Persimmon Picnic
As persimmons ripen in December, here in the Bay Area, birds flock to feed on the sweet fruit. The feeding opportunity for a given tree typically lasts just a few days, during which time the fruit is soft and at peak ripeness. It’s fun to visit some local trees during this time to see who shows up.
A persimmon tree presents a rather difficult photographic challenge, as the structure consists of a complex web of branches which require shooting around or through. Still, I find that capturing the variety of species is ample reward. Below are 20 species which I’ve managed to photograph feeding on persimmons, some of which might surprise you.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet:
Annna’s Hummingbird:
Nuttall’s Woodpecker:
Red-breasted Sapsucker:
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker:
Northern Flicker:
Wrentit:
Chestnut-backed Chickadee:
American Crow:
California Towhee:
Spotted Towhee:
White-crowned Sparrow:
Golden-crowned Sparrow:
House Finch:
Song Sparrow:
Yellow-rumped Warbler:
American Robin :
Cedar Waxwing:
Western Scrub-Jay:
European Starling:
Downy Woodpecker
Townsend's Warbler:
Acorn Woodpecker:
Dark-eyed Junco:
