Wood Thrush Notes: Identification Through Observation, Solutions to Starlings

This past weekend, I returned to Snow Bunting Peninsula on Old Hickory Lake. This location can be mixed bag, and you never know what you will see. For me, that is what makes this spot worth the drive. On this visit, I was greeted by at least 50 Ring-billed Gulls that were meandering around the area as I was driving in. I was also keeping an eye out for the Purple Sandpiper to see if it was still there, which it was, busily probing the grasses on the bank for food. Amongst the gulls there were also several American Coots bobbing about. Almost immediately, something else caught my attention. In some dormant aquatic vegetation, amongst several American Coots, I saw a small brown duck. What really captured my attention was the fact that I didn’t have a clue what it was!

I’ll be the first to admit, my knowledge of waterfowl leaves a lot to be desired. Anything beyond a Mallard, Wood Duck or Canada Goose, and chances are I’m going to be needing to consult my field guide. (A Peterson Field Guide, for anybody curious) The only problem was, on this trip, I had forgotten it! This left me in the position of getting to practice what we frequently preach at the shop…. Identification through observation. Not only what does the bird look like; what is it doing? This is where, and we cannot stress this enough, have your binoculars with you! They truly make all the difference in the world. You likely paid for this tool, so get your moneys worth out of them and use them! Observing the birds behavior can help you to narrow the field of possible species down to a much less daunting number. As I stared at the mystery duck, it suddenly tucked itself and dove underwater, staying completely submerged for a good 15 seconds before reappearing a short distance away. This was the behavioral factor I needed to aid in narrowing the field. As I did not have my field guide, I used my phone to search for “diving ducks” of Tennessee. This helped to eliminate numerous possible duck species, as many species will not fully dive underwater. From this reduced group of ducks, I was then able to use the birds appearance, (size, coloration) the habitat I saw it in, (a large body of water, diving in aquatic plants close to shore) and the time of year (late January) to reach a positive ID. This is a much more efficient method for finding a bird than simply scanning through dozens of species looking for one that looks right. So, what was this mystery bird, then? A female, or immature male Ruddy Duck.

I will link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology page on the Ruddy Duck here for those of you who want to take a deep dive on this species, but in short, Ruddy Ducks can be a fairly common find during the winter months on Middle Tennessee’s bodies of water. They lay the largest eggs relative to their size of any species of duck. They dive down to the bottom in search of food, typically small invertebrates, but sometimes plant material. The specimens I observed, as you can see, are fairly unassuming in terms of coloration. However, this is only because I didn’t get to observe any males in their breeding plumage! Breeding males are quite the handsome bird, with a rich glossy brown body, striking black and white head, and an almost garish light blue bill.

Ruddy Duck

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

Switching to Safflower

This week, we’ve been hearing reports of increased Grackle and Starling activity at bird feeders. While this is not uncommon for this time of year, it can be frustrating as these larger birds will often feed in groups, crowding feeders and not allowing smaller songbirds a chance to feed. Fortunately though, there is a simple and effective solution. Switching to Safflower seed is the easiest way to deter Grackles, Starlings, and for most of the year, even squirrels! While these birds struggle to crack the hard and oddly shaped shell, all of your common feeder birds won’t. Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmice, and Nuthatch all will happily feed on safflower, so a temporary switch of a few weeks or perhaps months won’t cause you to miss out on your backyard favorites. Safflower is available in 50, 20, and 8 pound bags and before tax costs $75, $36, and $16.50 respectively.






























Wood Thrush Notes: Discounted Black-oil, New Displays, Territorial Mockingbirds

A Discount on Black-oil Sunflower

Black-oil sunflower seed is our overall best-selling seed, and over the years, we have been extremely pleased with the consistency our primary supplier has delivered. Unfortunately, this year they have thus far failed to live up to the high standard that they have set. This has led to us searching for new sources, and we have found one that we are extremely pleased with. The seed has far less trash, and is obviously clean and fresh. (We love the smell of fresh sunflower seed!) This means, however, that we have an abundance of the previous product that we want to move. While supplies last, we will be heavily discounting this seed, which will be clearly marked, to just a few dollars above our cost in an effort to make room for better quality seed. 40 pound bags of Cardinal Brand black-oil sunflower seed are now just $25, with 25 pound bags only $16! This way, everybody wins. You save money, the birds get fed, and we can make room for higher quality product that we know will make you happy.

Update: 01.25.25 2:00PM

Quantities of discounted seed are extremely limited, so we advise you call ahead before coming out if you are interested in the discounted bags.

If you prefer the new product, don’t worry! Our stock room is filled to bursting with fresh, high quality seed!

New Additions to the Shop

If you have visited the shop in the last week, you may have noticed that there has been new construction around the seed island. We are putting the finishing touches on a new multi-use pricing and product display structure above the seed island to clearly provide pricing and size information for the bags of seed in hope of eliminating confusion. We look forward to hearing your thoughts, and we hope that it is helpful!

Territorial Mockingbirds

Have you been experiencing a territorial mockingbird? You’re not alone! Reports have begun trickling in of people experiencing Northern Mockingbirds aggressively defending bird feeders. This is common behavior, although it is more frequently reported in the spring when they are territorial due to nesting and raising young. So then, why are they being defensive this early in the year? During the winter, mockingbirds in the wild eat mainly berries. In nature, berry producing plants can be at a premium, especially as we get further into winter and the existing crop of berries are consumed. This means that they will instinctively guard and defend their food supply from other birds. They are wild animals, and do not understand the concept of there being enough to share. I have witnessed this first hand while on a walk at Bell’s Bend after the snowfall. As I passed by a thicket of blackberry bushes, I paused to observe a very agitated mockingbird defending its patch from a Song Sparrow that made the mistake of passing through. As I have mentioned in a previous post which I will link to here, having enough food during extreme cold can literally be a matter of life and death for birds, and this is why mockingbirds will defend their food supply so aggressively.

Fortunately for us, there are ways to prevent this behavior. The easiest, most effective method that we frequently recommend to folks is simply separating your feeders. For example, in past years when I have experienced this problem, I put a couple of my feeders in my front yard and the others in the back. The mockingbird cannot be in two places at once, (although it will try its best) and while it is defending one station, the birds can move into the other. This really is the best method. While a caged feeder would keep a mockingbird sized bird from being able to access the feeder, it would be unlikely to stop the bird from perching atop the pole and guarding it.



Wood Thrush Notes: A Unique Cardinal, a Purple Sandpiper, the Resiliency of Songbirds

A Leucistic Cardinal

It seems like snow on the ground always brings new visitors to our feeders that we might not be familiar with. This last snow’s oddity was a familiar bird, but with an unusual twist. A partially leucistic female Cardinal! Not to be confused with albinism, which results in a total lack of pigment, leucism is a condition that can occur in animals that causes a reduction of pigmentation. It is caused by a defect in the cells responsible for pigment. There are two types of leucism; full and partial. In full leucism, there is a reduction in all pigments causing the animal to appear paler than normal. In partial, only some of the animal is affected, as is the case with this female cardinal. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has an excellent article on the differences between different pigment deviations that I will link to here.

Partially Leucistic Female Cardinal

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

Purple Sandpiper

In addition to the partially leucistic Cardinal, I also had numerous White-throated Sparrows, a Song Sparrow, Dark-Eyed Juncos, House Finch, Purple Finch, Goldfinch, Mourning Doves, Carolina Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Eastern Bluebirds at the feeders during the snow. These are all fairly typical birds that you can expect to see this time of year, depending on the habitat in which you live. However, there has been a much more noteworthy visitor to Davidson County this past week. At Snow Bunting Peninsula on Old Hickory Lake, a Purple Sandpiper has been consistently reported over the last week. The Purple Sandpiper was quite the unexpected surprise! These members of the sandpiper family have the honor of being the northernmost nesting shorebird, with breeding ranges as far north as Baffin Island, Iceland, Greenland, and the High Arctic. It is rare to spot these birds this far inland, even in their normal winter range of the coasts of Newfoundland in the north to the Carolinas in the south. I decided to make the trek from Bellevue this morning all the way up to Old Hickory Point (aka Snow Bunting Peninsula) on Old Hickory Lake in hopes that the bird would still be around. As I pulled into the parking area, I saw a group of individuals standing around with cameras and tripods, I knew I was in luck! I carefully made my way over to where the group was milling around, and there it was. An unassuming, chunky, robin sized bird, it stayed within 4 feet of the water’s edge the entire time I observed it, (About 30 minutes) while using its elongated bill to probe the mud and grass for worms and other small invertebrates. The industrial area around the Old Hickory Dam/ Old Hickory Lock just north of Madison is a far cry from the rugged beaches of Iceland, where they can be found year round, but this adaptable little wanderer seems to be doing just fine.

Purple Sandpiper

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

 The Resiliency of Songbirds

While on the subject of birds adapting to different situations, all too often songbirds are underestimated and considered extremely delicate creatures in need of our help. The truth is they are quite resilient and often able to adapt to situations in their world. Habitat change and loss is the real danger to them. For several months now I have been watching a White-breasted Nuthatch visiting my feeding stations. When I first noticed this bird I immediately recognized that it was moving awkwardly, as if its balance was off, or was sick. This bird continued to visit feeders and I would see it most days when I had time to watch. My concern was the bird was sick but seeing it through binoculars revealed it was missing a leg. I really focused on this bird over the next few months and observed how it adapted to its situation. It could no longer cling to a tree trunk in the familiar nuthatch way, but would approach the feeding stations and fly upward toward a twig on a tree limb and grab it, hanging upside down to keep an eye on the platform feeder where it seemed comfortable feeding, waiting for an opening. It seemed reluctant to go to the feeder while many birds were there. Many months later this one-legged Nuthatch continues to visit my feeders and, aside from its missing leg, carries on as if unaware of its handicap. I will continue to keep an eye out for this Nuthatch and report back in a few months.

One-legged White-breasted Nuthatch

Photo Credit: John Carreau






Wood Thrush Notes: How Birds Survive Cold, Post Snow Stock

Birds and Cold Temperatures

With sustained winter temperatures and the arrival of snow showers, it is easy to look outside your window on a snowy January day and feel sorry for your feathered friends as they sit out in the elements, feathers puffed against the cold, seemingly staring back in at you. To this we say; “they are just fine!” The songbirds that call our backyards home are actually surprisingly hardy, and today we would like to try and help put your mind at ease if you are worrying about your avian neighbors.

Carolina Chickadee

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

Birds are a good deal tougher than they may appear, and they have several adaptations to help them survive the cold. During the day, as many of you have noticed, they will consume a great deal of food. (The saying “eat like a bird” is pretty inaccurate!) As much as it may seem like it, they are not doing it simply to ensure that you visit us twice a week, or buy the 20 pound safflower! The real reason is because they must take in food to make up for the calories they expend both searching for food, and maintaining their core temperature. Us humans maintain an internal temperature of around 98.6 degrees fahrenheit. Our backyard birds, however, keep an internal temperature of closer to 105 degrees fahrenheit. This higher body temperature is good for cold weather, but it requires a lot of calories to maintain. For example, a chickadee may eat as much as 35% of its body weight per day just to survive!

White-breasted Nuthatch with Black-oil Sunflower Seed

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

Another way they are able to combat the cold is with their feathers. Have you ever seen a bird on a cold winter day with its feathers puffed out? By doing this, they are expanding their layers of insulation, helping to more effectively block out the cold. If you have ever worn or used one, you know just how effective a down jacket or sleeping bag is. Now, imagine this paired with a body with a temperature that is 7 degrees warmer than our own?

Pine Warbler

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

Okay, but what about at night? How do they survive bitterly cold nights? Different birds can accomplish this in different ways. Night time can be a balancing act for birds, as they are expending energy to stay warm in the colder temperatures, but not replacing the calories they burn in order to stay warm with the intake of more food. This is another reason that they feed so voraciously during the day. They must take in enough food to have an energy surplus; enough to cover their daytime body functions as well as enough to last them until dawn. Birds that are cavity nesting species, such as Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Eastern Bluebirds, and woodpeckers will find natural cavities to spend the night in, sometimes in groups. (In last week’s blog, we discussed how groups of as many as 8-12 bluebirds will all bundle into nesting boxes on cold winter nights to keep warm.) By sheltering in a cavity, these birds are already at an advantage. They are out of the wind, and, if it’s a small cavity, any body heat that escapes their layers of feathers will help to warm the small space and not be wasted. Some species, such as Black-capped Chickadees, will actually lower their core body temperature at night, entering a state of controlled hypothermia. This way, they can conserve energy by not keeping their core temperature at it’s daytime level. Non-cavity nesting species will look for areas that are sheltered from the elements, such as dense brush, bushes, or evergreens. While in no way comfortable by our standards, by puffing their feathers out and shivering to generate warmth, birds are quite capable of surviving even bitterly cold nights. 

It is also worth keeping in mind that many of our favorite feeder birds can also be found in winter hundreds, and in some cases even thousands, of miles further north than us. Our small Downy Woodpeckers, for instance, can be found year round as far north as Alaska and northern Canada. Even our little Carolina Chickadees can be found as far north as Ohio and Pennsylvania. All this being said, next time you look outside your window on a cold day and see a cute bird with its feathers puffed out and snowflakes blowing around it, don’t feel sorry for it! These impressive animals are perfectly adapted to this habitat and are doing just fine!

Seed Stock, Weather, and roosting pockets

While we were able to get two pallets of seed from our secondary seed source out of Kentucky before the snow hit, it might be worth giving us a call, or checking our website, to make sure we have the seed that you need! We will be open Saturday, January 11th, however depending on road conditions, our hours may vary slightly so if you are unsure, or driving from a ways away, give us a call first! All seed stock levels will be back to normal by early next week.

These small, natural woven fiber shelters offer small birds such as Carolina Chickadees and Carolina Wrens a place to seek shelter from cold and inclement weather. I have personally witnessed Carolina Wrens bundling into these small shelters before dusk on cold nights and before big storms move in. They are most effective if you can position them somewhere sheltered and protected, such as on a porch, patio, or carport. Eastern Bluebirds too will take advantage of nesting boxes to survive cold nights. Shortly before dark, they will pile into the box in numbers as high as 8-12 individuals and then use their soft, insulating down feathers and one another’s body heat to survive frigid nights. This is yet another reason we tell people that today is the best time to put up a bluebird box.

Roosting Pockets: Top Shelf $15, Lower $7

Winter Weather Thoughts

With the temperatures dropping and some proper winter temperatures just around the corner, we’d like to share a few winter weather thoughts!

While we feed suet year round, many people associate it as a cold weather feeding option. There is no wrong answer here, and birds will certainly flock to suet regardless of temperature. It is however possible this time of year to attract certain birds to suet (or out of the shell sunflower seed) that you would not ordinarily see at your seed feeders. When the high temperatures are below 45 degrees, insects become difficult to find, and thus it is quite common to see Eastern Bluebirds visiting feeders. Ordinarily, these insect and berry eaters would be unlikely to visit traditional feeding stations, but with cold temperatures it becomes quite commonplace to see them in small groups feeding on suet, out of the shell sunflower, or drinking at sources of thawed water. The same can also be said for Carolina Wrens, as well as Pine Warblers. On many icy winter days, I have witnessed them picking through the Woodland Blend at my platform feeder in search of the out of the shell sunflower seeds it contains.

Birds will also flock to sources of water on cold mornings. You can provide them with this via a deicer. These sit submerged in your birdbath, and with the aid of a built in thermostat, they will keep the water in your birdbath above freezing. It is, however, important to make sure that these stay fully submerged to keep them from overheating and breaking. While on this subject, we would like to remind you that water freezing in your cast stone or ceramic bird CAN and WILL crack the material, even if it is a fountain with running water. We like to remind folks that even Yellowstone Falls can freeze in the winter, and so too can your fountain. If you do not want to invest in a deicer and use a ceramic or cast stone bird bath or fountain, then please, empty the water out of it before it can freeze and crack.

Prices from left to right: $34, $74, $70

This week, we received a number of winter roosts. These small, natural fiber woven shelters offer small birds such as Carolina Chickadees and Carolina Wrens a place to seek shelter from cold and inclement weather. I have personally witnessed Carolina Wrens bundling into these small shelters before dusk on cold nights and before big storms move in. They are most effective if you can position them somewhere sheltered and protected, such as on a porch, patio, or carport. Eastern Bluebirds too will take advantage of nesting boxes to survive cold nights. Shortly before dark, they will pile into the box in numbers as high as 8-12 individuals and then use their soft, insulating down feathers and one another’s body heat to survive frigid nights. This is yet another reason we tell people that today is the best time to put up a bluebird box.

Prices from left to right: $27, $15, $7, $7