[texbirds] Shiny Cowbird possible

From: Vicki Crutchfield <vicki_crutchfield@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2014 04:48:53 -0800 (PST)
 
Baytown Nature Center, on the peninsula near the playground, Wednesday 
afternoon, I started scanning a cowbird flock for hopeful Bronze or maybe an 
interesting blackbird.
 
Saw what I initially thought might be a Bronzed posturing against a couple of 
Brown headed males. But when the posturing relaxed the shape of the head was 
wrong and the eye was dark not red.
 
The black bird was about the same shape and size as the Brownheaded cowbirds, 
beak was thinner.
 
As he came close to the road I saw him feed a female cowbird and then saw him 
call and heard the distinctive rise and fall call with the clink at the end of 
a Shiny, check a recording in my car to verify what I heard. The flock kept 
spooking and flying due to activity by maintenance crew making the best of the 
break in the rainy weather.
 
It was too overscast to see his color sheen. But I refound him 4 times mostly 
due to either call and/or posturing against Brownheaded males. Then the entire 
flock left when the grass blowers started up. It was a relatively small flock 
on Wednesday. The overcast day did not provide sufficient light for the color.
 
Saw a possible glimpse of him in the shadow on Thursday morning but only a 
glimpse before he flew to the shoreline out of site. Had assistance but was 
unable to relocate on Thursday. Listened and looked until about 4 and had to 
leave for previous obligation. Did not hear him on Thursday.
Thursday morning had a brief look at what I am pretty sure was the female paler 
than I expected, about the same hue as the Brownheaded females, but color was 
distinctively more tan than grey, spotted her beak first, slender darker beak, 
pale area over eye and definitely no white on throat. only saw her for a couple 
of minutes and unable to relocate. I was really hoping to see him in the light, 
but never confirmed relocation.
 
This is definitely not an easy spot, more like a needle in a haystack search. 
Going to spend a little time today searching, but I have work I have to do 
today.

Wish I had photos, but it would have been difficult even with a good camera.  
Flock is very active and I saw the local Osprey take a cowbird Thursday 
afternoon. First time I have ever seen an Osprey take something in the grass. 
Guess it was just too tempting.

I had never see this feeding behavior before. Wasn't real frequent, but ever so 
often noticed male cowbirds offering a tasty tidbit to a female and her taking 
it. The females were not specifically showing any begging behavior, it was a 
male hopping over and visibly offering. Did not see any copulation or other 
mating behavior and most birds seemed more focused on gobbling up grass seeds 
and saw a few worms and bugs visibly eaten. Guess I just nevered focused this 
much on cowbirds before.

Having serious internet issues since last freeze.



Vicki Crutchfield
Harris County, Texas
 
Cell : 409-789-1178


Vicki Crutchfield 
Harris County, Texas  
  
Cell : 409-789-1178 

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[texbirds] Shiny Cowbird possible

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