Knocking back a cold one

All the birds at the birdbath tend to tip their heads up a bit to swallow, but the starlings do it with such gusto, reaching very high and waaaaay back.
I like to believe I'm open-minded and tolerant but in my heart I hold deep prejudices. The starling is one of them: These big, black, spotted, greasy looking birds are not a welcome sight at Longears.

Comments and faves

  1. KaCey97007 (28 months ago | reply)

    I'm not fond of Starlings either... They will call the whole clan when they find that I have put out a new suet block and it will be gone in 2 days... But I keep putting them out because they attract other birds also...

    --
    Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)

  2. loveitaly (28 months ago | reply)

    This is great, Jeanette! You really captured them. I admit I don't care for them either--they monopolize the bird feeder if we let them come and hang around--so, of course, we spend exorbitant amounts of time shushing them off so they don't hang around.

  3. bevmorgan (28 months ago | reply)

    This one is not sitting at the edge of a pie is it? Oh no, that was blackbirds baked in a pie. This is delightful, Jeanette, as always. The feathers are marvelous.

  4. Jee whiz! (28 months ago | reply)

    You've captured the unattractive greasiness perfectly. I'm not crazy about these birds either.

  5. dnaschr (28 months ago | reply)

    Sounds like a great idea.

  6. JoanM. (28 months ago | reply)

    Prejudice or not, you certainly captured the starling's character. Like the way his feathers look fluffed out and the assorted colors create the "greasy look".

  7. ★

    tyggereye added this photo to her favorites. (28 months ago)

  8. tyggereye (28 months ago | reply)

    Okay I love this. I love the arch upward of his neck and the purple in his coloring. Gorgeous! :)

  9. ★

    Sue Van Etten added this photo to her favorites. (28 months ago)

  10. Artist Naturalist (28 months ago | reply)

    Can your detective help solve your winged problem here?

  11. Speck--- (28 months ago | reply)

    Beautiful color variations on this guy!

  12. Rick Tulka (28 months ago | reply)

    They are here in Paris too! Birds are interesting, aren't they?

  13. simple + pretty (28 months ago | reply)

    yes, they do seem to travel in packs. + although they are not my favorite bird, either, you've certainly made them attractive here.

  14. linfrye (28 months ago | reply)

    FABULOUS WORK, JEANNETTE -- The starlings method of finding nests for their own young seems so appalling ... I wonder if that influences your dislike of these?

  15. martinepittet (28 months ago | reply)

    Beautiful colours and so realistic !.. But it doesn't make me like them either !

  16. RedThreadArt (28 months ago | reply)

    Delightful! Love your technique on the feathers~~
    Thanks so much for your visits to my stream---very encouraging ; )

  17. Linda C. Miller (28 months ago | reply)

    But you make him look so handsome! L

  18. cacollieotr (28 months ago | reply)

    Another job for ....Detective Oswald? If you need to borrow Victor he's a great bird chaser.....

  19. PJBee (28 months ago | reply)

    You've captured its gusto! Good job celebrating even with reservations :)

  20. bettyfromtexas (28 months ago | reply)

    You really NAILED the look of those feathers, Jeanette. Not a big fan of these guys, OR the pigeons we are being overwhelmed with right now! I know I am not imagining that they are scaring away the smaller visitors!

  21. Paris Breakfast (28 months ago | reply)

    Love this too...as long as yr not killing rabbits you can do anything

  22. Jill @ marvin4pet (28 months ago | reply)

    Starlings used to be the yobs of the bird table, but their numbers have gone down so much that I am now quite pleased to see one or two. This is unmistakably starling!

  23. linda yvonne (28 months ago | reply)

    I have not had them at my feeders yet this winter. I always dread that huge, hungry flock.

  24. Kimberly Shaw Graphics (28 months ago | reply)

    Beautifully painted, you've perfectly captured the spotted feathers.

  25. milagrosuegp (28 months ago | reply)

    You got that right sister! Starling are the pest of my bird heaven. They are bullies.I would not bother to paint them

  26. My Fiddlestix (28 months ago | reply)

    Well from your sketch I love him!!

  27. ★

    *audreysmith* added this photo to their favorites. (28 months ago)

  28. *audreysmith* (28 months ago | reply)

    Flint-Hill pointed me in the direction of your photo stream because he thought I would like your work, and he thought right!

    This one struck me because I understand where you are coming from with starlings. They tend to bombard my mom's feeders, and a huge colony of starlings roosts in a group of trees in my neighborhood in the warmer weather and make the worst racket (not to mention a yucky mess).

    But I have a slight affection for them too because my sister and I rescued a baby starling from my cat when we were kids and nursed it back to health. He was the ugliest chick with a giant yellow beak, but endearing. He would sit on our laps and cuddle. He loved to have his little head petted, and he would chat with us - anytime we spoke he would click and chirp right back.

  29. grijalvacanterbury (28 months ago | reply)

    I don't know which is better -- your magnificent work or the funny title that made me laugh! - Barbara

  30. janelafazio (28 months ago | reply)

    wonderful

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