Local Birds

The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker that lives in Pennsylvania. It's quite likely the largest woodpecker in North America as well.

The American Oystercatcher is one of the most charismatic and distinctive birds inhabiting coastal habitats in the Americas.

Pennsylvania's two most abundant thrushes, American Robin and Eastern Bluebird, are common backyard birds that live in our state year-round.

Weighing less than a third of an ounce, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is smaller than almost all other Pennsylvania birds.

This week I came across a different kind of "tail-pumper" with a flock of Palm Warblers passing through on migration.

A fun sign of spring is the persistent song of the Eastern Phoebe, which returns to the Susquehanna Valley each year during the month of March.

I saw my first Great Egret of the year this week. Egrets leave our area during the winter, flying closer to the coast where unfrozen water is easier to find.

Spring is one of the best times to hear the song of the Northern Mockingbird. They sing during all seasons, but their songs are more complicated in spring.

One of my favorite signs of spring starting each year is the soft, faintly musical, trilling song of the Dark-eyed Junco.

Look closely at a flock of Mallards this time of year, and you might find a similar species, the American Black Duck.