Thursday, February 11, 2016

Redhead and Canvasback

A quick trip over to Agua Caliente Park (which is four miles from us) produced a single Redhead and a Single Canvasback -- amidst a hundred or more ducks. Both are diving ducks as opposed to the myriad of dabbling ducks often found at Agua Caliente. So it takes a more careful search to find.

Sometimes confused at a distance, here you can clearly see the differentiating features and colors. The Canvasback has a longer, straighter, and black bill vs the somewhat upturned, shorter, gray bill with black tip on the Redhead. You can also see that the Canvasback has a darker head than the Redhead. The back of the Canvasback is lighter in color than in the Redhead.


Canvasback

Redhead

Redhead and Canvasback

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Warblers of Southern Arizona: Yellow Throated Warbler


Continuing my series on Warblers of Southern Arizona, in alphabetical order, next up and last:

Yellow Throated Warbler

Distinctive Identification Marks: large high-contrast warbler with elongated profile; gray back; bright yellow chin, throat, and breast; strongly contrasting black cheek patch, lores, white under eye arc; heavy white supercilium; white wing bars separate black patch; white neck stripe; bright white underparts; long white tail;

Frequency: Casual in Arizona (15 records in Arizona)

Season: Winter

Range: Eastern United States

Habitat:
Tree Tops
Mid Tree

Nests:
Breeds in pine forest, sycamore, and riparian woodlands;
Placed high in trees;
Open nests of bark, grasses, and weed stems; lined with hair and feathers;

Feeding Behavior:
Gleaning: perched bird takes prey from branch
Eats insects and spiders

General Behavior:
Creeping
Skulking

Where to Find: last two years in Patagonia Town Center;

Chance of Finding: 25% when/where reported; otherwise not likely



in mesquite tree

in walnut tree

perched

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Warblers of Southern Arizona: Yellow Breasted Chat




Continuing my series on Warblers of Southern Arizona, in alphabetical order, next up:

Yellow Breasted Chat

Note: There is debate on whether the Yellow Breasted Chat should be classified as a "Warbler"


Distinctive Identification Marks: Large heavy bill; high contrast yellow throat and breast; heavy white eyerings; black lores; largest warbler; long gray tail; 

Frequency: Uncommon 

Season: April through September

Range: Throughout the United States

Habitat:
Lower Tree and Brush
Brush
Ground

Nests:
Bulky cup of grasses, leaves, bark, weed stems, lined with finer grasses; placed in dense shrubs.

Feeding Behavior:
Gleaning: perched bird takes prey from branch
Hawking: perched bird takes prey from air
Pouncing: perched bird takes prey from ground or stream
Eats small invertebrates and fruit

General Behavior:
Creeping
Walking
Very active; constant movement

Where to Find: San Pedro River; Patagonia Sonoita Creek; Empire Gulch

Chance of Finding: Very secretive; more often heard than seen; 10% in season and preferred habitat






Friday, February 5, 2016

Warblers of Southern Arizona: Yellow Warbler




Continuing my series on Warblers of Southern Arizona, in alphabetical order, next up:

Yellow Warbler

Distinctive Identification Marks: plain yellow face with dull yellow eyering; black eye; stout dark bill; variable red streaking on breast; yellow edges on wings; low contrast between underparts and back in southwest;

Frequency: Common

Season: March through September

Range: Throughout the United States and Canada

Habitat:
Mid Tree
Lower Tree and Brush
Wide range from dry scrub to marshes, to forests; from lowlands to 9,000 feet

Nests:
Nests in shrubs or small trees, usually 10 feet off the ground; 

Feeding Behavior:
Gleaning: perched bird takes prey from branch
Diet includes midges, caterpillars, beetles, bugs, and wasps

General Behavior:
Walking (hopping) along small branches
Very active; constant movement
Usually in the tops of shrubs and small trees

Where to Find: San Pedro River, Santa Cruz River, Empire Gulch, Mount Lemmon, Madera Canyon, Pena Blanca Lake

Chance of Finding: 25% in season and preferred habitat






Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Warblers of Southern Arizona: Wilson's Warbler




Continuing my series on Warblers of Southern Arizona, in alphabetical order, next up:

Wilson's Warbler

Distinctive Identification Marks: black cap; yellow underparts with olive back; small bill which is black on top and pale below; pink legs; brighter yellow supercilium; long dark tail; 

Frequency: Common

Season: Spring and Fall

Range: Throughout the United States and Canada, though more common in the West

Habitat:
Lower Tree and Brush

Nesting:
Nests on ground at the base of a shrub; open cup lined with grass

Feeding Behavior:
Gleaning: perched bird takes prey from branch;
Occasional Hawking;
Easts mostly insects but occasional berries

General Behavior:
Hovering
Very active; constant movement

Where to Find: Riparian habitats in all of the Madrean Sky Island Mountains.


Chance of Finding: 60% in season and preferred habitat.

Male

Female

1st Year

On Ground

In Tree


In shrub



Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Warblers of Southern Arizona: Virginia's Warbler



Continuing my series on Warblers of Southern Arizona, in alphabetical order, next up:

Virginia's Warbler

Distinctive Identification Marks: grayish back and head; complete white eyering; variable yellow breast; yellow base of tail; long thin gray tail; chestnut crown patch (seldom seen); 

Frequency: Uncommon

Season: April to September

Range: Southwestern United States

Habitat:
Mid Tree
Lower Tree and Brush

Nesting:
Nests are well concealed and little is known; often on steep hillside

Feeding Behavior:
Gleaning: perched bird takes prey from branch

General Behavior:
Hovering
Very active; constant movement

Where to Find: Mount Lemmon

Chance of Finding: usually in small numbers and uncommon makes it a difficult find; best chance is looking where recently reported. At best 10%.