Nov. 11, 2018 - Less-common Birds

In looking back over the bird photos I took this summer, I found some species that the average birder is less likely to see. Boreal Chickadees are found all across Canada and Alaska. In the United States, they are only found in conifer woodlands near the Canadian border. This photo was taken along the Sawbill Trail in Cook County, Minnesota. These birds closely resemble the very common Black-capped Chickadee, with the biggest difference being the brown cap on the Boreal Chickadee.

ChickadeeBorealSawbillTrailCookCounty20180520

The American Bittern is a large bird, 23-28 inches tall. It’s a secretive dweller in cattail marshes. Brown streaky plumage helps it blend in with the marsh grasses. In addition, when it senses danger, it stands very still with its beak pointed straight up in the air so it blends in with the reeds and cattails. That makes it very difficult to see. This photo was also taken along the Sawbill Trail in Cook County, Minnesota.

BitternAmericancallingSawbillTrailCookCounty20180521

Rusty Blackbirds are named for the rust-colored feathers shown in the non-breeding plumage of this bird. They breed across Canada and Alaska and spend the winter in the southeastern United States. Here in Minnesota we only see them when they are migrating. They are 9 inches long, about the same as a Red-winged Blackbird. They are often seen in wooded swamps but this one was feeding under the bird feeders in our northern Minnesota yard.

BlackbirdRustyDunningLakeItascaCounty20181005

The Ovenbird, with its orange and brown head stripes, bold eye ring, and spotted breast, is much more often heard than seen. Beginning in early spring and continuing through summer, I will hear up to a half dozen of them calling from different parts of our woods with their “Teacher, Teacher, Teacher” call. They are very secretive, however, and stay hidden in the brush. They are 6 inches long and actually in the warbler family. This one was photographed in Lake County, Minnesota.

OvenbirdLakeCountyRoad20180521

Usually found in wet, muddy places, the Wilson’s Snipe uses its long bill to probe the mud looking for insects and worms. You can see how its brown, streaky plumage would provide great camouflage for this bird. A snipe is usually a solitary bird, but this one was seen with a dozen others in a wet spot along the road leading to our home. It is about 10½ inches long.

SnipeWilson'sDiamondLakeRoadItascaCounty20181011

This perky little Sedge Wren was singing in a field along County Road 10 in Itasca County, Minnesota. It’s a very small bird, only 4½ inches long. It likes to stay hidden in the tall, damp, grassy fields where it builds a nest in the summer.

WrenSedgesingingOakDrivenearBoveyItascaCounty20180713