CLOSED: Identify This Bird Please Vol. 2

007,
The photo you mistakenly posted on Vol. 1 is of a female Common Redpoll. Note the red spot on the head.

Gary

Yay! I get to add "Butter Butts" to my list of birds I've photo'd! ''

Thanks, Resin!

Yeah, just like me to get mixed up with threads. Good thing you guys are there, to get me back on track. :))
Thanks for ID Gary . When I posted the picture, I thought at first, it was a Redpoll, because that's about all I get here. I got confuse when someone said warbler, and I was hoping for something different.

A while back I posted a picture of a similar looking bird and it was identified as a Female House Finch, it had golden markings.

Is this a Male House Finch?

Thanks,

GG

Look carefully at the beaks in these 2 posts:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4398364 Warbler beak
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4405361 Finch beak

Many times the feathers are very similar, especially in juvenile birds. The beaks never lie!

:-)

THANKS!! Looks like a Finch beak to me. I believe I got one right for a change! Gosh, but there is a lot to learn. However, I now will look at their beaks rather than just their coloration! Whoopie, learned something new again today.

GG

yep, a male house finch.

female house finch

Thanks Debnes. That little pearl helps a lot!

Okay, I have another cute little bird I saw that same day, but in a different area of the park. This was in denser brush, but still high in the tree. I'm thinking maybe another warbler (now I see why Pelle has so much trouble with them! There are so many!) but this one doesn't have the streaky colors on the breast like the last one did. Calling it a Mockingbird crossed my mind, but that doesn't seem quite right because it looks plumper and less gray. In the first pic, it even looks a little dove-like but I'm pretty sure that's not the case.

Anyway, here it is:

I waited til the first little guy (the Butter Butt. . . I mean Yellow Rumped Warbler) was ID'd before posting this second guy so we don't have confusion in discussing them.

Here is the second pic of the second mystery bird from that day:

And here's the third pic of mystery bird #2.

(Northern) Mockingbird...only Mockingbird species in the US but there are a couple of others...that's why Northern

I just noticed that in the second two pics, you can see a streak going across his eye, but in the first one, it doesn't look like he has one. It must have been the lighting because I'm 99% sure I was only photographing one bird, but I have to leave that 1% room for error since my kids were talking to me, wanting to move on but I wasn't done with this guy (or gal).

As long as I'm posting again, I'll attach one more pic of the same bird. This isn't as good of a shot, not really in focus. But maybe it will contain a hint that will clinch it since its taken more directly below the bird.

Really? Well bummer. I usually know Mockingbirds when I see them. I guess it threw me because I usually notice them when they're flying and the white on the flight feathers gives them away. I was hoping it was a new bird for me, but Mockingbirds are a dime a dozen around here.

I guess I shouldn't "dis" the Mockers. They are, after all our state bird.

It's a Mockingbird living up to its name and mocking you ;-)

Resin

Also the state bird of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida.

Texas has Green Jays, Kiskadee Flycatchers, Chachalacas and a bunch of other "almost only found in Texas" birds...oh, and the Jackalope (although that may not be a bird).

Florida has lots of Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, Limpkins and the Florida Scrub Jay.

Tennessee's got the Nashville and the Tennessee Warblers.

Seems like being a dime-a-dozen (and being a really good singer) counts more than just being cool.

Wanting to check and see if this is a Hairy Woodpecker.

Think that one's best left as a "Dairy" Woodpecker - the diagnostic outer tail feathers aren't visible, and the size and bill proportions are too hard to judge.

Resin

The only pic I could get of this ?

White-breasted Nut Hatch ?

Yes, White-breasted Nuthatch.

hmmmm... how about on this one as far as beak proportions go?

Tough call on the bill, but on this pic you can see the pure white outer tail feather (no black spots), so definite Hairy. Proves a series of photos is always best!

Resin

Thanks, Resin!!

Thanks Resin and Pelle............the California Towhee is a new bird for me.

Oh sure ANOTHER new bird for adel!!

Congrats adel!

Good job nanny!

?????

male House Sparrow

Are the birds in this picture grackles? A big flock suddenly came to the bird feeders on Sunday, throwing out any other birds. It almost look like a Hitchcock scene back there for awhile. Are these birds migratory? A friend of mine said they were but he wasn't sure.

Here's a closer view of them

Hi mrw,Looks like you might have Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Can't tell much more from the first pic.

Looks like mostly (?all) Brown-headed Cowbirds to me

Resin

Thought I'd bump this up since I see alot of people using other threads to ask for an ID.

It will be easier for Resin and others to see them if there posted here.:-)

Yep Pelle, makes it much easier. Resin does get around well, I have to say.

:-)

Yes he does a great job! :-)

I think alot of people don't realize Resin is a "he". But we do keep him busy for sure!

Cowbirds are "nest parasites" -- they don't nest. All they do is lay their eggs in another bird's nest and let the foster parents do all the work (often at the expense of their own young). Sad in a way, but an incredible adaptation.
jo

http://www.audubon.org/bird/research/

Right Jo! :-) CB are definitely parrasite birds!
Should have kept it at "Not so much...", with no elaboration at all. Didn't mean to suggest that CBs nest at all! Yikes! Thx for catching that, LOL!

I was thinking about the Grackles and Cowbirds staying in Texas all year, and not migrating. I don't see a lot of CB fledging or babies around here, usually all Grackles doing the nests.

Glad to say I haven't found any mom Grackles feeding baby CBs, nor any broken eggs on the ground under the nests. They do show up a few at a time at my feeders in spring, and it's usually adult CBs only.

debnes