An ash-throated flycatcher perches atop a metal bar. The birds have a pale lemon colored belly, sport a feather crest on their crown and are very common in the Southwest in juniper and pinyon dry scrub lands.
An ash-throated flycatcher perches atop a metal bar. The birds have a pale lemon colored belly, sport a feather crest on their crown and are very common in the Southwest in juniper and pinyon dry scrub lands.
Spring is my favorite birding season of the year. Migration brings hummingbirds in early April. May brings Western tanagers, black-headed and rose-breasted grosbeaks, Bullock’s and Scott’s orioles, plus a variety of warblers. A wonderful time of the year!
Nesting soon follows. Bluebirds have taken up residency in our nest box again this spring. Five beautiful pale blue eggs have been laid and hatched. Fledging will soon occur.
While we have a variety of native plants and nesting boxes surrounding our home, a pair of ash-throated flycatchers have decided to nest in another “prime” location, a ledge over the door leading into our casita. The cup-sized nest consists of twigs, rootlets and grass, lined with what appears to be rabbit fur. Four creamy white eggs with reddish brown streaks and elongated blotches have been laid. Incubation period will be about two weeks.
The beautiful and acrobatic ash-throated flycatchers have a pale lemon colored belly, a cinnamon tail with dark tips, grey wing bars and small, brown, narrow beaks. They sport a feather crest on their crown. Very common in the Southwest in juniper and pinyon dry scrub lands. They perch on low bushes and trees, tipping their head from side to side in what seems to be curiosity. Listen for their distinctive ka-brick call. Head out early in the morning to find one. They tend to be quiet and perch in the shade when the day heats up, sometimes holding their folded wings away from their body.
The diet of ash-throated flycatchers consists primarily of spiders and insects, with occasional berries. They eat about a third of their weight every day in insects. They hunt by flying up from perches to catch insects in midair or by grabbing them while moving from perch to perch, scanning twigs and leaves for their prey. They don’t need to drink water, as they get all they need from the food that they eat.
As with all birds, provide a welcoming environment for them that consists of native plants that not only provide food but also attract insects. Avoid the use of pesticides that reduce insect populations and that are toxic to birds.
Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and all the birds that it brings to our backyards.
Ken Bunkowski and his son, Matt, are co-owners of Wild Birds Unlimited in Santa Fe and look forward to sharing the joy that birds bring into our lives.
