Songbird Habitat
Songbirds, in addition to their melodies, give humans other gifts. Their beauty decorates our landscapes, from prairies and forests to deserts and swamps. Populations of resident birds, such as the robin, are stable. However, those of migratory birds are on the decline. This is often attributed to loss of habitat, both for breeding and for wintering in warmer climates. The habitat of songbirds is varied, and a species of songbird can be found in most every landscape.
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Shores
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Some songbirds live along the shore, seeking out bays and estuaries. These include the tree swallow, yellow-rumped warbler and red-winged blackbird. Others seek out beaches and dunes, and still others prefer the rocky shores and open ocean. During migration, many species of songbirds may be visible along the shore, including the wood thrush, red-eyed vireo, American redstart, black-throated green warbler, ovenbird, scarlet tanager, yellow-bellied flycatcher, gray-cheeked thrush, yellow-throated vireo and orchard oriole.
Forests
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The forests are home to many species of songbirds. These include several species of warblers and sparrows. The cedar waxwing is a bird that seeks out woodlands but prefers those that are more open, such as orchards and tree stands in residential areas. Blue jays are another songbird of the forest. They prefer to be near oak trees and are abundant on the edges of forests. They're also easily spotted in urban and suburban settings where there are oak trees.
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Grasslands
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Grasslands, farmlands and prairies are also home to certain species of songbirds, including sparrows, robins, orioles and warblers. An example of a songbird that seeks out this sort of habitat is the northern mockingbird, which lives on open land, seeking out areas with thickets or desert brush. The eastern bluebird also seeks out this type of habitat, preferring areas with little ground cover. A true songbird of the grassland habitat is the American pipit.
Wetlands
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Wetlands have their own species of songbirds. Those that seek out bogs, lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps, rivers and streams include species of warblers and sparrows. The American dipper is described by the Cornell Lab or Ornithology as American's only aquatic songbird. The dipper catches all its food underwater and walks on the stream bottom. The black-headed grosbeak can be found along desert streams; however, this little songbird may also live in mountain forests, backyards or gardens.
Generalists
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Some songbirds seem to adapt to whatever habitat they can find. One of these is the American robin, whose range includes all of the United States and parts of Mexico and Canada. Robins can be found nesting in all types of forests, on farmlands and grasslands, in suburban communities, and in swamps and wetlands. The blue grosbeak is another habitat generalist but may prefer woodland and marsh areas if they are available.
Expert Insight
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Songbirds provide us with pest control, with an individual songbird consuming as many as 300 insects each day, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black-naped_Oriole.jpg; other images courtesy of en.wikipedia.org/wiki
