The Snow Bird From the North - The Dark-eyed Junco

 Dark-eyed Junco

The Dark-eyed Junco is in the sparrow family, but its markings are not like that of the typical brown, streaky sparrow. There are several types of Dark-eyed Junco, but the slate-colored one is the most common in my area. They are dark gray above, with a dark gray head, pink bill and white belly. When it flies, watch the tail. The outer tail feathers are white and that is a good way to identify them as they fly off. You may be unhappy with that squirrel that spills seed on the ground, but the Dark-eyed Junco appreciates it, as its usually a ground feeder.

I usually see the Dark-eyed Junco appear with the first snowfall of the year in South Dakota, which gives them the nickname of "snow birds". They leave at the end of winter to fly to Canada to their nesting grounds where they nest on the ground. 

Sometimes their bill looks pink.

Sometimes you can see brown feathers showing through. I see many Dark-eyed Juncos at my bird feeder complex during the winter.

Dark-eyed Juncos are small, round birds that are smaller than a Northern Cardinal.

VIDEOS:

Dark-eyed Juncos: Fun Facts About Their Winter Habits  {10 minutes}

The Dark-eyed Junco: A Hardy Winter Bird {about 11 minutes}

Dark-eyed Juncos on the All About Birds website - Notice the different kinds of juncos.

Next up! The House Finch and the Purple Finch!

 House Finch

The House Finch is that other red bird that you may see in your backyard. The male is red like the one above, {although that one has a lot of red} and the female lacks the red coloring like in the photo below on the right. House Finches also eat mostly seeds. Check out the shape of the seed eating bill. They are here year-round. I see more at my feeders in the winter.

The male House Finch above had so much red on it. 

The photo below shows a juvenile or young House Finch. I love his little "horns" on his head!

Purple Finch

Next up is the Purple Finch and it is often confused with the House Finch. 

Notice that the red coloring as in the male {above} is more of a 

raspberry-colored wash from its head on down. The streaking in the belly area is 

faint and blurry. In my area, this bird is more of a rarity than the House Finch. 

I only see a few Purple Finches every winter. Be sure to watch the 

2 minute video at the link below.

The above photo is of the female Purple Finch. Notice the white stripes on its face. That is the field mark to watch for when deciding between a female House Finch or female Purple Finch.

Here is a comparison photo of the Purple Finch and 

an American Goldfinch. The Purple Finch is a bit larger.

VIDEOS:

Click on the links below.

How to Identify the House Finch vs. Purple Finch  {a video that is less than 3 minutes}

House Finch on All About Birds Website  

Purple Finch on the All About Birds Website

Meet the American Goldfinch

 American Goldfinch

The first image that may come to mind when you think about an American Goldfinch, may be similar to the bright yellow bird above. Notice the black forehead, black wings with white wing bars and the orange bill. However in the the winter the American Goldfinch is still here, but its plumage or feathers changed to a tan color like the female in the photo below. 

Above is a photo of American Goldfinches in the winter. They are more of a tan color with some splashes of yellow, but the black wings with white wing bars are still easy to see and that is one way to identify them.

In the bottom photo taken in March, you can see the yellow starting to appear on the male American Goldfinch. He is getting ready to turn a bright yellow, so he can impress the females in the spring.

American Goldfinches live in South Dakota year-round. They eat seeds only. They are 4-5" long and weigh as much as a CD disc. They like weedy fields and open woodlands. They used to be called the yellow canary. While most songbirds begin nesting in May, the American Goldfinch doesn't begin nesting until July or August in the east. Consider setting up a birdfeeder complex to attract the American Goldfinches to your yard, so you can get a better look!

VIDEOS:

Click on the links below.

Grab paper and a pencil and click on the link below to do a step-by-step drawing of an American Goldfinch with David Allen Sibley.

Click here:  

Drawing an American Goldfinch with David Sibley  {A 5 minute video.}

American Goldfinch: The Late Breeder Video  {An 8 minute video.}

The Nuthatches!

White-breasted Nuthatch

Meet the "Upside-down" birds. These two small nuthatches are often seen crawling up, but also down a tree trunk as they search for insects and larvae in the bark of a tree. They also eat seeds and can be seen at the bird feeder. They grab a seed, fly off and then use their bill to crack open or "hatch" the seed. That's how they got their name!

The White-breasted Nuthatch as shown above is a bit larger 5" and is in southeastern South Dakota year-round. The Red-breasted Nuthatch is smaller at 4"- {below} is seen during some winters and occasionally during other seasons, but it is not as common. Notice their long, pointed bills and similar shapes. I see the White-breasted Nuthatches nearly every day. If I'm lucky I will see a Red-breasted Nuthatch too.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

VIDEOS

Species Spotlight: The White-breasted Nuthatch

The Red-breasted Nuthatch: Adorable, Fun and Vocal

Cutest Nuthatch There Ever Was - Lentil: The Red-breasted Nuthatch Fun Facts

Woodpeckers in Our Area - Seen Year-round

For my first lesson, I will begin with the woodpeckers that live here in southeastern South Dakota during the winter. I will use my own photos comparing the male to the female. I have one photo comparing a Downy to a Hairy Woodpecker on this post that isn’t my photo, but it is so helpful. It is the end of February as I am typing this and I have been hearing the woodpeckers drumming by rapidly tapping their bill on a tree or pole. They are calling for a mate. Spring is on the way! Listen for drumming while you are outdoors.  When looking at photos of woodpeckers, notice how they steady themselves by pressing their tail against the tree or post. 

Downy Woodpecker

This is the smallest North American Woodpeckers. It is black and white with a short bill. The males have red on their head and the females do not. Notice the female in the bottom photos. 

Hairy Woodpecker

The Hairy Woodpecker is very similar to the Downy Woodpecker, but it is larger with a longer bill. Notice the same markings and the red is on the male, while the female lacks the red on the head.

Notice the size difference between the Hairy Woodpecker on the left and the Downy Woodpecker on the right. Both woodpeckers are here in our part of the state year round. {The above photo was not taken by me.}

Northern Flicker

The above photo shows a male Northern Flicker at my suet feeder in my yard. Notice the black "mustache". That is the distinctive feature for a male. The female does not have a "mustache". The photo below show the female Northern Flicker.

The photo above shows the red heart shape that is often seen on Northern Flickers.

Look at the photo below. You will often see Northern Flickers with a muddy bill because even though they are a woodpecker, they spend much of their time on the ground eating ants. They are here in the winter, so they change their diet and do not eat ants.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

The Red-bellied Woodpecker does have a faint, red belly if you can get a look at it. It's back is black and white striped. It has a white face. It is not often seen in our town, but when I go to the Missouri River I see them in the woodlands. They have a great sound.

Links of Videos About Birds

Inside Birding: Size and Shape - Start at 5:10 for the woodpecker section, but I like the whole video and it would be valuable for all.

10 Downy Woodpecker Facts by Lesley the Bird Nerd

Northern Flicker – Lesley the Bird Nerd

A Red-bellied Woodpecker Overview – By Lesley the Bird Nerd

All About Woodpeckers

Test Yourself - Click on the first photo above. Then go through the photos and see if you can name them. 

Chickadee Bird Club Blog Introduction

 

I have realized that some of my Chickadee Bird Club kids would like to learn more about birds, but our time together is so limited. I decided to create this blog for them and anyone else who would like to learn more about birds. I will add lessons to this blog using my photos and links to videos. I will add some drawing lessons and read-aloud books as well. Hopefully, this will continue their love of birds and nature as well as educate them further. Every so often I will have a quiz for them in a flashcard style, so they can practice their identification skills. In the meantime, you should:

• get a bird field guide to look over in their free time {Most of the students in my school have received 1-2 bird field guides from me. If you'd like a recommendation for a field guide for your area, please let me know.}
• purchase bird flashcards to practice
• get a pair of binoculars to help you see the birds more closely
• practice drawing birds as that will help you to notice details about each species
• get out and explore new habitats and practice your observation skills

Interested students can learn more and we can review it when we are together. I think it will be fun!  Learning about birds is educational and science at its best! Going outdoors birding causes people to be more observant and aware. Exploring in the outdoors is exciting! It reduces stress and causes you to feel happy!  In this tech-y world we live in, it's good for all of us to step away and get outdoors more!  Enjoy!