by Alex Forsythe From the “bluebird of happiness”, to Judy Garland’s iconic voice singing “Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly”, the Eastern Bluebird has long served as an inspiration to song writers, poets, artists and philosophers. Their brilliant blue color, gentle disposition, happy song and beneficial nature have secured for them...
by Alex Forsythe The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest species of woodpecker in North America. It is also one of the most widespread of our woodpeckers and it is the one most often seen on backyard suet feeders. Unlike human couples who like to dine together, Downy Woodpeckers are not sociable eaters, particularly in winter. The males and females...
by Alex Forsythe “A very quiet and well-conducted little member of our winter choir, with habits similar to those of the nuthatch, is the junco, with dark head and back, white breast, and grey sides. With an ivory-white bill, he feasts daintily at our winter offerings, occasionally remarking: ‘tsip,...
by Alex Forsythe Edward Forbush, renowned ornithologist and at age 16 the Curator of Ornithology for the Worcester Natural History Society Museum, wrote in 1929: “The Chipping Sparrow is the little brown-capped pensioner of the dooryard and lawn, that comes about farmhouse doors to glean crumbs shaken from the tablecloth...
by Alex Forsythe The Purple Finch is the state bird of New Hampshire, and it is the bird that ornithologist and field guide author Roger Tory Peterson called, “a sparrow dipped in raspberry juice”. Purple Finches and House Finches can be difficult to distinguish. Male Purple Finches are more of a raspberry color than...
by Alex Forsythe Until 1940, House Finches were only found in the western portion of the United States. In 1940 illegally caged Finches were being sold as "Hollywood Finches" by a pet store in New York. In order to escape prosecution for the illegal pet trade, the store released the birds into the...
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