By Sally Siko
Tag Archives: Isaac McShane
Ovenbirds in central North Carolina
By Sally Siko
When the summer heat rolls in, it’s nice to get out of the sunny fields and into the woods to cool off.
We aren’t the only ones who appreciate the cool shade that the trees provide, Ovenbirds are masters of the shadows and remain active throughout the day even during the hottest hours.
Ovenbirds favor mixed deciduous and coniferous forest areas which are semi open under the canopy yet still contain scrubby thickets and moderate brush.
Though they look like Thrushes, they’re actually a species of warbler and like others in that family they are voracious eaters of insects.
However like Thrushes, (and unlike most other warblers) Ovenbirds are usually spotted hunting for a meal on the ground scratching up under the leaf litter in search of beetles, worms and grubs.
These beauties are a spring and summertime resident of North Carolina and are found across the state from the mountains to the coast from April to October. That being said, a few Ovenbirds have been found to spend the winter in Buxton Woods on Cape Hatteras Island in recent years. This is an interesting trend to watch as more people get out to go bird watching during the winter in the OBX.
Pretty cool, huh?
Btw, if you’d like to buy this artwork, please check out the Riverside Creations NC shop at
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RiversideCreationsNC
to purchase one of these for your home too!
Redhead Ducks in North Carolina
By Sally Siko
If there is one bird that who’s photo takes me back to great wintertime birding memories from the OBX, it’s this Redhead Duck!
I love the subtle but beautiful color palette of their cinnamon, black and grey plumage (especially paired with the blues and grays of a winter landscape) and the intense gaze of their orange eyes.
Redhead Ducks are a winter resident of North Carolina. Each November flocks of thousands of Redheads arrive in eastern NC to spend to coldest months in our (usually thawed) waters.
They are best found in shallow bays and marshes foraging for a an underwater snack of stems, seeds, and roots of aquatic plants: shoalgrass, pondweeds, and sedges at many of our coastal wildlife refuges.
One of my favorite things about Redheads are their calls. While most people are familiar with the typical “quacking” of ducks, Redhead ducks can make some unusual noises!
The female Redhead does makes a quack-like noise, but the male’s vocalization can sound like a cat’s meow or purr!
If you’ve ever stood by a pond filled with Redhead drakes, it sounds kinda like being around a bunch of broken cats lol!
Look for them later this year around Thanksgiving. Usually they’ll stick around until late March or early April before they head out to their breeding grounds in the western United States and western Canada.
Btw, if you’d like to buy this painted sign please visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/RiversideCreationsNC
Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa #5Ds
Wood Duck Art in North Carolina
By Sally Siko
Hand painted bird artwork now available
By Sally Siko