Four Birds and a Swainson's Thrush

This week I've seen quite a few birds.  A few flocks of cedar waxwings are still hanging around, though I expect they'll be gone soon.  It's recently been getting a lot warmer here as summer moves in.  The orioles have been active, but I haven't seen any tanagers or grosbeaks yet, which also come in the summer.  They should be here soon.

Below are two mourning doves sitting on a telephone wire looking down at me.

Mourning Doves

Below are two photos of the same mockingbird (sorry they're a little blurry).  There is a mockingbird nest out in the front yard.  The nest is doing fine, despite being right next to the street.  The chicks cheep very loudly all day long.  The first photo is of the mockingbird on the ground below the nest, and second is of it sitting on a jade plant.

Northern Mockingbird



Northern Mockingbird

A lot of hummingbirds have been racing around and around everywhere.  Below is an Anna's hummingbird that was chasing, and being chased by, an Allen's hummingbird.

Anna's Hummingbird

The hooded orioles are still chasing each other around as well.  Below is a male sitting on a telephone wire.

Hooded Oriole

An exciting bird in my backyard yesterday was a Swainson's thrush, which I've never seen before.  Swainson's thrushes summer in Canada, southern Alaska, California, and the northwestern United States.  They winter in Central and South America.  They are found during migration in the rest of the United States and Mexico.  They are similar to Hermit thrushes, except that they are paler brown with tan faces and chests, and are a little bit larger.  Like Hermit thrushes, they have spotted chests.  The one I saw was taking a bath in a clay bowl on the ground.  Below is a photo of it.

Swainson's Thrush