2/25/2025

~SPRING IS SO CLOSE~

Late last week I noticed some of the Cardinals on my property in Connecticut were noticeably a brighter red color. Then two days ago I spied a male Bluebird out a window and it was as if he had turned on his battery switch. The vivid blue he now sported was distinctive compared to the subdued (but still lovely) blue of winter.

It got me thinking about two things.

How some birds change to their breeding plumage and how close we are getting to spring.

Some birds have the same plumage year round. Blue Jays, Black-Throated Blue warblers and Cedar Waxwings are good examples.

But most molt their feathers once or twice a year.

With a majority of birds molting in late summer, many will have a second molt of feathers now or late winter. But, this requires energy and is a good example of why we should not stop feeding birds just yet who have been treated to bird seed all winter. However, some birds, like the previous mentioned Blue Bird and Cardinals, while they do molt in late summer after all their breeding and nesting is done, forgo a second molt and change back into their spring breeding colors by abrasion or wear, rather than a full second molt.

Those cardinals and Bluebirds have the bright reds and blues underneath a layer of gray or brownish fine outer edge feathers which simply put, they wear off. Normal day to day activity and flying gradually exposes the deep rich breeding color underneath.

So, weather by a second molt replacing their winter feathers or through the process of abrasion of the duller color feather edges and tips, the end result is the same with the males bright colors alerting other males of his territory and signaling his ability as a prospective mate to the local females.

The other clue is the spring mating songs are starting to be heard. At the same time I noticed the color change of some of my local cardinals, I heard to my delight that familiar spring and summer call of the cardinals that has not been heard for months. Typically two long descending calls (like a falling bomb in WW2 movie) followed by a series of rapid, short staccato type single notes. The classic Cardinal call is back as he starts to become territorial and also attract his mate.

It’s not every day but more and more you hear it. Building slowly, it won’t be long until the full symphony of springtime morning bird songs treat us as we go on our morning walks or work in the garden.

I anticipate the magical flute like melodies of the Wood and Hermit Thrush’s this summer in the late afternoons, from high in the tree tops. It won’t be long now.

Listen below. You can hear this your whole life, and never really hear it.

L.G.

THOUGHTS FROM THE FIELD — NORTH AMERICA

Birds of color, spring is almost here