~ Brown Thrasher ~
The widespread thrasher of eastern North America, the brown thrasher is generally a secretive bird of dense thickets and hedgerows. Often seen feeding on the ground, probing for insects with its long slender bill, the brown thrasher frequently sings from open exposed perches at the top of trees. Polytypic. Length 11.5" (29 cm).
Identification Sexes similar. Similar in size to American robin, but more slender, much longer tailed. Upperparts entirely bright rufous; underparts white to buffy-white, especially on flanks, with extensive black streaking. Wing coverts with black subterminal bar and white tips, forming 2 wing bars. Bill long and slender; little de curviture. Yellow eye.
Geographic Variation Western populations larger, paler, with less extensive streaking.
Similar Species Most similar to the long-billed thrasher of southern Texas, which is more grayish above and has a longer, more decurved bill; redder eye; and much shorter primary projection. Super ficially similar in coloration to the wood thrush, but note very different size and shape, particularly the brown’s very long tail and its long and slender bill. Also, the wood thrush has more spotting on the underparts, compared to the brown thrasher’s streaking.
Voice Call: most common calls include and a low churr and a loud, smackingspuck, somewhat resembling the call note of a “red” fox sparrow. Song: a long series of varied melodic phrases, each phrase often repeated 2 or 3 times. Rarely mimics other bird species.
Status and Distribution Breeding: uncommon to dense thickets throughout the eastern United States. Migration: birds from the northern portion of the breeding popu lation migrate south in the fall, augmenting resident populations in the South. Winter: regularly winters across the southern United States, extending into south-central Texas. Vagrant: occasionally wanders west to Arizona and California. Casual to Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland. Casual in winter in northern Mexico.
Population Declines have been noted in the Northeast, probably as a result of habitat loss.
Range Map Symbols
Red = Breeding range, generally in
spring and summer (or summer
range of some non-breeding seabirds)
Dark Blue = Year-round range
Light Blue = Winter range (if no winter or year-round
round range is shown, winters outside
North America)
—From the National Geographic book Complete Birds of North America, 2006
~ Hairy Woodpecker ~
Like a large, long-billed version of the downy woodpecker, the hairy is a widespread generalist of a variety of forests and woodlands over most of the continent. Polytypic. Length 9" (24 cm).
Identification Plumage pattern is nearly identical to the downy’s, with long white patch down the back, variable white spotting on the wing coverts and flight feathers, and mostly unmarked underparts. The outer tail feathers are usually unmarked white. Adult: male shows red nuchal bar, often divided vertically by black (especially in some eastern populations); red is lacking in female.
Similar Species The downy woodpecker is similar in pattern but much smaller, with a small, short bill (much smaller than half the length of the head). Beware a recently fledged hairy with much a shorter bill than adult’s; black bars on the outer tail feathers distinguish a downy from a hairy. See the American three-toed woodpecker. Note that some populations of hairy (especially in Newfoundland) can show barred backs (especially as juveniles), and some Three-toed populations have nearly pure white backs.
Voice Call: a piercing, sharp peek or pee-ik. The rattle call (“whinny”) is a fast, slightly descending series of these peek calls. Drum: rapid roll of about 25 beats in 1 second.
Status and Distribution Fairly common; uncommon to rare in the South and Florida. Year-round: the hairy occupies a wide range of coniferous and deciduous forests from sea level to tree line; such habitats are usually densely wooded, but in some areas are more open and parklike. Dispersal: although generally nonmigratory, individuals can disperse long distances, and small irruptive movements sometimes occur. Larger, more northerly birds regularly occur in the Northeast in fall and winter. Recorded in fall and winter on the southern plains and Pacific coast lowlands well away from breeding habitats.
Population Declines that have been noted in many areas are thought to be due to fragmentation of forests, loss of old-growth trees, and nest site competition with European starlings.
Range Map Symbols
Red = Breeding range, generally in
spring and summer (or summer
range of some non-breeding seabirds)
Dark Blue = Year-round range
Light Blue = Winter range (if no winter or year-round
round range is shown, winters outside
North America)
—From the National Geographic book Complete Birds of North America, 2006
~ Cardinal ~
The northern cardinal is so well loved that it has been named the official bird of no fewer than seven U.S. states. Bright red cardinals are easily identified by even casual bird watchers, and are often seen frequenting backyards and bird feeders. When foraging elsewhere the birds eat insects, seeds, grain, fruit, and sap.
Cardinals, also called "redbirds," do not migrate and have traditionally been more common in warmer climes such as the U.S. southeast. However, in recent decades they have expanded their common range north through the United States and even into Canada. This population growth may be due to an increase in winter birdfeeders and to the bird's ability to adapt to parks and suburban human habitats.
Only males sport the brilliant red plumage for which their species is known. The color is a key to mating success—the brighter the better. Females are an attractive tan/gray.
Cardinals are active songbirds and sing a variety of different melodies.
Males can be aggressive when defending their territory, and they frequently attack other males who intrude. This tendency sometimes leads cardinals to fly into glass windows, when they charge an "intruding bird" that is really their own reflection.
Cardinals are fairly social and join in flocks that may even include birds of other species. During mating season, however, groups dissolve into pairs. Male birds feed their monogamous partners as they incubate clutches of eggs—typically three per season.
Yellow = Cardinal Range
Fast Facts
- Type:
- Bird
- Diet:
- Omnivore
- Average life span in the wild:
- 15 years
- Size:
- 8 to 9 in (21 to 23 cm)
- Weight:
- 1.5 to 1.8 oz (42 to 51 g)
- Did you know?
- Unlike many songbirds, both male and female cardinals sing, and the female often vocalizes with song from her nest.
- Size relative to a tea cup:
-
-Facts From National Geographic-
