Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron is a migrant breeder usually present in Quebec from March until early December. This majestic bird is found near its feeding grounds in wooded areas that are hard for people and predators to penetrate. It looks for its food in shallow waters;  its diet consists mainly of small fish less then 30cm long as well as frogs, salamanders, large insects, mice and small rodents. Most of the fish it captures are of very little interests to humans.

You can often see this bird standing still in shallow waters. With great patience, it waits for a fish or a frog to venture near. Then, with a rapid movement of its long neck, it impales its victims with its sharp, spear-like bill. After eating, it assumes its immobile stance again. It may also find food by wading slowly through the shallows.

The Great Blue Heron nests in a large structure of interwoven branches in the tops of trees, mostly hardwood. Generally, the Great Blue Heron is monogamous, though the pair lasts only one season. The clutch size is from 3 to 5, even 7 eggs at time. Normally we can expect to find 4 eggs of a light blue-green coloration. Both parents share the incubation period of 28 days after which 2 or 3 young fledge.  At the peak of their growth spurt, a healthy chick can consume up to 6 meals a day. If the food is in short supply, only the stronger ones survive.

Great Blue Heron, even when undisturbed by humans or other predators, periodically abandon their colonies and settle elsewhere. Their large nests can cause some trees to collapse and their droppings, falling on the foliage or on the ground can block the normal processes of photosynthesis and transpiration, therefore rendering the sites unsuitable for breeding.

Species profile

Clutch size                   – usually 4-5 eggs (3-7)

Laying interval            -1 egg per 2-3 days

Start of incubation      -with first egg

Incubation period       -usually 27 days (25-30)

Maturity at hatching    -semi-altricial

Care of young                   -by female and male

Nestling period                -usually 81 days (64-91)

Age at first flight             -usually 60 days (51-81)

Dependence of young   -until 3 weeks after first flight

Broods per year               -1

Breeding age                     -usually 2 years

Mating system                 -monogamy

Duration of pair bond    -1 season

Total length                        -97-137 cm

Wing span                           -183 – 213.4cm

Weight                                 -M2576g / F2204g

Longevity record           -23 years 3 months

Sources:

Gauthier, J. and Y. Aubry, 1996. The Breeding Birds of Québec, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Quebec region.

Godfrey, W. E., 1986, Les Oiseaux du Canada, Édition révisée,  Musée national des sciences naturelles.

Woodpeckers are perfectly adapted for their lives in the forest. Their distinctive drumming can mean they are trying to attract a mate, warn off other woodpecker males, build a nest, or are simply looking for food. From head to toe the woodpecker is equipped with special features for pecking wood.

• A hard skull – the woodpecker skull is specially designed to withstand repeated blows. The bones of a woodpecker skull are thicker than in other birds. Also the bones between the beak and the skull are joined by a cartilage which cushions each blow before it reaches the brain. The latter is fitted in tightly so that it cannot slam into the skull with much force. Woodpecker skulls also have something called the hyoid apparatus which provides more cushioning and also controls the movement of the tongue.
• A long tongue – woodpecker tongues can be extended 1.5-3 times the length of their beaks. The tongue is essentially rolled up in the skull and has special muscles that allow it to shoot out and grab food. The end has barbs like a fishing hook which keep the grubs from wiggling away and they are drawn out of their holes. The tongues are super sensitive helping the birds to find prey.
• A strong beak – all woodpeckers have stout, chisel-like bills to help them drill holes in trees for nesting or feeding. Male woodpeckers also drum to signal their mates or warn other males away.
• Stiff tail feathers – while the woodpecker is hammering away it is supported by specially stiffened tail feathers which anchor it against the trunk of the tree.
• Zagodactyl feet – this means that unlike other birds, woodpeckers have two toes facing front and two toes facing back. This gives the birds a solid base for clinging to the tree.

Two of the most common woodpeckers occurring in our area and that are often seen at feeders are the Downy Woodpecker and its larger cousin the Hairy Woodpecker.

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

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DOWNY WOODPECKER

Fast Facts

• Size: 14-17 cm (6-7 in)
• Wingspan: 25-30 cm (10-12 in)
• Weight: 21-28 g (0.74-0.99 ounces)• Black and white plumage
• Centre of back white• Small pointed bill, shorter than head
• Males have a red patch on the back of their heads
• Call note a sharp “pik”, also a descending whinny  Hear call.
• Occurs in deciduous forests, parks and gardens across most of North America
• Feeds on insects in the stems of weeds and galls

Reproduction

• Nests in cavities in trees or dead branches
• Lays 3-8 white eggs
• Eggs hatch in 12 days!

Cool Facts

• Downy Woodpeckers get more food when they join mixed flocks of birds such as chickadees which warn them of predators
• They use the exit tubes made by larvae to pull these grubs out of galls
• Male Downy Woodpeckers feed on small branches and weed stems while females feed more on large branches and trunks of trees.

HAIRY WOODPECKER

Fast Facts

• Size: 18-26 cm (7-10 in)
• Wingspan: 33-41 cm (13-16 in)
• Weight: 40-95 g (1.41-3.35 ounces)
• Black and white plumage• Centre of back white
• Thick bill, longer or same length as head
• Males have a red patch on the back of their heads
• Call note a sharp “peek”, also a rattle on the same note Hear call.
• Occurs in mature woodland, wooded parks and gardens with large trees across most of North America; in Central America is only found at higher elevations
• Feeds on insects, spiders, fruits and seeds

Reproduction

• Nests in cavities in trees or dead branches
• Lays 3-7 white eggs

Cool Facts

• Hairy Woodpeckers like to hang out around Pileated Woodpeckers often taking food these bigger woodpeckers miss
• There are 17 different kinds of Hairy Woodpeckers, with the ones in the north being bigger than the ones in the south and birds in the west being darker underneath
• Where Downies and Hairies occur together the Downy uses smaller branches and the Hairy spends more time on the trunk. However when Downies are not present the Hairy will move to smaller branches.

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Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca)

Snowy Owl in flight

Blending beautifully into its background, the predominately white bird is at home in the Arctic.  Male snowy owls tend to have very white plumage, while females have black speckled feathers eminently suited to helping them blend in to the background as they incubate and care for their young. In fact with some female snowy owls, the speckling means they are almost black.  The only things that stay the same are those piercing yellow eyes.

Not only does their feathering ensure they blend in, it also protects them from their very harsh environment. They have feathered eyelids and legs to complete their snowsuits. Born in mid-summer, their chicks are covered in gray fluffy down, helping them to blend into the background very effectively around their nests in the tundra.

Born in the Arctic, these magnificent birds live in a very extreme environment. If they survive the early years and learn to hunt effectively, they may live well into their teens. Many youngsters make a migration south during winter, especially when their food supplies, the lemmings, dwindle and crash. This is the case this year and so far there are many sightings in the southern Québec region, with many snowy owl deaths reported along with many admissions to wildlife rehabilitation programs. These birds lucky enough to have made it into care will be fed and aided through the winter, then returned to the wild to continue their migration back north.

Those birds remaining in the Arctic must cope with almost continual darkness, no problem to these hunters capable of finding and catching prey with sound alone. Their facial discs and acute hearing help pinpoint the slightest sounds enabling prey to be caught in their strong talons. We mainly think of owls as being nocturnal hunters, but these owls are also just as adept at hunting during the day, after all, midsummer in the Arctic brings daylight for nearly 24 hours of the day. It is therefore not uncommon to see snowy owls actively hunting during the day in our winters.

As with all birds of prey, snowy owl females are also larger, often by a quarter to a third as much when compared to the males.

This magnificent bird is also our Provincial Bird, representing so much of the beauty and tenacity required to live in this very special climate. They are protected by law and must not be interfered with in any way. However, if you do find an injured or dead snowy owl, please call your local Provincial Conservation office as soon as possible.

Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis)

canada-goose-in-flight

Honk, honk – how often have we heard this sound and looked to the sky to see the V-shaped flocks (* see below) of the Canada Goose? Each spring and fall, the skeins of migrating geese are a vivid reminder that the season is changing and migration is underway.

The Canada Goose has a black neck and head, white cheeks (sometimes called a chin strap) and a brownish breast. There are 6 subspecies of Canada Goose and size can vary quite a bit. For example, length may range from 25 to 45 inches and wingspan from 43 to 60 inches.

Nesting habitat of the Canada Goose varies from ponds, swamps, wet meadows, small lakes and rivers. In Quebec, geese prefer to nest in arctic tundra or the bog habitat of the boreal forest. Usually at age 2 or 3, geese will establish lifelong pair bonds; each pair then establishes a nesting territory. The pair will defend its territory vigorously, with bursts of honking and, in some cases, actual attack. If a goose approaches you with its neck extended and his head down, back off! You are probably too close to its nest or young family.

The female builds the nest – often on rocks, grassy mounds, muskrat homes etc. – and lines it with down. Grass, moss, cattails, branches and other plant material are gathered for the outer circle of the nest. Breeding behaviour begins in late April and continues to early July. The female lays between 4 to 6 eggs and incubates them for 28 days. The nestling phase is just one day, although the young may occasionally be brooded at night. During the fledgling stage, the young walk, swim and feed on their own, although the family moves around in a group – an excellent defensive strategy!

Geese are herbivores, eating roots, seeds, sedges and the occasional berry. During migration, flocks will often descend on farm fields and devour waste corn, grains and roots.

Information from The Breeding Bird Atlas of Quebec, edited by Jean Gauthier and Yves Aubry, 1996

*Why do geese fly in a V? Because it would be too hard to fly in an S! Just kidding. Scientists have determined that the V-shaped formation that geese use when migrating serves two important purposes:

First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. In this way, the geese can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest.

The second benefit to the V-formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group. Fighter pilots often use this formation for the same reason.

Answer from The Library of Congress, Everyday Mysteries website.

Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup can both be found in the Montreal region during migration. Once you find them, you will need to look very closely as they are extremely difficult to tell apart.

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)

The male of the Greater Scaup has a rounder head with a more violet colour than the Lesser Scaup.

Greater Scaup stage on lakes and rivers in southern Quebec during migration where it can be seen in large rafts on Lac St. Louis, Lac St. Pierre and Lac St. Francois. This is especially evident in April, October and November.

This handsome duck breeds along the coasts of James Bay and Hudson Bay in the forest tundra, where it nests in loose colonies. It feeds on mollusks, scallops and aquatic plants while the ducklings feed on the surface and eat insects, larvae and seeds. It is an excellent swimmer and can dive to depths of over six metres. It can stay under water for up to a minute searching for food.

The numbers of Greater and Lesser Scaup have slowly been declining since the 1980’s, possibly because of habitat loss. Its behaviour of gathering in large concentrations on its wintering grounds also makes it vulnerable to oil spills.

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

The head of the Lesser Scaup is more greenish in colour than the Greater Scaup and its sides are less white. It breeds in southern Quebec as well as central and northern Quebec. Striped skunks and the American Crow predate the nests.Lesser Scaup can sometimes be seen mixed in with Greater Scaup in large rafts during migration. It is found only in the New World.

American Goldfinches in field

The American Goldfinch is our only bright yellow bird with black wings and a black cap.

Female and immature birds lack the black cap and are a duller olive colour. In winter the males resemble the females.

The American Goldfinch is common in weedy fields and roadsides where it feeds in flocks on dandelion and thistle seeds.

It calls “potato chip” during its distinctive roller-coaster flight. Click here to hear a sound sample.

Unlike most birds, the American Goldfinch waits until midsummer to nest. The female collects filaments and fibers from thistle flowers, catkins, caterpillar cocoons and dead trees and grasses. The nest is usually located in the forks of trees or shrubs, varying from 4 to 20 feet high.

The female lays between 4 to 6 bluish eggs, usually one a day. Incubation, which starts after the laying of the second egg, lasts for 12 to 14 days. The male feeds the female during the incubation period. The nestling phase ranges from 11 to 15 days. During the fledgling phase, which may last up to a month, the male is primarily responsible for feeding the young. American Goldfinches may have two broods.

American Goldfinch are present across Canada and through most of the United States. In fall, flocks of goldfinches may be observed moving southward, but goldfinches are generally considered to be year-round residents. The Christmas Bird Count indicates an increase in the numbers of overwintering goldfinches, which could be attributed to an increase in bird feeders.

You can attract the American goldfinch to your feeder in winter by filling it with niger (thistle) seeds and/or sunflower seeds. But remember, the American Goldfinch in winter does not resemble the bright yellow bird that we see in summer.

Click here to see a video of American Goldfinches at a feeder.

Baltimore Orioles can often be heard singing from the tops of trees. Click here to listen to the song of the oriole. The breast, belly, shoulder patch and rump of an adult male oriole are orange and the rest of its body and head is black, except for the white wing bars. An adult female oriole is yellow-brown on the upper parts with darker wings (and white wing bars), and dull orange on the breast and belly. First-year males do not have the brilliant orange colour of the adult; they are still brownish on the head and wings, which sometimes makes it difficult to tell a young male from an older female.

Males arrive on the breeding grounds before the females do. In the Montreal area, we can expect to start seeing and hearing orioles in the first week of May (Bannon, Pierre; Tableau des dates d’arrivée printanière au Québec 1992-2008). A male establishes his territory, often in last year’s breeding location. Courtship behaviour begins as soon as the females arrive on the breeding grounds. Males chase the females and perform bowing and jumping behaviours; females may respond with wing drooping and chatter calling (Stokes, Donald and Stokes, Lillian, A Guide to Bird Behaviour Volume II, 1983).

The female builds the nest, which is a tightly woven, long pouch. It usually hangs from the underside of a branch. The female lays four to six pale grayish-white eggs, which are streaked and blotched with dark lines. The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days; the nestling phase lasts 12 to 14 days.

Orioles eat berries, nectar and insects. If you have lots of mature deciduous trees in your backyard, you might be able to entice orioles to visit by putting cut oranges on a branch or platform, or by having an oriole feeder (filled with orange-coloured sugar water). Click here to see a video of an oriole feeder.

Yellow Warblers migrate almost as soon as they are finished breeding. They often leave in early July and are gone by August. The Yellow Warbler winters from Baja California to Central Peru. They return to the Gulf coast in mid April. We see them here in Canada in May.

Although the Yellow Warbler is one of our more familiar warblers, their numbers have declined in some areas. The loss of river habitat in the southwest as well as parasitism by cowbirds has caused some decline.

The Yellow Warbler’s habitat is bushes, swamp edges, streams and gardens. Their nest is attractive, made up of fluffy fibers such as milkweed, fine grasses and bark strips. It sometimes can be easy to see as it is usually placed from 3 to 10 feet from the ground. Many yellow warbler nests are parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds. That means that cowbirds often lay their eggs in the Yellow Warbler’s nest rather than build a nest of their own. Many Yellow Warblers recognize cowbird eggs and either abandon the nest or build another nest on top of the old one. Nests with up to six layers of nests have been found.

The Yellow Warbler’s diet is almost entirely made up of insects and it has a sharp pointy beak that is perfect for catching them. The male feeds the female while she sits on the eggs and the eggs hatch in about 10 days. Both parents feed the young once they have hatched and in another 10 days the young are feathered and ready to leave the nest. For the first two or three days, the young perch near the nest and the adults continue to feed them insects. After that time, the young stay in the vicinity of the nest but must find food on their own.
Click here to download Yellow Warbler coloring page ywar-coloring-page