This female northern cardinal visiting the bird bath for a drink gave me my first belly laugh of the day.
Her plumes on her crest stood up like flames in the wind. Despite the winter-y blast of heavy snow in the mid-western states, we're having mild temperatures and blustery pre-March winds in Tennessee. And if that weren't enough to hint of spring, birds are showing signs of spring molting. Just twelve days ago, I snapped the image below, of a female cardinal in the snow. She was fluffed and warm in her thick winter plumage. But in the days since, we've had more moderate weather with some days reaching as high as the 70's F.
My
Atlas of the Breeding Bird of Tennessee says, "In late February and March, cardinals form stable, monogamous pair bonds. Both the male and female defend the territory with song, displays, and mild combat." Females pick the nest site usually in April but as early as mid-March, meaning that the tolerance of communal winter foraging is about to end, replaced by freshened spring plumage and territorial attitudes.
Along with the tattered and comical appearance of her crest, feathers have molted around this cardinal's face. New feather sheaths will emerge quickly where old feathers have been shed and fresh ones will rapidly grow to replace the lost ones. This female's colors are beautiful, nonetheless, even though she wears a wind-blown look. I couldn't be sure if she was on the alert or if the wind was standing her remaining crest feathers up so tall.
The watering hole is definitely a fun place to hang out, a good place to watch the tall pines, oak and maples waving in the gusting wind, as well as, to see birds that may otherwise go unseen as they come for a drink. Several times I've seen a yellow-rumped warbler both drink and forage near the feeders but, so far, not when I'm outside with the camera.
Today I enjoyed a better look at the beautiful streaking and contrast in an American robin's plumage as she braved the birdbath for a drink. When she flew, my heart picked up a beat, as a hermit thrush popped in to replace her, its 7-inch stature seeming exceptionally petite next to that of a robin, ranging from 9 to 11 inches.
It was special to get lingering looks at this shy bird, standing tall on tiny legs. More often I notice her hanging out in the shadows of the hemlock, impossible conditions for a good photo, and visits to the birdbath are usually glimpsed through the window. This made today's surprise visit exceptionally appreciated and I fell in love with the wind-blown look below!
Hermit thrushes are best known in Tennessee as a migrant and wintering resident, generally arriving in October and departing by early April. Breeding seasons have only been sparsely recorded in Tennessee in the higher elevations of Roan Mountain and the Great Smoky Mountains (Atlas of the Breeding Birds of TN, ed. Charles P Nicholson.)
When this thrush turned, giving me nice looks at her body proportions and rust tail, I thought she was leaving.
But she lingered a few minutes longer and reached from the side to take several more drinks. Sigh. One of many special moments enjoyed in the backyard.
Links and Resources:
Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Tennessee, edited by Charles P. Nicholson. This book is out of print and pricey on the secondary market, but with patience, you may find lowered pricing on Amazon with time.
If you have not already signed the petition requesting a new management plan for the Eastern Population of Sandhill cranes, visit the
petition site right now and voice your opinion on this important conservation issue. Kentucky is battling a sandhill crane hunting proposal similar to the one deferred in Tennessee. We have a lot of work left to do to protect this population that has only recently recovered from near extirpation. To read more visit
A New Plan for Eastern Sandhills.
Disruptive coloration describes the broken blocks of color, such as the specks on her breast, that cause her to blend with the environment even more and not stand out as much as she would if solid brown. "Countershading" is the dark on top and white underneath phenomenon that is nature's way of taking away the appearance of depth. Without motion to give her away, the thrush flattens and disappears. Above you see her where I often find her first, hiding in the shrub or foraging underneath in its shadows. 
And then, she runs out onto the lawn in pursuit of an insect.
Here's where you will notice something interesting. Hermit thrushes often forage on the ground with a "quivering" foot , tapping the ground in a strategy that is believed to stir insects. In the image below, you can see one foot is lifted.
And below, she appears to be listening....for insect movement? Also notice her lifted right foot.
Hermit thrushes generally nest in higher elevations and more northern states. I am curious about this individual since migration is said to occur in March and early April. It is now mid April and she's still hanging around. I am more than happy for her to stay. 
