Not for me, but I'd love to know what they are. Do you have the Merlin ID app to try to identify them by sound?
Bird Migration and Misc Birding Thread
- Thread starter Kinch
- Start date
What are you feeding to attract Gray Catbirds? Your birds should have a rusty patch under the tail, too.
Four birds to compare if not sure: Catbird, Mockingbird, Tufted Titmouse, B-h Cowbird and Waxwing:
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Feeding a "songbird mix" I purchase in a 40 lb bag at a Kent feed dealership. The brand name is Concerto by Kent: black sunflower seeds, sunflower chips, white safflower, peanut hearts and white millet. Has no corn or cheap filler seeds and only shells are the black sunflower. Runs $30+$40, we go thru a bag every other week. It's a purple bag with a yellow bird on it. It's the best stuff for the money we've found.
Bingo you are correct. It's said they are common in Iowa but we have never seen before at our feeders and we attract a lot of birds.
We see catbirds a lot here in Van Buren County. They like the jelly we put out for the Orioles.
We have one or two pairs in our yard each year. One male has been singing its odd, complex, understated, squeaky, mix outside our front room since May 10. They are weird little birds but in a humorous way especially the silly catlike "may' call.
I will preface this by saying I am not a birder per se. A few days ago I was cleaning up a hosta bed on a remote area of my acreage. As I pulled and piled the weeds, I came across a nest on the groundthat I thought was abandoned. I moved a couple of feet away and mom came to investigate. I pulled the nest off my pile and placed it back where I thought it originated. After some investigation, I found that the bird was native to the habitat, but not really native to my area. Best guess it is a Wood thrush. I’ve seen brown thrush(thrashers) here before, but never these little guys. She has since deposited three eggs. Other than maybe exposing her more to predators all is well. I am also not a photographer so haven’t gotten a good pic of her yet.
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Unlucky, lucky. You must have heard the singing bird on occasion. It is one of America's most impressively musical birds. Don't know if the adults will abandon the nest but it could happen. Their nests are not easy to find. so you are lucky, but unlucky if the Thrush is too disturbed to return.
Rarest of vagrant birds, Iowa has two records, Wisconsin (with its funnel effect to Door Co. and Superior) has ten records, and Nebraska has two, three counting yours. Be good to send this to Nebraska Birders.
Good spot!
