Pictorial_Highlights_March

PICTORIAL HIGHLIGHTS, MARCH 2002

The Fox Sparrow spring migration began in earnest on March 7, when five were banded.

Also beginning to migrate in much greater numbers during the first ten days of March were Song Sparrows. Both FOSPs and SOSPs can be quite variable in coloration, sometimes approaching one another in general coloration and appearance, but as the photo above and the side-by-side photo below show, FOSPs are distinctly larger (especially in the proportions of their head), have a light yellowish or pinkish base to their lower mandible, reddish brown auriculars (cheek patch), and streaks that tend to be more distinctly chevron-shaped compared to SOSPs. Of course, the busy (and often noisy), habitual two-footed, back-and-forth scratching behavior of FOSPs as they search for seeds among the litter on the ground also helps to distinguish them from SOSPs, whose use of this foraging style is less frequent and much less exaggerated.

We banded our first American Robin of the year on 15 March. Altough 29 were counted on our local Christmas Bird Count, migrants have easily increased the number of this species in the vicinity of Powdermill by ten-fold or more during the week.

With 18 banded this week (through 18 March), a total of 30 Fox Sparrows have been banded at Powdermill through the first third or so of their spring migration (FOSPs are rarely encountered here after mid-April). In addition to photos above posted last week to aid in identifying this species, is this rear view showing its distinctly rufous tail and rump (which contrast sharply with a gray or olive lower back). This is a very conspicuous field mark when the bird is seen in flight.

We banded another color variant (gold), second-year (SY) House Finch male on 24 March. Unlike the dull yellow variant we showed in late February, this bird's coloration was bright and extensive. In the second photo below it is shown beside a "normal" red SY bird, whose coloration, if anything, was a bit more restricted in its coverage.

Although no new migrant species were seen or banded this week (18-24 March), we observed another sure sign of the coming spring season. All three SY male American Goldfinches that we banded on 3/24 were in a fairly advanced stage of prealternate (i.e., prenuptial) body molt, with patches bright yellow side, breast, and back feathers beginning to replace the dull brown and pale yellow basic (i.e., winter) plumage. Also, their black caps were molting in more extensively and their bills appeared to be brightening to their orange springtime coloration.

The first Eastern Phoebes returned to the vicinity of Powdermill on the early date of 3/10. These early returning birds faced a very cold, snowy spell last Thursday and Friday, followed by drenching rains this Monday and Tuesday. At least one hardy bird, observed off and on outside our banding lab throughout these periods, survived the inclement conditions. We caught what we took to be that bird in a net near the banding lab the day after the rains ended. Two more banded at the end of the week probably were more recent arrivals.

An adult (ASY) male Eastern Bluebird banded here last spring returned on 3/30.