My wife and I spent most of two weeks in November on a trip to Florida. It was partly 'vacation', but also partly family work. Last month, she had moved her Mother from assisted Independent Living in Florida to Assisted Living in California, and now that the lease was finally running out, we had to go down to Florida and see to it that the apartment was ready to be released.

On our first day, we worked half the day, then drove around half-an-hour to Fort Lauderdale By-the-Sea to have lunch with her cousin {who had been the closest thing to a family representative} in the area. The restaurant gave us an outside table, and while we ate we heard much chirping from a nearby bush. Eventually we saw both birds, which my wife determined to be a pair, so I made a composite of the two. I wonder what he {on right} did to get her {on left} so upset.

[torashi]

My wife and I spent most of two weeks in November on a trip to Florida. It was partly 'vacation', but also partly family work. Last month, she had moved her Mother from assisted Independent Living in Florida to Assisted Living in California, and now that the lease was finally running out, we had to go down to Florida and see to it that the apartment was ready to be released.

On our first day, we worked half the day, then drove around half-an-hour to Fort Lauderdale By-the-Sea to have lunch with her cousin {who had been the closest thing to a family representative} in the area. The restaurant gave us an outside table, and while we ate we heard much chirping from a nearby bush. Eventually we saw both birds, which my wife determined to be a pair, so I made a composite of the two. I wonder what he {on right} did to get her {on left} so upset.

She must've been HANGRYYY!

[reh321]

She must've been HANGRYYY!

Thank you for your comment.

Yes, she seemed like she was more than 'he forgot again to take out the garbage' mad.

[torashi]

Thank you for your comment.

Yes, she seemed like she was more than 'he forgot again to take out the garbage' mad.

And in the case of birds, taking out the thrash, far away from the nesting area, is a matter of life and death. It can lead predators to the nest's location if left in the vicinity. So she must've been really mad!

[ToddK]

Nice photos of male and female cowbirds. I saw quite a few when I was in south Florida a couple of years ago.

[reh321]

Nice photos of male and female cowbirds. I saw quite a few when I was in south Florida a couple of years ago.

Thank you for your comment.
As far I am aware, the only cowbird we have around here is the brown-headed one, where the male has a black body and the female has a gray body.

[brewmaster15]

Nice pics! Best guess on this pair is Common or Boat tail Grackles.... Most likely Boat tail Grackles since it was in Florida and look like they have larger tails than common here. Same family as cowbirds and blackbirds.. The Icterids are some of the smartest birds.. The female is the brown one.. the male the black one.

hth,

Al

[PJ1]

Interesting composite. I have noted other shots of cowbirds and have wondered how they got their name. Do they usually feed around animals (like cows) getting the insects that they stir up? Or pick parasites off them? (Neither question being a reflection on you and your good wife. )

[reh321]

Interesting composite. I have noted other shots of cowbirds and have wondered how they got their name. Do they usually feed around animals (like cows) getting the insects that they stir up? Or pick parasites off them? (Neither question being a reflection on you and your good wife. )

I have to admit that I never wondered about the name - so I did some surfing .... it turns out that the species does eat insects - typically insects that are raised by cattle moving around {apparently the insects don't like being stepped on for some reason}

[PJ1]

so I did some surfing

Thanks. I suppose I should have done that myself.

[reh321]

Thanks. I suppose I should have done that myself.

I was curious also - and it occurred to me that I should know.

[photolady95]

As has already been said, these two are a Boat-tailed Grackle, which in my neck at the beaches of Florida are plentiful. Of course the brown one is the female, while the black one is the male. I've photographed them so much that I try to find other birds to shoot when around our water parks.

[reh321]

As has already been said, these two are a Boat-tailed Grackle, which in my neck at the beaches of Florida are plentiful. Of course the brown one is the female, while the black one is the male. I've photographed them so much that I try to find other birds to shoot when around our water parks.

Thank you for your comment.

Yes, to you they are common - to me, not so much at all. Actually I was hoping to see a pelican, but such was not to be, and as a visitor, I photographed almost anything that moved, and some things that didn't.

[photolady95]

Actually I was hoping to see a pelican, but such was not to be, and as a visitor, I photographed almost anything that moved, and some things that didn't.

And had I known before hand you were so close to me, I could have taken you where the Pelican's hang most often.

[brewmaster15]

And had I known before hand you were so close to me, I could have taken you where the Pelican's hang most often.

That must be a Dive Bar! ..lol.. sorry could not resist.
Al