Birds of West Cobb

What is that yellow bird on my feeder? Is that a Goldfinch, Warbler, a Pine Siskin or something else? A brightly colored Yellow Warbler visits our mealworm feeder plate in early Spring. I’ve spoken to many people that see yellow birds on their bird feeders and assume they are either American Goldfinches or someone had a pet parakeet that escaped. While it's certainly not impossible, it is pretty unlikely that a parakeet would show up at your feeders. An adult male American Goldfinch loves to eat Safflower on a Tube Feeder from Wild Birds Unlimited. Is that yellow bird on my feeder some type of Warbler? Warblers are carnivores and love to eat live insects, spiders, caterpillars, dried mealworms and even suet cakes. The shape of their beak is narrower and longer than that of a finch. In contrast, finches have wider, taller beaks made for cracking open seed shells. Take a look at the photos below of some of the Warblers we’ve seen so far at our feeder and you’ll quickly see the difference when you look at finches in the future! A pair of Yellow-Rumped Warblers grab a bite to eat before migrating further South for the Winter. An adult male Yellow-rumped Warbler with breeding plumage growing in, Early Spring Is that yellow bird on my feeder a Yellow-rumped Warbler? (shown above)Yellow-rumped Warblers migrate from much further north in Fall, and stay with us from late Autumn until mid-Spring (typically April). When they arrive their feathers have already grown in for Winter warmth and these feathers have much less color and contrast, see the photo above of the pair. In February through April though you can witness the transformation with the “breeding plumage”. The photo below shows a male with the majority of his breeding colors in place. The Yellow-rumped Warblers will now have 2 very bright yellow patches on the sides of the breast, and a bright yellow spot between the wings as well, which is how they earned their nickname "Butter Butt". Maybe you saw a warbler, but it had more yellow on it than the Yellow-rumped variety. Keep scrolling down and let's see if we can help you identify what you saw! Adult male Pine Warbler perches on a plate of mealworms A Pine Warbler visits our suet feeder for a tasty bite of suet. Is that Yellow bird on my feeder a Pine Warbler? Pine Warblers (shown above) are also migratory but we have some year-round here in Marietta, Georgia. They will look a bit more dull in the winter, and will appear with a mustard-brownish yellow, (especially the female Pine Warblers), but their colors brighten up dramatically in the males in early Springtime, for breeding / attracting their mates. They are quick, flying in and grabbing a mealworm or two before flying back into brush or tree limbs nearby for cover. Pine Warblers have a very high-pitch whistle for a bird call which may be your only clue they are nearby for most of the year. But in Winter when their live insect food sources are scarce, a plate of dried mealworms or a high-fat and protein Suet Cake can work wonders to bring them to your yard. (Product Link below, near the bottom) Pine Warbler identification tip: Pine Warblers will have 2 parallel white bars on their wings. Their coloration is much more evenly spread from head to neck to breast. When compared with a yellow-rumped warbler which will also have 2 parallel white bars, the yellow coloration is only seen in a few spots on these birds, and there are more streaks of black over their white bellies. Pine Warbler bellies are yellow! A Tennessee Warbler photographed during Winter in Marietta, Georgia A Tennessee Warbler enjoys Suet Nuggets from C&S Is the yellow bird on my bird feeder a Tennessee Warbler? Tennessee Warbler: We didn’t even realize we captured this photo and found out a few weeks later that the “pine warbler” we were photographing from a distance was in fact, a Tennessee Warbler. There are no visible bars of white along the wings or tail, and the subtle yellow color is much smoother and there is even a touch of brown at the corner of the wings/shoulders. The colors of this bird change from the subtle yellow to a warm grey right above the breast up to the eyes. This may be one of two we’ve ever spotted at our feeders to date! We will definitely keep looking for more though! How do you attract Tennessee Warblers to your bird feeders? In our case, we photographed one Tennessee Warbler eating C&S Peanut Suet Nuggets. In the other case, this beautiful warbler was attracted by dried mealworms and fresh water. Don't worry, we'll add the links for these products at the end of the blog for you as well! A tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet looks at a tall stack of Suet Nuggets A Ruby-crowned Kinglet peers into a bowl of dried mealworms Is that yellow bird on my feeder a Ruby-crowned Kinglet? Ruby-crowned Kinglet (photo above) : These are tiny birds, relatively close to a Carolina Chickadee or a Pine Siskin (keep reading to see some photos of the siskins). Often in the Winter months they will fly in very quickly and snatch a small chunk of suet or a piece of a mealworm and then retreat to the cover of small shrubs or brush. We managed to capture a few photos of them for you to help you identify these adorable and energetic birds! They are only mildly yellow/brown but we wanted to be sure to include them here in case it helped you! Much like the warblers above, they do get more colorful and bright in the Spring. The easiest way to identify a Kinglet, is by the single white arm bar, and the yellow wing feathers which follow back to their tail feathers. At the right moment, you may even get a chance to see the "Ruby Crown" feathers as well! A Pine Siskin eating fresh Safflower Seeds Is that yellow bird at my feeder a Pine Siskin? Pine Siskin: at a glance you might believe you have a bunch of female house finches but at a closer look, they are a bit smaller and they have a splash of yellow on their wings and tails. They usually travel in flocks and we’ve seen 2-3 of them at once only a few times, otherwise there were over 50 birds. They love to east Safflower seeds and hulled Sunflower meats as well. We'll add these products to the list at the bottom for you too! An adult Male Scarlet Tanager in Winter Plumage visits our large pool (or dish with water in it). A Scarlet Tanager visits our feeder during Autumn Migration Is that yellow bird on my feeder a Scarlet Tanager? While flipping through our photo archives we realized that we had a photo of another Yellow bird. This time it is a Scarlet Tanager in it’s Winter or migratory plumage, that stopped by for a snack and sip of water! It is pretty exciting to see all the different bird species that will come to your yard if there is a fresh, clean water source. Thanks again for reading and we hope you’ll follow us and share our page with your bird people 🙂 Is that a Summer Tanager on my bird feeder? How can you tell the difference between it and a Scarlet Tanager? Updated on 10/9/2024 - We now also have recent photos of another yellow bird: The Summer Tanager! Note the black wings on the Scarlet Tanager (pictured above) and the yellow/brown wings on the Summer Tanager, below! A Summer Tanager visits for water

Introducing the Brown Thrasher: The Melodic Mimic of the Southeast The Brown Thrasher, known for its rich, melodious song and striking brown appearance, is a captivating bird found throughout the Southeastern United States. This sometimes elusive, yet enchanting bird offers birdwatchers and backyard enthusiasts a delightful experience. Brown Thrasher Identification and Appearance: Brown Thrashers are medium-sized birds with a distinctive reddish-brown upper body, head and tail with streaked breast. They have a very slightly curved bill and mature adults have piercing yellow eyes with black pupils that give them a somewhat fierce expression. Their long tails and strong legs are perfect for ground foraging, where they spend much of their time searching for insects and other small prey. They can often be heard in the brush flipping leaves around with their long beaks and legs. Where do Brown Thrashers Live? (Brown Thrasher Habitat) Preferring dense shrubs and thickets, Brown Thrashers are often found in gardens, woodlands, and hedges. They seem to prefer the thicker brush for foraging as well as nesting, although they make their way out of the brush from time to time, to grab a snack, or to fly to a low limb where they will sometimes sing for hours. Are Brown Thrashers good at mimicking other sounds? Thrashers are highly-skilled mimics, capable of imitating the calls of other bird species, making their songs a complex and varied composition. Not only are they excellent at mimicking other birds and sounds, but they have the largest vocabulary of any songbird in the United States! These birds are generally solitary and can be quite secretive, often heard more than seen. However, we often see 2 of them feeding in close proximity of each other, and sometimes one will even chase the other away! Brown Thrasher Feeding Habits: Brown Thrashers have a varied diet that includes insects, fruits, and nuts. To attract these birds to your backyard, consider setting up a bird feeder with a mix of seeds and suet, and plant native berry-producing shrubs. Providing a water source, like a bird bath, can also help entice them. Additionally, our resident Brown Thrashers seem to really enjoy Dried Mealworms as well as Peanut Suet Nuggets. ( We've added some helpful links below for you, for these products ). When do Brown Thrashers typically Breed and Nest? During the breeding season, which typically spans from April to July, Brown Thrashers build their nests in dense shrubs or low trees. They lay 3-5 eggs, which both parents take turns incubating. The young fledge after about two weeks, and the parents may raise two broods per season. Conservation Status: Brown Thrashers are currently not considered threatened, but their populations can be affected by habitat loss and fragmentation. Planting native shrubs and maintaining a bird-friendly backyard can help support these beautiful birds. Bird Watching Tips To maximize your chances of spotting Brown Thrashers, listen for their varied songs early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Keep an eye on dense shrubbery and ground-level foliage, where they are most likely to be foraging. Enhance Your Birding Experience Bird Feeder:   Composite Suet Feeder C&S Suet Cakes (we recommend these for Woodpeckers, Thrashers and more!) C&S Suet Nuggets (I've seen our resident Brown Thrashers feasting on these many times) Hatortempt Dried Mealworms ( Best value in the 10lb bag !) Field Guide:   National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America Brown Thrasher information / fact References Audubon Guide to North American Birds All About Birds - Brown Thrasher Bird Watching Academy - Brown Thrasher This blog post related to Brown Thrashers not only provides valuable information for bird enthusiasts but also includes affiliate links to products that enhance birding experiences. This approach ensures the blog is educational, engaging, and monetized effectively. Thanks for visiting!

In this blog post we are excited to be Introducing the American Robin to our readers. Personally, I feel these birds are extremely undervalued members of the bird community. They have a TON of personality, play games, chase each other often, and their fledglings are absolutely adorable! It is hard to drive down any residential street in the Southeast United States without seeing at least a few of these beneficial birds, hopping around in lawns and gardens, pecking at worms or insects. What do American Robins typically eat? We find that American Robins (members of the Thrush Family of birds) generally prefer live insects and worms for much of the year, however, in the Fall and Winter months when insects are not (usually) very active, they will eat the Dried Mealworms we put out for the other songbirds. But when there is a lot of crowding going on, some of the Robins will then begin to eat Suet Cakes or Suet Nuggets. (I'll add links to the end of this blog for those brands that we recommend based on our succesful experiences). In addition to the insects and suet, American Robins can also be found eating wild berries including Blackberries, Raspberries, Dogwood Tree berries and more. Here is a short video of a flock of Robins in the woods I captured at nearby Allatoona Creek Park. In Spring, the rapid, cheery calls of the Robins can be heard from dawn until dusk. You'll seldom find them at the feeders as there are so many insects, spiders and worms around. It seems that anyone with a Sprinkler running in their lawn will also find flocks of American Robins as they will gather to eat any earthworms that come to the surface while the sprinkler runs, and the water penetrates the soil's surface. They will hop along the edges of driveways, curbs and streets and pause, waiting for any motion from the worms before immediately jumping on top of their location and pulling them out of the soil like spaghetti noodles! It's pretty entertaining to watch! How can you tell the male American Robin and the female American Robin apart? How can you tell a male from a female American Robin? The male bird in most species of birds is going to have brighter colors, or deeper color, or more contrasting colors. Female birds will typically look similar in coloration & pattern however this is not always the case. Robins however, are very similar and it can be tough to tell them apart at times but the male does still have darker feathers. Even the fledglings have more pronounced dark feathers on their heads and more bright, rich orange on their breast and undersides of their shoulders. In the image below, You can see pretty clearly the differences in the male and female American Robin coloration between the males and female. (If you are having trouble still, the female is the one in the Top-Center, and the males are on both sides of her.) Are American Robins very territorial? Yes, American Robins can be quite territorial when it comes to (certain) other birds, and even other American Robins. In the Winter months they seem to flock together well and for the most part, and play quite nicely. However, in Spring when they are breeding, or if a nest is nearby, a pair of Robins will often chase off any birds that compete for the same food. There are some exceptions of course, as they don't seem to bully any birds that are larger than themselves. We have seen them chase (temporarily) Eastern Bluebirds, Hermit Thrushes, Carolina Wrens and a few species of Warbler (Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tennessee Warblers). However, Eastern Blue Jays, Brown Thrashers, Common Grackles have no issue standing firm and don't seem to be intimidated much, if at all. Do American Robins East Berries? Take a look at the short video below, which shows a flock of Wintering American Robins feasting on berries that are growing in a forested area a Allatoona Creek Park . Where do American Robins typically Nest American Robins most frequently nest in small or mid-size trees, with nests 5 feed above the ground or higher. We've seen them 30 feet or higher as well! Sometimes they will be found in mature Crepe Myrtles or Dogwood Trees which can be found all across the Southeast! What is a Robin's nest made of? The American Robins seem to prefer using Pine Straw for the bulk of their construction materials. There may be a few tiny twigs mixed in for support. When do you typically see the first American Robin Fledglings? We find that American Robins have already built their nests at the end of March or early April, and after another 6-7 weeks the babies are ready to leave the nest and follow the parents around for food and water needs. Just last week we were lucky enough to spot the first fledglings, visiting our water bowls and "shadowing" their parents when digging through our flower beds and lawn. Here is a photo and a video of "little Richard", as we like to call him. What does a fledgling American Robin look like? With the image above, as well as the short video clip below, you can see a very recently fledged American Robin, visiting a plate of mealworms and then grabbing a sip of water from one of our tiny bird "pools". He's still figuring it out, as he is both cautious and inquisitive! Thanks for reading our Birds of West Cobb blog! We hope you enjoyed this topic an you value these wonderfully beneficial garden guardians as much as we do! Below we have shared a few links to the products mentioned above or pictured in the images that we captured. What are some helpful products that will help me feed American Robins? Dried Mealworms (5lb bag) Suet Nuggets from C&S 10" Terracotta plates for bird feeding or bird baths Suet Cakes for insectivores You can also find us on TikTok , I nstagram , and Youtube !

In this blog, we'll take a closer look at the Top 10 Myths about Hummingbirds. Some of these are simply false and would mean no harm to our tiny feathered friends. However, some could pose a threat to the health and safety of these amazing creatures. We hope you find it educational and informative! Myth one:  Hummingbirds migrate on the backs of larger birds. Let's face it, Hummingbirds are very tiny creatures. They have a maximum flight speed of around 25 miles per hour. Couple these facts with the idea that they have to travel hundreds, and sometimes THOUSANDS of miles and it's no wonder someone came up with this MYTH . It is false, however. To answer your question, "Do Hummingbirds migrate on the backs of larger birds?" The answer is a very clear "No.". Hummingbirds drink flower nectar eat tiny insects throughout Spring and Summer, and gain as much as 30% of their body weight in preparation for their multiple day journey South in Fall, and North-bound again in Springtime. (Bonus fact: They also migrate alone, not in flocks!) Myth two: Hummingbirds Will Die if They Stop Flying . Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds do NOT die if they stop flying. They often perch to rest, and at night, they enter a state called torpor to conserve energy, typically this occurs when it's colder outside, see Myth 8 below for more details on this! (Reference: Audubon Society ) Myth three: Red Dye in Nectar Attracts More Hummingbirds. Red dye is actually completely unnecessary and studies have been shown it to be harmful to hummingbirds. They are attracted to the color of the feeder itself, not the nectar. Stick to a simple sugar-water mixture (1 part sugar to 4 parts water (link to prior blog post) (Reference: Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center ) Myth Four: Feeding Hummingbirds in Fall Prevents Them from Migrating. Providing man-made nectar or natural flower-based nutrition for these Hummers in Fall will NOT stop hummingbirds from migrating. Migration is triggered by changes in daylight, not food availability, so keep your feeders out as long as hummingbirds visit and we even recommend leaving them out several weeks after you think they have moved on, just in case there are any stragglers or birds that were re-routed due to major storms, or released by a rehabber! (Reference: Audubon Society ) Myth five: Hummingbirds Only Feed on Nectar. While hummingbirds do certainly love their nectar, they also eat small insects like gnats, fruit flies, tiny aphids and even small spiders, which provide protein and other essential nutrients. (Reference: National Geographic ) Myth six: Hummingbirds Are Aggressive and Fight Constantly. Hummingbirds are definitely territorial, but they aren’t inherently aggressive. What does this mean exactly? Their "fighting" is usually about defending food sources, which is crucial for their survival, and this is largely due to their high energy needs. Additionally, some species are very social and gather in huge groups around food sources (Western United States and Canada), while the Eastern Ruby-throated hummingbirds are far more territorial and do seem to give chase to one another constantly. (Reference: Audubon Society ) Myth seven: Hummingbirds Are Attracted to Scented Flowers or Sugar Water. This is a pretty big Myth, folks! Did you know that Hummingbirds have NO sense of smell . They rely on their eyesight, and navigate toward bright colors, like red, to locate flowers and hummingbird feeders! (Reference: Georgia Department of Natural Resources ) Myth eight: Hummingbirds Can’t Survive Cold Weather. While hummingbirds prefer warmer climates, some species, like the Anna’s Hummingbird, can actually survive cold temperatures by slowing down their metabolism during torpor (a deep restful state.) (Reference: Birds & Blooms ) Myth nine: Just before hummingbirds migrate, you should add some additional sugar to their nectar to give them a "boost". This one has potential to harm our hummingbird friends. Multiple publications and universities have studied the man-made nectar equivalent and found that it is the closest formula to the level of sugars naturally occurring in flowering plants. Hummingbirds have been around for millions of years, and they have been drinking nectar all along. Who are we to mess with their proven methodology of feeding? In fact, too much sugar can harm the hummingbird's kidneys, not to mention a ration of more than 1 part sugar to 4 parts water will also be much more likely to attract bees and wasps to your feeders! Myth ten: Hummingbirds Only Live for a Year or Two. Look, hummingbirds certainly do have rapid metabolisms, and while that might suggest that they have short lifespans, hummingbirds can live much longer than that. Some species, like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird which we have in Georgia as well as along the whole East Coast, have been recorded living over 9 years! (Reference: A stellar list by hummingbird species, brought to you by the American Bird Conservancy ) We hope this list has been educational and has helped you dispel some common myths that you may have spotted on social media or heard about from a friend or family member. Our goal is to educate our birding friends and to protect our sweet hummingbird buddies at the same time! If you enjoyed this post, we would appreciate a comment, a like, or if you took the time to share it with a friend! -Birds of West Cobb (Lisa & Dan)

In this Blog Post, we are pleased to introduce you to one of our backyard favorites: the Tufted Titmouse! We’ve included photos and information about these energetic little birds for you! Everyone, we’d like you to meet Mickey. He’s our Tufted Titmouse friend from the Marietta, GA area. He wakes us up in the morning with a couple of high-pitch calls and tells us that we need to refill the Safflower seed and the C&S suet nugget s (aka Scoob balls). Mickey is not much for hanging around and conversing with the other birds, but when it’s hot enough outside he has been known to dive into a birdbath and play around like a puppy in a kiddie pool! We are lucky in Marietta to see these birds year-round. They are very quick and their aim (for grabbing a single safflower or sunflower seed, or a C&S suet nugget ) is definitely something to witness firsthand. The tufted titmouse has the ability to fly in from a ridiculous angle, perch for a moment, and grab a seed from a tube feeder and fly away again in only a matter of seconds. You have to be patient to capture it, and hopeful that you grabbed a frame or two of them while they are paused and trying to find that perfect seed. Tufted titmice (plural form of Titmouse) often nest in bluebird nest boxes or boxes with similar size and shape. You can hear their call all over the Southeast United States whistling for their mates. What does the Tufted Titmouse eat? Well, we already mentioned Safflower seed and black-oil sunflower seeds, but we’ve seen them eat small chunks of peanuts, Suet Nuggets from C&S , and in the coldest months during Winter they can even be seen eating dried mealworms. Do you love Mickey and the Titmice as much as we do? Feel free to drop a comment below, we’d love to hear from you! Thanks for reading @birdsofwestcobb Don’t forget to share this with your friends and neighbors that love wild birds as much as we do! (-Lisa & Dan)

In this blog " How to attract Eastern Bluebirds to Your Yard " we'll share our recommendations for food, water and housing for these beautiful birds! The Male Eastern Bluebird is truly an amazing sight to behold. With the bright orange breast and nearly-neon Blue head, wings, and tail, not many other species stand out this significantly. Bluebirds are very beneficial creatures to have around your garden, eating tons of insects, spiders, and grubs each day. It’s pretty incredible that this species of birds were nearly wiped out of existence. They have made a strong comeback in many regions though thanks to volunteer efforts and backyard “birders” feeding them and putting out houses for them. Some of the reasons why they were almost wiped out are included below, so keep reading! What caused the decline in these incredible birds to begin with? Eastern Bluebirds are somewhat unique in that they will not create a new hole in a tree or a cavity in the side of a barn. Naturally, they would seek out vacant woodpecker holes near the edge of a field or pasture. However, the more people clear out old, dead trees on their properties, the fewer trees are available for the birds to move into. Another more serious issue was that over the years, thousands of people’s pet cats were released into the wild or left to be “outdoor cats”. This was very unfortunate for the bluebirds which often perch only 5-10ft from the ground on fences and low limbs, Eastern Bluebirds were (and still are) easy targets for the average cat which loves to climb and stalk prey near the ground. You can certainly take part in the efforts to bring them back! Our top 3 requirements for attracting the Eastern Bluebird to your yard are included below: To attract Eastern Bluebirds, you need to provide the right type of food : While Eastern Bluebirds have been spotted eating suet from a hanging suet cake feeder or from small suet chunks/balls, however, they are most likely to be spotted at your feeder if you put out dried mealworms or live mealworms. A fresh water source is another requirement for attracting Eastern Bluebirds : You do NOT need to go wild and buy a giant water fountain with multiple tiers and a filtration system. You could, but just imagine how many mealworms you could purchase with the money you save! A simple terracotta plate, 10″ or 12″ in diameter will do nicely. They are fairly inexpensive and can be placed on a wide deck or porch handrail, on a small table, or even on the ground. However, there are some very nice (decent enough) bird baths to be had for under 200.00 also. Another way to attract Eastern Bluebirds is providing the perfect Bluebird house : The National Audubon Society has a number of downloadable designs so you can print them and go down to your wood shop and build your own house for Bobby and Bella. However, we have done the work for you and also provided a few popular models that are already assembled and ready for hanging. See below! Also, we will add several posts in the future for Birdhouse design requirements. We hope you will view them, build them and share the results with us as also! Where should I put my new birdhouse though? Relax, we have a lot of insight about this topic as well. We’ll be sure to add another post with these specifics. Our best tip for now though: Bluebirds love to have lots of open space around their nest boxes. Here are some additional photos of Eastern Bluebirds we have captured in our yard for your viewing pleasure!

Birds of West Cobb has assembled some tips for attracting Winter Bluebirds to your Bird Feeders! It's no secret that we absolutely love our Eastern Bluebirds. From the very beginning of our bird-feeding adventures and posting our photos for the world to enjoy on Instagram , we hoped that we would see a Bluebird. Within a few weeks or a month, we were lucky enough to have one visit. And then another... and another. Of course it helps significantly that we are very near " The Green Meadows Preserve " (which is located approximately 1 mile from our home.) However, some of our neighbors came to us and asked how we are able to attract so many Eastern Bluebirds when they have tried just about everything, and they have rarely, if ever, seen one in their yard. So we've put some tips together for attracting Winter Bluebirds to your feeders! We hope you find this information helpful! Tip Number 1 for attracting Eastern Bluebirds: Bluebirds prefer open meadows/fields considerably over forested areas. If you live in a heavily forested area you will simply not be as likely to see these birds (typically). In the Eastern United States, the (aptly-named) Eastern Bluebird can be found from Canada on the North, throughout the Eastern United States, all the way into Florida to the South. In the Spring and Summer months, Bluebirds can be seen along fence posts, wires or pickets, perched on the roof tops of bird nesting boxes, flying quickly down to grab insects, spiders or worms, and then right back up to feed their young. So if you live near a pasture, farm, or have a large lot with grassy fields nearby, these areas would be your best bet in spotting them during the warmer months. Tip Number 2 for attracting Eastern Bluebirds: Bluebirds depend on insects, worms, caterpillars and spiders for their high-protein and fat diets. Once the temperature starts dropping however, the insects that these amazing Eastern Bluebirds depend on for such a large part of their diet start to move much more slowly, eventually not moving at all. These incredible birds hunt primarily by sight, so without the motion, there is much less food obtainable for them. As temperatures approach freezing (or plummet well-below freezing), most birds foraging for insects (especially those in the Thrush family like the Eastern Bluebird) will toss leaves around looking for anything tasty, but there are far fewer morsels to be found. If they cannot find anything appealing, they move on to the next leaf (or next area.) For those of us that like to feed wild backyard birds this is an excellent opportunity to attract Bluebirds. Adding a high-protein option to your bird feeding offerings such as dried (or live) mealworms , will provide these gorgeous Bluebirds with the nutrition they are lacking and they will come back again and again. Additionally, there are some Suet cakes we can recommend (further down) which also have a large content percentage of mealworms or other insects which woodpeckers and warblers will also enjoy thoroughly. Here are a few photos of Male and Female Eastern Bluebirds captured recently (January 2024) enjoying their mealworms that we put out for them. Tip Number 3 for attracting Eastern Bluebirds: Eastern Bluebirds will eat from multiple types of feeders including platforms, tube feeders, and suet feeders. However, ours seem to enjoy eating from a plate the most! Now the next most important thing to keep in mind besides their food requirements for protein and fats, is their need for fresh water. Colder air is typically more dry, and birds certainly use a TON of energy trying to stay warm, foraging for food, avoiding predators and even chasing other birds away. So while the food is great (and greatly appreciated we promise), they need to drink water quite often! In the past we only had one water source but found that in the winter months larger birds like Robins, Grackles and Blue Jays will essentially take ownership of the larger bowl/bird bath and so we needed to provide them with at least one more option. We now have a couple of small hanging iron/glass water bowls (photo below) placed on our front porch, and one Large and one medium Terracotta plate that we use for bird baths on the deck behind our house. Lastly, Lisa thought it was cute to put a tiny 3" water plate out as well and this one turned out to be one of the ABSOLUTE FAVORITES for the Bluebirds as well as smaller birds like Wrens, Chickadees, Waxwings, Titmice, Warblers and even Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. Product Links have been included below to help you attract Eastern Bluebirds: Dried Mealworms ( Please Note: We have found that some brands of "mealworms" are actually marketed more as Chicken feed. Some of these brands will include black soldier fly larvae. We have found through EXTENSIVE testing, that soldier fly larvae is not nearly as popular with the wild birds, so try to avoid those if you want more birds at your feeders! These options below are only dried mealworms, which come from a beetle species and it is very popular with the bluebirds!) 5lb Bag 10lb Bag (Our preference AND a deal when compared with the 5lb bag!) Hanging Glass water bowl C&S Suet Cakes with Mealworms (for Bluebirds) 3" Terracotta Plate (tiny birdbath) 10" Terracotta plate (used for excellent food presentation) Additionally, we captured a couple of video clips for you of the Winter Bluebirds eating and drinking at our feeders. We hope you enjoy! In the video above, a male Eastern Bluebird chooses a specific mealworm to snack on. In this video (above) multiple Eastern Bluebirds visit West Cobb including fledglings!

We picked 5 of the Best Tube Feeders to help you in your search for products that are durable, easy to clean, and stand up to the elements for years of future bird-watching bliss. Keep reading for links to these products (below) Droll Yankees New Generation Droll Yankees Classic Feeder Perky-Pet 325SCOMBO Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper (This one is fun!) Audubon Kay Home Products Die-Cast Aluminum Finch Tube Feeder Tube-type bird feeders provide lots of perch space for your feathered friends, holding up to the elements. A few of the feeders listed below even have extra benefits! Introduction: "Tube Feeders" are a staple in every serious (and amateur) backyard birder's feeding toolkit. There are several benefits to using a tube feeder, let's look at some of the most common reasons first, and then take a look at the 5 feeders we picked: Visibility: You can see from a distance when the food level is low and needs refilling. You will also be able to see more birds perched and eating in a smaller footprint, thanks to multiple perches on each side of the feeders. Versatility in attracting various bird species: We have seen Northern Cardinals, House, Carolina & Gold Finches, Mourning Doves and more on our tube feeders, all at the same time!! The birdseed placed in a tube feeder generally stays dry (or mostly dry) when compared to several other feeder designs. This helps the feeder stay clean for longer periods of time and provides more fresh food for your backyard birds! Ease of maintenance and cleaning: This is a deeper topic we'll explore a bit further in a bit. NOT all tube feeders are created equally! Related to the last bullet point, and also the topic of durability: Many cheap, low quality feeders from online shops and even some local stores simply will not last. They use cheaper acrylic / plastic which will fade and yellow after only a year or two, and you won't be able to see the feed levels or tell if the feeder is clean or not. Additionally, some feeders are made by companies that didn't exist 3 months ago, and likely will not exist in another 3 months. This means that if you have a part that breaks or a screw that went missing, you'll likely not be able to get it from the customer support team (because they don't exist!). With that being said, we stuck with the top 5 BEST TUBE FEEDERS on the market that are also from top-tier companies that have been around for YEARS! Top 5 Tube Feeders for Backyard Birding 1. Droll Yankees New Generation Tube Feeder Droll Yankees has been producing very high-quality bird feeders for many years. In fact, they've been doing so since 1969, and they produced the FIRST commercially sold Tube Feeders. It's no wonder that this is our Number One pick on our list! This is an ideal feeder for an amateur, or an absolute bird fanatic (if there is one in your family it would make a great gift as well). This feeder features the following: 1 pound of seed capacity 4 perches / seed ports UV "Stabilized" polycarbonate tube ( prevents fading and yellowing! ) It comes with a metal hanger and a metal cap Made in Connecticut! For the model described above - it is priced currently at 39.99 on Amazon! (Please note that this is subject to change!) 2. Droll Yankees Classic Tube Feeder This feeder is a BIG step-up in size and capacity from the prior feeder in our list. The 30" long tube feeder variation ( currently 25% off on Amazon ) has the following features: 4 Pound Capacity means you'll need to refill less often! 12 metal perches / feed ports means you'll have seating for way more birds! Another top quality feeder made in Connecticut! The current cost for this feeder is listed at $89.99 (25% off!) which is a great value when looking at the product durability, capacity and a brand name/history to back this product up! 3. Perky-Pet 325SCOMBO: This feeder is one we've owned also. We love that their are two tiers of small reservoirs with a perch that goes all the way around the feeder. This allows larger birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Mourning Doves to be able to sit more easily and comfortably while they feast. Here are some additional features: The filler cap locks down to prevent squirrels from simply just prying it open and getting a nearly unlimited buffet! LARGE capacity: This tube feeder maxes out at 4.5 pounds! Metal Parts are powder coated for durability (The same finish that is used heavily in automotive and commercial machinery applications) Bronze finish (while plastic) looks great and holds up well! 4. Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper (Definitely one of the best tube feeders in our book) Guys & Gals, this is a truly iconic feeder. While some might consider it pricey, it has a very unique (Not to mention FUN) bonus feature. Below the feeder perches is a battery and an electric motor. When a large amount of weight pushes down on the perches, the motor engages and the perches at the bottom of the feeder begin to spin. Squirrels don't stand a chance. Incorporate an affiliate link to this feeder. Some additional features for you below, but first, a classic video clip showing this feeder in action! We are talking about HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT! Video credit goes to the Droll Yankees team for this gem. Extra-Large Capacity: 5lbs seed capacity! Powder coated metal components 100% Squirrel Proof! Battery lasts for YEARS. A fully charged battery lasts for weeks in most cases. Made in Connecticut! Currently on sale, (11% off!) and priced at $153.78 on Amazon 5. Audubon Kay Home Products Die-Cast Aluminum Finch Tube Feeder: This feeder is on the opposite end of the price spectrum from the Yankee Flipper. However, it still has some entertainment value! House Finches, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins natively enjoy eating Thistle in the Fall/Winter months in large meadows and pastures. A lot of property owners these days mow the thistle plants down though and so there is less food available to the finches and siskins. You can change that, with this Audubon Licensed product! This feeder holds up to 1 pound of Nyjer Thistle seed or finch food seed mix. There are 6 feed ports / perches, specially designed for Finches and siskins Bright yellow color is the standard for Finch feeders There is an EZ Clean button, which opens the base and makes cleaning out the feeder a snap! Tips for Choosing the Right Tube Feeder We recommend you decide which birds you like to target. Most of the feeders we have listed can be used with a wide variety of foods, from Sunflower to Safflower, to Dried Mealworms and lastly, Thistle (which is a tiny seed in comparison to Sunflower). We prefer feeding multiple species and are sure to include a feeder more specific to the finches and siskins, and have a separate feeder for Blue Jays, Cardinals, Doves and other larger birds. For more info about our favorite feed, you can view our blog post here. Conclusion Tube feeders provide a Fast-Fill method for bird feeding that keeps your feathered passerine friends well-fed, and provide multiple perches so even if the feeder turns, or twists in the wind, you'll likely have a good vantage point to see your favorite birds in action chowing down! Do you have a favorite Tube feeder? Drop a comment below and let us know why you love that particular model!

In this blog, Introducing the tiny and entertaining Carolina Wren, we will share photographs and information about one of our favorite backyard birds: the Carolina Wren. These tiny brown birds are entertaining for sure, but sometimes you cannot help but laugh out loud with some of their silly poses and quirky behaviors! Carolina Wrens are some of our favorite birds here at Birds of West Cobb! The tiny and entertaining Carolina Wren has so much energy, sings a fun, cheery song in the mornings and we LOVE their stance where their little tail points nearly straight up in the air. We’ve heard their different calls so often that we can tell their shrill “Alarm” sound from their standard “Good morning world!” song (It sounds like Wren E. Wren is shouting "cheerio cheerio cheerio cheerio" again and again!). The shrill alarm call could be because a hawk or other predator is near, or potentially just a human is too close to their nest space or food source. I like to think of it as Nature’s “backyard warning system”. Additionally, wrens are extremely beneficial and eat a TON of small garden-variety insects, spiders, caterpillars, and butterflies & moths, and we've even seen them perch in a location which allowed them to eat ant after ant, on certain occasions. When we first started feeding the local wildlife at our home, we had a small table on our front porch. On the top of the table, we had a small glass vase with some fake flowers in it. This vase and fake flowers had been here for several years and had never moved, aside from us washing the pollen off each spring. This porch is also a covered porch that we wouldn’t even use for a week or two at a time because we often exited through the garage instead. So it was likely being ‘updated’ by our new tenant for a couple of days, maybe even a week before we noticed. Mid-Spring that year we noticed that the glass vase suddenly had some pine straw sticking out of the top. Upon further inspection, we realized that birds had built a nest down inside this vase, between the fake flower stems! We were so lucky to have this table sitting directly in front of one window so we could peer out, between the blinds, from our living room and watch Wren E. Wren and Mrs. Wren E. Wren protect the eggs, and then later fly in and out constantly feeding the children over the next few weeks. One evening while the birds were away briefly, I counted 5 eggs in the nest. They were so small that it was incredible to think they would be bouncy, animated little birds in barely a month. Sadly not all 5 eggs hatched though and they ended up with 3 young birds. Wrens will nest sometimes in low-lying shrubbery, patio furniture, brush piles, vases apparently, and sometimes within small birdhouses. Over the years I’ve even seen them nest in garage shelving, between tools and cleaners. In this case, they chose a nest that was perfectly placed. It was not in our direct path and we were pretty unlikely to disturb the parents or the young. In the video clip below, Wrenny Wren starts off with one of those shrill, alarm calls, but then switches to his happy "Cheerio cheerio cheerio call". Enjoy! They grow up so fast! I was washing our cars in the driveway a few weeks later and looked around the corner toward the porch and noticed one small juvenile wren was on the deck floor, under the table! I was afraid that something happened to the nest at first and I wanted to help somehow. I heard the parents making their alarm call at this point and realized they were alarmed by me, being so close to their young. I took a step back and the fledgling flapped a few times and was mid-air in the blink of an eye. This little wren flew right past my face and landed on the roof rack on my car. A few minutes later the other two fledglings popped out of the top of the vase and followed suit. It has been several years now, and we’ve had them nest in several containers on our porch since, but we always think back to that first time with the glass vase and our shock when we found the tuft of pine straw protruding from the fake flowers. In this video, we found that Wrens absolutely ADORE small terracotta plates for small plants, as long as a little bit of water has been added. Take a look as he takes a very long enjoyable bath, after digging around and flipping leaves all morning! What birds are similar to the Carolina Wren? This photo (below) shows a “Winter Wren”, which is a different species entirely from the Carolina Wren. The Winter Wren often can be seen during migration, or over the Winter-to-Early Spring period where they will generally be found in the Southern states. They are shaped and sized very closely to the Carolina Wren, however they are a different species and almost appear as if they were dirty or have mottled feathers like a fledgling Carolina Wren might have. You may have heard someone refer to them as a "House Wren", but that too is a different species . In fact, there are NINE species of Wren in North America. While they have similarities between them, they are all unique in their size, coloration, calls and esapecially their diet! While 9 species may seem like a lot, there are actually 88 species of Wrens worldwide! ( link to referencing material on wikipedia ). Thanks for reading our blog and watching our videos! -BOWC (Lisa & Dan)

For any amateur photographer or backyard birder, it seems like a pretty daunting task. The speed at which the timid Ruby-Crowned Kinglets fly in, grab a bite to eat and then disappear into the brush is absolutely astounding. For weeks I struggled to snap a few photos that were even remotely shareable to the general public! I am of the opinion that these Ruby-Crowned Kinglets are actually just teasing me and other photographers. The funny thing is that while we carry bird food and mealworms out to the feeders in the morning, the Kinglet will often fly right next to us and perch on the deck railing... As if to say "thanks for the food, human!". However, as soon as the camera comes out... Poof, they are gone! We have found that these birds enjoy eating dried mealworm crumbles, (leftovers, or broken pieces of dried mealworms that the other birds didn't bother with) or little chunks of C&S Suet nuggets , but they won't eat any of the seeds that we put out. This includes Safflower, hulled Sunflower, peanut mix and more. Another thing we have noticed, they will drink water but they are intimidated easily by all of the larger birds so we have to put out smaller water plates for them. The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet is a tiny bird, about the same size as a Carolina Chickadee. We don't see them on or near the feeders in Spring or Summer, but when the weather is chilly and insects are scarce, we see one or two of these charming little birds every morning and sometimes in the evenings as well. The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet could be confused with a dull winter Pine Warbler from a distance, but once you see their "crown" which is typically bright red/orange, you'll know that it is something more special! They are generally a dull brownish/grey or greyish-yellow color with a bit of brighter yellow accents on the wings and tail. If you are familiar with a Carolina Wren, and they way they move around, Kinglets move in a similar fashion. They flap quickly, bounce from branch to branch with easy, and small flits of their feathers is all it takes to propel them out of sight. Have you ever seen a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet in person? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below! -Birds of West Cobb (Lisa & Dan) Thanks for reading!

In this blog, we'll share some hilarious Bird Memes and Bird-related comics that we have found while out scouring the world wide web. Feel free to re-share with your friends (and be sure to give credit to the artists!) We hope you enjoy these as much as we do! Also, be sure to check back periodically as we will be adding more as we find them! This hilarious meme showing stork that just delivered a baby, but also employing the modern-day methodology of snapping a "proof of delivery" photo, likely to send to the new parents. We love this sort of humor, well done Nate Fakes, well done! You can follow him on Instagram here: Nate Fakes Here's an instant classic depicting the timeless competition for birdseed between a bird and a squirrel. But this time, in the "Corporate America" breakroom space. We love this! To see more from this comic, check out Off the Mark (by Mark Parisi). In this comic, a Turkey Entrepreneur has started selling T-shirts that make turkeys look skinny so they will likely not be hunted or eaten on November 28th, America's Thanksgiving Holiday. We're not sure of the artist for this one, but we have seen it on a tshirt from a major retailer and also on Instagram. If you know the artist, please let us know and we'll be sure to edit this post to reference them appropriately! The irony... an innocent hobby just feeding a few backyard birds can go terribly, terribly... RIGHT! Soon you'll have a flock-worth of feeders, bird baths, organized containers full of the various types of bird food and even bird-safe cleaners you didn't know you needed previously. This cartoon (unknown artist) shows just how the birds will take advantage of their new found humans. In this cartoon, some eggs perform an egg-corcism on a very clearly "deviled" egg. That's funny stuff for sure, we hope you enjoy as much as we do! You can check out the other comics by this artist on their Instagram page: Quickies There's one you don't see every day! A couple of Hummingbirds up to no good, passing around a hummingbird feeder shaped bong. Maybe this is what they're up to when we don't see them for months and months at a time? This is a fun comic from artist Will Santino, and you can check him out on his website here In this meme, likely created by the instagram page "@JDM CARS", 3 of the fastest things on earth are depicted. A B-2 Bomber diving from the stratosphere, a Peregrine Falcon (one of our favorite birds) likely diving after prey, and a mechanic's hand shooting down into an engine bay after they drop that bolt that they were either in the process of extracting or reinstalling. If you've ever worked on a vehicle you know how true this is... The comic below includes some (teenage?) squirrels getting a little wild with the tube feeders out in the yard, while the resident human looks on. Good times brought to you by Jim Benton - you can see more of his stuff at the Go Comics page . We also love the hand-shaped Turkey drawing... that one brings back memories for sure! This cartoon brought to you by Rosemary Mosco and her wonderful page located here birdandmoon.com shows the (somewhat frightening) stages of a cardinal molting between seasons. When are you fixing that dripping spigot? Why isn't the grass cut yet? Honey, relax I'm watching the game and I'll get to it later - this meme may strike a nerve, be prepared! Within coffee shops there are all sorts of people, but usually you don't see Herb and Fran out Human Watching. Although, I'm sure it would be a heck of a time! Thanks for creating this one Scott Metzger ! Be sure to check out his page and his other hilarious comics here https://www.metzgercartoons.com/ This meme shows what happens when the mafia is out to get your Rooster... and maybe they are employed by a large-scale fast food chain. What can I say, sometimes you really just need to be creative in order to blend in! While not a bird, per se, this is funny on so many levels knowing that a gray squirrel would probably react this way, before trying to bury this giant nut in your lawn. Thanks for stopping in and checking out some of our favorite bird comics, artists and memes!

You asked: What is that black bird on my bird feeder? This page is intended to help our fellow “backyard birders” identify those black birds on, under or nearby their bird feeders. Here in the Southeastern United area, we have a number of birds that appear black at some angles or in certain lighting. It’s pretty interesting that most of them look very different in direct sunlight than they do on a very overcast day. I’ve compiled a list of those that we have seen at our feeders in the past several years. We are hopeful that these images help you identify your mystery bird(s) and help further your knowledge of the birds in your backyard. 1. The Common Grackle is one of the most common black birds to visit bird feeders in the Southeast. These birds appear very dark (and often shiny!) in direct sunlight and are approximately the same size as a Blue Jay. When they are young, they appear brownish-grey and as they mature the contrast gets more intense. On an overcast day you can see vivid purples and blues when you see their feathers. Grackles make some interesting sounds and we will attempt to capture some audio this Spring. The adults not only have very dark feathers but the adults have yellow eyes with black pupils. 2. The American Crow is a very common bird to see near bird feeders. They prefer open-faced plates or platform feeders. Crows can be seen as a nuisance in some circles, but we find them to be very timid, intelligent and playful. Around 4-5 years ago, we started seeing a pair of crows early in the morning and later in the afternoon. They would arrive cautiously, and one would keep watch high up in a nearby tree as the other flew down and quickly gobbled up some C&S Suet Nuggets . After a bit they would swap positions and the other would come down for a bite. Around 2 years ago they had one baby and now the 3 of them come visit us nearly every day. They are actually very quiet unless there is a predator nearby. Crows really enjoy chasing away hawks, owls and even cats. 3. Brown-headed Cowbirds (Male pictured on right) appear black at a distance, and even up-close they appear largely black except for their namesake, the brown head! In our experience the Brown-headed cowbird is a very quiet bird, the Brown-headed cowbirds will usually flock together with grackles and starlings in early Spring. The male is quite a bit darker (nearly black, except for the head which is very clearly a brownish color). The female is more of a brownish color throughout and to us, resembles a large female house finch. These are native birds that get a pretty bad bit of publicity because they lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, forcing these unwilling hosts to raise these offspring as their own. 4. Adult European Starlings are very common black birds and can often be seen as pests, especially around your bird feeders European Starlings were literally brought over from (you might have guessed it) Europe, back in the 1970’s. It was a science experiment that went a bit sideways. These birds formed massive flocks and were notorious for eating entire crops of grains. To this day, they are considered pests by many although you have to admit that they have very unique colors in the right lighting, and once you have seen up close it is hard to mistake them for other birds. They are noisy, and sometimes flocks will cover your feeders and often you will find them on the ground beneath your bird feeders in groups, walking erratically and moving a bit like chickens. If you feed Bluebirds and other birds as we do with dishes of dried mealworms, you may need to put these dishes away for a few days to get rid of these birds. 5. Red-Winged Blackbirds (Male) are beautiful black birds that can be commonly found on your bird feeders, or in flocks in your yard or on your lawn. Red-winged blackbirds are considered songbirds and often arrive in flocks from 20 birds to well over 300. they move around in tight formations on the ground and cover the tops of multiple trees simultaneously. One chipmunk moving across the yard can startle them and cause an incredible burst of flight (and sound of all the wings beating) as they vacate the area. The female looks very dull in comparison to the male red-winged blackbird. The male is mostly black and when they spread their wings you can see Red, Orange and or orange-yellow on the wings. It is truly a sight to behold when they all take off at the same time (not to mention the sound of it!) 6. The Rufous-Sided Towhee (Male, often referred to as “ Eastern Towhee ”) is a very common black bird to see on or near your bird feeders. The Towhees are also songbirds which are quite beneficial in gardens. They can be heard whistling what sounds like “Tow – Heee” or as we prefer to call them “Toby”. They will usually be found lower in the trees and shrubs, or on the ground flipping leaves while looking for insects, spiders and worms to snack on. The male appears black with “rufous” or a rusty orange color beneath the wings, with a white stomach and a bit of white on the tail and wings which can be seen while in flight. The female is More of a brown color instead of black, but similar in other ways. The adults have Red eyes with black pupils. It’s super cool to see them up close. They enjoy eating C&S Suet Nuggets, mealworms on the ground in Winter, and many live insects found naturally in your yard. 7. A Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (Male, pictured on the right with female on the left.) is another mostly black bird that you may see at your bird feeders in the South. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a larger songbird with a beak that resembles that of a finch or a cowbird. They are huge fans of safflower seeds or a mixture of safflower and hulled sunflower seeds. The female is the same size but looks completely different – she has lots of brown, splashes of white and streaks of brown on the belly in different shades. Here is a photo of a male and female together sharing a plate of seeds. The juvenile male looks like a combination of the two birds, but clearly has more black and sometimes a touch of the rose-breast feathers can be seen also! Have you checked out the latest Birdfy Smart Bird Feeders? These things are really cool, and take high quality photos that can identify over 6,000 species worldwide and can send you text notifications about the new species that was detected / photographed at your feeders! How cool is this? Birdfy Smart Feeder on Amazon Thanks for reading our blog, we hope you found this information useful! - Birds of West Cobb (Lisa & Dan)