Bird Finder for February 10: Rare Hermit Warbler Visiting from the West
A rare Hermit Warbler was found in Barkhamsted last week and continues to be seen this week.
Welcome to Bird Finder, our guide to interesting birds you might be able to find now in Connecticut!
Some of the best birders in the state generously share their expertise here. Patrick Comins, Milan Bull, and Andy Griswold from our own staff. Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe and Genevieve Nuttall from Audubon Connecticut. Greg Hanisek, Stefan Martin, Helena Ives, Chris Wood, Nick Bonomo – a great roster of contributors. Our hope is that Bird Finder will inspire you to go out and find the birds they write about!
Bird Finder for February 3: Blackbirds in Late Winter
Two Yellow-headed Blackbirds are among the large flocks of blackbirds starting to move into Connecticut.
Bird Finder for January 28: Painted Bunting in Stamford
Not to be outdone by the celebrity bunting of Brooklyn, Stamford’s Cove neighborhood has had its own Painted Bunting lately.
Bird Finder for January 19: Ross’s Goose, a Connecticut Rarity
Grab your spotting scope and head to East Windsor to look for this rare visitor to Connecticut (and several other rare visitors as well).
Bird Finder for December 23: Great Blue Heron
Connecticut’s waters are all free of ice this winter, which means that birds that need open water to forage are likely to be more common and widespread, including Great Blue Herons.
Bird Finder for December 10: Townsend’s Solitaire
Townsend’s Solitaire: A Townsend’s Solitaire is currently being seen in Cos Cob on Valley Wood Road
State Rarity: Ash-throated Flycatcher in Westport
December 2, 2015 – For the past two weeks one has been reliably found at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.
Bird Finder for November 23: Pink-footed Goose, a Rarity, in Farmington
Pink-footed Goose. For the past few days a single individual has been seen mingling with Canada Geese at several locations in Farmington, notably at a pond at Fisher Meadows Park.
Bird Finder for November 20: Sharp-shinned Hawk
From fall till the early spring Sharp-shinned Hawks are often found patrolling bird feeding stations and field edges.
Bird Finder for November 12: Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker: This almost unmistakable bird is more commonly found to our west and south but this year there have been a number of sightings in Connecticut and surrounding states.
Hudsonian Godwit in Stonington and Stratford: Bird Finder for November 5
Hudsonian Godwits have been visiting Stonington and Stratford this week, on its way from the far north to South America. Look for its long, upturned bill.
Bird Finder for October 30: Wild Turkey
This time of year turkeys can often be found in small flocks in forested habitats containing nut trees like oaks, hickories and beeches.
Bird Finder for October 23, 2015: White-crowned Sparrow
These distinctive sparrows are passing through this month, and were seen as recently as Thursday at Sherwood Island and Harkness state parks.
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Vireo solitarius
October is the month for migrating Blue-headed Vireos, which can most often be found in mixed flocks of other passerines, including Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
October 2, 2015 – Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Time is running out to see this tiny garden gem this year. They return to their wintering grounds, mostly in Central America, around the end of September.
Northern Parula: Bird Finder for September 25
Northern Parula is primarily a migrant in Connecticut. September is one of the best times to find it, most often in mixed flocks of chickadees, vireos and other warblers.
Tree Swallow
Tree Swallow
At this time of year you can witness one of the world’s most spectacular avian sights on the Connecticut River, as thousands of Tree Swallows converge at sunset to settle in at a giant communal roost.
Caspian Tern: Bird Finder for September 10
Caspian Tern
Although uncommon, Caspian Terns may be found in Connecticut from mid-April to early November. Two were seen at the Milford Point Coastal Center on Wednesday, September 9.
Barred Owl: Bird Finder for Sept. 4
Barred Owl: Barred Owls are widely distributed throughout the state wherever large, unfragmented tracts of forested land are present. Barred Owls are only slightly smaller that Connecticut’s largest native owl the Great Horned. Because the Great Horned Owl predates young Barred Owls, the two owls are rarely found near each other.
Olive-sided Flycatcher: Bird Finder for August 20
Olive-sided Flycatcher
While most birders spend their August mornings along the coast searching for shorebirds and terns, those who spend these days in and around the woods might be pleasantly surprised by this early boreal migrant.
