Whatbird.com

We were fishing on a friend's boat about 6 miles off Jupiter, FL, in northern Palm Beach County.  This little guy landed on a girl's leg.  The bird hopped around a bit and came right up on my finger when I put it under its belly.  It spent 5 minutes with us, and then took off for shore, flying only a couple of feet off the water, zig-zagging a bit.

We could scarcely believe it would make it to shore, flying so low.  And where did it come from?  Out from the Florida shore only to return?  Please help identify the bird and anything about its migratory or feeding habits that explains its presence out there on the water.

What a day.  Bull sharks, a hammerhead shark, a sea turtle, remora, bonita, rainbow runners, kingfish, flying fish.  We were spotting everything in the water.  Then this little guy landed on the boat!

 Axel

 

Here you can see the tiny hairs like whiskers at the base of the beak.

It is an American Redstart, which is a Warbler. It was migrating and was probably glad to get a rest and land on  your boat.

---

2008 Yard List: 118
Recent: Hooded Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo
Highlights: Hoary Redpoll, Golden Eagle, Fish Crow
2008 Year List: 181
Recent: Alder Flycatcher, Green Heron
Highlights: Cackling Goose, Black Vulture, Merlin

cnybirder:

It is an American Redstart, which is a Warbler. It was migrating and was probably glad to get a rest and land on  your boat.

 

Ditto. He must have been blown out to sea a little bit. When I was in the Coast Guard we had that happen every now and then.

---

Don't cry because it's over, smile because you were there.

Wow ...you are lucky to have that experience. The bird must have been pretty tired for it to be willing to hang with you....take such a risk.

---

* laughs like crow, soars like eagle with vision of hawk, haunts like loon & lulls like nuthatch ....tickle tickle, feather has most powerful medicine of all...makes you laugh *

Ditto.  It's so cute!

---

Today I woke up in a bird's nest.