Sightings – Birds
Observer: Deborah Radovsky
Observation Date: 12/3/18
Observation Time: 9:10 a.m.
Observation Location: on trail in woods, near Sharon dog park
Common Name: Red-breasted Nuthatch
Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis
Comments: There have been flocks of these for weeks in these woods, more than I have ever observed over many years, possibly due to plentiful food sources. Note that the population of red-breasted nuthatches is shifting northward, according to the National Audubon Society. See: http://climate.audubon.org/birds/rebnut/red-breasted-nuthatch
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 2/24/13
Observation Time: 3:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: Red-breasted Nuthatch
Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis
Comments: Small photo due to heavy cropping.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/6/18
Observation Time: 6:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Red-breasted Nuthatch
Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis
Comments: This red-breasted nuthatch was visiting the bird feeder.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/17/25
Observation Time: 11:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Red-breasted Nuthatch
Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis
Comments: The Red-breasted Nuthatch collects resin globules from coniferous trees and plasters them around the entrance of its nest hole. It may carry the resin in its bill or on pieces of bark that it uses as an applicator. The male puts the resin primarily around the outside of the hole while the female puts it around the inside. The resin may help to keep out predators or competitors. The nuthatch avoids the resin by diving directly through the hole.
Red-breasted nuthatches can be found year-round in Massachusetts. I heard this one the day before I actually saw it in the same area, so I presume that it is nesting in that area.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/11/25
Observation Time: 11:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Red-eyed Vireo
Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus
Comments: Red-eyed vireos are a common summer resident in Sharon. They sing all day long. Since they are notoriously hard to spot in the canopy, the mnemonic for their song is, “Here I am. Where are you?” Hear a recording at: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-eyed_Vireo/sounds.
Note that all vireo species’ songs have a similar cadence.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/17/25
Observation Time: 9:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Red-eyed Vireo
Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus
Comments: Red-eyed vireos are a common summer resident in Sharon. They sing all day long. Since they are notoriously hard to spot in the canopy, the mnemonic for their song is, “Here I am. Where are you?” Hear a recording at: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-eyed_Vireo/sounds.
Note that blue-headed and yellow throated vireos’ songs have a similar cadence.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/29/14
Observation Time: 10:00 a.m.
Observation Location: King Phillip’s Rock trail
Common Name: Red-eyed vireo
Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus
Comments: Red-eyed vireos sing all day long. Their song sounds like “Here I am. Where are you?” That is fitting, as they are very hard to see in the foliage.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/30/20
Observation Time: 1:40 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Red-eyed Vireo
Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus
Comments: Red-eyed vireos are a common summer resident in Sharon. They sing all day long. Since they are notoriously hard to spot in the canopy, the mnemonic for their song is, “Here I am. Where are you?” Hear a recording at: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-eyed_Vireo/sounds. Note that all vireo species’ songs have a similar cadence.
More Information: All About Birds
This pair of red-eyed vireos was gathering nesting materials and building a nest:
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/5/16
Observation Time: 10:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Red-eyed Vireo
Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus
Comments: Red-eyed vireos are a common summer resident in Sharon. They sing all day long. Since they are notoriously hard to spot in the canopy, the mnemonic for their song is, “Here I am. Where are you?” Hear a recording at: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-eyed_Vireo/sounds
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 1/25/24
Observation Time: 11:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd.
Common Name: Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
Comments: I was on a phone call when this juvenile red-shouldered hawk swooped in and landed just outside my window. I grabbed my camera with my free hand and snapped this photo.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Richard Kramer
Observation Date: 2/11/19
Observation Time: 10:30 a.m.
Observation Location: west side of Lake Massapoag near the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp
Common Name: Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
Comments: One of the best ways to find Red-shouldered Hawks is to learn their distinctive whistle. Listen for these birds in and around wet forests, where you may find them hunting from a perch along stream or pond.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Will Sweet
Observation Date: 2/18/09
Observation Time: 11:45 a.m.
Observation Location: Sharon Community Gardens
Common Name: Red-shouldered hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
Comments: The hawk was perched in a large dead tree. It flew across the gardens many times spooking robins and starlings.
More Information: Whatbird.com: Red-shouldered Hawk
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 3/9/14
Observation Time: 2:40 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: Red-shouldered hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
Comments: As I sat at my desk talking on the phone, this hawk swooped in and landed on a branch outside my window. I grabbed my camera with my free hand and snapped this shot. I got help with the identification from my friend John Baur.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Deb Radovsky
Observation Date: 4/9/18
Observation Time: evening
Observation Location: Cottage and Ames Streets
Common Name: Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
Comments: Although the American Crow often mobs the Red-shouldered Hawk, sometimes the relationship is not so one-sided. They may chase each other and try to steal food from each other. They may also both attack a Great Horned Owl and join forces to chase the owl out of the hawk’s territory.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Andrea & Herb Daroff
Observation Date: 5/15/08
Observation Time: 11:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Pilgrim Drive
Common Name: Red-shouldered hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
Comments: This young hawk settled in a branch not more than 20 feet from our deck. I was able to get a number of shots and since he moved around a bit before flying away, I was able to shoot from different angles. We have seen him again in the yard but never again has he perched so conveniently, so cooperatively or so close.
More Information: Whatbird.com: Red-shouldered Hawk
Observer: Bruce Lewis
Observation Date: 11/9/24
Observation Time: 4:00 pm
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Billings Loop
Common Name: Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
Comments: Check out this video I took of a Red Tailed Hawk eating its prey on Moose Hill. A rare sight. The hawk was only interested in its meal and was unperturbed by my being near it.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Ilan Fisher
Observation Date: 4/3/19
Observation Time: 2:00 PM
Observation Location: Junction of E. Foxboro St. & Harding St.
Common Name: Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
Comments: Red-tails are big, but they only weigh a maximum of about 3 lbs. They can live up to 30 years. They feed predominantly on small mammals.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/11/20
Observation Time: 11:00 a.m.
Observation Location: near high-tension lines across the street from the Gavins Pond soccer fields
Common Name: Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
Comments: Red-tails are big, but they only weigh a maximum of about 3 lbs. They can live up to 30 years. They feed predominantly on small mammals.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/2/18
Obseration Time: 8:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Red-tailed hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
Comments: This red-tail had caught something – either a mouse or a frog. The hawk lost its grip on its prey, which dropped to the ground. The hawk immediately swooped down to the ground to retrieve its prize.
More information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/20/20
Observation Time: 4:26 p.m.
Observation Location: high tension lines opposite Ward’s Berry Farm
Common Name: Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
Comments: Red-tailed hawks are often harassed by songbirds. This one was engaged in a dogfight with a redwing blackbird.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Bruce Lewis
Observation Date: 5/23/24
Observation Time: N/A
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Billings Loop
Common Name: Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
Comments: Mammals make up the bulk of most red-tailed hawk meals. Frequent victims include voles, mice, wood rats, rabbits, snowshoe hares, jackrabbits, and ground squirrels. The hawks also eat birds, including pheasants, bobwhite, starlings, and blackbirds; as well as snakes and carrion. Individual prey items can weigh anywhere from less than an ounce to more than 5 pounds.
Check out the short video below to see a red-tailed hawk that caught and killed a big snake at Moose Hill.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/14/13
Observation Time: 7:00 a.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile)
Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
Comments: Red-tails are big, but they only weigh a maximum of about 3 lbs. They can live up to 30 years. They feed predominantly on small mammals.
I took these photos out the kitchen window.
More Information: PBase
Observer: Deborah Radovsky
Observation Date: 12/3/18
Observation time: 9:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Lake Massapoag, swimming very close to shore
Common Name: Red-throated Loon
Scientific Name: Gavia stellata
Comments: Adult, non-breeding plummage. Breeds in the arctic.
More information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/18/20
Observation Time: 8:45 a.m.
Observation Location: wetlands under high tension wires across the road from the Gavins Pond soccer fields
Common Name: Red-winged blackbird
Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus
Comments: Red-winged blackbirds are typically found near water. Only the males have bright red epaulets on their wings
More Information: All about Birds
This is a female red-winged blackbird:
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 5/12/20
Observation Time: 6:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: Red-winged blackbird (female)
Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus
Comments: Red-winged blackbirds are typically found near water. The males are black with bright red epaulets on their wings. The females are dramatically different. The bird in this photo is a female.
More Information: All about Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 3/1/11
Observation Time: 5:10 p.m.
Observation Location: near Gavins Pond
Common Name: Redwing blackbird
Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus
Comments: First redwing I’ve seen this season. The ground is blanketed in old snow and the pond is still frozen solid. In fall and winter they eat weedy seeds such as ragweed and cocklebur as well as native sunflowers and waste grains.
More Information: All about Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/15/14
Observation Time: 5:10 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: Redwing blackbird
Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus
Comments: Redwing blackbirds are typically found near water.
More Information: All about Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 3/19/09
Observation Time: 4:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavin’s Pond
Common Name: Ring-necked Duck
Scientific Name: Aythya collaris
Comments: I saw ring-necked ducks last spring at Gavins Pond. They must use Gavins Pond to rest and feed during their migration.
More Information: All About Birds: Ring-necked Duck
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 3/25/11
Observation Time: 5:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavin’s Pond
Common Name: Ring-necked Duck
Scientific Name: Aythya collaris
Comments: Ring-necked ducks migrate through Sharon, and can be seen in spring and fall.
More Information: All About Birds: Ring-necked Duck
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/18/13
Observation Time: 2:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavin’s Pond
Common Name: Ring-necked Duck
Scientific Name: Aythya collaris
Comments: Ring-necked ducks migrate through Sharon, and can be seen in spring and fall.
More Information: All About Birds: Ring-necked Duck
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/12/16
Observation Time: 6:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Center
Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
Comments: Look for these birds in forest edges and woodlands. Listen, too, for their distinctive voices. They sound like American Robins, but listen for an extra sweetness, as if the bird had operatic training; they also make a sharp chink like the squeak of a sneaker.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 5/18/20
Observation Time: 9:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
Comments: The male rose-breasted grosbeak is one of Sharon’s more photogenic songbirds, especially on a sunny morning. The female is drab brown. Its song has a melodic, flute-like quality. If you listen to a recording of its song and learn to recognize it, you might find one by listening.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Deb Radovsky
Observation Date: 5/20/18
Observation Time: N/A
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Rose-breated Grosbeak
Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
Comments: Look for these birds in forest edges and woodlands. Listen, too, for their distinctive voices. They sound like American Robins, but with an extra sweetness. They also make a sharp chink like the squeak of a sneaker.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/23/16
Observation Time: 7:50 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
Comments: The male rose-breasted grosbeak is one of our more photogenic songbirds, especially on a sunny morning. The female is drab brown.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/2/14
Observation Time: 11:50 a.m.
Observation Location: in the woods near Gavins Pond
Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
Comments: I found this specimen by listening to its call.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 6/25/11
Observation Time: 1:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
Comments: A female just after a bath.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Deb Radovsky
Observation Date: 5/18/2016
Observation TIme: N/A
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
Comments:
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 10/31/12
Observation Time: 1:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Wolomolopoag Pond
Common Name: Ross’s Goose
Scientific Name: Chen rossii
Comments: Tight crop, some light dodging and burning to allow black tail to be seen a little better against the background.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 11/12/12
Observation Time: 5:05 p.m.
Observation Location: Wolomolopoag Pond
Common Name: Ross’s Goose
Scientific Name: Chen rossii
Comments: The Ross’s goose resembles a snow goose, but smaller, and with a shorter neck. It is snow white with black wing tips. This individual was seen among dozens of Canada geese on their way south for the winter, and attracted a number of bird watchers to Wolomolopoag Pond.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/21/24
Observation Time: 8:10 am
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Scientific Name: Corthylio calendula
Comments: Ruby-crowned kinglets are tiny – even smaller than chickadees. They migrate through Sharon in spring en route to nesting areas in northern New England and Canada.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/24/25
Observation Time: 7:30 am
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Scientific Name: Corthylio calendula
Comments: Ruby-crowned kinglets are tiny – even smaller than chickadees. They migrate through Sharon in spring en route to nesting areas in northern New England and Canada.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/25/24
Observation Time: 7:30 am
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Scientific Name: Corthylio calendula
Comments: Ruby-crowned kinglets are tiny – even smaller than chickadees. They migrate through Sharon in spring en route to nesting areas in northern New England and Canada.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/27/23
Observation Time: 6:45 am
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Scientific Name: Corthylio calendula
Comments: Ruby-crowned kinglets are tiny – even smaller than chickadees. They migrate through Sharon in spring en route to nesting areas in northern New England and Canada.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/15/23
Observation Time: 6:35 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris
Comments: The throat of the hummingbird in the photo looks black, but when it flew I saw a flash of bright crimson.
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. That’s a good time to put out a hummingbird feeder. If you’re lucky, and you change the sugar water in the feeder regularly, they’ll nest nearby and visit your feeder all summer.
Hummingbirds make their nests out of lichens and spider webs. They weigh about as much as a nickel.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 5/17/23
Observation Time: 12:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Parkway
Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris
Comments: The throat of the hummingbird in the photo looks black, but when it catches the sunlight it flashes bright red.
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. That’s a good time to put out a hummingbird feeder. If you’re lucky, and you change the sugar water in the feeder regularly, they’ll nest nearby and visit your feeder all summer.
Hummingbirds make their nests out of lichens and spider webs. They weigh about as much as a nickel.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Deb Radovsky
Observation Date: 5/18/16
Observation TIme: N/A
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
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, and arrive in Massachusetts around May 1 every year. That’s a good time to put out a hummingbird feeder. If you’re lucky, and you change the sugar water in the feeder regularly, they’ll nest nearby and visit your feeder all summer.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/16/14
Observation Time: 6:45 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd.
Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris
Comments: Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate all the way from New England to Central America and back every year – a journey of about 2,500 miles including 500 miles over the Gulf of Mexico. They can live up to 10 years, so they log a lot of miles for a creature that weighs less than a dime.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 6/25/11
Observation Time: 1:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris
Comments: Female (sticking out her long tongue, which is adapted to probing for nectar in flower blossoms)
More Information: All About Birds
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. That’s a good time to put out a hummingbird feeder. If you’re lucky, and you change the sugar water in the feeder regularly, they’ll nest nearby and visit your feeder all summer. They make their nests out of lichens and spider webs. They weigh about as much as a nickel.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/21/16
Observation Time: 7:10 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (The Trustees of Reservations)
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, and arrive in Massachusetts around May 1 every year. That’s a good time to put out a hummingbird feeder. If you’re lucky, and you change the sugar water in the feeder regularly, they’ll nest nearby and visit your feeder all summer.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/11/23
Observation Time: 9:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd.
Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female)
Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris
Comments: Our hummingbird feeder, located right outside our kitchen window, provides close-up views of these fascinating creatures from late April through mid-September. All we have to do is clean the feeder and change the sugar water (1/4 cup of sugar per cup of water) every four or five days.
With a little patience, hummingbirds can even be trained to feed from your hand using a small hand-held feeder.
If hummingbirds find the feeder when they arrive in spring, they’ll nest nearby, weaving their teacup-size nests from lichens and spider webs. Their two white eggs are the size of jelly beans.
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.
Hummingbirds make their nests out of lichens and spider webs. They weigh about as much as a nickel.
These photos were taken on a sunny morning with a shutter speed of 1/5,000th of a second.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 1/1/14
Observation Time: 4:42 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Rusty Blackbird
Scientific Name: Euphagus carolinus
Comments: Low light, hand-held, not such a great photo. Confirmed by Christine Turnbull as a Rusty.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/28/24
Observation Time: 9:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Savannah Sparrow
Scientific Name: Passerculus sandwichensis
Comments: Savannah sparrows have distinctive yellow eyebrows.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/6/15
Observation Time: 3:41 p.m.
Observation Location: soccer field parking lot near Gavins Pond
Common Name: Savannah Sparrow
Scientific Name: Passerculus sandwichensis
Comments: Savannah sparrows are often seen in flocks feeding on the ground.
More Information: All About Birds http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/sounds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/1/24
Observation Time: 1:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers often unwittingly host eggs of the brown-headed cowbird, particularly where the forest habitat has been fragmented. When a pair of tanagers notices a female cowbird approaching, they aggressively drive her away. However, if the tanagers don’t notice, the cowbird gets rid of a tanager egg and replaces it with one of her own. The tanagers apparently can’t tell the difference, either before or after the egg hatches, and they raise the imposter along with the rest of their brood.
Scarlet tanagers live in the woods, so the best way to find them is to learn their song and listen for them while walking in the woods. The Merlin app can be very helpful with this. Note that only the male is bright red, but the female is drab green.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/15/23
Observation Time: 8:50 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers often play host to eggs of the brown-headed cowbird, particularly where the forest habitat has been fragmented. When a pair of tanagers notices a female cowbird approaching, they aggressively drive her away. If the tanagers don’t notice, the cowbird gets rid of a tanager egg and replaces it with one of her own. The tanagers apparently can’t tell the difference, either before or after the egg hatches, and they raise the imposter along with the rest of their brood.
Scarlet tanagers live in the woods, so the best way to find them is to learn their song and listen for them while walking in the woods. Note that only the male is bright red. The female is drab green.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Deb Radovsky
Observation Date: 5/15/23
Observation Time: 4:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers often play host to eggs of the brown-headed cowbird, particularly where the forest habitat has been fragmented. When a pair of tanagers notices a female cowbird approaching, they aggressively drive her away. If the tanagers don’t notice, the cowbird gets rid of a tanager egg and replaces it with one of her own. The tanagers apparently can’t tell the difference, either before or after the egg hatches, and they raise the imposter along with the rest of their brood.
Scarlet tanagers live in the woods, so the best way to find them is to learn their song and listen for them while walking in the woods. The Merlin app can be very helpful with this. Note that only the male is bright red. The female is drab green.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/16/13
Observation Time: 6:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers live in the woods, so they are seldom seen due to the foliage. However if you learn their call, which sounds like a robin with a sore throat, you can hear them singing and follow your ears until you find them.
They are often found in pairs. The females are as drab as the males are flashy.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/16/14
Observation Time: 12:35 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers are common in Sharon, but few people see these brilliantly colored birds because they live in the woods where they are concealed by foliage. If you learn their song, which sounds like a robin with a sore throat, you can find them in wooded areas fairly easily.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/23/16
Observation Time: 12:35 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers are common in Sharon, but few people see these brilliantly colored birds because they live in the woods, where they are concealed by foliage. If you learn their song, which sounds like a robin with a sore throat, you can find them in wooded areas fairly easily.
More Information: All About Birds
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, learn their song and follow your ears as you walk along trails through the woods. Check out the trail maps on this web site.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/27/19
Observation Time: 1:10 p.m.
Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers often play host to eggs of the brown-headed cowbird (male and female shown below), particularly where the forest habitat has been fragmented. When a pair of tanagers notices a female cowbird approaching, they aggressively drive her away. If they don’t notice, the cowbird gets rid of a tanager egg and replaces it with one of her own. The tanagers apparently can’t tell the difference, either before or after the egg hatches, and they raise the imposter along with the rest of their brood.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/3/25
Observation Time: 9:45 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers often unwittingly host eggs of the brown-headed cowbird, particularly where the forest habitat has been fragmented. When a pair of tanagers notices a female cowbird approaching, they aggressively drive her away. However, if the tanagers don’t notice, the cowbird gets rid of a tanager egg and replaces it with one of her own. The tanagers apparently can’t tell the difference, either before or after the egg hatches, and they raise the imposter along with the rest of their brood.
Scarlet tanagers live in the woods, so the best way to find them is to learn their song and listen for them while walking in the woods. The Merlin app can be very helpful with this. Note that only the male is bright red. The female is drab green.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/4/23
Observation Time: 7:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers often play host to eggs of the brown-headed cowbird, particularly where the forest habitat has been fragmented. When a pair of tanagers notices a female cowbird approaching, they aggressively drive her away. If they don’t notice, the cowbird gets rid of a tanager egg and replaces it with one of her own. The tanagers apparently can’t tell the difference, either before or after the egg hatches, and they raise the imposter along with the rest of their brood.
Scarlet tanagers live in the woods, so the best way to find them is to learn their song and listen for them while walking in the woods. Note that only the male is bright red. The female is drab green.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/7/25
Observation Time: 7:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers often unwittingly host eggs of the brown-headed cowbird, particularly where the forest habitat has been fragmented. When a pair of tanagers notices a female cowbird approaching, they aggressively drive her away. However, if the tanagers don’t notice, the cowbird gets rid of a tanager egg and replaces it with one of her own. The tanagers apparently can’t tell the difference, either before or after the egg hatches, and they raise the imposter along with the rest of their brood.
Scarlet tanagers live in the woods, so the best way to find them is to learn their song and listen for them while walking in the woods. The Merlin app can be very helpful with this. Note that only the male is bright red. The female is drab green.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/8/19
Observation Time: 11:10 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers often play host to eggs of the brown-headed cowbird (male and female shown below), particularly where the forest habitat has been fragmented. When a pair of tanagers notices a female cowbird approaching, they aggressively drive her away. If they don’t notice, the cowbird gets rid of a tanager egg and replaces it with one of her own. The tanagers apparently can’t tell the difference, either before or after the egg hatches, and they raise the imposter along with the rest of their brood.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Molly DellaRoman
Observation Date: 7/1/13
Observation Time: morning
Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations Moose Hill Farm
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
More Information: All About Bird
Observer: Deborah Radovsky
Observation Date: 8/6/20
Observation Time: 7:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Rock Ridge Cemetery
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers are coomon in Sharon, but seldom seen. Their woodland habitat obscures them in the leaves. To find them, learn their song and follow your ears as you wlak along trails through the woods. Check out the trail maps on this web site.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/18/23
Observation Time: 9:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager (female)
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers are common in Sharon, but few people see these brilliantly colored birds because they live in the woods where they are concealed by foliage. If you learn their song, which sounds like a robin with a sore throat, you can find them in wooded areas fairly easily.
Scarlet tanagers tend to travel in pairs. The males is bright red with jet-black wings. The female is drab greenish yellow with dark wings. I saw this female on the trail gathering nesting materials while the male was singing nearby.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/3/18
Observation Time: 10:05 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager (male & female)
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers are common in Sharon, but few people see these brilliantly colored birds because they live in the woods where they are concealed by foliage. If you learn their song, which sounds like a robin with a sore throat, you can find them in wooded areas fairly easily.
Scarlet tanagers tend to travel in pairs. The males is bright red with jet-black wings. The female is drab greenish yellow with gray wings.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Deb Radovsky
Observation Date: 5/24/18
Observation Time: 6:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Billings Loop, Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager (male)
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: This scarlet and black woodland bird is common in Sharon but seldom seen because they live in the woods. However, you can find them by learning what their song sounds like.
The female is drab olive-green with dark (but not jet black) wings.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/9/19
Observation Time: 6:45 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet tanager (orange variant)
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Male scarlet tanagers are typically bright red with jet black wings (females are drab green). This male, however, was as orange as a Baltimore oriole. Its song was unquestionably that of a scarlet tanager.
More Information: Flickr
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/7/23
Observation Time: 8:45 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Comments: Scarlet tanagers often play host to eggs of the brown-headed cowbird, particularly where the forest habitat has been fragmented. When a pair of tanagers notices a female cowbird approaching, they aggressively drive her away. If they don’t notice, the cowbird gets rid of a tanager egg and replaces it with one of her own. The tanagers apparently can’t tell the difference, either before or after the egg hatches, and they raise the imposter along with the rest of their brood.
Scarlet tanagers live in the woods, so the best way to find them is to learn their song and listen for them while walking in the woods. Note that only the male is bright red. The female is drab green.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Richard Kramer
Observation Date: 6/28/11
Observation Time: 11:59 p.m.
Observation Location: Shores of Lake Massapoag
Common Name: Screech Owl (fledgling)
Scientific Name: Otus asio
Comments: Pair of fledglings were calling and testing their wings.
More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 9/18/14
Observation Time: 2:48 p.m.
Observation Place: near Lake Massapoag boat ramp
Common Name: Semipalmated Plover
Scientific Name: Charadrius semipalmatus
Comments: Semipalmated plovers look something like killdeers, but they are smaller and stubbier, and have a single dark band instead of two dark bands like killdeers. Also, killdeers have a red eye ring, whereas semipalmated plovers eyes are black.
More Information: All About Birds
