Male: All yellow, with a black mask over eyes Female: Drab olive color with bright yellow throat
A very familiar bird on Castle Neck, the Yellowthroat constantly makes its presence known by a bright “witchity-witchity” song, sounding as though it is asking “What-cha-see?” Its nest is built on or close to the ground and is a rather bulky affair, much larger than seems necessary for so small a bird. As with most of the warblers, the Yellowthroat’s diet consists entirely of insects—a characteristic that makes it a most valuable guest.
SOME WINTER SPECIALTIES
A few tourists visit the beach during the winter. It is generally considered to be a “dead” time of year. Yet the birds abound here, and many may be found only during the cold months. Five examples are:
Common Loon (Gavia immer)
Large, almost Goose size Long, straight bill Winter: Dark gray back, whitish throat and breast
All summer long the Loon lives in the quiet of some hidden northern lake, but in the winter it moves out into the ocean. The winter seas are cold and savage, and yet the Loon takes them in stride. It is a powerful swimmer and can dive easily and deeply. The voice of the Loon, heard only in summer, is very distinctive; the loud, “crazy” laughing call is responsible for the saying “As crazy as a loon.”
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)