March Madness

We have had tons of birds in the yard and at the feeders.

Mourning Dove

White Crown Sparrow

Common Rosefinch

These are some of the birds I captured.  There was also a jay, but it was too allusive.  Sometimes the birds fight over the seeds and fly over to the flower pots for a drink of water. 

• First-year birds tend to disperse further than adults which explains why colonizing birds are almost always dull-plumaged (young) males.
• A group of rosefinches are collectively known as a "bouquet" of finches.
• Maybe this is a house finch.  It's hard to tell the difference, except for their location.
• House finches are natives of the American West, but were introduced in New York City in the 1940's.  Since that time, eastern birds have spread throughout the eastern half of the country, while western populations have also expanded.  The House Finch, like the House Sparrow, is well adapted to living with humans and has taken advantage of their presence rather than suffering because of it.  Today the House Finch can be found throughout the country.  Both a male (left) and female (right) are depicted in the photos to the right.

• Bird Feeders: Sunflower seeds, thistle, and millet seeds.

   
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Cow Birds

I got to go birding again.  This time we started in Suisun City and headed out Hwy 12 and continued onto Hwy 16.  It was cold and foggy when we began at around 8 am.  I drove by myself because, at the time, I thought I needed to be back to pick up parents, but that got cancelled.  So, what did I see?. Well, at first, nothing.  I'm glad I was in the car as the temperature was 39 degrees.  The bad news is I didn't get any pictures of birds.  They were just too far away. The good news is eventually I did see some cool birds. I did get to see goldfinches which there were over 100 lined up winged feathers to feathers sitting on a wire giving off a yellow glow all around them.  It was amazing.  I also saw a couple of red tail hawks. There was a meadowlark and shrike sitting next to each other which was quite a striking site since they both have a completely different look.  Lastly I saw a burrowing owl peaking out of his home in the side of the mound of dirt on the side of the road.I could only see one big yellow suspicious eye looking around at all of us. 

© keefee

This handsome little finch, the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington, is welcome and common at feeders, where it takes primarily sunflower and nyjer. Goldfinches often flock with Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls. Spring males are brilliant yellow and shiny black with a bit of white. Females and all winter birds are more dull but identifiable by their conical bill; pointed, notched tail; wingbars; and lack of streaking. During molts they look bizarrely patchy.