Did you know….?

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I wanted to know more about my backyard buddies, so I looked up a few facts. I’m sharing them with you along with photos I took this week. I hope you enjoy them and they add a delight and smile to your day!

Papa Quail sits high above other quail on a bench on a raised patio. I love how there’s always one quail acting as a sentinel as his mate and covey eat on the ground. If he senses danger, he’ll call out.

This male House Finch beauty has been hanging out on our cactus statue the last few days. They are common in Arizona and eat seeds and have a beautiful song.

Although this guy looks like a chipmunk he’s a Harris’s Antelope Squirrel. I wonder how he got the name “antelope?” I learned that they regulate their temperature by “heat dumping” which is laying in the shade spread out on their tummy when they are overheated. They use their tail as an umbrella to create shade. They live in underground burrows that they dig under shrubs or trees.

I captured a White-Winged Dove and Mourning Doves at the Bird Buddy Feeder. Here are a few facts:

White-Winged Doves can fly 25 or more miles to find water. In the Sonoran Desert, they are able to obtain needed moisture from saguaro cactus fruit. When migrating they can travel in groups of up to 4000 birds to nesting sites.–Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

From Birds and Blooms about Mourning Doves:

They are gentle, quiet, and calming birds known for their soft cooing and for feeding on ground-scattered seeds, often helping clean up feeders. They are viewed as symbols of peace, love, and hope, often nesting on flat surfaces like planters, patio eaves, or windowsills.

Fun Cardinal Facts:

Photos below of Red, the male, and Mrs., the female half of the Northern Cardinal couple, who live in the wash behind our home.

Northern Cardinals are iconic, non-migratory songbirds known for their brilliant red plumage, distinctive crests, and year-round presence in North America. Both males and females sing, with females often singing from the nest to communicate with their mates. They are monogamous, highly territorial, and are the state bird for seven US states. — Birds and Blooms

Happy Friday! What are your weekend plans?

64 thoughts on “Did you know….?”

  1. I love learning more about birds. Our house finches are out in force at the feeders and singing in the neighbors pine tree. We’ve been spotting quite a few Eurasian Collared doves as well. Our hummingbirds haven’t shown back up yet but the feeders are ready.
    We get some snow today and a hard freeze overnight but have gardening chores needing to be done for the weekend. Lots of soil still needing to go into containers. The family has decided to plant more tomato varieties and are trying out peas as well. Plus we have to get the greenhouse secured so it doesn’t blow away. Have a good weekend EA!

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    • I realized I’m watching all these birds but didn’t know much about them. We don’t have the Eurasion Collared doves, at least I haven’t seen them. Wow. Snow in April? Have fun with all your gardening. I am thinking about putting in some raised gardening beds for tomatoes.

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  2. I’ve always called the Antelope Squirrels chipmunks, so thanks for that fun fact.

    I like the Arizona cardinals. I just wish they’d win a few more football games.

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      • That’s just it. They have to start winning games. I don’t blame you for sticking with the Seahawks. At least for now.

      • We went to one Cardinals game and what a dud. Also, it was way too expensive to watch the team lose. Yes, Seahawks are my team — for now.

      • Tickets for NFL games are way above what I’d be willing to pay. It’s much easier and cheaper to watch at home.

        Unless you’re my brother. He got a part-time job as a vender in the grandstands, at Denver’s Mile-High Stadium. He only took the job so he could attend the games without having to pay for a ticket. Instead, they paid him.

  4. I have spend a lot more time with watching the smaller birds return since the crows left. The weather is beautiful here. Plans for short walks in the park, taking care of a few things, and reading a good novel. I promised to read one about moving from England to Canada with his family. He is a blogger on WP. The right hip is okay with small walks and they moved my shot or patch or whatever up to the end of this month!

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      • I’m looking forward to reading your book. My husband’s first knee surgery was at age 17 due to football. He’s needed a knee replacement for decades and is finally doing it.

      • I hope his recovery goes well. They say that it is good to keep moving. I intended a walk and a car ride with the pug today but after doing a little work in the garden, I am good. I just keep moving enough to keep it lubricated.

  6. Great post – I enjoyed learning a little about the various birds. I especially liked reading about cardinals since some of them regularly visit our yard. It’s amazing that they are the state bird for seven states.

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    • I’m glad you enjoyed my post. I started taking photography in January 2025 and love taking photos of my backyard birds and squirrels. I decided to find out a bit more about them. The cardinals are my favorites.

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  7. As a kid I used to love watching the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. I would air right before The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights. It was always cool seeing the animals and wonderful places they would go. I feel like you’ve got a small version of the show. Ha ha. Awesome pics and info! 🤣🤣🐿️🐿️🕊️🕊️🐦🐦🤣😎😎😎

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  8. Those a fun facts. The state bird for 7 states? I guess you aren’t the only one in love with Cardinals. 🙂 And it’s so fascinating that the squirrel uses his tail as an umbrella. So cool!

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    • I’m glad you enjoyed my fun facts. I wanted to learn more about these creatures I spend time with every day. Yes, cardinals are favorites for good reason. Our state bird is the cactus wren, which is a little brown bird.

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  9. Elizabeth, your photos are amazing. So much detail and the colors are stunning. Loved reading more about these wonderful birds. Thanks.

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  10. Lovely photos and interesting facts. 😊 Papa Quail is my favorite but I love doves and how they symbolize peace ❤️ Look forward to reading this weekend and will see what else I get into. 🙂

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  11. You should be joining in with Bird of the Week posts. I think you’d have fun learning about your birds and showing us the fabulous photos you are taking Elizabeth.

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  13. My young son has been wanting for a pet bird for months now but his apt does not allow pets if any kind. I shall send him this colorful post that will make his day!🦜

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  14. Enjoyed the bird facts and photos, EA. I’m working through a few projects this weekend so I don’t need to think about them while I’m on vacation next week.

    Our hummingbirds have been arriving and the magpies are busy in their nest. I finished building a new raised bed and I planted in the ones I put up last year. Enjoying lots of fresh asparagus and soon, rhubarb!

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    • I love fresh asparagus and rhubarb. My mom had both in her garden in Washington when I was growing up. It was a thrill to see what asparagus had popped up each morning. I’m glad you enjoyed the bird facts and photos. We have hummingbirds too, but no magpies.

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    • Thank you, Cheryl. I had a week of fuzzy, out of focus photos for a few days, so these photos were a relief. I wasn’t wearing my glasses. Who knew that could be the cause? My Mom was a huge birdwatcher, too. In high school she created a leather bound book of all the birds she saw and painted sketches of them with descriptions. My brother has it, but I should get a duplicate made for me.

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  16. I’m smiling SO BIG Elizabeth! Thank you…loved every pic. And I’ll say I have a special place in my heart for delicate-looking house finches. So sweet! 💝💝💝

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  17. Yes, those are some fun facts!
    I loved hearing the house finch sing; very sweet.
    It’s funny how your squirrels look so much like our Georgia Chipmunks. (I don’t think we have chipmunks in SWFL)
    Reading White Winged Dove took me right to Stevie Nicks and her forever being on the Edge Of Seventeen. 🎶 🤣

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    • Wow. I love Stevie Nicks and didn’t remember the song’s name, but playing it, I totally remember it. I used to play Landslide on my drives to skiing while I was in high school and college. I drove by myself once a week in the winter and would belt it out in my car. Thank you for that memory! We had chipmunks in WA where I grew up and these squirrels look just like them. I called them chipmunks and got corrected here in Arizona!

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Kind Comments Are Always Welcome!