Faded Bluebird?? (1 Viewer)

jward

Well-known member

• Oct 24, 2004

• #1

Hello all,

Snapped a shot of this bird today here in Central New Jersey. I noticed three of them gathered in an old dead tree beside a marsh. I then got close enough to this one when it selected a new perch. Any ideas on the species? Nearest, I can figure is an Eastern Bluebird, but will welcome your thoughts.

Jarrod

 

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cuckooroller

Registered User

• Oct 24, 2004

• #2

No mystery here. You are right.

 

jward

Well-known member

• Oct 24, 2004

• #3

Roller,

Grazie! I appreciate the confirmation.

jw

 

Muskrat

Resident Rodent

• Oct 24, 2004

• #4

Jward......most of our PA. Bluebirds are pretty well faded, as was the one you photographed...but check out this one that I saw today (10/24/04)...it totally surprised me...it was colored almost like Summer plumage...I was lucky to get it as I snapped it out of the window of the car...it posed very patiently...I guess he was proud to still have retained his colors!!!! (and honest...I didn't tinker with the color saturation)
Muskrat

 

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Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Oct 24, 2004

• #5

I would have thought that Jarrod's bird is a dull female or juvenile whereas Muskrat's is a male. Are the Pennsylvania and New Jersey populations migratory? They certainly are further north, according to Sibley. If so, what usually happens with migratory species is that the adults move out first, leaving the juveniles to follow on later. Could that be why most of the bluebirds you're now seeing are dull ones?

 

Muskrat

Resident Rodent

• Oct 24, 2004

• #6

Bluetail....I have only been seriously involved in recording sightings for a short period of time so my observations have a limited amount of validity...but...the "Pennsylvania Breeding Birds" information does show some sightings throughout the winter months. I personally have never been aware of any throughout the "dead" of winter in my part of PA. They are probably not resident birds, but perhaps from a spot further north. I do know that they are one of the first arrivals in good numbers in the early spring. And from my observations this Fall, most birds are rather drab in color (with today's sighting being the exception)
Muskrat

 

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Oct 24, 2004

• #7

Thanks, Muskrat. I just found some distribution maps which are clearer than those in Sibley. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/htm96/cbc622/ra7660.html (Looks like a great site BTW.) The numbers on the map represent birds per 100 "party hours".

 

Muskrat

Resident Rodent

• Oct 25, 2004

• #8

Yep!...I'm in the "Pink" area on that map...."one and below"....better not blink or I'll miss it!!!
Muskrat

 

jward

Well-known member

• Oct 25, 2004

• #9

Hello all!

I would say that the three I viewed today (all of which were similarly colored) were migrants. I have been actively monitoring my local patch since I moved here early this spring and this is the first time I have ever seen Bluebirds in Jersey. I suppose that they are as you note, juvi's, travelling on the trail of their elders.

Thanks again,
Jarrod

 

erizzo

Well-known member

• Oct 25, 2004

• #10

Its a drab female Eastern Blluebird for me. Even if it isnt brite like in breeding, its still mighty pretty.

 

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Oct 25, 2004

• #11

Those pale fringes to the wing coverts and tertials must surely indicate a first winter bird. Compare this adult female: http://ontfin.com/Fav/EABL3.htm

 

jward

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2004

• #12

Bluetail,

I agree. Perhaps we can even postulate that the three birds were nestlings following along behind the others???

 

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Oct 26, 2004

• #13

Possibly, but not necessarily from the same nest. Lots of birds that migrate at night do so in flocks - sometimes large ones. You might not notice them gathering prior to leaving since they'll be very spread out and will leave on a very broad front, but it can be obvious when a flock is grounded by bad weather. Over here, for example, you might go to the coast birding on a drizzly spring morning and find the bushes hopping with several hundred Willow Warblers.

 

Last edited: Oct 26, 2004

Tero

Retired

• Oct 26, 2004

• #14

They vary quite a bit. I have seen some in Nebraska that were equally faded. Then I saw some in Northern Nebraska that were blue, and quite dark. They had almost no reddish color on the breast. Yet they were too far East to ne Mountain Bluebirds.

Ours here look always at least slightly blue, though similar to yours.