Plot Twist: Researching allowed! And: I don’t know the answer to this one.
These four baby birds have been growing up very fast in a nest their mama made on our front porch. My ability to identify birds ends at the duck-cardinal-swan level. I don’t know what kind of birds these are. I thought someone here might have a guess based upon the appearance of the nestlings and/or the nest itself. (We never saw the eggs due to the height of the nest and not wanting to disturb mama so I can’t describe those.) The babies look exactly like mama.
Since I don’t know the answer, I am going to play too and guess that these are Carolina wrens. I Googled and found this is our state bird here in SC. So I know at least we have this kind of bird somewhere in this state and it’s not impossible that some might be on our porch. More daring and/or more knowledgeable guesses are also welcome. Anyone guessing duck, cardinal or swan gets partial credit, out of sympathy.
Surely (Shirley) you can pick out an eagle and a penguin too.
Penguin: yes. BALD eagle: yes. All other eagles fall under the general raptor category as I can not tell an eagle from a hawk or a falcon. But you just made me realize I also neglected to give myself credit for: pink flamingo! Which hopefully one of those will make a nest on our porch next year.
found a site where you can look up nests/ eggs etc –
http://www.thebirdersreport.com/egg-and-nest-identification
This looks a lot like what you have
scroll down to easternphoebe nest and chicks. here’s a link to the pic they have:
http://www.thebirdersreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/EAPHchicksInNestStephenIndiana.jpg
Yeah that looks like a twin of Billy’s photo. Although that mama bird was apparently a little less splattery with the mud.
oh, cool – the LINK posted the pic for you. I couldn’t make it do that. Yay!
Looking at the nest, my guess is Eastern Phoebe. They build their nests of mud, moss, and leaves, on ledges and under overhangs.
I’m changing my answer to pink flamingo. Executive privilege.
Mud wren …. a/k/a swallow bird: nest are made from mud & moss & loose bark; remember this: if you live in the US, you broke the law if you remove this nest. You can move it if you move it very close to the original location and the parents would still come and care for the chicks. IF you must move the nest …Put the entire nest in a basket with handle to use to tie the nest up if you cannot anchor it otherwise. Watch from afar to see if the parents are still around..visits to feed can be quick and infrequent…so don’t miss their visits. If you are SURE the parents are no longer in the area..turn the birds over to an expert at a wildlife rehab for their best chance of survival. If you live in MS … you can contact Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation or a local Forestry Office can refer you.
A quick Google on mud wrens turns up a lot of complaints from people who hate mud wrens, particularly their nests built on houses. How sad.
Eastern Phoebe. They build nests like this on the rafters on the lower level of our old barn. Love them; one of my favorite birds, next to the mockingbird. “FEEE-be”, is their call.
One of the swallows, I don’t believe wrens or phoebes build mud nests.
The baby birds left the nest yesterday. Although I was relieved that we didn’t have any casualties (despite a visit from a rat snake), I can’t help feeling a little sad just for selfish reasons. I will miss seeing their little faces. I’m like Wilbur when Charlotte’s babies all take off.
I wonder if this nest will be reused next year.
not in that nest – these are barn swallows – should fledge the day the pic was shot — Carolina wrens build in cavities, stuffing it with mosses, pine straw, dead grasses, etc.
the parents will build in the same place next year; and may raise a second clutch in this nest this year.