Many different species of birds can be seen along Hummock Loop during the Fall (August through November). Here are a few birds that are frequently identified.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata, loves Bayberry bushes and juniper trees in the late Fall. It eats a lot of insects. Its song is a clear warble, sidl sidl sidl seedl seedl seedl when perched and a more commonly heard chwit svit when flying. It is 5.5″ in length, a wing span of 9.25″ and weighs 0.43 oz.
Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, is usually seen in small groups of up to ten. It feeds on insects and fruits from the ground or in vegetation. Its song is a pleasing phrase of mellow whistles, chili WEEW wewiddo and variations. It is 7″ in length, a wing span of 13″ and weighs 1.1 oz.
Northern Cardinal, female, Cardinalis cardinalis, is very abundant on CBEC property. Its song is a series of high clear, sharp chew chew chew chew or pichew pichew tiw tiw tiw tiw. Its song can also sound like purty purty party or what-cheer what-cheer what cheer. It loves to eat seeds, fruits, insects and insect larvae. It is 8.75″ in length, a wing span of 12″ and weighs 1.6 oz.
Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus, is seen in dense brushy tangles with in woods. Insects and spiders make up the bulk of a wren’s diet, though it will occasionally eat lizards, frogs or snakes. Its song is a rolling chant of rich phrases pidaro pidaro pidaro or TWEE pudo TWEE pudo TWEEP. It is 5.5″ in length, a wing span of 7.5″ and weighs 0.74 oz.
Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus, is seen coursing low over marshes and grasslands. Their voice is a piercing whistle eeeya or sseeeew. They eat small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. It is 18″ in length, a wing span of 43″ and weighs 15 oz.