Birds of southeast Texas in photos

Male birds typically outshine the females, but in some cooperative breeders females have evolved to outshine the males.

Darwin noted that sexual dimorphism (differences in male and female traits) generally leads to elaborate-looking males and dull females because reproduction is shared more equally among females than males. As a result, males need fancy duds to compete with other males for the attention of female mates.

In some species, however, females compete as intensively as males for reproductive opportunities. This takes place among species that live in family groups, known as cooperative breeders, in which not all individuals have the chance to reproduce. Scientists believe that in many cooperatively breeding species, not only does reproduction vary inequitably among males, but also among females. Because of this unequal reproduction among both sexes, females must also compete for reproductive opportunities.

read more Reproductive skew and selection on female ornamentation in social species

This bird is tough to photograph, he’s very shy.  He showed up at the feeder about two weeks ago.  He hovers at the suet cake, grabs a bite, lands on the ginger to eat it, then comes back for another bite.  After two weeks of that he finally started landing on the suet cake feeder, but only about half the time.  The other birds and I frighten him, he eats and runs every time.

He also keeps trying to enter the house through the window.  He can be heard tapping on the glass for several minutes at a time. I think he feels the heat escaping through the crappy windows we have and is looking for some place warm.

Photos take at High Island, near Houston, TX

Photo taken Brazo’s Bend State Park, Texas