Western Willet: Shorebird with grey legs and long grey beak

This Western Willet, a mottled grey, buff, white shorebird, was feeding in one of our insta-spring-lakes near Regina, Saskatchewan.

It dipped and bobbed its way across the flooded area beside the grid road, swallowed morsels of something it plucked from the water, then ambled on.

Western Willet, near Regina, Saskatchewan.   © SB

What is this?  Willet - Chevalier semipalmé

Location: Temporary slough, south east of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Photo date: May 26, 2013. 

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Regina, Saskatchewan: Goldfinches in my Backyard

American Goldfinches started visiting our backyard feeders in Regina, Saskatchewan, a few weeks ago, sporadically, and in nothing like the numbers we saw last year. (But last year's Goldfinch visit was very brief. One day three finches showed up, then five, then 16, then 24, then no Goldfinches at all...)

These birds are small but highly visible, even in among the new yellow-green lilac leaves. And they are a true delight, even if they only stay for a short time.

(Still this week, they remain.)

2012: Feeder full of Goldfinches. © SB

American Goldfinch at the sunflower feeder.  © SB

Female Goldfinch, on the lilac tree. © SB

Goldfinch on a chain, waiting to assault the feeder. © SB

What are these?  American Goldfinches
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Photo dates: May 16, 2012; May 23, 2013; May 15, 2013; and May 23, 2013.

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White-Crowned Sparrow: May Backyard Sparrows, Regina (6)

Several White-crowned Sparrows have joined the in-migration flock of birds arriving in our Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard this month.

These native birds are larger than Lincoln's Sparrows and Clay-coloured Sparrows. They are also very dramatic with their clear, sharp colours. (I've noticed them in bushes, my attention attracted just by their bright, white stripes.)

White-Crowned Sparrow in the shade. © SB

White-Crowned Sparrow in the sunlight. © SB

What is this?  White-crowned Sparrow

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Photo date: May 11, 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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Clay-coloured Sparrow: May Backyard Sparrows, Regina SK (4)

Clay-coloured Sparrows are one of my favourite native North American sparrows — they look so clean and crisp, with their pale buffy breasts, pink legs and streaked crowns.

These sparrows live in the grasslands and prairies, throughout the mid section of North America. They breed across Western Canada and the Northern U.S., winter in Mexico, and migrate across the central U.S. And yes, they visit Saskatchewan every summer, and hang out in spring in my Regina backyard.

Clay-coloured Sparrow, in backyard lilac. © SB

Clay-coloured Sparrow, in Regina park. © SB

What are these?  Clay-coloured Sparrows

Location: Top photo, Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan; bottom photo, park, Regina, Saskatchewan. 

Photo date: Top photo, May 10, 2013; bottom photo, May 9, 2012. 

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American Tree Sparrow: May Backyard Sparrows (2)

Two native sparrows that migrate through my Saskatchewan backyard, American Tree Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows, look very much alike. To me, at least. Both are grey and brown with red-capped heads...

But the Tree Sparrow a rufus/red eye line, The Sibley Guide to Birds explains, and the Chipping Sparrow has a black eye line, with white above it... And the Tree Sparrow has a two-coloured beak, yellow and black, while the Chipping Sparrow's beak is black alone... And the Tree Sparrow has a bit more colour on its breast... And...

In any case, the post below features a Chipping Sparrow, my first backyard Regina sparrow for May. And here is an American Tree Sparrow:

American Tree Sparrow - with rufus eye line and half yellow beak © SB

What is this? American Tree Sparrow.

Location: North of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: April 29, 2013.

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Chipping Sparrow: May Backyard Sparrows, Regina, SK (1)

Several Chipping Sparrows have pecked around our yard in Regina, Saskatchewan, this month, and that's the first backyard Saskatchewan bird for my May list.

Chipping Sparrows, to me, look like American Tree Sparrows — or vice versa. Both have sparrow brown markings and red heads, but while Tree Sparrows have red lines by their eyes, Chipping Sparrows have black lines. (Yes, I know; a proper ornithologist would provide a more detailed, technical explanations and mention details like the Tree Sparrow's half yellow beak, but a proper ornithologist, I am not.)

The Chipping Sparrow, with its red cap. © SB 

The Chipping Sparrow winters in the southern U.S., and summers in the rest of the U.S. and in Canada. Sensible migration!

I was intrigued to learn that some call them the "Hairbird" because of their habit of lining their nests with hair — smart birds! Audubon Birds (the app that's linked to eBird) says horse hair was a former favourite, but as Chipping Sparrows rarely see horses these days, they have been seen to "pluck strands from the coat of a sleeping dog." (I must brush my yellow dog Ginger more; when I brushed her a few days ago, I put her shed hair in a cleft of lilac branches and it soon vanished — though I doubt this lovely redhead took that prize.)

What is this? Chipping Sparrow .

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 17, 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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