken recently on the Toronto waterfront of Lake Ontario.

Harlequin Ducks are small ducks with rounded heads and stubby bills found on rocky coasts and shorelines, and inland along swift streams when nesting.   They are found along both eastern and western coasts in Canada.   They are rare south to the Carolinas and in the Great Lakes...casual in the interior.

The Harlequin is mostly silent, except during the breeding season.   It makes various squeaks and whistles and according to ornithologist Kenn Kaufman is sometimes called the"sea mouse". 

Please comment if you wish. 

BarrytheBirder                            

Killdear (Charadrius vociferus)

      Photos BarrytheBirder

The Killdeer is a plover that ranges from Alaska, across mid-to-lower Canada, the U.S.A. and upper Mexico.      Technically a "shorebird", it is common in grassy fields and on shores.   They nest on open ground, usually on gravel, even on flat rooftops. 

  

They may form loose flocks and linger into early winter in their summer range.   Killdeers winter throughout the southern United States and north along coasts to British Columbia and New Jersey.

They forage day or night.

They are vociferous.   Kenn Kaufman says are "...very vocal, calling at any disturbance" with a "clear plaintive kil-deeah and dee-dee-dee".

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder