The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #142444   Message #3365201
Posted By: Arkie
18-Jun-12 - 06:53 PM
Thread Name: BS: Birdwatching 2012
Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
Maeve, Raptor, and Janie, thanks for your suggestions. I think I may have come up with an ID which would not have happened without your direction. I think that the bird is a type of flycatcher. We have Scissor-tails in this area and I frequently see one near where I live. I also see another bird I thought to be some type of flycatcher in that area that I have not previously identified. This I believe to be an Eastern Wood-Peewee. The PeeWee has a dark upper bill but lighter lower bill. Also has a little hook on the end of the bill which my visitor seems to have. The bird does look a lot like a junco but is a little longer in the body which does not show up that well in the photo. Also the juncos left this area in March. The bird also resembles a female Purple Martin which I have nesting in in gourds and in a house in my yard. Have seen juveniles sitting on the fence, but never an adult. I have picked up a few juveniles and set them in trees or in a box I put up for that purpose. Once saw a juvenile Martin flutter and climb from the ground to a ring in the fence several inches above the ground. After a bit of rest, it fluttered and climbed a few inches higher. After about 30 minutes it reached the top of the fence and flew off. Thanks again for your help.