46720 Backyard Birds:46720 Backyard Birds - GPNC€¦ · Backyard Birds By Chuck Otte and Bob Gress...

A POCKET GUIDE TO

Common KansasBackyard Birds

By Chuck Otte and Bob Gress

Photos by Bob Gress,Judd Patterson and David Seibel

Funded by Westar Energy Green Team, Glenn Springs Holdings, Inc.,

Occidental Chemical Corporationand the Chickadee Checkoff

Published by the Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center

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46720 Backyard Birds:46720 Backyard Birds 8/27/12 6:46 AM Page i

Table of Contents• Introduction • 2

Vultures, Kites and Hawks■ Turkey Vulture • 6■ Mississippi Kite • 7■ Sharp-shinned Hawk/Cooper’s Hawk • 8■ Red-tailed Hawk • 9

Plovers, Pigeons, Doves and Cuckoos■ Killdeer • 10■ Rock Pigeon • 11■ Eurasian Collared-Dove • 12■ Mourning Dove • 13■ Yellow-billed Cuckoo • 14

Owls, Goatsuckers, Swifts and Hummingbirds■ Eastern Screech-Owl • 15■ Great Horned Owl • 16■ Common Nighthawk • 17■ Chimney Swift • 18■ Ruby-throated Hummingbird • 19

Woodpeckers■ Red-headed Woodpecker • 20■ Red-bellied Woodpecker • 21■ Downy Woodpecker/ Hairy Woodpecker • 22■ Northern Flicker • 23

Flycatchers and Vireos■ Eastern Phoebe • 24■ Western Kingbird • 25■ Eastern Kingbird • 26■ Warbling Vireo • 27■ Red-eyed Vireo • 28

Jays and Crows■ Blue Jay • 29■ American Crow • 30

Swallows■ Purple Martin • 31■ Barn Swallow • 32

Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches and Wrens■ Black-capped Chickadee/Carolina Chickadee • 33■ Tufted Titmouse • 34■ White-breasted Nuthatch • 35

46720 Backyard Birds:46720 Backyard Birds 8/27/12 6:46 AM Page ii

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■ Carolina Wren • 36■ House Wren • 37

Thrushes, Mimics and Starlings■ Eastern Bluebird • 38■ American Robin • 39■ Gray Catbird • 40■ Northern Mockingbird • 41■ Brown Thrasher • 42■ European Starling • 43

Waxwings and Warblers■ Cedar Waxwing • 44■ Yellow Warbler • 45■ Yellow-rumped Warbler • 46

Sparrows■ Spotted Towhee/Eastern Towhee • 47■ American Tree Sparrow • 48■ Chipping Sparrow • 49■ Harris’s Sparrow • 50■ White-crowned Sparrow • 51■ Dark-eyed Junco • 52

Grosbeaks and Buntings■ Northern Cardinal • 53■ Rose-breasted Grosbeak • 54■ Indigo Bunting • 55

Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Grackles and Orioles■ Red-winged Blackbird • 56■ Eastern Meadowlark/Western Meadowlark • 57■ Common Grackle • 58■ Great-tailed Grackle • 59■ Brown-headed Cowbird • 60■ Orchard Oriole • 61■ Baltimore Oriole • 62

Finches ■ House Finch • 63■ Pine Siskin • 64■ American Goldfinch • 65■ House Sparrow • 66

• List of Suggested Books • 67• List of Internet Resources • 67• Acknowledgements • 68• Pocket Guides • 69

AmericanGoldfinches

©Judd Patterson

Cover Photo:American Goldfinch

©Bob Gress

46720 Backyard Birds:46720 Backyard Birds 8/27/12 6:46 AM Page 1

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IntroductionKansas is blessed with a rich history and

diversity of avifauna. As of the publication ofthis guide, 475 species have been documentedin Kansas. Because of this diversity, we havemany species of birds that can be routinely seenin our yards, neighborhoods and parks. Thespecies described in this guide are only afraction of the Kansas bird list, but they arebirds commonly seen across much of the stateon a regular basis. By providing food, waterand appropriate landscaping, and with aminimal amount of time, effort and expense,you and your family can enjoy these commonbackyard birds.

When learning to identify birds try tonotice everything about the bird. Notice how itlooks as well as how it behaves. In addition toits colors and its color patterns, was it eatinginsects, seeds or berries? How did it fly? Did itwalk or hop? Beyond the joy of identifying abird is the joy of really watching the bird andlearning about it as an individual.

Trying to match color and determining sizeare common pitfalls for beginningbirdwatchers, also known as birders. Colorvariations can be caused by diet, weather,lighting, time of year and natural geneticvariation. Rather than spending a lot of time


focusing on whether the orange of a robin’sbreast matches the photo or illustration in thebird book, look for the general pattern ofcoloration. If the wings are darker than theback, is that reflected in the illustrations? Arethere light and dark wing patches in the properlocations as shown in the guide? Our eyes arepowerful instruments and the ability to see richcolors often overwhelms the brain so that welose focus on the entire bird.

Sizes listed in this guide and other guidesare averages. Some species show little variationand all will be close to average. Other speciesmay have large deviations from average. Again,nutrition and genetic variation can impact thesize of a bird. Instead of trying to guess if thebird is 5 inches long or 6 inches long, compareto other birds present whenever possible.

Use all of the resources you have availableto help identify birds. Sound is useful andsometimes essential for species that looksimilar. You will often hear birds long beforeyou see them. There are many good soundresources available. The Cornell Lab ofOrnithology and Xeno-Canto have wonderfulwebsites with sounds of birds from all over theworld. Bird checklists for all 105 Kansascounties are available on line at the KansasBirds website. These lists are updated regularlyand will help you know whether a species hasbeen seen in your county. There are also manygood bird books available to help you learnmore about birds. Please see the References

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section for websites and books that will helpyou become a better birder.

Backyard feeding stations may be simpleand consist of one hanging feeder filled withmixed seed. To attract more birds, weencourage having a diversity of seeds andfeeders. A ground feeder with millet will attractmany sparrows. A hanging feeder for suet willattract woodpeckers and nuthatches. A tubefeeder with thistle seed is favored bygoldfinches and siskins. Feeders to providesugar water are a draw for not onlyhummingbirds, but orioles as well. Bird bathsare a great way to attract many species of birdsthat aren’t seed eaters. Water can be moreattractive than food, especially in dry weatheror in winter. A bird bath heater can keep thewater free of ice. Bath activity can be a delightto watch on a cold winter day.

Landscaping can greatly enhance theattractiveness of your backyard to birds. Thereare many resources in every community to helpselect bird friendly landscaping. Contact localnurseries, Master Gardeners or your localCounty Extension Office for advice on suitableplant material. A series of Backyard BirdingGuides is available on the web. They includerecommendations for plants suitable for Kansasbirds in general as well as those plants whichattract hummingbirds (see References section).

There are many individuals andorganizations across the state that can providecontact with other birders. The Kansas


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Ornithological Society and local Audubonchapters welcome birders of all levels and canbe a great resource.

The most important part of birdwatching isto have fun. It doesn’t matter if you can’tidentify every bird as long as you are enjoyingthem. The purpose of this guide is to help youlearn more about some of our wild avianneighbors. Keep this guide handy and enjoyour common backyard birds.

This guide is easy to use. It is arranged intaxonomic order as described by the AmericanOrnithologists’ Union. Each page starts withthe common name and scientific name of thespecies. Following that is a listing of theaverage length (L) and wingspan (WS) of eachspecies. There is a brief description followed bya listing of the occurrence of each species inKansas, both by season and location. Theoccurrence information is based on data fromBirds of Kansas, 2011, Thompson, et al.

© Bob GressNorthern Cardinal


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Turkey VultureCathartes aura

L : 27″ W S : 68″D e s c r i p t i o n : Adult Turkey Vultures are distinctive.

Their plumage is brownish to black and thefeatherless head is red. They take to the wingwhenever wind speeds or thermals allow themeffortless soaring flight. In the air, you can see thesilvery flight feathers on the undersides of thewings, contrasting with the darker leading edge ofthe wing and the fairly long, silvery-black tail.Immature birds have black heads until late in thefall or early winter. Vultures frequently gather atnight in large, communal roosts. They are also seenin large, soaring groups known as “kettles.”

O c c u r r e n c e : Turkey Vultures are found across thestate and are low-density nesters. They feed oncarrion and migrate south in the fall, returning inlate winter. Once thought to be a bird of open areas,in recent years their numbers have been increasingin many towns across the state.

■ Turkey Vulture© Bob Gress

© Bob Gress


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Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis

L : 14″ W S : 32″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Mississippi Kite is a crow-sized

raptor commonly found in towns. They have anoverall gray appearance with the head being lightergray, the body darker gray and the wing tips andtail appearing black. Adult males have distinctivewhite wing patches on the trailing edge of thewing. They are skilled aerialists, catching insects inflight, and will become gregarious, especially in latesummer before migration.

O c c u r r e n c e : Mississippi Kites used to be restricted tosouthwest and central Kansas. In recent decades,they have expanded their range north and east intothe state. They are a summer resident and nestingspecies primarily south of I-70, becoming lesscommon in eastern Kansas and north of I-70.

■ Mississippi Kite© Bob Gress


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Sharp-shinnedHawk/Cooper’s HawkAccipiter striatus/Accipiter cooperii

L : 12″/17″ W S : 24″/34″D e s c r i p t i o n : These two

closely-related species havesimilar markings. Both adultshave a reddish-barred chest,with a bluish-gray back. Thesmaller Sharp-shinned Hawktends to have a moresquared-off tail, while theCooper’s Hawk tail is usuallyrounder and longer. Femalesare noticeably larger thanmales in both species. Inflight, the head of the Sharp-shinned Hawk is small andbarely projects beyond theleading edge of the wings.The Cooper’s Hawk head islarger and projects wellbeyond the leading edge ofthe wing.

O c c u r r e n c e : Both hawks arefound across the state in thewinter. The Cooper’s Hawk is a low-density nesterin the eastern two-thirds of the state. While theyhave a preference for woodlands, both can befound in towns during the winter, often snatchingsmaller birds from bird feeders.

■ Sharp-shinned Hawk© David Seibel

© David Seibel

■ Cooper’s Hawk


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Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis

L : 20″ W S : 49″D e s c r i p t i o n s : The Red-tailed Hawk may be the most

common large raptor in Kansas. It can also be one ofthe most confusing hawks to identify as there aremany subspecies and plumage variations. Mostnesting birds have the distinctive red tail. They havea generally brownish coloration, frequently withwhite flecking on the back and a belt of dark spotsacross the chest. In flight, summer adults show thedistinctive red tail. Immature birds show narrowblack bands on the tail.

O c c u r r e n c e : This year-round resident is a nestingspecies across the state. This hawk is commonlyfound outside urban areas, but occurs regularly incities and towns and may be seen soaring overbackyards. Winter numbers increase whensupplemented by nesting populations from the north.

■ Red-tailed Hawk© Bob Gress

© Judd Patterson

immature


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KilldeerCharadrius vociferus

L : 10.5″ W S : 24″D e s c r i p t i o n : This plover is a well-known resident of

not only agricultural fields, but also of largeexpanses of open areas in cities and towns. It has awhite belly, brownish back and distinctive orangishrump in flight. It has two dark bands across thelower throat and upper chest. Its distinctive calloften repeats its name “kill-deer.” Its nest is a smallscrape of gravel or pebbles and the fuzzy young aremobile shortly after hatching. If you approach tooclose to its nest or young, adult Killdeer often feigna broken wing and attempt to draw you away fromthe nest or young.

O c c u r r e n c e : Killdeer nest across Kansas. Theymigrate south short distances and are usuallyabsent from the state from late December throughearly February. While Killdeer are considered ashorebird, they are often found far from water.

■ Killdeer© David Seibel

© Bob Gress

feigning injury


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Rock PigeonColumba livia

L : 12.5″ W S : 28″D e s c r i p t i o n : Rock Pigeons were introduced into

Kansas by settlers in the mid-19th century andquickly became feral and established, especially intowns. Rock Pigeons can exhibit a variety ofplumages, but often have a grayish back with blackbars on the wings, a glossy green neck and throatand a gray head. Mixed plumages in flocks rangefrom dark to almost pure white.

O c c u r r e n c e : Rock Pigeons are found statewidethroughout the year, often in large flocks. Theyproliferate where there is adequate food includinghuman trash, spilled grain and bird feeders. Theycan become a nuisance in urban areas or aroundlivestock feeding facilities.

■ Rock Pigeon© Bob Gress


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Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto

L : 13″ W S : 22″D e s c r i p t i o n : Eurasian Collared-Doves are larger and

chunkier than Mourning Doves. They are pale graywith darker wingtips, broad square tails anddistinctive black collars on the back of their necks.The ends of their tails have distinctive whitemarkings visible in flight and while landing.

O c c u r r e n c e : One of our more recent arrivals,Eurasian Collared-Doves were first seen in Kansasin 1996. Since then, they have spread across thestate and nest in most counties. They are presentyear-round, most often in urban areas, but arebecoming more common in rural areas nearfarmsteads.

■ Eurasian Collared-Dove© Judd Patterson


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Mourning DoveZenaida macroura

L : 12″ W S : 18″D e s c r i p t i o n : This slender dove has a long pointed

tail. It is generally grayish-brown with black spotson the wings. In flight, the long, tapered tail isedged in white and black. Its cooing call is quicklyrecognized by most Kansans.

O c c u r r e n c e : The Mourning Dove breeds in allKansas counties. It builds a flimsy nest of twigs.Incubation lasts approximately two weeks andyoung are able to fly at 12 to 14 days old. While it isfound throughout the year, it is less common in thewinter.

© Judd Patterson

■ Mourning Dove


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Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus

L : 12″ W S : 18″D e s c r i p t i o n : Yellow-billed Cuckoos are long, slender

birds. They are inconspicuous except for theirdistinctive calls. The head, back and tail aregrayish-brown. The wings are a deep rufous color.The throat, breast and belly are white and theunderside of the tail has large, white spots.Vocalizations include a strong “ku-ku-ku-ku-kowl-kowlp” of varying length, an almost clock-like “tok-tok-tok” and simple cooing sounds.

O c c u r r e n c e : The Yellow-billed Cuckoo was called a“rain crow” by early settlers. It is a summerresident and nesting species across Kansas, but ismore common in eastern Kansas. It frequents anyarea with deep undergrowth including woodedareas and overgrown yards.

■ Yellow-billed Cuckoo© Judd Patterson


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Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio

L : 8.5″ W S : 20″D e s c r i p t i o n : Our smallest common owl, the Eastern

Screech-Owl has two color forms. The morecommon form has grayish-brown tones withstriping on the breast and belly. The other form,called the red morph, has rusty-rufous tones. Theshort ear tufts on the head can be held erect, or laiddown, but have nothing to do with their ears. Theirwhinnying calls are heard from dusk to dawn. Theynest in tree cavities, but can be attracted tobackyard nest boxes.

O c c u r r e n c e : They are found year-round across thestate, becoming less common in the west. Theyfrequent wooded areas and are common in urbanareas.

■ Eastern Screech-Owl

© Bob Gress © David Seibelred morphgray morph


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Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus

L : 22´´ W S : 44´´D e s c r i p t i o n : Our largest common owl, Great

Horned Owls are bulky, with squared-off headsand large ear tufts. They are mostly brown withdense barring on the breast and belly. The face isbuffy orange around large, yellow eyes. At dusk,they are often seen in silhouette perched on trees,roofs, chimneys, utility poles and fence posts. Thecall is a classic "hoo-hoo-hoo" and is the reason theyare locally called hoot owls. They are the mostfrequently heard owls by Kansans.

O c c u r r e n c e : They are found year-round across thestate. One of our earliest nesting species, GreatHorned Owls often lay eggs by late January.

© Bob Gress■ Great Horned Owl


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Common NighthawkChordeiles minor

L : 9.5″ W S : 24″D e s c r i p t i o n : Common Nighthawks are more often

seen in flight than perched. They are a crypticblend of browns, grays and blacks. In their eveningflights, they are distinctive with their “peent” calls,stuttering wing beats and a white bar near the endof each wing. In late summer, they can sometimesbe seen perched on fence posts in the country.

O c c u r r e n c e : Common Nighthawks are a summernesting species across Kansas. Their nest is a simplescrape in gravelly areas. They have been known tonest on flat, gravelly roofs of buildings.

■ Common Nighthawk© Judd Patterson


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Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica

L : 5.25″ W S : 14″D e s c r i p t i o n : The

Chimney Swift hasbeen described as a“cigar with wings.”They appear blackas they are usuallysilhouetted againstthe sky, but closerexamination revealsdark browns andgrays in theirplumage. The long,pointed wings, rapidand acrobatic flightand constantchattering vocalizations makethis species easily identifiable.

O c c u r r e n c e : Chimney Swifts arefound across Kansas in thesummer and early fall, nestingwherever they find suitablechimneys or an occasionalhollow tree, cave or constructednesting site. During fallmigration, Chimney Swiftsgather in large communal roosts in large chimneys.Swifts at these roosts can number in the hundreds.It’s a spectacular sight to watch them spiral downinto chimneys at sunset.

■ Chimney Swift© David Seibel

© Bob Gress


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Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris

L : 3.75″ W S : 4.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is

the hummingbird most Kansans encounter. Malesand females have metallic-green plumage on theback and top of the head. The female’s throat iswhite, occasionally with fine, dark streaking. Themale’s throat, or gorget, often appears black unlessit catches the sunlight showing the brilliant scarletcoloring. Both male and female can have varyingamounts of dark or buffy coloration on the bellyand sides. Immature males resemble adult females.

O c c u r r e n c e : The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is asummer resident and nesting species in the easternhalf of the state. It is a common to rare migrant,both spring and late summer, in the rest of thestate. Populations peak in August and Septemberwhen southbound migrants join the breedingpopulation.

■ Ruby-throated Hummingbird

© Judd Patterson

©Bob Gress

female

male


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Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus

L : 9.25: W S : 17″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Red-headed Woodpecker has a red

head, white belly, black upper back, white lowerback and large, white wing patches. It is difficult toconfuse with any other species. Males and femalesare identical, but immature birds have a brownishhead until their second year.

O c c u r r e n c e : Red-headed Woodpeckers nest acrossthe state and are commonly seen in open, ruralareas flying from utility pole to utility pole. Theyare primarily a summer resident in the west wherethey feed on insects. They can be found year-roundin the east if there is a good acorn supply. If theacorn crop is small, they move out of Kansas for thewinter.

■ Red-headed Woodpecker© Judd Patterson


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Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus

L : 9.25″ W S : 16″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a

chunky woodpecker with a distinctive black andwhite striped back. The back and top of the male’shead is red. The female’s head is buffy and thenape is red. The throat and belly are buffy and ifclose examination is possible, the name-sakereddish cast of the belly can be seen.

O c c u r r e n c e : The Red-bellied Woodpecker is foundyear-round in all but the extreme southwest cornerof the state. It’s a regular nesting species in woodedareas of the eastern two-thirds of the state. Thiswoodpecker is a regular visitor to backyard birdfeeders, especially in the winter.

■ Red-bellied Woodpecker© Judd Patterson

© J

udd

Pat

ters

on

female

male


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DownyWoodpecker/Hairy WoodpeckerPicoides pubescens/

Picoides villosus

L : 6.75″/9.25″ W S : 12″/15″D e s c r i p t i o n : Downy and

Hairy woodpeckers arenearly identical in plumage,differing in overall size andbill size. The upper back iswhite, the lower back andwings are black and whitestriped and the belly iswhite. The male has a smallred spot on the back of thehead, while the female doesnot. The bill of the Downyis small, while the Hairyhas a much larger, moretypical woodpecker bill.

O c c u r r e n c e : Both species arefound year-round across thestate. The more numerousDowny is a regular breederacross most of the state andis often seen feeding inweedy patches withwintering sparrows. The Hairy, preferring denserstands of timber, is a regular breeder in the easternhalf of the state and in western Kansas in maturestands of timber. The Downy is more likely to visitbird feeders.

■ Downy Woodpecker

■ Hairy Woodpecker© David Seibel

© Judd Patterson


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Northern FlickerColaptes auratus

L : 12.5″ W S : 20″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Northern

Flicker has a brown andblack striped back, awhite belly with blackspotting and a distinctiveblack crescent at the topof the chest. Two forms ofthis woodpecker exist.The yellow-shafted formis found in the east andthe red-shafted form inthe west. The yellow-shafted form has a brownface. The red-shafted hasa gray face. Both have agray nape. In flight, theunderwing flight feathersare yellowish for theyellow-shafted andreddish for the red-shafted. Male yellow-shafteds have a blackmoustache stripe, but it isred in the red-shaftedrace. Hybridization is common between the racesleading to individuals that are a combinationbetween the two.

O c c u r r e n c e : This large woodpecker is found year-round and nests statewide. It is often seen feedingon the ground on ants. Like most woodpeckers, italso feeds on a variety of vegetable material.

■ Northern Flicker

© Bob Gress

© Bob Gressred-shafted male

yellow-shafted male


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Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe

L : 7″ W S : 10.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : This small, unobtrusive flycatcher is

easily overlooked. It has a grayish-black head, backand tail with a whitish belly and light gray breast.Juveniles and fall adults can have a distinctiveyellowish wash on their belly. The perched bird hasa distinctive habitat of flicking its tail downward.With its “fee-be” call it is often heard before seen.

O c c u r r e n c e : The Eastern Phoebe is a nesting speciesacross the eastern two-thirds of Kansas, becomingless common in the western third. Its mud nest isoften located under bridges or under the eaves ofbuildings. It’s one of our first flycatchers to arrivein early spring and one of the last to leave in thefall.

■ Eastern Phoebe

© Judd Patterson


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Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis

L : 8.75″ W S : 15″D e s c r i p t i o n : This distinctive flycatcher perches on

wires and small limbs and then darts out in pursuitof flying insects. The Western Kingbird has a grayhead and back, yellowish belly, black tail and whitethroat. It is extremely chatty and scolding, especiallyif you approach close to its nest or young.

O c c u r r e n c e : The Western Kingbird is a summerresident across the state, nesting in all but a fewsoutheastern counties. It seems to prefer electricalwires for feeding perches. It sometimes feedsaround the lights at sports complexes and nestsaround electrical transformers.

■ Western Kingbird

© Bob Gress

© D

avid

Sei

bel


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Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus

L : 8.5″ W S : 15″D e s c r i p t i o n : Nearly identical in size to the Western

Kingbird, the Eastern Kingbird has a black head,dark gray back and tail and white breast and belly.The upper breast often has a light gray appearance.The black tail has a distinctive, white tip.

O c c u r r e n c e : The Eastern Kingbird nests across mostof the state, although less commonly in westernKansas. Like the Western Kingbird, the EasternKingbird swoops from perches after flying insects.It can often be found foraging over crop fields. Inlate summer, the Eastern Kingbird starts toconsume more berries, showing a strong preferencefor pokeberry and rough-leaved dogwood fruit. InAugust, large flocks can be found feeding in brushythickets.

■ Eastern Kingbird

© David Seibel

© B

ob G

ress


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WarblingVireoVireo gilvus

L : 5.5″ W S : 8.5″D e s c r i p t i o n :

Small, ratherunimpressivelooking birds,Warbling Vireosare more oftenheard than seen.The bird isgrayish to olivegray and thewings aresomewhatdarker. Its throat,breast and bellyare whitish. Ithas a white stripe running from the base of thebeak through the eye. As its name implies,Warbling Vireos sing with a long, melodious run-onwarble. They often sing from the top of large treesmaking them difficult to observe. They sing evenon the hottest days of summer.

O c c u r r e n c e : Warbling Vireos are a summertimespecies across the state, nesting wherever adequatelarge trees are found. They are fond of largecottonwood trees for singing perches and nestingsites.

■ Warbling Vireo

© David Seibel


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Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus

L : 6″ W S : 10″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Red-eyed Vireo is a small bird

found in the tops of large trees. The generally olivebird has a distinctively marked head with a blue-gray crown. The white stripe through the upperpart of the eye is bordered top and bottom by thinblack stripes. When agitated, the feathers on thecrown can be held up in crest-like fashion. The callof the Red-eyed Vireo is a series of short, robin-likephrases.

O c c u r r e n c e : The Red-eyed Vireo is found statewideduring migration. It nests in the eastern half of thestate in mature woodlands and wooded urbanareas.

■ Red-eyed Vireo

© David Seibel


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Blue JayCyanocitta cristata

L : 11″ W S : 16″D e s c r i p t i o n : Blue Jays are distinctive and well

known. The crest, back, wings and tail are bluewith white patches on the wings and tail. Thebreast, belly and throat are pale gray to white. Ablack necklace separates the throat from the breast.Their call is a distinctive, strong “jay–jay–jay” orsometimes just a long, screechy “jaaaaay.”

O c c u r r e n c e : Blue Jays nest in most counties and aremost numerous in the eastern part of the state.While present year-round, large flocks of Blue Jaysmigrate through the state every spring and fall.

■ Blue Jay

© Judd Patterson


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American CrowCorvus brachyrhyncos

L : 17.5″ W S : 39″D e s c r i p t i o n : The large, black American Crow is well

known to most Kansans. It has solid black plumageand a long heavy bill. Its call is the typical“caw–caw-caw.”

O c c u r r e n c e : The American Crow is a year-roundresident across the state. It nests in most counties,but is less common in western Kansas. AmericanCrows will gather in large winter communal roostssometimes numbering into the tens of thousands ofbirds. If these roosts occur around urban areas theycan be troublesome.

© Bob Gress

■ American Crow


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Purple MartinProgne subis

L : 8″ W S : 18″D e s c r i p t i o n : The largest member of the swallow

family in Kansas, the adult male Purple Martin isentirely glossy purplish-blue. Females and juvenilesare dark above, grayish below. They have a strongflight with short glides and rapid wing beats.

O c c u r r e n c e : Purple Martins are common summerresidents and nesting species in eastern Kansas.They become less common in western Kansas andare absent from extreme west central Kansas.Purple Martins are colonial and rely almost entirelyon man-made nest structures. Purple Martins preferopen areas and require unobstructed approaches totheir houses. While often cited as a good control formosquitoes, contrary to popular belief, PurpleMartins actually eat few of them.

■ Purple Martin

© Bob Gress©

Jud

d P

atte

rson

male

female


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Barn SwallowHirundo rustica

L : 6.75″ W S : 15″D e s c r i p t i o n : A long, deeply-forked tail distinguishes

the Barn Swallow from other Kansas swallowspecies. Both sexes have a blue-black back and headwith a rusty throat. Males have rusty-orange bellieswhile females have a buffy, white belly.

O c c u r r e n c e : Barn Swallows are summer residentsacross the state and nest in every county. They areassociated with humans and nearly always nest onmanmade structures. Their well-known mud nests,found on the side of a building, often over outdoorlights or doorways, are frequently considered anuisance. They are beneficial birds and eat manyinsects.

© Bob Gress

■ Barn Swallow


33

Black-capped Chickadee/Carolina ChickadeePoecile atricapilla / Poecile carolinensis

L : 4.75″/5.25″ W S : 7.5″/8″D e s c r i p t i o n : These two closely-related and nearly

identical species are well known to backyardbirders. Both have a black cap and throat, whiteface, gray back and tail and a grayish-white breastand belly. The edges of the secondaries (wingfeathers) are bright white on the Black-cappedChickadee, but a subdued gray on the Carolina.The best way to separate these two species is bycall. The “chickadee–dee–dee-dee” call of the Carolinais higher and faster. The pure whistled song of theCarolina is “fee-bee fee-bay” while the Black-cappedis a simpler “feebee.”

O c c u r r e n c e : Carolinas are restricted to the southerntier or two of counties in central and southeasternKansas. The Black-capped occurs over most of therest of the state. There is a slight overlap zone. Theyare year-round, nesting residents.

■ Black-capped Chickadee

■ Carolina Chickadee© David Seibel

©B

ob G

ress


34

Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor

L : 6.5″ W S : 9.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Tufted Titmouse is a small, gray

bird with a distinctive crest. The face is pale gray towhite. The throat, breast and belly are white withpale orange flanks. The black eye stands out againstthe white face. Its common call is a clear, whistled“peter-peter-peter.”

O c c u r r e n c e : The Tufted Titmouse is a year-roundresident in the eastern half of the state, nestingacross much of its range. In recent years, its rangeappears to be slowly expanding westward asmature riparian timber develops across the state. Itis often seen at backyard bird feeders.

© David Seibel

■ Tufted Titmouse


35

White-breastedNuthatchSitta carolinensis

L : 5.75″ W S : 11″D e s c r i p t i o n : This is a

small, chunky birdclosely associatedwith trees. It has adark gray to blackcap and nape. Theface and throat arewhite. The back andwings are dark grayand the belly is alighter gray. Theyhave a rusty lowerbelly. Nuthatchescommonly spendtime foraging forinsects on the trunksof trees while spiraling downward, headfirst,probing in the bark for morsels of food. They makea distinctive nasal “honking” sound as they moveabout.

O c c u r r e n c e : White-breasted Nuthatches are year-round residents in mature timber across most ofKansas. They primarily nest in the eastern three-fourths of the state. While principally insectfeeders, they are frequent visitors to backyardfeeders enjoying suet and sunflower seeds.

■ White-breasted Nuthatch

© Bob Gress


36

Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus

L : 5.5″ W S : 7.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Carolina Wren is a large, chunky

wren. It is rusty-brown on the head, back and tailwith a buffy color on the breast and belly. Thethroat is white and it has a broad, white eye line. Itssong is variable and often includes a long, buzzychatter.

O c c u r r e n c e : Carolina Wrens can be found acrossmuch of the state, but regularly occur in the easterntwo-thirds and nests in the eastern half. Whilegenerally considered a year-round resident,populations can be low in harsh winters. It isusually associated with denser stands of timberthan House Wrens. This species seems to be slowlyexpanding its range west in Kansas.

© Judd Patterson

■ Carolina Wren


37

House WrenTroglodytes aedon

L : 4.75″ W S : 6″D e s c r i p t i o n : This small, brown bird has fine, black

barring on the wings and tail. House Wrens arebusy little birds, never sitting still long andfrequently holding their tails cocked up. Their songis a commonly heard series of rolling rattles andtrills in backyards across the state.

O c c u r r e n c e : House Wrens are summer residents,probably nesting in all Kansas counties. Theyreadily use human-provided houses, but also nestin bizarre and unpredictable locations ofaccumulated human belongings.

■ House Wren

© B

ob G

ress

© David Seibel


38

Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis

L : 7″ W S : 13″D e s c r i p t i o n : The male is distinctive with its deep

blue head, back and wings, deep orange throat,sides of neck and flanks and white belly. Femalesare similar but drabber with the deep blue replacedby grayish blue. Juveniles often have little to noblue coloration and brown spotting on the breast.

O c c u r r e n c e : Eastern Bluebirds are found year-roundstatewide except in the northwestern corner of thestate where they are generally considered asummer resident only. They nest statewidewherever they find suitable cavities, either inabandoned woodpecker nesting sites or manmadebird houses. They prefer open areas with a mix ofgrass or croplands and trees.

■ Eastern Bluebird

© D

avid

Sei

bel

© Bob Gress

male

female


39

American Robin Turdus migratorius

L : 10″ W S : 17″D e s c r i p t i o n : The American Robin is the classic lawn

bird of Kansas. It has an orange breast, grayish-black back and a black head and throat. It has anincomplete white eye ring. Females are slightlypaler and juveniles are similar with heavy spottingin the chest and belly. Those seen during winterhave nested in Canada or the northern parts of theU.S.

O c c u r r e n c e : The American Robin is a year-roundresident across the state, becoming less common inthe west in the winter. They sometimes form largewinter flocks in thick stands of junipers.

© Judd Patterson

■ American Robin


40

Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis

L : 8.5″ W S : 11″D e s c r i p t i o n : Gray Catbirds are slightly smaller and

more slender than a robin. Overall, they are auniform gray with a black cap, black tail and deeprufous under the tail. One of three common″mimics″ in Kansas (along with the NorthernMockingbird and Brown Thrasher), their call can bean ever-changing series of notes. They also have adistinctive catlike “mew” call.

O c c u r r e n c e : Catbirds are migrants in the westernone-fourth of the state and a nesting species in therest of the state. They can be found in thicketsalong streams and woodland edges. They are fairlycommon around farmsteads and urban residences.They skulk around low, dense shrubbery wherethey forage on insects and small fruits.

© Judd Patterson

■ Gray Catbird


41

Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos

L : 10″ W S : 14″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Northern Mockingbird is a gray

bird with a long tail and a yellow eye. In flight, ithas distinctive white wing patches. A well-documented mimic, mockingbirds will copy otherbird calls as well as mechanical and electronicsounds. With extensive repertoires, mockingbirdsrepeat a phrase at length before switching toanother call. They often sing from the tops ofshrubs and trees and on moonlit nights.

O c c u r r e n c e : Northern Mockingbirds are found year-round across most of the state except in thenorthwest corner where they are primarily found inthe summer. They nest statewide, but moreregularly in the eastern half of the state.

■ Northern Mockingbird

© Bob Gress

© D

avid

Sei

bel


42

Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum

L : 11.5″ W S : 13″D e s c r i p t i o n : Brown Thrashers are a rich brown from

the top of the head down the back to the wings andtail. The underside of the bird is boldly striped withbrown to black stripes. The largest of our mimics,Brown Thrashers tend to repeat a variety of phrasestwice with pauses between phrases. They often feedon the ground and can be heard scratching in theleaves under bushes and trees looking for food.

O c c u r r e n c e : Brown Thrashers are a commonsummer resident and nesting species across thestate. Like catbirds and mockingbirds, they preferthickets and bushes and are regularly found inparks and residential yards.

© Judd Patterson

■ Brown Thrasher


43

European StarlingSturnus vulgaris

L : 8.5″ W S : 16″D e s c r i p t i o n : European Starlings are short-bodied

birds with a square tail and stubby triangularwings. Their plumage is complex. Adults inbreeding plumage are an iridescent greenish-blackwith a yellow bill. In non-breeding plumage, theyare heavily and intricately spotted and usually havea black bill. Juveniles are a drab, gray-brownoverall. Their call can include imitations of manyother birds, sliding whistle calls and evenmechanical sounds.

O c c u r r e n c e : European Starlings are year-roundresidents across the state and nest in every county.They are not native to North America and weren’tpart of our avifauna until the mid- to late-1930s.

■ European Starling

© J

udd

Pat

ters

on

© Bob Gress

breedingnon-breeding


44

CedarWaxwingBombycilla cedrorum

L : 7.25″ W S : 12″D e s c r i p t i o n : Cedar

Waxwings have asmooth, sleekappearance. Most ofthe body is tannish-brown. They have adistinctive crest anda black mask. Thewings and tail aregray and the tip ofthe tail is a brightyellow. CedarWaxwings are social birdsand form winter flocks.Primarily fruit and seedeaters, they also catch flyinginsects in the summer.

O c c u r r e n c e : Cedar Waxwingsare found statewide. They areprimarily a winter resident inthe western half of the stateand year-round in the easternhalf. Because nesting birdsare quiet it was once thought this bird was a rarenester in Kansas. In the past few decades it hasbeen found to nest more regularly than oncethought.

■ Cedar Waxwing

© Judd Patterson

© Bob Gress


45

YellowWarblerSetophaga petechia

L : 5″ W S : 8″D e s c r i p t i o n : Yellow

Warblers are brightyellow birds withthe back, wingsand tail darkerwith hints ofgreenish-black.Females haveunmarked breastswhile males havevarying degrees ofred striping on thebreast. The bill is short, sharpand black and the black eyestands out boldly on theyellow face.

O c c u r r e n c e : Yellow Warblersare found in migration acrossthe state. They nest in theeast and less commonly inthe west. Nests are built inmany species of trees, butprefer willows near smallstreams.

■ Yellow Warbler

© David Seibel

© David Seibel

male

female


46

Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata

L : 5.5″ W S : 9.25″D e s c r i p t i o n : Yellow-rumped Warblers were once

separated into two species: Myrtle Warbler andAudubon’s Warbler. They are well-marked withbrowns and blacks (winter) or grays and blacks(summer). The breast is streaked and there isusually a yellow mark under the wing and adistinctive yellow rump. The Myrtle Warbler of theeast has a white throat while the Audubon’s of thewest has a yellow throat.

O c c u r r e n c e : This is the most abundant warbler inKansas during migration and remains as a winterresident in the east. It can be abundant in anyhabitat with trees and shrubs. It may visit birdbaths and suet feeders in the winter or be foundfeeding on berries and leaf buds. The berries ofeastern red cedars are a favorite winter food.

■ Yellow-rumped Warbler

© B

ob G

ress

© Bob Gress

breeding

non-breeding


47

Spotted Towhee/Eastern TowheePipilo maculatus/

Pipilo erythrophthalmus

L : 8.5″/8.5″ W S : 10.5″/10.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : These two

species were formerly known, collectively, as theRufous-sided Towhee. Both birds have a black headand throat (brown for females) and a black (orbrown) back and tail. Their belly is white and theflank is rufous. The Spotted Towhee has whitespots on the back and wings. The Eastern generallydoes not have spots, but has a small, white bar onthe end of the wing. They will hybridize.

O c c u r r e n c e : The Spotted Towhee is found statewideduring migration and in winter, but rarely as anesting species in extreme northwestern Kansas.The Eastern Towhee nests in the eastern third of thestate and is a year-round resident in east andsoutheastern Kansas.

■ Spotted Towhee

© B

ob G

ress

© Bob Gress

Spotted Towhee male

Spotted Towhee female

© David Seibel

Eastern Towhee male

■ Eastern Towhee


48

American Tree SparrowSpizella arborea

L : 6.25″ W S : 9.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : American Tree Sparrows have brown

and black coloration on the wings and back. Thegray nape leads to a rufous-brown crown andusually a similar colored eye line. Two distinctivefeatures include a single dark spot in the middle ofthe plain breast and a bicolored bill. The lowermandible is yellowish and the upper mandible isdark.

O c c u r r e n c e : American Tree Sparrows are migrantsand winter residents across Kansas. They are one ofthe last sparrows to arrive in the fall and one of thefirst to leave in the spring. They eat seeds and canbe found at backyard bird feeders and almost anyarea that has weedy plants.

© Bob Gress

■ American Tree Sparrow


49

Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina

L : 5.5″ W S : 8.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : This medium-sized sparrow has a plain

gray breast and belly and brownish-black wingsand back. The crown is brown with a white stripeabove the eye and a black stripe through the eye.The throat is white to light gray. The song is asimple long trill.

O c c u r r e n c e : Chipping Sparrows are abundantmigrants in the western half of the state and anesting species in the east. They nest in conifers inurban areas. In the spring, they may be seencollecting nesting material from lawns or feedingon seeds and insects. Nests are often lined withhair.

© David Seibel

■ Chipping Sparrow


50

Harris’s SparrowZonotrichia querula

L : 7.5″ W S : 10.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : This large sparrow has brown, black

and gray striped markings on the back wings andtail. Adults have a black face, black crown andbrown on the side of the head in winter, whichbecomes gray just prior to migration. The belly iswhite, sometimes with fine streaking on the flanks.Immature birds lack the black face and crown.

O c c u r r e n c e : Harris’s Sparrows are found statewidein migration and during the winter. The highestconcentrations are found in south central Kansas,especially in snowier winters. They generally arrivein the first half of October and remain until earlyMay. They are common visitors to backyard birdfeeders.

■ Harris’s Sparrow

© J

udd

Pat

ters

on

© Bob Gress

adult

immature


51

White-crownedSparrowZonotrichia leucophrys

L : 7″ W S : 9.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : White-crowned Sparrows are large and

well-named. The head is distinctly marked withbold, white and black stripes. The nape, throat,breast and belly are gray. The brown wings andback are striped with black and the rump is palegrayish-brown. The bill is pinkish-orange.Immature birds have a reddish-brown and graystriped head.

O c c u r r e n c e : White-crowned Sparrows are foundstatewide during migration and winter. They aremore common in the west and central part of thestate. They can be rare in the east. While theyfrequent backyard bird feeders, they are morecommonly found in weedy patches in the country.

■ White-crowned Sparrow

© B

ob G

ress

© David Seibel

adult

immature


52

Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis

L : 6.25″ W S : 9.25″D e s c r i p t i o n : Once separated into

several species, the different formsare now lumped together as Dark-eyed Junco. TheSlate-colored form is the most common and is graywith a white belly. Females may have some brownin the wings. The Oregon form is more commonlyfound in western Kansas and has a distinct gray,almost black, head, with reddish-brown back,wings and flanks. Intensity of this brown color isvariable. All forms have a pink bill.

O c c u r r e n c e : Juncos are common visitors to Kansasbird feeders. They are found statewide in migrationand through the winter and are sometimes called“Snowbirds.” Like most sparrows, the Dark-eyedJunco prefers weedy, brushy areas where it canscratch on the ground looking for seeds. Theyarrive in October and usually depart by late April.

■ Dark-eyed Junco

© J

udd

Pat

ters

on

© Bob Gress

© Bob Gress


53

NorthernCardinalCardinalis cardinalis

L : 8.75″ W S : 12″D e s c r i p t i o n : Few

birds are asinstantlyrecognizable as theNorthern Cardinal.Males are anintense scarlet,with a bold crest,black around thelarge, bright redbill and a slightgraying in thewings. Females aremore subduedwith grayish brownsreplacing much of thered of the male, butstill with a red tail,wings and tip of thecrest. The female’s billis reddish-orange.Young birds have blackbills.

O c c u r r e n c e : NorthernCardinals are permanent residents throughout mostof Kansas. They are common nesters in the easterntwo-thirds of the state.

■ Northern Cardinal

© Judd Patterson

© Bob Gress

male

female


54

Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus

L : 8″ W S : 12.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : Male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have a

black head and throat, black back and tail, whiterump and belly and a rosy bib on the breast. Inflight, white wing patches are visible on the topand bottom of the wings. Females have fine, brownstreaking on a white breast, a bold white line overthe eye and a brown cheek. The back and wings arebrown with faint white markings. They have large,stout bills and eat fruits, seeds and insects.

O c c u r r e n c e : Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are foundstatewide in migration and nest in the eastern halfof the state. They become rarer further west in thestate. They prefer woodland areas.

■ Rose-breasted Grosbeak

© B

ob G

ress

© Bob Gress

male

female


55

Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea

L : 5.5″ W S : 8″D e s c r i p t i o n : Male Indigo Buntings are an intense,

deep blue. Depending on the angle of the viewinglight, they can appear iridescent or black. Femalesare plain brown, often with fine, faint streaks on thebreast. Their song is rich and melodic with phrasesusually repeated twice.

O c c u r r e n c e : Indigo Buntings are found statewide inmigration and commonly nest in the eastern half ofthe state. They prefer woodland edge habitat. Theywill come to bird baths in the summer and visitfeeders soon after their arrival in the spring. Theyoften sing from overhead utility lines next toshrubby wooded areas.

■ Indigo Bunting

© B

ob G

ress

© David Seibel

male

female


56

Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus

L : 8.75″ W S : 13″D e s c r i p t i o n : Red-winged Blackbirds are aptly

named. Males are black with red wing patches(shoulders) bordered with yellow. They are able tovary the amount of color they show. Females areheavily streaked in brown, rust and white, with adark line across the side of the face through the eye.

O c c u r r e n c e : Red-winged Blackbirds are found year-round across the state. They nest statewide,commonly in cattails, but also in rural weedy areas.In winter, they form large flocks. They commonlyvisit bird feeders especially during spring and fallmigration.

■ Red-winged Blackbird

© B

ob G

ress

© Judd Patterson

male

female


57

Eastern Meadowlark/Western MeadowlarkSturnella magna/Sturnella neglecta

L : 9.5″/9.5″ W S : 14″/14.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : These two closely related species are

difficult to tell apart and are best separated by call.These chunky birds have long bills, striped heads,yellow throats, a bold black V on the upper breast,yellow bellies and striped flanks. The song of theWestern Meadowlark is a rich, full, descending melodyoften ending with a gurgling sound. The EasternMeadowlark’s song is much simpler and shorter. Bothspecies have a variety of rattles and call notes. TheWestern Meadowlark is the Kansas state bird.

O c c u r r e n c e : Both species are year-round residentsnearly statewide. Westerns are more common in thewest, nesting east to the Flint Hills. Easterns arefound nesting primarily in the eastern two-thirds ofthe state.

■ Eastern Meadowlark©

Bob

Gre

ss

© B

ob G

ress

■ Western Meadowlark


58

Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula

L : 12.5″ W S : 17″D e s c r i p t i o n : Common Grackles are entirely dark

and at a distance seem black. On closerexamination, birds show a bluish iridescence to thehead and a bronze iridescence on the rest of thebody. They have a long, black bill, black legs and apale, usually yellow eye.

O c c u r r e n c e : Common Grackles nest statewide. Theyare present year-round across much of the state,becoming local in winter in the west. In colderwinters, they withdraw from the northern part ofthe state. Common Grackles are found in a varietyof habitats including yards, parks and open areas.They can be found congregating at cattle feed lotsin fall and winter.

© Bob Gress

■ Common Grackle


59

Great-tailed GrackleQuiscalus mexicanus

L : 18″ W S : 23″ (females smaller)D e s c r i p t i o n : This large blackbird has a noticeably

long tail. Male Great-tailed Grackles haveiridescence on their body and pale eyes. Femalesand juveniles are brownish, and their wings, backand tail are darker than their head, throat and belly.Their song can be rather loud and harsh, oftensounding more mechanical or electronic than bird-like.

O c c u r r e n c e : Great-tailed Grackles have moved intothe state over the past 50 years, nest statewide andare still increasing. They withdraw from thenorthern half of the state in the winter, but are year-round residents in the southern half. In breedingseason, males can be seen strutting on grassy areasdisplaying their large, showy tails. They breed inloose colonies. Look for them in urban parking lotsfeeding on insects and food scraps.

■ Great-tailed Grackle

© Bob Gress

©B

ob G

ress

male

female


60

Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater

L : 7.5″ W S : 12″D e s c r i p t i o n : Male Brown-headed Cowbirds have a

brown head and black body. Females are a dull,gray-brown. Both sexes have dark eyes and short,stout bills. Cowbirds have shorter tails thangrackles. Cowbirds are nest parasites and lay theireggs in other species’ nests, allowing the hostspecies to raise their young. They are social birdsand once the young fledge, they leave their hostand join flocks of other cowbirds.

O c c u r r e n c e : Brown-headed Cowbirds breedstatewide. They are rare in the northern half of thestate in the winter. Flocks of blackbirds ofteninclude many cowbirds.

■ Brown-headed Cowbird

© David Seibel

©B

ob G

ress

male

female


61

Orchard OrioleIcterus spurius

L : 7.25″ W S : 9.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : The male Orchard Oriole has a deep

chestnut-brown body with black head, throat, backand tail. The wings are a mix of chestnut, black andwhite. The female is greenish-yellow with darkwings and white wingbars. Second-year males looksimilar to adult females, but have a black throatpatch. Orchard Orioles have a loud song consistingof a burst of rapid whistled notes.

O c c u r r e n c e : Orchard Orioles are a common migrantand summer nesting species statewide. As theirname implies, they prefer open areas with scatteredtrees. Orchard Orioles are more often found inprairie areas than other oriole species. ManyOrchard Orioles can be found feeding on insects inalfalfa fields in spring and late summer.

■ Orchard Oriole

© Bob Gress

©B

ob G

ress

male

female


62

Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula

L : 8.75″ W S : 11.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : Baltimore Orioles have a similar

plumage pattern to Orchard Orioles except thebreast, belly, rump and tail are a bright orange.Females are yellowish-orange and the head ismottled, brownish-black instead of the solid blackhead of the male. Both sexes have distinct wingbars.

O c c u r r e n c e : Baltimore Orioles are common migrantsstatewide and regularly nest in all but the farwestern counties. Baltimore Orioles are known tofeed on nectar at hummingbird and oriole feeders.They also take fruit, especially oranges, and grapejelly when provided. Their nest is a distinctive,sock-like, pendulous construction, more noticeablein the fall after leaves drop.

■ Baltimore Oriole

© David Seibel©

Dav

id S

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l

male

female


63

House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus

L : 6″ W S : 9.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : The plump, sparrow-like, male House

Finch has a reddish forehead and breast, strongbrown streaking on the flanks and a streakybrownish back. Females have a grayish-brownappearance. The female’s head is plain and thebreast and belly are heavily streaked. The bill isshort and thick.

O c c u r r e n c e : House Finches are found year-roundstatewide, probably nesting in all counties. Theyseem to be more commonly found in urban areas inclose proximity to people. House Finches are notnative to Kansas, but moved into the state from theeast and the west in the mid-20th century. They arecommon visitors to backyard feeders.

■ House Finch

© Bob Gress

© J

udd

Pat

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on

male

female


64

Pine SiskinSpinus pinus

L : 5″ W S : 9″D e s c r i p t i o n : The Pine Siskin is a small, delicate finch

with brown streaks on a white belly, black streakson a brown back and a thin, pointed bill. Maleshave yellow wing bars and yellow wing stripes.Females have a smaller yellow wing stripe. Theslender nature of this bird and the fine bill separatethis species from other finches.

O c c u r r e n c e : Pine Siskins are irregular visitors toKansas. Primarily a winter resident, they may beabundant one winter and virtually absent from thestate the next. Occasionally, a few pairs stay inKansas to nest. They are often found in weedypatches in open areas as well as at backyardfeeders. They often join flocks of AmericanGoldfinches.

■ Pine Siskin

© Bob Gress

© B

ob G

ress

female

male


65

American GoldfinchSpinus tristis

L : 5″ W S : 9″D e s c r i p t i o n : The American Goldfinch male in

breeding plumage is unmistakable with its lemon-yellow feathers, black forehead, wings and tail.Nonbreeding males and females are more reservedin their plumage with browns and grays replacingmuch of the bright yellow of the breeding male. Inbreeding plumage, both sexes have pink bills. Innonbreeding plumage, they are dark. The belly andflanks never have streaking, helping to separate thegoldfinch from other common Kansas finches.

O c c u r r e n c e : American Goldfinches are year-roundresidents and nest statewide. They are one of ourlatest nesting species, more commonly in theeastern portion of Kansas. They frequent weedpatches in open areas as well as backyard feedingstations year-round where they favor thistle seed.

■ American Goldfinch

© Bob Gress

© J

udd

Pat

ters

on

breeding male

winter


66

House SparrowPasser domesticus

L : 6.25″ W S : 9.5″D e s c r i p t i o n : While not a true sparrow, House

Sparrows have similar plumage characteristics toour native sparrows. Their plumage is marked withshades of grays, browns and blacks. Males have ablack throat and upper breast.

O c c u r r e n c e : A native of Eurasia, House Sparrows arenot closely related to our native sparrows. Theyassociate with humans wherever they live. Nestsare big and bulky, in eaves and trees and frequentlydislodged by winds. They are permanent residents,found nesting in urban areas and farmsteadsstatewide wherever there is adequate food. Theyare regular at backyard feeders. The first HouseSparrows in Kansas arrived in the late 19th centuryas intentional introductions on the misguided hopethey would help control insects. Unfortunately,insects make up little of their diet.

■ House Sparrow© Bob Gress

© J

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male

female


67

List of Suggested Books:Birds of Kansas, Thompson, et al. University Press of

Kansas, 2011The Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hotspots, Gress, B.,

& Janzen, P., University Press of Kansas, 2008Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America, Kaufman,

K., Houghton Mifflin, 2005National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America,

Dunn, J., & Alderfer, J., National Geographic, 2011Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America, Peterson, R.

T., & Peterson, L. T., Houghton Mifflin, 2008The Sibley Guide to Birds, Sibley, D. Alfred A. Knopf, 2000

List of Internet Resources:Backyard Birding Guides

www.gearycountyextension.com/NRMWBird Photographs

www.BirdsInFocus.comBird Sounds

www.xeno-canto.orgCornell Lab of Ornithology

www.allaboutbirds.orgKansas Audubon Chapters

www.audubonofkansas.orgKansas Birds

www.ksbirds.orgKansas Ornithological Society

www.ksbirds.org/kos/KOSindex


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AcknowledgementsPete Janzen, Patty Marlett, Cheryl Miller and Jay

Newton carefully read through the text and made manyvaluable suggestions. Lorrie Beck, Jim Mason and MarcMurrell reviewed the text for grammar and clarity.Photographs were donated by Bob Gress, Judd Patterson andDavid Seibel. To view more of their bird photographs see theirwebsite at www.BirdsInFocus.com.

© 2012 Great Plains Nature Center

This publication would not be possible withoutsupport from the following sponsors:

Chickadee Checkoff

Glenn SpringsHoldings, Inc.


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Pocket Guides Bob Gress, Editor

Single copies of these Pocket Guides maybe picked up free at the Great PlainsNature Center. Copies can be mailed for$3.00 each by sending your check, payableto GPNC, to: Pocket Guides, Great PlainsNature Center, 6232 East 29th StreetNorth, Wichita, KS 67220.


Chuck Otte is a K-State Research and Extension Agent for Geary County and iswebmaster for the Kansas Birds Listserv and KSBIRDS.ORG.Bob Gress is Director of the Great Plains Nature Center.Judd Patterson is a Biologist with the National Park Service in Miami, Florida.David Seibel is Professor of Biology at Johnson County Community College.

and managers are dedicated topreserving the environment. Lands oncedegraded by industrial activities areremediated to restore natural habitatand nourish wildlife.

Occidental Chemical Corporation(OxyChem), a subsidiary of OccidentalPetroleum Corporation, manufacturesvinyls and specialty chemical products,plus chlorine and caustic soda – thebuilding blocks of pharmaceuticals, waterdisinfectants and detergents. OxyChemendeavors to safeguard the environment,protect the safety and health ofemployees and neighboring communities.

Oxy’s Wichita Plant has a 440-acrePrairie Wetland Conservation Areaconsisting of wetlands and native grasses.The site is home to numerous wildlife andis certified as a Wildlife at Work site andas a Corporate Lands for Learning site bythe Wildlife Habitat Council.

Great PlainsNature Center

The Great Plains Nature Center is acooperative project between the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, Kansas Department ofWildlife, Parks & Tourism and the City ofWichita Department of Park andRecreation. The Nature Center features theKoch Habitat Hall, Owl’s Nest Gift Shop,Coleman Auditorium and 2 miles ofChisholm Creek Park nature trails. For moreinformation visit the Great Plains NatureCenter web site at www.gpnc.org. Pleasevisit or contact us at: Great Plains NatureCenter, 6232 East 29th Street North,Wichita, KS 67220. Phone: 316-683-5499.

Westar Energy Green TeamWestar Energy, Inc. is the largest utility

in Kansas serving nearly 681,000customers with about 35,000 miles oftransmission and distribution lines. Since1989, their employees have operated anenvironmental team. The Green Teammembers volunteer hours to improvewildlife habitat through wetland creationand restoration and native grass and treeplanting. They build bridges and trails andwork to protect and reintroduce sensitiveplant and animal species. The Green Teamcan be contacted at 785-575-8115 [email protected].

Chickadee CheckoffThe Chickadee Checkoff is a voluntary

donation program for nongame projectssponsored by the Kansas Department ofWildlife, Parks & Tourism. Kansas taxpayersare able to contribute by assigning anyamount they wish on the appropriate line ontheir individual state income tax form. Since1980, the Chickadee Checkoff has distributedover $4 million to projects that helpendangered species, assist in reintroductionefforts of sensitive species, support thepopular Outdoor Wildlife Learning Sitesprogram at schools and hundreds of othernongame conservation projects.

Glenn Springs Holdings, Inc. /Occidental ChemicalCorporation

Glenn Springs Holdings, Inc. (GSHI)manages environmental restorationprojects for Occidental PetroleumCorporation. Our scientists, engineers

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46720 Backyard Birds:46720 Backyard Birds - GPNC€¦ · Backyard Birds By Chuck Otte and Bob Gress...

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Transcript of 46720 Backyard Birds:46720 Backyard Birds - GPNC€¦ · Backyard Birds By Chuck Otte and Bob Gress...