(no subject)

[jinian]

There are definitely birds nesting in the hollow trunk of the lilac! It's awfully low to the ground, so I'm not sure they'll do well there, but it's very exciting. I don't know what kind they are; in my head they are Mistress Flippytail and Mr. Flippytail. (Yes, I am silly.) They are not starlings, that's the important thing.

(But what are they? I need a bird book. They have cute little stripey heads.)

Comments

I am glad you are silly.

[rubricity.livejournal.com]

Because I am smiling picturing Mistress Flippytail and Mr. Flippytail going about their business in the hollow trunk of a lilac. :)

Flippytail?

[jinasphinx.livejournal.com]

Maybe they're wrens (http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/Species.asp?id=339).

Re: Flippytail?

[hattifattener]

Could be. The photos on that site don't have a good shot of the bird's tail, which is the distinguishing feature imho. I think the birds in the lilac have longer, flatter tails (like a popsicle stick). I don't remember if they have the eye stripe...

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

the cute little stripey heads would lead me to beleive they are in fact tapirs, just with flippier tails than usual.

[pameladean]

If flippy-tail is a description of a behavior, which would be courting behavior, rather than a description of the permanent angle of the tail, then the stripey heads might indicate that they are sparrows. What kind is always an interesting question when dealing with sparrows.

Pamela

[jinian.livejournal.com]

jinasphinx's wren picture does look like the bird, but I don't know. They're not a kind I've seen around before. I think they're the ones making the "fweeee chu chu chu" noises, but who knows?