This Indigo Bunting photograph was taken near Big Spring, Missouri.
Nesting Birds of Missouri – Indigo Bunting
Tag: wildlife
Nesting Birds of Missouri – Cerulean Warbler
Did you know…?
The Cerulean Warbler population has declined more than 80% since breeding bird surveys began in 1966? Habitat destruction, in the form of mountaintop removal and stream filling in the Appalachians, and forest destruction for agriculture in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, along with wintering grounds destruction for coffee and cocoa production in South America are responsible. Habitat preservation via cessation of deforestation in both nesting grounds and wintering forests are crucial if we are to continue hearing the Cerulean song.
Nesting Birds of Missouri – Eastern Pheobe
One of my favorites, the Eastern Phoebe conveniently sings its name. If that isn’t easy enough this tyrant flycatcher also pumps its tail incessantly while perched.
Nesting Birds of Missouri – American Redstart
Photographed at Big Spring State Park. The American Redstart song seems to be more variable than any of the guidebooks suggest.
Nesting Birds of Missouri – Barred Owl
Who cooks for you all? My chef of a wife, Sarah, that’s who… 😉
No, not a song bird today. I was lucky enough to come across this Owl during a day hike this spring. Usually, an Owl spotting OZB does whatever it can to escape, but this guy seemed not to be concerned and continued to scan the ground for mice and voles roaming through the leaf litter as I took its picture.
Nesting Birds of Missouri – Kentucky Warbler
The Kentucky Warbler’s chury, chury, chury can sometimes be difficult to discern from the songs of the Ovenbird or the Carolina Wren. This warbler builds its nest usually just off the ground, confined within heavy vegetation, and often are parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbird. This guy was coaxed out with a little playback in a woody thicket near the parking lot at Greer Spring. Check out the short tail, easily evident in this photo, which is a good field mark for this species.
Nesting Birds of Missouri – Hooded Warbler
The male Hooded Warbler’s song can be heard within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways longer into the heat of the day than many other songbirds. This guy, singing alongside quite a few other males occupying adjacent territories, was photographed on the Greer Spring Trail this spring.
Nesting Birds of Missouri – Summer Tanager
The Birds from Brazil – Saffron Finch
English: Saffron Finch
Portuguese: Canario-de-terra-verdadeiro
LB: Sicalis flaveola
Song
Nesting Birds of Missouri – Worm-eating Warbler
From Harrison on the Worm-eating Warbler nest: “On the ground, concealed under drifts of leaves, usually protected overhead by shrubs, briars, saplings. Built of skeletonized leaves; lined with hair moss (Polytrichium), fine grass, hair. Typically on hillside or bank of ravine.” As cryptic as the birds themselves, the nest of a Wormy would only be found with the combination of utmost patience and fortune. If found, it has been reported that one can get quite close to the nest, the female only flushing if touched!
Click here to listen to the Worm-eating Warbler song.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 