Quiscalus quiscula Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Two weeks ago, I was birding on the Mohawk-Hudson Bike Path in Upstate New York, Schenectady County, when I heard something strange, like some creature slapping the water. I started sneakily coming toward the bush where the sound seemed to be coming from until I saw a branch that was vibrating. Peering into the brush with my binoculars, I spotted a tiny bird, sparrow size or smaller, moving the branch somehow. It was very hard to see through the thick brush. Could it have been feeding on insects? A few minutes later I saw another one. My birding companion said I looked like I wanted to become one with the bush. I would have stayed longer, but we had other birds to see. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 I'm wondering if it could have been cracking seeds the way chickadees do? 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 12 minutes ago, PaulK said: I'm wondering if it could have been cracking seeds the way chickadees do? Not sure. It was also relatively low down, about four feet above the ground, and was somehow moving a branch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 15 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: Not sure. It was also relatively low down, about four feet above the ground, and was somehow moving a branch. Chickadees, titmice, and others can't crack seeds with their bills. They'll use branches as anvils, and hammer seeds open with their bills. Of course, there are other possibilities. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 Just now, Charlie Spencer said: Chickadees, titmice, and others can't crack seeds with their bills. They'll use branches as anvils, and hammer seeds open with their bills. Of course, there are other possibilities. That's highly possible. Thank you for the suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Just now, Quiscalus quiscula said: That's highly possible. Thank you for the suggestion. Don't thank me. I was expanding on what @PaulK said. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 You might want to listen to displaying Ruffed Grouse. It wouldn’t explain the small size but could be the sound you were hearing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 5 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: Chickadees, titmice, and others can't crack seeds with their bills. They'll use branches as anvils, and hammer seeds open with their bills. Thanks for explaining my cryptic suggestion! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 Oh, I just realized I saw something similar recently and it was a newly fledged sparrow trying to keep its balance on a twig. Another possibility. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted July 5, 2021 Author Share Posted July 5, 2021 20 hours ago, Connor Cochrane said: You might want to listen to displaying Ruffed Grouse. It wouldn’t explain the small size but could be the sound you were hearing. Possible, but would there be grouse directly adjacent to water? There wasn't much woods either. Thanks for the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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