ML611733466
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
(36.3642203, -101.1632835) thanks to Colby, Todd, and Barbara for showing me my state bird. Enjoyed very close looks at this super tame individual - we were only 20-30' away and it was totally unconcerned, and even flew right by us (almost hit Barbara!) as it flew over to the hackberry just to the west. Beautiful male, quietly and unconcernedly feeding on the willow buds most of the morning. When it flew over to a hackberry tree it moved around more and called a little bit, but otherwise appeared to hang out the whole time I was there in the willow at head height. Called only a few times, very quietly, a rich HOFI-like warble. This bright pink robin-sized bird could easily be missed as it was quiet almost the whole time and didn't move too much. I wonder what will happen to this willow in the spring - appears this guy is eating pretty much every bud he can, will the tree have any leaves come April??? TBD I guess. Delicate to bright pink overall, brightest on rump and nape, with pale gray accents on the mantle, sides of breast, and flanks. Undertail coverts are gray with frosted edgings, with some pale scalloping on mantle, guessing it's in fresh plumage right now. Two white wing bars, thick white tertial edgings, narrow pale secondarily edgings, and pale pink primary edgings. Tail slightly forked, kind of flared like a drongo or something. Some black feathering around the eye made a little bit of a mask, black legs and bill, bill slightly small for size with slightly curved/hooked upper mandible, perfect for picking fruits or stripping buds.
Technical information
- Camera
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 92.54 MB