Bird of the Day: March 2016

There are a number of reasons why I decided to take on this project. My first reason has to do with my interest in birds. This began shortly after moving to Victoria ten and a half years ago. With our house backing onto a wooded area, the chirping of birds is a familiar sound all year long. I often glance out the window to see birds of all forms in the yard throughout the day. Frequently I will pull out the Birds of Victoria or Birds of North America reference guides we have on hand. Unfortunately, the drawings in the first aren’t overly helpful for identification and the number of entries in the second is overwhelming. My second reason has to do with a photography course I took a number of years ago. Since that time I have been trying to think of a practical reason to buy a new camera. Taking pictures of birds requires a powerful zoom lens which my previous point-and-shoot camera could not accommodate. Perfect! My final reason was my desire to take on a new project to welcome in 2011. Hence, bird of the day was born.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

Appearance:
Medium-sized woodpecker
Red head and breast
Yellowish-white belly
Black upperparts with white barring
White stripe on sides
Two rows of whitish bars on back
Juvenile:
Brown head
Extensive brown mottled on underparts

Listen to its call.

I went for a walk through Royal Roads Forest today and it was glorious. The weather was perfect, the company was delightful and I added another bird to my list of sightings. I have to credit my husband with catching sight of this woodpecker near the top of a rather tall snag.

Learn more about the Red-breasted Sapsucker