Birding in and near Nashville, TN (1 Viewer)

[hamlinjk15u]

Plenty of areas around Nashville to do some birding, but starting this thread right in my back yard. The normal stuff for me is mostly House Sparrows and Northern Cardinals, with the occasional House Finch, Carolina Chickadee, and today the first Tufted Titmouse I've seen on the feeder. A few Mourning Doves flew over, and as always the Chimney Swifts were out. And a lone female Brown Headed Cowbird stopped by a tree by the feeder. A Carolina Chickadee stopped by a time or two, a Carolina Wren decided to sun itself on the wooden ledge, a European Starling came by to cool itself off, and a Downy Woodpecker took advantage of the suet feeder.

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Couchville Lake, just off of the much larger Percy Priest Lake

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Crooked Branch Park

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Henry Horton State Park

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Percy Priest Dam

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Rock Island State Park

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Shelby Bottoms Park

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Radnor Lake State Park

 

[hamlinjk15u]

"Back 40" at Fort Campbell, KY. Found a good spot along the creek that runs through the back part of the base. 14 species in all today, and i fully believe there were more that I just didnt manage to identify.

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Caldwell Nature Park in Ashland City, TN. Really cool interaction between a Scarlet Tanager and Summer Tanager. 15 Species in all today

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail in Ashland City, TN. Bunches of woodpeckers there today, including Red-Headed, Red-Bellied, Downy, Hairy, and Pileated. Prothonotary Warblers everywhere seemingly, and Wood Ducks, although quiet, were findable in the marsh. 25 species noted in all today.

 

[qwerty5]

Caldwell Nature Park in Ashland City, TN. Really cool interaction between a male and female Scarlet Tanager. Also note the non-breeding male Scarlet Tanager (3rd pic). 15 Species in all today

Your third pic is a female American Goldfinch. The lower bird in the last three pics is a male Summer Tanager. The Empid in pic 2 is likely Acadian in case you hadn't already identified it. Nice pictures

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Your third pic is a female American Goldfinch. The lower bird in the last three pics is a male Summer Tanager. The Empid in pic 2 is likely Acadian in case you hadn't already identified it. Nice pictures

For the 3rd pic, I did go back and forth looking at photos of both female American Goldfinches, as well as non-breeding male Scarlet Tanagers. Would you mind sharing your insight for the decision on it being a female American Goldfinch?

As for the Scarlet and Summer Tanager interaction, I imagine it's because the lower bird is immature and not fully colored, and that may be where my confusion set in. seems tough to keep track and identify properly so many of these birds that are very similar.

Thank you for the help!!

 

[qwerty5]

For the 3rd pic, I did go back and forth looking at photos of both female American Goldfinches, as well as non-breeding male Scarlet Tanagers. Would you mind sharing your insight for the decision on it being a female American Goldfinch?

Body shape, bill shape, wing bars. Also you won't be seeing a Scarlet Tanager in non-breeding plumage in June. If you do see a Scarlet Tanager that looks like a non-breeding male in breeding season, it's a female Scarlet Tanager

As for the Scarlet and Summer Tanager interaction, I imagine it's because the lower bird is immature and not fully colored, and that may be where my confusion set in. seems tough to keep track and identify properly so many of these birds that are very similar.

Female Scarlet Tanagers look the same as non-breeding male Scarlet Tanagers. You are right the Summer Tanager is a first-year male. Just curious, what field guide do you use?

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Body shape, bill shape, wing bars. Also you won't be seeing a Scarlet Tanager in non-breeding plumage in June. If you do see a Scarlet Tanager that looks like a non-breeding male in breeding season, it's a female Scarlet Tanager

Female Scarlet Tanagers look the same as non-breeding male Scarlet Tanagers. You are right the Summer Tanager is a first-year male. Just curious, what field guide do you use?

I think, as I am still learning quite a few things about birds, that I misunderstood what "non-breeding" meant. I took it as "regardless of season, they arent actively breeding" instead of "theyre that color during the non-breeding time of the year". That would explain my confusion there.

I had been slacking on getting a field guide, but your posed question essentially forced me to have to go get one. I got The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, and the Sibley Birds East.

 

[qwerty5]

I had been slacking on getting a field guide, but your posed question essentially forced me to have to go get one. I got The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, and the Sibley Birds East.

Sibley is excellent, good choice

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Small spattering from a quick kayaking evening at Couchville Cedar Glade. A few of a Great Blue Heron, easily found around here. They a few of some male Barn Swallows which are plentiful around the water here. A Double-Crested Cormorant I was lucky to capture in some decent lighting and at a close distance, finally. and lastly a not-so-great photo of a Belted Kingfisher, but this was my first sighting of one!

 

[hamlinjk15u]

Sibley is excellent, good choice

Sibley is excellent, good choice

I do like that, as far as identification, it has many examples of plates covering different variations. However I have bene gravitating more towards the Stokes. Feels like the actual photo examples are in some ways easier to compare directly to photographs I have.

 

[qwerty5]

I do like that, as far as identification, it has many examples of plates covering different variations. However I have bene gravitating more towards the Stokes. Feels like the actual photo examples are in some ways easier to compare directly to photographs I have.

I liked my Kaufman Field Guide, which is illustrated with pictures, when I was beginning birding. I now prefer my Sibley with illustrations. I think real pictures are easier for beginning birders.

 

[hamlinjk15u]

What an amazing day floating and paddling on the Percy Priest Lake here in Nashville!!!