BIRDS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Many of the birds in the Rocky Mountains are the same ones that we see on the East coast, but some are only similar like the mountain bluebird.  This lovely creature is shown here beating the crap out of a caterpillar...

We have common ravens in the East, but these have learned a behavior in the national parks that I have not seen before.  At nearly every parking lot or turn-out there is at least one raven hopping from car to car  hoping for a handout...

American white pelicans breed in the Yellowstone Eco-system each year...

Yellow-rumped warblers are very common...

This red-tailed hawk was found in the Gros Ventre River area of Jackson Hole, WY...

We saw this osprey in the Buffalo Valley, also in Jackson Hole...

We came across one of my favorite game birds at the Wilderness Road trailhead.  The ruffed grouse...

The mountain chickadee is similar to their Eastern cousins...

This wilson's snipe was on Flagstaff Road...

As was this dusky grouse...

Tree swallows are plentiful here, as are mosquitos, one of their their favorite foods...

This spotted towhee was a "first" for me...

Broad-winged hawks are shown as migrants in the Rockies...

Gray jay frequently are present at picnic tables in the parks...

We often see yellow warblers in the willow bushes near ponds and streams...

These steller's jays were in the Bridger-Teton wilderness...

This cassin's finch was near the road to Spaulding Bay in Grand Teton National Park...

It was fun to watch this red-breasted nuthatch excavate a nesting hole along the road to Dead Man's Canyon trailhead...

Sandhill cranes are another species that often nest in the Yellowstone area...

Probably the most colorful bird that we see in the West is the western tanager.  This photo shows a male near two fledging starlings...

A female western tanager waits...

As the male postures and sings to impress her...

Thanks for visiting, be well, and come back soon.