Fall 2008 Bird ID Thread.

[Loupey]

I usually ignore the duck group but sometimes there is nothing else

This one I originally thought was a female mallard (same size and similar coloration) but the green crown has me thrown.

[paulnj]

That is mostlikely a male mallard leaving the eclipse plumage they get during the summer, but also looks like a hybridized mallard that could be a black duck x mallard.

I can't explain the blue plumage on the back though???

[Loupey]

Thanks, Paul.

The "blue" is the sceen of the sky off the black/dark back.

There was a small flock of these guys (about a dozen) all similarly colored so I didn't know which sex this was. Shot in a nature preserve open to migrating waterfowl so any hybridation (if that is the case) would have to be naturally occuring.

[AgingEyes]

What's this small bird? Mocking bird, too?

[paulnj]

Never had the pleasure of seeing one... that I remember, but that's a bushtit.

[AgingEyes]

What sparrow do you think this is?

[paulnj]

That is a typical non breeding plumage male european house sparrow (passer domesticus)

[AgingEyes]

Never mind. I think they're just another house sparrow.

Ooops! Too late to make correction :blush2: :blush2:

Paul says.. never too late for me

[AgingEyes]

A female downy woodpecker?

[paulnj]

correct you are.

[DHMN69]

It took a bit for it to stay still, another male downy wp? (edit: because a not so good picture showed the red on top of it's head)

Not near the quality of all you great birders, just my first attempt with a new lens, bought the EOS 55-250 IS (the plastic mount, bought for cheap price and learning, plus I'm not overly aggressive with the camera so I'm not worried about the mount so much)

[paulnj]

That's a hairy woodpecker. ID'd by beak length

[DHMN69]

That's a hairy woodpecker. ID'd by beak length

Looks like I got more studying to do Or I'll just look at birds and find out what they are from the experts instead! Thanks!

[paulnj]

Downy and Hairy are hard to tell apart. Beak length and call are the two major ways.

[A.M.D.A.]

Downy: Beak is approximately half than what the length of the head is. (Think 1 beak + 1 beak = 1 head length).
Hairy: Beak is about the same length as what the head is. (1 beak = 1 head length).

And as previously mentioned, the songs of both species are quite distinct.

[Mike T]

Here are a couple of birds from sunday.

Mike

[A.M.D.A.]

#1. Definitely an Osprey. The white belly and facial features confirmed this.
#2. Looks like a Fox Sparrow to me, by the rufous splotches on its chest as well as the facial markings.

[DHMN69]

Back when I was still in 'P&S' mode with my Kodak Easyshare.. I was at the river fishing and saw something that to me looked really strange.. I think they're some form of Crane? http://viewthroughmylens.net/Galleri...ckofbirds1.jpg (too large to post here and too lazy to thumbnail ;) )

They basically floated through the air as if people were flying them as kites.. I never even saw them flap... I wish now that I'd had a camera capable of shooting them at the time.

[paulnj]

osprey and fox sparrow mike.

Post a fall warbler for Alex to ID

[A.M.D.A.]

Post a fall warbler for Alex to ID

EEK! I often have trouble ID' ing these - and sometimes don't even manage to...

[paulnj]

Me too at times, but can and will ID any north american bird and a good number of world birds with a location ;) Well over 10k species of birds and I think I have ID'd close to 10% of them in these threads over the years.

[A.M.D.A.]

Me too at times, but can and will ID any north american bird and a good number of world birds with a location ;) Well over 10k species of birds and I think I have ID'd close to 10% of them in these threads over the years.

Well, good for you!:thumbsup:

If I can get a photo or a quick glance at many of NA birds, I can usually ID them succesfully. There are, of course, some which I won't.

[paulnj]

I am mean to ask for ID's on these, but go nuts......

NJ spring migration and it's a rare hybrid
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...ADJUSTMENT.jpg

This is a bird from july? in NJ

[Mike T]

I haven't been seeing any fall Warblers. Here is one from today that might not be as easy.

Mike

[paulnj]

too easy hahaha