The Progeny
Calling all bird identifiers.....
Ma needs help.
Let me rephrase that....more specifically, I request all interested birders to give me their best guess as to what these two specimens might be:
This one must have a home inside a little hole, way up high on our house....possibly where the previous owners blew some rather ineffective insulation.
He (or she) behaves somewhat as a Brown Creeper, in that he creeps along the side of the house. But the markings do not comply. Also, if you notice the nifty tail is somewhat forked, with a white spot at the end of each part. (I think)
Now this is a tad blurred, but that is entirely the bird's fault, not mine. I saw it while going over a little wooden bridge...so it is near a small stream, if that is any help. No bigger than a grackle, and possibly a little smaller.
Rather strange, don't you think?
I'm really going to have to get some decent bird identification books.
The online references are somewhat helpful, especially if you can type in so much info that the need to identify the bird becomes moot.
So help me out, O Wise Ones. To definite IDers I promise the following rewards:
-recognition on the blog (excluding personal data such as phone numbers, addresses and current weights--for the most part)
-prizes, prizes, prizes
-nomination to the Audubon Hall of Fame (just in case there is one)
-more prizes
Hopefully, some will make the attempt, despite the above promise.
Tweet
Let me rephrase that....more specifically, I request all interested birders to give me their best guess as to what these two specimens might be:
This one must have a home inside a little hole, way up high on our house....possibly where the previous owners blew some rather ineffective insulation.
He (or she) behaves somewhat as a Brown Creeper, in that he creeps along the side of the house. But the markings do not comply. Also, if you notice the nifty tail is somewhat forked, with a white spot at the end of each part. (I think)Now this is a tad blurred, but that is entirely the bird's fault, not mine. I saw it while going over a little wooden bridge...so it is near a small stream, if that is any help. No bigger than a grackle, and possibly a little smaller.
Rather strange, don't you think?I'm really going to have to get some decent bird identification books.
The online references are somewhat helpful, especially if you can type in so much info that the need to identify the bird becomes moot.
So help me out, O Wise Ones. To definite IDers I promise the following rewards:
-recognition on the blog (excluding personal data such as phone numbers, addresses and current weights--for the most part)
-prizes, prizes, prizes
-nomination to the Audubon Hall of Fame (just in case there is one)
-more prizes
Hopefully, some will make the attempt, despite the above promise.
Tweet
posted by Ma Hoyt | 9:00 PM
5 Comments:
I looked all through my Peterson bird book and don't feel confident to hazard a guess. I do know that some birds look different in their juvenile forms, so maybe that could be part of the reason we are having trouble.
Dear Mrs. Bird Watcher,
I hope you remember the North Going Sneetches and the South Going Sneetches and the troubles our beloved Dr. Suess the ornithologicalmaker-upper documented? Well, my guess, based on the fact I used to live on Audobon Street is this: Brown Creeper in some mid-western clothing. But the most important question is: does he go up the barn, or down it? You see, the White-faced nuthatch goes DOWN the tree (and makes a nasal yank-yank and the song is a series of low whistled notes) according to Audubon Forth American Field guide. And the Brown Creeper, on the other hand, or foot, rather,uses his tail for support and creeps UP the tree! And he doesn't Sneetch, but says a high-pitched lisping tsee, and the song a thin, descending warble. For a musician such as yourself, this should be easy to decide. There is in my town library video tape section a wonderful series by Audubon Society with videos and sounds and maps and all the variations of each bird. Perhaps yours has this. It costs an arm and a leg to purchase but is available on the Amazon.
The other seems to be a wood pecker?
You may quote me : )
OK :-) I am going with the Sneetches.
I'll hazard a guess that the second bird, near the stream, might be a bobolink (a he, if my guess is correct). It looks like the back of the neck and head are yellow with white on the lower part of the back. Marshes are habitat during migration. Bigger than a house sparrow.
The brown creeper is the closest match I can find for the first bird, but you are right that it doesn't show all of the expected markings.
Terry
My first thought was a wren, probably a house wren. I've seen them nest in a shed across the parking lot from my window at work. They entered through a small knothole in the siding. The forked tail - I don't know, maybe it just splayed out like that from holding it against the building. If seen on a branch, a wren's tail will stick straight up. And the song should be recognizable.
A brown creeper has a curved bill. And would it be in Iowa in the summer?
I concur on the bobolink ID.
Brother Tim
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