041722 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-painted-bunting-semi-common-in-coastal-southeast-south-central-u-s/article_0c982f00-f429-5ded-a42b-2054a897df73.html 

Oklahoma Migratory Species Profile: Wilson's Snipe

Stocky and long-billed, Wilson's Snipe is darker than a dowitcher, crouches more, and there is a dark stripe through the eye with lighter stripes both above and below the dark one.  They also have a white belly, dark underwings, and barred flanks.

It feeds by jerky, vertical probing and can be very inconspicuous along grassy pond edges.  They usually fly fairly high above flooded stubble fields, then suddenly plunge down to land within cover.  Depending solely on wetlands and avoiding dense, tall vegetation, this migrant will winter in both sugarcane and rice fields.

Usually found rather far from a shoreline, the breeding-aged male will stand atop fenceposts or snags bleating for a mate.

This game bird is actually quite difficult to hunt as a normal game bird.  "Sniper" actually was coined regarding this species due to its furtive nature and camouflage.  This robust shorebird will actually zigzag away when flushed.  The eyes, which are set back on the head permit binocular vision to the rear as well as superb peripheral vision (to the sides).

                                                                     Wilson's Snipe
                                                         Sooner Lake Power Plant, 2015

Once known as the Common Snipe, which is actually a separate breed in the Old World, makes an interesting drumming sound during a rapid descent from great heights.  This is caused by the wind creating rapid movement when the outer tail feathers vibrate, and is part of the species' courtship display.  It is called winnowing, and can be part of the male's or the female's repertoire.  They both will also feign a broken wing to protect the nest site, like the Killdeer.

To actually differentiate between the European Common Snipe and Wilson's, is the fact that the common has a wide white trailing edge to the wings and seven pairs of tail feathers as opposed to eight on the Wilson's.

They usually feed around dusk and dawn, sleeping the better part of the day.  One of the strongest fliers despite their ungainly appearance, they cruise at a speed of around sixty miles per hour.

Many of these birds are killed during cell/radio/television tower, building, and lighthouse strikes.

Oklahoma Winter Bird Profile: Golden-crowned Kinglet

see-see-see-see-chit-chit

Even tinier than the Ruby-crowned Kinglet with a bold eye stripe and more gray-green, the Golden-crowned Kinglet is a bird of the conifers.  They tend to be in small groups in the company of Brown Creepers, chickadees and other woodland birds.

They have dark wings with two black patches beneath the second wingbar.  The only real difference between the male and the female is the color of the crown, should it be flared.  The female will show a yellow crown and the male sports red-orange in the center of his crown.

               

They can be found is a wide array of habitats, with the favorite being in the evergreens.  However, other possibilities are along tree-lined streams, in orchards, parks, lowland deciduous woodlands, as well as within the Ponderosa pine forest.

Their food includes tiny insects, spiders, sap, eggs under leaves, and they will take fruit occasionally.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Golden-crowned Kinglet

                                                                                              audubon.org

Another very energetic songbird like the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, this diminutive sprite is a Boreal Forest breeder, which usually manages two large broods (lays 8-9 eggs, sometimes as many as 11) per season, and has expanded its range to spruce-fir forests of the northern US.  Another bird expected to change its breeding habitat, to more northern regions due to climate change, this Boreal breeder usually stays high in the canopy, even in winter.  The species can handle -40 degree temperatures.

Each of the kinglet's nostrils are covered by a single feather.  Know the song, as it is difficult to observe with its constant movement, but it will respond to a pish.  However, never pish in the dead of winter, as this can cause a bird's well-being to suffer with the cold.

Kinglet is synonymous with crest.  The Golden- and Ruby-crowned Kinglets will sometimes hybridize.

Oklahoma Winter Bird Profile: Ruby-crowned Kinglet

                                                             Courtesy Timothy Barksdale

One of the smallest birds, this nervous-appearing, constant wingflicker in continual motion possesses olive-green plumage with a pale eye ring, thin dark bill and legs with pale feet.  Often confused with a warbler, this solitary bird often joins chickadees, titmice, warblers, and other small songbirds of the wood.  When agitated or excited, the adult male will flick its bright red crown.  It also has a dark bar on the base of its secondary feathers and appears to be a warbler or a tiny flycatcher with its rapid movement.

It has a loud, complex, and highly variable confusing song, and lays the largest clutch of eggs for its size, numbering up to a dozen. This songbird breeds in the western mountains of the US and the northeast, but mainly attends nests in the Boreal Forest of Canada.  It breeds high within spruce-fir forests which lends difficulty to its breeding habits.  They do favor mixed forest and old growth habitat.  The adult male arrives first upon breeding territory and leaves last in the fall, even later than the juveniles of that season.

                                                               Ruby-crowned Kinglet
                                                      Boomer Creek Park, January 2016

In the winter, it prefers thick understory.  Having studied the species extensively in the Boomer Creek area over several years (2015-early 2018), it was found that they will readily habituate to humans.  One particular male would appear when called and was very amicable to numerous photographs, coming very close.  However when disturbed by loud traffic and other abnormal non-forest noises, it would disappear, but return quickly.  It never remained in the area longer than ten days.  Its song consisted of rapid warbles, clear notes, and whistles, lasting approximately six seconds.  Its song is so loud, one expects much larger than a four-inch bird.

The songbird enjoyed small insects and readily investigated old spider egg sacs, as well as red cedar fruit, and sally out after gnats or similar insects.

At Boomer Lake, another individual male bird was observed during the same period in 2016, which had a personality nothing like the original kinglet.  It was shy and retiring, never singing, making observation much more difficult.  It was not in the area longer than three days.

Most birds of the western part of the country will remain there, but many of the northernmost breeders will continue on to southern Mexico or slightly beyond for migration.  Oklahoma's birds can be observed for the entire winter and into early spring.

For More Photos of Ruby-crowned Kinglet, See:

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2016/01/as-cool-wind-blows-stars-come-out-of.html

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2016/01/steady-as-westerly-wind-blows.html

Oklahoma Winter Bird Profile: Vesper Sparrow

Half the state will see the Vesper Sparrow as a winter resident (in the southern half) and the northern half will see it as a migrant.

As a short grass prairie breeder it often perches on barbed wire or small trees, not mixing with other sparrow species in the Northern US and Canada.  In the winter, it can be found in loose flocks upon agricultural fields or dry and sparsely vegetated pastures.  It is best to look for them in full song at that time, as they are at their least shy during the breeding season.

Rarely observed, it has a small red shoulder patch, thin white eyering, flashes white outer tail feathers while in flight, and sings a sweet series of trills within the vespers of twilight.

They will quickly settle in abandoned farm fields and old mines as they revert to their forest stature.

These ground dwellers and nesters scratch upon the ground and take frequent dust baths.  After the breeding season, they will migrate south and forage with mixed sparrow species that include Brewer's, Savannah, and Grasshopper Sparrows, as well as the Lark Bunting.

                                                                  Vesper Sparrow
                                                          Boomer Lake Park, 2015

Populations are declining to some degree due to likely loss of grassland habitat, frequent mowing of fields, early harvest, and hedgerow removal.  Certain populations could become threatened or endangered due to this continued activity in the eastern ranges, but in general, they are still a species of low concern.  They enjoy meadows with open soil, stubble fields, and grassy areas above sandy beaches.

They are rather early spring migrants and return later in the fall.  They usually have been peaking in May and October.

Oklahoma Winter Bird Profile: White-crowned Sparrow

more, more, more cheezies

This common bird has dialects all over the country to denote where it is from.  These birds are observed in the winter in Oklahoma in brushy or weedy areas.  They will feed in flocks on the ground and when disturbed, will all fly back to cover.  Our adult East Taiga subspecies has a pink bill and white head stripes.

A Boreal Forest breeder, as well as portions of western states, these sparrows are resident in most of the southern US.  Gambel's sparrow enjoys shrubby and woody thickets, as well as hedgerows, forest parks, and gardens in many open areas.  Because of its wide range and distribution, it is often seen, especially during migratory events in the same areas.

                                                      East Taiga White-crowned Sparrow
                                                              Boomer Lake Park, 2015
Just like most sparrows, the white-crowned hops and scratches, but will sometimes hawk for insects in flight.

The undulating flight with alternate flapping is a characteristic of many birds like this one.  This sparrow can show a strong preference for certain territories and be within a flock of a dozen to four dozen birds in winter, especially in agricultural fields and back yards.  They can be attracted by brush piles and sunflower seeds if you'd like to see more of them.

They prefer seeds, buds, and berries, and like most breeding birds base their diet upon protein sources in spring and summer.

Most of this species migrates at night.  The northern and mountain region subspecies are strongly migratory, with the Pacific birds usually resident to their region.  Alaskan birds are known for orange bills and the Pacific coast birds have yellow bills, while the remainder share the pink bill, including the Rocky Mountain subspecies.

The Gambel's sparrow is very familiar to the eastern and mountain subspecies, but will not have black lores, yet the bill is more orange.  Nuttall's sparrow is a very regional non-migratory coastal bird of the Pacific, restricted to parkland and restored scrub.

Known for the short series of clear whistles followed directly by buzzy tones, it gets easier to tell when they are in the area if one enjoys birding by ear.  Once the GISS (general impression, shape, and size) is learned, one should have no trouble picking out young birds, who have brown as opposed to black head markings.  The bill is just as short and the tail is just as long in comparison to an adult.

Oklahoma Winter Bird Profile: Lincoln's Sparrow

Often a mild winter resident of Oklahoma in dense thickets and overgrown fields, some of the Lincoln's Sparrows are already moving in from northern US and Boreal Forest breeding grounds.  These sparrows tend to like grassy patches around trees and brush near water sources.  Generally solitary, they will mix with other flocks of sparrows.

This streaked brown and buff sparrow clearly shows malted-milk sides with a black streaked breast and white belly and throat.  The buffy mustache stripe is bordered with brown lines.  The crest commonly moves up and down when the bird is intrigued or alarmed, but is not a clear delineator of the species.

The medium sized sparrow is not as dainty as it appears and is a skulker.  It often is missed in migration, so tune your ears to its sound.  Pishing will draw it out, but never do that to any bird in the winter so they may conserve energy when they need it the most.

                                                               Lincoln's Sparrow
                                                         Boomer Lake Park, Winter 2017

This New World sparrow covers most of North and Central America in subalpine woods,  thickets, and even subarctic streams, fens, swamps, wet meadows, and mountain meadows of the western US.  Alders, willows, spruce, tamarack and thick ground vegetation will draw it within.

If one hears the characteristic double scratch of a sparrow, look carefully for the source on the ground, as it could well be the shy migrant.  Flitting from one spot to another,  Lincoln's will incessantly chip when faced with an intruder's approach.

Enjoying grasses, weeds, insects, seeds, grains, and invertebrates, they can be expected in September or October as migrants.  Expect it for Christmas Bird Count if in the appropriate area in Oklahoma.

This bird was named by John James Audubon for his friend, Thomas Lincoln of Dennysville, Maine.  It was originally called Tom's Finch after the man that shot it for Audubon.

Oklahoma Migratory Species Profile: Black Tern

kef, kip,or kyip

Smaller than most terns, but slightly larger than the Least Tern, the Black Tern has dark gray wings and back, and a buoyant flight on broad wings.  For breeding plumage, they have a black body.

Though uncommon and local, migrants can be found on any body of water from open ocean to marshes.  It is found quite frequently all over Oklahoma during times of spring and fall migration.

Some local populations are declining due to wetland degradation with cattail growth, draining and agricultural growth in wetlands, invasive or exotic fish species, lake acidification, overfishing, and pesticides.  Eutrophication is another problem that will only increase, and this is caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus obtained from fertilizer runoff.  This depletes oxygen for fish, which the Black Tern depends upon for minor food sources, but it does depend a great deal upon insects.  Of course, these chemicals result in excessive water plant growth and that also causes oxygen depletion for the ecology of this tern.

                                                                        Black Tern
                                                         Boomer Lake Park, May 2017

Breeding habitat is in the Northern US and across Canada in small to large freshwater marshes containing emergent vegetation and areas of open water.  The species nests semi-colonially in this vegetation, particularly cattail rootstalks.  Muskrat houses are occasionally used, but the substrates are smaller and lower than used by Forster's Terns.   

North American Black Terns migrate to northern coastal South America or to the open ocean.

The American subspecies will show as a vagrant to Great Britain and Ireland.

Vagrants of Oklahoma: Great Kiskadee

KREEtaperrr, Kiskadeee, Christopher, BEE-tee-WEE

Whatever dialect you choose, the raucous Great Kiskadee will say something that you will understand.  This handsome passerine perches conspicuously in treetops in small groups, and due to its coloration, it is very easy to locate.

Common is dense woodlands, as well as around a water source, this perching songbird sometimes consumes fish, lizards, insects, and berries.

Seen only from spring through summer and until migration, a Great Kiskadee presented itself at Red Slough in McCurtain County in 2012.  It had been seen several times during that stretch, but was the only time recorded on eBird.  As several people there would agree, it was a very eye-catching vagrant.

Open and second growth wood lots appeal to them, as do scrubby irrigation channels, and suburbs when in a breeding area.  In the tropics and subtropics, they are within shade-grown coffee farms, and citrus and banana plantations.

                                                                Great Kiskadee
                                                   Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX 2017

These bold large flycatchers will eat animal or vegetable matter, human offerings, and even steal cat and dog food from the dishes.

Commonly found in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas as a permanent resident, this is one subspecies out of ten seen worldwide.  In 1957, the large flycatcher was introduced to Bermuda to control the large number of lizards.  It has proliferated to this day, and was never interested in Caribbean amphibians as a food source.  Only rarely will it migrate to Arizona.

In flycatcher fashion, it will mob hawks and larger birds due to its nature.


More of the Great Kiskadee and the Lower Rio Grande Valley:

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2017/02/birding-on-shoestring-days-11-through-13.html

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2017/02/days-one-and-two-of-birding-lower-rio.html

Oklahoma Migratory Species Profile: Greater White-fronted Goose

Brown-gray geese with dark belly bars (hence the nickname specklebelly), the Greater White-fronted Goose migrates through the area.  It is generally uncommon and local, even in its favorite winter ranges.

It is sooner heard than seen, with a high pitched laughing or yelping.  Know that sound and you'll not miss it, as it has a small and local winter range in Oklahoma at meadows, lakes, marshes and grain fields.

It will be seen in the Oklahoma skies in groups as it heads south, but look high, because it will be heard.  Its name was obtained for the small patch of white feathers at the base of its pink or orange bill.  There are three distinct subspecies seen in North America.  The group that is most often seen in the Great Plains will be the birds that breed in Far Slope of Alaska through the western and central Canadian Arctic, the Anser albifrons gambeli.

                                                      Greater White-fronted Goose
                                                     Boomer Lake Park, April 2018

On the breeding grounds, these migrants are very territorial, just like our Canada Geese.  Young stay with their parents for about the first year, and it takes them about two-and-a-half years to breed.  They will remain in the same breeding area.  They are strong fliers and will fly in the familiar "V" formation or in single file.

They are often in the company of other geese and will usually flush before the rest.

Who else is with the Greater White-fronted Goose?

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/04/boomer-lakes-year-of-bird.html

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/02/januarys-birds-of-boomer.html

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Black-and-white Warbler

wee-zee-wee-zee-wee-zee!

A common bird that nests in mixed, small second growth, or deciduous forests, the squeaky wheel sounds can carry over many other songs.  This little songster is known for its namesake and forages in a nuthatch like manner, creeping along both large limbs and the tree trunk.  The female has muted coloration and less streakiness, but there is no doubt that she is a black-and-white.

This species is fond of hawking insects, and will also probe heartily for insects, larvae, spiders, and egg clutches.  Sometimes it will even be so bold as to search twigs and their foliage.

                                                             Black-and-white Warbler
                                                           Boomer Creek, March 2016

Since they forage on the backs of trees, they don't need leaves to search for food, which makes them an early migrant.  In the fall they depart around the end of August to October.  If they are not readily seen, they will be heard.

They generally nest near tree bases and rely on dead leaves and moss for concealment.  Five eggs are incubated by the female for a week and a half and they are fed by both parents.

They can often be the victim of Brown-headed Cowbirds and are neotropical migrants.  They are vulnerable to pesticides, and are also victims for window collisons and turbines during migration.

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: White-eyed Vireo

Spit, and see if I care.  Spit! 

Along edges of woods, sitting low while hidden within vegetation, this small, olive drab gray bird has bright yellow spectacles on the gray head.   It is a denizen of second growth forest, riparian streamside thickets, and old fields.

Having a very distinct white iris, more often heard than seen, the solitary bird is often considered to be a warbler or kinglet.  It flicks its wings open and is stocky and active, usually found in the southeast quadrant of the country.

Simple enough song was illustrated, was it not?  Don't let this bird fool you, for it can sing some of the most complex songs.  Males are quite capable of more than a dozen songs, comprising six to ten highly variable elements.  Explosive and spunky, its little head shyly peers out of thick shrubbery, and occasionally, it will actually show itself quite well.

                                                               White-eyed Vireo
                                                          Estero Llano Grande, TX 2017

Favoring spiders, lacewings, moths, butterflies, beetles, and the like, it will slowly hop about in shrubbery to glean these insects.  Larger prey will be pinned down with a foot to be controlled.  During nonbreeding season, they will consume berries from sumac, poison ivy, pokeweed, and wax myrtle.

Nests are low to the ground at approximately three to eight feet in forks of small trees or shrubs.  They are suspended from horizontal forks and held together with spider silk, like many other vireo nests, but are more conelike, similar to warbling vireo construction.

Males are just as diligent as females to raising young, and he is a good protector and provider.

Many of the species are parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird, and they will not have time to tend their own young, which will die.

These are breeding birds of eastern Oklahoma.  They are early migrants and thickets are just beginning to leaf out when they are ready to nest.

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Long-billed Curlew

                   
Usually solitary, this uncommon denizen of the grasslands uses its long, decurved bill to probe deeply into mud and sand for crabs, and also enjoys shrimp when out of the breeding season.  During this period of time, it will also be located in mudflats, wetlands, flooded fields under six inches deep, beaches and tidal estuaries.  A rare visitor of the Oklahoma panhandle, the species once was seen in other northwestern counties.

This nesting bird, nicknamed sicklebill or candlestick bird, of the short grass prairie, does not need water nearby and will forage chiefly on grasshoppers, earthworms, and other invertebrates.  Breeding habitat can also include combinations of sage and cactus on gentle hills, agricultural lands, or grazed mixed grass prairie.

                                                              Long-billed Curlew
                                                            Cimarron County, OK

Small flocks will arrive on breeding grounds and foraging and core areas are then established.  These are often sandy areas, and flight displays and calls will be given above these locales, which will alert one to a nesting ground.  Area meadows are also used to forage within, and flight displays will also be observed here, as well.  This extended territory will be defended and unwanted strangers will be removed.

Nest sites are damp hollows or long sloped riparian areas.  Curlews will nest in loose colonies and the nests are often by dried cow dung for purposes of concealment.  There are four or five eggs in the nest, and they are single brooded.  Chicks are precocial, so they can move about on their own power in a short amount of time.

After families are raised, the flock will depart by the first half of August and winter in southern coastal areas from central and western North America.

In flight, the largest shorebird will show rusty wing patches.  It struts instead of walks, and the impossibly long decurved bill is an identifying feature.  Graceful and with a purpose, it has pale cinnamon underparts.


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Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Painted Bunting

A sweet, ongoing warble that sounds like graffiti, graffiti, spaghetti for two, and that is the sound of the male (or immature male) Painting Bunting.  The male receives his handsome dress no earlier than his second year of life.  This uncommon beauty is located along forest edges, wooded ravines, shrubby river bottoms, or in tall trees, and it is very at home along riparian forest.  If you have ever heard that song, you will never forget it.

One of the most beautiful and colorful birds, this splash of radiance is found from May through July in the better part of Oklahoma, except the panhandle, which lacks forest and brushy thickets.

Males are very territorial and will battle other interlopers while females are arriving in the area.  They have been known to wound or kill other males, and if the female should be caught up within a fracas, she can also risk injury.  This species favors invertebrates, and will even remove prey from spider's webs in order to feed.  The males are relentless during spring.

                                                                Male Painted Bunting
                                                                 Boomer Creek, 2015

Often parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird, this member of the cardinal family is known collectively as a mural or palette of buntings.  When males migrate to warmer regions for the winter, they still retain their beautiful plumage and do not molt into drabness.

Due to loss of habitat, the species is declining in both the US and Central America.  They may still be trapped as cage birds in the illegal trade south of our country, and have a near threatened conservation status.

If you have had any of these birds in your back yard, they will visit feeders, and you'll be even more fortunate if you have the perfect habitat for a nesting pair.

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Very small and rarely standing still, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher has two subspecies, the eastern and the western.  They also have a noticeable white eye ring, and a very defined blue-gray coloring.
The breathy and wheezing song can be heard before the bird can be seen, and that could be your only clue that they are in your presence.  However, during the fall, if they are still attending young, they will be a little more lenient to your view.

They glean small insects, usually from mid- to upper-story levels of trees.  In the east, they are riparian dwellers and foragers, and usually solitary.  The eastern birds nest in swampy woods and tend to favor broad-leafed, tall trees, especially oak which also is a favorite of most insects.  In the western regions, they tend to be located in mature brushy woods or thickets, as well as oak-juniper woods and chapparal.  Western nest in pinyon-juniper areas, open woods, or arid and dense brush.

                                                      Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, July 2016
                                                                      Boomer Creek
                                     
Once classed as an Old World Warbler, the male has a thin, black line over his eye and the long tail appears white from underneath.  The birds will often flutter while gleaning prey in foliage or around thin twigs.  Berries and fruit will be consumed in the winter.

Both sexes will build the nest, and the male often will show the female an assortment of sites on the territory, singing to her all the while as he perches during her inspection.  Both incubate fairly equally, as well as brood the young, who remain in the nest for close to two weeks.  The nests are usually made with spider silk and lichens.  They are attached either in small, high forks or on a horizontal branch.

                                                         Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Nest
                                                                           OK 2016

They are migratory, except in the extreme southern ranges.

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Western Kingbird

A bird of the western half of the US, the Western Kingbird is one of the tyrant flycatchers.  This flycatcher has white edges on both sides of the tail, a white throat and light gray breast, and has a high pitched and squeaky pidik-pik-pidik-pidik-PEEKado call.  It sounds like a sputtering car.

Many of these flycatchers nest upon manmade structures and have been comfortable for doing that for quite some time.  However, if they are in the countryside, they favor edge habitat like orchards, tree lined residential neighborhoods, hedgerows, grassland, desert scrub, fences, electrical or telephone wires, woodland or riparian edges, and many other venues.  They have adapted well to humanity and don't mind being in the close proximity of homo sapiens.

                                                                  Western Kingbird
                                                            Boomer Lake Park, 2016

This species is just as territorial as the Eastern Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and the rest of the kingbird clan.  When it is nesting season, they will drive any large bird out of the area, be it hawks or crows, yet several birds may share a single tree for nesting purposes.  They will many times repair a nest from the year before and reuse it.  The young fledge in about two weeks, but they still remain partially dependent.

Like the typical flycatcher, they will perch on branches and sally out after insects for both themselves and their young.  Oftentimes, they will return to the same branch and repeat the same activity after they have either eaten their insect or delivered it to a family member.

                                                         Black Mesa State Park, 2017

During courtship or while defending territory, they will display a reddish-orange crown, very similar to the Eastern Kingbird.

These birds are susceptible to pesticide problems, as they will easily encounter them while foraging around agricultural lands for insects.  They will dive for ground prey and search within foliage for protein matter.

They are a medium- to long-distance migrant, usually wintering in Central America.