The Dark-Eyed Junco is represented by five forms throughout the U S. At one time, they were recognized as separate species. Many still think the larger White Winged Junco of the Black Hills area may fit this belief. It seems to stay in an elliptical area adjacent to this part of the country. Ornithologists seem…

This tiny jewel is the only one of the 16 species of Hummingbirds in the U.S. to regularly nest in the eastern part of the country. It is also one of the smallest of the species, weighing from 2 to 6 grams, or approximately 0.2 of an ounce. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are medium to long-distance migrants….

The diminutive House Wrens are one our most entertaining and longed for birds of the spring by most backyard bird enthusiasts… Their excited antics, and the male’s bubbly enthusiastic song, are cherished by many.  It is the most widely dispersed Wren in the western hemisphere with subspecies nesting as far south as Brazil. Their habitat…

The House Finch, a now common bird that visits bird feeders throughout the Eastern, Midwestern, and Central Great Plains states, is actually a western bird species that was introduced from California into Long Island, NY by caged bird dealers around 1940. They were being sold in the pet trade as Hollywood Linnets, or Hollywood Finch…

The Downy Woodpecker is a permanent resident bird. They are well established in older neighborhoods with mature trees and the first of our woodpeckers to show up in a developing neighborhood. It is not only the most common and prevalent woodpecker in this area, but is also the smallest of our North American woodpecker species….

If ever there were a bird that arrived in our backyards in preparation for the winter acting almost as happy to see us as we them, it is the Red-breasted Nuthatches. During the summer these little dynamos live in northern and western coniferous forests of spruce, fir, pine, hemlock, and western red cedar including the…

What an interesting and shy bird is the Kingfisher. You will probably hear them before sighting one. The shrill raspy rattle can be heard from a long distance. This seems to be the only recognized sound the Kingfisher makes. It is a large bird that measures from 13″ to 15″ long, with a heavy head…

 The Brown Headed Cowbird is not the sentimental favorite of many birders. It’s habit of not building a nest, rather laying it’s eggs in another birds’ nest, using those birds to hatch and raise their young, started eons ago. This bird was originally found in the great plains, following the vast herds of Bison. These…

The Common Nighthawk, a Nightjar, is perhaps the most easily seen and recognized of the various species that comprise the goatsucker family of birds. Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Nightjars are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief…

The Purple Martin is our largest and one of the friendliest of the swallow family. Hundreds of years ago the Plains Indians hung gourds around their encampments to attract these birds. One of the main reasons for having these birds nearby was they would become very excited when strangers approached. As for mosquito control its…