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There are no flock members in this family.
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Sialia sialis- Eastern Bluebird
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- Eastern Bluebirds live in open habitats of eastern North America from Ontario to Arizona and also in Mexico and Central America. The popularity of blue bird nesting boxes has made this species one of the best known and well liked of songbirds.
- This thrush is vividly colored. Male Eastern Bluebirds have a bright blue back, head and wings and red/ chestnut under parts with a white belly. The female is equally beautiful though less vibrant, with paler coloring.
- Eastern Bluebirds are 7 inches long and commonly found in gardens, parks, along roadsides, in fields and other open woodland habitats. Historically Eastern Bluebirds inhabited fire maintained open woodlands, and so benefited from the clearing of land for agriculture and settlement. The species is partially migratory, in response to weather and food availability.
- This species eats insects, worms, snails and berries. The birds glean from foliage, hunt from a perch and forage on the ground. Fruits are predominant in the diet during winter.
- Eastern Bluebirds are usually monogamous, but polygamy and co-operative breeding are also known to occur. Two females may lay eggs in one nest or a female may mate with more than one male. Helpers at the nest are immature off-spring from previous broods.
- Eastern Bluebirds are semi-colonial nesters. Only the nest is defended by the male. Outside the breeding season, the birds may socialize when feeding.
- Pairs may form in winter flocks and arrive at the breeding grounds together. Eastern Bluebirds historically nested in natural cavities or woodpecker excavations. Now, many use nest boxes provided by humans. The female makes a loose nest lining of grasses and feathers.
- The clutch of 4-5 pale blue eggs are incubated by the female for about 13 days. Both parents feed the chicks insects, and they fledge after 15-20 days. The family remains together for 2-3 weeks. Immatures from early broods form large flocks and forage together.
- Eastern Bluebird numbers were in steep decline due to competition for nest sites from House Sparrows and European Starlings during the first half of the 20th century. Campaigns to encourage installation of nest boxes during 1960s and 1970s were very successful and the species has recovered well with the provision of well managed nest boxes with entrance holes only Eastern Bluebirds can use.
- Introduced fire ants in the southeastern United States prey directly on nestlings and destroy insect populations needed to feed chicks.
- Eastern Bluebirds are monitored by Project Nestwatch and Camclikr.
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Sialia currucoides- Mountain Bluebird
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- The brilliant sky blue Mountain Bluebird is a common bird of ranchlands and other open areas in western North America, from southern Alaska to New Mexico during the summer months, and the south western United States and Mexico during the winter.
- The Mountain Bluebird competes with the Western Bluebird for nest boxes, and in areas where their ranges overlap also with the Eastern Bluebird. This limits the westward expansion of the Eastern Bluebird.
- The Mountain Bluebird prefers more open habitat than other Bluebird species, and populations increase dramatically when land is opened up for agriculture. Grasslands and meadows with scattered trees at elevations up to 3800m are used during the breeding season.
- The Mountain Bluebird feeds on insects and some small fruits. It hunts from a perch and drops onto prey on the ground. It also hovers, and gleans.
- The male Mountain Bluebird stakes out a territory on arrival at the nesting grounds. He will investigate all cavities within his territory and display at each one, flying back and forth while singing to the female. Ultimately the choice of which cavity is used is made by the female.
- The female Mountain Bluebird builds the nest in the chosen cavity in a tree or snag, or nesting box. The nest is woven from grasses and lined with soft bark, hair or feathers. She lays 5-6 pale blue or white eggs.
- The female incubates the eggs, and the male brings her food during this time and while she is brooding the chicks for approximately a week after hatching. After this both parents feed the chicks and continue to do so after the chicks fledge at around 18-21 days of age. The fledglings remain totally dependent on the parents for at least the first three days after they fledge and may not be totally independent for several weeks. During this time the female may begin a second clutch and the male will continue to care for the fledglings alone.
- This species is doing well due to the clearing of land for agriculture and the practice of providing nest boxes.
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Catharus guttatus-Hermit Thrush
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- The Hermit Thrush is a quiet bird of the forest floor and undergrowth, often seen flicking its wings and raising and lowering its tail. This pretty bird has a white chest with dark spots, brown head and back and long rusty tail.
- Hermit Thrushes breed in the far northern boreal and mixed coniferous/ deciduous forests of Alaska and Canada. Also in the western United States and north eastern United States there are breeding populations.
- A nocturnal migrant, Hermit Thrushes winter in the southern United States and South America. Some individuals at the far southern extreme of the species breeding range may be resident year round.
- Hermit Thrushes are omnivores and eat spiders, insects and fruit. The birds forage on the ground in leaf litter and brush or glean from foliage. Insects make up most of the birds' diet during the breeding season, fruit is most important during the winter.
- The song of the Hermit Thrush is rich and melodious. The males may be heard singing all day long while perched on a dead tree, during the breeding season.
- The male arrives first on the breeding grounds and chooses and defends a territory. The nest is a cup of grasses and twigs lined with moss, which the female builds on the ground or low in a tree. The 4 green/ blue eggs are incubated by the female for 12-13 days. Both parents feed the nestlings insects until they fledge at about 12 days of age.
- Hermit Thrushes are at risk from modification of their nesting habitat, and deforestation on their wintering grounds.
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Hylocichla mustelina- Wood Thrush
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- The Wood Thrush is a beautiful woodland bird with a flute like song. This medium sized (7.75 inches) bird of the forest floor has a white chest with black spots, black throat and brown/ cinnamon back.
- Wood Thrushes are neo-tropical migrants. The birds breed in the eastern United States in riparian woodlands, swamps, wooded gardens, suburbs and parks. In winter the species inhabits primary and secondary growth forests in South America, in mixed species flocks.
- Wood Thrushes forage under the forest canopy for insects, snails, fruits and spiders. The birds glean from foliage on the forest floor.
- Pairs form for the duration of the breeding season. The male arrives at the breeding grounds first and establishes a territory.
- The nest is a cup of grass and stems on the lower limbs of a tree or shrub, built mostly by the female. She lays 3-4 green/ blue eggs which she incubates for about 13 days. The altricial chicks are fed by both parents until they fledge after about 12 days.
- In some locations, brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds has impacted populations of Wood Thrush by greatly reducing nesting success. Fragmentation of nesting habitat encourages Brown-headed Cowbirds and brood parasitism most often occurs in edge habitat and suburban areas.
- Deforestation on the wintering grounds and fragmentation of breeding habitat have resulted in declines in numbers of Wood Thrush throughout the species range. Preservation of forests are essential for this and other neo-tropical migrants.
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- The American Robin is the largest (length 10"), most widespread and abundant thrush in North America. This species tolerance for human modified habitats has led to its success.
- Thousand of American Robins may congregate at a single roost. During the winter all birds will congregate to roost. During the breeding season the females always remain on the nest while the males continue to roost at a single site. As the fledglings become independent they too will roost at this site, the female will only join them when the breeding season is over.
- The American Robin is resident across the United States and migratory in Alaska and Canada.
- This species forages on the ground for invertebrates, especially earth worms, and often forages on suburban lawns. The American Robin also gleans insects from foliage and eats fruits.
- The male will collect nesting material, while the female chooses the nest site and constructs the nest, usually in a protected evergreen or decidous tree but sometimes on the ground. In the north of its range, the American Robin may nest on cliff faces or buildings where trees are not available.
- The female lays 3-4 blue eggs, and incubates them for 12-14 days. Both parents feed the colorful nestlings which fledge after approximately 13 days. The parents continue to feed the fledglings for three weeks.
- Considered a delicacy from colonial times until the mid 1800s, large numbers of American Robins were hunted for food. Deaths of American Robins following applications of DDT, alerted scientists and attracted media attention to the dangers of pesticides during the 1950s. American Robins are affected because they consume large numbers of earth worms and the concentrations of chemicals accumulate in their bodies. Studies showed that it took 10-17 years for a population to recover after a single application of DDT to its habitat. Poisoning by other chemicals continues to be a problem for this species and because it is sensitive to chemical pollutants this species is a good indicator of pollution levels within its habitat.
- The use of pesticides on suburban lawns results in a reduction of nesting success of American Robins, due to the loss of food. However due to its large range, this species is apparently secure at this time.
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There are no flock members in this family.
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There are no flock members in this family.
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Mimus polyglottos- Northern Mockingbird
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- The Northern Mockingbird is famous for its complex song which includes imitations of many other birds and animal and man-made sounds. New sounds are added to the birds' song throughout its lifetime.
- Both male and female mockingbirds sing. During the breeding season, an unmated male will sing at night as well as during the day. The female does not sing as loudly and persistently as the male, and mostly during the fall, perhaps to establish a winter territory.
- A year round resident through most of its range from southern Canada, throughout the United States and northern Mexico, the Northern Mockingbird is common in parks second growth woodlands and suburban habitats.
- This species fiercely defends its territory with flashes of its white wing patches, loud squawks and aerial battles are a common occurrence.
- The Northern Mockingbird is an omnivore and will eat a variety of fruit and insects. Most food is picked from branches or on the ground, but it may also hover to eat fruit.
- The Northern Mockingbird is monogamous and some pairs remain together year round on a single territory.
- Several nest sites may be used during a single breeding season when up to four broods may be raised. The male will build a nest in a low dense shrub or tree, and perform acrobatic courtship chases when a female enters his territory. The open cup nest is then lined by the female and she lays 2-6 pale blue/ green eggs with reddish markings.
- The female incubates the eggs for about 13 days, and broods them after hatching. Both parents feed the nestlings mostly insects and some fruit. The chicks fledge after 12 days, and are fed by both parents for about three days. The male then begins construction of another nest while the female continues to feed the fledglings. Once the nest in ready, the female lines it and begins a second clutch. The male then resumes feeding the fledglings for about three more weeks.
- The young immature birds will congregate between territories for the rest of the season, feeding on insects.
- From 1700s to early 1900s Northern Mockingbirds were captured and sold as caged birds because of their exceptional singing abilities. Nestlings were most desirable, but older birds were also captured and egg collecting was also common at this time. Populations were drastically reduced by these activities and the species became rare in some parts of its range. Populations did not recover in these areas until the 1940s.
- The Northern Mockingbird adapts well to suburban landscapes and is benefiting from secondary growth on former farm lands. The range of this species is expanding northwards, but there have been declines in numbers in the southern part of its range.
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Toxostoma rufum- Brown Thrasher
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- The Brown Thrasher is a common bird of dense thickets and undergrowth in the eastern United States. This bird is 11.5 inches long with rufous back, crown and wings, streaked brown under parts and distinctive white wing bars.
- Brown Thrashers breed in eastern North America from southern Canada to the east coast, south to central Texas, the Gulf Coast and Florida. Southern populations are resident year round. Northern populations are short distance migrants, wintering in the southern part of the species range.
- Habitats used by the Brown Thrasher are open woodlands, forest clearings, suburbs, hedgerows, brush and shrubland. The birds spend most of their time on the ground.
- Brown Thrashers eat insects, invertebrates, small vertebrates, fruits, nuts and seeds. The birds forage in leaf litter sweeping the debris with their long beak. They also glean from foliage and eat fruits directly from shrubs.
- The vocal array of the Brown Thrasher is extensive. This species is a mimic and sometimes copies other species.
- Brown Thrashers are socially monogamous and pair for a season. The nest is a cup of dead leaves, twigs and grasses in thorny shrubs, brush piles or directly on the ground. The 4-5 white/ blue eggs are incubated by both parents for about 12 days. Both parents feed the chicks which fledge after about 13 days.
- Habitat fragmentation has resulted in reductions in numbers of Brown Thrashers.
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Sturnus vulgaris- European Starling
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- The European Starling is the most successful introduced species in North America. All descended from just 100 birds released in New York City in 1890 and 1891, the population in North America is now estimated at more than 200 million. European Starlings have colonized every part of the continent except the most northern extreme of Alaska and Canada.
- European Starlings have beautiful green/ purple iridescent plumage and a bright yellow beak during the breeding season. During the winter they are spotted and the beak darkens. This common, 8.5 inches long bird is highly social and often seen in large flocks.
- European Starlings are partial migrants; some individuals migrate while others do not. A diurnal migrant, this species travels in flocks of thousands of birds.
- Human modified habitats are used by European Starlings, particularly towns and suburbs, and also agricultural fields, parks and gardens.
- The diet of the European Starling is varied, including insects, fruits, grain and seeds. Foraging flocks are commonly seen in fields and other grassy areas. The birds are adaptable and will exploit any human food sources such as garbage dumps.
- European Starlings are mimics and may learn new songs throughout their lives. They may have a large vocal array, including vocalizations of other species, animals and mechanical sounds.
- European Starlings roost communally, and fly in large highly co-ordinated flocks.
- Usually monogamous, European Starlings have a biased sex ratio in which there are more females than males and polygyny is quite common. Male European Starlings establish a territory and advertise for a mate by singing and wing waving. One or more females may choose the male and he guards them well.
- The male selects and defends a nest cavity in a tree, or natural or manmade crevice on a cliff, hill side or building. The female incubates the 4-6 white/ blue eggs for about 13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents until they fledge after about 20 days. 2 or 3 broods may be raised in a single season.
- This beautiful bird has been persecuted as a pest because of its abundance and close association with humans. The birds compete for nest cavities with other species including Eastern Bluebirds. This can be prevented by the provision of nest boxes which are only accessible to the target species.
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There are no flock members in this family.
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There are no flock members in this family.
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- The Cedar Waxwing is a frugivore and its nomadic habits and late breeding season are a result of its dependence on fruit.
- The name waxwing is due to the waxy appearance of red tips on the secondary feathers of some individuals. The purpose of these tips is not known, but they may be used during mate selection.
- The Cedar waxwing is resident across the northern United States and breeds in southern Canada. During the winter northern populations migrate to the southern United States, Mexico and Central America. Movements of this species are variable due to its reliance on seasonal fruits abundance.
- The Cedar Waxwing captures insects by aerial hawking or gleaning from vegetation from May to September. During the rest of the year it eats almost entirely fruit. The sugary fruits are plucked from trees and shrubs and swallowed whole. Cedar berries dominated the winter diet in the past and populations still congregate where there is an abundance of cedar trees. Crops of ornamental trees in suburban areas are now an important part of the diet.
- Courtship and pair formation begins in late April, but nesting is late in this species to coincide with fruiting of trees and shrubs. In late June a cup nest is built from twigs, grasses and moss and placed in the fork of a tree branch. 2-5 pale bluish/ grey eggs are laid which the female incubates for about 12 days. The nestlings are weak after hatching and the female broods them almost continuously for the first three days. The male delivers food to the female during incubation and brooding and brings insects to the chicks. After the first 3 days both parents feed the chicks a diet of mostly regurgitated fruit.
- The chicks fledge after about 15 days. Just before this they rigorously exercise their wings by flapping for much of the preceding 2 days while perched on the nest rim.
- The chicks are fed by the parents for several days after fledging, but form into small flocks with other young within a week of fledging.
- Cedar Waxwing populations have expanded in recent years as a result of human alterations to the landscape. The regeneration of shrub lands and forests in the eastern and central United States has resulted in an increase in the numbers of breeding birds. The planting of ornamental fruiting trees and shrubs in urban and suburban areas and agricultural fruit crop expansions has benefitted this species. Local abundance of this species is closely associated with annual fruit production.
- Cedar Waxwings are especially vulnerable to pesticide use on gardens and fruit crops because of their reliance on fruits for food. Breeding success of this species was reduced by the use of DDT, but populations have since recovered.
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There are no flock members in this family.
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There are no flock members in this family.
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