Wild Turkey

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Wild Turkeys and very large and unmistakable.   They are the largest North American game bird and ancestral stock of the barnyard turkey.   They are huge, with long legs, neck and tail.  They were once widespread, but were reduced by clearing of woodlands.   With management and reintroduction, they are now increasing in many areas.   They favour woodlands and edges.  In recent years I have seen flocks with as many as 150 birds here in southern Ontario, in Canada.   They feed mostly on the ground, primarily on seeds and nuts.    They are sociable and roost in trees.

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BarrytheBirder

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

                                                                                                 Photos by BarrytheBirder

Female

Male

A widespread and common open-country hawk that quarters over the ground, hunting for primarily for small rodents.   It breeds across Canada and south to the southern U.S.A. and Mexico.   It winters from southern Canada to South America.   The Audubon Handbook says It is easily identified in flight by its white rump, long tail and behaviour.   It usually flies low, but glides mostly with long, narrow wings held up in a shallow V.

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BarrytheBirder

Great Horned Owl

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Great Horned Owl (bubo virginianus)

The Great Horned Owl is one of the most common and widespread owls in Canada and the U.S.A.   A powerful and adaptable predator, this massive bird lives almost anywhere with trees, including forests, farmland, suburban areas and even parks and ravines in big cities.   It is one of the earliest nesting birds in North America, often laying eggs weeks or even months before other raptorial birds,   A pale form inhabits forest at the tundra's edge in central Canada.

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BarrytheBirder

Snowy Owl...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca)

This large white owl, with the rounded head and yellow eyes is quite unmistakeable.   Dark bars and spots are heavier on females, heaviest on young birds, old birds may be pure white.   An owl of open tundra, it nests on the ground and preys chiefly on lemmings, hunting by day during the arctic summer, as well as at night.   It retreats from the northernmost part of its range during the winter and at least a few are seen  as far south as the Canada-U.S. border.   These irruptives, usually heavily barred younger birds, are often highly visible, perched conspicuously near the ground.

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BarrytheBirder

  

Nortern Hawk Owl...

 
Photo by BarrytheBirder

Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula)

This is a largish owl not normally found in deep southern Ontario where I live, but is found coast-to-coast across Canada.   It created quite a stir where it stayed for a couple of days in Schomberg, Ontario, and many birders and photographers showed up to see it when word got around about it.

It is basically non-migratory buts retreats slightly in winter from the northernmost part of its regular range.

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Barry the Birder

Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor)

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor)

The Northern Shrike is slightly larger and darker than the Loggerhead Shrike, with a paler head and back and lightly barred underparts.   Mask is narrower than in the Loggerhead Shrike and does not extend above the eye.  Its bill is longer, with a more distinct hook.   It is uncommon and often perches in tall trees.   Southern range limit and numbers on the wintering grounds vary unpredictably from year to year.  

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BarrytheBirder

 

                                             Photo by BarrytheBirder

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Prior to photographing this Barred Owl, I spotted it tangled and struggling to get a perch in some small trees.   It is a common chunky owl in lower eastern Canada and most of the eastern U.S.A.   It has dark eyes, dark barring in upper breast and dark streaking below, making it fairly easy to identify.   It is common in dense coniferous or mixed woods or river bottoms and swamps, also in upland woods. It is chiefly nocturnal and its daytime roost is usually well hidden.   It does generally tolerate close approach and is easily flushed.   According to the National Geographic Society, it is much more likely than other owls to be heard in the daytime.

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BarrytheBirder

 

Photo by BarrytheBIrder

Weathered birdhouses

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BarrytheBirder

Heron

By my brother Bob Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Other hawks hereabouts...

Red-tailed Hawk

After having published so many photos of Swainson's Hawks in this blog over the course of the past year, I just want to say that there are other hawks hereabouts such as Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawk, etc. etc. and I have photographed many of them. Please forgive my fascination with the Swainson's for I know not when I shall be graced again.

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Barry the Birder

Trends in Canada's bird population...

 Prepared by Government of Canada

From 1970 70 2022 ( 52 years)

Birds are sensitive to environmental changes, such as habitat loss and pollution, so the health of birds populations can be used as an indicator of ecosystem health.   While bird populations fluctuate naturally, rapid declines can signal the need for urgent conservation action.   These indicator track changes in the population trends of various groups using native Canadian bird species that are representative of their ecological groups.

KEY RESULTS

From 1970 to 2022, the trends in bird species groups varied:

1. The following groups experienced an increase: waterfowl (by 46%), birds          of prey (by 35%) and wetland birds (by 21%).

2. The following groups experienced a decrease: grassland birds (by 67%),          aerial insectivores (by 43%), shorebirds (by 42%, long-distance migrants          (by 29%), and Arctic birds (by 28%).

3. Marine and forest birds showed little change overall (less than 1%).

Go online to Trends in Canada's bird populations to see how these indicators were calculated. (13 pages).

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BarrytheBirder

Still with the winter warriors...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

I have recently been writing about small finch-type birds that I affectionately refer to as 'winter warriors'.   Here's a picture of three of those winter warriors at the same feeder, at the same time.   Don't let it be said that Purple Finches, Common Redpolls and Dark-eyed Juncos don't share at the winter seed feeders.

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BarrytheBirder

and another winter warrior...

Photos by Barrythe Birder

Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)

The Common Redpoll is smaller than a sparrow, brown-streaked, with a bright red cap and a black chin.   Male has a pink breast.   It breeds from Aleutians west to Unalaska Island and Alaska and northern Quebec south to Newfoundland, Magdalen Islands and British Columbia.   It winters south to the Carolinas, Oklahoma and California.   The Audubon Society Field Guide says "A stand of winter weeds visited by a flock of these energetic little birds is a scene of feverish activity as they tear dried flower stalks apart and rush to the ground to picks up the seeds.   They spend much time on the ground, often in dense stands of weeds, and are therefore easier to overlook than goldfinches  and siskins.   They are tame and trusting, and allow close approach."

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BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawk is still around!

                                                                                             Photos by BarrytheBirder

One again, just when I thought we'd seen the last of the Swainson's Hawks here in southern Ontario, just north of Toronto, one more has shown up at the end of November, in Aurora, Ontario.   I looks strong and healthy and well-fed.   But it should be in Florida or even further south at this time of year.

I believe this bird to be one of a family of six Swainson's Hawks that spent the spring, summer and fall here in the Aurora area.

Two years ago there was a single mated pair here, but this year it appeared to be a family of six.

It has been a revelation to watch this beautiful raptor almost every day and often up close.

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comment

if you wish.

Barry the Birder

Another winter warrior...

 
                                                                  Photos by BarrytheBirder

                PINE SISKIN (Carduelis pinus)

Prominent streaking; yellow at base of tail and in flight feathers conspicuous in flight; bill thinner than other finches finches.   Gregarious; may flock with Goldfinches in winter.   Found in coniferous and mixed woods in summer, but forest, shrubs, and fields in winter.   Its winter range is erratic, but always welcome.

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BarrytheBirdeer

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

                                                                         Photos by BarrytheBirder

Chipping Sparrows are small and slim and widespread and common across southern Canada and most of the U.S.A.   But at this time of year, most will be heading further south to spend the winter in a band of U.S. states beginning in western Missouri and Texas and spreading eastward to North Carolina and the Atlantic seaboard.   A few may continue to be found in the Great Lakes region and New York..   They are normally found on lawns and in fields, woodland edges,  and pine-oak forests.   Winter adults are a little darker than summer adults.   

Goldfinches will be here all winter...

                                                                                                      Photos by BarrytheBirder

A goldfinch appears -

bright among the green shadows,

gone a flicker.

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BarrytheBirder

Mourning Doves are so appreciative...

Photos by Barry the Birder

Coos in the morning

echoes of grief after night 

sobs softened by light.

                                        - Justin Farley

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BarrytheBirder

It's not too soon to start...

                                                                 Photos by Barry the Birder

Start winter bird-feeding measures now

 before everything gets covered in snow.

It's cold and we've already had some snow, which means it's now time to prepare your situation for feeding resident winter birds.

The sooner you start preparing for winter bird feeding, the greater success you will have sustaining your feathered friends through the months ahead, not to mention your enjoyment of their antics at the feeders.

Best wishes and enjoy...

BarrytheBirder

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Dark-eyed Junco ( Junco hyemalis)

 

                                                                     Photos by BarrytheBirder

Until recently the numerous geographical forms of this bird were considered separate species, but since they interbreed wherever their ranges meet, they are now considered one species.   The eastern form, formerly called the "Slate-coloured Junco", is the only one usually encountered  in eastern Canada and the eastern U.S.   Juncos are among the commonest of Northern American winter birds, often visiting winter feeders. 

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Canada's National Bird...the CANADA JAY

                                   Photo by Michael Rickershauser  /Audubon Photography Awards

Before I completely shut the door on my National Birds of the World Series ( see yesterday's blog), I feel must add one more bird to that suspended list: the CANADA JAY.

Canada's national bird is the Canada Jay (a.k.a. the Gray Jay or Whiskey Jack), which was officially designated by the Public Bill (Senate) S-221 in May 2025.   The decision followed a long public campaign led by Canadian Geographic and others, which identified the Canada Jay as a fitting symbol for its hardiness, intelligence and presence across the country.

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BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawk - my personal bird of the year

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if you wish.

BarrytheBirder