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Do you know these birds ? and a couple extra photos

16 years ago

The first two photos are of birds my husband took this morning. They acted like a pair, but this is the first time we have seen them at our feeders and do not recognize them. We checked our bird book and the closest we can come to them is a cowbird, but there are some differences. They are similar in size to a cardinal and the beak is heavy like a cardinal, but it is black.

#1 {{!gwi}}

#2 {{!gwi}}

My first photo of a nuthatch not quite standing on it's head.

{{!gwi}}

This one is to add a bit of color. Our sunset sky last evening.

{{!gwi}}

Thanks for any suggestions you care to give on the ID. Jane

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Comments (7)

kendra2003
16 years ago
Those pictures are really nice. Hopefully someone will be able to answer. I have seen this same bird in my yard and couldn't figure out an ID either. I searched through all my bird books and couldn't find a match.
janepa
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks kendra for checking. I forgot to mention we are in central Pennsylvania.
Thanks. Jane
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alan_la
16 years ago
They look like female Cowbirds to me.
bandjzmom
16 years ago
I agree with the female Cowbird ID. I like your Nuthatch and your sunset is gorgeous! :o)
bluesman
16 years ago
Female Cowbird..100% sure..Nice pictures..Mike
janepa
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks everyone. I guess our 'maybe' was correct. The beak/bill (what is the difference?) did not seem to match. We got a new bird book this evening and when we were checking it out, I first went to the cowbird.

I cropped the original photo which had the other bird which I believe is the male. He looked a little longer, and not quite as full bodied.
Jane
bandjzmom
16 years ago
Jane,
The male Cowbird would be completely black with a chocolate brown head. Both of the pics above would be females. The juvies are similar to the females but have lots of striping according to my book. Not great birds to have around during nesting season as they are parasitic brooders. They don't build their own nest. Instead, they lay their eggs inside the nests of other birds, and then the other bird species feeds and raises their chicks. The Cowbird egg hatches first, and this decreases the survival chances of the nest builder's own offspring as the parents have been slaving away feeding the big hungry Cowbird chick, often causing their own to starve.

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