June 30, 2013 - Birds at White Oak Lake

Two weeks ago I photographed this set of songbirds at White Oak Lake near Deer River, MN. Migration is over so these birds are likely nesting in the area. This is a male American Redstart. He is singing to defend his territory. Brushy areas around the edges of lakes are one of the preferred habitats for this species.

RedstartAmericanmaleWhiteOakLakeDeerRiver20130622

I felt fortunate to get a photo of this Veery because they are very secretive and like to stay hidden back in the woods. This is a bird more often heard than seen. It has a beautiful, flute-like song and can sing two different pitches at the same time. It sounds like a duet but is really coming from just one bird.

VeeryWhiteOakLakeDeerRiver20130622

This is a very aptly named Red-eyed Vireo. It likes to sit high in a tree and sing its rather monotonous song ALL DAY LONG! Most birds only sing during a few weeks while they are courting but the Red-eyed Vireo seems to sing for most of the summer.

VireoRedeyedWhiteOakLakeDeerRiver20130622

Black and White Warblers, despite their limited range of colors, are quite good-looking birds. Subtle differences in breeding plumage allow identification of males and females. This is a female; see the next photo of a male for comparison.

WarblerBlackWhitefemaleOakLakeDeerRiver20130622

Here’s a male Black and White Warbler. Notice that his throat is black and the female in the previous photo has a white throat. He also has more black around his eyes.

WarblerBlackWhitemaleOakLakeDeerRiver20130622

Yellow Warblers also like the brushy habitat around the edges of lakes. The name is very appropriate; even its feet are yellow. Yellow Warblers have a wider range than any other North American warbler. In summer they can be found over most of Canada and Alaska and the northern ¾ths of the lower 48 states.

WarblerYellowWhiteOakLakeDeerRiver20130622