26 February 2011

Rusty with rusties

With the new thin layer of snow, the AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS are back at my feeders.  The HARRIS'S SPARROW is still reliable as well.  However, the best bird lately was this RUSTY BLACKBIRD, my 106th yard bird:


Not sure it's a Rusty?  Check out the bill (thanks Tim); a Brewer's would have a stouter bill in most cases.  In addition to that, a Brewer's Blackbird would be very rare at this time of year in Iowa.


This time of year always brings flocks of waxwings and robins to some fruiting trees in my neighborhood.  Here is a CEDAR WAXWING:

... and an AMERICAN ROBIN: