CLOSED: Newbie needs help with another bird id...

Ok, here I am once again asking for help id-ing a bird I have never seen before this year..... (I have more birds in my yard than ever so I guess those feeders are helping!) but this is a very small (smaller than a bluebird) bird that is very BRIGHT blue - with black on the top of its head and black on its wingtips. I tried to get my camera but they flew away before I could get a picture. They were in a group of about 8 or so.... and quite colorful. Oh, and there was one slightly larger brown bird with them (larger than a bluebird) - could have been a sparrow of some type....not sure if they were "traveling together" or not - but she flew away in their direction when they left......

Ya'll did so well on identifying my tufted titmouse, I was hoping this would meet with the same success.

Thanks
Genna

Could it have been an Indigo Bunting? The top of its head is a darker blue and could appear blackish in the right light.
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/203/_/Indigo_Bunting.aspx

well, I learned something by reading that page. Indigo Buntings are actually black and it is diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue!

That could very well be it.... I figured it was some type of finch because it was so bright.... hard to believe that is "black that appears blue" but I am sure they know better than I..... They were beautiful...hope they decide to stay around for the summer....

Thank you for your help!
Genna

Oh, lucky you ... I have never seen an Indigo Bunting except in pictures! I bet that was a beautiful sight with eight or more in your yard! The female looks so drab compared to the male. But, that's true of Cardinal's too.

Look at some of these photo's and see if you recognize this as being the birds you saw:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=indigo+bunting&um=1&ie=UTF-8

I HAD never seen such a bird either - but boy were they beautiful....wish I could have managed to get a picture. The link was great - that was FEMALE that was with the several males that we saw.... we had discussed- "wonder what that brown bird is that is with them".... she looks more like a large sparrow and VERY PLAIN compared the boys. I DO HOPE they return....... they were stunning!! I can only hope that they will decide they like it here and stick around ....and maybe eventually I can get some pics.

Now, I am wondering if there was only 1 female in that group of 7 - 8 males....or if I just didn't notice the others?? The one kinda stood out right in the middle of all that blue!!

Sure hope there are lots of girls too and that can find homes in the area and are successful in raising babies...... wonder what they nest in????

Thanks so much for the info and all the help in identifying this one. That makes 2 new birds that I have spotted this summer and both successfully identified. I have also had a few cardinals around this year - which we have not had in the past and I have spotted several mocking birds as well.

Have a great night
Genna

I wonder why with birds the males are more colorful than females? My husband has a 150 gal salt water aquarium and it's the same with fish ... the male fish are so much more colorful and prettier than the females! I tell him at least with humans it's the female's who are prettier!

LOL.... I love it ..I have made the SAME comment!! of course, I get rolled eyes! Not sure, but with the blue bird and cardinal at least they resemble each other...just faded out looking (but then what Mom hasn't felt "FADED OUT" to say the least!) but this bird was so different in appearance I would have never known that it was the female without your link.
Interesting that they are so different. haven't found any info on where they nest~~~ in trees? boxes? Not sure. but I hope they find a "home" they like somewhere close by. It appears that they spent the summers in this area - or at least possibly as they seem to have a large range..........

Wow - you are up late! I have to hit the bed...have work tomorrow morning and I am not a good morning person!!

Genna

Nite Genna! I'm a nightowl anymore but I'm retired so don't have to get up super early!

I found this http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg07_wildlifespeciescon/Profiles/buntingindigo.pdf where it says they build nests in low weeds, brambles and shrubs!

That was really interesting article. Thanks!! We have a large field next to our house that is just open land - we try to bush hog it a couple of times a year - but otherwise, it is just weeds and grass..... guess that is where they came from. Hope they like it here and that we get to see them again.

I appreciate your help!
Genna

I bet they do nest in the field or on the edge of the field. From the map it shows the Indigo Bunting is in a lot of areas of the country. I don't think I've ever seen one but a couple of years ago my husband came in saying there was a beautiful blue bird in a tree in the front yard. At first I thought it was the Eastern Bluebird which we see once in awhile but when he described it's vivid color I figured it was the Indigo Bunting.

You can hear the call of the Indigo Bunting at this site: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/203/_/Indigo_Bunting.aspx

and here: http://birdsofarkansas.org/bird_detail.asp?birdID=88

Those are some good links as well - especially the bird of ark site - linked me to a free publication by the Game and Fish commission that shows the birds of the state..............

Spent quite a while just looking at all the beautiful birds that I haven't seen before !! And I grew up out in the country! :-)

Thanks again for all your help! Don't happen to know a link that tells WHAT to feed to attract the different ones do you?? :-)

Thanks!
Genna

Did you see this site: http://www.agfc.com/pdfs/free/arkansas_birds.pdf Great photo's and information.


Here's an article tellling about seeds: http://www.arnatural.org/wildlife/attracting_winter_birds.htm


I just offer a combination of a store bought mixed birdseed. And, I also put out raisins and nuts, leftover bread crumbled up. I also buy the suet cakes and put them out for woodpeckers and other birds that like it. Sometimes I mix up peanut butter, bird seed raisins and nuts and place globs onto a wooden tray feeder. The birds love it. I used to have a lot of pine trees years ago so had many pine cones and would roll the pine cones in this concoction and hang them in the trees but all of the pine trees are gone so no more cones!

A lot of birds love fruits and veggies too. Since I put out so much seed, my neighbors put out sliced apples, oranges and fruits for birds. I tried bits of broccoli once but none was eaten. I figured wild birds would love it since we had a parrot once that really, really loved broccoli and cauliflower!

You can plant shrubs and trees that will attract birds to your yard too.

Most importantly ... a supply of fresh water! Birds LOVE water! I have two birdbaths but I also have a couple of large terra cotta plant saucers on the ground that I keep filled with water!

Have fun and I hope you soon see hundreds of different birds visiting your yard!

Sounds great - I had been feeding a mixed bird seed concocation that I purchased at Lowes but I read on one of the bird forums about avoiding feeding certain things that tend to attract the House Sparrows that attack the bluebirds. I have LOTS of bluebirds and several bb houses up and the last thing I want to attract are the House Sparrows...... so I am trying to be a little more careful about what I put out .
I still don't know all the specifics yet..... but I am hoping for a larger platform type bird feeder for Mother's Day so that I can feed some of the larger birds such as the cardinals, blue jays, etc.......

Have a lot to learn ....on flowers and birds!! But I am sure enjoying seeing all the new visitors. We have been in our new home a little over 4 years - but I can tell there are a LOT more birds this year than we have had in the past summers....
It is exciting - although I am trying to attract more hummingbirds and butterflys too - and I just realized the other day that the increase in birds may wipe out the increase in butterflies..... :-( Not sure how to avoid that one!!

Genna

I don't know why more birds would mean less butterflies? We always have tons of birds as well as butterflies here.

I think they thought the birds would EAT the caterpillars............. :-( and therefore have less butterflies.........

I am looking for a happy medium so that we can enjoy each,...... don't ya know .... we want it ALL .... LOL

Oh well, I am just enjoying trying to fix up my yard and seeing the beautiful birds and butterflies......

It is a lot of fun planting and fixing up your yard to attract the beautiful birds and butterflies, isn't it? Hope you have great success and before long have all kinds of birds flying around your garden!

Plantladylin, the female birds (and fish) are usually 'dull' compared to their mate, to help them stay camouflaged while on the nest. They tend to blend into their surroundings, thus protecting them from predation and helping to keep the offspring safe as well.
The bright colors of the male usually serve to attract a female. Those flashy blue Indigo Buntings certainly catch my eye! :o) If you would like to attract them to your garden, offer Prosso Millet seed or some of the special "Finch Blend" of seeds. They love it in my yard!

Lin,
Had another new visitor today ,,,, actually a row of them lined up on my fence. I didn't remember spotting anything like it in the AR G & F link that you sent me the other day....but when I have some time I will look at all the pics again and see if I can ID it....

and Kamama, I did notice the Indigo buntings females are brown because they nest in tall weeds or grass and nest close to the ground. You are right, that helps them blend in....

Genna