Our Friends the Amazing Birds

Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus

The Killdeer is a wading bird of the plover family. The bird is rightfully named for its high-pitched call that sounds as if it is saying, 'Kill Deer.' This Killdeer has just returned to the semi-frozen lakes of NW Montana from the wintering grounds of Central and South America. A sure sign that Spring has arrived in the Inland Pacific Northwest.

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis

Female Robin with nesting material

Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus

This Spotted Towhee was caught taking a bath and splashing around on a warm July day. Towhee's love water and will readily investigate the sounds of moving water. Towhees are migrating birds in winter, but in the warmer seasons they can be found in a variety of habitats, from conifer forests to suburban backyards. Nikon D810 - Nikon 500mm f/4 - 1/1250s @ f/4

Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus

The Spotted Towhee was once thought to be one species and was referred to as, Roufus-sided Towhee (Roufus, Latin for Red). It has been re-classified into two separate birds - the Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophalmus), and the Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus), the latter occurring in the western and northwestern hemispheres of North America.

Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca

Fox Sparrows are generally rust-brown above with a mix of rust and gray on the head, and heavy brownish splotches on the flanks and the center of the chest. The bill can range from yellowish to dark gray. Because of the varied color tones of the Fox sparrow it's likely that it will eventually become classified into individual species. Pictured is a Sooty Fox Sparrow. These little Sparrows spend a lot of time on the ground, using their sturdy legs to kick away leaf litter in search of insects and seeds. They rarely venture far from cover, and they frequently associate with other sparrows.

Male Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis

Female Robin - Turdus migratorius

Male Robin - Turdus migratorius

Enjoying a splash on a warm summer day at the homemade Bird Drip - Birds readily come to the sounds of moving and dripping water. If you think birds are scarce in your neck of the woods or property ... just create a Bird Drip, and you will be amazed with the results. Nikon D810 - Nikon 500mm f/4 - 1/1250s @ f/4

Male Robin perching in White-fir

Male Townsend's Warbler - Dendroica townsendi

This colorful little song-bird makes its home during summer in the coniferous forests of the Inland Pacific Northwest, while migrating to winter in Mexico and Central America, with small numbers remaining along the Oregon and Washington coasts and Vancouver Island.

Juvenile Pine Siskin - Carduelis pinus

This bird is really a goldfinch in disguise. After nesting in the conifer woods, Pine Siskins move out into semi-open country, where they roam in twittering flocks. They often descend on fields of thistles or wild sunflowers, where they cling to the dried flower heads, eating seeds. These birds are a pushover for backyard feeders and water drips.

Male Townsend's Warbler - Dendroica townsendi

Photographed in a backdrop of Bracken Ferns - summer habitat of Northwestern Montana's mixed-conifer forests. Nikon D810 - Nikon 500mm f/4 - 1/1250s @ f/7.1 - @ 50 feet.

Juvenile Pine Siskin - Carduelis pinus

Enjoying a bath in the Bird Drip

Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana

This colorful bird summers in open conifer or mixed forests in the high mountains or the North, in the forests of spruce, fir, pine, and aspen. It migrates and winters in the tropics mostly in pine-oak woods or the forest edge of California, favoring eucalyptus groves.

Townsend's Warbler Splashing

Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus

Little flocks of Black-capped Chickadees enliven the winter woods with their active behavior and their cheery-sounding chick-a-dee callnotes. They are often accompanied by an assortment of nuthatches, creepers, kinglets, and other birds. This is a popular bird across the northern United States and southern Canada, always welcomed at bird feeders, where it takes sunflower seeds one at time and flies away to stuff them into bark crevices.

Male Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana

This beautifully striking song-bird is a western counterpart to the Scarlet Tanager, occurring in summer farther north than any other tanager -- far up into northwestern Canada. Western Tanagers nest in coniferous forests of the north and the high mountains. During migration they may show up in any habitat, including grassland and desert. The bright males (pictured) often draw attention by pausing in urban and suburban yards in late spring, being drawn to feeders and bird drips.

Western Tanager

Sooty Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca

This big chunky sparrow nests in the far north and in the western mountains. Many birders know it only as a migrant or winter visitor. It is usually found on the ground under dense thickets, scratching busily in the leaf-litter with both feet. On its breeding grounds, it gives a beautifully clear whistled song. The bird's name refers to the bright foxy-red color of the most eastern and northern populations. Loves splashing in bird baths and drips.

Robin Fledgling - Turdus migratorius

To many birders, immature Robins can appear as a mystery bird that is difficult to identify. Robins belong to the Thrush (Turdidae) Family of birds. The give-a-way is the long down-turned beak common to Thrushes and Robins. That is why an immature Robin may appear as a type of Thrush. Thrush means, Wanderer.

Chipping Sparrows - Spizella passerina

These small-sized sparrows love water. Common over much of the continent is the little Chipping Sparrow. Originally a bird of open pine woods and edges, it has adapted well to altered landscapes. It now nests in gardens and parks in many areas, its tame behavior making it well-known and popular.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Setophaga coronata (Crowned Moth-eater) There are two varieties of the Yellow-rumped Warbler - Audubon's Warbler found in western states, and the Myrtle Warbler typically seen in eastern states. Pictured is a male Audubon's Warbler.

Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina

This small Sparrow is common over much of the continent. Originally a bird of open pine woods and edges, it has adapted well to altered landscapes, nesting in gardens and parks in many areas, and its tame behavior makes it well-known and popular.

Soaking Wet - Chipping Sparrow

After a splash. Spizella passerina. These little song birds love splashing in a pool of water. Afterwards, they appear shaking and shaking, looking as if freezing to death. Not so, it's only for show, but wouldn't you like to wrap this little guy up in a warm towel and take him home?

Montana Red Squirrel

Common in the Ponderosa pine, subalpine, fir and spruce forests of western Montana.

Red Squirrel - Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

The Red Squirrel is a hardy survivalist that hordes conifer cone crops, seeds, berries, buds, and even expertly dries mushrooms to add to its winter cache of food supplies. This squirrel also is a known opportunist and will raid bird feeders and is a push-over for sunflower seeds and other treats.