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Thursday, May 21, 2020

Baby blue eyes

A quick shot from our backyard last night (20 May 2020):


This year a pair of American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) nested in a tree in our backyard.  The juveniles (at least two of them) just left the nest and are starting to walk around the tree, jumping from branch to branch and taking short flights.  

I was struck by the beautiful blue color of their eyes.  Apparently the eyes will be blue for ~2 months, then turn to gray and then brown.  Note also the pink gape (at the inner corner of bill), which will be visible for ~3 months.

Perhaps because we've been home more during the shelter-in-place order, we've seen quite a few fledglings in our yard.  Along with the Oak Titmice, Bushtits and American Crows, we've also seen juvenile Bewick's Wrens recently.

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