[TN-Bird] Brewers, Rusty Blackbirds - Davidson Co.
- From: Ed Schneider <ed.schneider@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: tn bird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:10:32 -0600
While taking the western loop to avoid downtown on my way home this morning, I
drove through Belle Meade, and noticed a large (over 200) flock of blackbirds
on a lawn on the corner of Iroquois Ave. and Belle Meade Blvd. I made a U-turn
and turned onto Iroquois, just as the flock flushed into two large trees. The
majority were Common Grackles, I would say 60%, but the starlings were very
few, maybe 30 individuals. The rest of the flock was composed mostly of
winter-plumaged Rusty Blackbirds, but then I noticed some birds that looked
superficially like grackles, but 25-30% smaller and shorter tailed... as I
doubted myself (I'd never confidently seen Brewer's before), I noticed what I
thought were female Brown-headed Cowbirds, until I saw the bill and was
confident I was looking at a handful of Brewer's Blackbirds for the first time!
Having the three species on the ground, flying around, and perched in trees at
close range next to each other was truly a great study. Always nice to see over
40 Rusties in a neighborhood flock as well!
Good birding,
Ed SchneiderNashvilleDavidson Co.
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