Winter in the Woods...

Winter Birds in Maine...

Dark-eyed Junco, (Junco hyemalis) 5.75- 6.5 inches tall, 9.25- 10 inches long wingspan:

These little guys hang out either alone or in pairs, or in family groups after breeding season. They form foraging flocks in spring and fall. They eat vegetation, hops seeds grains, berries, insects, caterpillars and some fruits, and sometimes flying insects. Juncos live in areas common in coniferous and mixed coniferous/deciduous forests and in bog areas. Their winter habitat varies. Living along the shores of Megunticook River in Camden, Maine seems the ideal place for these little birds to spend the whole year!

This Great Blue Heron, (Ardea herodias) 46-52 inches tall, Wingspan 77- 82 inches wide:

was out in back of my mother's house on Megunticook River, hanging out on the neighbor's dock left in the water. It was December 24th. He doesn't have a regal Heron look about him because, well... he is a bit off course and is probably quite cold! Great Blue Herons are migrating birds (especially in Maine). Therefore this poor guy would have a long S-shaped neck and not a squat "no neck" look. He would normally feed while standing in water or in a marshy area. He would be eating fish and other animals that come in range, and would use it's long bill as a dagger. They normally brood once per year in the north, and the chicks are fed by both parents. They are also monogomous.

The Common Raven: (Corvus corax) Usually 24- 26 Inches tall, Wingspan 46- 56 Inches.

The Raven's most common vocalizations are the croaking, drawling "crooaak" or "cur-ruk" or the metallic (in the beak) "tok". Unlike Crows, Ravens usually have a shaggy throat, and has V-shaped tail feathers, whereas the crow has tail feathers that fan out straight across. They are monogomous and mate for life. They are usually solitary, or in loose colonies in the north. Both Male and Female feed the chicks. The nest is brooded by only the female. These guys are tame, quick learners, especially gregarious in the winter. He is an active forager, scavenger and hunter. He is an omnivore and eatsinsects, small animals and other birds' young among many other things. they are awesome to watch in flight and have an amazing courtship display. this Raven is the first one I have been able to identify as a Raven, and also catch on camera. That is why I am so happy with this one photo. Taken in the City Forest in Bangor, Maine.