Saturday, July 30, 2011

That Awkward Adolescent Phase

I almost tripped over this little critter before it took wing and perched on a nearby branch:





I didn't use the zoom on my 2 megapixel phone camera- the boid just sat on it's perch within three feet of my meaty paw. I don't know if it was too young to fear me, or too much of an aeronautical n00b to get the hell away. The spots on the breast of this American robin (Turdus migratorius) indicate that it is a juvenile. The American robin, not to be confused with the European robin (a variety of non-related birds share the name "robin" in the Anglophone world), is a thrush, so if you encounter one cracking snail shells while rock-climbing, look for secret doors in the cliff face.
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5 comments:

  1. truculentandunreliableJuly 30, 2011 at 10:27 PM

    I am clearly drunk and/or 12, because "turdus" made me giggle.

    I guess if could, he'd be of the age to giggle about his name, too.

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  2. Big Bad Bald BastardJuly 30, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    It is pretty damn funny. Good thing I didn't write a post about Homo erectus.

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  3. Smut ClydeJuly 30, 2011 at 11:29 PM

    cracking snail shells while rock-climbing
    Clever little multi-tasking birds.

    "turdus" made me giggle.
    AHEM.

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  4. ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©July 31, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    Nice!

    Even the juvenile cardinals let you get *a bit* close to them, so that's your answer.
    ~

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  5. Smut ClydeJuly 31, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    the juvenile cardinals

    I imagine them placing whoopie cushions on the Pope's throne and giggling.

    ReplyDelete