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        Daily Chat >> General Posts >> Question for George....
        
(Message started by: Redd on Apr 24^th, 2008, 7:25am)

Title: Question for George....
Post by Redd on Apr 24^th, 2008, 7:25am

Last night, I had a new feathered friend visit my bird feeder, one I've never seen round these parts.

It's black with a very deep brown head. It's not a cowbird, because the beak is way too thin and long, where the cowbird bill is more conical.

Any ideas?

Title: Re: Question for George....
Post by George_J on Apr 24^th, 2008, 9:11am

A male Rusty Blackbird, perhaps?

There's some color variation in individuals--some are quite a bit lighter in color than these two images:
http://www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice/images/Rusty%20Blackbird.jpg

http://www.galvestonbirders.org/Rusty%20Blackbird%20male%20jpgs0807.jpg

Here's a range map in North America for the Rusty Blackbird:

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Research/Rusty_Blackbird/images/fig1.gif

They're less common than they were, and are apparently in decline, unlike most of the other blackbird species. Near as I can tell, no one knows why, exactly.

That's my best guess.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Question for George....
Post by Redd on Apr 24^th, 2008, 9:24am

http://www.irritatedvowel.com/_thumbs/Birds/zzgenthumb_pmb_cowbird_on_post.jpg

It was colored like this, only the bill is like the last picture you posted.

The color differential was also very slight, not pronounced.

Guess it won't matter too much, I use a basic wild seed blend w/o thistle. Unless he/they keep coming.