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Barred Owl, Strix varia Bill Rowe As you explore the woods, sooner or later you will find yourself looking at a Barred Owl looking at you. There is no implied threat—the bird seems simply curious and imperturbable—but as you gradually approach…

Louisiana Waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla Bill Rowe Mostly unfamiliar to non-birders—and also not a thrush, but a warbler—the Louisiana Waterthrush is tied closely to flowing wooded streams; it nests throughout the eastern United States, except for the northernmost conifer forests and the…

Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis Bill Rowe If Birds of the Week were coming out in order of abundance, we would have covered the Savannah Sparrow a long time ago, since it can be one of the most numerous birds out there…

Purple Martin, Progne subis Bill Rowe For some plants and animals, spring begins in February and proceeds through all of March; but if we take the vernal equinox (typically March 21) as the official change-of-season, the Purple Martin becomes the perfect…

Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris Bill Rowe Ducks, ducks, ducks… We are firmly 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 Flicker, Colaptes auratus Bill Rowe In late winter and early spring, our local resident songbirds (such as Song Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds) being practicing their songs, following their instinctive urge to claim a territory and find a mate. One of…

Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus Bill Rowe We’ve covered several cosmopolitan birds, like the Barn Swallow and the Mallard, and the Peregrine Falcon is right up there with those two—not as numerous or commonplace, but just as widespread, found on every continent…

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus Bill Rowe Cool weather brings us Herring Gulls from the north, and winter weather, especially a snow-and-ice situation, brings more of them. This big gull nests all across Canada and down into the northern states, like our…

Common Redpoll, Acanthis flammea Bill Rowe This article is a “heads up” to keep your eye out for Common Redpolls over the next few weeks. They are the rarest of a trio of little finches that come to our feeders and…