There is a phainopepla in our garden. I don't think I've ever seen one before. Maharishi and I are standing breathless at the window, watching him. I said "Look, a black cardinal!" but of course, there is no such thing as a black cardinal. He's a silky flycatcher, which sounds as if he should reside in the Faraway Tree.
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What I want to know is will he come visit me? I have 50-something or so kinds of birds in the yard each year, but not this handsome fellow. Our various flycatchers here are a dull olive-gray and wag their tails incessantly...and are prone to nesting on shelf-like structures (a porch rafter, the top of a light fixture on a shed, and such).
When we stayed in upstate New York last summer (Cold Spring), there was a birdfeeder in an apple tree by the porch where we'd sit out and watch the cardinals. I was fascinated. I don't think I've ever seen such a jaunty bird. He looked just like that but with a huge Elvis-style pompadour. So gorgeous. Apparently they fly in from the Mexican desert. I do hope he comes back and I'll tell him to wing his way towards the east coast!
-- Miss W
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