What’s Up? – Growing generation and Welcome Back
Growing generation and welcome back…
This week I will not talk about weather. I’ll describe instead what goes on in my backyard most of these days. As I explained last week, great part of the birds nesting in my backyard are under the process of molting, which is not the most appropriated part of their lives when they look at their worst; molting requires birds to shed their plumage and be replaced (grow) by new one. This process takes away a lot of their energy and makes them more vulnerable to other factors.
Let’s start by presenting some of the new generation, going through the growing their new plumage (growing, not molting)
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- E. Starling getting adult plumage, piece by piece.
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- See the new adult patches of feathers.
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- E. Towhee, its adult plumage pattern starting to show.
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- Notice its eyes irises are not red, yet.
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- N. Cardinal (F) colors patterns are showing.
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- Notice the beak color still dark.
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Every year they return to make me happy and amuse me.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Blue Gray Gnatcatcher.
One has been showing up for the past five years, he is hanging out with a bunch of Carolina Chickadees. I counted 5 of them on Friday. He’s also friends with a Brown-headed Nuthatch. As you can see they get along very well.
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- Blue Gray Gnatcatcher with two C.Chickadees
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- Blue Gray Gnatcatcher with Brown-headed Nuthatch this time.
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- Blue Gray Gnatcatch
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
Great pictures.
Thank you very much, Susan. 🙂
Beautiful juvenile close-ups, HJ! Their adult coloring showing through is lovely. I think your hummingbird is smiling for you! Awesome shot!
The juveniles grow so fast! I love to see them full of energy. The hummer is beautiful! Thanks, Donna. 🙂
Molting is always a vulnerable time for the birds, and not easy for humans in identification. Great to have the close-ups and explanations here, HJ. Wonderful post.
What you mention is right. It’s natural but also means a period of time at risk. Thank you, Jet. 🙂
Teens turning to gorgeous adults!
That’s true! Thanks, Indira. 🙂
Excellent gallery of your flying friends!
Thank you very much, Clare. 🙂
🙂 🙂