Winter Weather Brings Winter Birds

Heyyyyy, the Juncos are back and several White-crowned
Sparrows, too; mostly first-year birds (they're still brown-crowned.)

We're in the midst of our first really good storm of the season (I keep loosing power here), and so far have had nearly a foot of snow. This kind of weather usually brings the birds down; I half expect
to find the Rosy Finches, too.
I wish! A couple years ago, I got all three color variations here...it was very exciting. I'm thinking it might be too early for those pink-butts...er...finches, though.

As I look at some of these photos I managed to get, I'm wondering if these are all White-crowned
Sparrows. I think so...but some of them look so different. Part of the problem of identifying youngsters, I'd imagine.

And, I think I've IDed my first Brewer's Blackbird. He was pretty ratty looking, actually, with very frayed feathers, but that he was next to a Common Grackle really helped me figure him out. Smaller, of course, and his bill was significantly less robust; his tail was squared off and only about half the length of his body. At one point he was next to one of the blasted Eurasian Collared Doves that frequent my place...and was quite a bit smaller than that bird, too. I'm thinking I just got a life bird in my yard, and there were two. It could happen...

Oh, and what the heck is the Goldfinch doing here today? That bright yellow butt was a complete give-away, and rather a shock, too. Course, in that I just saw my last hummingbird 3-4 days ago (October 17th), perhaps I shouldn't be surprised.

Today is also the first time I've put up seed-feeders in awhile. I was trying, without much luck, to discourage Grackles and those ever present doves. Because of the weather though, I brought out most of my feeders; including sock feeders that I filled with black thistle and canary seed (cheaper than pure thistle). These brought back the Pine Siskins, which I've not seen for weeks.

With them are dozens of House Finches, so far in Red and Orange variations. Sometimes I see yellow variants. Also in the yard are Common Flickers (Red); racing the blasted Starlings for the last berries on the Virginia Creeper lining the fence. I've watched at least two or three Black-capped Chickadees flit in and out with a single sunflower seed as well as at least one white eye-browed Mountain Chickadee.

I have not seen any of the Hairy Woodpeckers in awhile, but the Downey’s are hitting the suet like there is no tomorrow. I thought I was so clever attaching a suet cage to the bottom of a wooden feeder, but other birds do try for a bite or two; flapping and struggling to hang on.

Most often it is the Magpies, which is why I came up with the fat-worms; they look so funny trying to hang on that tiny cage. They must like the fat a lot, which is why my dog hates them. If he doesn’t keep track of the bones I give him, they will practically crawl inside after the marrow; big dog, big bones! They are the only bird he chases.

I suppose I don’t help their relationship much, when I feed them lightly moistened kibble on a high-up, pole feeder. I think they tease him. I’ve watched the Magpies hide the kibble in the barn, wedging it between boards, and even under-ground; they bury it like squirrels! I wonder if that’s why the skunks are digging up my yard…

Black Birds

For some time, I’ve considered the fact that I can’t tell the blacks apart. They all look the same! Oh sure, if they gather in crowds, you can find subtle differences; but mostly all I see is differences in size. For example, only if the Red-winged Blackbird chooses to flash his red epaulets can you know he is a RWBL. In my mind, the only way to tell a Brewer’s Blackbird from a Common Grackle…is size. I just cannot tell these big black birds apart; other than one is nine-inches long and the other twelve and a half! Oh sure…there are subtle difference, too; but I am not yet good enough to automatically see those and know.

Months ago, earlier in this year…I took many photographs of large groups of black birds. It was easy to see the Yellow-headed ones, and by and large the RWBL were pretty easy, as well. And when a Great-tailed Grackle joined them…it was easy to spot at 18” tall. Still…I had Common Grackles, too, and even Brown-headed Cowbirds. I just know I probably also had Brewer’s Blackbirds back then, too. But, the BHCO were easy to spot…they are so small, and they walk differently, also; sort of skulking along (though perhaps that is a characteristic I’ve applied to them myself). And, the cowbirds have dark eyes.

The point is, today I’ve watched several black birds at my feeders; all of which have bright yellow eyes. Some are quite large…but don’t have that spectacular ‘boat-tail’; and they aren’t as big as Great-tailed Grackles. Still, I will watch 3-4 black birds; coming and going and trading off with others of the same…and I am convinced I’m seeing two different sizes of bird; two different species: Brewer’s Blackbird and the Common Grackle.

Oh yes, the bill is the most common ‘field marker’…or distinguishing feature. The BRBL’s bill is smaller and thinner, the Grackles’ is larger and thicker. Also, the COGR’s tail is longer…even when not as dramatic as
the boat-tailed bird. The problem for me is…I’m pretty new at this; distinguishing subtle features in quick, active birds.

I have included links (above) to thousands of photos of each species; pages and pages of pictures. I use that ‘Images’ feature on Google, not bothering to follow the links, just to look at the birds. Lordy, but these two are similar! I also have purposely included photos in this piece to show just that; it’s not always easy to quickly discern a lighter bill or 2-3” difference in size when the birds are not standing right next to one another. But, I’ll learn! Oh, and just to complicate things, there is also the Rusty Blackbird…but I’m betting it is unlikely I’d see one of them (besides they have dark eyes and plumage is browner during the winter.)

Don't know the 4-letter Alpha-code for birds? Click here.

Brewer’s Blackbird

Common and widespread. Adults have a pointed bill. Adult males have black plumage; the female is dark grey. The male has a bright yellow eye; the female's is dark. They resemble the eastern member of the same genus, the Rusty Blackbird; however, this bird has a shorter bill and the male's head is iridescent purple. This bird is often mistaken for the Common Grackle but has a shorter tail. The call is a sharp check which is also distinguishable.

These birds are often permanent residents in the west. Other birds migrate to the southeastern United States and Mexico.

They forage in shallow water or in fields, mainly eating seeds and insects, some berries. They sometimes catch insects in flight. They feed in flocks outside of the breeding season, sometimes with other blackbirds.

Common Grackle

Uncommon. The 12.5” long adult has a long dark bill, pale yellowish eyes and a long tail; its plumage is an iridescent black, or purple on the head. The adult female is slightly smaller and less glossy.

The breeding habitat is open and semi-open areas across North America east of the Rocky Mountains.
The nest is a well-concealed cup in dense trees (particularly pine) or shrubs, usually near water; sometimes, the Common Grackle will nest in cavities or in man-made structures. It often nests in colonies, some being quite large.

This bird is a permanent resident in much of its range. Northern birds migrate in flocks to the southeastern United States.

The Common Grackle forages on the ground, in shallow water or in shrubs; it will steal food from other birds. It is omnivorous, eating insects, minnows, frogs, eggs, berries, seeds, grain and even small birds.

Oh my

I just read (in Bill Thompson’s Identify Yourself: the 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges), that many blackbirds exhibit a high degree of sexual dimorphism (males & females look different). However, the Common Grackle is fairly unisex…though the female is significantly smaller and with a less obviously keeled tail. Dang…I’m gonna have to re-think what I’m seeing...again! Yes, I removed the BRBL from my
November bird list.

Photos from Wikipedia