Archilochus Colubris – Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus Colubris - Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Distinguishing Features – Upper parts, shiny green; throat, bright red; breast and mid-abdomen, greyish white; sides breyish brown with glossy green. Tail, forked. Female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are similar to males but throats greyish white and their tail is not forked. Size – 7.5 – 9.4 cm (3 – 3.75 in) Habitat Woodland clearings, gardens, and … Read more

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Colaptes Auratus Northern Flicker

Distinguishing Features – Crown and back of the neck, gray; back, wings, olive-brown with black bars; rump, white; side of the head, throat, and upper breast, brownish. Red crescent at the nape of neck; black crescent across the breast; black patches below eye; underbody whitish, heavily spotted in black. Male and female but the female … Read more

Melanerpes Erythrocephalus – Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes Erythrocephalus - Red-headed Woodpecker

Distinguishing Features – Primarily black; rump, secondary wing feathers, and underbody, white; Complete head, neck and upper breast, red. Male and female are indistinguishable but the female is slightly smaller. Size – 22 – 25 cm (8.75 – 10 in) Habitat Large, mature trees in open woodlands. Nesting Excavates a cavity in the dead wood … Read more

Dryocopus Pileatus – Pilated Woodpecker

Dryocopus Pileatus - Pileated Woodpecker

Distinguishing Features – Primarily black; white stripe on side of the head, down the neck, and as accents on wings. Crest red. Male and female are similar in coloration but the male displays red on the forehead and at the base of the bill. Size – 40.5 – 49.5 cm (16.25 – 19.75 in) Habitat … Read more

Tuchycineta Bicolor – Tree Swallow

Tachycineta Bicolor - Tree Swallow

Distinguishing Features – The tree Swallow is a bird with its back and head, shiny steel blue with greenish reflections. underparts and throat, white. Bill, black. Tail, forked. Female slightly smaller and somewhat duller in coloration. Size – 12.5 – 15.7 cm (5 – 6.25 in) Habitat Around waterways, marshes, and beaver ponds. Nesting In a … Read more

Melospiza Melodia – Song Sparrow

Melospiza Melodia - Song Sparrow

Distinguishing Features – Song Sparrow is short, with rounded wings; tail, long with rounded tips. Back, brown with gray feather edging; head, brown with black streaking and a narrow gray center stripe; rump, olive brown with dusky streaks; tail, brown with two central feathers bearing a dusky central line; white to the grayish line above … Read more

Parus Atricapillus – Black-capped Chickadee

Parus Atricapillus - Black-capped Chickadee

Distinguishing Features – Back; olive-gray; wings and tail, black with white or light gray margins; throat, black; crown, back of head and throat, black; belly, white; sides lightly buff-tinged; bill, black; legs, bluish slate. Male and female are indistinguishable. Size – 12.3 – 14.5 cm (4.75 – 5.75 in) Habitat A year-round resident of Northwestern … Read more

Pinucola Enucleator – Pine Grosbeak

Pinicola Enucleator - Pine Grosbeak

Distinguishing Features: MALE – Dull pinkish-red general colouration; feathers greyish; wings and tail blackish with white margins on tertials and secondaries; sides, lower abdomen and under tail gray; bill and legs, black. FEMALE – more or less the same patterning as the male but plain grey in general colouration; crown and rump yellowy-olive to russet. … Read more

Bombycilla Cedrorum – Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla Cedrorum - Cedar Waxwing

Distinguishing Features – Cedar Waxwing is a crested bird of brownish tones on upper side graduating to greyish toward tail which is marked with a broad yellow tip. A narrow dark band or mask runs across forehead and around eyes. Under beak, blackish graduating to brown on the throat; wings, slate coloured, sometimes with reddish … Read more

Seirus Aurocapillus – Ovenbird

Seirus Aurocapillus - Ovenbird

Distinguishing Features – Ovenbird is a large warbler. Olive-green upper parts – back, wings, and tail. Under parts whitish, breast heavily streaked with black. Crown, dull orange bordered by two black stripes; legs, flesh-colored; eye, ringed in white. Male and female are indistinguishable but the female is slightly smaller. Size – 14 – 16.5 cm … Read more