Below is a photo of a Richardson’s (hutchinsii) Cackling Goose with a lovely white neck collar. Some B. h. hutchinsii can show this feature. I sent photos of this bird to waterfowl expert, Ken Abraham, and he mentioned that in a sample of fall migrant B. h. hutchinsii from Thunder Bay Continue reading Cackling Goose (hutchinsii) with a white neck collar
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Cooper’s Hawk ID tip
By March, the plumage of some Cooper’s Hawks is especially faded and the tawny tones typically seen throughout the head and nape can be bleached to whitish. Sun bleaching/feather wear can produce, in some cases, a streaky aftermath and a combination of potentially misleading ‘false fieldmarks.’ Continue reading Cooper’s Hawk ID tip
Non-traceable Alarm Calls
Did you know?
The other morning I had the kitchen window cracked and could hear plenty of birdsong and watched as birds excitedly flew about the yard. Suddenly, all went quiet; there was a sharp drop in song and activity. I then could hear a chickadee singing its high-pitched “see” alarm notes. Continue reading Non-traceable Alarm Calls
Birding Amherst Island
Hi there,
Today, 23 February 2016, I solo-birded Amherst Island. I approached the day with the ferocity and style similar to a day working a quadrant during a Christmas Bird Count. For the first time on Amherst, I carefully checked every feeder and also ‘pished’ frequently in suitable sparrow habitat. Continue reading Birding Amherst Island
Which species am I? :)
Good luck!
“Brown” Eagle ID note
On the separation of adult Golden Eagle vs. immature Bald Eagle:
Figure 1: Adult Golden Eagle at left; first year Bald Eagle at right. Examining the build of the birds from head to tail, then wingtip-to-wingtip, we can see that the Golden has a proportionately small head and bill Continue reading “Brown” Eagle ID note
Golden Eagle at a Distance
On the identification of sub-adult/adult Golden Eagles at a distance: Golden Eagles are large-bodied, have long and broad wings, lengthy “hands” (primary tips), and have a proportionally small head and long tail. These features, combined, produce a subtle yet unique ‘signature’ in the sky. Continue reading Golden Eagle at a Distance
Greater vs. Southern Common Redpoll: bill shape
Figure 1: Comparative bill shape of “Southern” (flammea) Common Redpoll at left and “Greater” (rostrata) Common Redpoll at right. Greater are known for their stout, distinctly-shaped bill derived from a swollen bill base and gently curved culmen (top of bill).
Sexing Northern Shrikes in the Field?
After reading Dale A. Zimmerman’s (1955) paper on shrike identification, I began to investigate whether Northern Shrikes could be sexed and age-classified (in some cases) in the field. Continue reading Sexing Northern Shrikes in the Field?
St Isidore: 10 Bald Eagles in a single field
Today (2 February 2016) at 1100 AM I observed 10 Bald Eagles (7 perched along a tree line and 3 in the nearby field) seen from Concession 21, looking N, just W of Renaud crossroad. The eagles were also seen by looking S from Concession 20, just W of Renaud. Continue reading St Isidore: 10 Bald Eagles in a single field