Black Capped Chickadees:
The humble chickadee is a hardy bird, remaining sprightly and active even in the depths of a New England winter. Black-capped chickadees are small (just over five inches) and often appear large-headed and somewhat “fluffy.” Their black caps and throats make a stark contrast with their white cheeks, forming a distinctive pattern. Chickadees are gray above and white to pale brown below; black-capped chickadees often show a significant amount of white on their otherwise gray wings. The bird gets its name from its call, given in all seasons, a rapid chickadee-dee-dee-dee. Black-capped chickadees are stable or increasing in all seasons, and are one of the most common and widespread bird species in the state. These birds help control the insects populations of the ecosystems.
The humble chickadee is a hardy bird, remaining sprightly and active even in the depths of a New England winter. Black-capped chickadees are small (just over five inches) and often appear large-headed and somewhat “fluffy.” Their black caps and throats make a stark contrast with their white cheeks, forming a distinctive pattern. Chickadees are gray above and white to pale brown below; black-capped chickadees often show a significant amount of white on their otherwise gray wings. The bird gets its name from its call, given in all seasons, a rapid chickadee-dee-dee-dee. Black-capped chickadees are stable or increasing in all seasons, and are one of the most common and widespread bird species in the state. These birds help control the insects populations of the ecosystems.
Woodpeckers:
Most everyone is acquainted with the signature sound of the woodpecker. In the spring and fall, especially, one can hear the distinct sound of a woodpecker drumming or drilling nearby. Six woodpeckers—the hairy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, northern flicker, downy woodpecker, and yellow-bellied sapsucker—are commonly found in Massachusetts. Despite their healthy populations there is concern that pressures such as the fragmentation of large forest tracts into smaller parcels and competition for nest holes from the European Starling could ultimately threaten their numbers.
Most everyone is acquainted with the signature sound of the woodpecker. In the spring and fall, especially, one can hear the distinct sound of a woodpecker drumming or drilling nearby. Six woodpeckers—the hairy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, northern flicker, downy woodpecker, and yellow-bellied sapsucker—are commonly found in Massachusetts. Despite their healthy populations there is concern that pressures such as the fragmentation of large forest tracts into smaller parcels and competition for nest holes from the European Starling could ultimately threaten their numbers.
Mourning Doves:
Named for the mournful sound of their owl-like cooing, mourning doves are plump-bodied brown birds with small heads and long tails. Although they are commonly hunted across the country, mourning doves are protected in Massachusetts, and they visit yards and gardens across the Commonwealth in all seasons.While on the ground, Doves seem dainty and weak, in flight, mourning doves are entirely different birds. Remarkably swift and agile, they fly straight and fast on whistling wings. Flocks of doves are often seen during the fall migration and through the winter, foraging for seeds below bird feeders or in agricultural fields. They also often perch in dead trees or on telephone wires. The rise in popularity of bird feeders has paid dividends for the birds by providing them with food sources in hard times,like winter. Mourning Doves are very popular amongst hunters. The Mourning Doves often end up eating the lead pellets of the bullets, especially in areas that are designed by hunters to attract the bird. This leads to the death of some of one in every twenty Doves in hunting areas.
Named for the mournful sound of their owl-like cooing, mourning doves are plump-bodied brown birds with small heads and long tails. Although they are commonly hunted across the country, mourning doves are protected in Massachusetts, and they visit yards and gardens across the Commonwealth in all seasons.While on the ground, Doves seem dainty and weak, in flight, mourning doves are entirely different birds. Remarkably swift and agile, they fly straight and fast on whistling wings. Flocks of doves are often seen during the fall migration and through the winter, foraging for seeds below bird feeders or in agricultural fields. They also often perch in dead trees or on telephone wires. The rise in popularity of bird feeders has paid dividends for the birds by providing them with food sources in hard times,like winter. Mourning Doves are very popular amongst hunters. The Mourning Doves often end up eating the lead pellets of the bullets, especially in areas that are designed by hunters to attract the bird. This leads to the death of some of one in every twenty Doves in hunting areas.
Northern Cardinal:
Cardinals are year-round residents in Massachusetts, and they use their bright, powerful beaks to crack open stubborn seeds and to slice open sugary fruits to help them survive the coldest months of the year. Come spring, their cheerful caroling can be heard in almost every neighborhood and farm.Cardinals are not terribly social birds and rarely form flocks, even during the winter when many other birds do. Rather than walking, cardinals hop, whether on the ground or from branch to branch, and they eat a mixture of insects, plant buds, seeds, and fruits. Fruit and seeds predominate during fall and winter. Once a rare bird in any season in New England, the increasing popularity of backyard bird feeders and the rise of suburbia have allowed cardinals to become common year-round in Massachusetts over the past fifty years. They are stable or increasing in all seasons. But the habitat loss at the southeastern California region may lead to loss of populations there.
Cardinals are year-round residents in Massachusetts, and they use their bright, powerful beaks to crack open stubborn seeds and to slice open sugary fruits to help them survive the coldest months of the year. Come spring, their cheerful caroling can be heard in almost every neighborhood and farm.Cardinals are not terribly social birds and rarely form flocks, even during the winter when many other birds do. Rather than walking, cardinals hop, whether on the ground or from branch to branch, and they eat a mixture of insects, plant buds, seeds, and fruits. Fruit and seeds predominate during fall and winter. Once a rare bird in any season in New England, the increasing popularity of backyard bird feeders and the rise of suburbia have allowed cardinals to become common year-round in Massachusetts over the past fifty years. They are stable or increasing in all seasons. But the habitat loss at the southeastern California region may lead to loss of populations there.
Eastern Bluebirds:
Bringers of happiness in all seasons, eastern bluebirds are small members of the thrush family that inhabit fields and clearings throughout Massachusetts. Bluebirds were once rare in Massachusetts during the winter, but in recent years the number of winter bluebirds has been climbing. In spring and summer, bluebirds nest in holes, either in trees or in birdhouses put up for their use. They mostly forage for insects on the ground, these insects include damaging insects like grasshoppers, crickets, and Katydids. This is part of their ecosystem importance. As the weather gets colder, many bluebirds flock together for migration. Those that remain in Massachusetts dine primarily on soft fruits, and a pair of bluebirds may remain on or near their breeding territory all through the winter.once at threat by their competition, Sparrows, their recovery is thanks to concerned citizens who put up bluebird boxes in their fields for these birds to nest in.
Bringers of happiness in all seasons, eastern bluebirds are small members of the thrush family that inhabit fields and clearings throughout Massachusetts. Bluebirds were once rare in Massachusetts during the winter, but in recent years the number of winter bluebirds has been climbing. In spring and summer, bluebirds nest in holes, either in trees or in birdhouses put up for their use. They mostly forage for insects on the ground, these insects include damaging insects like grasshoppers, crickets, and Katydids. This is part of their ecosystem importance. As the weather gets colder, many bluebirds flock together for migration. Those that remain in Massachusetts dine primarily on soft fruits, and a pair of bluebirds may remain on or near their breeding territory all through the winter.once at threat by their competition, Sparrows, their recovery is thanks to concerned citizens who put up bluebird boxes in their fields for these birds to nest in.
American Goldfinches:
Called sometimes the “wild canary” of the Americas, the American goldfinch’s distinctive sunshine-yellow plumage (feathers) fades in winter to an understated palette of gray, brown, and buff. These diminutive finches are common visitors to bird feeders across the state, and so the well-prepared birder should be familiar with their varied plumages. Goldfinches often travel in flocks, and they have a recognizable “bouncing” style of flight, resulting from their tendency to hold their wings tight against their body for a second or two between bouts of flapping.
Particularly during winter, multiple males and females often feed together at a single feeder. American Goldfinches are particularly fond of thistle seed (also called “black nyjer”). The song of the American goldfinch is a variable sweet warble, and the species has a distinctive four-note flight call given as they “bounce” through the air: po-ta-to chip, po-ta-to chip. American goldfinches are nearly ubiquitous in the Commonwealth, and are stable or increasing in all seasons.
Called sometimes the “wild canary” of the Americas, the American goldfinch’s distinctive sunshine-yellow plumage (feathers) fades in winter to an understated palette of gray, brown, and buff. These diminutive finches are common visitors to bird feeders across the state, and so the well-prepared birder should be familiar with their varied plumages. Goldfinches often travel in flocks, and they have a recognizable “bouncing” style of flight, resulting from their tendency to hold their wings tight against their body for a second or two between bouts of flapping.
Particularly during winter, multiple males and females often feed together at a single feeder. American Goldfinches are particularly fond of thistle seed (also called “black nyjer”). The song of the American goldfinch is a variable sweet warble, and the species has a distinctive four-note flight call given as they “bounce” through the air: po-ta-to chip, po-ta-to chip. American goldfinches are nearly ubiquitous in the Commonwealth, and are stable or increasing in all seasons.
European Starlings:
As the name suggests, European starlings are introduced birds from across the sea. Originally released in 1908 in New York City’s Central Park in an attempt to establish every bird mentioned in the works of Shakespeare to the New World, starlings have spread like wildfire. Now common and well established in all corners of our Commonwealth, it looks like starlings are here to stay.
Starlings are exceptionally gregarious, flocking (often in great numbers) at all times of the year. These flocks are often noisy, making a range of chatters, rasps, whistles, clatters, and clicking noises. When feeding, starlings often rove across the ground with determined steps, using their long, strong bills to probe and pry at the soil for invertebrate prey. They will also consume seeds.
European starlings are an introduced species, and they compete with native birds for nesting cavities. While they remain common and widespread in all seasons, starlings appear to be undergoing a gradual population decline.
As the name suggests, European starlings are introduced birds from across the sea. Originally released in 1908 in New York City’s Central Park in an attempt to establish every bird mentioned in the works of Shakespeare to the New World, starlings have spread like wildfire. Now common and well established in all corners of our Commonwealth, it looks like starlings are here to stay.
Starlings are exceptionally gregarious, flocking (often in great numbers) at all times of the year. These flocks are often noisy, making a range of chatters, rasps, whistles, clatters, and clicking noises. When feeding, starlings often rove across the ground with determined steps, using their long, strong bills to probe and pry at the soil for invertebrate prey. They will also consume seeds.
European starlings are an introduced species, and they compete with native birds for nesting cavities. While they remain common and widespread in all seasons, starlings appear to be undergoing a gradual population decline.
Dark Eyed Juncos:
Known colloquially as “snowbirds,” dark-eyed juncos are often linked to winter. These small, gray, seed-eating birds in the sparrow family are most often seen in Massachusetts from fall migration in October to spring migration in April. But what many people might not realize is that juncos can be found in the Commonwealth year-round, and often breed in our conifer forests.
Seed eaters, juncos forage on the ground, hopping along in small social groups and uttering single high buzzes and short repetitions of one note: tew-tew-tew-tew. When alarmed, juncos will fly to the nearest cover (usually a bush or low tree), flashing bright white stripes on either side of their tails as they flutter away.
Dark-eyed Juncos are regular breeders throughout western Massachusetts east to Worcester County. Their breeding and wintering numbers over the past few decades appear to be more or less stable.
Known colloquially as “snowbirds,” dark-eyed juncos are often linked to winter. These small, gray, seed-eating birds in the sparrow family are most often seen in Massachusetts from fall migration in October to spring migration in April. But what many people might not realize is that juncos can be found in the Commonwealth year-round, and often breed in our conifer forests.
Seed eaters, juncos forage on the ground, hopping along in small social groups and uttering single high buzzes and short repetitions of one note: tew-tew-tew-tew. When alarmed, juncos will fly to the nearest cover (usually a bush or low tree), flashing bright white stripes on either side of their tails as they flutter away.
Dark-eyed Juncos are regular breeders throughout western Massachusetts east to Worcester County. Their breeding and wintering numbers over the past few decades appear to be more or less stable.
White Throated Sparrows:
Every spring, the northern woods are filled with the echoing, whistled songs of white-throated sparrows. During the winter, these boreal forest songbirds migrate southward, and many of them pass the colder months with us in New England. In all seasons, white-throated sparrows are denizens of brushy areas with plenty of undergrowth to hide in.
White-throated sparrows are not uncommon visitors to Massachusetts in the winter-time, and they are most often encountered either singly or as part of a mixed flock, often with dark-eyed juncos. They will take seeds from feeders (or, more often, the ground below feeders), but they will seldom come out to feed unless there is a thicket or hedge nearby for them to shelter in. Their song is very distinctive: a slow, clear whistling following the cadence Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody! Winter numbers of white-throated sparrows seem to be stable or increasing in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for our breeding birds. Loss of young forest and shrubland habitat on which white-throated sparrows depend has caused this species to decline considerably as a breeder in Massachusetts.
Every spring, the northern woods are filled with the echoing, whistled songs of white-throated sparrows. During the winter, these boreal forest songbirds migrate southward, and many of them pass the colder months with us in New England. In all seasons, white-throated sparrows are denizens of brushy areas with plenty of undergrowth to hide in.
White-throated sparrows are not uncommon visitors to Massachusetts in the winter-time, and they are most often encountered either singly or as part of a mixed flock, often with dark-eyed juncos. They will take seeds from feeders (or, more often, the ground below feeders), but they will seldom come out to feed unless there is a thicket or hedge nearby for them to shelter in. Their song is very distinctive: a slow, clear whistling following the cadence Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody! Winter numbers of white-throated sparrows seem to be stable or increasing in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for our breeding birds. Loss of young forest and shrubland habitat on which white-throated sparrows depend has caused this species to decline considerably as a breeder in Massachusetts.