Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Blue Grosbeak

Singing a rich, husky warble with a mumbling quality, the uncommon Blue Grosbeak makes itself known in open weedy fields singing from tall weeds or bushes.  Characteristic of old fields turning back to woodlands, they breed in areas of mixed grass and shrubs with scattered trees.

Named for two noticeable field marks, the deep blue color and the large powerful bill, this songbird usually raises two broods each summer.  It often uses snakeskin as a nesting material, perhaps to surprise possible predators.  Nests are usually at clearing edges that are built near the ground, with incubation done by the female.  Nestlings are cared for by both parents.

                                                                 Male Blue Grosbeak
                                                                     Big Thicket, TX
Most of these large finches nesting in the eastern US migrate across the Caribbean, as they are regularly seen there during both spring and fall migrations.  What data exists shows that the Blue Grosbeak may be heavily parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird.  In the fall, flocks will gather in rice fields before they fly south.  The flight call is a metallic klink.

A group of grosbeaks is known as a gross of grosbeaks. 

The Blue Grosbeak and Birds of Northeast Texas:

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-natural-world-according-to.html

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Lark Sparrow

A passerine common in open grassy areas with scattered trees or in shortgrass adjacent to trees, and found easily in pastures and on farmlands.  They are ground foragers, oftentimes on lawns searching for seeds and insects.  This large, thick-billed sparrow has a variegated face pattern, the best identifying feature.

Even early in the breeding season, the male will sing often, be it in flight, on the ground or perched on fenceposts.  Tail spreads are a conspicuous part of display before mating.  The male will  hold a small twig, copulate with the female, and then pass it to her, when she will fly off and possibly use it while she constructs the nests.

Females will occasionally use thrasher or mockingbird nests instead of building theirs, sometimes preferring to be in a tree or shrub.  They will frequently nest upon the ground in natural grasslands where there is a slight rise or a shallow depression in shaded and bare locations.

There are some minor issues with population growth most likely used by loss of habitat or the increase of fire frequency due to invasive grasses.  They once were plentiful in the east, but population drove them away.

One of the easiest sparrows to identify due to the distinctive facial pattern and long tail with broad white edges, the lark sparrow is found in a wide range across the US, except in the east.  This New World sparrow is a short to medium distance migrant wintering in Mexico and is also a vagrant to the United Kingdom.

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Red-shouldered Hawk

Kee-yah, kee-yah!

Often observed perching in trees at edges of clearings, the Red-shouldered Hawk is usually seen near water.  It is vocal with crescents shown across its outer primaries, which is used as one feature of identification.  Checked flight feathers are also another identifying characteristic.  It is not usually seen in the same habitat as the Red-tailed Hawk, yet there are exceptions to the rule.

The three subspecies are very distinctive, which includes the California, Florida, and Eastern.  The California has a solid orange breast, the Eastern has orange bars, and the Florida is much paler as adults.  The brown juvenile is streaked below and very similar to the Broad-winged Hawk.

                                                        Eastern Red-shouldered Hawk
                                                            Boomer Lake Park, 2016

The most distinctive signage is the red shoulder patch, or epaulet, and it is often the most common hawk in its habitat, where it hunts in swamps, coves, agricultural areas with plenty of trees, and riparian woodlands.  Sedentary like other buteos they soar while hunting or from a low perch where it will drop to capture its prey.

Mouse hawks consume a protein-rich diet of small mammals and birds, frogs, reptiles, snails, etc.

They are migratory in northern regions, and are on the breeding grounds by February or March.  They will head south in October or November, generally wintering in Mexico.

                                                         Eastern Red-shouldered Hawk
                                                              Boomer Lake Park, 2016

Nesting is done in tall trees, usually nearest the tree trunk, and they prefer hardwoods, though pines can suffice in a pinch.  They use platform nests with twigs, lined with lighter substrate and feathers.

A popular breeding bird of Oklahoma, the red-bellied hawk is usually up for photographic opportunities.  Also nicknamed winter hawk, hen hawk, red-shouldered buzzard, and a few others depending upon regional locales.

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.

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.

Flying My Kites

                                                               Fluffed Mississippi Kite

                                                            Coming In For a Landing

                                                             Juvenile Great Blue Heron

                                                         One of six American Crows
                                               Trying to Drive Our Heron Away, a Juvenile
                                                                   Mississippi Kite

                                                                      View 2

                                                                      View 3

                                                                        View 4

                                                                    View 5


082518 through 082718

There was some pretty intense work weather permitting or not.  The goal was to get a few in flight photos, but times were windy, other times were very cloudy, and it was just a matter of doing the best possible in view of the circumstances.

The last day was the most interesting with a murder of six American Crows stopping by.  A juvenile Mississippi Kite was the unfortunate victim of the eldest crow, and was driven off the Bald Cypress tree where he was sitting first, likely with a parent.

The action was captured, as can be seen and hopefully, you'll be able to picture the scenario through my eyes.

Here's another shot of the juvenile Great Blue Heron from the last set of photos, just making itself at home at Heron Cove.

For information on kites, read the following:
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/07/oklahoma-breeding-bird-species-profile_21.html

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Horned Lark

The only lark in the US, this bird of the Great Plains is common in open grounds such as fields, parking lots, and agricultural areas.  They feed upon insects or seeds eaten from the ground or on low vegetation.

The Horned Lark has a distinctive black and yellow face pattern.  Breeding males exhibit black feather tufts that appear to look like tiny horns.

                                                                  Horned Lark
                                                               Texas Lek, 2016
                                                     
The nest is on the ground, nest site chosen by the female, which may be near corn or soybeans for a food source.

Found in large flocks out of breeding season, the Horned Lark will associate with longspurs in the winter.