Mystery Bird - Ash-throated Flycatcher?

Thanks to Sr. Hoeflich, I know this beauty is a flycatcher and I have also been assured that identifying flycatchers is very difficult.  So . . now I don't feel so bad about not knowing his name.

Accord to Sr. Hoeflich, he may very well be an Ash-throated flycatcher, but it's hard to tell.

All I know is that you can never have too many insect-eaters.

Welcome, whoever you are!

Eastern Phoebe

Latin Name:Sayornis phoebe
Common Spanish Name:  Mosquero Fibi

To learn more about the Eastern Phoebe, click here.

Female Bronzed Cowbird

Latin Name:  Molothrus aeneus
Common Spanish name:  Vaquero Ojirrojo

This gal comes around from time to time, but she seems to always be behind something.
Thanks again to Sr. Hoeflich for the help in identifying her.
To learn more about the Bronzed Cowbird, click here.

House Finch

Latin Name:  Carpodacus mexicanus

Common Spanish Name:  Fringilido Mexicano

7/7/11

At last, I have these guys identified.  They are house finches.  The bright guy in the middle is a male in breeding plumage.  He's quite a sight.  Thanks to Sr. Hoeflich for the help!

To learn more about the House Finch, click here.

Even before I knew what they were I wanted them to come back every year.  There doesn't seem to be much I can do to encourage them.  Although they spend most of their time foraging, they ignore my efforts to supplement their diet, and even though the spring has been very dry, they stay clear of the fountain. 

Flycatcher - Hard to tell which one

This game of identifying birds is getting harder and harder.  I thought I had this guy, but now I'm pretty sure I don't.  If anyone has thoughts, please share them.  Here's the best of several photos I took.

Black Throated Sparrow

Latin name:  Amphispiza bilineata

Spanish common name:  Gorrion Gorjinegro

One of the most numerous songbirds in the

Perote Garden is the

Black Throated Sparrow.

4/3/11

Like most sparrows, they have a limited number of activities.

When they aren't scatching in the dirt looking for hidden tidbits,

they are hiding behind leaves singing at the top of their lungs.

In fact, they are one of our alarm clock birds. 

This little guy thought he would explore the

vineyard when Stanley left the gate open.

The good thing about bird net is that it keeps

most birds out of the vineyard.

The bad thing about bird net is that once the

birds get in, they can't easily find their

way out.

Stanley gave Mr. Sparrow a helping hand.

To learn more and listen to his song click here.

7/1/11 New Updates

The birds are in full voice this morning following last night's rain.  
Several folks have asked for scientific names and common Spanish names for the birds and I have gone back and added those to each entry.  
You may enjoy the new pictures of the Vermilion Flycatcher with his bride.  There is also a very unflattering photo of him in captivity after being caught stealing grapes in the vineyard. 
Also, there are new photos of Say's Phoebe and her new babies.
I have also changed the identification of our resident swallow.  Look for him under Barn Swallow.
One more thing, I will be adding better pictures of the Black-throated Sparrow.  The one that I have presently doesn't do his easily ID'd face justice.

Enjoy!

Say's Phoebe

Latin name:  Sayornis saya
Spanish common name:  Mosquero Llanero

4/13/11

This is our very own personal phoebe.  She works the back garden to the south of the grill area, keeping it as free of insects as possible.  She likes to perch on a low bush and fly up and out to catch her prey.  I love to watch her work.

She decided she liked the area well enough to make it her home as well as her work place.  She likes us ok, too, but not well enough to pose for pictures while sitting on her nest.  If you get close enough to take a half-way decent picture, she flies away.  However, if you stay well away, get down on your belly, and aim the camera very slowly, she will allow a couple of shots.

To learn more click here.

6/26/11

Just as lovely and hardworking as ever.

 

6/28/11

I thought I should look in Phoebe's hiding spot to see if the eggs had hatched.  All I could see was one little head which I wouldn't have recognized out of the context of the nest.  And what a nest!  Phoebe gets high marks as an insect catcher, but she falls right off the scale in nest construction skills.

6/30/11  Worried that I hadn't seen Phoebe all morning, I used that as an excuse to check on the babies.  When I first looked in, I couldn't see anything and I didn't hear a sound - most unusual for baby birds.  Well, they must have sensed my presence because they hopped up and set up a howl to be fed.  I couldn't offer them anything to eat, but I did get a great photo.  Moments later, Phoebe returned.  Maybe she had been out to lunch with the girls. 

Vermilion Flycatcher

4/12/11

Latin name:  Pyrocephalus rubinus
Spanish common name:  Mosquero Cardenal

This is our flying ruby.  He flits and spins and dances in the air in his quest for bugs.  However, unlike some of the other insect catchers, he is willing to sit and sing and have his picture made.
His wife is just as beautiful, but much more elusive.  She is much duller, but her yellow coloring make them a very distinctive pair.  I haven't been able to catch her with my camera yet, but one day . . .

6/29/11

As promised . . . here she is . . . Mrs. Vermilion Flycatcher. El Senor brought her by for a visit.  Don't they make a lovely pair?

 6/29/11  Unfortunately, the birds and I don't always agree on what constitutes good behavior.  As far as they are concerned eating grapes is what they were meant to do.  I have a different opinion.  Stanley caught this guy red-handed.  Of course, he said he was only catching bugs, but I think he had grape breath.  We talked to him sternly, took this mug shot and released him on his own recognizance.  What else could we do?

 
To learn more click here.