A little while back it was suggested to me that I purchase a Field Guide to birds. Well I did just that this past weekend. I went to the bookstore and what a variety of bird books there were. I decided on the Stokes Field Guide to Birds Western Region and I am glad that I did. I think what I like most about this book is that not only is it specific to birds in western North America but it is actual photos of the birds. Being a beginner birder I find that very helpful. Case and point. This past weekend I had a frequent bird to my feeder. I heard it's call and looked up in the tree and saw this bird...wasn't sure if I would be close enough to capture a photo of it....but now seeing it in the tree it helped in identifying this bird....
Next I captured this bird in my feeder. Based on it's markings and it antics and the feed that I had in the feeder it would appear that this a Black-headed Grosbeak. What helped me identify this bird was the feeding. According to Stokes these birds feed in the foliage of trees, eating pine(hence that is exactly what tree this bird is in)and it eats seeds, wild berries, insects and spiders. It comes to bird feeders for sunflower seeds, and other types of seed and fruit. It would just so happened that my feeder had sunflower seeds and smaller seeds in it at that time.
Help, what about this one.....I think it is a swallow....possibly a barn swallow...this photo doesn't do it justice. It's body was a lovely white and looked like it had a slight blue huge to it....they loved to sit on the power line.....
I like this one of the House finch in the feeder, you can really appreciate it's plummage.
This bird perplexes me....it has characteristics of a finch and sparrow and as both frequent this area I am just not sure....any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
House Finch (male)
Tree Swallow
