Saturday, July 3, 2010

Not a Woodpecker

Yesterday morning a new bird showed up at the feeder. At first glance, I thought it was a Downy or Hairy Woodpecker (woodpeckers I have seen before), but after pulling out the bionoculars - no red spot on the back of the head. A quick look at the Peterson's Field Guide (1), and narrowed it down to only two possibilities: the Three-toed Woodpecker - doesn't have the red spot, but also doesn't live around here so not it - or the Black and White Warbler - pretty sure. The photographic quality of this picture isn't great: I had the lenses zoomed in on maximum magnification and held the camera against the patio window to steady it as best I could. It was before 7:00 AM, so the light wasn't all that helpful either. The bird stayed around for a good five minutes or so, and then flew off. It just goes to show that there are transient encounters. I have no idea how many other species fly through, on their way to somewhere else, and I miss them.
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Black and White Warbler. The Black-and-white Warbler is the only member of the genus Mnitilta, which means moss plucking. They have an unusually long hind toe and claw on each foot. This adaptation allows them to move securely on the surface of tree bark. Unusually aggressive for a warbler, they sometimes attack and fight Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, and other species. They are known for their habit of creeping around tree trunks and along larger branches in search of insect food in crevices or under the bark; hence its old name, "Black-and-white Creeper." Unlike the Brown Creeper, which only moves up a tree, this species can climb in any direction. A group of black-and-white warblers are collectively known as a "dichotomy", "distinction", and "integration" of warblers. Information from Whatbird.com
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(1) In addition to the Peterson's A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America, I use the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition, and the simple quick reference Birds of Maryland & Delaware Field Guide: Includes Washington, D.C. & Chesapeake Bay by Stan Tekiela.

1 comment:

  1. Good luck with the birding. It been a new interest for me as well combining hiking with the dog thru various parks with binocs in hand

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