Audubon's Oriole near Utopia March 1 06 eating sunflower seeds!
Some hammer them open, others chisel, some crack like a finch,
and yet others eat them whole.
House Finches (male upper left, female lower right) American goldfinch (upper right - winter male) and a Pine Siskin (leaving - lower left) at sunflower tube, note yellow wing bar.
Pine Siskin, sharp pointed bill, very streaky, yellow area in wing, sometimes more.
Black-crested Titmouse, gray with peachy buff sides, black crest.
Always the first bird to try a new type of feeder.
Black-crested Titmouse
My what strong legs you have!
Carolina Chickadee, the tail feathers are likely bent from being squeezed in nest cavity.
Carolina Chickadee, these show very little color on sides, only a trace in fresh plumage.
American Goldfinch acquiring breeding (alternate) plumage, House Finch male in rear.
American Goldfinch in mostly winter (basic) plumage.
Lesser Goldfinch, male, the Black-backed type is what we have here, males have green backs until a year old though.
Lesser Goldfinch male, the 'black-backed' type, which if you can't see, the bird looks mostly yellow.
American (2 above) and (below) male Lesser Goldfinch.
Here's a neighborhood gathering at the sunflower tube. Lesser Goldfinch top (male upper left, female upper right) American Goldfinch center faced away, House Finch male mostly hidden at lower right, a Pine Siskin looking for trouble, lower left.
House Finch, of the Texas Ruby Red flavor. Note red in nape and back, this is the reddest House finch in the country, and it sings the sweetest song. There is a bird photo page devoted to them.
These are female House Finch, streaky below, dull overall grayish to brownish, 2 narrow whitish wingbars.