Category: Bird

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/23/24 Observation Time: 9:00 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. This pair was making a nest in a hollow tree. More Information: All About Birds Chickadees often travel in groups that sometimes include tufted titmice. With patience, chickadees can be trained […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/23/24 Observation Time: 7:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Northern Waterthrush Scientific Name: Parkesia noveboracensis Comments: The northern waterthrush is actually a type of warbler. It looks a lot like an ovenbird, which is also a type of warbler. This one was seen along the boardwalk through the wetlands at Moose Hill. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/23/24 Observation Time: 7:30 am Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Tree Swallow Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor Comments: Tree swallows compete with bluebirds for nesting boxes. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/21/24 Observation Time: 1:30 Observation Location: telephone pole by Beach Street near Sharon High School 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 […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/21/24 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Pileated Woodpecker Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus Comments: You will improve your chances of sighting one of these magnificent birds by learning their calls and the sound of their drumming, which is different from that of other smaller woodpeckers. More Information: Audubon Guide to N. American 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: 4/21/24 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Eastern Towhee (male) Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: Towhees are common birds in Sharon, especially along edges between woods and open fields, but they are heard more than seen. The male’s song sounds like he’s singing, “Drink your tea.” They are sometimes seen scratching among dead leaves […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/12/24 Observation Time: 5 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Wild Turkey Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo Comments: Wild turkeys are often seen near the headquarters building of the Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. They glean bird seed that spills from the bird feeders onto the ground. 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: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 11/25/23 Observation Time: 3:10 pm Observation Location: 302 Mansfield Street Sharon, MA Common Name: Golden-crowned Kinglet Scientific Name: Regulus satrapa Comments: Had camera but wasn’t close enough to get a good shot. Golden-crowned Kinglets are boldly marked with a black eyebrow stripe and flashy lemon-yellow crest. A good look can require some patience, as they spend much of their time […]

Observer: Wayne Gelfman Observation Date: 7/24/23 Observation Time: around 6:00 a.m. Observation Location: near Sharon Community Center Common Name: Chukar Scientific Name: Alectoris chukar Comments: Chukars were introduced to the United States from Pakistan in 1893. Between 1931 and 1970, additional introductions in the western U.S. helped establish wild populations in 10 western states (California, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming) and […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/22/23 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond 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 in the woods all summer. Although they typically […]

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 […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/28/23 Observation Time: 11:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) – under the power lines 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, the prairie warbler nests in Sharon and […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/28/23 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Indigo Buntings are actually black; the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue. This explains why males can appear as various hues from turquoise to black. Indigo buntings are more common now than when the pilgrims first […]

Observer: Punitha Hanumantha Observation Date: 5/25/23 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Fales Rd., Sharon Common Name: Baltimore Oriole (female or immature male) Scientific Name: Icterus galbula Comments: Baltimore Orioles seek out ripe fruit. Cut oranges in half and hang them from trees to invite orioles into your yard. Special oriole feeders filled with sugar water supplement the flower nectar that Baltimore Orioles gather. You can […]

Observer: Punitha Hanumantha Observation Date: 5/25/23 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Fales Rd., Sharon Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Indigo Buntings are actually black; the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue. This explains why males can appear as various hues from turquoise to black. Indigo buntings are more common now than when the pilgrims first landed. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Worm-eating Warbler Scientific Name: Helmitheros vermivorum Comments: The worm-eating warbler is so-named because it eats caterpillars. It overwinters in Central America and Caribbean islands. Unlike most other warbler species that pass through Sharon on their spring and fall migrations to and from their breeding areas farther north, worm-eating warblers only […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 8:45 p.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: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 8:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Indigo Buntings are actually black; the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue. This explains why males can appear as various hues from turquoise to black. Indigo buntings are more common now than when the pilgrims […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Northern Waterthrush Scientific Name: Parkesia noveboracensis Comments: The northern waterthrush is actually a type of warbler. It looks a lot like an ovenbird, which is also a warbler. This one was seen along the boardwalk through the wetlands at Moose Hill. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 6:20 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Bay-breasted Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga castanea Comments: Bay-breasted warblers migrate through Sharon in May en route to their summertime breeding areas in Canada. They eat insects and spiders to keep up their energy during the long flight. Even for experienced bird watchers, bay-breasted warblers are an unusual find. […]

Observer: Daniel O’Brien Observation Date: 5/20/23 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Brewster’s Warbler (hybrid) Scientific Name: Vermivora chrysoptera x cyanoptera  Comments: Brewster’s warblers are actually a hybrid between golden-winged warblers and blue-winged warblers. These two species are 99.7% alike genetically. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Daniel O’Brien Observation Date: 5/20/23 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Tennessee Warbler Scientific Name: Leiothlypis peregrina Comments: This warbler was spotted in a tree near the giant sugar maples known as George & Martha. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 5/18/23 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (intersection of Deer and Kettle trails) 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