Winged Wednesday 3.8.2023

[Eric Gofreed]

Today's winged Wednesday contributions are sparrow-like birds in that they have a similar diet. Perhaps next week's birds will be buntings, towhees, or finches, or leave a comment on the types of birds you want me to post and I'll try to accommodate.

Dickcissels are sparrow-like birds that were named for the male’s song.

Bobolinks are small birds that look similar to sparrows but are more closely related to icterids (blackbirds, meadowlarks, orioles, and such)

Dark-eyed junco

Lapland longspur

Sprague's pipit. Pippits look similar to sparrows but are sleeker and have longer, thinner bills. Additionally, sparrows hop on the ground and pipits walk by placing one foot in front of the other.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Not only a beautiful display of birds but a very informative post

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Today's winged Wednesday contributions are sparrow-like birds in that they have a similar diet. Perhaps next week's birds will be buntings, towhees, or finches, or leave a comment on the types of birds you want me to post and I'll try to accommodate.

View attachment 57241
Dickcissels are sparrow-like birds that were named for the male’s song.

View attachment 57244
Bobolinks are small birds that look similar to sparrows but are more closely related to icterids (blackbirds, meadowlarks, orioles, and such)

View attachment 57240
Dark-eyed junco

View attachment 57243
Lapland longspur

View attachment 57245
Sprague's pipit. Pippits look similar to sparrows but are sleeker and have longer, thinner bills. Additionally, sparrows hop on the ground and pipits walk by placing one foot in front of the other.

What a spectacular display of images, Eric. Dickcissels and bobolinks are common in the Midwest. Unfortunately, I wasn't photographing birds then, so I have no images so far. I'll have to work on that.

 

[Jim Sanderson]

Cranes from the Refuge.

 

[AlanLichty]

My offering for today is tentatively titled "Got Honkers?"

We get a lot of wintering Canada Geese in our area and they tend to be gregarious.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I am plum out of sparrows so I will show some wrens instead.

Cactus Wren.

Canyon Wren

Bewick's Wren

House Wren

 

[Trent Watts]

My offering for today is tentatively titled "Got Honkers?"

We get a lot of wintering Canada Geese in our area and they tend to be gregarious.

View attachment 57256

Hi Alan.. I think we should check with Eric as I think these might be Cackling Geese not Canadas. Note the shorter neck and bill. I'm no expert but worth checking.

 

[Trent Watts]

Today's winged Wednesday contributions are sparrow-like birds in that they have a similar diet. Perhaps next week's birds will be buntings, towhees, or finches, or leave a comment on the types of birds you want me to post and I'll try to accommodate.

View attachment 57241
Dickcissels are sparrow-like birds that were named for the male’s song.

View attachment 57244
Bobolinks are small birds that look similar to sparrows but are more closely related to icterids (blackbirds, meadowlarks, orioles, and such)

View attachment 57240
Dark-eyed junco

View attachment 57243
Lapland longspur

View attachment 57245
Sprague's pipit. Pippits look similar to sparrows but are sleeker and have longer, thinner bills. Additionally, sparrows hop on the ground and pipits walk by placing one foot in front of the other.

So many great shots Eric. Nicely educational as well.

 

[Trent Watts]

I am plum out of sparrows so I will show some wrens instead.

Cactus Wren.

View attachment 57257

Canyon Wren

View attachment 57258

Bewick's Wren

View attachment 57259

House Wren

View attachment 57260

Nice group of Wrens Douglas. They mostly appear to be singing or at least have open bills.
I especially like the colours on the Bewick's Wren.

 

[AlanLichty]

Hi Alan.. I think we should check with Eric as I think these might be Cackling Geese not Canadas. Note the shorter neck and bill. I'm no expert but worth checking.

My Peterson Field Guide shows them as the Cackling variant of Canada Geese and my National Geographic field guide IDs them as hutchinsii Canada Geese. The giveaway for both identifications is the ring around the base of the neck with the birds in the very front.

I honestly never knew there were so many variants until you made me look them up just now

 

[Trent Watts]

To carry on in Eric theme I have two different Buntings, which I believe are related to the Sparrow family.

A male Lark Bunting. The Lark Bunting just makes it up into the Southern part of our province. This was in an area known as 'The Big Muddy'

This is a female Lark Bunting.

Snow Buntings are a winter migrant into Saskatchewan and sometimes arrive in flocks that take off from a rural road as you drive along.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Cranes from the Refuge.

View attachment 57255

Beautifully photographed, Jim

 

[Eric Gofreed]

To carry on in Eric theme I have two different Buntings, which I believe are related to the Sparrow family.

View attachment 57264
A male Lark Bunting. The Lark Bunting just makes it up into the Southern part of our province. This was in an area known as 'The Big Muddy'

View attachment 57265
This is a female Lark Bunting.

View attachment 57266
Snow Buntings are a winter migrants into Saskatchewan and sometimes arrive in flocks that take off from a rural road as you drive along.

Bunting photos are awesome, Trent
I've seen the lark bunting a few times near Cottonwood, Arizona. Regrettably, no photo.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

I am plum out of sparrows so I will show some wrens instead.

Cactus Wren.

View attachment 57257

Canyon Wren

View attachment 57258

Bewick's Wren

View attachment 57259

House Wren

View attachment 57260

All superior bird photos, Doug. Your Canyon wren is just beyond perfect

 

[Eric Gofreed]

My offering for today is tentatively titled "Got Honkers?"

We get a lot of wintering Canada Geese in our area and they tend to be gregarious.

View attachment 57256

The cattle of the bird world. Eat grass and poop in herds. Superb photo, Alan. When you have a big flock like this, look for the odd one (white-fronted goose) or the small one, (cackling goose),

 

[AlanLichty]

The cattle of the bird world. Eat grass and poop in herds. Superb photo, Alan. When you have a big flock like this, look for the odd one (white-fronted goose) or the small one, (cackling goose),

Good description of the flock - and be very cautious about wandering out into that field. Their poop is quite copious and slippery.