Cooper’s Hawk https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/342243534
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Those are incredible shots!
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Thanks :)
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American robins back to being in yards. While they do not entirely migrate many leave or change habitats so it is always welcome to see them in march.
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His eyes are gorgeous!
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They never sit still and are usually in the middle of bushes, so I’m quite happy how this turned out.:-)
Curruca melanocephala, male, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/341961165
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Today about 45 American robins were everywhere. I made a story about it with some anthropomorphism.
The American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Descending on yards everywhere each spring, this unassuming bird spells doom for the non-native inhabitants under the grass.
With sharp eyes, ears, and beak, they pursue and trick their prey of choice to come to the surface by pecking at the ground.
Once the earthworms emerge the robin pulls as the worm clings to the soil with their seta (little hairlike projections to make them hard to pull out of the ground)
Yet where many fail, getting only half a worm, these little predators succeed.
Enjoying a meal as the worms shiver while the robin apocalypse continues.
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I don’t have a good story like @redeft23, but I do think the female Red-winged Blackbird is striking.
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I definitely have to agree! They’re very pretty and so different from the males. The first time I saw one I thought it was a Savannah sparrow lol.
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Gorgeous bird! Wow. It is great seeing the birds come back.
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Female birds of dimorphic species are often considered less pretty due to their often less flashy appearance. What birds do you find that are dimorphic where you think the females are actually prettier than the males or at least equal?
For me it is Northern Cardinals. While the males are quite bold in color I find the blend of color on the females to be really pretty. The reds, browns, and orange like colors.
What is interesting is in nonbreeding seasons in some species like the Scarlet tanagers and American goldfinch, the males look like females.
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I would agree that female Northern Cardinals with that buffy brown and tinges of red are beautiful in a different way than the males. Two other species I think rival their male counterparts are female Purple Finches and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Like the female Red-winged Blackbird, they have striking markings.
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That is great! And really good photos too!
Beautiful! She stands out in her own way :)
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With their red wattles, green heads, white neck rings and beautiful copper coloured wing and body feathers, male pheasants are definitely the showier sex of their species. But I think there’s a certain understated beauty in the females and the feather patterning is lovely.
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Female Great tailed grackles have to be one of my favorite female birds! They’re so beautiful looking, their feathers colors are so nice.
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Cedar Waxwing eating hackberries https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/342834968
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Are there any birds nesting in your area? Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls, Common Raven, Eastern Bluebirds, Etc.
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I have a nesting pair of barred owls near my house! It’s wonderful! I haven’t quite figured out where their nest is, but I know that they like to hunt right by my backyard.
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That is so cool! I am keeping an eye out for a pair that nested on our property last year.
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