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Yellow-headed Blackbirds: Conspicuous Wetland Breeders

10,000 Birds

I found this cluster of Yellow-headed Blackbirds in Sierra Valley, California, on a bird outing with the local Audubon Society after installing some artificial Burrowing Owl habitat earlier that day. You can hear the Yellow-headed Blackbird call by clicking on the sound link courtesy of Xeno-Canto.org.

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Best Bird of the Weekend (Second of September 2021)

10,000 Birds

Most of the breeders seemed to have departed already on their journeys south but he did enjoy a Barred Owl serenade in the wee hours of the morning two days in a row so the Barred Owl wins as his Best Bird of the Weekend. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend?

Breeders 264
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Short-eared Owl at Plum Beach, Brooklyn

10,000 Birds

I waited until now to post about the owl because the small size of the marsh at Plum Beach and the ease with which people can get into the marsh made it likely that if the owl’s location had been publicized it would have faced repeated disturbances from those hoping to see or photograph it. How cool is that?

Owls 145
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Best Bird of the Weekend (First of June 2020)

10,000 Birds

But we’re not confined to a wasteland of resident breeders just yet, are we? Near as I can tell, that horrific “huahhh” was coming from a Barred Owl apparently as confused about its evening’s itinerary as I was. Hopefully, you’re still finding surprises. Saturday night, a surprise found me.

2020 229
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Polygynandry and avian swingers

10,000 Birds

In the case of Acorn Woodpeckers, they are cooperative breeders (as with many other polygynandrous species), which seems to predispose species to polygynandry. Alpine Accentors, on the other hand, are not cooperative breeders and females typically have very little to do with each other. Wicked, right?

2011 235
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American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Ontario: A Field Guide Review

10,000 Birds

The Snowy Owl account focuses on irruptions. The material on Boreal Owl is a wonderfully condensed account about the species’ sexual dimorphism and its relationship to breeding plus the link between the species’ cyclical abundance and the red-backed vole. Boreal Owl, p. Bohemian Waxwing, p. 206, photo by Brian E.

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How to Start Bird Watching So That You Keep Bird Watching

10,000 Birds

In the United States, the best bird action pretty much follows this pattern, although your mileage may vary: WINTER – waterfowl, owls, species from colder climes SPRING – migrants, particularly songbirds EARLY SUMMER – local breeders LATE SUMMER – shorebirds FALL – migrants, particularly raptors and songbirds Of course, (..)