Invasion of the Blue Birds!

[Basil]

This morning we had an unreal number of Western Blue Birds out in the yard. Just doing a quick count I'd estimate there were at least 50-60 birds flying all over in our pinion trees. Amazing! Here are a few shots I took this morning. (There's a mystery bird at the end - how many can ID this bird?)

Western Blue Bird Feb 2019-0001.jpg

Western Blue Bird Feb 2019-0008.jpg

Western Blue Bird Feb 2019-0046.jpg

Western Blue Bird Feb 2019-0059.jpg

Ok, who can tell me what this fellow is? (Hint, it's not a blue bird. Hint#2 they are sometimes seen in New Mexico, but they are not indigenous to the southwest and don't breed here. Probably just stopped off while migrating.)

Western Blue Bird NOT Feb 2019-0023.jpg

[NutmegCT]

A wild guess: Say's Phoebe?

That red/orange band on the wing confoozles me.

[Basil]

A wild guess: Say's Phoebe?

That red/orange band on the wing confoozles me.

Nope. This is the only one of these birds I've ever seen in our area.

[NutmegCT]

Cedar waxwing? (but the bird in your photo doesn't have a crest on the head)

[Basil]

Cedar waxwing? (but the bird in your photo doesn't have a crest on the head)

You are correct (and yes, it did have a crest - it's just not obvious from the angle in that picture.)

[NutmegCT]

Thanks. One of the coolest birds I've seen at Sturbridge is the Baltimore oriole.

Really neat looking bird. Haven't seen one for a few years tho'.

[65_BRG_Sprite]

One of my favorite memories of a trip to Montana is a flock of western bluebrdson a mountain top.
I have 6 eastern bluebirds at a feeder daily, much welcomed color in drab Ohio February.

[Mickey Richaud]

Thanks. One of the coolest birds I've seen at Sturbridge is the Baltimore oriole.

Really neat looking bird. Haven't seen one for a few years tho'.

Here's a whole flock of 'em, Tom:

orioles.jpg

[NutmegCT]

[John Turney]

From the thread title, I thought you were talking Twitter birds.

[pdplot]

The pictures shown are not Western Bluebirds but Mountain Bluebirds. As an aside, I've never seen one, but I have seen Eastern and Western Bluebirds. Mountain Bluebirds scatter in Winter into small flocks and may show up at suitable feeders. The Cedar Waxwing has a crest but sometimes it's folded. The Bohemian Waxwing is a little bigger and huskier. Good photos though.