What is that little bird, and why is it doing that?
Jul 18, 2022 11:09:54 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Dik wrote:
What do you think caused the missing feathers?
As feathers get damaged, birds pull them and eventually new ones replace them. Definitely past mating season when young eagles like to look their best.
Jul 18, 2022 11:16:37 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Dik wrote:
Thank you!
Thank you for the sharp shots. I also noticed that this eagle could also use a bath. The white remaining tail feathers are not exactly white any more.
Jul 18, 2022 14:06:25 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Dik wrote:
Anybody ID the ballsy little fella?
I errored in my ID. It is a Tree Swallow, not a Bank Swallow. A Bank Swallow will have a narrow brown breast band. Your swallow does not have the band but does have the sharp separation of the head colors. Your swallow is a very protective Tree Swallow, not a Bank Swallow. I had the two mixed up.
Jul 19, 2022 05:58:19 #
Jul 19, 2022 06:45:28 #
Jul 19, 2022 07:18:44 #
Jul 19, 2022 08:56:10 #
hettmoe
Loc: Rural ND
Nice photos!
I’ve seen Eastern Kingbirds do this quite often, with Hawks, Eagles, and Owls.
This appears to be an Eastern Kingbird, to me.
I’ve seen Eastern Kingbirds do this quite often, with Hawks, Eagles, and Owls.
This appears to be an Eastern Kingbird, to me.
Jul 19, 2022 09:07:50 #
olemikey
Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
Dik wrote:
Conowingo 7/10/2022 7:15 AM
This is a 9 shot sequence at 12 fps, full frame from EOS R5 EF 600mm f/4 IS II + 2x III; 1200mm 1/1600 f/8 ISO 400
My BIF Boom Gimbal Chair Tripod and 1X40 Dot Sight enabled me to keep the camera pointed at the birds.
This is a 9 shot sequence at 12 fps, full frame from EOS R5 EF 600mm f/4 IS II + 2x III; 1200mm 1/1600 f/8 ISO 400
My BIF Boom Gimbal Chair Tripod and 1X40 Dot Sight enabled me to keep the camera pointed at the birds.
Cool sequence! Daily occurrence at my place, we have many resident BlueJays, Mockingbirds, Red-Belly WoodPeckers, C. Wrens, Thrashers etc. that regularly gang up on the local hawk family members when they fly into my yard near our "bird area"....since we feed them, they nest here and are extremely protective, proactively attacking....heck, they even "holler" for us when the raccoon tries to steal birdseed!!!
The aerobatics are amazing, and the little birds are fierce and relentless...quite interesting to watch!!! We get an eagle on rare occassions, and some Ospreys, they get the same treatment!
Jul 19, 2022 11:17:32 #
Jul 19, 2022 13:06:44 #
Benjamin Franklin called the eagle a coward and a thief. Smaller birds can and do drive it away from their nests.
Jul 19, 2022 14:30:06 #
hettmoe wrote:
Nice photos!
I’ve seen Eastern Kingbirds do this quite often, with Hawks, Eagles, and Owls.
This appears to be an Eastern Kingbird, to me.
I’ve seen Eastern Kingbirds do this quite often, with Hawks, Eagles, and Owls.
This appears to be an Eastern Kingbird, to me.
Definitely not a swallow. I believe Hettmoe is correct about it being an Eastern Kingbird.
Very territorial and aggressive bird, and when agitated show a tiny crown of red on top of their head. Don't see that on this one...guess it was just a run-of-the-mill eagle chase.
Marshall
Jul 19, 2022 14:43:42 #
I agree with Eastern Kingbird id. Bill is too thick for a swallow. The tail shows a narrow white band which Tree swallows do not have.
Jul 19, 2022 15:22:21 #
Jul 19, 2022 16:23:05 #
Jul 19, 2022 16:26:31 #
wdross wrote:
Thank you for the sharp shots. I also noticed that this eagle could also use a bath. The white remaining tail feathers are not exactly white any more.
If you look at the group shot, you'll see that they are very white when front lit. The sun shining through the white feathers creates the dirty look.
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