Dark-eyed Junco (Junco Hyemalis)

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Males

The Dark-eyed Junco is a widely distributed and common sparrow with several forms across North America.   Renowned birder Kenn Kaufman says "For many regions this is a 'Snowbird' ".   Most widespread form is the eastern "Slate-coloured' Junco.   All Juncos are easily identified by their white outer tail feathers (in flight), pink bills, white bellies and dark eyes.

They nest in boreal and mountain and edges; in migration and winter, flock in a variety of habitats, including open woods, brushy areas, edges, and along roadsides.   They feed on the ground primarily on seeds and insects.

The Dark-eyed Junco breeds from Alaska, east to Newfoundland and south in mountains to California and northern Georgia.   They winter throughout the United States except in south Texas and south Florida.

Females

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BarrytheBirder

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

   Photos by BarrytheBirder

The Red-winged Blackbird is common species of wet fields, meadows, and marshes.  The Audubon Handbook of Eastern Birds says "Males quite conspicuous, with jet-black plumage and fiery red shoulders frequently flared in territorial display" (see photo above).   It is highly gregarious in winter  and is often found in open fields with other species of blackbirds.

It breeds from central Alaska east to southern Newfoundland and south throughout the U.S.A.    It  breeds from central Alaska east to southern Newfoundland and south throughout the U.S.A., and winters from southern British Columbia and south New England southward.

                                                                                         Female

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BarrytheBirder

More Snowy owls on previous trips to the Ravenshoe Sideroad

The Snowy Owl is a large white owl, with  rounded head and yellow eyes.   Dark bars and spots are heavier in females.   Bars and spots are heaviest on  immatures.

Some of my bird carvings collection...

                                                              Works by several Canadian carvers

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Barry the Birder

Want to be a birder?

There approximately 11,000 recognised species of birds worldwide, though exact numbers vary by checklist ( e.g. 11,017 in Clements, -11,131 in Avilist, - 11,524 in Birdlife HBW) due to ongoing discoveries, extinctions and taxonomic differences, with the most diversity in South America.

For many years, the most renowned birder in the world was Phoebe Snetsinger, an American birder  famous for seeing and documenting 8,3,98 species.   She died in 1999, at age 69, on a birding safari in Madagascar. 

The current record holder for the most bird species seen in a lifetime is PETER KAESTNER, a retired diplomat, who became the first person to document over 10,000 species in February, 2024, with his 10,000th bird species being an Orange-tufted Spiderhunter, in the Philippines.

South America is the continent with the most species in the world (3,500 to 3,600 species - 1/3 of the world's total).   The country of Columbia has the most at around 1,866, followed by Peru at around 1,860, and Brazil at over 1,800.

The country with the least number of species is the tiny island nation of Easter Island, a remote territory of Chile, in the southeastern Pacific, with 9 species.

Canada, my home country has ---- species.   My personal bird life list stands at 424 species.   My birdwatching has been limited to Canada, the U.S.A. Mexico, and the Caribbean nations.   At 84 years of age, no longer having a driver's licence, and slowed down by arthritis, means I don't expect to add to my bird list very much in the future.

I've enjoyed every moment of watching birds though, and counting the species.   I recommend it to anyone.

Best wishes in your birding endeavours.

BarrytheBirder

Snowy Owls - Ravenshoe Sideroad

Photos by BarrytheBirder

One of my favourite spots for Snowy Owls is the Ravenshoe Sideroad,

(north of Newmarket and just south of Keswick) west of Leslie Street.   I have seen and taken pictures of Snowy Owls on this road many times over the years, but none so far this year.   'Snowies' normally breed in northern Alaska and northern Canada.   They can winter in southern Canada and to the northernmost United States, and even further south, particularly when snows are very deep in the north.

Males are nearly all-white or with scattered dark bars above and below, and females have more barring than males.

They are easily spotted along the Ravenshoe Sideroad because they like to perch on top of the many utility poles, barns or sheds with peak roofs, tops of fir trees or isolated fence posts.

On Sunday, December 21, My partner Pat and I drove the Ravenshoe Sideroad and counted three other vehicles slowly looking for 'Snowies'.   We'll try again in the new year.

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BarrytheBirder

Great Horned Owls nearby...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

My daughter Allison who lives just up the street from me in Aurora, Ontario, north of Toronto. has been walking  on a nearby woodland trail and has heard a pair of Great Horned Owls communicating with each other in the treetops.  The Great Horned Owl is a big bird (22"/56 cm.)    Its ear tufts distinguish it from other large species.   Its call is a series of three to eight loud, deep hoots, with the second and third often being short and rapid.   The usual pattern, according to ornithologist Kenn Kaufman, is "hoo, hoo-hoo...hoooh".  Seemingly, there are also other hoots and shrieks.

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BarrytheBirder

Why are suet feeders good for woodpeckers?

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Many sources say suet feeders are great for woodpeckers because of the high-fat content (especially in winter) providing crucial energy, mimicking insects they'd find in trees.   Specially designed feeders often match the suet-feeder's natural clinging style, offering security and easy access to the calories-rich food source, unlike loose seeds. 

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BarrytheBirder

Trumpeter Swans - Vancouver Island

                                                                                Photos by Dave Kemp

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Barry Wallace

More on Merlins...

 
                                                                Photos by Michelle Herder

Yesterday in this space I wrote about Merlin photos taken by Michele Herder in Burlington Ontario.   Today, I'd like to make particular remarks about this special raptor.   Merlins are generally uncommon but are found across Canada, across the western and central United States and along the eastern U.S. coastline.

Birder legend Kenn Kaufman describes the Merlin as "a compact, dashing falcon, very fast and direct in flight".    He further describes them as usually uncommon, seen as scattered singles, but sometimes seen in fair numbers, as along coastlines during migration, adding that in recent decades, they have become fairly common residents around some towns on northern prairies and nearby regions.

While generally uncommon, this bird is a powerful flyer and does not hover.  It catches birds in flight.   It is also mostly silent.

The Audubon Society says this bird, formerly known as the "Pigeon Hawk", is most abundant during migrations of shorebirds, sparrows, warblers, and other small birds on which it feeds, adding that this little, swift and aggressive falcon harasses larger hawks and gulls and as well as attacking intruders at its nest.

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BarrytheBirder

New birdwatcher's Merlin photo...

                                                                        Photo by Michelle Herder 

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

My daughter Allison, who lives near to me in Aurora, Ontario, sent along this photo of a Merlin, taken by her friend Michelle Herder.   Michelle took up birdwatching two years ago after signing up for a local "Learn to Bird walk".  Michelle's Merlin photo was taken on December 14th of this year, at LaSalle Marina, in Burlington, Ontario.  Tech stuff: Lumix FZ80D (bridge camera with 1200 mm equivalent zoom).

Lovely shot Michelle and I hope to see more of your work in the future.   

Best wishes, BarrytheBirder.

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

 

                                                                                                 Photos by Barry Wallace

Described by Kenn Kaufmann in his Birds of North America, the American Crow is widespread and familiar, mostly in open country, but increasingly numerous in cities also...often in flocks; may gather in huge roosting concentrations in winter...all black with strong bill, rather short square-tipped tail. 

Found in lower Canada and the U.S.   The American Crow is a large, chunky ebony bird.   It is completely black, glossed with purple in strong sunlight. its bill and feet are strong and black.   Its voice is a loud caw, caw, caw.

Crow and Raven for comparison / photo Garret Lau

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BarrytheBirder

                                                                                                Photo by BarrytheBirder

 "My favourite Osprey photo!"

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BarrytheBirder

Many central Northern American bird species in decline...

                                                                                                   Photos by BarrytheBirder

 Red-winged Blackbird

Central North American bird species facing significant declines include grassland birds (sparrows, larks, many insectivores (warblers, flycatchers), and even common backyard birds such as Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows, with some reports indicating 3/4s of all species are declining, driven by habitat loss, climate change, and insect declines.   Major losses are seen in Red-winged Blackbirds, Western Meadowlarks, Starlings, and various sparrows, affecting ecosystems across the continent, from prairies to forests.   Almost 3 billion birds have disappeared in just over 50 years according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Key bird groups in decline

Grassland Birds: This group has seen drastic losses (around 53% since 1970), including species like Western Meadowlarks and various sparrows.

Insectivores: Many ground-foraging and canopy-dwelling insect-eaters are struggling, such as Blue-winged Warblers and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers,

Common Backyard Birds:   Even familiar species like Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows are contributing to overall losses.

Dark-eyed Junco

Wetland Birds:   While some waterfowl have recovered, Red-winged Blackbirds, a common wetland bird, have seen massive declines!

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Barry the Birder

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla)

                                                                                                    Photos by BarrytheBirder

Kenn Kaufmann, in his 'Birds of North America', says 'Little roving flocks of Black-capped Chickadees are often the brightest spark of life in bleak winter woods.'   I agree.   They are found from Alaska, across southern Canada to Newfoundland and across the northern half of the United States throughout the year.   Kaufmann goes on to say that 'In the northeast, quite a few sometimes move south in the fall, but flight only reaches the southern edge of usual range'.   Callnotes are quite varied, including a chattering chick-a-dee-dee-dee.

                                              Please comment if you wish.

                                                                              BarrytheBirder

Snowy hungry Goldfinches...

 

                                                                                     Photo by BarrytheBirder

                

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BarrytheBirder

Junco and Goldfinch snowy encounter...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

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BarrytheBirder

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

 
Photos by BarrytheBirder

One  bird I always think of at Christmas time is the Northern Cardinal.

Its red colour of course bespeaks of Christmas and it is around all winter contrasting with the white snow.   Abundant throughout lower eastern Canada and the United States, this nonmigratory species has continued to expand its range northward during the 20 and 21st centuries.

   

Females  are buffy brown or buffy olive, tinged with red on the wings, crest and tail.   The Cardinal song is a loud, liquid whistling with many variations.   Both sexes sing almost year-round.   Their common call is a sharp chip.   They are abundant throughout their range inhabiting woodland edges, swamps, streamside thickets, and suburban gardens, especially near feeders.

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BarrytheBirder