It was a fantastic few days for seeing returning birds in the garden – a grey catbird, a brown thrasher and a blue indigo bunting.
The catbird is a variety of bird that passes through the garden in late May and early June. We usually hear their distinctive call before we see the birds. One of the calls is very cat like, hence their name. Catbirds belong to the Mimidae family that also includes some thrashers and mockingbirds. They like to mimic sounds of others.
They nest and feed in dense shrubby areas, and like to eat insects, larvae, spiders, wild grapes, and fruit from shrubs.
The brown thrasher also belongs to the Mimidae family, so it seems fitting they arrived with a day or so of each other.
The birds prefers dense hedge rows and shrubs but lucky for us he/she came out onto the lawn to peck for food.
Then in the evening while passing a window, the indigo bunting was spotted at the feeder. Cameras were quickly grabbed and some photos taken. This isn’t the best photo, but it was through the window in the early evening. However it does prove that the bunting was in the garden for another year. Looking back through the photo archives it seems the indigo bunting prefers to eat the mixed seed that is one a couple of the feeders.
As with most birds the male is the bright colour of blue or indigo and the female is shades of brown. The male does turn brown in winter. These birds area bout the size of a sparrow.
Margy
The brown thrasher sure has the perfect beak to go after grubs and other food sources in the grass. – Margy
Crafty Gardener
I just kept thinking of the headache from all that pounding in the ground 🙂
Karen, Pixel Posts
Oh, lucky you! I had a Bunting land on my feeder for about 5 seconds, and I didn’t get a pic.
Crafty Gardener
The bunting sure are quick, so not the best photos for us, but lovely all the same. Thanks for stopping by.
Robin
Great photos Linda! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a brown thrasher. Such an interesting looking bird.
Enjoy the weekend!
Crafty Gardener
At first, from a distance I thought it was a flicker, but the zoom on the camera proved otherwise. It was lovely to see in the garden.
Myrtle
Thank you Linda, love, your shots of the birds and great information, I have never seen an indigo bird before, very pretty. I can.t recall if I have seen the catbird. Have a good weekend.
Crafty Gardener
The indigo buntings just pass through here Myrt, so we are really lucky to get a glimpse of them each year.
Linda
How lovely to be able to see so many different species of birds in your garden I would want to sit and watch them all day. xx
Crafty Gardener
We spend so much time in the garden. The cameras are always set up by a couple of back windows and then there are a couple more to grab and take outside along with binoculars. Thanks for stopping by.
Jennifer Jilks
I see why it is a thrasher! What a hoot!
I have not seen catbirds in a few years. Thanks for sharing yours!
Crafty Gardener
Lots of fun to watch as they pecked the ground, I just thought of the headache it would cause!
Eileen
Hello Linda
I love seeing all 3 of these birds in my yard. I enjoyed the Thrasher video. The indigo Bunting is so pretty and really stands out, such a pretty blue color. The Catbird is a fun bird just listening to all the sounds they can make. Wonderful post. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great weekend. PS, thanks for the visit and comment.
Crafty Gardener
We could hear the catbird long before we saw him, lovely to listen too.
Elke
These are beautiful, fascinating birds!
Have a good day, Elke
Crafty Gardener
Thanks for the vast Elke. Hope you are having a good day.
Lavender Dreams
What wonderful sightings! The Thrasher is gorgeous and I love the blue bunting! How nice to get good photos! Happy weekend!
Crafty Gardener
Thanks for stopping by Dianne, we are finally getting some “Florida” like weather up here.
Anu
Hello. They are so beautiful birds. Thank you for sharing.
Take care.
Crafty Gardener
They were gorgeous to see, thanks for visiting Anu.
Jean
Enjoyed seeing all your birds. Reading your post, I realized I’ve not seen my brown thrasher lately. He must have went on his way to visit you. 🙂 Hope you are having a great weekend.
Anni
Gorgeous, simply gorgeous!
You sharing this post with us at I’d Rather B Birdin this week is much appreciated!
Adam Jones
The Grey Catbird is a nice looking bird.
Stewart M
Very nice birds – I just wrote elsewhere that one day I will see a blue-bird in the feather! One day!
Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne
Musings
I’m seeing way too many pigeons over here.