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Birds

Bank Swallow

Identification

This species is Manitoba’s smallest swallow, between the size of a sparrow and a robin. The bank swallow has grey to brown upperparts (back and back of head) and a more lightly coloured breast with an obvious dark band. In flight, the bank swallow is observed to have an erratic flight pattern. The bank swallow may be misidentified for another SAR, the chimney swift, but has broader, short wings and lacks the stubby tail. The two SAR also have different nesting preferences to which the names of each species is attributed.

Habitat

Bank swallows are often found near water sources such as rivers, marshes or ponds, where they nest in cavities in the banks. As an aerial insectivore the bank swallow needs to be situated by grassland, pastures or wetlands which provide insect prey to feed on. If the insect population is not high enough or the water source is unhealthy, nest failure may occur for the bank swallow.

Did You Know?

Bank swallows will nest in groups of 10 to 2,000.

Barn Swallow

Identification

The barn swallow is distinguished by its distinct deeply forked tail, which shows white markings in flight. They are larger in size than a sparrow with very little neck showing in flight. Colour patterns are metallic blue upperparts with light to rust coloured underparts rising to a darker red throat patch stretching onto the forehead.

Habitat

Barn swallows prefer to live in grasslands, wetlands and agricultural lands that sustain an abundance of insect prey for this aerial insectivore. They have adapted to the changing prairie landscapes by switching from nesting in caves, crevices and hollows to nesting in man-made\ structures such as under eaves of buildings, especially favoring older agricultural buildings.

Did You Know?

Barn swallows are the most widespread swallow in the world. They can be found in every continent but Antarctica.

Bobolink

Identification

The bobolink is smaller than a robin, with a short tail and neck. Non-breeders and females have a mottled buffy-brown plumage similar to most sparrows and a pink bill. In breeding plumage, the male is dramatically different in colour. Breeding males are mostly black with a white back and rump, while the back of the head is a distinctive buffy, yellow colour and their bill is black. The males can often be seen singing in flight, or while perched on tall tufts of grass and fence posts.

Habitat

Bobolink are found wherever tall-grass prairie remains, plus other meadows and hayfields. As more native prairie is lost, they will nest in cropland and their well hidden, ground-based nests can be inadvertently damaged during harvest. Bobolink feed on a variety of insects, including those that may be harmful to crops, so they can benefit agricultural areas.

Did You Know?

Some bobolink have an annual migration of nearly 20,000 kilometres from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina. Throughout their lifetime they will travel a distance that is equal to going around the world five times!

Canada Warbler

Identification

When identifying the Canada warbler from other warbler species across Manitoba there are some key features to consider. The first is a speckled black necklace across the yellow breast which appears most obviously on breeding males but is still seen on non breeders and females. Its back is slate grey and its front, from face to belly is yellow. The Canada warbler has a rounded breast, longer tail and a pronounced light-coloured eye ring.

Habitat

The Canada warbler prefers mixed woodlands with a dense understory. Nesting occurs on or near the ground in moist areas that are plentiful with insect prey. The Canada warbler is threatened as nearly 90% of their overwintering habitat in South America has been lost due to deforestation.

Did You Know?

Canada warbler are one of the last song birds to arrive to their breeding grounds and also one of the first to leave for their over-winter grounds. Their time spent in Canada is relatively short.

Chimney Swift

Identification

The chimney swift is regularly misidentified as a swallow. Look for the sooty-grey, cigarshaped body with long curved wings and short stubby tail. Note a lighter colored throat patch. Chimney swift have a distinct jittery flight pattern and chittering call while foraging.

Habitat

Chimney swifts are now more numerous in urban or developed areas. Traditional nesting sites of old growth, hollow trees have mostly been lost to deforestation. Most birds now nest in chimneys, although with the modernization of these structures the chimney swift faces new challenges. Another important need is a healthy insect population.

Did You Know?

Thousands of chimney swifts will roost together in one site. In these close spaces they can keep the roost 21° Celsius warmer than outside temperatures.

Common Nighthawk

Identification

The common nighthawk is a medium sized bird that is well camouflaged due to its grey and brown mottled plumage. It may be mistaken for other members of the nightjar family including another SAR, eastern whip-poor-will. Most nightjars are nocturnal whereas common nighthawks are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk). Other features to look out for are the white bars on the wings, forked tail and the distinct “peent” call.

Habitat

Common nighthawks prefer open areas near mixed woodlands but can adapt to urban habitats. They will hunt around artificial light when available. As an insectivore, healthy insect populations are critical.

Did You Know?

Common nighthawks have the nickname mosquitoe hawk (even though they are in the nightjar family not the hawk family) due to their ability to eat over 500 mosquitoes a night.

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Identification

The eastern whip-poor-will is a nocturnal bird named for its unmistakable call, “whip-poor-will”. Like all members of the nightjar family, their mottled grey and brown plumage is adapted for camouflage. They are medium in size with a flat head and short beak that is surrounded by bristles that aid in capturing prey.

Habitat

The eastern whip-poor-will depends on sparsely wooded areas and prairie to forage in, and more shaded, mixed woodland areas to nest in. In general, they do well in areas that are semi-open or patchy with clearings created by disturbance events such as fire. An abundant insect population is critical for a healthy eastern whip-poor-will population.

Did You Know?

Eastern whip-poor-wills time the hatching of their chicks to be approximately 10 days before a full moon, which provides optimal hunting for this nocturnal bird.

Eastern Wood-pewee

Identification

Eastern wood-pewees are named after its call, a slurred “pee-a-wee”. They are larger than a sparrow in size, with long wings and tail, and a noticeable peak on its head. Both sexes have dark grey upperparts with a light breast which occasionally has a light-yellow tone.

Habitat

Eastern wood-pewees can be found on the open edges of deciduous forests. Unfragmented forest is preferred, but in their overwintering area of South America this is not always possible due to deforestation. Eastern wood-pewees need abundant insect prey to survive but will also feed on vegetation such as berries.

Did You Know?

Eastern wood-pewee groups are called a dribble or squirt.

Golden-winged Warbler

Identification

Compared to other Manitoba warblers, the golden-winged warbler has gold wing patches and a golden crown, the latter which is most distinguishable in males. Both sexes are grey in colour and have long tails, slender bodies and pointed bills. Males have a distinct black bib on their throat and a black eye patch, while the throat and eye patch of females appear lighter in colour.

Habitat

During the breeding and nesting season, golden-winged warblers are found in mixed-woodlands which are in the early stages of regeneration. After leaving the nest, young birds will move to unfragmented, mature forests. Important to note is that almost one-third of golden-winged warbler nests can be taken over by the brown-headed cowbird.

Did You Know?

To distract potential predators, the golden-winged warbler will carry food to areas away from the nest.

Least Bittern

Identification

The least bittern is a small heron with a wingspan of 45 cm and weighing only 80 grams. This species has a dark crown extending along its back, a warm brown tail and pale underparts with pale brown stripes. Breeding males appear darker on the upperparts. As with all herons, least bitterns have a hunched appearance, long legs and a long, pointed yellow beak.

Habitat

Least bittern are found in swamps, marshes and small bodies of water where aquatic food sources are plentiful and where dense vegetation grows. Look out for them on the edges where cattails meet open water. Due to being a shy, elusive bird, least bitterns do not do well when disturbed by the presence of humans, whether on water or land.

Did You Know?

When alarmed the least bittern will point its beak up in the air and sway
back and forth mimicking reeds and cattails in the wind.

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Identification

The olive-sided flycatcher is a medium sized bird, dark grey in colour with olive-tinged wings, and a lighter breast. The bill is large and plumage on top of the head is raised. The easiest way to distinguish this species from other flycatchers (including another SAR, the eastern woodpewee) is by their distinct call which has been said to sound like “quick, three beers”.

Habitat

Olive-sided flycatchers are most often observed in the top of the canopy of conifer forests where they search for insect prey. When natural disturbances such as wildfires create a patchy network of woods and dead trees to perch on, olive-sided flycatcher numbers are at their highest.

Did You Know?

Olive-sided flycatchers are the largest flycatcher in North America. They have a huge home territory that can be as large as 100 acres.

Red-headed Woodpecker

Identification

The red-headed woodpecker is medium in size with a long sturdy bill. Compared to other Manitoba woodpeckers, the entire head and throat of adult red-headed woodpeckers are red. This is sharply contrasted with its black back, white patched wings, and white breast. Unlike most birds, male and female red-headed woodpeckers are nearly identical in plumage. Juveniles are duller looking with a brown head.

Habitat

Red-headed woodpeckers prefer aspen stands but can be found in other habitats such as wooded grasslands, forest edges or shelter belts on agricultural land. Well-grazed woodlots are particularly favoured by red-headed woodpeckers in Manitoba. The need for old growth or dead standing trees is critical for breeding, nesting and food storage.

Did You Know?

Red-headed woodpeckers are the most omnivorous of all North American woodpeckers. They store food such as live grasshoppers and beetles in tree cavities for later feeding.

Short-eared Owl

Identification

The short-eared owl is comparable in size to an American crow. It has streaked brown, black and beige upper parts and a more lightly streaked breast. The eyes are yellow with a black eyepatch on a light-coloured, disc-shaped face. Ears are seldom visible. A better identifying feature is a slow, moth-like flight pattern, observed at dawn and dusk, that is typical of short-eared owls while searching for prey.

Habitat

Short-eared owls are found throughout most of Canada but prefer open prairie and the arctic tundra where human developments are limited. Nesting occurs on the ground amongst grasses and other low-growing plants. The abundance of prey, usually small mammals, is critical to the short-eared owl.

Did You Know?

Short-eared owl females will defecate on their eggs to dissuade potential predators from investigating.

Yellow Rail

Identification

Yellow rail are very seldom seen, more often heard making a distinct “click-click” call which sounds as if two small stones are being tapped together. The yellow rail is comparable in size to a robin, with mottled, yellow and brown plumage. The underparts and face are lighter yellow and the stubby bill is a more noticeable yellow in breeding males. Yellow rail have a shape similar to that of a chicken with proportionately long legs and short head and neck.

Habitat

Yellow rail live in shallow wetland habitats such as wet grasslands and sedge meadows. Changes to hydrology, such as draining of wetlands or damming, have big impacts to yellow rail as they do not tolerate higher water levels. Short grasses or sedges are needed for nesting and camouflaging from potential predators.

Did You Know?

To deter predators yellow rail will build multiple nests to incubate eggs and brood chicks as well as remove eggshells once chicks hatch.