I tried looking him up. No luck either. I just saw what looks like a black and white warbler with yellow on his wings. Do we get yellow rumpled warblers here? Or is it something else?
My first reaction was a Warbler but I couldn't find this one. I saw an Australian bird that was similar. The only coloring that was that black and white is a Rose Breasted Grosbeak, but without the Rose and without the beak and smaller. So that's no help.
What in the world is this guy. Looked through 2 books and online. Not at the feeder but eating berries from the Holly, Smaller than a sparrow, more the size of a Warbler or Chickadee. Had a tough time getting a shot through the dense Holly. Anybody know this bird. Looks to be just black and white.
I tried looking him up. No luck either. I just saw what looks like a black and white warbler with yellow on his wings. Do we get yellow rumpled warblers here? Or is it something else?
We are not supposed to get yellow-rumped warblers here, but they are in Cape May, so it's possible that an ol' "butter butt" made it this far north.
ETA: Which, btw, would be amazing! It's only a "passing migrant."
Those pics look pretty close. I had seen another shot before but the blue looked too blue. But this must be the one. We are in the best migratory corridor.
My first reaction was a Warbler but I couldn't find this one. I saw an Australian bird that was similar. The only coloring that was that black and white is a Rose Breasted Grosbeak, but without the Rose and without the beak and smaller. So that's no help.
Morganna I think you brought me good luck mentioning a Rose Breasted Grosbeak. Look who showed up here today. This is my first Spring here in SO. I can’t believe how good the birding is.
Morganna I think you brought me good luck mentioning a Rose Breasted Grosbeak. Look who showed up here today. This is my first Spring here in SO. I can’t believe how good the birding is.
Wow! We need to post maps for them so that they know where the food is! So happy you are having such a great experience and glad you joined this thread.
So...it’s the size of a grackle, but way less iridescent. Black eyes rather than yellow. And a tiny bit of grayish or brown feathers on its shoulders. I looked at Purple Martin photos and descriptions, but it’s the slight shoulder color that has me thrown off. Any suggestions as to ID? Thank you from a true bird rookie...
So...it’s the size of a grackle, but way less iridescent. Black eyes rather than yellow. And a tiny bit of grayish or brown feathers on its shoulders. I looked at Purple Martin photos and descriptions, but it’s the slight shoulder color that has me thrown off. Any suggestions as to ID? Thank you from a true bird rookie...
Wow! We need to post maps for them so that they know where the food is! So happy you are having such a great experience and glad you joined this thread.
Thank you! It is so good to have found others who enjoy these sightings as much as I do!
I will take all of your last week birds! Please send me a hummmingbird!
I have 2 females at least. Very small and active. I notice Hummers love to come out in the rain. The girls were back and forth the past 2 days. Quiet today but my ex husband and I were pruning and making a racket in the garden so we may have spooked them. I'll be watching now.
If you can hang some enticing flowers nearby like a basket of Petunias, I opt for lots of reds and yellows.
I haven’t checked my birdie references, but could you be thinking of our fairy wrens, Morganna? They’re often the same size and shape, and black and white.
Those pics look pretty close. I had seen another shot before but the blue looked too blue. But this must be the one. We are in the best migratory corridor.
(I’m about 90 posts behind, sorry folks. ETA: thought I was replying to your Aussie bird comment, too. Sigh.)
I have 2 females at least. Very small and active. I notice Hummers love to come out in the rain. The girls were back and forth the past 2 days. Quiet today but my ex husband and I were pruning and making a racket in the garden so we may have spooked them. I'll be watching now.
If you can hang some enticing flowers nearby like a basket of Petunias, I opt for lots of reds and yellows.
I think a flower basket might do the trick. Do you know the best place to buy one locally?
Hummingbird girls are back at the feeder. None have touched the old glass one. That Humzinger is the preferred. Hopefully the days of warm sunshine will get those Honeysuckle buds to open.
Planting the Red Salvia Annuals today between trips to the recycling center to get mulch and compost.
I saw a very sharp-looking bird at my bird feeder today. It was about the size and beak of a sparrow but had a white face and a sharp black stripe then dark on the rest of the head. I am not a birder, but this bird looked very nice and I do not recall seeing them before.
I only put out a little food into the bird feeder when I want to attract birds. I saw too many rats at bird feeders when the feeder is overfull and lots of seed falls to the ground. Also, I had to put cooking oil on the feeder metal stake pole so the squirrels could not climb it. It was funny watching the squirrels try to climb the metal stand, only to slide down much like a fireman on a firehouse pole.
I am just catching up here, skimming all the messages, but wanted to jump in and say there have been dozens of yellow rumps all over town this week -- maybe a dozen this morning in the barely-leafed tall trees hanging over the brook behind the library, and lots of other places. We definitely get our full complement of butter-butts!
I've also seen two hummingbirds in my backyard in the past few days -- hope they stick around! I don't have many blooms for them yet, but do have a nectar feeder up.
I saw a very sharp-looking bird at my bird feeder today. It was about the size and beak of a sparrow but had a white face and a sharp black stripe then dark on the rest of the head. I am not a birder, but this bird looked very nice and I do not recall seeing them before.
I only put out a little food into the bird feeder when I want to attract birds. I saw too many rats at bird feeders when the feeder is overfull and lots of seed falls to the ground. Also, I had to put cooking oil on the feeder metal stake pole so the squirrels could not climb it. It was funny watching the squirrels try to climb the metal stand, only to slide down much like a fireman on a firehouse pole.
I saw a very sharp-looking bird at my bird feeder today. It was about the size and beak of a sparrow but had a white face and a sharp black stripe then dark on the rest of the head. I am not a birder, but this bird looked very nice and I do not recall seeing them before.
I only put out a little food into the bird feeder when I want to attract birds. I saw too many rats at bird feeders when the feeder is overfull and lots of seed falls to the ground. Also, I had to put cooking oil on the feeder metal stake pole so the squirrels could not climb it. It was funny watching the squirrels try to climb the metal stand, only to slide down much like a fireman on a firehouse pole.
I don't try to outsmart the squirrels but this little bandit is ready for Cirque du Soleil.
When I have a critter problem, I sometimes playfully think to myself, "Who's smarter, me or the critter?" Then I try to come with a solution. But sometimes the critter wins.
My first reaction was a Warbler but I couldn't find this one. I saw an Australian bird that was similar. The only coloring that was that black and white is a Rose Breasted Grosbeak, but without the Rose and without the beak and smaller. So that's no help.