Help with bird ID

I need help identifying a bird - unfortunately my photos are almost useless so I have not even downloaded them. I had a large flock of some bird that I have never seen before invade my front yard over the weekend. I have been trying to figure out what they were ever since without much luck so I thought someone here might could help me.

The birds were light brown in color - about the same color as my dead grass so it made it DIFFICULT to take a pic and they would not let me get close. There seemed to be 60 -80 of the birds and they reminded me of a kill deer (not sure that is a proper bird name - just what I was taught growing up) but they did not have long tails.... they had fatter bodies. They did have bright yellow on their chests. I know that isn't a lot to work with, but I would appreciate any suggestions....

Thanks
Genna

American Goldfinch in winter plumage?

What sort of general situation is this in? Suburban? Open fields? Woods?

Resin

I live in a fairly rural area and have about a 4 acre yard - the closest house is a quarter of a mile away. I have probably 8 - 12 acres of open field (bush hog height) , then woods beyond that...... I did not see them in the deep grass, only covering my yard and wandering their way across. I didn't see a single one on my feeder - just seemed to be content picking in the grass....... I am not familiar with the goldfinch. I will try to go look it up and see....do they usually travel in groups??

In a rural area with open fields, another possibility is Horned Lark, that's worth checking out too.

Yes, American Goldfinch does form flocks (and so does Horned Lark).

Oh, and yes, Killdeer is a proper bird name; it is a species of plover (but they don't form tight flocks, so that one's very unlikely).

Resin

It was not a killdeer - just kinda reminded me of them as they hopped across the yard - but they did not have the rings like killdeer do. I looked at the goldfinch pictures and that does not really look like it. I will try the horned lark and see what I think.

I will look at my pics again tonight and see if there is one that I might can crop and zoom in on that will at least give you something to go on.

Thanks!
Genna

Well, that horned lark definitely looks like a possibility - much closer match than the Goldfinch. I had never seen that bird before - not sure if he is native to this area or not...... but I enjoyed seeing the yard full of them. Sure wish they would come back...... know how I can entice them back???

thanks
Genna

A scattering of small bird seeds might entice them back. Particularly if there is snow cover over their normal feeding areas.

Resin

Oh, no snow here - but a lot of areas North of us did have snow last Saturday....maybe that is why they were here .....looking for food. Or, maybe they are around often and I have just never noticed them before.

Thanks for the help. I will double check my photos and see if I can find a shot that might allow a positive id.

Genna

Even a bad photo is worth trying, you never know!

Resin

Here's one of my very bad pics of a Horned Lark, did yours look like this?

Resin

And another

Edit: oops, forgot to say: "but a lot of areas North of us did have snow last Saturday" – yes, that's exactly the sort of situation that'll bring them to you.


This message was edited Feb 3, 2010 11:33 PM

Could it possibly be a flock of Meadowlarks? They are always in flocks and don't have very long tails. They also have a bright yellow breast. There is sometimes a lookout in a tree and the rest are in the grass. Here's a pic.

Maybe it was Meadowlarks..... here is a cropped version of one of the photos I took - seems to be the best at seeing the yellow and after looking at the above meadowlark, it seems to fit better than the horned lark ???? not sure... I'll let ya'll see what you think.

Thanks for the help.

Genna

Edited to add that I saved this file at a fairly low resolution to try to speed the loading...... but I think it is sufficient for ya'll to see him.

This message was edited Feb 3, 2010 10:45 PM

Cedar Waxwings have been in my yard in very large flocks. They have a yellow breast and a short tail. Their head is very distinctive and you didn't mention anything about the birds you saw having the black mask like a cedar waxwing. Here is a picture though.

Thanks. I was pretty sure after I saw her pic that it was a meadowlark as well...... I had tried to clean this pic up a little and raise the resolution a little.... we'll see if this is any better. I was probably at least 70 yds away when I took this so there is only so much I can do!

Not sure if that helped anything! Here is another shot of a couple of them from a different angle......

Thanks for everyone's help! I sure hope they decide they liked it here and return to see us again!

Genna

Brightened the pic up a bit. The strong head pattern, particularly the strong black line through the eye, and the streaked (rather than spotted) flanks, proves it is an Eastern Meadowlark.

Resin

And the other pic, brightened

Resin

Thanks! Didn't think about trying to lighten it. I appreciate the info....maybe if I see them again i will remember what they are!!

I appreciate everyone's help!

Genna

How did I miss that photo? lol Oh well, you got an Id anyways. Never seen a Meadowlark myself.

Well, I remember my parents saying 'that's a meadowlark" etc as a child.... and i think I remember seeing them on a regular basis then - but that has been a LONG time ago and I lived in town for so long that I had forgotten what they looked like! or maybe the kind I had as a child were Western?? anyway, I am glad to have it identified correctly and will pass that info on to my daughter who was the one who first noticed them last Saturday and inquired what type of birds those were ...... a few hours later we had a large flock of robins in the back yard but at least i knew what those were!! I feel like I have done my children a disservice by raising them in town - she didn't even know what a Robin was ...... :( pretty sad........

Thanks again everyone for all your help! NOW, if I could just get some of the birds to visit my feeders!

Genna