Hard, All Day Rain

Hard, all day rain,

but I want to go birding.

 

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National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6^th Edition

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Sapsuckers

It probably should come as no surprise that one of my favorite groups of birds is the woodpeckers.  It may be because I’ve been known to beat my head against wooden structures. (Okay, not really).  It may be their elaborate dress.  It may be that they possess chisel like beaks capable of inflicting considerable damage.  It may be the diversity of feeding habits. 

And it is a particular fascination I have for sapsuckers.  It is their feeding style that generates their name.  We generally think about woodpeckers hammering away in search of insects.  However, sapsuckers drill holes or wells for sap and then feast on the fare that oozes.

Photograph by Bill Ravenscroft

Most of the time, I’m made aware of their presence in my neck of the woods by the drumming.  Even the newest field guide from NationalGeographic mentions this, stating that it sounds like Morse code.

Today, we recognize four species of sapsuckers.  They are the Williamson’s, the Red Naped, the Red Breasted and the Yellow Bellied (pictured here).  The last three were thought to be all one species under the banner of the Yellow Bellied.

The Yellow Bellied Sapsucker picture here is noteworthy, I believe, as it shows an individual molting from its immature plumage to its adult plumage.

Well Equipped

Well equip your birder with an outstanding birder binocular, The Vortex 8 x 42 Viper. This binocular is excellent in low light conditions often present in early morning or evening when much activity is evident. Watching Short Eared Owls frolic across open pastures feeding at dusk is greatly facilitated by the light gathering power of these wonderful binoculars. The Viper has XD glass and XR coatings to enhance image resolution and color accuracy while providing extraordinary brightness. The Viper is argon purged to extend the useful life of the binocular while providing superb water and fog proofing. It is lightweight and possesses excellent eye relief.

Couple the Viper with a wonderful field guide like the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America and your birder is set for a grand experience. The Fifth Edition of this field guide is touted as one of the best guides on the market today.