It's a Swamp Thing
Oil on Panel - 4 x 4 inches This spring, while watering newly planted trees, I heard the song of a Swamp Sparrow singing from a marshy area on my property, an area that is host to a few vernal ponds, too. Because that spot is wet, especially in the spring, it draws more bugs to my liking. Therefore, I don’t visit it very often, but it sure was nice hearing this guy singing his heart out while I lugged over 100 pounds of water in the wheelbarrow, day after day, to about a dozen saplings. This bird has two characteristics that I find interesting. First, male Swamp Sparrows exhibit seasonal plumage dimorphism, which means their appearance changes during the mating season. Males will display bright rusty feathers on top of their heads to attract a mate and/or show dominance. Conversely, outside of the breeding months, their head feathers change to a dull brown. Instinctively, I can think of two other birds with seasonal plumage dimorphism: the A...