This Spring, I took a break from posting in order to observe and enjoy the Spring Migration. It has been absolutely amazing to meet the different birds that pass through our area on their way North. Some of the highlights of the Spring Migration this year were seeing: Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, SOOOO many Warblers enjoying the buds of our trees, Jenny and Mr. Wren coming up to make a nest in one of the birdhouses in the garden (they are still here!), the beautiful Baltimore Orioles we were able to entice into our yard with our Oriole feeder, seeing Hummer the Ruby-throated Hummingbird come back, and a Summer Tanager. It really has been a delight and I’m sure I’m forgetting some of them.
Picking up where we left off, it’s always a great delight to me when a bird’s name mimics it’s call. That’s exactly what the Northern Bob White does. Check it out:
My kids and I love to mimic this call, and because of that I know it will be easy for them to identify it in the field. They are also very distinguishing when it comes to their size and shape. Listen to Peter Rabbit’s take on the Northern Bob White:
As Peter looked at him it came over him that Bob White was the plumpest bird of his acquaintance. He was so plump that his body seemed almost round. The shortness of his tail added to this effect, for Bob has a very short tail. The upper part of his coat was as handsome reddish-brown with dark streaks and light edgings. His sides and the upper part of his breast were of the same handsome reddish-brown while underneath he was whitish with little bars of black… Altogether he was a handsome little fellow in a modest way.”
Thornton W. Burgess, “The Burgess Bird Book for Children” p. 69, Living Books Press edition
Have you had the pleasure of meeting this modestly handsome fellow in a field?
Until next time, keep birding! <3 Kate
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