This is the 15th year of continuous daily publication for 365Caws. All things considered, it's likely it will be the last year as it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to find interesting material. However, I hope that I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world with my natural history posts, or encouraged a novice weaver or needleworker. If so, I've done what I set out to do.
Friday, March 17, 2017
Brewer's Blackbird
Day 155: Not the best focus in the world because I was shooting through window glass (dirty). For the last couple of years, these guys have been showing up in the spring and sticking around for a few days or weeks just like their cousins. My initial reaction to their arrival is, "Huh? A cowbird with yellow eyes?" and then I remember they're actually Brewer's Blackbirds (Euphagus cyanocephalus, and yes, I just checked the taxonomy to be sure it hadn't changed). This morning, I had both a male and a female. The female is a rather nondescript dark brown bird with dark eyes. If there is any confusion in your mind when you observe this species, watch the behaviour. Cowbirds have a tendency to look upward, as if inquiring as to whether it's going to rain or whether their companion has seen a flying saucer lately.
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