Showing posts with label songbirds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label songbirds. Show all posts
Saturday, March 11, 2023
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Oklahoma Irruptive Species Profile: Pine Siskin
zhreee-zhreeee-zhreee
The Pine Siskin often associates with the American Goldfinch, and can be a common nomadic winter bird in Oklahoma. But as an occasional compatriot, its presence can vary on a yearly basis. It feeds upon insects, buds, seeds of many conifers, as well as what could be left upon deciduous trees.
Sometimes displaying yellow wingbars, this finch enjoys thistle and will be at your feeder when it is present. Large numbers of this migratory bird can appear sporadically and it is usually due to lack of food in its normal habitat. They have a remarkably high metabolism and will eat constantly. They are generalist feeders, so almost anything will please them. Mineral deposits will also send them to roadways and roadsides in order to eat these sparse flecks from road salt. However, the newer melting agents are made of less worthy chemicals, which could cause them physical angst or worse. They also tend to be run over in the roadways, leading to added mortality.
Pine Siskin
Boomer Lake Park, 2014
During times of breeding in the northern states, mountains, and the Boreal Forest, they are a known Brown-headed Cowbird host. Forest fragmentation has increased this probability, so they tend to have their young survive much better through appropriate forest management, where large swaths are not clear cut and replanted the following spring.
These songbirds are often afflicted with salmonella which can be common at bird feeders, a reminder to keep them very clean, much more than normal during inclement weather. Cats should be keep away from feeding stations, and they are also victims to other predators like raptors, crows, and red squirrels. They will do well in a yard with much cover, especially shrubs and enjoy ornamental conifers. They also enjoy remains from leftover sunflowers, weeds, and thistle plants.
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Oklahoma Vagrants: Cassin's Finch
Uncommon in western montane coniferous forests, this finch has a more pointed and longer bill than the Purple Finch, as well as a longer primary projection. The most distinguishing characteristics between House Finch and Purple Finch are the short, deeply forked tail and the peaked head. They usually forage upon the ground, feeding on fruit, insects, buds, and conifer seeds.
First seen in Oklahoma in 2000, the American rosefinch has steadily become more common and was observed several times during 2018 at the Black Mesa Bed in Breakfast in winter, as well as New Year's Eve, as well as once in spring. It was also seen in the spring this year in Guymon. In Oklahoma, they appear to be moving west to central to likely survive climate change over the next few decades.
These birds breed throughout western conifer belts of the interior mountains between 3,000 and 10,000 feet. They favor most pines, spruce, and quaking aspen. Some prefer open sagebrush scrub with interspersed western juniper. Breeding numbers tend to change as the food supply does over yearly periods. Some northernmost birds will migrate south for the winter, yet others choose not to do so.
Cassin's Finch
Madera Canyon, AZ 2018
In late summer and early fall they will flock with Red Crossbills, Pine Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, and other assorted birds of the mountains to forage and seek out salt through mineral deposits. In the winter, they migrate to lower valleys, or altitudinal migration.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Summer Tanager
Pik-a-tuck or picky-tucky
Solitary in upper canopies, this bee and wasp connoisseur will prefer pine and upland mixed forest, though it likes lower and more open forest than the Scarlet Tanager.
Males are strikingly beautiful with strawberry coloring, while females are mustard yellow. Their specific coloring is dependent upon their diet. These birds are in the cardinal family, yet they lack the conical bill. They sound somewhat similar to the American Robin.
Male Summer Tanager
High Island,TX 2015
The summer redbirds will sally insects similar to a flycatcher, and they pursue nearly any stinging insect. Their favorite trees are oak and pine, which attract many insects, so they will creep along on branches seeking same.
Flimsy cup nests are built upon horizon branches, distant from the trunk of the tree. Usually four eggs are incubated solely by the female. Beebirds are single brooded with an incubation period of about eleven or twelve days. The female broods, but both sexes feed the young.
Female Summer Tanager
Santa Cruz County, AZ
Both birds keep in contact with one another by uttering clicks, very much like the Northern Cardinal.
Friday, August 24, 2018
Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Yellow Warbler
Sweet-sweet-sweet-little more sweet!
Familiar sounds from a familiar bird that is seen early for migration, many times in late July or August. Wet brushy habitats (second growth) will assure your success on viewing this little beauty, especially around willow and cottonwood thickets, as well as orchards and hedgerows.
Present in most of the country in spring or fall, the Yellow Warbler will be certain to please you with its lovely song and characteristic demeanor. It forages on stems and leaves of trees and bushes. Males will forage higher than females, who seen to prefer a more laid back style of gleaning their insects and spiders.
Male Yellow Warbler
in breeding plumage, Boomer Lake Park
This wood warbler arrives on the breeding ground is late April or May. Though a rare breeder in Oklahoma, it will breed occasionally in the north central or northeast portions of the state. The Brown-headed Cowbird parasitizes many of this species, yet it remains plentiful. The warbler simply builds a second tier upon the nest, lays more eggs, and goes about its business, sometimes as many as six times.
They have one or two broods a year, and the monogamous pair build a cup nest of grass, moss, lichen and spider silk lined with softer material. This can be found in an upturned tree fork or in a dense shrub or bush. Females will sometimes help themselves to nest material from other nests, taking about four days to manage construction. The male does little to contribute to this endeavor, and he will even feed young occasionally. He is busy protecting the female, nest, and territory from interlopers.
Female Yellow Warbler
Boomer Lake Park--Heron Cove
The species has simple needs for territory. It only requires about a half acre of real estate, high singing posts, sufficient foraging areas, and plenty of concealment.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Friday, January 19, 2018
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Sunday, August 2, 2015
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