Bird Id Part 2.5

[Lava Lamp]

Happy Thanksgiving!

I shot this in NYC on the Hudson River side in Battery Park a few days ago.

[Lava Lamp]

While I didn't go "birding," I kept my eye out for birds in NYC -- I was hoping to see a Peregrine Falcon, but saw lots of these in different colors, plus lots of house sparrows and a starling or two.

[Lava Lamp]

While I didn't go "birding," I kept my eye out for birds in NYC -- I was hoping to see a Peregrine Falcon, but saw lots of these in different colors, plus lots of house sparrows and a starling or two.

Here's one other bird from NYC. Photo credit note: my daughter took this one, but she was sitting on my shoulders, so we're kind of a photo team.

[paulnj]

OMG..... that's a BIGBIRD!!

[paulnj]

While I didn't go "birding," I kept my eye out for birds in NYC -- I was hoping to see a Peregrine Falcon, but saw lots of these in different colors, plus lots of house sparrows and a starling or two.

Nice ringbilled gull there!

Your pidgeon is also .... nice ;)

As for finding a peregrine in NYC, you would be better off finding a vast open tidal swamp in your area. Remember that peregrines are cliff nesters in the tundra, but I always see them hunting open fields or COASTAL TIDAL FLATS Most have migrated past NJ, but I did find a peregrine(kestrel and merlin too) on the farm lands just down the road today. Peregrine is a very good find inland in NJ any time of year, but in winter(it's winter to me and the birds) is an especially good find.

[Lava Lamp]

Check out those nice green legs.

[Lava Lamp]

'noher one I don't normally see locally.

[Lava Lamp]

Really far away...

[paulnj]

snowy egret with a tricolor heron behind it , tricolored heron and a juvenile white ibis

[paulnj]

'noher one I don't normally see locally.

WHERE did you find a male hooded merganser?

[Lava Lamp]

WHERE did you find a male hooded merganser?

There were three flying over and then landing in a salt marsh. This was a pelican out there today, too, which is something I never see there. It's usually wading birds with raptors overhead.

By the way, does his bill look right to you? He seems to be missing the hooked tip. (Maybe it's just the angle, or maybe its in the water.)

[Lava Lamp]

Maybe separated from this group...

[paulnj]

Well it is a young bird(first winter), so maybe it's horn thingy is not formed yet?

But yes, that bill looks very odd indeed!

[paulnj]

Check out those nice green legs.

JUVENILE little blue heron

[mjs1973]

Found these guys while walking the dogs this afternoon. Not nearly as nice at the one posted by Chicago, but I was able to ID them all by myself!!! Ok, I had a little help from a new field guide I picked up yesterday.

[paulnj]

Yes they are cedar waxwings, but you have an odd orange tail varient one there That is caused by eating too many berries with red/orange color ;)

[mjs1973]

Yes they are cedar waxwings, but you have an odd orange tail varient one there That is caused by eating too many berries with red/orange color ;)

I belive that is a sub species know as the Fecal Feather Waxwing.

I read in my guide book that these birds have been known become so intoxicated from eating overripe fruit that they can't fly.

My book also says that the there is debate over what the "wax" tips are for. This is what my book says: "The purpose of the 'red wax' is long-debated, but younger birds do not have it and older birds that do often choose each other as mates and produce more young than the younger pairs." So if that is ONE side of the argument, what is the other side?

[paulnj]

no crap on that tail, the berry consumption causes the orange/ red pigment in the tail feathers

I have seen robins fall over from eating aged berries. the berries ferment into wine ;)

[mdwsr]

Fantastic idea for a sticky. I hope it's okay to post two here.

I think the first is a red-tailed hawk, can anyone confirm?


I have no clue what this is:

[mjs1973]

I found this guy today while walking the dogs.

[jfelbab]

I found this guy today while walking the dogs.

A Common Flicker. I have a few hanging around my feeder.

[paulnj]

The hawk is a juvenile redtailed and the second is a dark eyed junco.

But Jim , your's is a red bellied woodpecker, what is that on the back side of the feeder ;)

[jfelbab]

The hawk is a juvenile redtailed and the second is a dark eyed junco.

But Jim , your's is a red bellied woodpecker, what is that on the back side of the feeder ;)

Right you are. I totally missed that id. Thanks for setting me straight.

The other is probably a purple finch. I have scores of finches around.

[paulnj]

They all look like house finches to me.

Purple finches have a pointy beak and DO NOT have an eye ring like most house finces do. The male house finch is very red in the head and chest, while the male purple finch is DEEP RED in the head/ chest with duller red running through most of the other parts of the body.


Here is a female purple finch, the males never get close enough to me when I have my camera ready

[jsmith75]

What type of hawk is it? Though it might be a harrier. This picture was taken in western Kentucky.