OT Things to ponder

[BBfanboy]

Never seen a chickadee up here with as much orange/buff as your book shows. Must be some sub-races depending on climate. The buff colour would be out of place in the northern woods in winter.

[geofflambert]

It's not a book, it's here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bla ... ickadee/id

If you go to the sound tab on both they don't sound different either. Some claim the Black-capped has more buzzes at the end of the call. Around here I hear "buzz buzz buzz buzz".

[Canoerebel]

Real photos of birds are poor identification aids. I know that's counter-intuitive, but it's true. Due to lighting and many other factors, photos are more confusing than helpful.

Artwork (drawings) are far preferable. So experienced birdwatchers use Sibley's Guide or similar publications, while the general public buys Audubon's guides or similar guides with photographs.

Experienced birdwatchers know the difference in appearance and song for the two chickadee species. Just like a mother can walk into a daycare center and immediately know the voice or the posture of her five year old, hidden amongst 50 other students.

[geofflambert]

Here's a pic from my back yard

[Canoerebel]

From the Sibley's Guide website (I have a very, very tattered hard copy in the cab of my pickup truck):

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

From the Sibley's Guide website (I have a very, very tattered hard copy in the cab of my pickup truck):

I have a bunch of those. Hungry little buggers! Which one occurs in Arizona?

[Canoerebel]

That would be the mountain chickadee, I think.

[MakeeLearn]

There is also the Blonde Capped Ample-Breasted Chickadee....

[Canoerebel]

"amble-breasted" or "ample-breasted"?

In the one case, the breasts have a disturbing habit of wandering around. In the other, they are fulsome in a winsome way.

[MakeeLearn]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Real photos of birds are poor identification aids. I know that's counter-intuitive, but it's true. Due to lighting and many other factors, photos are more confusing than helpful.

Artwork (drawings) are far preferable. So experienced birdwatchers use Sibley's Guide or similar publications, while the general public buys Audubon's guides or similar guides with photographs.

Experienced birdwatchers know the difference in appearance and song for the two chickadee species. Just like a mother can walk into a daycare center and immediately know the voice or the posture of her five year old, hidden amongst 50 other students.

Ive mainly used Peterson's. identification of birds is like with snakes, a lot of variations and sometimes you need the samples side by side for clarification.

[MakeeLearn]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

"amble-breasted" or "ample-breasted"?

In the one case, the breasts have a disturbing habit of wandering around. In the other, they are fulsome in a winsome way.

Could be both. Ample would increase amble.

[geofflambert]

Although the Black-capped may be found in the far northern part of AZ, you would most likely see the Mountain, whose range is in purple here:

[geofflambert]

Here's the Chestnut-backed Chickadee

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Although the Black-capped may be found in the far northern part of AZ, you would most likely see the Mountain, whose range is in purple here:

The Mountain Chickadee is exactly like the ones we see here. The range shown for them should extend further east.

[witpqs]

It's possible that some are the Mountain Chickadee, I'll have to watch for the distinction. But most look like the pictures of either Black Capped or Carolina.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy



The Mountain Chickadee is exactly like the ones we see here. The range shown for them should extend further east.

You're surrounded by flat farmland, but if they have those white eyebrows there's no doubt. Just to be sure, you're not seeing these are you?

[geofflambert]

Here's two from my yard

[geofflambert]

Go here to listen to their songs. There are some similarities with the Chickadees. These sparrows are small but among the largest of sparrows. The Chickadees are tiny. The only thing smaller I see are hummingbirds.

You're smack dab in the middle of their (W-c sparrows) breeding range so they would be singing a lot.

[Zorch]

Is there such a thing as Bird Porn? [;)]

[Canoerebel]

Well...

1. Web-footed booby
2. Yellow-breasted chat
3. Yellow-rumped warbler (called "butter-butts" by birdwatchers)
4. Tufted titmouse