NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
January 6, 2024
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**Brian Stone visited Sackville on Friday once more
but had no luck in seeing the rare warbler visitor that has drawn many birders
to the area. He saw and photographed some of the plentiful Ruby-crowned
Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets foraging along the trail as a
consolation, along with a female Hairy Woodpecker enjoying some suet at
a feeder behind the Canadian Wildlife Service building. During a drive across the Tantramar Marsh
afterward he got some distant photos of 2 Horned Larks that were part of
a small group seen near the Middle West Marsh Rd.
(Editor’s note: the cameras we have
now surely allow incredible close-up observations of birds without them being
disturbed.
Brian’s eye-popping photos of the duo
of two of our smallest bird species show details we just don’t often get to see.
The brilliant ruby crown of the Ruby-crowned
Kinglet which only appears in the male is usually concealed; however, Brian's
subject elected to give us fantastic views of that adornment. The photo also shows the
blackish bar behind the prominent white wing bar. This species tends to be fanatic
about its feeding procedure, often constantly flapping its wings while feeding
to give an additional clue to its identity. The white eye ring appearing to be
extended on the front and rear portion instead of being perfectly round is yet
another nice identification clue.
Most Ruby-crowned Kinglets tend to
migrate south in winter as do birds that are mainly insectivores; however, their ability to
add seeds and fruit to the menu allows some to enjoy the winter with us.
The Golden-crowned Kinglet does not
migrate away from us in the winter. It is truly amazing how this small-bodied
bird is able to withstand frigid winter temperatures with ease.
This species is sexually
dimorphic with the female showing the lemon-yellow crest and the male
exhibiting an orange patch down the middle of the yellow crown. That orange
patch is present in Brian’s photo, but barely, to make one wonder if this may
be a young male or a reduced winter nonbreeding version.)
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
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