Juncos, hummers etc.

[kastern]

Think it was Deb asked if others were finding a huge amount of Juncos ......boy am I ever!!! not unusual to have 70 or 80 in my backyard at the same time and yes, I'm finding them on every feeder...nyger, peanut, black oil as well as the mixed seed. I've also had 5 different males with white markings on just the head...I know they are different as I've been taking pictures. One I've named 'ears' - he's been here for several weeks and has a white 'ear' on either side. One had a white spot on the top of the head, a couple have just sort of been 'speckled' and another had a white chin. I also had a female with white wing bars...was almost wondering if it could have been some sort of cross...and I had one real piebald but it was only here for one evening.

What I haven't seen so far is a hybrid flicker....I have lots of flickers but they are all red shafted.

I also have more hummingbirds than I've ever had and am wondering if I have two types. The males have all been rufous but the females seem to be of two types.....the rufous and some smaller, greener ones...I don't know if they are Calliope...it seems early for them and I haven't seen a Calliope male.

Kathy

[Gord]

Wow! You've seen more white marking juncos in a day than I have in a couple years! The one with wing-bars is interesting, not a slate-coloured or a hybrid like you suggeted?

The hummers sound interesting as well. Any pictures yet? There has been a Costa's hummer spotted on the Island but for there to be more than one, WOW! I agree, this is early for a Calliope so Im highly interested in what you've got!

[Gord]

Hi Kathy! My mom reported a junco with an almost all white head. She's going to send me some pictures too.
You were telling me how Bird Studies Canada codes all these birds as they're reported. That's pretty neat, do you have any details to share on the project as to how and why?

[kastern]

I've posted information on reporting unusual birds in the General Discussion section.

Kathy