A Touchy Bluebird Pair
Meanwhile, the front yard was busy with most of the usual suspects. American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins on one feeder, with Siskins calling zhreeeee from the branches above. Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice coming and going on the other feeder. Dozens of Chipping Sparrows fed in the grass, looking like shapeless, restless little brown spots moving around. Dark-eyed Juncos, Mourning Doves and Northern Cardinals pecked under the feeders, and American Robins were scattered all over the yard. A Mockingbird gave a raspy call.
A Pine Warbler trilled nearby, and another in the woods, not far away. A Carolina Wren sang jubilee-jubilee-jubilee, and a female answered with a lusty long trill. A Cardinal, Phoebe, Bluebird, Titmouse and Song Sparrow also were singing. A crimson-throated male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker flew quietly to the trunk of a pecan tree, two Red-bellied Woodpeckers flew from tree to tree and rattled and called quuurrr, and a Pileated Woodpecker gave its cuk-cuk-cuk call from the edge of the woods. A Northern Flicker called kleer, over and over, as it traveled through trees across the road.
When a pair of Eastern Bluebirds flew to the bluebird box together, they seemed to have a sudden, brief disagreement about who was going in. There was a flurry of wings and something that sounded like a snap, and the female ducked inside. The male retreated first to the top of the birdhouse, then – as if thinking better of it – to a branch nearby, his feathers literally ruffled, and waited there, maybe regaining his dignity. When the female came back out after several seconds, she sat pointedly on top of the box. He flicked his wings. She did not look his way, and after a few more seconds, she flew to a branch in another tree. He fluttered his wings once again, like a shrug, and followed her.