Foam lake Birding No. 2

Foam Lake Birding
No. 2

Last week, I ended by cautioning people to look very carefully before identifying black and white stripe-headed sparrows as there are two of them – the White Throated and White Crowned. In this article I am featuring the latter and attempting to point out the similarities and differences between them.
The behavior and habits of the two are exactly the same. Both are usually seen scratching about in leaf litter and hopping across lawns and gardens. Much of the time they are in mixed groups; which makes identification much easier. Why? It is easier to distinguish between two birds when they are side by side than if viewed separately at different times and places.
To an experienced birder the physical differences between the two are quite pronounced, but to beginners they are quite subtle. Here are the differences as I have experienced them;
First, the colours are slightly different. Both have striped heads, but the White Throat has a white throat (no surprise) and yellow lores (the space between the eyes and the beak) which the White Crown does not. Overall, the White Crowned is grayer.
Second, the beak of the White Throat is dark, while the beak of the White Crown is a “candy corn” colour.
Third, the birds have a slightly different physical shape. The White Throated looks somewhat flat headed, while the White Crowned is very round headed giving it the effect that it is wearing a bicycle helmet. The White Crowned appears to be long necked. If anxious, it looks like a deer on alert.
Four, the songs are entirely different. The White Crowned, much like the White Throated, starts with two whistles (usually) followed by a series of low whistles and ending in a buzzy sound. The song is not nearly as memorable as the White Throat’s.
Both birds migrate to the southern US and northern Mexico; however, the White Crown will winter farther north even spending winters in Canada along the west coast. In summer, the White Throated nests in the boreal forests of Canada as nearby as Greenwater Lake. On the other hand, the White Crowned nests in the Tundra and at high mountain elevations above the tree line.
As confusing as the birds can be to identify in the spring, it is far more difficult in the fall. The problem actually starts with the White Throated. Even though I described it as having black and white head stripes (which it usually does) there is, also, a buffy-headed version. This one has tan and dark brown head stripes and a dirty white throat patch making it look like an entirely different bird. They are quite common and one should look for them -in the spring. In the fall, juvenile White Crowns, also, have the same buffy head stripes and some even sport a pale white throat patch making them look very similar to the buffy White Throats. How does one tell them apart? The White Throated has yellow lores; the White Crowned does not. The White Throated has a dark beak; the White Crowned has a ‘candy corn” coloured beak. These field marks are definitive.
I was hoping to deal with a few more transient species, but most of them are on their way north to their nesting grounds. Therefore, for the rest of the summer, I will write about our summer migrants. Until then, enjoy the transients.

Foam Lake Birding No. 1

FOAM LAKE BIRDING
No. 1

Several years ago a friend of mine asked me how many different species of birds had I seen in my lifetime (usually described as “lifers”). I answered that I did not know. Then, I was asked how many different birds had I seen in my yard. Again, I answered that I did not know. Shortly after that, I went to my bird book and counted them up. I do not remember what the totals were then, but at present I have seen 527 (a small number by birding standards) with 126 of those from our yard. Of the backyard variety, 93 were actually perched in our yard and another 33 were seen flying overhead. We were fortunate enough to have had 10 different species nest in our yard, several of which nested more than once. Most people are surprised by the number of birds that come into our yards.
This winter, I periodically sent pictures with accompanying articles from Arizona to friends and family via email. I was hoping that I would not bore them to death, but to my surprise, I was encouraged to send more and more often. After that experience, I decided that I would try my hand at writing articles, complete with pictures, for the local newspaper. The pictures have been taken and developed by myself. Because there are so many bird books available, I will present only brief descriptions. Rather, I will attempt to present more subjective descriptions that, hopefully, will help beginners identify birds in their back yards.
At this time of year our yards are full of transients that can be seen only in the spring and fall as the birds migrate from their wintering grounds in the south to their nesting sites in the boreal forests and tundra of the north. The first several issues will treat the birds in this category.
In this first issue I am focusing (no pun intended) on the White Throated Sparrow. This bird feeds and nests on the ground, but sings and roosts in trees, which is common to most sparrows. It can usually be seen scratching in leaf litter looking for seeds. Unlike chickens that scratch one foot at a time most small scratching birds use both feet simultaneously. Its song is a very distinctive series of whistles that some people have interpreted as “poor Bill Peabody, Peabody, Peabody”. Even though it can be heard locally in spring, but to get the real feeling for its song, one should go to its nearest nesting site at Greenwater Lake. However, one should be prepared to be frustrated in locating the bird as it can be quite ventriloquial.
The White Throat can be readily recognized by the longitudinal black and white stripes on its head, white throat and bright yellow at the base of its dark beak. Like all sparrows males and females are identical. Be careful in identifying this bird as it can be quite easily confused with its close relative, the White Crowned Sparrow, that also has a black and white striped head! Enjoy finding the differences.