There were lots of Eastern Phoebes at Green-wood Cemetery this past Sunday. In 1804, the Eastern Phoebe became the first banded bird in North America. John James Audubon attached silvered thread to an Eastern Phoebe’s leg to track its return in successive years.
Tree Swallows on Box
It is wonderful to have the Tree Swallows back inhabiting the air space and nest boxes at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. And as you can see, they are being their same chatty selves. Tree Swallows winter farther north than any other American swallows and return to their nesting grounds long before other swallows come back.
To hear the song of the Tree Swallow click on the arrow below
Carolina Chickadee
John James Audubon named Carolina Chickadee bird while he was in South Carolina.
Gray Catbird in Snow
It was very exciting to see this Gray Catbird last Friday as this usually is one of the first birds to migrate north in the Spring. The Gray Catbird was named for its mewing call, although few people would mistake the sound of this bird for that of an actual cat.
Northern Cardinal Male
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a North American bird in the genus Cardinalis; it is also known colloquially as the redbird or common cardinal. A perennial favorite among people, the Northern Cardinal is the state bird of seven states. Northern Cardinals don’t migrate and they don’t molt into a dull plumage, so they’re still breathtaking in winter’s snowy backyards.
White-throated Sparrow Holding Toe
There are two adult plumage variations for the White-throated Sparrow which are the tan-striped and white-striped forms.The photograph above is the tan form, the crown is dark brown with a tan central stripe. The two color morphs of the White-throated Sparrows occur in approximately equal numbers. Both male and female white-striped birds are more aggressive than tan-striped birds during the breeding season.
Savannah Sparrow
The picture of this lovely Savannah Sparrow was taken at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge during the winter months. I used the Canon 5D Mark III Camera with the Canon 100-400mm lens for this photograph. The Savannah Sparrow has a small head, and telltale yellow spot before the eye. Savannah Sparrows are one of the most numerous songbirds in North America.
Fox Sparrow
Fox Sparrows are dark, splotchy sparrows of dense thickets. Named for the rich red hues that many Fox Sparrows wear, this species is nevertheless one of our most variable birds, with four main groups that can range from foxy red to gray to dark brown. The picture of this pretty Fox Sparrow was taken in the Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Dark-eyed Junco
Juncos are the “snowbirds” of the middle latitudes. Over most of the eastern United States, they appear as winter sets in and then retreat northward each spring. Dark-eyed Juncos are primarily seed-eaters.The photograph of this Dark-eyed Junco with a background of crab apples was taken at the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, New York.
White-throated Sparrow Closeup
White-throated Sparrows stay near the ground, scratching through leaves in search of food, often in flocks. White-throated Sparrows sing their distinctive songs frequently, even in winter. The picture of this White-throated Sparrow Closeup with lots of feather detail was taken at the Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Northern Mockingbird
Both male and female mockingbirds sing. They often mimic the sounds of birds (and frogs) around them. They go on learning new sounds throughout their lives. The song is a long series of phrases, with each phrase repeated 2-6 times before shifting to a new sound; the songs can go on for 20 seconds or more.
American Robin with Berries
Massive seasonal American Robin migrations occur across large areas of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico as individuals respond to the seasonal availability of soil invertebrates in the spring and of fruit in the fall. The picture of this American Robin was taken at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York.
Blue-headed Vireo
The Blue-headed Vireo is a common and vocal bird of northeastern forests. The Blue-headed Vireo is the latest vireo to depart in autumn; migration more prolonged than in spring. Migrants use wide variety of wooded habitats, from shrubbery to treetops, either coniferous or deciduous.
To hear the song of the Blue-headed Vireo, click on the arrow below.
Horned Lark
The only true lark native to North America, the Horned Lark is a common, widespread bird of open country. Adult Horned Larks eat primarily weed and grass seeds, but they feed insects to their young. In the open areas of western North America, Horned Larks are among the bird species most often killed by wind turbines.
Field Sparrow
This Field Sparrow is one of the fall migrating sparrows that come through the New York City area this time of year. The Field Sparrow has a simple, yet distinctive song of repeated clear whistled notes on one pitch that increase in rate until they make a trill.