A photograph showing two small yellow birds clinging to a wire mesh finch feeder filled with nyjer seed. The first bird is a brighter yellow, faces away from the camera toward the feeder, and has a black cap indicating he's a male, although it's difficult to see in this shot; he also has very striking black-and-white wings, and the yellow feathers above show signs of molting. The second bird is a more restrained yellow mottled with white, and clings to the feeder facing the camera; she has an orangish beak and is slightly out of focus. At the bottom left of the frame, the red head of a male house finch juts up out of nowhere.

Good morning! Today's small friends are these American goldfinches, well on their way to full summer attire, and this male house finch.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A bright red bird with a bright red beak and a black mask that extends just behind his eyes perches on the edge of the bright yellow saucer at the bottom of a metal mesh finch feeder full of nyjer seed.

Today's small friend is this male northern cardinal.

I took my platform feeder down recently, partly because it was drawing too many starlings and pigeons and partly because I'll be replacing it with a hummingbird feeder before too long anyway.

This cardinal […]

[Original post on wandering.shop]

A roughly starling-sized brown bird with a disproportionately small head and grey feather-tips on its wings sits on the top bar of a chainlink fence, facing away from the viewer. Its head is cocked at a curious angle.

A roughly starling-sized brown-backed bird with a disproportionately small head and rose-brown head and chest sits on the top bar of a chainlink fence. Its head is again cocked at a curious angle.

A rose-brown bird with pink feet sits on the top bar of a chainlink fence facing the viewer. Its head is cocked to one side, seemingly to allow it to focus one eye squarely on the camera. Several feathers around its neck are noticeably ruffled.

Today's small friend is this very inquisitive mourning dove.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A small streaky brown-and-cream bird perches on the end of a twig. The feathers on its head are bright right, trailing into lighter colors along its back and down its chest. Individual feathers are visible.

One more small friend from this morning: a male house finch contemplating the overnight snow.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A bird slightly larger than an American robin crouches awkwardly on the top of a cage-style suet feeder. It has a bright gold eye and a cruel-looking iron-colored beak. Its head is covered in iridescent blue feathers, while its back feathers are iridescent but bronze-ish. The flight feathers of its folded wings are also iridescent and purple-ish.

There are three recognized subspecies of the common grackle: the Florida grackle, the purple grackle, and the bronzed grackle.

Here's one of the locals showing off why you might call a bird "bronzed"—and also maybe "purple", come to that.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A bird with a yellow eye, blue head, and oil-slick body feathers takes on a very strange shape as he releases a loud crackle-burr call and begins the un-puffing process.

This isn't my *best* photo of the day, but I think it's the funniest. Male grackles like to puff up to nearly twice their normal size before giving a certain kind of call, and here I managed to catch one just as he started deflating. 😂

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A small brown-and-cream finch with a red stain from his crown to his chest perches alertly on a twig.

A fluffy blue and white bird with black wing stripes and a black chinstrap sits in the foreground facing to the viewer's right, against a backdrop of tree trunks and branches. Three twigs cross in the foreground, surrounding its twinkling black eye. Many of the individual fibers of the bird's feathers are visible.

Today's small friends are a house finch and a blue jay. ❤️ 💙

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A small brownish bird perches on a tree branch, looking off to the viewer's right with what looks like a hopeful expression.

It's been another slow, grey morning here—not a great last week or so for photography. But today's small friend is this noble-looking female house sparrow.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A bird with an orange chest, medium grey back, and dark head raises its head as if to shout. The bird's head and beak are out of focus as though the world is shaking.

Beware, beware, the Dragonborn robin comes.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding

An American robin-sized grey bird perches on a tree branch with one foot, facing away from the camera, its head turned to the right to reveal a curved but well-pointed black beak and a shadowed golden eye.

A tiny drab yellow finch with black-and-white-wings clings to the green cage of a suet feeder. Its beak is open and it's clearly experimenting with eating the suet—a behavior they don't usually engage in.

Today's small friends are a coy northern mockingbird with cold feet and an American goldfinch who refuses to let a possible source of food go unexplored.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A tiny white-chested woodpecker with a black-and-white-striped head and two black-and-white-striped tail feathers.

Six tiny drab yellow finches with black-and-white-striped wings cling to a metal mesh nyjer feeder.

A small streaky finch with red head feathers and brown streaky feathers on his head and chest perches on a twig.

Today's small friends are a downy woodpecker, six of the seven American goldfinches who've been visiting today, and a male house finch.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

In focus on the right side of the image, a small brownish finch sits on a small branch looking alert. A blurred black, white, and red object clings to a larger branch on the left.

In focus on the left side of the image, a black-and-white-striped woodpecker clings to a branch. Its red-capped head is turned almost completely backward and shoved under its own wing feathers for warmth. Out of focus on the right, a small brownish blur sits on a small branch looking alert.

It must be nice to have your own built-in down sleeping bag when it gets this cold.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A view of several back yards, covered in snow and eventually backing onto other houses. In the foreground is a neighbor's patio, with a snow-covered grill and two snow-covered trash cans… and a suspicious shape lurking behind one of them.

The foreground of the previous picture, zoomed in to focus on the snow-covered trash cans and the lurking shape behind the one on the left.

The same image, cropped, zoomed, and slightly adjusted. The lurking shape now appears distinctly hawk-shaped and you can just make out juvenile Cooper's coloration despite the blue pre-dawn cast of the image.

Doot doot doo, just a normal morning refilling the bird feeders and the birdbath… wait. Stop. Enhance.

Sir, it is 7:30am and you are a hawk. What are you doing rustling around in my neighbor's bushes?

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A brown-backed juvenile Cooper's hawk flaps its out-of-focus wings and raises one out-of-focus talon as it works to maintain its balance on a wooden fence.

A reddish-brown-headed red-tailed hawk with a fiercely curved bill and deep-set eyes stares to the left of the photo. It appears to just have remembered some traumatic childhood experience.

And an additional fun shot of each.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A hawk with brown head and back, brown-streaked white chest , and barred tail sits on a chain-link fence, partially obscured by a finch feeder.

A fierce-looking hawk with a sharply curved beak, flared reddish-brown head feathers, brown back, white chest, and patterns of white-and-brown feathers around the belly, and dark-colored tail sits on a metal fence post. Houses are visible in the background.

I begin to question which birds I'm feeding here. 😅

Juvenile Cooper's this morning, red-tailed just now. Definitely a record. 😍

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A tiny, round-bodied bird with a grey back and wings, cream-shading-to-buff underside, black chin, white stripes on the sides of its head, and a black cap that just curves down around its dark eyes to meet the black chin at its beak, perches on a small bare tree branch. It is facing the camera's left, and its head is cocked down and to the left, giving it a pensive air.

A tiny, round-bodied bird with a grey back and wings, cream-shading-to-buff underside, black chin, white stripes on the sides of its head, and a black cap that just curves down around its dark eyes to meet the black chin at its beak, perches on a small bare tree branch. It is facing the camera's left, and it looks off to the left of the scene in a noble yet adorable pose.

The cutest visitor this week has been this Carolina chickadee.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A photograph showing several bare trunks and branches of the same tree. Three woodpeckers—one male downy on the left and one female downy and one female red-bellied on the right—perch upright on various limbs of the tree. All three are still and seem completely uninterested in one another.

A much closer shot of the female downy, with the red-bellied visible at an awkward angle nearby.

A close-up of a male downy woodpecker perched facing away from the camera. His red feathers are very visible, but not flashy, because the camera is essentially looking directly down through them.

How cold is it today? Cold enough that my little elm tree—located between several houses and near sources of food and water—is sprouting woodpeckers.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirds #birds #birdsofmastodon

A photograph of a mesh metal nyjer seed feeder. Five house sparrows (one with only its head visible) perch on the tray at the base of the feeder, while two house finches and an American goldfinch perch directly on the mesh above them. In the background, another house finch flutters past.

It's been a bit busy around the feeders today. 😅

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

Five European starlings sit in or around the edge of a green plastic birdbath, which is in turn surrounded by snow.

The water use culprits.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A small finch with a red-stained head and chest and a brown-and-cream-streaked underbelly perches on a twig facing the viewer. Several snowflakes decorate his crown, and his individual feathers are clearly visible.

Male house finches are delightfully decorative in this weather.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A dark-feathered bird with silver-golden tips on the end of each of its feathers perches on a small tree branch. A small amount of snow has begun to collect on the top of its head, and the paths of out-of-focus snowflakes streak the air all around it. Its deep-set eyes make it look quite unhappy with the situation.

The first decent shot I got this morning was this European starling sitting in the elm feeling sorry for itself as the snow belted down.

Blame your ancestors, mister.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A starling-sized bird with a bright orange chest, a grey back and wings, a dark grey head with an uneven white patch around its eye and white streaking under its chin, and a bright yellow beak sits on the wood surrounding a green plastic birdbath.

Very pleased with this shot of an American robin. 🧡

(The mess isn't his fault.)

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A sleek American-robin-sized bird with a grey cap, red nape, black-and-white striped back, and cream-colored underbelly hangs upside-down from a cage-style suet feeder. She appears to be looking alertly at the camera.

A sleek American-robin-sized bird with a grey cap, red nape, black-and-white striped back, and cream-colored underbelly clings upright to a tree trunk. She appears to be looking alertly at the camera. Remnants of suet are visible on her long beak.

A very fluffy American-robin-sized bird with a grey cap, red nape, black-and-white striped back, and cream-colored underbelly clings upright to a tree trunk. Her body feathers are so fluffed up and her head is so pulled-in that her eye is just visible over her own chest feathers. She seems to be looking at the camera a bit resentfully.

A fluffy American-robin-sized bird with a grey cap, red nape, black-and-white striped back, and cream-colored underbelly clings upright to a tree trunk. The eye visible to the camera is half-closed and appears to be a solid entry for the dictionary illustration for the word "side-eye".

The many faces of a red-bellied woodpecker.

(The last one is the expression you make when it's -18℃ and someone tells you to get out of bed.)

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A tiny bird with a cream-shading-to-buff underbelly, black chin and cap, white ear stripe just below its eye, and grey back and wings perches on a twig. It's looking to the viewer's left, providing a nice profile that highlights its short, almost conical beak. Notably, its wings don't show much in the way of white stripes that would indicate a black-capped chickadee, and its black bib is very neat.

A tiny bird with a cream-shading-to-buff underbelly, black bib and cap, white ear stripe just below its eye, and grey back and wings perches on a twig. It's looking downward and to the viewer's left; with its beak slightly open, it looks a bit disgruntled. Notably, its wings don't show much in the way of white stripes that would indicate a black-capped chickadee, and its black bib is very neat.

On further inspection, there's a very good chance this is a Carolina chickadee—or at least a hybrid with a Carolina-like phenotype.

It's been going ham on the feeders, so hopefully it will keep my yard in mind when the snow rolls in this weekend.

#Pittsbirds […]

[Original post on wandering.shop]

A photograph of a roughly American-robin-sized bird with a white underside, a blue crest and back, and a black chin strap reaching down from the back of its crest. Here, it's partially obscured by twigs.

A photograph of a roughly American robin-sized bird with a white underside, a blue crest and back, and a black chin strap reaching down from the back of its crest. Here, it's facing directly toward the camera with a determined expression not unlike that of Sam Eagle from the Muppets.

A photograph of a roughly American-robin-sized bird with a white underside, a blue crest and back, and a black chin strap reaching down from the back of its crest. Here, it's facing to the right and showing a handsome profile.

A photograph of a roughly American-robin-sized bird with a white underside, a blue crest and back, and a black chin strap reaching down from the back of its crest. Here, it's facing to the left and showing a handsome profile

Also, this blue jay. 💙 #Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A small drab-yellow finch with white-striped black wings perches on the side of a mesh thistle/nyjer feeder. Its left talon is mostly out of sight, but its right talon is hiked much further up the feeder than the left and appears to be hanging on entirely by its claws.

A small streaky sparrow with grey and brown badger stripes on its head sits on the top of a wooden fence dotted with snow. Its head is raised and its beak is open in song.

A sparrow-sized black and white woodpecker with badger-like stripes perches on a tree trunk dusted with snow. It looks alert but relaxed.

A streaky brown-and-cream-colored finch perches on a twig, viewed from below. Her head is turned to the viewer's left, and a partial sunflower seed coating can be seen clinging to her beak. Her visible eye appears to be looking judgmentally at the camera.

Good morning! Today's small friends are an American goldfinch showing off its muscle control, a song sparrow living up to its name, a downy woodpecker taking a quiet moment, and a house finch who is definitely judging you.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A female northern cardinal perches on a tree limb with her crest flared into a carelessly cool mohawk.

A style icon.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A hawk with a brown head and back and cream-colored underside with tear-shaped brown markings looks very contemplative. The text, "I SHOULD BUY A BOAT." has been overlaid on the image.

The original of the first image, without text. A hawk with a brown head and back and cream-colored underside with tear-shaped brown markings looks very contemplative.

Bonus: I couldn't help captioning this photo of the Cooper's. 😂 Please feel free to add your own caption.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A hawk with a brown head and back, and brown teardrop patterns on its cream-colored breast, pears aggressively at something outside the frame with its piercing yellow eyes.

The same hawk, now facing away from the camera, has a lighter brown head and a darker brown back with a few small white patches. Its tail is barred with alternating lighter and darker brown, ending in a white tip. It has fluffed against the cold, and some of its lighter chest feathers are visible sticking out to either side.

A robin-sized woodpecker with a bright red cap, cream-colored breast, and reddish belly clings to the bars of a cage that surrounds a tube feeder filled with sunflower chips. To the left, directly in front of the tube, a house sparrow clings to the same cage, but facing away from the camera.

The same woodpecker with a bright red cap, cream-colored breast, and reddish belly clings to the cage around the tube feeder. However, in this shot it's looking quizzically at the camera, and the feathers near its right eye—on the viewer's left—are sticking out in a way that makes the bird look slightly demonic.

Good morning! Today's small friends are this juvenile Cooper's hawk, showing off an intense expression and some floof, and the male red-bellied woodpecker, who has found the sunflower chip feeder and has kind of a Two-Face thing going on today.

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon

A streaky brown-and-cream-colored sparrow perches amidst a tangle of vines. It has badger-like head stripes and a dark splotch on the center of its chest. It's fluffed heavily against the cold. It's facing directly toward the camera, and its beak and eyes give it a very disgruntled expression.

A sequel.

Is this song sparrow rounder than it is cranky or crankier than it is round? 🤔

#Pittsbirds #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofmastodon