Lincoln’s Sparrow
Photo by Matt Valencic
Lincoln’s Sparrow: Buffy undertones and fine streaks down its chest identify this secretive sparrow as it heads north to breed in wet meadows all across Canada.
Author: Sharon Swaney
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Blackburnian Warbler
Photo by Matt Valencic
Blackburnian Warbler: One of 30+ warblers seen around here in May, Blackburnians nest from Virginia to Maine and in lower, eastern Canada in spruce and fir forests.
Swainson’s Thrush
Photo by Matt Valencic
Swainson’s Thrush: Buffy undertones on its face and eye ring separate this from other thrush’s. Wintering in western South America, it travels thousands of miles to breed in coniferous forests of upper Canada.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Photo by Matt Valencic
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Headed to the coniferous forests of the upper US and Canada to nest high in the canopy. Spiders and insects are favorite foods for this 4” long bird!
Horned Grebe
Photo by Matt Valencic
Horned Grebe: Beautiful in its breeding plumage, this grebe is heading to western Canada to find ponds with emergent vegetation where it builds its nest, sometimes floating on the water.
American Tree Sparrow
Photo by Matt Valencic
These birds are usually found in flocks in weedy fields where they search for seeds of all kinds. Listen for their musical twittering!
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Photo by Matt Valencic
Beautifully colored, this 4” bird prefers conifers where they search for insects and conifer seeds.
Brown Creeper
Photo by Matt Valencic
Just 5” long and 0.3 oz, Brown Creepers are here most of the year but easier to see during winter. Look for them on tree trunks using their pointy bill to get under bark for insects.
Snow Bunting
Photo by Matt Valencic
Snow Bunting’s breed in the high arctic where there are no trees, so look for them in open agricultural fields and along shorelines where they are foraging for seeds.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Photo by Matt Valencic
Just 4” long and weighing 0.2 oz, this bird can withstand temps down to -40F. They find insects that overwinter under bark and elsewhere during winter.
