Distinguishing Features – Common grackle is completely black with highly iridescent greenish blue or purplish reflections. Beak and legs, black; eye, whitish; tail, long and wedge-shaped. The colouring of the female is somewhat duller. Size – 28 – 34 cm (11.25 – 13.5 in) Habitat Prefers open areas and lightly treed woods. Nesting In trees … Read more
Distinguishing Features: MALE (pictured) – Completely black with the exception of a characteristic red shoulder patch. FEMALE – Very different from the male. Top parts, dark brown with greyish, rusty edges; light streak over eye and middle of the crown; underneath lighter, with blackish streaks; throat often pinkish or buff color. Size – 19 – … Read more
Distinguishing Features – European starling is black with purplish and greenish reflections. Tail, short, square; bill, yellow, long; legs reddy-brown. From late summer to winter, the plumage becomes white-spotted as in the accompanying photo. Male and female indistinguishable but female is slightly smaller. Size – 19 – 21 cm (7.5 – 8.5 in) Habitat Varied. … Read more
Distinguishing Features – American robin has one of the most familiar Northwestern Ontario birds. Top and sides of head, and back of neck black with white encircling eyes. Back slate; fading to black on wings and tail; tail tipped white; breast, sides and upper abdomen brick-red. Bill yellow. The female colouration is similar to the … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Slightly smaller than a Blue Jay. Loose and fluffy plumage of various shades of gray. Whitehead and throat; blackish cap at the back of head wrapping around to encircle the eyes; back, wings and tail, slate color; feathers at tips of wings and tail white; belly grey, fading to near-white toward tail; … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Blue Jay is slightly larger than a robin. Blue back and head with black neckband; grey-white underneath with white-spotted wings and tail. The Head is adorned with a characteristic blue crest. Male and female are indistinguishable but the female is slightly smaller. Size – 28 – 32 cm (11.25 – 12.75 in) … Read more
Next to irresponsible forestry practices, forest fires are the most destructive enemy of our forests. How Forest Fires Start Forest fires always start in one of two ways – naturally caused or human-caused. Natural fires are generally started by lightning, with a very small percentage started by spontaneous combustion of dry fuel such as sawdust … Read more