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| White-crowned Sparrow |
I am not a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination. In recent years, I have put on scrubs or yoga pants most mornings, both of which are as comfortable as a pair of pyjamas. Now that I am retired, I have decided it is time to update my wardrobe with a couple of more structured pieces. I do not enjoy shopping for clothes and am 90% likely to leave the store with nothing if I go by myself. One of my daughters has an eye for what works for me, and she also pushes me to make a decision. So we went together to a couple of the few remaining local ladies' wear shops. It was not hard to see that this year's colour palette consists of various shades of brown. It is the new neutral, replacing years of blacks and greys. Blue, outside of denim, is still hard to find.
I would choose to go birding over shopping any day. I have been out several times this month, and it has been a good season for my bird count, even though I have stayed close to home. Many birds are dressed in brown, but if you look closely, they are quite individualistic in style. Here are a few summer visitors and a couple of birds who are only partway through their migratory journey.
The White-crowned Sparrow pictured above is one of my favourite migrating sparrows. They pass through in early May on their way to their summer nesting ground in the Arctic. I like to think they are wearing a bike helmet, but one could also imagine a stylish hat.
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| Field Sparrow |
Field Sparrows are declining in numbers, but I was happy to see a pair return to a local field near our house. The bird has a distinctive pink bill and a white eye ring. I heard this one singing loudly, which made it easy to find. This Field Sparrow will stay here for the summer.
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| Chipping Sparrow |
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| White-throated Sparrow |
This sparrow has a lovely song, "Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada." It is often seen at the same time as the White-crowned Sparrow and is likely heading further north. I don't see them here in the summer, but have heard them on Manitoulin Island and in forests in the near north in breeding season. They have a distinctive white throat and yellow lores.
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| Song Sparrow |
The Song Sparrow is one of our most common native sparrows and returns to our area in early to mid-March with the Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds. It has an easy-to-recognize call and will sing loudly from a high branch when establishing its nesting territory. Its black chest dot makes it easy to identify. The Savannah sparrow has a similar chest spot, but has yellow lores on its face.
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| Eastern Phoebe |
I look for Eastern Phoebes at the edge of ponds and swamps. They like to nest under bridges and boardwalks. They say their name "Phoebe" with a raspy voice and dart around the water's edge catching flying insects.
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| Pied-billed Grebe |
The Pied-billed grebe is a small diving waterbird with a very big voice. They are short-distance migrants to our area. They return to this local pond yearly to breed.
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| Chestnut-sided Warbler |
I found migrating Chestnut-sided Warblers on three different trails this week. They wear their browns very stylishly. It flew here from Central America and nests in northeastern America and southern Ontario. I haven't seen them in the summer, but Warblers are small and very active. It is best to find them before the trees are in full leaf.
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| Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak- nest building |
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| Warbling Vireo |
The small Warbling Vireo is another migrant arriving from Central America to spend the summer here. It has a recognizable warbling song, and I found a few of them in low trees along the riverbank. They have an olive-brown back and a yellowish breast.
My shopping trip was successful, but I had to look for colours other than brown and beige. I wish I could wear them as well as these birds, who are each spectacular in their own way.
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