Missouri birds flourish upon and around a small patch of prairie.

The Bird Kingdom

The biosphere is divided into kingdoms. And “kingdom” is a good word for it. When you look at the plant kingdom, you enter into a unique world whose subjects are, fortunately, stationary. This provides an opportunity to see a living organism go through a full cycle. You see it in Spring when the leaves may not yet be forming, but the flowers are in bloom. You see the leaves emerge. You see the fruit form and, in some cases, you can harvest it. You can be bathed in the color of Fall. You can experience the plant kingdom with sight, touch, taste and smell. You can even hear it as the wind blows.

The fungi kingdom is rather unique and to best understand requires considerable study and to some degree even requires mentorship — for mushrooms tend to look alike and to distinguish a good mushroom from a bad one is not always easy. Mushrooms come and go, so seeing them is rather opportunistic. As you gain experience, you begin to realize that you not only can observe them with your eyes, but you can learn something through touch and even smell. But the coup de grace is when you fry them in butter and garlic.

Animals, however, are a kingdom unto themselves and to explore their world you need to journey further into the “provinces”. The cottontail rabbit that walked by my chair one evening is from the province of Mammalia. My encounters with mammals are more predictable, but still random. To observe them is as much gift as intention. And they are typically rather quiet. Except for the buck that snorts at me from the nearby brush, I hardly ever hear a mammal make a sound. I have encountered deer hiding close enough in the blackberries to actually smell them, as well as a particularly smelly raccoon that waddled in front of my tent one night. There is the skunk, of course, that can make up for the lack of scent of all the other animals, but in reality skunks only emit their sulfurous bloom when either attacked or squashed.

Which leads to the birds. Birds are truly amazing creatures. For most of us, we can distinguish them by their shape or color. Many of us know their songs. But there a few of us who have dived off the deep end by actually engaging in their language. I began bird watching in the early 2000’s because I was working as a trail guide in Alaska. I loved it. Each year was a new discovery not because I could see a bird, but because I could hear it. As the years passed, I gained the ability to sense an entire world all about me by simply walking outside and listening.

Missouri is rich in bird life. I will, in one evening, identify as many birds in Missouri as I would over an entire summer in Alaska. Yes — Alaska may be wild, but it is also a young ecosystem. Missouri has a much more diverse flora. While Alaska’s mosquitoes and no-see-ums are infamous, Missouri has bugs without end. Missouri also has about nine months of mild to hot weather, as compared to three for Alaska. And Missouri benefits from enormous migratory traffic. It is rather interesting to note that many of the birds I observe in Missouri are migrating to and from the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.

We live in interesting times because technology has reshaped the relationship we have with nature. Bird watching seemed to take forever to master when I was young because about the only way you could learn anything was by bringing a nice set of binoculars and an expert. But we have tools such as Merlin and E-bird, bird watching applications designed by Cornell Labs. I owe a great deal to them. Now, for my morning walks, I turn on Merlin and it identifies dozens of birds by sound. In most cases, I can confirm what I hear through visual sighting.

Which brings me back to Rachel’s Prairie. I began to seriously bird watch this place starting around 2010. Even though I grew up here, I only had a cursory awareness of the birds around me. I was familiar with the visitors of the bird feeder in winter months, and of the more common birds I could identify through sight and sound. But that made up a roster of about a dozen species. After 2010, I began to have the advantage of familiarity. I was at the same place. I observed birds mostly in Spring and Fall when they were most abundant and vocal. Over the years, I could even predict when and exactly where I could expect a particular species to appear.

Below is a listing of birds that have been identified around Rachel’s Prairie. I generally list them alphabetically, but I have grouped some species together (such as warblers). One of the main reasons for grouping birds is to assist me in identification.

You also note an asterisk (*) after some of the birds’ names. Both myself and Merlin have a way to denote exceptionally rare or possibly misidentified species. This is understandable. Bird songs and calls can be very similar between birds. Even background sounds, frogs and insects can generate a false positive. The asterisk is one way of noting to myself to watch for a particular species at a future date. Most of the questionable species are migratory, so I can expect to hear them again in Spring or Fall.

Birds

Wow. 93 species identified around Rachel’s Prairie.

American Crow

The American crow is one of the bad boys of the bird kingdom. They can run in mobs and simply overrun an area to the point that a casual observer would think there is only one kind of bird. I often see this with house sparrows in the city along with starlings. But life is so rich around Rachel’s Prairie, there are only a few crows in the area and there are plenty of places for them to gather in a natural habitat. They do have a vibrant community life which is almost comical to observe. One day they had gathered behind the pond making a huge racket. I then observed a red-shoulder hawk gliding over the house, across the yard, veering around the giant oak trees and over the pond, straight into the crow community. Sure got quiet in a hurry.

American Goldfinch

The goldfinch is one of the most brilliantly colored birds in the area. Folks around here often encounter them around their feeders. Ours is no exception, except our winter home is in Georgia where most of the goldfinches spend their winter. They can eat you out of house and home.

Around Rachel’s prairie, we do not provide feeders, so they have to survive in the wild. Goldfinches do well in suburbia, but on our rural estate they can be seen flying in and out of the brush along the edge of the forests. And — I have discovered they feast on sunflowers! They occasionally appear in the prairie, feasting on the steady flow of seeds that are produced by grasses, sedge and flowers.

American Robin

The most common bird observed throughout the United States, the robin is ever-present. Especially busy in the early morning, one of the first birds to greet the day.

Bald Eagle

Growing up, bald eagles were almost never seen. It wasn’t until the Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area was established in the 1990’s that eagles began to find a home in the area. Even so, seeing an eagle was considered a major event.

Then I moved to Alaska in 2003 where eagles are more numerous than starlings. Living on a mountain side, our home was above the coastline by several hundred feet where I could observe them in flight as the moved from the coastal feeding areas to their nests above in the adjacent forest. They are quite remarkable birds and I feel I am blessed to have seen them.

But back in Missouri (in 2024), I never expected to see an eagle around our home because we are so far from their normal feeding areas, which are usually around rivers. So it was that I was working outside loading dirt into a wagon when I saw an eagle flying twenty feet down the road. I was standing about thirty feet from the road, but I was so intent on my work that I only made a mental note of seeing an eagle. But then I stopped and said to myself, “That was an eagle!” I turned and watched it glide over the trees.

Much to my surprise, I spotted an eagle circling above the house in Spring 2025 at a low altitude where you could undoubtedly confirm you were seeing a bald eagle.

So one can only hope that a bald eagle will be a more common visitor to Rachel’s Prairie.

Baltimore Oriole

I learned as a young man the art of identifying the Baltimore oriole. It is not easy. First, their bird calls are similar to that of several other birds, so you have to listen carefully. Second, a visual sighting is often necessary to confirm what you are hearing. And third, the dern things love to inhabit the top of tall trees, reducing themselves to LBBs (little-brown birds).

But when you see them it is a blessing. They are beautiful. I have noticed that both Baltimore and orchard orioles prefer transitional areas, places where fields have long been neglected, inhabited by a large range of small trees and shrubs. They often are heard in the small grove of trees adjacent to the prairie, flying out to nearby tree branches overlooking the grass and flowers.

Barn Swallow

My experience with barn swallows goes back to my childhood. My father added a carport and garage to the house back in the mid-1960’s. It did not take long for barn swallows to move in. My father even made nesting platforms for them so as to encourage them to return. And they did for about thirty years, consistently shaping their mud nests and dutifully depositing bird droppings on his car.

But the phoebes moved in around 2010 or so and the barn swallows had to go elsewhere. Yet I see them from time-to-time feeding in the yard and in the prairie.

Barred Owl

One of my favorite birds is the barred owl. They can really put on a show around here. Back in the 80’s I had purchased a nearby house and I enjoyed sitting out on the front porch in the evenings. I counted eleven of them calling out into the night.

It would be around 2012 that I really began to appreciate the bizarre qualities of this bird. I was sleeping in my parents’ RV with the window open when a barred owl landed in a nearby tree to unleash the most ungodly sound one can imagine coming from a bird. Ever since, I have had frequent occasions hearing them shriek and holler. I have seen them from time-to-time in my life, usually captured in the headlights. Some evenings I have been fortunate to observe them alighting on a nearby tree branch.

Belted Kingfisher*

I must have been half asleep when this bird appeared on the Merlin app in June 2023. Belted kingfishers have a very distinct sound, one which I become quite familiar with in Alaska. I would frequently observe them while fly fishing. But on this day, I did not hear the sound myself and I did not see one. I doubt Merlin could have generated a false positive for a belted kingfisher. So it is quite likely it dropped by the pond, picked up an evening meal, and rested for the night.

Black-capped Chickadee

I have known about chickadees since I was a kid. They tend to hang out near the house so I am quite familiar with their curiosity and feisty chatter. With fewer species to observe around our house in Alaska, the chickadee was a constant visitor to the feeding station. But since returning to Missouri, the little bird can be easily lost in the orchestra that surrounds the prairie.

Lesley the Bird Nerd has some interesting videos on chickadees.

Blue Grosbeak

I consider the blue grosbeak one of the more exotic birds in Rachel’s Prairie. This is the first year that the blue grosbeak has been identified in the area. I have seen the bird three times before. My first encounter was while hiking through the Rocky Fork Conservation area. I was carrying a tablet with me experimenting with a new technology — a bird app that could match sounds with species. I don’t remember the exact year, but it was about 2012 or so. When the app flashed blue grosbeak, my first reaction was “A what?” I never heard of such a thing. So I took some time and listened for it’s song. Sure enough, there it was flying between tall trees down the trail. It has to be one of the most beautiful birds I have seen (probably because I am partial to blue).

My second encounter was around 2022. I was visiting my father and I walked to church, armed with my Merlin app. The blue grosbeak popped up in the app as I approached the church. Looking up, I saw it. The following year, my father had passed, and I was walking to church again. It was a special time. He loved birds. Fed them regularly and collected several reference books. What a blessing to see the blue grosbeak once again, almost in the same location.

So I am quite grateful to have heard it near Rachel’s Prairie as I viewed it flying between tall oak trees adjacent to the pond.

Blue Jay

Blue jays are common on Rachel’s Prairie. They are loud and have a rich range of sounds. My favorite is when they mimic red shoulder hawks.

Blue jays are probably the wildest of the jays I have encountered. They are usually totally uninterested in me and are quite skittish if I come near. I had stellar jays eating out of my hand in Alaska and “whiskey jacks” (gray jays) eating at my table uninvited :). Someone who has had considerable success working with blue jays is Lesley the Bird Nerd.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

And here it is that for years I have been calling them gray gnatcatchers. What do you think? They look gray to me. It was about ten years ago that I became aware of these tiny birds. I had a bird identifying app on my tablet and I was walking down a trail in the Rocky Fork Conservation area, when I picked up this very soft chat call. I looked up and saw several of these tiny birds feeding in the lower branches. I believe they are the smallest birds next to the hummingbirds.

I typically see them in Spring and early Summer. They are occasionally spotted around Rachel’s Prairie along the edge of the forest. From my observation post on top of the hill, I will see them feeding on the lower branches of nearby trees. They are rather tame if you remain still and quiet, coming rather close.

Brown-headed Cowbird

Two birds I often confuse are cowbirds and catbirds. Both are the bad boys in the bird kingdom. Throw into the mix female blackbirds, starlings and grackles, it is understandable why most people see them as “blackbirds.”

But the male brown-headed catbird is easy to identify with its distinct brown head atop its effervescent dark body.

Cowbirds are unique in that they engage in brood parasitism. They lay eggs in the nests of other species. Surprisingly, most of them are dutifully fed and raised by their adoptive parents. Due to their unusual size, the cowbird chicks can dominant the feeding at the expense of smaller species. We have a large propane tank and the control valve is covered by a large metal dome, which means it is typically occupied each summer. One year I opened the lid and noticed that a Carolina wren’s nest was hosting an egg that was much different in coloration.

Cowbirds travel well with red-wing blackboards, so it is no surprise that I see them on occasion at Rachel’s Prairie. But most often I see them waddling across the yard eating insects.

Brown Thrasher

Most birds are identified by their song or by their appearance. The thrasher is unique in that it is probably the noisiest bird around. I typically see them digging through the leaves in the nearby grove of trees. In some cases, I think I am hearing a squirrel.

Identifying the thrasher by appearance is also a challenge because its cousin, the wood thrush, is similar in appearance, more abundant around Rachel’s prairie, and easily matched with its pleasant evening melody.

When I can confirm sighting a thrasher, it is usually because of its mannerisms. As noted above, they are not too discrete when clawing back leaves seeking insects. They are also a bit larger than a wood thrush and a tad more aerodynamic in profile.

Canada Goose

If it makes you feel any better, for decades I called them Canadian Geese. It was while in Alaska that I realized my error. The SE Alaskan wetlands are covered with Canada geese as early as February before they disperse further north. As for Missouri, the Canada goose is a fixture, aggravating suburbanites with their large droppings. But I live in the country and it is quite common to see flocks of geese browsing in the fields and elegantly drifting from one lake to another.

And … once in a while in the spring or fall, they drop into the pond below Rachel’s prairie. The pond is a bit small for geese, but they can manage to land and fly away. When they take off, depending on the wind, they will barely elevate high enough to clear the south embankment and climb across the back yard, giving me a great view of their wing spans.

Carolina Chickadee

Distinguishing the difference between a Carolina and a black-capped chickadee is a bit of an art, especially since both of these birds are vivacious and very chatty. The song of the Carolina chickadee is a bit less melodic than that of its cousin.

According to Wikipedia, the range of this bird ends in the Ozarks, about 150 miles to the south of Rachel’s Prairie. But I have seen Carolinas around the property for several years and on my walks through the Rocky Fork Conservation area (about four miles north of here).

They are quite prevalent around our house in Georgia.

Carolina Wren

Wrens are the dynamos of the bird kingdom, with a possible nod to kinglets. They are amazing to watch. Always moving and defying the laws of physics by bursting out in prolonged orchestrations. I believe someone said they store air in their bones!

Carolina wrens are special. Unlike other wrens, Carolina wrens seem to be the most comfortable with humans. I was once hit in the face by a startled wren that had found a nesting place in a wreath hanging on my neighbor’s front door. My father’s shop had an annual resident inside one of his cabinets. And I have an annual battle with the Carolina wrens in Georgia. My recent engagement required that I throw out the nests they had started five times in a one month period! Persistent they are.

But they are all in the wild around Rachel’s Prairie. They love to reside in the forest edge, their calls echoing through the forest. I rarely see them around the house because they seem quite content with the abundance of food around the pond and prairie.

Cedar Waxwing

One of the most beautiful birds in North America is the cedar waxwing. I was introduced to the waxwing by a close friend. I was not into bird watching at the time, but he insisted I walk with him after the Easter sunrise service at our church. The church sits amidst a nearby forest, and the grounds were well landscaped with shrubs and fruit trees. It made for perfect birding. And my friend was an expert. He is responsible for my first encounter with cedar waxwings and rufus crowned kinglets.

Knowing what they were and when they would most likely appear, I observed them feasting on the Japanese crab apples. Flocks migrate through mid-Missouri in Spring and Fall. It so happened that one house I lived in was earth-contact, so the second floor windows looked straight into the branches of the crab apple trees. Being discrete, I was able to observe them close up. Amazing plumage.

Around Rachel’s Prairie, flocks can be seen gathering at dusk, perching atop high hardwood trees. They winter around our house in Georgia, so I became quite familiar to their high-pitched shrill. These same birds winter in the boreal regions in Canada and Alaska and they were quite common around Juneau, Alaska.

Chimney Swift

Along with barn swallows, chimney swifts were frequently spotted around the house when I was younger. One reason for that was probably due to the fact that most of houses, including ours, had uncovered or partially covered chimneys. I recall hearing them fluttering up the chimney flue. Once in a while, one would drop into the living room.

But my father eventually screened off the chimney and I grew up and moved away. Chimney swifts are rarely heard, but I usually spot them feeding at dusk. Their aerodynamic wing patterns and swooping flight patterns distinguish them from the bats that are feeding at the same time.

Chipping Sparrow

I grew up in a world that was highly prejudiced against house sparrows. Unfortunately, it delayed for decades my acquaintance with the chipping sparrow which fell victim to disregard folks had for “sparrows”. It wasn’t until I got serious about bird watching in the mid-2000’s that I realized I had overlooked this delightful little bird. Chipping sparrows are not all that numerous and don’t run in mobs like house sparrows. They have a rapid-fire chatty sound, similar to that of some warblers and juncos. I encountered them in Alaska and I had a lot of fun playing the bird calls of chipping sparrows and others to see what would show up (all three species were very territorial). It was a great example of false positives, where their calls are so similar that it is easy to misidentify a bird using an app such as Merlin. For that reason, if you are aware of this problem, you know that it is a good idea to get a visual identification to confirm that Merlin is identifying the sound correctly.

The chipping sparrow has a cap that is a bright red-brown color, whereas the house sparrow has a solid brown cap. The sparrows typically hang out along the banks of the pond amongst the willows and cedars below Rachel’s prairie.

Common Grackle

Poor grackles. I believe they are the ugliest birds around Rachel’s prairie. Even their name betrays them. In fact, even their sounds betray them. Yet I must admit that I may come around some day and appreciate these birds for what they are.

Grackles can often be lumped into the “blackbird” stereotype. My prejudice against them was primarily attributed my disdain for starlings when I was young. But in some sense, they are like cowbirds. Their color pattern is similar, except their heads are deep blue. They have peculiar hooked beak.

They are around each year, but rarely seen.

Common Nighthawk

On occasion, I pick up the sound of the nighthawk. I occasionally see them flying, but as their name implies, they are night hawks. So what I often detect is their profiles against the darkening sunset as they soar back and forth feeding on insects. What makes it particularly challenging to identify them is that they are sometimes joined by swallows (slightly smaller) and by bats (have a much more erratic flight pattern).

Nighthawks are most peculiar to observe. I rarely hear them or see them around the prairie, but I relish each moment. It is my hope that they will more regularly visit Rachel’s prairie. I notice that when they do, they typically perch somewhere in the top of the giant oak tree by the pond.

Folks in Columbia are quite familiar with nighthawks because they have adapted well to urban life, often nesting in tall buildings and feasting on the bugs that gather around light poles.

Cooper’s Hawk

I began seeing Cooper’s hawks around the area in the 2010’s. For a few years, the Cooper’s hawk was a regular visitor to the prairie, even establishing a nest near the pond. But raptors will tend to cycle through an area and there is a lot more competition for territory these days. I sometimes hear the Cooper’s hawks in the distance, so I know they are still around. But the red-shoulder hawks dominate the area around the prairie for now.

Dark-Eyed Junco

If you have a bird feeder in winter, you will undoubtedly see the dark-eyed junco, what we affectionately call “snowbirds.” They breed far to the north, so they winter in Missouri. It is no surprise that they were heard and spotted in late October 2023.

Downy Woodpecker

You know you are becoming serious about bird watching if you can distinguish the woodpeckers. The pileated woodpecker is easy. But the rest of them takes a bit of time to figure out. Below I discuss the confusion between red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers (the latter has red on its head as well), and then there is the black and white downy and its slightly larger cousin, the hairy woodpecker. Both have this small red flash on their heads, but you begin to learn it is not just size that distinguishes them, but their beaks. Now you know you have fallen off the deep end into the world of birding.

The downy is the “cute” one. The easiest way to distinguish it from the others is to set up a bird feeder filled with sunflower seeds. The downy is the smallest and the shiest. Hearing them in the wild around Rachel’s prairie is bit more of challenge. Even after several years, I have yet to instinctively identify their call. Blame the flickers.

Eastern Bluebird

Missouri’s state bird has been a frequent resident of this place for most of my life. There are usually at least one pair around, but some years have sported several more pairs. Lovely birds that make a soft, sweet shortle, they act in much the same way as Phoebes, often joining them in the fruit trees and in the garden.

One thing I noticed is that the population of blue birds have increased from one pair to two or three pairs with the introduction of the two prairie projects, one of which is Rachel’s Prairie.

Eastern Kingbird

A friend from the Audubon Society introduced me to kingbirds back in the 90’s. They are a great example of how we grow up with easily identifiable birds that live around us, but remain for decades that “bird on the wire,” or in my case, that “bird on the fence.” In many respects, eastern kingbirds are like eastern meadowlarks — they prefer open fields. I will occasionally hear or spot on around Rachel’s Prairie, but it is just for a visit. If I walk down the road a hundred yards and look at the nearby farm fields, I will often spot them on the wires or on a fence.

Around here, you have to be intentional if you want to actually identify a kingbird. Phoebes and pee-wees are so numerous around here you tend to subliminally identify a kingbird as one of them, until you take a closer look.

Eastern Meadowlark

So what is the difference between a meadow and a prairie? Ask the meadowlark. I grew up with these birds. Their sing-song tunes would grace the nearby farm fields. In their view, a “meadow” is a large grassy field. I think the operative word is “grassy.” Rachel’s Prairie has a lot of grass as well, but it is a small patch of ground compared to a large hay field. Meadowlarks nest on the ground, so a large field gives them better protection. I have also seen them in larger prairie areas.

Eastern Phoebe

I simply adore the Phoebe. They are rather comfortable being around humans. They found my father’s carport an attractive residence, building nests in three locations. Needless to say, the car had to be washed frequently as mom and dad were joined by three or four chicks at least once a year. Their call is very unique and pleasant. And their love for insects is unmatched. Today, the carport has been converted into the front entrance of the house, but they have readily found the lean-to at the end of my new garage a great place for a nest. They are typically found sitting atop my fruit trees or on the cattle panels in the garden. Their agility in flight is amazing to observe as they chase down flying insects.

And .. I have to be careful where I park the tractor under the lean-to. 🙂

Eastern Towhee

The towhee is a very colorful bird, but ever so shy. I typically observe them feeding along the high canopy of hardwood trees that line the yard and prairie. So they are hard to see with the naked eye. When they venture closer to the ground, I feel myself fortunate to be able to see their flash of red-orange plumage.

Eastern Wood-Pewee

A typical day on the prairie will include pewees and phoebes. Unless you are paying attention, it is easy to get the two confused. At a distance, they both appear as the little gray bird with a white breast. It is only when you look closely and listen do you learn to distinguish the two. Phoebes are used to humans. I see them in the yard and in the garden. Wood pewees pretty much live up to their name, residing amongst the trees. Their distinct calls are kind of cool to listen to at dusk, echoing through the forest.

Eurasian Collared Dove

My experience with collared doves began in Alaska. They have a peculiar call. They would frequent the feeding station at our townhouse, chasing off all the other birds due to their size and their habit of extending their wings and ruffling their feathers to make themselves look even larger.

Their history is rather interesting. To call them “invasive” may be a bit premature. For centuries they were restricted to the Middle East, quite possibly the dove that alighted on Jesus when he was baptized. About three hundred years ago, however, something changed. They started probing into Asia Minor, then across to Europe, adapting to the colder climate of Northern Europe and England. Someone brought them over to the Bahamas, they escaped and landed in Florida. The rest is history.

While they have appeared in Spring, I have yet to spot them during the summer months.

European Starling

The starling — the bird that everybody loves to hate. Along with house sparrows, starlings rank as the best example of “invasive species.” In some parts of the country, they run in large mobs, especially in cities. But my experience with starlings has been much different. Around Rachel’s Prairie, there are few. Predictably present — yes. Invasive? Not really. My father hated them, as did his father. So I did, too. But my move up to Alaska in 2003 changed all that. It was there that I began to observe them with more care. Thinking they were a Midwestern bird, I was amazed how they survived Alaska. Even more so was my surprise encountering them in the middle of the Southeast Alaskan rain forest. Observing them in the wild was a memorable experience.

The other thing I picked up about starlings was the uniqueness of their songs and calls. Alaska is relatively “quiet” when it comes to birds. In Missouri, I almost never pick up on starling calls because their is too much competition. Alaska was different. On a warm afternoon, sitting outside and enjoying a heavenly Alaskan summer day, the world of birds would virtually be silent. Then I would hear this peculiar trill. Looking up I would see a starling, perched on an alder branch, looking me over.

It was in Alaskan I began to appreciate their appearance. Before, they were just another black bird waddling across my yard. But they are far from that. They are rather beautiful, a rich assortment of effervescent colors.

For the moment, the starlings are in balance with the rest of the bird community at Rachel’s Prairie. They are welcome around the garden since they are voracious insectivores. I see them often, but there are only two or three pairs around at any time. One pair moved in under the propane tank control valve cover, producing a wonderful set of eggs.

Fish Crow*

I thought I was going to skip this one as a false positive in the Merlin app. I had not even heard of a fish crow before the day in April when Merlin indicated there was one around. But then it came up again a day later. But I have yet to confirm actually identifying a fish crow. As you can see, telling the difference between crow species is a bit of an art.

Their range map does not show them at anytime residing in Missouri. But they have been spotted in the Mississippi and Missouri valleys. We are about 20 miles away from the Missouri River, so having a visit from a fish crow is not inconceivable.

Golden-crowned kinglet*

Golden-crowned kinglets spend their summers in Alaska. I frequently encountered them on my walks. Like their cousins, the ruby-crowned kinglets, they explode with a long song. They are also very territorial, so it is easy to get their attention if you play their song. They will hop down to a nearby branch and look you over real good.

When I saw the bird pop up in the Merlin app, I was not surprised. But the identification is rather rare and I was not able to visually confirm it. The bird has appeared twice in Fall 2024.

Gray Catbird

There have been catbirds around the house since I can remember. They have a peculiar cat-like call.

Gray-Cheeked Thrush*

This is one of those birds I put an asterisk on. I have never sighted a gray-cheek thrush. The Merlin app indicated that the bird was present, but it is so far only a one-off event. I will need to watch and listen for this bird next year to see if there is a pattern.

Great Blue Heron

Many years ago my father gave up trying to tame the pond. As the years passed, trees and shrubs encroached along its banks, the shoreline become lined with cattails and American lotus, and yellow lily pads began to spread along the surface of the pond. No longer a fishing pond, it was now a wild pond. It was then that were honored to be visited by the great blue heron. This bird frequently visits the pond and I have had the chance to observe it stealthily wading in the shallows spearing frogs and fish. It can be a bit skittish, so I have to be really quiet and still. On some occasions it has scared the squat out of me as I walk around the pond as it bounds off its perch in a nearby tree. It will occasionally entertain me with its weird calls.

Great Crested Flycatcher

This is one of those birds that you’d think was named by WC Fields. Yet the great crested flycatcher is considered one of the more exotic birds in the area. It wasn’t until 2020 or so that I first encountered them via the Merlin app. Their bird call would often come up at dusk, sort of like a final marking call. Noting its peculiar plumage, I eagerly waited for the day when I would actually see one. Their calls were typically coming from deep within the forest.

It was in 2023 that I saw my first GCF. In fact, I saw several. It was early in the summer and I got the impression that they live in colonies. They had found a corner of the forest to their liking and were flying across the road to a grove of trees.

But it was in 2025 that I began to identify them around Rachel’s Prairie, usually calling from the nearby forest.

Green Heron*

Possibly a false positive in the Merlin app, the green heron has been detected only once in early May. No visual sighting. So I have made a note to listen for another event. If it shows up again in the app, I should have more confidence that it is around and I can work at locating the bird. I have seen green herons frequently along Missouri’s Ozark streams. It is a small bird relative to the Great Blue Heron and it is conceivable that it was hiding amongst the cattails on the nearby pond.

Henslow’s Sparrow*

In the year’s I have been using the Merlin app, this little bird has only appeared once in late April 2024. Even Merlin put a red dot next to it. So this may have been a false positive. According to the data, they breed in Missouri, so it is possible that they were around. But I have never identified one.

Hermit Thrush

This is one the “you’ve got to be kidding” birds. Hermit thrushes migrate through Missouri on their way to the northern forests. They are quite prominent in Southeast Alaska. Their evening melodies are almost hypnotic. But Missouri? The Merlin app indicated that it heard an hermit thrush, but with a qualifier as “rare”. It may have been a false positive. I am quite familiar with hermit thrushes and I never heard its distinctive song. This was in early May. But I have yet to visually observe the bird at Rachel’s Prairie.

One thing I can add, however, is that the Merlin app matched a song pattern to the hermit thrush on two other occasions down the road from the prairie in an area of new growth timber. So they are around.

House Finch

A frequent visitor to the winter bird feeder, the house finches remain in the area throughout the year, dispersing to nearby trees and shrubs. Despite their name, they do not venture around our house. I have seen them on my walks down the road, singing from old sheds and garages where there are holes and cavities ideal for nesting. Our house and garage are too well contained to house birds. The lean-to at the end of our garage has been commandeered by phoebes. So the house finches have to live as they have lived for thousands of years before there were any houses to speak of.

House finches can get quite numerous in town. I have had some fun with them playing purple finch songs, which makes them rather angry and they fly right in front of me letting me have an earful. But out here in Rachel’s Prairie, they are just one of many species. I don’t see them frequently.

House Sparrow

As a youngster I remember my father’s battle with house sparrows. He rigged up a trap from an old window screen, capturing a dozen at a time, and inviting me to join him in the gruesome task of “dispatching” them. I couldn’t blame him. They mobbed the bird feeders back then. They were everywhere. Other bird species were having difficulty accessing the feeders. It would only be decades later that I would realize that not all of them brown birds were house sparrows.

But things changed. I noticed as the years passed that house sparrows became less numerous. They still dominated the bird world in the city of Columbia, but out in the country things were different. House sparrows were joined by chipping sparrows, white-crowned sparrows and spotted sparrows. Today, seeing a house sparrow is rather infrequent. I noticed they seemed to make their appearance in the middle of summer.

House sparrows are a fascinating object lesson in the ebb and flow of bird populations in the space of a lifetime. I have heard the word “invasive” to describe this Eurasian bird, but Wikipedia states that there has been an estimated 84% decline in the population since 1966. I hope they stick around.

Indigo Bunting

One of the most brilliant birds to observe around Rachel’s prairie is the indigo bunting. There are several in the area.

Louisiana Waterthrush

I was surprised to see the Louisiana waterthrush appear on my Merlin app not once, but several times, this past Spring while sitting at Rachel’s Prairie. I spotted one sitting in a nearby tree. But my most interesting encounter was in the nearby forest where I came across the birds during my morning walks.

Mallard

Rachel’s Prairie resides above a pond, so aquatic birds will be identified from time-to-time. The pond is only a half acre in size, a bit on the short end of things in regards to aquatic birds. They tend to favor the pond in the spring as a place to rest and feed before proceeding to better locations nearby.

Mallards are by far the most common ducks seen in the U.S. and I typically spot them every year. I remember as a kid how one pair of mallards decided to camp out on the pond, becoming so tame that they would eat corn out of your hand. My guess is that they were probably “domesticated” mallards that had traveled from a nearby farm pond. Mallards I have encountered recently are easily startled, not accustomed to my presence.

Mississippi Kite

I can’t tell you how surprised I was when I first beheld the Mississippi Kite. I was sitting in Rachel’s Prairie, about the pond. The red-wing blackbirds were raising a ruckus about something when I suddenly saw flying about three feet above the ground in front of me this grayish raptor, being chased by a couple of red-wing blackbirds. Since then I have encountered the bird either visually or by sound every year, although rarely.

A few years back I came across their nest in the forest below the pond dam. But I think the red-shouldered hawks have caused the kites to find a safer place to nest.

Mourning Dove

Ever since I was a child I have recognized the soft melody of the mourning dove. They have a particular fondness for telephone lines. They have distinctive squeaking sound whenever they fly. And I almost always see them in pairs.

Northern Cardinal

Equally as common as the American Robin is the cardinal. These birds are in the area year-round and are frequent visitors to the bird feeder. They are vocally rich, with a wide array of songs. It has been my experience to positively identify cardinals to isolate them from tanagers. At a casual glance, the male tanagers and cardinals appear identical and their songs only vary slightly.

Northern Flicker

I have identified northern flickers since I was a kid. A relatively large bird, they are hard to miss. They seem to have a fondness for the hardwood trees that line the yard and Rachel’s Prairie.

Northern House Wren

For much of my early life I knew them only as “wren”. I had no idea there were other wrens in this world. It was only after marriage, moving into town, that I would encounter this courageous little bird that nested in door wreaths and empty boxes — the Caroline wren. Later I would encounter the winter wren while living in Alaska.

Wrens a very entertaining to watch. A tiny bird, it is packed with energy, shuffling through the leaves, kicking up the dirt, and exploding into a long composition of sound. Growing up, they were quite common. My guess they are just as common today, but I actually rarely see one. There are simply more species competing for space and food around here. They tend to keep to themselves, preferring nesting in the wild where they belong. So despite their name, they don’t live in or near my house and shop.

Northern Mockingbird

Mockingbirds are famous for their mimicry. We have a residence in Georgia as well as our home in Missouri. It is in Georgia that mockingbirds are most frequently seen and heard. They feast on the bugs that are in our pecan orchard. Mockingbirds are loud and quite fun to observe. I noticed they are a bit territorial.

It’s different in Missouri, however. I typically see a solitary mockingbird flying amongst the trees and shrubs that line the eastern border of Rachel’s prairie where a county gravel road is lined with several feet of prairie grass and a wild barrier that my father and I have developed over the years. Here, the mockingbird is a bit shier. I have not observed it mimicking other birds. It pretty much sticks to its instinctive songs.

Northern Waterthrush*

I am not certain about this. Neither is the Merlin app. As the photo displays, visually confirming this member of the thrush family is not easy since it appears, at a glance, identical to wood thrushes, Swainson thrushes, hermit thrushes and others.

Orchard Oriole

If I wanted to find an orchard oriole, I would know where to find them. But they are rather rare around Rachel’s Prairie. They are hard to detect because I don’t often have an opportunity to hear one around the house. But the Merlin app will pick them up, usually in Spring and early Summer as they are on their way to their preferred nesting ground. I hope some day a pair will find a home near Rachel’s Prairie.

Osprey*

The Merlin app put a red dot next to this one. I have seen a lot of raptors around Rachel’s Prairie, but never an osprey. The reason for the red dot and my rare encounters is due to the fact that Missouri is part of their migration route. I did not see it, thus the asterisk.

Of the raptors, ospreys are fairly easy to identify due to their white chest and dark wings. I see them from time-to-time while driving through Missouri, but I have never seen one on my property in mid-Missouri.

Pied-billed Grebe*

If there is a pied-billed grebe around the pond below the prairie, I will believe it when I see it. The Merlin app indicated that there was a grebe around. There is a possibility I observed the grebe one afternoon, but it was swimming amongst the cattails and I could not get a clear view of the bird.

Purple Finch

In this area, the “purple” finch is usually the house finch. House finches are quite common. Purple finches are rarer. Purple finches breed far to the north of Rachel’s Prairie, so the best time to spot them is during migration or at the winter feeding station. If you are lucky, you might have an opportunity to see both the house and purple finch at the same time, competing for a spot at the feeding station. The two are quite competitive. I have used the Merlin app to play their songs in order to get a clearer identification. The opposite species will usually show up and give you an ear full.

One of the key differences between the two finches is that that purple finch is colored by red tones throughout its body, whereas the house finch is primarily colored in its head and a spot on its chest.

Red-Eyed Vireo

It wasn’t until I took up bird watching as a hobby that I actually realized that vireos existed. They are not the type to hover around bird feeders and generally exist in the wild. An experienced birder introduced me to the vireos on our walk. So it was that I would be looking out for them when one evening I saw an interesting bird perching in a limb above me while I was sitting out in Rachel’s Prairie. It’s markings and profile were quite unique. It seemed to be curious regarding my presence, cocking his head, looking me over for some time before proceeding to a higher branch, feeding on spiders and mites.

Vireos will typically occupy the grove of trees adjacent to the prairie. After becoming familiar with the red-eyed vireo, I realized that I heard their sound for many years, but couldn’t nail down what they were. It was only after the advent of birding apps was I able to put the song I was hearing with the species.

Now if only I could get close enough to this bird in the right light to see their red eyes.

Red-headed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers

It is difficult to discuss woodpeckers without first comparing the red-headed woodpecker with the red-bellied woodpecker. The two are often confused. I must admit that growing up the frequent visitor to our suet block was dubbed the “red-headed woodpecker.” In actuality, it was the red-bellied woodpecker. But it is easy how this can happen given that the red-bellied woodpecker has a bright, red head. But the two are quite different. In our neighborhood, red-headed woodpeckers are quite rare so locals can easily slip into mislabeling the red-bellied woodpecker.

In my experience, red-headed woodpeckers are most frequently seen along rivers and creeks, particularly in thick forests. But they do appear in other locations. Red-bellied woodpeckers are everywhere in mid-Missouri and there are several pairs around Rachel’s Prairie each year. Red-headed woodpeckers are seen on occasion, as in the photo above.

Red-shouldered Hawk

The king of the bird kingdom in these parts is the red-shouldered hawk. I have been watching as many as two pairs in the area. One pair favors our 24-acre forest that lies west of the pond. They have very large nests high in the hardwood canopy. I have watched them gliding through the forest, a marvel of nature as these large birds effortlessly navigate around the large branches beneath the forest canopy.

As regards Rachel’s prairie, it is their habit from time-to-time to cycle through the area, perched on a branch of a white oak tree, looking for prey. I have noticed that we no longer have squirrels everywhere, nor do we have many rabbits. When I was younger, raptors were not as numerous and squirrels and rabbits were everywhere.

This past summer they were not as frequently heard or seen, although I typically hear them about once a week. They remind me of the wolves around Juneau, Alaska. Wolves would enter an area, eat everything in sight, and then move on, not to appear for many years. My guess is that the red-shoulder hawks will be back, perching on the branches above Rachel’s prairie.

Red-Tailed Hawk

About the only resident raptor I was familiar with as a child was the red-tailed hawk. Its scream-like call is very distinctive. And, depending on the light, its red tail is easy to identify. It is a large hawk, about the same size as the red-shoulder hawk.

I have heard the red-tails from time-to-time while sitting at Rachel’s Prairie. But I have learned that raptors mark their territory and they will occupy an area in cycles. For many years, the red-tailed hawk reigned supreme. I then observed Mississippi kites and Cooper hawks. But for now, the red-shouldered hawks dominate the area.

Red-Wing Blackbird

When it comes to observing birds in Rachel’s prairie, these are the loudest and the most numerous of the bunch, thanks largely to the wild pond nearby. Ever since I was a kid, I have been graced by the racket they make. They make all sorts of sounds and I believe they are largely to blame for what I believe are false positives in the Merlin app. For example, I have seen yellow chats at other locations, but red-wing blackbirds can make sounds similar to a yellow chat — and I have yet to confirm seeing on around the pond.

Red-wing blackbirds have been known to be aggressively territorial, tapping people on the head or back if they approach their nesting area. I have not experienced an attack on my walks around the pond, but they do fly to nearby branches keeping a wary eye.

This past year has seen a decline in the blackbird population around the pond largely due to the damage done by red shoulder hawks in past year. I witnessed a hawk going down the shoreline of the pond cleaning out the nests. But the hawks were not as frequently visiting the area this year, so my guess is that the population will increase next summer.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

I have several Facebook friends are posting pictures of the rose-breasted grosbeak, usually with the help of automated motion-detection cameras mounted on their back decks. You get the impression these are town birds. But they are occasionally spotted around Rachel’s Prairie. This is a wilder environment, so it is rare that I will see them sitting out in the open ground. They mostly reside in the trees along the edge of the prairie and yard, staying high off the ground and close to a forest.

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Another Alaskan bird that migrates through Missouri, this is one of the most beautiful birds that visits the prairie, a definite winner of the “cute award.” My history with the kinglet goes all the way back to the 1990’s when a friend of mine wanted me to join him for a walk around our church after a sunrise service. The leaves had yet to come out, so viewing migratory birds was prime. He pointed out this tiny bird hopping in the shrubs exploding with a long-winded song. Since returning from Alaska, it is a joy to hear them.

Scarlet Tanager

The scarlet tanager is the shier cousin of the summer tanager. Merlin will occasionally pick up their call and I will rarely see them. I have spotted them in nearby forests on some of my longer walks, but they have yet to make Rachel’s Prairie their home. They are quite beautiful birds to behold.

Song Sparrow

Song sparrows winter in Missouri, but our area is just on the south edge of their breeding range, so it is no surprise that throughout my life I have been familiar with the peculiar two-note introduction of the song sparrow. They were very common in Alaska’s warm season, a frequent visitor to my small front yard. I rarely encounter them around Rachel’s Prairie, but they seem to prefer hanging around the pond whenever they visit the area.

Summer Tanager

I began to get serious about bird watching in the early 2000’s when I became a trail guide in Alaska. But it was only in the mid-2000’s that I started to take this hobby to a new level when I returned to Missouri to visit my parents. As they aged, I began to take two week trips to their home twice a year, working from the USFS lab on the University of Missouri campus. In my free time I go out and seek to discover new species. Like most mid-Missourian familiar with feeding birds in winter, the cardinal was the “red bird”. Subliminally, all red birds were cardinals. But experienced birders know that isn’t true. There is another red bird worth noting — the summer tanager.

I slept in my parent’s RV whenever I visited. It was a pleasant arrangement. I would leave the window open and I would often hear the morning bird song, about 5:30 am. The RV sat opposite a transition area, so about every bird in the book was in that field. I would almost immediately detect the cardinals but there was one morning that I detected a slightly different pattern of sound coming from a red bird. I took a close look and it was then I suspected I encountered the summer tanager.

With the advent of the Merlin app, I was able to positively identify summer tanagers and become familiar with their peculiar call. It reminds me of the those metal frog toys that made a double-click sound. But of all the species I have encountered around Rachel’s prairie, the summer tanager is now the most companionable. It is as if they are intensely curious about me yet cautious. They have their favorite perches. There is one that camps out above my garage in the Scot’s pine tree. There is another that resides in the grove just north of Rachel’s prairie.

And there is this one special tanager that resides deep in the forest. I often go through the woods and cut dead standing timber for firewood. One day, while resting in a portable chair, the double-click of the summer tanager could be heard. And there he was, about 30 yards away, slowly working his way closer to me, until he alighted on a limb about twenty feet above the ground, about ten yards away, looking me over.

Swainson’s Thrush

Since returning from Alaska in 2023, it has surprised me how many Alaskan birds migrate through Missouri. The Swainson’s thrush is rather common in Juneau, Alaska. I didn’t need the Merlin app to pick up its distinctive song.

Swamp Sparrow

Swamp sparrows winter in Missouri so I was a bit surprised to see it appear in Merlin in June. I have observed swamp sparrows south of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are quite common up there. But down here, they are harder to spot. One thing to note is that a casual glance at them may not get your attention because you may think they are chipping sparrows.

Tufted Titmouse

Titmice are one of the more common birds found around here. They are frequent visitors to the winter feeder. They are everywhere and their three and four-note songs are ever-present. Like phoebes, they are comfortable around humans. They frequently hop on nearby limbs whenever I sit outside.

Veery*

Now this is the bird with a big question mark behind it. I have never seen this bird. In fact, I never knew it existed until it showed up in my Merlin app in mid-May. The app indicates that sighting this bird in mid-Missouri is rare. It’s call, however, is rather unique, so it may not be a false positive.

What I do in these cases is to make a note and wait till another time. If the bird comes up again, at the same time of year, then I need to keep a sharp eye out for the bird and hopefully confirm its presence visually. From my what I gather, this species breeds along the Canadian border and in areas of North America that are densely forested. It migrates from its winter grounds in Brazil.

Virginia Rail*

I have observed rails in Missouri, mostly in the Eagle Bluff Conservation Area, about 20 miles from Rachel’s Prairie along the Missouri River. But around our half-acre pond? Not so sure. Have yet to observe one. Their call was picked up by the Merlin app.

This particular species breeds further north. Being that it was flagged by Merlin in mid-June makes this a probable false positive.

Warblers

Warblers are generally migratory. About the only time I identify them is in Spring in April and May. I have only confirmed one resident warbler: the black and White warbler. The Merlin app has picked up the yellow warbler during the summer, but I have yet to confirm it visually.

Warblers generally eat insects and dwell amongst trees. I not only hear them on or near the prairie, but deep in the forest as well.

Black and White Warbler

The black and white warbler is the most frequently seen warbler around Rachel’s Prairie, generally amongst the nearby trees. My most intimate encounter with this little bird was while cutting wood deep in the forest. To see a songbird deep in the forest is generally rare, but birds that prefer insects will find the pickings pretty good. And so it was with this little bird. It wasn’t until around 2015 that even knew they existed. I was taking a break when I heard a scratching sound in a nearby tree. There he was, climbing upside down the trunk of a tree, seemingly unconcerned about my presence and even despite that moments before the worshipful silence of the forest had been crushed by the sound of my chainsaw.

Nashville Warbler

Like it’s cousin, the Tennessee warbler, it makes it appearance in Spring and usually in the same location. It seems to prefer the tall hardwood trees. Like the Tennessee warbler, it is migratory, destined for the boreal forests of Canada.

Palm Warbler*

I am putting this down as a maybe. The palm warbler came up in the Merlin app. I did not see the bird, however. Palm warblers are rather common at our house in south Georgia where they spend the winter months. They migrate to breed in the forests of Canada, so it does not surprise me that they would appear in Missouri. But this identification waits to be confirmed. Hopefully they will pass through the prairie again next Spring or possibly stop for a visit on their way down south.

Pine Warbler*

Similar in appearance to the palm warbler, pine warblers also winter in Georgia and I frequently see them feeding on insects in the pecan grove. While Merlin indicated it heard their song, I was unable to spot one. So, for now, I am marking this with an asterisk. The bird is migrating through Missouri to its breeding ground along the Canadian border. As their name denotes, they prefer to dwell in pine trees and there are not many pine trees around Rachel’s prairie. But there are some (primarily Scot’s pine) and this may explain why they stop here.

Tennessee Warbler

Usually identified in Spring, and almost in the same location, dancing between the walnut and the white oak south of Rachel’s Prairie.

Wilson’s Warbler

One of the gifts I received from living in Alaska was my introduction to warblers. They are everywhere in SE Alaska. These tiny birds are bursting with sound and are rather territorial, so it is easy to invite them to you by playing their song. The Wilson warbler was one specie that I would occasionally encounter in my walks in the Alaskan wilderness. They would sometimes be seen near my townhouse feeding high atop an alder.

How delightful it was when I began to hear a familiar song. Mid-Missouri is along the migration route of the several warbler species and Rachel’s Prairie is ideally suited.

Worm-eating Warbler

This bird got my attention several years ago when I thought I heard a chipping sparrow. I wasn’t using the Merlin app at the time, so it was simply a combination of past experience and the right situation. I wanted to observe the chipping sparrow, so I parked my chair not far from where I heard the sound and waited. What came out of the cedar tree and alighting on the ground wasn’t a chipping sparrow, but a grayish bird with a slightly different profile. I went through a library of bird sounds and returned the site a few days later. It was then that I confirmed that what I had been observing was the worm-eating warbler. I have since observed them in another large cedar tree.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

This little bird loves Rachel’s Prairie. They generally migrate through the area in very early Spring. They have a rather distinctive song. Like the yellow warbler, they can frequently be seen in the lower branches.

My first encounter with the yellow-rumped warbler was in Alaska where some bird books label them as Audubon warblers. I was hiking along a utility road in the forest when I saw them flying across the road. I also saw them on occasion around my house.

Yellow Warbler

Most warblers prefer to feed up in the canopy, so they are difficult to observe. The yellow warbler is much different, preferring to feed in shrubs and hopping in the lower branches. Add to that their bright yellow plummage, it is one of the easiest warblers to observe.

My first acquaintance with them was while in Alaska, generally sighted amongst the Sitka alders along the beach. I observed them back in 2012 or so in Missouri while sitting in the back yard of what would eventually become Rachel’s Prairie. I have this practice of sitting in different locations around the property and simply listening and observing the life around me. It was at such a moment I sighted the yellow warbler and was able to watch it for some time.

The Merlin app has picked up their song throughout the summer.

Warbling Vireo

The warbling vireo is most often seen. I can’t recall actually seeing one. The Merlin app will pick them up from time-to-time, but I have yet to correlate a sound with a bird. Another problem is that it is similar in appearance to its cousin, the red-eyed vireo, which I do see and hear more frequently.

My first encounter with this chatty birds was while visiting Meremac Springs near St. James, Missouri. There were several of them in the park and easily viewed.

White-breasted Nuthatch

The nuthatch is one of very few birds that climb down a tree trunk. While I have observed dozens of species where birds perform all sorts of acrobatics, it is usually high in the limbs while feeding on insects on leaves and stems. The nuthatch seems to prefer picking up insects in the tree bark. Their coloration and profile are also rather unique.

Nuthatches are quite common and I usually hear them daily. They are also frequent visitors to the winter feeders.

White-crowned sparrow

The Merlin app has picked up the song of the white-crowned sparrow while sitting in the prairie, but I usually see them traveling between the winter feeding station and outlying rim of Japanese honeysuckle. I have had some fun with them playing their songs. They get a bit curious, flying to a nearby bush and peering down at me.

I often encountered white-crowned sparrows at our home in Alaska. They would usually appear in late Spring, stay for a couple of weeks before proceeding further north. It is the same for Missouri. I enjoy their presence and their sweet songs.

White-eyed Vireo*

The white-eyed vireo appeared on the Merlin app in August 2024, but I have never seen one. I was able to confirm seeing it’s cousin, the red-eyed vireo, and correlate it with its call. So an asterisk will remain next to that of the white-eyed vireo until I can see the white around their eyes :).

White-Throated Sparrow

For years I always thought the sweet, melodic song I heard was the black-capped chickadee. It was only a few years ago, while doing research for one of my books, that I encountered flocks of white-throated sparrows, noting their unusual appearance and the sound they make. I thought at first I was observing white crowned sparrows, but I noted that the markings were quite different. They are found all over the property, but are most particularly fond of the cover provided by Japanese honeysuckle (an invasive). For that reason, I have been reluctant to go on a crusade to eliminate Japanese honeysuckle in many areas around the edge of the yard. They also love the pond.

Wild Turkey

I have now lived two summers in Missouri since returning from Alaska. And the turkeys do not disappoint. In 2023, we counted 21 polts grazing with their mamas across the yard and into Prairie #2 and turkeys have been spotted walking through the tall grass of Rachel’s Prairie. I frequently see their footprints in the mud around the pond.

As regards to hearing a turkey, it is rare you will hear the explosive gobbling sound put out by the male. What I typically hear is a marking call, usually from the nearby woods where a flock is most likely feeding out of sight.

Winter Wren

Distinguishing a winter wren from a house wren may take a more experienced bird watcher than I. There is a “winter wren” in Alaska, but it is interesting to note that the Cornell Labs shows their range to be limited to regions east of the Rockies. The Alaskan wren is a darker brown, actually more of a solid color than the mottled appearance of other wrens. So when this little creature popped up in the Merlin app in early November 2023, I was surprised to see it but not surprised. Missouri is a common stopping place for boreal bird species.

Winter wrens will sometimes winter in Missouri, but I can’t recall seeing wrens in winter. My guess is that they probably prefer being closer to the gulf. It’s cousin, the house wren, will spend its summers in Missouri but head south for winter.

Wood Thrush

It takes a while, but by early summer the wood thrush finally makes it appearance. Their melodic songs are one of my favorite sounds as the sun settles over the horizon. Seems that wood thrushes and robins (another member of the thrush family) persist in being the last of the song birds active in the day. Wood thrushes look similar to thrashers at first glance and I still have difficulty distinguishing them. It is only in the evening that it becomes easier to correlate the sound with the bird.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

This is one of the more exotic birds around Rachel’s Prairie. I have seen them perched high atop hardwoods. Their call is really peculiar, sort of like a ping pong ball rapidly bouncing between a paddle and the table.

Yellow-breasted Chat

The Merlin app has repeatedly identified the sound of the yellow-breasted chat, but I have to honestly say that I have not visually confirmed their presence near the prairie. Part of the problem is the preponderance of vocally rich red-wing blackbirds which can make sounds similar to the chat, possibly causing a false identification. I have encountered chats on my walks through the Rocky Fork Conservation area (about four miles north of Rachel’s Prairie). Rachel’s Prairie is very consistent to their normal habitat.

Yellow-Throated Vireo

This little bird is one of my favorites. Vireos in general have become more numerous in the past few years thanks largely to the emerging prairie and the increasing untaming of the pond. The yellow-throated vireo is an early spring entertainer, loudly marking its territory. I have have often encountered this bird in my morning walks, approaching within five yards of these feisty birds, sitting on branches at eye level, telling me to leave the premises immediately. They are almost instantly responsive when I play their bird calls. They are a joy to behold.