Backyard visitors

Unsure gulls

Kildeer

Chipping Sparrow

We seem to have a lot of bunnies in our back yard.

Female red-winged blackbird.

white-crowned sparrow

White Throat sparrow

Backyard 12-19-2013

European Starling

I saw amazed at the beauty of this bird.
They are described  as a stocky short-tailed bird with a rather large head and long spikelike bill. The wings are fairly long and pointed 

In winter they are glossy black overall, with fine white tips to body feathers. The white dots will gradually wear off over the winter, in preparation for the summer plumage.  The bill is black.

American Tree Sparrow

American Crows.

Birds on 12-14-2013

Female Northern Cardinal and Mourning Dove

Hiding in the bushes

Tree Sparrow

Mourning Doves and Tree Sparrows

11-9-2013 Maui

Plumbago

Kitty at the Mana Kai

Bird of Paradise

Red-Crested Cardinal

Wandering Tattler
It is a winter visitor, arriving in the islands by August and leaving for Alaskan breeding grounds in late April or early May. 

In its winter plumage it is dark gray above and light gray below. It is generally a solitary bird, sometimes found in pairsor small flocks.  I saw only one. They feed by probing the bill into mud or under rocks.  They bob their tail when looking for food. They frequent mudflats, sandy beaches, rocky coastline, and interior rocky streams.  

Java Sparrow
It was orginally introduced in 1867 from Indonesia.  Sexes are similar. They travel in large flocks and are easily attracted to feeders. They feed on seeds and some insects.

This one I found near a boating ramp not far from the Mana Kai.

House sparrow

African Silverbill
It was first recorded in 1970's.  Formerly considered a subspecies of Warbling Silverbill which was split in July 2000 into African and Indian species.
Again the sexes are similar. Adults are pale brown above, light gray below.It has a bluish gray bill.

This one was found by the coast, and appeared to be gathering material for a nest.

Another lizard sunning himself.

Pacific golden Plover