Felicity ShouldersMay 27, 2023

Okay #Birding friends, I have a question I haven’t been able to answer. Namely: what the heck is this dark-eyed (Oregon) junco (or juncos) doing?

0. Pairs of photos 0.125 mi & 37 min apart (same male? Different territory!):
1. Doing the TICK TICK TICK call;
2. Sitting prominently on low branches;
3. Showing off prey item in beak (CN: mild insect gore);
4. For over 2 min each time.

First theory was to attract mates, but OR juncos pair in April. Dawdling on the way to feed nestlings?

Show threadhandmade ghostMay 30, 2023
@faerye Not entirely an answer, I'm afraid, but a comic wondering: Oregon juncos have been known to feed other species' babies--perhaps this is a young junco hero waiting for the junco version of the bat signal, ready with food to swing into action at the first cry for help? 😅
Show threadhandmade ghostMay 30, 2023
@faerye More seriously, did their body language suggest at all that they knew they were being observed? Is it possible they were waiting to move on to feed in secret, or were being wary? They aren't usually so skittish, but it's not uncommon in similar birds.
Show threadFelicity ShouldersMay 30, 2023
@handmade_ghost Yes! I noticed in my photos that they often had one eye turned upon me; and the choice of branches seemed very ostentatious, actually. Like “look at meeeee”. Maybe waiting to eat, as you said! Or maybe trying to attract my attention away from wherever their nests were?
Show threadhandmade ghostMay 30, 2023
@faerye Yes--distracting you away from their nests seems likely, too. Such clever little birds!
Show threadFelicity ShouldersMay 30, 2023
@handmade_ghost I just got to the park again (Tryon Creek) and immediately saw not only a sapsucker but also another junco doing the same thing with a caterpillar!
Show threadhandmade ghostMay 30, 2023
@faerye This is so fascinating. Clearly there is some special bird dining etiquette in Oregon. 😆 You've got me itching to go junco-watching!
Show threadAdoxograph
@handmade_ghost @faerye I firmly believe the #JuncoArmy in my yard is Up to Something. They were the first to recognize my car when we moved in.
May 30, 2023 at 7:42pmMastodon for Android
Show threadhandmade ghostMay 30, 2023
@Adoxograph @faerye They are strong in the dark-eyed powers of the New World Sparrows. 😏