Guess That Baby Bird!

While cleaning out our gi-nourmous juniper bush row today, my husband found a nest, complete with 5 tiny little babies in it. The nest is too neat and too small, and probably too low to the ground to be a robin's nest. We didn't have any birds swooping down on us for going near the nest, either.

So, time to do some detective work. Based on the birds we have on our property and the size, location and type of nest, my Mom and I started narrowing it down. She has a really good book of nests to help, Peterson Field Guides - Eastern Bird's Nests. I quickly ruled out Chipping Sparrow, House Sparrow and Carolina Chickadee because they all like to put lots of soft stuff in the lining - there was none in this nest. The Carolina Wren was ruled out, too. Nuthatches are cavity-nesters. We are down to the following possibilities: Catbird, Indigo Bunting and Cardinal. Mom is betting it's the Indigo Bunting.

So now we watch and wait. I don't face that area much when I am birding, but I will have to watch that area now to see what type of birds come and go from that area. All bird ID methods fail when looking at little pink finger-like things with a little slate gray fuzz on them! If we get it figured out - I'll post it.