[CT Birds] Junco feeding behavior

[Peregrine Information Consultants]

All winter, I've watched a few juncos and white-throated sparrows picking up crumbs of suet beneath my suet feeders. I wondered if any of them would end up feeding directly from the suet -- and this morning, one of them did -- it perched right on top of the suet cage, pecking at the suet (pure suet, no seeds) just like a chickadee. Never thought I'd add "junco" to my list of birds who feed directly on the suet (not counting birds who pick up crumbs).

Glad I filled the 3 suet feeders yesterday - they are very busy this morining, with the snow. This winter, my suet feeders are feeding 6 downies; 4 hairies; 3 red-bellied woodpeckers; 2 carolina wrens; 2 WB nuthatches; 1 regular RB nuthatch (f) and an occasional male; the friendly chickadees and titmice; a brown creeper; 4-5 blue jays, the occasional grackle; a rare crow,  and...a junco! Not a single flicker this year - we had a m-f pair all winter last year. Guess they are finding plenty of berries, etc., in the woods this year. I do hear them nearby. We also have one (fat) gray squirrel that has developed a taste for pure suet. Saw a red squirrel under the feeder yesterday for the first time all winter.

Sarah

Sarah Hager Johnston, BMus, MLS
860-676-2228

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