Bird ID?

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AlexK La Mirada, CA(Zone 9b) May 26, 2006

While I was weeding the other day, I had an unfamiliar bird stop by to banquet on the cutworms I was apparently saving him the trouble of unearthing. Grabbed my camera but, unfortunately, the only pic I managed to get you can barely even tell there's a bird in it, let alone what it looks like. I'm hoping someone might recognize it from a description though, because now my curiousity is killing me.

It was bigger than a sparrow, but smaller than a skinny pigeon. The tail, wings, and head were a very pretty blue on top and there were white eyebrow-like marks arching over the eyes. It had a straight, pointy beak, not flat or hooked as far as I could tell.

Sound at all familiar to those of an ornithological bent?

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GreenLife (Zone 10b) Jun 01, 2006

I think you may have seen a western scrub jay. They have blue feathers and a white line above the eyes that looks like an eyebrow.

http://www.wildbirdphotos.com/images/birds/westernscrubjay100EOS1D-7F9G2213.jpg

This message was edited May 31, 2006 8:10 PM

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AlexK La Mirada, CA(Zone 9b) Jun 02, 2006

aHA!

Yep, that's the bird.

Thanks!

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GreenLife (Zone 10b) Jun 03, 2006

No problem...scrub jays are, without question, among my favorite birds. They are especially fond of whole peanuts so if you want to get a closer look at them, a peanut is sure to draw them in. Here's a scrub jay lugging around two whole peanuts. http://www.naturalsights.com/albumsNS/Birds/ScrubJayWith2Peanuts.jpg

They are highly intelligent and will dig holes in the ground to cache their spoils, even going as far as to cover up their stash with grass, twigs, and other handy debris to disguise their belongings. They are a true joy to watch.

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AlexK La Mirada, CA(Zone 9b) Jun 03, 2006

If they eat cutworms, they just became my bestest bird friends.

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