Scarlet Tanager Whistles a Tune

Yesterday, during a woodland walk with my three dogs—Sammy, the English Sheepdog mix; Bridget, the Black Lab mix; and Zoey, the Who Knows? mix—I heard the cheerful, Robin-like song of the Scarlet Tanager. Years ago, before learning his song, I heard these whistled notes high in the canopy of this same woodland and searched out the bird with my binoculars and much effort. (Have you ever tried birding in the company of three dogs?) However, my work paid off, and there I saw him—a bright red bird with black wings—singing heartily. (Photos courtesy of Charles H. Warren).

This scarlet beauty was the male. As typical, the female is much less showy. It would take me some time to recognize the olive-yellow female whenever I saw her (if I can even now).

Of course, learning a bird’s song and calls greatly improves your ability to identify a particular species. Now some birds’ songs are easier to identify than others. And for me personally, I find a repeated string of musical whistles the hardest kind of song to recognize. For instance, the rambling whistles of the Red-eyed Vireo, Indigo Bunting, American Robin and Scarlet Tanager, to name a few, all sound somewhat similar to my ear. I can’t easily follow the pattern to their notes. Of course, these songs are not similar to the trained ear, so I suppose my ear is not sufficiently trained. But I have learned a few tricks for distinguishing among them. For instance, yesterday I recognized the Scarlet Tanager NOT from his whistles but from the call he ended with: “chik-burr”—now that was a sound I recognized! And though I didn’t see him, I knew it was he singing from some perch high above.

Since first hearing the Scarlet Tanager, some years ago, I’ve heard or seen him in this same general location every year since. I wonder if it’s the same bird?

Till next time . . . happy birding!

Georgia Anne

Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks Come to Call

This handsome bird belongs to the family CARDINALIDAE and, like the Cardinal, has a thick conical bill. The grosbeak’s sturdy bill is perfect for eating seeds (also fruits and insects), and twice yearly, spring and fall, a small flock visits my feeder. They never stay long, about a week, and are off again. (Photo courtesy of Ken Thomas.)

The summer breeding range map (available at All About Birds) of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak includes Pennsylvania, but my visitors always move on from my property. I never understand why since the habitat here should suit them perfectly (“deciduous and mixed woodlands”). Do I sound like I’m sulking? Ha!

However long they decide to stay, I’m always pleased to see the showy splash of bright red against the male’s white breast. The female, in tones of tan, brown, and white, is not so colorful but yet distinctive in the bold striping of her head.

Springtime at my feeder is nothing if not colorful! Just the other evening, I delighted in the brilliant blue of Indigo Buntings, the bright yellow of American Goldfinch, and the red, black, and white of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak—to name only a few of the birds! But I’ll have more to say about the others in postings yet to come.

Until then . . . happy birding!

Georgia Anne

White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows

I’m writing about these two sparrows together since both are currently visiting my feeder and neither will be spending the summer. Their time with me will be short, mere “rest-stops” on their migration north to breed: the White-crown to Alaska and Arctic Canada, and the White-throat to our northeast and over Canada (see their range maps at All About Birds (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/).

These two sparrows also resemble one another. Shown here (courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) is the White-Crowned Sparrow. However, the White-throated Sparrow also has distinctive black heads stripes and conspicuous yellow lores, “the area on each side of a bird's face, between the eyes and the upper bill” (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/label/extanatomy/answers.shtml).

When it comes to songs, the White-throat is more easily identifiable. Two phonetic translations are usually cited: 1) Old-Sam-Peabody, or if you’re Canadian, you might prefer, 2) Oh-sweet-Canada. In his A Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies, Peterson describes the song as “several clear pensive whistles, easily imitated.” And let me add—easily recognized—amid the more cheerful whistlers of spring.

Till next time . . . happy birding!

Georgia Anne

Baltimore Oriole Comes to Dine

This year, for the first time, I put out a feeder for the Baltimore Oriole, a brightly-colored member of the blackbird family (Icteridae). For many years, I’ve been feeding seed-eating birds and, of course, hummingbirds but never the Baltimore Oriole. So I thought it was about time to start.

As you can see by the photo (courtesy of John J. Mosesso), the male oriole is orange and black, while the female and young are yellow and olive-brown. An insect-eating bird, the oriole also enjoys fresh, juicy oranges. For just a few dollars, you can purchase an oriole feeder, which consists of a round plastic base (size of a plate) and a steel skewer. Cut an orange in half, pierce it with the skewer that screws into the base, and hang if from somewhere high. If orioles are in your neighborhood, you’ll quickly find one at this feeder.

A few days ago, for the first time, I hung an oriole feeder outside. The very next day a bright and beautiful oriole became my dinner guest. I don’t know how many orioles are enjoying the daily entrée of a fresh orange half, but by day’s end, it’s an empty rind. I don’t mind meeting the demand since I get to eat the other half. And that has to be a good thing—to eat an orange every morning!

Till next time . . . happy birding!

Georgia Anne

Eastern Pheobe

Spring is in full swing and my yard is brimming with the songs of newly arrived migrants, among them the Eastern Phoebe. This small gray flycatcher with whitish throat and belly is not easy to spot on a tree branch, but you’ll know he’s around when you hear his whistled two-note song, phee-bee.

Sometimes he whistles whimsically, as with the joy of a summer breeze. Other times the whistle sounds insistent, like you’re not paying proper attention, so he has to shout, “It’s me!” Whatever the mood of the song, I’m always happy to hear it.

For me, at least, it usually takes practice before I can identify a bird by song. Some birds have similar-sounding notes. For instance, the Black-capped Chickadee also sings a two-note song, fee-bee, which, at first, is difficult to distinguish from Phoebe’s song. Compare the two songs right now at Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Web site:

All About Birds (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search).

When directly comparing songs, you’ll notice that the chickadee’s sounds more musical, the notes higher and extended, whereas the Phoebe’s song is more clipped and a bit “buzzier” (my term). But what’s obvious with a close comparison is not so obvious when you’re outside and suddenly hear a whistled two-note song!

And don’t forget that the Black-capped Chickadee gets its name NOT from its song but from its call: chick-a-dee-dee-dee! As if you don't already have enough to remember. But that's what makes birding such a challenge and so much fun!

Until next time . . . happy birding!

Georgia Anne