The Female of the Species - Part 1

 

Female Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

Sometimes when you look at bird you can tell if it is a male or a female.  In some species the difference might be in the plumage, in other species it could be size.  Male birds are usually more colorful than females.  They use their bright colors to attract mates and defend nesting territories.  In many hawks females are larger than males.  This condition of females looking different from males is called sexual dimorphism.  One reason for females being less conspicuous is to better hide from predators while tending the nest.

Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. 

Female Northern Cardinal.
Starr County, Texas. 

Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are an example of the male being more colorful than the female.  They are one of the most common yardbirds in the Eastern United States.  Northern Cardinals are so abundant we can forget how stunningly beautiful they are.  Males are brilliant red with a perky crest on the head, black on the face and a massive, orange seed crunching beak.  Females have the same color pattern, but where the males are red, they are brownish orange.  I think if they were not so common people would be amazed whenever they appeared, even the females.  

Female Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens).
Palm Beach County, Florida. 

Male Downy Woodpecker.
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens) are our smallest woodpecker and are common at bird feeders. They are black and white and the males have a small red spot on the back of the head that females lack. 

Male Bluebird (Sialia sialis) at nest.
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

Female Bluebird at nest. 
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) is one of the best-loved birds in North America.  Males are bright blue on the head, back, wings and tail, reddish orange on the breast and white on the belly.  Females have the blue wings and tail, but their heads and backs are gray-brown.

Female Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius).
St. Paul Island, Alaska. 

Red Phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicarius) nest in the far north, on the tundra of Siberia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland. They winter at sea in the Atlantic and Pacific.  Red Phalaropes are unusual because the female is more colorful than the male.  During the breeding season females are dark red on the neck, breast and belly.  They have a white patch around the eye and black running from the back of the head to the throat and a yellow beak tipped in black. Males have a similar pattern of coloration, but are much more subdued. Continuing the reversal of gender roles, males incubate the eggs and raise the young.   Red Phalaropes feed in shallow pools by spinning like a top and stirring the sediment to scare up the small animals that are their prey.  

Male Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea).
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.  

Female Indigo Bunting.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea) are small birds that live in scrubby fields across Eastern North America.  Males are brilliant blue and sit on exposed perches while singing their song of paired notes. Female Indigo Buntings are less conspicuous with rich brown coloration.    

Female Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors).
Palm Beach County, Florida. 

Male Blue-winged Teal.
Palm Beach County, Florida. 

Many species of ducks are strongly sexually dimorphic.   Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) females have brown scalloped feathers, a black beak and a large blue wing patch.  Males have similar coloration, but their heads are dark gray with a white crescent in front of the eye.  

Male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). 
Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

Female Wood Duck.
Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) males are the most beautiful of all North American ducks.  With a boldly patterned head, red eye, iridescent green crown and crest, it stuns the viewer with its splendor.  Females are more subdued with a smaller crest, generally brown colors and white spectacles.  These small ducks are often seen flying in pairs with the female in the lead.  

Male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus).
Palm Beach County, Florida. 

Female Red-winged Blackbird with nest material.
Palm Beach County, Florida. 

Male and female Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are so different in appearance they appear to be different species.  Males are deep black with red and yellow epaulets.  Females are brown, streaky and have more than a passing resemblance to sparrows.  These blackbirds are widespread across North and Central America and often congregate in giant flocks during winter.  

Male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris).
Palm Beach County, Florida.

Female Painted Bunting.
Palm Beach County, Florida.

If the male Wood Duck is the most beautiful duck in North America, then the male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) is the most beautiful songbird.  They nest in the south and winter in Florida and the tropics.  The male is dazzling with blue and red and green while the female is plain yellowish green.    

Being able to tell males from females adds a whole dimension to watching birds.  It can reveal whether two birds might be a mated pair and at certain seasons the viewer can distinguish if large flocks are comprised of a single sex.  We will continue to examine The Female of the Species with Part 2 in the next blog.