Monday, May 10, 2010

That ain't no hummingbird!

Friday afternoon I walked into the closet in our bedroom to change my clothes. We have a window that looks out onto our birch tree, where I hang one of my hummingbird feeders. I almost fell over when I saw this little guy. I ran back to get my camera and got some video. He made four visits to the feeder that I saw.



I had no idea that birds other than hummingbirds will feed at these things. Apparently, several species of birds love the syrup in hummingbird feeders!

I believe it is an Oriole, though it is a much brighter yellow than the orange that I was expecting. But Wikipedia includes this photo, which sure looks like my little guy, and says that they are often seen drinking at hummingbird feeders. And here's a news flash for me: Oriole feeders contain the same food as hummingbird feeders, but are designed for orioles, and are orange instead of red and have larger perches. I guess not every Oriole has figured out how to sit backwards on a hummingbird feeder!

Male oriole

The migration pattern of the Baltimore Oriole does include the eastern half of Colorado, but I'm way over on the far western side of the state. Maybe he was taking the scenic route...

5 comments:

  1. Cool! I knew it was an oriole, but I didn't know that orioles eat at hummingbird feeders. That gives me ideas!!!

    In a related story, I don't know why I don't just perch on your blog. Every time I get in here, I feel like I'm entering a different and wonderful world!

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  2. And I don't want to leave!

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  3. And I don't want to leave!

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  4. Oops. I said that twice.

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  5. me either, i didn't know other things ate from the feeders?! wonder if we have that kind of bird?

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