Female Sharp-shinned Hawks are much larger than males, averaging about a third larger in overall size. This size difference effects the size of prey they can catch, which dictates what their young eats. Nestlings are fed small prey items mainly caught by the father, switching to larger prey items caught by the mother as the nestlings grow. 🐦
#sharpshinnedhawk #hawks #birdofprey #birdofpreyphotography #getoutside #wildlife_seekers #naturephoto #nature #wildlifephotography #wildlife_perfection #wildlifephotographer #naturefacts #conservation #naturelover #conservationeducation #barrieontario #birdsofontario #backyardbirds #birdfacts #birding #birdinglife #birdingadventures #birdsmakemehappy
Snow fleas, also known as springtails, are insect-like in the way that they have 6 legs, but are actually a type of arthropod and more closely related to crustaceans. They resemble fleas on top of the snow, and can even jump using a special fork-like appendage called a furcula. Snow fleas play an important role in the environment by decomposing dead plant material and bacteria in the soil, and despite their name, are found in the environment year-round! 🐜
#snowflea #sprintail #snow #winter #natureinwinter #naturelover #conservation #naturefacts #naturephoto #explore #wildlifephotography #nature #wildlife_perfection #natureinspired #wildlifephotographer #naturegram #exploreontario #weird #wildlife_seekers #getoutside #naturefinds #ontarionaturelover #ontarionatureguide
The Snow Buntings we see in Ontario in the winter are a little different looking than they are during breeding season in the arctic. ❄ Mature male Snow Buntings are almost entirely white during breeding season, and interestingly, they don’t get those beautiful white feathers by moulting. Instead, the change comes from rubbing against the snow while foraging for seeds, which wears down the brown feather tips they sport in during the winter months. All this scuffing and scraping helps to reveal pure white feathers underneath! ❄🤍
#snowbunting #snowbuntings #winter #naturelover #explore #naturephoto #naturefacts #snow #wildlifephotography #conservation #birdsmakemehappy #birdingadventures #birdinglife #birding #birdfacts #canoncanada #conservationeducation #barrieontario #ontarionatureshots #ontarionatureguide #ontarionaturelover #naturefinds #ontarionature #backyardbirds #birdsofontario
Have you ever wondered how owls are able to hold onto perches and prey so easily? 🦉 Owls have feet that are known as ‘zygodactyl’, meaning that they have two forward-facing toes, and two backward-facing toes. This X formation helps provide extra grip needed to take down and hold prey. There are other birds such as woodpeckers who share in this unique foot structure, but unlike them, owls are able to pivot one toe from front to back to aid in climbing and walking. 🦉
#owl #snowyowl #natureinspired #explore #exploreontario #naturelover #wildlifephotographer #naturephoto #wildlifephotography #naturegram #wildlife_perfection #naturelovers #wildlife_seekers #conservation #nature #getoutside #winter #birdsofinstagram #birdwatching #birdlover #birdlife #ethicalowlphoto
Male American Goldfinches go through a pretty drastic change in the fall, where they gradually molt from their bright yellow plumage to a more subdued beige-y yellow, similar to their female counterparts. Through the course of the winter months, goldfinches slowly molt back to their vivid breeding plumage. Watch closely in your yard to see if you notice the transition from breeding plumage to non-breeding plumage, and back to breeding plumage again around April! 💛
#americangoldfinch #goldfinch #exploreontario #wildlifephotographer #naturephoto #natureinspired #explore #wildlifephotography #naturelover #birdsmakemehappy #birdingadventures #birdinglife #birding #birdfacts #canoncanada #conservationeducation #barrieontario #ontarionatureshots #ontarionatureguide #ontarionaturelover #naturefinds #ontarionature #backyardbirds #birdsofontario
2023 is almost over 😱 where did the year go?! What were some of your favourite moments in nature in 2023? What are you looking forward to in the new year?
Photo: Pine Marten 🤎🌲
#snow #conservation #naturelovers #naturelover #naturegram #wildlifephotography #wildlife_perfection #explore #wildlifephotographer #naturephoto #nature #wildlife_seekers #natureinspired #getoutside #exploreontario #newyear #pinemarten #algonquinpark
Eastern Gray Squirrels don’t hibernate, so how do they stay warm with just a thin coat of fur? 🥶 Squirrels start preparing for the cold early in the fall by bulking up and adding layers of fat for insulation. They also cache nuts and seeds near their dens so they don’t need to spend as much time foraging and can grab a quick meal when they need to. Another way squirrels stay warm is by shivering! Shivering is something our bodies do to help us generate heat, and squirrels are expert shiver-ers. 🐿️🩶
#easterngraysquirrel #squirrel #conservation #explore #snow #naturephoto #naturelover #naturelovers #wildlife_seekers #getoutside #natureinspired #naturegram #exploreontario #nature #wildlifephotographer #wildlifephotography #wildlife_perfection #backyardbirdfeeding #canoncanada #barrieontario #conservationeducation
I hope your Boxing Day is as peaceful as this snow blanketed forest. ❄️🌲 Are you planning on spending any time in nature today to unwind from the busy day yesterday?
#boxingday #forest #snow #winter #holidays #recharge #relax #getoutside #naturelovers #naturegram #natureinspired #explore #nature #naturelover #tistheseason #happyholdays #wildlife_seekers #exploreontario #naturephoto #conservation #raw_canada #wildbirdsunlimited
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all who celebrate! 🎄🐦 Wishing you love & happiness (and lots of birds!) this holiday season. ✨
#merrychristmas #happyholdays #tistheseason #downywoodpecker #wildlifephotographer #naturelover #natureinspired #naturelovers #birdwatching #birdlover #nature #getoutside #explore #naturegram #birdsofinstagram #birdlife #birdphotography #backyardbirding
