Larger birds at your backyard feeders

Here are ways to identify larger birds visiting your backyard and property. Every year or so some evening grosbeaks visit a feeder for sunflower seed. They are robin sized but more heavily built. They usually show up in small flocks vocalizing with whistle like calls. Male and females have different color patterns. Both have heavy seed cracking bills, and they show up in late winter into early spring. Their main food in this area is the samara or seed pod of big leafed maples. They nest in the middle elevations of the cascade mountains in conifer forests.

Black-headed grosbeaks are plump birds showing up in May as a nesting species. Males have a black hood and, like females, a heavy thick bill and white wing patches. They also eat sunflower seeds. The male has a beautiful song, very similar to robins but faster and more complicated.

Spotted towhees are common residents. They are primarily ground dwellers and also enjoy sunflower seeds. They like low growing foliage where they nest. They are a little shy and do not allow close approaches. They may nest as early as March, ending in August.

Slightly smaller than the towhee, the red crossbill will show up when Douglas Fir cones are ripe. This is any time of the year. They also come to feeders for sunflower seeds. They show different colors with adult males having reddish heads and underparts. Some slightly yellowish juveniles have streaked underparts.

Typical road work has started at the Wylie Game Range. Over 10 years ago the dikes on the perimeter of the range were built. As usual, they did not meet the high-water mark code. Now they are going to shut the area down to raise the dike another two feet, which won’t be enough to control a new high tide surge. They are closing the area to hikers until October or November. You can no longer hike there until it is finished. I found in this area a lot to discuss about birds and habitat ,but not this year. You may find me at the refuge three miles west of Wylie Road that will be open.