American Goldfinch

Thursday, 21 May 2009 01:55 Barbara

American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis

The American Goldfinch prefers trees in open places, especially in orchards and along roadsides. The American Goldfinch breeds across southern Canada from British Columbia to the island of Newfoundland and through most of the United States north of the Gulf states

The American Goldfinch has a varied diet. Being principally a seed-eater, the bird has an abundant food supply for much of the year, including seeds of thistle, dandelion, ragweed, mullein, cosmos, goatsbeard, sunflower, and alder.

In its nonbreeding range it is easy to attract the American Goldfinch to a bird feeder. It prefers hanging column feeders with places to perch at each outlet.

Male American Goldfinch at Feeder, Washington State, USA

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Sleicher, Charles

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The American Goldfinch male is a vibrant yellow in the summer making it easy to identify.

The American Goldfinch is found in residential areas throughout its range. Backyard birdwatchers attract it using feeders containing niger thistle seed or by planting grasses and perennial plants, such as zinnias, cosmos, bee balm, or globe thistle which produce seedheads favored by finches.

Last Updated on Thursday, 21 May 2009 01:57

Robins

Monday, 26 January 2009 03:21 Barbara

American Robins

Summer Range

Breeds throughout most of North America, from Alaska and northern Canada southward to northern Florida and Mexico.

Winter Range

Winters mostly south of Canada to Florida and Gulf Coast, to central Mexico. Winters along Pacific Coast to southern Alaska.

An Adult Female American Robin Incubates Her Eggs in a Lodgepole Pine

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24 in. x 18 in.

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Last Updated on Monday, 26 January 2009 21:33 Read more...

Chickadees

Monday, 26 January 2009 03:00 Barbara

Chickadees

One of the most familiar and beloved birds in the Pacific Northwest, the Black-capped Chickadee is a frequent visitor to bird feeders.

A cool fact: The Black-Capped Chickadee hides seeds and other food items for later recovery. Each item is placed in a different spot and a bird can remember thousands of hiding places.

A Black-Capped Chickadee

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Mobley, George F.

16 in. x 12 in.

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Last Updated on Monday, 26 January 2009 21:50 Read more...

Marbled Murrelet - a Remarkable Rare Bird of the Pacific Northwest

Friday, 12 December 2008 17:02 Barbara

What is a Marbled Murrelet?

Is a fast flying seabird belonging to the auk family or Alcidae.

The Marbled Murrelet nests in the coastal, old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest, is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act In North America.

The marbled murrelet, a seabird, nests on the massive, mossy upper limbs of trees in old-growth forests on the West Coast, a discovery made only in 1973. The decline of the Marbled Murrelet and its association with old-growth forests have made it a flagship species in the forest preservation movement. The Marbled Murrelet has experienced declines in their numbers since humans began logging their nest trees beginning in the latter half of the 1800s.

Last Updated on Friday, 12 December 2008 17:07 Read more...

Steller's Jay - BC's Provincial Bird

Thursday, 11 December 2008 04:39 administrator

The Steller's Jay (Cyanacitta Stelleri) became the Province's official bird on December 17, 1987. This saucy and intelligent bird appears suddenly as a flash of deep blue. When he settles on a branch, you can see that his head and crest are blackish, while his wings, tails and stomach are blue. The raucous call of the Steller's Jay can be heard west of the Rocky Mountains, nesting in coniferous forested regions at mid-to-high elevations.

Closeup of a Stellar's Jay, California

Photographic Print

Reid, Rich

12 in. x 16 in.

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