Week 1: Advanced High Elevation
Scroll down to study the birds by sight and sound, and then take the quiz.
Week 1 Birds
Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Stellar’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker
Hairy Woodpecker
Bird Code: HAWO
Identify this bird by…
Long, straight, chisel-like bill
Stiff, long tail feathers to lean against on tree trunks
The bill is nearly the same length as the head.
Tell it apart by…
Longer bill than Downy Woodpecker
Outer tail feathers are black and do not have spots
Listen for…
Call: A short, sharp peek note very similar to Downy Woodpeckers, but slightly lower pitched and often sounding more emphatic. Hairy Woodpeckers also make a rattle or whinny. This call is also similar to the Downy Woodpecker but does not descend in pitch at the end.
Drum: A rapid and evenly paced, about 1 second long and consisting of about 26 beats.
Resources:
Downy woodpecker
Bird Code: DOWO
Identify this bird by…
Straight, chisel-like bill, blocky head, wide shoulders
Straight-backed posture as they lean away tree limbs
Males have a small red patch on the back of the head
Tell it apart by…
Shorter bill than Hairy Woodpecker
Outer tail feathers are white and have black spots
Listen for…
Call: A very sharp pik note, occasionally repeated several times. Both males and females have a whinnying call that is a somewhat excited string of hoarse, high-pitched notes that descend in pitch toward the end; the call lasts about 2 seconds.
Drum: A very rapid strikes given at a steady pace, almost fast enough to blend into a single uninterrupted sound. The birds also make a slow, deliberate and much quieter tapping.
Resources:
Steller’s jay
Bird Code: STJA
Identify this bird by…
Large size, large heads, chunky bodies, and long, full tail
The bill is long, straight, and powerful, with a slight hook
Prominent triangular crest that often stands nearly straight up from their head
Listen for…
Call: Loud and repeated shook shook shook shook call year-round. Also, guttural sounds and a harsh, nasal sounding growl. They mimic squirrels, other birds, mammals and ambiance sounds.
Song: Males and sometimes females sing a quiet series of whistled, gurgled, and, popping sounds that they string together.
Resources:
Northern Flicker
Bird Code: NOFA
Identify this bird by…
Undersides of the wing and tail feathers are bright yellow, for eastern birds (yellow-shafted), or red, in western birds (red-shafted)
White rump patch, seen in flight
Males have a black “moustache,” females do not
Listen for…
Call: a high and piercing “Clear!” or “Kyeer!” Also, a quieter, rhythmic and repeated “woik-a, woik-a, woik-a”. NOFA have a territorial call, too. This is a loud, rolling rattle that lasts for 7 or 8 seconds: “wik-wik-wik-wik-wik-wik.”
Resources:
Clark’s Nutcracker
Bird Code: CLNU
Identify this bird by…
Large, jay sized bird with the shape of a crow
sSort tails and rounded, crestless heads
Long, straight, and sharp-tipped bill
Overall light gray with black wings
Listen for…
Call: Like the Stellar’s Jay, the Clark’s Nutcracker also makes a harsh call, but it is a long, “khaaa” – much more nasal and drawn-out than the sounds made by the Stellar’s Jay.
Resources: