Yes, I know, this writer is really into birds. So maybe I just want to share my passion.

I have seen hundreds of species of birds here in the Times News area in my lifetime. If I would include birds that I have observed to our south and to the west, that number would jump considerably. I’ve never birded anywhere in Central or South America (and I’m sure I won’t have that chance), where maybe really unique birds could be found. But don’t discount our region for having some rather ornately feathered species or some other oddities that might make you think they were tropical. I’ll share a few that I believe may be a bit unusual.

Waterfowl species have such a variety of plumage.

Some of them, like a black duck or gadwall, are rather dull. Female ducks, for the most part, are rather plain in colorations, mostly due in part to their need to remain hidden while nesting. Most male birds are more vividly colored than their mates.

In our common backyard birds, the male cardinal is striking in appearance compared to the female. He does keep that bright plumage all year, and who doesn’t appreciate seeing him perched in an evergreen in your yard with snow covered branches all around him.

The American goldfinch males are brightly colored in yellow feathers (not golden) but they transition to duller feathers in autumn.

The other common local birds, such as blue jays and robins, show very little difference in sexual dichromatism and can hardly be distinguished.

My favorite birding time is from the last week of April until the final week of May. For many of you who don’t hit the forest trails with binoculars in hand, you will miss the variety of colors displayed by the warblers. Blackburnian warblers, parula warblers, redstarts and yellow warblers are gaudy birds but are often overlooked because they are only about 5½ inches in size.

If you have “hit” some of the famous birding areas of Florida you may have seen the bright pink colored roseate spoonbills, which also have the “funky” spoon shaped bill. Or if you’ve ever seen the unusual unique-billed wood stork, you’d know why I would refer to them as “funky.”

I’ve observed many species, and I’ll conclude with the “lifer” I observed this past June in Wyoming, the dusky grouse. I included its photo in an earlier column where it displayed the bare skin area on its neck, and it made a unique sound while tying to entice an unseen female.

Take a look at some of the local birds that I put on my gaudy/funky list. Many of them are waterfowl. You don’t have to travel very far to see them, either. They can be found here in the Times News area, so get out there.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: Which of these owl species will be migrating into or through our region now? A. barn owl; B. great horned owl; C. Eastern screech owl; D. saw whet owl.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Most adult insects have 5 eyes; 2 large compound eyes and 3 simple eyes.

Email Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com