"brooklyn1" > wrote in message
...
>
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "brooklyn1" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "jmcquown" > wrote
>>>>
>>>> Canada geese aren't seen much down here. There are lots of snowy
>>>> egrets, herons, ibises and the occasional stork. Sometimes even a
>>>> pelican Red-tailed hawks are abundant and they're huge birds... one
>>>> landed out back and just sat there. I said, Mom, look! There's a
>>>> hawk! It was just sitting there. Resting, I guess, after a hard day of
>>>> trying to find mice and squirrels to eat.
>>>
>>> Too bad you didn't take pictures.
>>>

Forgot to say, I didn't have a digital camera with me when I came down here
in 2007. I doubt I'd have had time to grab the camera in any event. I
didn't want to startle it. It was a remarkable site. Not 6 feet from where
I was sitting on the sofa.

>>> Couldn't resist this DD robin (let's not think it's a male), had it
>>> blown up to a 8" X 10" and framed, makes a great pin up on my wall:
>>> http://i43.tinypic.com/x44x7m.jpg
>>>
>> Robins are one of the wild north american birds whose sex is hard to
>> determine. Usually there are defining features. Not so with robins.
>
> There are marked differences between male and female North American
> robins, especially only the male sports the bright redish orange breast.
> The female colors are duller, especially the breast which is mostly tan
> and white, dotted sparsely with pale redish speckles.
>
> If there's one thing I know it's breasts! LOL
>
The robins I've seen with speckled breasts are fledglings or "just fledged".
Young birds. I can't say I've ever noticed a much deeper shade of orange
(they aren't actually red) on a male vs. female robin. But then again, I've
mostly only been able to observe seed eaters. Robins will eat seed but
they'd much rather dig around in the soil for a fat juicy worm I don't
see many robins down here. I don't see mourning doves, either. Those are
very common back in TN but I have yet to see one here.

There was a tufted titmouse splashing away in a plant saucer on the patio
yesterday afternoon. Splish splash it was takin' a bath! I think there is
a nest in the camelia bush at the back corner of the house

Jill