The Black Swallowtail caterpillar is a common butterfly larvae throughout most of the United States. This species lives and dines on members of the parsley family (including carrots, dill, fennel and parsnips), which is how it got its nickname, Parsley worm.
Common Yellowthroat Warbler
The picture of this pretty male Common Yellowthroat Warbler was taken in the Ramble in Central Park during spring migration. The breeding habitats of Common Yellowthroat Warblers are marshes and other wet areas with dense low vegetation, and may also be found in other areas with dense shrub. However, these birds are less common in dry areas. Females appear to prefer males with larger masks. Common Yellowthroats nest in low areas of the vegetation, laying 3–5 eggs in a cup-shaped nest. Both parents feed the young.
To hear the song of the Common Yellowthroat Warbler click the arrow below
Blue Jay with Nesting Materials
Both members of the Blue Jay pair gather material and incorporate into nest, but males appear to do more of the former, and females more of the latter. The outer shell is composed primarily of strong, fresh twigs, sometimes thorny species, but also may include dead twigs. Twigs used in outer shell of the nest is usually taken from live trees, often with great struggle. Size of twigs decreases toward nest cup. The cup usually is lined with tough rootlets; sometimes lined with wet, partially decomposed leaves and mud is often incorporated in nest
I took this picture in the ramble in the Central Park Ramble
Mourning Doves
Allopreening, a form of appeasement behavior, occurs between mates during pair formation and consists of gentle nibbling of feathers in head and neck regions with beak.. Billing usually begins with male offering open beak to female after brief bouts of allopreening and displacement preening.The picture of this lovey doves was taken in the ramble in Central Park.
Baltimore Oriole Male Immature
Young male Baltimore Orioles do not molt into bright-orange adult plumage until the fall of their second year. Still, a few first-year males in drab, female-like plumage succeed in attracting a mate and raising young. The picture of this young male Baltimore Oriole was taken in the Ramble in Central Park.
Click arrow below to hear the typical song of the Baltimore Oriole
Northern Flicker Female Foraging
Although it can climb up the trunks of trees and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker prefers to find food on the ground. Ants are its main food, and the flicker digs in the dirt to find them. It uses its long barbed tongue to lap up the ants.
Click the arrow below to hear the sounds for the Northern Flicker
Wilson’s Warbler Singing
The picture of this beautiful Wilson’s Warbler singing was taken in Central Park at the point during spring migration.
To hear the song of the Wilson’s Warbler click the arrow below
The male Black-throated Green Warbler sings persistently during the breeding season. One individual Black-throated Green Warbler was observed singing 466 songs in one hour.The male Black-throated Green Warbler tends to sing his “zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee” song near the middle of his territory, largely in the beginning of the breeding season to attract females. He sings the “zoo-zee-zoo-zoo-zee” song mostly around the territory’s margins, to deter other males.
Click the arrow below to hear the song of the Black-throated Green Warbler
Magnolia Warbler Male
This little beauty is a male Magnolia Warbler in breeding plumage. I took this picture in the ramble in Central Park yesterday. I have been using the Canon EOS 5D Mark III with the Canon 100-400mm lens with a Canon 600 flash with a better beamer. I find that I need to use a flash in the ramble in Central Park most of the time because the birds are usually in shaded areas. The length of the Magnolia Warbler is 4.3 – 5.1 inches.
Palm Warbler
Despite its tropical sounding name, the Palm Warbler lives farther north than most other warblers. It breeds far to the north in Canada, and winters primarily in the southern United States and northern Caribbean.
Click arrow below to hear the song of the Palm Warbler.
Great Egret in Water in Central Park
The pristinely white Great Egret gets even more dressed up for the breeding season. A patch of skin on its face turns neon green at the onset of breeding in mature birds as you can see in this picture. Bills of reproductive mature individuals change from dull, streaked yellow to bright orange. Long plumes called aigrettes grow from its back which is not shown on this image.
Eastern Towhee on Branch
The picture of this Eastern Towhee on branch in was taken in Central Park. This picture of the Eastern Towhee was taken with the Canon 5D Mark III with the 100-400mm lens and the Canon 600 EX flash with the better beamer attached. I find that I need to use a flash a lot when shooting pictures in the ramble in Central Park because of all the shaded areas I find myself in and the birds.
White-throated Sparrow Spring
Central Park was filled with the lovely White-throated Sparrows in breeding plumage yesterday. Crisp facial markings make the White-throated Sparrow an attractive bird as well as a hopping, flying anatomy lesson. There’s the black eyestripe, the white crown and supercilium, the yellow lores, the white throat bordered by a black whisker, or malar stripe.
Yellow Warbler Singing