Those of us who regularly observe birds at the backyard feeder come to appreciate the varied personalities of our avian visitors. House sparrows and house finches, while skittish, mob the feeder, gorging themselves and defending their positions; they are focused on survival and have no interest in rules of etiquette. Chickadees and titmice, agile and opportunistic, dart in to grab one seed at a time, taking it away to devour in peace; optimistic and carefree, they are highly adaptable and are less concerned that the stash may disappear in their absence.
More fiscally conservative, white-breasted nuthatches also grab one morsel at a time but take it away for storage in the crevices of tree bark; they are preparing for leaner times, when winter sets in and the feeder runs dry. Less concerned are the unflappable mourning doves, observing the chaos from nearby branches or drifting in to search for seed that has fallen to the ground; they and the dark-eyed juncos are content to receive what others have discarded.
Woodpeckers and jays, possessing a distinct size advantage, drop by anytime, knowing that the minions will scatter as they approach; wary only of the occasional sharp-shinned hawk, they partake of the bounty at their leisure, paying little attention to their smaller, hapless cousins. Finally, the cardinals, too mature and regal to abide with the rowdiness, visit the feeder in the early morning and late daylight hours, when their antic-prone neighbors are back at the roost.
