Category Archives: Dutchess County Birds

The Chipping Sparrow (Spizella Passerina): A Brief Overview Dutchess County is rife with wildlife, with birds standing out in particular. Out of all the species present in our neighborhood, the Chipping Sparrow stands out as a great example of bird behavior … Continue reading

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The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris): General Biology

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IDENTIFICATION The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a small member of the Trochilidae hummingbird family (Robinson et al., 2013). The plumage of both sexes is light gray on the underside and iridescent green on the dorsal side and crown. Males, which are … Continue reading

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The Singing Life of the Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus)

The most prominent sources of information on the Snowy Owl comes mostly from the work done by scientists such as A. Watson, G. M. Sutton and D. F. Parmelee during the 1930’s thru the late 1950’s and then in the … Continue reading

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American Robin blog post #2

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American Robins (Turdus migratorious) belong to the suborder oscines, a large suborder of passerine birds that encompasses most songbirds. They are open-ended song learners: they continue to learn new songs throughout their lives. Nestlings first acquire calls which they use … Continue reading

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General Information on the Eastern Bluebird (Sialias sialia)

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Appearance: The Eastern Bluebird, scientifically known as Sialia sialis, gets its name from its blue appearance.  The male has bright blue upper parts, a red/orange throat, breast and flanks, a white lower belly and undertail-coverts, a red/orange or white chin, … Continue reading

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The Northern Cardinal(Cardinalis cardinalis) Song

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Types of songs and Calls The song of the Northern Cardinal is 2-3 seconds long and consist of a string of slurred whistles usually getting faster and turning into a trill. The Northern Cardinal has 16 distinct calls. The most … Continue reading

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The Singing Behavior of the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

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The Eastern bluebird is most commonly known for its unmistakable, vibrant coloration. However, the bluebird’s brilliant plumage is certainly not its only unique feature; its frequently overlooked capacity for vocalization is perhaps even more remarkable. Ertelt, C.A. Eastern Bluebird Singing. Retrieved December … Continue reading

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Biology of the Barred Owl – Strix Varia

The Barred Owl (species name Strix Varia) also goes by the names Hoot Owl, Eight Hooter, Rain Owl, Wood Owl, and Striped Owl. They are often mistaken for Spotted Owls, which are visually quite similar. This mixing up of the two … Continue reading

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Red-Throated Loon: Song Learning & Vocalizations

Songs & Calls: The following descriptions of loon calls are from unpublished work by S. Douglas as described in the Birds of North America article on red-throated loons.     Unlike other loons, the red-throated loon does not have a song … Continue reading

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American Robin Blog Post #1

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American Robins (Turdus migratorious), one of the largest thrushes in North America, are a fairly common sight in most American backyards. They are mostly found in woodland, forests and gardens. They have an orange breast with a black/brown back and … Continue reading

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