T F R A A C I T L S WOODLAND BIRDS

BLACK-CAPPED BLUE JAY RED-BELLIED CHICKADEE The conspicuous Blue Jay WOODPECKER You’ll find Black-capped lives in Iowa all year. It has This abundant wood- Chickadees all year in a blue back and a whitish pecker eats nuts, seeds, front. Blue feathers form a and berries, as well bark head crest and black bars insects. Woodpeckers cross the blue tail. Male need dead or dying trees and female look alike. or limbs, to chisel out a EASTERN BLUEBIRD nesting cavities. It is good woodland management In Iowa, the bird with a to leave some dead trees beautiful blue back and for woodpeckers. head and a rusty chest is BARRED OWL The Red-Bellied Wood- an Eastern Bluebird. Al- perches on a dead branch, Barred Owls live in the pecker’s name, surpris- though many people have sallies out to grab a fly woods. Most of their food ingly, comes from the never seen one, they are from the air, and returns is rodents such as mice pink blush on its under- common here in summer. to the same spot. Due to and ground squirrels. woods and gardens. side. Pink also colors the Most Eastern Bluebirds insect absence in winter it They are active mainly The jet-black cap, white cheeks, under the eyes. go south for the winter, migrates to Brazil. at night, so are not often cheek, and black throat This species lives in for- seen. However, there is but a few stay here, in the Fairfield loop trail

All photos courtesyAll photos of Diane Porter ests and in gardens. Male are easy to spot. They got woods, eating insects and probably a barred owl and female wood-pewees their name from their call, small fruits. In the spring 1 close enough to see or You’ll find blue jays in look just alike. The male Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. they are one of the earli- hear you right now. woods, hedgerows, and sings In winter chickadees live est species to begin 34 The easiest way to find backyards. They eat just his Burlington Avenue in small flocks. In spring nesting. a Barred Owl is with your about everything, from name the flocks break into pairs, Bluebirds nest in 1 ears! You can hear it all spiders to acorns, fruit, plain- and couples remain mat- cavities, such as an year, at night and often in seeds, bird eggs, butter- tively, ed for life. They nest in 34 the day. Its hoots, seem flies, wasps, and even dog old woodpecker Pee-oh- cavities in dead or dying hole or a birdhouse. to say, Who cooks for you? food. Sometimes they wee? YOU ARE trees and limbs, in holes Who cooks for you-all? bury food for future use. espe- HERE The top of the head is made by woodpeckers. This jay’s beautiful blue is EASTERN cially rounded, with no ear Chickadees eat caterpil- not pigment. Like the col- WOOD-PEWEE early tufts. Brown-and-white lars, spiders and other ors on soap bubbles, the This useful bird in the stripes mark the breast small animal life, as well blue results from the way eats almost ev- morn- and belly. as berries. feathers reflect the light. ery flying insect. It ing.

Trail Facts are funded by grants from The Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Club of Fairfield.