Friday Feathered Feature

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo

Most blue-headed birds are located in the tropics—nestled away in exotic rainforests. One bird with a blue head can be found in Wisconsin, among nine or so others, breeding in the northern mixed conifer forests in summer, and migrating through southern Wisconsin in October and early May.

Photo by John Sutton

Eastern Red Bat

I had my sights set on the orange wings of the monarchs—preferably ones resting in the foliage and unsuspecting of my net. From a distance I saw something brick orange, nestled in the foliage of a maple tree. It was certainly unsuspecting of my net, but it was most certainly not a monarch!

Photo by Emma Raasch

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker

The Northern Flicker is a colorful woodpecker, covering most of North America. This is a common bird, yet if it were found in an aviary, it would probably take your breath away. The Northern Flicker stands alone with its engaging plumage and curious personality.

Photo by Mick Thompson

Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalaropes are the smallest and daintiest of the three phalarope species (Wilson’s and Red Phalaropes), it spends up to 9 months of the year at sea, riding on a raft of dense belly plumage and feeding on tiny planktonic invertebrates.

Photo by Mick Thompson

Tennessee Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

The Tennessee Warbler flies through a Midwestern spring, making itself known with its surprisingly loud “tip tip tip tip tip sippp sippp sippppp ti ti ti ti ti” song. A flock of dozens of these warblers will soon make a birder search for other species.

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren