Wood Thrush Notes

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks Visiting Feeders

What a pleasant surprise to see 6 to 8 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks on my feeders this morning. They were really getting after the Woodland Blend in my platform feeder. And we have heard from a number of you that have Grosbeaks, too. Not one of them was an adult, however, but juveniles just born this past spring-summer. How do you tell? The adult male, of course, is very distinctive with black and white wings and back, a black hood, and white underneath with a blazing red v on the chest. The adult female plumage is less distinctive being primarily brown and white giving the appearance of a large female Purple finch. The most recognizable feature of the adult female is the prominent white eye brow. The juveniles are a mix of these plumages, especially the males. Juvenile males can look quite different from one another even as they may possess more or less of various adult male and female field marks.

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Adult Male RBG

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Adult Female RBG

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Juvenile RBG

It’s not every fall that Rose-breasted Grosbeaks take advantage of bird feeders. We know that they converge on feeders for roughly a month from mid-April to mid-May as they migrate to their breeding grounds from Central and South America, but in the fall they seem to be satisfied with seeds that have been produced by nature. It’s been a few years since I have seen them at my feeders in the fall. I can only surmise that the dry conditions this year did not produce an abundance of what they typically forage on, making the feeders more appealing. It’s nice to see them but I think I would rather have the rain.

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Wood Thrush Notes

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings Visiting Feeders

April and May are two of the most enjoyable months at feeding stations. Part of it is that trees are putting on their new leaves and the burst of green is beautiful. But these two months bring to our feeders Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings. Just this morning I had my first RB Grosbeak visit a feeder, an adult male in his black and white plumage and brilliant v-shaped blaze of red on its chest. Like most springs I will see upwards of a dozen at a time. The females are brown with a white wing bar and a prominent white stripe above the eye. They have a large heavy beak that aids them in cracking open all kinds of seeds. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you offer sunflower or safflower. They like both.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Buntings are drawn to feeders, too, but may be a little more discriminating.  Although I see them at feeders they often show a preference for ground feeding.  I use white millet on the ground to appeal to these brilliant blue birds, similar in size to a Goldfinch. They will also feed on sunflower, especially out of the shell, and even nyjer and a finch blend.  Indigo Buntings usually visit feeders now but not so much as they settle in to breeding areas which are grown fields adjacent to forest and very much around river bottom areas.  The Harpeth River Greenway and Hidden Lakes Park are always well populated with them. 

Suet is still one of the best foods to continue presenting during the spring months.In fact, suet consumption will be at its greatest between now thru July. Adult birds raising young find it particularly beneficial. Suet will also attract some of the more unusual feeder birds. For example, the past week I have had a male and female Summer Tanager and a Yellow-rumped Warbler visiting my suet feeders.

Male Summer Tanager

Yellow-rumped Warbler

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Many of you that use Mr. Bird products know we were experiencing delays and shortages. I’m happy to say we are well stocked again.

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Don’t forget we are having our Campania birdbath, fountain, and planter pre-order sale! For more information read our last blog post!

Have a great weekend! Remember to look for spring migrants!

Wood Thrush Shop Notes

Spring Birdwatching Excitement

Spring migration is in full swing which means there is a lot to see if you invest a little extra time looking in any of our wonderful parks and on greenways, and even in your own backyard. The first few sightings of Ruby-throated hummingbirds came in this week and over the course of the next 6 weeks many more will follow. Get your binoculars out and your ears ready because neo-tropical migrants are passing through middle Tennessee everyday headed to their summer breeding areas, which will take some of them as far as Canada. Over 30 species of warblers, 7 species of vireos, Scarlet and Summer tanagers, several different flycatchers, Orchard and Baltimore orioles, and 6 species of swallows are there for the viewing if you try. Mornings between 6 am and 10 am are best because many of these migratory birds travel at night settling down to feed and rest before resuming their journey.

For daily sightings reports you may want to subscribe to tn-bird@freelists.org or visit Tennessee Birding on Facebook. And if you would like to become a more active birdwatcher consider joining the Nashville Chapter of Tennessee Ornithological Society. For more information visit TNBirds.org

Your feeders may have been a little slow over the last few weeks but soon activity will increase significantly. Suet consumption will also increase, especially if you live in a wooded environment. Woodland birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and titmice, find suet to be a valuable commodity during their nesting phase. In my yard I find that suet consumption doubles from mid-April through the end of June.

At your feeders expect to see the always popular Rose-breasted grosbeaks and Indigo buntings. RB Grosbeaks are very fond of most seeds with sunflower, safflower, and peanuts being favorites. Platform feeders will accommodate several at once. Indigo Buntings may visit finch feeders as well as platform and tube feeders with sunflower and millet. Pics of RBG and Indigo bunting

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

Indigo Bunting

Of course, American goldfinches are here in abundance year-round and are now putting on their bright yellow spring plumage. Goldfinch numbers can vary daily as they, too, are on the move.

Very few Bluebird nests have been reported so far which is quite normal. It's still on the early side of the nesting phase. There is still plenty of time to offer a Bluebird box and successfully attract them.

Happy Easter to all!

Spring Notes

With spring almost here there is so much to anticipate happening with regard to birds.  Many of our year round resident songbirds have begun courtship.  Currently there’s a lot of singing and territorial squabbles going on.  We’ve had some reports of the always eager Carolina Wrens building nests.  If you haven’t seen any Bluebird activity at your nest boxes yet don’t despair, there’s still plenty of time.  Although some Bluebirds will start nesting in March the majority of Bluebirds tend to begin actual nesting closer to mid-April.  Other cavity nesters like Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Nuthatches, and Tufted titmice tend to start a little earlier.  Make sure you’ve done some maintenance on your nestboxes and cleaned out old debris from last year’s nests.  The old nest debris can attract insects, like ants, that can be a major problem for baby birds. 

Much More on Bluebirds Coming in the Weeks to Follow…

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Male Bluebird. Photo by Eli.

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Photo by Eli.

Migration is not in full swing yet, however, any day now Purple Martins and other members of the Swallow family will be moving into and through TN.  Tree Swallows, Rough-winged Swallows, Barn and Cliff Swallows are among the earlier migrants to return.  Every day birds from Central and South America are moving closer to middle TN.  By the last week of March and first week of April the first hummingbirds of the year will begin arriving or passing though on the way to their summer breeding destination. That’s right! The first Ruby-throated hummingbirds to arrive are just about 5 weeks away. For birdwatchers this is a most exciting time. Warblers, Vireos, Tanagers, Indigo buntings, Orioles, and Flycatchers will soon be pouring into and through middle TN.

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White-eyed Vireo. Photo by Eli.

Look for Rose-breasted grosbeaks and Indigo buntings to start arriving at seed feeders around mid-April through mid-May.  Rose-breasted grosbeaks especially like platform feeders but will manage very well on tube type feeders, too.  They really like sunflower and safflower.  Indigo Buntings also like a variety of seeds but seem to prefer feeding on the ground.  Keep the suet feeders going and you will be amazed by the increase in suet consumption well into the spring.  Woodpeckers take great advantage of the suet while they are nesting.  Raising young is high energy work and the suet is an easy high energy food source.  I typically see suet consumption double at my house during the spring and early summer months.

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Indigo Bunting. Photo by Eli.

Get your feeders cleaned up and your binoculars ready. Clean feeders are very important in reducing the chances of avian disease like avian conjunctivitis which is very common among the finch population.  A good cleaning with warm soap and water or a mild bleach solution is recommended.  Speaking of finches, have your Goldfinches suddenly disappeared? Or suddenly appeared?  Are you seeing them beginning to change to their spring-summer plumage?  Goldfinch numbers at your feeders can change daily during the early spring as there is a lot of movement among flocks. Don’t be surprised or think you’ve done something wrong if you don’t see finches for a few weeks.  This is normal spring activity for Goldfinches. 

Bird Bio: Red-Headed Woodpecker

I had a very pleasant surprise at my feeder full of Woodland Blend yesterday.  It’s a common bird to TN, but uncommon to birdfeeders; the Red-headed Woodpecker.  Sometimes people will mistakenly identify the Red-bellied Woodpecker as a Red-headed, but they really are extremely different.  The video I took and posted shows both species visiting the same feeder.  In over 25 years at my home in Pegram I’ve only seen Red-headed woodpeckers one other time.  The habitat around my home is heavily wooded, hard-wood forest.  Obviously not the habitat Red-headed woodpeckers prefer.  However, one can easily see Red-headeds at Montgomery Bell State Park and Bowie Nature Park where there are a lot of pine trees.  They seem to prefer more open habitat with evergreens.

The Red-headed woodpecker is easily identified by its entirely red head, neck and throat.  The back and wings are black with a patch of white visible on the wings.  The chest and belly are snowy white.  This insect, seed, and nut eater can be seen at feeders but not likely with regularity.  Numbers of this stunning bird seem to be on the decline in large part due to habitat loss and competition from Starlings for nest-sites.

AND…

The first Rose-breasted Grosbeaks of the season were reported this week being seen at feeders.  I saw one briefly yesterday but was unable to get my video camera in time.  Have your feeders ready because the Grosbeaks feed heavily as they migrate through the area.  They like sunflower, safflower, and shelled peanuts, and will use a variety of feeders including tube and platform.  Occasionally, they may be seen at suet feeders.