Many species of birds overwinter
in our area, and because of the varied habitats the Rail Trail passes through
-fields, woods, marshes, brushy edges, and towns - it's a great place for
winter birdwatching. As long
as the trail isn't icy, you can keep an eye and ear out for birds as you walk
along, and the bare trees allow for easier viewing of the more bashful species.
You'll see some birds hopping about on the trail themselves, feeding
on the seeds and berries of the plants that thrive in the unique edge environments
the trail provides. You may even see birds picking up and
swallowing fine grit from the trail surface to help their gizzards grind up
the tough seeds and nuts they eat throughout the winter.
This very short list will give
you an idea of some of the birds you're most likely to spot on a winter stroll:
Mourning Dove
- Medium (12"), soft gray to beige body, pointed tail with white feather tips,
small head for the size of the body.
Blue Jay
- Medium (11" to 12 "), crested, blue with white and black markings.
Bluebird
- Small (7" ), the male is blue with a rusty breast; female is much duller
in color.
Cardinal
- Medium (7 " to 9"), crested, the male is bright red with black
face; female is olive with rusty tail and wings.
Starling
- Med./Small (7 " to 8 "), winter plumage black with tan spots on
tips of body
feathers; short tail, stout body..
Downy Woodpecker
- Small (6 "), white breast and back, black and white head, wings and
tail, males have a patch of red on back of head.
Hairy Woodpecker has very similar markings but is larger.
American Goldfinch
- Small (5"), winter plumage olive/drab with yellow chin, pale
Tufted Titmouse
- Small (6"), crested, gray head, back, wings, and tail with pale breast
and rusty flanks.
Black-capped Chickadee
- Small (4" to 5"), gray back, wings, and tail, white breast and
cheeks, black cap and chin.
Sparrows
- Small (5" to 6") brown birds, several varieties. American Tree Sparrow has rusty cap; White-throated Sparrow
has white throat and clear breast; Song Sparrow has heavily streaked breast.
Purple Finch
- Small (5" to 6"), males are purplish red all over. Male house finches are similar, but have browner wings and
tails. Females of both finches
are tan with brown markings and require practice to distinguish from sparrows.
These are just some of the
most common species, so armed with this list you will surely see a bird that
we haven't included, but don't despair.
Half the fun of birdwatching is finding the birds you've seen in your
field guide. Peterson First Guide
to Birds and the Audubon Society Pocket Guide to Eastern Birds are convenient
to carry with you and easy for novice birdwatchers to use.
Lynn
Bowdery and Ruth Elwell