Tag: Bird

Picture of the Day for June 7, 2013

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The woodpeckers are often overlooked in the summer as the attention is turned towards colorful birds like the Indigo Bunting, Eastern Bluebird and the Baltimore Oriole, but this little Downy Woodpecker puts on its own show. Their rising-and-falling flight style is distinctive of many woodpeckers and they don’t sing songs, but they drum loudly against pieces of wood or metal to make their song.

The Downy Woodpecker is an active bird that moves quickly over tree trunks, branches, and stems of grasses and wildflowers, characteristically leaning against its stiffened tail feathers for support. And this female Downy Woodpecker is hanging upside down and using the tail feathers for support.

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Picture of the Day for May 17, 2013

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Between the finches, orioles, hummingbirds, grosbeak and all the other birds, I am having trouble keeping all the feeders filled. And the Rose-breasted Grosbeak sure chows down a lot of seeds if even if they are supposed to eat insects.

The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak takes a turn incubating the eggs for several hours during the day, while the female incubates the rest of the day and all night long. Both sexes sing quietly to each other when they exchange places. The male sometimes sings his normal song at full volume from inside the flimsy nest where the eggs are often visible from below through the nest bottom..

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Picture of the Day for May 15, 2013

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When I see a flash of blue in the yard, I just assume it is a bluebird but yesterday the blue was from an Indigo Bunting instead. It was the first I had seen them this year but since they migrate at night using the stars for guidance, they probably couldn’t arrive earlier with all the snowy nights.

Like all other blue birds, Indigo Buntings lack blue pigment. Their jewel-like color comes instead from microscopic structures in the feathers that refract and reflect blue light, much like the airborne particles that cause the sky to look blue.

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Picture of the Day for May 13, 2013

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Apparently the robin hid its tail numerous times so its tail wouldn’t get snowed on three times and let spring come. Hopefully the unexpected snow on Saturday fooled the robins and their tails got snowed on so winter can leave. The hummingbirds, orioles, grosbeaks and bluebirds would appreciate no more snow and so would I.

Snow on the Robin’s Tail

Snow on the Robin's Tail

Picture of the Day for May 6, 2013

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The birds are singing up a storm this morning especially this Brown Thrasher. I think they are happy the snow is melting and things are turning green again. Brown Thrashers are accomplished songsters that may sing more than 1,100 different song types and include imitations of other birds, including Chuck-will’s-widows, Tufted titmice, Northern Cardinals, Wood Thrushes, and Northern Flickers. Some sources state that it has up to 3,000 song chants. All I know is that he can get very loud but at least he doesn’t get off key too often.

Singing Brown Thrasher

Singing Brown Thrasher

Picture of the Day for May 5, 2013

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The bluebirds are probably wondering why they came north when it keeps snowing in May but at least the snow has melted off the branches so they have a dry place to perch. Most years they would have their nest built and sitting on eggs by now but it has been rather chilly for that. I did see a pair of bluebirds checking out the birdhouses before the last snow.

The male Eastern Bluebird ‘shows off’ at his nest cavity to attract a female. He brings nest material to the hole, goes in and out, and waves his wings while perched above it. That is pretty much his contribution to nest building; only the female Eastern Bluebird builds the nest and incubates the eggs. But at least he does bring food to the babies so that the female doesn’t have to do all the work.

Chilly Bluebird

Chilly Bluebird

Picture of the Day for April 16, 2013

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The robins have had their tails snowed on more than three times already so it is time for spring to come. On the news last night, there was a question wondering if all the robins were finding food since there are no worms for them to find. A local bird expert said the robins were on a Ramen noodle diet right now and not a Filet Mignon meal plan as they were eating spider eggs and any remaining berries.

The birds that eat flying insects, like the tree swallows and purple martins, are in trouble since it is too cold for flying bugs. So the wrens better stay south as they won’t be finding caterpillars to eat right now like this wren.

Hungry Wren

Hungry Wren

Picture of the Day for April 6, 2013

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I saw the first robin back yesterday but farmers in rural Wisconsin always say that it is not officially ‘Spring’ until it has snowed on the Robins’ tail three times.

Now that the robins are back, I wished it would hurry up and snow the three times on their tails so spring can arrive. I don’t know why the robins came back since there are no worms,  no leaves on the trees, and very few patches of ground showing.

And it snowed later in the day, so two more times left!

Spring Robin

Picture of the Day for April 2, 2013

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This Eastern Screech Owl didn’t appreciated the cold, snowy Easter either as it was trying to nap in the bouncing tree branch. I would have been seasick the way the branch was swaying but the owl seemed to manage to nap and would only open its eyes if I hooted loud enough.

But this owl normally sleeps in the day and emerges from its roost at dusk to hunt insects and other small prey. The Eastern Screech-Owl’s color ranges from gray to brown to reddish. The chicks in a nest may be different colors.

Screech Owl

Screech Owl

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