Our airways have become even more colorful with the arrival of a lone Indigo Bunting! The photo was taken through the window as we've never been able to creep outside to snap a clear shot of one, due to their skittishness. But at least we have evidence of it's arrival. They never stay long in our neck of the woods.
Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
The other birds that arrived this week were the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. There are several males, and I did see one female. They are also fruit feeders, but they do seem to spend a lot of time at our seed feeder.
I love the grosbeaks. Interestingly, they are in the cardinal family along with tanagers (who we hope will show up for a brief visit soon, as well;-) "Their name is derived from the French gros bec, or “thick beak,” which is adapted to cracking seeds with ease." Encyclopedia Brittanica
The Gray Catbirds are here for summer as well. We absolutely love them. Can you see the rusty colored feathers under its tail? That is an identifier for this bird. They are in the Mimidae family of birds along with Mockingbirds. "They share that group’s vocal abilities, copying the sounds of other species and stringing them together to make their own song." See The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds for more information on this cute bird!
Catbirds enjoy eating fruit and they enjoy chowing down on the jelly. We will soon be hanging an orange to a tree for our fruit eaters and squirrels;-)
Speaking of fruit eaters, here is another shot of a male Baltimore Oriole high up in the newly leafed out trees!
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