Behavior of birds

Time: 5-6 pm
Date: 3/24/2020
Location: Conservation land in Stow (no E) MA
Weather: Cloudy and 50 degrees F
Habitat: Old wood and pine stand forest with marsh and large pond. Recent snow mixed with high temps meant that most of the forest was flooded. Also at a local suburban feeder.

In the Red-wing Blackbird recording, you can hear at least two birds calling back and forth. This could be two males arguing over territory, or two males trying to attract females. The male that is further away would call repetitively then the closer male would give a single clear call. Possibly making a point, or asserting its dominance.
At the feeder there were the Eastern Bluebird pair, as well as the pair of Goldfinches. The males of both of these species were particularly bright, assuming that they were in full breeding plumage. Both of these species are ones were the male presents much brighter than the female, though the bluebird is quite a bit more subtle and harder to see in brush than the goldfinch is, which stands out. The female goldfinch is much more subtle than either of the males, and the female bluebird. Possibly because they are at higher risk when nesting than the female bluebird is (who is bigger).
The male Eastern Bluebird spent quite a long time at the feeder. Since it was at the feeder it was foraging, which I think is primarily on this day because it had just snowed a heavy snow the day before and much of the ground where early worms would be was covered up. It was brightly colored, presumably in its full breeding plumage, which would be part of its circannual rhythm (molting). He seemed much less puffed up than I have seen the bluebirds being recently, this assumably is because it was warmer out than it has been and he did not have to maintain as much body temperature (circadian rhythm).

Posted on March 26, 2020 03:05 AM by rrhender