The Baltimore Oriole is a highly loved and easily recognized bird. It spends most of its year in the Northeast U.S. and migrates south to Central and South America for winter.
While its preferred habitat is deciduous woodlands, the Baltimore Oriole also frequents parks and backyards. Adult males have bright orange undersides and shoulders with black wings and beaks, while females and juveniles are yellow, orange, dark gray, or brown. The Oriole is a rather tall bird, standing at six to eight inches with a wingspan of nine to twelve inches. It feeds on fruit, nectar, and insects with its long and sharp beak.
The Oriole’s Nest: A Wonder of Nature
The nest of the Baltimore Oriole is indeed unique. The nest hangs from the edge of a branch, safer from predators the further it is from the tree trunk. It appears barely attached to the tree yet proves strong and durable and can even withstand heavy storms. The nest is large, purse-shaped, and made from an intricate weaving process.
The nest building techniques of the Baltimore oriole are unique and inspire awe in birdwatchers and enthusiasts across the Northeastern and Midwestern United States.
Courtship
Before nest building comes courtship. The male arrives from migration two to three days before the female to claim his territory. After he chooses his region, he sings nonstop while flashing his bright plumage and hopping from branch to branch until a mate selects him. They sing a duet to tie the knot.
Nest Location
Once paired, the female chooses the nesting location within the male’s territory. She opts for tall, deciduous trees in open woodland or on the forest edge, typically ten to thirty feet above ground but possibly as high as ninety feet. The tree selected is often an elm, cottonwood, or maple tree.
Once the location is decided, the Baltimore oriole female gets to work. The male brings her materials from time to time, but most of the work is hers to do alone. She uses strong materials such as animal hair or human-made fibers when creating the nest’s rim, flexible materials for weaving the structure including grapevine, grass, and twine, and sometimes spider silk as a binding agent.
Her building process begins by tying a loop around a twig, which secures the rim of the nest. She then carefully weaves the nest’s structure to this rim- her weaving work done while suspended upside down from the rim of the nest- an impressive feat!
Finishing Touches
Once the structure is complete, it is time to line the inside of the nest to protect the eggs and make it comfortable for the babies. She lines the nest with feathers, fur, and soft plant materials. Finally, she camouflages the nest using gray and white lichen to trick predators and protect her young.
The nest building process lasts roughly one week with the female working day in and day out. The nest is only used for one breeding season, however, the female is likely to return to the nest site to pluck materials for next year’s nest.
Post-Construction
Post-construction, the female lays a clutch of three to six eggs. She incubates the eggs while the male remains nearby, keeping a close watch until the eggs hatch after eleven to fourteen days. While the babies remain in the nest, both mom and dad feed intensively, typically feeding regurgitated insects. Mom sleeps in the nest protecting her babies, while dad roosts nearby in the treetop.
If you’re anything like us, you’re intrigued by the spectacular nest building skills of the Baltimore Oriole and want to know more! Here are some Baltimore Oriole Nesting facts.
Baltimore Orioles build small nests, typically ranging from four to six inches wide, four to eight inches deep, and two to three inches across.
They breed in the Northeast and Midwest of the United States, with some pairs going as far north as Canada.
While these birds don’t like to build nests deep in the brush, they are unlikely to build in your backyard. However, they happily spend time at your backyard feeder!
Baltimore Orioles nest in the spring, with the peak breeding period being in May. This is delayed if the weather is not accommodating.
The nest holds three to five eggs. Once hatched, the babies live in the nest for twelve to fourteen days.
The Baltimore Oriole’s nest is considered one of the great wonders of the avian world.
The Oriole couple spends the breeding season together, however they do not mate for life and the female will find a new male the following year.
Orioles, particular about their nests, will not use birdhouses.
These birds nest in Elm trees, even though they are susceptible to Dutch elm disease.
The pair will only brood one egg clutch before returning south for the winter, even if the first brood fails.
Time flies when you’re having fun, and it seems our kestrel chicks took that literally! Over the past two months, our action-packed live stream of the Blackpool kestrel nest has captivated viewers, as we watched five tiny fluffballs transform into majestic fledglings ready to conquer the world.
From Fluff to Flight: The Journey of Kestrel Fledglings
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost four weeks since our last update, when the chicks were newly hatched and adorably scruffy. Fast forward, and those little balls of fluff have taken their first flights out of the nest. Yes, folks, it’s bittersweet—time flies and so do our kestrels!
For those just tuning in, our cameras have been live-streaming this kestrel nest in Blackpool for four years. This year we have been following the journey of this family closely and keeping you updated through blog posts and updates.
Looking to relive the remarkable journey of these kestrel fledglings or seeking a dose of uplifting wildlife news? Let’s rewind to the beginning in this article and revisit the highlights from the past few weeks at the nest.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Our tale begins on April 16th when the female kestrel laid her clutch of five eggs. Less than a month later, we witnessed the hatching of all five, marking the beautiful beginnings of kestrel chick life.
Viewers couldn’t get enough of the five fluffballs as they seemed to grow before our very eyes! In our last update, when the chicks were just a week old, we marveled at the diligent kestrel dad bringing in prey to the nest—primarily voles and mice, with the occasional mole. Mama kestrel expertly dished these out into small chunks for the hungry chicks.
Week two commenced and mom took a more laid-back approach, spending less time in the nest but still showing up for meal times, ensuring everyone got their fair share. The chicks weren’t old enough to feed themselves, but they were growing rapidly.
Week three brought more exciting developments as the nestlings started growing their first primary and tail feathers. Chick yoga became a thing, with the little ones regularly stretching and flapping their wings to strengthen those new feathers. With mom and dad acting like Uber Eats drivers, the nest was often overflowing with food, and the chicks were never hungry. At times, multiple meals were piling up in the nest because the chicks were too full to eat them all.
As the chicks grew, so did their appetites and their independence. Mum kestrel was no longer hanging around to share out the food. So how did the chicks decide who gets to eat?
Unlike some other birds of prey, kestrel chicks are remarkably civil, sharing food with minimal squabbles. It’s a first-come, first-served scenario, and despite occasional attempts to snatch a sibling’s meal, violence is rare in a kestrel nest. Kestrels even continue to roost together after fledging, showing their sibling bonds run deep.
Preparing For Flight
Week four came around. It seemed that the nest box was getting smaller and smaller, as our five now large chicks were outgrowing their nest box home. Kestrel fledglings leave the nest after around four weeks and as the chicks neared fledging age, they gave us some memorable moments. Who knew watching a chick swallow an entire vole could be so entertaining?
It’s fascinating to see them work on fitting the whole prey item in, bones and all. Speaking of which, kestrels, like most birds of prey, eat their prey whole and regurgitate indigestible parts as pellets. These pellets, often mistaken by viewers as droppings, scatter across the bottom of the nest. Don’t worry, folks—it’s not what it looks like! The kestrel chicks do their best to aim their waste away from their cozy home.
As the chicks neared fledging age, they needed not only to be physically ready but mentally prepared too. Like us when we face new challenges, they had to build up the courage for their first flight. They practiced by balancing on the edge of the nest box and flapping their wings, building confidence for their first flights into the unknown.
Kestrel Fledging Feats
When it came to fledging, the first chick quietly left in the dark hours of night when our cameras weren’t running. The others weren’t far behind and left, thankfully whilst cameras were rolling, over the following few days. By June 20th, all five had made their brave leaps into the world. Experience their momentous fledging journey captured here.
What Now?
So, what happens next for our kestrel fledglings? Luckily, they won’t have to fend for themselves just yet. Common kestrel parents continue to feed their young for up to a month after fledging, giving the chicks time to learn how to hunt and fend for themselves. They’ll stick around the nearby area, often roosting together and perfecting their hunting skills.
Watching another successful breeding season on this kestrel nest has been a joy. It’s not just a delightful spectacle for viewers but a positive sign for kestrel conservation. Common kestrels are ‘amber listed’ in the UK due to population declines since the 1970s, largely related to the availability of nesting habitats. Artificial nest sites like this one play a crucial role in their conservation.
How You Play a Role in Bird Conservation
But it’s not just about the nest boxes for kestrels; you, the viewers, play a vital role in bird conservation more broadly. By tuning into our live streams and educating yourselves about bird behavior and ecology, you become advocates for all our feathered friends. Knowledge is power, and your awareness can lead to action.
Spreading Awareness: Share what you’ve learned with friends and family. The more people know about the challenges birds face, the more support there will be for conservation efforts.
Supporting Conservation Efforts: Consider supporting local and national wildlife organizations that work to protect birds and their habitats. Your donations and volunteer efforts can make a significant difference.
Creating Bird-Friendly Environments: If you have the space and resources, installing bird boxes, like the Nest Box Live bird house, in your area can provide critical breeding sites for various bird species. Additionally, maintaining natural habitats, planting native vegetation, and reducing pesticide use can ensure a healthy environment for birds to thrive.
By adding a bird bath to your yard, you can enable a constant and stable water source for any bird to wash and drink.
And, to top things off, adding a bird bath is one of the single most effective ways of increasing bird diversity into your yard.
Read on to discover why you should add a bird bath into your yard.
Importance of Bird Baths
Like most animals, birds need water to survive.
Birds need water for drinking and bathing.
In the winter months, when natural water sources may become frozen, and in the summer months, when droughts ravage certain regions, a regularly maintained bird bath may be the difference between life and death.
Water for Drinking
Unlike mammals, birds lack sweat glands, meaning they cannot sweat.
So, to cool down, many bird species display gular fluttering. Think of this behavior like the avian equivalent of a dog panting.
However, this means birds lose water through respiration, and will need to be replenished.
Small birds, or those you’re likely to encounter in your yard, lose water at a higher rate than larger birds. These species, such as robins and chickadees, may drink multiple times throughout the day.
Different species of birds drink water in slightly different ways.
Many small bird species drink from the shallow edges of ponds and streams. Of course, these natural formations aren’t always present. So, for garden birds, bird baths provide the perfect opportunity to replenish lost water year-round.
But there’s another, equally important, function that birds use water for: bathing.
There are multiple benefits to bathing.
First up, many garden bird species are social. By gathering in groups in a centralized location, such as a bird bath, information exchange can take place.
In summer months, when temperatures are likely to soar, bird baths offer a vital respite from the scorching sun, and allow birds to cool off.
However, the main benefit of bathing is for health purposes and their overall survival.
To many bird species, the ability to fly is a way to escape predators. If their feathers are dirty, or full of parasites, this could lead to infection and disease, which may increase the likelihood a bird may fall victim to predation.
So, to ensure their feathers are in optimal condition, birds will frequent bird baths to keep their feathers cleaned and in pristine condition.
By ruffling their feathers whilst bathing, any dirt, parasites and general nastiness is washed away.
Being clean encourages a bird to groom or, in fancy scientific terms, preen.
After their feathers are washed and cleaned, birds spread a waterproofing oil over their plumage via a preening gland. This is particularly important during cold weather, where any wet and waterlogged feathers are at risk of becoming frozen solid.
Making a Bird Bath
A bird bath does not have to be an expensive addition to your backyard.
In fact, with a little tender love and care, you can make your very own bird bath from everyday items.
First up, you need a shallow basin that retains water. Nothing fancy here, a simple trash can lid, plant tray, or even an old bowl. This is a great way to put your upcycling skills to the test.
Next, you’ll want to find a suitable place in your garden to secure the bird bath.
You’ll want to aim for a flat and open piece of land. Not only will a flat area keep the bird bath stable and prevent toppling, it’ll also decrease the likelihood of any predators sneaking up on unsuspecting birds.
Where possible, try and elevate the bird bath off the ground – even if it’s just a couple of inches or so. To do this, place bricks or logs (or any other similar substrate) under your basin.
Now, all that’s left to do is fill your new bird bath with water and watch the action unfold.
Be reserved with the quantity of water you add – you only need about an inch of water.
If possible, add a few stones or logs into the basin itself. This gives the opportunity for a range of birds to perch in-between bathing.
Birds will be cleaning daily, so you’ll want to make sure you clean the water in the bird bath regularly to avoid the buildup of potentially harmful bacteria and algae.
Should I Add a Bird Bath to My Yard?
As we’ve just discovered, bird baths are incredibly important for the survival of birds themselves.
However, thinking more selfishly, bird baths are a great addition in your yard for a variety of reasons.
Bird baths don’t have to be expensive and complicated garden structures.
With the right materials, you can create your very own for a fraction of the price – unleash your creativity.
Not only is the setup relatively easy, the benefits of having a bird bath are a great addition for any yard.
Not only will you be helping bird populations survive environmentally challenging months, such as freezing winters and scorching summers, you’ll also be increasing the biodiversity in your garden, as well as ridding yourself of any unwanted pests in the process.
Afterall, you can attract more bird species with water, than you can with a bog-standard bird feeder.
House sparrows are one of the easiest birds to locate and identify. From grocery parking lots to city parks to rural farms, house sparrows have taken up residence and thrive near human establishments.
Interestingly enough, the house sparrow is a bird we love to hate (at least here in the United States). In the birding world, mention of house sparrows often brings up disdain and even anger. What about these little birds causes such an uproar, and is it justified?
Perhaps it has to do with their invasiveness coupled with their aggressive behavior. On the other hand, humans tend to glorify what is rare and disregard what is common. No matter your stance, it’s important to understand house sparrow behavior, including their aggression and ecological impacts.
House Sparrow Overview
The house sparrow (Passer domesticus), also known as the English sparrow, is one of the most common birds in the world. They are distributed across most of North America, except northern Canada and Alaska. They are native to northern Africa and Eurasia and were introduced to North America in the 1850s.
It isn’t an exaggeration to say that everyone in the United States (and much of the world) has seen a English sparrow, whether they knew the species by name or not. Male English sparrows are easier to distinguish than the females due to their black bib, grey head, and chestnut nape. The females are light grey-brown with indistinct markings on their head and back.
English sparrows stay close to humans and have come to depend on human influences for survival. Their common name, house sparrow, describes this relationship as they readily nest in man-made structures. This species, classified as an Old World Sparrow, has lived near humans and fed on our grains for thousands of years. As our ancestors moved, so did the house sparrow. When we settled in an area, they did too.
Because of their close association with civilization, house sparrows avoid uninhabited areas, such as forests, grasslands, wilderness areas, and deserts.
Invasive Status
English sparrows were purposely introduced to the United States as a natural pest control. While they rely on insects and larvae to feed their young, the English sparrow’s diet consists mostly of grains and weed seeds.
There also seemed to be nostalgic homesickness among the settlers that further enticed the introduction of the house sparrow. In England and other parts of Europe, this bird was (and is) a familiar sight, especially in city areas. Whereas, in the United States, the newly structured cities lacked the presence of the once-loved English sparrow. In the beginning, they were a welcome sight to the settlers.
However, house sparrows spread rapidly and established themselves in farms and cities across North America. They are considered agricultural pests as they feed on ripening seed heads in grain fields and eat large quantities of farm animal grain.
To add insult to injury, English sparrows fiercely defend nest sites. They aggressively push or remove native species from the area.
They also compete with native bird species for trophic resources, as they form large flocks that can dominate an area.
Due to their invasive status, English sparrows can be legally euthanized in the United States. European starlings also share this exception.
House Sparrow Aggression
House sparrows take the concept of “only the strongest survive” to an uncomfortable and harsh reality. Their brutal survival tactics make them highly unpopular among birders in the United States.
Both male and female English sparrows aggressively defend nest sites. If another bird species nests nearby, they will enter the nest and peck the eggs or kill the young. If an adult bird stays in the nest to defend their young, the house sparrow will also kill the adult by pecking them to death.
English sparrows prefer to nest in cavities made by other birds, but will also nest in birdhouses and crevices in man-made structures. As such, they compete with other cavity nesters in rural and urban areas, such as eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, chickadees, and purple martins. These are the native bird species most affected by house sparrows.
The aggressive tactics of English sparrows have contributed to the decline of eastern bluebirds. However, they should not be entirely blamed for the decrease in eastern bluebirds. Agriculture, city development, and deforestation have also played a major role in displacing native bird species.
The aggressive behavior of English sparrows influences flock dynamics. They have a pecking order similar to chickens, and skirmishes often break out to establish dominance and rank.
Interestingly, intersex aggression is rare, and displays of dominance are usually only between the same sex (male to male and female to female). While it isn’t common, it is not unusual for a female English sparrow to claim another sparrow’s nest and even kill her young.
Because of these intense interactions, a male English sparrow will spend about 60% of their time perched near their nesting site to defend their territory. It appears that the male sparrows are more bonded to their nesting site than their mate. Even if their nests are removed in an attempt to dissuade the house sparrows, the male house sparrow will quickly rebuild.
House Sparrow Nesting Problems
Check out this house sparrow control page if you’re having issues with house sparrows nesting in your bird boxes. You’ll find information about the next box hole size, as well as passive and active house sparrow control methods.
It’s easy to understand why birders have such a disdain for English sparrows. This is especially true for those who have witnessed English sparrows kill native birds in their bird boxes.
Here in the United States, most informational resources will guide you on how to “control” house sparrow populations and why they are such a “nuisance bird.” Interestingly, in other parts of the world, house sparrows are well-loved.
Globally, English sparrow populations are declining. This has led to the creation of ‘World Sparrow Day’ to celebrate and protect house sparrows.
It is up to you how you feel about English sparrows. I choose to see them as an opportunistic and adaptable species with harsh survival tactics. I do not think this makes them a “bad” bird, but simply one that challenges our human morality, as it should. It is also interesting to consider the response of other countries whose house sparrow populations are declining and how that may influence our American understanding of this “civilized” bird.
It’s always a treat to have birds in your back yard. But, it’s even better if you’re able to identify birds by their songs.
All around the world, people are able to hear birdsong throughout the day. Waking up to the morning chorus or hearing them on your commute to work, birds are always communicating around us. But, are you able to identify a bird by it’s song? And, how can you improve your bird identification?
Identifying birds by their song can be quite a daunting task. Especially when they are tucked up in trees on the tallest branches. But, by understanding why and how bird songs and calls are used we can start to identify them. This article will provide helpful tips, tricks and resources to help you identify bird species in your back yard.
Follow These Steps to Identify Birds by Their Songs
Birdsong is a hugely diverse symphony of contact calls, alarm calls and mating rituals. These are all sounds that we can separate and listen out for. Around the world, birds usually make two types of noise. Either they produce contact calls or songs. Contact calls, or alarm calls, are short, sharp and usually quite complex noises to tell apart.
Songs are more easily told apart as birds sing to attract mates or hold down their territory. Opposite species also identify any threat involved with particular calls. Similarily, you can learn different species songs using the following steps:
To identify birds by their songs, the best place to start is to know what birds could be in your backyard. With a little patience and practice identifying backyard birds by their songs will be easy in no time.
One of the best ways to learn is to use your eyes to help your ears. By learning what the bird looks like and connecting it with a song or call, your identification ability will improve quickly.
2. Learn From Others
By familiarising yourself with backyard bird species you can spend time listening out for various songs. A great way to start is to join a naturalists or a local birding group.
A good birding field guide in hand is also very useful such as the Sibley Guide for Birds that are specific to the united States. The Kaufman Guide for birds is particularly good for beginner birders.
3. Use Technology
In this day and age, there are plenty of apps specifically designed to help you identify birds by their songs. Merlin, by the Cornell Lab, is a very popular app that records bird song in your area. It also provides common songs and calls of each species to help you repeat and learn over time. This is a quick way of identifying a birds song and remembering the species symphony in your state.
4. Mnemonics
It is also important to learn different tones and notes that birds produce. Instead of memorizing every song as best you can, become aware of the different rhythms and repetitions involved in each song. By using recorded bird songs you can gradually better identify the flutelike or scratchy tones or the changing pitches of differing species.
Song: common through North America, this little orange-busted bird will sing loud and proud on your lawn or cherry tree year round. Listen out for a number of high pitched, drawn out notes which quickly descend in pitch and increase in speed. Their song is a territorial declaration to your backyard and one you should standout from the rest.
Call: they often sound like they’re laughing or chuckling sounding like a ‘tuk’ or ‘cuck’ whilst communicating with eachother.
Mourning Dove:
Song: commonly mistaken for a species of owl, doves have quite a melancholy coo that repeats over time. The song, or otherwise known as a ‘perch-coo’ starts with a soft coo-oo followed by a few louder coo’s. their song is distinctive as the middle syllable is much louder and longer.
Call: a nest call will often be heard as a ‘cooOOoo’ while nest building is occurring. A loud whistle can also be heard to warn others of predators or imminent danger.
Song: predominantly sung by males, nuthatches have a very identifiable and rapid song made up of low-pitched ‘wha-wha-wha’, lasting a few seconds. Made of identical notes, their songs are displayed at varying speeds. They are often referred to as a squeaky toy perched along your fence line.
American Goldfinch:
Song: dependent on whether a male or female is singing, their songs are made up of twitters and warbles that vary throughout their lifespan.
Call: making identifying birds by their songs a little harder, goldfinches have stand out calls made up of clear notes, trills and stutters at varying speeds.
Downy Woodpecker:
Uniquely distinctive for this species of bird, woodpeckers lack a melody or song. Throughout deciduous forests, these North American woodpeckers produce throaty high-pitched notes that descend towards the end of the call. If excited, these woodpeckers will give an even higher pitched chirp over a few seconds heard echoing through woodlands.
House Finch:
Song: the songs of these birds is rather soothing coupled with a sharp note towards the end. Males sing throughout the year and females deliver a softer version.
Call: both male and female house finches deliver a sharp ‘ cheep’ alarm call while perched or in flight. Both males and females deliver distinctive calls comprised of two or three liquid syllables.
Song: these birds produce a very loud and often clanky song with two to six phrases, well spaced notes and ends with a buzz or trill. However, the song patterns these birds produce vary as they travel vast distances.
Call: to alarm others around them, sparrows will produce a sharp chirp like note.
The Hairy Woodpecker. Image by Rockytopk9 via Flickr.
The music of nature is a beautiful thing made up of mainly bird songs and bird sounds. The beloved woodpecker plays the drum that sets the rhythm of this tune. It chips away at the bark of the tree to find insects for feeding, attract mates, and signify his ownership of a certain territory.
You likely have seen woodpeckers at your local nature preserve, or your patio. Which types of woodpeckers have you spotted? Good question. There are many varieties of woodpeckers in North America, each with its own distinct look. Let’s discover which frequents your area.
Types of Woodpeckers
There are twenty-three types of woodpeckers in North America, the majority of which are in the United States. A few categories of woodpeckers are migratory and move from North to South each year.
Woodpeckers can be distinguished from other birds by their unique behavior, but also by their ‘sharply-pointed beaks, stiff tail feathers, and short legs equipped with four sharp-clawed toes’. The most common type of woodpecker in North America is the Northern Flicker, making this a great first to evaluate when trying to identify the type of woodpecker you have spotted. We will learn more about how to identify the Northern Flicker and other woodpecker types later in this article.
The Northern Flicker, the most common type of woodpecker in North America. Image by Jim Moodie via Flickr.
The other twenty-two types of woodpeckers in North America include:
Red-headed Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker (also argued to be the most common type of woodpecker)
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker
American Three-toes Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Goolden-fronted Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Nutall’s Woodpecker
White-headed Woodpecker
Arizona Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Williamson’s Sapsucker
Gilded Flicker
Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
Categories of Woodpeckers
Hold on a minute! You included sapsuckers and flickers on that list. Aren’t we talking about woodpeckers? Sapsuckers and Flickers are actually types of woodpeckers. Sapsuckers look similar to a typical woodpecker; however, they are slightly smaller than the average woodpecker and have straighter beaks. The holes they drill are smaller and they feed on sap, making them more dangerous for the tree than their peers.
Flickers, on the other hand, are larger than your typical woodpecker. They perch horizontally across tree branches compared to your average woodpecker, which climbs up and down the tree trunk. Flickers are brown and white-breasted. Flickers are more apt to drill the ground to find food, while woodpeckers peck away at tree bark.
Why Are Woodpeckers Important in Nature?
The Red-bellied Woodpecker. Image by Eric Zhou via Flickr.
Woodpeckers are considered a keystone species. Keystone species are critical to an environment’s longevity and health. This is because other species heavily rely on the keystone species to survive. In the case of the woodpecker, the main factor rendering it a keystone species is the holes it leaves behind in the trees. These openings become homes to small mammals after the woodpecker has moved on. Woodpeckers also help balance the food chain as they act as both prey and predator, providing food to larger animals while regulating the insects they feed on.
How To Identify Bird Species
There are several factors to consider when identifying types of woodpecker, or any bird for that matter. A guidebook is the most efficient way to do so as it typically lists each characteristic in detail along with included photos.
The Downy Woodpecker. Image by Rob English via Flickr.
As we learned, many types of woodpeckers may be in your local forest or backyard. Let’s take an in-depth look at the five common types of woodpeckers you may spot in North America.
Northern Flicker
The Northern Flicker is a large woodpecker, roughly 12.5 inches in height. It has a tan and grey body paired with a brown and gray head. They are found in woodland and open habitats throughout North America. The Northern Flicker is a noisy bird that frequently drills the ground for burrowing insects.
Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is small, coming in at about 6.75 inches in height. The bird has black and white plumage, a short beak, and spotted wings. It is found throughout North America in young woodlands, except in arid regions such as the southwest.
Pileated Woodpecker
This is a rather large type of woodpecker at 16.5 inches- about equal to a crow. What sets these birds apart from the rest is its bright red crest. Otherwise, look for a black and white face paired with a white throat. You may see a flash of white under its wing as it flies overhead. You are most likely to spot this bird in the Pacific Northwest where there are large expanses of forest with big dead trees.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a medium size for this bird family with a long black beak, brown head, red nape, and orange front. These birds are commonly found in the east in parks and woodlands.
Hairy Woodpecker
The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium to large woodpecker of black and white feathers. It has a long black beak with white underparts, a large white patch on its back, and an all-black tail. It prefers to inhabit mature forests with big trees.
Woodpecker Facts
The Pileated Woodpecker. Image by Lynn Griffiths via Flickr.
Now that you can identify the woodpecker you’ve spotted let’s learn a little about them! Here are some interesting woodpecker facts:
Woodpeckers prefer dead trees as rotting wood is easier to drill, however they do visit live trees as well.
Woodpeckers have excellent hearing, particularly the Hairy Woodpecker. They listen for the tiny sounds insects make as they crawl through tree bark.
Woodpeckers are solitary birds, except for the Acorn Woodpecker which has an advanced social order and lives in groups of 10-16 birds.
All woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, state law, and local city ordinances. It is illegal to be in hunt or be in possession of the birds, their eggs, and their feathers.
While most woodpeckers are not endangered or at risk of extinction, many species have already been lost, and others are threatened by habitat loss.
Almost half, some 4,000 (give or take), of all the world’s birds are songbirds.
Songbirds create elaborate and complex songs that can be used to impress and attract mates.
The best time to hear singing birds is at dawn. Also known as the “Dawn Chorus”, the morning air is filled with the serenading melodies of rivaling birds.
To us, this dawn chorus is nothing short of peaceful. To birds, however, trying to outperform their neighbor through a sing-off is fiercely competitive. Afterall, they are not only attracting mates, but also defending territories.
This article aims to explore the most impressive singing birds from around the globe. From the locally common Northern mockingbird, to the exotic Montezuma oropendola.
What Is a Songbird?
Songbirds can be found across the globe – from the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia to the local park at the end of your road – and they all share similar traits.
Firstly, songbirds belong to the order Passeriformes, or the passerines.
Passerine birds are also referred to as perching birds. They have adapted to have three toes facing forward and one toe facing backwards, allowing them to securely grip onto the thinnest of branches.
Passerine birds can be further separated into three distinct suborders – the largest of which is the Passeri. Birds in this suborder, also referred to as oscines, are the songbirds! To date, over 4,000 songbirds have been described by science.
Unlike other bird species, songbirds have evolved a highly developed voice box, or syrinx, allowing them to sing highly complex songs.
So, to recap, all songbirds are passerine birds, but not all passerine birds are songbirds. Still with me?
Chances are, we’ve all heard a bird sing. We go about our daily lives with the everpresent melodies of birdsong nearly wherever we go.
But have you ever stopped and wondered why birds sing?
Sure, listening to the dawn chorus can be nice for us humans (unless it’s a rooster), but I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that birds don’t sing for us.
Instead, most birds sing to communicate with one another – either in the form of defending territories, attracting mates, or simply checking in with one another.
This is also made possible with that special vocal organ – the syrinx – which sits where the trachea branches into the bronchi of the lungs. Every species of songbird has a slightly different syrinx, allowing for such a diversity of song calls and sounds.
Each sound produced has a different function. So, what sounds like a beautiful song to us, could be a bird telling its neighbor to duck off (darn autocorrect).
But, we won’t dwell too much on the hows and whys – if you want to learn more, check out our other article on how birds sing. Instead, let’s explore some of the most interesting singing birds.
The 10 Most Impressive Singing Birds in the World
1. Superb Lyrebird
The superb lyrebird is one of the largest songbirds. Found in Southeastern Australia, the lyrebird is famed for its elaborate courtship displays and excellent mimicry.
In fact, some male lyrebirds have been recorded singing the songs of over 20 other bird species – from the laughing cackle of the kookaburra to the high pitched whip call of the eastern whipbird.
However, it’s not just bird calls the lyrebird has successfully mastered. Humanmade sounds, such as camera shutters, crying babies and chainsaws, are well within the vocal capabilities of the lyrebird.
Males use this impressive sound knowledge alongside courtship dances to attract females. Males who are able to incorporate more songs into their displays, have higher chances of mating with females.
From an Australian mimic to one closer to home, the Northern mockingbird has been known to mimic the sound of nearby animals – most notably other bird species, including shrikes, blackbirds and jays. They have also been known to replicate the croak of a frog.
While both males and females sing throughout their lives, it is often unmated males who sing the loudest and most persistent.
Most of northern mockingbird’s songs are a series of whistles, rasps, scolds and trills. Each phrase is repeated 2 – 6 times, before a new song is produced.
Like the lyrebird, song and sound production is key to female choice. A female will actively select males that can produce intricate and complex songs – an indicator of longevity and experience with raising previous clutches.
These impressive singing birds have a large repertoire of sounds they can make for certain occasions. For example, if an intruder is nearby, both sexes can let out a series of 2-8 scratchy chat calls to ward them off.
3. Wood Thrush
A long-distance migrant, the wood thrush spends the spring and summer months breeding in deciduous and mixed forests of Eastern USA.
They are a relatively secretive bird, preferring to hide away in the thick understory of shrubs and young trees.
More often than not, you’ll be able to hear a wood thrush before seeing it. Their easily recognizable flute-like call of ee-oh-lay is the middle section of a three-part call.
Think of this middle part of the call like a fingerprint – no two are the same.
Although the calls are passed down from generation, or learnt from through their neighbors, each wood thrush creates a slightly new variation of the call. Coupled with the low notes of an introductory phrase and the high trill of the final phrase, a wood thrush can create over 50 distinct songs.
A bird I am very familiar with, the oropendola is as beautiful as it is unique.
The Montezuma oropendola is a New World tropical bird, native to Central America.
Although they are part of the blackbird family, who’s members consist of other impressive singing birds, they bear no resemblance to blackbirds.
They have striking yellow tails that stand out in the gloom of their tropical rainforest home. However, it is their call that stands out the most.
The song of a Montezuma oropendola is quite distinctive and can be described as a complex mix of melodious and mechanical elements. The bird is known for its loud and varied vocalizations, which are often used in its elaborate courtship displays.
The most characteristic sound of the oropendola is a unique bubbling/gurgling series of notes that can sound almost like a mix between liquid being poured and a series of musical notes, intertwined with laser-like sounds.
This singing bird is an oddity for sure, but it has to be one of the most spectacular sounds throughout the whole rainforest .
5. Malabar whistling thrush
A strikingly blue, ground-dwelling bird the Malabar whistling thrush is native to the foothills and montane forests of India.
As with other species on this list, the Malabar whistling thrush is more often heard than seen. However, so human-like are its calls, many listeners and researchers have been deceived as to their presence.
Unlike a typical bird song, the Malabar whistling thrush does not have a uniform song. Instead, they have a two-note whistle – much like a whistling schoolboy (a nickname they’ve gained).
The best time to hear these birds is at dusk and dawn, especially during the monsoon season of June – September.
6. Greater Hoopoe-Lark
Found across North Africa and the Arabian peninsula, the Greater Hoopoe-Lark is a large desert lark species.
Although it spends much of its time running along the desert floor, they do take to the skies during the mating season.
Males rise with the use of fluttering wing strokes, followed by a dive to a nearby perch. During this courtship display, the males sing a variety of rising and falling notes, consisting of trilled whistles and clicks. They often emit these songs whilst performing their dramatic aerial dives.
For a bird with “musician” in the title, you know we’re in for a treat.
And this little wren does not disappoint.
Although coming in under 5 inches in length, the musician wren is famed for its unique song. Consisting of rich, fluting notes, this impressive singing bird also creates a song with different pitches of chirps and rattles.
No wonder it’s been nominated for “most musical bird in the world”.
The musician wren is found in the lowland and foothill rainforests of the northern range of South America.
To communicate with one another, pairs of musician wrens sing in antiphonal duets, whereby individuals sing in rapid alternation, with “rapid” being the key word. Sometimes, there is a gap of just a few milliseconds between responses.
During mating season (late spring/early summer), the male sedge warbler introduces “random” phrases into his already strong repertoire.
What seems like a random assortment of noise to us, is a carefully executed courtship behavior designed to win mates. Scientists hypothesize, like with other species on this list, the more complex the song, the higher the likelihood of a male mating.
Males never sing the same song twice. So, you never really know what to expect from the song of a sedge warbler.
Can Other Birds Sing?
An interesting question.
The short answer, no. Only songbirds, or the oscines, can sing.
However, this isn’t to say all other birds are mute.
This is where songs and calls differ.
Songs, typical with songbirds, are longer and more complex. They are often associated with territory, courtship and mating.
Calls, on the other hand, can be made by many other bird species – from waterfowl to raptors. These sounds serve specific functions, including alarm calling.
Much of their time is spent silently on the wing, far out at sea. However, during the summer nesting months, the otherwise still nighttime darkness is filled with eerie chattering, trilling and sputtering calls.
These spooky sounds are often emitted from their burrows (that’s right, they nest in burrows within cliff banks) and can often be described as raucous purring.
So, despite not being a singing bird, their sounds are pretty unique as a form of communication.
Of course, as with everything in life, there are exceptions. Kind of.
Parrots aren’t songbirds. However, like songbirds, they do possess a syrinx.
Unlike songbirds, parrots don’t have particular songs hardwired into them. Instead, they learn a series of sounds from nearby sources. In captivity, this could be in the form of human song lyrics.
This imitative vocal learning can be considered a social display of intelligence. It requires good hearing, memory and muscle control for sound production. These traits, rather than the song itself, may help females choose a suitable mate.
Final Thoughts
Across the globe, a wide array of songbirds can be found – from deep within tropical rainforests, to your own back garden.
Most songbirds have a unique song in which they alter and sing to impress mates.
Those with the most complex songs are more likely to secure mating rights.
Other bird species, such as parrots, raptors and seabirds, cannot be considered songbirds. However, they create impressive sounds nonetheless.
What does it mean for something to be cute? I think we can agree that ‘cuteness’ is rather subjective. But, when I think of the cutest birds, I think of small and fluffy birds that I would love to cuddle.
Cute birds have this innocence about them. They bring up feelings of joy and amusement that only the cutest of things can inspire. In my search for the cutest birds in the United States, I chose the birds that animated those feelings within.
So, without further ado, prepare yourself for the top 8 cutest birds in the United States.
The first cutest bird that came to mind in my search was none other than the black-capped chickadee. But, of course, this isn’t the only chickadee in North America, and the other species are equally adorable.
Chickadees are small birds that are common and abundant across the United States. Their enticing personalities, tiny beaks, and round little bellies make them one of the cutest birds you’ll come across.
Luckily, this common backyard bird is easy to attract to a birdfeeder. As they are quite curious creatures, it takes little time to build trust with them. With enough patience, you can feed chickadees by hand by standing completely still with your hand outstretched and full of birdseed.
Wrens are intriguing birds, as they are rather mysterious. Keeping to the shadows of dense foliage and brush piles, you only have a moment to glimpse these little birds and their upright, flicking tail.
However, every so often, wrens will come out into the open, looking for insects. During these short windows of opportunity, their cuteness is on full display.
While all wrens in the United States are cute, I tip my hat to the Pacific wren and winter wren for being the cutest birds. These two wren species are smaller than the other species. Their dainty beauty gives them fairy-like qualities.
Red-breasted nuthatches are the smaller, redder cousins to the more common white-breasted nuthatch. They are a bit harder to come by as they prefer conifer forests, but they’ll occasionally stop by a backyard feeder.
If you get a chance to admire the red-breasted nuthatch, you’ll soon see how they are one of the cutest birds in the United States. Not only do they have round little bellies, but they also have charming personalities.
Nuthatches forage for food by scooting head-first down trees. When foraging on the ground, they hop around in a distinct way. Their unique behavior and appearance will quickly make them one of your favorite birds.
The list of the cutest birds in the United States wouldn’t be complete without hummingbirds. Being the smallest birds in the world, they are undoubtedly some of the cutest.
But don’t let their dainty appearance fool you, these are fierce little birds. Quick to defend a feeder or a nesting site, hummingbirds are extremely territorial and vocal. They aren’t afraid to take on larger creatures, even an unsuspecting human veering too close to a nest. But don’t worry, much of their aggression is only for show, and for us, it just makes them that much cuter.
Some common hummingbirds in North America include the Anna’s hummingbird, the rufous hummingbird, the ruby-throated hummingbird, and the black-chinned hummingbird. Check a local field guide to see which hummingbirds are common in your area.
There’s a rush of excitement when spotting a bird that is hard to find. The brown creeper is a perfect example of one such bird.
While common across the United States, these little birds are adept at blending into their surroundings. Specifically, their beautiful feathers mimic the color of bark, camouflaging them as they search for food.
But, when you do spot a brown creeper, you’ll notice two things. First, how curious of a little creature they are as they chirp along the tree trunk. Or rather, creep up a tree, as their common name implies. Second, how adorable their round little bodies scooting along the tree is. Which, of course, makes them one our cutest birds in North America.
For a bird to fit the cuteness criteria, it has to be relatively small, preferably round, and fluffy (as much as bird feathers can be). Whether seeing bushtits in nature or even a photograph, you’ll notice that they fit the above description perfectly.
Bushtits are tiny (3-4 inches) with noticeably round, fuzzy-looking bodies. So, of course, they had to make the list of the cutest birds in the United States.
Common across the western United States, these dainty birds travel in flocks and prefer to keep to the canopy rather than venturing to the forest floor. One thing that makes bushtits even more adorable is that they like to huddle close together on cold nights to keep themselves warm.
In most instances, owls are regarded as majestic and mysterious, not necessarily ‘cute.’ While the Northern Saw-whet owl is certainly majestic, they also possess a rare cuteness that not many other birds of prey have.
I consider the northern Saw-whet owl one of the cutest birds in the United States because of their small size, perfectly round head, large beautiful eyes, and dainty beak. All those features combined produce a cute and elegant owl unlike any other in appearance.
Abundant across most of the United States and Canada, the downy woodpecker is a favorite amongst backyard birders. As the smallest woodpecker in North America, they are easy to distinguish from the others.
The male downy woodpecker has a distinct red spot on the back of its head while the female does not. During mating season, you’ll see the two flying after each other through the treetops, chittering all the while.
In winter, downy woodpeckers appear “extra fluffy.” This, coupled with their small stature and pleasant personality, makes them one of the cutest birds in the United States. Plus, they love to visit birdfeeders throughout the year, especially if there’s fresh suet for them to enjoy.
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