I don't have a clue. It was basically cleaning itself here and there, just looking around, plus i saw it do a #2 twice. Was like spilling a small paint can. Lol. When i originally spotted it, it flew from one branch to another. Then i saw wings come up from behind the trunk of the tree very close to where the white headed one just landed but it didn't look quite right. Then a mostly dark eagle few to where this one took off from. Basically they switched places. The dark one was mottled brown and white all over. Like a cool looking camouflage. The one with a white head wasn't completely white. There were some black feathers still in there. It also had white here and there on its wings and back. Not sure what time of year when they get their new feather colors but best i can tell is one was a yearling and the other a 2 year old? Maybe someone knows more about them?
Here's a couple more from today. This one hen decided to just lay down for a bit. Maybe she's preggers already and her feet were tired. Ours have this oily, iridescent sheen on their feathers. If you look close you can see it on the Tom. The sun really shows it in person at times.
Maybe scoping out the possibility of their own territory? Or just found some good hunting and stopped for a layover during their hunt for territory. Also, if molting, they don't fly as well. Or, one is older and watching out for the younger one as it is perfecting its hunting technique. If there is a carcass nearby, they could just be staying there until it is gone. If is is projectile pooping which is what raptors do), it is eating, so shouldn't be any worries on that part.
Lots of action at the feeders today. There is a big fat bluebird that has been coming in but he is quite shy. Hopefully I can get a pic.
Saw these two this morning. They were bouncing around this birch long enough i could grab my phone in the other room. Male and female. If you look closely at the last picture you can see the red mark on the head of the left one. Female was noticably bigger.
Downy or hairy? The downies are constants here. She took down the suet and put up the hummingbird feeder this week (too early IMO) and now they drink the sugar water.
That's a good question. First thought was downy. After reading here a little https://www.audubon.org/news/how-tell-hairy-woodpecker-downy-woodpecker I'm pretty sure they were Downys. I'll have to remember to look at their beak next time.
Downies are the size of sparrows and finches. Hairies are bigger...Robin sized. We had some cowbirds here this morning when I got up. Kinda rare to see any blackbirds at the feeder. Think they were flying North. Sometimes we'll get an occasional grackle in the Summer.
These were definitely smaller but one could've been a downy and the other a hairy but i think they were both downys. Usually the female is bigger than the male, right? Can't say I've ever seen a grackle. Had to look that one up. Cow birds i see quite frequently here since there's a farm across the street from me. Actually saw a few a week or so ago. Not a fan. Lol. Their in the same boat as blue jays.
buZZsaw BRAD I'll let you be the judge. Looking back at the pictures i don't think the bill/beak is long enough to be a Hairy.
The females and males are about the same size. I think it is only raptors that the females are larger (I could be wrong) It is easy to tell the difference between Hairy and Downy if you see them at the same time. For frame of reference, a single cake suet feeder still makes a Downy look like a small bird and several birds can feed at the same time. A hairy will will be about the same size as the suet feeder and only 1 bird will fit on the side of that cake of suet. The striping on the head tends to be subtly different (more white on the downy - although that may not be a hard and fast rule) I think what you have there is an adult Downy (male) and a juvenile/younger Hairy. But, hard to tell so they could both be Downy's and the female is just large (or the male small) for the species.
This site has a good (short) article and at the top has a short video of both a Hairy and Downy on a suet feeder.
You very well could be right. I thought it was odd that the female was "chasing" the male around that tree. Tho when they flew off they went the same direction and both came back to this tree for a short time. Now that I've learned the differences, hopefully I'll see them again.
I've become a very active bird watcher recently. What's up today (bullchiting) thread. Need to fill the feeder for the chickadees and others. No hummingbirds yet, no surprise.
No. I told her it was too early for it and wait until months end when they usually show up, but she insisted and I didn't wanna argue.
