“If you keep your birdfeeders going into the summer, you have probably witnessed a noticeable increase in traffic,” said Art Weber, Metroparks Toledo nature photographer.
It’s a good bet that extra business is coming from birds that look like adults, only a little different. Their plumage may be a bit newer looking, maybe a bit ruffled, or even look like a familiar species but with some differences from adult plumage.
These are the young of the year, a lot of them just out of the nest. This is the time to fledge for many birds. It could be you are seeing titmice, nuthatches, bluebirds, a variety of woodpeckers, sparrows, cardinals, blue jays–the young of most of the usual species. Some may have more than one brood.
At least one species, American goldfinch, is a late nester, usually doing so in mid-to late summer.
These younger birds are often full of energy and curiosity. “They will likely entertain you with their antics,” Weber said.
Trios of titmice can be seen playfully tumbling around each other in midair. Others alternately covering a feeder, sharing the bounty, until suddenly one bird decides the feeder is its property alone and drives the others off. But they all stubbornly return, and the tussle begins again. This also is the time for young hawks and owls to be out and about, learning to hunt.
At left, a young titmouse, left, and downy woodpecker, right, share time at a backyard wildlife feeding station. The photo was taken by Weber.
