Northland Nature: Pipits join other migrating brown birds
Mid-October in the Northland means many trees in the deciduous forests are dropping their leaves after a colorful ending.
Out in the swamps, the only deciduous conifers growing here, tamaracks, are glowing with yellow-gold on their soon-to-be fallen needles.
It is also when we often see frost, some light snow and thin ice covering puddles and small ponds. With a sunrise at 7:30 a.m., setting near 6:15 p.m., the days are shorter. These conditions bring on the continuation of another fall phenomenon: bird migration.
The observing and counting of raptors passing over Hawk Ridge began two months ago but continues. Gone are the high-flying flocks of broad-winged hawks seen in September, but their absence is taken over by other raptors. Now is a good time to watch turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, American kestrels, sharp-shinned hawks and maybe some peregrines.
Though not seen by most of us, this is a fine time for owl migration, especially the tiny saw-whet owls. Among the non-raptors southing now are geese, swans, sandhill cranes and various ducks. And there are many kinds of songbirds moving.
Virtually all the warblers, swallows and vireos are to the south of us now. Their place is taken by several kinds of thrushes: robins, bluebirds, Swainson's and hermit thrushes.
There is no better time to see the diverse sparrows than October. To many of us, all sparrows look alike — little brown birds. But if we can see them clearly and look for various body features, we can discern as many as 10 kinds in the Northland during these autumn days.
Common sparrows in the region now are white-throated, white-crowned, fox, song, swamp, chipping, tree sparrows and juncos. Some nested here, some further north. Most will not be staying in winter.
Other songbird migrants may be arriving here during this month, but not moving on. Their arrival is one of remaining in the region through the coming cold times. Some searching will reveal snow buntings, longspurs and various winter finches: redpolls, pine siskins, pine grosbeaks, crossbills and maybe Bohemian waxwings.
One interesting bird that began to be seen in our region as it went en route to its wintering sites in September and continues now in October is the American pipit. The birds are about 7 inches long and mostly brown-gray. Outer tail feathers are white and lightened plumage is on the undersides. At first, they may appear to be just another sparrow, but with some observing, we will notice the constant bobbing of the tail as they walk.
Indeed, pipits are members of a large and widespread group of birds called wagtails. The American pipit (formerly called "water pipit") is the only pipit in our region. Further west, another, the Sprague's pipit, can be found. Pipits are nearly always seen walking on the ground seeking insect and seed meals as they pause in their migration flights.
Pipits are a regular part of the October avifauna each year but are usually not seen in large numbers. Breeding in the far north, they winter in the southern states and beyond. As we watch them, they appear to not be in a hurry to get to their winter locations.
The birds are usually silent when we see them in migration but do give limited songs on their breeding grounds. (The name "pipit" comes from a call they make.) They have been observed in lawns, parking lots, sandy and rocky shores and even roads.
Pipits are another little brown migrating bird that appears in the Northland in October.
