Tag: Gilbert

In Praise of Little Brown Birds: Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona. 

Our desert song sparrows are dullish and dun and barely marked compared to the song sparrows I knew back in Virginia. Here their feathers exhibit very little streaking, and the blaze of feathers on their breasts is almost absent. But they are marvelous singers. Male birds sing an elaborate song as an enticement to mates and to establish territories. Males learn their songs by copying the songs of adult birds when they are hatchlings. There is some evidence that females prefer song sparrow males that were better natal learners, those who better perform the songs of their tutors.   

In Praise of Little Brown Birds: Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona. 

Our desert song sparrows are dullish and dun and barely marked compared to the song sparrows I knew back in Virginia. Here their feathers exhibit very little streaking, and the blaze of feathers on their breasts is almost absent. But they are marvelous singers. Male birds sing an elaborate song as an enticement to mates and to establish territories. Males learn their songs by copying the songs of adult birds when they are hatchlings. There is some evidence that females prefer song sparrow males that were better natal learners, those who better perform the songs of their tutors.   

White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona.

I love the common little birds. Sometimes they turn out to have uncommon abilities. These sparrows sing songs built of snippets and themes from the songs of birds they are exposed to when very young. Consequently, song dialects can emerge, and if a cohort is in an area where two distinct white-crowned dialects overlap, birds in that group will become fluent singing both songs. 

White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona.

I love the common little birds. Sometimes they turn out to have uncommon abilities. These sparrows sing songs built of snippets and themes from the songs of birds they are exposed to when very young. Consequently, song dialects can emerge, and if a cohort is in an area where two distinct white-crowned dialects overlap, birds in that group will become fluent singing both songs. 

Life’s little rituals.

Black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona. The choreography of their mating dance requires a receptive female to strike a pose with her neck extended, while the male circles and splashes around her. Later they will take turns constructing a shallow nest on the ground, using breasts and beaks to form a hollow that they will line with bits of debris they churn up. She will lay a clutch of one to five eggs. 

Fingers crossed for photos of stilt chicks in a few weeks! They are adorable. 

Life’s little rituals.

Black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona. The choreography of their mating dance requires a receptive female to strike a pose with her neck extended, while the male circles and splashes around her. Later they will take turns constructing a shallow nest on the ground, using breasts and beaks to form a hollow that they will line with bits of debris they churn up. She will lay a clutch of one to five eggs. 

Fingers crossed for photos of stilt chicks in a few weeks! They are adorable. 

Dowitchers (either short-billed Limnodromus griseus or long-billed L. scolopaceus), at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona.

For all my love of a definitive identification, sometimes it doesn’t seem to matter. If you can tell me which dowitcher this is I’ll be grateful, though I don’t think I really care. The important thing is that they can tell.

Vive la différence!

Dowitchers (either short-billed Limnodromus griseus or long-billed L. scolopaceus), at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona.

For all my love of a definitive identification, sometimes it doesn’t seem to matter. If you can tell me which dowitcher this is I’ll be grateful, though I don’t think I really care. The important thing is that they can tell.

Vive la différence!