Monday, February 16, 2015

Juncos Sharing the Feeder

I hope I don't burn you out on these Juncos. But I have a point to this post with more pictures of them. You see, there is more than one Junco at the feeder. That is a rare thing. I'm kind of surprised they got this close to each other at the feeder.

What happens is that whenever any other bird gets near this feeder all the Juncos show up to claim their territory. There seems to be about four of them. They don't like each other using the feeder either. When one gets to the feeder another will ruthlessly chase that first one away and claim the prize.

When the cardinals come to the feeder all the Juncos will show up and hang around hoping the bigger Cardinal will go away. They never openly threaten him, but they hang around making it well known that this feeder belongs to them.

I was surprised that these two Juncos didn't chase each other away too fast for me to get any pictures. The one at the feeder must be a little more dominant. But the second one was persistent. The first one eventually left its spot on the side of the feeder.

I was lucky enough to get a picture just as the first bird left the feeder. The second Juncos persistence paid off. The feeder now belonged to it. I didn't take any more pictures once there was only one Junco. I've shown you enough of those kind of pictures for now.

I have to say I'm going to miss these Juncos when the warm weather gets here. They are winter birds so they'll be gone in another month or two. All of the other birds I've seen so far stay all year around so at least I'll still have them. I'll talk to you later.

19 comments:

  1. I never get tired of seeing any kind of bird. It's always fun watching them and seeing which one is going to win out for space at the feeder

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    1. These little Juncos around here sure do fight for feeder space.

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  2. Fun to have them come visit regular, you are having fun with this feeder.

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    1. I really didn't know how much fun I'd have with the feeder before I got it.

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  3. I'm with Ann...I don't tire of any kind of bird. Blue Jays are as common as dirt here in Tampa, but I'll just sit and watch them as though it was the first time. Birds rock.

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    1. Blue Jays have been difficult birds for me. They are skilled at avoiding my camera.

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  4. i love the juncos, one of my favorite winter birds. they are so pretty in the snow!!

    but you know i say that about all the birds ;)

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    1. You're right, Juncos do look particularly good in the snow. Great winter birds.

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  5. Replies
    1. I agree. I wish I could capture their behavior even more.

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  6. Those juncos sound like a gang when it comes to the cardinals.

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    1. They're a gang when it comes to every bird, even each other.

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  7. I don't think we have any juncos where I live in Georgia. At least I don't recall seeing them.

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    1. Juncos like the cold weather, so that's probably why you don't see them.

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  8. I don't think we have any juncos where I live in Georgia. At least I don't recall seeing them.

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  9. Now this is interesting. My juncos don't seem to care who uses the feeder. They share with each other, and if the big birds are on the feeder they just hop down to the deck floor (they prefer to eat on the ground anyway)

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    1. These Juncos prefer the ground too. They are greedy about the feeder though. I'll have more on this behavior in the future. It's really funny.

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  10. I love birds and won't get tired looking at them, love your pictures, very beautifully captured.

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    1. The pictures are easy because the birds are really only a few feet away from me and out the window. The window is the hard part.

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