Unusual Songbird

[DCWilson]

Well, unusual in the US, at any rate. They are all over sub-Saharan Africa.

This is a Pin-tailed Whydah. These birds have been seen in Orange County, CA in the last few years. Presumably they represent an expansion population whose founders escaped from a private aviary or were deliberately released to fend for themselves. The birds' bodies are only three inches long or a little more, but the males develop these elongated six to nine-inch tails during breeding season. For some of the year they don't have the long feathers.



Whydahs are nimble high-speed fliers, and aggressive when it comes to protecting their territories. Woe betide the usual collection of finches congregating on a feeder that Whydahs think belongs to them. They tolerate ground squirrels. The don't like Mourning Doves, but the doves are too big to care (or too dim to understand what's happening) when a Whydah buzzes them. Whydahs will buzz humans, but the psychology is unclear. Both my daughter and son-in-law (in whose back yard I took these pictures) can imitate Whydah calls, and that seems to bring them in closer -- but that may be evidence of curiosity rather than hostility.

Very attractive and interesting birds. There are some YouTube videos showing the males' fluttering behavior during breeding season.

 

[Rustyt1953]

That is a handsome bird.

Nice pics.

 

[Watchdog]

Beautiful bird. They are listed as a threatened species, so hopefully, if they're showing up in California, they'll take hold and thrive there.

I looked them up. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, and the other birds incubate the eggs along with their own.

Love the photos!

 

[shouldazagged]

Splendid pictures of a beautiful little bird, David.

 

[Inusuit]

They are an invasive, non-native, parasitic species.

This Beautiful Parasitic Bird Could Soon Turn Up in Your Yard - The New York Times

 

[soFlaNative]

They are an invasive, non-native, parasitic species.

So are we...

 

[billwill]

Now that is a tail to be proud of! Bet he flies nose up, tail down.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

Now that is a tail to be proud of! Bet he flies nose up, tail down.

...that could lead to a stall and spin... ;-)

 

[rustythread]

so, do you fry or roast them?

 

[soFlaNative]

so, do you fry or roast them?

... or bake them in a pie...

 

[woodsltc]

Beautiful bird. They are listed as a threatened species, so hopefully, if they're showing up in California, they'll take hold and thrive there.

I looked them up. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, and the other birds incubate the eggs along with their own.

Love the photos!

You need to check again.....their "conservation status" is "Least Concern" which means they are numerous and the population is stable and growing.

Personally since they are an invasive species I'm not too excited about them being in the US......the track record of invasive species causing more harm than good is pretty long.


Don

 

[eveled]

I feel like the victim bird. I work to pay taxes to support 3 other families on top of mine. It's putting the working class American in danger of extinction too.

Mostly said in jest, not meant to side track into a political minefield.

 

[LVSteve]

They are an invasive, non-native, parasitic species.

This Beautiful Parasitic Bird Could Soon Turn Up in Your Yard - The New York Times

The best I can say for this invader is that it is prettier than the average Cowbird, our native nest usurper.

 

[LostintheOzone]

We have a very large population of Barred owls here in the PNW. They showed up here about 5 years ago (invasive) and I see them almost everyday on my property. I can say they keep the rabbit population down but I don't know how they affect other owls, probably not good. One killed a large rabbit in my yard a few days ago. Took the head and left the rest. Sort of reminds me of that movie Predator, very stealth.

One has to remember that starlings are not native either. We could do without those for sure.

 

[LVSteve]

We have a very large population of Barred owls here in the PNW. They showed up here about 5 years ago (invasive) and I see them almost everyday on my property. I can say they keep the rabbit population down but I don't know how they affect other owls, probably not good. One killed a large rabbit in my yard a few days ago. Took the head and left the rest. Sort of reminds me of that movie Predator.

One has to remember that starlings are not native either. This could easily get out of control.

Three nuisance breeds from Europe introduced by the biggest nuisance breed of all, Homo Dumbassus:

The Starling
The House Sparrow
and the worst of the lot.... The Rock Dove, AKA Feral Pigeon AKA Antenna Rat.

The number of "invasive" species here in Southern Nevada is massive. I'm darned sure our Great Tailed Grackle population was started by imports. Other breeds have taken up residence because of changes made by man.

All the above being said, populations change naturally, too. Several species of dragonfly have been spreading North out of the Colorado valley over the last 20 years. By blind luck I was the first to record two of them in this county, the Widow Skimmer and the Mexican Amberwing. Managed to do it on the same day, too.

 

[eveled]

rats don't belong on this continent either, or horses, or periwinkles. The world is too small of a place eventually everything gets everywhere. Not saying it's good or bad, just unavoidable.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Three nuisance breeds from Europe introduced by the biggest nuisance breed of all, Homo Dumbassus:

The Starling
The House Sparrow
and the worst of the lot.... The Rock Dove, AKA Feral Pigeon AKA Antenna Rat.

The number of "invasive" species here in Southern Nevada is massive. I'm darned sure our Great Tailed Grackle population was started by imports. Other breeds have taken up residence because of changes made by man.

All the above being said, populations change naturally, too. Several species of dragonfly have been spreading North out of the Colorado valley over the last 20 years. By blind luck I was the first to record two of them in this county, the Widow Skimmer and the Mexican Amberwing. Managed to do it on the same day, too.

Sometimes it's harmless as you say. Congratulations on your discovery. Most people just don't pay much attention to the critters around them. I'm a bird watcher myself so if any new birds show up I notice.

I used to hunt Ring-neck pheasants. Those were introduced in Oregon in the late 1800's. Plenty of those to go around and great sport to hunt with a dog. The Hungarian and Chukar partridge are two more birds that provide a lot of sport. None have become a nuisance as far as I know and add dollars to local economies where they are hunted. I'm sure some of those Chukars have never been seen by anyone.