The Zen Birdfeeder

What to Watch for in Your Yard - Molting Birds

Once the nesting season is over for birds, many promptly start a molt of some or all of their feathers.  Birds will lose feathers, many of which are worn and tattered from the rigors of raising young, and those feathers will be replaced with new feathers.

 

Male Northern Cardinal molting - late summer

While birds are molting, they take on a disheveled look, while old feathers drop and new ones push their way out. But this process is necessary for birds as a well-functioning coat of feathers is critical to a bird's survival.

Purple Finch molting head feathers - late summer

 

Dark-eyed Junco molt - early fall

You may see birds in varying degrees of molt for the next couple months. But don't look for the American Goldfinch molt just yet - they're still busy breeding and all their energies are directed towards that. They'll begin their molt after child-rearing is done and they have energy to put into growing a new coat of feathers.

 

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What to Watch for in Your Yard - More Young Birds

Nesting season amongst our common backyard birds is definitely nearing the end, but there are still plenty of young birds to be seen in our yards.

A buzzy "zhee-zhee-zhee" call may alert you to fledgling Tufted Titmice begging for their parents' attention.

 

Young Common Grackles lack the iridescence of the adults and will appear in your yard as dull brown birds. Very young grackles have a dark eye; this one has already transitioned to that characteristic grackle beady yellow eye.

 

Many yards in upstate New York host Dark-eyed Juncos during the winter, but never get to see them during the summer. We're at some elevation and lucky enough to have juncos year-round. That means we get to see the young ones! 

All those streaks will molt into the solid gray and white plumage we're all so familiar with. This young bird most likely will not winter in my yard though; it will head to lower elevations and more northerly-breeding birds will be the ones that fill my yard this winter.

Time is running out for observing young birds in area yards. Before we know, many will be indistinguishable from their parents while others will start the long flight south to their winter homes. So take time now to enjoy the young birds in your yard!!!

 

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