What kind of bird? Thanks

[openoffice]

Looks like this one, but we are located in California not Europe.
https://www.hbw.com/ibc/photo/common-magpie-pica-pica/bird-eating-butterfly

 

[Chuck]

Looks like this one, but we are located in California not Europe.
https://www.hbw.com/ibc/photo/common-magpie-pica-pica/bird-eating-butterfly

I think we have the same bird. It is only here from about mid June until fall. I think it is a Brown Crested Flycatcher and it is a voracious insect and caterpillar eater. I have seen one grab a hornworm off of a tomato plant that I had just rigorously inspected. I knew the worm was there but couldn't find him. This bird was at least 30 yards away, swooped down and grabbed the worm and flew off to a nearby tree limb and ate him. The reason I think its a flycatcher is its acrobatic flight while chasing a flying insect. I've never seen one lose the chase. One year I had 2 pair of them but normally just one pair. There are numerous varieties of this bird and they originate in Central America and Mexico. I saw one just this morning.

 

[David from Dothan]

Yep.......What Chuck said..........

 

[openoffice]

I think we have the same bird. It is only here from about mid June until fall. I think it is a Brown Crested Flycatcher and it is a voracious insect and caterpillar eater. I have seen one grab a hornworm off of a tomato plant that I had just rigorously inspected. I knew the worm was there but couldn't find him. This bird was at least 30 yards away, swooped down and grabbed the worm and flew off to a nearby tree limb and ate him. The reason I think its a flycatcher is its acrobatic flight while chasing a flying insect. I've never seen one lose the chase. One year I had 2 pair of them but normally just one pair. There are numerous varieties of this bird and they originate in Central America and Mexico. I saw one just this morning.

Thanks Chuck!


They look exactly the same shape. The only difference I can tell is the feather on the breast is white. They are definitely in the same family.


https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Crested_Flycatcher/id


Yes, they are very good at catching flying butterflies in the air! So glad they are visiting our backyard every day.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks Chuck!


They look exactly the same shape. The only difference I can tell is the feather on the breast is white. They are definitely in the same family.


https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Crested_Flycatcher/id


Yes, they are very good at catching flying butterflies in the air! So glad they are visiting our backyard every day.

On the pair I have here now the male (I suppose male) has a slight yellowish tint on it breast while the female (?) is off white. You have to be fairly close to see the difference.

 

[openoffice]

On the pair I have here now the male (I suppose male) has a slight yellowish tint on it breast while the female (?) is off white. You have to be fairly close to see the difference.

I see. Thanks for the info!

 

[Greenhorn]

Tough picture, kind of looks like a Black Phoebe. They also like to top perch on pillars, posts and fences like that too. I'm always happy when I see one in the yard. Handsome little birds, common in California. They are fly catchers also.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Phoebe/overview

 

[openoffice]

Tough picture, kind of looks like a Black Phoebe. They also like to top perch on pillars, posts and fences like that too. I'm always happy when I see one in the yard. Handsome little birds, common in California. They are fly catchers also.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Phoebe/overview

Thanks Greenhorn! I think this is exact the bird in our backyard. Yes, they love to stand on the pillars.
"The Black Phoebe is a dapper flycatcher of the western U.S. with a sooty black body and crisp white belly."

 

[openoffice]

This morning, I played the bird Birds Chirping on the website. Sounds exactly the same, and they were a little bit confused when playing. They gave the same singing to response.