Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) This week Crawlies takes wing as we meet a feathered friend with arguably one of the most fun to say common names. Meet the yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata).Yellow-rumped are among the most common warblers in North America. However, in Oregon we have an uncommon embarrassment of[Read More…]

Petite Genus Micromus brown lacewing This week’s crawly is another prime example of “good things come in small packages.”Meet the petite Genus Micromus brown lacewing.At just about one-quarter of an inch in length these voracious predators and crop and garden protectors can easily go unnoticed.Micromus lacewings are so teeny you[Read More…]

Zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zerene) No, we didn’t go overboard with the color saturation on the photo of this week’s crawly; the zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zerene) really is that vibrant!That is to say, at least this one was. Zerenes run the orangey rainbow from a non-retina burning warm orange to this[Read More…]

Whirligig beetle (Genus Gyrinus) This week’s crawly may have the most-fun-to-say-out-loud common name ever. Meet the whirligig beetle (Genus Gyrinus).If you’ve spent any time around ponds, lakes, rivers and/or streams (and who of us hasn’t) you’ve most likely seen these bitty beetles in action, but probably haven’t been able to[Read More…]

If you’re looking at some of your yard birds this month and thinking, “What is wrong with that bird?!” Don’t panic. It’s that molting time of year for our feathered friends.Molting is how birds replace their feathers. They need to be able to fly so they’ll molt in stages. Some[Read More…]

Long-tailed antlion This week’s crawly likes to stand out in a crowd. Meet the long-tailed antlion (Mexoleon Papago).The key feature that inspired their common name is quite obvious – they do, in fact, have very long tails. That is, the males do. Females’ tails are about the same length as[Read More…]

If you’ve seen this week’s adorable mini-Muppet of a crawly in real life, you are one lucky Oregonian.Meet the warm-chevroned moth (Tortricidia Testacea), also known as the early button slug moth.That second name may sound weird, but their teeny, tiny ‘pillars really look like “What if a slug were a[Read More…]

One thing we’ve learned in our Crawlies journey together is that every carnivorous or omnivorous critter loves to dine on a nice juicy aphid.Aphids are like the Gummy Bears of the arthropod and bird world. In fact, an aphid by any other name would taste as sweet; they exude honeydew[Read More…]

Continued from June 19 Part IIMoving on to moths: Pictured are three male wandering tiger moths. While our two tan fellows are the typical color, our orangey-orange male is rare.There are many species of moth who can rock a range of colors and some whose colors are consistent but have[Read More…]

Female Anna’s hummingbird, frog, female house finches, Emma’s dancer damselfly, moths Color me a Crawlies Rainbow: Part IOne thing we’ve learned on our Crawlies journey so far is that it can be tricky to ID many of our local critters. Whether arthropods, amphibians or birds, nature likes to keep things[Read More…]