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What kind of bird is this?

15 years ago

I love watching the birds at the feeder outside my studio window. There are these little birds that usually come in pairs (today there were a total of eight at the feeder). They are a rusty brown on top of head and body and the breast feathers are speckled black and white. I see them all the time but do not know what kind they are. Can anyone help me?

Thanks,

{{!gwi}}

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Comments (9)

lisa11310
15 years ago
WOW! Not something from my area! Where are you? Neat looking bird!
paintingfool
Original Author
15 years ago
I live in Pensacola, Florida and these little guys come every year. They are the same size as the black cap chickadees. And they don't seem to be afraid. They will sit and eat with me taking pics, but the cardinals fly away everytime they see me in the window.
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Thanks, Jordanwalker, for responding to my question. It makes a lot of sense that those are the Blue Jay's eggs. They seem too big to be the Cardinal's eggs and we have a lot of Blue jays here. The missing egg theory is interesting and it's kind of scary too for them to eat their own eggs/nestings! In some ways I'm not too surprised too as they're pretty aggressive birds. One Summer, they built a nest over out garden arch and three little birds hatched. The parents were very protective of them and kept sqawking at us whenever we walked under the nest. They always bully other birds including the Cardinals that regularly visit our garden. The Cardinals aren't aggressive, but they sure are brave enough to not to give up their ground easily.
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dzyg
15 years ago
Looks like a scaly-breasted munia, not normally in the US however this link says there are some in CA, must be some in FL too! Cool looking bird.

Oh and I found this by a reference in my Peterson Field Guide to introduced and escaped birds.

Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: Scaly-Breasted Munia
paintingfool
Original Author
15 years ago
Wow!! That looks just like the little birds at my feeder. But what a nasty soundy name. Thanks so much for looking this up. I think I need to get better Field Guides.
Brenda
alan_la
15 years ago
It's a Nutmeg Mannikin, yes we do have them in California.
page 464 NG field guide.
dzyg
15 years ago
alan la, the link I provided says Scaly Breasted Munia also known as the Nutmeg Mannikin or the Spice Finch, all the same bird.

Donna
paintingfool
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to both of you for the information. I have contacted our local Autobon Society to find out if this is a bird we see often here. I know they come back every year to my backyard feeder and it is nice to be able to name them.

Thanks again.
Brenda
catherinet
15 years ago
It seems to have a pretty thick beak....like a grosbeak would. neat bird.
janie_may
15 years ago
WOW! A bird I've never seen or heard of till now. Great looking little bird!

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