Gilligallou's Blog — bird identification

As we approach the fall season, this is a great time to get out and have a look at some hawks and other birds of prey, especially those about to embark on their migration routes. Down on the north shore of Lake Erie, thousands of birds of prey pass through on their fall migration, typically […]  

While we love our small birds like warblers, finches and wrens, there is nothing quite like the sight of a large bird of prey in-flight or taking up a perch. Our fascination with large birds like hawks stems from their majestic appearance, hunting prowess and elusive behaviours. What is thought to be the most common […]  

The only water kingfisher that is commonly found throughout the United States and Canada is the Belted Kingfisher. This stocky, medium-sized bird measuring 28-35cm (11-14inches) in length spends most of its time patrolling rivers and shorelines in search of small fish and crayfish. This is one of the few rare species of birds in which […]  

While not a terribly common occurrence, as an active birder, you might come across a bird at some point that just doesn’t quite fit your handy field guide’s plumage colour description. These birds look very familiar to us, but for one reason or another, their true colours are not showing through. Some examples of these […]