Bird of the Month

2013 June RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER Bird of the Month

By Sheila, on May 15th, 2013%

(Please see picture gallery below) The bird of the month for June, the Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is sometimes mistaken for the Red Headed Woodpecker. The Red-Bellied does indeed have red in its head, but only in a stripe from neck to crown (female) or from neck to bill (male). The redhead’s head is entirely . . . → Read More: 2013 June RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER Bird of the Month

2013 May PURPLE MARTIN Bird of the Month

By Sheila, on April 22nd, 2013%

(Please see picture gallery below) The bird of the month for May, Progne subis, has been called “America’s most wanted bird,” because they are so popular. Palm Beach County has our share of them, but if you want to see a huge population, check out http://www.gonetothebirdsrva.com. A common spring and summer resident here in Palm Beach . . . → Read More: 2013 May PURPLE MARTIN Bird of the Month

2013 April Bird of the Month – BARN SWALLOW

By Sheila, on March 15th, 2013%

(Please see picture gallery below) The bird of the month for April, Hirundo rustica, is the most widespread swallow in the world. A common spring and fall migrant in Palm Beach County, it is a fairly rare winter bird here. No other North American swallow shows such a deeply forked tail, so if the cobalt blue . . . → Read More: 2013 April Bird of the Month – BARN SWALLOW

2013 March Bird of the Month CEDAR WAXWING (next month Barn Swallow)

By Sheila, on February 19th, 2013%

(See member picture gallery below). The bird of the month for March, Bombycilla cedrorum, is one of only three species worldwide in the family Bombycillidae. This starling-sized bird with a vaguely flycatcher appearance looks like neither bird when seen adequately, and sounds like nothing else. This black-masked brown gray and lemoncolored bird enjoys eating fruit; . . . → Read More: 2013 March Bird of the Month CEDAR WAXWING (next month Barn Swallow)

2013 Feb COMMON LOON Bird-of-the-Month (CEDAR WAXWING will be in March 2013)

By Sheila, on January 22nd, 2013%

(See member picture gallery below). Back in 2007, February’s bird of the month, Common Loon (Gavia immer), was removed by the American Ornithological Union from its long-standing place at the beginning of our field guides, to be replaced by the Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans). Nevertheless, it is still a regular winter visitor to Palm Beach . . . → Read More: 2013 Feb COMMON LOON Bird-of-the-Month (CEDAR WAXWING will be in March 2013)

2013 Jan AMERICAN ROBIN Bird-of-the-Month

By Sheila, on December 13th, 2012%

(See member picture gallery below). January’s bird of the month, Turdus migratorius, is the largest North American thrush (related to the Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush, etc.). It’s also one of the most puzzling migratory mysteries left in our continent’s avifauna—where you might see thousands of them one winter, you’ll see none the next! This . . . → Read More: 2013 Jan AMERICAN ROBIN Bird-of-the-Month

2012 December HERRING GULL Bird of the Month

By Sheila, on November 20th, 2012%

(See member picture gallery below). December’s bird of the month, Larus argentatus, is one of two fairly large gulls in Palm Beach County. Herring Gulls are large gulls with hefty bills and robust bodies. In flight, they look barrel-chested and broad-winged compared to smaller species such as Ring-billed Gulls.Adults have light-gray backs, black wingtips, and white . . . → Read More: 2012 December HERRING GULL Bird of the Month

2013 Bird-of-the-Month list

By Sheila, on November 8th, 2012%

For all you photographers out there, here’s the Bird Of The Month List for 2013:

· January – American Robin

· February – Cedar Waxwing

· March – Common Loon

· April – Barn Swallow

· May – Purple Martin

· June – Red-bellied Woodpecker

. . . → Read More: 2013 Bird-of-the-Month list

2012 November Ring-billed Gull Bird-of-the-Month

By Sheila, on October 22nd, 2012%

(See member picture gallery below). November’s bird of the month, Larus delawarensis, is one of two fairly common gulls in Palm Beach County. It’s slightly larger than Laughing Gull, our other common larid, although both are considered medium-sized gulls. The bill of the adult is yellow with a black ring (hence the common name), whereas . . . → Read More: 2012 November Ring-billed Gull Bird-of-the-Month

2012 October Sandwich Tern Bird-of-the-Month

By Sheila, on September 18th, 2012%

(See member picture gallery below). October’s bird of the month, Sterna sandvicensis, SANDWICH TERN, is a medium-sized tern with a yellow-tipped black bill. It occurs more regularly on the west coast of Florida than our Atlantic beaches. There is, though, a Caribbean and South American (Atlantic) subspecies, the Cayenne Tern, that has an all-yellow bill. . . . → Read More: 2012 October Sandwich Tern Bird-of-the-Month

2012 September Brown Pelican Bird-of-the-Month

By Sheila, on August 21st, 2012%

(See member picture gallery below). September’s bird of the month is a familiar sight to beachgoers here, a large, graceful soarer that is ever so ungainly on land: the Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). A large bird, it is nevertheless the smallest of the seven species worldwide; its cousin the American White Pelican is substantially larger. . . . → Read More: 2012 September Brown Pelican Bird-of-the-Month

Bird of the Month for May: American Bittern

By Ben, on May 1st, 2011%

American Bittern. Photo by Don Mullaney.

American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus, is May’s bird of the month. Another shy skulker of the wetlands, American Bittern can sometimes be seen “camouflaging” itself with its beak in the air in plain sight on a manicured lawn!

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American Bittern. Photo by Don Mullaney

American Bittern. Photo by Don Mullaney.

American Bittern. Photo by Helen Beers.

Bird of the Month for April: Least Bittern

By Ben, on April 2nd, 2011%

Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, is our bird of the month for April. Shy and secretive most of the time, at this time of the year it can often be seen flying around our two constructed wetlands in Delray/Boynton Beach: Wakodahatchee and Green Cay.

Least Bittern, Green Cay. Photo by Don Mullaney. Note the eye of . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month for April: Least Bittern

Bird of the Month for March: Fish Crow

By Ben, on March 1st, 2011%

Fish-crow from Audubon's Birds of North America

Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus, is a common resident in SE Florida, but it hasn’t always been that way according to Cornell’s Birds of North America online:

Florida. Bailey (1925) stated that Fish Crow in Florida was found mostly in vicinity of brackish and salt waters, although flocks sometimes moved inland in search of food. Howell . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month for March: Fish Crow

February’s Bird of the Month: Indigo Bunting

By Ben, on February 1st, 2011%

The bird of the month for February is Passerina cyanea, Indigo Bunting. In its winter dress it resembles a small sparrow and frequents weedy areas in Palm Beach County. It seems to love the feeders at the Okeeheelee Nature Center as well.

From the All About Birds website at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, here . . . → Read More: February’s Bird of the Month: Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting pictures for display?

By Ben, on January 17th, 2011%

Do any of our talented ASE photographers have any pictures of next month’s BOTM, Indigo Bunting, that they would like to email me? I will use them in the article about the Indigo Bunting and provide attribution, of course.

American Kestrel take-off

By Ben, on January 5th, 2011%

Don Mullaney sent in the flight sequence below featuring January’s bird of the month (American Kestrel). Thanks, Don!

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I’m particularly taken with photo 3, which shows how long the wings are in relation to the body; it’s quite amazing what these little raptors can do.

January’s Bird of the Month: American Kestrel

By Ben, on December 30th, 2010%

American Kestrel, Fern Forest (Broward County, FL), October 16, 2008.

January’s bird of the month is American Kestrel

The American Kestrel, Falco sparverius, is our bird of the month for January. This diminutive raptor is fairly widespread in North America, and Florida is no exception. It eats invertebrates (grasshoppers, dragonflies) and any small songbirds unwary enough not to recognize the classic raptor shape, despite the . . . → Read More: January’s Bird of the Month: American Kestrel

Bird of the Month April 2009: Eastern Screech-Owl

By Ben, on April 1st, 2009%

The Bird of the Month for April is Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio). Bring pictures (if you have any!) to the meeting; come and hear special information about this denizen of the night that is far more frequently heard than seen.

Is there a special bird you have been wondering about? Call Linda or email hlindaase@aol. . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month April 2009: Eastern Screech-Owl

December’s Bird of the Month: Barn Owl

By Ben, on November 19th, 2008%

December’s bird of the month is the subject of our presentation at the general membership meeting. Dr. Richard Raid will tell us all about the Barn Owls of the Everglades Agricultural Area. You can participate as well: bring your own pictures to display during the meeting. Continue to help choose a bird of the month . . . → Read More: December’s Bird of the Month: Barn Owl

November’s Bird of the Month: Brown Pelican

By Ben, on October 20th, 2008%

The Bird of the Month for November is Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). Our friend Virginia, from Folke Peterson, will say a few words about this bird before the general meeting on Tuesday, November 4th. Feel free to bring in your own photos for display throughout the evening. You can also see our web gallery, with . . . → Read More: November’s Bird of the Month: Brown Pelican

Bird of the Month, March 2008: Northern Cardinal

By Ben, on July 1st, 2008%

The Redbird, most early American settlers and explorers, like Mark Catesby (one of the earliest ornithologists to explore “La Florida”) called it. John James Audubon called it Cardinal Grosbeak. And there’s no denying it has a large beak. Cardinalis cardinalis, or Northern Cardinal, is the nom de plume assigned by modern taxonomists. But why northern? . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month, March 2008: Northern Cardinal

Bird of the Month, January 2008: Common Loon

By Ben, on July 1st, 2008%

The Common Loon (Gavia immer), a member of the family Gaviidae, has only recently been removed by the American Ornithological Union from its long-standing place at the beginning of our field guides, to be replaced by the Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans). Nevertheless, it is still a regular winter visitor to Palm Beach County. Anyone who . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month, January 2008: Common Loon

Bird of the Month, October 2007: Prairie Warbler

By Ben, on July 1st, 2008%

Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor) The Florida race (D. discolor paludicola) of this familiar little bird is a year-round resident of mangrove forests and coastal strand, while its numbers are augmented by wintering birds.

According to Stevenson and Anderson, it is distributed “throughout the state except interior of Panhandle, increasing from very rare northward to fairly . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month, October 2007: Prairie Warbler

Bird of the Month, October 2006: Spotted Sandpiper

By Ben, on July 1st, 2008%

Spotted Sandpiper by Steven d'Amato

The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) is one of the most widespread breeding birds in the United States. This 7–8 long bird has pale yellow or pink legs and feet, orange bill with a black tip, and will rarely be seen in Florida with its namesake spots, being a winter . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month, October 2006: Spotted Sandpiper

Bird of the Month, September 2006: Ovenbird

By Ben, on July 1st, 2008%

Seiurus aurocapilla, the Ovenbird (L 5.75 in.) gets its name from the fact that its nests look like little dome-shaped ovens on the forest floor. Palm Beach County residents know it best as the skulking leafkicker with the loud voice. This stocky warbler looks more like a miniature thrush with an orange mohawk than its . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month, September 2006: Ovenbird

Bird of the Month, August 2006: Stilt Sandpiper

By Ben, on July 1st, 2008%

Calidris himantopus, L 8–9.25” W 17.25–18.75” Long legs, long, fine, slightly drooped bill. Pete Dunne describes this bird as “a structural and behavioral hybrid between a Lesser Yellowlegs and a dowitcher.” It has longer legs and is taller than a dowitcher, but it has a smaller head and body, and a shorter, darker, finer-tipped bill. . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month, August 2006: Stilt Sandpiper

Bird of the Month, July 2006: Least Tern

By Ben, on July 1st, 2008%

Least Tern by Steven d'Amato

Sterna antillarum. L 9” W 20” White forehead, thin and long orange-yellow bill in breeding season (and not seen in winter in Palm Beach county or in the state, for that matter). Dunne (2006) calls it shortbodied, short-tailed, and longwinged: “all angles and energy.” The flight is “buoyant and . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month, July 2006: Least Tern

Bird of the Month, June 2006: Black-necked Stilt

By Ben, on July 1st, 2008%

University of Miami alumnus Dennis Paulson’s tongue-in-cheek name for the long-legged elegant members of the stilt family is the “slenderellas.” The genus Himantopus (Greek for “strap-foot,” according to Choate’s

Dictionary of American Bird Names, or “spindle legged” according to Holloway’s Dictionary of Birds of the United States) has several members worldwide—Himantopus himantopus in Asia, the . . . → Read More: Bird of the Month, June 2006: Black-necked Stilt