Sometimes all you hear about are the bluebirds, cardinals and bald eagles. Yes, they are pretty, but some lesser birds deserve recognition too-especially considering some of their character traits. Kyle Simpson, sanctuary manager with the Chattanooga Audubon Society, shares some of his favorite weird birds that you can readily spot in the area.
Black-headed Grosbeak
Pheucticus melanocephalus
While varieties of grosbeak are known for their singing, black-headed grosbeaks have a clever use for their talent. The female can actually trick her male companion into staying closer to the nest by playing a song that sounds like that of a rival male. Grosbeaks are also known for their strong beaks, which enable them to feed on cherries (but only the pits), insects with tough exoskeletons and nuts that take up to 125 pounds of pressure to crack.
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Sure, the brown-headed cowbird has a funny name, and they look harmless, but the truth is they are a bit of a sneak. "The brown-headed cowbird actually will lay an egg in another bird's nest," says Simpson, adding that they have been known to invite themselves into more than 200 species of birds. "Since cowbird chicks are not raised by other cowbirds they never learn the song from their parents like most songbirds, yet every brown-headed cowbird sings the same song." That song also possesses one of the greatest tonal ranges of any bird song in the world, Simpson adds, over four octaves from beginning to end.
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Who's that bird sitting tall on the water with a funny hair-do? It's the Belted Kingfisher, of course! You may notice the tufts of feathers on the top of the head, and compounded with a stocky build, it's easy to see this bird has personality. "They are always found along waterways (abundant around Audubon Acres and on Maclellan Island)," Simpson says. And if you're coming around his territory, the kingfisher will get puffed up, so you better watch out. "They give a very distinctive rattle when you get into their territory," Simpson adds.