OT Things to ponder

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Here in St. Louis, we are smack dab on the boundary line between the territories of the Black-Capped Chickadee and the Carolina Chickadee.
I'm going to have to call this one a Black-Capped Chickadee though they are terrifically difficult to distinguish, one from the other.
Looks malnourished. It has discovered an unlimited supply of sunflower seeds so that should be receding into the past.

I saw one here in Arizona last week that looked just like that! Which is it? I didn't even know we had chickadees here.

[Lowpe]

I have black capped chickadees, tons of them....I will call that one a Carolina.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I have black capped chickadees, tons of them....I will call that one a Carolina.

Now this is why we call them bird brains. It has a black cap, so naturally it's a Carolina Chickadee.

[BillBrown]

It is a bit too white to be a Carolina, has to be a black cap.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Here in St. Louis, we are smack dab on the boundary line between the territories of the Black-Capped Chickadee and the Carolina Chickadee.
I'm going to have to call this one a Black-Capped Chickadee though they are terrifically difficult to distinguish, one from the other.
Looks malnourished. It has discovered an unlimited supply of sunflower seeds so that should be receding into the past.

I saw one here in Arizona last week that looked just like that! Which is it? I didn't even know we had chickadees here.

In Arizona you should see some mountain chickadees from time to time. The black-capped chickadees do range well into Colorado, so you might see them.

[geofflambert]

Chickadees are about the smallest birds I ever see except for hummingbirds. You might confuse house sparrows, they are a bit larger than finches.

[geofflambert]

The song of the Black-capped Chickadee, as well as the Carolina (they imitate each other to some extent) which some describe as "chicka-dee-dee-dee" sounds more to me like "chicka-buzz-buzz-buzz".

If you want to hear it go here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bla ... dee/sounds

[Lowpe]

You haven't convinced me it isn't a Carolina...my Black Capped are much more buff around the breast currently. Read that however you want to.[:D]

[geofflambert]

Another distinguishing thing about the chickadees is in the case of sunflower seeds in the shell (I use black oil sunflower seeds) they take one from the feeder and fly off with it to, say, a tree branch to break the shell against the branch. Finches and sparrows crack them open with their beaks and eat them at the feeder, and stay to eat some more.

[geofflambert]

You could be right, notice the bluish cast to the feet. Anyways, in border areas they do sometimes hybridize, so calling them different species is dubious in the eyes of some.

[witpqs]

Definitely not the Mountain Chickadee or the House Sparrow. Looked most like the photo of the Carolina Chickadee, but the white area seemed less extensive on the bottom edge. Perhaps the way the bird was sitting.

I'll have to wait until I see it again, maybe get an autograph.

[geofflambert]

Here's another comparison. Either way the "chicka-buzz-buzz-buzz" call is what you hear when they approach a feeder, announcing the presence of food.
The song you may hear, away from the feeder is a simple two note song, a long high note followed by a long note about half an octave lower.



Here again, the Carolina has blue tinged feet and legs and the Black-Capped purplish-yellow.

[Lecivius]

This thread has gone to the birds...

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

This thread has gone to the birds...

It looked like that one! It looked like that one! [:D]

Face it, man, where else can you get the mix of discussions you get around here?! [:D]

[pontiouspilot]

hmm...impressive range and durability....might have to build some of those!

Over the winter I realized where the expression "pecking order" came from. There was a fresh road-kill moose (sorry Bullwinkle)and perched on top feeding was a large bald eagle. The trees around were covered in our very large and voracious ravens (they get close to 2' tall here)and further back were the magpies, all waiting their turn. Eagles are fairly rare here but the ravens knew their place in the pecking order.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

hmm...impressive range and durability....might have to build some of those!

Over the winter I realized where the expression "pecking order" came from. There was a fresh road-kill moose (sorry Bullwinkle)and perched on top feeding was a large bald eagle. The trees around were covered in our very large and voracious ravens (they get close to 2' tall here)and further back were the magpies, all waiting their turn. Eagles are fairly rare here but the ravens knew their place in the pecking order.

Yes, but once in the air, a bald eagle is no match for a raven, it is like a Zero pestering a B-25.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

hmm...impressive range and durability....might have to build some of those!

Over the winter I realized where the expression "pecking order" came from. There was a fresh road-kill moose (sorry Bullwinkle)and perched on top feeding was a large bald eagle. The trees around were covered in our very large and voracious ravens (they get close to 2' tall here)and further back were the magpies, all waiting their turn. Eagles are fairly rare here but the ravens knew their place in the pecking order.

Yes, but once in the air, a bald eagle is no match for a raven, it is like a Zero pestering a B-25.

For the most part I agree with you. I have seen, with my own eyes, a baldy in flight roll over and casually shred a raven that was harassing it, then roll back over and continue on. It was a seriously impressive sight. I doubt I will ever see it again, but my son and I were sure cheering madly [:D]

[geofflambert]

In case you missed it:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/poli ... /87245696/

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

In case you missed it:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/poli ... /87245696/

"Kettles told USA TODAY he's especially proud that the eight men he rescued 49 years are not names on the wall at the Vietnam memorial in Washington. “That’s what matters,” he said."

That is what matters.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

You haven't convinced me it isn't a Carolina...my Black Capped are much more buff around the breast currently. Read that however you want to.[:D]

Hummm - gymnasium, or implants?