Bird of the Week

Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis Bill Rowe The bluebird, our state bird, seems so strongly associated with fresh greenery, dogwood and redbud blossoms, and other aspects of spring that one may be wondering…why February 1? Yet it is in winter that a…

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius Bill Rowe First, a clarification: the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is indeed a real bird, not a joke. In the Midwest, it’s one of our seven regular woodpeckers, and while it is rather quiet and retiring, you can see…

Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura Bill Rowe It’s January, so spring must be on the way; just check with the birds. The very first sign of lengthening days, and the nesting season to come, is the resumption of singing by many of…

White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis Bill Rowe Like some previous Birds of the Week, the White-throated Sparrow is a familiar bird to those who maintain feeders, at least if they have a bit of woods or some dense shrubbery nearby. It’s also…

Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bill Rowe As we move hopefully into 2021, let’s look at the national bird of the United States—a choice that Ben Franklin didn’t approve of, but one that appeals to just about everyone now, with its striking…

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Bill Rowe The word “iconic,” though badly overused, fits well here: the Mallard is the iconic wild duck throughout the Northern Hemisphere, depicted everywhere in paintings, logos, photographs, and greeting cards; it is also the most abundant duck…

Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus Bill Rowe The Red-winged Blackbird is one of the most abundant birds in North America, and springtime gives you a hint of that: every marsh or field of tall grass will have jet-black male Red-wings dotted all…

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis Bill Rowe Like the Pine Siskin, featured a few weeks ago, the Red-breasted Nuthatch is a breeding bird of the boreal conifer forest that spans most of Canada and the northernmost states and extends down the major…

Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator Bill Rowe Unknown in Missouri for most of the 20th century, the Trumpeter Swan is now a poster child for successful conservation. Let’s back way up: Before the Civil War—say, the 1840’s—you could have found Trumpeter…

Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus Bill Rowe Throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa, chickadees (also called tits) make up a lively and engaging part of the birdlife. The eastern United States is mostly divided between Carolina…