Savannah Sparrow

Good morning Jess (though next time Alva, I'll just take a coffee in bed) can you figure out where I found this bird this morning?

The Savannah sparrow is found in temperate coastlines to tundra and has 17 recognized subspecies.

Savannah Sparrow is a small songbird (4.3–5.9 in) with brown or grayish-brown overall. It has streaking on back, breast, and flanks with a yellowish eyebrow stripe (see above). Distinctive stripe down center of crown (see above) Dark line extending from back of each eye and from base of bill to back of head. Small bill. Often runs on the ground like a small mouse. Silly bird.

Clutch size ranges from 2-6 eggs which are pale greenish, bluish tan or even white with speckles and streaks. Color varies widely even within population and sometimes even within clutches.

Golden Crowned Sparrow

I was walking into the yurt with Andrew Kirby and we were talking about my bad cats and how he doesn't like that they kill things when Sancho comes out of the door with tail feathers and two legs sticking out of his mouth. Busted! Even the dog is into birding now. Yellow crown sparrow, bordered by black with a gray face and chest. It has white wingbars, back brown with black stripes and a long tail. 



 

The Golden-crowned Sparrow pecks and scratches at the ground to forage, occasionally picking at foliage or jumping into the air after an item. Paired males and females forage together, typically with male following female. The species flies with fast wingbeats when crossing between patches of cover, but often drops to ground and runs for cover when alarmed. While not foraging, this sparrow can be seen perching on the tops

 of trees or shrubs.  -

Note the tail feathers by Alva's whiskers. Very interested pets.

Fox Sparrow

I walked into the yurt with Liz Ford and we were discussing how the cats haven't killed anything for a few months when we looked down and discovered that there were feathers everywhere! A fox Sparrow's feathers. This fox sparrow was much darker brown/black then the last fox sparrow which was reddish brown but both were about 7''.  

Fox sparrows are heavily spotted to streaked on their chest region and I found out that have a spot on their chest where all the spots come together and make a bigger "messier spot".

A similar species the song sparrow has an all dark bill, notice the fox has a light lower mandible.

The Deer Mouse

Deer mice are round and slender, ranging from 2 to 4 inches long (not including tail), a pointed nose and large and black eyes (this guys eyes are closed so I'll have to take their word on it) Ears are large with little fur covering them. Body is bicolored with a light brownish-reddish top and white underbelly and feet. Tail is short, distinctly bicolored (dark on top and light on bottom), and covered with short, fine hairs and can be two to five inches in length if present. Their soft fur can vary in color, from white to black, but all deer mice have a distinguishable white underside and white feet.

Omnivorous, but prefers seeds, nuts, berries and insects

Reaches sexual maturity in as little as five weeks. Will produce two to four litters a year, usually during warm months. Typical litters contain three to five individuals, but may have as many as eight. Typically live two to twenty-four months, but can live as long as eight years in captivity.

Deer mice are nocturnal, so Ivor must have been up last night.

Dark-eyed Junco (5)

Dark-eyed juncos are sparrows spending the majority of their time foraging on the ground flashing their two all white outer tail feathers as they hop along the ground looking for fallen seeds. They are one of the most common North American birds ranging form Alaska to Mexico and California to New York. Their population was estimated at 630 million individuals (SWAG)

The oldest dark-eyed junco recorded was 11 years and 4 days

Juncos breeding North of Yakutat Bay are slate gray with a white belly; those from Yakutat Bay south have a black (male) or gray (female) hood, reddish brown back. I have not observed any gray juncos in the area. Ten or more are observed on a daily basis foraging on the ground for food.

Fox sparrow 2

Another Fox Sparrow (97% sure) Came home from work and there were feathers everywhere.

A similar species, the Song Sparrow has an all-dark colored bill and the Fox Sparrow has a lighter lower mandible. The interior subspecies of fox sparrow has a bright reddish brown tail that contrasts in color with the back feathers. Fox Sparrows are smaller and darker brown in southeast Alaska than those found to the North.

Habitat preferences is shrubs and branches. Usually nests under shrubs or low in trees. Eggs are 2-4 in number and pale green with reddish markings. Two broods per year. 12-14 days of incubation followed by 10-11 fledgling days.

Golden crowned-kinglet

This morning while I was filling my coffee cup to run out the door to work when Alva greeted me with her find. A Golden crowned-kinglet. Alva is still pretty weirded out when I take her treasure away and "play" with it. I didnt have much time other than take some pictures so I wrapped the bird in plastic wrap and threw it in my bag. On the way to work I saw shawn and asked him what he might think it is. Latter he called suggesting a ruby crowned kinglet which is a very good guess! Hey James and Lisa- check out the cd on the player

Small birds 3.1 - 4.3 cm in length. Slightly bigger than a humming bird.

Golden crowned-kinglets winter in Canada and Alaska. Usually have two lg broods per year 8-9. Female feeds lg. brood on the first day after the brood leaves the nest only then she starts laying the second set of eggs for the year.

Nostrils are covered by a single tiny feather

Yellow crown and orange center in males. (This is a male) Look at that color! Dull olive color on rest of body.