Wild Bird Wednesday 708 - Canada Goose

The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), sometimes referred to as the Canadian Goose is a large goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. 

It is native to the Arctic and temperate regions of North America. It has been introduced widely around the world and can now be found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands.  

The species seems to be well suited to living in human-altered areas, and has established breeding colonies in urban and cultivated habitats, which provide food and few natural predators. The success of this common park species has led to it often being considered a pest species in many regions where it has been introduced. 

Thankfully these are legitimate Canadian Canada Geese and not some sort of introduced blow in!

Interestingly, a small 'version' of this goose which was once considered a sub-species of the Canada Goose has recently be elevated to full species level; it is called the Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) and it can be separated from the Canada Goose by its smaller size (!), its shorter neck and smaller beak. 

By the time this post publishes I will have just started a new adventure that will keep me away from home for a couple of weeks: it should include many species of new birds and possibly even tigers!  More details to come.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 707 - Cuban parrot

The Cuban Parrot (Amazona leucocephala), also known as the Cuban Amazon or the Rose-Throated Parrot, is a medium-sized mainly green parrot found in Cuba, the Bahamas and Cayman Islands in the Caribbean.

Interestingly, the Cuban Parrot  lives in different habitats on each of the different islands where it is found. In Cuba it can be found in woodlands and dry forests It was once widespread throughout Cuba, but it is now mainly confined to the forested areas of the main island. It is thought that there are about 10,000 individuals of this species in Cuba.

I think this individual is feeding on figs.

I'm always amazed at what parrots can do with their feet!

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Wild Bird Wednesday 706 - White-Throated Sparrow

According to my limited sources the White-Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) breeds in northern North America and winters in the southern United States.  Which makes me wonder what it was doing in Southern Canada in December.  

There is a good chance I have the ID wrong - what are peoples thoughts?

Anyway, assuming it is a White-Throated Sparrow it's a rather dapper looking bird, and I was pleased to see a sparrow with such colourful plumage - I was brought up with much less flamboyant sparrows.  This bird is common in bushy patches and in mixed woodlands - which is exactly the type of habits I saw it in!

Sorry this post is a wee bit short - I have a lot on today!

Hope all is well with everyone!

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Cheers - SM

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705 - Wild Bird Wednesday - White-Breasted Nuthatch

Before I went to Cuba I spent a wonderful time in Canada, hosted by David from Travels with Birds.  

One of the birds I was looking forward to seeing in Canada was the White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis).  As a kid in the UK seeing the European Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) was always a source of excitement.  I believe this species has expanded its range in the UK in recent years and is now more 'visible' than in the past - but we have no nuthatches in Australia so I was keen to catch up with one.

The White-Breasted Nuthatch is the  largest nuthatch in North America.  This species is found in much of southern Canada, most of the United States and areas of Mexico. This species shows a good deal of variation over its range and it has been suggested that it is in fact not a single species, but four separate species.  At present this suggestion has not been accepted by the taxonomic powers that be.

As you can see from these pictures this is a species that will readily come to bird tables and feeding stations - so maybe this weeks WBW should really be called Partially Wild Bird Wednesday!

We are experiencing some terribly hot weather here, so I is very nice to see some pictures from a much cooler time and place!

As ever, to join in with WBW, click on the link below.  Cheers  SM

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Wild Bird Wednesday 704 - Turkey Vulture

I spent last week with my family on a four day bush walk in Tasmania, so WBW this week comes from the archives!

In late 2023 I was fortunate enough to visit Cuba with David from Travels with Birds. And what a great trip it was!

One of the birds we saw pretty much every day was the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura).  This is  the most widespread of the New World vultures being found from Southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America.  Although it probably won't win any beauty contests (and neither will I) it's an impressive bird.

Like most other vultures, the Turkey Vulture lacks a syrinx - the part of the 'throat' that birds use to make complex sounds- , so it can only utter hisses and grunts.

The Turkey Vulture is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion, and can often be seen feeding on road kill. It is a large bird, with a wingspan of 160–183 cm, a length of 62–81 cm , and weight of 0.8 to 2.41 kg. The Turkey Vulture is gregarious and roosts in large community groups, breaking away to forage independently during the day. 

They may not be good looking, but they are rather wonderfully well adapted. 

The next two pictures show a Turkey Vulture standing with their wings fully outstretched. This behaviour is known as the "horaltic pose" or "sunning". This behaviour is important for thermoregulation, hygiene, and feather maintenance.  The Sun's UV rays help kill bacteria and parasites (like feather lice and mites) that accumulate in their feathers, as well as drying out bacteria that may have been transferred to the bird's feather from from decaying meat.  This pose is a great example of a behavioural adaptation. 

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Wild Bird Wednesday 703 - Brown Falcon

The Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) is a relatively large falcon native to Australia and New Guinea.  There are about 40 other species in the genus Falco - including Peregrines, Hobbies and Kestrels.

The Brown Falcons upper-parts are generally dark brown and the underparts are pale buff or cream, although there is considerable variation in their plumage colour. One field guide I have describes them as a ''rather scruffy, loose plumages falcon'. The sides of the head are brown with a distinctive dark tear-stripe below the eye.

This species occurs over all of Australia, and there is a sub-species that occurs in New Guinea.

These pictures were taken on two contrasting days of weather - one grey, but dry, and the other wet with some sunshine.  I'll leave it to you to work out which is which.

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the blue button below.  Cheers  SM 

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