Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker - Our Largest Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker - Adult Female

Imagine you are walking peacefully in our forest and a loud, high-pitched 'kuk kuk keekeekeekeekeekeekuk kuk' sound bursts forth from the trees near you.  It makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck but soon you see the beautiful creature making the song.  A large crow-sized blackish bird lands on a dead tree near you.  You now see our largest and, in some ways, most beautiful woodpecker.   It is not ver wary of humans and usually goes about feeding while you watch.

The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is 42 cm (16 in) long and is immediately recognizable as a large blackish woodpecker with a crest on its head.  It is loud, boisterous and flamboyant.  It is usually seen on dead and dying trees and stumps chipping off large pieces of wood looking for its favourite food, ants, insect larvae and beetles.

Pileated Woodpecker - Adult Female

The Pileated Woodpecker is North America's largest woodpecker except for the extinct or nearly-extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker.  It is mostly black with a dark gray bill.  Most noticeable is its scarlet red crest.  The red on the crest extends down to the bill in males but stops on the forehead in females as shown in the top photo above.  Males also have a red malar stripe (from the edge to the bill onto the side of the throat).  This malar stripe is black in the female.  The Pileated Woodpecker has a white chin and a large white stripe running from the bill across the face and down the neck to the side of the breast.  The wings have a large white patch at the base of the primary feathers and a large amount of white under the wings.  The white at the base of the primary feathers shows as a large white patch in flight.  The feet, legs and tail are black.  The two photos above show adult females.  Below see a male feeding his offspring.

Pileated Woodpecker - Adult Male [Internet Photo]

The Pileated Woodpecker is found over much of Canada except the far north and the prairie area of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  It is also found in the eastern United States.  It is a non-migratory species so we can see it year round.

Like other woodpeckers these woodpeckers drum on hollow trees to claim territory.  Their drumming is loud and rather slow at about 15 beats per second.  The Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers beat at about 17 to 25 beats per second (Sibley).  Pileated Woodpeckers build their nests in tree cavities where they lay 3 to 8 white eggs.  Both adults tend to the incubation and rearing of the young.

According to iBirdPro, Pileated Woodpeckers make extra holes leading from their nest cavities to allow escape from predators.  They also claim that this species pecks the bark around the entrance to their nest cavities to make the sticky sap running from the pecked bark deter some predators such as snakes.  Our balsam fir trees would be good for that!  It would be interesting to see what percentage of Pileated Woodpecker nests here are in balsam firs.

I hope you see a Pileated Woodpecker the next time you go for a walk in the woods.  If you do, you will be truly blessed.

Fredericton Christmas Bird Count

Fredericton CBC - Douglas Sector

Hairy Woodpecker

The Fredericton Christmas Bird Count took place on Sunday, December 16.  The weather was sunny and plus 3º which made for a wonderful day outside.  We do the Douglas sector, covering an area from upper Nashwaaksis to approximately Grand Pass on the St. John River with all the side roads and subdivisions in between.  It takes a full day to cover this area adequately.  

We set out just after sunrise and spent the next 2 hours covering the open water patches on the river.  Most of the waterfowl was at Grand Pass and below.  Before we got out of the car we could hear the geese.  The sight that awaited us was astounding, one we had never seen on a CBC before.  There were geese everywhere, on the water, on the land and in the air.  Some were feeding, some were sleeping.  Mixed in with the geese were ducks.  

Counting the geese was difficult but with practice one learns how.  We counted 400 geese there that morning.  Mixed in with the flock and also in flocks nearby were about 100 ducks, both American Black Ducks and Mallards.  I checked the flock of geese over at least 3 times searching for something other than our familiar Canada Goose.  Sometimes these flocks contain White-fronted Geese or other rarer species.  This flock was all Canadas.  

Rusty Blackbird

This year there has been an influx of winter finches and the count revealed some of them.  We had Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, Bohemian Waxwings, Dark-eyed Juncos and a single of each American Tree Sparrow and Common Redpoll.  The Pine Grosbeaks and the Waxwings were feeding on the abundance of fruit still on the trees in the area.  At one place we found 3 Pine Grosbeaks, 4 Bohemian Waxwings and 8 American Robins feeding in the trees and on the ground on crabs and grapes.  What a wonderful sight that was!

Gray Catbird

Occasionally on a count we find something rare.  In this case 'rare' means it is most unusual to find this species here in winter.  On this count we were lucky to find 2 rare species at one stop.  We were standing on the river bank counting waterfowl and the local chickadees and suddenly a larger bird showed itself from the tangle of bushes.  It looked like a blackbird and on closer examination I could see it was a Rusty Blackbird.  But wait, there was another bird there, too.  That one we followed as it moved from bush to bush.  A catbird!  Wow!  Never in 50 years of doing Christmas bird counts have I seen a catbird on a count!  But there it was.  We could see the black cap and watched awhile to see the cinnamon patch on the vent to totally confirm the species.  Unfortunately, it did not 'meow' at us which it normally would do in summer.  See photos above of a Rusty Blackbird and a Gray Catbird.

We had our normal number of woodpeckers, Downy and Hairy.  But at one point we were driving along slowly and I spied movement at the side of the road.  An abrupt stop showed a Pileated Woodpecker on a tree stump immediately beside the road.  It was pecking on the stump and paused long enough for a good look before it moved to nearby trees.  Doing bird counts often offers wonderful treats like that.  On this count we saw 991 individual birds from 30 species.  That is a good day's count!

Bird counters usually also count mammals on their routes.  We saw 21 white-tailed deer.  That is a very high number.  At one place there were 11 deer!  These animals are raiding bird feeders constantly.  They were so tame they were stamping their feet, defying me to come close to the feeders.  How do they get the food out of the feeders?  Easy for them!  They just hook the feeders with their antlers or bump them with their noses and thus dump the seed on the ground.  

The Christmas Count Period runs from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5.  We are interested in recording any new species that were not found on count day.  If you see anything that is not listed here, please contact me by commenting on this post.  Many thanks.  See below for a list of the birds we saw on count day. 

Canada Goose   400
American Black Duck 28
Mallard               94
Common Goldeneye      24
Hooded Merganser       8
Common Merganser      27
Bald Eagle            3
Rock Pigeon        23
Mourning Dove   32
Downy Woodpecker      6
Hairy Woodpecker      6
Pileated Woodpecker        1
Northern Shrike     1
Blue Jay               12
American Crow    39
Common Raven                3
Black-capped Chickadee     121
White-breasted Nuthatch  7
Red-breasted Nuthatch  3
American Robin  10
European Starling  3
Bohemian Waxwing  4
American Tree Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  14
Pine Grosbeak  19
Common Redpoll  1
American Goldfinch  83
Evening Grosbeak  16
Rusty Blackbird  1
Gray Catbird  1

Brown Creeper

Brown Creeper - More Common Than You Think

Brown Creeper

The Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) is the only member of the Certhiidae family found in the Americas.  Members of the family are found in forested areas around the Northern Hemisphere.  Recent DNA studies have shown that they are closely related to nuthatches, chickadees, wrens and gnatcatchers.  

The Brown Creeper is a small (13 cm or 5.3 in long), streamlined bird which is brown streaked on top and white below with a long tail.  It has a long decurved bill and long toes.  It is always seen clinging to tree bark propping itself with its tail.  It gleans insects and arachnids from under bark while spiralling up the tree trunk and large branches.  When finished one tree it flies to another and lands at the base of the tree to again spiral upwards. 

The Brown Creeper seems uncommon in occurrence because we don't often see it due to its good camouflage and seeming quietness.  It actually vocalizes but it is so high-pitched many people cannot hear it.  The high-pitched 'tseee, tseee' is made while it feeds and flies from tree to tree.  It does have a song that can be heard in breeding season.  Many birders do not recognize this song.  It is a variable warbling which consists of several notes.  Sibley depicts it as 'seee seeedsee sideeu'.  I remember how amazed I was to finally authenticate that song as coming from the Brown Creeper.

Brown Creeper [Internet Photo]

The Creeper nest is interesting.  It is built against a tree trunk under a large slab of bark.  It is made of shredded bark, feathers, sticks and moss.  It often has two openings, an entrance and an exit.  The 4 to 8 white eggs are marked with reddish brown.  

The Brown Creeper population is thought to have declined in late years due to habitat destruction. Fortunately here in New Brunswick they are fairly common.  This species does show some variation in populations across the Americas.  Regional variation shows as birds that are grayer or more reddish brown.  In addition, the species manifests in 3 morphological forms: reddish, brown and gray morphs.  The only morphs I have seen here are reddish brown.  The song varies somewhat across the continent as well. 

The Brown Creeper is considered a permanent resident here.  That is generally the case throughout its range in the Americas except in the northern parts of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  However, it is thought that some of our population migrates in winter to warmer climes.  None of our birders have reported flocks of migrating Brown Creepers so I expect the migration would be very limited, perhaps from northern NB to southern NB or into Maine.

Blue Jay

Blue Beauty Right Under Our Noses

Blue Jay [Marbeth Wilson Photo]

You might not have noticed but we have blue beauty right under our noses.  And lots of it.  The Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is such a common local bird that we tend to overlook it on our quest to see rare birds or the not-so-common local birds like cardinals and orioles.  Its aggressive behaviour around our feeders also tends to make us wish they would move on.  

I once had a visitor from Labrador who was very excited to see a Blue Jay because they are not found there.  To listen to him remark about how great it was to see one made me rethink our attitude towards this beautiful bird.  Sometimes we need to reconsider what we take for granted.

The Blue Jay is a medium-sized jay with distinctive blue plumage.  It is the only North American bird with bright blue and white wings and tail.  It has a blue crest, white underparts and a dark necklace.  At 28 cm (11 in) long it is bigger than the robin (25 cm/10 in).  Juveniles look like the adults but are more grayish and have more limited white on the wings.  There are 3 subspecies of this species and they differ in size and brightness.  The bromia subspecies that lives here is the largest and brightest.  The Blue Jay is so distinctive in appearance you are not likely to mistake it for any other species here.  In the west, however, it can be mistaken for the Steller's Jay.  

Blue Jay

The Blue Jay readily comes to feeders where it dominates other birds.  Other birds tend to wait until the jays are finished rather than raise their scorn.  Blue Jays eat seeds, insects, fruits, nuts, mice and frogs.  They will sometimes raid the nests of other birds and take their eggs or nestlings.  They can open nuts by holding them with their feet and hammering them with their bill.  

Blue Jays are very vocal.  We are all familiar with their shrill 'jay, jay' call.  They also emit a variety of other sounds; gurgles, whistles and rattles.  They can also mimic other species especially raptors.  

Blue Jay

Most people are not aware that Blue Jays undergo some migration.  They are permanent residents across southern Canada from Alberta east to Newfoundland and south to Texas and Florida.  There is a small migration from the northern reaches of their range in winter.  That is why we see flocks of Blue Jays in fall here.  They are moving south from central Quebec or northern Ontario to warmer climates for the winter.  

Blue Jays build their nests high in trees in coniferous forests, mixed woods and suburbs.  The nest is made of sticks and lined with grass.  Three to 7 bluish green eggs marked with brown are laid.  Both parents incubate the eggs.  

 

You may have already suspected that the jay is intelligent.  It is a member of the Corvidae family, comprised of jays and crows.  We are familiar with the intelligence of crows and ravens, cousins to the jays.  Experiments have been done on jays and show that they know how to use tools.  They have made tools to get at the desired food.  Another interesting fact is that the blue of the blue jay is not real pigment which most would assume.  It is caused by the way light refracts from the structure of the feather.  If a blue jay feather is ground up, the blue disappears!  A neat fact for the scientific birder. 

When the jays come to your feeder tomorrow, look at them now for their unique beauty!

Northern Shrike

New Brunswick's Butcher Bird

Northern Shrike

The Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor) is sometimes known as our 'Butcher Bird'.  It is a winter resident and gets its name by feeding on insects, birds and small mammals.  It makes its kill by delivering a heavy blow to the head of the prey with its strong beak.  It has no talons so is forced to kill with the beak.  It then either eats the prey or hangs it on a thorn or other barb, often barbed wire.  This behaviour is for convenience for a future meal or also to mark territory.

The Northern Shrike is 25 cm (10 in) long and appears large-headed.  It is gray on the back and white on the underparts.  The black wings, black mask and long black white-edged tail are prominent.  The base of the primary wing feathers shows a white patch which is very obvious in flight.  The hooked beak identifies this bird as a shrike.  The adult shows very faint horizontal stripes on the breast.  The juvenile bird is much browner with more prominent horizontal breast stripes.  Since this species is a hunter, it often sits on an exposed perch, but not as upright as most hawks.  Its frequent tail wagging is characteristic.

The Northern Shrike breeds in the Canadian far north; Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Northern Quebec, Labrador; and Alaska.  It winters in southern Canada and into the northern US, a bit more southerly in the mid-western US.  We have had reports of sightings of this species here in NB now since early November.  

Northern Shrike

The Northern Shrike is not usually mistaken for another species.  It possibly could be mistaken for a Northern Mockingbird which is similarly coloured.  The white wing patch on the shrike in flight is much smaller than that of the mockingbird.  Nor does the mockingbird have a hooked bill.  Very rarely we get a Loggerhead Shrike here, a vagrant from the south which might appear in summer.  It is smaller, darker on the back and its mask extends over its forehead.  This species would require close scrutiny to differentiate.

The Northern Shrike builds its nest in a tree 3 to 6 metres off the ground.  Its nest is built of sticks and lined with feathers, hair and fine plant fibres.  Four to nine gray or green eggs are laid.  The nest is built so deep that when the female is incubating the eggs, all one can see is the tip of her tail.  The vocals of this species are low-pitched, shrill cries and rattles.  They also make other nasal and harsh sounds.

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl Makes Quick Visit to Fredericton

Snowy Owl

On Saturday, November 17, a Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) was seen perched on the roof structure of the Brunswick Baptist Church in Fredericton.  When it was discovered by the local crows they began to harass it.  A video was taken and showed them annoying it mercilessly.  We tried to see it a short time after it was reported but it was gone.  We searched other Fredericton rooftops but unsuccessfully.  I assume the bird flew further up or down river where it could rest and feed in peace.  

Snowy Owl

Above is the Snowy Owl that appeared in the late fall in Jemseg a number of years ago.  These are quite likely young birds leaving the north in search of food.  We have had an influx of northern birds in the last 2 weeks, so it probably means that the food supplies in the north are dwindling.  I have seen reports of Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Northern Shrikes, and Snowy Owls.  That is exciting for us because it means we will have more birds around our feeders and possibly an exciting Xmas Bird Count.  

For a long time we believed the heavily spotted Snowy Owls were young birds.  That is only partly true.  Older birds can also be heavily spotted.  Some sources state that females and young birds are more heavily marked.  

Snowy Owls normally inhabit the tundra areas of North America.  They prefer lakeshores, marine habitats, and marshes.  When in town they often perch on rooftops.  They feed on lemmings and voles but here in the 'south' they will feed on whatever they can catch, usually rodents but sometimes ducks which they snatch off the surface of the water.  

Snowy Owl [Internet Photo]

Snowy Owls are well built to withstand the cold.  Note the feathers around the face in the photo above.  Their ears are similarly covered.  Their feet are heavily feathered, too.  Their thick covering of feathers holds in a thick layer of warm air, insulating them from extreme cold.  They are often perched near the ground out of the wind where they can watch for prey.  They are diurnal owls so they can hunt during the day or at night.  This gives them an advantage in the long summers of the far north. 

It is quite likely that more Snowy Owls will appear in the province.  Watch for them in your area.  Be sure to admire them from a respectful distance (at least 50 to 100 metres).  When they arrive they are often exhausted and starving.  Being harassed by humans is very stressing to them.  Stay well back and give them a chance to rest and feed normally.  

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrows Visiting Feeders Now

Fox Sparrow

There are several reports this week (in mid-November) of Fox Sparrows (Passerella iliaca) visiting feeders around the province.  We have had one yesterday and today feeding on the ground with Dark-eyed Juncos and a White-throated Sparrow.

The Fox Sparrow is our largest sparrow.  It is a startling reddish-brown colour and shows a rounded head and medium-length tail.  It often shows some gray on its face.  The breast is white but heavily streaked and spotted with reddish brown, in triangles which converge and coalesce to a central breast spot.  It has a large  bill which it uses to feed on seeds.  Being a ground feeder it can be seen scratching with both feet sending a steam of turf and soil out behind.  It feeds on seeds, fruits, berries, insects, spiders, millipedes and small snails.  

Fox Sparrow

The Fox Sparrow is a complex species.  Ornithologists have described four races; the Sooty in the Pacific, the Thick-billed in California, the Slate-colored of the Interior West and the Red (Taiga) of  the east.  We see the Red (Taiga) race here.  This race summers and breeds in Newfoundland westward through northern Quebec, across the northern prairie provinces and through the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska.  It winters in the south-eastern US as far south as northern Florida.  Here we see it in migration as it passes through on its way north or south.  For some reason we seem to see more of them in the late fall.

Fox Sparrow

The Fox Sparrow builds its nest in dense willow and alder thickets or in forests along the coast.  The nest is built on or near the ground and is made of leaves, grass and moss.  In it are laid two to five greenish eggs with brownish spots.  Apparently the adults will perform a broken-wing display to lure predators away from the nest.

The only sparrow that could be confused with the Fox Sparrow here would be the Song Sparrow.  It is also very streaked with the streaks converging to a spot on the breast.  But, the Fox Sparrow is much larger, its streaks are much bolder and very reddish brown, its bill is larger and its tail is proportionately shorter.  If you are in doubt as to which species it is, it is probably a Song Sparrow.  The Fox Sparrow is so striking that when you see one, there is no doubt what it is.  Happy birding!

Wilson's Snipe

Secretive Marsh Bird

Wilson's Snipe

The Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) is a secretive marsh and shorebird.  It is a common New Brunswick bird that is not often seen.  It is a member of the Scolopacidae family which it shares with sandpipers, phalaropes and their allies.  They share the same problem as the rest of the family, loss of habitat.  A few years ago this species was lumped with the European Common Snipe but has recently been returned to its own species.

Wilson's Snipe are generally seen singly in wet, grassy or muddy habitats.  Their bill appears exceptionally long and one wonders how they can manoeuvre it in their deep probes into the mud. They are a stocky bird with a long dark-tipped bill and greenish gray legs.  What is striking is how striped they are.  There are bold stripes on their head and back.  Their breast is brown with fine white streaks.  The belly is white.  The flanks show heavy bars.  They are 26 cm (10.3 in) long.  Their flight is startling as they explode in front of you and fly straight upwards.  Their toes do not extend beyond the tail in flight.  

Wilson's Snipe

We have another species of marsh bird here which one might mistake for the Wilson's Snipe, the American Woodcock.  This species is slightly larger (28 cm/11 in) and appears more heavy bodied.  The head on the woodcock shows cross-barring verses the heavy longitudinal stripes of the snipe.  The woodcock has no bars on its flanks.

The snipe commonly makes a winnowing sound.  This makes easy identification since it is much more difficult to actually see the bird.  The sound is made with its wings in its courtship display.  Snipe probe in the soil for insects, earthworms, crustaceans and mollusks.  They often sink their entire bill into the soil sometimes up to their foreheads.  They swallow prey without withdrawing their bill.  Their bill is very sensitive so they can detect prey by feel.  They can feed on both land and in water but usually stay close to cover.  Their nest is a ground scrape lined with grass where they lay four olive-brown eggs.  

Wilson's Snipe

The word 'snipe' was first used in the 14th century and is derived from the Old Norse word, 'snipa'.  The Old Saxon word was 'sneppa' and the Middle Dutch word was 'snippe'.  In the 1770s the word began to be used as a verb, 'to snipe', in British India.  Since the snipe is a challenging game bird for hunters, 'to snipe' became associated with sharpshooting around 1824.  

The shooting of snipe carries on today.  The Wilson's Snipe and the American Woodcock are the only shorebirds which still can be legally hunted in New Brunswick.  They are often hunted with bird dogs.  In New Brunswick the season is from September 15 to November 30.  The bag limit is 10 and the possession limit is 20.  These numbers vary slightly for woodcock.  

I have never eaten snipe but I can't imagine there would be much on that small bird to eat.  I think they are much better off left in their proper place in the ecosystem.

Bullock's Oriole

Rare Oriole Visits New Brunswick

Bullock's Oriole [Marbeth Wilson Photo]

For the last week in October there has been a rare oriole visiting a bird-friendly home near Centreville, NB.  There it is eating suet and oranges and managing to keep healthy in spite of the rain and cold weather.

What is a Bullock's Oriole?  The Bullock's Oriole is the western cousin to the Baltimore Oriole.  It normally inhabits the western part of North America from southern British Columbia and southern Alberta south to southern California and northern Mexico and east to the mid-western US.  It spends its winters in southern Mexico and sometimes southern California.  It prefers open woodlands, shade trees, parks, and riparian zones.  So what is it doing here?  Well, this individual is undoubtedly a victim of the severe storms recently hitting the US.  It is amazing that a small bird can survive travelling so far off course!

Bullock's Oriole

If you look up Bullock's Oriole in a bird book, it shows a very brilliant orange and black bird.  This present individual is in its winter plumage.  It is either a female or juvenile male so it looks very different from the brilliant orange and black of the male in breeding plumage.  The adult male in breeding plumage looks much like our male Baltimore Oriole, brilliant orange and black.  The Bullock's Oriole does show more white, however on the wing bars and the orange placed in different areas from the Baltimore.  The female is much more subdued with yellow-orange on the head and tail, gray on the back and much lesser white wing bars.  

It is in winter that they are difficult to tell apart.  A dull immature Baltimore is similar to a female Bullock's.  But these Baltimores tend to have more yellow on the underparts which blends  into the gray belly.  In the Bullock's the transition from the yellow to the grayish white belly is more abrupt.  The backs (mantles) are different, too.  In the Baltimore the mantle feathers have dark centres and those of the Bullock's are mostly unmarked gray.  The rump of the Baltimore shows yellow but that of the Bullock's is gray.  Looking at the under tail coverts also helps.  They are yellow in the Baltimore but more often gray but sometimes yellow in the Bullock's.  A more subtle difference is the wing bars.  They are distinct and separate in the Baltimore but seem connected by white edges on the greater coverts in the Bullock's.  None of the aforementioned features are absolute but one must look at all the identifying features to make a true identification.  No wonder we birders often seek expert opinions when faced with such an individual.  (Thanks to Stuart Tingley and others).  

Bullock's Oriole

Notice in the top photo how the wing bars are connected by white-edged feathers from the coverts.  And, in the photo immediately above, notice the mostly gray mantle feathers.  The middle photo and the photo below show the abrupt transition from the throat feathers to the grayish white belly feathers and the grayish yellow under tail coverts.  This individual does not have solid gray under tail coverts.  

Bullock's Oriole

A good description of winter-plumage Bullock's and Baltimore Orioles can be found in National Graphic, Complete Birds of North America, 2006, pp. 624-625.  

Bullock's Oriole is rarely seen in New Brunswick.  According to Birds of New Brunswick:  An Annotated List up until publication in 2004 there had been only 2 accepted sightings, one at Bathurst from Nov. 2001 which stayed at a feeder area until Feb. 2002, and one at Saint John in 2003.  Since then I have also seen one at Hampton in Dec. 2011.  So they are rare, they usually come in late fall or winter and they usually remain at feeder areas for a few weeks.  I think we can assume that they die of our severe winter weather.  They are very unlikely to turn around and fly south to warmer areas.  Given that they arrived here due to severe weather or a disturbance in their navigation systems, they are very unlikely able to return to their normal range or even warmer geographical areas.

 

Bullock's Oriole

Shown above is the Bullock's Oriole which arrived at a feeder in Bathurst 2001-2002.  Notice it also shows winter plumage.  We can see the gray under tail converts and the grayish white belly clearly.  The yellow throat does not show a sharp transition to the breast feathers but the white wing bars are tied together with white edges to the coverts.  Unfortunately we cannot clearly see the rump and back of this bird.

At one time the Baltimore Oriole and the Bullock's Oriole were lumped together as one species, the Northern Oriole.  That was because in the central area of the continent where their ranges overlap, some individuals interbred producing hybrids.  In recent years, the two species were again given full species status so they again became Bullock's Oriole and Baltimore Oriole. 

 

Bullock's Oriole

We are fortunate to have this bird visit us.  It is a delight to see a visitor from afar both for its beauty and for the challenge to identify it.  We hope it does well at the excellent area it has found.

American Robin

Flocks of Robins

American Robin

Large flocks of robins are moving through our area now in late October.  All this week almost any time I look out my window I can count 25 robins feeding on our lawns and field.  They are turning over leaves and searching among the blades of grass for insects and worms.  Often I see one pop up into the air as it is displaced by another.  They seem very busy, excited even.  They fly frequently between the ground and close-by trees.  Where are these birds coming from and where are they going?

Many Robins Perched in Our Trees

The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is our most common thrush.  They are a member of the Turdidae family which they share in this area with the Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Swainson's Thrush and others.  Yes, there are other 'robins' but most are vagrants which wander onto our continent from South  and Central America or Siberia; for example, the Clay-colored Robin, the White-throated Robin and the Rufous-backed Robin.  

American Robin

The American Robin is so familiar to us it doesn't need description.  This species' habit of living near our dwellings, its pleasing song and its generally confident nature make it one of our favourite species.  

Like many other species, the males tend to be brighter in colour and the females grayer but there is so much overlap one cannot determine genders by appearance alone.  An interesting fact is that the western race is generally lighter in colour than our eastern race.  Our birds are mostly brightly coloured.  The young show spotting on the underparts as we are all familiar with.  It is fun to watch the flocks which we are seeing now for juveniles.  They are obviously trying hard to learn 'the ropes', how to find food, how to cooperate with the rest of the flock.  

American Robin

The American Robin inhabits all of North America except the Arctic islands.  It is a short and a medium-distance migrant.  They spend their winters in most of the US states but most go to the middle and southern states and Mexico.  A few stay here in New Brunswick for the winter.  We always count a few on Christmas Count Day.  In each of 2016 and 2017 we found one in Douglas and in 2015 we counted 40 in Douglas.  Some of that large number were probably just late migrating and would move south.

American Robin

The large flocks of robins we are seeing now are migrants.  They have generally come from somewhere else and are moving through on their way south.  I have tried to speculate where they have come from.  In my opinion many of these birds are from Quebec and northern New Brunswick.  I also think some flocks are from western Newfoundland and have flown across to Gaspé and other parts of Quebec.  They then fly down the St. John River on their way south.  Birds tend to use waterways and shorelines to help direct their flight paths.  No matter how they got here and wherever they are from, we certainly enjoy their visit while they rest and refuel.  Safe journey little cheery friends!

Black Squirrel

Black Squirrels in New Brunswick

Black Squirrel

 The Eastern Gray Squirrel is the largest common squirrel in eastern Canada.  The Black Squirrel is a melanistic form of this species.  We are all familiar with the commonly seen Eastern Gray Squirrel which inhabits cities, towns and parkland as well as woodlots.  While on a birding trip to Saints Rest Marsh recently we found the Black Squirrel shown above in the trees on Taylor Island.  This was shocking to me because I have never seen a Black Squirrel before in New Brunswick and I have spent a lot of time in natural areas of this province!  An inquiry to our birding and nature-loving friends revealed that many have seen Black Squirrels in New Brunswick.

Black Squirrel

The Eastern Gray Squirrel is found in eastern North America from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico north to the Great Lakes region of Ontario and westward to southern Manitoba and eastward to southern Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  From my inquiry to local naturalists I have found that most black morphs have been seen in the Saint John area especially in West Saint John (Irving Nature Park) and also in Millidgeville.  One person actually saw 3 at Irving Nature Park last year.  There have been a few reports from Fredericton from as much as 30 years ago but as stated earlier I have never seen one in the Fredericton area and I have lived here all my life and spent a lot of time in the woods.  The same is reported from another active Fredericton birder.  A wildlife rehabilitation expert for the Maritimes has never received a black morph in 23 years of practice.  It is interesting in how few there are here where in some areas (Ontario, New York State, Ohio) the black morphs are the dominant forms.  

Black Squirrel

The Eastern Gray Squirrel has a soft, dense pelage formed from an undercoat and overlying guard hairs.  The typical colour is grizzled gray on the body and a white-tipped, black-banded grey-brown tail.  The face, feet and flanks usually show a mix of browns.  The underparts are white.  The black (melanistic) morph occurs about 1 in 10,000 individuals.  There is also a much rarer red (erythristic) morph.  Occasionally there occurs a mixture of morphs showing black squirrels with red tails.  Albinos also occur.  Being a genetic aberration it is possible for there to be one black morph in a litter of grays.

The individual we saw, as shown above, is an adult black morph being all black with the characteristic small amount of brown showing on the face.  There was no white belly nor white tip on the tail. 

Black Squirrel

The largest populations of Black Squirrels occur in Ontario and Ohio, USA.  In some places they are very popular and have been made mascots for universities and sports teams. The occurrence of the black morph of the Eastern Gray Squirrel is more common in the northernmost parts of its range.  That is an intriguing fact for biologists.  It may be due to natural selection because the black morph can stand cold weather better than the gray.  The black colour absorbs more heat from the sun so the black individuals survive better.   The black colour may also be better for camouflage and thus protection from predators.  

The Black Squirrel has had an interesting history.  We are responsible for the Black Squirrels in Washington, D.C.  In 1902 and again in 1906 a number of Black Squirrels were sent from Ontario to the Smithsonian.  Those individuals are responsible for the Black Squirrel population of Washington!  Gray Squirrels were also sent to England in the 1800s and developed into a pest species there.  There are black morphs among them, too.  Black morphs also occur in the Fox Squirrel and the Red Squirrel.

Gray Kingbird

A Very Rare Flycatcher Visits NB

Gray Kingbird

From October 6 to 9, 2018 New Brunswick birders were treated to a very rare visitor, a Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis).  This species is so rare here it has never been officially recorded before, although there have been one or two unconfirmed reports in the past.  This bird appeared at a home in Wilmot, northwest of Woodstock.  The day we went to see it, it was actively feeding on insects, mainly wasps, and landing on hydro and telephone wires and trees.  It put on a good showing for the 15 to 20 birders who were respectfully enjoying watching it.  Although it was a fast mover, it did give a few photo opportunities.

Gray Kingbird

This species is so rare here because it is way off its normal range and flight paths.  It normally breeds along the Florida coast in mangroves, open woodland, and forest edges.  It winters in central and southern West Indies, Panama and northern South America.  Occasionally vagrants wander far out of its range, hence the appearance of 'our' bird.  

Gray Kingbird

The Gray Kingbird is larger than our native Eastern Kingbird, 23-24 cm (9.2 in) compared to 20 cm (8.5 in).  At first glance one would think one was looking at our Eastern Kingbird but there are distinctive differences other than size.  The two species are shaped the same and their overall appearance is very similar.  The Gray Kingbird, however, is more gray all over.  It is gray on the head, back, and tail and white underneath.  The gray head  shows a black line through the eye which looks like a mask.  The bill is larger and the tail is notched and does not have a white band at the tip like the Eastern Kingbird.  The white breast is faintly washed with gray and the belly can be washed with  light yellow although that did not show on this bird.  The wings and tail show some brown and the wing feathers are edged with grayish white.  Generally the Eastern Kingbird gives the appearance of black and white compared to the gray and muted white of this species.  

Gray Kingbird

The Gray Kingbird feeds on insects.  It perches on a high exposed site and flies out from there to scoop up insects.  It sometimes hovers in its pursuit like our Eastern Kingbird.  A local name for this species is 'Pitirre' which is a human version of one of the sounds it makes.  In its normal range it is known for aggressively defending its breeding territory.  This has made the species special and it has become a national symbol for Puerto Rico.  It is often used as a metaphor for the Puerto Rico Independence Movement.  A special species has come to visit!

Gray Kingbird

Our visitor is probably an adult.  A juvenile would show a lot more brown on its back and wings.  

 

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Kingbird - Another Large Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

The Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) is a common large flycatcher of New Brunswick.  It arrives in early May and uses this as its breeding grounds, leaving in September.  It is widespread throughout North America.  It breeds in all of southern Canada except west of the Rocky Mountains and in all of continental US except the very western states.  The exception is southern  California where it summers along the coast. It winters in South America, mainly in eastern Ecuador and Peru and western Brazil.

The Eastern Kingbird is a large flycatcher (21 cm/8.5 in long).  Mainly black and white, it has a black head and tail, and dark gray back and wings.  The black on the head comes below the eye looking somewhat like a mask.  The breast is white with light gray shading.  The tail has a conspicuous white terminal band.  The white throat is prominent.  The wings show narrow white edgings.  This species is not very vocal but does make rasping sputtering sounds like 'kdit kdit'.

Eastern Kingbird

The Eastern Kingbird prefers semi-open areas where it sits on trees and shrubs and dashes out after insects, its favourite food.  It also eats some fruits especially when insects are scarce.  It often can be seen hovering above the ground before it pounces on prey.   It usually builds its nest in the forest or treed areas near open land.  It lays 3 to 5 white eggs marked with lavender, gray or brown in a cup nest made of grass, animal hair, weeds and twigs.  It will also nest in cavities and nest boxes.

Eastern Kingbird

The Eastern Kingbird is an aggressive bird especially toward larger birds or any other species coming near its nest.  This is often seen and makes this a conspicuous species.  An interesting fact about this species is its name.  It is really mis-named.  It is not specifically an eastern species as the name indicates.  It is a summer resident of eastern, central and much of western North America.  It is always a delight to see the return of this species to our yards and open areas when spring comes.

Great Crested Flycatcher

An Outstanding Flycatcher

Great Crested Flycatcher

 The Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) is our most outstanding flycatcher.  It is large, colourful and noisy.  It is noticed even by non-birders.  Many times I have been asked by people who don't normally notice birds, 'What is that bird?'

The Great Crested Flycatcher is about 20 cm (8 in) long and is noticeably colourful.  It is gray and brown on the head and throat, bright yellow on the belly which comes up onto the breast, and has dark wing feathers with contrasting white edges, and a rufous tail with lighter edges.  The bird spends its time in the canopy of mature deciduous trees where it often sits up high on an exposed perch.  From there it flies out into the air or onto the ground to catch insects, its main diet.  It is very vocal, making an ascending whee-eep or a purr-it.  It is our largest and most spectacular flycatcher.

Great Crested Flycatcher

The Great Crested Flycatcher is our only flycatcher which nests in tree cavities or occasionally in nest boxes.  There it builds a nest from grass, bark strips, rootlets, fur, feathers, plastic debris and often snake skins.  Four to 8 white buff eggs with brown, olive, or lavender spots are laid.  It is not known why they often adorn their nests with snake skins, possibly to scare away predators.

I am always happy to see this species return in the spring.  They breed here in our hardwood trees. Their breeding range includes south-central and southeastern Canada southward through the eastern US.  They are permanent residents of southern Florida.  They winter in Mexico, the West Indies, Colombia and Venezuela.  Being late September here, they have left now for their winter homes.  We will miss them.

Great Crested Flycatcher  

Ross's Goose

Ross's Goose Visits New Brunswick

Ross's Goose

For the last two weeks a Ross's Goose has been spending time with a flock of Canada Geese at Central Hampstead, down river from Fredericton.   It was first reported on September 17 and, according to local residents, had been there for about 2 weeks.  The flock feeds in a large field above the road and moves between there and the field and river below the road.

The Ross's Goose is listed as 'accidental' to New Brunswick.  That means it is very rarely here.  But the population is reportedly increasing in the last 50 years.  One was reported from Harvey Bank in 1995; another was with a flock of Canada Geese and Snow Geese at Ste-Marie-de-Kent on the 20 October 2013.  It is certainly not a species one would see very often here.

The Ross's Goose breeds on tundra in the central high Arctic islands and the north shores of Nunavut and North West Territories.  It normally uses the central flyway to migrate south to the south central US (Texas, Mississippi) and Mexico.  It often associates with Snow Geese.

Ross's Goose [Internet Photo]

 The Ross's Goose is smaller than the Snow Goose, the only species with which it could be mistaken.  The Ross's Goose is 58 cm (23 in)  long compared to the Snow Goose 66-84 cm (26-33 in).  The Ross's Goose has a smaller rounder head, shorter neck and smaller bill than the Snow Goose.  It lacks the 'smile line' which the Snow Goose has, an important identifying feature.  This dark line along the bottom mandible of the Snow Goose is lacking in the Ross's Goose.  The bill of the Ross's Goose is small, pink and triangular.  Its legs are pink.

Both the Ross's Goose and the Snow Goose species have blue morph individuals although they are rarer in the Ross's Goose.  The Ross's Goose blue morph shows less white on the head and neck than the Snow Goose blue morph.  See the photo above for both forms of the Ross's Goose.  Note that the blue morph has white only on the face and the nape and rest of the neck are dark.  The Snow Goose blue morph has a completely white head and most of the neck.

The Ross's Goose was first reported anecdotally by the explorer, Samuel Hearne, in 1770.  The species was not scientifically described until 1881.  Its nesting grounds were not discovered until 1940.  Sometimes a group of this species is called a 'blizzard' of geese.  That is understandable if one saw a large number of them flying over a cold, late fall landscape.

They feed on grass, sedges, small grains and they especially like wheat and barley.  Modern agriculture has undoubtedly contributed to the population increase.