Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

All the Others

Didn’t Get the Memo on Sharing

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Blue Jay vs Mourning Dove

It seems the birds are always engaged in turf battles. They argue over nesting sites and bath rights, of course, but the real feather-pumping occurs at the feeders. In this video, it’s clear the Blue Jay didn’t get the memo on sharing and the Mourning Dove’s peaceful dinner was not meant to be.

Tanager vs Cardinal: Boys in Red Bathe-Off

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Meet the Boys in Red

When the boys in red bathe-off, one might have the impression the bathe-off is between a pair of male Northern Cardinals.  In fact, the male on the left in the photo is a Summer Tanager.  Tanagers are much more elusive than Cardinals, but once you see them side-by-side you'll see that their red colors are different, the Tanager has a yellow (vs orange) beak, and the Cardinal has a black mask and head-crest whereas the Tanager does not.

Birdbath competitions seem to happen quite often around here -- usually it's boys being boys.  A female Cardinal had been bathing when the Tanager swooped in.  Who knows if the male Cardinal felt a need to show the Tanager who is the baddest boy in town.

Meet the Boys in Red