Icteridae - Chuckie

[inyati13]

This is not the proper board for this but I am putting it here because a previous thread on this board lead to the question of how cowbirds are related to other birds especially the blackbirds. I provided a response that they are in the same Order but did not know if the were in the same Family.

They are in the same Order:
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders; with over 5,000 identified species,[1] it has roughly twice as many species as the largest of the mammal orders, the Rodentia. It contains more than 110 families, the second most of any order of vertebrates (after the Perciformes).

They are also in the same Family:
Icterids make up a family (Icteridae) of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. The family is extremely varied in size, shape, behavior and coloration.

 

[Chuckie]

Then possibly one of my favorite birds is the "Red Wing Black Bird." They have the prettiest sound, as it reminds me of water trickling down. I have not heard one this year. I compare their song to the "Meadowlark" which I have not seen around. This year we have had so many birds. With the farmers tearing up every inch of the soil here into crop ground, maybe the meadow lark is not going to find this such a great place to live. Even the Redwing Black Birds must have some tall grasses that are uncut to hang their nests.
I remember when my Dad used to farm, my brother would mark the nests of the Kildee's when he cultivated the fields, and would lift the cultivator not bust them up as he passed over. The chicks looked like cotton balls with long tiny legs. We lived on a gravel road, and they would build along the edges. I do not see them that often now. Maybe because all the fields have gone to no-till and they need open spaces to see what approaches their nests. Hopefully they are still down the field roads. I do miss seeing them.

Hey, I changed it from Passerines to Nomads.

 

[inyati13]

Then possibly one of my favorite birds is the "Red Wing Black Bird." They have the prettiest sound, as it reminds me of water trickling down. I have not heard one this year. I compare their song to the "Meadowlark" which I have not seen around. This year we have had so many birds. With the farmers tearing up every inch of the soil here into crop ground, maybe the meadow lark is not going to find this such a great place to live. Even the Redwing Black Birds must have some tall grasses that are uncut to hang their nests.
I remember when my Dad used to farm, my brother would mark the nests of the Kildee's when he cultivated the fields, and would lift the cultivator not bust them up as he passed over. The chicks looked like cotton balls with long tiny legs. We lived on a gravel road, and they would build along the edges. I do not see them that often now. Maybe because all the fields have gone to no-till and they need open spaces to see what approaches their nests. Hopefully they are still down the field roads. I do miss seeing them.

Hey, I changed it from Passerines to Nomads.

Do you mean Killdeer? I had one nest on the driveway this spring. I put a red cone up. Their eggs are gray with dark specks. The male and female would be there each day protecting it. The female fakes a broken wing to distract predators from the nest. I think my dog found it and I almost knew he would. Blue Heelers will eat about anything. I broke him fromeating cow manure.

I know the sound of the Red Wing Black Bird. I have poor hearing so I do not hear a lot of bird sounds. I tried one of those sound magnifiers and it helped.

 

[Chuckie]

Yes I meant Killdeer. Wonder how they got that name? You know they aren't hunters. :lol2:

Hey, let's take this to the Coffee Shop!
Chuckie