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?)

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.)

 

[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:

 

[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.