Lexington Alive

Birds

This page is organized by family, according to the cladistic analysis in The Tree of Life, and includes all the birds which you might see in Massachusetts. Since Lexington isn't on the shore, in deep woods, and doesn't have huge, open areas, I'm not optimistic that I'll ever get photos of all of these without making field trips.

Cathartidae (New World Vultures)

Cathartes aura (Turkey Vulture) (Whipple Hill, 5/8/11 3pm)

Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, & Old-World Vultures)

Aquila chrysaetos (Golden Eagle)

Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle)

Circus cyaneus (Northern Harrier)

Accipiter cooperii? (Cooper's Hawk) (Lower Vine Brook, first 3 photos 8/2/09 6pm, 4th photo 11/21/2016 9am) Photos through a cleaner window.

Accipiter striatus? (Sharp-shinned Hawk) (Lower Vine Brook, 7/25/2022 7pm) Photos through our dirty windows. Hard to tell if the nape of the neck is lighter or darker, but it looks darker in the last photo.

I may well have all of the sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawk photos misidentified. This site has good identification tips, but it is hard to apply them to the photos. If I had memorized them before I saw the birds, I might have had a better shot.

Accipiter gentilis (Northern Goshawk)

Buteo lineatus (Red-shouldered Hawk)

Buteo platypterus (Broad-winged Hawk)

adult immature Buteo jamaicensis (Red-tailed hawk) (Willard's Woods, 5/9/09 1pm, , 10/27/12 1pm, Parker Meadow, 8/11/07 4pm, Lower Vine Brook, 5/7/16 1pm) I had no idea that hawks could swivel their heads 180 degrees, but it seemed very comfortable looking straight back over it's back.

Buteo lagopus (Rough-legged Hawk)

Pandionidae (Osprey)

Pandion haliaeus (Osprey)

Falconidae (Falcons)

Falco sparverius (American Kestrel)

Falco columbarius (Merlin)

Phasianidae (Grouse, Pheasant, & Turkey)

Bonasa umbellus (Ruffed Grouse)

Colinus virginianus (Northern Bobwhite)

Phasianus colchicus (Ring-necked Pheasant) Asian import

Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkeys) (Lexington, 3/24/2001 (2), Lower Vine Brook, 7/14/2019 4pm, males fighting 4/20/2021 5pm (3)) Nest (Lexington, 5/1/07 8pm) My Mother found this nest under the forsythia bush next to our driveway. The turkey that laid the eggs apparently abandoned the nest, probably because it became scared of the car and people. Bird books say that turkeys usually lay one to two eggs per day, so it would have had to come back for about a week. We never saw it!

Columbidae (Pigeons & Doves)

Columba livia (Rock Dove, City Pigeon)

Zenaida macroura (Mourning Dove) (Lower Vine Brook, 5/13/2021 4pm)

Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

Coccyzus americanus (Yellow-billed Cuckoo)

Coccyzus erythropthalmus (Black-billed Cuckoo)

Strigidae (Typical Owls)

Megascops asio (Eastern Screech Owl)

Aegolius acadicus (Northern Saw-whet Owl)

Asio flammeus (Short-eared Owl)

Asio otus (Long-eared Owl)

Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl)

Strix varia (Barred Owl) (Willard's Woods 12/28/2001, Lower Vine Brook, 8/1/15 1pm) In the photo in Willard's Woods, I was hoping to get a picture with the tree trunk behind the owl so that the cloudy sky background didn't wash out the colors, but a big, noisy dog and its owner scared my subject away.

(Lower Vine Brook, 3/16/14 4pm) An owl pellet.

Tytonidae (Barn Owls & Masked Owls)

Tyto alba (Barn Owl)

Caprimulgidae (Nightjars)

Caprimulgus vociferus (Whip-poor-will)

Chordeiles minor (Common Nighthawk)

Apodidae (Swifts)

Chaetura pelagica (Chimney Swift)

Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

female male Archilochus colubris (Ruby-Throated Hummingbird) (female Lower Vine Brook, 8/16/09, on Lobelia, 8/21/16 5pm, 8/7/2020 4pm; male Lower Vine Brook, 7/10/2020 4pm (2), Lexington, 5/8/04 over Phlox)

Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

Ceryle alcyon (Belted Kingfisher) (Parker Meadow, 8/4/07 5pm)

Picidae (Woodpeckers)

Colaptes auratus (Northern Flicker) (Lexington, first 3 8/24/16, 6/2/09 9am, 5/12/09 9am, 8/29/09 12pm)

Melanerpes carolinus (Red-bellied Woodpecker) (Lower Vine Brook, 2/17/10 12pm)

Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Red-headed Woodpecker)

Sphyrapicus varius (Yellow-bellied Sapsucker)

male female Picoides pubescens (Downy Woodpecker) (Burlington, 3/1/00, Lexington 4/28/07 12pm)

female Picoides villosus (Hairy Woodpecker) (Willard's Woods, 5/9/09 12pm)

adult damage to tree from Dryocopus pileatus (Pileated Woodpecker) (Lower Vine Brook, 6/25/2022, damage 4/23/09 11am)

Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

Tyrannus tyrannus (Eastern Kingbird)

Myiarchus crinitus (Great Crested Flycatcher)

Contopus virens (Eastern Wood-Pewee)

Contopus borealis (Olive-sided Flycatcher)

Sayornis phoebe (Eastern Phoebe) (Lower Vine Brook, 10/1/11 12pm)

Empidonax minimus (Least Flycatcher)

Empidonax virescens (Acadian Flycatcher)

Empidonax traillii (Willow Flycatcher)

Empidonax alnorum (Alder Flycatcher)

Eremphila alpestris (Horned Lark)

Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallow) (Willard's Woods, 5/14/00) A lousy photo, but all I've got.

Progne subis (Purple Martin)

Riparia riparia (Bank Swallow)

Stelgidopteryx serripennis (Northern Rough-winged Swallow)

Hirundo pyrrhonota (Cliff Swallow)

adult juveniles? Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallow) (Willard's Woods, 6/24/07 11am)

Corvidae (Jays, Crows, & Magpies)

Cyanocitta cristata (Blue Jay) egg (Lexington, 12/28/09 11am, Lower Vine Brook, 5/1/11 2pm)

Corvus brachyrhynchos (American Crow) (Lower Vine Brook, 2/6/10 11am)

Corvus ossifragus (Fish Crow)

Paridae (Titmice & Chickadees)

Parus bicolor (Tufted Titmouse) (Burlington, 11/12/00)

Parus atricapillus (Black-Capped Chickadee) (Lower Vine Brook, 11/1/09 6pm, Lexington)

Certhiidae (Creepers)

Certhia americana (Brown Creeper) (Whipple Hill, 9/1/09 1pm)

Sittidae (Nuthatches)

Sitta carolinensis (White-Breasted Nuthatch) (Lexington, Burlington, 1/23/00)

Sitta canadensis (Red-Breasted Nuthatch) (Lexington, 11/12/2001)

Troglodytidae (Wrens)

Troglodytes aedon (House Wren) (Lower Vine Brook, 5/16/09 4pm, Willard's Woods, 6/25/2022 2pm, 5/8/2021 3pm)

Troglodytes troglodytes (Winter Wren)

Thyrothorus ludovicianus (Carolina Wren) (Lexington) We had a family fledge 2 chicks in a watering can in our garage this year (2008). I didn't take any pictures for fear of bothering them.

Cistothorus palustris (Marsh Wren)

Cistothorus platensis (Sedge Wren)

Muscicapidae (Thrushes)

Regulus satrapa (Golden-crowned Kinglet)

Regulus calendula (Ruby-crowned Kinglet)

Polioptila caerulea (Blue-gray Gnatcatcher)

Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird) (Willard's Woods, 4/20/02 1pm first photo, rest are Lower Vine Brook, 2/22/2022 2pm)

Hylocichla mustelina (Wood Thrush)

Catharus fuscescens? (Veery) (Willard's Woods, 5/7/00) Probably a hermit thrush, but I have a lot of trouble telling the thrushes apart.

Catharus ustulatus (Swainson's Thrush)

Catharus guttatus (Hermit Thrush) (first two photos Lower Vine Brook, 4/11/2010 1pm, second 3 photos Lower Vine Brook, 4/11/2023 6pm)

adult male juvenile female Turdus migratorius (American Robin) (Lexington, 11/12/01, Lower Vine Brook, 10/20/12 11am)

Laniidae (Shrikes)

Lanius excubitor (Northern Shrike)

Mimidae (Mimic Thrushes)

Dumetella carolinensis (Gray catbird) (Lower Vine Brook, 5/16/09 4pm, Whipple Hill, 5/15/2022 2pm)

Mimus polyglottos (Northern Mockingbird) (Dunback Meadow, 5/19/09 10am)

Toxostoma rufum (Brown Thrasher)

Bombycillidae (Waxwings)

Bombycilla cedrorum (Cedar Waxwing) (Whipple Hill, 8/31/08 2pm, Willard's Woods, 8/27/09 3pm, Lexington, 6/9/13 12pm) At Locke Pond in Whipple Hill, a group of 5-8 were flying out over the pond catching insects and then returning to perches on the edge of the pond, or on clumps of vegetation in the pond. The bird in the last photo came to our backyard while we were eating lunch on the patio.

Sturnidae (Starlings)

Sturnus vulgaris (European Starling) (Burlington, 1/23/00, Lower Vine Brook, 8/7/20 2pm)

Vireonidae (Vireos)

Vireo griseus (White-eyed Vireo)

Vireo flavifrons (Yellow-throated Vireo)

Vireo solitarius (Solitary Vireo)

Vireo olivaceus (Red-eyed Vireo)

Vireo gilvus (Warbling Vireo)

Emberizidae (Warblers & Sparrows)

Vermivora chrysoptera (Golden-winged Warbler)

Vermivora ruficapilla? (Nashville Warbler) (Willard's Woods, 8/28/09 3pm)

Parula americana (Northern Parula)

Mniotilta varia (Black-and-white Warbler) (Lower Vine Brook, 5/14/2022 12pm)

Dendroica caerulescens (Black-throated Blue Warbler) (Whipple Hill, 6/1/14 10am)

Dendroica fusca (Blackburnian Warbler)

Dendroica pensylvanica (Chestnut-sided Warbler) (Willard's Woods, 8/28/09 3pm)

Dendroica tigrina (Cape May Warbler)

Dendroica magnolia (Magnolia Warbler)

male female Dendroica coronata (Yellow-rumped warbler) (Lower Vine Brook, 4/25/09 4pm, Willard's Woods, 5/7/00, Lower Vine Brook, 4/30/16 12pm, female 5/1/2022 3pm)

Dendroica virens? (Black-Throated Green Warbler) (Willard's Woods, 5/6/00)

Dendroica discolor (Prairie Warbler)

Dendroica striata (Blackpoll Warbler)

Dendroica pinus (Pine Warbler)

Dendroica palmarum (Palm Warbler) (Lower Vine Brook, 4/12/14 11am, last 3 photos 5/1/2022 3pm)

Dendroica petechia (Yellow Warbler) (Dunback Meadow, 5/19/09 11am, Willard's Woods, 6/17/07 2pm)

Oporornis philadelphia (Mourning Warbler)

Wilsonia canadensis (Canada Warbler)

Helmitheros vermivorus (Worm-eating Warbler)

Seiurus aurocapillus (Ovenbird) (Lower Vine Brook, 5/11/14 10am)

Seiurus motacilla (Louisiana Waterthrush)

Seiurus noveboracensis (Northern Waterthrush)

male Geothlypis trichas (Common Yellowthroat) (Dunback Meadow, 5/19/09 11am, Lower Vine Brook, 5/11/14 10am)

Icteria virens (Yellow-breasted Chat)

Setophaga ruticilla (American Redstart)

female Pheucticus ludovicianus (Rose-breasted Grosbeak) (Parker's Meadow, 6/28/07 11am)

male female Cardinalis cardinalis (Cardinal) (Lexington, 12/28/09 11am, Lexington, 12/24/2009 1pm, 2/18/10 5pm)

1st spring male male Passerina cyanea (Indigo Bunting) (Willard's Woods, 6/6/09 1pm, 8/28/09 2pm, not shown 5/18/03 11am)

Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Eastern Towhee) (Lower Vine Brook, 5/11/2023 11am)

Ammodramus savannarum (Grasshopper Sparrow)

Ammodramus henslowii (Henslow's Sparrow)

Ammodramus caudacutus (Sharp-tailed Sparrow)

Ammodramus maritimus (Seaside Sparrow)

Pooecetes gramineus (Vesper Sparrow)

Passerculus sandwichensis (Savannah Sparrow)

Melospiza melodia (Song Sparrow) (Lexington 12/26/2001)

Spizella arborea (American Tree Sparrow)

Spizella pusilla (Field Sparrow)

Spizella passerina (Chipping Sparrow) (Lexington)

Junco hyemalis (Dark-Eyed Junco) (Lexington, 12/24/09 1pm, 2/6/10 11am)

Zonotrichia albicollis (White-breasted sparrow) (Lexington, 1/27/01)

Passerella iliaca (Fox Sparrow) (Lexington)

Melospiza georgiana (Swamp Sparrow)

Calcarius lapponicus (Lapland Longspur)

Plectrophenax nivalis (Snow Bunting)

Dolichonyx oryzivorus? (Bobolink) (Lower Vine Brook, 8/16/2020 2pm) It looks a lot like a Nelson's sparrow, but Lexington would be an unusual spot for a sighting in the middle of August. It also seemed bigger than 5" rather than smaller, but I didn't get a great look.

Sturnella magna (Eastern Meadowlark)

male Agelaius phoeniceus (Red-Winged Blackbird) (Willard's Woods, 5/9/09 1pm)

Euphagus carolinus (Rusty Blackbird)

female Molothrus ater (Brown-headed Cowbird) (Lower Vine Brook, 4/25/2020 3pm) Not 100% sure this is really a cowbird.

Quiscalus quiscula (Common grackle) (Lexington, 6/6/09 11am)

Icterus spurius (Orchard Oriole)

male female Icterus galbula (Baltimore Oriole) I've seen several, but they have proved stubbornly difficult to photograph. They cleverly hide or fly away just as I get ready for a picture. (Whipple Hill, 5/13/00, Willard's Woods, 5/9/09 1pm)

Piranga olivacea (Scarlet Tanager)

Passeridae (Weavers)

Passer domesticus (House Sparrow) (Lower Vine Brook, 8/16/09 5pm)

Fringillidae (Finches)

Carduelis pinus (Pine Siskin)

breeding male Carduelis tristis (American Goldfinch) (Lexington, 5/16/09 5pm, Lexington, 12/27/01)

Loxia curvirostra (Red Crossbill)

Pinicola enucleator (Pine Grosbeak)

Carduelis flammea (Common Redpoll) (Burlington, 2/21/00)

Carpodacus purpureus (Purple Finch)

Carpodacus mexicanus (House Finch) (Lexington, 11/21/09 4pm)

Coccothraustes vespertinus (Evening Grosbeak)

Anatidae (Swans, Geese, & Ducks)

Branta canadensis (Canada Goose) (Whipple Hill, 9/1/09 1pm)

Branta bernicla (Brant Goose)

Cygnus olor (Mute Swan)

male female juvenile Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard Duck) (Willard's Woods, 4/28/07 11am, Whipple Hill, 8/4/07 5pm, Lower Vine Brook, 7/19/2020 12pm, Parker Meadow, 8/20/12 11am, Lower Vine Brook, 5/26/13 4pm, 7/19/2020 12pm)

Anas rubripes (American Black Duck)

Anas strepera (Gadwall)

Anas crecca (Green-winged Teal)

Anas americana (American Wigeon)

Anas penelope (Eurasian Wigeon)

Anas acuta (Northern Pintail)

Anas discors (Blue-winged Teal)

Oxyura jamaicensis (Ruddy Duck)

male Aix sponsa (Wood duck) female immature? (Whipple Hill, 9/23/07 12pm, 8/1/10 1pm, & 7/29/07 1pm)

Aythya valisineria (Canvasback)

Aythya americana (Redhead)

Aythya collaris (Ring-necked Duck) (Whipple Hill, 4/9/11 1pm)

Aythya marila (Greater Scaup)

Aythya affinis (Lesser Scaup)

Somateria mollissima (Common Eider)

Somateria spectabilis (King Eider)

Melanitta nigra (Black Scoter)

Melanitta fusca (White-winged Scoter)

Melanitta perspicillata (Surf Scoter)

Histrionicus histrionicus (Harlequin Duck)

Clangula hyemalis (Oldsquaw)

Bucephala islandica (Barrow's Goldeneye)

Bucephala clangula (Common Goldeneye)

Bucephala albeola (Bufflehead)

Mergus merganser (Common Merganser)

Mergus serrator (Red-breasted Merganser)

Lophodytes cucullatus (Hooded Merganser)

Gaviidae (Loons)

Gavia immer (Common Loon)

Podicipediformes (Grebes)

Podiceps grisegena (Red-necked Grebe)

Podiceps auritus (Horned Grebe)

Podilymbus podiceps (Pied-billed Grebe)

Procellariidae (Shearwaters)

Calonectris diomedea (Cory's Shearwater)

Fulmarus glacialis (Northern Fulmar)

Puffinus griseus (Sooty Shearwater)

Puffinus gravis (Greater Shearwater)

Puffinus puffinus (Manx Shearwater)

Hydrobatidae (Storm Petrels)

Oceanites oceanicus (Wilson's Storm-Petrel)

Oceanodroma leucohoa (Leach's Storm-Petrel)

Pelecanidae (Pelicans)

Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown Pelican)

Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)

Morus bassanus (Northern Gannet)

Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)

Phalacrocorax carbo (Great Cormorant)

Phalacrocorax auritus (Double-crested Cormorant)

Ardeidae (Herons)

Ixobrychus exilis (Least Bittern)

Botaurus lentiginosus (American Bittern)

Nycticorax nycticorax (Black-crowned Night-Heron)

Nyctanassa violacea (Yellow-crowned Night-Heron)

Butorides striatus (Green-backed Heron) (Parker Meadow, 7/29/07 1pm, Lower Vine Brook, 10/1/11 12pm, Parker Meadow, 8/25/2012 12pm (2))

Egretta tricolor (Tri-colored Heron)

Egretta caerulea (Little Blue Heron)

Bubulcus ibis (Cattle Egret)

Egretta thula (Snowy Egret)

Casmerodius albus (Great Egret)

Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron) (Whipple Hill, 9/23/07 12pm, Lower Vine Brook, 8/28/13 1pm, Whipple Hill 8/20/16 12pm) I had never seen one on the ground anywhere except in the immediate vicinity of a pond before, such as the one in the first photo. There is a stream about 75 yards away, but it is protected by a thin screen of trees.

Threskiornithidae (Ibises & Spoonbills)

Plegadis falcinellus (Glossy Ibis)

Eudocimus albus (White Ibis)

Rallidae (Rails and Coots)

Rallus elegans (King Rail)

Rallus longirostris (Clapper Rail)

Rallus limicola (Virginia Rail)

Porzana carolina (Sora)

Coturnicops noveboracensis (Yellow Rail)

Gallinula chloropus (Common Moorhen)

Fulica americana (American Coot)

Charadriidae (Plovers)

Charadrius melodus (Piping Plover)

eggs in nest on nest playing "broken wing" Charadrius vociferus (Killdeer) (Lexington High School, 5/10/19 6pm)

Pluvialis squatarola (Black-bellied Plover)

Scolopacidae (Sandpipers & Snipes)

Catoptrophorus semipalmatus (Willet)

Tringa melanoleuca (Greater Yellowlegs)

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) (Whipple Hill, 8/20/16 12pm, Lower Vine Brook, 8/21/2020 12pm (2), 8/23/2020 3pm (3), 3/22/2020 3pm) The first bird had greenish-yellow legs (not visible in this photo).

Actitis macularia (Spotted Sandpiper) (Parker Meadow, 8/4/07 6pm)

Gallinago gallinago (Common Snipe)

Scolopax minor (American Woodcock)

Arenaria interpres (Ruddy Turnstone)

Calidris maritima (Purple Sandpiper)

Calidris alpina (Dunlin)

Calidris alba (Sanderling)

Bartramia longicauda (Upland Sandpiper)

Laridae (Gulls, Terns, & Skippers)

Larus atricilla (Laughing Gull)

Larus philadelphia (Bonaparte's Gull)

Larus ridibundus (Common Black-headed Gull)

Larus minutus (Little Gull)

Larus delawarensis (Ring-billed Gull)

Larus argentatus (Herring Gull)

Larus hyperboreus (Glaucous Gull)

Larus glaucoides (Iceland Gull)

Larus fuscus (Lesser Black-backed Gull)

Larus marinus (Great Black-backed Gull)

Rissa tridactyla (Black-legged Kittiwake)

Sterna hirundo (Common Tern)

Sterna dougallii (Roseate Tern)

Sterna antillarum (Least Tern)

Rynchops niger (Black Skimmer)

Stercorariidae (Skuas & Jaegers)

Catharacta skua (Great Skua)

Catharacta maccormicki (South Polar Skua)

Alcidae (Auks & Puffins)

Alca torda (Razorbill)

Uria aalge (Common Murre)

Uria lomvia (Thick-billed Murre)

Alle alle (Dovekie, Little Auk)

Cepphus grylle (Black Guillemot)

Fratercula arctica (Atlantic Puffin)

Unidentified

(Lower Vine Brook, 11/2/08 11am) A hawk...

(Willard's Woods, 7/7/07 3pm)

Willard's Woods (6/24/07 11am) Obviously a sparrow of some sort.

(Willard's Woods, 8/27/09 3pm)

(Whipple Hill, 9/22/07 4pm, Lower Vine Brook, 9/28/13 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/11/09 1pm) This bird sat above the stream and caught bugs.

(Lower Vine Brook, 8/22/2020 3pm) These do not look like the same bird, but I'm pretty sure they are. The lighting conditions changed rapidly that day.