Cop Car, I made the time to browse through the "Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America" just now, and I'm really confused.
We have large flocks of what we've always called black birds or starlings that visit us Spring and Fall, as they migrate. Occasionally they will like the food at the feeder so much that they stay for protracted periods of time.
I THINK that we have had European Starlings. I'm basing that on the fact that they have the oil-greenish tint to their feathers. The starlings have a yellow bill and are larger. The first summer red-wing blackbird is similar, but more drab. I'll have to watch carefully when they return this year.
We have red-winged blackbirds, and from the pictures in the book, we must also have the Rusty blackbirds. They look similar to crows, but are half the size, very similar to the red-winged blackbird in size and behavior.
So, we probably don't have any grackles. Have I set the record straight? I can't remember which bird you objected to. *G*
Comments (6)
Your starling is what confused me. There are only European starlings in the USA--brought over by people who thought they made nice pets!! And...to be honest...they are talented mimics, so I can understand that. But, in the wild, they have overgrown their bounds due to lack of natural predator; and, they are messy (as most birds are) in large flocks. Starlings look extremely different from non-breeding plumage to breeding plumage (spotted with dark bills, and solid black with yellow bills--always with short tails), so I wouldn't be surprised if you are seeing European starlings and thinking they are different species. OTOH, I am surprised that you have no common grackles, so they are a possibility, too. Do you know a cowbird when you see one? Hope you get it figured out.
Tip: If you can identify a purple martin in flight (Page 365 of Sibley), and if your "starlings" resemble purple martins in flight silhouette, they are likely European starlings.
Now, can you tell me the difference between my amarillos and my amarillis? *snickering*
Posted by Cop Car | January 21, 2006 8:57 AM
Posted on January 21, 2006 08:57
I looked at the purple martins in the bird guide, and wondered if they could be what I was seeing. The birds we get come in flocks, and are always "busy" around the feeder. There's lots of pecking order going on, and they dump seed out of the feeder looking for the morsel they want. We see these flocks in the spring and fall, and occasionally they stay into early summer.
I'll check the page in Sibley on purple martins and see how they compare. Yes, I think I can identify the cowbird. We have them.
Now, about your plant....I can see why both birders and gardeners need cameras! I'd need a close up of your flower to see if it's different from the amaryllis Elegante Mother grows. The long stem, and multiple large trumpet shaped blooms in your picture sure look like her plants!
Posted by buffy | January 21, 2006 4:08 PM
Posted on January 21, 2006 16:08
As to amarillo/amarillis, I was being cheeky. I am positive that I just misspelled the name!
As to your mystery birds actually being purple martins--no way. They don't come to feeders at all. They eat bugs! But, they and starlings look very similar (if not identical) in flight.
You are well ahead of most people in identifying birds. (My mom knew "red birds", "jays", "black birds", "doves", and "pigeons".) You'll figure the mystery birds out!
Posted by Cop Car | January 21, 2006 5:53 PM
Posted on January 21, 2006 17:53
I knew I phrased that comment about the purple martins badly. I should have gone back and edited it. I simply meant to say that the pictures looked similar.
I knew you were being cheeky! *G* I guess I was being kind to my elders out of force of habit.(HUGE GRIN)
Posted by buffy | January 21, 2006 10:17 PM
Posted on January 21, 2006 22:17
Buffy--Now THAT comment means WAR! *grinning*
Posted by Cop Car | January 22, 2006 8:38 AM
Posted on January 22, 2006 08:38
PLEASE tell me it will be a bake off! lol I'll have a chance of winning, then!
Posted by buffy | January 22, 2006 3:22 PM
Posted on January 22, 2006 15:22