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Bird ID help needed

I've been counting birds for the Bird Count and I don't know who this little fellow is. I know some of you out there can tell me. :)






Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

Benjamin Vogt said…
Looks like a junco to me. They're a winter bird here in Nebraska.
February 13, 2010 at 10:24 AM
Meredith said…
I'm glad you asked this, and that Benjamin took the time to answer. We have small flocks of these little ones visit our home here in SC, and I'd never seen them before and was clueless as to their id. Now I can follow up with junco as my starting point. :)
February 13, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Lona said…
That is a pretty little Junco. We called them snow birds when we were small here in Ohio. Seemed they just showed up in the winter just as the snows came. I love photographing birds nut I have the worst time trying to get the eyes to show up on the dark headed birds. The Juncos give me fits to try to photograph when they are in the snow trying to get the light right to show their eyes. Wonderful photos! Have fun with your counting.
February 13, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Carol said…
A Dark-eyed Junco it is .. Great fun counting all the birds!
February 13, 2010 at 11:20 AM
Monica the Garden Faerie said…
I agree it's a dark-eyed junco, but feel compelled to add that they look a bit different in Michigan--the gray is more solid, less stripey. Um, because I knew you wanted to know this.
February 13, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Ginger said…
I also thought "junco." Saw a few for the first time in our yard this winter, and had a tough time id'ing them because they weren't on our regional common bird lists.

Good for you for doing the count!
February 13, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Liza said…
I love birders. So helpful, so honest, so sweet.
February 13, 2010 at 12:22 PM
F Cameron said…
A Junco. They arrive late fall and stay through the winter here. They don't use the bird feeders - they like to forage around the garden.

Cameron
February 13, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Phillip Oliver said…
Thanks everybody! I'm a bit surprised because I didn't know we had those here. Cameron, I always see them on the driveway, never at the feeders.
February 13, 2010 at 2:11 PM
Tom - 7th Street Cottage said…
I've taken to tossing seeds in the lawn where I don't mind them germinating if they last through the winter. The juncos swarm those areas a few times a day. I'd never really noticed them before this year.
February 13, 2010 at 4:52 PM
Kyna said…
Saw our first junco yesterday! :D I had to look it up in our bird book lol. Neat little things :D
February 14, 2010 at 5:39 AM
Jan said…
This is the first year I've seen so many dark-eyed juncos in my yard, Phillip. And as far as bluejays go, I've seen 2 the entire season. Most unusual. My most numerous is the bluebird and I get about 17 of those. I think they live right around here because they know they have lots of good eats;-)
February 15, 2010 at 4:47 PM
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