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Oops! Even rehabbers misidentify nestlings sometimes!

6/23/2013

22 Comments

 
Remember last week’s “Carolina wren” who lost all her siblings, two when the nest fell and one from injuries sustained when the nest fell? I knew something about the bird didn’t quuiiite look right for a Caro, but I shrugged it off. Caro it is, sez I.

Except it ain’t.

Oops...

As our dear Not-Caro continued to grow and develop feathers, and as her beak began to fully shape, it dawned on me that she had a flycatcher beak and the feathers were the wrong color for a Carolina wren. I knew this wasn’t an Eastern kingbird or a great crested flycatcher, which left only one possibility among the flycatcher species that’re fairly common in Georgia. Did some quick research, and sure enough, our little nestling is an Eastern phoebe. I’m quite fond of them, although I rarely see them in rehab (perhaps that’s WHY I’m fond of them; it seems to me that we rehabbers tend to be fonder of the species we don’t see often).

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The little house finch with the leg issue was released last week and promptly joined his erstwhile rehab buddy, the previously released Carolina wren. Rehab does make for strange friendships!

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And when this little sweetheart came in, he was pretty dehydrated and had some nasty wounds on his back, I suspect sustained when he fell from his nest. You can see them in the video clip, near his little tail. He’s about to drive me crazy with his up and down condition: one minute he’s gaping properly, the next he’s not; one minute his poop looks normal, the next it looks really loose…And because he’s one of my favorite species, I’m beside myself with worry every time something seems the slightest little bit “off” with him.

And what species might that be? While *I* obviously know for sure on this one, I’m gonna let *you* guess. List your guesses in the comments below, and those who get it right will receive…a great big attagirl or attaboy from me! (What? You were expecting a prize? Now you know how I feel when I pick up a critter that will be my responsibility for the next month or more and all I get in terms of “child” support is “Thank you so much!”)

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22 Comments
Mary
6/23/2013 06:54:51 am

I have absolutely no clue what it is. Great job with the Kite by the way. I'm so pleased it survived. :0) Mbird

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/23/2013 08:25:49 am

Thanks, Mary! LOL, will hold all comments with a guess for a day or two, to give everybody a chance to give it a go. Interested to see if anybody gets it right!

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Ann Feldman
6/23/2013 02:36:19 pm

Oh those two little cuties huddled together on the branch! I have no idea what the creature from outer space is. Such a big head! Some kind of woodpecker maybe? Hope he survives. I like phoebes, don't see enough of them, but will send you a photo of one in a fig tree from last summer if I can find it.

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/23/2013 02:53:48 pm

Ann, I don't see a whole lot of Eastern phoebes, either. Had one--not a former rehab--who hung around my bluebird feeder during the spring for several years, and we developed a "nodding acquaintance." Sweet, sweet little bird! Would love to see your photo.

The mystery bird isn't a woodpecker--good guess, though! If it helps any, he's app. 5 days old and his eyes just started opening this evening. I'm betting no one guesses correctly, but I'd say by next week it should be obvious, and everybody will be surprised.

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Sally / kh
6/24/2013 12:54:12 am

What a sweet sweet little bird is right. I can't wait to learn what mystery 'baby' is and THANK you so for sharing all of this and the videos are so great!!! xoxox

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/24/2013 01:03:31 am

Hey kh, glad you're enjoying the videos. I can't believe we have only one guess so far! Helpful tip to all those who read the comments: Google images of hatchlings/nestlings of the species you think the mystery bird might be, and you can at least eliminate some species!

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Semolina
6/24/2013 03:25:24 am

Barn swallow?

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/24/2013 06:15:29 am

Hey Sem! Good guess, but nope. Barn swallows have a distinctive flattish look to their little faces/heads--hard to describe, easier to see in a photo.

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Pipette
6/24/2013 09:09:56 am

OK, I freely admit I know ZERO about birds (other than the little I have learned about RT hawks), but my wild guesses are: condor or turkey.

I'm SURE I'm wrong, LOL!!

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/24/2013 09:52:18 am

Hey Pipette! LOL, yep, you're right--you're wrong! Good try, though!

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Semolina
6/24/2013 10:12:44 am

Blue jay?

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/25/2013 03:33:05 am

Attagirl, Sem!! Congrats!!! Our mystery hatchling is indeed a blue jay!

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Ann Feldman
6/24/2013 10:29:35 am

Cedar waxwing?

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/24/2013 01:52:03 pm

Good guess again, but nope. We do have one correct ID, but I'm waiting to post it after I see what other guesses crop up in the next day or so!

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Ann Feldman
6/25/2013 05:36:57 am

Leave it to Semolina to get this right! And you, Vonda ,better get your earplugs ready ! ;-)

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/25/2013 05:43:04 am

LOL, Ann--nestling/fledgling blue jays amuse me with their raucous demands for food, so I'm good!

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noyacborn
6/25/2013 11:08:26 am

I would NEVER have guessed blue jay! Shows how much I know...

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/25/2013 11:37:14 am

Looks quite different from an adult, huh?!

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Avel annalia
6/25/2013 01:32:14 pm

Very heartwarming little ques and ans. I certainly didn't know the answer but loved the vids.....and thank you

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/25/2013 01:59:01 pm

Hey Annalia, glad you enjoyed it!

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Sally / kh
6/25/2013 01:45:58 pm

Darn! I was gonna guess a blue jay, but thought "no, can't be..." hahaha! Good going, Sem!

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Laurens Wildlife Rescue
6/25/2013 02:00:15 pm

LOL kh, always go with your first instinct!

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