Cardinals & Allies

Northern Cardinal - Sloss Lake, AL There are few birds that are as striking as this Male Northern Cardinal. This bird was flycatching on the shores of Sloss Lake, Alabama I am guessing to feed the young in the nest. He was very focused on the flying insects in the area so much so that we were able to shoot several photos as close range. Cardinals are part of a very large family that includes grosbeaks and tanagers along with several others. Michael W Klotz 2022 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Northern Cardinal - Sloss Lake, AL
Black-headed Grosbeak - Grouse Mountain Base, BC At the base of Grouse Mountain, there is a great spot for mountain warblers and other song birds. We were lucky enough to catch several species we were looking for here. We were out on a mission to find MacGillivray's warbler and ran across this handsome boy. Our answer to the Rose-breasted grosbeak found on the East side of the continent. This stunning bird sounds similar to an American robin when in full song and sometimes cannot be located even with all the contrasting color. Michael W Klotz 2022 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Black-headed Grosbeak - Grouse Mountain Base, BC
Dickcissel - 10 Mile Pond, MO During our southern states road trip, we hit 10 mile pond just west of the Mississippi River in Missouri. Along the farm road, we came across more colorful birds than you could shake a stick at. This Dickcissel was one of them. This male was quite happy to call the ladies while we watched on. These are a bird of the Prairies and will be thick one year and absent the next all based on conditions in the area. Michael W Klotz 2022 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Dickcissel - 10 Mile Pond, MO
Lazuli's Bunting - Osoyoos Cottages, BC During a 110 degree day on Osoyoos Lake, we found a Lazuli's bunting hiding from the sun under some maple leaves. This handsome little bird was panting away but happened to come out for a bit of a photo shoot. I had never noticed before that these birds had blue thighs. They are closely related to the Indigo bunting which is is more of an eastern bird where as the Lazuli's spends most of its time on the western parts of North America. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Lazuli's Bunting - Osoyoos Cottages, BC
Indigo Bunting - Wardner, BC A big surprise for the Kootenays this year when this beautiful Indigo bunting showed up in Wardner. It took a little sleuthing from the Merlin bird app, and some help from my friends at BC Rare Bird Alert, but the bird was found on the shores of Haha Lake singing his little heart out. These small seed eaters rarely come north of the border here in British Columbia, but we were lucky enough to see two in the province with the other bird showing up at Colony Farms in Coquitlam, BC. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Indigo Bunting - Wardner, BC
Black-headed Grosbeak - Sturgeon Slough, BC This handsome devil was making the rounds and collecting some of the summer berries in the area when we passed by. Next time a napkin might be in order. Sturgeon Slough was the site of several good birds this year including a Yellow-bellied chat, a Chipping sparrow and some Black-crowned Night Herons. This has always been a special area for birding but better than most this year. Not far from here was a Costa's hummingbird in the early summer which does not usually come north of California and Nevada. Our subject, the Black-headed Grosbeak is a summer resident here in southern British Columbia and is seen occasionally during walks in the area. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.comPicture
Black-headed Grosbeak - Sturgeon Slough, BC
Western Tanager - Meadow Lake, BC I had an early morning encounter with this very talkative summer resident which was one of the highlights of my trip to Meadow Lake Guest Ranch. The Summer Tanager is the only Tanager we see on a regular basis here on the west coast. This male was foraging and signing away along the roadside at Meadow Lake and didn't seem at all bothered that he was the star of the film. Michael W Klotz - 2019 www.TheBirdBlogger.com Video
Western Tanager Video - Meadow Lake, BC
Western Tanager - Meadow Lake, BC I spent a very special morning with a very curious Western Tanager along the side of Meadow Lake Road. He was singing away checking the poplar and pines for food and working his way up the shoulder while I kept pace. I love the early caterpillar tracks in the poplar leaves just to the side of his head, tail and feet. keep an eye out for the video I will be posting soon of this guy as well. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Western Tanager - Meadow Lake, BC
Western Tanager - Meadow Lake, BC There is nothing more spectacular than a close encounter with a beautiful piece of nature. This male Western Tanager was very close to the road edge looking for breakfast. He let me get within feet to photograph him. He had a mate near by who made a quick appearance, but soon disappeared with the male in hot pursuit. Can't beat the color of this summer resident of Meadow Lake. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Western Tanager - Meadow Lake, BC
Black-headed Grosbeak - Pitt Meadows, BC This handsome male was singing his heart out. It seemed to pay off, there was a female staying close in the shadows. During some research I found out that this bird used to be called the Spotted Grosbeak back when Audubon was drawing pictures for his book. Thompson Rd is little dead end road with an amazing treasure trove of birds mostly because of its diverse ecosystems all within close proximity of each other. Michael Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Black-headed Grosbeak - Pitt Meadows
Northern Cardinal- Cranbrook, BC A common eastern bird made its way to the northeast corner of BC in a town called Cranbrook. The home this wonderful visitor home at, has also made it her home for the last couple weeks. A friend of mine from the area met me as my guide for the lay of the land and the people. Thank you, Carleen, for the great morning of birding. During our search along the creek next to the house, Carleen heard, then spotted the Female Cardinal heading back towards the house with the feeders. We made our way back and met Katrin who was the first to spot the female Cardinal in the same tree where took this photo. We then met Greg, the other resident of the lucky house. Greg and Katrin are local naturalists as well as amazing hosts and I thank them for their hospitality. While chatting out on the deck, the birds very high chirp was identified and we all headed to the front where she was feeding on sunflower seeds in an ornamental crab-apple tree. Hopefully she sticks around for others to see this rare visitor to the west of the Rockies. Michael Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Northern Cardinal - Cranbrook, BC
Summer Tanager - Vancouver, BC Summer Tanager are very rare visitors to the west coast and even more rare north of the US-Canada border. This immature male bird had made an area in and around the Marpole Neighborhood of Vancouver its home for a stint. He was dodging in and out of a Laurel picking away a the feeders in the area. The red flecking on the face and partial red rump identifies this bird as a young male just coming into his soon to be overall red colors. These birds usually spend their winters from Mexico south to the northern half of South America. Immature birds sometime go on walk-a-bout in the fall and don't head south for some time. For more details on this rare bird and others in British Columbia, go to British Columbia Rare Bird Alert. Michael Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Summer Tanager - Vancouver, BC
Lazuli Bunting - Kamloops, BC - Below Rattlesnake Bluff in Kamloops is a conspicuous Saskatoon Berry tree. On the top of the tree was a very conspicuous blue and tan bird singing his heart out looking for a female. Lazuli's Buntings are the West's answer to the Indigo bunting. The brilliant blue of this little songbird is quite striking. Michael Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Lazuli Bunting - Kamloops, BC
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Western Tanager - Shea Lake, BC
Pyrrhuloxia - De Anza Trail, AZ This fantastic little bird seemed to be comfortable enough with my presence while I took some shots. He was on the the Anza Trail in Tubac, Arizona. This particular fellow brought my life list to 289. Pyrrhuloxias are sometimes call Desert cardinals with good reason. One of the tell tale signs to look for is the beak looking all shrunken and bent. Michael W Klotz 2006 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Pyrrhuloxia - De Anza Trail, AZ