The Song Sparrow is a habitat generalist meaning they are found in a large variety of habitats. These birds occur from arctic grasslands to desert scrub, pine forests, prairie shelterbelts, agricultural fields and overgrown pastures. The favorite habitats of this delightful sparrow seem to be salt and fresh water marshes, the edges of lakes and forests,…
The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small songbird of the nuthatch family which breeds in old-growth woodland across much of temperate North America. It is a stocky bird, with a large head, short tail, powerful bill and strong feet. The upperparts are pale blue-gray, and the face and under parts are white. It has a…
The Eastern Screech Owl is our smallest resident owl. It has such an eerie call that Nebraska Game and Parks receives numerous calls from people who wonder what it is. This owl has a whinny type call followed by a monotone tremolo, all in one pitch. The eastern screech owl is a very nocturnal bird….
Fall and spring migration is a time of the year I always look forward to. This is when we begin to see many of our winter birds beginning to arrive or prepare to depart. And one bird that is always exciting to see during migration is the Harris’s Sparrow. This is truly a bird that the Central Great…
One thing is inevitable. Winter is on the way and it is going to snow. So I thought it appropriate to feature the Snow Bunting as December’s bird of the month. It is a bird that endures wintry climates more than any other bird of its size. Snow Buntings are Arctic specialists, breeding across the…
Chickadees! One of everybody’s favorite backyard birds. This tiny dynamo weighs only 1/3 of an ounce, equivalent to 3 pennies, and its heart beats 500 times a minute while at rest. It is also one of our most loyal subjects in and around our bird feeding stations. Some folks have found it easy to hand…
If you live on the edge of an urbanized area next to natural open spaces or in the rural countryside, your attention may be drawn to the sound of a kitten mewing for its mother. It is a vocalization that has puzzled many folks, especially those who have gone out to further investigate the origin…
Many folks have developed a less than appreciative view of Blue Jays. Often thought of as “backyard bullies” and “nest robbers” these extremely intelligent members of the Corvidae family which includes Crows, Ravens and Magpies, has been unjustly stereotyped. Other more desirable birds such as the House Wren can cause as much damage spearing eggs…
A common winter bird that often goes un-noticed is the Brown Creeper. That is due to the fact that this bird, which forages for food on tree trunks, blends in so well it appears to be part of the tree bark until you realize it is moving. Brown Creepers are clinging birds of the tree…
When we think of top predators our thoughts are drawn to sharks, wolves, Mountain Lions, and some bears. There are a number of birds of the sky that can claim to be a top predator. But none of them are as fierce and aggressive as the Great Horned Owl. In Eastern Nebraska where predators such…