One of the common forest birds of the northeastern and north-central United States is the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. This beautiful bird is slightly smaller than an American robin, but larger than a house finch.
All in Bird Watching
Yellow Headed Blackbirds Take Flight in Wisconsin
One of the harbingers of spring is the return of the red-winged blackbirds. A much less common spring sighting, at least east of the Mississippi River, is the yellow-headed blackbird. In fact because they’re so uncommon, they’re listed as a species of special concern in Wisconsin.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Invasive Mute Swan
Swans are well-known as very large, graceful white birds. There are three species of swans currently living in North America: trumpeter swans, tundra swans and mute swans. Trumpeter and mute swans are similar in size, and they can each have a wingspan of more than seven feet.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Vocal Northern Mockingbird
Everyone knows most birds love to sing, and the pleasant sounds of birds chirping or chattering in nearby trees is a welcome sound. Some bird species sing more than others, though, and one of the most vocal birds of them all is the northern mockingbird.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Graceful Tree Swallow
Tree swallows are a common sight from spring throughout the summer in many areas as they expertly flit and fly over ponds, lakes, marshes and fields. These small, streamlined birds migrate back northward throughout the U.S. from their overwintering areas in Central America and Mexico to nest and feed here throughout the warm weather months.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Palm Warbler
Palm warblers are cute little birds which are slightly smaller than most sparrows. They are seen for a relatively short time each year throughout the eastern United States during their spring and fall migrations. This is because most palm warblers breed up in the boreal forests of Canada and spend their winters in the warmer climates of Florida and the coastlines of the southeastern US.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Boisterous White-Breasted Nuthatch
When it comes to energetic and highly animated birds in the back yard, one of the first species that comes to mind is the white-breasted nuthatch. This small, sparrow-sized bird is bluish-gray on its back with a black cap on top of its head, and a bright white breast, face and underparts.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The American Coot
As kids, we called the strange-looking, all-black ducks that we saw on local lakes “Mud Ducks”. But they were actually American coots. About the size of a small duck, the American coot (Fulica americana) is black or a very dark charcoal gray, with a white bill and a bright red eye.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Colorful Wood Ducks
Wood ducks are our most colorful native duck species – and they are very beautiful indeed. Male wood ducks, in particular, are truly unforgettable. They have hints of iridescent green and brown on their head, along with bold black and white markings.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Brown Creeper Is A Stealthy Insect Hunter
Most birds are great insect hunters. Robins, woodpeckers, barn swallows – there are plenty of birds that hunt insects. One of the most secretive bug hunters, however, is the brown creeper (Certhia Americana).
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
The red-bellied woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker that lives year-round in most of the eastern United States. Since it has bright red plumage on the back of its head, it is often confused with the red-headed woodpecker.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Golden-Crowned Kinglet
There is a very tiny bird that migrates through much of the United States at this time of year that goes unnoticed by most people. It is larger than a hummingbird, but not by much. A normal house sparrow is almost twice as big as this bird. It is only 3 to 4 inches long and weighs less than a third of an ounce! So what is it? It is the small but very energetic Golden-Crowned Kinglet.