27 posts
Smaller than a chickadee, the energetic ruby-crowned kinglet is one of the smallest songbirds in North America. These birds earned their name because the males have a tiny patch of red feathers toward the back of their large heads. These feathers fan up when males are excited. If you are
The barred owl asks the question with its call
Great blue herons frequent creeks and marshes all around Berea and are typically year-round residents. With a wingspan of more than 6 feet, and sometimes reaching a standing height of nearly 5 feet, great blue herons are the largest herons in North America. They can hunt during the day or
Brown-headed cowbirds were so named because they follow herds of grazing animals, such as buffalo and later cows, eating the insects disturbed by the herd. But today cowbirds are best known for being “brood parasites.” They don’t build nests. Instead, they lay eggs—often dozens of eggs in a
Carolina chickadees often hang upside down to gather berries, seeds, and insects under branches. They may hide, or cache, food for times of scarcity, tucking seeds and insects under bark, or leaves, or even house shingles. Chickadees are known to modify their signature chickadee-dee-de-dee call by adding more “dees” at
The northern yellow-shafted flicker is a colorful feast for the eyes with bright yellow feathers under its wings and tail and a body adorned with patches of red, gray, tan and black. The northern flicker is a woodpecker but prefers to forage for ants and beetles on the ground with
The pileated woodpecker is a relatively common sight in Berea. With a height of about 17 inches, the pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America. You may hear their loud and rapid pecking as they excavate their favorite food, carpenter ants, from rotten wood. Once they pair up,
Cedar waxwings are sleek, elegant birds with their black masks and yellow tipped tails. They are named for the small red drops of wax on the tips of secondary feathers on their wings. Cedar waxwings love to eat fruit and may descend in large numbers on berry-laden trees. They have
The cooing sound of mourning doves often conjures up memories of expansive summer days, even though these birds are year-round residents in Kentucky. Mourning doves mate for life and one pair may raise 5 or 6 broods of young in a year. Mourning doves are also known for the distinctive
