H.J. Ruiz – Avian101 – Page 633 – "My Backyard Visitors" – All about birds

Small Pal

My backyard as well as the feeders are getting visited by more bird species now. We are having rain almost every morning, it just mean more waste of seeds that get soaked, however the influx of birds doesn’t drop in numbers.

One little songbird is present more often at the feeders, it’s the Brown-headed Nuthatch, which is one of the two smallest nuthatch in the world.

This small bird is so full of energy and moves so fast that it is hard to keep up in focus with the camera. He has a pointy and very hard bill which they use as a chisel to crack open seed shells without any difficulty.

It’s always a treat to see them climbing up a tree or especially walking upside down with such ease!

I’ve had these species of Nuthatch visiting my backyard since I moved to Georgia almost ten years ago!

“They are tiny birds that it is fun to watch.”

Photo Gallery

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101

Tags: birds, Brown-Headed Nuthatch, nature, photography, photos of birds

Purple Gaze

Another species which just happen to have returned to my backyard are the Common Grackles. These larger birds with long legs are a bit awkward, they are also voracious and love to mess up any kind of feeders because the awkward clumsiness. Their dark bodies in contrast with their white eyes with a black pupil make them appear to be mad and have an eerie look.

They are very gregarious birds and usually fly in groups. They have adapted very well to urban areas and backyard feeders.

Their plumage colors vary from brown when young to purple, black , green and have at times iridescent colors.

They may not be very popular in the rank of pretty birds but they possess a special beauty when seen up close.

“They move and act like awkward clowns”

Photo Gallery

Tags: birds, Common Grackle, nature, photography, photos of birds

Yellow Fellow

Having the new arrivals from species of birds that return from migration, is for me a great moment to celebrate and a sincere pleasure to see them flitting around my backyard. This time it’s the American Goldfinches that add a bit more of color to my backyard, ahead of turning green with vegetation, these are getting ready to awake from being dormant through the winter and gradually resume growth in the dominant green color.

American Goldfinches are like other species of the finch family, gregarious oriented and very protective of their brood, but in a passive way.They avoid confrontations when they are with their brood and prefer to move aside to wait until the their safety is secured.

These are pretty birds by any standards, their yellow plumage when in breeding season has the brightness of neon light, hard to miss against the green background but at the same time they can easily camouflage themselves with vegetation that becomes hard to find them.