The (Almost) Daily Adventures Blog The (almost) daily adventures of outdoors writer/photograher Kimberly Mason
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This nest was found inside of a hanging basket in Redmond, WA. The nest is made of tiny twigs and big grasses and is buried at soil level in a large potted plant.
Do you know what kind of bird this might be?
It would be pretty cool if they were Blue-footed Boobys (Boobies?), my favorite bird name of all time. But we think they are probably more common birds, even if they are non-natives.
Are they European Starlings, perhaps?
By the way, just how long DOES it take before you’re considered a native bird? The starlings have been here since around 1890 and I’ve lived in the Mossyrock area for just under 20 years. I’ve been told that if I stay here another 20 years, they’ll stop calling ME a newcomer.
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Their foster parents are eager to hear what you have to say, leave a comment!
Kim,
Too many newborn birds look very much like this group, but I’m gonna guess that they are in the sub-group that hatches with feathers. Some are hatched naked. An ornothologist could steer you to a listing of each type.
I don’t think it’s a Starling, because they are generally cavity nesters; any small tight space will do. This bird took the time to build a cup nest.
Hope that helps some…
-Rolan
Locally it is common for both House Finches and Dark-eyed Juncos to nest in hanging baskets -
(P.s., unlike House Sparrows, who “hitched rides” on sailing ships to spread worldwide, European Starlings where deliberately introduced to the U.S. to have all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays present in North America, before it was understood that invasive species can be problematic…..)
I wanted to know what can help a bee in at one’s brio so that’s about it not who could not offer an literal answer.