Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: mr.sharp-photo on October 20, 2009, 11:02:15 PM

Title: Goldfinch in winter plumage, starling
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on October 20, 2009, 11:02:15 PM

some pictures from the Brickworks today.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/4030222837_eb77fbe8c0.jpg)

look at the chevrons on the starling. a very underrated bird.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/4030977724_da2623267a.jpg)

Title: Re: Goldfinch in winter plumage, starling
Post by: accwai on October 21, 2009, 09:08:17 AM

Quote from: "yogistewart"

[...]
look at the chevrons on the starling. a very underrated bird.

Not only that, the dark parts are iridescent:

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/4000311839_b60a041695_o.jpg)

And they are great singers with a very, very complex song.  Definitely underrated.

Andy

Title:
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on October 21, 2009, 12:17:11 PM

in the Judean desert, the starlings have this whistle that sounds like a person whistling "hey there!".
you walk through areas like Ein Gedi and it almost drives you nuts to hear them whistling to each other non-stop

(http://www.birdfinders.co.uk/images/tristrams-grackle-2-israel-spring-2009.jpg)

Title:
Post by: accwai on October 23, 2009, 12:36:07 PM

Quote from: "yogistewart"

in the Judean desert, the starlings have this whistle that sounds like a person whistling "hey there!".[...]

Some Mynas can imitate people talking, just like parrots.  And I just found out Mynas are actually Starlings.  Interesting...

We used to have a pet Myna back in Hong Kong when I was young.  Back then, we were keeping Finches mostly.  But this one just showed up at our balcony one day and refused to go away.  So we rushed out and bought a Myna cage, openned the gate and it went in by itself.  Ours never learned to talk properly though.  My understanding is that their tongue has to be cut in a certain way for them to talk well.  Ouch! :shock:

Andy