Brown Thrasher, imitates other birds songs, repeating phrases twice!

We don't get many Brown Thrashers here in SW NH, so it's always a treat when one shows up. This one arrived yesterday and foraged under our bird feeder. Brown Thrashers have the most extensive breeding range of all the thrashers and breed throughout much of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. and on into southern Canada. Most of the other thrashers (Long-billed, Bendire's, Curve-billed, California, Crissel, LeConte's, Sage) have breeding ranges that mainly occur in the western half of the country). Brown Thrashers habitat is thickets, shrubs and woodland edges. Thrashers belong to the family Mimidae (including Gray Catbird and Northern Mockingbird) who are know for imitating other birds' songs. The Brown Thrasher sings a long series of musical phrases and harsh notes repeated in pairs, usually containing imitations of other birds. Tell it from a Gray Catbird who usually repeats phrases once and a Northern Mockingbirds who usually repeats phrases three or more times. Fun!
To learn birds' songs get our best-selling Stokes Field Guide to Bird Song CDs, Eastern and Western Region available on amazon.com

Wilson's Warbler, yes!

Wilson's Warbler was just singing in our trees just now. This is a rare warbler for us to see on our property here is SW NH. Such a treat!

Bobolinks Returned Today!

Bobolinks returned to our NH property today. These wonderful birds breed in our fields. We make sure our farmer cuts the hay at the end of Aug. so to spare the Bobolink nests.

Orioles have Arrived, Put Our Oranges for Them!

Baltimore Orioles have just arrived here in SW NH and they are hungry! The cool, delayed spring means food is more scarce. You can help them by putting out orange halves which they love. They will also eat suet and grape jelly. When the weather warms their usual food such as insects and blossoms will become available and they may not use feeders as much.