Bird range maps are useful tools for birders and ornithologists to understand the geographic distribution and habitat of bird species. Learning how to read these maps can help you figure out where to look for specific birds and predict which species you might find in a given area. Let’s go over the basics of how to interpret bird range maps. What is a bird range map? A bird range map shows the known breeding, wintering, and year-round ranges of a particular bird species. The range depicts the geographic area where the species occurs and breeds during a particular season or…
Author: Peter Knight
Quick Answer Yes, red-breasted nuthatches do come to bird feeders. These small songbirds are common visitors to feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds, suet, peanuts, and other nutritious foods. They can be attracted to feeders year-round across much of their range. Do Red-breasted Nuthatches Visit Feeders? Red-breasted nuthatches are a regular sight at bird feeders for many backyard bird enthusiasts. These active little birds are common feeder visitors throughout their range, especially in winter. Some key facts about red-breasted nuthatches at feeders: They are attracted to feeders stocked with sunflower seeds, suet, peanuts, and other high-fat foods. They often…
Bird control is an important issue for many businesses, homeowners, and city planners. Birds can cause damage and leave behind unhealthy messes. A common bird control method is using fake predator decoys, like fake eagles, to scare nuisance birds away. But do fake eagles actually work at scaring birds away? Let’s take a look at the evidence. How Do Fake Eagles Work? Fake eagles and other fake bird predators work through visual deterrence. The decoys use life-like designs to mimic real predators like eagles, hawks, and owls. The idea is to trick nuisance birds into thinking a predator is nearby,…
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that can infect birds and in rare cases, humans as well. There has been increased concern about avian flu in Ireland recently due to outbreaks in wild birds and poultry flocks across Europe. Current Situation in Ireland There have been a number of confirmed cases of avian flu in Ireland over the past few months. In November 2022, a case of H5N1 avian flu was confirmed in a peregrine falcon found dead in County Louth. Since then, there have been over a dozen further confirmed cases in…
The Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) is a songbird species found in North America. They are medium-sized songbirds with distinctive bright yellow breasts and bell-like whistling songs. Chats have fascinatingly complex vocalizations and remarkable mimicking abilities. Their lifespan varies based on factors like habitat, predators, food availability, and weather conditions. Taxonomy The Yellow-breasted Chat belongs to the family Parulidae and the genus Icteria. They were first described by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1807. Here is the scientific classification of the Yellow-breasted Chat: Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Parulidae Genus Icteria Species I. virens There are two…
The brown thrasher is a fairly common bird found throughout much of the eastern and central United States. However, some key facts about its population and range can give us a better sense of just how prevalent this species is. Geographic range The brown thrasher has a large geographic range that includes nearly all of the eastern United States. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, their breeding range spans nearly the entire eastern half of the country, from the East Coast to the Great Plains, and from the Canadian border south throughout most of the southeastern United States. Within…
Monk parakeets, also known as Quaker parrots, are small bright green parrots with gray breasts that originated in South America. However, over the past few decades, large populations of monk parakeets have become established in the United States, particularly in Florida and New York. So how did these small parrots make their way from South America all the way to the USA? The Original Range of Monk Parakeets Monk parakeets are native to the temperate and subtropical regions of South America. Their natural range stretches across central and southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina. They tend to inhabit lowlands…
The American Oystercatcher is a large, striking shorebird that inhabits coastal areas ranging from Maine to Texas. With their black and white plumage, bright orange-red bills, and loud piping calls, oystercatchers are a distinctive presence on beaches, mudflats, and salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. But how common are they really? Are American Oystercatchers rare birds? In the opening paragraphs, it’s helpful to provide quick answers to key questions readers may have. So to directly answer the title question – no, American Oystercatchers are not considered globally rare birds. Their numbers are estimated at over 11,000 total individuals.…
The jungle is filled with the sounds of exotic birds, calling and singing to each other across the dense vegetation. With over 10,000 species of birds worldwide, there are many birds that inhabit the lush jungles found in tropical regions around the globe. Their songs and calls create an audible tapestry that brings the jungle to life. But what birds truly encapsulate the soundscape of the jungle? Here we explore some of the prime avian candidates. Toucans Known for their colorful, oversized bills, toucans are found throughout the jungles of Central and South America. They use their bills not only…
Several bird species are able to mimic the human voice and other sounds with impressive accuracy. The best-known bird mimics are parrots, especially the African grey parrot. However, there are other birds that possess this ability as well. African Grey Parrot The African grey parrot is renowned for its ability to mimic human speech and other complex sounds. They are considered one of the most talented mimicking birds. African greys can start mimicking speech as young as a few months old and their vocabulary expands steadily with age. Some exceptional specimens have been documented with vocabularies of over 1000 words…