There are many species of owls in the United States, but one of the smallest and most interesting is the eastern screech owl. These tiny owls measure only 6-9 inches tall, but don’t let their small size fool you.
All in Wildlife Watching
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Common Grackles Eat Everything
The common grackle is one of many blackbirds that we often see in our backyards, although they are larger and have longer tails than most other blackbirds like red-winged blackbirds, cowbirds and European starlings. They can often be seen hunting for food along the ground alone, but they will also travel in flocks.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Subterranean Eastern Worm Snake
Snakes are not the most beloved creatures in the great outdoors, but each species of snake has its own place in the ecosystem and each serves an important purpose. One interesting snake species that goes almost unnoticed throughout much of the Midwest and eastern United States is the Eastern Worm Snake.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The White-Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer are a familiar sight for most of us as we drive along our local highways and country roads. They are often standing out in the middle of a field or pasture or along the edge of a woodlot, searching for tender vegetation to munch on.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The House Finch
Back yard birdwatchers are very familiar with one of our most common birds: the House Finch. These gregarious finches are easily attracted to all types of bird feeders, and they show up in good numbers all year long, even during the coldest days of winter.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Pesky Short Tailed Shrew
There is a common pest in the Midwest and northeastern United States that causes trouble for gardeners during the summer months. They are small – about the size of a mouse. They are usually black or dark gray in color, and as their name implies they have a very short tail.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Green Heron - The Silent Stalker
Herons are very interesting birds, and one of the smallest herons is no exception: it is the green heron. Green herons are relatively short and stocky (they stand about 17 inches tall), with a small head and a large, sharp beak.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Poisonous Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar
Summer is gone, and our friends the monarch butterflies are also gone. They have departed the eastern half of the United States on their annual southern migration, down to their wintering grounds in Mexico. As recently as September they could still be seen visiting the last of our summer flowers.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly
Just about everyone with a flower garden welcomes the arrival of those colorful visitors we call butterflies. They come to visit the brightly colored flowers, and we are glad to see them. Although there is a wide variety of beautiful butterflies native to the eastern United States, one of the most stunning and attractive species is the red-spotted purple.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Vocal Green Frog
Frogs are very common around most lakes, ponds, streams and marshy wetlands. But not all frogs are of the same species. There are bullfrogs, green frogs, wood frogs, leopard frogs and several others. One of the most common frogs in the eastern United States is the green frog.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Brilliant Scarlet Tanager
Have you ever seen a bird known as the Scarlet Tanager? Male Scarlet Tanagers are very unique, with bright red bodies and jet black wings and tails. Females are a much more drab olive-yellow color with slightly darker olive wings and tails.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Bullhead Whiskers and Spines
The bullhead is part of the catfish family. There are actually three main species of bullhead in the USA: black bullhead, brown bullhead and yellow bullhead. These whiskered fish are very common in lakes, ponds and rivers, and they are regularly caught by fishermen – especially while fishing at night.