...Or someone else who might know. I saw this bird this afternoon in the yard. when in flight its white wings are very prominent. I was able to get several shots but due to the cloudy conditions, none of them are as sharp as I would like. It seems to be some sort of sparrow that is a partial albino. In one shot you can see its left foot is almost white. It also appears very light under the chin, especially on the right side. I couldn't find it in either of my books.
Dave
Another view.
And another
One more.
Can't wait to see what Resin says.
I coud be wrong bit it looks to me like a partial albino Chipping Sparrow with the black line through the eye and the chestnut cap.
Could be but I can't be sure. Here is a picture that shows a bird that seemed to be flying with it. Maybe it is the same species with normal markings???
Could it be a female house sparrow?
This message was edited Oct 8, 2008 6:54 PM
For sure not a female House Sparrow
What is that blue bird in the last picture? I like it!
Ditto to Pelle on partial albino Chipping Sparrow, probably a juvenile / first-winter. And yep, that's another Chipping Sparrow with it in that last pic.
Blue bird in the last picture is an Eastern Bluebird.
Resin
Thanks, Resin. We can always count on you.
And 22, Yes, that is a juvenile male BB that happened to get in the way. I left him in the picture to provide a size reference. He is 86 days old today and is already finished with his moult. He and his brother and sister are here most of the day, every day and will stay until spring when Papa will chase them away. In this family picture taken yesterday, he is the one with his back to the camera. His parents are on the extreme left and right and his sister and brother are opposite him.
Dave
Dave, that is so great that they are all still there and that is a great family photo!
Oh darn, i was going to say "partial albino white-throated sparrow"!
Hey, welcome back Dave!
Thanks for the BB update. You have a lovely family there....:)
Thanks everyone.
Hi Marna
I've been pretty busy for a couple of weeks (and still have a little more to do) but I'll try to make up for lost time.
Dave
Oh darn, i was going to say "partial albino white-throated sparrow"!
Dave, amazing all those members of your Bluebird family are still around and doing well.
Yes, GP, these are the adults and the three fledglings from the last clutch, which fledged on August 1. Some friends of mine report that they have all the juveniles from all three of this season's nestings hanging around all winter, which gives them as many as 15 to enjoy (and feed). I had eight or nine one winter. But of late, with the house sparrows causing such problems, Papa chases the juveniles away as soon as they are weaned. And, with my second clutch, a new female entered the picture and she made it plain she didn't want step-children hanging around.
Papa probably thinks it's for their own good. He becomes very busy with the nestlings as they approach fledge day and doesn't have time to protect youngsters that are following him around and seem constantly under foot.
So now, since he doesn't have new babies to worry about, he allows the last brood to stay around. Or you might say he ignores them. He and his mate travel together, and without the juveniles. And he still insists on eating first and alone. Mama and the kids, if they are present, wait impatiently until he finishes. The picture I posted earlier in this thread is a rarity. Notice all of them are watching Papa. He chased them all away a few seconds after it was taken.
Lately the adults have re-claimed the nest box and they come every morning to inspect it. They have a little ritual I don't fully understand. She will gather a small beakful of grass and take it into the box. He will fly into the box, stay a while, then come out with a single blade of grass in his beak. I assume they are announcing to any other birds who might be interested, that this property is taken.
So happy to see you again Dave and the BB family pics are just beautiful! "Our" BB's also come daily to check out their nestbox and have also started eating the fruit and seeds from the feeders. One day I had all eight of them on the dead tree...what a thrill to have them!
Don't stay away so long...you have been missed!!
I have never seen a blue bird, I see why everyone adores them so much!
