Wood Duck Bird – Swimmers – 5/9/2011 to 5/7/17

The breeding male Wood Duck was photographed in September at Whitnall Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The female Wood Duck was photographed at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The non-breeding male Wood Duck was photographed in September at Whitnall Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The juvenile Wood Ducks were photographed at Whitnall Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The fussy chick Wood Ducks were photographed with the female wood duck at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Select this link to see photos of the Wood Duck

The male breeding Wood Duck has a highly colored face pattern with sweptback chest, white belly, dark back with dark squared of tail, and all with unique rainbow iridescence. The female Wood Duck is dull colored with a gray crested head with a white-eye patch. The non-breeding male Wood Duck is a brown color with dark head that has a white bridle on the throat. They have a range of south Canada to northeast, and central United States eastward and northwest. They have a habitat of wooded swamps, rivers, and ponds, mainly those surrounded by shading woodlands overhanging the water. They have a diet of mostly seeds of aquatic plants. It has no close relative except for the Mandarin Duck of eastern Asia.

 

 

Great Crested Flycatcher Bird – Passerines – 5/14/2012

The Great Crested Flycatcher was photographed at the Wehr Nature Center in Whitnall Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Great Crested Flycatcher

The Great Crested Flycatcher is a large sized flycatcher with cinnamon wings and tail, a gray breast, and a yellow belly and with a black beak, eyes, and legs. It is more easily heard than seen, but is impressive when seen. It has a range of South Canada, and eastern and central United States. It feeds on a wide variety of insects.

 

Green Heron Bird – Long Legged Waders – 5/16/2010

The Green Heron was sited and photographed at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Green Heron

The adult Green Heron has a bluish back, deep chestnut neck, and greenish yellow or orange legs. The immature Green Heron has a streaked neck. It has a habitat of lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps, or streamsides, and ranges on the eastern half of the United States.

Select this link to a canoe trip where the Green Heron was sited and photographed

 

Chestnut – Sided Warbler Bird – Passerines, 5/20/2011

The Chestnut-Sided Warbler was sighted and photographed at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Chestnut-Sided Warbler

The Chestnut-Sided Warbler has a yellow crown with chestnut sides, white below, and yellow black striped above. Habitat is open bushy thickets and briars. Range is upper Northeastern states and Canada. It winters in Central America.

You can see the sited location at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI by clicking the link below. The Chestnut-Sided Warbler was sighted this year at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI.

Select this link to see the Chestnut-Sided Warbler site where it was sighted and photographed.

 

Canada Warbler Bird – passerine, Milwaukee, WI, 5/17/2011

The Canada Warbler was the first warbler that I sited and photographed this year at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Canada Warbler

The Canada Warbler is known as the “necklaced” warbler, because of the short black stripes around the throat. It is solid gray above, and bright yellow below with the necklace. The female Canada Warbler has fainter coloring. All have yellow “spectacles”. It also lacks any white in the wings and tail. Its habitat is forest undergrowth and shady thickets of which it darts in and out. Its range is from Midwest to the Northeaster States and Canada.

You can see the sited location at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI by clicking the link below. The Canada Warbler was the first warbler I sighted this year at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI.

Select this link to see the Canada Warbler site where it was sighted and photographed.

 

Blackburnian Warbler Bird – passerine – 5/20/2011

The Blackburnian Warbler was sited and photographed at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Blackburnian Warbler

The male Blackburnian Warbler is black and white with flaming orange on head and throat. The female is paler in color. I saw the male passing through on their spring migration, but did not see a female. Their habitat is normally in conifer trees, but can be found in other woodlands.

You can see the sited location at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI by clicking the link below.

Select this link to see the Blackburnian Warbler site where it was sighted and photographed.

 

Black Throated Green Warbler Bird – Passerine – 5/20/2011

The Black-Throated Green Warbler was sited and photographed at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Black-Throated Green Warbler

The female is recognized by the yellow face, olive crown and with slight black on throat. The range is mostly the Northeast states and Canada. Their habitat is mainly conifers. I was only able to briefly view the Black-Throated Green Female Warbler as they passed through the area in only a short time. Other bird watchers pointed it out and had previously seen it.

You can see the sited location at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI by clicking the link below.

Select this link to see the Black-Throated Green Warbler site where it was sighted and photographed.

 

Black and White Warbler Bird – passerine – 5/19/2011

This Black-and-White Warbler was sighted and photographed at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI

The female Black-and-White Warbler has whiter underparts

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Black and White Warbler

The Black-and-White Warbler is striped black and white lengthwise. Female has whiter underparts. It is impressive to first see flittering in the trees and brushes. Its habitat is woods: trunks, limbs of trees. It can be seen creeping along trunks and branches, as was the present case. Its normal range is from the mid states and Canada to the east coast. It winters from the southern states to South America. I sighted it on the migration North for two days.

 You can see the sited location at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI by clicking the link below.

Select this link to see the Black-and-White Warbler site where it was sighted and photographed.

 

Magnolia Warbler Bird-passerines, 5/19/2011

This Magnolia Warbler was sighted and photographed at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Magnolia Warbler

The Magnolia Warbler is a black and yellow Warble with black stripes on the breast and a yellow rump. It is impressive to first see flittering in the trees and brushes. Its habitat is in low conifers; but in migration other trees, as in this case sited. Its normal range is Canada and middle-northeast US States. It winters in Mexico, West Indies to Panama. I sighted it on the migration North for two days.

You can see the sited location at the Wehr Nature Center, Milwaukee, WI by clicking the link below.

Select this link to see the Magnolia Warbler site where it was sighted and photographed.

 

Downy Woodpecker Bird – Nonpasserines Land Bird – 4/13/2011-2015

This male Downy Woodpecker was photographed at Whitnall Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The female Downy Woodpecker was photographed at the Estabrook Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Downy Woodpecker

The Downy Woodpeckers are checkered and spotted with black and white, and a white back, breast and undersides. The male has a small red patch on the back of the head. The Hairy Woodpecker is larger in size than the Downy. The Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers are the only Woodpeckers with a white back. It has a range from Alaska and Canada to South United States. It has a habitat of forests, woodlots, willows, river groves, orchards, and shade trees. It feeds mostly on insects, and seeds and suet at bird feeders.

This is the smallest of the woodpeckers in North America. It is common and widespread, however avoids the arid southwest states. It is familiar to urban areas and parks and feeds on weed stalks, bird feeders, and large trees.