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[Phyl]

Hairy Woodpecker,
Picoides villosus


The larger of two 'look-a-likes'.

The Hairy Woodpecker is a powerful woodpecker and usually forages on the truck and main branches of large trees in mature forests.  It is the most widespread resident woodpecker in North America, but not as abundant or familiar as the smaller similar-appearing Downy Woodpecker.

The Hairy Woodpecker is non-migratory and ranges across North America south to Central America. In residential areas with large trees, this woodpecker often visits birdfeeders. The Hairy Woodpecker's name is derived from the long, filamentous white or whitish feathers in the middle of its back, but this is not a good characteristic to use to identify this bird in the field

Description: This medium-sized black-and-white woodpecker is white below, has a plain white back and black wings with white spotting.  The tail is black in the center with white outer tail feathers.

The face is white with black stripes, and the bill is black, thick, and nearly as long as the head. Males and females are easily distinguished; the male has a red patch on the back of the head, and the female does not.

Length: 9.25"
Wingspan: 15"
Weight: 2.3 oz.
Voice: The song is a short even-pitched rattle. The call is a strong sharp peek.

Similar Species:

Downy Woodpeckers are very similar in plumage, but are smaller, and have a proportionately smaller bill (see link below). Their song is a rapid downward whinny of notes, and the call is a soft quick pik. The Hairy and Downy call-notes are distinguishable with practice.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have smudgy barring in the white on the back and a white stripe on the side.
Habitat: Found in most forest types in Tennessee, but tends to occur in larger, more mature woodlands than the smaller and similar appearing Downy Woodpecker. Studies have shown that Hairy Woodpeckers are attracted to forests that have recently burned, probably due to increased food resources in dead and dying trees. They also occur in residential areas with large trees and visit bird feeders, especially suet feeders.

Diet: Insects and other arthropods, fruits, and seeds. Males tend to forage higher than females in winter.

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Hairy Woodpecker,, continued

Nesting and reproduction: Hairy Woodpecker pairs maintain territories throughout the year and may remain mated for several years. Breeding behavior begins in late fall with the male and female drumming in response to one another.

Clutch Size: Usually 4 to 5 eggs, with a range of 3 to 6. In Tennessee, egg laying is usually mid- to late April.

Incubation: Both parents incubate the eggs for about 11 to 12 days.

Fledging: Both parents care for the young, which fledge in 28 to 30 days. They remain dependent on the parents for several more weeks.

Nest: The pair usually excavates a new nest annually in the trunk of a dead tree. The nest takes 7 to 24 days to complete. The average nest height in Tennessee is 20 feet above the ground.

Status in Tennessee: This woodpecker is an uncommon permanent resident across the state. It is not as numerous, nor as tame, as the Downy Woodpecker. Population appears stable.

Dynamic map of Hairy Woodpecker eBird observations in Tennessee


Fun Facts:

The Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers occur together throughout most of their ranges. The Downy Woodpecker uses smaller branches, while the Hairy Woodpecker tends to spend more time on the trunk.
The Hairy Woodpecker is attracted to foraging Pileated Woodpeckers and will take insects in the deep excavations that the Pileated missed.
The oldest recorded Hairy Woodpecker in the wild was 15 years 10 months old.
Obsolete English Names: Cabanis' woodpecker

Best places to see in Tennessee: Found in large tracts of forest with large trees across the state.

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Hairy Woodpecker, continued



Sources:

Jackson, J. A., H. R. Ouellet, and B. J. S. Jackson. 2002. Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus). The Birds of North America, No. 702 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Nicholson, C. P. 1997. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Tennessee. Univ. of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. A. A. Knopf, New York, NY.

[Phyl]

Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus



Northern Flickers are unlike most other Tennessee woodpeckers in that they are primarily brown instead of black and white, and often feed on the ground.  In fact Northern Flickers eat more ants than any other bird in North America.

They are easy to identify, especially on the wing, with their strong undulating flight and prominent white rump.  Northern Flickers are found across North America from the northern extent of forest in Alaska and Canada, to Cuba and Central America.  The northernmost birds migrate south in winter.

This woodpecker was formerly called the Yellow-shafted Flicker in the East and the Red-shafted Flicker in the West because of their distinctly colored wing-linings. They are now recognized as belonging to the same species.

Description: This medium to large woodpecker is overall brownish with barring on its back, clear round spots on its breast, and a black crescent on its chest.  In flight the white rump is conspicuous, as are the yellow wing-linings (red in western birds).

Eastern birds also have a red crescent on the nape of the neck. Males and females are similar but only males have a black mustache stripe on the face (red in western birds).

Length: 12.5"
Wingspan: 20"
Weight: 4.6 oz

Voice: The territorial call is a long series of wick wick wick notes, rising and falling in volume and lasting 7 or 8 seconds. This call is similar to the call of the Pileated Woodpecker. Northern Flickers also make a loud kyeer note.

Similar Species:

The Pileated Woodpecker call resembles that of the Northern Flicker wick wick wick call, but is louder and changes in pitch, and rhythm.
No other Tennessee woodpecker has the combination of overall brown coloration with bright white rump.
Habitat: Northern Flickers are found in open woodlands, forest edges, including cities and suburbs, and will visit backyard bird feeders. They nest in almost all forest types found in Tennessee.

Diet: Mostly ants but also beetle larvae, and during late autumn, winter and early spring, a variety of berries.

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Northern Flicker,  continued

Nesting and reproduction: Males and females vigorously defend the space around their nest tree but do not defend a feeding territory, probably because their food sources are not economically defendable.

Clutch Size: 4 to 8 eggs.

Incubation: The male incubates the eggs more than the female, and the eggs hatch in 11 to 14 days.

Fledging: Both adults feed the young regurgitated food. They leave the nest after 24 to 28 days and remain with the parents for a few additional weeks.

Nest: Northern Flickers frequently reuse a nest cavity from a previous year. Males do most of the excavation of new cavities in a dead tree or the dead limb of a live tree. They will occasionally dig cavities in wooden utility poles and fence posts. Excavation time is about 12 days. Nest heights in Tennessee have been recorded from 4 to 45 feet with an average of 18 feet. Competition for cavities with European Starlings is common.

Status in Tennessee: Northern Flickers are a fairly common permanent resident, and are more numerous in the winter due to the arrival of migrants from northern breeding areas. Numbers in Tennessee are declining, possibly due to competition with the European Starling for nest cavities.

Dynamic map of Northern Flicker eBird observations in Tennessee

Fun Facts:

More than any other woodpecker, Northern Flickers forage on the ground. Very few birds eat ants, but they are a favorite food of flickers and they will dig in the dirt to find them.
Northern Flickers have been known to cause property damage by drilling holes in wood and synthetic stucco siding, and eaves of houses.
Woodpeckers "drum" to attract mates, and to establish and/or defend a territory. This can be annoying to people when the drumming is on or near houses. Northern Flickers often select wooden shingles, cedar or redwood siding, metal or plastic gutters, television antennas, chimney caps, and light posts because these materials produce loud sounds. Drumming is most common in the spring during early morning and late afternoon and usually ends by July 1. (See below for control methods.)
The oldest known Northern Flicker in the wild was 9 years 2 months old.

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Northern Flicker,  continued

Obsolete English Names: yellow-shafted flicker, southern flicker, yellowhammer, golden-winged woodpecker

Best places to see in Tennessee: Every county in the state.







Sources:

Moore, W. S. 1995. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). The Birds of North America, No. 166 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

Nicholson, C. P. 1997. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Tennessee. Univ. of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. A. A. Knopf, New York, NY.

[Phyl]

Pileated Woodpecker,
Dryocopus pileatus



The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America (with the exception of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker).

Its loud ringing calls and distinctive plumage make it a familiar bird in rural Tennessee.

The Pileated Woodpecker is non-migratory and can be found in deciduous and coniferous forests across the eastern half of the United States, central Canada, and south to California.

Description: This crow-sized bird has a black body, a red crest on its head, and a broad white stripe on the face extending from the base of the bill down the neck.

In flight, the top of the wing shows a patch of white at the base of the primaries, the underwing linings are white, and the trailing edge of the wing is black.

The bill is thick and silvery gray. The sexes are similar; however, the male has a red crown and forehead and red in the black mustache stripe.

The female has a gray to the yellow-brown forehead and no red in the mustache stripe.

Length: 16.5"
Wingspan: 29"
Weight: 10 oz

Voice: The call is a boisterous outburst of notes changing in pitch, loudness, and rhythm.

Similar Species:

Northern Flicker calls resemble those of the Pileated, but are more monotonous and do not change pitch, volume, or rhythm.
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is generally similar in appearance but is larger and has a pale white bill. At rest, the large white patches on the wing are very obvious, while the wings of a perched Pileated Woodpecker are black. In flight, the trailing edge of the wing of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker is white and black in the Pileated Woodpecker. Ivory-billed Woodpeckers have NEVER been adequately documented in Tennessee. (See links below for more information about distinguishing these two species.)
Habitat: Found in largely forested regions of deciduous or coniferous forests with large trees.

Diet: Insects, primarily carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae, fruits, and nuts.

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Pileated Woodpecker,, continued

Nesting and reproduction: Long-term monogamous pairs stay together on territories year round. Egg laying in Tennessee occurs from early April to early May.

Clutch Size: Usually 4 eggs, with a range of 3 to 5.

Incubation: Both sexes typically incubate the eggs for about 15 to 18 days.

Fledging: Both adults regurgitate food for the young, which leave the nest after 24 to 28 days, but may stay with the parents for another 2 to 3 months.

Nest: The same nest tree may be used for several consecutive years, but a new nest cavity is excavated every year.

Both adults dig the nest usually in the main trunk of a tall dead tree, and excavation can take up to 6 weeks to complete.

In Tennessee nest heights range from 18 to 85 feet with an average of 35 feet above the ground.

Status in Tennessee: Fairly common permanent resident throughout the state. Populations appear to be stable or increasing.

Dynamic map of Pileated Woodpecker eBird observations in Tennessee

Fun Facts:

Pileated Woodpeckers play an important role within their ecosystems by excavating cavities that are subsequently used by many other species including birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
The oldest known Piliated Woodpecker in the wild was 12 years 11 months old.
Obsolete English Names: log-cock, black woodcock

Best places to see in Tennessee: Found in woodlands across the state.

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Pileated Woodpecker, continued









Sources:

Bull, E. L., and J. A. Jackson. 1995. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus). In The Birds of North America, No. 148 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

Nicholson, C. P. 1997. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Tennessee. Univ. of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. A. A. Knopf, New York, NY.

[Phyl]

American Kestrel
 Falco sparverius


Formerly known as the Sparrow Hawk, the American Kestrel is the smallest, most colorful, and most widespread North American falcon. It breeds from Alaska and Canada to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.

It is seen more often than other hawks because in addition to inhabiting wild areas, they frequent towns and agricultural lands, hunting from exposed perches like utility lines along roadsides. The American Kestrel spends the non-breeding season in the southern portion of the breeding range from the Canadian border southward.

Description: This small falcon has long pointed wings and a long tail. The male American Kestrel is very colorful and one of the most beautiful hawks in North America. The head is brightly patterned with two dark mustache marks on the face and "eye spots" on back of the head. The back and tail are rust colored, and the blue-gray wings and pale chest have black spots. The female is bright brown with black barring on the back and tail. She also has a boldly patterned head but not as colorful as the male's. The female is 10% heavier than the male. Juvenile birds look similar to adults.

Length: 9"
Wingspan: 22"
Weight: 4.1 oz.

Similar Species:

Merlins are slightly larger, lack rust color on the back, wings, and tail, and lack a well-defined head pattern. They also have a much more powerful and direct flight pattern than American Kestrels. Merlins are an uncommon migrant and rare winter resident in Tennessee.
Habitat: Open areas such as croplands, pastures, and along roadsides. Often found near areas of human activity.

Diet: American Kestrels eat large insects, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. They will sometimes hover several feet above the ground while hunting.

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American Kestrel, continued

Nesting and reproduction: American Kestrels nest in cavities, but they do not excavate their own holes. The availability of cavities may limit the population.

Clutch Size: Usually 4 to 5 eggs, with a range of 1 to 7 eggs.

Incubation: Both males and females incubate the eggs for 29 to 31 days.

Fledging: Young begin hunting shortly after leaving the nest at 30 to 31 days, with the parents continuing to feed them for another 2 weeks.

Nest: American Kestrels nest in cavities in trees, buildings, and in nest boxes. No material is added to the nest hole. Nest Box Instructions here.

Status in Tennessee: The American Kestrel is a relatively common statewide resident. More northerly nesting birds join Tennessee's resident population from October through April. Populations are generally decreasing rangewide and likely so in Tennessee.

Dynamic map of American Kestrel eBird observations in Tennessee


Fun Facts:

"Hover-hunting," often seen along roadsides, is used most often when there are no suitable perches available.
The females arrive first on the wintering grounds and establish their territories in the preferred open areas. The males, arriving later are forced to use areas with more trees.
Nestlings squirt their feces onto the walls of the nest cavity. The feces dry on the cavity walls and stay off the nestlings.
The oldest known American Kestrel in the wild was 14 years, 8 months old.
Obsolete English Names: sparrow hawk, Dixie kestrel

Best places to see in Tennessee: Open lands statewide where they perch on roadside telephone poles and power lines.

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American Kestrel, continued









Sources:

Nicholson, C. P. 1997. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Tennessee. Univ. of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN

Smallwood, John A. and David M. Bird. 2002. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online:

[Phyl]

Eastern Wood-Pewee
Contopus virens


The Eastern Wood-Pewee is one of those birds that has the good manners to say its name.  The plaintive ascending and then descending pee-ah-wee phrase can be heard throughout the day during the summer in the eastern United States

The bird itself is quite inconspicuous as it hawks insects from high in the canopy.   The Eastern Wood-Pewee breeds from southeastern Canada across the eastern states and migrates to northwestern South America during the winter.

Description: This medium-sized olive-gray flycatcher is pale below with a darker wash on the breast and sides.   It has dull whitish wingbars and a dark bill with a yellow base on the lower mandible.

This flycatcher has a very upright posture and will often repeatedly return to the same prominent perch when fly-catching.

Males and females are alike in plumage.

Length: 6.25"

Wingspan: 10"

Weight: 0.49 oz

Voice: This flycatcher says its name with an ascending and then descending pee-ah-wee.

Similar Species:

Eastern Phoebes characteristically wag their tails, have an all-dark bill, and only indistinct wing bars or they lack them entirely.
The Eastern Wood-Pewee is distinguished from all Empidonax flycatchers by their dark face with weak partial eye-ring, dusky vest, and grayish smudges on their under tail coverts.
Olive-sided Flycatchers, present in Tennessee as migrants, have more indistinct wingbars, and larger and darker patches on the side of the breast that contrast strongly with a white center. They occasionally show white tufts on the sides of the rump.
Habitat: Found in deciduous or coniferous woodlands and woodland edges, but also urban shade trees, roadsides, woodlots, and orchards to mature forest.

Diet: Flying insects.

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Eastern Wood-Pewee, continued

Nesting and reproduction: The Eastern Wood-Pewee does not begin nest construction until mid-May.

Clutch Size: Usually 3 eggs, with a range of 2 to 4.

Incubation: The female incubates for 12 to 13 days.

Fledging: Both adults feed the young, which fledge at 15 to 18 days.

Nest: The female builds the shallow cup-nest on a horizontal branch away from the trunk. Nest heights in Tennessee range from 6 to 45 feet, with an average of 20 feet above the ground.

Status in Tennessee: This is likely the most common flycatcher in Tennessee. It can be found during the breeding season statewide, arriving in late April and departing by early October.  The population is possibly stable in Tennessee, but it is decreasing range-wide.





Fun Facts:

In a forest where several flycatcher species are found, the Eastern Wood-Pewee forages higher in the trees than the Least and Acadian Flycatchers, but lower down than the Great Crested Flycatcher.
One potential cause of the decline of Eastern Wood-Pewee populations is the overpopulation of white-tailed deer in the Eastern forests. In areas with high deer density, the intermediate canopy is disturbed by browsing, affecting the foraging space of the flycatcher.
The oldest known Eastern Wood-Pewee in the wild was 7 years, 1 month old.
Best places to see in Tennessee: This species is found in woodlands in every county in the state.







Sources:

McCarty, J. P. 1996. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens). In The Birds of North America, No. 245 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

Nicholson, C. P. 1997. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Tennessee. Univ. Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. A. A. Knopf, New York, NY.

[Phyl]

Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe



his is likely the most familiar flycatcher in Tennessee due to its habit of nesting on buildings and bridges. The Eastern Phoebe characteristically pumps its tail up and down and the fee-bee call will remind you of its name.

It breeds from western Canada eastward to the Atlantic Coast, and southward to central Texas and central Georgia.  The winter range extends from Maryland to eastern Mexico, and along the Gulf Coast to Florida.   The Eastern Phoebe is present in Tennessee year round but is less numerous in the winter as some individuals migrate further south.

Description: This small songbird sits upright and often pumps its tail, especially after landing. It is dark grayish brown above, and has whitish underparts that may be washed with yellow. The Eastern Phoebe has no eyering or conspicuous wingbars. males and females look alike.

Length: 7"
Wingspan: 10.5"
Weight: 0.7 oz

Voice: The song is a slightly burry two-noted fee-bee. The call note is a flat toneless chip.

Similar Species:

Eastern Wood-Pewees don't wag their tails, and they have distinct wingbars.
Empidonax flycatchers have distinct wingbars, usually have a distinct eyering, and also don't wag their tails.
Habitat: Found in woodlands and along forest edges with rock cliffs. Also rural and agricultural areas where it nests on houses, barns and under bridges.

Diet: Flying insects, occasional small fruits.

Nesting and reproduction: Eastern Phoebes are typically double brooded, keeping the same mate for both broods. Egg laying typically extends from late March to late June.

Clutch Size: 5 eggs, with a range of 2 to 6.

Incubation: Females incubate the eggs for 16 days.

Fledging: Both adults feed the young, which leave the nest in 16 to 18 days.

Nest: The female builds a mud and moss nest either on a horizontal surface or attached to a vertical surface of natural or human-made structures. Natural nest sites include under overhanging rock ledges or inside the mouth of caves.

Status in Tennessee: Common breeder across the state generally increasing from west to east. They are present throughout the year, though many migrate further south in winter. Their numbers are stable or possibly increasing in the state.