Monday, July 13, 2020

Update on Front Yard Bird IDs

Most of the new birds I've already posted in the previous post, as they were not by our house, but here we have an update on the birds identified. All of the new birds, including those out in parks are in blue.

Species Scientific/Latin name
American Crow  Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Baltimore Oriole* Icterus galbula
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
Brown-headed Cowbird  Molothrus ater
Canada Goose* Branta canadensis
Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Ceder Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
Chipping Sparrow  Spizella passerina
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula 
Common Yellowthroat Warbler Geothlypis trichas
Eastern Towhee  Pipilo erythrophthalmus
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinsis
Hairy Woodpecker leuconotopicus villosus
House Finch  Haemorhous mexicanus
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
House Sparrow  Passer domesticus
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Northern Cardinal  Cardinalis cardinalis
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Pileated Woodpecker* Dryocopus pileatus
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Red-winged Blackbird*  Agelaius phoeniceus
Scarlet Tanager* Piranga olivacea
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Veery Catharus fuscenscens
White-throated Sparrow  Zonotrichia albicollis
*Not in my yard

I probably saw some Carolina Chickadees previously, but now I've gotten to know them. Here are some of the pictures I've taken of them-



I believe it was house wrens who first built a nest in the birdhouse, but whether they were chased out or changed their mind they eventually vacated it. Eventually some Carolina Wrens started building in it, and eventually had babies!








I was visiting my parents house several weeks ago (with masks on the screened porch) and watching their bird feeders. They showed us all of the European Starlings (or Common Starlings) that had been crowding their feeders lately. 





And maybe they followed us home, or maybe I hadn't recognized them previously, but suddenly our yard had them taking over as well.






In addition to the mostly black adults, there were packs of juvenile starlings.


Fighting over the suet, and keeping other birds away.



They also like hanging out under the feeders

It has been a bit of a challenge, especially because they can come in huge packs, and clean out supplies very quickly!

Leaving poor wrens like this without much left!


And look at this sad hairy woodpecker!

I've been trying to refill in the afternoon, rather than the morning, as that sometimes helps avoid the big packs of starlings. They can finish off an entire suet in a few hours, and not leave any left to share.

Please share with me any tips you have to avoid attracting starlings but continue feeding birds I love, like woodpeckers, wrens, sparrows and others!

Thanks!

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