Any ornithologists out there? Bird watchers? Anyone?

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » March 31, 2008 5:37 pm

Since this is such a diverse group, I was wondering if there are any bird watchers or others who might be able to help identify a bird for me?

Located in the Carolinas and dumb as a rock. This little fellow has been banging in to my window for the last two days. He is driving both my dog and me crazy.

Just wanted to find out what kind of bird he is before I drive him away.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » March 31, 2008 5:42 pm

Hi J! LTNS!!

Hope your bird fares better....

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... woodpecker

surfpirate · Post by **surfpirate** » March 31, 2008 5:42 pm

Hard to tell from the picture ...... but "he" looks like a "she" ..... and she looks like a cardinal (?)

~~~~ sp

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » March 31, 2008 6:02 pm

surfpirate wrote:Hard to tell from the picture ...... but "he" looks like a "she" ..... and she looks like a cardinal (?)

That was one of my first thoughts, but most cardinals I've seen were all red. Whereas this nutcase only has reddish wings and tail.

I probably won't mind nearly as much, except my dog thinks that someone keeps knocking at the front door and runs off barking.

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » March 31, 2008 6:02 pm

buffettbride wrote:Hi J! LTNS!!

Hope your bird fares better....

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... woodpecker

Hola! Any plans for the big anniversary coming up?

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » March 31, 2008 6:12 pm

land_shark3 wrote:
buffettbride wrote:Hi J! LTNS!!

Hope your bird fares better....

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... woodpecker
Hola! Any plans for the big anniversary coming up?

Maybe a lesbo p*rn celebration for our BN-Aversary?

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » March 31, 2008 6:38 pm

land_shark3 wrote:
surfpirate wrote:Hard to tell from the picture ...... but "he" looks like a "she" ..... and she looks like a cardinal (?)
That was one of my first thoughts, but most cardinals I've seen were all red. Whereas this nutcase only has reddish wings and tail.

I probably won't mind nearly as much, except my dog thinks that someone keeps knocking at the front door and runs off barking.

Female cardinal:

from here: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBi ... dinal.html

nutmeg · Post by **nutmeg** » March 31, 2008 6:39 pm

Definitely a female cardinal.

This is a territorial activity. It sees its own reflection in your window and tries to drive the "intruder" away.

Hopefully once it gets busy with nesting and such it will stop with the window. One of the VP's at work had one that did this for a couple of weeks every spring on his office window. Drove him nuts.

However that one was a male....didn't know females did this too.

nutmeg · Post by **nutmeg** » March 31, 2008 6:45 pm

I googled it and here is Cornell's take on the cardinal issue....

Birds attacking windows (from Cornell’s website):

Many people become alarmed or annoyed when birds start attacking their windows in spring. The male cardinal pecking at your window is fighting what he perceives as an intruder and is simply defending his territory—he doesn't understand that it's his own reflection. In fact, both males and females may do this, especially species that often nest close to houses, such as American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Chipping Sparrows, and Song Sparrows.

Try covering the outside of the window with netting or fabric so the reflection is no longer visible. You can also try drawing soap streaks across the window to break up the reflection. This territorial reaction may be so strong that the bird may exhaust itself, but it usually doesn't result in fatal injury.

docandjeanie · Post by **docandjeanie** » March 31, 2008 6:56 pm

I think it's a girl cardinal as well, maybe a juvenile one.

UpstateNYPH · Post by **UpstateNYPH** » March 31, 2008 6:58 pm

My sister has a cardinal that has been doing this for OVER A YEAR!

It wakes her up every morning she says and stays at it all day long.

Salukulady · Post by **Salukulady** » March 31, 2008 7:46 pm

My last name is Cardinal...and it looks just like me! lol.....yes it is a female Cardinal and they do get confused about their reflection. Send her over to California....we don't have them here and I would love to have her wake me everyday.