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Quite The Petite Nuthatch
January 22, 2025 A tiny little critter, the Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). I have to shake my head at the word “red” used as a label for this bird. Who thinks these names up? Don’t they know their colors? Wikipedia uses a perfect word for this Nuthatch’s belly – cinnamon. Another appropriate word to describe…
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There’s A Mnemonic For That
January 21, 2025 A Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), common in much of North America. They do migrate but are found here in Virginia year round. A Sparrow that is for me a challenge to distinguish from the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). Yes there are small but obvious differences but they don’t come close enough for…
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Red Against New White Snow
January 19, 2025 A count of eight Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) while more snow was coating everything today. Crimson dots looking for hulled sunflower seeds as things became more and more covered with white. Perhaps two inches of snow had accumulated by this evening. Winter carries on. _______________________ If you would like to receive my…
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A Regular At The Suet
January 18, 2025 A regular my the suet feeders. A Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). Found in eastern United States year round. It’s about the same size as a Robin, 9 to 10.5 inches long, with a wingspan of 13–16.5 inches. Its name comes from a subtle, not very often seen reddish patch on its belly.…
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The Solitary Towhee
January 17, 2025 The Eastern Towhee’s (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) native range is eastern North America, from southeastern Canada south to Florida and west to eastern Texas. A solitary bird that has been out looking for seeds to eat with the many birds that are showing up in my garden these snowy days. Just one though, with…
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Cardinals Gathering
January 16, 2025 A Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) yesterday, about to join in with friends enjoying the hulled sunflower seeds I’ve put out. During the winter they’re gregarious birds. Both yesterday and today there were six Cardinals gathering the seeds along with many other species. They’re birds that don’t migrate. Staying put in southeastern Canada,…
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One Of Many
January 13, 2025 A Northern Flicker (yellow shafted phase)(Colaptes auratus). One of an incredible number of birds that have been around for the peanuts, hulled sunflower seeds, and suet during this weeklong snow event. My count of species that have been in attendance is now at eighteen. Flickers are mainly insect eaters, but during the…