by Joel Tilley
RCAS held a Female Bird Walk at the West Rutland Marsh on a sunny (if windy) Saturday, May 13. Six people participated. We began by talking about the visual, audible, and behavioral clues to identifying female birds of many species, as well as the need for more research into female bird behavior (especially on their wintering grounds).
american redstart
A male American Redstart sings to attract or impress his female partner.
We listened to some recorded songs of female birds: some are very similar to the male songs (Baltimore Oriole, Northern Cardinal) while some are distinct to the females (Mallard, Red-winged Blackbird). Out of 54 species observed, we were able to positively identify females in nine:
- Mallard (brown overall, quacks, while male sort of grumbles)
- Northern Harrier (reddish brown, compared to gray males)
- American Kestrel (reddish wing coverts, vs blue-gray on males)
- American Goldfinch (greenish-yellow, lacks black cap of male)
- Red-winged Blackbird (brown striped, sings distinctive clattering song)
- Brown-headed Cowbird (overall brown)
- Common Grackle (smaller body, shorter tail than male - best seen when the two are together)
- Yellow Warbler (lacks reddish stripes on breast)
- Northern Cardinal (buffy brown tinged with red)
As the breeding season progresses, more females should become visible as they gather food for hungry chicks. Then in the late summer and fall, it gets more confusing, as many immature birds have the same plumage as adult females, and some adult males molt to more subdued plumage. Have a great summer of birding!