The Progeny
Ma's Bird of the Week
Thanks to Melinda, for bringing my attention to this beauty:
Harris's Sparrow Zonotrichia querula
A sparrow, you say... what's the big deal?
Just this--it summers in Canada, not Iowa. And I don't mean just north of the border...it's WAYYYY up there :-)
The nesting area includes the topmost part of Manitoba, the northeast half of the Northwest Territories, and a sizable section of Nunavut. We're talkin' just inside the arctic circle!
And yes, I knew naught of Nunavut. But you are never to old too learn about geography and that you've caught a brief thrill thanks to a migratory stopover.
I'm tellin' ya, I---is---excited!.
Melinda mentioned a new sparrow and I didn't take much notice, until I saw him outside and was immediately struck by his good looks.
Tonight he came to the newly truncated bird feeder...or the ground around it, anyway....and Ma snapped his photo for posterity. Checking the internet let us know we'd stumbled onto something special in the avian world, Well, special for lil' ol' Ioway :-)
The black bib on the front can determine which bird has the best access to food and roosting areas. Older males with bigger bibs get first dibs.
Right about now I know you are wondering what the French name for this cutesome fellow might be...
Bruant à face noire
C'est perfectement, non?
And notice the distinctive pink bill--very attractive.
Since the wintering grounds are just west and south, I suppose it could have overwintered here, but as we did not spy him until recently, I prefer to think that we've been blessed with a rest stop on his way to Canada.
Bon voyage, mon ami, and thanks for all the fish.
Tweet
Harris's Sparrow Zonotrichia querula
A sparrow, you say... what's the big deal?
Just this--it summers in Canada, not Iowa. And I don't mean just north of the border...it's WAYYYY up there :-)
The nesting area includes the topmost part of Manitoba, the northeast half of the Northwest Territories, and a sizable section of Nunavut. We're talkin' just inside the arctic circle!
And yes, I knew naught of Nunavut. But you are never to old too learn about geography and that you've caught a brief thrill thanks to a migratory stopover.
I'm tellin' ya, I---is---excited!.
Melinda mentioned a new sparrow and I didn't take much notice, until I saw him outside and was immediately struck by his good looks.
Tonight he came to the newly truncated bird feeder...or the ground around it, anyway....and Ma snapped his photo for posterity. Checking the internet let us know we'd stumbled onto something special in the avian world, Well, special for lil' ol' Ioway :-)
The black bib on the front can determine which bird has the best access to food and roosting areas. Older males with bigger bibs get first dibs.
Right about now I know you are wondering what the French name for this cutesome fellow might be...
Bruant à face noire
C'est perfectement, non?
And notice the distinctive pink bill--very attractive.
Since the wintering grounds are just west and south, I suppose it could have overwintered here, but as we did not spy him until recently, I prefer to think that we've been blessed with a rest stop on his way to Canada.
Bon voyage, mon ami, and thanks for all the fish.
Tweet
posted by Ma Hoyt | 8:40 PM
2 Comments:
Very nice! Did you ever check out Birdstack.com? It is a nice way to keep track of your life bird list. The Birdstack software was written by a LU person and when I found his name I realized he works in an office just down the hall from me! It is one of those things that you can just add a bit to any time you get a few minutes and you don't have to make a full long entry for each bird you see.
Yes Thainamu, I think I went there, once.
I have this phobia about new things :-p but I'll take your word for it that it won't be too big a deal and try to set it up one of these days...
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