LOCAL BIRDSCromwell Station is home to a wide variety of birds and butterflies. Good places to spot them include the common areas in our neighborhood and at Cromwell Valley Park, a county-owned working farm open to the public on Cromwell Bridge Road. Click on the name of the bird or butterly to view a larger version and a brief description. Thanks to Jim Kitko for providing these photos and descriptions. 
| PILEATED WOODPECKER - This woodpecker feeds on insects, primarily carpenter ants and woodboring beetle larvae; also wild fruits and nuts. It pries off long slivers of wood to expose ant galleries. The Pileated Woodpecker uses its long, extensible, pointed tongue with barbs and sticky saliva to catch and extract ants from tunnels. These can be spotted by listening for a pounding sound on dead trees. These woodpeckers are large and rarely seen. | 
| | RED TAILED HAWK - Red tailed hawks can be seen in the sky circling looking for food or near the feeder looking for a bird to feed on. Red-tailed hawks average 18 inches to 24 inches in length. Their wingspan is approximately 4 feet. There is sexual dimorphism in size: females are 25% larger than males. This kind of sexual dimorphism, where females are larger than males, is common in birds of prey. Red-tailed hawk plumage ranges from light auburn to deep brown. The underbelly is lighter than the rest of the body, with a dark belly band across it. Red-tailed hawk pairs remain together for years in the same territory. These birds are very territorial, and defend territories that range in size from 1.3 to 5.2 square kilometers, depending on the amount of food, perches, and nest sites in the territory. Red-tailed hawks feed on a wide variety of prey, using their powerful claws as weapons. Eighty to eighty-five percent of their diet consists of small rodents. Mammals as large as cotton tail rabbits may also taken. Reptiles and other birds make up the rest of the diet. | 
| TURKEY VULTURE - Most of their time is spent soaring gracefully over the land in search of the animal carcasses on which it feeds. The head of turkey vultures is perhaps the most unique characteristic, being very small in size when compared to the large body. The head and neck are red in color and lack feathers, with the exception of a thin layer of down. At an adult size, the wings cover a distance (when extended) of around 6 feet and form a shallow "V" shape when in flight. The feathers are nearly black, but the lower half of the wings on their ventral surface is silvery white. The feet are rather weak, they are used for walking rather than grasping prey. The beak is small and light in color. Turkey vultures are scavengers, eating exclusively carrion. Their keen senses of both smell (unusual among birds) and sight aid in the location of rotting meat. Because this species does not kill in order to attain food, its claws and feet alike have become rather weak appendages for grasping. Because their diet consists of carrion, vultures act to remove infected carcasses from the environment before they pose a threat of disease to other animals or humans in the area. | 
| BARN SWALLOW - Barn swallows can be seen feeding on insects throughout the neighborhood. They seem to like the open areas and are most visible at dusk. The best way to identify barn swallows is the V shaped tail. Barn swallows are insectivores. Grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, beetles, moths and other flying insects make up 99 % of their diet. They catch most of their prey while in flight, and are able to feed their young at the nest while flying. | 
| BROWN HEADED COWBIRD - Cowbirds often feed on the ground, away from vegetation. Their main food items are seeds and arthropods. They sometimes hawk, looking for slow flying insects. In a quantitative analyses of the cowbird diet, it was found that nearly 75% of the diet was 'weed' seed, with most of the remaining 25% made up of grasshoppers and beetles. The Brown-headed Cowbird is a brood parasite; the female cowbird selects a host nest of another species of bird to lay her eggs in. She wanders about, parasitizing many nests and laying up to 40 eggs per season. The young are then cared for by the host. | 
| AMERICAN CROW - Crows often take advantage of human garbage. They can be seen ripping at the plastic trash bags in the morning. American crows are omnivores and will eat almost anything. During the breeding season, American crows consume insects and their larvae, worms, fruits, grains, and nuts. They actively hunt and prey on small animals such as frogs, mice and young rabbits, though they more likely to scavenge carrion such as roadkill. They also are significant nest predators, preying on the eggs and nestlings of smaller songbirds. In the fall and winter they eat more nuts, such as walnuts and acorns. | 
| BLUE JAY - Blue jays are very aggressive and noisy birds, driving other birds away from food sources and their territories. In the winter, Blue jays hide far more food than they can eat, perhaps to remove food from their territories to discourage intruders. They are also partially migratory, and in the fall they can be seen traveling in flocks. This is the best time to spot these birds in Cromwell Station. Blue jays are omnivorous. They feed on fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, mice, frogs, and will rob other nests for small songbirds and bird eggs. To eat nuts, blue jays hold them with their feet and then crack the shell with their bill. Blue jays in captivity have been known to fashion tools in order to get at foods. | 
| RAVEN - Common ravens are mainly scavengers. They eat a wide array of animal foods, including arthropods, amphibians, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and carrion. They are attracted to carrion and eat also the insects that feed on carrion (chiefly on maggots and beetles). Ravens are often confused with American crows. American crows can be distinguished from common ravens most easily by size (ravens are much larger). They can also be spotted at M&T Stadium in the fall playing football. | 
| NORTHERN FLICKER - The flicker is a woodpecker. Their chief food is ants. Other insects they consume include grasshoppers, crickets, termites, wasps, aphids, beetles and their larvae, caterpillars, and spiders, cherries and the berries of dogwood, Virginia creeper, poison ivy, sumac, hackberry, black gum, weed seeds, acorns, and other types of nut kernels. These woodpeckers are found in wooded areas that have stands of dead trees. | 
| GRAY CATBIRD - Gray catbirds communicate visually, by how they hold their head or how their feathers are positioned. They also communicate by way of calls and songs. Gray catbirds are known for their "mew"-like song, which is reminiscent of the "mew" made by a cat. However, these skilled vocalists can make more than 100 different types of sounds, including whistles, harsh chatters and squeaks. They can even mimic other birds, tree frogs and other mechanical sounds that they hear. Gray catbirds mostly forage in treetops and on the ground. They are omnivores, consuming primarily insects and fruits. | 
| NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD - Northern mockingbirds are generally monogamous. Northern mockingbirds are perhaps best known for their remarkable singing abilities. This species can perform at least 39 songs as well as 50 call notes. Northern mockingbirds also have the ability to mimic sounds such as dogs barking or the songs of other birds. If you awake in the early morning from these various sounds odds are it is a mockingbird. Northern mockingbirds are omnivores. Their primary food sources are insects, berries and seeds. | 
| EASTERN BLUEBIRD - Eastern bluebirds consume mostly beetles, crickets, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and other insects. The future of eastern bluebirds has been of concern to conservation agencies. Population numbers have dropped drastically in the last few decades. When the development was first opened many bluebird could be seen and heard singing throughout the neighborhood. Now only a few are seen in the spring when calling for a mate. The neighborhood could help this situation by providing bluebird houses on the fence by the retention pond. | 
| AMERICAN ROBIN - American Robins are seen in early spring feeding in grassed areas. American Robins feed on a mixture of both wild and cultivated fruits, berries, earthworms, and insects such as beetle grubs, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. If you have a garden and turn the soil when planting the Robins will come to the turned area looking for insects on the surface. They build nests deep in dense foliage to protect their young from predators. Robins lay blue eggs and they can be found on the ground throughout the neighborhood in the spring. | 
| RED WINGED BLACKBIRD - Red-winged blackbirds tend to be generalized feeders, consuming a greater amount of plant tissue in the non-breeding season and a greater amount of animal material in the breeding season. Red-winged blackbirds will feed on almost any plant material they can consume, preferring seeds and agricultural products, such as corn and rice. Adult red-winged blackbirds will consume a wide variety of foods including snails, frogs, fledgling birds, eggs, carrion, worms and a wide array of arthropods. Red Winged Blackbirds can be seen in the spring around the retention pond probably feeding on the frogs and plant material. They are easily recognized by the red patch on their wing. | 
| EUROPEAN STARLING - Foods eaten include seeds, insects, vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and fruits. For the most part, the European Starling is a nemesis to the environment and especially to farmers. The most common problem caused by starlings are damage to crops and berries. When these birds are not eating pests, they in turn become pests and destroy farmers' crops. Another negative impact is driving out competitors. Because starlings are so aggressive and gregarious, they force out many native species. An overabundance of starlings causes a lack of avian diversity. Another economic concern of starlings is their causing human disease. The European starling was first introduced to the United States in New York City, in 1890. Inspired by William Shakespeare's plays, Eugene Scheffland let loose one hundred starlings in Central Park. From these birds, there was a logarithmic growth pattern and dispersal across virtually all of North America within 75 years of introduction. These birds are not native to the United States. | 
| GREAT HORNED OWL - The great horned owl was spotted high on a tree overlooking the drainage pond at dusk. The great horned owl, the fiercest and most powerful of the common owls, is visually stunning. It is sometimes called the cat owl because of its catlike ears, eyes, shape of head, and appearance when huddled up on its nest. The great horned owl is highly recognizable for the feather tufts on its head that resemble horns. The upper parts of the owl's body are sooty brown with gray-brown mottling, and its dark underparts make its white throat standout. The great horned owl measures approximately 18 inches. in length and has a wingspan of approximately 5 feet from tip to tip. The great horned owl is a bird of prey that feeds on a varied assortment of animal life. It does the majority of its hunting at night, preferring to feed on small mammals, such as rabbits, woodchucks, mice, rats, squirrels, and skunks. The great horned owl is also known to feed on birds such as ducks, game birds, quails, and occasionally geese or turkeys. | 
| PURPLE MARTIN - Purple Martins can be seen feeding on insects throughout the neighborhood. They seem to like the open areas and are most visible at dusk. Purple Martins only eat flying insects that they catch while in flight. Martins have a diverse diet, which includes: dragonflies, moths, bees, Junebugs, flying ants, butterflies, and many more. They do not eat mosquitoes however, as some people like to believe. Martins are extremely agile and fast fliers, which aids them in their quest for food. They normally fly at 45 mph or more. | 
Mourning Dove - Feeds on ground. Will clean up dropped seeds. Return to Top of Page | 
Ruby Throated Hummingbird - Can use store bought packaged hummingbird food or mix half water, half sugar in hummingbird feeder. You will need to heat the water to get it to mix. Let water cool to room temperature before putting out. Put feeder out May 1 and hummingbirds will feed till fall. Hummingbirds will also feed on many flowers in the garden. Return to Top of Page | 
Red Bellied Woodpecker - During the winter, Red-bellied Woodpeckers are primarily seed eaters, and often they are seen frequenting feeders. They also feed on peanut butter suet. Will come to suet feeder more in winter when natural food is in short supply. Return to Top of Page | 
Downey Woodpecker - Eats peanut butter suet. Will come to suet feeder more in winter when natural food is in short supply. Return to Top of Page | 
Carolina Chickadee - Carolina chickadees will feed on sunflower seeds at the feeder. Carolina chickadees are omnivorous, eating wild seeds and fruits, as well as small insects and spiders. During the warm months, 80-90% of a chickadees diet is likely to be animal foods. During the winter months they will eat seeds and fruits equally with insects and spiders. Return to Top of Page | 
Tufted Titmouse - Eats caterpillars and a wide variety of insects, cockroach eggs, snails, spiders, berries, and seeds. They hold nuts and seeds under their feet on branches or privacy fences and crack them with their sharp bills. Titmice come to feeding stations for suet and sunflower seeds. Return to Top of Page | 
White Breasted Nuthatch - These birds are easy to identify as they are seen many times with head pointing toward the ground. Nuthatches get their name from their habit of placing large seeds and nuts in crevices of trees and then prying them open with their bills. Nuthatches also probe crevices along tree trunks and limbs for smaller seeds and insects. They store seeds in loose bark or crevices. In the summer Nuthatches help keep the insect population in tact. In the winter they will come to the feeder for some seeds. Return to Top of Page | 
Carolina Wren - Carolina wrens can be seen hoping around the garden in the summer. Carolina wrens are ground-foraging insectivores. They eat a large variety of insects and spiders opportunistically, without showing much preference. Carolina wrens search for food by using their bills to move brush and vegetation, to search under brush piles, in masses of logs and decaying timber, under upturned roots, under tree bark, and around the banks of swamps. As ground feeders, Carolina wrens are vulnerable to harsh winters. During long winters, this species is often forced to retreat to man-made feeding stations and brush piles. They will eat sunflower seeds or suet. Carolina wrens will nest in a birdhouse close to our houses. The boxes do not have a perch and can be purchased at most stores. Return to Top of Page | 
House Sparrow - House Sparrows eat various kinds of seed supplemented by some insects. Rural birds tend to eat more waste seed from animal dung and seed from fields, while urban birds tend to eat more commercial birdseed and weed seed. Sparrows will nest near the house in most birdhouses, gutters or in dormer eaves. Return to Top of Page | 
Northern Cardinal - About 90% of northern cardinals' diet consists of weed seeds, grains, insects, fruits, and sunflower seeds. Northern cardinals also eat some insects and feed their young almost exclusively insects. Cardinals prefer to eat the seeds off the ground, but will go on the feeder when really hungry. Their favorite is sunflower seeds at the feeder. Cardinals feed routinely at dusk. Return to Top of Page
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House Finch - These birds almost exclusively eat grains, seeds, buds and fruits. Common seeds eaten include thistle, dandelion, sunflower, and mistletoe. In the late summer, fruits, such as cherries and mulberries, are some of their favorites. House finches will also eat flower parts and do sometimes eat insects such as beetle larvae and plant lice, but these may be eaten incidentally with seeds. House finches will eat seeds at the feeder. Return to Top of Page | | Yellow finch - American Goldfinches are daytime feeders. They consume many different types of seeds from annual plants. Goldfinches are well adapted to hanging on seed heads, and they prefer this to feeding on the ground. The goldfinch drinks by obtaining a mouthful of water and quickly tipping its head back, in order to swallow. Goldfinches love thistle feeders. They will also feed naturally in the garden on coneflowers, sunflowers and thistle. Return to Top of Page |
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