The thread for birds and birding

[Proud2baLaker]

Wow! Great pix!!

Thanks. I've got a full album of stuff that I plan on adding too soon. I'll post a few more here and there of some stuff out west that may or may not get seen east of the Rockies (where I believe a majority of the board resides). I wish I had a good camera growing up in Indiana.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

I'll try not to spam this thread to much but now that I see its easy to post pics it will be hard. Haha.

This is a Red-naped Sapsucker. Fun bird. As the name suggests they are sugar hounds. Drilling holes in Aspen, Willow, Birch etc to find that sweet sweet goodness. It's not uncommon for some hummingbirds to follow them around to get an easy meal of sap or to pick out insects stuck in the sap. They do not actually suck the sap of course but lick it up. This picture came when I was near the hummingbird station I mentioned in a previous post. I was basically crawling my way through thick brush to find an opening where I could sit and wait for birds to appear (and I would be away from established trails). He suddenly landed on a branch while I was hunched over not far away. I barely had time to lift the camera and get the shot before it took off. No real time to try to zoom in further or anything. Just got it in focus. I'm still pretty happy with how it turned out.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Picture day!

Here we have a song sparrow. I know, song sparrows are quite common through much of the US, but I love this picture. They vary in color and pattern quite a bit through the US. It seems like in the mornings and evenings their songs just fill the air.

I found this fact from The Cornell Lab interesting: Like many other songbirds, the male Song Sparrow uses its song to attract mates as well as defend its territory. Laboratory studies have shown that the female Song Sparrow is attracted not just to the song itself, but to how well it reflects the ability of the male to learn. Males that used more learned components in their songs and that better matched their song tutors (the adult bird they learned their songs from) were preferred

This picture came on an evening hike down in the canyon along the Snake River in southern Idaho.

 

[burd]

Picture day

Here we have a song sparrow. I know, song sparrows are quite common through much of the US, but I love this picture. They vary in color and pattern quite a bit through the US. It seems like in the mornings and evenings their songs just fill the air.

I found this fact from The Cornell Lab interesting: Like many other songbirds, the male Song Sparrow uses its song to attract mates as well as defend its territory. Laboratory studies have shown that the female Song Sparrow is attracted not just to the song itself, but to how well it reflects the ability of the male to learn. Males that used more learned components in their songs and that better matched their song tutors (the adult bird they learned their songs from) were preferred

This picture came on an evening hike down in the canyon along the Snake River in southern Idaho.

Wonderful pics, Proud. Keep em coming.

 

[LynahFan]

+1.

My parents lived in Ithaca for 19 years after my dad's retirement and they volunteered at the Lab that entire time. My dad even went on the Big Woods expedition hunting for Ivory Bills with them. I think my parent's life lists are both over 1000 birds, after dedicated trips to Africa, South America, Galapagos, etc. I've picked up an appreciation, if not an enthusiasm, from them. Waiting for my own retirement to get into it.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Today's Bird:

Western Kingbird. Native to the plains and west towards the Sierras. Quite a common site in the open country of the west. This flycatcher can frequently be found perched on powerlines and fenceposts darting out to catch insects. They are quite territorial and will harass other kingbirds, kestrels, and hawks who come into the area. You can't see it in my picture below but they actually have a crown of red feathers hidden under the gray on their heads that they will display when provoked. They can occasionally be seen further east as they wander during the fall migration (though are not typically seen in the east during the spring migration). Though most will winter in Central America, some do over winter in southern Florida. This picture came after an outing at a wildlife management area that I like to go to that is infrequently visited by other people. As I was driving out of the area I saw this guy sitting on a fence away. I stopped the truck directly across from him and rolled down the window. I still had my camera out for just such a purpose and managed a few pictures before he flew away. The yellow below is actually quite striking in the right light. This is one I plan on getting a print made of in the near future.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

A fairly common one today, the Red-tailed Hawk

Perhaps the most common of the hawks (Buteos) they are found throughout most of the US year-round, in most of Canada during the breeding season, and through much of Mexico year-round as well. If you have been driving in the country and passed an open field and saw a hawk perched on a utility pole or the top of a tree, or circling above, chances are good it was a Red-tail. Mostly feed on mammals. Mice, voles, rabbits, squirrels, etc. You have probably heard their call numerous times, especially on TV or in movies. Almost anytime you see a hawk or eagle but then hear the high pitched scream on screen, it is actually a recording of a red-tail. There area about 500 different color morphs (ok not that many, but they are numerous). And unfortunately, not all the morphs will have the distinctive rusty colored tail.

This photo came the same day as the Western Kingbird above. Driving down a dirt road lined with fences and utility poles there were several Red-tails to choose from. I stopped along the road and got out of the truck just across the road from this guy and zoomed in close. Took several photos and then he looked directly at me and I got this one. So cool.

 

[leswp1]

Wow! I haven't shot much wildlife (unless you want to count track and field kids as wildlife). I can't quite anticipate them moving fast enough

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Been a bit busy so not as much time to post.

We'll go with a Canyon Wren today. Wrens have always been some of my favorite birds. Some species seem to be quite inquisitive at times and will readily approach and inspect people that come nearby. Canyon wrens had a noticeable song as they are often quite loud and distinct with a series of cascading whistles that echo in their habitat. The canyon wren, not surprisingly, is found in rocky areas of the west, especially those with vertical cliffs. They hunt by scaling the rocks and cliffs for insects. Their vertebrae are attached higher on their head than most other birds which, combined with a slightly flatter skull, allows them to easily probe for insects in tight crevices. They are well adapted to arid climates as they are not known to drink water. They can be found foraging near water but have not been seen drinking. It is believed they get all their water from their insect prey. They have also been known to steal insects from spiderwebs and those stowed in wasp nests.

This picture came on a "warm" winter day as I was wandering along the bank of the Snake River down in the canyon in southern Idaho. As I sat on a large boulder trying to get pics of other birds, I could hear this guy approaching. Eventually, he showed up fairly close by on a boulder himself and bobbed and weaved around checking me out. One of my favorite pics. Slightly better lighting and I would certainly get a print made, not sure as is though.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Wow! I haven't shot much wildlife (unless you want to count track and field kids as wildlife). I can't quite anticipate them moving fast enough

Almost all of my pics are of birds perching. It certainly can be tough. In flight for me is almost impossible as I am just not good enough and I don't know enough about what settings to use to get a crisp shot. I also need a better zoom for that kind of thing.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Today, the Spruce Grouse, sometimes known as the "fool hen" or "stupid chicken" (what a coworker refers to them as) due to their tameness around humans. Mostly found throughout Canada and Alaska, they have a little bit of a range extending down along the Montana/Idaho border and can also be found in the UP/upper Wisconsin and Minnesota as well as much of Maine. Due to their diet of pine/spruce/fir needles, they are pretty unpalatable to hunters apparently so the tameness doesn't work against them to much. Like a lot of grouse they use their bodies to make various noises during courtship that can be heard at considerable distance. As seen in the photos below, the males have a prominent red eyebrow that they will also puff up in display.

These photos came while hiking with friends. We went off the trail to find a secluded hot springs that one of them knew about. While friends sat by the spring and I wondered in the area for birds, this guy just strolled right up. I walked to make 5-10 feet away if that and started taking pics. Even with a dog around he didn't seem bothered. Sat on a branch and just hung out. When we started walking away, he followed us for a while until he finally got annoyed with the dog trying to always get closer. You can almost make out my reflection in his eye in the second photo (it is a separate photo not cropped). The first photo if I recall I was not even zoomed in at all.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Today I am going to share with you: Lewis's Woodpecker

This interesting bird is named after Meriwether Lewis (he of Lewis and Clark fame) who first saw it in 1805. The woodpecker part is a little bit of a misnomer though. They don't really forage by pecking at trees to find insects or sap like other birds in the family. Rather, they forage like a flycatcher might, darting out from trees catching insects on the wing. And they have a flight pattern more similar to crows. They do occasionally store nuts in cracks in trees for the winter and on rare occasion will bore into a tree for insects (but catching on the wing is MUCH more common). Found west of the Rockies, they can be found in breeding season in pine forests of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of Nevada, Oregon and Washington. They winter in California, Arizona and New Mexico. Parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado are year round habitats. They like to find bare and open branches to perch from for hunting. So recently burned forest areas are common places to see them. Their pink belly, gray collar, and shiny dark green back are unique among woodpeckers.

This photo was from the first time I got to see one. I was in a Wildlife area that had burned years earlier and still had some dead and burned trees standing. Sure enough I saw him darting out and catching insects. Between not perching long, and never letting me get to close before he flew away, I wasn't able to get the best photos but I was still happy to finally see one and get a few shots.

 

[leswp1]

Really cool. We don't have the last one here

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Bored at work so here's one for today: the Bushtit

These tiny birds are found in the western US and have kind of a scattered range, much of Nevada and Utah, parts of Oregon, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Washington. Random spots in Texas. Extreme southern Idaho and trough central Mexico and a spot in Guatemala. They are the only bird of this family to be found in North America. They gather in small flocks and are CONSTANTLY moving through thick brush and thickets picking insects off of branches and leaves, sometimes hanging upside down to get to the underside of a leaf. They build a hanging, sock shaped nest made from moss, spiderwebs and grass. A breeding pair will often have several helpers that will aid in the raising of young, a rare behavior in birds. This is made even more unusual in that those helpers are often adult males.

Since they seem to be in constant movement, it makes it difficult to get a good photo. During a warmer February day in 2021, I was exploring along Snake River in the canyon in southern Idaho when I found a flock. I think I must have stood there trying to get one in focus for a good 10-15 minutes before I got this one that happened to stay still for maybe 10 seconds if that. They look like little fuzzballs with a long tail and a stubby little bill coming out of it. This bird is probably about 4 inches long from bill to tail.

 

[dxmnkd316]

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Moving on....

Today: American Kestrel.

A very common falcon, it clocks in as the smallest falcon in North America. It actually ranges from interior Alaska, over to Newfoundland, and all the way down into southern Argentina as well as the Carribean. The northern range in Canada and the upper plains states is a breeding range. Some over winter range in Mexico and Texas, the rest of their range is year-round. Quite common to see in open country perching on wires and poles. They hunt for insects and small prey (mammals, lizards etc.) by hovering while facing into the wind. They then use their wings and tails making adjustments as needed to stay in the same spot. In cities, apparently one of the best places to see them is at stadiums with big lights that attract moths in the evening. They will perch on the lights and catch the moths it attracts. They can also see in ultraviolet light and can actually see the urine trails of voles from above, helping them to track them.

This photo came while hiking in the Snake River Canyon in southern Idaho. There was actually a male and female perched in the same tree not far from each other. The male was easy to spot and I got a few good shots. The more drab colored female seemed a bit weary of me and wasn't cooperative. I got this shot and it wasn't until I uploaded it later that I realized she had a kill as it was obscured by the branch.

 

[busterman62]

Moving on....

Don't stop.
Fantastic pics! Please continue posting them.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Sorry

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Today's bird: Lazuli Bunting

The Lazuli Bunting has breeding grounds in the Western US (western Dakotas down to Colorado and over to the Pacific Coast) and winters in the mountains of west Mexico along the shores of the Gulf of California. With the males having bright blue heads and a brilliant orange chest, it perhaps comes as no surprise that the naturalist who named them used Passerina amoena, which means "beautiful sparrow". Though they are more closely related to cardinals and grosbeaks. Females are of course more dull and plain in color. These birds are most famous for song. Young males do not just start with their own song. Upon arriving in the breeding area, they will listen to other males and then take bits and fragments from the songs of other males and rearrange them into their own song which is then their own for life. Several males in the same area will sound somewhat similar because of this and they come to recognize and tolerate the others presence. However, if they hear a song that is too different from their neighbors, they will respond aggressively to those males. With the right feed in your feeders (the white millet) you can attract them to your yard. I had some feeders with that type of feed out this spring and had several come through while migrating to their breeding spots.

Perhaps not surprisingly, I heard this bird before I saw it. It was almost directly above me just signing away. Stayed for quite a while as I tried to position myself to maybe get a shot where he was in better light to show the vibrancy of that blue head. This was the best I could do. I need to get back out and see if I can get some shots that really show that blue. Its amazing. But it always seems I am in just the wrong position or the bird is to far away to get the best shot. 2nd picture is a different bird on a different day. Maybe not a lot better but I like it showing him what he does best.

 

[leswp1]

Cool! looks very much like our bluebird