Distinguishing Features – Ruffed grouse is predominantly reddy-brown. Head adorned with slight crest. Tail, multi-barred with a dark subterminal band. Identifiable from other grouse by dark brown, broad, longish feathers on the sides of the neck (also known as a ruff, hence the name). Female smaller, with smaller ruffs and tail. Size – 40.5 – … Read more
Distinguishing Features – Upper parts, blue; white band around the neck; breast and underparts, white except for blue on sides and band across the upper breast; white spot in front of eye. Large crested head; straight pointed bill; short legs with small feet. Female similar to male but displays a brownish breast band below the … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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