Now that the weather is getting warmer, the birds are coming out to play, to sing, and to search for food. Lower Westchester county in New York has numerous wild bird species, each with its own unique bird call, and unique resplendent plumage. Like I sometimes say to visiting friends, if you want to see a fantastic fashion show in New York, you can’t beat going bird-watching.
Now I am not very good at recognizing bird species, either by their call or by sight, but I believe the above is a robin. I could be wrong though. If it is a robin, it is most likely an American Robin or Turdus migratorius, which is a species of the Thrush family. If it isn’t an American Robin, it must be another type of Thrush.
This is one of the most common bird species in North America, and according to Wikipedia there are 7 sub-species of American Robin. If you want to take a stab at guessing the sub-species of the bird above, be my guest.
The noisy bird in the above photo is a member of the Woodpecker or Picidae family, or near passerine birds. This woodpecker sure made a lot of noise pecking into the trunk of that tree to search for insects. This was how I became alerted to its presence. I rarely see them.
I’m guessing that it is a Hairy Woodpecker or Picoides villosus, based on its black and white plumage and size. They live throughout North America, but particularly in deciduous forests.
It’s always wonderful seeing and hearing all these unique species while running or walking. Besides woodpeckers and robins, I also often see cardinals, hawks, and some other species I have trouble identifying. The unidentifiable species add a bit of mystery to the local forests, as I try to figure out at least which bird family they belong to. They are difficult to photograph.
I hope all you northern hemisphereans are enjoying the spring, and if you’re a southern hemispherean, autumn!
AcroTrekker 
Spring has definitely arrived in Scotland, too! I ran in shorts and a vest this evening and felt really comfortably warm – it was amazing. The trees are blooming and like you, I hear birds singing where ever I go. It’s a paradise for bird watchers around here. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about birds either, but it’s great to see them. We have amazing birds of prey, as well as water birds around here, and it’s not at all uncommon to spot them!
So you’re in Scotland, I wasn’t sure where you were from. Does this mean you have the Scottish accent, or are you originally from some place else? I love the sound of that accent. I do an awful imitation of it.
I’ve seen many photos from races in Scotland that went through some breathtaking landscapes. Especially in hilly regions near the shore, and in the Highlands. Some would pass by a few castles or ancient ruins. I would love to run there some day. I don’t have to wear a kilt, right?
It would be great to see the kinds of birds that live there too. Maybe they have a Scottish accent when they chirp or sing. I hear there are these reforestation programs in some parts of Scotland, which may help improve its biodiversity and boost its native bird population.
BTW, do you support Scottish independence? Just think, by the end of the year, Scotland could be its own independent country!
And I saw some blue jays just yesterday.
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