Category: Bird

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 1/4/23 Observation Time: 3:15 Observation Location: Massapoag Ave, near Massapoag Lane, in a tree on edge of lake Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: This is a juvenile, between 3-4 years of age. Bald eagles can live a long time. The oldest recorded bird in the wild was at least 38 years old when it was hit and killed […]

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 6/14/22 Observation Time: morning Observation Location: In tree along edge of lake, Massapoag Ave near Potter Avenue Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: Bald eagles can live a long time. The oldest recorded bird in the wild was at least 38 years old when it was hit and killed by a car in New York in 2015. It […]

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 6/4/22 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Sanctuary, in tree on edge of meadow, near Billings Barn. Common Name: Yellow-throated vireo Scientific Name: Vireo flavifrons Comments: Not only does this bird have a bright yellow throat, it looks as if it’s wearing bright yellow spectacles. While the Yellow-throated Vireo is associated with forest edge habitat, it actually requires […]

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/29/22 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary near Billings barn Common Name: Eastern Wood-Pewee Scientific Name: Contopus virens Comments: The unmistakable song of the wood-pewee (“pee-a-wee”) sounds like its name. It’s a member of the flycatcher family that is typically found in or near forested areas. You can find and play bird songs online. The […]

Observer: Levi McGowan & Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 5/26/22 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Beach & Harding Common Name: Japanese Quail Scientific Name: Cotumix japonica Comments: Check out this Youtube video to see the quail and hear its call: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ3y08Iub_k The call could be a distress call. Perhaps mom is looking for her chicks, or perhaps this is a juvenile looking for its mom. Or perhaps […]

Observer: Marshall Katler Observation Date: 5/24/22 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: King Phillip Rock where Lakeview Field Trail and Horizon’s path diverge Common Name: Scarlet Tanager Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea Comments: Scarlet tanagers are common in Sharon, but seldom seen. Their woodland habitat obscures them in the leaves. I identified this one by hearing its song. To hear what they sound like, click HERE. To find them, […]

Observer: Marshall Katler Observation Date: 5/24/22 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: King Phillip Trail near King Phillip Rd. Common Name: Barred Owl Scientific Name: Strix varia Comments: At least 2 barred owls were calling, possibly 3. They were identified by the call since they were quite far from the trail. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Tamara Fisher Observation Date: 5/13/22 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Mann’s Pond Common Name: Great Blue Heron Scientific Name: Ardea herodias Comments: Adult great blue herons weigh about 5 lbs. They weigh more than great horned owls, which weigh about 3 lbs., but they are not the largest bird found in Sharon. Bald eagles can reach 14 lbs. Great blue herons make large nests in tall […]

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 5/6/22 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Eastern Towhee (female) Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: A strikingly marked, oversized sparrow of the East More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 5/5/22 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Eastern Towhee (male) Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: A strikingly marked, oversized sparrow of the East More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Deb  Radovsky Observation Date: 5/2/22 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary boardwalk Common Name: Veery Scientific Name: Catharus fuscescens Comments: Check out the veery’s ethereal song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK1gaTqBRRk More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 4/28/22 Observation Time: early evening Observation Location: Moose Hill, near nature center Common Name: Broad-winged hawk Scientific Name: Buteo platypterus Comments: A small, stocky raptor with black-and-white bands on the tail, the Broad-winged Hawk is a bird of the forest interior and can be hard to see during the nesting season. Its call is a piercing, two-parted whistle. One of the […]

Observer: Steven Woolner Observation Date: 2/14/22 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Osprey Road Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: Delighted to see Bluebirds at my feeder for the first time in 25+ years! I use Lyric Waste Free feed. They have also been visiting my birdbath 20 feet away, which luckily had water instead of ice, due to the recent warm spell. […]

Observer: Colin Barbera Observation Date: 12/11/21 Observation Time: afternoon Observation Location: Tolman St. Common Name: Peregrine falcon Scientific Name: Falco peregrinus Comments: “Powerful and fast-flying, the Peregrine Falcon hunts medium-sized birds, dropping down on them from high above in a spectacular stoop. They were virtually eradicated from eastern North America by pesticide poisoning in the middle 20th century. After significant recovery efforts, Peregrine Falcons have made […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/14/21 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: my back yard (4 Gavins Pond Rd.) Common Name: Wild Turkey Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo Comments: I photographed this hen and her chicks out my bedroom window. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7-6-21 Observation Time: 12:50 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: House Wren Scientific Name: Troglodytes aedon Comments: House wrens often fill bluebird nesting boxes chock full of twigs, presumably to prevent other birds from nesting in their territory. This year a pair of house wrens raised their chicks in a bird house we placed on the back deck. We watched […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/3/21 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris Comments: Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only species of hummingbird commonly seen in New England. They overwinter in Costa Rica. When they migrate north in spring, they fly several hundred miles across the Gulf of Mexico. They arrive in Massachusetts in late April. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/21 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: tall cell tower by the composting area at the end of Farnham Road Common Name: Osprey Scientific Name: Pandion haliaetus Comments: A pair of ospreys built a nest atop the tall cell tower by the composting area at the end of Farnham Road. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/21 Observation Time: noon Observation Location: composting area at the end of Farnham Road Common Name: Killdeer Scientific Name: Charadrius vociferus Comments: This “freshwater sandpiper” makes a piercing cry, which explains its species name “vociferus“. This species is one of the least water-associated of all shorebirds. Note the red rings around its large eyes. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 4/4/21 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Common Name: Red Crossbill Scientific Name: Loxia curvirostra Comments: I wish I could claim some special birding or photography skill but three red crossbills flew literally right over my head and into a tree a few feet above me, and then jumped over to a nearby branch to get some water. There is […]

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 3/31/21 Observation Time: 11:00 AM Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Wood duck Scientific Name: Aix sponsa Comment: “sponsa” means “betrothed” — dressed for a wedding – a comment on the beauty of the male plumage. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 12/30/20 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Pine Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga pinus Comments: Pine warblers are typically found in pine groves. Many warbler species migrate through Sharon in May on their way to nesting areas farther north, but pine warblers nest here in Sharon, and can be found here all summer. Although they typically migrate south in winter, some of […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 12/18/20 Observation Time: 8:35 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. (our back yard) Common Name: Dark-eyed Junco Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis Comments: Juncos are a type of sparrow commonly seen around Sharon in winter. They head north in spring and don’t return until fall. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 12/18/20 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. (our back yard) Common Name: Northern Cardinal (female) Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis Comments: One of the most common birds in Sharon, cardinals have a whistle-like voice, and sing strongly. Learn to recognize their various vocalizations at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_cardinal/sound Cardinals typically travel in pairs. The male is bright red and the female is mostly tan. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/27/20 Observation Time: 12:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. (my back yard) Common Name: Northern Cardinal Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis Comments: One of the most common birds in Sharon, cardinals have a whistle-like voice, and sing strongly. Learn to recognize their various vocalizations at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_cardinal/sound Cardinals typically travel in pairs. The male is bright red and the female is mostly tan. More […]