For many birds, spring migration and breeding season are in full swing. Some birds are more often heard than seen including two elusive, chicken-like birds, the sora and the Virginia rail, and the smaller yellow-breasted chat.
Wood Ducks are tree ducks—they perch on tree branches, usually near or not far from water.
The bald eagle is America’s national bird. Its main diet consists of fish—and it is a very skilled fisherman.
During the winter months, Goldeneyes and Mergansers are among the many diving ducks we see in and around Denver, and while they look similar, they also have several distinguishing characteristics.
Pellets are formed and regurgitated by all birds of prey because, lacking teeth, they cannot chew their food.
Some examples of brown and white songbirds I have encountered in and around Denver.
For the last two years, the Green Heron, a small heron of the eastern United States has been a vagrant in Northeast Denver during Fall migration.
This month: the Green-tailed Towhee and the Spotted Towhee plus the Northern Pintail.
Many birds are raising their young at this time of year in the tree hole nests of aspen trees.
I’m surprised that I have not yet showcased the Mallard and the Canada Goose in my “Bird Sightings” column because they are two of the most ubiquitous birds around the Denver area.
Birding can be nuanced and humbling. But modern technologies, such as continuous auto-focusing digital cameras, and the Merlin app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, have helped me become a better birder—more skillful, knowledgeable, and accurate.
Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are large sandpipers that look alike. The Greater Yellowlegs is a heavier, bulkier bird while the Lesser Yellowlegs is a slimmer, more delicate bird.
