Swan, Mute
Description: Unusual sights, these invasive birds are white with yellowish bills.
Swallow, Tree***
Description: One of five species of swallows seen at the Garden. Look for them flying around the Dixon Prairie where they nest in birdhouses placed out for them and bluebirds.
Swallow, N. Rough-winged***
Description: This swallow is often seen flying over the lakes or closer to the bridges where it nest in old cliff swallow nests or holes in the concrete.
Swallow, Cliff***
Description: This swallow is most often seen flying over the lakes, close to the bridges, looking for insects. Look for their bottle-shaped mud nests near the bridges.
Swallow, Cave
Description: This Texas-breeding has recently been sighted in the northeastern United States and might be seen flying over.
Swallow, Barn***
Description: This swallow is most often seen flying over the lakes looking for insects, especially closer to bridges where they build cup-shaped mud nests.
Swallow, Bank
Description: The bank swallow may be visible flying over the Garden in spring.
Starling, European***
Description: This abundant exotic species feeds on grubs in lawn areas. They are serious competitors with native, cavity-nesting birds.
Sparrow, White-throated
Description: The cheerful song of this common migrant and occasional winter resident is easy to recognize. Large flocks are often encountered in the McDonald Woods.
In fall, when many birds have stopped singing, the white-throated sparrow continues its melancholy refrain that sounds a bit like, "Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada." Perhaps some human thought the sparrow was reminiscing about its summer breeding range in Canada.
Sparrow, White-crowned
Description: A common migrant in many habitats at the Garden, this ground-feeding bird will often be found low in the shrubs or scratching in the soil for seeds.