BREEDING MALE HOUSE SPARROW, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE AT FEEDER, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

COMMON GRACKLE, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

HAIRY WOODPECKER, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

   We can ID this woodpecker as a Hairy Woodpecker, rather than the very similar Downy Woodpecker mainly by its relatively large size.  We were able to get within a few feet of it and could easily determine it was in the 9-10" range (Hairy Woodpecker), rather than the 6-7" range (Downy Woodpecker).  Other field marks which indicate a Hairy Woodpecker are:

• Long, chisel like bill which is almost the size of the head.  The Downy Woodpecker's bill is short, dainty and about 1/3 the size of the head.
• The red patch of this male is split in two.  This occurs on the Hairy Woodpecker, but not the Downy Woodpecker.

   The Hairy Woodpecker is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 300.

AMERICAN RED SQUIRREL, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

PURPLE MARTINS AT PURPLE MARTIN HOUSE, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

   This Purple Martin house was a at a private residence just outside the park.  The all bluish-black birds are male Purple Martins, the other are females.

SONG SPARROW, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

    We can ID this sparrow as a Song Sparrow by its relatively heavy bill, rufous tail and wings and dark streaks that converge into a central spot on the chest (see third photo).