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Colorful crossbills use bent beaks to pry seeds from cone caches

A red songbird perches in a spruce tree..
Contributed
/
iNaturalist user Matthew Thompson
A White-winged Crossbill perches in a spruce tree near Grand Marais on Jan. 2, 2021.

This month, biologist Pam Perry and phenologist John Latimer discuss Red-headed Woodpeckers, Bald and Golden Eagles, and the curious forms of Red and White-winged Crossbills.

Pam Perry, a retired non-game wildlife biologist, stops by each month to talk about Minnesota phenology with our staff phenologist, John Latimer.

Pam is broadly knowledgeable about Minnesota's environment and particularly excited about birds, reptiles and amphibians.

This month’s conversation spanned a flock of fascinating facts about a variety of species. Here’s some of what we learned.

Red-Headed Woodpeckers

These woodpeckers are relatively rare but very distinctive! They look like they dunked their heads in a can of red paint. Red-headed Woodpeckers love oak savannas and pastures, habitats that are disappearing fast. They may be hard to find but easy to spot once you’re in the right location. (Time: 0:39-5:08)

Bald Eagles

Our brave baldies are resilient and will remain in the area for as long as food remains available. Thanks to the profusion of roads and the resulting roadkill, there’s plenty of food these days — if they migrate at all out of Grand Rapids, they'll only disappear a few months. (Time: 5:08-7:24)

Golden Eagles

Confirmed sightings of these feathered rockstars are quite rare in our area. Young Bald Eagles will masquerade as Golden Eagles in mottled brown plumage, often leading to false sightings. It's good practice to double-check habitat: If the eagle is hanging out near water, you’ve lost your golden (eagle) ticket. (Time: 7:24-13:36)

Crossbills

These expert pinecone priers use their crossed beaks to separate spruce scales and feast on the seeds inside. Look up in cone-filled treetops to spot them. (Time: 13:36-15:14)

Juncos

Black-capped Juncos are ground feeders that typically move in flocks and visit feeders. They have a particular affection for millet. (Time: 15:14-15:50)

Whether it’s an junco, a woodpecker, or a wonky-beaked crossbill, nature is full of wonders. Get out there and enjoy it!

For more phenology, subscribe to our Season Watch Newsletter or visit the Season Watch Facebook page.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

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Charlie Mitchell (she/they) joined KAXE in February of 2022. Charlie creates the Season Watch Newsletter, produces the Phenology Talkbacks show, coordinates the Phenology in the Classroom program, and writes nature-related stories for KAXE's website. Essentailly, Charlie is John Latimer's faithful sidekick and makes sure all of KAXE's nature/phenology programs find a second life online and in podcast form.<br/><br/><br/>With a background in ecology and evolutionary biology, Charlie enjoys learning a little bit about everything, whether it's plants, mushrooms, or the star-nosed mole. (Fun fact: Moles store fat in their tails, so they don't outgrow their tunnels every time conditions are good.)