BLACK SQUIRREL, HIGH PARK, TORONTO, ON

MALE BUFFLEHEAD, GRENADIER POND, HIGH PARK, TORONTO, ON

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, GRENADIER POND, HIGH PARK, TORONTO, ON

MALE MALLARDS, GRENADIER POND, HIGH PARK, TORONTO, ON

WOOD DUCKS, GRENADIER POND, HIGH PARK, TORONTO, ON

   The first four photos are of a male Wood Duck in breeding plumage.  It's a beautiful bird with a striking pattern and color.  The last three photos are of a female Wood Duck.  The female with the distinctive white patch around the eye is this way all year.

JUVENILE RED-TAILED HAWK, HILLMAN MARSH CONSERVATION AREA, LEAMINGTON, ON

   These photos were taken on 3/29/2016 on a road near Hillman Marsh Conservation Area.  The lighting was not great and the photos were taken through the front glass window of the car.  By the time I got out of the car the hawk had flown away.  You can see in the photos, that it is starting to spread its wings in preparation for flight.

   We can ID this hawk as the light morph of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk as follows:

• The hawk is stocky and broad.
• The hawk has a pale breast contrasting with a brown head and a streaked belly-band.
• There is a white speckled V on the back of the hawk.

MOLTING HOUSE SPARROW, PARKING LOT, TORONTO, ON

   This House Sparrow is molting from nonbreeding winter plumage to breeding summer plumage.  You can see the black patch on its chest starting to form and the rufous nape starting to form.