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Your “little brown bird” theme makes me chuckle. Have you read Simon Barnes’ “How to Be a (Bad) Birdwatcher”? he has a discussion of little brown birds and how hard they are to identify. It’s a fantastic, well-written, loving book and I highly recommend it for your entertainment.
Your cute little brown bird would be a sparrow. Or a cactus wren. Do you have cactus? Or maybe it’s…I have no clue. I have a friend who is a bird photographer – I can see if he can identify it if you are interested.
Toni, If someone happens by who can identify it (and in the last post, someone thought she knew what a similar bird was) that’s great but don’t go out of your way.
And, No catus here! This is the wetlands.
I have found it difficult to capture a bird photo of any kind without a lot of “stuff” in the background – branches, weeds etc. It makes it difficult to really see the bird itself clearly. Not here though. Great capture Kym. He looks a lot more chipper than I feel most mornings!
Suzy, I think you’re right. Song Sparrow seems simple enough for even me to remember.
Bob, Little Brown job? Job as in work or Job as in God and Satan war for my soul? I kinda prefer the later–some great possible symbolism.
Guest
Kato
14 years ago
Kym, our neighbor Kyle would be the one to ask about these fellows. He identified a similar-looking bird (as a song sparrow) from behavior and call description for me. This week, we’ve had a very ambitious song sparrow who’s been unsuccessfully trying to intimidate his own reflection in the mirrors of our old Chevy truck. Each morning, he’ll sit by the window looking into one mirror, then the other, then perches right on top of the mirrors, trilling his territorial claim. I was concerned that he was needlessly using up precious energy on this imaginary rival, but I so enjoy the music I’ve put off covering the reflection. There ought to be a proverbial saying about the sweet songs from plain-looking birds…
“There ought to be a proverbial saying about the sweet songs from plain-looking birds…” Meadowlarks wow me with their song. If I could I would stand outside every spring morning until I heard one just for the joy!
Guest
Kyle
14 years ago
Great Photo! What a proud bird. Sure enough, its a Song Sparrow. They have one of the most bright and beautiful songs for being somewhat plain looking. Your photo really spruces up what normally can be a drab looking bird. He’s a boy though and its breeding season out there so he’s looking a little dressed up. Neotropical migrants are starting to show up here in Salmon Creek. We had our first Black Throated Gray Warbler singing today as well as a Cassin’s Vireo and Pacific Slope Flycatcher. In another week or so we should start seeing and hearing Black Headed Grosbeaks and towards the end of April the Western Tanagers roll in. All of those neotropical migrants have come a long way through challenging terrain. Some come from as far as South America. The Cassins Vireo that I mentioned above can winter as far south as Honduras. I absolutely love the idea of these Latin American heroes making their journey back to these hills to serenade us.
Not sure where our swallows winter, but if you go to Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas, Mexico, there is this bank downtown where tens of thousands of swallows roost each night during the winter. As I recall, most, or a good proportion were Northern Rough-winged Swallows (more common inland from here in the summer). The bank had a sort of niche architectural form where the swallows would roost on the letter indicating the name of the bank. I’m not describing it well, but just picture 10s of thousands of swallows coming in to roost each evening in great swarms.
Nice photo, BTW.
Alexis, I would say they are good but that is my opinion. They are found in Illinois and their eggs can be blue. Here is a great site that will help you.
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It’s nice to have the bird looking back at us!
Your “little brown bird” theme makes me chuckle. Have you read Simon Barnes’ “How to Be a (Bad) Birdwatcher”? he has a discussion of little brown birds and how hard they are to identify. It’s a fantastic, well-written, loving book and I highly recommend it for your entertainment.
http://10000birds.com/howtobeabadbirdwatcher.htm
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7406/book_review_how_to_be_a_bad_birdwatcher.html?cat=38
That sounds like a great read! I’ll be on the look out for it.
Your cute little brown bird would be a sparrow. Or a cactus wren. Do you have cactus? Or maybe it’s…I have no clue. I have a friend who is a bird photographer – I can see if he can identify it if you are interested.
Toni, If someone happens by who can identify it (and in the last post, someone thought she knew what a similar bird was) that’s great but don’t go out of your way.
And, No catus here! This is the wetlands.
Wonderful. The bird looks like he is challenging you.
looks something like a songsparrow
http://www.rbnc.org/images/birdband/song_sparrow.jpg
Dunno what it is, but when I did a piece on birders a while back, I learned what they call birds like yours: LBJ – little brown job.
it’s a brown bird! 😉
Song sparrow looks to be correct. Chipping sparrows have the same hood, but their bodies are more gray than brown.
I have found it difficult to capture a bird photo of any kind without a lot of “stuff” in the background – branches, weeds etc. It makes it difficult to really see the bird itself clearly. Not here though. Great capture Kym. He looks a lot more chipper than I feel most mornings!
thanks sophie for the good links!
Suzy, I think you’re right. Song Sparrow seems simple enough for even me to remember.
Bob, Little Brown job? Job as in work or Job as in God and Satan war for my soul? I kinda prefer the later–some great possible symbolism.
Kym, our neighbor Kyle would be the one to ask about these fellows. He identified a similar-looking bird (as a song sparrow) from behavior and call description for me. This week, we’ve had a very ambitious song sparrow who’s been unsuccessfully trying to intimidate his own reflection in the mirrors of our old Chevy truck. Each morning, he’ll sit by the window looking into one mirror, then the other, then perches right on top of the mirrors, trilling his territorial claim. I was concerned that he was needlessly using up precious energy on this imaginary rival, but I so enjoy the music I’ve put off covering the reflection. There ought to be a proverbial saying about the sweet songs from plain-looking birds…
“There ought to be a proverbial saying about the sweet songs from plain-looking birds…” Meadowlarks wow me with their song. If I could I would stand outside every spring morning until I heard one just for the joy!
Great Photo! What a proud bird. Sure enough, its a Song Sparrow. They have one of the most bright and beautiful songs for being somewhat plain looking. Your photo really spruces up what normally can be a drab looking bird. He’s a boy though and its breeding season out there so he’s looking a little dressed up. Neotropical migrants are starting to show up here in Salmon Creek. We had our first Black Throated Gray Warbler singing today as well as a Cassin’s Vireo and Pacific Slope Flycatcher. In another week or so we should start seeing and hearing Black Headed Grosbeaks and towards the end of April the Western Tanagers roll in. All of those neotropical migrants have come a long way through challenging terrain. Some come from as far as South America. The Cassins Vireo that I mentioned above can winter as far south as Honduras. I absolutely love the idea of these Latin American heroes making their journey back to these hills to serenade us.
¡recepción detrás, pequeño cantante!
We were wondering after reading this–where do the swallows overwinter at?
Not sure where our swallows winter, but if you go to Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas, Mexico, there is this bank downtown where tens of thousands of swallows roost each night during the winter. As I recall, most, or a good proportion were Northern Rough-winged Swallows (more common inland from here in the summer). The bank had a sort of niche architectural form where the swallows would roost on the letter indicating the name of the bank. I’m not describing it well, but just picture 10s of thousands of swallows coming in to roost each evening in great swarms.
Nice photo, BTW.
I would love to see that many swallows!
are these swallows bad or good? and are they found in illinois? also, are there eggs blue?
Alexis, I would say they are good but that is my opinion. They are found in Illinois and their eggs can be blue. Here is a great site that will help you.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Song_Sparrow/lifehistory