Fri
Mar 16 2007
12:14 pm
Friday Bird Blogging
By: R. Neal

(click to embiggen)

A Red-winged Blackbird, through the window.

I like these birds. Maybe because it's one of the few I can identify by its song. (I swear I think they used it for some of the bridge sound effects on Star Trek.)

We have at least three hanging around. This one and another appear to be immatures, although they are getting blacker ever day.

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Mello's picture

Now I get it

Submitted by Mello on Fri, 2007/03/16 - 1:49pm.

This new photo shows why they are called RedWinged instead of yellow winged. Out west we seldom saw any red on the wings, just the yellow.

R. Neal's picture

I think the older they get

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2007/03/16 - 1:56pm.

I think the older they get the more red they get in the wing. The one in my pic has a lot of red, it's just hidden except when the wings are extended.

Mello's picture

Bumbles, Osprey and Pterodactyl

Submitted by Mello on Fri, 2007/03/16 - 1:28pm.

Forget the robins- nothing says spring is here better than seeing the RWBs.

And now the carpenter bees are back. I will have tennis elbow in no time. I guess I should say badminton elbow because that is my main line of defense against these bumbles. There are lovely dead trees in the woods but still they like the flavor of my house.

Our friend Pterry is back. This is one great blue heron that runs on a schedule. By summer we can set our watches to his flight path. Here he comes- it is two o'clock, there he goes it is almost 7.

We had our first Osprey sighting of the season this week!

The feeders are not getting as much traffic these days. A mockingbird has moved into that part of the yard and is running the show now.

If you happen to go to the Blount County Library- keep your ears open. There is a mockingbird there that tries his best to be a duck. He is not very good at this and that is why he will draw your attention.

Ain't life in the cheap seats grand!

Lovely photo R! Thanks!

R. Neal's picture

Hey, we've got one of those

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2007/03/16 - 1:40pm.

Hey, we've got one of those Pterodactyls that fly over right on schedule, too. Wonder if it's the same one?

Steve at WhitesCreek has this photo of a Red-winged Blackbird displaying, taken near Lake Mary, FL:

Andy Axel's picture

Conk-a-reeeeeeee...

Submitted by Andy Axel on Fri, 2007/03/16 - 1:46pm.

RWB, Assateague Is., 2006

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Recursive blogwhore.

Terry Troll's picture

I guess it is all in your

Submitted by Terry Troll on Fri, 2007/03/16 - 1:14pm.

I guess it is all in your point of view. Down here in La. they are one of the three devil flocks along with boat tailed grackles and bronze headed cowbirds. They travel in huge flocks, clean out feeders in no time and push the song birds out. Come take all you want back up there.

R. Neal's picture

Down here in La. they are

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2007/03/16 - 1:59pm.

Down here in La. they are one of the three devil flocks along with boat tailed grackles and bronze headed cowbirds. They travel in huge flocks, clean out feeders in no time and push the song birds out.

Did not know that. Haven't noticed big flocks of them around here, but now that you mention it just two or three can help clean out some feeders in a hurry.

R. Neal's picture

I tried to get one of

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2007/03/16 - 12:26pm.

I tried to get one of another one fluffing and displaying like that, but it didn't come out. He's really working it!

WhitesCreek's picture

Did you know that the bright

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Fri, 2007/03/16 - 12:19pm.

Did you know that the bright red patch on the wings will stick out and wiggle when he whistles at chicks?

lotta's picture

red wing means spring

Submitted by lotta on Sun, 2007/03/18 - 7:14pm.

I have a pond near my house and I know it's spring when the red wing black birds appear. They sit on the cat tails and sing, sing sing! The males come in first - in a few weeks, the females arrive and all hell breaks loose. Blue jays always bug out when this starts - I don't think they like the competition. The blue heron doesn't seem to mind them at all.

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