Category: Bird

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: […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/17/25 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary 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.

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/17/25 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Blue-winged warbler Scientific Name: Vermivora cyanoptera Comments:  The blue-winged warbler’s song sounds like, “bee-buzz.” Note its distinctive black eye line. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/15/25 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: The TrustMoose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: Bobolink Scientific Name: Dolichonyx oryzivorus Comments: The big pasture at the Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm is ideal breeding habitat for bobolinks. Meadow habitat is not nearly as prevalent in Massachusetts since industry replaced agriculture, and forests grew back in former pasture lands. More […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/25 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Under the power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Prairie Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are found in scrubby fields and forest edges throughout the eastern and south-central United States. Unlike many other warblers that migrate through Sharon in spring and fall, prairie warblers nest in Sharon […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/25 Observation Time: 6:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Billings Loop) 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: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/25 Observation Time: 8:50 am Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Farm (S. Main St.) Common Name: Purle Martin Scientific Name: Progne subis Comments:  Build an apartment complex for purple martins, and they will come. Native Americans hung up empty gourds for purple martins before Europeans arrived in North America. Purple martins in eastern North America now nest almost exclusively in birdhouses, […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/25 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Billings Loop) Common Name: American Goldfinch Scientific Name: Carduelis tristis Comments: This common finch travels in groups. These four were high in a dead tree. The morning sun made them glow yellow. The goldfinch’s song sounds like “per-chick-o-ree, per-chick-o-ree” interspersed with an occasional mewing sound. More Information: All About […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/25 Observation Time: 7:25 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Blackburnian Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga fusca Comments: These gorgeous warblers overwinter in South America. They tend to flit about high in tall trees, making them a challenge to photograph. This morning the bright sunshine made the day-glow orange coloration on its head and throat stand out even at […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/25 Observation Time: 9:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-throated Green Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga virens Comments: The song of this colorful warbler sounds like: “zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee.”  It migrates through Sharon in early May. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/25 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: American redstart Scientific Name: Setophaga ruticilla Comments: Redstarts are members of the warbler family. Their song is variable, and can be confused with the songs of some other warblers. See: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Redstart/id More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/25 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Magnolia Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga magnolia Comments: These gorgeous little birds pass through Sharon in early May on their northward migration. Learn to recognize their song to improve your chances of seeing one early on a clear morning at the end of April or in early May. More […]

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: […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/25 Observation Time: 11:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Blue-winged Warbler Scientific Name: Vermivora cyanoptera Comments:  The blue-winged warbler’s song sounds like, “bee-buzz.” Note its distinctive black eye line. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/25 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Prairie Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are found in scrubby fields and forest edges throughout the eastern and south-central United States. Unlike many other warblers that migrate through Sharon in spring and fall, prairie warblers nest in Sharon and stay around all summer. You […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/25 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Field Sparrow Scientific Name: Spizella pusilla Comments: Field sparrows have a relatively long tail, a thin white eye ring, and a pinkish conical bill. They have a gray face and a rust-colored cap. However, the best way to tell them apart from other sparrows is their song, an […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/25 Observation Time: 8:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Great Crested flycatcher Scientific Name: Myiarchus crinitus Comments: The great-crested flycatcher has a pale yellow breast. The underside of its tail is reddish brown. The memory hook I use to remember its call is “weep, weep, weep.” More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/25 Observation Time: 6:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-throated Blue Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga caerulescens Comments: Black-throated blue warblers pass through Sharon in early May on their northward migration. Learn to recognize their buzzy “zree–zree–zreeeee” song to improve your chances of seeing one. Check it out at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPKuQB1bEqs. You can monitor the bird migration in spring by keeping an […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/9/25 Observation Time: 9:05 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-capped Chickadee Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus Comments: Chickadees are one of Sharon’s most common birds. They often travel in groups that sometimes include tufted titmice. The one in the photograph was almost close enough to touch. With patience, chickadees can be trained to eat sunflower or […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/9/25 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (boardwalk) Common Name: Common Yellowthroat Scientific Name: Geoothlypis trichas Comments: Common yellowthroats are typically found in or near wetlands. They are a type of warbler, with a distinctive black mask that is reminiscent of a raccoon. Their song sounds like, “witchety, witchety, witchety.” More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/9/25 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary Common Name: Gray Catbird Scientific Name: Dumetella carolinensis Comments: Catbirds are one of three mimics in our area. Mockingbirds and Brown Thrashers are the other two. Catbirds repeat sounds just once, whereas Brown Thrashers repeat sounds twice, and Mockingbirds repeat them three or four times before moving on to the next […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/8/25 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Scientific Name: Polioptila caerulea Comments: Blue-gray gnatcatchers are tiny – smaller than a chickadee. They are the northernmost-occurring species of gnatcatcher genus, and the only truly migratory one. Most other gnatcatcher species are resident in Central and South America. The nesting range of blue-gray […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/25 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Wood thrush Scientific Name: Hylocichla mustelina Comments: The wood thrush’s melodic “ee-oh-lay” song is often heard in the woods. If you learn to recognize it, you can follow the sound to get a look at the bird. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/25 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Yellow-rumped Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga coronata Comments: Flowering trees attract birds, especially those such as warblers that feed on the insects attracted by the blossoms. The annual northward bird migration is in full swing and  colorful warblers and other photogenic migrants are passing through Sharon. To keep track of […]

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 […]