There are lots of signs the seasons are changing - longer days, warmer temperatures and a few replacements in the neighborhood birds. In Phoenix, my yard's white-crowned and Lincoln's sparrows have departed for cooler climates north, but the cliff swallows have reappeared from the south for nesting under bridges.
Meanwhile, farther north in the mountains some migrants have returned to their summer breeding grounds. In Prescott specifically, I've just observed a male black-headed grosbeak visit my home's seed feeder. This is the third year I've paid attention to the bird's comings and goings, and have enjoyed learning about the species in the process.
This particular grosbeak species winters in Mexico, with the nearest areas to Arizona being in the states of Baja California Sur or Sinaloa. It may fly as far north as Western Canada in the summer, so this individual didn't expend as much energy in his migration as others in its family could have.
Interestingly, I noticed some familiarity in the male at my feeder. While I'm not certain you can identify individuals in a bird species by their appearance, he has an uncanny resemblance in his markings to a visitor I photographed last summer. Whether he's an old or a new friend, like the blooms on a saguaro cactus he's a sure reminder that it's fast approaching summer in Arizona.
Meanwhile, farther north in the mountains some migrants have returned to their summer breeding grounds. In Prescott specifically, I've just observed a male black-headed grosbeak visit my home's seed feeder. This is the third year I've paid attention to the bird's comings and goings, and have enjoyed learning about the species in the process.
This particular grosbeak species winters in Mexico, with the nearest areas to Arizona being in the states of Baja California Sur or Sinaloa. It may fly as far north as Western Canada in the summer, so this individual didn't expend as much energy in his migration as others in its family could have.
Interestingly, I noticed some familiarity in the male at my feeder. While I'm not certain you can identify individuals in a bird species by their appearance, he has an uncanny resemblance in his markings to a visitor I photographed last summer. Whether he's an old or a new friend, like the blooms on a saguaro cactus he's a sure reminder that it's fast approaching summer in Arizona.
Comments
Post a Comment