Birds of Buttertubs Marsh: Nanaimo

Buttertubs Marsh has become one of our favourite wetlands to walk when visiting relatives on Vancouver Island. Spotted Towhees live in drier habitats than the Eastern Towhees. Some scientists have suggested that the bold white spots on Spotted Towhees' backs help them blend in to the sun-dappled undergrowth. (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)

The iridescent throat patch of male hummingbirds is called a gorget. The Anna's gorget extends over its head, making it more of a balaclava than a bib. Oddly, female Anna's Hummingbirds (above) have a tiny red gorget. Females of most species have none. (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)

Miners in the Yukon at the turn of the 20th century woefully referred to the Golden-crowned Sparrow as the "no gold here" bird, because its song resembled that depressing phrase. (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)

The MacGillivray's Warbler was a "life bird" for me. They breed primarily in mountainous regions of western North America, wintering from Mexico to Costa Rica. (ebird)

The Pacific-slope Flycatcher nests in shady mountain ravines, sometimes placing nests on banks or human-made structures, rather than in trees. (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)

These aerial insectivores perform acrobatic stunts over lakes and streams high in the sky in search of flying insects. Violet-green Swallows can look dark at first, but their true colours come to life when sunlight illuminates their metallic green backs and iridescent purple rumps. 
(Cornell Lab, All About Birds)