Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)

Facing eradication in South Florida

The Purple Swamphen species was introduced to Florida in 1996-1998 near Pembroke Pines where it quickly spread.   It was a non-native invasive species that competed with native wildlife, damaged wetland vegetation and threatened local ecosystems.   It was introduced in Florida after an accidental release after widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

They were strong aggressive birds that dominated or displaced native North American rails, including native birds such as Purple Gallinule and Common Moorhen.

It was targeted for eradication, and between October 2006 and December 2008, state agencies killed over 3,100 swamphens using shotguns from airboats in South Florida.   Officials eventually stopped the active eradication program in late 2008 because complete elimination seemed impossible due to the birds hiding in thick marsh plants.

The Purple Swamphen is a fairly large old world species (L. 18 - 20")

So far this seems to be a story without an end.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Black-capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus)

                                                                   

                                                                           Photos by BarrytheBirder

Black cap and bib  and white cheeks quickly identify this wee bird over most of its widespread range in southern Canada and the northern U.S.A. (Alaska to east to Newfoundland and south to Northern California, northern Oklahoma, and northern New Jersey).   This bird is common in open woodlands, clearings, suburbs and it usually forages in thickets or low branches of trees. 

It is tame and inquisitive and a frequent visitor to bird feeders.   Its call is a dry chick-a-dee-dee or dee-dee-dee.

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BarrytheBirder

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

                                                                                Photos by BarrytheBirder

The Double-crested Cormorant is the most widespread and common cormorant in Canada and the U.S.A., especially inland, with numbers increasing greatly since the 1970s.   

Adults are blackish all over with orange skin on the face and throat, extending up to the lores (in front of eye).

Cormorants are snaky-necked, long-tailed divers with bare skin on the face and throat, extending up to the lores (in front of eye).with hook-tipped bills.  They swim low in the water with heads angled up, and may perch with wings spread to dry.   

They are often seen in flocks, flying in lines or v-formation (see photo below).  They are usually silent except near nests.

Double-crested Cormorants are common and widespread, found on rocky coasts, beaches, inland lakes and rivers and islands.   Breeding populations in the interior are local and irregular but increasing.

They breed along both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.   They winter mainly along coast from Alaska to Mexico and from southern New England to Texas.

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BarrytheBirder

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

                                                       Photos by BarrytheBirder

This cow-sized hawk is widespread and common in open country that quarters over ground, hunting primarily for small rodents, frogs, and also some birds.   They perch low or on the ground, seldom on tall poles or trees.

They breed across Canada and south to the southern United States and Mexico.   They were formerly called Marsh Hawks.

They are easily identified in flight by their white rumps, long tails and behaviour; which is to flap occasionally, but mostly glide with long narrow wings angled up in a shallow V.

In perched birds, the long tail, white rump and owl-like face are distinctive.

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BarrytheBirder

Cedar Waxwings looking for berries...

 
                                                                                          Photos by BarrytheBirder

Many  attractive Cedar Waxwings are visiting red berry bushes near to my partner Pat's 3rd floor balcony at Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora, Ontario.    I do not know what the small red berries are, but the Waxwings can't get enough of them.   The Berries could be American Winterberry, Red Sprite, Cottoneaster, Red Beauty Holly, or Buffaloberry, etc.   

They visit two bushes dozens of times a day and can't seem to get enough of the berries.   Kingbirds, Robins and sparrows are also feeding on the berries.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry the Birder

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco phaeonotus)

 
                                                                                      Photo by BarrytheBirder

Juncos are gray sparrows with white outer tail feathers.   They are cool-weather birds that nest mostly in the north or on mountains and spread southward in winter across Canada and the U.S.A., often visiting backyard bird feeders.

For many birders in Canada and the U.S., this is a 'snowbird', visiting only in winter.  Except when paired up for nesting, juncos are usually found in small flocks, feeding on the ground near thickets and forest edges.   

There are several types of Juncos including "Slate-colored Junco", "Oregon Junco", "Pink-sided Junco", "White-winged Junco", "Grey-headed Junco" and "Red-backed Junco".

All of these Juncos have white outer tail feathers, and all but the last have pale pink bills.

Exceptionly, in mountain  forests above 6,000 feet, near the Mexican border,  a "Yellow-eyed Junco" is to be found.   A bright orange-yellow eye gives this Junco a "fierce'look!   They are pale gray above, with a bright rufous back.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis) and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

There are about 29 species of Nuthatches worldwide, primarily distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.   They are known for being energetic and acrobatic as they climb headfirst down tree trunks.

The White-breasted Nuthatch (pictured above) is the largest North American species.  They have a striking blue-gray back, a black cap, and clean white cheeks and underparts.

They are common year-round residents in mature deciduous forests and at backyard feeders.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch (seen below) is a small, highly active bird featuring a bold black stripe through the eye and a rich rusty-cinnamon belly.  They prefer coniferous forests and are famous for smearing tree resin around their cavity entrances to deter predators.

Two other North American species are the Pygmy Nuthatch (a tiny, highly social bird of the western United States and Canada that favours mature Ponderosa pines) and the Brown-headed Nuthatch (found mostly in the south-eastern United Sates).          

Please comment if you wish.

Barry the Birder

My daughter's first time, close-up encounter with a Swainson's Hawk...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

I have been writing about and publishing photos of Swainson's Hawks in this space since I first noticed them in the spring of 2024 in the Town of Aurora, about 35 kilometres north of Toronto, Ontario.   Swainson's Hawks are widespread in North America, particularly in the U.S. midwest, and notably in Kansas.

They have been moving east into southern Ontario in recent years and I have taken many photos of them and published them in this blog space.

They seemed to have replaced the Red-tail Hawks in this part of the town of Aurora where I live.   My oldest daughter, Allison, lives just a couple of blocks from me in Aurora, and recently had an close-up encounter with one of these impressive raptors in her own backyard.

She was in her backyard, beside her swimming pool when she heard a chorus of birds squawking in the next-door neighbour's back yard.   She stretched up and looked over her backyard fence and came face-to-face (a mere 5' away) with a big Swainson's Hawk that was harassing a gang of American Robins which were fiercely protesting the hawk's presence near their fledgling young Robins.

Allison had never seen a Swainson's Hawk before and she recalls thinking it was huge and very impressive looking (Swainson's are 21" long with a wingspan of 52"!).   The hawk was startled by her presence as much as she was by the hawk's appearance.   The hawk quickly assessed the encounter and took off.   The young Robins were safe but one can't help but wonder how typical this kind of encounter and the potential results happen probably every day at this time of year.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica)

Here's a attractive bird I didn't know existed until recently.   It is the Blue Breasted Kingfisher and it lives across equatorial, sub-Saharan Africa, found from Senegal to Uganda, Tanzania, northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and northern Angola.   I am familiar with the Belted Kingfisher of Canada, the U.S.A. and Mexico, and now realize that Kingfishers are to be found in other countries of the world.

There are 118 species of Kingfishers in the world!   Who knew?!?

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The Great Blue Heron is a large, grey-blue heron found across lower Canada and the north-central United States.   It has a black stripe that extends above the eyes and a white fore neck streaked with black.   Breeding adults have  yellowish bills and ornate plumes on head, neck and back.   

Their impressive wingspan is 72" (183 cm)!

My National Geographic Society Field Guide says the Great Blue Heron is common but breeds sporadically across parts of large parts of its range, and a few birds winter far north into their breeding range.

This widespread, large and familiar heron stands patiently at watersides, waiting to spear fish and other creatures.   

It is common in both freshwater and salt water habitats.

They breed across southern Canada to Mexico and Florida and winter from British Columbia and southern New England southward.

                 

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

 The Mallard is the largest and most familiar dabbling duck of the North American hemisphere.   It is the ancestor of many domestic ducks, very common and widespread in the wild.   There are an estimated 10 million breeding Mallards in the wild.

They breed from Alaska, Ontario, Quebec, and central New England south to southern California, Arizona, Texas, central Illinois, and coastal Virginia.  They winter from southern British Columbia, the Dakotas, southern Great Lakes region, and New England.

Preening male

Like other dabbling ducks, Mallards spring directly into the air from fresh water, and they often seen flying in pairs or trios, as well as in large flocks.   

Female

The usual call of the female is quack, quack, quack, quack, diminishing in both volume and speed, while the males calls are softer and reedier.

Seldom diving, Mallards feed by tipping tail-up to reach aquatic plants, seeds, and snails...

Mallard drakes are frequently called 'greenheads' due to their iridescent green heads.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

American Crow (Corvus brachyfhychos)

                                                                         BarrytheBirder photos

My Audubon Handbook of Eastern Birds says the American Crow "is a familiar species found just about everywhere, but in very large numbers in areas associated with man's activities, such as farmlands, towns, and rural roadsides."   

They are highly gregarious, can occur in very large flocks, especially at nightly roosting areas in fall and winter.

They breed from north-central British Columbia east to Newfoundland, south to California, east Texas and Florida.

Adults are entirely black, with rather stout bills and legs.   Tails are squared and slightly fan-shaped and their fan-shaped tail distinguishes them from ravens in flight.   Their call is a familiar, slightly descending 'CAW'.

The American Crow is North America's largest crow.

American Crows are gregarious and can occur in very large flocks.

The American Crow is 17 1/2", compared to the Common Raven at 24".

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

 

                                                                         Photos by BarrytheBirder

The Mourning Dove is the most widespread and native dove in North America, with an estimated 350 to 400 million birds in existence.  Mostly found in open woodlands, many upland habitats, urban and suburban areas, and especially at backyard feeders.  

Its long, pointed white-edged tail is distinctive in flight, while its wings produce a fluttering whistle on take-off.

They usually feed on the ground, primarily on seeds.

They breed from across Canada and south throughout the entire United States.

In warm climates, a pair may produce up to six broods a year!

The Mourning Dove voice produces a slow, mournful cooing, 'cooowaah, cooo, coo, coooo'.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus

                                                                     Preening

The Northern Flicker is a big brown woodpecker that often feeds on the ground, seeking ants.  When they fly, they flash bright colours under the wings and tail, as well as a white rump.   There are two types of Flicker, the eastern/northern "Yellow-shafted Flicker" (found east of the Rockies) and the western "Red-shafted Flicker (found west of the Rockies), named for the colour of feather shafts in the wings.

The "Yellow-shafted" is found in the northern and eastern North America, and the "Red-shafted" is found in western North America, but the two do interbreed. in southwestern Canada, and the western great plains.

Flickers are common in open woodlands and suburban areas.   They are quite noticeable with their moustachial stripes.

Their calls include a nasal, long, loud series, 'wik-wik-wik-wik"; louder, faster and higher-pitches than the similar call of the Pileated Woodpecker.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks are numerous in Aurora, Ontario...

                                                                                   Photos by Barry the Birder

Swainson's Hawks

at Delmanor Retirement Residence

on rooftop terrace railing

in Aurora, Onrario

Swainson's Hawks are widespread in North America are particularly native to the central, mid-west United States, notably in the state of Kansas.   In recent years, more and more of these raptors are finding their way into southern, Ontario, Canada.

Bufflehead Duck (Bucephala albeola)

Photo by BarrytheBirder

"Often nests in old Flicker holes"

The Bufflehead is a small duck (smallest duck in North America - 13 1/2") with a large, puffy greenish-purple head, steep forehead and short bill.   It is often called the "butterball".   It is chunky and energetic and may seem quite tame.  The male is glossy black above, white below, with a large white patch on the head.   In flight, males show white patch across entire wing.

Buffleheads nest in woodlands near small lakes and ponds.  During migration and winter, they are found also on sheltered bays, rivers and lakes.

They breed from Alaska, Manitoba, and central Quebec, and winter along both coasts and on interior lakes and rivers.

Because of their small size, they often nest in old Flicker holes.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Hummingbird silliness...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Question: Why do hummingbirds hum?

Answer: Because they don't know the words.

Sorry, BtheB

Ephemeral wings...

                                                                        Photos by BarrytheBirder  

Flicker of bright wings,

A sip of nectar's sweet kiss,

Summer whispers by.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Red-tailed Hawks to Swainson's Hawks...

BarrytheBirder

I am 84 years old.   I became interested in birding in my early twenties, and one bird I became very attracted to in my early years was the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

They were prevalent in my part of southern Ontario, a few kilometres north of Toronto, and quickly became my hawk.

Decades let, when I became 80 years of age, I saw my first Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni).   I saw it four years ago, over the Town of Aurora, Ontario, where I now live.

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks are prevalent in the plains and prairies  of the central and western U.S.A., but do drift eastward to be seen in Ontario, as in my case.   I am now a bit fanatical about this 'Buteo'.   I see them many times a day over Aurora and I am particularly impressed with hoe they soar with up-tilted wings in high teetering, vulture-like flight.

I believe, in fact, that the Swainson's Hawks soar even higher than the Red-tailed Hawks.   The two birds are very similar in in size and measurements.   My Nastional Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern America says the following about the Swainson's range: ...nests on plains and prairies...primarily a fall migrant in eastern North America, rarely in southern Florida and south Texas.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder