I always thought the crimson red head would stand out for me when I sighted a Red-headed Woodpecker.
But I was wrong.
It’s the bright white wing patches contrasting with the black back and the white underbelly that stand out for me, then I notice the brilliant red head.
Not common to see in our area, I was lucky to find the Red-headed Woodpecker this month at a nearby metropark.
Continue reading Photo of the Week: Red-headed Woodpecker
For the past four years, I’ve been searching for my nemesis birds, the Northern Shrike. And two days before the end of 2021, I finally found it!
Not once, but twice in the same day at two different birding hotspots.
Known as the “Butcher Bird” for its habit of storing food for later by impaling its prey on thorns or sharp fences, the Northern Shrike is a larger gray and white songbird with a characteristic black mask.
A little smaller than the American Robin, the Northern Shrike feeds on small birds, rodents, and large insects.
Continue reading Photo of the Week: Northern Shrike, My Nemesis Bird
At the end of the year, birders commonly list their top sightings for the year.
And this year was an exciting year for me!
Shorebirds, a raptor enjoying the plentiful cicadas, and an unexpected large wading bird made my list of top bird sightings.
It was hard to rank which bird was more thrilling to find, so I’ve listed my top birds in chronological order.
Continue reading Top Bird Sightings for 2021