Originally posted by Karen
Black with speckled backs? Medium size? They're definitely starlings. We get mostly juncos, sometimes a pheasant, and a smattering of sparrows and chickadees. We just scatter birdseed on top of the snow in the back yard, and we do sometimes get cardinals, but the juncos are the most faithful - and the squirrels, of course!
I don't think they are starlings--although I don't know if starlings have different variety - I've seen starlings before and they are bigger than these -- they were small, round and compact in size, almost a solid charcoal grey color (some had a tinge of brown around the face) - with little short black beaks, they looked a lot like the little snowbirds, only without the little white tummies.
They almost had a finch-like quality.
The cardinals and bluejays are pretty prevalent around here. Cardinals are our state bird...I've read they mate for life and never leave their 'home' area. We have about 3 nesting pair in our back yard, although that day we counted 6 male and 6 female in the tree.....I'm thinking that first picture will make a nice Christmas card for next season.
Thanks for all the nice compliments.
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