What Kinds of Birds Are
I鈥檝e been rather slow to realize that angry birds are taking over the nation. In retrospect, the signs were there鈥攕natches of overheard conversations about strategy on the sidewalk, subway riders stealing glances at other passengers鈥 smartphones. Finally some friends explained it to me: is a video game. And a highly addictive one, judging from the number of downloads () and the passion with which people talk about it鈥攁 coworker who shall remain nameless said yesterday, 鈥淚t鈥檚 the best game ever. Ever. Ever.鈥&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;
For those of you who have also been living under a rock: Five birds are trying to retrieve the eggs evil green pigs stole from them. Players launch the birds from a slingshot into structures that the pigs have built, causing them to collapse on top of the thieves. (Watch the video above.)
These birds look somewhat familiar, but I鈥檓 no expert when it comes to identifying avian species. So I turned to legendary birder and field guide author . Here are his suggestion:
Mountain bluebird. Photo: USFWS
The little blue one: The color is sort of like Mountain Bluebird or Indigo Bunting, but the slight crested look and yellow bill wouldn't fit. Could be a , from Brazil.
The little blue one: The color is sort of like Mountain Bluebird or Indigo Bunting, but the slight crested look and yellow bill wouldn't fit. Could be a , from Brazil.
Northern cardinal. Photo: USFWS
The red one looks like it's based on Northern Cardinal. Not quite the right pattern, but close.
The red one looks like it's based on Northern Cardinal. Not quite the right pattern, but close.
Greater Antillean bullfinch. Photo: South Florida Birding
The black one with gray trim is a toughie. With those chestnut-orange eyebrows, it might be a Greater Antillean Bullfinch.
The black one with gray trim is a toughie. With those chestnut-orange eyebrows, it might be a Greater Antillean Bullfinch.
Yellow warbler. Photo: USFWS
The yellow one with sort of a triangular shape looks like a Yellow Warbler that fell off of its diet. Or maybe it's just building up fat reserves for its fall migration.
The yellow one with sort of a triangular shape looks like a Yellow Warbler that fell off of its diet. Or maybe it's just building up fat reserves for its fall migration.
Snow bunting. Photo: USFWS
The whitish one is more straightforward鈥攇ot to be a Snow Bunting. Those tan-colored patches on the face would clinch the I.D.
The whitish one is more straightforward鈥攇ot to be a Snow Bunting. Those tan-colored patches on the face would clinch the I.D.
鈥淥f course, this is all going on colors and markings,鈥 says Kaufman. 鈥淭heir behavior suggests that they could be something else entirely!鈥
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