Bird Nest Picture

[GQ.]

I found this little nest in the front yard. I was actually looking for the elusive hummingbird nest, but this will suffice. I'm not sure what type of birds they are. The mom appeared to be some type of finch. The bird nest is about the size of a child's fist. There are three hatchlings and a yet to hatch egg inside.

25 March 2004

 

[jaijjs]

Neat photo!! I almost forgot the most important trick for attracting hummers...Put a bunch of cotton in a small wire cage near where you feed them. They'll use if for nesting material.

 

[GQ.]

I just took this picture of the above bird nest. The little one in the middle with the stylin' hairdo was probably the one in the egg in the first picture. The other three are huge already. (The fourth is hidden under the other birds in this photo) I have already spotted the larger birds hopping/flying outside of the nest.

8 April 2004

 

[jaijjs]

I think they are Pine Siskins. if thats what they are they make sound thats kind buzzy sweeet-sweeet. We have thousand that all flock togather in the fall.

 

[genious_gr]

Awwwww, will you try giving them some mealworms??

 

[GQ.]

jaijjs,

I belive they are in the same genus as the Pine Siskin which is Carduelis. I don't think they are Pine Siskins though. The Pine Siskins look very similar, but their breast has many streaks on it. The mom did not have any streaks on her breast. I ruled it down to either the American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) or the Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria). I'm leaning towards American Goldfinch. I'm not much of a birder. I need to really examine the female with some binoculars to make a better determination.

Genius,

The finches are actually seed eaters. I don't know if they would actually eat a mealworm.

 

[jaijjs]

Most Siskins that I have seen are sreaked on the breast area. They have a flash of yellow and white on the under side of the wings. I had in the past thought Siskins were female gold finches or young ones that had not developed the summer plumage. We lots of the goldies around here too. They flock togather in the fall by the thousands. They might eat mealworms. But the favorite diet is the black thistle seed. They make a special sock type feeder for them. If you put one out, they will come and come ..........

 

[DnKslr]

AAWWWW! That's amazing to see both parents on the nest at the same time. Great pictures you have there!