American Tree Sparrow: First Regina Backyard Migrating Bird

We've had a very mild winter, and I've been watching and waiting for the birds, wondering whether migration would start earlier this year because of our snow-free weather. And this afternoon, an American Tree Sparrow answered that question. For me, at least. At least with respect to the limited sample size of birds that land in my Regina, Saskatchewan backyard.

The first migratory bird of the year... 
An American Tree Sparrow stops off to feed on its flight back north.  © SB

This American Tree Sparrow blended well with the other backyard birds (the regular crew of House Sparrows and House Finches), but then the white feathers on its wings caught my eye, and when I looked closer, I noticed its rusty crown and eye stripe. 

And yes, it's early — if not in its arriving, then in my noticing of it. Checking back in this blog, I see that they usually pass by my yard anywhere from the beginning of April to the end of that month. 

Welcome, to a sign of Spring! 

And... Because I'm back to French classes, I'm happy to say that in French this is a Bruant hudsonien, and also that I'm delighted to have found Sibley's guide to North American bird names in French today!  

What is this? American Tree Sparrow .

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: March 14, 2016.

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Autumn and the Pine Siskins are back

I've been enjoying seeing little Pine Siskins at the feeders this week — but strangely, with less excitement than I feel when they are on the other end of their migration, and their arrival is a sign of oncoming summer, not snow.

Pine Siskin stopping to feed on its way south. 

What is this? A Pine Siskin, stopping during the migration south.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.   

Photo date: October 22, 2015   

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White-throated Sparrow - White and Tan Morphs: May Backyard Sparrow, Regina, SK (7)

White morph White-throated Sparrow 
in the apple tree © SB

When I saw the first White-throated Sparrow this year in my Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard, I was puzzled by its markings.

The White-throated Sparrows I'd seen (or noticed, anyway) last year were crisply marked — white head stripes, white throat, yellow lores (spots between the eye and bill).

Even their bright throats were clearly outlined, like the bird at right, one of the later White-throated Sparrows to arrive in my yard.

This year's first arrivals, however, were drab and very generically little-brown-bird.

But when I took shots for identification and displayed them full-screen on my 24-inch monitor — and significantly lightened the exposure, shadows, etc. — I realized these, too, where White-throated Sparrows.

There are a couple of options for the IDs of these browner bird, and perhaps a reader can help clarify this?

1. I've seen several similar White-throated Sparrows on photo websites posted as immature birds, but my Stokes shows the immatures as clearly white-marked... 
2. There are also Tan-morphs of White-throated Sparrows, which my Stokes shows as looking fairly close to the brown birds in my photos, so perhaps that's what these are? And if so, I guess the bright white guys would be white-morphs... 

In any case, that's what I'm leaning to here: #2. Tan morphs. Below. 

And so, this year, both the White and Tan morphs of White-throated Sparrows showed up in my yard. 

Which doesn't seem all that unusual, as apparently mated pairs "almost always include one of each morph." (Sibley guides info on White-Throated Sparrows.)  And these birds pictured above and below were both in the same apple tree... 

Tan morph White-throated Sparrow
in the same apple tree. © SB

Tan morph White-throated Sparrow on the ground. (Even more difficult to see its murky markings) © SB

What are these?  White-throated Sparrows, White morph Tan morph.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Photo date: May 11, 2013. 

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Mourning Dove at Condie in a Shapely Brown Dress

I'd like a dress that flows like the back of this Mourning Dove, feather waist cinched, soft shawl collar flaring, brown narrow hips, and long long long long sleeves that go on and on and on and on...

(Edwardian? Victorian? I'm not clear on my period fashions.)

The Mourning Dove's eyes I could master with different glasses, but that's not the look that I'm going for. Green eyes, I have; googly rims, I don't need.

With this casual elegance, no need for a chair. Any old post or barbed wire will do.

A svelte and elegant Mourning Dove. © SB

What is this?  Mourning Dove
Location: Condie Nature Refuge, near Regina, Saskatchewan.

Photo dates: May 28, 2013.

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Lincoln's Sparrow: May Backyard Sparrows, Regina SK (5)

Lincoln's Sparrow in Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard. © SB 

Lincoln's Sparrow was a frequent visitor to our Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard in early May.

This small native songbird looks less than half the size of our more common House Sparrows and House Finches.

Lincoln's Sparrow has a clear buffy chest with streaks, and multi-toned streaks on its head.

Often, this bird's head feathers are ruffled to create a peaked crown.

Lincoln's Sparrow's habitat ranges across North America: It breeds in the north (but not the very far north) and Rockies, winters in Mexico, and is on migration in between... All About Birds says it's even been seen in Cuba.

Close-up of Lincoln's Sparrow's head,
beak and chest. © SB 

Look closely at this small, back-scratching bird, 
and you'll see Lincoln's Sparrow's peaked crown. © SB 

What is this?  Lincoln's Sparrow

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Photo date: May 10 & 11, 2013. 

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American Dog Tick on Dandelion flower - Ick!

And now, a look at the dark side of prairie nature — an American Dog Tick (or Wood Tick) I saw today while I was out taking photographs of Dandelions and Early Blue Violets at the Condie Nature Refuge near Regina, Saskatchewan.

And yes, just seeing this image makes me itch! (I wore lovely light-coloured clothing and offered very little exposed skin to make myself as tick-safe as possible... If I look at this before I go out next time, though, I'll consider adding several additional helpings of DEET!)

American Dog Tick on Dandelion flower, waiting a meal... © SB

The marking on this tick's back indicate that this one is a Dog Tick, aka Wood Tick, and given its size, it's likely a female. Dog ticks aren't the species that carry the agent that causes Lyme disease, though I'm not convinced that any good can come of a tick bite! (For more on that, see tick-borne diseases at the link to CDC, below.)

Black-legged Ticks, or Deer Ticks, are the culprit for Lyme disease — although SaskHealth says they represent only about three per cent of Saskatchewan's ticks. Overall, the risk of contracting Lyme disease here in Saskatchewan is apparently low — but not zero. (You can read more on the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Health Lyme Disease page.)

If you want to learn lots more about ticks — and really start your skin crawling — the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's Stop Ticks page is a good place to start. CDC also has information on Tick Removal. (Hint, tweezers really are best). And, Madisson County in New York also has a comprehensively itch-inducing tick page, with links to a Tick Bite Locator.

(For those asking — no, I did not get any ticks or tick bites today. As far as I yet know... And I may now need a second shower. Seriously, I'm way too suggestible to read this stuff, even the parts I've written myself! So this is it! Time to post and share the joy with others.)


What is this? An American Dog Tick, aka, a Wood Tick.

Location: Condie Nature Refuge, North of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 22, 2013.

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American Robin: May Backyard Bird, Regina, SK

The American Robin was one of the first after-winter arrivals in my Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard. I love robins in spring, when their feathers are all still crisp and mating-flashy-new.

There are several pairs of American Robins in our neighbourhood now, swooping and chasing each other — but so far, in my yard at least, no signs of nests.  (Several years ago, they nested in our apple tree. It was a little alarming the first day the young fledged — what with rain and neighbourhood cats!)

American Robin - a sociable bird that usually looks cross.   © SB 

While some American Robins live year-round in the U.S. (and parts of B.C. and the Maritimes), others only winter in the south and then migrate back north to the rest of Canada (and Alaska) for summer and to breed.

So for us, these are spring birds, and their appearance is a welcome sign that winter is over.

What is this? American Robin.

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 21, 2013.

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Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek: Ancient dance, ancient birds

Sharp-tailed Grouse displaying purple neck patch.  © SB

Recently, I had an awesome opportunity — to visit a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek near Regina, Saskatchewan, and watch these prairie birds perform their dance of dominance.

It's all about mating — but the female grouse didn't seem to care.

In fact, we only saw one bird that may (or may not) have been a female Sharp-tailed Grouse during the two hours we were there. (Males and females look alike, except when the males are actively lekking.)

I love that word, lek, whether in verb or noun form.

It so well describes the dominance displays of a few human males I've known, who apparently saw fashion (no jeans/running shoes, please!) as part of their corporate dominance plan.

The video, below, shows some footage I took of part of their lek dance.

And I loved seeing these birds! If any avian species has ever made me think of dinosaurs, their potential cousins or ancestors, Sharp-tailed Grouse in full lek would be it.

They prowl, they pounce, they prance, they dance. They make themselves very tall, then very broad. And then they stare. Long meaningful stares of threat... or forgetfulness. They sit down. The focus, perhaps wanders, or perhaps it's all a waiting game. Eventually, one male ambles off. A pause, and then the lek begins again.

Low and broad, the Sharp-tailed Grouse strut. © SB

The Sharp-tailed Grouse also leap into the air
- and at other males. Beware! © SB

The birds I saw claimed a section of pasture near Regina — there used to be several Sharp-tailed Grouse leks near the city, but this seems to be the only one now left.

Every morning around dawn (that's now about 5:30 a.m.), the birds gather. They cluck, they chatter, their pinions rattle and they do a gobbling thing, a little like the sound of turkeys.

About 12 grouse were gathered for the lekking display when we arrived. The neighbour's dog chased them off by rushing across the pasture to meet our two cars, but dogs are easily bored and mating birds, determined... So the dogs wandered off and the grouse flew back to their chosen spot of trampled prairie. (Yes, this was a remnant of original prairie, with club moss and other low plants forming the fragile and essential base layer.)

The Sharp-tailed Grouse appeared to divide the lek space into sections, within which several individual dominance displays took place. They say not all breed, just the ultimate winners, so the gene stakes are high.

Sharp-tailed Grouse on the lek. © SB

The Sharp-tailed Grouse has been Saskatchewan's bird emblem since 1945. I visited this lek with friends (including Trevor Herriot) from the Public Pastures - Public Interest group, to learn more about this amazing native prairie bird.

What are these? Sharp-tailed Grouse.
Location: Near Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: April 27, 2013.

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Horned Larks Feeding Along Saskatchewan Roads

Male Horned Lark: fence post bird. © SB 

A few weeks ago, flurries of Horned Larks rose from the sides of the grid roads near Regina when I drove by.

With heavy snow still thick in the fields, the gravel shoulders seemed to be the best — and perhaps only — place for these returning birds to feed.

Horned Larks, named for the spiky black feathers on either side of males' heads, are native North American larks.


They are one of our first birds back after (or, this year, during) winter, and they form flocks alone or with a few other species. Several times earlier this year, I saw these birds along the road with several Snow Buntings. Alas, the Buntings were too far away for my camera (or me) to clearly focus.

I love the males' horns, but I'm even more pleased to have captured a reasonably sharp shot of a female, as I see them far more rarely.

And I'm surprised I haven't posted pictures of Horned Larks yet; I have some good photographs from last summer; perhaps once the snow melts, I'll post a few.

Female Horned Lark in roadside gravel and snow -
great camouflage, but fields are even better. © SB

Male Horned Lark - yes, I know...
An odd shot, but shows his horns! © SB

What are these? Horned Larks
Location: Along a grid road, near Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.   

Photo dates: April 3, 2013.

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House Sparrows: Regina Backyard Neighbours

House Sparrows are the most numerous birds in my Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard — as long as our birdfeeders are filled with sunflower and other seeds.

These noisy sparrows, found in most parts of the world, were introduced to North American, where they do extremely well, often out-competing other birds for nesting space.

(There is high-rise House Sparrow house down the lane from my garage; in theory, it was designed and built for swallows, but these brown-streaked guys got there first, and seem to delight in the sweeping dive down to our feeders.)

Male House Sparrow on lilac bush   © SB

What is this? A House Sparrow

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan

Photo date: September 16, 2012. 

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Mourning Cloak Butterfly: Maroon and Blue Shimmer

Mourning Cloak Butterfly   © SB

Mourning Cloak Butterflies are common across Canada, but I never noticed them until this week when two Mourning Cloaks came to my attention.

The first, I saw and took pictures of in Kananaskis, Alberta, when I was getting a mountain break from the prairies; the second — which led to my butterfly's ID — a friend recognized and photographed outside her cabin near Regina, Saskatchewan. (Thanks, Donna!)

Mourning Cloak Butterflies are large, with a wingspan up to eight centimetres. And although they may look black at first glance, in good light, their wings shimmer maroon or purple brown, with iridescent blue spots and a ragged butter-yellow border.

This butterfly's common name refers to, yes, a mourning cloak — a garment apparently worn by someone, somewhere (perhaps in Scandinavia?), during a time of bereavement... (The only example I've so far found online was designed to honour the butterfly — thus raising the question, which came first? The butterfly, or the cloak?)

They appear to be native to North America, and unlike Monarchs, which migrate, Mourning Cloaks hibernate  —  or, as the Manitoba site NatureNorth.com says, "spend the winter in 'cryo-preservation.'"

Where I live, in Regina, Saskatchewan, they are considered common pests. (Who knew?) Mourning Cloaks are the first butterflies to appear in this prairie city in spring, and — in sufficient numbers — the larvae are said to defoliate branches.

(The City of Regina suggests removing the larvae by hand, or leaving them to birds and wasps to devour. Yum... The nearby US state of Montana is perhaps friendlier to Mourning Cloaks, and has designated them its official butterfly.)

Pest or mascot, Mourning Cloaks are unmistakably beautiful. 

What is this? Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa; in the UK, Camberwell Beauty)
Location: Common across Canada, including the prairies; photographed in Kananaskis, Alberta. 
Photo date: September 9, 2012. 

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