Our birds: Kinglets, Thrushes, and Mockingbirds

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

I can’t imagine a more hyperactive creature than this tiny bird! I had an opportunity to snap a photo since it was uncharacteristically staying in one spot, excitedly picking off tiny insects from our ninebark shrubs.

Here he’s showing off his ruby crown, which isn’t always visible.

Learn more:
- Cornell’s All About Birds: Ruby-crowned kinglet
- American Bird Conservancy: Bird of the Week

Ruby-crowned Kinglets in our yard [KEY: “·” = none seen; blank = I didn’t count birds that month]

Golden-crowned Kinglet ()

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

A cute little bird I wish we could see more often. Maybe we have — it would be easy to miss.

Learn more:
- Cornell’s All About Birds: Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in our yard [KEY: “·” = none seen; blank = I didn’t count birds that month]

Grey-cheeked thrush

Grey-cheeked Thrushes in our yard [KEY: “·” = none seen; blank = I didn’t count birds that month]

Swainson’s thrush (Catharus ustulatus)

This is either a newish visitor to our yard or one that I hadn’t identified previously. This ID is from the Merlin Photo ID app.

Learn more:
- Cornell’s All About Birds: Swainson’s thrush
- American Bird Conservancy: Bird of the Week

Swainson’s Thrushes in our yard [KEY: “·” = none seen; blank = I didn’t count birds that month]

Hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus)

A charming bird. I love its speckled breast and its sturdy shape.

Learn more:
- Cornell’s All About Birds: Hermit thrush
- American Bird Conservancy: Bird of the Week
- Lesley the Bird Nerd:
  - VIDEO: Hermit thrush song
  - VIDEO: The unworldly song of the hermit thrush

Hermit Thrushes in our yard [KEY: “·” = none seen; blank = I didn’t count birds that month]

American robin (Turdus migratorius)

We see robins pretty much all year. So much for robins being a sign of spring! They really like the winterberries when the mockingbird isn’t guarding “its” bush. During nesting season the males spend their time chasing other birds — especially other robins — away.

In contrast to wrens and their babies, the adult and baby robins are very quiet. This baby sat and sat, waiting quietly for its parent to come feed him.

Learn more:
- Cornell’s All About Birds: American robin
- American Bird Conservancy: Bird of the Week
- Birdwatcher’s General Store: How robins find worms

YR	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
24			6
23			2	6	5	6	3	4	30	10
22			4	5	4	6	4	7	4	6	6
21	3	3	5	8	4	5	3	6	7	7	8
20			4	4	4	6	4	15	7	6	10	5
19			3	4	4	11	8	15	30	5	7
18			6	5	4	6	6	2	2	5	5
17			2	5	3	4	3	2	3	6	6	2
16			4	5	5	3	2	·	·	5	8
15			3	6	6	6	5	4	7	·	·
14			4	5	6	4	4	5	3	6	10
13			3	4	5	4	5	4	1	5	4
12			3	4	4	3	1	2	15	2	3
11	1	2	3	5	4	4	·	10	·	3	4
10	·	1	2	4	5	3	2	1	·	3	5	16
09	·	1	4	3	4	4	4	1	4	2	2	1
08	3	15	2	4	3	4	5	1	1	1	5	·
07	·	·	3	4	4	4	2	2	3	1	2	·
06	·	2	2	3	4	4	4	7	·	6	5	1
05	1	15	8	5	4	4	4	1	·	·	·	·
04	·	·	4	3	3	4	4	2	2	3	2	3
03	·	·	2	4	3	4	4	3	3	·	·	·
02	1	1	12	2	3	2	2	2	2	1	·	1
01	·	·	1							·	·	·

American Robins in our yard [KEY: “·” = none seen; blank = I didn’t count birds that month]

Gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Even though this is “just” a gray bird, it’s a beautiful shade of gray with a darker cap and a russet area underneath its tail. And I love its elegant silhouette. I also like its behavior, including its cat meowing and mimicking of other birds.

Every year I have a pair that claims the bushy evergreen area at the back of our yard, and I assume it’s the same pair that returns each year. (I’ve read that individuals do indeed return to the same yards after the winter in the South or in Central America…)

Learn more:
- Cornell’s All About Birds: Gray catbird
- American Bird Conservancy: Bird of the Week
- Humane Gardener:
  - Call of the catbird
  - A catbird goes to the pokeweed diner
- Audubon Society: 10 fun facts about the gray catbird
- Smithsonian Migratory Bird Institute: Full annual cycle of migratory birds

The first columns show the arrival dates in spring and departure dates in the fall. The earliest and latest dates for each are bolded

YR	Arr	Dep	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
24					·
23	5/08	10/11			·	·	4	4	6	4	5	2
22	4/30	9/22			·	1	3	3	4	4	2	·	·
21	5/05	10/17	·	·	·	·	3	3	3	4	2	2	·
20	5/03	10/4			·	·	2	4	2	4	4	1	·	·
19	4/28	10/9			·	1	2	2	5	5	4	1	·
18	5/03	10/9			·	1	1	2	3	4	2	1	·
17	4/30	10/1			·	3	3	2	3	3	2	1	·	·
16	5/08	10/3			·	·	2	2	3	·	·	1	·
15	5/03	10/4			·	·	3	2	4	5	2	·	·
14	5/04	10/19			·	·	2	2	3	3	2	1	·
13	4/28	10/13			·	2	2	2	3	2	2	1	·
12	4/29	10/7			·	2	2	2	2	3	4	1	·
11	4/24	?	·	·	·	2	2	1	·	3	1	·	·
10	5/02	9/12	·	·	·	·	2	·	2	1	2	·	·	·
09	4/26	9/13	·	·	·	1	2	2	2	3	1	·	·	·
08	5/11	9/28	·	·	·	·	2	3	3	2	1	·	·	·
07	5/20	9/30	·	·	·	·	2	2	4	2	1	·	·	·
06	5/07	10/15	·	·	·	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	·	·
05	5/15	9/18	·	·	·	·	2	1	2	2	1	·	·	·
04			·	·	·	1	3	2	4	3	·	1	1	·
03			·	·	·	·	2	2	2	1	1	·	·	·
02			·	·	·	·	2	2	4	2	2	·	·	·
01			·	·	·							·	·	·

Gray Catbirds in our yard [KEY: “·” = none seen; blank = didn’t count birds that month;
Arr=first arrival; Dep=Last departure]

ARRIVALS in order:
APRIL: 24; 26; 28; 28; 29; 30; 30
MAY: 2; 3; 3; 4; 5; 7; 8; 8; 11; 15; 20

DEPARTURES in order:
SEPTEMBER: 12; 13; 18; 22; 28; 30
OCTOBER: 1; 3; 4; 4; 7; 9; 9; 11; 13; 15; 17; 19

Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

A winter visitor to our yard, the mockingbird generally sits in the winterberry, defending it against the robin. They’re very territorial! The mockingbird has a very elegant shape. Since it’s here mostly during the months we’re stuck inside I don’t get to hear it “mocking” other birds, though its supposed to be quite a good mimic — better than the catbird.

Learn more:
- Cornell’s All About Birds: Northern mockingbirds
- Audubon Society: 10 fun facts about the Northern Mockingbird
- American Bird Conservancy: Bird of the Week
- Birdwatcher’s General Store: Mockingbirds

Northern Mockingbirds in our yard [KEY: “·” = none seen; blank = I didn’t count birds that month]