50 Things to Know about Birds in West Virginia

Things to Know About Birds in West Virginia

Subtitle: Birding in the Mountain State

Author: Allison Amber Mitchell

Dedication

In loving memory of Roy L. Dunigan, Sr. who was a bird lover with a vast knowledge of West Virginia birds.

About the Author

Allison Amber Mitchell is a West Virginia Native. She was born in Man and raised in Hanover. Allison has watched many West Virginia birds in habitat. She currently lives in Hanover with her daughter, Amber. Allison also has a son, Aaron. She is a classroom teacher at Road Branch Elementary and Middle School in Wyoming County, West Virginia.

Allison can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/allisonamberbrowning and Instagram at mitchell_allison.

Introduction

“Don’t compromise yourself–You’re all you have.”

John Grisham

It is my privilege to write 50 Things to Know about Birds in West Virginia. First of all, I am a West Virginian by birth, and I have lived in the mountain state all of my life. I come from a family of bird lovers so I feel I have value to offer.

On a funny note, a red cardinal used to visit one of the outside windows of the church I attended. He tried his best to come through the window. Of course, I believe he saw his reflection and thought another bird was facing him. He would leave for a few days then come again.

I hope you find 50 Things to Know about Birds in West Virginia educational and informative as well as warm and delightful.

1. West Virginia’s State Bird is the Cardinal

West Virginia Legislators passed a bill naming the Cardinal as the state bird on March 7, 1949. Cardinals get their red feathers from nutrients. Of course, keep in mind that the female Cardinals are light brown. These amazing creatures will mate for life, and their dinner time is around twilight.

2. Blue Jays Only Breed in Certain Places

You can find a Blue Jay’s habitat in oak and pine woods or even gardens. They will only breed in mixed or deciduous woods. In West Virginia, Blue Jays are known as mean birds because they are nest predators. They will eat eggs and baby birds.

3. Red-bellied Woodpeckers Are Aggressive

These birds are widespread in West Virginia. They are called Red-Bellied Wood Peckers because they have light traces of red or pink on their bellies. Red-Bellied Wood Peckers are aggressive when predators attack their young.

4. American Robins Work Hard

The American Robins’ habitats could be deciduous trees, ledges on buildings, or window sills. They are gray and brown with orange underparts. The heads are dark. Robins are not lazy birds. They work hard to build and maintain their habitats.

5. The Common Yellowthroat is Only Seen at Certain Times

This bird is only seen in West Virginia from April to October. The Yellowthroat is mainly green and yellow. Its habitat can usually be found in branches of trees. They thrive on a diet of seeds and berries.

6. Song Sparrows are Abundant in West Virginia

Song Sparrows prefer shrubby and wet areas for a habitat. These birds have brown streaks and a white chest. The song sparrow is one of the most abundant birds in the Eastern United States.

7. Downy Woodpeckers Prefer Certain Company

Downy Woodpeckers can be found in backyards and orchards. They keep company with chickadees. Their chests and backs are black and white. The tops of their heads are red.

8. House Sparrows Are Invasive

House sparrows are one of the most common birds in West Virginia. These birds are considered to be an invasive species. They originated in the Middle East. Their habitats are found in meadows, forests, and woodlands.

9. The Tufted Titmouse is an Acrobat

This bird has a gray crest. The flanks are rusty. The Tufted Titmouse resides in deciduous forests or in parks. They are acrobatic in movement.

10. Mourning Doves Make Beautiful Sounds

Mourning Doves are rarely seen in West Virginia, but they do make some appearances every now and then. Mostly, people hear the “coo-ah” sound they make. Their habitats are mainly grasslands.

11. Hairy Woodpeckers Have a Patch on Their Heads

The hairy woodpecker is one of the most commonly known birds to West Virginia. The bird’s posture is straight, and its head is striped. The male can be identified by a red patch on the back of the head. You can find the hairy woodpecker year-round in West Virginia.

12. American Goldfinches are Easy to Spot

These birds are small, but they are easy to spot because they are colorful. They are seen often in many backyards in the Mountain State. During the winter, the American Goldfinch will turn pale brown in color. Normally, their wings are black with a white wing bar. They can be seen in West Virginia year-round, and they do not eat insects. They feed on grass, thistles, and flowers.

13. The American Crow Has Resilience

The predator bird can be seen all year round in West Virginia and in every habitat. Needless to say, they adjust to change easily. The American Crow is entirely black and shiny with a long, black bill.

14. The White-breasted Nuthatch Loves to Visit Cemeteries

The males have a dark cap on top of their heads, but the females have a lighter gray one. Both genders love sunflower seeds so that is a way to attract them to your backyard. They are often seen in cemeteries as well as deciduous forests.

15. Cowbirds Reproduce Uniquely

Cowbirds have other birds to build their nests. Once the nests are completed, the female cowbird lays her eggs in the nests of other species for them to care for them to care for the eggs. These birds also have an interesting sound which goes “glurg-glurg-glee.”

16. House Wrens Generally Avoid Bird Feeders

You will rarely find a house wren around a bird feeder, but they will chase insects in many backyards in West Virginia. House Wrens have short tails and thin bills. The males and females look the same.

17. Rock Pigeons Are Pests in Large Numbers

Rock Pigeons will flock to bird feeders. However, you do not want to have a large number of these in your yard. They will be quite the nuisance that way.

18. Black-capped Chickadees Make Distinct Sounds

Not only do these birds flock quickly to bird feeders, they also make distinct sounds. They sound as if they are saying “dee”, but there are other sounds added if they are alarmed.

19. Common Grackles Are Useful

Although you do not want these birds in large groups, they can be very useful. They eat insects, mice, and garbage. It sounds disgusting, but it can be helpful to us. However, you need to watch them at feeders. Their aggression keeps other birds from coming to eat.

20. Male Bluebirds Are More Vibrant Than the Females

Male bluebirds have brighter coloring than the female counterparts. The female colors are a bit duller. Bluebirds can be found in West Virginia all year round, and their habitats are in meadows and farms.

21. Hawks Migrate to West Virginia

Various types of Hawks will migrate from the Arctic to West Virginia during the winter. They are found in high spots. If you wish to see them up close, try traveling to higher elevation in West Virginia such as Princeton, Beckley, or Bluefield. Hawk's Nest State Park is another place to see the hawk in migration.

22. Sandhill Cranes are Rarely Found in West Virginia

Although these birds have been spotted in Southern West Virginia, particularly along the Ohio border, no official reports exist of any habitations they might have in the Mountain State. Sandhill Cranes are mainly found in Florida and parts of Canada.

23. Birds Found in the Allegheny Highlands

Two types of birds are found in the Allegheny Highlands region of West Virginia. The Acadian Flycatcher and the Eastern Wood Peewee. The Allegheny Highlands mainly consist of pasture regions, but the uplands are wooded. The birds will visit the pastures, but they prefer the wooded areas.

24. The Acadian Flycatcher Loves Shade.

This bird prefers the shaded areas of the Allegheny Highlands. Acadian Flycatchers feed on insects and berries. Sometimes, they will eat small portions of fruit. The males and females perform aerial chases to flirt with each other.

25. The Eastern Wood Pewee Is a Small Fly Catcher

This tiny bird loves most insects, but it has also been known to eat spiders. When in the wooded areas, the Eastern Wood Peewee looks for openings such as the forest edge. Their nests look like bumps or knots.

26. Birds in the Potomac Section

Numerous types of birds can be spotted in Harper's Ferry, but hawks tend to make their habitats in the Potomac Section. Several bird trails can be found in Harper’s Ferry where the hawks can be observed in their movement.

27. Birds in the Allegheny Plateau

Birds mainly stay along the border of the Allegheny Plateau and Ohio River Valley regions. However, the Yellow-throated Warbler can be found throughout the Allegheny Plateau. This unique bird has a long bill and of course a tuft of yellow coloring at its throat. Yellow-throated Warblers love to move about tree branches.

28. Birds in the Ohio River Valley Region

Numerous types of birds occupy the Ohio River Valley region. The White-Winged Dove, Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Chuck-will’s-widow, Parasitic Jaeger, the Western Grebe, and the Magnificent Frigatebird are the ones most spotted in the area. Some of the birding areas in the region are Beech Fork State Park, Crown City Wildlife Area, Harris River Park, and Greenbottom Wildlife Management. Visiting these birding areas gives you a better chance of getting a closer look at the beautiful birds that occupy the region.

29. The White-Winged Dove Has Unusual Eyes

The White-Winged Doves originally occupied wooded areas. Now, they are found in towns and cities. They are larger than most doves, and they have red eyes with blue eyering.

30. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Are Least Likely to be Extinct

These birds have been labeled as least likely to be extinct. The males have longer tails than the females. Insects are their primary choice of food. When it comes to their eggs, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are aggressive.

31. Western Kingbirds Have Open Habitats

These large flycatchers have unique plumage. They are light gray with bright yellow plumage on their bellies. Western Kingbirds have open habitats in the Ohio Valley so they can be spotted easily.

32. Chuck-Will’s Widow Is Only Seen at Night

The Chuck-Will’s Widow is nocturnal. If you want to spot these flat-headed birds, you will have to venture out into the Ohio Valley after dark. Their long wings give them a significant look that distinguishes them from a Whip-poor-will.

33. Parasitic Jaeger Can Be Spotted during the Winter

Although Parasitic Jaegers breed in the arctic, they can be seen throughout the Ohio River Valley. They prey on other birds and their eggs. The best time to spot them is during the winter.

34. Magnificent Frigatebirds Steal Food in Mid-air

These are tropical birds, but they have been spotted in various areas of the Ohio River Valley. When hunting for food, they have been seen snatching food from other birds in mid-air. The males have the ability to inflate themselves like a balloon to attract the females.

35. Western Grebes Prefer Water

Western Grebes have straight bills and dark caps that are below the eyes. The bill is yellowish green. They prefer the water, but they can be seen on land from time to time. Their favorite food is fish. Although these birds are primarily seen on the western coast, they have made their presence known along the Ohio River in West Virginia.

36. Canaries Detect Carbon Monoxide

Until 1986, West Virginia coal miners used canaries to detect dangerous gasses inside coal mines. Canaries were taken into the mines during each shift. If the canary became ill or died, the miners knew to evacuate.

37. Cedar Waxwings Love to Hunt for Flies

The Cedar Waxwing can survive on fruit for several months. These birds have subdued crests, black masks, and red sprinkles on their wings. They hunt for flies along river banks. The Ohio River is the best place to see them in action.

38. Eastern Towhees Are Master Foragers

Eastern Towhees have dark heads and backs. They also have white wing spots. When they want to hunt, Eastern Towhees love to forage through leaves in search of insects and berries.

39. Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Are The Only Breeding Hummingbirds in West Virginia

The feathers of these beautiful birds look like sequins. Their name comes from the red plumage on their throats. Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are the only species of Hummingbirds that breed in the eastern United States.

40. Indigo Buntings Migrate at Night

Indigo Buntings are seen in West Virginia during the Spring and Summer. Generally, they are not seen any other time. They love to sing at the edge of the woods. Their migration occurs during the night.

41. Dark-eyed Junco loves West Virginia in the Winter

The Dark-eyed Junco is a medium sized sparrow. Its bill is pale, body small, and tail feathers are white. The Dark-eyed Junco can only be spotted in West Virginia during the winter.

42. The Canvasback Loves West Virginia Lakes and Ponds

The Canvasback is a large diving duck with a sloping forehead. Ponds and lakes are the habitations that a Canvasback prefers. When hungry, the Canvasback prefers plants.

43. Buffleheads Eat Crustaceans and Mollusks

Buffleheads are small ducks with large heads and short bills. Their white flanks can be seen for long distances. They eat crustaceans and mollusks. Like the Canvasback, they prefer West Virginia lakes and ponds.

44. Yellow-billed Cuckoos Have a Drawn-Out Call

These birds have a slender build with a long tail. They love to hunt for large caterpillars. The Yellow-billed Cuckoos have a drawn-out call that is difficult to miss.

45. Ring-billed Gulls Are Comfortable around People

Ring-billed Gulls are medium in size with short bills. Their coloring is usually yellow and black, and their eyes pale in color. People do not make them uncomfortable. Ring-billed Gulls are known as acrobats of the air because of their movement.

46. Anhingas Prefer Wet Places

Anhingas are large water birds. They have long tails and S-shaped necks. They love water, particularly marshes and swamps. The sounds they make are odd which has caused people to think they were the Lochness Monster.

47. Common Loons Have Scary Calls

Common Loons have long bodies with striped collars. Their habitats are usually freshwater lakes. Their calls sound scary and echo across lakes and bodies of water where they might be seen.

48. Eastern Screech Owls Hide Out During the Day

Eastern Screech Owls occupy West Virginia’s forests. They hide out during the day and make their appearances at night. If you want to hear the strange trills sound out, you will have to be out at night in a quiet place close to the forest.

49. Belted Kingfishers Have a Top-Heavy Physique

Belted Kingfishers are confident. They occupy rivers and streams moving about in search of fish. Aerial dives are one of their favorite movements.

50. West Virginia Has More Than 170 Species of Birds

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources monitors birds by conservation needs. They conduct surveys and track populations. West Virginia’s topography draws the variety of birds that are found in the Mountain State.

Other Helpful Resources

Audubon Guide to North American Birds: A great resource from the premier bird advocacy group, the Audubon Society. https://www.audubon.org/bird-guide

The Cornell Lab, All About Birds A great resource that gives specific information about most bird species. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/

West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, Birds in West Virginia: A government resource that gives information about bird species and places to see birds. https://wvdnr.gov/birds-in-west-virginia/#:~:text=West%20Virginia%20has%20more%20than,during%20the%20spring%20and%20summer.