Part of the fun of learning to recognize a wide variety of wild birds is sharing that knowledge with new bird watchers. But I learned the identification process could benefit from a personal upgrade.
Here乌鸦传媒檚 an example. Trish, a newer bird enthusiast felt thrilled to share her recent sighting of a banded Kingfisher. I hadn乌鸦传媒檛 heard of a banded Kingfisher but I wasn乌鸦传媒檛 really too surprised. I never dismiss a possibility. I乌鸦传媒檓 always learning new bird information.
To dig a bit deeper, we reviewed the exact location, the time of day and distinctive markings. The description was familiar乌鸦传媒 stubby bird with a grey-blue body and large kingfisher-like head with a tufted crest.
Did it also have had a blue-grey band across its white upper breast? Yes, it did! I suddenly felt rather foolish! We were both talking about the BELTED kingfisher. The word 乌鸦传媒榖anded乌鸦传媒� described a specific identifying feature of a relatively common, primarily warmer season resident, frequently found anywhere there乌鸦传媒檚 an open water food source.
乌鸦传媒淏anded乌鸦传媒� had caught my attention without triggering the most obvious bird identification! The Belted kingfisher that we see in South Central BC ranges over most of North America. It frequently does migrate south for open water in colder months to feed on small fish and aquatic insects. Some choose not to travel at all.
It乌鸦传媒檚 interesting to note, the Belted kingfisher乌鸦传媒檚 loud, raucous chatter may remind you of the Australian kookaburra, a cousin among a world-wide family of Alcedinidae.
A few days later, another relatively new birder called with a long list she had seen that morning. With the excitement of new discoveries on her mind, Donna asked, 乌鸦传媒淕uess what we saw this morning? A Red-winged blackbird! We乌鸦传媒檝e never seen one of those in the winter before! Is that unusual?乌鸦传媒�
I乌鸦传媒檇 seen one nearby just a few days ago. Other observers had mentioned they乌鸦传媒檇 spotted Red-winged blackbirds recently too. Normal blackbird behaviour can include short-distance migration for breeding. That might make us think we won乌鸦传媒檛 see any. But with our warming winters, some Red-winged black birds are foregoing a lengthy migration if what they need is close at hand.
Donna added 乌鸦传媒淎nd we saw乌鸦传媒ξ谘淮綕 followed by a hearty list of bird species they乌鸦传媒檇 spotted including Dark-eyed juncos, House sparrows, House finches and Black-capped chickadees. 乌鸦传媒淢erlin also saw, or more accurately heard,乌鸦传媒� she said apologetically, 乌鸦传媒渁 Brown creeper and a Mountain chickadee.乌鸦传媒� I knew why Donna was hesitant. Bird folks are always warning each other that the successful use of the Merlin bird-call phone app can be a bit challenging.
Sometimes what Merlin hears, and identifies, may not be the bird you see. Donna admitted that they hadn乌鸦传媒檛 seen either bird but were counting on Merlin coming up with the right answer. It乌鸦传媒檚 certainly possible both Merlin responses were correct, especially as those two birds are in the neighbourhood.
To be completely sure, you need a bird call expert along. Fortunately, naturalist groups often include some very knowledgeable bird call experts. I乌鸦传媒檓 always brushing up on my bird call and identification expertise.
To contact Dianne please go to writer@diannebersea.com
