Scully, yep - we are a bit warmer here, but it's the overnight hard freezes that crack birdbath basins. On cold winter days, if I notice an ice skim forming, I'll add warm water too, but if I'm gone for the day the risk of freezeover escalates. The heater works 24/7. We've had a warm fall too, but if the Old Farmers Almanac is right, once it gets here, we're in for it this winter. Btw - Everytime I open this thread I get a mental picture of Woodstock ice skating on the birdbath - brings a smile to my face ....... thanks! Another little aside is that in the heat of summer, I take a pitcher full of ice cubes out to the birdbath - the flapping about definitely increases when I cool it down! :o) Love my birds!

Yikes! Sounds like you're feeding flocks of invasive European Starlings and greedy Common Grackles, probably parasitizing Brown-headed Cowbirds..all of which compete with and/or kill songbirds and their nestlings. But perhaps where you live there aren't any other kinds of birds. You could switch to Nyger and thistle tube feeders or take down your feeders until they move on. Feeding cracked corn, human food scraps, cheap "wildbird seed," on the ground or in tray feeders can quickly attract vermin of all kinds-bird or rodent-which could flood the neighborhood, preventing your neighbors from attracting native song birds to their feeders. Some bird books categorize by color to make it easy for beginners to find the right bird. Here's one on Amazon, but there are many others. You can click on the "used" link to get the book for almost nothing http://www.amazon.com/Stokes-Beginners-Guide-Birds-Eastern/dp/0316818119

Thank you! I think that is probably it. I also found a related species that looked extremely similar called a Hairy Woodpecker. I couldn't tell the difference. I am in Western NY. I guess I was right about it being a female.

I'd say common grackle. The bill looks too heavy and long for a Brewer's or Rusty blackbird. ETA: One of my blackbird photos for comparison.