Not long after that, one of them flew to a nearby tree and started wing-quivering and giving insistent begging calls. Soon an adult flew in with insects and fed the juvenile.
I was struck by how hard it was to tell the juveniles and adults apart by appearance alone. With very close views, I could see that the juveniles had pale yellowish gapes (the innermost portion of the bill):
Then I read that the juveniles also have indistinct (hard-to-see) buffy tips to the upperwing coverts, and more filamentous feathers under the tail:
This titmouse family spent quite a bit of time in our yard this afternoon. It was a fun opportunity to learn more about one of our common backyard birds.
3 comments:
Wonderful photos! Thank you.
Haiku for tiny Titmouse-
Fresh, soft grey fringed plumes,
ready to be Oak Titmouse!
newly hatched this spring!!
That juvenile "Feed me! Feed me!" behavior always makes me smile. Thank you so much for these photos today.
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