A gray bird with an orange breast is foraging on the grass. This is an American Robin. They are a year-round resident in the Adirondacks, but we see very few of them in the winter months in the interior of the Adirondack Park. In March and April, they return in large numbers, heralding the end of what is almost always a cold and lengthy winter.

The alt #BirdOfTheDay Theme is #Robins. Here’s a nice American Robin foraging in the grass. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#Americanrobin #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

Two large black and white birds with black-and-white striped collars and checkerboard backs are floating in a slow-moving stream. These are Common Loons, photographed on the Black Pond Trail at the Paul Smith’s College VIC in the Adirondack Mountains. These birds are powerful, agile divers that catch small fish in fast underwater chases, often disappearing under the surface for what seems like hours and popping up on the other side of the lake. They are medium-distance migrants, that usually arrive in the Adirondacks in April.

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #Reflections, I offer these two Common Loons. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#loons #commonloon #commonloons #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #nature #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

A brown bird with olive-brown upper parts, white underparts with bold, blackish-streaked spots, and a prominent white eye ring is perched on a branch. This is an Ovenbird, the largest of our Adirondack warblers. Ovenbirds are more often heard than seen. Male Ovenbirds belt out a loud, repetitive series of about 8-12 two-parted notes from a mid-level perch: “tea-Cher, tea-Cher, tea-CHER, Tea-CHER, TEA-CHER.” The song generally rises in both volume and pitch.

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #JKLMNOP. Here’s an Ovenbird, making a lot of noise. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#Warblers #AdirondackWarblers #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

A gray and white bird is walking along a sandy beach. This is a Ring-billed Gull. I took this photograph in early November on the beach at Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, New York, before the lake froze over. The Ring-billed Gull is the most common gull regularly seen in New York State. It is one of two gulls that breed in the Adirondack Park, the other being the Herring Gull. The Ring-billed Gull is a partial, mid- to long-distance migrant. Most individuals depart their breeding regions in late summer and early fall to winter in warmer areas. As lakes freeze over in the Adirondack interior, these gulls (which are frequently seen throughout the Adirondacks during the warmer months) gradually disappear in search of open water. Winter birders in the Adirondacks can find Ring-billed Gulls, along with a host of other gulls and waterfowl, along the Lake Champlain coast.

The alt #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Gulls. Here’s a nice Ring-billed Gull by Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, New York. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#ringbilledgull #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

The image shows a long-distance shot of two Canada Geese swimming on an oxbow of the Ausable River in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. This photograph was taken two days ago. Yesterday, the female was on her nest in a small vegetation island in the oxbow, and the male was nearby keeping watch. I have been monitoring this site for several years, and every year a pair of Canada Geese nests here in the same small vegetation island in the oxbow. Canada Geese mate for life, so this is very likely the same pair I have been following in previous years.

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #LongNecks: a pair of Canada Geese. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-s...

#CanadaGoose #CanadaGeese #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

A plump, brown bird is perched on a branch, belting out a very loud, long song. The bird has a short, stubby tail that he is holding up. His plumage is rather nondescript; he’s basically a brown bird with some barring on his belly, wings, and tail. He has his beak opened in loud, jubilant song, showing off his bright yellow and orange mouth. This is a Winter Wren, a tiny bird with a big voice. This one is making a home in our backyard near Lake Placid, in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.

For Jane’s @javajanegallery.co.uk #smallbirdsaturday theme: a Winter Wren, a little bird making a lot of noise. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#WinterWren #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

A handsome warbler with a white belly and chestnut streak on its sides is perched on a branch in a second-growth deciduous forest. This is a male Chestnut-sided Warbler. Chestnut-sided Warblers are one of the more common warblers. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 19 million, with 70% in Canada and 30% in the US. The main breeding range for this warbler includes southern Canada and the northeastern region of the United States, southward through the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia. The Chestnut-sided Warbler is an early successional species, nesting in second-growth deciduous forests.

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Woodland. Here’s a #Chestnut-sidedWarbler in a deciduous forest. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#Warblers #AdirondackWarblers #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #forests #birds #AdirondackForests #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

The image shows a slightly disheveled fledgling perched on a branch. This is a young Mourning Warbler. It was being attended by an adult male Mourning Warbler. This photo was taken on the John Brown Farm Trails, near Lake Placid in upstate New York.

For the alt #BirdOfTheDay theme #juveniles, I offer this adorable fledgling Mourning Warbler. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#MourningWarbler #Warblers #AdirondackWarblers #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

A large brown bird is walking on the grass in a meadow in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. This is a Wild Turkey, a bird that doesn’t get enough appreciation. Wild Turkeys can fly, but they spend most of their time on the ground, so they are very wary. When you see a bunch of Wild Turkeys in a field, they are usually hustling away from you, so you don’t get to appreciate how handsome they really are, with bronze-green iridescent plumage.

For the alt #BirdOfTheDay theme #Grass, I offer this proud Wild Turkey. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#WIldTurkey #turkeys #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds #nature #AdirondackNature

A blue-gray bird with bright yellow markings on its rump is sitting on a branch. This is the Yellow-rumped Warbler. It’s a short to long-distance migrant that arrives in the Adirondack Mountains in April. Birders affectionately call it Butterbutt. This photo was taken at the Paul Smith’s College VIC – a nature preserve in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. The VIC has a 25-mile trail system, including six miles of interpretive trails that wind through a variety of habitats. It’s a great place to go to learn about and experience nature in the Adirondacks.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BirdButt. Here's a Yellow-rumped Warbler, nicknamed “ButterButt.” wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#YellowRumpedWarbler #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #Adirondackbirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds #nature

An attractive brown a white throat is sitting on a branch. This is a White-throated Sparrow, photographed in our backyard near Lake Placid, in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. A short-distance migrant, a few White-throated Sparrows are seen throughout the winter inside the Adirondack Park Blue Line. However, most of the White-throated Sparrows we see in spring and summer in the Adirondack Park winter in the southern parts of the US and return to their breeding ranges in northern New York, New England, and Canada when snow melt exposes portions of the forest floor.

For the alt #birdoftheday theme #naturalperch, I submit this dapper White-throated Sparrow. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#whitethroatedsparrow #sparrows #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

A bird with raspberry red coloration on his upperparts, neck, head, and sides is perched on a pole, waiting for his turn at the sunflower seeds. This is a Purple Finch. The Purple Finch is a year-round resident for us, breeding mainly in conifer or mixed forests, the edges of bogs, and riparian corridors.

Today’s #birdoftheday theme is #manmadeperch. So here’s a male Purple Finch on a pole. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#PurpleFinch #Finch #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

A gray bird with a dark gray cap is perched on a branch. This is a Gray Catbird. Gray Catbirds are gray birds with a neat black cap and rusty feathers under its tail. These medium-sized, slender songbirds have a long, rounded, black tail and a narrow, straight bill. Catbirds are fairly long legged and have broad, rounded wings. Their name captures both their color (gray) and the fact they make a nasal mew that sounds like a cat.

The Alt #BirdOfTheDay Theme is #Grey. Here’s a Gray Catbird, a bird which is both well-named and undeniably gray. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#GrayCatbird #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

A black bird with light yellow on the back of his head is sitting on top of a shrub. This is a male Bobolink, photographed at Heaven Hill in Lake Placid. Heaven Hill is owned and managed by the Uihlein Foundation. The Foundation has been working with the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith’s College to study how grassland and other bird species respond to hayfield management. I am a volunteer “Bobolink Counter. I visit the hay meadow nearly every day in the breeding season to document behavior.

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #BlackHeads, I submit this fine-looking male Bobolink on the hay meadow at Heaven Hill. wildadirondacks.org/heaven-hill-...

#eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #NewYorkBirds

A bluish-green bird with a chestnut chest is seated on a branch at a Great Blue Heron rookery near Elizabethtown in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. This is a Green Heron (although it doesn’t look very green to me). Apparently, these birds are fairly common outside the Adirondack Park, according to data from the New York State Breeding Bird Atlas III. But we rarely see them here in the Adirondacks; there was only one confirmed breeding pair sighted during the five-year period of the atlas. Green Herons are said to sometimes nest near Great Blue Heron colonies, which is what this bird was doing.

For the alt #BirdOfTheDay theme #RareEncounters, I offer this #GreenHeron, seen for the first and only time at a Great Blue Heron rookery. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#Herons #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK

A small and rather chunky, short-tailed warbler with extensively streaked underparts is perched on the branch of a conifer. This is a Cape May Warbler. Cape May Warblers breed in the Adirondack Mountains and other northern habitats in spring and summer and migrate south to warmer areas in the winter. Cape May Warblers appear to spend most of their time, at least in their breeding grounds, in the upper most branches of tall evergreens, particularly spruces, which is where I usually find them. This photo was taken on the John Brown Farm Trails near Lake Placid, in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. I don’t get to see Cape Mays very often, so when I do, it’s a real treat.

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Warblers. How about this lovely Cape May Warbler? wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#capemaywarbler #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #AdirondackWarblers

A stocky bird with glossy black feathers and vivid red shoulder patches edged in yellow is perched on some marsh vegetation near a heron rookery in the Adirondack Mountains for upstate New York. The Red-winged Blackbirds that breed in the Adirondacks are short distance migrants who winter south of us and return to our wetlands in the spring. Red-winged Blackbirds migrate in flocks during the day, with males migrating before females.

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #Black&Red, I submit this attractive Red-winged Blackbird. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-s...

#redwingedblackbird #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #wetlands #AdirondackWetlands

Two gray and brown birds are perched on a branch in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. These birds are year-round residents of our region, but I see them most often during the winter months, when they sometimes come to our feeders. In summer, I rarely see them, but I often hear their lovely coo around our property, which makes me hope that perhaps a pair are nesting nearby.

The Alt #BirdOfTheDay Theme is #Pigeons&Doves. Here’s a Mourning Dove pair outside my window. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#mourningdove #doves #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK

A medium-sized bird with brown and gray feathers is huddled on a branch on a winter day in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. Mourning Soves are famous for their sad-sounding, mournful "coo-AHH, cooo, coo, coo" call. Mourning Doves are year-round residents in the Adirondacks, frequently spotted at bird feeders during the colder months. Mourning Doves are actually quite slender birds. This one appears plump because it is fluffed up against the cold as it waits for its chance at the feeding station.

For today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme #Feathers, I offer this Mourning Dove, showing off its intricate, soft-toned breast feathers on a wintry day. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#MourningDove #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK

A small songbird with a yellow throat and distinctive black mask is perched on a bush in a wetland in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. The Common Yellowthroat is a short- to long-distant migrant that spends its winters south of us in Central America or the southern Gulf of Mexico. This species is one of the most widespread warblers in the North American continent, breeding from southeastern Alaska and Yukon, across most of Canada to Newfoundland in the east, and south along both coasts to southern Florida, California, the Gulf Coast and eastern Texas. In New York State, Common Yellowthroats are found during breeding season throughout the state. Our Yellowthroats begin arriving in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks in small numbers in late April, with most arriving in May.

The alt #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #BirdInABush. Here’s a #CommonYellowthroat in a wetland. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#Birds #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #wetlands #AdirondackWetlands #warblers #AdirondackWarblers

A tiny bird with an emerald-green back and light underparts is hovering near some Red Bee Balm in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. This is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the only hummingbird species breeding in the Adirondacks. They arrive in mid-May and depart by early fall. They are vital pollinators, feeding on nectar from tubular flowers.

For Jane’s @javajanegallery.co.uk #smallbirdsaturday theme: a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on bee balm. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-s...

#hummingbird #RubyThroatedHummingbird #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #pollinators

A red bird with a crossed bill is standing on a road in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. This is a Red Crossbill. Red Crossbills are medium-sized, full-bodied finches with a distinctive crisscrossed bill, designed to break into unopened cones. Males are a deep reddish orange overall, with darker brownish wings. Females are mostly yellowish with dark, unmarked wings. You often see them on roadways consuming small bits of gravel from the road. This “gritting” behavior is said to aid in the digestion of their seed-based diet. The grit helps to mechanically grind hard food items like seeds and nuts.

For the Alt #BirdOfTheDay Theme #Finches, I submit this Red Crossbill, gritting on a road. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#RedCrossbill #Crossbills #Birds #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #AdirondackBirding

A white duck with a dark head and long red bill is taking off from the waters of a marsh. This is a male Common Merganser. Common Mergansers forage in a range of habitats, including streams, rivers, lakes, coastal bays, and marshes, typically hunting in waters shallower than thirteen feet. They breed on this marsh in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, arriving here in late March or early April as ice melts and open water returns.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #SmallBirdsInFlight. Here’s a male Common Merganser taking off in a marsh. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#CommonMerganser #Birds #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #ducks #wetlands

A blue bird with a white chest and belly and perky blue crest is perched on a branch in a snow storm. This is a Blue Jay, a year-round resident in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. Blue Jays are omnivores. They consume arthropods, acorns, soft fruits, seeds, birds’ eggs, nestlings, and small vertebrates. These birds are among our most faithful customers at winter feeders. This one was waiting for me to refill the feeders.

For today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme #weather, I submit this woe-begone Blue Jay in the snow.
wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#BlueJay #Birds #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #snow

A large blue-gray bird is standing on the banks of a slow-moving river in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. This is the Great Blue Heron, a large wading bird with long legs and a yellow dagger-shaped bill. Great Blue Herons forage by slowly wading or standing motionless in shallow water along the edges of wetlands, rivers, and ponds. These birds don’t fool around when it comes to hunting. They strike with a lightning-fast thrust to spear or grab prey, which is then swallowed whole.

The alt #BirdOfTheDay theme is #riverbank. Here’s a #GreatBlueHeron standing on the banks of the Ausable River in the Adirondacks. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-s...

#herons #Birds #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK

A large bluish gray bird is flying over a marsh in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. This is a Great Blue Heron, a large, long-legged wading bird that often nests in colonies called rookeries. When in flight, Great Blue Herons (like the Great Egret) pull their necks back into an "S" shape. This is helpful for the birder since it separates these birds from cranes and storks, which fly with necks extended.

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #LargeBirdsInFlight, I submit this Great Blue Heron. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#GreatBlueHeron #Herons #Birds #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #Adirondackbirding #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK

A medium-sized warbler with black and white striped upperparts, white wing bars, and white underparts is perched on a branch with a seed in its beak. The bird has a white stripe above the eye, a striped crown, and a black cheek. He has a fairly long, slightly downcurved bill. He’s outlined against green leaves in the background.

The #BirdOfTheDay theme for today is #Snacks. How about this Black-and-white Warbler, chowing down on a seed? wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#Birds #Blackandwhitewarbler #eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackMountains #ECK #warblers #AdirondackWarblers

A handsome gray and white bird is perched on a branch, with snow-covered conifers in the background. The upper parts are charcoal gray. The belly is snow white. The bird has dark eyes, a small, pale bill, and a very long tail. This is a Dark-eyed Junco, part of the sparrow family. This species has been nicknamed a "snowbird" due to its presence in the U.S. during winter. This bird mostly feeds on the ground, which doesn’t always make for a nice background, so I was lucky to get him on a tree.

For the #BirdOfTheDay theme #BestOfTheMonth, here's a Dark-eyed Junco, fluffed up on a snowy morning. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #darkeyedjunco #winterbirds

A black and white bird with a large, chisel-like bill is perched on a suet feeder. This is a female Hairy Woodpecker. We know it’s a female because the bird is lacking the red patch on the back of the head which males have. Hairy Woodpeckers are among the most commonly observed woodpecker species in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. The name derives from the long, white feathers in the center of its back. Hairy Woodpeckers are found in all seasons throughout New York State, including the Adirondacks.

For the alt #birdoftheday theme #gardenfeeder, I submit this female #HairyWoodpecker, enjoying breakfast in the snow. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-w...

#eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding
#AdirondackBirding #birds #nature #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #woodpeckers

A gray duck with a reddish-brown head and a shaggy crest is perched on a rock on the shore of a lake. This is a female Common Merganser. This photo was taken at the Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb, New York. The Adirondack Interpretive Center offers 3.6 miles of interpretive nature trails and a variety of educational programs on Adirondack natural history.

Today’s #birdoftheday theme is #RuffledFeathers. Here’s a #CommonMerganser, with a crest blowing in the wind. wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...

#eastcoastkin #Adirondacks #ADK #AdirondackBirds #birding #AdirondackBirding #birds #wildlife #AdirondackMountains #ECK #ducks #AdirondackDucks