Something Downeast

I’ve seen the Cardinals twice more now, though the squirrels have rendered the Cardinals’ favorite feeder non-viable for the time being still. The Goldfinches, whom I’ve not seen since January, have returned, or at least two of them have. They tried the Niger seed in the Finch feeder briefly, but then abandoned it for the black oil sunflowers. Both the finches below are still in Winter plumage (or possibly immature), but here’s a female (on the left and more subdued in coloring) and a male American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis).

The brighter-colored male is on the right. I heard them before I saw them, and have heard them several times since I took these pictures yesterday. Goldfinches like to sing as they fly, and they have a characteristic zig-zag up-and-down flight pattern.

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Since taking down the feeder that the squirrels loved (a small open platform style feeder that attaches to the window with suction cups), I’ve not seen the cardinals.

I’ve heard the male; he tends to chirp regularly while moving towards food.

Today I looked up and saw the female on the ground, fossicking for seeds. A few seconds later, I saw the male.

But still, Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), male (bright red) and female. If you listen to the audio on this page, you’ll first hear the two primary Cardinal songs, followed by the much quieter and simply single repeated chirp. That’s their “I’m approaching food,” and sometimes “I see food and am eating!” song.

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The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

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