Broad-Winged Hawk Bird – Bird of Prey – 12/29/2017

This Broad-Winged Hawk was photographed in Pittsboro, North Carolina

Select this link to see photos of the Broad-Winged Hawk

The Broad-Winged Hawk is a small hawk (about the size of a Crow) with brown back and head, a tanned patterned chest, a white tail banding about as wide as the black, and with white wing linings. Its range is southern Canada and eastern half of United States. It winters in Central and South America. It has a habitat of coniferous forests, and groves often near water and/or clearings. It feeds on small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. It hunts small prey from a perch in the woods.

 

 

Rufous Sided or Eastern Towhee Bird – Passerines – 4/3/2010

For the nesting season males become bolder and may be seen singing in the braches instead of normally scratching leaf litter under dense thickets

These Rufous-Sided or Eastern Towhees were photographed at Fearrington village Camden Park in Pittsboro, North Carolina

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Rufous Sided Towhee

The male Rufous-Sided Towhee has a black chest, head, and back with rufous sides and a white belly. The female is similar to the male except for being brown where the male is black. It has a white streaked pattern in the wings and tail. It is smaller and more slender than a Robin. It has a red eye. It has a range in the eastern half of the United States. It has a habitat in open woods, undergrowth, and bushy edges. It is a secretive bird that is found industrially scratching in the leaf litter under dense thickets. It feeds mostly on insects, seeds, and berries.

 

 

Turkey Vulture Bird – Birds of Prey – 12/25/2012

This Turkey Vulture was photgraphed on a power line right-of-way in Pittsboro, NorthCarolina.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Turkey Vulture

The Turkey Vulture is an eagle sized (spread 6 ft) black bird with a red turkey like head. Immature birds have black heads. When overhead note the 2-toned blackish wings as it soars, rocks and tilts unsteadily. It is a familiar sight over much of North America. It is a bird-of- prey and plays an important role in natures clean up, quickly disposing of carcasses of dead animals. It has a range over the United States and Southern Canada. It migrates in flocks and may travel long distances without feeding. It has a widespread habitat over open country, woods, deserts, and foothills. It varies from the Black Vulture by having a red head and a longer tail. It feeds mostly on carrion (dead animals and fish).

 

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

 

Carolina Wren Bird – passerines 11/20/2009

Wrens are common in open woods, and backyards of the southeast United States.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Carolina Wren

The Carolina Wren is about the size of a sparrow and is identified by a white eyebrow stripe and buffy underparts. It has a distinctive sound from the other Wrens. It has a range of the southeaster United States. It has a habitat of tangles, brushy undergrowth, mixed woods, suburban gardens, and towns.

 

White – Throated Sparrow – passerines 10/27/2009

The White-Throated Sparrow can be seen in Canada to the Gulf States, and the Midwest to the Eastern States.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the White-Throated Sparrow

A gray breasted sparrow with a white throat patch, and a yellow spot between the eye and bill. It has habitats at thickets, brush, undergrowth of conifer and mixed woodlands, and patronizes feeders. These attached photos were taken at most of the locations. Because of the birds movements, one has to be ready and fast to get a photo.

 

Brown Thrasher Bird – passerines – 7/11/2010

The Brown Thrasher was photographed at Fearrington Village in Pittsboro, North Carolina

For me, the Brown Thrasher has been a difficult bird to photograph, because of its habitat and skittishness.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Brown Thrasher

The Brown Thrasher is a very skittish bird that quickly heads for undergrowth when it is approached. It can be heard and seen running from growth to growth, but is hard to catch for a photo. It is fairly easy to identify with its color, breast stripes, and cat song voice with an occasional crack sound.

 

Northern Mockingbird – passerines 12/29/2009

The Northern Mockingbird can be found in almost all of the eastern half of the states

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Northern Mockingbird

My experience with photographing the Northern Mockingbird is that it is fairly easy. Once I am in an area it seems to want to follow me and stop in the top of a tree or bush, and then attract my attention. Being able to get fairly close, and because it is a large bird makes for a fairly good photo.

 

Eastern Bluebird – passerines – 11/20/2009

Taken at Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Eastern Bluebird

The Eastern Bluebird has a range east of the Rockies from Canada to the Gulf coast. During the right time of the year they are fairly easy to find and photograph.

 

Pileated Woodpecker Bird – nonpasserine land birds 1/5/2010

I was surprised to be able to take this photo 20 ft from the hammering Woodpecker

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

I heard this loud chopping sound in some pine woods. On closer observation I saw this red head oscillating back and forth making a large hole. It was about 50 ft up in the tree, and was shaded, and paid no attention to me as I tried to get a photo. It then went from tree to tree hammering away. Later in the day I heard it again and found it at near ground level. The lighting was slightly better, so I tried to get a photo as soon as I could. I kept moving in closer until I was about 20 ft away with the Woodpecker hammering away and oblivious to me. The head was bobbing so fast, and the noise so loud, that it was still hard to get a good photo.