What Kind of Birds Are These?

[CaptainYooh]

There was a huge flock of birds out there sitting on the trees; like, thousands! This was almost surreal. I have not seen these birds before. Only had time to take a quick couple of handheld shots before they flew away. Have you seen these birds? What kind are they?

[wretched34]

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/c...ng/lifehistory

[CaptainYooh]

That's them, cedar waxwings. Thanks for the link.

[pylon]

Whatever kind of birds they are, they look damn serious.

[MotoRacer]

I'm counting 62... Almost thousands suppose

[Daradon]

Kidding aside, neat pics. Thanks.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by MotoRacer

I'm counting 62... Almost thousands suppose

This was a long lens, 300mm with a TC.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by pylon

Whatever kind of birds they are, they look damn serious.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Some sort of Angry Birds

[flamesfever]

They have been coming to feed on our crab apple tree in Wildwood for the past 45 years. They alternate from our tree and another one across the alley and are in huge numbers. It usually takes part of a day to strip the trees We have always called them Bohemian Waxwings.

[Swift]

I saw a flock of birds flying around Canyon Meadows earlier today. Outside of geese, it's the first time I've ever seen that in Calgary. I presume it was the same group posted above.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

We have always called them Bohemian Waxwings.

Correct. The birds in the OP's pictures are Bohemian Waxwings.

The orange undertail is one of the main differences. The cedar's undertail is white. Also it is stockier and has wingbars. The Cedar is more slender and lacks wingbars.





http://www.backyardchirper.com/blog/...emian-waxwing/

I had a flock of these about 10 years back that must have been drunk on berries as about 10 were stunned on the ground from flying into our windows.

[burn_this_city]

I've seen them around McKenzie Lake for years during the summer. They go for the fruit trees.

[sixpacked]

Yup eat the fruit/berries and then leave hundreds of red ####s on your car as leave for the next tree.

[CaptainYooh]

Thanks for that photo. Definitely Bohemian Waxwings then. These birds were grey and not yellowish like the cedar ones.

[afc wimbledon]

One of the things I miss about the UK, starlings flocking, takes your breathe away.

[troutman]

The common starling has become a nuisance bird after being introduced to North America.

My father has an all-consuming hate for them, along with House Sparrows and magpies.

He hates birds that are not endemic or that steal other bird's nests.

His favorite bird has to be the Purple Martin.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by troutman

The common starling has become a nuisance bird after being introduced to North America.

My father has an all-consuming hate for them, along with House Sparrows and magpies.

He hates birds that are not endemic or that steal other bird's nests.

His favorite bird has to be the Purple Martin.

I don't think the Magpie is introduced.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bagor

I don't think the Magpie is introduced.

Right, he hates them for their thievery.

Dad has strong opinions about birds!

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

They have been coming to feed on our crab apple tree in Wildwood for the past 45 years. They alternate from our tree and another one across the alley and are in huge numbers. It usually takes part of a day to strip the trees We have always called them Bohemian Waxwings.

Same here. Once a year they ravage the mountain ash trees in our neighbourhood for a day then move on.