Day 20: Loggerhead Shrike

The Loggerhead Shrike is a year-round resident in the southern parts of the U.S. and Mexico and a migrant to states farther north.

Loggerhead Shrike populations have been in decline in recent years. The one we saw last weekend in northern Maryland has been in the area for the past 2.5 years, but it's also the only Loggerhead Shrike that is currently known to be in the state. Evidently, changes in human land-use practices, the spraying of biocides, and competition with other species have helped contribute to the decline of this species.

Like other shrikes, the Loggerhead inhabits grasslands and open habitats, feeding on a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate prey. Compared to most birds, its head is large in proportion to its body size - thus the name Loggerhead, which also means “blockhead.”

When we saw the Loggerhead Shrike, it was perched on a small, bare tree on top of a dirt pile overlooking a field. King-of-the-hill of its little territory, with a perfect vantage point to see prey. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get super close to it, but Jared still managed to get a few photos through the scope.

Here's a good, close photo of  a Loggerhead Shrike (not our photo):

Source

Day 19: Tufted Titmouse

The Tufted Titmouse is a common song-bird of the deciduous forests of eastern North America. These birds have grey upperparts and white underparts with a white face, a grey crest, a dark forehead and a short stout bill.

Tufted Titmice are cute, curious birds. At our apartment, they can often be spotted on our porch rail or windowsill, seeming to peer inside. They are one of just a few perching birds that can use their feet to hold seeds while they break them open.

Fun fact: In contrast to most species of titmice and chickadees, young Tufted Titmice often remain with their parents during the winter and then disperse later in their second year. Some yearling titmice even stay help their parents to raise younger siblings.

Day 18: Hooded Merganser

I really love today's bird. Every time I see one, I remark on its interesting plumage. The Hooded Merganser is the smallest of three North American mergansers and the only one restricted to this continent. We've seen several in our wanderings of Maryland this year; here, they are year-round inhabitants. Most recently, we saw some in a golf-course pond on the eastern shore. Hooded Mergansers winter in the U.S. wherever temperatures allow for ice-free ponds, lakes, and rivers.

Male Hooded Merganser

The cool thing about Hooded Mergansers is that they have a crest at the back of the head that can expand or contract. Breeding males have a large white patch in this crest, while adult females have a reddish crest. No diss to the females, but male Hooded Mergansers are really pretty, especially when they expand their crests.

 Two male Hooded Mergansers

Male and female Hooded Mergansers

Day 17: White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrows are a common winter inhabitant here in Maryland. They are found at some season throughout much of North America, principally east of the Rocky Mountains.

The song of the White-throated Sparrow is one of the first bird calls I learned to recognize (after some coaching from Jared). It is a long, slow, and distinct series of whistled notes that many birders paraphrase as "Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada."

 

Evidently, White-throated Sparrows exhibit plumage polymorphism (there are white-striped and tan-striped morphs). I didn't actually realize that until doing some research just now! I have only paid attention to the white-striped morphs, so now I'll have to keep a look out for the tan-striped as well. On the white-striped birds, the crown is black with a white central stripe. On the tan form, the crown is dark brown with a tan central stripe.

 

Nerdy fun fact: While I was reading about the sparrow, I came across some fascinating information about the genetic and behavioral differences of the two morphs. The two polymorphisms are found in both sexes, occur in approximately equal numbers, and are due to chromosomal differences. Plumage differences are paralleled by differences in behavior and breeding strategy. White-throated Sparrows almost always pair with the opposite color morph for breeding. White-striped (WS) males sing more and are more aggressive than tan-striped (TS) males. TS birds of both sexes provide more parental care than WS birds. These attributes have made the White-throated Sparrow popular subject for studies of genetic, neural, and endocrine control of life-history characteristics.

Day 16: Eastern Bluebird

Everyone should recognize today's bird by its vibrant blue plumage. There are three species of bluebirds found in the U.S., and in Maryland we only have the Eastern Bluebird.

Adult males are bright blue on top and have a reddish brown throat and breast. Females are duller in color, with lighter blue wings and a brownish throat and breast.

 Female Eastern Bluebird

For nesting, Eastern Bluebirds depend on naturally occurring cavities or on cavities excavated or built by others in open habitats. Nesting competition is real problem for Eastern Bluebird populations. House Sparrows and other opportunistic birds are known to enter boxes where bluebirds are nesting, killing young and destroying nests. In the 1960s, Eastern Bluebird populations declined to a level raising extinction fears, but intervention practices (such as changing the size and scale of nesting boxes to discourage other birds) have helped establish a stable population.

Day 15: Snowy Owl

We drove up to Pennsylvania this morning with the hope of seeing a rare winter visitor, the Snowy Owl. Several people had reported seeing one in some fields, so we decided to try our luck. On our way, we noticed a bunch of horse and buggies lined up by what looked like a church. Later, we realized that must have been an Amish gathering.

When we arrived at the intersection where the owl had last been spotted, our hearts sank. We saw no owl and no people even trying to look for the owl. Instead of giving up, we kept driving, turning down a side road. Shortly after, we saw a bunch of cars pulled over on the side of the road and hoped that they had spotted our Snowy Owl. Indeed, they had! One hundred yards off or so, sitting on a fence post, was a beautiful white Snowy Owl, the first Jared and I have ever seen. 

There it sat, gazing silently over the field, occasionally bending back to preen its fluffy thick feathers. When it turned its head, we saw its squinty eyes and sharp beak, and I got a glimpse of its clawed toes after it readjusted on the fence post. Our particular owl was much whiter than some I had seen in photos. Many are spotted or streaked with brown feathers as well, but this one was nearly all white. It was truly a lovely and awe inspiring bird.

You can barely make out its face

 

Facing away from us

Snowy owls are nomadic and unpredictable migratory birds, whose movements are thought to be related to the variable abundance of its main prey species, lemmings. In recent years, Snowy Owls have been spotted in greater abundance farther south in the U.S., likely due to changes in food supply. Here is an interesting video about Snowy Owl migration: Snowy Owl Invasion

Fun fact: Unlike most owls, Snowy Owls are largely active during the day.

Here's a good, close photo of a Snowy Owl (not our photo):

Source

Day 14: Western Kingbird

Last weekend, while we were going to the eastern shore of Maryland, we stopped to see a Western Kingbird. Normally, these flycatchers breed in the western U.S. and winter in southern Mexico and Central America, so this was a rarity for Maryland.

Adults are grey-olive on the upperparts with a grey head, and the underparts are light orange-yellow on the lower breast and belly. There are several different types of kingbirds, and most look pretty similar. The Western Kingbird is distinguished by its smaller bill and the white outer edges of its two outer tail feathers.

The name kingbird is derived from the bird's "take-charge" attitude. The Western Kingbird vigorously defends a small territory around its nest, and often mobs hawks and owls that perch or fly nearby.