Posted on 05/02/2009 5:03:12 PM PDT by PERKY2004
Every spring, we get a lot of goldfinches in our backyard, along with the house finches who stay here, year 'round. (I'm in central California.) This spring, I noticed a larger black-and-yellow bird on one of our feeders, and I don't think it's a goldfinch. He's fast, so I did my best to snap a few pictures. Any ideas what kind of bird he is?
The yellow bird on our sunflower seed feeder.
Goldfinches (for comparison) on a different feeder
A visiting squirrel
Our cat, Smudge, watching the birds and the squirrels.
It’s definitely a sparrow - maybe a white throated sparrow.
I was initally thinking sparrow too, but look at the beak.
Varied Thrush maybe?
It looks like a Black-Headed Grosbeak
I'm still going with sparrow. What has me stumped is the red belly. But the wings - especially the markings, the body shape and I do think the beak looks like a sparrow to me - IMHO. I haven't been a bird watcher since I was a kid, seemingly a thousand years ago.
I’ve been seeing those at my feeders too, and I’m also curious. The smaller one with it is a house finch. I’m envious of your goldfinches. I’ve failed miserably trying to attract them (thistleseed in a feeder similar to yours).
But I have always been a fan of GREAT TITS.
Great Tit.
Yep, that's it. Good call.
That bird is a California Oriole. Comes with several different markings and is very pretty. Once they mate they will be back to the same area every spring. Nice birds to have around.
I was a big O’s fan when the O’s had Cal, Brady, and Tettleton.
Looks like an oriole to me.
It’s a very large finch.
How about a juvenile orange grosbeak?
Other than black oil sunflower seeds, do they eat anything I should put out for it?
I thought it could be an Oriole until I saw the photo. I think it’s a type of finch by the beak.
Just looked at your link - I think you hit it. He sure is cute too.
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