Words On Birds 09-19-25

 

     My past few columns have talked about birding in the field and some unusual birds that have been appearing. With this great weather that we have been having, it certainly encourages one to get out and enjoy the natural resources around us. If you went to Plum Island this past week, you may have been rewarded with views of whimbrel, Hudsonian godwit, golden plovers, clay-colored and Nelson’s sparrows and a rare American Avocet. 

 

     But what is happening in the backyard these days? Most of the orioles have left, and many of the male hummingbirds. A few female and juvenile hummingbirds are lingering, but most will be gone in the weeks ahead, and the remaining migrants should pass through by the end of September. So you can keep your hummingbird feeder going a few more weeks for those migrants. Occasionally a few strays show up at nectar feeders left up past October. Those hummingbirds should be checked carefully, as they could be a different species from our ruby-throated hummingbird.

 

     The majority of orioles are on their way to the tropics, though we are still seeing some migrants in the field. So, like the hummingbirds, you may want to keep your oriole feeders up a few more weeks for migrants passing through. Also, you could be rewarded with a rare Bullock’s oriole which, when they do show up in our area, it typically is during October or November. Lingering catbirds, and tanagers may also partake of jelly before they depart.

 

     The male goldfinches are losing their bright yellow and black coloration and will soon turn to olive green, like the females. There seem to be more finches around now than there were a month ago, after nesting later in the summer later than other birds. You will want to offer them thistle seed, sunflower seed or a finch mix of both to keep them around all fall and winter. If you do put out thistle, keep an eye out for migrating indigo buntings the next few of weeks. Summer males are a stunning indigo blue, but they will turn to a warm brown like the females and young and, at quick glance, could be easily confused with a female house sparrow.

 

     Speaking of sparrows, it is a good time to carefully check over those sparrows that are feeding on the ground or at your millet or mixed seed feeders. I know that we think of sparrows as “little brown jobs” and they are challenging to tell apart, but fall is the time when more unusual sparrows show up. We have had both dickcissels and clay-colored sparrows when we had outside feeders at the store in years past. The clay-colored sparrows are smaller, paler and have a striped head, with a light stripe through the crown. The dickcissel is more similar to a house sparrow, but often has varying amounts of yellow on its chest. Also showing up in the next few weeks will be the white-throated sparrows and, those early “harbingers of winter,” juncos! They feed on millet and mixed seed on the ground under your feeders, but will often feed on a tray or other mixed seed feeder. Juncos will even occasionally feed on thistle.

 

     Red-breasted nuthatches are moving down into Massachusetts this year and may eventually show up at suet and seed feeders. These birds are a bit smaller than our resident white-breasted nuthatch. They have a deeper blue back, more red underneath, and a dark line through the eye. Their call sounds like a “baby” nuthatch. They are fun birds to watch this fall and winter.

 

     Many folks will be glad to see the grackles leave soon, but many of our summer birds do stay year around. Cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, goldfinches, house finches, Carolina wrens, mourning doves and most woodpeckers remain throughout the autumn and winter.

 

     So as this cooler weather continues, now is a good time to set up your feeding stations. Put out seed and suet for these resident birds, as well for the migrating birds that are already moving through. With the dry weather that we have been having, be sure to keep fresh water available for the birds. Many migrants will stop for a drink, and you are likely to see birds at your bird baths that don’t come to your feeders. Not all birds eat seed, but most need water. 

 

     And keep an eye out for those “different” birds that may be wandering our way this season!