Winter 2008 Bird ID Thread.

[Mike T]

Here you go Paul, it's an easy one but it is standing on ice to go with the winter theme.

Mike

[paulnj]

American Goldfinch

[Loupey]

Cool shot on ice, Mike.

[AgingEyes]

I'm guessing it's some wigeon, but it doesn't look exactly like an male adult american wigeon (no white patch) or a female adult one (black butt). I'm also guessing it is not an eurasian one. What is it?





I'm guessing wigeon because there was a couple of them nearby

[paulnj]

That's an adult male gadwall

[Loupey]

Obviously Canada Geese but is this pigmentation common? I haven't seen it before but I admit I don't really look at CG

[paulnj]

I have one near me that has that look! I have only seen it in flight and think those may be leucistic canada geese? Could be a hybrid with a domestic "barnyard" type goose though?

[Knight]

Sparrow of some kind Paul ?

[paulnj]

american tree sparrow

[Mike T]

These birds probably belong in a "Birding 101 ID" thread even then they might be to easy but I haven't been seeing much lately and there hasn't been a lot of pictures being put up so here they are.

Mike

[A.M.D.A.]

#1. Tufted titmouse.

• Very distinctive markings and crest.

#2. Male eastern bluebird.

• ID'd by throat colour, colour intensity and range.

#3. Cedar waxwing ID'd by range. (No bohemian in New Jersey).

Yes they were rather easy... I only just subscribed to this thread yesterday.

[paulnj]

correct ID's, but I see bohemians every winter

[A.M.D.A.]

I see bohemians every winter

Unless you are seeing casuals/strays...

[paulnj]

a few bohemians mix in hear and there with flocks of cedar waxwings. They are quite rare, but show up every winter. Rare bird alerts rule

[A.M.D.A.]

How do you tell exactly the difference between cedar/bohemian, just by chunkiness and range?

In winter one can have all sorts of rarities... like not too long ago a tropical kingbird was spotted in this area by several birders... check that kingbird's "official" range map...

[paulnj]

How do you tell exactly the difference between cedar/bohemian, just by chunkiness and range?

In winter one can have all sorts of rarities... like not too long ago a tropical kingbird was spotted in this area by several birders... check that kingbird's "official" range map...

Strange first year males go way off course at times.... I have found some HUH birds before, but no images so they didn't make it as an official siting.

Bohemians have a rusty undertail, yellow in the wing and no white above the black eye stripe. They are also slightly larger , but all birds range in size within the species, so that's just an indication.

[A.M.D.A.]

Thanks, Paul!

[Loupey]

OK help me out here, guys.

Whatever it is, it is definitely a first for me. A flock of passing/honking Canada geese scared this fella out from the semi-frozen marsh to my right and it landed not 20' in front of me.

It definitely had a yellow superciliary stripe. I'm thinking it is a savannah sparrow?

[paulnj]

you are correct!!!!!!

[A.M.D.A.]

According to facial patterns, chest stripes/spot, body coloring and bill coloring, I also think it is a Savannah sparrow (Belding's race...?).

But let's wait for Paul to 100% confirm, I'm still learning you know...

[A.M.D.A.]

Well, you beat me by a few seconds...

[Loupey]

Man, you two are ON IT!

Thanks for the confirmation. The facial pattern is definitely the first thing I noticed and I knew I had a first for me.

[paulnj]

looks a bit light for a belding's race, I will go with a light typical adult , but they are variable.

Find me an ipswich in ohio and your my hero I think under 200 ipswich variety are on the planet and they are costal

Savannah sparrows are vast grassland birds and that one could be over wintering?

[Rivman]

Very nice shots all !
Here are a few winter feathered friends that frequented our feeder in 2008.
They really shouldn't be too hard to id.

[jetrim]

This one may be too easy, as there's a reference in another part of the forums...