H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

Despite the hot weather temperatures and high percentage of humidity, I get visitors to my feeders not as often as it was  during Spring.There’re some new members for the few families of birds that inhabit my backyard area. They are juveniles already on their own looking around to get a daily meal.

For this post I have photos of two birds, different species but I can estimate that are most likely equal in age. They’re young and full of life, still wet behind the ear as they say, however bird are fast learners. I love to observe how they acquire knowledge based on experience.

In the case of the Eastern Towhee, this bird is a juvenile with, with juvenile plumage, with a bit more age the plumage will turn to brown for females or black for males.

This bird is inexperienced yet and eats from a feeder something that adults don’t usually do, they prefer feeding on the ground. Why? I don’t know.

The other bird featured is a juvenile male Northern Cardinal. Notice that his plumage is not complete totally. He is not shy in comparison with the Towhee. He’s vocal and has more drive to get a meal even if he might get into a fight for it. They get more experience at the feeders at earlier time than the Towhee.

Juvenile Eastern Towhee

Juvenile Eastern Towhee

Juvenile male Northern Cardinal

Juvenile male Northern Cardinal

Juvenile male Northern Cardinal

Juvenile Eastern Towhee

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101