This site has been designed to help you locate and identify birds in Central Oklahoma. The next twenty posts are dedicated to different birds which can be found in Oklahoma. Before you begin please take some time and learn how to attract birds.
How to Attract Birds
An easy way to start out attracting birds is to put up a bird feeder. We'll help you choose feeders and foods that appeal to the birds you want to attract, plus we'll tell you where to put your feeder and how to maintain it. And we can give you some hints about food items, such as eggshells, fruits, and mealworms, that provide extra nourishment for some wonderful species.
More Important Information
Some birds, especially woodpeckers and chickadees, excavate cavities in tree trunks for nesting and roosting. Many other species, such as wrens, bluebirds, and some ducks and owls, nest in cavities that other birds have made. Nest boxes offer these birds a place to raise their young, especially where natural cavities are at a premium. Our nest box section describes the features of a good nest box, where to place it, and how to avoid predators. Our nesting section also lists some nesting materials you can offer that will help a wide variety of species.
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Common Name: Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus varius
Habitat: Breeds in young forests and along streams, especially in aspen and birch.
Range: The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker lives in the Eastern United States and Central America.
Interesting Fact: The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker frequently uses human-produced materials to help in its territorial drumming. Street signs and metal chimney flashing amplify the irregular tapping of a territorial sapsucker. The sapsucker seems to suffer no ill effects of whacking its bill on metal, and a bird will return to a favorite sign day after day to pound out its Morse code-like message.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-Bellied_Sapsucker/id
Picture Retrieved from: http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/Images/Glossary/Yellow-bellied_Sap_Sucker.jpeg
The Red-Headed Woodpecker
Common Name: Red-Headed Woodpecker
Scientific Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Habitat: Breeds in deciduous woodlands, especially beech or oak, river bottoms, open woods, groves of dead and dying trees, orchards, parks, open country with scattered trees, forest edges, and open wooded swamps with dead trees and stumps. Attracted to burns and recent clearings.
Range: The Red-Headed Woodpecker lives in the Eastern United States.
Interesting Fact: The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of only four woodpeckers known to store food, and it is the only one known to cover the stored food with wood or bark. It hides insects and seeds in cracks in wood, under bark, in fence posts, and under roof shingles. Grasshoppers are regularly stored alive, but wedged into crevices so tightly that they cannot escape.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Red-Headed Woodpecker. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-Headed_Woodpecker/id
picture retrieved from: http://www.birdsasart.com/Red-Headed-Woodpecker-looking-away-Rondeau-ONT-_H2D0613.jpg
The Red-Eyed Vireo
Common Name: Red-Eyed Vireo
Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus
Habitat: Breeds in deciduous and mixed deciduous forests.
Range: The Red-Eyed Vireo summers in the Eastern United States and winters in South America.
Interesting Fact: The Red-eyed Vireo is a common host to the Brown-headed Cowbird, which lays its eggs in the vireo's nest.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Red-Eyed Vireo. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-Eyed_Vireo/id
picture retrieved from: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/ibt/userfiles/image/photos/800/red-eyed-vireo--tom-munsonf.jpg
The Field Sparrow
Common Name: Field Sparrow
Scientific Name: Spizella pusilla
Habitat: Breeds in old fields, woodland openings, and edges.
Range: The Field Sparrow lives year-round in the Eastern United States.
Interesting Fact: The Field Sparrow often feeds directly on fallen seeds. It may fly to the top of grass stalks, let its weight carry the stems to the ground, and then begin removing the seed.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Field Sparrow. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Field_Sparrow/id
Picture retrieved from: http://www.audubon.org/news/pressroom/CBID/Hi_Rez_images/Field_Sparrow_Howard_B_Eskin.jpg
The Wood Thrush
Common Name: Wood Thrush
Scientific Name: Hylocichla mustelina
Habitat: Breeds in the interior and edges of deciduous and mixed forests, generally in cool, moist sites, often near water.Requires moderate to dense understory and shrub density with a lot of shade, moist soil, and decaying leaf litter. Shows much variation in habitat use, from mature deciduous forests in the Southeast, to shrubby second-growth forests and suburban parks in the Northeast to riparian habitats in the Great Plains. Winters in lowland tropical forests. Most numerous in interior understory of tropical primary, closed-canopy, semi-evergreen, broad-leaved, and mixed palm forests at 50-1000 m elevation.
Range: The Wood Thrush summers in the Eastern United States and winters in South America
Interesting Fact: Wood Thrushes may raise more than one brood each season. When the first brood fledges, both parents feed all the young, but when the last brood fledges, they divide the work, each one caring for half the brood.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Wood Thrush. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Thrush/id
Picture retrieved from: http://www.learnbirdsongs.com/images/wood-thrushwtmk.jpg
The House Sparrow
Common Name: House Sparrow
Scientific Name: Passer domesticus
Habitat: House Sparrows have lived around humans for centuries. Look for them on city streets, taking handouts in parks and zoos, or cheeping from a perch on your roof or trees in your yard. House Sparrows are absent from undisturbed forests and grasslands, but they’re common in countryside around farmsteads.
Range: The House Sparrow lives in the United States in its entirety and much of Western South America.
Interesting Fact: The House Sparrow takes frequent dust baths. It throws soil and dust over its body feathers, just as if it were bathing with water. In doing so, a sparrow may make a small depression in the ground, and sometimes defends this spot against other sparrows.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). House Sparrow. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Sparrow/id
The Scissor-Tail Flycatcher
Common Name: Scissor-Tail Flycatcher
Scientific Name: Tyrannus forficatus
Habitat: Breeds in open grasslands with occasional trees and shrubs.
Range: The Scissor-tail Flycatcher lives in the Central United States and
Interesting Fact: The Scissor-tail Flycatcher uses many human products in its nest, such as string, cloth, paper, carpet fuzz, and cigarette filters. One study of nests in an urban area in Texas found that artificial materials accounted for 30% of the weight of nests.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Scissor-Tail Flycatcher. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Scissor-Tail_Flycatcher/id
The Orchard Oriole
Common Name: Orchard Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus spurius
Habitat: Nests in gardens, orchards, suburban areas, along streams and lakes, and in large planted trees near houses. In winter found in tropical forests.
Range: The Orchard Oriole lives in the Eastern United States in the Summer and Central America during the Summer
Interesting Fact: The Orchard Oriole eats nectar and pollen from flowers, especially during the winter. It is an important pollinator for some tropical tree species, transferring the pollen from flower to flower on its head.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Orchard Oriole. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Orchard_Oriole/id
Picture retrieved from: http://pie.midco.net/dougback/miscphotos/orchard_oriole.jpg
The Northern Mockingbird
Common Name: Northern Mockingbird
Scientific Name: Mimus polyglottos
Habitat: Look for Northern Mockingbirds in towns, suburbs, backyards, parks, forest edges, and open land at low elevations.
Range: The Northern Mockingbird lives in the United States in its entirety.
Interesting Fact: Northern Mockingbirds continue to add new sounds to their repertoires throughout their lives. A male may learn around 200 songs throughout its life.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Northern Mockingbird. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Mockingbird/id
Picture retrieved from: http://sdakotabirds.com/species/photos/northern_mockingbird_1.jpg
The Pileated Woodpecker
Common Name: Pileated Woodpecker
Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus
Habitat: Found in deciduous or coniferous forests with large trees.
Range: The Pileated Woodpecker lives in the Eastern United States year-round.
Interesting Fact: A Pileated Woodpecker pair stays together on its territory all year round. It will defend the territory in all seasons, but will tolerate floaters during the winter.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Pileated Woodpecker. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/id
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Common Name: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris
Habitat: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds live in open woodlands, forest edges, meadows, grasslands, and in parks, gardens, and backyards.
Range: The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird lives in the Eastern United States in the summer and Central America in the Winter
Interesting Fact: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird beats its wings about 53 times a second.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-Throated_Hummingbird/id
Picture retrieved from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Male_Ruby-Throated_Hummingbird_1.jpg/300px-Male_Ruby-Throated_Hummingbird_1.jpg
The Song Sparrow
Common Name: Song Sparrow
Scientific Name: Melospiza melodia
Habitat: Look for Song Sparrows in nearly any open habitat, including marsh edges, overgrown fields, backyards, desert washes, and forest edges. Song Sparrows commonly visit bird feeders and build nests in residential areas.
Range: The Song Sparrow lives in the United States in its entirety. It lives in the Midwestern United States in Winter and early Spring.
Interesting Fact: The Song Sparrow is found throughout most of North America, but the birds of different areas can look surprisingly different. Song Sparrows of the Desert Southwest are pale, while those in the Pacific Northwest are dark and heavily streaked. Song Sparrows of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands chain are even darker, and they’re huge: one-third longer than the eastern birds, and weighing twice as much.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Song Sparrow. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Song_Sparrow/id
The Purple Martin
Common Name: Purple Martin
Scientific Name: Progne subis
Habitat: Breeds near human settlements where nest houses are provided, especially near water and large open areas. Also in saguaro cactus, and in western montane forests around beaver ponds.
Range: Purple Martins live in the Eastern United States during the summer and migrate to South America during the winter.
Interesting Fact: The Purple Martin is unusual among birds that use nest boxes; several pairs will nest in a single box with multiple compartments. However, one male will attempt to defend multiple compartments. Western martins are less likely to use boxes with multiple compartments
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Purple Martin. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Purple_Martin/id
Picture retrieved from: http://media.photobucket.com/image/Purple%20Martin/nikovich2/PurpleMartin-small-0308.07.jpg
The Blue Jay
Common Name: Blue Jay
Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristata
Habitat: Blue Jays are birds of forest edges. A favorite food is acorns, and it’s often found near oaks, in forests, woodlots, towns, cities, parks.
Range: Blue Jays live in the Eastern United States year-round.
Interesting Fact: The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. These calls may provide information to other jays that a hawk is around, or may be used to deceive other species into believing a hawk is present.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Blue Jay. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue_Jay/id
The American Robin
Common Name: American Robin
Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius
Habitat: American Robins are common across the continent in gardens, parks, yards, golf courses, fields, pastures, tundra, as well as deciduous woodlands, pine forests, shrublands, and forests regenerating after fires or logging.
Range: The American Robin lives in the United States in its entirety. During the winter it travels to the Southern United States.
Interesting Fact: Although robins are considered harbingers of spring, many American Robins spend the whole winter in their breeding range. But because they spend more time roosting in trees and less time in your yard, you're much less likely to see them. The number of robins present in the northern parts of the range varies each year with the local conditions.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). American Robin. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/id
The Northern Bobwhite
Common Name: Northern Bobwhite
Scientific Name: Colinus virginianus
Habitat: Grassland
Range: The Northern Bobwhite lives in the South Eastern United States.
Interesting Fact: The Northern Bobwhite is divided into 22 different subspecies. Females show little variation among the different forms, but the males can vary dramatically. Some bobwhite from Mexico have little banding across the chest, are uniformly rufous, and have all black heads
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Northern Bobwhite. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Bobwhite/id
Picture Retrieved from: http://www.audubon.org/news/pressroom/CBID/Hi_Rez_images/Northern_Bobwhite_Ashok_Khosla.jpg
The Carolina Chickadee
Common Name: Carolina Chickadee
Scientific Name: Poecile carolinensis
Habitat: Forested areas or urban and suburban yards or parks with large trees.
Range: The Carolina Chickadee lives in the South Eastern United States.
Interesting Fact: Where the Carolina and Black-capped chickadee ranges come in contact, the two species occasionally hybridize. Hybrids can sing the songs of either species or something intermediate.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Carolina Chickadee. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Chickadee/id
Picture retrieved from: http://www.televue.com/BirdScope/images/GeorgeWatson/Carolina_Chickadee.jpg
The American Crow
Common Name: American Crow
Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos
Habitat: American Crows are common birds of fields, open woodlands, and forests. They thrive around people, and you’ll often find them in agricultural fields, lawns, parking lots, athletic fields, roadsides, towns, and city garbage dumps.
Range: American Crows live in The United States in its entirety
Interesting Fact: American Crows congregate in large numbers in winter to sleep in communal roosts. These roosts can be of a few hundred up to two million crows. Some roosts have been forming in the same general area for well over 100 years. In the last few decades some of these roosts have moved into urban areas where the noise and mess cause conflicts with people.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). American Crow. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/id
The Mourning Dove
Common Name: Mourning Dove
Scientific Name: Zenaida macroura
Habitat: Primarily a bird of open country, scattered trees, and woodland edges, but large numbers roost in woodlots during winter. Feeds on ground in grasslands, agricultural fields, backyards, and roadsides.
Range: The Mourning Dove travels between Central and North America.
Interesting Fact: During the breeding season, you might see three Mourning Doves flying in tight formation, one after another. This is a form of social display. Typically the bird in the lead is the male of a mated pair. The second bird is an unmated male chasing his rival from the area where he hopes to nest. The third is the female of the mated pair, which seems to go along for the ride.
Source: Cornell, University (2009). Mourning Dove. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/id
The Northern Cardinal
Common Name: Northern Cardinal
Scientific Name: Cardinalis
Habitat: Look for Northern Cardinals in dense shrubby areas such as forest edges, overgrown fields, hedgerows, backyards, marshy thickets, mesquite, regrowing forest, and ornamental landscaping. Cardinals nest in dense foliage and look for conspicuous, fairly high perches for singing. Growth of towns and suburbs across eastern North America has helped the cardinal expand its range northward.
Range: Cardinals live in the North Eastern United States.
Interesting Fact: Cardinals don’t migrate and they don’t molt into a dull plumage, so they’re still breathtaking in winter’s snowy backyards. In summer, their sweet whistles are one of the first sounds of the morning.
Sources: Cornell, University (2009). Northern Cardinal. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from All About Birds Web site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/id
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