BIRDS OF PEACHTREE FOREST LAKE

BIRDS OF PEACHTREE FOREST LAKE

NORCROSS, GA

by: Jim Feeley

(Updated Sept. 2004)

Ever since I moved here in 1982, I have kept a list of the species of birds observed (in some cases

heard) from my backyard ‐ in it, in the adjacent yards, flying overhead, and of course swimming on

the lake. The present list of 102 species at this single location is far from inclusive of the known birds

in the Atlanta area (approximately 300). It is however representative of what one can expect to see in

Peachtree Forest and especially near the lake.

Names are the official common ones. I have indicated the relative frequency of my sightings of each

bird by the abbreviations: C - common, seen almost daily in season; U - uncommon, seen irregularly

in season; and R - rare, seen once or only every few years. In addition I note if a bird has been seen in

the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and to date in 2004.

Pied‐billed Grebe - U ‐

Solitary bird, swims and dives alone or at edge of Mallard flock. Beak resembles a chicken's. Fall - Spring. '01‐'04

 Great Blue Heron - U ‐beside lake. Spring/Summer. '00‐‘04

Very large solitary wader (reminds me of a fossil bird). All year. '00‐ ‘04

Little Blue Heron - R ‐

Saw one bird in immature white phase. Summer.

Great Egret - R ‐

Very large white bird with yellow beak, black feet. Summer. ‘00

Green Heron - C ‐

Smaller sized wader. Squawks loudly when startled. Perches and nests in trees

Black‐crowned Night‐Heron - R ‐in it becoming a permanent resident and no longer migrating. Year round. '00‐‘04

Saw one time a single bird perched in tree. Spring.

Canada Goose - C ‐

Noisy flocks, nests on dam, eats grass. Improved habitats in South have resulted

 White Duck - R ‐"Geronimo". ‘01

Pets? Swims with Mallards. ‘02

Wood Duck - R ‐

Most beautiful of ducks. Nests in duck boxes. Last saw one in 1996, Spring.

Black Duck - R ‐

Have seen with Mallard flock. Winter.

Mallard - C ‐

Semi‐tame flock. Recently numbers down (foxes?). Year Round. '00‐‘04

Blue‐winged Teal - R ‐

Resembles a ½ sized Mallard. Winter.

Muscovy - R ‐

Escapees from farms? Not a truly wild bird. In 80's had a permanent resident, named

 Ringed‐necked Duck - R ‐hawk wings are flat across. Mainly Spring‐Fall. '00‐‘04

Has white ring on tip of bill but no visible ring on neck! Winter. '02, ‘04

Bufflehead - R ‐

White cheek spots. One female on lake. Spring.

Hooded Merganser - R ‐

Puffy crest on head. Winter 2002

Turkey Vulture - U ‐

Soars overhead, seldom flapping wings. Wings curve upward in shallow "V";

Gadwall - R ‐

The breeding male is patterned grey, with a black rear end, light chestnut wings, and a brilliant white speculum, obvious in flight or at rest. In non‐breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female, but retains the male wing pattern, and is usually greyer above and has less orange on the bill. The female is light brown, with plumage much like a female Mallard. It can be distinguished from that species by the dark orange‐edged bill, smaller size, the white speculum, and white belly. Jan 2006 - male and female on lake

Sharp‐shinned Hawk - U ‐

Blue jay sized fast flyer. Long tail. Chases other birds. Difficult to distinguish from Coopers Hawk; usually just cite as "Sharpie". Year round. '01, '02?, '03, '04?

Cooper's Hawk - R ‐

Very similar to Sharp‐shinned, but slightly larger and has rounded tail. Year round. '01, '02?, '04?

Red‐shouldered Hawk - C ‐

Feeds mostly on mice, frogs, snakes. Noisy. Clear wing patches underneath when soaring. Perches on exposed tree limbs. Year round. '00‐'04.

Red-tailed Hawk - U ‐

Larger than Red‐shouldered. In sun shows a red tail when soaring. Year round. '00‐‘04

 Common Moorhen - R ‐morning. Spring.

Red bill. Solitary bird. Summer.

American Coot - R ‐

White beak. Spring/Fall. ‘02

Common Bobwhite - R ‐

Repeated two syllable call heard from my bedroom window in early

Sandhill Crane -R ‐

One of the largest North American birds; 6‐7' wingspan. Migratory route in Nov. and March passes over Atlanta. "V" shaped flocks high overhead. Mistaken for Canada Goose, but flies with neck outstretched and legs extended beyond tail. Makes loud "crong" while flying. Fall‐ Spring. '00, '02‐'04.

Killdeer‐ R ‐

Solitary bird on driveway the day after March Blizzard pf '93. Also saw one in Summer '95.

Spotted Sandpiper - R ‐

Small solitary shore bird that teeters while walking along bank of lake. Spring. '00, '01, '02

Ring‐billed Gull? - R ‐when I did see one, but must have since it is listed.

Large flocks passing overhead. Winter. '00, '02

Rock Dove - R ‐

I'm thankful the pigeon is rare here since I associate it with the city. Can't recall

 Mourning Dove - C ‐Summer/Winter. '00, '01

Very common. Wings make fluttering sound. Year round. '00‐‘04

Eastern Screech Owl - R ‐

Occasionally heard. Had one roost in Duck box. Year round. '01, ‘02

Great Horned Owl - R ‐

It's "hoo hoo‐oo, hoo, hoo" heard early mornings just before dawn.

Common Nighthawk - R ‐

Not a real hawk. Migrates through area August/September. I used to list it as common with many flying overhead each evening, but the numbers have declined steadily. In 2004 I've seen just one flying above RCS tennis club. '00‐‘03

Whip‐poor‐will - R ‐appear to beat out of sync. Not as numerous as in past years. Summer. '00‐‘04

Monotonous call repeated all night used to be common; now rare.

Chimney Swift - C ‐

Small cigar shape bird. Noisy flocks chase insects in the air in evenings. Wings

Ruby‐throated Hummingbird - C ‐

Feisty tiny bird. Attracted to artificial nectar (one part sugar in four parts water) and red flowers. Spring/Summer. '00‐‘04

Belted Kingfisher - C ‐

My favorite bird. Looks like Blue Jay but with larger head. Loud rattling call. Flies low along lake and plunges for fish. Year round. '00‐‘04

Common Flicker - C ‐

Member of woodpecker family. Has white patch on rump readily seen when it flies. Year round. '00‐‘04

Pileated Woodpecker - R ‐

The large "Woody Woodpecker". Red Crest. Feeds mainly on insects found in dead wood. The removal of dead trees and limbs decreases their habitat. Summer. ‘00

Red‐headed Woodpecker - R ‐

Male's entire head is bright red. Both sexes have white breasts and black wings with large white patches. To me it has become rarer after '98 tornado perhaps due to loss of many mature pine trees. Spring/Summer '00, '01, ‘04

Red‐bellied Woodpecker - C ‐

Actually it's the red cap on back of head that's more noticeable. Drums on metal gutters and house siding in Spring to announce its territory. Year round. '00‐‘04

Yellow‐bellied sapsucker - R ‐

If you see rows of small holes in tree trunk you have been visited. Holes cause no harm.

Hairy Woodpecker - R ‐

Identical in appearance to Downy but slightly larger and longer bill. Hairy and Downy are only local woodpeckers with white back stripes.

Downy Woodpecker - C ‐

Small woodpecker. Appears always working hard searching for insects in

Eastern Kingbird - R ‐insects. Not seen for many years.

branches. Likes sunflower seeds and suet. Year round. '00‐‘04

White band across tip of tail. Perches on posts from which it flies up to catch

Great‐crested Flycatcher - R ‐

Yellow underneath with cinnamon wings and tail. Nests in bird boxes. Summer. '00, '01, ‘03

Eastern Phoebe - C ‐

Flies up after insects. Constantly pumps tail while perched on posts or branches. Nested on top of light under deck. Year round. '00‐‘04

Blue Jay - C ‐

Did you know no one can tell males and females apart? Will frequently imitate hawk calls. Year round. '00‐‘04

Common Crow - C ‐

Often in groups of three. Mockingbirds chase them. They chase and harass hawks and owls. Year round. '00‐‘04

Northern Rough‐winged Swallow - C ‐

A fast low flying bird swooping after insects over the lake. Spring/Summer. '00‐‘04

Barn Swallow - R ‐only for brief periods. Will not nest. I suspect they don't like close trees. Spring. '02, ‘04

Similar to above but has forked tail.

Purple Martin - R ‐

Have tried for many years to attract them. Visit gourds and martin apartments but

Carolina Chickadee - C ‐

Small, and one of the boldest birds. Common at feeders and bird baths. Noisy. Year round. '00‐‘04

Tufted Titmouse - C ‐

Small gray bird with Cardinal like cap. Often seen with Chickadees. Year round. '00‐‘04

White breasted Nuthatch - C ‐

Has recently become more common. Works up and down and around tree trunks searching for insects. '00‐‘04

Brown‐headed Nuthatch - C ‐time.

Small bird. Loves sunflower seeds. Year round. '00‐‘04

Brown Creeper - R ‐

Spirals upward from base of tree trunk looking for insects. Haven't seen in long

House Wren - R ‐around wood pile and at suet feeder. '00‐‘04

Smaller wren with cocked up tail. Nests in gourds. Summer. ‘04

Winter Wren - R ‐

Also a smaller wren but with stubby tail.

Carolina Wren - C ‐

Large wren. Distinct eye strip and tail cocked up. Very loud singer. All year

Ruby‐crowned Kinglet - U ‐

Small active bird that won't sit still. Doesn't appear as common as before. Winter. ‘00

Blue‐gray Gnatcatcher - R ‐helping it to become common. I read somewhere 90% of Americans have never seen a Bluebird!

Looks like a tiny Mockingbird. Spring/Summer. '03,‘04

Eastern Bluebird - C ‐

The plentiful number of bird boxes with ½ " openings to exclude other birds are

Certainly not the case in Atlanta. Year round. '00‐‘04

American Robin - C ‐

Year round here, but in northern States its return is considered the first sign of Spring. Large flocks in Spring/Fall. '00‐‘04

Gray Catbird - C ‐

Call sounds a lot like a kitten mewing. Gray with black strip on head. Has become more common. Spring '00‐‘04

Northern Mockingbird - C ‐

Has over 1000 songs. Aggressive towards other birds. Opens and closes wings while stalking insects on ground. Year round. '00‐‘04

Brown Thrasher - C ‐

State bird of Georgia. Loves suet. Seems to be more common. Year round. 00‐‘04

Cedar Waxwing - C ‐winter. Aggressive to other birds. Is it just me, or is it becoming less common? Year round. '00‐‘04

Large flocks suddenly appear in trees or bushes. Year round. '00‐‘04

European Starling - C ‐

Glossy black with yellow beak in Summer; speckled black with dark beak in

White‐eyed Vireo - R ‐