Common Nighthawks: Birds Disguised as Bark

Common Nighthawk: Feathers mimic bark  © SB

Now this bird is amazing: The Common Nighthawk has such intricate camouflage feather markings that once it lands, it almost disappears.

(We first saw it — but almost didn't — perched and sleeping on a fence post in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan.)

The camouflage works so well that All About Birds says that the insect-eating Nighthawks make no nest; with these markings, even the young are hard to find.

On our recent Prairie Passages Tour of grasslands and pastures in SW Saskatchewan, several people commented that it seemed the Val Marie, Saskatchewan, area was like a Common Nighthawk sanctuary.

They talked about seeing large groups resting on trees (which I missed...), and we saw several buzzing the early morning skies for bugs.

I was so happy when this Nighthawk was found roosting in plain view at the new GNP campground!

Easy to see in a close-up shot... Trickier in person, at a distance.   © SB

What is this? A Common Nighthawk

Location: Campground, Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan.
Photo date: June 26, 2013.

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Pine Siskin in my backyard: Regina, Saskatchewan

A Pine Siskin showed up at my backyard bird feeder in Regina, Saskatchewan, today. It sat with a red House Finch — and their apparent congeniality led me, at first glance, to think the Siskin must be a female finch...

But yellow-tipped wing and tail feathers were wrong — and so was that beak. (Pine Siskins have narrower, more delicate beaks than House Finches.) A search through finch-like birds in The Sibley Guide led me to the Pine Siskin page, and there it was — my bird feeder bird of the day: A Pine Siskin.

Pine Siskin - note the yellow feathers on wings and tail, 
and clear light wing streaks. © SB

Sibley says these birds are mainly found in open coniferous forests, which does not in the least describe my suburban, flat land, backyard! So this Siskin must be passing through, to parts further north and more conifer-filled. 

In backyard bird photography, the stakes always increase. My challenge now is to photograph a Pine Siskin with sunlight sparkling in its dark eyes. (And yes! I did! And posted the Pine Siksin's lovely colours here, in 2015.)  

Eye reflection, check!
Pine Siskin on Finch feeder. © SB

Next, with its feathers open, to display those lovely yellow wing bars! 

What is this? A Pine Siskin.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 11, 2013.

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Peregrine Falcon on Regina City Hall

High on a ledge at Regina City Hall, there is a Peregrine Falcon. The falcon likes the east side of the building, birders say, and it's sometimes seen near the south-east corner.

Although falcons aren't huge birds, this one was fairly easy to spot... I'd heard it was often at City Hall, and I saw it from several blocks away. (Then again, at about 16 inches, with a wingspan of about 40 inches, they aren't small birds, either!)

Peregrine Falcon on the east side of Regina City Hall.   © SB

Peregrine Falcons are birds of prey, hunting "mainly medium-size birds from high above in spectacular swoops," my Sibley guide says.

Pigeons — and robins — beware...

High, high - yes, almost near the roof
and sky in this urban canyon. © SB

For those who know Regina City Hall, the picture above shows the falcon's position on the ledge. And, for those who don't, this total building shot (taken a couple of weeks ago at the Mayor's Poetry City Challenge), shows the scale — although to see the falcon yesterday, you'd have had to walk around the corner to the east side. 

Regina City Hall. Walk around to the right,
towards the rest of downtown, to see the falcon.
(If, that is, it's there...)  © SB

For more, the CBC last year aired a video interview about on falcons at City Hall with a bird watcher and with ornithologist, Dr. Stuart Houston.


What is this? Peregrine Falcon

Location: Downtown Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: April 24, 2013.

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