10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2012

One of my all time favorite bird feeding moments involved a Blue Jay family. Another time to consider taking your feeders down for a limited time is if you get a blackbird takeover when their young leave the nest. As summer progresses, you get to watch adult birds bring their young to feeders and teach them how to use the feeders.

Blackbirds 259

Blackbirds Baltimore Birds Breeding 259

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

But I have been sick with different kinds and forms of cold since the beginning of December with no interruption, and so has my entire family. A short summary of events described in this former blog post of mine: We are talking about the thrush called Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula , not the American Icterids. I honestly did.

Germany 167

Germany Blackbirds 2006 Denmark 167

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 8, 2015

My family have already grown bored of my presence this week and are asking when I will be going back to work. An angry Red-winged Blackbird attacked again and again, flashing its bright epaulettes and hitting the heron hard in the middle of its back. The blackbird appeared to be purposefully targeting the heron’s back.

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Blackbirds Hunting Raised Fish 171

10,000 Birds

JULY 12, 2024

One tends to take woodies for granted Brown but not boring: a Meadow Pipit An everyday bird it might be, but the c**k Blackbird’s song is one of the best. This was an unexpected encounter Griffon Vulture : common in Spain, but seriously endangered in Cyprus Shrikes are one of my favourite families of birds.

Cyprus 245

Cyprus Greece Spain Europe 245

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2011

It sheltered him, it haunted him, and it set his thoughts adrift, to the warmth of spring and the family he had. But something happened, and it happened many times: Something has been killing our Blackbirds. The problem is that Blackbirds are incredibly common in suburban and even urban areas of Germany. All were long gone.

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Blackbirds Germany Shelters Rodents 154

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2015

However, there are those species which have a hard time bringing attention to themselves such as Yellow-shouldered Blackbird , Giant Nuthatch , and Vinaceous-breasted Parrot. It was quite late in the morning when we saw a family group consisting of an adult and three nearly fully grown juveniles right on the track about 300 meters away.

California Condor 239

California Condor Brazil Parrots Texas 239

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2011

We had a blast, the family and I, and experienced some amazing natural places, to say nothing of the fine city of Seattle. Ditto for the Blackbird Bakery on Bainbridge Island, Fins Coastal Cuisine in Port Townsend, and Ezell’s Chicken in Seattle. Here I am, back from my first ever visit to the Pacific Northwest. Scary nice.

Seattle 202

Seattle Washington Chickens Blackbirds 202

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2020

And yet, I miss my family and friends, and grieve for those around the world who are not as lucky as I have been. I even enjoyed following the Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles as they fed along the shallow edge of the water body. We love our house and our neighborhood, and my yard overlooks a particularly birdy pond.

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Birds Blackbirds Shelters Wildlife 253

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2024

I have encountered a few of the more quirky members of the family, including the brilliant and aptly-named African Emerald Cuckoo, India’s ultra-shy Sirkeer Malkoha, and the fascinating Lesser Ground Cuckoo in Costa Rica. It reminded me of a Roadrunner, which is, of course, also a member of the cuckoo family.

Cyprus 246

Cyprus Africa Europe Asia 246

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2013

Flocks of Bushtits made their noisy way through the bushes and a large number of Yellow-headed Blackbirds , which easily increased by ten-fold the number of Yellow-headed Blackbirds I had ever seen, flushed from one reed-bed to another. Hummingbirds buzzed past often and Verdin called with regularity from the bushes and small trees.

Las Vegas 241

Las Vegas Nevada Birds Blackbirds 241

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2012

This is the Ruppell’s Long-tailed Starling , a glimmering blue-black bird with a creamy white eye, reminiscent of the Brewers Blackbird but comparatively a little more scarce. Getting a glimpse into the workings of the world by witnessing a family of starlings foraging together is a real treat.

Tanzania 205

Tanzania Chickens Blackbirds California 205

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2014

It reminded me of a male swimmer afraid of soaking the family jewels. This female Red-winged Blackbird spent quite some time washing this moth, which I assume was meant for a fledgling. This Gray Catbird was very hesitant about getting immersed in the puddle. Click for a bigger version.). Teenage rebellion?

Birds 197

Birds Blackbirds Family 197

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2011

I, on the other hand, had a very busy weekend that included seeing The Big Year (look for a review soon), joining the huge Occupy Wall Street rally in Times Square, taking Desi to the Queens Zoo, and driving upstate to visit the newest addition to the family, my nephew, Andrew Peter (Congrats Jonathan and Shannon!).

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Costa Rica Atlanta New York City 2011 204

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 10, 2012

I’ve always been rather fascinated by trans-Atlantic bird families, perhaps because of growing up with copious mentions of British birds in my children’s books.

Blackbirds 175

Blackbirds Adoptable Humane Family 175

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2023

From Yellow-hooded Blackbirds to Purple and Common Gallinules , there are almost too many birds to focus on! While enjoying the family of Wattled Jacanas , a female Green Kingfisher flew in to an overhanging branch and sat there for several minutes.

Trinidad 264

Trinidad Birds Ducks Fish 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2022

The male Grey-winged Blackbird is similarly attractive. Somewhat confusingly, its Latin species name is boulboul – a word that stands for nightingale but of course is also the name of a large bird family, the bulbuls. The Blue Whistling Thrush is of course named for its whistling – you can hear it here.

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Horses Family Blackbirds Species 242

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2011

There are several species of birds we enjoy for their songs-- American Robins, Carolina Wrens, Wood Thrushes and maybe even Red-winged Blackbirds. v=I3mgqqmugPU Reason 2: Nesting If a woodpecker is making large holes, they could be creating a roosting spot or a cavity to raise a family of young woodpeckers.

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Woodpeckers Owls Blackbirds Raised 262

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2020

Already in my several walks there recently I’ve enjoyed a juvenile Bald Eagle , hordes of Song Sparrows , an early Common Yellowthroat , a nice Rusty Blackbird , and, most importantly, some moments of calm in a crisis. looking west from the east side of the lake (I live near the big building on the left.).

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Bald Eagle New York City New York Birds 233

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2015

Regardless of the temperatures I got out and about both mornings on my own and in the afternoons with the family. A few Rusty Blackbirds made it through the winter but there are many more about now and they are far more vocal. There were lots of birds around and my camera was in overdrive! A very serendipitous shot.

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Bald Eagle New York City Birds Geese 217

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2013

I didn’t travel much this year, with a June family trip to California and Nevada and a four-day trip in July to Trinidad and Tobago being my only opportunities to get birds not in the northeastern United States. Checking out Red-breasted Blackbirds at the Aripo Agricultural Research Station. Red-breasted Blackbird.

2013 202

2013 New York City Nevada Trinidad 202

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2024

There is also a family of Barn Owls on the premises, and I have briefly seen the largest of them (enormous!) That’s a Melodious Blackbird in the background. A Roadside Hawk perched on a post next to, of course, a road. And two Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls toot-toot-tooted from the brush. flying by at night.

Barn Owls 245

Barn Owls Mexico Parrots ALA 245

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2021

Yellow-winged Caciques , showy members of the Blackbird/New World Oriole family, are always conspicuous residents of the region. (I showed this photo to my sister, and her comment was: What a fabulous set of colors. You could decorate a house in them!) Make sure you notice those two raquet-feathers on the tail.

Mexico 214

Mexico Blackbirds Sparrows Owls 214

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2017

In some ways his story is familiar to a lot of birders: the outdoors was both recreation and refuge for him, his family imbued him with a love of learning and an appreciation for the earth. The love of nature is evident in his chapters about his parents and siblings; his family is ever-present in his musings on trees and springs and cows.

South Carolina 164

South Carolina Stray Cows Blackbirds 164

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2013

Yellow-headed Blackbirds singing in the reeds allowed us to get an arm’s length away. Yellow-headed Blackbird was another lifer for me, and omnipresent. A Marsh Wren came out of hiding for us. Western Grebes just went about their daily diving, seemingly not minding our presence. The best, in my opinion, was saved for last.

Nevada 208

Nevada Barn Owls Cows Lamb 208

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2018

But the name of this beer had nothing to do with “Sixteen Tons” of coal, or “Okies” from Muskogee, but birds: merle is also the French word for “blackbird”. And, of course, by blackbirds I mean true thrushes of the family Turdidae , of which the Common (Eurasian) Blackbird ( Turdus merula ) is the most famous in European culture and folklore.

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Blackbirds Belgium Wounded Colorado 113

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2011

For 13 years now, friends and family have been gathering in an undisclosed corner of Potter County, Pennsylvania during the third weekend of July to create a glorious giant chicken of wood, straw, and gunpowder only to burn it. See why we keep the location undisclosed?

Chickens 178

Chickens 2011 Pennsylvania Birds 178

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2019

Blackbirds. Some members of this family always do well with people and Costa Rica is no exception. Great-tailed Grackles are a given, we also had Bronzed Cowbird, Melodious Blackbird, and a few Montezuma Oropendolas. The uncommon, skulking endemic Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow was also recorded but only by call.

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Costa Rica Parrots Birds Blackbirds 203

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2014

I spent this past weekend in Saugerties at my folks’ house in order to look for Easter eggs, let Desi enjoy time with his cousins, and generally have a good ol’ time with family. Red-winged Blackbird singing at the Great Vly.

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New York Birds Blackbirds Ducks 197

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 18, 2019

But North Coast also makes a bird-themed beer, Le Merle, an interpretation of a Belgian, farmhouse-style saison with a name borrowed from the French word for the Common (Eurasian) Blackbird ( Turdus merula ). Birds and Booze readers may remember another saison originally named for le merle that we looked at about a year ago.

Blackbirds 107

Blackbirds California Family Birds 107

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2011

… Tags: migration , phoebes , spring • Camping tents - Check out our pop up tents , family tents , and more! Hes only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasnt working as a union representative or spending time with his family.

2011 203

2011 Deer Philadelphia New York 203

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

… Tags: ducks , features , jamaica bay , migration , queens • Camping tents - Check out our pop up tents , family tents , and more! Hes only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasnt working as a union representative or spending time with his family.

Ducks 190

Ducks 2011 Jamaica Deer 190

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2021

Some other members of the shrike family were a bit less testosterone-driven at Nanhui – like this Bull-headed Shrike … … this rather attractive-looking Tiger Shrike … … or one of the many Brown Shrikes passing through Nanhui on migration. .” A juvenile Chinese Blackbird. A happier shrike.

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LACS Birds France Japan 263

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2012

The boys knew what Owls looked like, they saw Screech Owls (and Barred and Great Horned Owls) at a local wildlife park, and we photographed Burrowing Owl families every year at Brian Piccolo Park. I have decided that the bird is an Alpine Chough, a red-billed blackbird that breeds in the Swiss Alps.

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Birds Switzerland Owls Lions 250

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2015

An American Redstart sang half-heartedly, a Ring-necked Pheasant ran from me, and Gray Catbirds , Red-winged Blackbirds , and American Robins were everywhere. Once I was done at the beach I explored some of the little remaining undeveloped scrub habitat that has grown up behind the beach and the boardwalk, just to see what I could find.

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New York City Blackbirds New York Collecting 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2016

I was back in Florida just last week, in Orlando as part of an annual trip with my wife’s family. In past visits the vultures put up around mid-morning, building up into lazy cyclones of long-winged blackbirds, spiraling upward without a single wingbeat. I have yet to see a Short-tailed Hawk. But enough distraction.

Florida 160

Florida ALA Blackbirds Family 160

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2011

Red-winged Blackbird in Flight Flight Of The Ancient Mariner About the Author Corey Corey is a New Yorker who has lived most of his life upstate but has spent the last three years in Queens. Tags: denmark , mute swan , national bird , swans • Camping tents - Check out our pop up tents , family tents , and more!

Denmark 182

Denmark 2011 Honduras Deer 182

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2016

The beech forests were dense, landscapes stunning, only that wind… Birds were hiding from it, too, with mostly t**s ( Coal , Long-tailed and Great ), a few thrushes ( Mistle , Song and Eurasian Blackbird ) and numerous Common Chaffinches showing. A short stop at the wind swept ridge and a hasty retreat to a lower elevation pine forest.

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Greece Boars Woodpeckers Eagles 259