I found at least 12 Black Phoebes while birding and doing Breeding Bird Atlas surveys in less than 25 miles of Eastern Fremont County yesterday and today. Two of those were nestlings in a nest I found attached to the bottom girders of a bridge being attended by both parents. I found 2 sets of 3 fledglings being fed by a single parent for each set. And I found a single Black Phoebe in juvenal plumage that still had a very yellow gape and short tail feathers found in fledgling birds, but didn't see a parent in the area. I wasn't able to do a good search for a parent and thought I saw a second phoebe so I won't rule out it being a fledgling. If it is independent, it has only recently gained that independence.
I also found at least 1 hybrid Eastern/Black Phoebe in one location that gave an Eastern Phoebe song several times--I got two pretty good photos of this bird that has whitish underparts but with some black on chin and throat and more black extensive patches of black on sides, flanks than found on an Easter Phoebe plus it extends into breast and belly areas. In another location there were 3 phoebes engaged in some chasing behavior that was likely fledglings pestering a parent for food. One of these looked very much like a hybrid and one looked more like an Eastern Phoebe but I wasn't able to get good looks at any of them. Also one of these 3 gave a Black Phoebe song. This is the second banner year in a row for Black Phoebes in Fremont County with eastern Fremont County from Canon City to the Pueblo County line showing a very high population that has expanded rapidly since I found the first one in 1995. I would be interested in knowing how many Black Phoebes are inhabiting counties in SW Colorado. Following are locations where some of these Black Phoebes can be seen: - Pathfinder Park-1 Black Phoebe in juvenal plumage. This park is located on the north side of H115 between Florence and Canon City. - Florence River Park-3 Black Phoebe fledglings and 1 parent along the Arkansas River that runs adjacent to this park. Directions to this park can be found at http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/county/bird_a_county.php?name=Fremont I am putting photos of most of these birds on my blog at http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com but there are a lot of photos so won't get them all up there tonight. (also got some good pics of a Say's Phoebe carrying two different grasshoppers to nestlings, one grasshopper has blue legs?) SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
