Golden-crowned Kinglets (Regulus satrapa) are tiny, migratory songbirds in the kinglet family (Regulidae), a small bird family with only 2 genera, distributed across the Holarctic – Europe, Asia, and North America. Though small, it is a remarkably hardy species, enduring colder climates than
White-breasted Nuthatch
Description and Ecology
The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small, agile songbird in the Nuthatch (Sittidae) family, distributed across
Tufted Titmouse
Description and Ecology
The Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is a small (~15 cm), vocal songbird in the Paridae family, a songbird family primarily of the Northern Hemisphere, which also includes chickadees and other titmice. It is one of five North American titmouse species, but this only one commonly found in
Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher
The Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) is a tiny (10 cm), active songbird in the Polioptilidae family, a family found throughout much of North and Central America, closely related to the Wrens (Troglodytidae). It is the most widespread member of its genus, distributed throughout North America from southwestern Ontario to Florida,
Carolina Wren
Description and Ecology
The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is a small (13 cm) songbird in the wren family (Troglodytidae), which is found exclusively in the Americas. Despite it’s small size, the Carolina Wren is the largest wren species commonly found in North America. Other wrens occurring in the Great Lakes Region
Brown Thrasher
Description and Ecology
The Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) is a long-tailed, ground-foraging songbird in the Mimic Thrush (Mimidae family), which is exclusively American. Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) and Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) are the other native species in this bird family occurring in the Great Lakes Region. It is the only Toxostoma species commonly
Northern Cardinal
Description and ecology
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is songbird and a member of the Cardinalidae Family, found exclusively in the Americas. There are two other species of Cardinals, the Vermillion Cardinal (Cardinalis phoeniceus) of northern Colombia and Venezuela, and the Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) of arid regions in the southwestern United States,
Grey Catbird
Description and ecology
Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) is migratory songbird and a member of the Mimic Thrush Family (Mimidae), found exclusively in the Americas. The Great Lakes Region has two other native species – the Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) and the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). The Grey Catbird is the
Red-winged Blackbird
Description and ecology
Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a large migratory songbird (~20 cm). It is a member of the American Blackbird Family, Icteridae. It is the most widely distributed species in the Agelaius genus, being found all throughout North America from the tropical Yucatan Peninsula to the subarctic Canadian boreal forest.
American Robin
Description and ecology
The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is a large migratory songbird (25 cm long). It is a member of the True Thrush Family, Turdidae. Unlike the Wood Thrush, American Robin is not in a monospecific genus – it is part of a large worldwide genus of over 100