As for Robins, I always see a bunch of them together. And the Males and Females look almost alike, so I don't know HOW they figure that out during mating season. ;)
I had a whole flock of Eastern Phoebe here this Fall - never had them come through here before. They really do sing, 'Phoebe! Phoebe!' It was so cool. Pretty little bird.
I miss Swampsniper
I agree! A Neanderthal like myself has a surprisingly soft side, and birds are able to bring that out with a single trill. (Or maybe a single "Phoebe") :-)
The house had gone to bring again
To the midnight sky a sunset glow.
Now the chimney was all of the house that stood,
Like a pistil after the petals go.
The barn opposed across the way,
That would have joined the house in flame
Had it been the will of the wind, was left
To bear forsaken the place's name.
The birds that came to it through the air
At broken windows flew out and in,
Their murmur more like a sigh we sigh
From too much dwelling on what has been.
For them there was really nothing sad.
But though they rejoiced in the nest they kept,
One had to be versed in country things
Not to believe the phoebes wept.
The male and female robins are very similar, but the male’s head is usually more black than gray, and the breast is a deeper red vs rust on the female. In other words, as usual, the male’s colors aren’t as dull or washed out as the colors on the female.
I love hearing the Phoebe. Every now and again I get to see one, but I hear them first. They’re fun to see.