Comments on: Underwings http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/06/13/underwings/ A Bird Blog with Kate St. John Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:11:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Traci http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/06/13/underwings/comment-page-1/#comment-7711 Traci Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:22:26 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=6342#comment-7711 OH!! Thank you!! They are beautiful up close. Since I posted about them, I have seem many more of them. A lot of shiny black birds as well - with black feathers that are almost blue! My blackberries came in - but I haven't seen any different species. THe black birds have been carrying what appears to be nest making materials in their mouths though...which is interesting. I need to get out into the woods and try to see some of what Kate describes. Thanks again for telling me what they are!! I rather like them. OH!! Thank you!! They are beautiful up close. Since I posted about them, I have seem many more of them. A lot of shiny black birds as well – with black feathers that are almost blue! My blackberries came in – but I haven’t seen any different species. THe black birds have been carrying what appears to be nest making materials in their mouths though…which is interesting.

I need to get out into the woods and try to see some of what Kate describes.

Thanks again for telling me what they are!! I rather like them.

]]> By: Barb Simon http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/06/13/underwings/comment-page-1/#comment-7664 Barb Simon Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:59:17 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=6342#comment-7664 Small sparrow-sizes birds with rose-colored reddish heads, down to and including the shoulders, and brown and white streaked bodies are House Finches. They look like a cardinal mated with a sparrow. And the top half is cardinal without the crest and the bottom half is sparrow. Females are lacking the red heads and could easily be mistaken for sparrows. Their color is a little lighter and duller than sparrows and the beaks for both male and female are finch-like - not sparrow like, which means that the beaks are a little larger and take up a little more of the front of the face than on a sparrow. The beak is deep from top to bottom - where it attaches to the face - for strength in cracking seeds. House finches have a near relative - the purple finch- similar in size and shape - but the red is much more extensive. My grandmother had a nest of them in her rosebush when I was a child and I have never forgotten it. Small sparrow-sizes birds with rose-colored reddish heads, down to and including the shoulders, and brown and white streaked bodies are House Finches. They look like a cardinal mated with a sparrow. And the top half is cardinal without the crest and the bottom half is sparrow. Females are lacking the red heads and could easily be mistaken for sparrows. Their color is a little lighter and duller than sparrows and the beaks for both male and female are finch-like – not sparrow like, which means that the beaks are a little larger and take up a little more of the front of the face than on a sparrow. The beak is deep from top to bottom – where it attaches to the face – for strength in cracking seeds. House finches have a near relative – the purple finch- similar in size and shape – but the red is much more extensive. My grandmother had a nest of them in her rosebush when I was a child and I have never forgotten it.

]]> By: faith Cornell http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/06/13/underwings/comment-page-1/#comment-7633 faith Cornell Sun, 14 Jun 2009 09:12:00 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=6342#comment-7633 I enjoy Traci's new found wonder with creatures. She makes me feel good about my enjoyment also. I am going to buy a new set of binoculars also. Kate you have such power to inspire us.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I only have a deck (about 6' x 4")but get 2 sets of cardinals, 2 rose breased grosbeaks, a bluejay, doves, med. sized red headed woodpecker, various wrens, finches & a hummingbird & 3 squrrels.I only have 2 hanging petunia plants & a small feeder. Faith C. I enjoy Traci’s new found wonder with creatures. She makes me feel good about my enjoyment also. I am going to buy a new set of binoculars also. Kate you have such power to inspire us.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I only have a deck (about 6′ x 4″)but get 2 sets of cardinals, 2 rose breased grosbeaks, a bluejay, doves, med. sized red headed woodpecker, various wrens, finches & a hummingbird & 3 squrrels.I only have 2 hanging petunia plants & a small feeder. Faith C.

]]> By: Traci http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/06/13/underwings/comment-page-1/#comment-7631 Traci Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:31:49 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=6342#comment-7631 I can't say that I am surprised by the underwing color because with my new binoculars, every bird I have seen has been a surprise! But again, this evening, I went out to watch my feeder and it was full and there were few birds. I saw movement, again, out of the corner of my eye and it was the hawk. Now, I'm new to all this. When I saw it yesterday, I was so blown away at what I was seeing that I didn't notice any detail. Tonight, I tried to pay attention - because I want to try to figure out what type of hawk it is. It circled low and the belly and underwings were a pale cream. It landed on Children's and just watched everything for about 20 minutes. That's pretty far, without the binoculars I would have never known he was up there. But it appeared his back, including top of head, was a rich brown. He has a feather sorta disloged in one wing - but it doesn't seem to impact his flying ability. When the pigeon's are gone - it would seem he's around. Or she. I have no idea. Another bird I saw at my feeder was a surprise for me! It's head was tinged red with the body a series of cream and brown. It was a beautiful color combination and the bird itself seemed to be getting pushed around a lot by the swallows. It's not a cardinal, because I have a pair of them and know what they are. It would seem I am now hooked. I am going to find a beginners bird book. My yard is laden with berries, flowers, etc..but I don't seem to attract more than 4 species. Maybe when the blackberry and raspberry come in - I'll see more. I blame the Falcons for this :) Now I 'need' books on top of binoculars which I was told when I bought them, would be heavy. I now also 'need' weights to build up my arm strength because after watching that hawk for 20 minutes I thought my arms would fall off!! :) I can’t say that I am surprised by the underwing color because with my new binoculars, every bird I have seen has been a surprise! But again, this evening, I went out to watch my feeder and it was full and there were few birds. I saw movement, again, out of the corner of my eye and it was the hawk.

Now, I’m new to all this. When I saw it yesterday, I was so blown away at what I was seeing that I didn’t notice any detail. Tonight, I tried to pay attention – because I want to try to figure out what type of hawk it is. It circled low and the belly and underwings were a pale cream. It landed on Children’s and just watched everything for about 20 minutes. That’s pretty far, without the binoculars I would have never known he was up there. But it appeared his back, including top of head, was a rich brown.

He has a feather sorta disloged in one wing – but it doesn’t seem to impact his flying ability. When the pigeon’s are gone – it would seem he’s around. Or she. I have no idea.

Another bird I saw at my feeder was a surprise for me! It’s head was tinged red with the body a series of cream and brown. It was a beautiful color combination and the bird itself seemed to be getting pushed around a lot by the swallows. It’s not a cardinal, because I have a pair of them and know what they are.

It would seem I am now hooked. I am going to find a beginners bird book. My yard is laden with berries, flowers, etc..but I don’t seem to attract more than 4 species. Maybe when the blackberry and raspberry come in – I’ll see more.

I blame the Falcons for this :) Now I ‘need’ books on top of binoculars which I was told when I bought them, would be heavy. I now also ‘need’ weights to build up my arm strength because after watching that hawk for 20 minutes I thought my arms would fall off!! :)

]]> By: faith Cornell http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/06/13/underwings/comment-page-1/#comment-7630 faith Cornell Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:28:14 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=6342#comment-7630 Sat. 8:27 PM Louie back at GT. Hope his daughter gets home soon. Faith. Sat. 8:27 PM Louie back at GT. Hope his daughter gets home soon. Faith.

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