Baby birds

[quetzal]

Here are some pics I took over the past month as my new obsession with bird photography continues:

First, Baltimore Oriole nest - such beautiful birds, I've seen these guys every spring for years now and this is the first time I've ever seen a nest. The parents started to get agitated so I snapped a few shots and left them alone.


This is a fledgling cardinal that I found by the creek near my house. The parents were nearby, calling to it:


Female Mallard duck and young:


Cute little Tufted Titmouse. He's sitting near my birdfeeders and the parent kept flying back and forth bringing him food:

[quetzal]

And one more, of a wild turkey and young - wasn't able to get real close to this one:

[paulnj]

Great images.

Just thought you should know that the ID mark that makes that mallard a male in eclipse plumage is the bill color females have a orange bill, while males have a more yellowish bill. That isn't lighting, because the ducklings have the orange bill

It is very rare that a wild male mallard would stick around, so maybe these are non migratory mallards?

[quetzal]

Thats right Paul, I hadn't even took notice of the bill color. Thanks for pointing it out!
I see mallards throughout most of the year in my area - though the past few years there doesn't seem to be quite as many as there used to be.

[paulnj]

It could just be an abnormality and common knowledge say female due to the young. I still think male because of the bill color, but a frontal shot showing the chest would help.