Fox Sparrow

Like clock work, Jess comes home... bird next day

We have had this one before... remember messy spot on the chest. Check out the thick beak which sparrows have compared to other species.

Did you know... A group of Fox Sparrows are collectively known as a "den", "flock", and "slyness" of sparrows.  Adults are known to perform a broken-wing display to lure potential threats away from the nest. The Fox Sparrow is larger than other sparrows. They scratch in leaves for insects and seeds and often make so much noise that they sound like a much larger animal.

Lets talk bird feet today

This is a perching bird and you can see the four toes with one "backwards than the others"

"stellar-squirrel-three-winged-sparrow"

So this was a tricky one. What bird has claws, three wings and a head? looks like the kitties have killed the one and only know species  " stellar-squirrel-three-winged-sparrow"

The claw...

The stellar jays tail feather and sparrow head. He kind looks alive if you don't look below the head

Its a twofer

Fox Sparrow and  Hermit Thrush

Note the difference in beaks....

The Hermit Thrush

The Hermit Thrush is rich brown on the head and back, with a distinctly warm, reddish tail. The underparts are pale with distinct spots on the throat and smudged spots on the breast. With a close look you may see a thin pale eye ring.  The female builds the nest from grass, leaves, pine needles, and bits of wood, with mud and lichen around the outside. She lines the nest with finer plant materials and willow catkins. The finished nest is 4–6 inches across, and the cup is 2–3 inches wide and 1–2 inches deep. The female takes 7–10 days to build the nest.

Hermit Thrushes hop and scrape in leaf litter while foraging. They perch low to the ground on fallen logs and shrubs, often wandering into open areas such as forest clearings or trails. Sometimes a Hermit Thrush will cock its tail and bob it slowly, while flicking its wings

Fox Sparrow, we have had this one before. Remember the "messy" spot in the chest area.  There it is!

The Fox Sparrow can appear in four different colorings depending the time of year and area observed.  The sooty form as seen here is dark brown all over and breeds along the Pacific coast to the Aleutian Islands. It forages for insects and is a ground forager. It also nests on the ground.