Kinglets

Kinglets "Crests"

Ruby Crowned Kinglet "Rubycrest" at Greenfield Lake Dec 2020

Kinglets or Crests are a family of small songbirds that are in the family Regulidae and are somewhat related to titmice, nuthatches, wrens, and are sometimes grouped in the Old World Warbler family. The family is named is based on the regulus which is Latin for "petty king" or "prince", which is also why Kinglet is used, Crest may refer to the brightly colored head feathers of the birds. These are amongst the smallest songbirds with both the Eurasian and North American species barely larger than 10cm (4") in length and lighter than most birds except certain hummingbirds, and the Pigmy Tyrant of Latin America. Kinglets are very energetic birds that constantly move through trees and vegetation for insects and spiders. However their hyperactive traits means they have a rapid-metabolism and must eat constantly. Worldwide, there are six species of Kinglets with all of them in Eurasia, North Africa, or North America. Our two species of Crests occur across most of the Boreal Regions of North America as well as some mountainous regions in Appalachia and the Rocky Mountains. Both species are primarily winter residents in the Carolinas.

General information about Crests can be found at this Wikipedia page

Description 

All Kinglets look externally similar and are small, compact birds with short tails, tiny beaks, and a can resemble other small woodland birds such as Vireos, Parulidae Wood Warblers, Old World Warblers, or in some cases members of the Tit family. The most widespread species of Crests include the Goldcrest, and Firecrest in Europe, and their North American counterparts the Golden Crowned Kinglet and Ruby Crowned Kinglet which occupy almost the exact same niches, and habits. Below are the descriptions of the two species that occur in North America, along with some unofficial alternate names as the standard names are lengthy. Both species are common in the Carolinas from Mid-Autumn to Spring and are a mainstay of mixed woodland flocks.

Golden Crowned Kinglet "American Goldcrest" 

Regulus satrapa 

A distant shot of a Golden Crowned Kinglet, note the black on the head Dec 2020

Description: Very small bird (smallest bird in the Carolinas), with a rounded shape, short tail, and tiny beak. Adults are olive green or greyish with a black and white head with a yellow to orange crest and white wing bars. The birds may also have gold on their wing tips and tails 

Size: Length, 7.6 to 9cm (3-3.5"), Wingspan 15.5-17cm (6.5-7") Weight around 6g. Smaller than a Chickadee 

Song: A series of rising whistles that end with a series of buzzes and jumble of notes, not unlike a scolding chickadee. Listen at Cornell Labs

Calls: The primary call of this bird is a high pitched "See seee seee" which can sound like "Look At Me" or "B B King". This call is very similar to the Treecreeper except that bird makes a singular buzz. Both calls can be difficult for people with limited hearing to detect. 

Range: The Golden Crowned Kinglet breeds along the Boreal belt from the Northern US to Canada (south of Hudson Bay, but as far north as Nova Scotia) and southernmost Alaska. It also occurs year-round in the Appalachian Corridor and the mountains of the Western US. It is a winter resident in most of the United States. 

In the Carolinas: The Golden Crowned Kinglet is primarily a winter resident across the Carolinas although it occurs year-round in the Blue Ridge Corridor and is a common breeder at higher elevations. It is common across the region from October to April. 

Habitat: Golden Crowned Kinglets primarily occupy woodlands, forests, and other landscapes with large conifers such as spruce, fir, hemlock, pine, or baldcypress. They are also common in villages, gardens, parks, and urban greenspaces with such trees. In Appalachia, kinglets breed in high-elevation forests above 1500m (~5000ft) and prefer Balsam/Frasier Fir stands. 

Breeding: In Appalachia, Goldcrest/Golden Crowned Kinglet breeds from late March to June and raises one to two broods per year. They make a hanging nest of moss and silk in a conifer and lay 3-10 eggs. 

Notes: Golden Crowned Kinglets are always found higher in trees than Ruby Crowned Kinglets thus are less likely to be seen. However, these birds may be more numerous with as many as ten gathering in one stand of trees, while Ruby Crowned Kinglets are usually solitary or in pairs. Fills the same niche as the Eurasian Goldcrest.

Learn More at Cornell All About Birds

Ruby Crowned Kinglet "Rubycrest" 

Regulus calendula 

Ruby Crowned Kinglet from our previous garden, circa 2010, notice plain head

Description: Very small bird, with a rounded shape, short tail, and tiny beak, though slightly longer-tailed than the Golden Crowned Kinglet/Goldcrest. Adults are olive color and may even appear yellowish-green and have a white wing bar and no visible markings on the head. Males show a red or orange crest when singing or displaying. They loosely resemble a White Eyed or SolitaryVireo or perhaps a Winter Wren due to their shape or coloration.

Size: Length 9-10cm (3.5-4"), Wingspan 17-18cm (7-7.5") Weight around 6.5g. Smaller than a Chickadee, approximately the size of a Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Song: This species has a very loud song that begins with several high-pitched whistles that transitioned into a finch-like warble or a chant. The song varies by individual and may sound like a Winter Wren, Carolina Wren, or perhaps a Mockingbird. Blue Grey Gnatcatcher has a similar song except buzzier. Listen at Cornell Labs.

Calls: The main call is a dry chatter and a buzzy "Chazzz" call that can be mistaken for a House or Winter Wren. 

Range: The "Rubycrest" breeds much farther north than the Golden-Crowned Kinglet. It is a summer resident as far north at Alaska and the Hudson Bay and as far south as New England and the Rocky Mountain Corridor. It winters primarily in the Southern US, Pacific Coast and Mexico and is transient species in most of the mid-latitudes  

In the Carolinas: The Ruby Crowned Kinglet is common winter resident in all regions of the Carolinas generally arriving from late September and persisting as late as early May. It does not breed in the Carolinas and is among the latest winter birds to vacate the region.

Habitat: Primarily found in open woodlands or copses, hedgerows, old fields, and around gardens. They are especially fond of flowerbeds, winter flowering shrubs such as Camellia, brambles (Blackberries, wild rose, smilax) and small conifers such as Juniper or Leyland Cypress. 

Notes: Found lower to the ground than the Golden-Crowned Kinglet/Goldcrest and is generally in pairs or solitary. Fills the same niche as the Common Firecrest in Eurasia.  

Learn More at Cornell All About Birds

Traits

Foraging: Kinglets are active birds that are spend their waking hours searching for tiny insects, spiders, and sometimes nectar or tree sap to keep up with their high metabolisms. The behavior of both species are very similar with the main difference being their foraging habitats and niches. "Rubycrests" are generalists that will use a wider range of habitats and vegetation types and are often within 3m (10ft) of the ground similar to the Common Firecrest in Europe. In contrast Golden Crowned Kinglets and the Eurasian Goldcrest are almost always in the tops of conifers or sometimes deciduous trees. Aside from this, both species and their Old World counterparts move rapidly through vegetation, hang from leaves, hover in midair, and dart out to catch flying insects. These birds will also sip nectar from flowers or blossoms including those of Japanese Camellia, Gardenia, or Hibiscus and may visit the wells of sapsuckers. 

Hardiness: Despite their diminutive size, and energetic traits Crests manage to breed further north than most birds and also remain in regions that seem too cold for insectivorous birds. The Golden Crowned Kinglet may remain in most mountain regions or even in the North East and North West all year, while Ruby Crowned Kinglets are more migratory but still winter in areas with cool temperatures. According to Cornell's All About Birds, the Golden Crowned Kinglet can overwinter in regions where temperatures are as cold as -40C (-40F). Although winters in the Carolinas do not get that cold, both kinglets seem to do quite well in all regions and associate with chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and other woodland birds to improve their chances of finding food or avoiding predators. Many small birds such as hummingbirds, chickadees, and wrens also have means of maintaining body heat during cold nights with kinglets being no exception. Lastly, both Kinglets seem to be common around domestic gardens, public parks, and other locations with cultivated plants, and landscaping. These areas tend to be warmer, provide hiding spots for small insects (i.e. bees, wasps, ants, and various spiders can be seen in the dead of winter in home gardens), as well as nectar sources from plants. Kinglets are so small and agile, they hardly have any predators but are limited by their need to find food, thus are amongst our shortest lived birds. 

Woodland Flocks: Kinglets are almost always found amongst mixed flocks of Woodland or Pineland Birds. These flocks are usually led by Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Brown Headed Nuthatches or Pine Warblers and may include dozens of species of birds. Golden Crowned Kinglets are often found in groups of 3-10 birds while the Rubycrest/Crowned-Kinglet are seen alone or in pairs. Both birds use the flocks for protection, to find food, and safe places to roost. 

In the Garden

Flowering plants are a magnet to kinglets, warblers, and wrens 

Kinglets frequently visit gardens and neighborhoods during the autumn, and winter months and both species seem to thrive in suburban or urban areas. The Golden Crowned Kinglet is often overlooked and are more likely to visit areas that have pines, Red Cedars/White Cedars, or Baldcypress, while the Rubycrest/Crowned-Kinglet will turn-up in just about any area with shrubs, trees, or herbaceous growth. Aside from basics like water, vegetative cover, and plant diversity to attract insects, there is nothing special you need to do to attract Kinglets. The same types of landscaping options also work for attracting Blue Grey Gnatcatchers which are the summertime counterpart of kinglets and are related to Old World Warblers. 

Landscaping: Kinglets will use shade trees, windbreaks/copses, hedges, and other plantings for foraging and shelter. Plant winter-flowering shrubs such as Japanese Camellia, Forsythia, Witchhazel, and Coral Honeysuckle (the native kind of honeysuckle) to provide flowers for insects. The kinglets will also feed on nectar from these flowers, along with Orange Crowned Warblers, and overwintering Ruby Throated and Rufous Hummingbirds. Because our winters are mild, flowerbeds with violets (including Johnny-Jump-Ups), Snapdragons, and members of the Broccoli and Cabbage Family will be welcomed by birds, cool-season bees, and butterflies. Evergreens such as Leyland Cypress, or its native counterparts like Common Juniper or Eastern Red Cedar provide cover for small birds. For Golden Crowned Kinglets, planting pines, white cedars, or baldcypress will guarantee their presence, while large oaks (namely the evergreen Live Oak), sweetgums, and sycamores are also attractive to these birds. In Appalachia, White Pine, Carolina/Eastern Hemlocks, Frasier Fir, Balsam, and Red Spruce are all good choices for breeding and nonbreeding kinglets. 

Bird Table: Kinglets are rare visitors to birdfeeders or tables although one might come to sample suet, peanut butter, lard, or sweets when it is really cold. Both species may also sip nectar or sugar water from hummingbird or oriole feeders. You might see Ruby Crowned Kinglets poking around hanging flower pots, manmade objects, or nearby shrubs when chickadees or titmice come to visit. Kinglets also do not come to traditional birdbaths as they are so tiny, instead trie using a water-globe or repurposing an oriole or hummingbird feeder as a water vessel. 

Old Field Succession

 Old Field Succession

An old field/powerline cut with bluestem, goldenrod, fleabane, ragweed

Ecological succession is the natural progression of a natural community over a period of time. This process starts with an area of land that has been disturbed or is in some cases completely barren and ends with a climax community such as an old-growth forest. Disturbances to an ecosystem reset the cycle of succession at anytime and in most cases this creates a diverse community of plants and animals. Primary succession takes the longest and often starts with a barren or rocky area, often after a large-scale event such as volcanic eruptions or glacial movements. This process takes millions of years as organisms must colonize the area, and produce enough biomass to support plants. Secondary succession is a much faster process that takes anywhere from a few decades to 200-500 years. This type of ecological succession is known as Old Field Succession and is often the result of natural or human-made disturbances and affects a much smaller area. We can find examples of secondary succession in almost any part of North America with most of the woodlands, meadows, coppices/shrub thickets, and wetlands being the result of secondary succession. There is only a small fragment of "Virgin Forest" left in North America and even these areas see fires, windstorms, and other disturbances. The process of natural succession is a fascinating subject that has interested me since I was a teenager. Additionally, disturbed habitat seems to be a magnet for birds and mammals as well as a good place to find wildflowers. In this article I will be discussing the process of Secondary Succession in the Carolinas and what plants and animals occupy each stage. 

What is Old Field Succession?

Capped landfills are an example of a grassland stage, NHC Landfill

Old-growth hardwoods in Appalachia  

For the purposes of this article "Old Field Succession" is the transition of an ecological community from an open field or meadow, to an old-growth forest. This differs from Primary Succession which usually takes place in areas completely devoid of plant life such a lava fields, where it takes thousands or even millions of years for the site to support more than lichens, moss, and other primitive lifeforms. Secondary Succession in turn usually starts with an area that already has some plant life nearby as well as the organic matter (i.e. soil, and detritus) to support herbaceous and woody plants.  Most sources say this process takes 200-500 years to go from a grassy field to a climax forest. However, we can see most of stages of succession within a few decades or as little as in 8-15 years with fast growing trees. There are many theories about how plant communities evolve overtime and respond to disturbances. The concept of Old Field or Secondary Succession remains widely accepted by many ecologists and foresters today (circa 2020). 

Learn about natural succession with these Wikipedia articles, Ecological Succession

The Stages of Secondary Succession 

The process of secondary succession consists of five stages with each one creating its own plant  community. In general biodiversity increases as the site progresses through the cycle. Because there are already plant communities nearby and the site is not rocky, it only takes one or two growing seasons for an area to become a meadow or old field. After that, woody plants begin to take over and within 15-20 years, that same field would become a woodland. However, it will take at least a century for the site to gain the characteristics of a mature forest as pioneer species get replaced by climax species. The 200-500 year cycle is often reset when there are fires, windstorms/tornados, insect outbreaks, or human disturbances such as logging. On a small scale, these disturbances are important for maintaining biodiversity and may be a reason why meadowlands, peatlands, and pine savannas exist. I will explain the stages of succession through a hypothetical story of a corn and soybean farm "Holly Farms" that went out of business in recent times but the family held on to the land instead of  selling is to developers. 

Stage 1 Meadow or Grassland Stage 

Fields and cropland, this site appears operational  

The first stage of Old Field Succession begins with a barren field or perhaps an abandoned pasture, or homesite. Some of these areas may be completely devoid of vegetation as is the case with a capped landfill or a ploughed field, although most sites already have herbaceous and woody plants growing in them. The Meadow or Grassland Stage takes place during the first two or three seasons after a cultivated site is abandoned or a major fire occurs in a forest. Annuals and other fast growing plants fill in the site during the first season, while biennials and perennials fill in during the second year, followed by perennial grasses. A few trees and shrubs may mix in later in this stage, although the site is mostly a grassland habitat.

A meadow in late spring (note this is actually part of a Pine Savanna)

Holly Farm Site: In our example, we will look at an abandoned corn or soybean field in Pender or Northern New Hanover County. This site was part of a large farm that ceased operations this past autumn. The fields were ploughed regularly and was well-maintained. In addition to the fields there are hedgerows, a stand of pines, and a rundown homesite with a 200 year-old Live Oak. Within one growing season of the field going fallow, we have a mixture of annual and some fast-growing perennial colonizers, and several warm-season grasses. There may be Bahia Grass, Bluestem "Broomsedge", Timothy Grass, or Common Crabgrass although the majority of the plants are species like dandelion, sow thistle, mullen, bitterweed, horse nettle, and maybe some naturalized sorghum or wheatgrass. There might even be Dogfennel, coreopsis, and morning glory by summer's end. Cool season plants like henbit, ryegrass and chickweed take over in the winter. 

Wildlife: You will see bees, wasps, and various butterflies visiting flowers while some ground nesting bees and wasps will make burrows. Vesper Sparrows, Horned Larks, and Killdeers love barren fields, as do White Ibis and Sandhill Cranes. Aside from these birds, you won't see too much although some migrating warblers may visit clumps of weeds. 

Stage 2 Old Field Stage 

An old field example with herbaceous and woody plants

The next stage of succession begins after 3-5 years depending on the site, location, and soil type. Meadowlands peak during their second and third seasons before hardy perennials, vines, and the first woody shrubs begin to takeover the site. In many areas there are already trees springing up by the end of the first growing season, although it usually takes several years for those to reach significant  size. At this stage, the vegetation may be up to our waists and most annuals and "weedy" species have shaded out. These sites are known as old fields

Holly Farm Site: Our cornfield has been abandoned for four years and it is already unrecongizable. The third growing season brought a sea of color as native and nonnative wildflowers and short-lived shrubs flowered from May to November. There were Swamp and Savannah Sunflowers, salvias, meadow beauties, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods and asters. Hibiscus (maybe Seashore Mallow), Wild Indigo and Groundsel Tree have filled nicely, while some shrubs such as Wax Myrtle, Common Juniper, and sapling pines can be seen in some areas. This year also saw lots of prairie and grassland birds including nesting Meadowlarks, Savannah Sparrows, and Common Yellowthroats. However, by the fourth season, the wildflowers have begun to give way to shrubs, vines and aggressive perennial species. The birds brought in more than Wax Myrtles, junipers, and Red Cedars. There is Black Cherry coming up along the fencerow as well as invasive Chinese Privet and Tallow Trees, while squirrels and crows have buried acorns, and nuts from hickories, creating new trees. This is beginning Old Field Stage and marks an important transition between grassland and woodland.  

Wildlife: During the Old Field Stage you will see a wide diversity of birds, insects, mammals, and reptiles. Green Anoles, Fence Lizards, and Tree Frogs live in the dense clumps of shrubs and small trees, while Field Mice and Meadow Voles scurry under the thicket to avoid Red Tailed Hawks soaring above. While there are still Meadowlarks and even a Kestrel nesting in a nearby tree hole, most of the grassland birds are gone as it has the undergrowth has become too thick. During the spring and summer, Mockingbirds, Cardinals, Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, and Field Sparrows sing all day long, while autumn brings a large flocks of sparrows and doves going after the seeds from the wildflowers. Those wax myrtles and privets that took over the cornfield are now magnets for Myrtle Warblers, robins, starlings, and waxwings all winter long. One day you spot a family of deer browsing on plants, or a Grey Fox running across the dirt road. 

Stage 3 Shrubland/Copse

An example of a shrubland, mix of pines, oaks, privet, and briers

The third stage of succession can begin as early as eight years after a disturbance, the transition normally occurs after 15 years. This stage is known as the Shrubland, Copse, or Bramble stage which are all terms for a landscape dominated by shrubs, vines, brambles (i.e. blackberry) and small trees. There are some cases when a field or garden will become a shrubby thicket in only a few seasons, especially if invasive exotic species such as Buckthorn Kudzu and Japanese Wisteria are present, skipping the grassland and old field stage entirely. Wax Myrtle, Loblolly Pine, and Sweet Gum are examples of native trees that can overtake a field or garden in a few seasons. At this stage, the site is nearly impenetrable and almost all traces of the meadow and its wildflowers are gone. 

Holly Farm Site: It is now fourteen years since the cornfield was abandoned and despite several hurricanes, and a period of drought the site has grown up into a small woodland. Wax Myrtles, privets, junipers, hollies, and dozens of other shrubs have filled in, and the hedgerow that bordered the field has now become a miniature woodlot. When walking through the underbrush your trousers get caught on Smilax Brier, Dewberry, and Carolina/Multiflora Rose. Virginia Creeper, Muscatine Grape, and unfortunately Japanese Wisteria that was in the hedgerow have become intertwined with the shrubs. You also notice Loblolly Pines, Sweet Gums, Red Maples, and Eastern Red Cedars towering over the shrubs, and clusters of sapling oaks, hickories, and sycamore trees underneath. Swamp sunflowers, broomsedge/bluestem, and some clumps of goldenrod are all that remain of the lush meadow that carpeted the field eleven years ago. The cornfield site was turned into an ecological preserve guaranteeing it will not be cleared for development.

Wildlife: Upon our visit to the cornfield site we notice that the wildlife has changed drastically. There are still insects everywhere and clumps of wildflowers or flowering shrubs still support bees, wasps and butterflies. Many of the native trees and shrubs are host plants so we see Black, Tiger, and Zebra Swallowtails, Viceroy Butterflies, and later in the summer/autumn Monarchs and Gulf Fritillaries (as there is both milkweed and passionvine in the copse). The birds on the site are also different with the Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, and Mockingbird being the only "old field" birds left on the site, and are limited to the outermost edges of the site. You hear Grey Catbirds, Eastern Towhees, White Eyed Vireos, and Prairie Warblers singing from the thickets, a Brown Thrasher singing from a pine (next to a Pine Warbler). In addition to these standouts the songs of cardinals, chickadees, wrens, and titmice fill the air. You also come across a Wild Turkey on the trail, and hear Bobwhites calling from another field that is still in the old field stage. In addition to all of the new birds, you see Grey Squirrels in the treetops, skinks in the underbrush, and a rat snake amongst an overturned pine (taken out by last year's hurricane). Autumn and winter brings large flocks of warblers, vireos, and other songbirds. 

Stage 4 Woodland/Mid-Successional Forest

Example of a early to mid-successional woodland 

It usually takes 30-50 years for an old field to develop into a woodland or forest, although this can be artificially sped up by replanting trees. By this stage, the pines, and pioneer hardwoods have reached maturity and are now towering over the shrub layers below. While hardy shrubs like Wax Myrtles and most of the invasives will persist in partial or full shade, almost all of the junipers, cedars, and alders are gone. This is also when climax species such as hickories, beeches, oaks, tulip polars, and other trees begin to fill in. Most woodlands and forests in Southeastern North Carolina are in the  Early and Mid-Successional Stage and have been cleared, logged, or hit by natural disasters within the last 100-150 years. This is the longest stage of Secondary Succession with the transition from Mid-Successional to Climax ecosystems taking at least a century, barring no disturbances and only low-heat fires. 

Holly Farm Site: Forty years after the cornfields were abandoned, the "Holly Farm Preserve" is now an established woodland with a mixture of hardwoods, pines, and a healthy amount of understory. Loblolly Pines are still abundant although the canopy layers now contain Sweet Gum, Red and Silver Maple, American Beech, Ironwood, Sycamore, Tulip Poplar, Red Hickory, Mockernut Hickory, and six species of Oaks. While invasive privet, buckthorn, and wisteria still cause problems along the edges and trail bank, native shrubs such as Fetterbush, Highbush Blueberry, various hollies, and even White Dogwood have filled in. On a spring visit, you come across Mayapple, Jack in the Pulpit, Wild Ginger, violets, and bluebells. Fallen trees from past storms and the skeletons of junipers and cherries add to the detritus and provide nurse logs for wildflowers and mosses. The site also has some surviving relics from the homesite including Camellias, Azaleas, and a 240 year-old oak tree growing next to the decrepit farmhouse. The site feels and looks like a forest although it still has a dense shrubby understory. You will still see sun-loving trees, wildflowers like goldenrod, and the invasives along the roadside.

Wildlife: At this stage, most of the grassland and old field birds are gone. There are still Indigo Buntings, and a few Towhee along the entryway and near the farmhouse, but almost everything you hear at this site are woodland birds. You see White Breasted Nuthatches and Black and White Warblers creeping up and down trees, spot Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers working higher up before a Pileated Woodpecker drops down to a dead pine tree to feed her youngsters. The air is filled with the song of warblers, vireos, Brown Thrashers, Summer Tanagers, Wood Thrushes and the buzz of cicadas. An Acadian Flycatcher feeds her young in a tree overhanging the old farm road, while a Carolina Wren pair takes care of a nest of their own in the rootball of the fallen pine. The same site that the snake was found in 26 years ago, although there are now twelve species of snakes in this woodland alone. Other notable finds include a Barred Owl, Wild Turkeys, many deer, and a Black Bear den that we were allowed to approach with trained biologists. To many visitors, the Holly Farm Preserve is thought to be an old forest even though it was a series of barren fields only four decades earlier. The character who has watched this farm's transformation as a relatively young adult is now growing old,  although his children and the hundreds of people he took into the woods are now continuing his story.

Stage 5: Climax Forest/Old Growth

Old growth (or mature) oak, hickory beech forest at Raven Rock State Park

The Climax Stage is the final stage of succession and is considered by many experts to be the peak plant community for any forest habitat, although this is not always the case. It takes centuries for a Mid-Succession Forest to return to its climax ecosystem. In most of the Eastern Deciduous Biome including in the Carolinas, climax forests are dominated by hardwoods and have relatively open understories. Some exceptions include fire-maintained pine savannas, coastal habitats that are constantly battered by the sea, and Boreal type forests where conifers remain dominant. By this point, most of the pioneer trees have been shaded out by the climax species, and some trees are now as high as 30m (100ft), although some eastern trees including some of our pines can easily reach 45m (150ft). Late-successional and climax woodlands are the the closest thing to virgin forests with the ancient Bald Cypress stands along the Northeast Cape Fear River being one example of a climax forest. You may have to go to the Appalachian Mountains or parts of Canada to find similar forests and even these sites may have been logged at least once during 400-years of European Settlement. 

Holly Farm Site: It is now 220 years since the cornfields at Holly Farm were abandoned and future generations have done their part to preserve the site as a historic landmark and an ecological preserve. A descendent of the person who watched the fields transition into woodland habitats has continued to give tours within the forest park. The forest tracts consist of hickories, oaks, beeches, and elms that vary by age group as well as the victims of many hurricanes, ice storms, and even a forest fire 55 years ago. This created a patchwork of microhabitats that range from small meadows to patches of mid-successional forests that filled the void when a tree falls. There are still Loblolly Pines in the area with one 210 year old specimine towering 37m (120ft) above the canopy along with several supercanopy Tulip Poplars and Sweet Gums. The Holly Farm Oak is also still alive and is now 420 years old and is widely recongized as an icon. The forest has a healthy canopy with layers of understory trees, saplings, and carpets of moss, herbaceous plants, and ferns. While the house is little more than a chimney and slab, it still serves as a reminder of the past, and some of the depressions and banks remain to tell the story of the farm that once occupied this site. The Holly Farm site has a wide diversity of plants and is a popular destination for birdwatchers, botanists, and those looking for some hiking. 

Wildlife: As a climax ecosystem, most of the site is dominated by forest dwelling animals. Warblers, vireos, flycatchers, wrens, chickadees titmice, and other forest birds are numerous. The Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler, Screech Owl, and Broad Winged Hawk are just some of the notable birds that are found deep in the forest. The edges and clearings have an assortment of songbirds including some familiar species such as Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, and Grey Catbirds, while a tornado made a large enough clearing to support Field Sparrows, and Prairie Warblers again. Bears, bobcats, Grey and Red Foxes call this park home, as do many deer (with the second cornfield site becoming a public hunting range). Barred Owls and Red Shouldered Hawks keep the squirrels in check, while everything in this forest ecosystem become part of the landscape after the end of its life. Logs, stumps, and fallen trees were left in place creating homes for woodpeckers, raccoons, and flying squirrels. In a timeframe of 200 years this abandoned farm site has grown from a field of annual weeds to a forest of pines, oaks, and hickories. This hypothetical example shows how natural succession can create biodiversity and how quick (relatively speaking) an open area can revert to forest. 

Carolina Beach Lake

 Carolina Beach Lake 

Photo of the lake, Dec 2019 (I actually do not have many photos of this park)

Carolina Beach Lake is a manmade lake located near the center of Carolina Beach NC. This lake or pond is surrounded by residential areas, commercial development and is less than 1.6km or 1 mile from the beach. The pond's likely purpose is for flood control and stormwater collection although it is also a popular park for the town. While the park is heavily manicured and seems barely worth a stop, it is one of the most productive birding spots in New Hanover County during the autumn and winter. According to eBird.org, Carolina Beach Lake has more than 140 reported species of birds and regularly hosts waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, and wading birds in large numbers. October to March is the best timeframe to visit this park, although you might see some things during the summer months. Like a lot of the locations featured on this blog, Carolina Beach Lake is easily accessible, and the walking trail is not very long at all (for reference Greenfield Lake's loop is nearly 6.7km or 4.2mi). 

Site Overview  

Carolina Beach Lake consist of a freshwater pond covering 11 acres according to this website about the town and has many amenities such as boat rentals, a paved multiuse path, and facilities. However, the park itself is a far cry from the woodlands, copses, tree-lined walkways or wetlands seen around Greenfield Lake or Airlie Gardens. Most of the site is mown, planted with a few palmettos, oleanders, and has beach homes, condos, apartments, and stores overlooking it. While this may be unfortunate for most nature lovers, the open landscape and water makes this a hotspot for seafaring species, shorebirds, waterfowl, and even grassland birds. Additionally the town, and several volunteer groups are working on planting wetlands along sections of the lake for wildlife habitat, aesthetics, and to combat flooding from tropical cyclones and rain events. Among these projects include the removal of invasive Phragmites Reed, and the installation of native freshwater and brackish plants and trees. If this project is successful, Carolina Beach Lake may become a more productive habitat for waterbirds and landbirds alike, and could evolve into a prime wetland habitat similar to Wade Park in Wilmington NC (which I will cover in a future article). 

Birding 

Muscovy Duck (taken at Greenfield Lake in 2010)

As stated before, Carolina Beach Lake is not a place you are going to see large groups of migrating woodland birds, or spend a spring or summer morning listening to a chorus of songbirds. This park is a good and easy place to learn the basics of identifying waterfowl and shorebirds. You can also pick up a few oddities or difficult to find birds during the autumn or winter months. The lake offers open views of the water and a small island and has sitting areas, a gazebo, and overlook. Aside from the seabirds and waterbirds, you may also come across songbirds and other types of birds that are not found in woodlands or forests. Because the lake is so close to the seacoast and a major estuary, almost anything could fly overhead including seafaring jaegers, gannets, or a variety of terns. Below are some of the birds you could find at Carolina Beach Lake. The eBird profile also has a good up to date list as well. Visit this park before or after going to Carolina Beach State Park, or the Fort Fisher Recreation Area/Federal Point. 

Waterfowl: Waterfowl are the most likely types of birds you will encounter at Carolina Beach Lake or just about any small or mid-sized retention pond in New Hanover County. Canada Geese and feral/domesticated species (including the Muscovy Duck and Grey-Leg Goose) are a given. Expect flocks of 20 to upwards of a 100 geese at the park during the winter. In addition to these birds, you will likely see mixed flocks of ducks during the autumn and winter with a combination of pond, bay, and sea ducks stopping by. Mallards, Shovelers, Pintails, Buffleheads, Redheads, Scoters, Scaup, Widgeons, Teals, Hooded Mergansers, and Redheads are some of ducks that could visit this pond (or others like it). Additionally Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, and other uncommon to rare visitors may stop by as well.  During the summer, don't expect much more than domesticated/escaped species, and Canada Geese although a few Mallards may stay as nonbreeders. 

Brown Pelicans (taken in 2008)

Seabirds: Carolina Beach Lake is also a good place to catch a glimpse of seabirds that you would otherwise need a boat or very good binoculars to catch. During the autumn and winter, the lake has hosted visiting Jaegers, Northern Gannets, and other stuff. Also this pond has the potential to attract  rare visitors like auks (Guillemots etc) or other things that were not reported but could get blown in at anything. Other "seabirds" include both Brown and White Pelicans, Black Skimmers, numerous seagulls and terns (including rarities like Lesser Black Backed Gulls). Like the waterfowl, look for seabirds resting on the island or the water itself, so don't take every seagull for granted.  

Wading Birds: Nearly any open pond will be a popular stop for wading birds with any of our heron, ibis species, or the Wood Stork stopping these places whenever there is food to be had. Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Little Blue Herons and White Ibis are mainstays. This could also be a spot where a Wood Stork, Reddish Egret, Spoonbill, or Glossy Ibis could turn up. Again the autumn and winter are the best times to visit. During the summer, you could still come across Green Herons and Cattle Egrets in addition to any of the resident species. If the wetland restoration restores enough marshland, there could be enough habitat for bitterns to visit. 

Other Waterbirds: Not all birds floating on the water are ducks. Most ponds and lakes in our area host a number of bids that are passed off as ducks or geese. Cormorants are likely going to be the most numerous bird at Carolina Beach Lake during the winter months, although you will also find Pied Billed Grebes, Coots, and in more vegetated areas, the Common Moorhen (commonly called the Gallinule in the Carolinas). Coots often form flocks or "rafts" that may number into the hundreds and look like miniature black ducks with small white bills. Moorhens are similar except for their red bills and purplish bodies. Both birds are more closely related to rails, a group of chicken-like marsh dwellers that are notoriously hard to find, but make loud cackling calls. Coots are quite tame and often take handouts. The Grebes mostly remain in open water and dive for fish. Another type of waterbird you might see at Carolina Beach Lake is the Common Loon which is a large spear-billed bird that dives underwater and like the grebe, is awkward on land and seldom flies (compared to the Cormorants which often fly long distances). 

Shorebirds: Shorebirds such as sandpipers, and plovers are present in large numbers at Carolina Beach Lake from late summer through winter, and again in the spring. While most people think of shorebirds "sandpipers" as being beach birds, many species will visit inland ponds, or even grasslands. At the lake, you will readily find common staples such as Sanderlings, Least Sandpiper, Godwits, Yellowlegs, Dowichers as well as rarer finds like Oystercatchers. Because this is freshwater, Avocets, and Stilts may also be encountered. In the park's grassy areas, Killdeers can be found in any month of the year and love the mown lawns and sandy areas. 

Other Birds: Outside of waterbirds and seabirds, Carolina Beach Lake does not have a lot of other birds to find although migration can bring in some songbirds. Based on my past visits (now years ago), I found Boat Tailed Grackles, Common Starlings House Finches, House Sparrows, Rock Doves, and during the winter, Yellow Rumped or Palm Warblers to be about all that the park had to offer. The invasive patch of phragmites did host Redwing (Red Winged Blackbird) habitat, and might have been large enough for a Common Yellowthroat. According to eBird, the Lake Park hosts a mix of urban and countryside species. Hopefully the wetland restoration will add more habitat for birds during migration.

Palm Warbler (taken at Fort Fisher Historic Site Oct 2019)

During the summer there are Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Orchard Orioles, Chipping Sparrows, Barn, and Rough Wing Swallow (maybe Tree as well), along with the year-round Mourning Doves, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, and Eastern Bluebirds (i think there are birdhouses even) 

In the winter, there is more variety with various sparrows (Chipping, Field, Song, Savannah, Vesper etc), finches, and the Yellow Rumped Warbler, along with anything else that blows in. 

Notable Species: The Collared or Barbary Dove is probably the most notable resident as these pied-colored birds are only found in a few localities in our area (especially in coastal towns or villages). The Common Ground Dove is another species that could be found in this area. Ground Doves are only about 14-15cm (5.5-6") long, and look like quail.

What birds are in our garden: Winter Part 2

What birds are in our gardens Winter Edition Part 1

A winter landscape at our townhouse in January 2018 

This is the second part of the series of articles highlighting what birds can be found in domestic gardens or parks during the winter months. This list includes birds that are only found during the winter months but readily visit our homes and bird tables.

The Winter Residents

Field Sparrow in hedge, told by pinkish bill (Nov 2020)

Song Sparrow near the same hedge eating millet (Nov 2020)

Sparrows: Sparrows are the "itty-bitty brown birds" that we see on or near the ground. There are dozens of "sparrows" in our area with all but two (plus the House Sparrow) occurring mainly during the winter in our area. There is no easy way to learn all of the sparrow species although a handful of species will become familiar visitors to our gardens from Halloween to Early May. Most sparrows are smallish or mid-sized birds that come in many shades of brown or grey, and stick close to hedges, copses, brush heaps, or brambles, with only a small handful living within forests. There are also sparrows that live in grasslands, saltmarshes, and in other parts of North America, deserts and tundra. The North American Sparrows are in the family Emberizina which is the same group that includes Eurasian Bunting species like the Lapland Bunting, Yellowhammer, and the Rustic Bunting in Europe. This is not to be confused with the North American Buntings in the group Passerina (like Indigo Bunting or the Northern Cardinal), which are distantly related. The other bird that is referred to as a "sparrow" are in the family Passer and is represented by the introduced House Sparrow, which is from Europe. Regardless of what kind of sparrows are around, all of them like evergreen and deciduous thicket, feed on or near the ground, and will take seeds from bird tables. Seedheads, weed seeds, and other natural food is important for these brown little birds, so look for them in flower gardens as well (especially if you don't cut back stalks until midwinter).

These are House Sparrows, similar-looking but a different family (Washington DC Aug 2019)

Our most familiar sparrows include the White Throated, White Crowned, Song, and Song Sparrows which hang around our back gardens and feeders in large group and are rather tame. The tiny Chipping Sparrow has a red cap and may be seen during the summer if you live in an area with scattered pine trees or open countryside but mainly come from October to March in groups of 50 or more. The Field Sparrow is its larger cousin and is a resident species that likes pastures, hedgerows, and tree plantations. Then we have the Eastern Towhee a black and red sparrow almost the size of a cardinal and unmistakable but hard to find. This bird is year-round but very uncommon and mainly found near old fields, orchards, and may come by during a snowy day. The similarly sized Fox Sparrow is a reddish bird (like a little Brown Thrasher) that is a rather rare treat on snowy days from December to February. House Sparrows look like our native species but can be told by the male's reddish brown backs, black chests, and whitish undersides (the females look similar to Field Sparrows). House Sparrows do not go anywhere and can quickly wear out their welcome when they come in large numbers or decide to takeover your birdhouses. You can feed any of the sparrows with millet, safflower, sunflower, or other seed mixes placed on a low tray, table feeder, or for Chipping Sparrows, in a hanging finch feeder. Keep feeding areas close to shrubs for cover but not too close for cats to hide. 

A Common Junco at our old garden, 2013, (I wish I had a better photo)

Junco: The Junco is a finchlike bird that is related to sparrows and Embrazine Buntings of and is a common sign of winter. These birds are about the size of a Field or House Sparrow and arrive in flocks of a half of dozen or up to hundreds at a time. Juncos are grey on their back with white undersides and tiny white bills, and make a trilling chirp that can sound like sleigh bells to some people. These birds also nest in the Highlands of Appalachia where they are often seen in meadows, open coniferous forests, and along roads (including near Mount Mitchell's visitor center). Juncos arrive from the north in October and are very sporadic. Some years there are hardly any, while in other years there could be everywhere, and rush to bird tables when it snows. Juncos like open areas with trees and are mainly found in the countryside feeding on pastures, roads, or cereal fields, but also visit suburbs, and large grassy areas in cities. They feed mostly on the ground so scatter millet, safflower, or mixed grains on the soil or in a low table feeder. Juncos often come with Chipping or Field Sparrows, Goldfinches, Siskins, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Bluebirds, or woodland birds like Chickadees and love sheltering in evergreens like Common Juniper, Red Cedar, hemlock, or sapling pines.   

Goldfinch female, at window feeder 2019

Siskin and Goldfinch: Another treat we get to enjoy in the winter are Siskins and Goldfinches. These  birds are year-round or even summer residents in most of North America including interior parts of the Carolinas (Siskins breed more in the Appalachians, while Goldfinches are spreading eastward). Both birds arrive in the Cape Fear Region from late September to November and persist sometimes into June. Goldfinches are bright yellow songbirds with the males being brighter during the summer with black caps and wings (almost like canaries). Females are paler and both genders are more greyish in the winter but have golden wing bars. At 10-11cm (4-4.5") long these birds are about the size of a common pet canary (or chickadee-sized) and are told from the larger Pine Warbler by its short conical bill, wing bars, and their twittering calls. The Pine Siskin is the same size and shape except  with a dark grey or brown body with yellowish tones and a grey bill (the Siskin in Europe is very similar). They make a distinct rising  "Bzzhreeee call" but sing like the Goldfinch. Be aware that Indigo Buntings (a summer resident) have similar songs to the two finches. You can host goldfinches and siskins by offering tube feeders of sunflower seeds, millet, or a small black seed known as thistle/Niger seed. Both finches are primarily encountered in the countryside where they gather in hedges, trees, or around sunflower or millet fields by the hundreds or thousands. However they do pack into residential gardens with well-stocked bird tables and like new developments over older wooded gardens. Planting sunflowers, coneflowers, and native thistles can attract them as well.  

Purple Finch at feeder Dec 2018

Purple Finch: Purple Finches are an uncommon and very special guest that is typically comes around Christmas and may linger into February or March. At this rosefinch relative looks like a chunky House Finch that is magenta or cranberry colored with a metallic chip call. However, this finch is noticeably larger and most of its body and wings are red rather than just the head and chest (the streaks are also thicker). The female is heavily spotted and again looks chunkier than the common House Finch we are familiar with. These birds mostly hang out in small groups or pairs in deciduous woodlands, near lakes, or in residential areas and may come to bird tables with or without House Finches. They eat flower and leaf buds, tree seeds, and in northern areas will feed on roadsalt. They will come to tube, table, or ground feeders for sunflower seeds, no-mess mixes, or even safflower and may linger for a few days or stay the enter winter. You probably won't see this finch ever year as their migration movements vary by food availability (movements are called Irruptions). As with House Finches, Goldfinches, Siskins, and sparrows, salt blocks may be a nice addition to a bird table setup.    

Northern Finches: The Northern Finches are the finches that breed in the Boreal Forests of North America (and many cases also occur in Eurasia) but rarely venture much further south than their summer range. For us those finches include the Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak, and Pine Grosbeak, while the Siskin, and Purple Finch can also be tossed into this category. Only the Crossbill occurs in the Carolinas outside of their winter irruptions (abnormal southward migrations due to food shortages). The Red Crossbill may be found in a few spruce, fir, or hemlock forests in Appalachia and may winter around towns and villages in the valleys. This cosmopolitan finch is rather distinctive as it has a large beak that crosses at its tip, and is specalized in prying open conifer cones (esp pine, spruce, or hemlock). Adult are about the size of a large sparrow or a typical Carolina Wren wth males being rosy red, and females being yellowish green. The White Winged Crossbill is similar but does not occur as far south (with a black and white wing). The Pine Grosbeak is a giant finch that is nearly 23cms (9") long, as big as a cardinal, except finch shaped. Males are pink and grey while females have olive heads with no pink. The Evening Grosbeak is essentially a giant goldfinch that is yellow and gold, like a setting sun (females are grey), with a very large white bill. Neither grosbeak is related to the Rose Breasted and Blue Grosbeaks which are related to cardinals. You will not see any of  these finches regularly in our area but during irruptions Crossbills, or one of the Grosbeaks may come further south than usual and occur in sizeable numbers. Up north Evening Grosbeaks love sunflower seeds and are rather common at feeders in New York, Michigan, or the Interior West. The Crossbill rarely comes to feeders, so look for them in pine trees or if you are in their normal range, spruce, fir, or hemlock trees.

Myrtle Warbler male, March 2008 (very good for a point and shoot camera)

Yellow Rumped "Myrtle" Warbler: The Yellow Rumped or Myrtle Warbler is one of the only Parulidae Warblers that winters in most of Eastern North America and like its relative the Pine Warbler, it eats a fair portion of seeds and fruits. These birds are among our most commonly encountered winter birds and come in in Mid-October and persist as late as the end of May, breeding in the Boreal Forests, Rockies, or Appalachian Corridor (though different populations). Myrtle Warblers are sparrow-sized birds (about 14cm or 5.5")  that are greying brown, heavily streaked, and look like Siskin except larger. However, warblers have long thin bills, and this species have yellow on their lower back, sides, and for males, the crown. They also make a "chipping call" not a "Bzhreeee" buzz or canary like twitter. Myrtle Warblers are named because they eat the fruits of Common Bayberry and Wax Myrtles and flock in the thousands along the seacoast or just inland. Since both shrubs are common in landscaping, these warblers are all over the place and can seem like the only thing you see from late October to April. They also like feeding on lawns, croplands, in copses or hedges, or in flower gardens and catch insects, eat weed seeds, or small fruits. Myrtle Warblers are truly hardly little birds and are no afraid of us at all. Like the Pine Warbler, Myrtle Warblers will come to bird tables or feeders for suet, mealworms, lard, kitchen scraps (they love bread), millet, sunflower seeds, and are not shy about coming up to windows. You may get one occasional bird during a snow day or there might be hundreds in your garden. They are known to harass chickadees, siskins, and goldfinches but give way to nuthatches, Pine Warblers, or House Finches. Also look for the similar looking Palm Warbler during this time of year, they are yellowish and feed on the ground (but smaller than a Pine Warbler). They too will come to ground feeders or bird tables for millet, bread, or peanut butter. 

Orange Crowned Warbler: The Orange Crowned Warbler is one of the most overlooked winter residents in our gardens and unlike the Myrtle, Palm, and Pine Warbler, it is not a seed eater or fruit lover. This little bird comes into the Carolinas just after all of the migrants (like Redstarts, Yellow Warblers, Vireos, and such) have come and gone, and the Myrtle Warblers and White Throated Sparrows are settling in. Orange Crowned Warblers are olive to fain yellow, nondescript, and have tiny beaks that are pointy. They are about the same size as the Myrtle Warbler (14cms or 5.5") long and behave like a kinglet or chickadee by hanging from leaves, or hovering in midair. These birds like flowering camellias, azaleas, Coral Honeysuckles, and other winter-flowering shrubs and will  come into dooryards, gardens, and commercial landscapes to feed. They drink nectar, eat small insects and maybe take small fruits and seeds. While these little birds often dash around our garden, follow chickadees around, and even come onto our porches or enter outbuildings, they rarely come to bird tables directly. They might try mealworms, or peanut butter however. 

Ruby Crowned Kinglet, 2013

Kinglets "Crests": Kinglets are among the smallest birds in our area and our two species are a winter resident in most of the Carolinas. Both birds are tiny birds (7.5-9cm 3-3.5" long) that hyperactively move through shrubs, trees, and and other vegetation in their search for insects, spiders, or nectar. They arrive in October and stay with us until May, although the Golden Crowned Kinglet nests in Appalachia as well. In Europe kinglets are known as "Crests" and the Goldcrest is almost identical to our Golden Crowned Kinglet (color, behavior, calls, and habitat) but are now considered separate species. This is our smallest bird by length although it is a little heavier than the Ruby Throated Hummingbird and we have smaller hummingbirds that visit from the west on occasion. Both kinglets are olive green or greyish with white wing bars, thin pointy beaks, and short tails. The main difference between them is that the Golden Crowned has a golden crest and black striped head, while the Ruby Crowned is plain except for singing males (which have a tiny ruby patch). Both birds are very common but are almost always overlooked and even skilled birdwatchers struggle to keep up with them. The Ruby Crowned Kinglet feeds lower to the ground and often visits flowerbeds, hanging planters, hedges, or comes to flowering camellias or other winter shrubs. This bird makes a dry chattering sound and has a rambling song that is gets your attention when males start singing prior to their northward migration in March or April. The Golden Crowned/Goldcrest is almost always in the canopy and prefers pines, baldcypress, spruce, or large oaks. They are best detected by their high pitched "Zheeeee" whistle and are seen in groups of six or more. Both kinglets associate with chickadees and other woodland birds but usually do not come to feeders or tables. I have read of Ruby Crowned Kinglets drinking nectar from hummingbird feeders however. Any garden with shrubs and a few trees will host kinglets and somehow these little birds can stay as far north as Nova Scotia and Southern Alaska.

Treecreepers: Treecreepers are a unique group of woodland birds that are related to nuthatches and are best described as a mix between a wren, nuthatch, and a woodpecker. They occur in most of the Northern Hemisphere with one or two species each per continent, with ours being the Brown Creeper. This species is similar to its European counterpart (and separated only by evolution/genetics) and is a sparrow-sized bird with a brown back, white underside and a long spiked tail. This bird looks like moving treebark and has moves up tree trunks, walls, or other vertical surfaces in a spiralling or zig-zagging fashion. Unlike woodpeckers this bird uses its curved bill to find small insects under bark and when it gets to the top of the tree, it flies down to the next and starts again. Treecreepers arrive from early October and may stay until March though they are year-round in Appalachia. They are uncommon and almost always missed unless you happen upon one, or have a good enough ear to hear the buzzy "Seeeeese" which is buzzier than the kinglet but similar. They mostly live in woodlands, stands of old pines, oaks, or cypresses, but also visit gardens with chickadee, titmouse, or nuthatch flocks. There is usually one or two birds per area and like the White Breasted Nuthatch and Downy/Hairy Woodpecker, it may be a while before the pair gets back around to your garden again. They rarely come to bird tables but are quite approachable and may forage on framed houses, old sheds, or telephone poles.   

A Winter Wren Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons Link)

Winter Wren: The Winter Wren is another "microbird" that can dwarf our only breeding hummingbird in size. This bird is seen in most of the temperate world though the Eurasian populations might be distinct from our wren, while another population in the Western US and Canada also shows genetic differences (similar to the Goldcrest/Golden Crowned Kinglet). This wren is the least common of the three wrens that commonly visit gardens and is told from the similar looking House Wren by its stubby tail, and short  pointed bill (House Wrens have a longer tail and curved bill). They can be tan, dark grey, or blackish and make a dry chattering noise as they move through forest understory, stonewalls, upturned root balls, and rock piles like a mouse. Winter Wrens eat small insects and spiders and occasionally eat small fruits. It does not come to bird tables like the larger (up to double-sized) Carolina Wren but it may eat mealworms, peanut butter, or suet crumbs on the ground or smeared onto logs. In gardens, look for Winter Wrens near home foundations, shrubbery, brush piles, or in garden sheds (usually within centermeters or inches of the ground). They may overnight in birdhouses, porches, or flowerpots. Winter Wrens come in late October and hang around until March, during the summer you can find these birds reliably in coniferous forests in Appalachia (esp Mount Mitchell or Balsam Cap). When singing, their ethereal medley of twittering, jumbling, and warbles is among the most breathtaking sounds from any bird (up there with the Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher and Carolina Chickadee's whistle song). 

Red Breasted Nuthatch in our old garden 2012

Red Breasted Nuthatch: The Red Breasted Nuthatch is our third species of nuthatch and as stated on the last article, it is a rather rare treat for our area. This bird can be seen from late September to April  but like the Evening Grosbeak, Siskin, or Crossbill, is mainly an irruptive visitor. Most years these birds rarely make it down to Wilmington and are more likely to be found in the Piedmont and are year-round residents in Appalachia (joining the Junco, Crossbill, Siskin, Golden Crowned Kinglet, and Winter Wren, among other boreal forest specialities). At 10cm or 4" long are smaller than the White Breasted Nuthatch and even most Brown Headed Nuthatches (though marginally) and are hard to miss if they come to a feeder. They have red undersides, silver  backs, and black and white heads and make nasal sounds not unlike a tin horn as well as a trilling chatter (like a Red Squirrel). Aside from their home being spruce, fir, hemlock, or White Pine forests, Red Breasted Nuthatches are very similar to the Brown Headed Nuthatch in behavior and niche. They are usually in pairs or small groups and will mix with Brown Headed and White Breasted and become daily bird table guests through their stay. Feed them the same thing as Brown Headed Nuthatches (peanuts and sunflowers are tops). If you have Longleaf, Loblolly, Pitch, or White Pine in your garden, you should host this nuthatch when they come to your town. Don't be surprised to find this nuthatch in shrubs or small saplings, something that Brown Headed Nuthatches rarely do.

Baltimore Oriole at our window feeder Jan 2019

Baltimore Oriole: To many North American bird lovers, orioles are a summer bird and we say our goodbyes to them when our vireos, hummingbirds, and swallows depart. However, for us in the Carolinas, the Baltimore Oriole is mainly an autumn passage migrant, and a fairly common but localized winterer. In the summer, we have the smaller and reddish colored Orchard Oriole which is very common in pastures, parks, neighborhoods, and urban shade trees from April to July. We can technically see these birds any month of the year as a few linger over the summer, while migrants can be seen in early June or as soon as the end of August. Northern migrants may leave areas like Boston, New York, or Detroit in mid-July. Additionally, their range is expanding and we may soon have these colorful blackbirds serenading from elm or oak trees with its smaller counterpart. In the winter, Orchard Orioles are seen in small groups of 3-10 and like flowering shrubs (camellias and Coral Honeysuckle are favorites), and are more likely to be found in domestic settings like gardens than in woodlands or the countryside. People who routinely provide grape jelly, peanut butter, fruits, or have lots of flowering or fruiting shrubs may host large numbers of orioles. They will also come to bird tables for no-mess seed blends, peanuts, mealworms, sugar water, or table scraps.  

Brown Headed Cowbirds at our old garden, Feb 2013

Blackbirds and Starlings: Blackbirds and starlings are technically a year-round occurrence in the Carolinas with the only exception being the Rusty Blackbird, and the orioles. However, we see the largest numbers of blackbirds and starlings from October to April when flocks can grow into the thousand and pack trees and reedbeds at night. Starlings and Blackbirds are two entirely different birds. The Common Starling is a European species that was introduced into North America in the late 19th Century and is now widespread, although their impacts on native birdlife is not fully understood (though they may compete with hole nesting birds). Starlings are also more closely related to thrushes, Mimids, and waxwings, and are in the same family that includes Myna birds. Blackbirds are part of that "finch complex" which includes Parulidae Warblers, Old World Buntings, Passerina Buntings, Old World Sparrows, and "true" finches. In our area Starlings are localized during the spring and summer and can breed as early as February, and there is a population turnover in late summer (evidence of migrations has also been observed). The Red Winged Blackbird or Redwing as well as the Common Grackle are the same way with a population shift in March and August between our nesting species and the massive winter flocks. However the Cowbird is one that is very nomadic because it is a brood parasite (more on that in another article), and their distribution hard to determine. Regardless of the species, you can see all of these birds in one massive swarm during a winter day with thousands upon thousands of birds descending on lawns, croplands, or even  at grain silos. A flock of Redwings or Grackles can empty your bird table and even your hanging feeders in minutes, while Starlings will devour suet in one or two days if they decide they love your garden. Blackbird flocks are not always a bad thing as these flocks often contain oddities or species like Eastern Meadowlarks, Rusty Blackbirds, or may catch the attention of other bird flocks (i.e. ibis, storks, herons, or cranes if the site is rich in prey). I have no solutions to deal with blackbird flocks other than saying they are temporary and will move on after a day or two, but I do find that corn, milo, and cereal grains are especially attractive to Redwings, Common/Boat Tailed Grackles, or cowbirds. 

Pointers for Flock ID 

Boat Tailed Grackles, note their long tails and large size

A Common Starling at our suet, note triangular wings 

• Common Grackle: Pigeon-sized, long legged, flies with long tail, makes screeching noises

• Redwing: Males are solid black with red and yellow shoulders, about starling-sized. Females look like oversized sparrows with sharp bills  

• Cowbird: Small and sparrowlike, male is black with brown head, finch bill, long, pointed wings and square tail. Just slightly larger than a bluebird  

• Starling: Mid-sized like Redwing but with long pointed bill, long legs, square tail, triangular wings. Flocks move tightly and swirl like a tornado. On the ground they look like plovers. 

• Meadowlark: Basically oversized starlings that are yellowish with brown wings, long pointed bills, makes an electric sounding "Bzeeeet". Mainly in marshes or mown areas  

• Rusty Blackbird: Mid-sized with long tail, spear like bill, yellowish eyes, male are all black, usually on their own or in small groups near wetlands 

• Boat Tailed Grackle: Basically a magpie that is all black (male) or cinnamon brown (female), very long tail, long legs, almost never with other blackbirds, the main bird blackbird of parking lots

American Robin female in hedge of Glossy Privet (with hundreds more), Feb 2013

American Robin: The American Robin is a very large thrush that is among the most widespread birds in North America and is yet another bird named from a unrelated  European species. The closest thing to an American Robin in Europe is the Fieldfare (a rare vagrant that may turn up amongst flocks of robins). This  bird is often associated with spring and summer when it is seen on lawns, or in open woodlands in much of North America, where its whistled or flute-like song is heard during a small window before dawn, and again at nightfall. In the Carolinas this bird can be seen anywhere at any time of year but is mostly a winter visitor along the coast where it is most common from late October to April. In our area, the American Robin is uncommon and localized as a breeder and is more likely to be found in forests or shady gardens or lawns (not two for every house like what you might see in Charlotte or somewhere in suburban New England). In the winter you will notice robins as they are in massive flocks of 500 to several thousand and descend on fruiting shrubs like privet, buckthorn, tallow/popcorn trees, holly, and cherry laurel during January and February (as the birds return north). There is a gap between the swirling winter flocks seen around the New Year, and the one or two pairs that might occupy a deciduous forest or a treed pasture in May or June. Aside from providing fruit bearing shrubs (please plant things like holly, beautyberry, cherry laurel, or persimmon rather than invasive privets, buckthorn, or tallow trees. A flock of robins, starlings or waxwings may carry seeds many miles in their stomaches and start invasive plant infestations in forests, fields, and waterways and new areas. Robins do not visit bird tables although I have seen them eat bread, mealworms, or raisin on snowy days. Pines, and junipers appear important as shelter trees for robins.

Cedar Waxwing, Asheville June 2012

Cedar Waxwing: Cedar Waxwings are another sign of winter with birds coming in right around October, although like many of the birds I mentioned above, they are very unpredictable. Some years these little birds can cloud the skies and strip berry bushes clean in one sitting, while in other years  there are only small bunches of birds (a few hundred at most), or hardly any at all. Waxwings can also be found in the Carolinas at any month and have been heard or seen in the summer and routinely linger until May (with breeding also based on insect or fruit availability). Waxwings eat mainly fruits and tree buds and only come to your garden when something is ripe. As with the American Robin, waxwings peak around January and February when thousands can descend on a neighborhood or woodland for several days at a time. They may come with starlings and blackbirds as well. While waxwings do not come to bird tables, their flocks can paint gardens, houses, and cars in droppings, and may cancel out all but the bravest birds at feeders. However, their stay is short-lived and by the time you get tired of them, the bushes are bear and the flocks disappear. Waxwings are slim, about the size of a typical sparrow (14-15cm 5.5-6") with a silky plumage that is olive with red or yellow tail or wingtips. Their flocks swirl like starlings and the high pitched "Seeeee" whistle can be overpowering. These birds  love drinking and bathing in birdbaths or water features.

Hermit Thrush in hedge, March 2020

Hermit Thrush: The Hermit Thrush is the only woodland thrush that winters in our area and is another bird that breeds in the Boreal Forests from Alaska to Newfoundland as well as along the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains. This bird is way smaller than the Wood Thrush that nests in our forests and parks during the spring and summer with most birds averaging 14cm (5.5") and being slightly smaller than a bluebird or most sparrows. Adults are round and plump  with reddish wings, tails, and backs,  spots  on  the chest, and a robin-like look (I used to call them "Winter Robins"). Hermit Thrushes can be found in virtually any setting and seem to thrive in gardens, dooryards, and commercial landscaping if there are fruits, leaf litter, or lawns nearby. They is almost always one or two thrushes per garden (or every 2-3 gardens in cities) and despite their name they are not shy at all. These thrushes feed on fruits in foundation shrubs or pick fruits from wreath arrangements, feed on insects when we turn over the compost or dig, and will even sing occasionally during the early morning (with an ethereal warble on a harmonic scale). They may visit bird tables for peanuts, suet, mealworms, bread, and other soft foods, or may come to suet, although they are more likely just to feed under a feeder or stick with the fruits and snails in the garden. Planting hedges, evergreen shrubs, and including a brush pile can make a garden good for these "miniature robins in brown". During spring and autumn migration, a garden with fruit-bearing shrubs may also be visited by Veery Thrushes, Swainsons and Grey Cheeked Thrushes which look similar but pass through well-before Hermits arrive and are a little larger (Grey Cheeked Thrushes in fact are closer to the size of a starling or small plover). Without, their songs, thrushes are hard to identify, but know that anything seen after November is almost certainly a Hermit Thrush (99%).