Hairy Woodpecker

If you haven't seen a Hairy Woodpecker you may have heard one. It's tap-tap-tapping echoes through the woods as it searches for insects.

Or, you may have seen this black and white bird, with a red cap on the back of it's head, flitting about looking food. But how can you tell it's a Hairy Woodpecker and not it's virtual twin, the Downy Woodpecker. Here are a few key things to look for to identify the Hairy Woodpecker:

• It has a longer beak where the Downy's is only about a third of the width of its head.
• The Hairy Woodpecker is also bigger. A Downy is closer to House Sparrow size.
• The Hairy also has all white outside tail feathers and the Downy's are spotted with black.

Still, It may take some time before you can distinguish the difference between the Hairy Woodpecker and the Downy. While they often occur together, you might not get the chance to see them side by side. Here's a guide comparing these two woodpeckers.

Although the Hairy Woodpecker is still very widespread and fairly common, it is thought to have declined from historical levels in many areas. Loss of nesting sites with cutting of dead trees in forests is one potential problem. Standing dead trees is a good place to start your search if you are looking to spot this dynamic bird.

Northern Shoveler

The Northern Shoveler, is unmistakable due to its spoon-like bill, much larger than that of its fellow dabblers! 

This duck got its name for good reason. It swims with its large bill partially submerged, filtering crustaceans and other invertebrates from the soupy mud. Flocks of Northern Shovelers can be seen swimming along, swinging their bills from side to side under the surface in a seemingly choreographed water ballet.

The male Northern Shoveler is identifyable by its iridescent green head with wide black beak, a white chest, and rusty sides. Don't mistake it for the Mallard though, which has a yellow beak and a white ring at the base of the neck.

Red-breasted Merganser

Who is that duck with the crazy hairdo and thin bill? The Red-breasted Merganser can be seen on Lake Michigan in winter, where it dives for its food. Unfortunately, the Red-breasted Merganser is threatened by climate change, with three-quarters of its summer range expected to shift north by 2080.  Here are some interesting facts about this duck with the punk-rock hairdo!

• It can be confused with the Common Merganser, but there are several distinct differences. The Red-breasted Merganser generally nests on the ground in different types of habitats while the Common Merganser tends to nest in cavities. Red-breasted Mergansers have a more northerly breeding range and males of this species tend to have a wispier crest compared to Common Merganser.
• Mergansers are sometimes known as sawbills because of their long, serrated bills that help them catch fish, which they catch while swimming underwater. Adult males may eat whole fish that is a foot long!
• The Red-breasted Merganser is the fastest duck on earth and one of the fastest birds on earth.