Tag Archives: The Erwin Record

Eastern wood-pewee is pint-sized tyrant flycatcher

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Photo by USFWS • An Eastern wood-pewee perches on an exposed branch.

My annual fall warbler watching has not taken off yet. We’ve had hot days recently and not many weather fronts moving through the area that might push migrating warblers to make a stopover in my yard.

Even the warblers I have seen, such as a recent black-throated blue warbler, are species that nest in Northeast Tennessee, meaning they may or may not be migrating so much as lingering.

There are, however, still signs of migration. Ruby-throated hummingbird activity remains intense at both the feeders and the stands of blooming jewelweed around my home. I’ve been seeing everything from cedar waxwings and wild turkeys to red-eyed vireos and Eastern wood-pewee.

Photo by Hans Toom/Pixabay • An Eastern wood-pewee perches on a branch. These flycatchers are tireless at singing their name “pee-wee” during the summer season.

The latter species is a member of the family known as tyrant flycatchers. During the early summer months it’s easy to find Eastern wood-pewees. Head to this bird’s favored mid-elevation on local mountain slopes and you’re almost certain to hear its plaintive “pee-a-wee” whistle the gives the bird its common name. Their sheer dedication to singing their name repeatedly reminds me of the persistence of another champion summertime singer, the red-eyed vireo.

By early fall, however, Eastern wood-pewees fall mostly silent, but they seem to increase their profile as migrants perch on bare branches of open trees to frequently venture out to “flycatch” meals on the wing.

In appearance, the Eastern wood-pewee doesn’t have much to help it stand out. Like many of its relatives, it’s a plain bird with olive-brown to gray upper parts, a pale throat and a whitish belly. Some birds show a faint hint of an incomplete eye ring that looks more like a crescent at the back of the eye. Otherwise, unlike some relatives, the pewee lacks a prominent ring around its eyes.

The Eastern pewee looks like its head comes to a triangular peak, but this species is not truly crested like the related great crested flycatcher.

In diet, it lives up to its flycatcher family heritage, feeding on houseflies, mosquitoes, bees and wasps, winged ants, moths, stoneflies and mayflies. If insects are unavailable, they may feed on berries and seeds, but they are dedicated insectivores. They catch most of their food on the wing, sallying forth from their perches. If unsuccessful, they will swing back, land again and wait for another chance to strike.

The Eastern wood-pewee’s bill has a dark upper mandible and a yellowish lower mandible, a good way to separate the bird from other flycatchers.

Small songbirds are not known for longevity, but one Eastern wood-pewee was at least 8 years, 2 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Maryland in 2010. That was enough to rank the bird as the oldest documented member of its species, according to the website All About Birds.

Some practice will help observers tell an Eastern phoebe from an Eastern wood-pewee. Phoebes are slightly heavier than pewees, although they are close in overall body length. The pewee does not bob its tail at its perch, which is a habit that the phoebe does so reliably that that action alone can confirm its identity. The bills of these two birds provide another reliable way to distinguish them. Phoebes have an all-black bill, while pewees have a two-toned bill with a lighter lower mandible. It takes an observation with good lighting condition to detect this difference at times, but its a surefire way to confirm a visiting pewee’s identity.

Phoebes can rightfully be considered a backyard bird guest throughout the year, but autumn is the best season to get acquainted with the Eastern wood-pewee.

Stake out any trees with lofty bare limbs. Chances are a migrating Eastern wood-pewee will show up and lay a claim to this valuable real estate. For flycatchers, a good perch will help increase the odds their flycatching will be successful. Watching them on the hunt as they refuel to continue fall migration is always a source of reliable entertainment.

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Bryan Stevens has written about birds, birding and birders since 1995. Email him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

House finch origin story in region has unusual twist

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Photo by GeorgiaLens/Pizabay • A male house finch visits a feeder. Flocks of these small finches can become regular feeder visitors. Credit: GEORGIALENS/PIXABAY

I received an email from Unicoi residents Judy and Bill Beckman asking for a reason to explain a sudden absence in house finches at their feeders.

“For a number of weeks now, our house finches have disappeared from our feeders,” they wrote in the email. “They are usually the dominant number of birds. We do not recall this happening before. Any thoughts?”

I answered, explaining that the birds will probably return. Exactly when the finches decide to return to the couple’s yard is more problematic.

In fall and spring, even birds that don’t normally migrate get a bit restless. I suggested that the house finches could just be exploring somewhere else nearby.

My best guess is the finches they will return. As I explained in my answer, the Beckmans have probably provided a generous buffet for the birds. They will remember where the best free lunch is served.

Photo by Bryan Stevens • A male house finch perched on a cable. These finches are native to the western United States but became established in the eastern states thanks to the illicit pet trade.

The house finch is an interesting species. Until the 1980s, this species was not present in Northeast Tennessee. Although this finch is a native North American bird, it is not truly native to the Eastern half of the continent. All the house finches in the Eastern United States are descended from captive birds released into the wild by dealers in the exotic bird trade.

About 1940, the house finch became established in the eastern United States. In violation of federal law, these small finches were being sold in New York City as pet birds described as “Hollywood Finches.” To avoid trouble with authorities, vendors and even some owners released their “Hollywood Finches” into the wild. Finding the area around New York City to their liking, house finches thrived spread. Within a few decades, they were common birds throughout the eastern United States, including Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. The house finch had also been introduced into Hawaii about 1870, and is still present today, along with many other species of birds not native to the islands.

As the house finch claimed a new range, the species inevitably encountered the related purple finch. During the winter, both finches are often present at feeders in the region. When both are available for observation, bird enthusiasts should take advantage of the opportunity to compare and contrast these birds.

Personally, I have never had any difficulty distinguishing a purple finch from a house finch. The two species, at least in my eyes, are easily recognized. I can understand why some people might have trouble separating the two birds. The late Roger Tory Peterson once described the purple finch as a bird “dipped in raspberry juice.” Think about that imagery for a moment and you’ve got a good start to distinguishing a male purple finch from a male house finch.

Photo by Ray Shrewsberry • A male house finch perches on a branch. This bird species has been introduced into locations nature never meant for the bird to live.

The females of both species are a different matter. However, purple finch females have a more distinctive facial pattern and a heavier bill than do female house finches. With a little practice, it’s not difficult to identity these two species in the field. In Northeast Tennessee, house finches and purple finches are usually only present together during the winter months when purple finches occasionally flock to our feeders.

In their native range in the western United States, house finches have adapted to a range of habitats, including deserts, grassland, chaparral and open woods. Another related species in the Western United States is Cassin’s finch, which is a species found mostly in high-elevation regions dominated by tall evergreen or coniferous forests.

The house finch is an abundant bird. According to the Partners in Flight, there are an estimated 40 million house finches ranging across North America.

They have also proven resilient. House finches are susceptible to some contagious diseases, including Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a bacterium that causes chronic respiratory disease in chickens and infectious sinusitis in turkeys, chickens, game birds, pigeons and passerine birds. House finch populations in the Eastern United States crashed in the 1990s due to the epidemic prevalence of the bacteria. Their numbers have since stabilized, although the species remains vulnerable to infection from the bacteria. Infection with the bacteria often leads to conjunctivitis characterized by swollen, encrusted, nasal discharges, impaired vision and weight loss. Infected birds usually succumb to slow starvation or predation. House finch conjunctivitis is most frequent during colder months when birds congregate and flock to bird feeders. Anyone who fed birds during the 1990s likely witnessed the disease at their feeders.

They also proved to be a songbird susceptible to West Nile virus, but most house finches and other songbirds recover from this mosquito-borne disease. Crows, ravens and jays, however, are vulnerable to the disease.

Overall, although a strange twist of fate brought the house finch into Tennessee and other parts of the Eastern half of the nation, this bird has become a welcome visitor. Males have a cheery song and bright plumage. By all accounts, it’s also here to stay.

I’m going to have to keep a closer watch over my own feeders. I had a pair that visited regularly at the start of the summer season. It’s time to see if they’re back with a new generation of house finches.

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Bryan Stevens has written about birds, birding and birders since 1995. Email him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Despite fearsome look and Herculean size, native beetle is harmless and fascinating

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Bryan Stevens • This Eastern Hercules Beetle, observed and photographed 20 years ago, was photographed with a hand and a newspaper for a size comparison.

I’m continuing to celebrate my 30th year of bringing readers stories about things with wings. Usually the subjects of these columns have feathers, but that’s not always the case.

I’ve written about everything from minks and otters to butterflies and beetles.

As way of introduction of a rerun of a column from 2006, I saw my first Eastern Hercules Beetle in Erwin 20 years ago this month. Now, after a rather long gap, I’ve observed another, once again in Erwin and not far from the location where I saw the first one.

In fact, I found this one just outside The Erwin Record office on Gay Street. Unfortunately, this specimen was dead. The one in 2006 had been very much alive.

There are some other coincidences readers may notice as they read the column I wrote after my first sighting. The column ran in The Erwin Record on Sept. 12, 2006.

•••

Although my friend’s tone of voice sounded somewhat horrified, I felt only fascinated as I turned to look at the focus of his trepidation.

I had failed to notice the large beetle clinging to the brick wall at Erwin’s Flick Video. The creature, undeniably bizarre in appearance and rather sizable for a bug, kept me spellbound for a moment.

Fortunate to have my digital camera with me, I snapped numerous photographs of this large insect, fascinated by its size and appearance.

I made a quick identification of the insect as a “Rhinoceros beetle,” which turned out to be only partially correct. In fact, the insect belonged to an extensive family of beetle that does include various species of rhinoceros beetle, as well as the scarab beetles, which derive their fame from depictions in the art of ancient Egypt.

An Eastern Hercules Beetle can reach a length of 2.4 inches. This male was found in September of 2006 on an Erwin Record coin box at Flick Video.

After extensive online research, I revised my identification to Eastern Hercules Beetle – a true giant among our native bugs.

The Eastern Hercules Beetle is the largest beetle in the Southeastern United State. This big bug boasts an extensive family of closely related insects known by such names as rhinoceros beetle, unicorn beetle, horn beetle and horned beetle.

This insect’s scientific name is Dynastes tityus, placing it in a genus that contains only six other species.

For a bug, the Eastern Hercules Beetle is not without its appeal. The hard shell is olive-green with a pattern of brownish spots. When I showed photographs of the beetle to people, a few individuals likened it to a “spotted Easter egg with horns.”

The Eastern Hercules Beetle can reach a length of 2.4 inches. Only the male beetle sports the impressive horns. Female beetles are slightly smaller and lack horns. The male’s main horns extend from the front of the head, but they also sport two smaller horns on the thorax.

The horns are not merely for show. Male beetles are intolerant of each other and use their horns in combat to settle their differences. The horns are not mobile, however, and the beetle cannot bring the horns together to pinch a person.

The “horns” on this beetle are also not mouthparts. This bug does not bite. They may look fearsome, but they are completely harmless.

The size of the beetle’s horns is directly related to the amount of food the creature obtained during its larval form. The larval grubs of this beetle feed on nutrients available in rotting wood. For instance, they can often be located in fallen logs on the forest floor.

Bryan Stevens • This female Eastern Hercules Beetle was found dead on the sidewalk on Gay Street in Erwin, Tennessee, in September of 2026.

The huge beetle grubs are often tasty morsels for a variety of wildlife. Pileated woodpeckers will use their stout bills to chisel the grubs from fallen stumps and logs. Raccoons, opossums, skunks and snakes also hunt these grubs.

Some birds, including owls and crows, will eat the adult beetles. The adult beetles are not without some defensive measures. When threatened, they can release a foul-smelling to discourage predators. I might have hesitated to pick up the beetle I encountered if I’d known this fact at the time.

Like all insects, this beetle has six legs which are capable of gripping any surface with surprising tenacity. I encouraged considerable resistance when I attended to remove the beetle from a brick to which it had attached itself.

My research also indicated that the only way this beetle can injure a person would be by accidentally scratching someone with its spiky limbs.

These beetles are not often seen by people. This large beetle spends the daylight hours in hiding, becoming more active after dark. They can fly and are attracted to bright lights.

I count myself very fortunate to have been able to observe this usual creature for a few minutes and document my sighting with some photographs.

I readily admit most people would not consider an Eastern Hercules Beetle as “cute,” but surely only a person with a complete lack of imagination could stare into this bug’s beady little eyes and not find the bug to possess true character and personality.

I’m joking – sort of – and promise to return to the usual topic of our feathered friends in next week’s column.

•••

Bryan Stevens has written about birds, birding, birders and on occasion, bugs, since 1995. Email him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

 

Calling cuckoo brings back some birding memories

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Photo by Peter Pearsall/USFWS • A yellow-billed cuckoo perches horizontally along a bare tree branch. The species feeds prodigiously on a variety of caterpillars.

I heard the low, gulping call of a yellow-billed cuckoo concealed by a dense curtain of green on the ridge behind my home on Sunday, July 26.

The hidden caller reminded me that this bird has acquired the nickname “rain crow” for consistently calling prior to summer downpours.

The yellow-billed cuckoo migrates a great distance to spend the summer months hidden in the dense green canopy of our local woodlands. Cuckoos spend the summer months in southern Canada and across most of the United States, but the bird’s winter range extends as far south as Venezuela and Argentina. They make a roundtrip journey of about 5,000 miles every spring and fall.

In pursuit of their favorite food – caterpillars – the yellow-billed cuckoo provides a public service, removing hairy tent caterpillars and their unsightly silk tents from the branches of various trees. I certainly applaud these efforts. Only a handful of birds feed on these caterpillars, with the yellow-billed cuckoo being the first and foremost consumer of these pests. The cuckoo has a voracious appetite for these caterpillars.

Photo by USFWS • A yellow-billed cuckoo selects a surprising open perch for a bird known for its reclusive nature.

Staking out tent caterpillar nests would seem a good way to increase the chances of seeing these elusive birds. Personally, it’s never quite worked out that way. My best – and first – sighting of a yellow-billed cuckoo is now buried 30 years back among my birding memories. I saw the bird perched in a gnarled peach tree that once stood only a few yards from my home.

Another memorable sighting took place on Fripp Island, South Carolina. That bird, observed from a golf cart, shared a tree with a scolding blue-gray gnatcatcher. The discrepancy in the sizes of the tiny gnatcatcher and the large cuckoo was striking. I genuinely feared that the cuckoo might attempt to snack on the smaller bird.
Other sightings have taken place at Roan Mountain State Park, Winged Deer Park in Johnson City, Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton and Douglas Lake in Cocke County.

In addition to sightings of live birds, some readers have reported window strikes to me, usually because they’re unable to identify the bird that suffered a sad demise after impacting a window.

The yellow-billed cuckoo is a large bird, which an observation in close quarters emphasizes. This bird can reach a length of nearly 12 inches, but much of that length is composed of its long tail. It easily matches the size of such familiar birds as blue jay and American robins.

The yellow-billed cuckoo has a long, streamlined body and a brown and white plumage. The underside of the tail features large white dots and the wings show some rusty-red feathers. The bird also has a large, curved beak that gives the species its common name.

I hear these birds every summer, but my sightings amount to perhaps a couple every decade. I’m sure I could see more cuckoos with extra effort, but this bird would still present a challenge.

Europe’s common cuckoo is famous in folklore and fairy tales for slipping its eggs into the nests of other birds. While the yellow-billed cuckoo does this on occasion, it is not in the same league as nest parasites such as brown-headed cowbirds.

Two other cuckoos spend time in the United States. The black-billed cuckoo is also found in Northeast Tennessee, but this species is even more difficult to locate than its yellow-billed cousin.

I’ve only seen black-billed cuckoos on a few occasions. My best and first sighting involved a bird that briefly perched on a snag along a hiking trail at Johnson City’s Winged Deer Park. I managed to get my binoculars on the bird long enough for a memorable look. I’ve also seen this species at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park and at Hampton Creek Cove in Roan Mountain.

Another species is the mangrove cuckoo, a bird that in the United States resides only in southern Florida while also ranging the Caribbean, both coasts of Mexico and Central America, and the Atlantic coast of South America as far south as the mouth of the Amazon River. It’s no surprise that this specialist species is found primarily in mangrove swamps.

The yellow-billed cuckoo is known by the scientific name, Coccyzus americanus. Other cuckoos in the genus Coccyzus, which includes about a dozen species, are pearly breasted cuckoo, dark-billed cuckoo, chestnut-bellied cuckoo, grey-capped cuckoo, bay-breasted cuckoo and the great lizard cuckoo.

Although I haven’t seen one for a few years, I’m still glad to know that the yellow-billed cuckoo remains a lurker in the woodlands around my home. If you manage to lay eyes on this elusive bird, consider yourself fortunate.

•••

Bryan Stevens has written about birds, birding and birders since 1995. To share a sighing, ask a question or make a comment, email him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Birds of summer offer exciting observations

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Bryan Stevens • A great egret catches a small fish.

Summer birding is not always productive. Recent sweltering days have reminded me of that fact. There are a few birds, however, that seem to increase their profiles in summer instead of wilting and retreating to the shade until the season begins to cool off.

Here’s a look at some of my summer favorites and the reasons behind their inclusion on this list.

Belted kingfisher
Although this member of the widespread kingfisher clan can be found in the region all year, the belted kingfisher definitely keeps a high profile in late summer when a visit to any pond, creek, river or lake is likely to result in hearing this kingfisher’s rattling vocalization, often made when the bird feels alarmed or disturbed.

In her book “The Folklore of Birds,” Laura C. Martin writes that in some accounts the kingfisher, not the dove, was the second bird Noah released from the ark after the Biblical flood. Instead of looking for land, the kingfisher flew too high and the sun scorched the bird’s feathers. After his setback with the raven and now the kingfisher, Noah made the kingfisher remain on the ark’s deck to catch its food from the water.

Halcyon days, a term meaning a period of peaceful quiet, is derived from Greek legend. According to the legend, the god Zeus restrained the storms during the period when the kingfishers nest. The scientific name for the belted kingfisher is Megaceryle alcyon, a variation on the term “halcyon.”

Photo by Bryan Stevens • The scientific name for the belted kingfisher is Megaceryle alcyon, a variation on the term “halcyon.”

Martin writes in her book about a Cherokee legend about how the kingfisher acquired its angling lifestyle. The poor bird wanted to be a waterbird, but lacked the equipment to make a living at fishing. The other animals convened a council and, in pity for the kingfisher’s plight, endowed the bird with its spear-like bill. Since that time, the bird has been known as “king of the fishers.”

The “king of the fishers” is indeed to be envied by human anglers. Although not successful in every attempt, the belted kingfisher is certainly exceptional in its pursuit of fish. According to John Eastman in his book, “Birds of Lake, Pond and Marsh,” the belted kingfisher typically captures about 10 fish per day. Some human anglers would envy a success rate like that.

Great egret
Many long-legged wading birds, as a general rule, like to wander in late summer after the nesting season’s finished. Many of these birds are common in coastal areas, but in late summer they often show up far inland.

Some of the waders to look for in the region include wood stork, roseate spoonbill, tricolored heron and snowy egret. The wading bird most likely to actually put in an appearance at local ponds or rivers is the great egret.

The great egret became a motivational symbol for conservation with the foundation of the National Audubon Society in 1905. The National Audubon Society spearheaded efforts to end the mass slaughter of various bird species. Some birds were killed for food, but millions were also killed for their showy feathers that were destined to decorate stylish attire worn as a symbol of high fashion. As early as 1910, some states began passing legislation to abolish trade in bird plumes. The federal government also passed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which was a law first enacted in 1916 to implement measures to protect and conserve migratory birds.

In 1953, a great egret in flight was chosen as the symbol for the official logo of the National Audubon Society, which was formed in part to prevent the killing of birds for their feathers. Birds like great egrets, snowy egrets, roseate spoonbills and other long-legged waders had been decimated before people responded to the wanton destruction being visited upon these beautiful and awe-inspiring creatures.

The great egret belongs to the genus Ardea, which includes various egrets and herons. Other members of this genus include Goliath heron, black-headed heron, purple heron and pied heron.

Photo by Jean Potter • A common nighthawk rests on a metal railing.

Common nighthawk
This insect-eating bird is a member of the nightjar family, which includes such familiar nocturnal serenaders as chuck-will’s widow and whip-poor-will.

The name common nighthawk is a misnomer. The species is not strictly nocturnal and it is certainly not a hawk. The nighthawk doesn’t offer a serenade like whip-poor-wills, but it does produce a “pent” call that sounds much like an electric buzzer. It’s often the first indication of one of these birds swooping overhead.

Nighthawks form impressive flocks, often numbering in the dozens or even hundreds. They are often active in evening hours, but I’ve seen large flocks of these migrating birds in mid-afternoon. August and September are the best time to look skyward to enjoy the spectacle of a large flock of swooping nighthawks as they pass overhead.

Swallow-tailed Kite
This is not exactly a common summer bird, but like the wandering wading birds, late summer is a likely time to catch a glimpse of this aerodynamic, unmistakable raptor. Several years ago I got the thrill of adding a swallow-tailed kite to my life list in some agricultural fields in southwestern Washington County. I’ve also seen swallow-tailed kites in Florida. I also observed my first-ever Mississippi kite in Elizabethon in 2020 during a Spring Bird Count.

The swallow-tailed kite is a large, streamlined raptor with long, narrow, pointed wings, slender bodies and a long, deeply forked tail that gives the bird its common name. The small, sharply hooked beak is used to catch insect prey, as well as amphibians, snakes and bats.

Bryan Stevens • A male American goldfinch looks its best in spring and summer. By fall, the bright colors are replaced with the drab winter plumage.

American goldfinch
Goldfinch males still look sharp in late summer, but they do start losing that bold pattern of black and white against a backdrop of golden-yellow feathers. These birds also form fussy but sociable flocks that congregate at bird feeders or bird baths in many a backyard.

A sighting of a goldfinch can be memorable. I still retain vivid imagery of these birds from childhood, long before I could identify them by name. They would always appear in late summer, perching atop the three blue spruces in our yard. The trees are no longer standing, but the memories of those colorful yellow and black birds endure.

Summer is the season of plenty for American goldfinches. Roadside ditches are choked with chicory, evening primrose and other seed-producing plants often dismissed as “weeds.” Simply driving local roads can, and often does, produce sightings of flocks of American goldfinches as they forage for seeds. These small songbirds will readily visit feeders for sunflower and thistle seeds.

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Bryan Stevens has written about birds, birders and birding since 1995. Email him with questions, comments or sightings at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Photo by Bryan Stevens • A great egret resting on a spit of land in a lake at Murphy Candler Park in Brookhaven, Ga.

Eastern kingbirds deserve their billing as tyrant flycatchers

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Photo by Bryan Stevens • An Eastern kingbird perches on a chain-link fence on the campus of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.

On Saturday, June 27, I spotted two Eastern kingbirds perched on utility lines that extend over the fish pond at my home.

Eastern kingbirds are fairly common summer residents in the region, but they’ve not been at all common birds at my home. In fact, this recent sighting is only the second I’ve ever made of the species at my home in 30 years of birding. As best I can recall, the first time I saw this species at home was in the late 1990s. I’ve seen Eastern kingbirds in many other areas in the region, as well as on trips to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.

It didn’t take long to discover what had attracted the kingbirds to the fish pond. Using the utility lines as convenient perches, the birds continually swooped down over the waterlily-choked pond and returned to the lines with their catches. They were hunting dragonflies, an abundant insect at my fish pond. Based on my observations, they were quite skilled at capturing the dragonflies.

Kingbirds belong to an extensive family of birds known as tyrant flycatchers, or Tyrannidae. The family’s members are exclusively found in the New World. It is the world’s largest family of birds, with more than 400 species.

Tanagers, with 384 species, and hummingbirds, with 363 species, are close rival families when it comes to number of species. So are the pigeons and doves with 353 species, and Old World flycatchers with 345 species.

The Eastern kingbird is easy to recognize and identify. The bird’s plumage is a study in contrast, being black above and white below. In addition, there’s a noticeable white edge to the tip of the bird’s otherwise all-black tail. There is a red patch of feathers on top of the bird’s head, which gives this pint-sized tyrant a “crown,” but most birders, myself included, will tell you that this colorful patch is rarely seen and is instead kept concealed at most times.

Photo by Bryan Stevens • An Eastern kingbird perches on a fence post in the Limestone Cove community of Unicoi, Tennessee.

The scientific name of the Eastern kingbird is Tyrannus tyrannus, a good clue to the bird’s militant nature. Kingbirds, which are about the size of an American robin, are famous for displaying aggressive behavior against much larger birds such as crows and hawks, as well as vultures and herons.

While some birds are all bluff, the Eastern kingbird often follows through with its attacks. According to the website All About Birds, kingbirds have been known to knock blue jays right out of a tree.

I’ve observed kingbirds tormenting such large birds as red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures. I once watched a kingbird get so close to a red-tailed hawk that it almost looked like the smaller bird was hitching a ride on the hawk’s back. I suspect the hawk lost a feather or two in the encounter, not to mention suffering a blow to its dignity.

Other North American kingbirds include Western kingbird, tropical kingbird, Couch’s kingbird, Cassin’s kingbird and the thick-billed kingbird. On a trip to Salt Lake City in Utah many years back, I got the chance to see a Western kingbird, the counterpart to the Eastern kingbird in that part of the country.

Look for the Eastern kingbird in open terrain that offers plenty of perches. These birds spend most of their time chasing and catching flying insects, which provide the bulk of the bird’s food during the summer months.

While the kingbird is probably to be lauded for helping control populations of insect pests, they are not discriminating in their choice of prey. As a result, kingbirds feed on beneficial insects, such as dragonflies and bees, as well as pests like flies.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A glimpse through the vegetation reveals one of the pond’s most voracious predators. Dragonflies consume many other species of insects, including some that are considered pests. Pictured is a female Blue Dasher. In turn, many birds, including Eastern kingbirds, feed on dragonflies. Kingbirds are skilled at snatching winged insects right out of the air.

Other flycatchers that are relatively common in the region include Eastern phoebe and Eastern wood-pewee. The region is also home to some pint-sized flycatchers during the warmer months, including least flycatcher, Acadian flycatcher, willow flycatcher and alder flycatcher.

Don’t judge the tyrannical kingbird too harshly. These birds are motivated to show aggression to other species due to an inordinate need to protect mates, young and territory. It’s not their fault that they are quite masterful at fulfilling this task.

Kingbirds are not the only birds to exhibit bold, brash behavior. Mockingbirds, brown thrashers and red-winged blackbirds are also quite pugnacious. At home, the male red-winged blackbirds have made numerous attacks on the resident red-shouldered hawks whenever these larger raptors venture too close to the cattail domain of the blackbirds.

Although the species faces potential habitat loss in both its summer range and tropical wintering grounds, the Eastern kingbird remains a prevalent bird across much of North America. It’s just not a common bird at my house, but perhaps my recent sighing of two kingbirds is a signal that’s about to change. Or it could mean that it will be another couple of decades before I see this species again at my home.

To share a sighting, ask a question or make a comment, send me an email at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Unicoi County Summer Bird Count tallies 102 species

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Jake Bonello/USFWS • An Eastern meadowlark sings from a perch on a barb wire fence. Count participants found 10 meadowlarks in Unicoi County.

Members and friends of the Elizabethton Bird Club conducted its 13th Unicoi County Summer Count on Saturday, June 13, with 16 observers. Participants tallied 102 species, which is slightly below the average of 108 species. The all-time high was 112 species in 2016.

I counted in the Limestone Cove community to the Iron Mountain Gap along Highway 107. My count partners Brookie and Jean Potter covered Sciota Road during the early morning hours and got many great nocturnal species. Some of my best birds included blue grosbeak, yellow warbler, common nighthawk, yellow-bellied sapsucker and a singing dark-eyed junco.

Taking part in this count is almost like counting in my backyard since I can drive from my home to Limestone Cove in under 10 minutes.

The list:

Canada goose, 33; mallard, 33; and wild turkey 11

Mourning dove, 40; rock pigeon, 18; common nighthawk, 1; chuck-will’s-widow, 1; Eastern whip-poor-will, 14; chimney swift, 35; and ruby-throated hummingbird, 4

Photo by Bryan Stevens • A total of 10 killdeer made the count tally.

Killdeer, 10; double-crested cormorant, 2; great blue heron, 6;
black vulture, 7; turkey vulture, 19; red-shouldered hawk, 2; broad-winged hawk, 8; red-tailed hawk, 3; Eastern screech owl, 5; barred owl, 3; and Northern saw-whet owl, 1

Belted kingfisher, 5; red-bellied woodpecker, 14; yellow-bellied sapsucker, 6; downy woodpecker, 15; hairy woodpecker, 8; Northern flicker, 3; and pileated woodpecker, 12

Great crested flycatcher, 2; Eastern kingbird, 8; Eastern wood-pewee, 12; Acadian flycatcher, 51; least flycatcher, 3; and Eastern phoebe, 35

White-eyed vireo, 2; blue-headed vireo, 39; warbling vireo, 2; red-eyed vireo, 128; blue jay, 61; American crow, 130; fish crow, 3; and common raven, 5

Carolina chickadee, 69; tufted titmouse, 72; tree swallow, 27; Northern rough-winged swallow, 12; purple martin, 6; barn swallow, 40; and cliff swallow, 226.

Cedar waxwing, 22; red-breasted nuthatch, 9; white-breasted nuthatch, 20; brown creeper, 1; blue-gray gnatcatcher, 21; Carolina wren, 65; house wren, 15; and winter wren, 1

Gray catbird, 22; brown thrasher, 8; Northern mockingbird, 13; European starling, 162; Eastern bluebird, 23; veery 22; wood thrush, 38; and American robin, 162

Photo by Bryan Stevens • An American robin scans for prey in the grass and clover of a lawn. Robins were numerous on the count, represented by 162 individuals.

House sparrow, 16; house finch, 29; American goldfinch, 51; chipping sparrow, 32; field sparrow, 2; dark-eyed junco, 19; song sparrow, 88; Eastern towhee, 33; and yellow-breasted chat, 2

Eastern meadowlark, 10; orchard oriole, 1; Baltimore oriole, 1; red-winged blackbird, 28; brown-headed cowbird, 8; and common grackle, 42

Ovenbird, 42; worm-eating warbler, 18; Louisiana waterthrush, 14; black-and-white warbler, 25; Swainson’s warbler, 18; Kentucky warbler, 1; common yellowthroat, 3; hooded warbler, 78; Northern parula, 36; magnolia warbler, 1; Blackburnian warbler, 2; yellow warbler, 2; chestnut-sided warbler, 5; black-throated blue warbler, 32; yellow-throated warbler, 27; black-throated green warbler, 58; and Canada warbler, 11

Scarlet tanager, 26; Northern cardinal, 77; rose-breasted grosbeak, 6; blue grosbeak, 1; and indigo bunting, 56

Rick Knight, longtime compiler for the count, noted some missed species.

“As always, a few species are missed on count day, usually because they occur in low densities or are very locally distributed,” Knight said. “Not anyone’s fault, just something that happens.”

Missed in Unicoi County were wood duck, ruffed grouse, yellow-billed cuckoo, green heron, Cooper’s Hawk, great horned owl, American kestrel, yellow-throated vireo, golden-crowned kinglet, hermit thrush and American redstart.

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I noted in last week’s column that the Carter County Summer Bird Count found 119 species. That number rose to 120 species when Jean Potter turned in a photo to compiler Rick Knight. He agreed with her that the bird in the photo was a American black duck, which added an additional species to the count.

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To share a sighting, ask a question or make a comment, email ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Photo by Jean Potter • A male hooded warbler flits through the foliage of a rhododendron thicket. A total of 78 hooded warblers made this year’s Unicoi County Summer Bird Count.

 

 

Male indigo buntings dazzle in bright summer sunshine

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Jim Hudgins/USFWSThe male indigo bunting in a quintessential bird of summer throughout the Eastern United States.

We’ve barely made it to mid-June and we’ve had some scorching days with intense sunshine and spiking temperatures.

It’s the kind of weather that wilts people, as well as many of our feathered friends, which would prefer to find shade when the mercury rises to the upper limits of the thermometer.

Not so for a few of our birds. Red-eyed vireos, Eastern wood-pewees and a handful of other birds sing even during the hottest hours of the day, albeit they’re often singing from deep shade.

An exception is the male indigo bunting, which can often be spotted singing from the top of a tall tree or shrub even under the brightest of summer sunshine.

Indigo Buntings thrive in the heat. While other birds go silent beneath the relentless summer sun, male Indigo Buntings perch on high, open branches or telephone wires. They belt out their lively songs to declare their presence to rival and establish territory.

The notes sound hopelessly jumbled upon first listen, but they eventually take shape into a recognizable pattern. These songbirds usually repeat their notes in pairs in a song that can be transcribed as “sweet-sweet, chew-chew, sweet-sweet.”

Heronworks/Pixabay • A male indigo bunting visits a feeder for a meal of bird seed.

Males, which do the singing, have an appearance to match their loud songs. They are simply stunning in brilliant blue plumage. The male indigo bunting is the only solid blue bird in the eastern United States.

Alas, it’s all an illusion — literally a trick of the light. The indigo bunting’s feathers are not really blue; the male’s brilliant azure plumage is caused by the process of diffraction of light around the structure of the bird’s feathers. This process scatters all but the blue light, and the resulting color shifts from black to blue to turquoise as the angle of reflected light changes.

In bright light, this bird can even look unnaturally vivid blue. In poor light, however, an indigo bunting male can appear black. Fortunately, indigo buntings have both a characteristic body shape and song, so even if the birds are not seen in their best light, they can still be recognized.

For such a bright blue bird, indigo buntings are not always easy to detect. Males like elevated perches, often among a cluster of leaves. Learn the song — that burst of jumbled, high-pitched notes, and use that knowledge to help pinpoint singing males. Once you zero in on the singing bird’s location, it’s fairly easy to focus binoculars and enjoy peeking at such a pretty bird.

Like many species of songbirds, the male is by far the most colorful. In this instance, the male is also responsible for the species’ name. Indigo is a blue dye that was once an important crop in the South. The drab female may boast some blue highlights in her plumage. Juvenile birds just out of the nest also resemble the female. Pay close attention to any indigo buntings you observe as summer progresses. Juvenile birds will look mostly brown with just a hint of blue in the wings and the tail. These will be the young buntings that were hatched in spring and early summer. They will often accompany their parents to feeders.

Photo by Bryan Stevens • The male indigo bunting is a resplendent bird.

The indigo bunting’s scientific name is Passerina cyanea, referring the color cyan. Cyan is a bright, deep, sky blue, leaning very slightly to the greenish side of blue on the color wheel. Cyan is the blue ink in 4-color process printing. Along with magenta, yellow and black, these four colors of ink can produce a wide gamut of colors that we see every day in full-color printing. The indigo bunting is a reasonably close match to this intense blue ink color. The species belongs to a genus of birds known as Passerina, which is included the family Cardinalidae.

Although they are often lumped into a group known as North American buntings, they are not closely related to such birds as snow bunting and lark bunting. The other members of the Passerina genus include lazuli bunting, varied bunting, painted bunting, rose-bellied bunting, orange-breasted bunting and blue grosbeak.

Photo by Bryan Stevens • Male indigo buntings look their best in spring and summer. By fall, they are molting feathers and look less splendid.

Worldwide, other birds known as buntings include such descriptively named species as slaty bunting, corn bunting, white-capped bunting, gray-necked bunting, cinereous bunting, lark-like bunting, cinnamon-breasted bunting, chestnut-eared bunting, little bunting, yellow-throated bunting, golden-breasted bunting, black-headed bunting, red-headed bunting and yellow bunting.

For me, the indigo bunting has always been a bird of the summer season. One of my earliest memories of being aware of birds relates to seeing this astonishing all-blue bird perched atop a blue spruce in my family’s front yard.

Indigo buntings linger into early October in the region, but later in the season these birds begin to molt feathers and take on a more shabby look. Enjoy them while they’re here and at their best under a bright summer sun.

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To ask a question, make a comment or share a sighting, email me at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Eastern phoebes make good neighbors

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Photo by Bryan Stevens • An Eastern phoebe perches in a mimosa tree.

We’ve reached June, and I can hardly believe it. After a May that veered from cold to unseasonably hot, I’m hoping June can find a happy balance.

The birds haven’t ruffled their feathers about temperature variances, as best as I can tell. Migration is, for the most part, concluded. Some birds have already completed a first nesting, including some Eurasian starlings in downtown Erwin. During a stroll on the Union Street sidewalk, I flustered a fledgling and its parents. I gave them some space as I passed, and it looked like things got back to normal.

Nesting is the main focus of most birds during the spring and summer months, and the process can stretch out until August and early September for species like cedar waxwing and American goldfinches.

Photo by Megan Zopf/Pixabay • An Eastern phoebe perches on a branch.

Other birds, such as various sparrows, American robin and Eastern bluebird, may attempt to nest multiple times in zealous bids to propagate their species.

I’ve noticed that the old nest on the blades of the porch fan at my house has gotten a bit greener as the Eastern phoebes have done some refurbishment to what has been a popular nest location for this species at my home in recent years.

Actually, it’s probably only the resident female phoebe involved in bringing new moss to the structure and working the material into the foundation of the previous nest. According to the website All About Birds, the female phoebe works solo on all nest-building tasks, although the male may accompany her, perhaps offering the avian equivalent of moral support.

She uses various materials, including mud, moss and leaves, along with grass stems and animal hair, during her construction process. Once she is done with her refurbishment and the nest meets her standards, she will lay two to six eggs. She’ll incubate them for 15 to 16 days. Once hatched, the nestlings will reside in the nest for up to 20 days. Even after the young fledge from the nest, the parents remain attentive as they introduce their brood to the wider world.

John James Audubon, an early naturalist and famed painter of North America’s birds, conducted an experiment with some young phoebes that represents the first-ever bird banding in the United States of America. His novel experiment, which he carried out in 1803, involved tying some silver thread to the legs of the phoebes he captured near his home in Pennsylvania. He wanted to answer a question he had about whether birds are faithful to home locations from year to year.

Photo by Bryan Stevens • A young Eastern phoebe awaits a food delivery from a parent.

The following year, Audubon again captured two phoebes and found the silver thread had remained attached to their legs. Today, ornithologists still conduct bird banding to gather information on birds and the mystery of their migrations. So, that pair of phoebes that returned to your backyard this spring — they just might be the same ones that have spent past summer seasons providing you with an enlightening glimpse into their lives. I’ve wondered myself if the phoebes that nest on my porch ceiling fan are the same two birds that have done so in previous years. I’ve suspected they are or, perhaps, they are related to the original nesting pair.

The Eastern phoebe, known by the scientific name of Sayornis phoebe, has two relatives in the genus Sayornis. The genus is named after Thomas Say, an American naturalist. The Eastern phoebe’s close relatives include the black phoebe and Say’s phoebe. The black phoebe ranges throughout Oregon, Washington and California and as far south as Central and South America. As its name suggests, this bird has mostly black feathers instead of the gray plumage of its relatives. The Say’s phoebe, also named for the man who gave the genus its name, is the western counterpart to the Eastern phoebe.

The phoebes belong to the world’s largest family of birds, which is known collectively as the “tyrant flycatchers.” With more than 400 species, this family of birds consists of species known as tyrannulets, elaenias, pygmy tyrants, tody-flycatchers, spadebills, flatbills, attilas, kingbirds and kiskadees.

Since they belong to the vast family of New World flycatchers, it’s probably no surprise that these phoebes feed largely on insects. The birds will often perch patiently until an insect’s flight brings it within easy range. A quick flight from its perch usually allows the skillful bird to return with a morsel snatched on the wing. In the winter months, the Eastern phoebe also eats berries and other small fruit. Phoebes can even feed on poison ivy berries without risk of ill effects.

The Eastern phoebe is not a colorful bird, but it makes a good neighbor. I’d encourage everyone to welcome this bird whenever they get the chance.

To make a comment, ask a question or share a sighting, email me at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com. I’ve written about birds, birding and birded for 30 years and love hearing from fellow enthusiasts.

American dipper highlight of 2003 Utah trip

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Daniel Roberts/Pixabay • The American dipper is North America’s only aquatic songbird.

I am observing 30 years of writing my weekly “Feathered Friends” column in 2026. To help celebrate this personal milestones, I’ve been visiting my archives to republish some memorable columns.

This week, I’m sharing an account of a visit in October 2003 to Utah and Idaho. The story involves homemade raspberry ice cream, a songbird that thinks it’s a fish and a bonus sighting of a species named for American naturalist and ornithologist John Kirk Townsend.

I did some homework in advance of my two-week trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, to come up with a list of target birds. The American dipper made the list as a species that I had high hopes of seeing. I learned from a friend that American dippers inhabit many of the streams in canyons, some in the immediate vicinity of Salt Lake City. Another friend, David Thometz, and I searched City Creek Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Salt Lake metropolitan area without success.

We saw other birds, including lazuli bunting, Western kingbird, black-billed magpie, so this early disappointment didn’t sting too much, and we got a second chance near the end of my visit.

The American dipper, also known by the common named “water ouzel,” is a songbird with incredible adaptations allowing the bird to take advantage of a special niche in its environment, namely rushing waters of clear mountain streams. Dippers are eight-inch songbirds with stubby gray bodies. They range from Alaska through the mountains of the American western states and into Mexico. These birds are named for particular “dipping” motions that they display walking along stream edges.

These birds forage for food, primarily aquatic insect larvae, both above and beneath the surface of rushing streams.

I finally found my American dipper while traveling Logan Canyon on a trip back to Salt Lake City after visiting Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho. David and I stopped at Card Picnic Area in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest to enjoy a local treat we picked up in Garden City, Utah.

We saw some good birds, including cinnamon teal and trumpeter swan, at Bear Lake, which is famous for its raspberries. The locals often stage an annual Raspberry Festival. We were too late for the festival in 2003, but we purchased two small plastic containers of homemade raspberry ice cream at a shop.

The ice cream was frozen solid, so we made plans to let the ice cream thaw and then made a stop at some point along Logan Canyon to enjoy the frozen treat. We took a scenic drive along Highway 89, enjoying the mile-high limestone cliffs easily viewed from the roadway. The route takes in forest terrain, the Logan River and plenty of opportunities to view native wildlife. Prior to stopping to eat our ice cream, we made stops and saw two different races – Oregon and slate-colored – of the dark-eyed junco, as well as black-capped and mountain chickadees and least chipmunks. We also saw sleek trout in Logan River, which is dotted by various beaver dams. We could not positively identify the trout, but the local streams are inhabited by brook, cutthroat and rainbow trout.

The Card Picnic Area is a beautiful streamside site featuring picnic tables beneath huge trees. There was a beautiful wide pool in Logan River adjacent to the tables. The only bird we saw upon arrival was a junco that disappeared into the brush too quickly for me to identify.

After enjoying our ice cream, a delicious treat that anyone visiting Bear Lake should not miss, we walked to the side of the stream to snap some photographs. As we approached the stream, a small bird flushed and flew somewhat awkwardly to the opposite stream bank.

I felt my pulse quicken as I realized that one of target birds had materialized. “David, I think we’ve found a dipper!” I whispered excitedly as I lifted my binoculars. As the bird came into focus, I immediately recognized the small grayish bird as it walked nervously over some damp gravel on the other side of the stream. As we watched, the dipper produced a loud, bubbling song, easily heard even over the noise of the rushing water.

The dipper also blinked conspicuously, showing white eyelids. Those eyelids are a special adaptation for life spent below rushing water. The eyelids protect the bird’s eyes while it is beneath the water. Some of my guide books mention that the dipper will blink and show the eyelids most often when alarmed. Dippers have a thin white line of feathers on each eyelid, according to All About Birds. That thin line of feathers creates a white flash as the bird blinks.

The birds appear to fearlessly take to the frigid water of mountain streams, but there’s a good reason for that. Dippers also have a thick coat of down and more feathers than most songbirds. Some estimates place the number at between 4,200 to 6,000 feathers. By comparison, an American robin has 3,000 feathers. This dense coat of feathers helps insulate the birds from the cold water. A dipper’s blood also carries a higher oxygen capacity, helping these small birds stay under water for up to 30 seconds.

We remained calm and as still as possible so we could put the bird at ease. Our actions must have worked because the bird returned to its routine, turning over fallen leaves in the shallows to look for scurrying insect larvae. Then, the dipper hopped onto a large rock in the rushing water, and I held my breath. I wanted so badly to see this small bird dive and swim beneath the water. I wasn’t disappointed. The bird soon plunged into the stream, swimming against the current, using its wings as paddles. Watching this tiny songbird provided an exciting observation, but not as much as when the dipper fearlessly plunged completely beneath the water, spent a few seconds submerged and then popped back to the surface. This show was repeated several times for our benefit.

A family picnicking at the site even got to enjoy the show when we pointed out the dipper. The family lived in the local area, but the father expressed surprise to learn dippers lived in Utah, although he had seen them in Washington. It’s surprising what we sometimes fail to notice in our own backyards.

Tom Koerner/USFWS • The Townsend’s solitaire is related to thrushes.

Sighting the American dipper would have been more than enough, but when birding, surprises are always welcome. So, imagine my astonishment when, while watching the dipper, three additional birds dropped down from some overhanging trees and drank at the stream side.

Although unprepared for these new birds, my prior research helped me recognize them as Townsend’s solitaires, a member of the thrush family. The Townsend’s solitaire is a grayish bird with a superficial resemblance to the Northern mockingbird. The Townsend’s solitaire is the only member of its family of mountain-forest thrushes, or solitaires, to range into the United States.

This species is named for John Kirk Townsend, a 19th-century naturalist who traveled across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast in 1833 to collect bird and mammal specimens with veteran botanist Thomas Nuttall. Only 24 at the time, Townsend accompanied Nuttall, 48 years old at the time, from Philadelphia to the Pacific Northwest. They focused their search along the Columbia River.

As for dippers, there are five different species found around the world. In addition to the American dipper, there is a white-throated dipper, or European dipper, as well as the brown dipper of Asia, the white-capped dipper of South America and the rufous-throated dipper, also of South America.

I think it’s a shame that the American dipper’s range doesn’t extend into the eastern half of the nation. Based on my observation, I think the bird would be right at home along Indian Creek in Unicoi County.

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Bryan Stevens has written about birds, birding and birders since 1995. Contact him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.