The Alviary: Birds of Alvamar

The American Goldfinch

(Carduelis tristis)

American Goldfinch Male in Summer. Photographed near #4 tee on the Members' Course by DRogo.

Sometimes referred to as the Eastern Goldfinch, this brightly colored bird is right at home on the golf course as it is commonly found throughout fields, meadows and residential areas. It has a wide-ranging diet, feeding on seeds, berries and insects and is the only finch in its subfamily that goes through a complete annual molt. The male is bright yellow during the summer and olive colored in the winter, while the female is a duller yellow-brown color, which brightens only for the summer months. The finch sings two songs: a long canarylike song and a short, forceful warble; calls include "sweeyeet" and "beerbee" when perched and the male's "perchicoree" call while in flight over his territory. 

- Chris Habeger

The Green Heron

(Butorides virescens)

Green Heron Fishing. Photographed on the edge of the pond near #9 fairway on the Members' Course by DRogo.

Although they look short and stocky while fishing near the water's edge, these herons do have the proportionately longer legs and necks associated with their larger cousins, but unlike other herons, the "Greeny" (our nickname) doesn't typically wade into the water for food, but rather employs stealth and patience along the shoreline. They are even clever enough to put twigs or insects on the water to lure fish. Calls include "skeow", the raspy "kuk-kuk-kuk" and the particularly grating (if not murderous) "raah."

- Chris Habeger

Green Heron Looking. Photographed by DRogo, #9 Members' Course.

Green Heron Walking. Photographed by DRogo, #9 Members' Course.

Green Heron In Flight. Photographed by DRogo, #9 Members' Course.

Red-Tailed Hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis)

Red-Tailed Hawk Perched. Photographed on #12 of the Members' Course by DRogo.

This is the most common type of hawk in our area and is easily identified by the characteristic red markings on the topside of the tail. This predator has a wide range of habitat and feeds on small birds, mammals and reptiles. They are efficient hunters when they take to the sky, often soaring on air thermals (hot air rising from the surface of the earth) which enables flight without having to expend energy in order to flap their wings. Occasionally, they will appear to hover by aiming directly into a strong headwind which prevents them from traveling forward, but are kept aloft, allowing them to survey the ground below for prey. A potential intruder might be met with the screaming "tseeeaarr" call, meanwhile the piercing "chwirk" is reserved for courtship and other territorial encounters.

- Chris Habeger