Backyard Big Year

Red-bellied Woodpecker

(Code 1) 1 Jan 2015

Area: Fairly common resident in most woodlots and woods in Hunterdon County.

Yard: Fairly common resident, at least one pair in the neighborhood and frequently visiting yard each day.

Audio:

American Robin (Code 1) 2 Jan 2015

Area: Abundant migrant, fairly common winter and summer resident. Winter numbers dependent on fruit crops in area and larger landscape.

Yard: Abundant migrant, fairly common resident.

Audio
Call, 4 Feb 2015

Northern Mockingbird (Code 2) 1 Jan 2015

Area: Fairly common to uncommon resident in Hunterdon County.

Yard: Uncommon visitor to yard, they are uncommon in the neighborhood and occasionally pass through the yard.

American Goldfinch (Code 1) 1 Jan 2015

Area: Common permanent resident throughout Hunterdon County.

Yard: Common permanent resident, frequently seen or heard as flyovers, and often coming to Nyger or black sunflower feeders.

Audio:

Flight calls

Wuueeee calls

Presumed Carolina Chickadee–one of two birds present in my yard in early January with very little or no white in secondaries and wing coverts, gray hind portion of cheek patch, and small neat black bib.

Carolina Chickadee 1 Jan 2014

Area: Traditionally, Carolina Chickadees were thought to inhabit the very southern portion of Hunterdon County, with the rest of the county inhabited by Black-capped Chickadees. In reality, there is probably a pretty extensive hybrid zone through much of the county, and many chickadees are probably of mixed heritage.

Yard: Most of the chickadees in my yard sing Black-capped Songs, but do not seem as bright as typical Black-capped Chickadees and may actually be hybrids. Every once and a while I see or hear a chickadee that seems to match Carolina.

Note white secondaries and wing coverts forming a white “hockey stick”–one of the key marks for distinguishing Black-capped from Carolina and hybrid chickadees.

Black-capped Chickadee (Code 1) 1 Jan 2015

Area: Historically, all chickadees in northern Hunterdon County have been considered Black-capped Chickadees, but recently it seems that most of them may actually be Black-capped x Carolina Chickadee hybrids. In the winter time, a few northern birds that are more obviously Black-capped Chickadees are seen with the local chickadees.

Yard: Fairly common–though most chickadees are thought to be hybrids and birds that are more obviously Black-capped Chickadees are usually only seen in the winter.

Audio:

Typical Black-capped Chickadee song type (1 Jan 2015).  Birds learn the song, and hybrids seem to prefer this song, so not reliable for separating pure Black-capped Chickadees from hybrid Black-Capped x Carolina Chickadee.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Code 2) 1 Jan 2015

Area: Uncommon and local winter resident, not seen every day, but not unexpected when seen in local woods and woodlots.

Yard: Uncommon winter resident, usually seen several times a season. Sometimes multiple individuals, including young birds and adults.

White-breasted Nuthatch  (Code 1)  1 Jan 2015

Area: Fairly common permanent resident in most woodlots and woods in the county.

Yard: Fairly common, a couple nuthatches are usually in the yard. They forage in the big trees in the side yard, and come to suet and black sunflower seeds at the feeder.

Audio:

Mourning Dove (Code 1) 1 Jan 2015

Area:  Common permanent resident.

Yard:  Fairly common resident, seen most days if time spent in yard.  Often foraging or roosting in side yard or neighbor’s yard.  Will come to seed under the feeder or to seed on ground.

Audio:

Wing whistle (1 Jan 2015)