Strange Bird at Hummingbird Feeder

[yosemite]

We set up our Hummingbird feeder this weekend. On Saturday there was a hummingbird zipping around trying to get to the feeder but there was a larger yellow bird with a thin beak drinking from the feeder. Does anyone have any idea what kind of bird it would be here in Southern Ontario?

The hummingbirds managed to get lots as well although there were a couple of them seeming to fight each other off from time to time.

 

[rang_27]

I know Oreals will eat from a humming bird feeder, but if I remember correctly the females are brown & I know the males are bright orange.

Just looked it up, here's a link

http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=160038

This is the bird I was thinking of.

 

[valanhb]

Originally Posted by Yosemite

The hummingbirds managed to get lots as well although there were a couple of them seeming to fight each other off from time to time.

Not a bird expert by any means, but those hummingbirds are cool little birds! They are so neat to watch. They can definitely be territorial, though. I've been dive bombed and buzzed by more than one of them!

 

[Moz]

Sesame Street is filmed in NY, which isn't too far away, so perhaps it was Big Bird.

 

[yosemite]

Originally Posted by Moz

Sesame Street is filmed in NY, which isn't too far away, so perhaps it was Big Bird.

It wasn't quite that large - close but not quite.

I don't remember the head being that dark (Oriole) but the breast was certainly more orange than yellow. It also had a long slim beak like a hummingbird but not as long.

 

[yosemite]

Originally Posted by valanhb

Not a bird expert by any means, but those hummingbirds are cool little birds! They are so neat to watch. They can definitely be territorial, though. I've been dive bombed and buzzed by more than one of them!

They are adorable. We lined up the drinking "flowers" with the perches and they just land, sit and drink for a fair length of time. We have the camera set up in the window so if we manage to get any decent pictures I'll post them. I was at the back of our arbour cutting back some dead clematis and I could see 2 of them through the holes "fighting" at the feeder.

 

[clixpix]

I found a site that lists types of birds that will eat from various types of feeders. Nectar feeders, according to this list, will attract:

hummingbirds
orioles
cardinals
tanagers \t
finches
thrushes
woodpeckers

I would guess that your yellow birds were probably finches?

 

[monaxlisa]

I dont think finches have the long thin beaks (the ones here usually have really thick beaks..but I'm not a bird expert!).
But wow, how cool!!! Too bad you didnt get a picture!

 

[yosemite]

Originally Posted by MonaxLisa

I dont think finches have the long thin beaks (the ones here usually have really thick beaks..but I'm not a bird expert!).
But wow, how cool!!! Too bad you didnt get a picture!

I agree - the beak on the finches and orioles does not look like this bird. I recall that last year we saw a bird like that at the feeder as well. We'll try to get a picture.

 

[arlyn]

This might help you
http://www.whatbird.com/Expert/Expert.aspx

Based on the limited information and your location, I pulled up 7 species it could be.
I used location, shape, color and size.

 

[sarahp]

I LOVE hummingbirds! We just put ours out last week as well

We've had one starting to come, and I'm sure more will follow before too long. They are cheeky little things - they'll divebomb Stumpy when she's sitting on the back balcony

We mostly get Anna's hummingbirds - here's one I snapped a pic of last year

 

[cococat]

Originally Posted by Yosemite

We'll try to get a picture.

I hope you do! I love hummingbirds!

 

[pushylady]

I adore hummingbirds! You're so lucky to get lots coming round. I'm not in a good location to attract them.

I wonder what the yellow bird is then?

 

[trouts mom]

Awwww, I love hummingbirds! I wonder what this mystery bird was!

 

[captiva]

Did you Google Yellow Warbler? They are the only other yellow bird I can think of. They don't really have long beaks, though.

 

[yayi]

A sunbird? Although I am not sure if they are found in the Americas.

 

[tierre0]

How about a gold finch I have several that hang around and drink out of my hummingbird feeders as well.

http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=24

 

[yosemite]

Hubby did get a picture and I do think it is a finch. I really thought the beak was longer and thinner but after seeing his picture I see that it is not. I'll post the picture when I've downloaded it.

 

[gemlady]

There's a hummingbird that buzzes BIL and he nicknamed it "Bubba". LOL

 

[wellingtoncats]

Any update on this Linda? I love birds!