Scientist and author Donald Kroodsma talks about his life-long passion for bird song. The conversation took place at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology where he was working on CDs to accompany a new book.
Tag Archive: Bird Songs
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The Club-winged Manakin Uses Violin Like Wings to Attract Mate
Most animals communicate by singing, howling, croaking, or speaking. Some animals use other sounds too- whistling, clapping, drumming, or rattling, for example. The rattlesnake sends a threatening message by rattling its tail, a Ruffed Grouse produces a dull thudding sound with its wings to court a mate, and a woodpecker drums out its territorial signal on a hollow tree.
Birds often use their wings and other body parts to make sounds, but Manakins are the planet’s preeminent wing-popping, clicking, snapping, and rattling birds. Found in the tropical forests from Mexico to Argentina., 20 species of manakin make nonvocal sounds, or sonations. Male manakins take the prize for the most diverse and interesting nonvocal sounds produced in the bird world.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/club-winged-manakin-violin-wings/
Your Backyard Birds: Red-Bellied Woodpecker
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a member of the Picidae family, and is the largest common woodpecker of the eastern United States. It is found primarily in northeastern US and southern Canada, ranging as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas. Its common habitat is wooded areas, including suburban neighborhoods and parks. Red-Bellied Woodpeckers are very tolerant of humans, and are regular visitors to backyard garden feeders (especially during the winter), favoring sunflower seed, suet, and fruit. Red-Bellied Woodpeckers climb and “hitch” along branches and trunks of trees, picking at the bark.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/about-red-bellied-woodpecker/
Your Backyard Birds: American Robin
The state bird of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin, the American Robin is a familiar songbird in the thrush family. They live in towns and woodlands, and are commonly seen on suburban lawns exhibiting their “running and stopping” behavior as they gather their morning worms.
The America Robin feeds on different things throughout the day, including earthworms in the morning, and fruits and berries in the evening. They are mostly active during the day and gather in large flocks at night to roost in trees in secluded areas.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/about-american-robins/
Your Backyard Birds: Black-Capped Chickadee
Black-Capped Chickadee
Scientific Name: Poecile atricapilla
The state bird of Maine and Massachusetts, the Black-Capped Chickadee is a small, common songbird in the Tit family generally found throughout Alaska, Canada and the northern United States.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/about-black-capped-chickadee/
Your Backyard Birds: House Sparrow
House Sparrows are the most abundant songbirds in North America and the most widely distributed birds on the planet. These small, round birds are frequent visitors to suburban backyard bird feeders, and are commonly found in school yards, fast food parking lots, and street corners. Imported from England to North America between 1850 and 1886 in an effort to control insects, the House Sparrow (originally called the “English sparrow”) has grown in population to over 150 million. It’s aggressive nesting behavior and adaptability to humankind, has led to this increase and given them an unpopular status among many birding enthusiast.
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Do You Know Your Backyard Bird Songs? (video quiz)
Think you know your backyard bird songs and calls? Take this short video quiz from Birds and Blooms magazine to find out. How many bird songs and calls did you get right?
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Bird Nest Cameras
A nest-cam or a bird house video camera, is a device for monitoring birds inside their nesting cavity. The 24-7 access to the nest provides an amazing view of rarely seen events such as nest creation, egg incubation & hatching, nestling and fledgling development and feeding activities.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/bird-nest-cameras/
Your Backyard Birds: Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove
Scientific Name: Zenaida macroura
A member of the dove family (columbidae), Mourning Doves are the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. They are named for their mournful call. They are very prolific breeders – raising up to six broods per year. Parents are typically monogamous, and both incubate and care for the young.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/about-mourning-dove/
The Birdsong Identiflyer – A great tool for Backyard Birding
For an amatuer backyard birder like myself, bird song identification can be overwhelming. But I found a hand-held resource that has made it fun and easy for me and my family. The Birdsong Identiflyer™ plays back digital birdsong recordings from …
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/the-birdsong-identiflyer/
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