Overnight we had a few inches of fluffy snow, and the morning was quiet without wind, so the trees and bushes held delicate traceries of snow. My bird for today is a White-throated Sparrow, which, while it does breed in Connecticut, is seen in winter in larger numbers. I've shown it perched on a twig of yellow birch, with dormant leaf buds and catkins, and a puff of fluffy snow.

White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
on Yellow Birch, Betula alleghaniensis

For us here in New England, there are certain birds that really demarcate the change of season to winter. The junco is one (used to be called the snow bird) and another is the Horned Lark, which arrives on Horsebarn Hill in a flock numbering 50-80 birds. It's strictly a bird of open areas, which HBH has plenty of. Jorge's flock this afternoon was about 80 individuals.

Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris, Horsebarn Hill, UConn campus

Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris, Horsebarn Hill, UConn campus

Bird-a-Day January 20

Day 20 - out on my lunchtime walk I watched some mergansers fishing in the reservoir. The female came up with a crayfish that she somehow managed to swallow. I have since read that the bird breaks off the two large claws before eating.

female Hooded Merganser with crayfish (Lophodytes cucullatus). Colored pencil.
January 20, 2015. Hamden, Connecticut, USA

Jorge's bird for Day 20 is this beautiful sparrow.  Studies of the White-throated Sparrow show that individuals with brighter stripes on the crown are the dominant birds in social groups.

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).
January 20, 2015. Stamford, Connecticut, USA