Coyote, Feared or Admired

                                                                Coyote, New Brunswick

The Coyote (Canis latrans) is a native New Brunswick member of the Canidae family.  It is carnivore which lives throughout our province.  It was not present in the province before the mid-1960s when it slowly moved in from Quebec and Maine.  According to a 1974 map found in 'The Mammals of Canada', the range of the coyote in North and Central America included most of Mexico, all of the US except the southeast and southern New England, southern Canada from southern Quebec westward to the west coast and northward to include all of Yukon and most of Alaska.  

I clearly remember the first coyotes I heard in New Brunswick.  It was in 1970 and my husband and I were camping in deep woods near McAdam.  After dark on a cold, clear night we heard an unusual sound.  It quickly became louder and sounded like maniacal laughter or human whaling.  We were confused at first about what it was but soon realized it had to be coyotes.  It was a blood-curdling sound but at the same time very intriguing.  We had spent much of our lives in or near the woods but that was the first time we had heard the unmistakable sound.  From the 1970s on the population of coyotes has steadily increased in New Brunswick to where they have normal population trends of rises and falls depending on the carrying capacity of the habitat and food resources.  It is common for us to hear them howling at night on the outskirts of Fredericton.

I recently read in the news that in October, 2020, a woman near Fredericton was walking her two dogs in a wooded area near the city when she was surrounded by 3 or 4 coyotes.  As she tried to fend them off one attacked one of her dogs.  Fortunately her dogs were leashed.  She called 911 and fought off the one coyote which had one of her dogs in its mouth.  The coyotes had run away by the time help arrived.  Her dog survived but the woman was badly shaken.  Another incident is worse but none-the-less needing to be reported.  In 2009 a female singer from Toronto was visiting Cape Breton and was attacked by two coyotes while hiking the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  She was alone and could not fight off both animals.  Other hikers came along, called for help and chased off the coyotes.  Unfortunately the victim died later in hospital.  Both of these incidents are unusual but serious.

                                                                        Coyote

The Canidae family has 3 members that live in New Brunswick, the timber wolf, the coyote (brush wolf) and the red fox.  Other Canidae members which live in Canada but not New Brunswick include the Arctic Fox, the Grey Fox and the Swift Fox.  The Timber Wolf (Canis lupus) was extirpated from New Brunswick in the 1800s but has recently moved back in small numbers in the north of the province. 

The coyote resembles a 'small, shy German Shepherd' although its bone structure is lighter.  It has a bushy coat and a long bushy tail which droops downward.  Its colour is a  mixed, gray, beige, tan and black.  The muzzle, dorsal aspect of the ears, and forelegs are usually a tan colour.  The throat and belly are white.  The undercoat on the body is beige but the guard hairs are black making a dark dorsal stripe and mottled flanks.  The same colouration goes down the tail ending with a black tip.  The black guard hairs make a dark cross on the shoulders.  There is a heavy moult in June making the animal look more slender in its summer pelage. 

The coyote is 115 to 135 cm (45 to 53 inches) long and the average weight  is about 13.2 kg (29 lbs).  Males are larger than females.  The coyote has a different structure from the wolf.  As well as being smaller, it has a much narrower and more pointed muzzle.  The nose pad is 2.5 cm (1 inch) or less in diameter, a good diagnostic anatomical feature.  When the animal is running the coyote carries its tail low but the wolf carries its tail high.  

The coyote is typically an animal of open country.  It is a very intelligent, adaptable species and has learned to live close to civilization.  Coyotes are a very social animal, living in packs.  Each pack is usually comprised of the male and female and the pups.  Sometimes in winter the packs become larger.  Breeding usually takes place in February and gestation lasts 60 to 63 days.  Litter size is 5 to 7 pups.  Sexual maturity is reached in one year.  Both parents care for the young.  Litters are born and raised in burrows dug in the ground by the female.  See the photos below where we found a coyote den dug in a washed out bank on one of the islands upriver from Fredericton.  The opening was about 45 cm (18 inches) across and more than that in height.  The cavity went deep into the earth and was about a metre (3 feet) in height.  There was a large pile of dirt near the opening.  There were many coyote tracks near the opening but no sign of young (October).  The young had left with the adults and were likely in training.  The pups are very playful and spend much time outside the den during their development.  According to the literature, the den is 2 to 3 metres (6 to 9 feet) in length and 1 metre (3 feet) underground.  

                                                        Coyote Den - Main Opening

                                                    Coyote Den - Alternate Opening

As we know, this species is good at hunting in teams.  They have learned that there is more success by teamwork.  Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, mainly groundhogs, small rodents, and hares, but they also eat birds, eggs, frogs, fish, crayfish, insects, carrion and plants.  They sometimes kill deer when hunting in packs and single coyotes kill many deer fawns by running them down.  

Coyotes are very agile.  They can jump up to 4 metres (14 feet) and run up to 56 km per hour (35 miles an hour).  They are good swimmers and can live anywhere from mountainous terrain to the open prairies.  They are mainly active at night but can be active at dawn or dusk.  The bitch often returns year after year to the same territory to whelp.  Some coyotes travel over large distances.  One tagged individual was recovered 650 km (400 miles) from where it had been tagged. They have been known to live 18 years but the average lifespan is probably less than 9 years.  

Coyotes are very vocal.  Their calls are a series of yelps followed by an odd sounding howl.  They howl usually at night but also in the morning.  Often the pack sits in a circle prior to going on a hunt and the yips, yaps and howls appear to be related to the expectations of the hunt.  They have an acute sense of hearing and smell but their sight is less acute.  They use sight mainly to pick up movement.  Coyotes will chase foxes and bobcats.  The bobcats usually 'lose' them by climbing trees.  Foxes appear to enjoy outsmarting the coyote.  

Coyotes can be hunted and trapped in New Brunswick.  The season is from October 1 to the end of February and there is no limit to the number taken.  Coyote fur has become more desirable in late years with the popularity of Canada Goose coats.  It is coyote fur that is used to rim the hoods.  In 2017, 1652 coyote pelts were exported from New Brunswick with a total value of $92,545.  

Are coyotes dangerous to people?  Considering the two incidents cited at the beginning of this post, they can be.  However, the chances of getting attacked by a coyote are extremely rare.  But it seems that the urbanized coyotes can become a problem.  Humankind should avoid all contact with them.  Garbage should be properly disposed of.  Dogs should be leashed and cats should be kept indoors.  All feeding of wildlife should be prohibited.  When a habituated coyote appears to be too close/interested in humans, Natural Resources personnel should be notified and they will remove the individual.  Coyotes are intelligent and can easily learn that humans can be a source of food.

What should you do if threatened by a coyote?  Sources say that you should not run.  They suggest you yell, wave your arms and make yourself look as large and fierce as possible.  Maintain eye contact and throw something at it, if possible.  Carry a whistle or dog spray.  If it continues to approach, back slowly away preferably towards other humans or buildings.

The scientific name of the coyote, Canis latrans, means 'barking dog'.  It is well named since that is the primary means of our knowing there is a pack in our area.  They are more frequently heard than seen.  The common name, 'coyote', is much older.  It is of Spanish derivation and comes from the original Aztec word for it, coyotl.  It is indeed an interesting species that has been around a very long time.  Intelligent and resourceful - it will remain a long time yet!

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher - Mega-Rarity and Celebration Bird

                                             Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Paul Mansz Photo]

The Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris) which is presently being seen (October 20 onward) in Riverview, NB, is a mega-rarity and a Celebration Bird.  It is a mega-rarity because it should be in Mexico, not New Brunswick.  It is a Celebration Bird because it marks the sighting number 350 to one of our eminent birders.  

First let's consider its mega-rarity.  This species is listed as 'accidental' here.  It is only the third sighting recorded in this province ever.  The first was in Waterside in October, 1990.  The second sighting was unconfirmed and this is the third.  The Waterside sighting was only the second confirmed sighting in Canada ever!  This Riverview bird has stayed long enough for many to see and photograph it.  See the photos in this post.

And, it is a Celebration Bird.  Serious birders keep accurate records of their sightings and the number of different species seen in New Brunswick is an important statistic.  For one of our birders, Karen Miller, seeing this very unusual flycatcher on Wednesday, October 21, was an event worth celebrating!  It is now listed as her 350th species seen in New Brunswick.  That represents a huge milestone.  Congratulations Karen from all of us!

                                         Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Paul Mansz Photo]

The Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher is a species of Arizona, Mexico and South America.  It spends its summers in Arizona, Mexico and Central America.  It winters in South America, particularly along the eastern border of the Andes Mountains from Ecuador to Bolivia.  Its preferred habitat is deep canyons with sycamore trees at elevations of 1500 to 2200 metres (5,000 to 7,500 feet) above sea level. 

So what is it doing here?  That is one of the amazing things about birds.  They seem to be able to show up in the most unusual places and at unusual times.  One thing birders know is that sometimes unusual birds show up after severe storms.  The recent hurricanes along the eastern seaboard and Atlantic Ocean are probably the reason this individual is here.  It was probably migrating southward from Arizona or Mexico out over the ocean and got caught in the high winds of some of those hurricanes which brought it here.  It could also be a 'vagrant' which sometimes happens after the breeding season.  A few individuals wander out of their range.  This is a long way for a vagrant to wander but it could also then have been caught up in some of the heavy winds which brought it north.  We still have a lot to learn about birds and their life histories.

                                             Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Gilles Belliveau Photo]

The Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher is a large flycatcher that looks quite different from any other North American bird.  It shows boldly streaked upperparts, a rufous tail and rump, a white breast and throat with dark streaks, and a pale yellow belly.  Immediately noticeable are the black streak through its eye, the black malar stripe and the large dark-coloured bill.  The heavy streaking on the back is caused by the light edges to the back and wing feathers.  Although none of us has seen it yet, this bird has a beautiful crest which it raises to attract a mate or in aggressively defending its breeding territory.  When open it appears circular and is a brilliant yellow with a black border.  The bird is 18 to 20 cm (7.2 to 8 inches) long which is slightly smaller than our Eastern Kingbird.

                                     Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Clifford Twist Photo]

This flycatcher flies with shallow wing beats.  It likes to perch on the top of the highest tree from which it darts out to catch insects on the wing.  It also eats berries and other small fruits.  Reports say it will readily eat meal worms.  

This species is a cavity nester.  It picks cavities in sycamore trees about 5 to 15 metres (20 to 50 feet) off the ground and will fight woodpeckers for the right to use them. It prefers open wooded areas along streams.   The female likes to sit on the nest so it can look out the opening, so she will fill up a deep hole with debris and build the nest on top of that.  The nest is made of stems, pine needles and leaves.  It lays 2 to 4 buff eggs marked beautifully with various shades of brown and lavender.  The female incubates the eggs for 15 to 16 days while the male sits nearby singing to her and protecting her.  

The nest and its construction is described by A. C. Bent in his Life Histories of North American Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, and Their Allies.  Because the female does not like to incubate in the dark the nest is close to the opening of the nest cavity.  The nest is made of petioles and midribs of dried leaves of the walnut tree.  Sometimes there are a few pine needles or weed stems added.  The petioles are stiff and curved.  These she arranges matching the curvature to the roundness of the nest.  There is no soft lining in the nest but the leaf midribs make it comfortable for the young.  The inner diameter is 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) and the outside of the nest is built to the cavity edges.  The female builds the nest and the male follows her around and encourages her with his 'sweet' song.  

The call of this species is an excited chatter that sounds like the squeak of a rubber ducky.  It does have a song which is a soft melodious warble which is given at dawn from a high perch.  For protection the young are trained to remain motionless while the adults make a certain noise.  

The male Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher is aggressive and quarrelsome.  They make a lot of noise and do a lot of bickering over nesting sites and their protection after the occupants are settled. 

                                Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Clifford Twist Photo]

It is not known how long this bird will stay in our area.  There is a lot of fruit in the area it has chosen and it is presently on the properties of nature-loving people.  It should be fine for the near future.  But, winter is coming.  The bird is somewhat used to cold temperatures given the elevations at which it normally lives.  These, however, do not match our cold winters.  Knowing it will eat mealworms perhaps gives it a chance if the local birders are willing to locate a source and daily feed them.  That is not often done in this area but it is possible to purchase them over the internet. 

The bird is not likely to turn around and fly south.  This doesn't usually happen because for some reason in birds that appear way off their normal range the bird's navigation system is confused.

                                    

Northern Wheatear

                                                Northern Wheatear Non-breeding Female  [Internet Photo]

The Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is a very rare visitor to New Brunswick.  It is usually seen in fall in large open areas.  When one is spotted it causes excitement among birders because of its rarity.  This year in early October one was seen for a couple of days on the Tantramar marsh.  From pictures posted of this individual it was probably a female or a juvenile.  

The first reported wheatears seen in New Brunswick were 2 specimens 'collected' in Charlotte County in the late 19th century.  Two were seen at Saint John in 1976 and another the same year in Victoria County.  Sightings have become more common in recent years.  I have seen a Northern Wheatear in Fredericton in December, 2002.  I have also seen them in Iceland and Norway.  The Iceland birds were on rocky outcrops and in Norway the bird was in a large ploughed field.  One of the Iceland birds was typically wagging its tail.

The Northern Wheatear is commonly found in high-latitude areas of the Northern Hemisphere.  In North America it breeds along the coast of Labrador, Ungava, Baffin Island, the high Arctic Islands, Yukon and Alaska.  It migrates east through Greenland and Europe to winter in sub-Saharan Africa.  That makes it one of our longest-distance migrants!  It is found in grasslands, rocky tundra and barren slopes.

The Northern Wheatear is a thrush, a member of the Turdidae family (although this is presently disputed).  There are many wheatears in the world but the Northern Wheatear is the only one found here.  The Northern Wheatear is a small thrush, 15 cm/5.75 inches long.  It appears long-legged and short-tailed.  The male has gray upperparts with black wings, mask and tail.  The underparts are white and there is an ochre wash on his throat, breast and flanks.  The female is duller with a cinnamon wash over her breast and throat which extends onto her back.  She lacks the black mask.  The tail is distinctive in this species, a feature that is seen only in flight.  It is mainly white with a broad black terminal band which juts into the white in the central area as a squarish block.   I have seen this and it is a remarkable field mark.  The juvenile wheatear is speckled like our young thrushes and is a version of the female.  We are very unlikely to see a juvenile here.  

                                                Northern Wheatear Non-breeding Plumage

There are two subspecies, the oenanthe and the leucorhoa.  The oenanthe is found in Eurasia, Alaska and northwest Canada.  The leucorhoa subspecies is found in Greenland, Nunavit and Labrador.  Amazingly, both species winter in southern Africa.  So, we see the leucorhoa subspecies here.  In Britain the wheatear is one of the earliest spring migrants.  

The Northern Wheatear eats primarily insects but also fruits, seeds, centipedes and snails.  It forages mostly on the ground in a manner much like our foraging robin.  It will also perch low to the ground and fly out to capture an insect much like a flycatcher.  Wheatears often sing during flight.  The song is a scratchy warbling sound and the bird also mimics other bird songs.  Its call note is short and 'thweet'. 

Northern Wheatears nest in crevices in rocky outcrops, in wood piles, on the ground or on cliff edges. The nest is made of grass, roots and moss and is lined with fine grasses.  Three to eight pale blue eggs are incubated 14 days mostly by the female.  

                                                    Northern Wheatear on Typical Habitat

The Northern Wheatear was first described as a species in 1758 by Linnaeus.  Its name Oenanthe comes from ancient Greek and means 'wine flower', named for its early return to Greece just like the early blooming blossoms in the vineyards.  In recent years this species has been removed by some from the thrush family (Turdidae) and has been placed in the Muscicapidae family, the Old World flycatchers.