Nov. 19, 2017 - Oregon - Western Birds

During our October trip to Oregon, I was able to photograph some western birds that we either don’t see in Minnesota or only see as rare visitors. This is a Black Oystercatcher. In North America, it is found only along the Pacific coast, from Alaska to Mexico. Its all-black plumage blends in very well with the dark rocks found along the coast. However, the bright orange bill and pink legs give it away. This photo was taken at the Simpson Reef Overlook.

OystercatcherBlackSimpsonReefOverlook20171014

In Minnesota, the only cormorant species we are likely to see is the Double-crested Cormorant. In Oregon, most of the cormorants that I saw were Pelagic Cormorants. This one was photographed near the lighthouse in Bandon, Oregon. Pelagic Cormorants have nearly the same range as the Black Oystercatcher (above). At 28 inches, the Pelagic Cormorant is smaller than the Double-crested Cormorant (33 inches).

CormorantPelagicBandonLighthouseSouthJetty20171009

Here’s a Pelagic Cormorant in flight. The feathers on the front part of its wings are somewhat colorful but those on the back edge are strictly black and look rather shaggy. This photo was taken in the same area as the previous photo.

CormorantPelagicflightSouthJettyBandon20171012

As we were watching a Gray Whale (see last week’s posting) this Black Phoebe flew in and landed right near us. This species is found in the southwestern United States and in Mexico. I think southern Oregon is at the northern limit of this bird’s range.

PhoebeBlackSimpsonReefOverlook20171014

This Fox Sparrow was a visitor to the house we rented. We do get Fox Sparrows in Minnesota, but they look quite different than this one. There are four recognized subspecies and this one is called the Sooty subspecies. It’s much darker than the Red subspecies that we see.

SparrowFoxsootyBeachLoopCondosBandon20171018

Spotted Towhees are found over much of the western United States. They do tend to wander, however, and each year a few of them are reported here in Minnesota. The spots that give the bird its name are obvious and I’m intrigued by that bright red eye. This photo was taken at the house we rented in Bandon.

TowheeSpottedBeachLoopCondosBandon20171020

This bird is called a Wrentit because it has characteristics found in both wrens and titmice. For instance, it often perches like this with its long tail held high, just as wrens do. It’s not related to either wrens or titmice, however, and the American Ornithologists’ Union puts it in its own family. The Wrentit is found along the West Coast from the Columbia River on the north to the deserts of Baja California on the south. Its inland range stops at the western mountains. This photo was taken at the Simpson Reef Overlook.

WrentitSimpsonReefOverlook20171014