Bird of the Week

Palm Warbler, Setophaga palmarum Bill Rowe As we’ve noted before, Missouri has a rich diversity of warblers: 36 regular species, of which 17 are breeding birds, leaving 19 more that we see only in migration, en route to and from…

Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus Bill Rowe In late winter and early spring, our local resident songbirds, such as Song Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds, begin practicing their songs, following their instinct to claim a territory and find a mate. One of these…

Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris Bill Rowe Ducks, ducks, ducks… We are still in the middle of duck migration at this point, as it begins very early, in February, with many species reaching their peak during March. These include the diving ducks…

Northern Shoveler, Spatula clypeata Bill Rowe The unusual-looking Northern Shoveler is a common sight throughout its very wide breeding range, which encompasses northern and western North America plus much of northern and central Eurasia, and also on its wintering range from…

Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta Bill Rowe Meadowlarks are instant favorites among new birders, with their vivid yellow-and-black underparts and whistled songs, making them easy to spot out in a prairie or a hayfield—that is, as long as they…

Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana Bill Rowe The New World sparrows, family Passerellidae, are a diverse and important part of our bird life, with 19 species regular in Missouri—some in summer, some in winter, some mainly migrants, and some year-round. The Swamp…

Merlin, Falco columbarius Bill Rowe Worldwide, falcons are recognizable by their long, pointed wings, their dashing flight, and their laser focus on pursuing their prey. These qualities have inspired the sport of falconry for millennia, and now they elicit the same…

Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca Bill Rowe You’re watching a wetland, trying to see the ducks hidden in the grass, when an eagle swoops over the area and flushes them all up, the bigger ones along with a dense flock of little…

Hairy Woodpecker, Dryobates villosus Bill Rowe As you hike through any extensive woodland, sooner or later you will hear a loud, sharp peek! or speek! or sometimes a shrill, fast rattle—either way, a sure sign of a Hairy Woodpecker. And you think, maybe…

White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis Bill Rowe Of the birds that we think of as being year-round residents, some actually indulge in a lot of movement, migrating in or out, shifting their winter roosting grounds, or otherwise being unpredictable—like the American Robin…